pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 44
1.02M
| source
stringlengths 38
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__cc
| 0.542433
| 0.457567
|
The Disadvantages of Rauch
In Storm of Steel Ernst Jünger thinks of a time when he packed his lunch in a gasmask case, strapped to his belt. He hadn’t any conception of mustard gas.
Clement Greenberg and Mies van der Rohe: I don’t want to be interesting I want to be good. This is the way of looking that avoids philosophy, it is not reactionary, but it is sub-philosophical. Good here does not mean that from all things I have rescued or recalled that which is best simply. I.e., the thing that the whole calls for, and can never exceed—its veriest meaning. Rather, it means, of those things that people look at, in just the same way that the Rocky Mountains contain proper mountains, and not only hills, my work is one of those mountains. Like other mountains, one can still go about asking about the exact height, and which is taller, but no one can say with the slightest probity, that is no mountian. Leo Strauss, in a similar way, understood men like John Searle as public menaces. Because through their flight in the face of thought, they kicked up a storm of confusion about the world essence. All serious problems are regarded as bunk since the reflections necessary to draw them into consciousness, to fill them with cogency for thought, are blocked. But this action does not stop the end of metaphysics, rather it prevents human beings from facing it.
The view of the world essence is not some opinion. It is not some sentence that states a proposition. It is not some orientation that one might learn if one got the right training. It is not some procedure or method. But when we find the thinking place of the Element we are close already to solipsism and to nihilism. It seems that a prescription is needed, so that to rescue the thought that is obscured a moral action must come first. In order to save face one can say, this reflection was possible in a window of history, not because it was sought, but since it so happened by some infinitely enigmatic dispensation, but that we now might go back to it, but only through digging back. In a certain way all this is obviated by the fact that those who are called, and will not stand sleepily beside the perpetual overpowering of thought, do not propose any activity as a task. It is only that it befalls them and is them. Thus it is not a moral prescription. These rationalizations can’t be outstripped, as there is no higher judge of them. Only the normative of the philosophy department can prescribe rules of how to move in thought and how not to move in thought.
But it seems to me valuable, at least for the moment, to stay with the “shatter zones” on the historicist frontier which stand between Husserl (& co.) and Strauss. Can one continue the old projects or pursuits without degenerating into fundamentalism or the miasma of simpleminded and philistine evasions?
Monopolistic Reflections on Thought
Today philosophy is destroyed. It is not that in the universities there are no philosophers (but only those called so), but philosophy is destroyed. Philosophic sense is not something like a reflection in a window that can be blocked by a hand. Instead, the fact of the destruction of philosophy in the end of metaphysics is something which logically, i.e., through reasoned grounds or by the principle of identity, can not be said. Yet this loss is, indeed, somehow sought as a fact. It can not be demonstrated out of the phenomena. A reason for it in the chain of causes is not waiting to be found. It belongs to the knowledge or thinking which now lights the earth. Because the world essence is felt to move, as it were, here and now, we seem to have some warrant for searching for it. But there would be no direction for the search to move in. When it is sought, the first thing that we ineptly reach towards is a psychology of former beings. As though the same beings could be set up, to look at, for us here, as a kingdom within a kingdom. It is my conviction that this is not a problem of representation, of something which could be more or less accurate, and could be improved upon by degrees, but at the same time, thought into the past, into these matters, gives such impressions almost a soupçon of truth. What is necessary is the refusal of the logical overlay, which makes all attempts appear as matters of representation. Thus, from the millennial or thousands of years old history of thought, something wants to stir from sleep.
On Why the Normative Sense of the Destruction of Metaphysics is not Adequate
The loss of the belief in the eternality of principles in the face of the turn towards change in circumstance, arbitrariness, and expedience is empirically obvious. Technocratic jurists reject the common law tradition as the usurpation of the political by the judges. The field of political philosophy is removed for that of a political science which focuses on the transfigurations of society. Every project calling itself political philosophy is a caricature which must justify its existence in a reactionary or fundamentalist awareness of its own defects. The theory of evolution pushes reflection on the world essence into confusion.
The denial of direct and literal creation leads to the belief in a world essence that is to be found through knowledge. The neutral god, or “natural world”, presents itself as waiting for human beings to complete the transformation of all the neutral things into the utopia. The sciences, if they did not suppose knowledge were of use, would not seek it. The problem of god is only concealed by this religion of knowledge. Even if the knowledge were zealously sought ‘for its own sake’ this would show the sense of a god that had its meaning and therefore its purpose, in this.
Because the earth can never be maintained over and against the world, but the distinction is always only a kind of nonce clarifying principle, the thought of all gods, whether the neutral-towards earthly salvation and the imminent utopia, or any other, remain jailed with the logical tableau. The logical tableau is the way of covering, such that whoever would destroy the god can not truly destroy it. For instance in the name of maximum freedom, or scientific objectivity, i.e., as if no project followed on the logical annunciation which brings the things into logistical perch amidst life.
The doctrine that denied truth would have been naive if it had truly denied truth. The meaning, and therefore the purpose of life can not be outlawed. Therefore Nietzsche speaks of the little bit of “knowing” that, roughly, continues to be a knowing, always in some other perspective. This is almost like a definition of an entity, similar to that of Kant’s rational beings, or Heidegger’s Dasein. Because Nietzsche is supposed to be “dancing” one is always ready to abscond with the principle, I mean with the law that makes clear what his philosophy says, and to throw up a phosphorescent scarab, that flies beautifully, its back lined with purplish red over gold and green, until we no longer ask, who is this Nietzsche. Thus the rubric itself absconds into the monstrous gulf of mud. Whereas with Heidegger, something more like the reverse is the case. The Rubric Heidegger tries to make language stand there, to hold fast, in such a way as to speak without being logical. But yet to be utterly reliable and to say what it says. He does this through trying to teach a way of thinking, that would think underneath the language, and not over it in the manner of validity and formal logic. The so-called ‘target phenomena’ itself is closer to what thinks that than is the logic or logos.
Plato already understood that words don’t always speak in the same way. Since that is the raison d'etre of the dialog over and against the dark words, speech or treatise, or any monopolistic form of modern essay. The apostrophe of Dostoevsky and Derrida might question the ground of the essay, in the way it stands over and against the polyphonousness of the work that speaks differently to different interlocutors and therefore to different readers, yet, it does not leave the principle of logos even when it attacks it with the most polemical probity.
What is Being Destroyed?
If destruction meant wrecking and building it would be a technique suitable to design and the arts and perhaps to literary work. If destruction speaks to the earth and the world, it can not be said. But by saying that it can’t be said we can’t thereby sink into arbitrariness. It is then necessary to point to the work of thinking by which one can stop thinking of doing and thinking, in the sense of action and learning, but can see knowing as the lighting of the earth. Harriet Tubman says, I would have freed more slaves had “they known that they were slaves”. This can never be taken to mean, if only they were not so ill-informed, their actions should have been of a wholly different character. In the way the earth swallows up what it knows through the world, in the way copses and lakes stand under the sky and the wind, everything is thought logically in the divisions of discerning knowing. If we look at some of those who did not know that they were not philosophers, for instance those so-called philosophers of our own time, we notice that it is not as though this not knowing were something.
It is quite possible that nothing is aimed at by this post, since the Utopia aimed at by the modern sciences, the exclusive right to sell the human life, may be tangibly reachable. The current reflection would still be thinking even in the Utopia (provided it was not made illegal and thereby removed as a disease), about the knowing in the sense that it can’t say through the logos.
Being Should be Thought Without the Thought of Change or Progress
Hölderlin was not Hölderlin for Goethe. He simply understood that a young student, who could speak with at least some competence on those philosophical matters of which he, the student, was acquainted, was recommended to his attention. But not in any serious way or for any special reason. But Heidegger says, will the poet be oustripped, will the poet be overthrown, and he answers, never. The difference recommends itself to our attention, but momentarily, for we sense it, it is intelligible to us, but what more can we do with the fact? Is it then one more “interesting” observation among others? There is something in this change, but even if we are not prone to call all such matters “subjective” and to, thereby, sweep them under the rug of thought, what more is left to be done? All of Historicism, of the study of what is irreversible, hangs upon this which approaches noninterest and something one can’t be bothered with.
In the primary phenomena, what follows from the most-awake look at daily experiences, at what one actually lives, not the abstract, there is no less an irreversibility which characterizes everything. All things do not know how they are supposed to show themselves. According to a supposed ‘slice’ or fragment of time, that blocks out all history and thus all change in the thing as it is shown? It is of no use to pretend that the latest view of modern science, a recent enough notion, of the science of observation, measurement, and test, is eternal, true, or neutral. The claim about the neutrality, an illusion, can easily be destroyed in the light of the history of the development of the conception of this neutrality. It is no metaphor to say that nature, nature’s mysterious laws, the physicists frequently call them so, could with no loss be called god’s laws. If the notion of the personal god, with its question of the salvation of the individual, and thus the concern with the sin of that individual, is not the conception of god. So far as god is essence, which the word always named prior to the seventeenth century, “nature’s god”, sans, the word god, only says the neutral god. But the neutrality is wholly without content except in the light of the notion of the benign god, of the wrathful god, and of the god concerned with personal salvation. (Its sustained or ongoing raison d'etre is political, and verbal, therefor it is a smokescreen and confusing.)
Just like Hölderlin the knowledge wants to show itself as this or that kind of fact. A stone, or a desk, a copy of the latest art-fair catalog, or the mild climate of California, do not know how long their moment is. How long do they stay what they are? When Husserl discovered the way observation, in literal fact, must involve a kind of narration, there is somehow implied the “sui generis” of interpretation. “Somehow implied” is too weak, simply one narrates the thing and watches it not remain what it is.
One must pay attention to the ground of deception, and the ground of the creative thought. It is always possible for someone to make a certain change in their account without changing the thing. But Nietzsche says, Goethe, Goethe the great poet, is not perfect as you thought. “Excuse me for the fact” (Beyond Good and Evil), that he does not remain. The reason he is to excuse the fact is because he saw the failures in such a way as to hold up Hölderlin (sic) in another light. Heidegger says the creative one is violent, but decisively he says, the creative one is not happy with his superiority or power. Nietzsche does not find the creativity in the will, or intention, of someone. In the sense that will to power speaks, it is not as a matter of an individual self-doing or of an intended action. It is called Rausch, it is a growing, the mental controls are not on. How is the growth of the concept like the growth of the being itself?
At first, biologically, it seems a mere signal that relays back from the “outside” to the living-drive is enough to speak of a living thing. A plant perhaps is living, but has no true inner life. But, certainly an animal has an “inner” life. Things stand before it. It feels and imagines and it is voracious and its life is in the peculiar animus, or intention, of the instinct. Instinct is a name for nothing other than the life of the living thing. But, in the Nietzschean sense, language is supposed to be a tool of this instinct. Just as a computer is a tool. Something about this brings us to the precise sense in which Heidegger does not stay with the merely “ontic” in Nietzsche. Likewise, even in so far as Kierkegaard understands the knight of faith, as the mystery of the Element as the personality, which is what can be utterly concealed from the profane glance, and lived only in its own knowledge, Kierkegaard does not say, this Element leads me to the thought of Being. Heidegger says, however, the Element is always a harbinger of Being, or, something that makes us think of Being. This argument occurs, for example, in the book on metaphysics where he speaks of the moments of great joy or sorrow in their connection to Being.
So far as I know no one currently studying Heidegger understands this sense of Being. It is not “non-presence”. It is not, the impromptu or at-hand as the “authentic”. Those arguments which assume such things, stem from a fundamental lack of philosophic sense. What I mean is that they don’t sense, at all, what the purpose of the work is. Heidegger would say, that they don't sense what is "essential" in the work. It is decisive, as well, to notice that the dispute between Husserl and his student is over the matter of “the point” of history. Husserl simply refuses to “end” history. But without the ‘end of metaphysics’, there is no “point" to it all. Heidegger understands Aristotle to do the same thing as Descartes does with the absolute doubt, because that is a method for going to the phenomena and with great energy discarding everything else.
Ancients and Moderns, Anxiety and Language
Socrates appears stupid in comparison to the moderns because he has no anxiety in the face of his work, which stands fearsomely before humanity. Homer knew the distinction between deception and falsehood. But the old Greek language does not seem to make it explicitly, in the sense of a lie, over and against an untruth. To say a falsehood is not always to lie. Homer had to go out of his way to speak of saying one thing to one’s heart, and another to someone else. Even if that weren't true one senses this movement even today. One has certain words at one’s disposal, but one’s dark conceptions see further. These dark conceptions deserve to be called language. Whereas the words are expressions. One gives expression and so makes the language show itself here and there.
But if someone seriously contemplates handing themselves over to language, someone who is called and notices that it is possible, the result ought to be anxiety in the face of existence. In fact, it is perhaps anxiety in the face of language. And that would be deeper. Existence is expressed, but language is a dark conception. It is strange that Socrates was so dumb, almost like an animal, in the face of this huge wave that he moved in, that he crashed against existence. It is not the least adequate to speak in terms of the question of whether something is added or taken away, divided or built on top. When the language forces the lie to become a thing, and for the falsehood to be left behind, as if a child had got its own life, and were no longer an embryo, the basis of the world is now persuaded to be transfigured in a wondrous and fearful way. It is fearful then to stand at the threshold of this power. Therefore, one must be shocked to see Socrates only reflecting on the feeling of wonder, but not understanding that which is diabolical and fiendish in this dark power. It is plain that Nietzsche, though in his overcompensation and ridiculous pride he remained much too sanguine at his own wisdom and prophecy, he nonetheless saw the darker power of the abyss and was properly afraid. He perhaps grew even very afraid, and thus his compensation was at the same time increased and grew all-the-more ridiculous and over-puffed (Cf. Jung).
The sense that creativity refers to new things coming into existence, and the refusal of the closed system, is not affected by this movement of language. No thing is involved at all. The Historial can not simply refer to the epistemological difference from age to age. And obviously not with a change in invented things. Husserl most of all understood this problem, that of the transfiguration of the obvious and the boring. Strauss stresses in his understanding of the ancients that truth was always beneficent and a kind of brilliant thing. Not only explicitly in the doctrine of Aristotle, but on the whole. Even if truth is denied, by an ancient, for the reason of scepticism, it is not held that the look into it, itself, would be fundamentally horrible. Only that the good thing does not exist, or can not be reached. It is ‘far off’. This fact of the change in outlook is worth reflection. Too often it is superficially connected to the great wars, as though it were a question on the same level as the French or Italian New Wave or Film Noir.
Variable Approaches to the Border of the Interpretation
Kant is guilty of ‘unnecessary multiplication’, adding more presuppositions than one must have. This is proscribed as much by Occam as by Husserl. Husserl wants to refuse the basic datum be “multiplied”. The clumsy construction involving the negative, refuse, metaphorically expresses the bias of the tradition. ‘Naturally’, taken from the clarity of Husserl, one might simply say, the datum is sufficient. What is there is the basis or principle. What becomes at issue is the logic. The relation of the discussion to the datum. The way of observing, and of describing, is not straightforward but variable. The datum is radically open to the description. The datum is only known through the way it is uncovered by the observation. But, the “knowing” is so much a part of the manifestation of the datum as not to stand away from it in the manner of a ‘world picture’ or of a representation.
In Kant one may speak of epistemology by cause of the doctrine of consciousness. Consciousness is the legislation of beings. Kant says, the rational legislates the laws of reality. Both body, and reason as cause. These vestigial features of the transcendental “legislation” refer, ultimately, to the presupposition which called forth philosophy in the West. To the principle of natural law. The dividual conceptions nomos and phusis are combined and begin to ‘multiply’.
The Historial is called ‘mystical’ and in the technical sense this would be correct. Or almost correct. If mystical says, unlike opinion, this ‘showing of the things’ is true, i.e., it doesn't come from confusion or from a smoke screen, then the primordial datum wants to be ‘mystical’. It is not natural, and it is not lawlike. The natural is a concept of what happens on its own. Whereas the lawlike wants to say, through convention or by the disciplining of the human will. The natural in this sense is not the genuinely philosophical view. It is not the human being as the first beginning. The Greeks understand themselves better, because they find the human as the first one who ‘raises their eyes’, after the Darwinian doctrine attempts to found the human prior to itself. The sense of the primordial is heightened by what the modern doctrine of genetics says. Genetics as the claim about the principle, the first step.
The thinker is not the intellectual but the one who describes the impromptu. The description of the impromptu must decide whether there is a “close reading”. Is there the possibility of reading out of what is there, or is, as Strauss says, the interpretation always the “sui generis”? The interpretation is something that is supposed to happen when there is nothing there. Otherwise, according to the doctrine of “close reading” one should speak out from the evidence. But in the case that the speaking out is itself the “what’s there’, or at least a part of it, there is a challenge mounted by the datum. Is the challenge from the datum or is it willfully brought to the datum? Literally, the datum, is only what it is through the disclosure by some ‘observing speech’.
A Note on the Difficulty of Locating the Sense of the Being
It is peculiar that though it is quite obvious that speech changes what things are, many deny this. If something is pointed out, and thus what is said makes an impression, then there is a transformation. For instance, if one believes an astrolabe is a a kind of surveyor's tool, and then it is pointed out that, no, rather, it is an artifact, certainly there is a change. Yet, due to the constant hypothesis, concerning the nature or identity of things, it is, by some, maintained that, rather than a change in the object, what occurs is only that the object is seen to, like a receptacle full of possibilities, have revealed one more.
The gem with many facets does not exist, but only the facet. This is the core of the perspectivalism view. But, at once, it assumes the “gem”. That x or nature or identity. That ‘same’ thing. What it impresses me that the thing is something other than what it was thought to be it than becomes that. Such is the nature of the essence of things. But, on the other hand, everything has its factual presence, as the fact that it is. The fact that it is seems to hang apart from what it is, the merely subjective. In fact, so often as this nice story has been seriously maintained the one speaking has simply refused to question.
To move to the scientific view, is to posit a different nature. Instead of speaking of the essence of this and that peculiar thing, one simply projects a universal “stuff”. But this changes nothing, and it all starts again. The questioning remains commanded, as if by the law of obviousness, to remain shut up. All this Heidegger and Husserl regard as ontic, and here we do not arrive at language. Speach is an active agent that brings the thinking to, when it is impressed, take up some other being. But what about this thinking, as the field in which the beings change? It is foolish to think that Nietzsche believed in the mere subjectivity of this thinking, he asked, what is its law? And he answered power or Rausch. That is not a human power that moves in a wave. He speaks in the tones of Darwin, of the law of laws, by which the world moves. But this world, being the thing thought, is intelligible in every respect. By and through language. Unintelligibility, nothingness, these too are intelligible, constituents of the world.
It is wrong to say that Being is thought as time (the mere word Zeit is used, and it is said, this is not meant to say, it stands still or that it moves). This conection to the older sense of time, brought into the Historial of, e.g., Dilthey, is utterly misleading. One must see this. In this sense the continual use of striking out words and applying peculiarly sophisticated grammatical elegancies, is not correct. In Adorno, we see a failure to think, derivative on the attempts of Heidegger to escape the obviousness of language. This too has to do with the problem of politics, which is the same as the problem of the Greek beginning in the logos of assertion.
Exercise in Seeing
The basic datum according to Heidegger and Husserl is given prior to reflection. Through reflection comes the ‘I’ and the there (as an inferential doctrine, e.g., that in Hegel). So, it is not ‘given’ prior to reflection, but is prior to reflection. There is nothing ‘there’ or ‘given’. Descartes is taken from the start of his reflection, ignoring the second part: think, but not, therefore ‘I’. The thinking means: “The tear rolls down her pallid cheek.” or, “His face was lit up with cheer.”, or, “The crowns of the trees surrender themselves to sky and night.” Only that language, through its discernment, has disclosed something. In this sense the language is prior to the ‘I’ or the ‘there’. It is called, by Heidegger, the house of Being. It is not Being, but the house of Being.
In order to train thinking, as ‘seeing’, Heidegger says: “How does consciousness, knowledge as representation, relate to Dasein? In this you must not reflect, but rather see.”
The ‘world frame’, the picturing, the imagining. The thing pictured is the imagined. The imaged. The image, as something done. Descartes: We no longer accept the ground of knowledge in Socrates. We no longer accept craft, e.g., the shoemaker, as a knower. This is no knowledge as certainty. But it is knowing as pistis. It is the knowledge in the sphere of average reliability. It is the reliance on the simple and the everyday. As what is known, we don’t accept it as the certain ground. Descartes wants something grounding, more principled, than what is reliable. The certain is more perfect. What is certain is that, when the face is lit with cheer, it is so. The “it is so”, means, in combat with the notion, we must check, and see if what seems to be, really is, “it is so”, or, better, the archaic English, so 'beest'.
Descartes, with his certainty, begins to build. But Husserl and Heidegger, do not build “minarets in Switzerland”. Their claim is that, unlike the religionists, the objectivists, we set out on no project. We limit ourselves to the strict datum as such. Descartes, instead of philosophizing, founds the ‘I’. He does this because it is the ‘I’ who will know. No other will know, except this “I’. Descartes wants to construct knowledge, he already wanted to do that before he doubted, before the ultimate and primordial doubt.
“How does consciousness, knowledge as representation, relate to Dasein? In this you must not reflect, but rather see.”
The consciousness names the one who knows. They might know not just things, but also intentions, also anger, also wishes. The consciousness has only the limit in that it knows, and that what knows must not be all. For in knowing it has its object. It knows all, in so far as the extended substance is all. But, it does not know all. For the second substance is posited.
Consciousness, then, is the counter concept of representation. The representation is the same as the idea of the objectivist world. As soon as the Cartesian dualism is destroyed, through the objectivist religion, what is left over is only the extended substance. It is disputed by its counter concept, the consciousness as the reflection. Both are part of the things that flow from the human discussion, as a faith.
Dasein then names neither the representation or the consciousness. Yet, we are asked: “How does consciousness, knowledge as representation, relate to Dasein?”
It is strange that the statement is given as a paraphrase: consciousness is determined, as though in advance, as knowledge. Specificly, knowledge as representation.
Is consciousness knowledge? Is knowledge consciousness? These are the questions that in their obviousness, went unquestioned for the longest time. But Dasein, as what is to be “seen”, in relation, to these two, is concretely to be thought in the dubitative envisaging. However, this means the language disclosing is part of what is to be seen. In the reflection-knowledge the language is not noticed.
The Disadvantages of Rauch In Storm of Steel Er...
Monopolistic Reflections on Thought To...
Being Should be Thought Without the Thought of Cha...
Ancients and Moderns, Anxiety and Language Soc...
Variable Approaches to the Border of the Interpre...
A Note on the Difficulty of Locating the Sense of...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line990
|
__label__cc
| 0.542736
| 0.457264
|
5 Best Christian Romance Books (2021)
Best Christian Romance Books
Redeeming Love 9.64/10 479 Pages Check Price On Amazon
A Bride Most Begrudging 8.54/10 347 Pages Check Price On Amazon
Short-Straw Bride 9.06/10 365 Pages Check Price On Amazon
Number of Love 9.38/10 370 Pages Check Price On Amazon
One Tuesday Morning Series 9.72/10 617 Pages Check Price On Amazon
Christian romance stories are ones written with the intent of inspiring the reader with how majestic the love of God actually is. They aren’t written just to preach about the Almighty, to convert someone to the faith, or to speak ill of others, but in order to convey the true beauty, power, and greatness that devotion to the good Lord brings.
It is because of this that Christian romances are so successful and bring so much happiness to the reader. It is because of this also that we will now be taking a look at our list of the best Christian romance books.
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Francine Rivers is a superb writer whose works are adored by critics and fans, of which we are devoted members, alike. The 1991 novel Redeeming Love is the one we will be focusing on now. We also covered another book written by Rivers, just take a look at our A Voice in the Wind book review.
Sarah, also called Angel, has been through much. Sarah was still quite young when she was given in return for payment to a life of prostitution. As such, Sarah has a lot of things that haunt her. She was mistreated, molested, and afflict constantly, so that she doesn’t trust in man all that much.
Having become familiarized with how the mighty paper stands in the mind of the mob, Sarah is quite disconcerted. Then, into Sarah’s life walks in Michael. Unlike the men that Sarah had grown accustomed to, Michael is a forthright, kind man who gives freedom to Sarah as an offer.
Initially, Sarah is stumped and dumbfounded by what the intention of the man in front of her might be, but soon learns that there actually are kind, pleasant people in this damnable world of ours; they’re just quite hard to find.
Sarah makes a vow to herself to always be thankful to Michael and soon enough, they both walk hand in hand into a world of devotion, love, admiration, and sweet cherry wine. Without a doubt, this is one of the most remarkable tales we’ve read in the genre, but we can’t just spill the beans on what happens next; we leave the rest to you, kind reader.
A Bride Most Begrudging by Deeanne Gist
Standalone Novel
Deeanne Gist is a wonderful, brilliant writer whose works we cannot help but admire. Gist’s tales have always amazed and left us in a state of awe, but the 2005 standalone novel named A Bride Most Begrudging did so doubly and it is why we have counted it as one of the best Christian romance books.
Tobacco Brides
In Virginia, for the farmers that were part of the colony, whenever they would see an English ship docking, it was manifest that it was carrying the so-called tobacco brides. These tobacco brides were women that were trying to find a life greater and more decent in America than the one back home.
They are called tobacco brides because they were, in essence, traded for by way of exchanging tobacco. Men were thus often interested by his event, but one man, Drew O’Connor, was not touched at all. Drew isn’t looking for a bride or wife, but just trying to get a maid to help around the home and with his sister. Drew had lost the love of his life and was still feeling the pain from it.
Lady Constance Morrow
Nonetheless, Drew finds a woman named Constance Morrow, Lady Constance Morrow. This sassy, strong redhead says that her father is an Earl and that she was taken to America not by her volition.
For this reason, she wants to go back immediately, since she isn’t much of a cook and isn’t much for a poor man’s life. She even tends to devote more time to homework than housework. Drew is thus quite perplexed, though they do make it work with time. It’s not an easy process, since they’re quite different, but in this difference, they find something otherworldly to cling to: in spite of it all, love.
Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
Archer Brothers Series
California native Karen Witemeyer is an amazing novelist who never disappoints. Out personal favorite of Witemeyer’s is the 2012 novel Short-Straw Bride, the first of the three-book Archer Brothers series. Let’s learn more about this wonderful book in our best Christian romance books review.
Meredith Hayes
Meredith Hayes is still a kid when we jump into the story. We first see her run after the bully that took possession of her lunch at school. She’s often in that kind of a situation, but another situation that she’s often in is being pressured by her friends.
This time, she is challenged to go into the infamous, forbidden Archer Land. Being still a child, Meredith takes up the challenge and walks in, though fearfully. Just as her luck would have it, she gets caught in a trap. She is scared out of her mind, but then someone rushes towards her and gets her out of the trap before the worst has a chance to come.
Travis Archer
The person that saved her is Travis Archer and this is when Meredith learns that the Archers aren’t bad people at all, but ones at the forefront of being talked about. Meredith continues on home, though her injury would leave her with a limp for the length of her life; another thing to stay with her for the length of her life would be Travis. A couple of years later, we see Meredith has all grown up and her family is ready to have her marry a guy named Roy.
Returning the Favor
Meredith hates Roy because of his ways. She learns that Roy wants to burn the Archer land to acquire their estate, which is the prime opportunity for Meredith to return the favor to Travis. As she makes her way towards the Archer family, her heart thumps and flutters with a mighty intensity, hoping to help Travis as he helped her and to see her love again.
The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White
The Codebreakers Series
Roseanna M. White and her works never cease to astound and make us think. The 2019 novel named The Number of Love is Roseanna’s best and we will be taking a look at it right now. The Number of Love is book number of the three-novel series The Codebreakers.
The Great War was a period of much bloodshed, suffering, and damnation. While in year number three of the war, the strong point of the English is the field agents that they have. These field agents are tasked with acquiring important information, while the so-called codebreakers are there to decipher any and all German messages.
One such codebreaker is Margot de Wilde. Her office is in Room #40 and she does her job with a mesmerizing speed and accuracy. However, when something unexpected happens, Margot is liable to feel lost.
Drake Elton
An agent named Drake Elton has come back from the field with injuries, while his assailant is not keen on letting him go. He meets Margot, thus sending her in a whirlwind of emotions. Margot is instantly attracted to Drake and can’t come to terms with the fact that numbers didn’t have any play in this.
Drake reciprocates the same feelings and can’t get Margot off of his mind. As their lives become intertwined, they become subject to many nervous, fast-paced, and tense dangers. But when their hearts become connected, one can be sure that they will go through any lengths for their love and their romance.
One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury
9/11 Series
Karen Kingsbury of Fairfax, Virginia, USA, is one brilliant authoress. The 2003 novel One Tuesday Morning is our final entry for today on the list of the best Christian romance books.
Jake and Eric
Jake Bryan and Eric Michaels have never met, but they look identical. Jake is a firefighter who is devoted to God, but his wife Jamie is a fervent skeptic. Nonetheless, they don’t let this point hinder their relationship at all.
Eric, however, is a businessman who is just yet making a name for himself. More often than not, Eric is forced to be absent from important events in the family’s life, but everything for a career, eh? Eric lives in LA, while Jake is a New Yorker.
Lucrative Deal
Eric has a trip to go on, to the World Trade Center as he is to be making a lucrative deal. However, luck would not be on Eric’s side as the day is September, the 11th. When plane number one falls into the buildings, both of their lives are changed forever.
Jake and his team make their way to the WTC to help all those in need. Eric, on his way out of the building, falls down the stairs and hurts himself, but Jake helps him up. As they take one look at each other, it seems as if someone’s holding a mirror in front of them. Time is not in abundance, so they make it out and Jake runs back in.
When it’s all said and done, Eric is seen lying unconscious near a fire truck, while Jake died trying to help others in the building. Eric, because of his injuries, is subject to memory loss and they take him for Jake.
Jamie cares for the person she thinks is her husband as she begins feeling that something is very wrong. Eric, himself, can’t piece the disjointed memories together, but a yearning pains him. In these dire moments, will he find the light he needs? If you like what you have read about this book, take a look at the selection of the best Karen Kingsbury books of all time.
The Wedding Date Book Series Review (2021)
The Time Traveler’s Wife Book Review (2021)
The Rose Garden Book Review (2021)
The Man Who Loved Mata Hari Book Review (2021)
Me Before You Book Series Review (2021)
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line991
|
__label__wiki
| 0.572524
| 0.572524
|
How can we create long-term value to build a better working world?
2 Apr 2020 Global review
How your board can drive transformative action on climate change
12 Dec 2019 Board governance and oversight
Is your scale helping you win or holding you back?
19 Nov 2019 Consumer products and retail
Welcome to EY Spain (EN)
You are visiting EY Spain (EN)
Companies that build long-term value can reshape their performance, reimagine their ecosystem and reinvent themselves to drive business growth.
The pace of change has never been faster. Standing still is not an option. Building trust, embracing transformation and realizing business growth have never been more vital. Executives need to take bold actions to make their companies fit for the future and striving for business growth.
Analyzing business challenges from every angle, EY teams work with you to provide strategic, commercial, financial, operational, tax, law and regulatory advice to unlock your full potential, and realize your business growth strategies faster whatever your size or industry.
With nearly 300,000 experienced professionals in more than 100 countries, we are continually asking and answering the questions that help drive inclusive and sustainable growth for a better working world.
In this transformative age, CEOs and business leaders are challenged in how to achieve maximum value for their organization’s stakeholders. We challenge assumptions and build strategies that help improve profitability and long-term value.
The EY 7 Drivers of Growth
Our 7 Drivers of Growth framework can help your business successfully execute your growth strategy over the long term. Find out how.
Funding from a venture capital investor could give your business the best possible start on its high-growth journey. We can help you review your options and find the right backers.
Corporate and growth strategy
EY-Parthenon teams help develop and deliver strategic opportunities for clients by providing in-depth market, competitor and customer insight — incorporating financial, operational and implementation perspectives across their entire organization.
Buy and integrate
We help enable strategic growth through better integrated and operationalized mergers and acquisitions, JVs and alliances. In particular, we help companies refine their growth strategy, perform deal sourcing, conduct diligence and valuation, and implement M&A integration.
Your business: Growth and innovation
Sustaining the growth and profitability of the family enterprise is increasingly challenging in the face of a rapidly changing market environment driven by technology and disruption.
Sell and separate
Our strategic portfolio management advice helps you decide what and when to monetize.
Reshaping results
We help you respond to the challenges of COVID -19, providing trusted leadership in these urgent, critical and complex situations to help you recover and preserve value for a better future.
We help corporates, private equity, governments, sovereign wealth funds, private and family businesses, and educational institutions with their key financial issues.
The better the question. The better the answer. The better the world works.
A shining example of green energy in Morocco
We worked with the Moroccan Government in its efforts to build an innovative solar plant that will work far into the night.
Can sustainable energy drive sustainable growth?
Facing a reliance on expensive, imported fossil fuels, the Moroccan Government was searching for a way to turn renewable energy into reliable energy, to help them become energy self-sufficient.
Think of bustling souks and bazaars with hawkers shouting their wares, tables piled high with silks and spices, and rich smells of cooking wafting through the hot, arid air.
As we visualize the country Morocco, all these clichés may spring to mind — a reflection of the highly successful Government-backed campaign to turn this North African country into a tourist destination. Today, Morocco is the most visited country in Africa.
But, tourism still only makes up one-fifth of the Moroccan economy. To create sustainable, inclusive growth for its 35 million people, the Moroccan Government recognizes that it needs more than tourism.
Currently, around 45% of the working population are still employed in agriculture, despite this only driving around 12% of GDP. Manufacturing, mining and textile production are all growth areas in Morocco, with huge potential. But, with energy making up between 3% and 30% of manufacturing costs, depending on the industry, access to affordable and reliable energy has been a significant factor in industrial investment decisions in developing economies, such as Morocco’s, for years.
To compound this, Morocco is heavily dependent on fossil fuel imports. Its economy is hostage to fluctuations in energy prices and the volatility of these costs have been limiting its potential for growth.
The question the Moroccan Government began to ask, inspired by the ecologically minded king himself, was: could sustainable energy be a way to lay the foundations for sustainable economic growth? With renewable energy long seen as expensive, unreliable and intermittent (wind turbines are unable to generate power on a calm day, solar panels are useless at night, etc.), and most renewable energy tech requiring huge amounts of investment – until very recently, the answer would simply have been “no.” No emerging market has developed using renewable energy so far – but that could be about to change.
Sunset needn’t stop the rise of solar power
Use a financing and commercial structure that manages risk between public and private sectors to build an innovative solar plant that generates electricity after the sun sets.
“When the price of a barrel of oil reached US$140 in 2008, it triggered the idea that Morocco has first-rate natural resources, mostly solar and wind,” says Obaid Amrane, member of the management board, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen). “Our objective is to protect Morocco from fluctuations in the energy market. But, mostly the Moroccan renewable energy strategy is for the welfare of the population, be it through access to energy or the creation of wealth that renewable energy projects and industry can bring to the economy.”
Building a better workforce
To keep the Moroccan economy growing, it is vital to keep Moroccan people in the country to ensure a good supply of talent and labor. To do that today, emerging markets increasingly need good infrastructure to provide a good standard of living and an underlying foundation of economic opportunity. Today — with the rise of web connectivity and the cheaper costs of living compared with more developed nearby countries — living and working in Morocco is becoming more attractive than ever.
Local perspective | Cherkaoui Zahra
Over the last few decades, economic uncertainty and lack of career opportunities led many Moroccans to seek work abroad, like Cherkaoui Zahra, who now runs the traditional Riad Dar Nawfal guest house in Salé. “I moved to France to look for work in the early 1970s, starting as a chambermaid before rising up to manage a five-star hotel in Paris,” she says. When she opened her riad in 2008, there were only three in Salé, a city over the river from the capital, Rabat.
First, Zahra went the traditional route, getting the word out about her new business via friends, family and the local community. But, that only got her so far. Funding from the French Government, via the Institute français, helped her reach a wider audience. But, it was the internet that really saw things kick off, with travel apps and review sites helping guests from all over the world find her riad, despite being tucked away down an alleyway, which was previously impossible to find without a guide who would meet guests at the gates of the medina. Inspired by her success, there are now 12 riads in Salé, attracting more visitors and boosting the local economy.
"These new technologies have really helped in our success, which is helping other local businesses who are our suppliers, which is helping keep local families and communities together," says Zahra.
“Why would a young Moroccan move to France for work today, like I did when I was young, when the economy is growing and the cost of living is lower here?” Zahra asks.
Where once the foundations for growing a business were the help of friends and family connections, and perhaps government support, today access to the internet is vital to success. And for that, you need access to reliable, affordable electricity. This is something the Moroccan Government has recognized — but while Morocco wants economic growth, it is not willing to pursue growth at any cost.
Economy and environment. Not or.
“While some developing economies have seen serious problems with pollution in pursuit of economic growth, the King of Morocco is very environmentally conscious,” says Stephen Auton-Smith, Executive Director, EY Infrastructure Advisory, “so there was a very strong political drive toward low-carbon, climate-change activity in Morocco.”
This became clear in the run-up to and following the country hosting the 22nd Conference of the Parties (COP22) climate summit in 2016. Among the traditional tourist sites — and far beyond — something began to change. The modern world is coming to Morocco and turning the country into a beacon of sustainable energy use.
“We are not one of the countries that contribute the most to climate change,” says Amrane, “but we do see in a very real way the impact that such changes can have on people's everyday lives, be it at the local or global level.”
As a publicly owned company, Masen was charged with finding ways to increase Morocco’s renewable energy-generating capacity to accompany the country’s economic growth in a way that would minimize harm to the environment. With the core challenge identified as the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports while boosting the economy, Morocco is investing heavily in both renewable energy and telecoms — the two working hand in hand to drive economic growth.
Connectivity needs energy
“In the furthest regions, there is still a problem with connectivity,” says Seddiq Sebbahi, a Moroccan telecoms engineer and blogger about the energy sector and technology. “There is phone, but people need 3G, 4G to have access to the internet for education, employment and so on.”
Here, solar is also being deployed, because providing web connectivity via cell phones requires power to phone masts, but “there's no electricity grid in the most remote areas,” Sebbahi explains. “When the grid arrives, we’ll have to compare the costs. Currently, the cost of batteries is about 40% of the total, and then there's the other equipment — the charger, the regulator, air conditioning to keep the equipment cool. It's not just the solar panels.”
How can renewable be reliable?
The only question was how to turn this dream into reality at scale. After all, renewable energy may be clean — but when the wind stops blowing, wind turbines stop turning; and when the sun sets, solar panels stop generating. How could renewable energy give Morocco the reliable energy it needed to fuel its economic growth?
Solving this challenge fell to Masen, which in turn brought in EY to consult on strategy and delivery. “A key part of our work is helping governments procure and develop large-scale infrastructure,” explains Auton-Smith. “For us, the reason we get out of bed in the morning is to work on globally significant, first-of-a-kind projects that can really move the needle, and this is one of those projects.”
This shared sense of enthusiasm and a desire to build a better working world through finding ways to deliver reliable renewable energy in a way that would boost economic growth was quickly recognized by Masen, which has subsequently engaged us on a follow-up project in Midelt in central Morocco.
Infrastructure advisory
EY advises clients on financial, procurement, strategic and public-private partnership issues for large-scale infrastructure projects, providing support from project evaluation to procurement, financial close, construction and operations
Wander the souk in Marrakech and every lantern is now lit up by energy-saving lightbulbs.
Embracing sustainable energy
The stalls of the bazaar in the Jamaa el Fna, the main square of the city, also now have energy-saving bulbs
Benches have solar panels and mobile phone-charging points.
Car parks use solar cells to provide both shade and power.
Look closely, and some of the tall palm trees that punctuate the skylines of cities across Morocco are actually cunningly disguised cell phone masts.
Way up, along the winding main road through the almost inaccessible Atlas mountains
solar is being used to reduce the cost of energy for small businesses.
Even the 850-year-old Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech is now powered by well-concealed solar cells on its roof.
A five-hour, 200km drive from Marrakech, along the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains, lies one part of the answer to this quest for sustainable development. First, Morocco’s sunny climate helped its tourist sector boom, then the quality of the light attracted filmmakers to Ouarzazate. Now, that same sunshine could be about to provide the foundation for lasting economic success.
Solar may seem like an obvious solution for a sunny country in pursuit of electricity, but it’s not that simple, says Tarik Bourquouquou, Planning and Methods Manager, Power Plants & Infrastructure, Masen. After all, when the sun goes down, solar generation stops.
A desire to truly lead the way in sustainable energy led to extensive surveying and analysis all over Morocco, followed by ground-level studies, including meteorological, hydrological, seismic and topographic measurements. These were all fed into specialized software to help identify both the best sites and the most appropriate technology. Bourquouquou explained that this led Masen to focus on the relatively less widespread concentrated solar power (CSP) over the more familiar photovoltaic solar (PV). These tests also identified a site, a 20-minute drive outside the Moroccan film capital of Ouarzazate, as the location for the new plant. It had the perfect combination of location, infrastructure and resources — including easy connections to the national grid and a nearby reservoir to provide water, created by a Masen hydroelectric project back in the 1980s.
Where PV has come down a lot in price in recent years, to store its energy still requires expensive batteries. CSP, meanwhile, uses mirrors to focus and capture the sun’s heat, allowing energy to be stored for use several hours after sunset, thereby driving steam turbines like a traditional fossil fuel power station.
“Photovoltaic usually uses the sun’s photons. When they come in contact with the photovoltaic panel, it produces an electric current.” says Tarik Bourquouquou, Planning & Methods Manager, Masen.
Noor Ouarzazate: how it works
“With CSP, you concentrate all the heat of the sun to a receiver and use this heat to boil a liquid.”
“A heat exchanger transfers this heat to water, and water becomes steam. This drives the turbine. As heat is stored, the turbines can run through the night.”
“Noor Ouarzazate I and Noor Ouarzazate II use parabolic mirrors to heat a synthetic oil called HTF to 390 degrees Celsius.”
“Noor Ouarzazate III uses 7,400 mirror arrays that are almost the size of tennis courts to focus the sun’s rays on to a tower, the tallest structure in Africa today.”
“In this tower, we heat molten salts that can reach 565 degrees. It will glow white hot like the sun. In the case of a CSP tower, the heat is concentrated on to a receiver at the top of the tower using thousands of flat mirrors called heliostats.”
“The technology has been improving throughout the projects. Noor Ouarzazate I allowed us to store three hours of full production of the turbine, full load; Noor Ouarzazate II and III, seven to eight hours.”
“Though they’re next to each other, the areas for Noor Ouarzazate I, II and III are different. Many parameters were gathered and analyzed to pick the right technology for each site.”
“Few countries have invested in CSP, but the more you invest in this technology, the lower the price is. Even between Noor Ouarzazate I and Noor Ouarzazate II, there was a significant drop in the kilowatt-hour cost.”
Building renewable energy capacity that could supply energy needs after dark would both help lower Morocco’s energy costs and dependency on fuel imports. This alone would increase the ability of businesses like Cherkaoui Zahra’s to grow by reducing costs, but this wasn’t ambitious enough for the project triumvirate – Masen, Morocco and our team of experienced professionals.
“The Moroccan Government views the renewable energy program as a key way to build business, manufacturing and engineering skills, and capacity within the country,” Auton-Smith explains. As such, although much of the expertise for such a complex project came from overseas specialists, detailed analysis by our Paris-based cleantech and sustainability team found that at least 35% of the equipment and labor could be manufactured and sourced from within Morocco, which soon became an official target — one that was eventually exceeded by some 5%.
“This is a win-win because our Moroccan suppliers have improved their capability to develop and market their products.”
Tarik Bourquouquou
Planning and Methods Manager, Power Plants & Infrastructure, Masen
“You have a lot of small companies producing parts with the standards and the quantity we need,” says Bourquouquou. “They have had to invest in their production lines, in their quality, standards and procedures to be able to work with these projects.
"This is a win-win because even before this project is finished, our Moroccan suppliers have improved their capability to develop and market their products and expertise across Morocco and worldwide."
Reducing risk for investors
To develop the foundations for economic growth is often hugely expensive, requiring an investment far beyond the means of developing world governments. Workers may lack the required skills, and the countries themselves often lack the physical infrastructure. As a result, private investors often see little potential of return on investment (ROI) on infrastructure projects in poorer countries, where the risks seem so high.
Local perspective | Kathy Kriger
Even for simple projects — like a restaurant — accessing affordable finance has long been a challenge in Morocco, as Kathy Kriger found when she was setting up Rick’s Café in Casablanca. Inspired by the classic Humphrey Bogart film and designed to attract tourism to the city, even with the connections she had built up as commercial attaché for the US embassy, she still struggled to raise funds at affordable rates.
“I was counting on getting my investment from here, but ended up having to rely on my friends in the US,” Kriger says. “Later I needed to borrow more money … I had to make the rounds with 16 different capital risk companies in Casablanca to get a loan. When I paid off the loan, the director of the bank told me it was very rare that people pay off their loans, so the risk of lending is often seen as too high.”
The solar power plant project, Noor Ouarzazate, revolves around highly specialized technology, which few organizations have experience with — far more complex than a restaurant launch. It’s located in a remote part of the country, with delicate parts needing to be brought in for assembly along rural roads from as far afield as the US, China and Saudi Arabia. All this means the risks could have seemed far too great to get the project off the ground financially.
“The combination of the engineering complexity and commercial structure is really the key issue.”
Stephen Auton-Smith
Executive Director, EY Infrastructure Advisory
“The ability of the plant to generate electricity at the level forecast is fundamental to its ability to repay its debt, reward its shareholders and remain financially viable,” says Auton-Smith. “Therefore, a very significant part of our work was in evaluating what those risks were and how they could be effectively managed.
“Working with the engineering team, we undertook a series of detailed performance scenarios to assess what impact each would have on the plant’s ability to produce the required output. Financing a project of this magnitude, on a tight timeframe in North Africa, is not an easy task but our team came up with a structure designed to protect the interests of both Masen and the private lenders supporting the plant.”
The approach was both innovative and effective, making the most of the ability of Government to borrow at low interest rates to help reduce capital uncertainty for private contractors, while protecting both buyers and sellers from unexpected price fluctuations of the end product: the energy the plant would produce.
As a public company, Masen had many roles in the project. “First, as a public company, Masen mobilizes financing from different international financial institutions and repackages the debt into one credit line to relend it to the project company,” explains Boutaina Benchekroun, Project Development Specialist at Masen. “Mobilizing this ‘cheaper’ financing from international financial institutions significantly reduces the tariff compared to conventional financing.”
“Second,” she continues, “Masen purchases electricity from the project company and resells it to the Moroccan utility company, thus guaranteeing a revenue to the project company.”
This financing approach helped protect both the Moroccan Government from the risk of the project not delivering and gave the private contractors access to finance at a much lower interest rate than they could achieve if operating independently. This reduced the overall cost of the project, lowering the risk and reassuring all parties. It could serve as a model for future large-scale infrastructure projects in other emerging markets.
Climate change and energy
Our pragmatic business approach helps clients to respond to the physical risks of climate change, as well as to operate in new markets and regulatory environments related to carbon and renewable energy.
Leaving a lasting legacy of sustainable growth
The Noor Ouarzazate solar plant will reduce Moroccan energy imports, boost the economy and prove the viability of this green technology to investors around the world.
“This project is very important for the people of Morocco,” says Tarik Bourquouquou. “A lot of families are benefitting from this work. Energy will become a more available and flexible resource for Morocco. This is a source of pride, I think, for everybody, both in Masen and for everyone involved in the projects.”
While Noor Ouarzazate II and Noor Ouarzazate III – the two biggest plants at the Noor Ouarzazate site – have yet to come online and start supplying energy to the Moroccan national electricity grid, their potential impact can be seen by looking around the country. Ten years ago, regular PV solar cells would have been too expensive for many ordinary people in Morocco to afford. But, due to investment in the technology around the world, the cost has fallen dramatically in recent years. The hope is that Noor Ouarzazate will prove the potential of CSP, leading to more investment and thus future falls in cost.
Expanding the reliability, availability and affordability of energy supplies in Morocco is fundamental to the country’s future economic growth. With many families still living in poverty — and a large population under the age of 30 looking for employment — laying the foundations of modern infrastructure is key. Here, electricity and internet connectivity are vital tools to enable options for overcoming other infrastructure challenges for communities in the most remote parts of the developing world.
A decade ago, PV solar cells were too expensive for a family like the Aït Mrims to afford. Thanks to rising investment in the technology, costs have come down, and photovoltaic solar has become both more cost-effective than coal and more affordable. This is already helping drive down energy costs for everyone from the main mosque in Marrakech to telecoms companies, as well as giving access to electricity in some of the most remote communities on earth.
“There's a continuous issue in major infrastructure projects about how much risk you can transfer, what is the price of that risk transfer, how real is it?” says Auton-Smith. For innovative infrastructure projects like Noor Ouarzazate, overcoming aversion to those risks is a significant challenge.
"The price of renewables used to be higher than conventional sources of energy, so one of the biggest challenges for Noor Ouarzazate is to get this price down so we can fight climate change," says Benchekroun.
Noor Ouarzazate is designed to prove that CSP plants can really work, and that heat-based solar can deliver reliable renewable energy even when the sun’s not shining. It’s intended to reduce energy costs to give an emerging economy a stronger foundation from which to grow. But, it’s also about using a major construction and engineering project to develop local skills at the same time as improving infrastructure — and sharing that knowledge with others from around the world who want to embark on similar projects in future.
All of this is why so many multilateral lenders wanted to be involved, and why so many organizations from around the world are taking such a great interest in Noor Ouarzazate’s success — something Masen and EY are keen to encourage.
Today, this technology may be expensive, but — thanks to projects like Noor Ouarzazate — in 10 years’ time, the world may be seeing a lot more of this kind of solar plant, reducing carbon emissions, boosting economies, helping communities and families, and driving inclusive growth.
Without collaboration, vision and partnerships — the vision of a king, the finances of multilateral lenders, the security of public oversight by Masen, and the delivery of a combination of foreign and domestic private contractors, aided by the services provided by our experienced team of consultants and risk managers — the project, which is due to start producing electricity in the summer of 2018, might never have got off the ground.
“The sheer diversity of our people involved and its global nature make this a shining example of the services EY provides to our clients,” says Auton-Smith.
The Noor Ouarzazate project demonstrates that some of the world’s biggest challenges can only truly be addressed through taking the big-picture view. As Amrane puts it, “this is not just an energy project; it is a project that, while certainly about energy, is also an environmental project and an industrial project — it is about how to produce, how to consume and how to do politics differently.”
It is exactly this kind of new thinking and collaboration in pursuit of a common goal between public and private sectors that we need if we are to build a better working world.
{% } %} {{ created_at }}
{{ user.name }} @{{ user.screen_name }}
Featured: Will your digital investment strategy go from virtual to reality?
Featured: For CEOs, are the days of sidelining global challenges numbered?
Transformative Index
Featured: How to chart the right course for your transformation
Featured: How to harness AI’s power and energize the human enterprise
2020 Global Corporate Divestment Study
Featured: How can divesting help build resilience and drive value beyond the crisis?
Strategy and M&A survey results: Global Capital Confidence Barometer
Featured: How do you find clarity in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis?
Featured: How new restructuring frameworks could help companies in distress
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line992
|
__label__wiki
| 0.563081
| 0.563081
|
Green Traveller's Guide to Cologne
As part of our series of Green Traveller's Guides to European cities, here we focus on Cologne, one of Germany's oldest cities.
Sheltering on the banks of the Rhine, Cologne was founded by the Romans in 38 BC. A vast Gothic cathedral, the city’s best-known landmark and most visited site in the country, presides over an architectural patchwork of Roman towers, medieval churches and post-war office blocks. Around the cathedral is the Altstadt, or Old Town, where hops-loving visitors indulge in Kölsch, the distinctive local brew. With over one million inhabitants, and a lively student population, Cologne is a vibrant metropolis: The Cologne Opera, Cologne Philharmonic Orchestra and numerous theatres are just some of the cultural events and attractions on offer.
Although Cologne is one of the most important hubs in Northern Europe, over a quarter of the city is made up of green spaces so it's not hard to escape the crowds. Cologne is the most populous student town in Germany so there's no shortage of bars and clubs, and with 36 museums, 120 galleries and an enormous shopping district, it's a great place to go for a city break. From London St Pancras it takes just under 5 hours by train (via a simple platform change at Brussels) - see our guide to how to take the train from London to Cologne.
Students were offering a free hug outside Cologne's main train station...for a project assignment, they said. Photo Richard Hammond
Getting around Cologne by public transport
Cologne Central train station (Hauptbahnhof) is in the centre of the city, so it’s just a short stroll from the station to the magnificent Dom Cathedral, the city’s main tourist office, and many shops, bars and restaurants. The city also has an excellent public transport network to take you across the city and further afield. Cologne’s handy Welcome Card (€9) enables you to travel on any public transport for up to 24 hours as well as discounts on many of the city’s main attractions, tours and facilities, including the Cologne City Museum, the Chocolate Museum, and the Rent a Bike service. As part of the huge Rhine-Ruhr urban region, Cologne is served by several lines of the local S-bahn rail network, and its Hauptbahnhof is a major hub thereof: here is a map of the S-bahn in Cologne and the surrounding area, the website also offers ticketing information (in German, can be translated).
Cologne's extensive tram system is a great way to get across the city. Photo Richard Hammond
Cologne’s underground (U-bahn) is run by KVB, you can download network maps on their website, as well as ticket information and a journey planner. Trams and buses are operated by VRS, and have uniform tickets and fares; the VRS site offers a journey planner to find routes useful for you. If you’ll be travelling around a lot, it might be worth investing in the KölnCard, which offers unlimited travel and a range of discounts across the city.
Places to eat in Co
logne - for local, seasonal, organic food
There are few better ways to spend a Sunday morning in Cologne – or to seek out the best regional food - than tucking into a civilised brunch. Café Vreiheit, Café Feynsinn, Café Bauturm, Café Stanton and Café Lichtenberg are a co-operative of certified organic coffee shops and restaurants across the city and are all part of the local Slow Food movement. All do great breakfasts and brunches as well as other meals. Or head to Café Sehnsucht, an independent café with pretty tiled walls, mismatched wooden furniture and a commitment to organic produce. It does everything from cakes to evening meals but it’s especially known for its elaborate monthly Sunday brunches. Souppresso Organic Cafe offers a cheap and tasty menu of impressively organic and vegetarian dishes, such as fennel or tomato soup, salad or fresh carrot and ginger juice. Alternatively, visit the restaurant in the evening for a sumptuous 3-course meal (including lamb stew and truffle ravioli) complemented by a range of organic wines. The on-site delicatessen also has organic olive oils and balsamic creams to take away.
A typical dish of cheese, salad and rye bread roll at the Fruh am Dom. Photo Richard Hammond
Brauhaus Fruh am Dom is a cavernous brewery tavern sat right behind Cologne's cathedral. Order a local Fruh Kolsch directly from the barrel and head out to the beer garden to bask in the sunshine. Alternatively, sit down to dinner in the Hofbraustuben restaurant and tuck into a traditional Cologne dish and admire the stunning panoramic views of the enormous gothic cathedral. The basement brewery dates back to 1235 and drinks are poured from wooden barrels on the bar. A few other great places to eat are: Café Vreiheit, Wallstraße 91; Café Feynsinn, Rathenauplatz 7; Café Bauturm, Aachener Straße 24-26; Café Stanton, Schildergasse 57; Café Lichtenberg, Richmodstraße 13; and Café Sehnsucht, Körnerstraße 67.
What to see in Cologne
Germany's most visited tourist attraction pulls in over 6.5 million visitors a year. Chances are, the cathedral - or Dom - will be the first thing you lay eyes on when you exit the main station. Dating back to 1248, the massive gothic cathedral took some six decades to complete and was once the tallest building in the world. There are some 509 steps to climb to the top of the south tower, but the view of the city at the top is well worth the effort. Its treasury also contains a wealth of artefacts and artworks. Just beside it is the Romano-Germanic Museum, where exhibits include the famous Dionysus mosaic and the world’s largest collection of Roman glassware. There are many other wonderful local attractions in Cologne (many of which you can see from the top of the cathedral!). Here are a few more suggestions:
If you’re seeking solace outdoors, the 40-hectare Rheinpark is one of the most easily accessed green spaces in Cologne. It runs alongside the right bank of the Rhine River, can be accessed by both cable car and ferry and is home to all manner of distractions from children’s playgrounds to the sophisticated Claudius thermal spa (claudius-therme.de). But there are plenty of other parks to explore. For plant lovers there’s the Flora and Botanical Garden and the Forstbotanischer Garten, for picnickers and ramblers the 14-hectare Volksgarten park and for families the Finkens Garten nature-based theme park.
A blend of ancient and modern, the Kolumba Museum in Cologne was previously known as the Diocesan Museum but changed its name when it moved to its current location, on the site of the former St Columba church, in 2007. Though many visitors come purely to enjoy its collections of religious art and artefacts, others are attracted by the building itself. Designed by Modernist Swiss architect Peter Zumthor, and integrating the remains of several churches into its fabric, it is an extremely peaceful and appropriately contemplative space. Sustainability is also at work here, with rooms heated geothermally.
Germans love chocolate... they make nearly 1 million tonnes of the stuff every year. On the banks of the Rhine, Cologne's chocolate museum is a tour through chocolate's 3,000 year history - from the Aztec love of cocoa beans to the most modern brands and recipes and the introduction of fair trade labelling. There's a huge chocolate shop at the exit where you can buy chocolate in all shapes and sizes, including the famous Three Kings Gateau. Admission costs €7.50 per adult, and you can pay extra to take a guided tour (complete with free samples). Right: Not quite Charlie's Chocolate Factory, but oodles of Lindt chocolate tumble out of a fountain at Cologne's Chocolate Museum. Photo Richard Hammond.
A must for anyone interested in contemporary art, the bold and airy purpose-built gallery at Museum Ludwig houses works in a huge range of styles, from pop art to surrealism via the abstract movement and expressionism. Highlights including one of the largest Picasso collections in Europe and an impressive compilation of early avant-garde Russian works. A thoughtfully curated programme of exhibitions keeps visitors coming back, as does the café-restaurant attached to the museum, which specialises in farm-fresh produce sourced from local, often organic, suppliers.
Green Places to stay in Cologne
A personal service is all part of the draw at Hotel Domstern – a spick and span three-star 16-room hotel right by the cathedral. So, too, is sustainability. Electricity comes from a green energy supplier and breakfasts are sourced ethically: organic, fair trade coffee comes from a small local roasting company; eggs, honey and more come from farmers around Cologne – the owners discovered their fruit juice supplier on a bicycle tour in the surrounding “Bergische Land”. Other items they make themselves, including yoghurt, jam, bread, butter and cream cheese.
Art’Otel has artistic sensibilities and a modern outlook. Its 218 guest rooms are bright and largely white, its restaurant serves pan-Asian food, it hosts a permanent exhibition of collages by Korean-born artist SEO and its terrace overlooks a harbour that was recently gentrified as part of the Rheinhaufen urban redevelopment project. Set in the southern reaches of the city’s Old Town, it’s also one of the city’s greener hotels with water-saving showers, sophisticated ventilation systems and energy-efficient lighting.
Radisson Blu Hotel Köln is an ultra-contemporary, four-star property in the city’s Deutz district, this 393-room hotel is a popular choice among business visitors. Free wifi, extensive gym and sauna facilities and easy access to the city’s leafy Rheinpark help guests unwind after hours, as does the hotel’s Feng Shui-inspired architecture. Motion detector lighting and green cleaning supplies help boost the hotel’s eco credentials.
Hostel Kohn is a modern, seven-story former office building (with 262 beds in 72 rooms) on a quiet side street between Neumarkt and Rudolph Place. It's just about the perfect place to stay for the flashpacker - rooms are smart, light and minimal, and cost from €19 in a 6-bed dorm, €24 in a 4-bed dorm, €30 per person for a twin room, or €45 for a single room to yourself. Prices include ample breakfast with wide choice of cereals, yogurt and bread.
The smart modern rooms at Hostel Kohn are perfect for the flashpacker.
Green Traveller's Guide to Avignon
Green Traveller's Guide to Amsterdam
Green Traveller's Guide to Marseille
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line995
|
__label__wiki
| 0.574903
| 0.574903
|
Den Haag, The Netherlands
Okay, it’s The Hague if you want, but we think it’s better to use the native name! Our campsite is to the northeast of the town close to Scheveningen. The facilities are good, but it’s expensive and, for example, you still have to pay for showers and washing up and the pitch is only grass. It’s on the site of a former recreation park, and it’s a little odd that we drive round an old running or cycling track to get onto our pitch.
The first day we head out to the coast at Scheveningen, where there is a wonderful pier complex. A massive crane is moving an old pill-box so we watch that for a while. From a large tower at the end of the pier are bungee jumps and a huge zipline are set up back along n the pier, but they are expensive, so we don’t bother!
lifting a pillbox
The tower of fun at the end of the pier
When we were researching things to do we found a Jukebox and car museum, so we went out to see that, but the address turned out to be a housing estate. We looked it up later and we don’t actually think it exists, which is odd as there are loads of google hits, but never mind!
So instead our backup was the Louwman museum, which turned out to be a great backup. It’s one of the best car museums we’ve ever seen. It’s more of a private car collection that’s open to the public. It covers the late 1800’s all the way up to the noughties. There are many unique and famous cars here for example Elvis’ last cadillac, Churchills Humber Pullman, Genevieve of movie fame and others. There are over 200 cars and in particular this forms the largest collection in the world from 1910 and earlier.
Many of the cars are original and unrestored, and many still take part in classic runs such as the London to Brighton and the Mille Miglia.
We were pleased to see a 1900 Benz Duc Victoria: Owned by Doctor Wakefield in Horley and used to visit his patients! Our home town!
We had to fit in a graveyard visit while we were in the Netherlands, so it was over to the Cemetery Begraafplaats Kerkhoflaan and the quite interesting Apparent Dead House. These were not unusual in Victorian times when medicine was a less exact science. Basically, the recently deceased were laid out and dead watchers were employed to look for signs of life. They used feathers, mirrors and even attached bells to arms and legs. The watchers would come to the aid of the ‘suspended animation’ if any alarms rang, or after a suitable period, the now definitely dead would be interred.
We had to go and look at the Panorama Mesdag. This is a 120 meter long and 14 meter tall panoramic painting dating to 1881 and based on photos taken from the dunes outside Scheveningen and painted by Hendrik Willem Mesdag. At the time, these panoramic paintings were really popular – like a form of VR we suppose. The painting is housed in a purpose designed building, the viewers ascend a staircase to a central viewing platform to see the whole scene.
Within five years of its completion, advances in photography and the early days of film killed the popularity of Panoramas. Within a few years the company went bust and Mesdag purchased the whole building and his panorama. This is the oldest surviving panorama (or cyclorama) still in its original location.
We also went to the world renowned to Mauritshuis Museum and saw some of the works of the Dutch masters, for example Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring.
We spent half a day at the Escher collection in Het Paleis – the former home of Queen Emma. The palace is stunning on its own account. The basement cafe still boasts many original features of the kitchens. The rooms have fantastic (contemporary) chandeliers. We took many pictures of the prints. After a while we had to stop as we would have been there the whole day!
From Den Haag, the timing is just right to catch the Thursday cheese market at Gouda.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line996
|
__label__cc
| 0.52824
| 0.47176
|
Terry Denney details how you approach a complex robotics-focused project.
September 26, 2019 - Robots - Education & Learning
In the third of our team profiles, we focus on one of our technical leads, Terry Denney. She’s the technical lead on an un-announced Robotics project – an initiative that could change the way kids first learn to code.
This un-announced project is Terry’s 2nd robotics focused-project. She was previously involved in the software platform that powered robot capabilities from the cloud. Before joining Finger Food, Terry had never worked with our robotic friends!
Two way communications!
As tech lead for the team, Terry is involved in day-to-day technical discussions around how features are implemented, as well as helping the project management team scope out releases to ensure delivery features due for each release.
The robotics project focuses on an educational platform to teach high school students how to program. It uses concepts from flow-programming to provide a graphical way to program a Pepper robot. It also includes a simulator that acts like Pepper for times when you don’t have access to a robot. Eventually students can learn more by inspecting the code that’s behind each “box” on the graph which leads to them writing their own custom box to make Pepper do something.
Robots = Hardware + Software
The project sounds like one that everyone would love to work on – but as we know there are technical challenges in any software project and implementing a tool for a robot is no different.
Terry’s main challenge with the project was to make all the different pieces fit together. “We have a web app that’s the base of our tool which communicates with an API that we designed that talks to an Android app that runs on the robot’s tablet. That’s the first piece. In between, we are also using different languages, as the web app is built using JavaScript, but the tool is supposed to teach Python.
There’s more, “….. an additional challenge is that when we send a request to a robot to do something, there’s a delay until the robot performs the action, so we need to make sure things happen in the right order and are intuitive to the user. We’re almost there!”
I love being a sounding board for the dev team and working with the broader group…
So what does Terry enjoy most about her work here? “I love being a sounding board for the dev team and working with the broader group to come up with solutions to complex problems. But, what I really enjoy is mentoring the more junior members of the team – I think it’s important to provide support for others both technically and socially”.
Terry’s passionate about the education angle to the project. With a Bachelors and Masters degree in Computer Science, Terry’s in a good position to comment!
Every kid should be able to code!
“I’m on my kids’ school PAC exec team, and have worked with the school district for the last few years trying to get schools built in our neighbourhood. I believe that education is such an important part of a community and it builds a very important foundation for our kids to build their future on. There is nothing more rewarding than to know that what you are doing can help improve how kids can learn!
Sending Robots to Classrooms
But what about robots in schools? Sounds like a story from a sci-fi movie!
“It’s a reality. I just wish robotics played a role when I was in school! It’s such an engaging way and get kids interested in technology like programming, and even the mechanics of how to make robots move. I have two young children (5 and 7) and have seen how interested they are whenever they get to see a robot!”
As female software developer, Terry wants to encourage more girls and women to seek a career in technology. She has a few words of advice for aspiring young coders. “I’d encourage girls to believe in themselves, and not be afraid to speak up. It’s something that took me a while in my career to do, and wish I’d been more confident, earlier.
I’d encourage girls to believe in themselves, and not be afraid to speak up.
Even though it’s a male-dominated business, Terry doesn’t believe that should make a difference, “a great developer is a great developer, regardless of gender; our industry is still very male-oriented, and it can be difficult to speak up when you’re in the minority, but I’ve found that we all have good ideas that should be shared with everyone.”
When it comes to how girls can get into the business Terry doesn’t really have any specific advice on what to study, but has some broader advice “I believe it’s important to study something that you are passionate about. Computer science is part of so many different industries these days though, so it definitely doesn’t hurt to get exposed into programming at a young age.”
We can tell you more about secret project later this year, when Terry and team will have a wonderful new robot to bring to schools across the continent.
Senior developer with 13+ years working on a range of exciting projects.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line999
|
__label__wiki
| 0.567425
| 0.567425
|
Robinhood Joins the U.S. Fintech Unicorn Club
Paul Menchaca
The flourishing zero-fee stock trading app Robinhood is now part of the unicorn club after it raised a $110 million Series C at a $1.3 billion valuation, as TechCrunch reports.
The latest funding round was led by DST Capital, according to TechCrunch, along with oth...
Report: Spurning Higher Salaries, Many MBAs Are Choosing to Work at Fintech Startups Instead
Although the common career path for people who earn an MBA is to take their talents to the world of banking or consulting, a growing number of people leaving business school are being lured away by fintech startups, spurring the promise of a higher salary in order to b...
Machine Learning and AI: New Report Shows 40% of Hedge Funds Created Last Year Were Systematic
Brett Hershman , Benzinga Staff Writer
Are the days of fundamental hedge fund management coming to an end? According to a report from Preqin, a company that provides financial industry data, 40 percent of hedge funds created in 2016 were “systematic,” meaning that they rely on computer models and algorithms...
You Might Not Want to Get Too Attached to the Term 'Fintech'
Mark Fritz , Benzinga Staff Writer
You can find “fintech” in nobody’s thesaurus, and there’s a good chance the word won’t be around when the financial services sector catches up to the rest of the world’s technology.
“Fintech becomes irrelevant in a couple of years,” said Matthew Hatch,...
InvestHK's Charles d'Haussy on Hong Kong's Top 5 Fintech Priorities
NexChange spoke with Charles d'Haussy, head of FinTech for Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), about the explosive growth of the fintech market in this Asian financial hub of roughly 7 million people.
The pledged support of the Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR) Government has been intrins...
A Four Pillar Framework for FinTechs
The Gallatin Group
Those in financial services are familiar with the “three pillars” of the Basel Accord. This framework seeks to promote global economic growth by subjecting financial institutions to (i) minimum capital requirements, (ii) rigorous supervisory review, and (iii) market di...
Dyman Asia Launches VC Fund for Fintech
Dyman Asian has launched a $50 million venture capital fund called Dyman Asia Ventures that plans to invest in 12-15 fintech companies, as TechCrunch reports.
This is the Singapore-based hedge fund's first VC fund, which announced its "first close of $20 million from a...
Copyright ©2021 Fintech O2O. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1001
|
__label__wiki
| 0.964997
| 0.964997
|
‘Death blow’: Real reason for Trump impeachment
Extra firefighters delployed to Valley
Could Trump be the first president in history to be impeached twice?
by Benedict Brook
It seems increasingly likely Donald Trump will become the first US president in history to be impeached twice.
The House of Representatives is set to pass a motion as soon as Tuesday following claims Mr Trump incited the deadly DC riots.
What is looking far less likely, however, is that Mr Trump will be forced out of office before his term finishes next week.
"This will not happen, even (though) a number of Republican politicians are furious with the President," said Dr Carla Winston, an international relations lecturer at the University of Melbourne.
So, what's the point? Well, while Mr Trump may breathe a sigh of relief that he won't face the ignominy of being unceremoniously turfed out of the White House prior to Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, his reprieve could be short lived.
It's very possible his impeachment proceedings could continue long after he's left office, which raises the very real threat he could be barred from attempting another presidential run. And in an added blow, millions of dollars in perks enjoyed by former presidents could also be snatched away.
WHY IS TRUMP BEING IMPEACHED?
Five people have now died as a direct result of last Wednesday's storming of the Capitol Building in Washington DC.
A rally earlier that day, which occurred after Mr Trump invited his followers "to walk down to the Capitol", is being cited by some as evidence of incitement and grounds for him to leave office - from both sides of politics.
Republican senator Pat Toomey joined calls for the President to resign.
"I acknowledge that may not be likely, but I think that would be best," he told NBC.
On Sunday US time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed that if Vice President Mike Pence didn't use his powers under the 25th amendment to sack his boss, which he has shown little sign of doing, then impeachment proceedings would begin.
Ms Pelosi said the President was an "imminent threat" to democracy and a vote to impeach him could happen as soon as Tuesday.
WHAT IS IMPEACHMENT?
Impeachment is one of the most enduring tools US politicians have to remove one of their own or other senior officials, such as a judge. It was first used as long ago as 1797.
Those who are accused of "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanours" can be impeached.
But Suzanna Sherry, a law professor at Tennessee's Vanderbilt University, said the definition of "high crimes and misdemeanours" was vague.
"Nobody knows," she told the US' ABC News.
"The general thought is that it means whatever the House and the Senate think it means."
All that's needed for a president to be impeached is for a simple majority in the House of Representatives.
That fate has befallen three presidents: Andrew Johnson in 1868, Bill Clinton in 1998 and Mr Trump last year for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
With the Democrats having a majority in the Reps, impeaching Mr Trump could happen very quickly.
Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998, but he was not convicted in the Senate so could remain as President.
WHY DIDN'T TRUMP GET THE BOOT LAST TIME?
You may have noticed that despite Mr Trump being impeached once before, he remained in office. That's because impeachment itself has no actual effect apart from being rather humiliating.
Once the Reps has impeached a president, the matter passes to the Senate - and that's where the real action takes place. It's here that the accused faces a trial on the charges.
It's not a criminal trial. Mr Trump won't go to prison. But if the President is convicted, he's gone.
However, the Senate is also where the process gets bogged down, said Melbourne's Dr Winston.
"A two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to remove the President," she said.
"This will not happen, even as a number of Republican politicians are furious with the President," she said, pointing to Republican Senators who continued to suggest there was something dodgy about Mr Biden's victory just hours after they had been chased out of their own chamber by enraged pro-Trump rioters.
"It would also be difficult to get more than half of a group of people appointed by the President in part for their loyalty to vote to remove him from power," she said.
TRUMP'S 'DEATH BLOW'
Even if impeachment did get to the Senate, the process could be so slow, Mr Trump will have left office before it is debated.
Yet some in the Democratic Party have no issue with the fact its passage might be delayed for some time after Mr Biden is inaugurated.
Ostensibly, that's so as not to overshadow the new President's first months in office.
But there's another reason to impeach Mr Trump even after he has gone. Impeachment can also lead to a lifetime ban on high public office.
Alan Baron, a legal expert and veteran of four impeachment inquiries involving judges, told broadcaster Aljazeera that "could be a death blow to Trump".
"There's been talk about Trump's role as the sort of the government in exile, with regard to rallying Republicans when he's out of office," he said.
"If he's barred from holding any federal office, he's kind of a toothless tiger."
A vote on disqualifying a president from any future election runs only needs a simple majority - which the Democrats will have in the Senate in a few weeks.
However, it usually follows on from a two-thirds majority to sack the President and it's questionable whether enough Republicans will back such a move for it to pass even when the Dems control the Senate.
Some legal experts have suggested that if Mr Trump is already gone, the Senate might be able to skip the conviction part and move straight to a disqualification vote. That has yet to be tested.
HE COULD LOSE MILLIONS
If Mr Trump is indeed impeached in both houses, it could be very costly. He could lose most of the perks granted to former presidents.
This would include an annual pension of $US219,000 ($A284,000), staffing costs of $US96,000 ($A124,000) and office rent that could reach $5US00,000 ($A640,000).
That's at least $1 million a year in lost revenue to Mr Trump. You can add onto that free travel and healthcare.
It might not be a huge issue for a billionaire, but a million dollars plus a year is hardly small change.
The one thing Mr Trump wouldn't lose is his security protection.
In the end, even if impeachment is little more than a slap on the wrist, it will still smart.
"Even if barring Trump from holding future office falls short, then you've marked him as the only president in history to be impeached twice," Thomas Keck, a professor of political science at New York's Syracuse University told Aljazeera.
"It has to be a matter for the historical record to say that inciting a mob to attack the Congress and try to prevent them from certifying the results of an election is unacceptable behaviour."
Originally published as 'Death blow': Real reason for impeachment
Premium Content Trump impeachment to proceed: Pelosi
Acting PM knocks Twitter’s Trump ban
Capitol cop dies by suicide after riot
‘Failed leader’: Star’s brutal Trump attack
‘Death spiral’: US’ horrifying new normal
Melania speaks out: First Lady 'disappointed' in US
Premium Content Democrats launch impeachment of Trump
Trump’s dangerous final week in office
‘Bring weapons’: Trump fanatics’ new plan
capitol riots donald trump impeachment politics usa
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1003
|
__label__cc
| 0.520024
| 0.479976
|
Gosford Erina Business Chamber March Luncheon
with Guest Speaker Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, Cybercrime Squad, NSW Police Force
Matt has been a member of the New South Wales Police since November 1994 and was originally stationed at Campbelltown in south western Sydney. He commenced criminal investigation duties at Campbelltown in early 1997. In 2003 he was confirmed to the rank of Detective Sergeant attached to the Professional Standards Command, Covert Investigations Unit.
As a senior investigator attached to PSC he managed major criminal investigations. With the exception of 2 years general duties policing, his area of expertise is primarily in criminal investigation. Moreover, whilst performing criminal investigation duties he has been involved in a number of critical incidents / major investigations for the offences of murder, sexual assault, armed robbery and drug offences.
Matt was promoted to the rank of Detective Inspector in 2008 as the Professional Standards Manager for the Deputy Commissioner Specialist Operations. This role had him reporting to the Deputy Commissioner and provide advice and performed a monitoring function for all criminal and departmental investigations that involve police officers attached to the Specialist Operations Command.
During 2011 and 2012 Matt relieved extensively as the Staff Officer to the Deputy Commissioner Specialist Operations and the Deputy Commissioner Field Operations where he gained corporate exposure on how the senior team of the NSW Police Force functions and goes about achieving it's corporate goals. In 2012 Matt transferred into the Fraud & Cybercrime Squad and performed the role of investigations co-ordinator focusing on cyber enabled fraud and identity crime offences.In 2018 Matt was promoted into his current role as the Commander, Cybercrime Squad, State Crime Command.
and Guest Speaker Greg Coombes, Enterprise and Activation Officer, Central Coast Council
Central Coast Council has developed a resource kit to provide information to assist businesses to become more inclusive through extending their goods, services, experiences and opportunities to a community of under-served people. This resource is designed to outline simple strategies that will assist with improving access to your business, making it more inclusive for people with disability.
Venue: Gosford Golf Club
Starting: 12:15 PM
Ticket Information: Members: $40.00
Non-Members: $65.00
Chamber Alliance Partner: $40.00
PLEASE LET US KNOW OF ANY DIETARY REQUIREMENTS ON BOOKING
Sorry we cannot accommodate bookings on the day due to catering and seating requirements of the venue.
PRE-PAYMENT & CANCELLATIONS
Please contact us if you have booked and are unable to attend.
If you pre-pay and need to cancel before the date, we are unable to offer a refund.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1004
|
__label__wiki
| 0.985714
| 0.985714
|
Phil Collins Solo Reissues Campaign Continues
Phil Collins’ solo reissues campaign kicks off with the January 29th releases of deluxe editions of his albums Face Value and Both Sides. The next stage in the "Take A Look At Me Now" retrospective (via Rhino/Atlantic) comes on February 26th with brand new versions of Hello, I Must Be Going! and Dance Into The Light.
The "Take A Look At Me Now" campaign finds the longtime Genesis lead vocalist, drummer and songwriter revisiting a solo career that boasts over 100 million sales and numerous worldwide #1 albums. His remaining four solo studio albums will be rereleased in the coming months.
The campaign was originally scheduled to begin last November but was delayed due to the singer’s emergency major back surgery, that left him unable to undertake the extensive promotion campaign planned internationally.
Entirely curated and compiled by Collins himself, "Take A Look At Me Now" examines how his songs have evolved over time, with the majority of the additional content throughout the series focused on live versions of the tracks, as well as demos and B-sides.
Here’s Collins explaining how he researched the material. Turns out he searches online just like you and us!
Initially released in 1982, Collins’ second solo album Hello, I Must Be Going! focused on a more organically produced sound than Face Value, with lyrics on tracks such as "I Don’t Care Anymore" and "Thru These Walls" providing a darker thematic core. By contrast, the album’s biggest hit was Collins’ upbeat interpretation of The Supremes’ "You Can’t Hurry Love," which became his first solo #1 single. Hello, I Must Be Going! peaked at #2, and earned Collins his first Grammy and Brit Award nominations.
1996’s Dance Into The Light presented a flavor of the unexpected as elements of world music came to the fore, most notably with flourishes of Afrobeat-styled percussion on several tracks. Both the album and its title track reached the Top 10 upon release. It concludes with a new take on Bob Dylan’s "The Times They Are A-Changin’."
"I’ve always been quite proud of my demos and have often made them available as B-sides, but with a few exceptions, I have avoided including those on these collections," says Collins. "Instead, I’ve focused on how nicely the songs developed when played on stage, rather than showing how they originated."
As with the rest of the reissue series, Hello, I Must Be Going! and Dance Into The Light will be available as 2-CD and digital versions which feature the remastered album and the additional content, as well as the 180-gram heavyweight audiophile vinyl which features the remastered album as a standalone product.
Each album in the series features a bold new artwork concept in which Collins has recreated his poses from the original album covers with new photography that was shot in the present day.
HELLO, I MUST BE GOING!: DELUXE EDITION Track Listing
Original Album Remastered
"I Don’t Care Anymore"
"I Cannot Believe It’s True"
"Like China"
"Do You Know, Do You Care?"
"You Can’t Hurry Love"
"It Don’t Matter To Me"
"Thru These Walls"
"Don’t Let Him Steal Your Heart Away"
"The West Side"
"Why Can’t It Wait ‘Til Morning?"
Bonus Tracks – CD & Digital Formats Only
"I Don’t Care Anymore" – Live*
"I Cannot Believe It’s True – Live*
"Like China" – Live*
"You Can’t Hurry Love" – Live*
"It Don’t Matter To Me" – Live*
"The West Side" – Live Rehearsal*
"People Get Ready" – Live*
"Thru These Walls" – Live*
"It’s Alright" – Live*
"Oddball" – Demo of "Do You Know, Do You Care?"*
"Don’t Let Him Steal Your Heart Away" – Demo*
DANCE INTO THE LIGHT: DELUXE EDITION Track Listing
"Dance Into The Light"
"That’s What You Said"
"Lorenzo"
"Just Another Story"
"Love Police"
"Wear My Hat"
"It’s In Your Eyes"
"Oughta Know By Now"
"Take Me Down"
"The Same Moon"
"River So Wide"
"No Matter Who"
"The Times They Are A-Changin"
"Dance Into The Light" – Live*
"Just Another Story" – Live*
"Wear My Hat" – Live*
"River So Wide" – Live*
"Take Me Down" – Live*
"Lorenzo" – Demo*
"That’s What You Said" – Demo*
"Another Time" – B-side
"It’s Over" – B-side
"I Don’t Wanna Go" – B-side
* Previously unreleased on CD
© Best Classic Bands
Hello, I Must Be Going
Watch a young Phil Collins with pre-Genesis band Flaming Youth
More in this category: « Inside the head of... Phil Collins Phil Collins Remembers David Bowie: 'Everybody Seemed to Like David' »
PC Categories
DVD / Blu-ray (10)
PC Cloud Tags
American Airlines Center Australia Berlin Brisbane Can't Stop Loving You Cover Dallas Drums Houston In The Air Tonight Miami New Zealand Not Dead Yet Not Dead Yet Live Phil Collins Rehearsal Still Not Dead Yet Taylor Swift Toyota Center Warsaw
The Last Domino?
The SSE Hydro, Glasgow
On 01 Apr, 2021
Utilita Arena, Birmingham
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1005
|
__label__wiki
| 0.789646
| 0.789646
|
About | Who We Are
Money Market Fund
Pension Products
Haba Haba Challenge
G-Kuze App
JKIA
Sébastian Mikosz
Kenya Airways US flights down to 5 a week
Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ has reduced the number of flights on the newly launched New York route from the current seven to five a week effective January 15.
The national carrier made the announcement Thursday that flights to the US will now be on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week.
“Kenya Airways has today announced that it is adjusting the schedule for its Nairobi – New York route to 5 flights in a week effective 15th January 2019. Currently, the airline is flying this route daily,” reads the statement from the carrier.
In a statement, KQ chief executive Sebastian Mikosz said that while the decision to adjust frequency is a strategic business decision, the airline remains strongly committed to the New York route and will continue to offer non-stop services to all its guests travelling between the two cities.
“As the only airline that offers a non-stop flight between East Africa and the USA, this route remains significant to us because of the role it plays in opening more economic and tourism growth opportunities for Kenya and East Africa,” he said.
“The decision to adjust our schedule is to cater for seasonality in line with global practices that allows airlines to reduce or add frequencies based on low or high seasons.”
He noted that they would evaluate the option of reverting to daily flights for the route next summer, just as they’ve been doing for the Paris and Amsterdam routes.
An earlier statement in November cited low demand during winter season. This saw KQ cancel several scheduled flights along the new route since the launch on October 28.
The airline departs from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 22:55 on the said days, arriving at John F. Kennedy (JFK) in New York at 06:25 the following day. It then departs from the US at 12:00, landing at JKIA at 10:30 the following day.
KQ started flying to New York on October 28 with the intentions of having daily flights between the US and Kenya.
Specialties: Stock Brokerage, Corporate Finance, Asset Management, Research, and Wealth Management. Contact us at +254 709 185 000
© Genghis Capital
clientrelations@genghis-capital.com
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1006
|
__label__cc
| 0.617984
| 0.382016
|
Education & Careers >
Seismic Events in London
Q: I want to enquire as to the likelihood of an upcoming earthquake. I have been led to believe that there is a major seismic event in London every 300 years. I have been told that the best course of action is to take cover under a table or door frame. Please advise me how I can prepare myself for such tectonic activity.
From Ms Tendayi Bloom (December 2009)
Reply by Dr Ted Nield
You can rest assured that major seismic events - likely to cause damage to buildings, injury or loss of life - are extremely unlikely in the UK as a whole and are not at all likely in London. Seismic activity close to London was most recently reported from Folkestone, Kent, in 2007.
Historically the people of Kent have felt earthquakes centred in, or near, the Dover Straits in 1950, 1776, 1580 and 1382; the two earliest ones had magnitudes estimated at just under 6, and caused damage as far as London, where in 1580 two people were killed by falling masonry. The last earthquake felt by residents in Folkestone was actually a Dutch earthquake (epicentre near Maastricht) in 1992. Comparisons can be made between the Folkestone event and the Colchester earthquake of 1884, magnitude 4.6 ML. At Colchester, there was also much damage in the epicentral region, and it is likely that similarities between Folkestone and Colchester will strengthen as more analysis is conducted; the shallow depth of both earthquakes and a ‘soft’ geological environment resulting in a concentration (and possibly amplification) of the ground-shaking in their epicentral areas.
Of course none of these areas lies near one of the Earth's active Plate Boundaries, such as the famous San Andreas Fault Zone in San Francisco. These are known as "intraplate" earthquakes, and placing intraplate earthquakes such as the Folkestone event into a geological context is always difficult. Most British earthquakes are understood to occur as a result of reactivation of ancient structures in response to the current stress regime, which is dominated by Atlantic widening. While one may speculate that Dover Straits seismicity is associated with the western end of the North Artois Shear Zone, it is difficult to be certain about the seismotectonics of this area.
If you think you are experiencing an earthquake, you should exit the building you are in - earthquakes do not kill people, buildings do. Failing that (and even outside stay clear of the exterior of buildings where falling masonry might land) you should place yourself in a door frame or under a sturdy piece of furniture such as a stout table.
Seismic activity and the lithosphere
Volcanic activity in Britain
Is Earth's rotation slowing down?
Why is the Iceland eruption so violent?
Activity of the Earth’s crust
Slow movement of tectonic plates
Greek eruption makes waves in UK
Continents, Supercontinents & the Earth's Crust
Earth Materials
Earth's Climate
Planetary Geology
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1007
|
__label__wiki
| 0.985287
| 0.985287
|
How to Pitch a TV Show to Amy Poehler
By Justine Harman
For more than 15 years, Amy Poehler has been developing her own TV shows with her Los Angeles–based production company, Paper Kite. And one look at her latest slate of projects—from a crafting competition series to a cult-loved comedy about stoner besties—proves the 47-year-old Emmy winner has anything but narrow tastes. Here, four projects that got her to “yes."
Sometimes the best material finds her. Back in 2011 Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson invited Poehler to guest-star in an episode of their Web series about two scrappy best friends trying to survive in the Big Apple. Impressed with the duo’s comedic verve and undeniable onscreen chemistry, she did them one better and agreed to come on as executive producer.“People watch Broad City because they love the friendship,” Poehler says. “Two women who put each other over anyone else in a city that never sleeps. It’s a classic story.”
Broad City returns to Comedy Central in early 2019.
Linda Kallerus
The comedy about two bitter thirty-somethings (Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner) was a labor of love. After developing a pilot with USA, Poehler brought it to Hulu, where it became one of the streamer’s first-ever scripted series. Its three-season run ended last fall, but Difficult People remains one of Poehler’s favorites. “That show had a delicious edge that showcased the talent of everyone involved,” she says. “And it gave us a completely new version of New York City.”
Stream Difficult People now on Hulu.
Paul Drinkwater/NBC
Poehler is back on TV with Parks and Rec alum Nick Offerman to cohost this not-so-cutthroat competition series. Poehler, who pitched the project to NBC as a “love letter” to the art of crafting, recognized the power of that giddy Knope-Swanson connection. “Nick and I share a similar work ethic. We don’t think things have to be painful to be important, but we do not suffer fools,” she says. “I’m so pleased we got to make this show, because we’re both desperate for something that celebrates hope—and the act of making things by hand.”
Making It is airing on NBC now.
When it came to creating a scripted series about a “busy, dynamic, unapologetic working mother,” Poehler wanted to deviate from standard sitcom formula. “At Paper Kite we are moved by diverse voices and [stories about] the complex female experience,” she says. Emet, played by Sarayu Blue, is conflicted about, well, everything. “The messaging women get is that we should have it all, do it all, be everything to everyone,” Blue says. “What I love about Emet is she’s just doing her best.” Amen.
I Feel Bad debuts on NBC this month.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1012
|
__label__wiki
| 0.507196
| 0.507196
|
War Against Venezuela Is War Against Us All
By Christopher Black
Global Research, March 17, 2019
Region: Latin America & Caribbean, USA
Theme: Law and Justice, Media Disinformation, Oil and Energy
The American war on Venezuela continues to escalate with the sabotage of its electricity grid, the most serious action of all so far, which was not only an act of terrorism against the entire civilian population but also an attempt to shut down exports of Venezuelan oil.
This is part of the American hybrid war strategy. Hybrid warfare is warfare that uses all domains of life and society to hurt and damage the targeted nation. It was best defined by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiansui, two senior colonels of the Peoples Liberation Army in their famous book titled, Unrestricted Warfare, published in 1999 which proposed strategies and tactics that could be used by developing countries to compensate for their military inferiority vis a vis the United States during a high tech war.
Published prior to the American cruise missile attack on the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during the NATO aggression against Yugoslavia, the book drew a lot of attention in the west for its proposition that a multitude of means, military and non-military could be used to strike at the United States in a conflict; hacking into websites, targeting financial institutions, terrorism, using the media, urban warfare, sabotage, crippling infrastructure, subversion, all the methods of what the Americans term hybrid warfare.
The Chinese colonels stated that the first rule of this type of warfare is that there are no rules, nothing is forbidden. But they made a fundamental error when they also stated that “strong countries would not use the same approach against weak countries because strong countries make the rule while rising one break them” and, though admitting that the US breaks the rules of international law and makes up its own law when it suits their interests stated that it “has to observe its own rules or the world won’t trust it.”
Well, the colonels seem to have ignored the long history of the United States using exactly these types of methods against all its enemies weak or strong, of using unrestricted warfare, without limitations, in effect, total war on nations and peoples they target. They did not seem to understand that the Americans don’t give a damn what anyone else in the world thinks or whether anyone trusts them, which makes them all the more dangerous because peaceful settlement of disputes with them on an equitable basis is next to impossible. They are currently using these methods against Russia, Iran, China, Syria, DPRK, and of course Venezuela.
All these tactics are, of course, elements of a war of aggression, which is the fundamental war crime, and now a crime at the ICC for which they could, in theory, be prosecuted. Yet, the ICC prosecutor sits at her desk, as his her custom, drinking tea while collecting a large salary and instead of stating that the US and its allies are committing crimes against humanity and war crimes against the Venezuelan people entertains a Canadian request on behalf of the Lima Group to investigate the Venezuelan government for “crimes against humanity.” We have to suppose for not giving all its oil to the Americans.
Though Venezuela is a Party to the Treaty of Rome and so falls within their jurisdiction, for the Prosecutor to begin an investigation she has to be supplied with credible and reliable information deserving of investigation that crimes have been committed and crimes which the Venezuelan government is systematically ignoring or is part of. They have supplied no such information in their requests. All they have sent to the Prosecutor are unsubstantiated claims, bald statements echoing their political rhetoric. So there are no legal grounds on which the Prosecutor can act.
However, there is overwhelming evidence and outright confessions, bragging in fact by the US, Canadian and some EU leaders that they are committing crimes against humanity against the people of Venezuela with their economic warfare, that they call “sanctions’ which are illegal under international law, and for supporting an internal coup attempt, for their conspiracy to commit aggression and lately the sabotage of civilian infrastructure, the electricity grid.
Canada, with the US, and European nations, such as Germany Spain France and Britain, have imposed illegal sanctions, economic warfare on the people of Venezuela in order to force them to turn against their government by making them suffer. The sanctions are illegal because they violate the UN Charter. Only the Security Council has the authority to impose sanctions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. They are also crimes against humanity because they amount to siege warfare, that is, causing the deliberate suffering of civilians in an attempt to overthrow a government. Venezuela to protect itself, is building support among the nations such as Russia China, India, Cuba, Turkey, Iran and many other nations that have just formed a group to restore the UN Charter as the heart of international law and in recent days we have seen both Russia and China promising assistance and telling the Americans to back off.
Venezuela can also play the ICC game. It can request the ICC to lay charges against the countries attacking it and can file a claim against the USA and its gang for damages in the International Court of Justice and request an order from that court to the US gang stop their aggression against Venezuela. Venezuela can also use war without rules on its attackers and President Maduro hinted as much in a recent speech warning the Americans that they will not be immune from the consequences of their actions.
In some way it appears as if the United States, its influence weakening in other areas of the world, is attempting to re-establish its one time dominance in North and South America. Canada has been long brought to heel and is just a whimpering poodle in the lap of the American state to the dismay of most Canadians who have no real say in anything. Mexico was once in their pocket but already there are signs of trying to undermine and slap down the new Mexican President Obrador whose social democracy is too left for the far right that controls the US machinery of power.
John Bolton even stated that the “Monroe Doctrine” was the foundation of their policy to explain the US approach against Venezuela. The statement was a clear insult to all the countries of Latin America, the Lima Group included but it has no basis in international law.
The Monroe Doctrine is not accepted as part of international law and never has been. It is a very simple statement that the Americans issued in 1823 just after most of Latin America freed itself from Spanish and Portuguese rule, proclaiming that the western hemisphere was an American region of interest and that any European intrusions into the area would be considered a hostile act. To resurrect it today as Bolton tries to do is an insult to all Latin American countries, and even Canada, since it means that the Americans view those nations as so many provinces of their empire. However there is a contradiction because the Americans now rely on assistance from the very European countries that the Monroe Doctrine was aimed against; Spain, Britain, France, Germany in order to advance their war against Venezuela. So its resurrection at this time shows American weakness, by relying on help from the same nations that the Monroe Doctrine claims to exclude from the region.
Indeed, they heavily relied on these European interlopers to help them get their American puppet back into the country after he had left to try to stage a propaganda stunt at the Colombia-Venezuela border, a stunt that backfired and made them look like fools. On his return to Venezuela on March 4, Guaidò was met at the airport, likely preventing his deserved arrest, by some European ambassadors from Spain, France, and Germany, in particular. The US ambassador was not there.
In any case that action by the foreign ambassadors was a violation of the Vienna Convention and a hostile act. Article 5 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations sets out the permitted normal activities of consuls in a receiving state. But subsection (m) states:
“(m) performing any other functions entrusted to a consular post by the sending State which are not prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving State or to which no objection is taken by the receiving State or which are referred to in the international agreements in force between the sending State and the receiving State.”
This means that supporting the conspirators in an attempted coup against the receiving state, Venezuela is clearly prohibited and is regarded under customary international law as a hostile act and Venezuela has the right to immediately expel the consular officials involved or the entire consulate. The German ambassador who seemed to be most vocal has now been expelled.
Part of the hybrid warfare is the use of propaganda of course and an important element of the US propaganda is the resort to a claim that there exists a legal doctrine of “responsibility to protect” in international law. This doctrine does not exist in international law. It is purely an invention of the United States and its allies to justify their wars of aggression and violations of the UN Charter. Since they cannot obtain the support of the Security Council for their wars, because they are in violation of the obligation to keep the peace, and violations of the rights of every nation to its sovereignty and independence, the right not to be attacked in any way by other nations, they invented this phrase to justify the unjustifiable, It is nothing less than a pretext for wars of aggression and people should put it out of their minds as an argument for these wars. It is a bogus doctrine, a doctrine invented by fascists.
Worse they base the resort to this false doctrine on false facts because the UN Human Rights Council sent a Special Rapporteur to investigate the conditions in Venezuela and the cause of them. The man assigned dutifully went there, investigated and dutifully filed his report which because it did not accord with what they had hoped he would report was suppressed and we only know about it through an interview he gave to the press. Mr. Alfred de Zeyas reported to the UN that it was the illegal economic sanctions imposed by the US, Canada and their other allies that are the principal cause of the hardships being created in Venezuela and that they are illegal and should be ended and that the countries imposing them should be charged for committing crimes against humanity, I could quote him at length but I think the reader deserves to read this interview in full as much as de Zeyas deserves to he heard. We can only hope that the ICC Prosecutor will read his report and act on it. But I won’t hold my breath waiting.
The people of the world must protest this war, protest against these criminals who control the machinery of state in their nations for the crimes we see them commit against peoples in foreign lands so openly are the very crimes they are committing against us at home. We are all targets. No one is immune. The war on the people of Venezuela, and now, for good measure, Cuba and other socialist countries, against any form of socialism everywhere, is a war against us all.
Note to readers: please click the share buttons below. Forward this article to your email lists. Crosspost on your blog site, internet forums. etc.
Christopher Black is an international criminal lawyer based in Toronto. He is known for a number of high-profile war crimes cases and recently published his novel “Beneath the Clouds. He writes essays on international law, politics and world events, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook” where this article was originally published. He is a frequent contributor to Global Research.
Featured image is from NEO
Copyright © Christopher Black, Global Research, 2019
Articles by: Christopher Black
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1013
|
__label__wiki
| 0.721359
| 0.721359
|
Meet the woman you can hire to be your bridesmaid for $1,000 and up
One night last June, Jen Glantz visited Craigslist.com, posted an ad, and went to bed.
She woke up to over 250 emails. By the end of the week, thousands had flooded her inbox.
"I didn't know what to expect," she tells Business Insider. "I figured I'd post it, and just see what happens. I never thought I'd get this kind of response."
Her ad read something like this:
"When all my friends started getting engaged � I decided to make new friends � but then they got engaged also and for what felt like the hundredth time, I was asked to be a bridesmaid. This year alone, I've been a bridesmaid 4 times. That's 4 different chiffon dresses, 4 different bachelorette parties filled with tequila shots and guys in thong underwear twerking way too close to my face. � So let me be there for you this time if you don't have any other girlfriends except your third cousin, twice removed, who is often found sticking her tongue down an empty bottle of red wine..."
Glantz is the cofounder of Bridesmaid for Hire, a company that offers "undercover bridesmaid" and personal assistant-type services to brides and their wedding parties.
She founded her company after seeing how well people responded to the Craigslist ad � which she decided to write when her roommate dubbed her "the professional bridesmaid."
"I was a bridesmaid more times that I could count on two hands; I was even asked twice in the same day!" she recalls. "So, when my roommate said that, I thought, 'Maybe I can actually do that. Maybe I can help brides who aren't my friends,'" says Glantz, author of "All My Friends Are Engaged."
Based in New York City, the 26-year-old Florida native says she noticed a gap in the $51 billion wedding industry somewhere around her sixth stint as a bridesmaid, and decided to fill it.
"Friends of mine were handing out my phone number to brides-to-be who had questions for me about how to handle unruly and unresponsive bridesmaids, or just how to make it through their wedding adventure without loosing their cool � or their minds," she says. "I found myself chatting with a new bride almost every week about her own adventure so far, breaking down challenges, giving advice on personal topics, and acting as her impromptu therapist and ultimate bridesmaid consultant. It's a happy time, but also the most stressful time � and a lot of women need some extra support."
In talking to brides, Glantz noticed that many didn't have anyone there for them on their wedding day. "Sure, they have bridesmaids and family and maybe even a wedding planner � but those people are all busy getting ready and taking photos, and the planner is focused on getting things done and working with vendors. If the bride needed someone to run a last-minute errand, nobody was there to do it."
After posting her Craigslist ad, Glantz began responding to emails, getting to know the women who were interested in her service.
"Once I realized there was real demand for this, I knew I needed to come up with packages, pricing, and a website."
That's when she reached out to her brother, Jason Glantz, who cofounded Bridesmaid for Hire and has helped her with business development, business planning, marketing ideas, website design, and even partnership research. "He's half the brains and the heart behind this business."
The bother-sister team came up with three different packages.
There's the "Virtual Bridesmaid," which includes one-on-one consultation sessions via video chat; the "Ultimate Bridesmaid," which offers maids-of-honor and bridesmaids behind-the-scenes assistance plus in-person ground support at pre-wedding events and day-of events; and the "Bridesmaid By Your Side," which includes everything from the Undercover Bridesmaid package, plus actual participation as a bridesmaid or maid-of-honor in the wedding party.
The packages range from $300 to $2,000, however, Glantz says her prices are negotiable ("I can work with any budget," she says). The average bride or bridesmaid pays Glantz $1,000 for her services.
"Essentially I'm there as the bride's personal assistant and on-call therapist. I help her manage and execute her personal to-do list of tasks, which can often be over 100 tasks long."
But contrary to popular belief, Glantz's service "isn't for 'sad' brides without friends."
There are a few reasons people hire her. Some brides have attendants, but are looking for a professional to step in and help with tasks and make sure their wedding party has everything they need; while others are women who don't have many close people in their lives and "want a bridesmaid by their side to make this adventure special for them."
"They need that energetic and positive person to boost their confidence before and during their wedding day. There's nothing sad about that. Not everyone is lucky to have quality people in their lives who make them shine. And that's not something they should be embarrassed about," she says. "I'm not rent-a-friend for the day. I'm just a professional who will make the wedding experience more pleasant for clients."
Her first client was a bride named Ashley.
"She hired me after her maid of honor 'stepped down,'" she says. "This person was not there for Ashley, and couldn't provide her with the kind of support a bride deserves."
Ashley hired Glantz in July and got married in Minnesota in September. They spoke on the phone weekly, and when the big day came, Glantz was by Ashley's side.
"People always ask, 'Do people know you're a hired bridesmaid?'" she says. "And the answer is, most guests don't."
Other bridesmaids, of course, are aware � "and sometimes they get a little jealous at first," she adds. "But once they realize I'm not there to replace them as the bride's friend, and I'm there to help them and make their day more enjoyable, they usually get comfortable with the idea, and we're often friends by the end of the night."
If and when guests do ask Glantz how she knows the bride, her response is simply, "We're friends." "Rarely do they question me beyond that," she says.
And the best part is, she says, it's usually not a lie.
Glantz frequently becomes friends with her clients throughout the process, and they remain friends after the big day. "I'm helping out women during a very emotional and vulnerable time in their lives, so it's natural that we tend form close bonds."
But she says it's also important to remember this is a job and she has to be professional.
"I never, ever drink at weddings. I'm there to work � not party," she says. "It might look like I'm just another bridesmaid having fun, but I am actually doing a lot of behind-the-scenes running around."
Since Ashley's wedding in September, Glantz has been in five other weddings as a hired bridesmaid. She'll travel to Las Vegas for a wedding in April, and at least six other cities over the next 12 months.
And now, with the recent release of the "The Wedding Ringer," a movie starring Kevin Hart who plays the CEO of a company that provides best men for grooms in need, Glantz has seen a significant uptick in interest.
She has recently received 750 applications from brides who are getting married in the next two years � and has taken on 25 new clients.
To choose which ones she wants to work with, Glantz sets up a phone call with almost every interested bride, mother of the bride, or friend of the bride who contacts her.
"I currently have a limited amount of brides I can take on and work with each year, so I like to make sure that not only do I think I can help the bride out in an extraordinary way, but that she's truly looking to hire a professional bridesmaid for support and guidance," she says. "If a bride writes to me and asks that I send them five bridesmaids with specific requests about what each one needs to look like, I typically pass over. We're not a bridesmaid staffing firm."
To keep up with demand, Glantz in the process of hiring five additional "bridesmaids." As of this week, she's had over 1,000 women apply.
"I'm the only person who is doing this currently," she says. "Eventually I'd like to expand and have teams in cities all around the world."
Glantz couldn't share financial data since she and her brother are currently in talks with potential investors and partners, and have agreed to not comment on finances publicly � but of the money they are making, she says "every dollar goes back to investing in the business, whether that's to the website, legal fees, hiring women to assist with larger weddings, product development (for items we plan to sell on the website), and more."
She says she's also looking to partner up with a female-oriented nonprofit to donate a percent of the company's profits to. "Giving back to women and helping them with career and confidence development has always meant a lot to me personally and professionally," she says. "I don't think many women out there, in high school and college, have someone rooting for them. Telling them they can grow up to be what they want to be or guide them in the right direction to do so. I've always wanted to be that person for them."
And men: don't fret. Glantz plans to being offering a similar service to grooms in the future.
NOW WATCH: What Happened When A Bunch Of Young Boys Were Told To Hit A Girl
I went on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and it nearly destroyed meThere's a weird problem with the new Raspberry Pi computerMeet the woman you can hire to be your bridesmaid for $1,000 and up
SEE ALSO: Meet The Woman Who Cuddles With Strangers For $60 An Hour
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1022
|
__label__wiki
| 0.916619
| 0.916619
|
Home > News and Events > Karen Marshall's Exhibit 'Between Girls: A Passage to...
Karen Marshall's Exhibit 'Between Girls: A Passage to Womanhood 1985-2015' on View at Hampshire
Hampshire alum Karen Marshall's 30-year photographic meditation on friendship on view at Hampshire College.
Karen Marshall 75F’s Between Girls: A Passage to Womanhood 1985–2015, a three-decade-long documentary study following a group of middle-class New York City girls from the ages of 16 to 46, runs through November 17 in the Harold F. Johnson Library art gallery at Hampshire College.
Marshall began photographing the teenagers in 1985 after being introduced to Molly Brover, a junior at the Bronx High School of Science. After Brover and her friends, who lived on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, agreed that Marshall could photograph them, she began spending time with the group and documenting the mundane rituals of their friendship.
“I believe that there is a language that women share with each other that is really hard to articulate,” says Marshall, who was in her mid-20s at the time. “My intent was to look at the emotional bonding that happens between girls at age 16 and document the emblematic relationships that often develop at this time in their lives.”
Ten months later, Molly was hit by a car and killed while on vacation in Cape Cod. Marshall was devastated, but resolved to keep the project going.
“I realized that Molly would remain 17, and the rest of them would become women,” she says. “It is the main reason that inspired me to continue to document the girls in various ways over the years to come, which has evolved into a 30-year meditation on friendship.”
Between Girls began with 35mm black and white photographs of the girls at 16 and 17. It expanded with audio interviews recorded in 1990, a three-screen video of interviews shot in 2008 as they approached 40 years old, and a collection of small books and ephemera that reveal the details of a three-decade archive. Segments of the work, a sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts, have been shown at various international venues including the OK Centrum for Contemporary Art in Linz, Austria in 2008, but the project in its entirety will be exhibited in full for the first time at Hampshire College.
Hampshire president Jonathan Lash welcomed Marshall at a reception on Friday, October 23. The opening of Between Girls was among the highlights of the college’s Family and Friends weekend, October 23-25. The exhibit runs through Tuesday, November 17. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Marshall has been on the faculty at The International Center of Photography in New York City for the past 20 years where she is a core seminar teacher in the Documentary Photography and Photojournalism One-Year Program. During her tenure she has curated two shows at ICP’s Rita K. Hillman Gallery of Education including “Stories in the Social Landscape,” works of 83 faculty members, in 2014.
The Atlantic, 'What Thirty Years of Female Friendship Looks Like'
PDN Online, 'Forever Seventeen'
Alumni Exhibits
Visit Hampshire
Explore the Hampshire Campus
Yes, we love it here, but don't just take our word for it. Amherst was recently voted as one of the "best college towns" by two independent surveys.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1023
|
__label__wiki
| 0.915797
| 0.915797
|
Gilbert King
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Author of Devil in the Grove
Book Discussion of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, The Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America
Thurgood Marshall, the NAACP, and the Pre-Civil Rights Movement of the 1940s and 1950s
A History of Capital Punishment in the American South
After four years of painstaking and meticulous research, Gilbert King published his riveting, nonfiction book Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, The Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America (Harper). The book, which sheds light on Thurgood Marshall and his involvement in one of the most dramatic court cases in American history, earned King the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction and has drawn attention to a seminal but largely forgotten civil rights case from the mid twentieth century. In his keynote presentations, King focuses on American history and the important court cases that have shaped our modern understanding of civil rights. He is a frequent speaker at law schools, universities, legal conventions, cultural groups, museums, historical societies, and bar associations across the country.
In Devil in the Gove, King explores Florida's booming orange industry during the year 1949 when citrus barons were getting rich on the backs of cheap Jim Crow labor. When a white seventeen-year-old Groveland girl cried rape, the town sheriff placed the blame on four black men and the Ku Klux Klan was determined to lynch the young men who came to be known as "the Groveland Boys." When Thurgood Marshall entered the deadly fray, his role in the burgeoning civil rights movement was irreplaceable and many colleagues thought his involvement in the "Florida Terror" was suicidal. Throughout the story, King draws on a wealth of never-before-published material, including the FBI's un-redacted Groveland case files, as well as unprecedented access to the NAACP's Legal Defense Fund files.
Nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime and named a 2013 Chautauqua Prize finalist, Devil in the Grove has received widespread praise for its depiction of a case that U.S. Supreme Court justice Robert Jackson called "one of the best examples of one of the worst menaces to American justice." It was also named nonfiction "Book of the Year" by the Christian Science Monitor, The Boston Globe, and Barnes & Noble. King's previous book, The Execution of Willie Francis: Race, Murder, and the Search for Justice in the American South, was described by CounterPunch magazine as "almost certainly the best book on capital punishment since [Norman] Mailer's, The Executioner's Song." King has written about Supreme Court history and the death penalty for the New York Times and The Washington Post and is a featured contributor to Smithsonian magazine's history blog. He lives in New York City with his wife and two daughters.
Praise for Devil in the Grove:
"Superb."
-- Junot Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
"This is a haunting and compelling story, one of many in the campaign for racial justice... This book is important because it is disturbing. And in that regard we cannot walk away from the story it tells."
-- Phyllis Vine, author of One Man's Castle
"Gilbert King's gut-wrenching, and captivating, narrative is civil rights literature at its best--meticulously researched, brilliantly written, and singularly focused on equal justice for all."
-- Michael G. Long, author of Marshalling Justice: The Early Civil Rights Letters of Thurgood Marshall
"Its rich case history captures the beginning of the end of the most extreme forms of racism... Very few books combine this depth of research and narrative power about a subject of such pivotal significance."
-- Ira Katznelson, author of When Affirmative Action Was White and a former president of the American Political Science Association
"In the terrifying story of the Groveland boys Gilbert King recreates an extraordinary moment in America's long, hard struggle for racial justice. Devil in the Grove is a harrowing, haunting, utterly mesmerizing book."
-- Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil Rights, and Murder in the Jazz Age
"Gilbert King has done a remarkable job of weaving together history, sociology, law and detective work of his own, to reveal facts that even I, one of the defense counsel in the case, had not been aware of until now."
-- Jack Greenberg, Alphonse Fletcher Professor of Law at Columbia University, former Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
"A richly detailed chronicle of racial injustice in the Florida town of Groveland in 1949, involving four black men falsely accused of rape and drawing a civil rights crusader, and eventual Supreme Court justice, into the legal battle. "
-- Pulitzer Prize Citation
"A powerful and well-told drama of Southern injustice."
--The Chicago Tribune
"[An] excellent book on a little known and horrifying incident in which four young black men were rounded up and accused of raping a white woman, readers cannot help but be awed by the bravery of those who took a stand in the late 1940s and early 1950s."
-- San Francisco Chronicle
"Devil in the Grove is a compelling look at the case that forged Thurgood Marshall's perception of himself as a crusader for civil rights. . . . King's style [is] at once suspenseful and historically meticulous"
--Christian Science Monitor
"Recreates an important yet overlooked moment in American history with a chilling, atmospheric narrative that reads more like a Southern Gothic novel than a work of history."
--Salon
Praise for The Execution of Willie Francis:
"A vitally important story. ... If you want to better understand America's troubling legacy of capital punishment, read this book."
-- Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking
"The Execution of Willie Francis is almost certainly the best book on capital punishment in America since Mailer's The Executioner's Song."
-- CounterPunch
"A wrenching, breathtaking true story of murder."
-- Tucson Citizen
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1024
|
__label__wiki
| 0.980788
| 0.980788
|
Former Rose Bowl MVP, football coach eyes U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship
Early returns suggest that the USGA's newest competitions, the men's and women's U.S. Amateur Four-Ball championships will confirm Johnny Miller's prediction: that they might turn out to be "the most popular tournaments for amateurs in the country" and that "there are going to be people coming out of the woodwork" to compete.
Foremost among them, perhaps, is former college football coach Rick Neuheisel (Colorado, Washington and UCLA), now an analyst for the Pac-12 Network. Neuheisel, a former Rose Bowl MVP as a UCLA quarterback, and partner Daniel Volko are entered in a Four-Ball qualifier at River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard, Calif., next month.
"I think it's outstanding," Neuheisel said of the new championships. "There is no shortage of people who dream about playing in competitive golf. This gives those guys an opportunity and a little bit of cover because they've got a partner with them."
Neuheisel, a member at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles, has a handicap index of 2.9, though as recently as January it was 1.8. He ranked among the best golfers in the college coaching fraternity.
"I can take most of the coaches," he said. "Steve Spurrier and I used to have some good games, and I used to get the better of him most often. But one time, in Cancun, he took me down, and the bus ride back to the hotel was 30 minutes, and for 30 minutes he had to wax poetic about beating me, going through a hole by hole. Trash talking is part of it, and there's no better needle than the old ball coach."
Neuheisel, who was introduced to the game when he was 7, said he loved it from the beginning. "You know that country song, I was country before country was cool? I was a golfer before golf was cool.
"I get to play a lot now that I've got more time on my hands," he said, referencing his firing as UCLA's head coach in November 2011. "All joking aside, when I was fired it was my sanctuary. The thing that you miss most when you're let go is competing. Golf became my way to compete. I was on the Bel-Air golf team. I just had a blast playing."
Neuheisel, 54, has played in two U.S. Senior Open qualifiers, though he failed on both attempts. "But it's an absolute blast," he said, "how you feel nerves on the first tee. It's so fun to be out there grinding."
The men's Four-Ball will be held at the Olympic Club, May 2-6, the women's Four-Ball at Bandon Dunes, May 9-13.
Follow @JohnStrege
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1025
|
__label__wiki
| 0.508144
| 0.508144
|
Westwood Released From Hospital
Westwood is ranked No. 3 in the world.
VERSAILLES, France (AP) -- England's Lee Westwood is in the clear over blood clot fears.
Westwood was taken to a hospital Wednesday for tests after a doctor feared a swollen calf muscle could be caused by a blood clot. Instead, the third-ranked player was told he was probably suffering a reaction to the heat wave in France.
His spokesman Stuart Cage said Westwood was released from the hospital and given an anti-inflammatory dressing for the muscle. The 37-year-old Westwood pulled out of the pro-am Wednesday on the eve of the French Open.
Cage says Westwood is hopeful he can play in the tournament.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1026
|
__label__wiki
| 0.823507
| 0.823507
|
Steve Stricker has a damn good reason for playing in the Open Championship
By Dave Shedloski
TROON, Scotland -- Steve Stricker was as direct with his answer as the question put to him Wednesday afternoon at Royal Troon.
What are you doing here?
Stricker, 49, had not competed in the Open Championship since 2012, the year that he announced that he was cutting back his schedule -- semi-retirement, he called it -- to spend more time at home in Madison, Wis., with his wife and two daughters. But like most competition junkies, he just can't kick the habit.
"I'm itching to play in a few more majors," Stricker said as he walked off the 18th green at Royal Troon after a practice round with fellow American Phil Mickelson, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Scotland's Marc Warren. "I feel like I still have enough game, so I'm going to give it a go."
Winner of 12 PGA Tour titles, Stricker qualified for the 145th Open Championship by way of a T-2 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, one of the championship's qualifying events for the top four players among the top 12 not otherwise exempt. Stricker had missed qualifying for the U.S. Open by one stroke prior to Memphis, so his performance at TPC Southwind was a rather opulent consolation prize.
"I tried to qualify for the U.S. Open and wasn't very happy about missing by a shot because I had a chance at Oakmont in '07," he said, "When I found out I got in here, I'm thinking, 'Hmmmm, that's kind of interesting.' It was exactly what I needed. It's nice to see where I am, but also to try to do something yet with my career before I turn 50."
Stricker came to Troon by way of his debut in the Scottish Open last week at Castle Stuart, where he finished T-21. He accepted the invitation he originally had turned down after the Greenbrier Classic was cancelled due to the torrential flooding that struck parts of West Virginia. This week's start marks his 12th event of the year, well on his way to surpassing his high of 13 since he started weaning himself off the schedule in 2013.
It helps that he's healthy after undergoing surgery for a bulging disc in his back at the end of 2014. A further plus in the equation is the amount of time he still gets to spend with his family.
"I'm playing a ton of golf at home," said Stricker, who is ranked a respectable 167th in the world. "My daughter [Bobbi Maria] is starting to play. Nikki plays a lot. I'm not practicing but I'm playing, and I'm hitting it good, and I'm starting to putt a little bit better.
"When I was contemplating going to the Scottish Open, my wife said you really need to go and prepare like you would normally. If you think you can do well, then go and prepare and give it everything you've got. And she's right. Why hold back?"
Ranked 123rd in the FedEx Cup standings, Stricker is hoping that his finish this week at Troon provides a springboard -- or sews up a spot -- to the playoffs that only a few years ago weren't that interesting to him. But things change, sentiments change. Or maybe they haven't.
More than likely, it's the old saw about taking the boy out of golf but not golf out of the boy.
"This is an opportunity, and I know I'm not going to have a ton of them left," he said. "If I play well, who knows? I have some game left. This is a chance for me to see just how much."
So that's what he's doing here.
WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1027
|
__label__wiki
| 0.906704
| 0.906704
|
Interview: John Legend On Latest Album, World Tour john-legends-musical-and-personal-ascension
John Legend's Musical And Personal Ascension
The GRAMMY winner reveals how he grew into 'Darkness And Light,' co-writing with Miguel, and life on the road with his daughter
Nate Hertweck
Life is good for John Legend. The GRAMMY winner is in the middle of world tour in support of his fifth studio album, 2016's Darkness And Light, this time with his wife, Chrissy Teigen, and 1-year-old daughter, Luna, in tow. Legend is also showing his versatility as an actor/producer (La La Land), film/TV composer ("Master Of None," Fifty Shades Darker), and now the multitalented singer/songwriter has launched his own production company, Get Lifted Film Co.
Legend took a breather from his tour to visit our headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif. With a big, warm smile, he talked about his latest single, "Penthouse Floor," his personal growth as an artist, the roster of talented collaborators on new album, family life on the road, and more.
John Legend On His Growth As A Songwriter
Your latest album is Darkness And Light. Can you tell us about the new single, "Penthouse Floor"?
The single "Penthouse Floor" features Chance The Rapper. The song is about the idea of upward mobility and what it means to strive to make it to the penthouse, but also to remember what you left behind. As someone who grew up in a working class neighborhood in Ohio, small town, I had dreams of being an artist, I had dreams of being successful [and] being a leader. But I never wanted to forget where I came from, and the song is really about the idea of ascension, the idea of upward mobility, but also the tension that one might feel reaching that level, and also knowing there's a lot of people from our neighborhood or from our community that are left behind.
It's evident from track one of Darkness And Light that this your most reflective piece of work. Why do you think that is?
I think this album is my most personal album, and I think I matured a lot as a writer and as a person and having just gotten married and had a baby. I think all of those life circumstances gave me more perspective. Also, just my perspective as an activist has kind of matured as well. I think the way I approached this album was to try to tell all those stories and encompass all that I am in the music in the most honest way that I could. I think a lot of the album is about being uncertain and not knowing exactly what the future is going to bring. It's about striving and struggling for greatness and for justice and for love, and being a bit uncertain that you're going to get there.
Photo: Elliot Van Hazel
How does this album differ from your previous albums?
I'm the same artist that I've been all those years, but I think you evolve and you grow, and like I said, I've grown personally and also collaborated with some new people on this album. Some of the recording approach was a little bit different. I've only made two albums with the same band throughout the album. One was with the Roots, [the] album called Wake Up, and this album with the same rhythm section throughout pretty much every song, and Blake producing every song. So this is only the second time I've done something like that as a recording process. I think the result of that is a more musically cohesive album, and I think you feel the collaboration of the musicians in a way that is a bit different from some of my other albums that weren't as consistent when it came to the rhythm section and the live band.
John Legend Wins Best New Artist
What is the difference between writing music for yourself, for your own album, and writing for a film?
Well, composing for film is different because it feels like more of a specific assignment, which actually makes it easier when it comes to the writing process because you know where you're going, whereas when you're writing your own album, it's pretty much a blank slate. You could write about anything, and that range of choices can actually be more difficult than just being able to directly say, "Well, this is for this particular scene, and this film is about that, and I know what the character's motivations are, and I know the feeling of the film at that moment." It gives you a little more direction when you're trying to compose and actually makes it a little bit easier to write, and I've had some good results collaborating with filmmakers and coming up with song ideas that fit the moment of the film that we're working on. We'll have a few more of those come out next year too, but it's been fun collaborating with the film community. And of course now I have a production company that produces TV and film. I've had the chance to work with a lot of great filmmakers and storytellers, and that collaboration between music and film is really a lot of fun.
Can you tell us more about the tour you've been on?
Yeah, so I've been touring in the States over the late spring and early summer, and now we're heading to Europe for the fall. We'll be in Europe in September and October, and then we're going to go to South Africa in November, we just announced those dates as well, so that's exciting. The Darkness And Light Tour has been going really well. Bringing the music to the stage is always fun and connecting it with the audience is always fun. It's been a really fun tour and I think the best tour of my career as far as the creativity and the visual design and everything that we've done with it. So hopefully people get a chance to check it out if they haven't already.
Any memories from this tour that stick out?
We've had some great moments. This is the first tour with my daughter so we brought her on the bus pretty much the whole time, and that was fun. Luna's first tour went well! And we really had some great shows, great audiences throughout the country and we're looking forward to taking it overseas now.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWl7KUXgTtz/?hl=en&taken-by=johnlegend
A post shared by John Legend (@johnlegend)
Watch More: Julia Michaels Goes Behind Her Song "Issues"
Photos: WireImage.com
Rewind: Best New Artist GRAMMY Winners mariah-carey-carrie-underwood-sam-smith-best-new-artist-grammy-rewind
Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Sam Smith: Best New Artist GRAMMY Rewind
Time travel through GRAMMY history and revisit the fresh faces of Best New Artist winners
Each year, one GRAMMY is awarded to recognize music's most promising new talent in the coveted Best New Artist category. Over the years, budding superstars such as Bette Midler, Natalie Cole, John Legend, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Maroon 5 have taken home the honor, with all since enjoying long, prolific careers.
Rewind: Best New Artist GRAMMY Winners
Just as the other three major GRAMMY categories — Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Album Of The Year — recognize those involved in an outstanding recording, composition, and collection of recordings respectively, Best New Artist celebrates the outstanding work of a new artist during the eligibility year.
How do we know who qualifies as a "new artist"? The category has arguably the most complex set of rules out of all 84 GRAMMY categories, but essentially a new artist is defined as any performing artist or established performing group who releases, during the eligibility year, the recording that first establishes the public identity of that artist or established group as a performer.
While the nuance of eligibility for Best New Artist has caused some confusion in the past, the implication of the honor is clear: this artist has arrived.
The Best New Artist has been awarded since the 2nd Annual GRAMMY Awards when Bobby Darin won for 1959. Darin also took home Record Of The Year honors for "Mack The Knife," setting a high bar for the dozens of Best New Artist winners who have followed in his footsteps.
Since then, the Best New Artist recipients have spanned the likes of the Beatles, Carpenters, Rickie Lee Jones, Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, and Sam Smith, to name just a few. Last year's winner, Chance The Rapper, earned seven nominations for the 59th GRAMMY Awards, adding wins for Best Rap Album and Best Rap Performance to his Best New Artist trophy.
Who will be crowned this year's Best New Artist? Tune in to the 60th GRAMMY Awards on Jan. 28 to find out.
Here Are This Year's Contenders For Best New Artist | 60th GRAMMY Awards
Photo: Courtesy of eOne Music
112 Return With New Album, Talk Biggie And More rb-royalty-112-talk-diddy-biggie-whitney-brand-new-album
R&B Royalty 112 Talk Diddy, Biggie, Whitney & Brand-New Album
The GRAMMY-winning quartet takes us inside 'Q Mike Slim Daron' and shares stories about the Bad Boy family, Whitney Houston and more
As a fixture in R&B music for over two decades, 112 — comprising Quinnes "Q" Parker, Daron Jones, Marvin "Slim" Scandrick, and Michael "Mike" Keith — have made a career of tuning into the frequencies of rhythmic love songs while generating smash hits that resonate on a universal level.
112 Talk New Album 'Q Mike Slim Daron'
When the GRAMMY-winning vocal group headed back into the studio to record their sixth album — their first in more than a decade — they brought an impressive legacy with them. From winning over Sean "Diddy" Combs in a parking lot audition and joining the original Bad Boy Records family to earning the endorsement of the late Notorious B.I.G. and devoted fans worldwide, 112 have proven themselves to be pivotal players in the evolution of R&B. Their latest album, Q Mike Slim Daron, proves the group is still uncovering new wisdom to share on the topic of love, while sending a straightforward musical message of who they are today.
Just hours before their Hollywood, Calif., listening party for their new LP, 112 swung by Recording Academy headquarters in Santa Monica, Calif., to dish on the album's details and tell the real story behind the Bad Boy family, working with Biggie and touring with Whitney Houston.
112 have continued to tour, but why was it important to get back in the studio after over a decade to record a new album?
Jones: Well, just being on the road and being around each other singing [and] being inspired by each other was one of the reasons. But another reason was just running into the fans, and taking pictures, and just kicking it. They would always say, "When's the next album coming?" And just hearing that so many times, you understand that there is a demand for the music, and we were honored [by] that. So we just went ahead and started making some.
"John Lennon said it best: 'You give me a tuba, I'll make some music out of that." And that's pretty much the mantra and the mindset 112 has. You give us two spoons, we'll make some music out of that thing." — Michael Keith
The title of the album, Q Mike Slim Daron, says a lot. How did you arrive at that title?
Scandrick: Well, it was very self-explanatory. On this particular album, we wanted everybody to understand exactly who Q, Mike, Slim, [and] Daron [are]. And you know, on the [other] albums you had one particular person, or maybe two people, who were dominating records. This album right here is probably [our] most well-versed album where you're definitely hearing all four members, and we think that's one of our stronger attributes. You've got four lead singers who can definitely hold their own, and that's pretty much what we [are] doing.
During a recent Breakfast Club interview you claimed you intentionally made this album "as R&B as possible." Tell us about the production process and how the sound of the album came together.
Keith: The production process was really easy for us, because the majority of the producers were fans of 112 growing up. So they already had their interpretation of what they felt like the new album should be. And with them being in the forefront of today's music … it was just a real easy transition. They had the new style, the new sound and 112 had the old-school traditional sound that we're accustomed to doing, and we just meshed it.
Like Q always says, "We're musicians." John Lennon said it best: "You give me a tuba, I'll make some music out of that." That's pretty much the mantra and the mindset 112 has. You give us two spoons, we'll make some music out of that thing. That's the gift that we [have]. To this day, I'm still dumbfounded on how easy it was to get with the producers. And it really was a testament to how these guys looked at 112's situation, listened to our sound, and really were fans and disciples of 112's music. It was just an easy transition.
The new single, "Dangerous Games," explores the complex challenges of relationships, jealousy and adultery in a refreshing, even philosophical way. Where do you guys feel the song stands next to the many hits you've had in the past?
Parker: It's a great addition to the catalog. You think about 21 years of just making great and quality music, and it definitely fits where 112 has been and where we're going. The song is just our take on love. The thing about 112 is we always want to sing about life, love and relationships — the good side, the bad side, the realness of it.
Your music has always tapped into love, human connection and romance. Is technology — texting and social media — making it harder or easier to be romantic now?
Jones: That's a good question. I'll just say it's different. I won't say that it would be easier or harder. But I'll just say it's different and sometimes, over the texts, things can be misunderstood. But at the same time, I think a text message is a great tool, so I respect the advantage of what it is. But I also respect the human connection and being able to just talk to somebody in person. So I think as long as you find that balance you'll be alright. Because technology is good, we love it. But you gotta find that balance between texting and actually talking, because things can get confusing very quickly.
"This album right here is probably [our] most well-versed album, where you're definitely hearing all four members, and we think that's one of our stronger attributes." — Marvin "Slim" Scandrick
After all these years and all the success, what do you think has been the biggest misconception of the Bad Boy family and of Diddy?
Parker: I think one of the biggest misconceptions would probably be the fact that we really are a family. A lot of times people think just because your label makes it, it's just all business. But the Bad Boy artists are really, really family. We can think of instances where we stayed at Faith [Evans'] house. She's come over to cook dinner for us. We've gone out with B.I.G. [Biggie] — he used to give us money to make sure we had food to eat. When Puff [Daddy] would come in and try to rag on us, he'd step in for us.
So on the outside looking in, people could think that we're just label-based, but it really is the Bad Boy family. And it was so evident when we just did that Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour [in 2016]. It was a great thing for the music industry, but also for us as family — just being able to hang out with each other again and sharing the stage together.
Me & my guys @theofficial112 on deck backstage #Boston #BadBoyFamilyReunionTour @officialslim_ @qparker112 @michaelkeith112 @daronfrom112 : @thefamousunkwn
A post shared by Faith Evans (@therealfaithevans) on Sep 24, 2016 at 10:47pm PDT
Biggie always showed you guys a ton of respect. How does it feel to be part of his larger-than-life hip-hop legacy? What do you miss most about him?
Jones: Man, it's incredible. It's an honor. You know, B.I.G. would always just honor us in his music, to the point where other musicians would say, "Man. You know Biggie [is] always talking about you." He had so many different ways of just shouting us out throughout his music. And he was really like a big brother to us. He was one of the first to rap on one of our songs and usher us into that hip-hop wave that was going on at the time. He was like family to us, and it's definitely a huge honor just to be a part of that legacy. Personally, I got a chance to produce for B.I.G. on his album Life After Death, the song ["F*** You Tonight"] with him and R. Kelly, and that was an honor as well.
112's Water Balloon Fight With Whitney Houston
112 toured with Whitney Houston in 1999. Are there any memories from the tour you'd like to share?
Keith: I got the story for you. … It was supposed to be a show in [Philadelphia], right? The show got canceled. 112 was the reason why. She planned, with her dancers, to ambush 112 in a park with water balloons and Super Soakers and all this other stuff. We had a day off before the show in Philly. And she was like, "Hey, guys. Can y'all meet us at the park? We're gonna eat, we're gonna have fun. We're gonna have fellowship. We're gonna sing." They were plotting our demise.
So it got back to us that "Whitney and the dancers are going to get you guys. They're gonna hit y'all with water balloons, Super Soakers, the whole nine, right?" So we was like, "OK, cool." We go to Toys "R" Us, we grab every last Super Soaker, the little 50-cent water guns and everything — just for ammunition. We came ready for war. So we found them, they came with the water balloons and stuff like, "Ah, we're gonna get y'all," and just started wetting everybody. Whitney, she got hit by a balloon and she got sick, so she couldn't sing the next day. That was the reason why she couldn't perform, and we blame nobody but ourselves. We was attacked, man. We had to protect ourselves! (laughs)
'The Bodyguard' Soundtrack: 25 Years After Whitney Houston's Masterpiece
What can fans expect in terms a tour supporting of the new album?
Scandrick: Oh, man, [it will be] very explosive. Right now, if you listen to Q Mike Slim Daron, we have a couple of people on there and one of the big collaborations that we have is between us and Jagged Edge. That was a fan favorite. People wanted to see this. Matter of fact, we wanted to do it. We've been wanting to do it and this time this is our platform. So we put this together and said, "Imagine if Boyz II Men and Jodeci would have done something? Or Four Tops and Temptations?" Well, you know, why not 112? So we wanted to do something very different: the 112, Jagged Edge tour. We're [going to] put a little twist to it. Not [going to] give y'all any clues, but it's [going to] be something you've probably never seen. It's about to very amazing, so buckle your seat belts, dress up, put on your hard bottles, and get ready.
Niall Horan on "Seeing Blind" With Maren Morris
21 Savage On Jay-Z's Ability To Stay Relevant
Fall Out Boy: Evolution Of Rock And Roll
Fifth Harmony: Biggest Girl Group In A Generation?
Portugal. The Man Talk 'Woodstock'
Dirty Heads Dish On 'Swim Team'
MUNA Talk Emotional Pull Of "I Know A Place"
PJ Morton Dishes On His Love For New Orleans
Demi Lovato On Renewed Faith In Music, New Album
Photo: Liam Hensworth
Interview: Miley Cyrus On Younger Now, Dolly Duet
Photo: Denise Truscello/BBMA2017/Getty Images
Camila Cabello On Healing, Michael Jackson & Love
Interview: Noah Cyrus on 'NC-17,' Katy Perry
Photo: Patrick Melon
PJ Morton: 'Gumbo,' Maroon 5, SZA & New Orleans
Interview: Drake Bell On 'Honest,' Beatles & TV
Photo: Joey Martinez
Gary Clark Jr. On Clapton, Prince & Cars
Photo: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images
Bebe Rexha: 'All Your Fault,' Collabs And Cardi B
Photo: Mia K.
Rising R&B Phenom Blakk Soul Means Business rising-rb-phenom-blakk-soul-means-business
Rising R&B Phenom Blakk Soul Means Business
The former aspiring lawyer talks to the Recording Academy about his soulful debut LP, what he learned from the likes of Dr. Dre and Prince and how learning the infrastructure of the music business benefits artists
In many ways, Blakk Soul (born Eric Mercer Jr.) accomplished more before releasing his debut album than many music makers do in their entire career. For starters, the Tacoma, Wa., R&B artist's first job in L.A. was working as an engineer for Mike & Keys, who executive produced Nipsey Hussle. Then, he landed management with the highly influential Rapper Big Pooh of Little Brother, and he's already written, sang or co-produced on records from the likes of Playboi Carti, Jake One, Macklemore, Anderson .Paak and Dr. Dre, who gave him a "master class in the whole song creation process" for a solid year and a half.
With all of his credentials, it should come as no surprise that Blakk Soul's debut LP, Take Your Time, arrives as such a complete package by such a well-rounded artist. He sequenced all the songs and mixed and mastered the album himself with stunning results, landing at No. 24 on the iTunes R&B charts. The album also features guest vocals from Joell Ortiz of Slaughterhouse, Amaal, Cocoa Sarai, and Nana plus multi-platinum producers Wyldfyer, J. LBS, DrewsThatDude, and Symbolyc One.
While the cascading vocal production and varied themes of personal freedom, strong mental health and a heavy dose of sensuality on Take Your Time reveal an artist with a swagger all his own, the work he put in under Dre's tutelage is abundantly clear in his command for the craft, especially the attention to detail.
"I always like to believe I'm a pretty detailed person, but being around [Dre] and hearing in his ear and the way he doesn't miss anything," he says. "I was like, 'Oh. It gets deep. It can get deeper than this.'"
The Recording Academy went deeper into conversation with Blakk Soul over the phone to hear more about his hot seat experience with Dr. Dre, the making of Take Your Time, his thoughts on the country's current climate of racial injustice, the importance of artists understanding the business side of music, what playing sports has to do with making better records and more…
Coming into your career, was there a moment when you said to yourself, "Music is not only what I want to do with my life, but I think I can make this my livelihood"?
I started off as an athlete. That was my main focus. Along the journey I had some musician friends that really saw a career in music for me before I did, but the ball was live so I was like, "Nah, I want to stay focused on this route." But some things just don't work out like we plan for them to, so it was about my sophomore year in college, I really had to sit and think, "What am I naturally gifted at, that if I were to hone those skills I could probably turn it into something?" And it was always music.
Sure. Was there any crossover there, between sports and music? Did you use any of those skills when you started writing songs?
Oh yeah, absolutely. Even in sports I was always a gym rat. I think the same type of discipline crosses over to my music career. I'm always constantly recording, constantly researching techniques, constantly trying to improve. When I made it into some of the rooms that I've made it in with some of the amazing people that I've been blessed to share space with, that's one of the common denominators I've noticed for everybody that's achieving at a high level, is their ability to eliminate distractions and to lock in and get the task done. I definitely feel like some of those same disciplines crossover.
I love that, from gym rat to studio rat.
Right, exactly.
Can you talk about how the relationship with Big Pooh and Little Brother kick-started and ultimately really shaped your career path?
Well, Pooh is really like a big brother. I got to actually work with him first before I met him in 2011. I was, at the time, working with another brother of mine, Kuddie Fresh. He used to be a part of the production group, Tha Bizness. I had just met him at the time and was doing a bunch of demo references. He had went out to a conference in New York and the old manager of Little Brother, Big Dho at the time, was also present at this conference. He got a chance to hear some of the work I had been doing, word got back to Pooh through him. Pooh was working on his Dirty Pretty Things album at the time. Dho basically told them, "This is this kid at Tacoma I heard. Man, I really think we should reach out. He might be what you're looking for sound wise for some of the records for the album." The crazy part about all of that is that first of all, he reached out to me via Twitter.
Now, me being a fan of Little Brother already, I didn't even think it was real at first. He had DM'd me, sent me his number. We had a conversation and gave me an opportunity to do a hook. I ended up doing a hook to the song called, "Free." Then I had to wait a few months to know if it was going to make the album or not and it did. Then the backstory for it was crazy. He was on tour for that album and I got to perform with him in Portland. As we were prepping for that performance we got to talking about the record and he told me he had never actually heard me sing a note before reaching out to me. He was totally going off of the trust and relationship he reportedly had with Dho. That blew my mind. I was just like, "I could have been terrible for all you knew." He said, "Yeah, pretty much."
When I found that out I was like, "That's pretty crazy." And we've just been working since.
And it was through you were connected with Dr. Dre, right? How did you get in the room with him?
I was actually back in Tacoma at the time working on my Never See EP. I ended up running into a producer that told me that he was working with Anderson .Paak on his album, but he wasn't aware that I knew people that we could verify to know if that was a real thing or if it wasn't. That's what sparked the conversation initially. The A&R at the time of Aftermath was also a previous road manager of Little Brother. Pooh reached out to him to get confirmation on whether the situation was legit. It wasn't. But in that conversation the A&R started asking about me. I was fresh off of landing the Macklemore placement, or, the two Macklemore placements on the GEMINI album, and then he had told them I was working on my EP. So he asked him to send him three of what he felt were my strongest records so he can play them for Dre and see what Dre's thoughts were.
Two hours later he calls back and said Dre loved them and wanted me to come down, so I was on the next thing smoking back to L.A. to session up. Excited, all kinds of emotions running high, trying to map out my next move. By the time I got to L.A., he went on vacation for a week so I was on standby. Then one random night while I was at a friend's house, we got the call to come in the studio. I ended up coming to the studio and as I'm walking in the front, he was walking through the back. They introduced me as a songwriter and he was like, "Oh, you write?" And I was like, "Yeah, I do." He was like, "Okay, we going to see you tonight." And he just walks off. I was like, "Oh. Well, okay. Okay. All right. This is interesting."
I had done my research about the Kendricks and 50 Cent and The Game. I've heard their stories about the infamous hot seat. That's essentially where you try to put your skills to the test. He sees if you can create a song from scratch, figure out the concept, and then build it up. I didn't know that that was going to be my night for the hot seat but it turned into that fast. It went well though.
You always got to be ready, right?
Yeah, you got to stay ready. I successfully passed my hot seat experience. Everybody left the room and it was just Dre and I talking and he told me that he really felt that I had a special gift. Man, after that, I worked with him for about a year-and-a-half and just learned. It was like a master class in the whole song creation process. From getting the instruments for the musicians in there to build up the track, the writers, everything all the way down to the mixing. I learned so much. He taught me how to mix on the SSL board.
Where did you see the biggest improvement in yourself and in your skills coming out of that year-and-a-half with Dre?
I think I saw the biggest improvement in my attention to detail. I always like to believe I'm a pretty detailed person, but being around him and hearing in his ear and the way he doesn't miss anything, I was like, "Oh. It gets deep. It can get deeper than this."
And also patience. One of the things I learned from working with Dre is if there's a bar that hasn't been delivered right, maybe the vocal inflections aren't right or they're missing the timing, the average person over enough takes is just going to move on like, "We'll just, we'll come back to this." He'll ... if it takes eight hours to get that one bar right, we're going to sit there for eight hours until that bar is right before we move on.
I think that's a testament to the quality of his mixing, the quality of his work, is because his attention to detail and his commitment to making sure that it's right is next level. I definitely took that with me and started applying that to my own processes, and definitely this project for the Take Your Time album. I feel like that was a definite growth in terms of sound, in terms of content, in terms of delivery from my Never See EP to the Take Your Time album.
When did this group of songs for Take Your Time really start to come together? Was it during that time with Dre?
Some of them were during the time, towards the end of that, of my time there. They were just all over. Some I created back home. Some I created in L.A. Really just went off a vibe and whenever I got the music in and try to really take my time and make sure that the conversations were authentic to me. Because I'm a songwriter also, sometimes you can get caught up in just doing generalized content or song structures because you want them to be shoppable. But the beauty of being able to work on your own thing is these stories are true to you, these experiences are true to you, and you can deliver them how you see fit.
I saw on Twitter you wrote, "Mixing my own record is therapeutic," and you mastered the album, too. Can you talk more about the choice to handle the entire process like that as an artist, and tell us what specifically you find therapeutic about mixing?
I started learning how to mix out of necessity. At first, I didn't want to do any of that heavy lifting, but early on when you don't have a budget, it's spending. Before I really had a method or a rhythm to my recording process, I was spending a lot of money making it in the studio and not being really satisfied with the product.
And so I took a vested interest in trying to make sure that I understand what I'm doing, understand the sound that I'm trying to achieve. Then I just told myself from there that I'm probably just going to stick with it until I don't have to. But now, the reason why I posted that is I don't know if there's going to be a time where I feel like I don't want to be that hands on on the project. I feel like now it's just become a part of my creative process because I've been doing it so long this way. And then, not to mention, the gems that I was able to take away from working at Dre's studio is like, it only makes me more excited to really try to achieve the best sound possible. And who better than to practice with than yourself?
That reminds me of how Prince made his records. I saw the tribute you posted on what would have been his birthday and I love what you wrote: "He really advocated for understanding the music business and owning your own material." But that can be daunting for artists, so how were you able to do that in your career, to gain an understanding of the industry that surrounds the music you're making?
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBJtGY0nuVC
A post shared by Blakk Soul (@blakksoulmusic)
I know that the business side is definitely a turnoff for a lot of creatives. I think for me, personally, the business side has always been my thing because even prior to doing music whole-heartedly or full-fledged, I was on road to becoming a lawyer. I was a pre-law student. I majored in philosophy and minored in international business, but that was all in process of pursuing a law degree.
And so business has always been my interest and ethics have always been in my interest. I don't necessarily detach the two. I'm just as interested to learn about the infrastructure of the music business as I am on learning how to put a great song together.
I know it's not like that for everyone, but I'm definitely an advocate for it because that was one of the things that I drew to from Prince. I remember, Prince spent 23 years of his life fighting for his masters and advocating the importance of understanding publishing and owning your material. Even more recently, Nipsey Hussle, I was privileged with the opportunity to work with Mike & Keys who executive produced Nipsey's whole album and did a lot of his previous Mixtapes. That was my first job when I moved to L.A., was engineering for them.
"I'm just as interested to learn about the infrastructure of the music business as I am on learning how to put a great song together."
Just being around these great people that all advocate for ownership, they advocate for understanding of the infrastructure of the business and being vertically integrated in your brand, these are all things that I took away and that I felt privileged to be able to be in the spaces to learn this information and apply it. I just have a high respect for people that could create that because I see so many people get taken advantage of just because they don't choose to take a vested interest in the business of their own career. It's like, "I get it. I know we're all creators," but that's the thing. If you're going to take it from being a hobbyist to making it a career, you've got to understand both. You have to have a healthy working knowledge of both.
Right now, the fight against police brutality and racial injustice is at the top of the music community's minds and hearts. From your perspective how you describe the current situation and what does change look like for you?
In terms of describing feelings about it, it's a wide range of emotions trying to process all of the things going on because it's happening in real time. I think it's definitely a marathon and not a sprint. I think it's amazing though that it's transitioned from just being a fight that you would only see Black people fighting for to, everybody is tired of this archaic system that's been oppressing people for so long. I think that speaks to just how bad it was.
For a long time it was only people of color and Black people that were fighting for this equality and then that there were so many people that just didn't understand it or, because based on how they grew up or who they grew up with, there was a disconnect. Now I feel like with technology being the way it is, being able to see what was hidden for so long because of media agendas and whatnot, now it's become a world issue and everybody's taking a vested interest in breaking this system down.
I know it's going to be a long fight but I think so much amazing is going to come from this, like amazing art. I know people, as creatives, we feel obligated to try to put something out right now in the middle of the time, but at the end of the day we're all human. We're still processing everything that's going on, we still have our loved ones. We're still in the middle of a pandemic while all of this is going on and dealing with ramifications of that.
2020 has been a wild time. It's been nonstop chaos, but some of the most beautiful things grow after the storm. I think some of the art is going to be amazing that comes from this. I think people are becoming more engaged in the political process, whereas [before] a lot of things were swept under the rug or bypassed because a lot of people never took a interest in understanding how politics work or understanding infrastructure and how they fit in the pie. But now, everybody's looking at everything with a microscope. I think overall, it's going to be to the betterment of the culture and climate. Not just creatives, but I mean everybody.
Where do you turn to make sure that you're emotionally rested and healthy during such chaotic times?
Man, I think music is that for me. Music is definitely my therapy, is definitely my release. When I'm creating music, when I'm sitting focused on mixing music, it's like my escape for that little portion, a couple hours of work from everything that's going on.
I think it's important because I think some people feel the fight for justice has to be a 24/7, 365 thing, but it's important to take breaks because you're not going to sprint a marathon. It's important to find your stride. It's important to take those breaks and make sure that your energy stays centered because it gets overwhelming. Life in general gets overwhelming. With a lot of the things that we've been seeing it's been a lot of sensory overload. When I start feeling like that, man, I just put Pro Tools on and try to figure out something to create. That usually gives me peace of mind for the day.
You have so many different experiences and talents, and as the cliché goes, "You got your whole life to make your debut album, and just two years or whatever to make your sophomore album." But you could really take your career in any direction you want. What you're thinking about doing next and long term.
Definitely more music on the way. I've been working on another project that's almost done already, actually. I'm working around the clock.
I think my short-term goals is I want to be a successful artist to create a platform that will allow the funneling of information in regards to the music business to make sense for people. A lot of people, it depends on how they see you to be willing to receive the information. You can hear the right information from somebody that you're unfamiliar with, and it may strike you differently if it's somebody you are familiar with. I just understand how that goes and with all the things that I advocate for, I understand that my platform has to be a little bigger for it to really resonate and to stick with the massive. That's my goal.
My goal has never really just been to be rich and famous. I just want to be comfortable. I want to make sure my family's taken care of. And then the biggest part of this pursuit is leaving a legacy that impacts people after me, that's always been my thing. I want to create opportunities. I want to create pipelines for independent artists who want to pursue a major situation or who want to eventually stay indie, but understanding what each of those roles come with and understanding what things they need to have in place to make sure that they're handling their business well-roundedly and successfully.
And then being an engineer. Mixing engineer, master engineer is my long-term thing. I can do that until I'm old. When being an artist is no longer a pursuit of mine, I just want to be the guy behind the scenes getting all the cables out, going through the process and mixing all the records.
J. Ivy Talks Making Music For Social Change, Leading With Love & The Importance Of Supporting Black Artists
Lucky Daye On Making Sensitive Music warning-lucky-daye-makes-sensitive-music-might-make-you-cry-your-car
Warning: Lucky Daye Makes Sensitive Music That Might Make You Cry In Your Car
The soulful singer/songwriter reacts to the success of his new album with humility: "I'm standing on the shoulders of giants."
Jul 10, 2019 - 12:21 pm
Lucky Daye is here to stay. The soulful singer/songwriter may have only just released his debut album, Painted, back in May, but his refreshing sound is turning more heads toward the New Orleans artist every day.
Lucky Daye On Making Sensitive Music
We sat down with Daye in his hometown, backstage at the 25th ESSENCE Fest to ask how he felt about the warm reception Painted is receiving.
"I feel good, like people are recieving it well," Daye said. "I've been really, really humbled by this whole situation. I know it's not by my power, by my hands, I'm standing on the shoulders of giants."
My debut album, Painted.
Out now https://t.co/ZaHOtOvg7n pic.twitter.com/JH8jIqc71D
— Lucky Daye (@iamluckydaye) May 24, 2019
"I'm sensitive, so my album got a whole lot of sensitivity to it. As a man, that's hard to say. So I always tell people, I tell my homies, I'm like, 'bruh, if you're scared to cry in front of your girl, don't listen to my music in your car," Daye said.
Lucky also spoke about his upcoming tour, performing in the humidity, connecting with his fans and friends through music and what longevity looks like to him.
King Combs On His Star-Studded New EP, His Father's Bad Boy Legacy & ESSENCE Fest
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1032
|
__label__wiki
| 0.532369
| 0.532369
|
Constantine Gras
Gras Art
Imageless and Voiceless
Flat on 17th floor at Grenfell tower, 12/09/15
Nicholas Paget-Brown, leader of RBKC council, 14/06/17
Snowscape at Lancaster West estate, 28/02/18
I have struggled to talk about Grenfell because I am an artistic "witness." I made a deep connection with the estate and its gardens several years before I started working here on an art residency. When I was officially contracted to produce a film and mural in 2015, several residents kindly opened their front door and hearts to a stranger. I navigated a delicate path between authorities and residents at a time when the latter were in dispute over the tower’s regeneration. After the tragic event in June 2017, I handed over all my photos and films to the police as part of their criminal investigation. I gave a witness statement. As we try to understand what happened at Grenfell, artists and film makers will all have a challenging but important role to play alongside the media.
I’m trying to objectively recall how I approached making art on the estate when I was commissioned by the TMO (Tenant Management Organisation) to create a tiled art work and short film. The TMO were impressed with my V&A Museum and RIBA funded residency on Silchester Estate. I convinced them that an open-ended, durational process would work far better in delivering the outcomes rather than the original two weeks envisaged. As it transpired I was on the estate for approximately 1 year 2 months. When the time is right I will talk about the film, The Forgotten Estate, in more detail.
The original plan was to design a large tile art work to cover an area approximately 3.6m wide by 2.2 m high in the newly formed ground floor entrance at Grenfell. This was to be created with the residents and children of the tower block. I was given a completely free brief as regards design. I decided to use large scale drawings as the blueprint. But as the drawings were so impressive in their own right, I decided to just stick with that as the completed art work. In total, 4 large scale drawings were made in the temporary lobby, on the elevated concrete deck just outside the tower and during the Grenfell fun day.
Design for an unrealised wall tile at Grenfell tower, 19/05/15
Poster advertising art workshop called Lancaster West Is Our Home, 01/05/15
Drawing workshop with Al-Hajar family on 02/05/15
Exhibition display about Lancaster West in foyer of Grenfell tower, 02/05/15
Art workshop during Grenfell Fun Day, 30/05/15
Drawing outside Grenfell tower, 04/07/15
Art work being framed for new community space, 09/02/18
The design for the art work was inspired by the classic blue and white willow pattern used in pottery. I was constantly sketching in the ceramic gallery at the V&A where this pattern had caught my eye. I always envisaged using an image of Grenfell tower in the completed design and perhaps to have this framed by an equally large tree. I saw a flock of birds in flight as representing the residents energised by their newly renovated building. The sessions with the kids would allow space for their own images and experiences to be added. That was the plan. As it transpired, the most successful drawing was realised at the Fun Day.
The Grenfell Fun Day on 30 May 2015 was held mainly as a form of respite from the conflict taking place during the renovation. I was invited to attend and hold a workshop. A teenager looked at a blank sheet of paper. "What do we draw?" "Absolutely anything you like." Most children had the desire to draw or write what came naturally to them. The tower block they lived in. A girl picked up a leaf and sketched this. Animals started to appear. One wrote the memorable words: live, laugh, love. The cultural identity of the children also became a point of self-reflection with a Moroccan and British flag. The outline drawing in oil pastels was made by approximately 20 children and I then coloured it in.
The art work then fell into a state of limbo. I had shown it to the TMO who were happy and also took it to a residents meeting. This would prove to be my last engagement and memory of the estate in May 2016. In the middle of that meeting, shortly after I had talked about the art work, one of the residents had challenged me over my film and this annoyed another resident, whose tense relationship with each other I had observed before. They then had a fight, then and there, in the meeting at which children were present. It lasted for about 5 minutes. Blood had to be cleaned off the walls. I believe they shook hands shortly after.
I could understand how the residents were wanting to get on with lives after the huge impact of the building works. But the TMO? Why didn't they contact me again to hang the art work in Grenfell? I can only assume they were not pleased with the way my residency had developed, especially in terms of the film project. I held onto that art work for a year. After the fire it assumed importance as a visual and textual testimony to a destroyed community: Live, laugh, love. I'm pleased that this has been handed over to Grenfell United and is in the new community space for survivors and the bereaved.
I have now started work back on Silchester estate across the road from Grenfell. After the anniversary of the fire, we will hold an Open Estate Garden weekend on the 30 June and 1 July. This will display the art created by residents. I have plans for a dance or performance piece facilitated by Dance West, although this might have to be staged later on in the summer.
Over the years I have self-published photo books as well as making hand crafted books. I have increasingly turned to the latter as a means of reflecting on my engagement at Lancaster West and on the people I met and befriended. I am constructing my own self-questioning narrative. Did I make the right decisions in terms of my engagement? How will my imagery and art work be reproduced and the film footage help with any inquiry or criminal proceedings? Above all, how can I help the victims and community? I know that this was a "voiceless" community that nobody really listened to. I have also thought about my interaction with the press as they strive for the dramatic and poignant human story as well as the political message behind Grenfell. During the previous 9 months, I have developed an inner artistic voice that has kept the media, by and large, at arms length. These books, as I turn the pages, are part of my opening up.
Booklets, 32 pages each, 2018
Oil pastel drawings, 5.5 x 4 inches
Just heard about Grenfell Tower. Ghastly. What on earth went wrong?
I was wondering if we could get this picture to do a story on.
I would be very grateful if you could give me a ring as soon as possible to discuss an article I am working on for this weekend.
I am the Dangerous Structures surveyor on the tower following the incident. If you were involved in the original construction it would be good to talk or meet you to discuss how certain elements work together.
Constantine, various journalists have tried to contact me but I am not responding, so I would appreciate your confidence and not pass on any of my contact details.
I don’t want him to think I’m stalking him! I don’t actually need him to discuss the fire. It is the building we are interested in and the original vision.
One thing I'd say is that if we want to tell this hugely important story then now is the time, before the world moves on to the next headline. We have three million readers worldwide, a lot of them policy makers. Do please let me know if you change your mind.
I am contacting you in relation to a live broadcast we are holding tomorrow evening. The event will consist of an audience of local Councillors, residents, firefighters, volunteers etc. If this is something you may consider being a voice for, please let me know.
I do totally understand your reticence to give opinions on the matter, but could I trouble you with a quick question – do you know of any nearby towers that have a similar interior, i.e. common parts and layout?
We are not tabloid journalists in for a quick story. We do very considered films on very difficult and distressing subjects.
Thanks for the clear details in each of your blog posts. In an attempt to lend a little assistance from afar, a group of us have been building up three Wikipedia articles [[Lancaster West Estate]] [[Grenfell Tower]] and [[Grenfell Tower fire]]. Please go to these pages and tell us of any inaccuracies.
I would rather use an image that speaks to the life in the community rather than awful images of destruction and tragedy to publicise the auction. The last thing I would want to do is appear to sensationalise the suffering of so many people.
If you do have a change of heart, let me know. We would happily make a £200 donation to a Grenfell charity for use of your images.
Dear Mr Gras, the V&A have been contacted by the Detective Constable from the Art and Antiques section of the Metropolitan Police in connection with the Grenfell Tower enquiry. She is working on the construction side of the investigation and has been tasked with identifying and contacting every company who may have information about the construction or refurbishment of Grenfell.
I'd like to ask some questions on a positive note. I'm not press or politics. I knew that building was fundamentally safe. I'd really appreciate some answers regarding.... Sorry I can't say here.
Medieval art made modern
Vision of Beatrice ca. 1863 Westlake, Nathaniel H. J., born 1833 - died 1921 (designer). Lavers, Barraud & Westlake (maker)
. Coloured glass with painted details.
V&A Museum number: 780-1864
There is a corridor sized gallery at the V&A that I am forever drawn to. Literally, in the sense that I love sketching here. It's the Sacred Silver & Stained Glass collection in room 83. During my tenure as the museum's community artist in residence, I used stained glass to meditate on contemporary housing issues. Nathaniel Westlake's magisterial panel at the V&A, Vision of Beatrice, inspired an installation and artist film.
The Westlake stained glass panel was made for a V&A exhibition in 1864 and was possibly conceived in the house that Westlake had built for him in the heart of North Kensington. The house is still standing at 1-2 Whitchurch Road opposite the Lancaster West estate and embodies the complex history of social change from the extremes of Victorian affluence and poverty to modern day regeneration and gentrification. This listed building would be a multi-millionaires paradise but has been converted into six bedrooms by St Mungo's and is a hostel for those needing support into housing and work. The house was situated just across the road from my artist studio which itself was a former council flat about to be redeveloped into More West.
1-2 Whitchurch Road, North Kensington. House built for Nathaniel Westlake. Designed by John Francis Bentley, 1863.
7 Shalfleet Drive, Silchester Estate, North Kensington. Former council flat converted into temporary artist studio for the first V&A Museum artist in residence who was based outside the museum.
During my residency, I recorded an interview with Terry Bloxham who is a ceramic and glass specialist at the V&A with responsibility for the stained glass collection. I wanted to understand more about the context in which Westlake had made his stained glass panel and Terry quite rightly took me back in time. I was surprised by how the past would resonate so strongly with the way we live today: the forging of nation states; how religion can violently divide and spiritually unite; and the evolving technological and economic context to the making of art.
Here is an edited transcript of our coversation:
Terry Bloxham: Why Westlake? Why that panel?
Constantine Gras: Why that panel? I didn’t know anything about it until I started my V&A Community Artist residency. I’m based in a studio in North Kensington that is part of an estate, the Silchester Estate. It’s part of a new housing development taking place on the estate. In the run up to my residency, I cycled around the borough, looked at listed buildings and I came across a house, just across the road from where my studio is. It’s the house that was built for Nathaniel Westlake.
TB: Oh. Who be he?
CG: It’s a bit of a juxtaposition from the estates. You suddenly see this listed building that was built in 1863. It was built by his friend and architect, John Francis Bentley, who later went on to design Westminster Cathedral. And they were both converts to Catholicism and collaborated on St Francis of Assisi church on Pottery Lane in North Kensington. But I was interested in this grand looking house near an estate and that's now run as a sort of hostel. It’s had a bit of a checkered history as this area of North Kensington has. Poverty and slums. Now property that is valued in the millions.
TB: Where is North Kensington?
CG: This part is opposite Latimer Road tube station.
TB: I think I know. Basically Notting Hill west.
CG: That’s right.
TB: I know that neighbourhood. There’s a great reggae shop. Hopefully it’s still there.
CG: So that’s how I came across Westlake. As an artist with a studio in the same area, albeit in a different century, I’m very interested in predecessors and making connections with them. And to discover that the V&A museum has a work of art that has a connection to the very streets in which I'm working. I’m also interested in a film that was also made in the local area and this is called Leo The Last. It was made in 1969 by John Boorman on the site of Lancaster West estate just prior to it being built. It’s about an aristocratic person who moves into the area and he gets radicalised by his interaction with the West Indian community. Some memorable imagery in the film involves looking through a telescope and also patterned glass in a pub that distorts the point of view. I suppose at one level, I wanted to explore or create a connection between film making and stained glass. In the sense of camera lenses and glass transmitting light and how they might be used for perception and analysing or documenting the world around you. Using fragments or a diverse range of media that can be pieced together to make a whole new work of art. And one not necessarily made just by the artist, but involving collaboration. Also I feel a little like that aristocratic character in the film. The artist as an outsider who comes into an area and interacts with the community and how this might radicalise either them or the community or not as the case may be. That is the type of thing I’m wanting to do in my community focused project work. I’m hoping to create a Westlake House at the V&A Museum, in addition to making an artist's film.
TB: Brilliant.
Stained glass drawing on the window of an artist studio, 7 Shalfleet Drive, overlooking a housing development. 2014
Sketch for an imaginary stained glass window at 7 Shalfleet Drive. Pencil and digital drawing. 2014.
CG: Perhaps you can help me shed some light on Westlake and how and why he came to make this wonderful panel.
TB: Westlake in the nineteenth century, is, near enough, the culmination of a movement that we now call the Gothic revival. And the Gothic Revival was a reaction against eighteenth century stuff and we are going to be talking about that as we progress through time. This involved a revision in the theological understanding of Christianity and also the furnishings of Christian churches. And all throughout the gothic revival period, whether you are talking about stained glass or metalworking or textiles, all of the things that were used for church furnishings, they kept harping on, we must do it in the medieval manner. And that’s why you’ve got to understand the medieval manner in order to understand Westlake. That’s why we are starting here in the medieval period. We are looking at thirteenth century glass.
CG: Was this being commissioned by the church?
TB: Yes. it was church law that you had to have some sort of decorative, figurative work in the church, that illustrated the Saint to whom that church was dedicated. All images in churches were meant to be instructive. People always say it’s bibles for the poor. But that’s sort of an insult, because it’s calling them illiterate. And I prefer to look at it, not as an age of illiteracy, but as an age when you didn’t need to read and write. Only a few people did. In the middle ages,
Childebert Receives St Germanus. Paris, France about 1240-5 Clear, coloured and flashed glass, with paint. From a window in the Lady Chapel at Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Paris. V&A Museum no. 5641-1858
TB: So here we are looking at a panel from the mid thirteenth century showing a scene of King Childebert being chastised by bishop Jermanus or Jermaine. It is telling you a story, an episode from the life of a real king. His name was Childebert. He’s in the middle of the sixth century and was one of the first kings in France. After the collapse of the Roman empire in the West you have all these so called barbarians moving in. You can tell my preferences lie with the so called barbarians. Various tribal groups as they were known: the Goths, the Gauls, the Francs, the Germanys, the Celts. The celts became the Brits. These groups are going to form our nation states. Clovis was one of these Frankish groups and from Frank we get France. This is where Childebert is descended from. In the panel, we have Childebert being chastised by bishop Jermanus, the first bishop of Paris. He is chastising the King because he had just been on a campaign to conquer the Spanish city of Saragossa. The bishop was upset about this because Saragossa was a christian city. Bishop Jermanus forced Childebert to build the first church in Paris as atonement for his sins and this church was dedicated to St Lawrence. This church was being rebuilt in the thirteenth century in the newish Gothic style and it was rededicated to Jermanus who by then had become a saint.
CG: Can you tell me about the designs used in stained glass and the process of making?
TB: Medieval decorated windows are composed of small, irregularly shaped pieces of coloured and clear glass. The idea was not to have big square panels of glass which they could make, about A4 sheet size. It was to make a sheet of glass, cut it into irregular shapes and move those shapes around to form a picture. And then those shapes are held together by lead. So it became known as a mosaic-type construction. When you think of a Roman mosaic floor, little pieces of tesserae arranged to make a picture shape. And then they are embedded into cement to form a solid picture. It’s the same thing with mosaic glass. The only painting that you have on it are the details that you can see in the hands and the face, the folds in the clothing. That’s just simple blacky-brown iron-based pigment which is fired onto the surface of the glass. Glass when made is clear. But in its molten state you can add colouring agents to it. Cobalt will make blue. Copper will make green and also red. Manganese will make a purply brown. Depending upon the intensity you can get this nice purply-brown robe or flesh colour. That is know as pot metal because you hold the liquid glass into a pot and add the metallic oxide. So you have clear glass and pot metal glass, cut into small irregularly shaped pieces, put together to make a nice, pretty little picture, all held together in this lead framework. And whatever paint you have was just an iron based pigment onto the surface of the glass to give you your details. That is mosaic glass made in the medieval manner. That is what Westlake is trying to achieve.
I have to introduce another element in the manufacturing of medieval glass. Something that was a big technological revolution. I mentioned earlier that properly speaking, it’s not stained glass, it’s decorated glass. And the reason why I say that is because stained means penetration of glass or staining glass. That doesn’t happen until the magic year of about 1300, probably in Normandy. Some bright spark discovered that putting silver into oxide of some form and then firing, what it did was to penetrate the upper levels of the glass and create this lovely lemony yellow to a burnt orange colour. And the reason why that was so revolutionary was it enabled you to have more than one colour on the sheet of glass. We looked at yellow glass and red glass and blue glass and green glass that is known as pot metal glass. That is clear glass that has been coloured. Coloured glass is more expensive than clear glass. Any time you have extra processes it’s going to increase the price. We do have those few surviving documents that give us prices for the middle ages. So we know that glass coloured all the way through was more expensive. Staining it is incredibly cheap to make relative to the older way and once it comes in, it doesn’t disappear.
When we get to the Reformation in the sixteenth century, Europe is torn apart by different believers or practitioners of the Christian faith. In the middle ages, remember there is only the church. There is no protestant, no catholic. It is just the church. So you have to put yourself in a time when your world, your faith is being torn apart, is being questioned by people who are very learned and very persuasive. And in some cases also inciters of violent activities and feelings. We tend to blame the whole reformation on him, Martin Luther. He was pretty moderate. You also had people like Calvin and Zinger who were the militant side of the reformation. And there was a lot of destruction and a lot of change. But in Europe today, you will still find this part of Germany is Catholic, but that part is Protestant. But fortunately not fighting each other. England’s story is different and was more violent. Not so much people killing each other, but people destroying anything suggestive of religious imagery.
CG: You get a snapshot of those times at the recent iconoclasm exhibition at the Tate.
TB: Yes that was a good snapshot. And we also have documents from stain glass makers, petitioning the local leaders of the city, the principalities. Saying you are putting us out of business. We used to make a living making religious windows for churches and it was just no longer allowed. On the continent they started to turn their hands to other iconographic subject matter in stain glass making.
Scene from the story of Sorgheloos. Northern Netherlands, about 1520. Clear and coloured glass, with paint and silver stain. V&A Museum nos. 66,65-1929
TB: What we are looking at now are products of Netherlandish workshops who mastered from the fifteenth century onwards, the art of very fine, but mass and cheap production of glass windows. These are simple pieces of cylinder glass, cut into a circular shape and solely painted. So its clear glass, in silver stain and black pigment. They are cheap. They are incredibly finely painted because this is the age of the printing press. So engravings were made and then they would be printed and they would be used as models for these stained glass workshops. So infect they’re copying exiting art works, unlike in the medieval period where they don’t have the benefit of mass produced engravings and stuff to copy.
This panel is the story of Sorgheloos which is a secular version of the old testament story of the prodigal son. This guy, Sorgheloos, goes out, he inherits a whole bunch of money, spends it on wine, women and song. And in the end, all he has left is an old woman, two starving animals and a bunch of straw to eat. So unlike the prodigal son he’s not welcome back with the fatted calf.
What also happens in the middle of the sixteenth century, these chemists as we would call them today, alchemists as they were known, developed more pigments that could be fired successfully into glass. In the medieval period it was just that blacky-brown iron based pigment. Now we have enamel colours. So we have the greens and all the shades. Red and all the shades. Blue and all the shades. And the yellows.
CG: It must have been a wonder to behold, a sort of technicolour movie.
TB: Yes it was. That’s why they were popular. Also coloured glass was expensive and enamel paints are cheaper than coloured glass. So we are now in the age of just simply painting on glass. Think of it as a transparent canvas. Because that is where we are going, painting on glass.
Let us jump forward to the middle of the eighteenth century. We have aristocrats interested in the gothic. Walpole made Strawberry Hill which was his idea of Gothic. And then In the early part of the nineteenth century we start getting academics in Oxford known as the Oxford movement. They were also called the Tractarians because they produced a lot of tracts. They are looking at medieval theology and seeing it or pre-reformation theology as a more pure form of the Christian faith. They are not advocating a return to catholicism but they are advocating breaking away from the corruption that crept into the English church in the eighteenth century. Shortly after, a complimentary, although at times, rival group, grows up in Cambridge known as the Cambridge Camden society, but also known as the Ecclesiastics when they are sitting in London. They were interested in pre-reformation theology, but more importantly in pre-reformation architecture and church furnishings. So you have in Oxford, the academics looking at theology. In Cambridge, they are looking at the physical structures of the furnishings. So we are at the beginning of the nineteenth century at that time when people are looking back to the medieval world and things done in the medieval manner. So this is where the Gothic Revival begins. Also in 1824 the Government passes what became known as the 600 churches act. Christianity had fallen into corruption in the eighteenth century. The church fabric itself, the buildings were neglected. There were a lot of people assigned as clerics in churches who just stayed in their country estates and took the money and they didn’t even maintain the churches. So the government steps in and makes a proclamation, effectively going, thou must build churches. Into this comes the great architects like Butterfield, Street, Pugin. So the very first half of the nineteenth century is what we know as the Gothic Revival. Church building, church furnishing going on and stained glass starts apace.
Also in the 1850s and 60s craftsmen were thinking why can't we do it like the medieval stained glass makers. They couldn't simply because medieval glass is mouth blown. So there is no evenness in its thickness. Each bit of glass that the medieval craftsman made, this bit is thin at one end, but it might be thicker at the other. So that when you put it into a window and light comes through that little bit of glass, the light will come through differently. It will be less bright in the thicker bit and more bright in the thinner bit. The medieval craftsmen knew that. That's what the Victorian stained glass makers were really trying to discover.
Open studio event at 7 Shalfleet Drive, 2014. A house with 38 rooms and in each room an object from the V&A Museum. How would you draw this object into your domestic life?
TB: Nathaniel Westlake was a freelance designer. You could make a living by doing that. He went around to companies like Powell’s who were probably the biggest manufacturer of windows at this time. He would show his portfolio of how good an artist he was. Also a portfolio of stained glass design that he could offer to them. And that is how he was making his living. But in about 1858-59, clearly by 1860, he had become involved with the stained glass firm of Lavers and Barraud.
In 1864 the V&A had an exhibition of stained glass and mosaics and one of the firms that submits things that were selected to be displayed was a panel made by Lavers and Barraud to the design by Nathaniel Westlake. So this is just made for an exhibition piece as far as anyone has ever been able to find out. It wasn’t actually a potential commission which a lot of exhibition pieces were. This just seems to be solely their own making and as it’s a design by Westlake, one makes that big assumption that it’s Westlake’s idea. The iconography of this panel was all in his head. We know that Westlake was friends with the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood. The Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood like many groups in Europe were interested in things medieval. They’re looking at more literary subjects. Morris and co were doing lots of things like George and the Dragon windows. Dante Alligheri, the writer of the famous Divine Comedy, from the early part of fourteenth century was big. There was a lot of interest in him.
The iconography of the Westlake panel is quite complicated. It is derived from Dante’s Divine Comedy. In this poem Dante was granted a trip through hell into purgatory and finally into paradise. It’s a wonderful story. Dante is lead by the Roman poet Virgil who to him represents reason and as Dante is going through hell and purgatory he is reflecting on his own life. He is working out his own sin. At the very end of purgatory, this person called Beatrice starts to be mentioned. Beatrice was a real person, Beatrice Portinali. It seems that Dante knew her when they were children in Florence. He was a member of one family and she was another. For whatever reason and remember Italy wasn’t a unified country, it was a bunch of city states and these city states had noble families fighting each other. So marriages were not love matches, they were political matches and Dante had fallen in love with this young Beatrice. Madly, head over heels, quite perversely. Like, get over it Dante. But he never did. But he couldn’t marry her. She married someone else. We don’t even know if she realized his devotion. But anyway she had to marry someone else and she died quite young. So he was stuck on her all this time.
Now when you read the Divine Comedy it becomes apparent that Beatrice is divine love. And divine love is the only way you can go through heaven. Reason cannot take you into heaven. So at the very end of purgatory, before he makes that last crossing of the river and going up into heaven, Dante is given a vision by a woman called Mathilda and her companions, often known as the three graces, but really faith, hope and love. They give Dante a vision of what is to come. And this is the first time that he realised that this woman, who he has always loved and is now dead, has become divine love. This vision of Beatrice is going to lead him into paradise. This is what is depicted in the panel designed by Westlake. Beatrice up there in that top left corner. Faith, hope and love are those three figures who are often referred to as the three graces. First personified in that form by Sandro Botticelli in the middle of the fifteenth century in the Primaevera painting. This is Dante kneeling at the front, eyes closed, given that vision of Beatrice. That moment when he realises that his love has become divine love and so will take him into heaven.
It’s done in the medieval manner. So we’ve got little pieces of glass just like in the medieval way, irregular shaped pieces carefully chosen. It’s not just take that one, put it there to make the picture, but trying to get the right balance of light coming through. By this time in the nineteenth century they are using the equivalent of light cables. So they can start to see the effect and so they can choose the glass, arrange the shape in order to maximise the light coming through.
So Westlake is the culmination of this late eighteenth century, first half of the nineteenth century, Gothic revival way of doing it in the medieval manner. He is a medieval craftsman. He is a medieval artist. Let’s put it that way. Lavers and Barraud are a workshop that operated in the same way as a medieval workshop would have done. You have a centre in which you had your designer, your painter, your glass maker, your lead worker, all in one institution producing the window and each one being prized for their skills. As the nineteenth century moves on the designer becomes more of an artist. You start to get into, what is known in the ceramic world, as art pottery. You might as well call it art stained glass.
Model design for community art display at the V&A Museum. 2015.
Template for installation called Stained Graffiti: a house for Nathaniel Westlake.
Working out the measurements for a wraparound installation at the V&A Museum, 2015.
Editing fragments of film stills from Vision of Paradise. 25 frames per second on A3 sheets of paper. 2015.
Stained Graffiti: a house for Nathaniel Westlake. Installation displayed at the V&A Museum Learning Centre Lunchroom 6-8th Feb 2015.
Four film stills from Vision of Paradise, 2015. 30 minute, high definition video.
Fragments of film
The entrance to the Architecture Gallery at the V&A has a classic marble staircase. It echoes to the sound of history.
On the 19th and 20th November 2014, I held a film screening and paper folding workshop here. Visitors approaching the space would have heard the following sounds and voices.
Fragment 1
The sound of WW2 bombing, glass shattering and the percussive dub of the Notting Hill Carnival.
This reverberation in a usually quiet location caused a few raised eyebrows and the volume had to be scaled down.
North Kensington residents reminiscing about good and bad days, post-war poverty, multicultural experiences, poor housing and the British sense of humour.
An American who lives in London and who viewed this section of the film programme commented about the shocking poverty and how in the good U.S. we never had it so bad.
A filmed conversation with Joanna Sutherland, project architect at More West housing development. This is where I am based as V&A Community artist. She talked about: "What we are seeing ... is the threat to communities due to the expense of living, not just in central London, but all areas of London. I think there has been a growing interest in the last ten years, if not longer, of how communities evolve and what's important within a community, whether it's through schools, a community facility, a church. And I hope that this project, Silchester and the wider area, still remains a home for those who have lived there, had children, and maybe they can continue to live in the same place."
It was heartening to hear positive comments about this film from residents of the estate currently undergoing transformation.
A new community is forming at More West built on the foundations of the previous slum clearance redevelopment in the 1960s. That phase of development was very disruptive coupled as it was with the building of the adjacent Westway A40. It did however create social housing. Today, there is no longer a desire to match that social vision, and what is affordable in terms of rent and quality of life, is beyond the means of many. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and Peabody are providing part social and market housing at More West that consists of 45 rented homes, 39 shared-ownership and 28 for outright sale. The new housing is part of a rapidly changing area. However as our local councillor states: "There are too many poor people." Councillor Judith Blakeman has to deal with many of their social problems.
Glockenspiel and assorted drum kits provide a positive vision of the future. Children from Frinstead House are drawing. A girl illustrates herself waving goodbye to her father from the 20th floor of the high rise; he is waiting for his train at Latimer Road tube station. Another child mischievously draws a giant t-rex attacking the tube station. This is regeneration, disaster monster movie style. Yet another child provides a rainbow arcing across the skyline.
This was one of my most direct and rewarding engagements as community artist. I did not advertise this. I merely set up a large sheet of paper in the foyer of Frinstead House and invited local residents to accompany me in filling the blank. Adults and children confirmed their cultural identity and what it means to live in their high rise homes.
Fragment 5 - Was not heard at the museum. It has not been caught on camera or in any of my expressionistic documentary work. I hope to render this shortly. Symbolised by a DJ playing at a recent marketing event for More West. He has bought a flat and will move to the area in 2015. He is excited. Young and professional. For him there is no lingering doubts. He is forging the future in progressive sound waves. Zeitgeist.
In summary, this curated programme had the aim of dialectical montage, the juxtaposition of contrasting images and sounds. This is our experience in all its complicated social modes. It is both beautiful and ugly. We build for the future and paper over the cracks.
Speaking of paper (workshop), I have also provided a visual record of how young and old came together at the V&A Museum. Complete strangers who with a little encouragement and artistic structure are able to express light and shade, twisting new shapes into being and creating another fragment (like no 4 above) that brings a smile to my face.
Reflections on glass and stone
Outside the builders are laying bricks and installing windows. In my studio all is calm. I've been in listening mode and am currently transcribing two audio interviews.
The first was with Joanna Sutherland, Associate Director at Haworth Tompkins and project manager for More West housing development. It's fascinating to hear her talk about the visual appearance of the building taking shape opposite Latimer Road station. She explained the significance of a special Dutch brick called Bronze Grun.
"The appearance of the brick, the tonal variation across the brick and the right mortar colour are absolutely crucial to the success of the project."
It was not however easy to replicate trial samples and meet the original planning requirements.
"We were in no way going to allow anything to go through that wasn't perfect. And if you look at mortars, different mortars of brick, it completely changes the appearance of the brick. So even now when you still see the area that has got the salmon pink, you can see it's a nice brick, but it doesn't look very good. And where the mortar's right, it looks fantastic."
My second interview was with Terry Bloxham, Assistant Curator for Ceramics and Glass and the V&A. She gave me a superb tour of stain glass from the medieval period to the present day. This provided context on a Nathaniel Westlake panel, The Vision of Beatrice, that I'm using as inspiration for my project designs.
"Westlake is the culmination of the Gothic revival. Of doing it in the medieval manner. He is a medieval artist."
"In the panel we've got little pieces of glass, careful chosen. It's not just take that one and put it there to make the picture. But to get the right balance of light coming through, maybe the ones on the bottom are thicker, thinner at the top. Before you put it all together in the lead framework, other techniques are used, like painting, and staining and etching."
The Vision of Beatrice illustrates a scene from Dante's Divine Comedy. This is the climatic moment when Dante's love has become divine and he can be transported from purgatory into heaven.
Recently, I met buyers of one and two bedroom flats at the development. Young professional workers who were excited about moving into the area. They wanted to know about local facilities and views from their flat. I could comment on the former. Hopefully they were pleasantly surprised to hear about the the complex social history of the area and having the Notting Hill Carnival right on their doorstep.
I wonder if they will experience divine love (or otherwise) in their homes. Let us hope so. Future artists and historians will interpret and tell a story. In time.
Design for Leo The Last ceramic installation.
Lighting scheme for Westlake house.
From No Object to Your Object
No Object
My studio is a 1966 council flat that has no domestic furnishings. I invited visitors to bring an object from home and to tell me a story.
Many thanks to visitors and participants in No Object. You brought my studio to life for a day with your stories about a milk and marmalade pot, harmonica, Big Ted, Aboriginal art and 8mm projector.
Together we made the film, No Object.
Nahid, Silchester estate resident: "Amazing insight to the area I've been living in for over 30 years."
Neil Hobbs: "What a wonderful project. I hope this is happening all over London. If not, why not? This social history is so very important and should be recorded."
Lucilla Nitto, photographer and W10 resident: "Very interesting mix of space and art. Well done!"
Film poster display at No Object
Silchester Estate signage. The triangular area around A is currently being redeveloped as More West housing.
No Object was held as part of the Portobello Film Festival and consisted of:
W10 history room with a display of drawings about the social history of Notting Barns
West Ten, Fade Out programme of short films by Pat Naldi. Colin Legge, Helen Petts, Sandra Crisp, Jason Crimp, Rickster, Constantine Gras and Dee Harding
12 posters for films set in in W10 and 11: The Blue Lamp (1950), The Lavender Hill Mob (1951), Sapphire (1959), The Nanny (1965), Performance (1970), 10 Rillington Place (1971), The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), Pressure (1975), Radio On (1979), Absolute Beginners (1986), Notting Hill (1999) and Adulthood (2008)
Short film about film locations in the area
Original 1970 film poster for Leo The Last
Exhibition notes
The gritty streets and houses of North Kensington have attracted film makers since the 1950s.
In The Blue Lamp (1950) a classic cops and robbers car chase along Ladbroke Grove ends with a car crash near Latimer Road.
In the following year, Ealing Studios, provided a neat comic variation to the chase. In The Lavender Hill Mob, two police cars crash at the juncture of Bramley Road and Latimer Road outside the Bramley Arms. Their car radio antenna become entwined. The resulting incongruous broadcast of “Old Macdonald had a farm and on this farm he had a pig” resonates deeply with the history of the area, noted for its pig farming in the 19th century.
This part of the Hill is known locally as Notting Barns or Dale. It consolidated its seedy reputation as a “slum” with four days of race riots in 1958. Ethnic tension would feature in Sapphire (1959) with a scene directly culled from press accounts of the riots. A black suspect is chased by the law from a club in Shepherds Bush and is assaulted by Teddy Boys in Notting Dale. He is saved by the actions of a local grocer woman. Fact made fiction.
The race riots provided a poetic framework for the book Absolute Beginners (1959) written by Colin MacInnes. In this seminal novel about the youth culture of the day, the writer had this to say about the area:
“A long, lean road called Latimer road which I particularly want you to remember, because out of this road, like horrible tits dangling from a lean old sow, there hang a whole festoon of what I think must really be the sinisterest highways in our city, well, just listen to their names: Blechynden, Silchester, Walmer, Testerton and Bramley..........and there’s only one thing to do with them, absolutely one, which is to pull them down till not a one’s left standing up.”
This was a prophetic statement as the houses and streets were all torn down for the building of the Westway (A40) and council estates in the 1960s.
A musical adaption of Absolute Beginners was made in 1986 featuring David Bowie.
Kitchen sink dramas of the 1960s would also tap into the poverty and housing inequalities of the area.
When Bette Davis visits run down Walmer Road in the 1965 film Nanny, she discovers her estranged daughter is dead. A result of a back street abortion gone horribly wrong. This pushes her character over the gothic edge. Far more sinister happenings would take place at nearby 10 Rillington Place. John Christie, the serial killer, would offer deadly medical assistance to vulnerable women. The late Richard Attenborough powerfully conveyed Christie in the 1971 film version of the case.
With the building of the Westway and the estates, new possibilities for filming road sequences would appear.
When Hammer made The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1972), it seemed fitting that they should use the redeveloped Bard Road, just off Freston Road (formerly Latimer Road). This was and is a dead end road behind the Harrow Club. In the film, two biking Hells Angels trail a secret service woman and kidnap her at this point of no return.
Radio On (1979) came out of left field. A black and white film about alienation and featuring the modern existential drive. Not at street level, but above on the turbo charged Westway.
Adulthood made in 2008 by a new class of film maker, Noel Clarke, captures all the angst of life on an imaginary estate. The culture of young people who are trapped in the vicious cycle of gang crime. The police from The Blue Lamp are nowhere to be trusted or respected. The bad guys are the good guys you root for. The film uses locations in North Kensington that could be located in Silchester or Lancaster West Estate; these stand on either side of Bramley Road and Latimer Tube Station.
This council flat at 7 Shalfleet Drive is part of the 40 year old Silchester estate. It will be demolished in January 2015 to make way for mixed-tenure housing. As resident artist based here, I will be making a film project about the new housing development and the new community that is forming here.
Looking to the future, I wonder what films will be made in this area over the next 50 years.
Will they replay good cops, bad cops?
Will poverty and housing issues still feature?
Will more diverse multi-cultural voices be heard?
Will there be estates dominated by a new middle-class criminal?
Will the narrative film form, the staple of generations, become obsolete in the new social media age?
"We can't change the world, but we can change our street." (End scene from Leo The Last). Oil pastel, 2012.
Leo The Last art project
Leo The Last is the definitive local film that resonates with the themes of my residency: housing, architecture, film.
Leo The Last was directed by John Boorman in 1969, between his Hollywood films, Point Blank and Deliverance.
The story concerns a European aristocratic landlord who moves into a slum area of Notting Hill and becomes radicalised by his oppressed West Indian residents.
The film is an experimental adaption of a stage play and Boorman chose the location because of family links with the area. Uniquely, the design team were able to use a local road, Testerton Street, prior to its regeneration into the Lancaster West Estate. Nearly all of the residents had been moved out and Boorman was able to paint all the houses and road black. This created the unique monochrome colour palette in the film. A false house was built across Testerton Street. This was the stuccoed white house for the central character.
In the archive, I came across the touching story of one couple, still living on the road at No 27 and waiting to be rehoused. Arthur and Grace Clark refused the offer of £50 to have their terrace house sprayed black.
“We could do with the money really,” said Mrs Clark, who had lived all her life in the house. “But if we agreed to let them paint our house, the vandals would get busy, as they would think it’s empty.”
I am working with the V&A Museum to screen the film for residents at Silchester and Lancaster West Estate. They will then help me to make a ceramic installation based on images from the film.
Horizons West
Laura Southall and Leanne Manfredi from the V&A Museum setting up for Open Day.
It might not be the final frontier. But this blog entry begins and ends with space. The big bang of the widescreen, large format and panoramic. A location for an artist to perform and connect with people. The contested politics of space, building homes and forging communities.
First stop. Let me beam you to my non residential artist's studio. All artists cry and bleed for a space. This is nothing new. East London currently rules the roost, but in the past artists would look to this stretch, west of London, for verdant grass and fresh air. William Mulready was one of the first artists to settle in Kensington in the first decade of the 19th century. He shared digs with fellow artist John Linnell at Kensington Gravel Pits and then had a studio house built for him in 1827 at Linden Grove (now gardens, the house is no longer extant). This was during the first wave of development for the Ladbroke Estate and Mulready lived here for the remainder of his life. Nearly forty years later, Nathaniel Westlake, having just converted to catholicism, has his architect friend, John Francis Bentley, design a house for him in Notting Barns. Westlake did not stay here for long. We can perhaps speculate this is because the area developed into one of the worst slums in London. His house is still standing and looks out of place next to the Lancaster West Estate. Mulready and Westlake are both closely associated with the birth of the V&A Museum and have work on display. In terms of art, studio space and the V&A, I am following in their footsteps; more of this anon.
The Mall, Kensington Gravel Pits, oil on canvas, ca.1811-12 by William Mulready. Museum number: FA.136[O] © V&A Museum
1-2 Whitchurch Road. House for Nathaniel Westlake. Designed by John Francis Bentley, 1863.
During my V&A Community Artist residency, I have that precious commodity for an artist, studio space. I am not based at the museum like the other resident artists. I am a tenant of a flat whose rooms can be sculpted, wallpapered, improvised. It's an in-between space, a former council property, that will become part of a mixed tenure housing. No one will care if I artistically trash it as demolition is due next year. I'm conscious of being the last in line. Leo The Last. The last house demolished. I've explored these in previous art projects. Now. I'm living out my very own kitchen sink drama.
What about the medium or mixed media of space? Artists are always grappling with this technical consideration, whether it's processing on a computer or via more traditional craft techniques. I usually compose an image through a viewfinder of a camera or a sketchbook often leading to 16x20 inch drawings; this is a legacy of working with photo paper formats in a darkroom.
There are also multiple dimensions to my residency: how art relates to community and housing and architecture. As I want to share and encourage others to participant in these processes, I need to think big as in large scale. This is new to me and will present its own set of challenges.
I also need to engage with my immediate neighbours on the street, residents in the estate, people in the ward, across the borough. An audience that might not understand "art" or perhaps even know who the V&A are.
As I begin, so I end. Everything is hurtling towards a date in January or February 2015 with an end of residency event at the V&A. This is in the lunch room for visitors to the learning centre. However being the V&A it is no ordinary lunch room. It has a cinematic sweep, certainly from the top down. Even wall lined cupboards gets one thinking of spaces within space. I'm looking at constructing panoramic displays here, perhaps of the Silchester and Lancaster West Estate and its residents. This will include film of the new housing development taking place and the new community that is forming. Also perhaps a representation of the Westway (A40), a built structure that dominates this area of North Kensington. Can I also chuck in some "stain-glass" imagery for the aesthetic thrill?
V&A Museum Lunch Room.
Sub-dividing spaces for a panoramic image.
Design sketch for art display at V&A.
On August 18th I hosted an open day bringing some of these issues into focus. I did wonder how many people I could safely fit into the studio flat and its 4 spaces (20 comfortably at peak capacity). It was a good idea to convert a large store room into a history room with archive maps and images. In total, I had 60 plus visitors. Delighted to see my neighbours on Shalfleet Drive popping in to see what all the fuss was about. This is important as I plan on working with them on a film project. There was a group visit from Open Age who took to my live drawing like ducks to water. Great to see old colleagues, including Adam Ritchie who was pivotal in establishing the community ethos for the Westway and the building of play spaces for children in the 1960s.
The Mayor of RBKC Maighread Condon-Simmonds also paid a visit. She is a charming lady, really down to earth and digs the complex layered history of this area. In her thank you letter, she chimed in with my thoughts about the challenges of space: "You have made a truly interesting display in such a small space.....The north of the borough has so much more space than the south and it is good to see the new developments with good quality homes."
Mayor Maighread Condon-Simmonds chats to Joanna Sutherland, architect from Hayworth Tompkins.
For the exhibition, I also created a drawing installation called House with 40 Rooms. In each room there was an object. These objects were all from the V&A. I invited participants to use words or images in response to the objects in the rooms. Local resident, Maggie Tyler, wrote the following about her drawing:
"I used to look out at a Stag's Horn tree and a round window in the wall of the house at the end of the garden. At night, I would see the silhouette of the foxes walking along the top of the wall past the round window. Then! The Neighbour moved out and the new neighbour built an extension. A modern extension that covered and destroyed the round window. The tree fell down and the view has changed. I now look at a modern box!"
Open Age group in the House with 40 rooms.
Maggie Tyler's response to Wallpaper by William Burges, ca 1870. Museum No: E.1874-1934. © V&A Museum
Amos and the girls from Mirage: Wendy, Mel and Miya.
A few days later, I opened my studio during the rain-sodden Notting hill carnival. Sheltering outside my flat, I took pity on a group of performers and invited them in. Amos has been taking part in the carnival for over 15 years and we chatted about its history which is reflected in art work on display. New residents moving into More West from 2015 (once the flat is demolished and new housing built) will find they are on the western edge of the processional route. There is intense debate about the future of the carnival. Is it too big for the streets of Notting Hill? Cllr. Eve Allison, who has ancestral roots in the Carribean, believes there are compelling reasons for relocating the carnival to a larger green space. This would be a tremendous loss to the area and signal a departure that the carnival has lost its community connection.
Down at the V&A, I've been reflecting on this and artistic precedents for panoramic art.
Nathaniel Weslake has large upright stain glass and oil paintings (with associated mosaic) on display. I've previously commented on his smashing stain glass. This time I'm checking out his contribution to the Valhalla portraits. It seems apt that Westlake should choose as his artistic role model, Fra Beato Giacomo da Ulma (d.1517), a Dominican Friar who painted on glass at Bologna and is an obscure figure in the series. As Westlake did for da Ulma, I will likewise do for Westlake. Celebrate the art and allow this to percolate into my practice. This means moving into unfamiliar territory, but I'm up for the challenge. I can start digitally with photoshop and a literal following in the footsteps (see image below!) This is a simple tool to collage ideas and feelings about the construction of a pictorial landscape. Just the first step in a process of ongoing experimentation that will probably morph into craft and film.
The Valhalla Series, with nearest glass mosaic based on design by Nathaniel Westlake. © V&A Museum
Following in the footsteps of previous artists. Collage of plinth and feet from the Valhalla series. © V&A Museum.
The highest vantage point at the V&A.
Panoramic view from the dome at the V&A Museum.
Section of the Rotonda, Leicester Square, in which is exhibited the Panorama. 1801. Museum no: E.2057-192612. © V&A Museum
The Funeral Procession of the Duke of Wellington, 1852. Print, Aquatint, coloured by hand. Museum number: E.401:29-1954 © V&A Museum
In the prints and study room, I perused an 1801 plan for a panorama in Leicester Square. This was presented as various walking and viewing points in a space shaped by architect and painter. Ingenious. I also marvelled at the skill employed in a fold-out book made to commemorate the Funeral Procession of the Duke of Wellington in 1852. It was made by Samuel Henry Alken and George Augustus Sala. The pomp and circumstance of this stately occasion made an interesting contrast to the recent carnival floats that passed by my studio. It connects with previous thoughts about creating work that fuses the historic with the contemporary.
My art musing is only of interest when it translates into practical application. How to use art to look at the urban environment, the community spaces around my studio and the homes that residents have made here? How high rise residents perceive the new developments taking place below them? How residents in the shadow of taller structures respond to changes in light and air quality as the sun climbs and then dips into the West? How do I create a space for public participation in the process of making art? How will others want to comment on the world around them? I need to bear in mind that this might not necessarily tally with how I view the world. How will art be elegantly displayed for a follow-up activity of engagement? Can I bring this all together at the V&A lunch room as food for thought?
View from Dixon House onto Grenfell Tower. © Steph Perkin.
Michael Jardine, architect and resident of Silchester Estate.
V&A Learning Department Team, sculptural workshop.
I don't particularly want to end on a question, so offer this as a postscript.
I'm being managed by Laura Southall in the Learning Department and it was great to meet more of the team. I set them a 10 minute challenge to make some sculptural forms and showed them a few examples. If they ended up making a posh version of a paper aeroplane, that would be fine. Dah! They do all work for the V&A, pre-eminent design and art museum. Fold, tear and sellotape.
Horizons west. Feels good.
Community art in the material world
Definitely settled in as Community Artist: collaborating with local art projects, connecting with the V&A collections and mapping out my own artistic concerns.
First off, spray painting at the Henry Dickens Court Community Centre. Local children working with TMO, Steph Perkins and lead artist, Claire Rye, have produced a great picture that will be attached to the hoarding of the building site at More West. It was good to see the design on paper turned into the completed image. Local artist, James Mercer had the amusing idea of incorporating Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; the building site has a female crane driver who works with an all male crew.
There is never a dull or quiet moment at the studio.
Although I've recently been diagnosed with otosclerosis, which is beginning to affect my powers of hearing, I'm constantly alerted to activity at the front of house and back garden. There are daily deliveries to the building site with large trucks stopping outside the flat. Last week, I was chatting to my Tunisian neighbour, Kacim, when a concrete staircase was being delivered. This looked very photogenic and I had to dash off for my camera; hope he didn't think me rude!
Speaking of photography, I'm grateful to Liz Grant at RIBA for supplying books for my studio. Anyone interested in architectural photography, should check out RIBApix. Looking forward to viewing hard copies in their library.
Natalie Marr from group-work also dropped off a recent publication - Staying Put: An Anti- Gentrification Handbook for Council Estates in London.
The studio I'm based at on 7 Shalfleet Drive is a former council house connected to Silchester Estate. This side of the road will be demolished in January 2015 after the residents have moved into new property at More West. RBKC council and Peabody are providing 45 larger properties for social rent, 39 shared ownership and 28 for sale on the open market. There will also be a new retail unit, a community facility, public garden area and private communal garden with children’s play space.
Two recent discussions I've had at my studio, have brought into focus the complex issues around estate regeneration and the affordability of housing. As an artist I'm located at the core of these changes to the built environment, reflecting on the impacts they might have on local residents and the potential they offer for the future development of the area and its communities.
Never a dull moment.
I opened my front door one morning and saw two women in the street. They asked about the new development as they were thinking of buying a flat. Mother and daughter, Sacha and Cecily, were duly invited in and later got to meet, Joanna Sutherland, who is the architect behind More West. They have a historic family connection with nearby Hammersmith. Cecily, the daughter, has rented in North Kensington over the past few years and is looking for a home near the Electric Cinema where she works. They expressed concern about "affordability" as the cheapest housing units to buy are £400,000. How will this also impact on the local area (primarily council estates) and the community being formed around the new housing?
Another discussion: much more heated, not dull.
I had a visit from Edward who lives at nearby Grenfell Tower. He has been involved in a campaign regarding the future of the Tower and the redevelopment of land around the Lancaster West Estate. The latter is providing a new academy and sports centre. His first words to me, roughly paraphrased were: "If you are not for us, then you have no right being here!" Pity the conversation was primarily one way. However I was troubled by the pain and isolation of Edward's feelings. This is a challenge for a community artist whose funding remit is positive community engagement.
The fab film, Leo The Last, was shot on Testerton Road, before this was demolished for the building of the Lancaster West Estate in the early 1970s. I'm trying to get the BFI to make a copy available for screening as part of my residency. A screening at the estate, followed by a project around housing issues, might be one possible form of engagement.
Maybe I was due a quiet moment.
At the V&A Museum we also find building works for a new gallery space. Kids are splashing about at the courtyard pool. Did I really hear one of my favourite Lee Scratch Perry / Max Romeo songs, Chase The Devil, emanating from the John Madeski Garden? Anyway, I met up with Martin Bastone who took me on a guided tour of the building. Fascinating to learn about its association with WW2 spies. I definitely want to visit the dome and see those panoramic views. Martin had previously assisted me in ensuring my studio was a safe place to work and hold workshops.
I've been sketching in the Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Gallery. This is connecting me to Nathaniel Westlake (see previous blog), one of the leading stain glass artists of the 19th century. He had a house built for him a short stroll from where I am based in North Kensington.
Also just around the corner is the historic Harrow Club. This was a former church, built in 1887 by Richard Norman Shaw, who is the subject of an exhibition at the Royal Academy. I'm planning on running a summer workshop at the Club evoking the history of the building and its current use as a vibrant community centre. This will involve local residents and children making "stain glass" images on OHP transparency film and for these to be placed on the windows of the building. The design might collate together stain glass and urban graphic art. There seems to be an interesting visual co-relation between these otherwise sacred and "profane" genres.
I have also been working on some paper models for an architectural themed workshop. I've not worked in this format before, so it's doubly exciting to be able to share new skills and discoveries. There is a RIBA and V&A educational resource that I can dip into. I now need to think about building a panoramic installation for the display of these models. The garden space at the studio will suffice for the moment.
On Saturday 2nd August, I have an Open Studio day. This is from 10-5pm at 7 Shalfleet Drive, W10 6UF. The studio is directly opposite Latimer Road tube station. I will have art on display and info about workshops to be held at the studio and V&A Museum. It would be great to meet more local residents and find out about their experiences. If you would like to visit, please R.S.V.P : cgras@me.com.
My first week as Community Artist
I've finally signed my tenancy contract with RBKC and have kicked the studio flat into shape. It's been a busy week. This has involved disposing of the former resident's (mother and child) personal effects including abandoned toys. The poignant wall markings made to measure a child's growth still remain. Several licks of paint and Constantine's your uncle, the V&A Museum Community Artist. I am uniquely based at a former council flat that is part of a housing redevelopment. All the flats on this side of Shalfleet Drive will be demolished in about six months time. The tenants (apart from me) will all be rehoused in the new building. Needless to say, after a year of building works, they are really looking forward to this. I had a nice coffee chat with Linda and Ted Smith at No 13. Hoping to feature them in a film project.
The studio is a perfect space for me to work. I'm responding to the theme of housing and regeneration. The patio overlooks the building site although it feels as if the building site and the towering cranes are overlooking me. I've been out in the dusty and noisy garden making sketches of the trees surrounded by forklift trucks, pallets and busy workers. These trees will form the heart of the enclosed garden. They are the only surviving element of this section of the estate that included a nursery and garages. In the breeze, these trees might whisper to future tenants. Tell them the story of this area and its complex social history (pigs, pots, slum, race riots, squats).
I recently had my first session at St Anne's Nursery, kindly assisted by Laura Southall who is looking after me at the V&A Museum. For 75 kids we made a time travelling drawing that introduced them to the Egyptian Pyamids, Greek Temples, Turkish Mosques, Big Ben, the V&A (also currently a building site) and houses in outer space. I'm looking forward to revisiting the school after summer to engage in large scale panoramic drawings.
Steph Perkins is the estate liaison office who works with the building contractors. She is currently organising a poster hoarding competition for the perimeter of the building site. Tasneem Howard is a super talented, nine-year old who has designed one of the posters. At the Harrow club we have been assisting her. Her picture is about the club and the community facilities she enjoys there. Tasneem likes art, but wants to become a veterinary surgeon. Maybe she'll be an artistic vet.
Speaking of grown-ups, my first session in the studio was with several friends who helped me produce a drawing about our personal experiences connected with housing.
Steve Gross: "I'm thinking back to the house I grew up in with my mum and dad and sisters. The stairs were a very important thing. They'll all be watching the television and I'll be sent to bed at 9 o'clock. But I wouldn't go to bed. I'll sit at the top of the stairs and hear them laughing and laughing and laughing at Monty Python's Flying Circus. I couldn't see what was going on. I felt really excluded. It was very unfair. This incident is an amalgamation of several where I smashed the window and then they are coming to look for me and I'm hiding under the stairs (laughs) waiting for them to tell me off. I was about eight. There was always something up and down the stairs, or under the stairs.
Caroline Stingmore: "There's a conflict. Because this picture is from my childhood. Really happy childhood memories growing up in Ireland. My dad had a rockery and he always put orange marigolds on it and we all hated them. But now we loved them, but at the time we hated them, they were so orange. My mum always provided wonderful heartwarming meals. That's a big memory. And the cherry blossom tree in the garden. I used to dance around it like a little fairy. It's all idyllic. And in this picture is where I felt very guilty when my boys were born. We were living in a council estate and I couldn't give them what I had. We were trapped in a flat in a high rise block. They were okay actually, but I felt immense guilt and sadness."
Down at the V&A Museum I've been researching an architect and artist who helped shape the historic built environment of North (and South) Kensington. Future blogs and art will focus on John Francis Bentley and Nathaniel Hubert John Westlake. Bentley built an artists house for Westlake, just a stones throw from my studio. They collaborated on several churches, most noticeably St Francis of Assisi on Pottery Lane.
It was great to meet some of the staff at the V&A. Martin Storey, curator in the Word and Image Department, has shown me architectural models and a fascinating sketch book by William Burges. Marisa who works on the Community Programme has suggested potential audiences for my work. Next week, I'm visiting Elizabeth Grant, Education Curator at RIBA and look forward to connecting with their resources.
Over the coming weeks, I will be working up my detailed plans for community engagement. These include negotiating with the BFI about screening a seminal film (Leo The Last), running summer workshops for local residents, devising a combined cycling and drawing tour of the Royal Borough's most important and quirky buildings, and collaborating with local residents in the making of a film about the housing redevelopment.
FILM
Derek Latham
Gate Cinema
Jacob Barua
Lancaster West Estate
Latymer Mapping Project
Leo The Last
Melodramatic Elephant
More West
Nathaniel Westlake
Portobello Film Festival
Silchester Estate
Siobhan Davies Dance
Stain Glass
St Helen's Festival
Still Moving
This-That
Westway
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1033
|
__label__wiki
| 0.808495
| 0.808495
|
‘Green Is Good’ The Mantra For Builders Of City’s New Office
In the race to build multimillion-dollar commercial office buildings in downtown Vancouver, the prevailing mantra appears to be a new take on an old expression. Green is good.
The latest manifestation of a sustainable office building is being proposed by global financial giant Credit Suisse, which is jumping in with a $200-million plan to build a structure that will vie to be among the world’s greenest.
Among other things, the building at the corner of Howe and Pender — to be completed by 2015 — is targeted to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum and ‘Living Building’ certifications with cutting-edge features such as on-site waste water treatment and reuse, energy consumption at a rate about half that of similar towers, a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, storm water retention and reuse, and solar thermal panels.
And tenants will be able to open their windows on warm summer days.
“It will be a very distinctive building,” Selwyn Dodd, partner with design group Iredale Group Architecture, said in an interview. “This won’t be your cookie-cutter Vancouver office tower.”
Credit Suisse, through one of its real estate funds, has secured the 1929 Stock Exchange building, along with an adjacent property on Pender, and is proposing to build the 30-storey, 400,000-square-foot tower incorporating the heritage stock exchange building.
The investment firm is now unveiling plans for its tower, the latest in a growing number of office projects in downtown Vancouver that are aiming for the LEED rating system, a third-party certification and internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Platinum is the highest rating.
The planned tower is Credit Suisse’s first B.C. investment and would be the tallest in the company’s real estate inventory of 260 buildings.
There is an open house today at the Terminal City Club, 837 West Hastings, and the group will apply for rezoning within two weeks.
Although constructing a LEED Platinum building will increase construction costs by 10 to 15 per cent, Herbert Meier, director of real estate asset management for Credit Suisse, said building green reduces operating costs and attracts clients seeking out sustainable offices.
“It’s not the highest building. It’s not on the waterfront. But it’s the best package.
“We really believe green buildings are the most sustainable investment.”
Franz Gehriger, president of minority investor Swissreal Investments Ltd., said his group will utilize local materials from local contractors as much as possible.
“There’s a light manufacturing company in Langley that makes advanced [energy-efficient] LED lights. We’re talking with them about making the whole building LED.”
Gehriger added: “We believe this is a great way for Credit Suisse’s real estate fund to expand into Vancouver, the greenest city in Canada.”
Others are also aiming for LEED Gold or Platinum standards.
Last month, the British Columbia Investment Management Corp launched its 24-storey, 745 Thurlow St. office tower, making it the second of three other anticipated major office projects in downtown Vancouver to jump onto a construction timeline.
That project — scheduled for completion in 2015 — follows Oxford Properties’ announcement that committed its pension-fund sponsor to build 1021 West Hastings, a 25-storey tower to be built by 2014.
Another building is the 22-storey, 500,000-square-foot office tower that is part of Telus Corp.’s $750-million redevelopment of the entire city block bounded by Robson, Georgia, Seymour and Richards streets, which the company and developer Westbank Projects aim to complete in 2015.
© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
This entry was posted on September 26th, 2011 | Posted in General
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1035
|
__label__wiki
| 0.725066
| 0.725066
|
Bedell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Anglo-Saxon name Bedell comes from when the family resided in Bidwell, Hertfordshire. This place name derives from the Old English words "byde," meaning "tub," and "well," meaning a "spring," or "stream." As such, Bedell is classed as a habitational name.
Early Origins of the Bedell family
The surname Bedell was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where Bidwell was said to be a picturesque hamlet lying to the north-west of Houghton village. [1]
There is an early record of a Stephen de Bedewellin in Essex in the Calendar of the Close Rolls, in 1229. [2]
Early History of the Bedell family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Bedell research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1323, 1388, 1420, 1561, 1632, 1589, 1595, 1632, 1561, 1562, 1632, 1537, 1508, 1520, 1532, 1571, 1571, 1642, 1627, 1641 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Bedell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bedell Spelling Variations
Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Bedell include Bedwell, Bedwel, Bedewell, Bidwell, Bidewell and many more.
Early Notables of the Bedell family (pre 1700)
Notables of the family at this time include William Bedwell (1561-1632), Vicar of Tottenham, Middlesex, an English priest and scholar, who specialized in mathematics and foreign languages and Thomas Bedwell, who held the position of "Storekeeper of the Ordnance" of England, 1589-1595. William Bedwell (d. 1632), was nephew of "Thomas Bedwell, and father of Arabic studies in England, was born in 1561 or 1562, for his tombstone in the chancel of Tottenham church makes him aged...
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Bedell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Bedell family to Ireland
Some of the Bedell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Bedell migration to the United States +
A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:
Bedell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Gertrude Bedell, who landed in Virginia in 1642 [3]
Atwell Bedell, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 [3]
Elizabeth Bedell, who landed in Maryland in 1662 [3]
Robert Bedell, who landed in Maryland in 1665 [3]
Henry Bedell, who arrived in Maryland in 1665 [3]
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Nicho Bedell, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 [3]
Samuel Bedell, who arrived in New York in 1832 [3]
Mr. Bedell, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [3]
Bedell migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Bedell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Mr. John Bedell U.E. born in Staten Island, New York, USA who settled in Woodstock, New Brunswick c. 1783 he was a magistrate for 40 years [4]
Mr. Joseph Bedell U.E. born in Long Island, New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [4]
Mr. Paul Bedell U.E. born in Long Island, New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [4]
Mr. Stephen Bedell U.E. born in Long Island, New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [4]
Mr. William Bedell U.E. born in Long Island, New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1783 [4]
Contemporary Notables of the name Bedell (post 1700) +
Berkley Warren Bedell (1921-2019), American Democratic Party politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1975-1987)
Howard William Bedell (b. 1935), American former Major League Baseball player
Joel Ferree Bedell Jr. (1905-1992), American Democrat politician, Public affairs representative, Humble Oil and Refining Company; Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Kanawha County, 1961-66; Defeated, 1966 [5]
Jeffrey Bedell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from California, 1964 [5]
Harry E. Bedell, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1904 [5]
Gilbert Bedell, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Greene County, 1825, 1840 [5]
G. Archie Bedell, American Democrat politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956 [5]
Forrest Bedell, American Republican politician, Chair of Rockingham County Republican Party, 1952; Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 1960 [5]
Eugene J. Bedell, American Democrat politician, Member of New Jersey State Senate 12th District, 1976 [5]
David A. Bedell, American politician, Candidate for Connecticut State Senate 36th District, 2010 [5]
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Citations +
^ Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York, Harper & Row, 1956. Print
^ Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
^ Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
^ The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Bedell (English)
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1036
|
__label__wiki
| 0.565695
| 0.565695
|
Thousands of disability support workers around the country are providing essential services in the community during this Covid-19 lockdown.
“I want to give a huge shout out to these workers who play a critical role in the lives of many disabled people at any time, and who are so important in this crisis,” says Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero.
“Like other essential workers they are working in very difficult circumstances to keep at risk people safe. They have their own fears and worries. They may be living with uncertainly because their protective gear hasn’t arrived yet. They may not be able to live in the same bubble as their own family because of their role.”
Most are having to learn new ways of working and taking extra precautions for the safety of themselves, the people they support, and others in their “bubble”, says Tesoriero.
“It is a very sad fact that many people they work with would be completely isolated without support workers during the lockdown.”
They may not have uniforms or job ID cards so need to carry a letter from their employer explaining their role, which can be shown to authorities or other essential services.
“I have heard that sometimes this letter isn’t accepted, which makes it very difficult for support workers to do their jobs."
These workers should be as valued and respected as other essential workers, including health professionals and emergency staff, says Tesoriero.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1037
|
__label__cc
| 0.612797
| 0.387203
|
A to Z of supplements
Home › A to Z of supplement › Co-enzyme Q10
Description Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10), sometimes called Ubiquinone, is a naturally occurring vitamin-like substance produced by the body.
It is found in the mitochondria of all cells in the body, but particularly in those of the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas.
Co-enzyme Q10 is produced in the body but the ability to synthesise CoQ10 reduces with age.
Function/ Used for CoQ10 is needed for the process that converts the energy from food into energy that can be used by the body.
CoQ10 also works as an antioxidant, neutralising potentially damaging free radicals to stabilise cell membranes and protect both lipids (fats) and proteins. It also works to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin E.
CoQ10 is also essential for the normal function of the heart muscle.
Intake N/A
As a supplement CoQ10 is sold in capsules and tablets in strengths of 10–200 mg.
Absorption is increased when capsules containing CoQ10 in an oil base are taken with meals.1
Found in (dietary sources) CoQ10 can be mainly found in organ meats such as liver and kidneys; fish and shellfish; and the germ portion of whole grains.
It can also be found in smaller quantities in soya beans, nuts and vegetables, particularly spinach and broccoli.
Deficiency N/A
Precautions and contraindications CoQ10 should not be used to treat cardiovascular disorders without medical supervision.
Use in pregnancy and breastfeeding Safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established.
Interactions e.g. with other medications In patients on warfarin (an anti-coagulant) and heart medication (eg. Beta-blockers), high doses of CoQ10 should be used with caution.
The synthesis of CoQ10 follows a similar biochemical pathway as cholesterol and, therefore, drugs which lower cholesterol such as statins also inhibit CoQ10 production in the body.
Other drugs which may reduce levels of CoQ10 include hypertensive drugs (used to treat high blood pressure, e.g. clonidine, hydralazine, methyldopa), thiazide diuretics (e.g. hydrochlorothiazide) and tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline).2
Adverse effects CoQ10 appears to be safe and relatively well tolerated in doses of 10–200 mg daily.
There are occasional reports of gastrointestinal discomfort, dizziness and skin rash, but these tend to occur with doses in excess of 200mg daily.1
References 1 Mason, P. Dietary Supplements. Pharmaceutical Press, London, 2001.
2 Gaby A.R et al. A-Z Guide to Drug-Herb-Vitamin Interactions. Health Notes. Three Rivers Press. New York. 2006
Tweets by HealthSuppsInfo
To contact the HSIS press office team please call:
020 3600 0228 / 07867 513 361
Email: HSIS@junglecatsolutions.com
HSIS works with independent diet and nutrition experts to provide evidence-based, accurate comment on food supplements issues.
The Health and Food Supplements Information Service is funded by PAGB, the consumer healthcare association, which represents the manufacturers of branded OTC medicines, self care medical devices and food supplements in the UK.
PAGB (Proprietary Association of Great Britain), New Penderel House, 283-288 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HP. Registration No. 375216, Place of Registration: England.
© 2021 PAGB. All rights reserved | Designed & built by Kariba
By using this website you agree to our
The language of food supplements and nutrition can sometimes be technical or confusing. We've put together a glossary to help you understand some of the most common terms. If you have suggestions for further entries to the glossary, please contact us.
µg Microgram a measurement of weight equal to one millionth of a gram (or one thousandth of a milligram). Microgram (µg or mcg) is used for a number of nutrients found in food supplements.
Amino Acid The building blocks of protein, there are eight essential amino acids which cannot be synthesised within the body and therefore must come from the diet. These are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. In addition arginine and histidine are amino acids required by infants and young children which supports their rapid growth.
Antioxidant A substance or nutrient which helps to protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals, damaging molecules which are found in pollution and tobacco smoke. Our bodies also produce free radicals as part of the normal biochemistry of living.
Deficiency A lack of essential macronutrients or micronutrients which results in malnutrition and or disease. This may be the result of inadequate intakes or absorption issues associated with gastrointestinal disease. There are a number of recognised deficiency diseases including (but not exclusively): scurvy (vitamin C deficiency); rickets (vitamin D deficiency); anaemia (iron deficiency, but also deficiencies in B12 and folic acid) and Kwashiorkor (protein deficiency).
DH The Department of Health is a UK Government department. It has responsibility for nutrition legislation and sets health policy for nutrition.
DHA Docosahexaenoic acid; one of the key omega-3 fats that provides health benefits
Dietitian An individual qualified in nutrition and dietetics who can assess, diagnose and treat health issues associated with nutrition and diet. Dietitians are governed by law with a statutory code of practice; they often work within the health service although increasing numbers are also working in a freelance capacity.
EFA Essential fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. EFAs do not provide fuel for energy production and are required for vital biological processes which support growth, development and health.
EFSA European Food Safety Authority; the European Union food risk management agency which scientifically evaluates safety across all areas of food.
EPA Eicosapentaenoic acid; one of the key omega-3 fats that provides health benefits.
Fat soluble vitamin The fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Because they are fat soluble these substances can accumulate in the body, often being stored in fat cells, or in the liver. This can create health issues, particularly if intakes have been high for a prolonged period of time. For example, long term high intakes of vitamin D may lead to the laying down of calcium in tissues such as liver and kidneys which can cause nausea and vomiting.
Food supplement A food supplement is a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect which is sold in small, measured unit doses.
FSA The Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial UK Government department responsible for food safety and food hygiene.
GLA Gamma-linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid (an essential fatty acid considered to be necessary for human health which must be derived from the diet). GLA is most commonly found in evening primrose oil (EPO), borage or starflower oil and blackcurrant seed oil.
Health claim A health claim is any claim which states, or implies, that consumption of a specific food will have a beneficial effect on health. Claims may be written, verbal or pictorial.
Herbal medicine (herbal remedy) A product is considered to be a herbal medicine if the main active ingredient/s are only herbal substances or preparations. Not all herbal products are medicines, some may be food supplements and some may be cosmetics. What determines if a product is, or is not a medicine is complex but generally rests with how the product is presented (i.e. does it make medicinal claims to treat, prevent or cure any disease) and what it does (i.e. does it have a physiological impact on, or alter, any body functions).
Macronutrient Dietary constituents which are needed in significant amounts, generally protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre and water.
Malnutrition Malnutrition is a state in which the deficiency of nutrients such as energy, protein, vitamins or minerals results in measurable adverse effects on the body. Malnutrition may refer to insufficient intake of protein, carbohydrate and fats (macronutrients) which can result in overly low BMI. It may also be insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients, which can impact on overall health and could include obese individuals with poor diets.
Mg Milligram is a measurement of weight equal to one thousandth of a gram. Mg is used for a number of nutrients found in food supplements.
Micronutrient A substance derived from food which is needed in extremely small amounts for the normal growth and development of living beings. Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (omega-3 fats)
Mineral Inorganic micronutrient essential to health and wellbeing. Minerals are absorbed from soil by plants which are in turn eaten by animals or humans. Minerals may be split into minerals which are needed in relatively high amounts (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride and potassium) and trace elements (iron, zinc, cobalt, copper, chromium, fluoride, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, boron and selenium) which are needed in very small quantities.
Multivitamin A product which contains more than one vitamin, often multivitamins will contain all 13 vitamins although some may contain only the eight B vitamins, or a combination of some of the vitamins and some additional minerals.
NDNS The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey is a continuous rolling survey of the dietary habits and nutritional status of adults and children in the UK. The results are used to assess whether intakes of food and nutrients are adequate across different ages and population groups.
NRV Nutrient Reference Value is the amount set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), primarily to support food labelling, which the majority of the population requires to maintain health. Previously known as RDA
Nutrient A substance derived from food which provides nourishment to the body and is essential for the maintenance of life and for growth and development.
Nutritionist Nutritionists generally work for public bodies or governments, although some do work with private clients. They tend to look at large populations to determine risk factors and make dietary recommendations that are applied at population levels. For example, evidence on the incidence of type II Diabetes led public health nutritionists to determine that some populations are more at risk of developing this disease, and to make recommendations for dietary changes to either reduce the risk or manage the disease. However, public health nutritionists do not practice with individual patients.
Omega-3 fats Essential fatty acids which cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. Primary sources for omega-3 fats are oily fish and fish oil supplements with some also coming from enriched eggs and fortified foods. There are a number of scientifically proven health benefits for omega-3 fats including supporting the health of the eyes, brain and heart, maintaining an appropriate balance of triglycerides in the blood and reducing blood pressure.
Omega-6 fats Essential fatty acids which cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. Primary sources for omega-6 are vegetable oils such as sunflower and corn oils as well as nuts and seeds. There are a number of health benefits associated with omega-6 fatty acids; they are thought to be beneficial in the management of premenstrual syndrome and in some skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.
PAGB Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) is the UK trade association which represents the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter medicines, self care medical devices and food supplements.
Prebiotics Foods which promote the growth of probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that inhabit our gut. Prebiotics are generally fibres such as inulin, which our bodies cannot digest and absorb but which provide a food source for probiotics.
Probiotics Live bacteria (and some yeasts) which inhabit the digestive tract which are viewed as being beneficial to human health. There are thousands of different bacterial strains; some are resident in specific areas of the digestive tract whilst others are transient, simply passing through.
Public Health England (PHE) Public Health England is an agency of the Department of Health responsible for improving public health. They work with local government, the NHS and non-governmental organisations as well as communicating public health messages to the general public.
PUFA Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are found in nuts, seeds, fish (and fish oil), krill and some algae, small amounts are also found in leafy greens. The omega-3 and omega 6 fats are PUFAs, which are generally associated with health.
RDA Recommended Daily Amount; previously used terminology for the amount set, primarily to support food labelling, which the majority of the population require to maintain health. Now described using nutrient reference value (NRV)
SUL Safe Upper Levels of vitamins and minerals were established by the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals who published a report in 2003 (https://cot.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cot/vitmin2003.pdf). The UK food supplements industry works to the levels set in this report.
Vitamin Organic micronutrient essential to health and wellbeing. Vitamins cannot be synthesised in sufficient amounts by the animal or human body and must therefore be obtained from the diet. Plants manufacture vitamins which move up the food chain as the plants are consumed by animals or humans. Vitamins can be divided into fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E and K) and water soluble (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid and vitamin C).
Water soluble vitamin The B vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble. They are not stored in any significant quantities within the body and are generally either utilised or excreted in the urine. As they are not stored in the body, they tend to have low toxicity and are needed on a daily basis.
We use cookies to personalise content and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our analytics partners. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.AcceptNoRead more
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1038
|
__label__wiki
| 0.944076
| 0.944076
|
02/11/2017 12:07 AM AEDT | Updated 02/11/2017 12:18 AM AEDT
9 Human Heads And 240 Pieces Of Bone Found In ‘Serial Killer’ Home
By Sara C Nelson
Japanese police investigating a suspected serial killer found nine human heads and around 240 pieces of bone in an apartment just outside of Tokyo.
Police have arrested Takahiro Shiraishi, who allegedly confessed to killing and dismembering his victims for their money and “obscene purposes”, the Asahi Shimbun reports.
The paper writes he was already serving a suspended sentence for sex-related crimes when the grim discovery was made.
Suspect Takahiro Shiraishi covers his face with his hands as he is transported to the prosecutor's office from a police station in Tokyo on 1 November
It writes Shiraishi was arrested earlier in the year on suspicion of “scouting” women into the sex industry.
The 27-year-old reportedly began his killing spree in August, starting with an unmarried couple he met during a meal.
Shortly afterwards he invited the woman to his home in the city of Zama and killed her, it is claimed. Shiraishi then asked her partner over and killed him to silence him, according to NHK public television. Media reports said he used similar tactics to kill seven other women, four of them teenagers.
Shiraishi was arrested on October 31 when an investigation into a missing 23-year-old woman brought detectives to his home.
KYODO Kyodo / Reuters
A police officer carries out a plastic bag from an apartment building after the discovery of nine bodies
The body parts of eight females and one male were found in cold storage cases in his apartment. Two severed heads were stored in picnic coolers and had been covered with cat litter.
Kyodo news agency said the missing girl is believed to have come into contact with Shiraishi via Twitter, after she posted the message: “I want to die but doing so alone is terrible. I’m looking for someone to die with me.”
The pair were reportedly recorded on CCTV camera outside a train station near her home and the suspect’s home. Detectives are working to identify the victims amid fears she may be one of them.
Photographers surround a police van transporting the suspect from a police station to the prosecutor's office in Tokyo
A man who lived on the same floor as Shiraishi told the Japan Times he had noticed an “odd smell” when he walked past the apartment.
“I thought it smelled like sewage,” he said. He added: “It was something I never smelled before.”
Another told the newspaper he had seen Shiraishi several times late at night.
He said: “He was sitting in front of the door and looking at his cellphone. It felt creepy.”
Shiraishi is facing a charge of the improper disposal of one body but police are expected to seek murder and dismembering charges as well, the Associated Press reports.
Sara C Nelson Senior Editor, The Huffington Post UK
MORE: crime japan serial killer Takahiro Shiraishi uk news violence world
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1039
|
__label__wiki
| 0.672828
| 0.672828
|
David Halperin, Contributor
Attorney, advocate, writer at RepublicReport.org
Democratic Lobbyist's Latest Special Interest: Jared Kushner
01/10/2017 07:41 am ET Updated Jan 11, 2018
Donald Trump's pledge to drain the swamp in Washington has already turned out to be a cruel hoax on the working class voters who believed it, as his transition quickly leaned on insider lobbyists and his administration is filling with the corporate elites and Goldman Sachs bankers he attacked during the campaign. But you might think that at least Democratic Party-affiliated lobbyists would suffer some in a city where lobby firms even color-code their rosters, red for Republicans and blue for Democrats, because lobbying is often based on revolving door partisan appeals, and the Democrats are completely out of power.
But homo lobbius is a resilient species, and top Democratic lobbyists are pursuing their survival strategies.
For example, Democratic mega-lobbyist Tony Podesta (disclosure: my wonderful landlord in the early nineties) is publicly fawning over the Trump family, informing the Boston Globe that daughter Ivanka Trump "is a great businesswoman. She is a really interesting person..." and telling the New York Times that "[i]t will be great" to have Ivanka's family living in his Kalorama neighborhood.
But long-time Democratic power lawyer-lobbyist Jamie Gorelick has gone a step further: It emerged over the weekend that she has been hired to represent Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, as he addresses the legal ethics issues related to him joining Donald Trump's administration. Kushner, a real estate executive with no government experience, has just been named to serve in the White House job as senior adviser to Trump. Kushner, according to the Times, "has been described by numerous transition staff members as the first among equals in Mr. Trump's high command."
Some experts on legal ethics and Democrats in Congress have argued that Trump appointing Kushner might violate a federal law barring the hiring of family members, including sons-in-law, for federal jobs, a law enacted after President John F. Kennedy installed his brother Robert as attorney general. Gorelick has been making the rounds, speaking on a Trump transition conference call with reporters, insisting that the White House is not a federal agency within the coverage of this anti-nepotism law and explaining how Kushner will divest and restructure assets to avoid conflicts of interest.
Gorelick, a partner at the law firm Wilmer Hale, would seem an odd choice to directly serve the family of Donald Trump. After all, Trump is the man who told Hillary Clinton during a debate last fall that if he were elected, "you'd be in jail." And Gorelick, she has long been on the Clinton team, at least we thought.
Gorelick served in Bill Clinton's administration as deputy attorney general, the number two official at the Justice Department, and she was mentioned as a candidate to be Hillary Clinton's attorney general. Gorelick has donated more than $171,200 to federal candidates or committees since 1997, mostly to Democrats, with $11,000 of those contributions going to Hillary Clinton's Senate and presidential campaigns.
In 2015, Gorelick represented the Clinton Foundation, on whose board of directors Hillary Clinton served from 2013 to 2015, in its successful defense against a lawsuit brought by conservative activist Larry Klayman. Gorelick also led efforts to criticize FBI Director James Comey's "October surprise" letter to Congress regarding newly-discovered emails on a computer linked to one of Hillary Clinton's aides.
But to those who have followed Gorelick's career over the years, her assisting the Trumps in pushing the ethical envelope is no surprise. She is a symbol of revolving door Washington, where well-educated, highly-capable people trade on government experience and connections to help special interests get their way over everyone else.
After leaving the Clinton administration, Gorelick served as vice chair of Fannie Mae, the giant mortgage lender, from 1998 to 2003, and received some $25.6 million in compensation, including bonuses. In 2006, DC-based Fannie Mae was fined $400 million for accounting manipulation tied to executives' bonuses that occurred from 1998 to 2004; Gorelick was not charged with any wrongdoing. Fannie Mae's increasingly risky business strategy in the 2000s eventually required a huge taxpayer bailout.
At WilmerHale, Gorelick has represented a wide range of major corporate clients. Federal disclosure forms show she has lobbied for Google, JPMorgan Chase, Lazard Freres and others. She represented BP, pressing to limit government efforts to hold the energy giant responsible for the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
Gorelick also lobbied from 2009 to 2010 on behalf of student loan giant Sallie Mae as part of an intense effort by that company and big banks to block the Obama administration's effort to reform the student loan system by eliminating nonsensical, wasteful loan subsidies to private lenders. The Obama administration ultimately prevailed over Gorelick and the other special interest lobbyists, and the reform has saved billions for students and taxpayers.
Later, Gorelick represented another special interest--one caught engaging in abuses against military service members. In 2016, Gorelick successfully pressed the Pentagon on behalf of the country's biggest for-profit college, the University of Phoenix, to lift a suspension barring the school from recruiting on military bases -- despite the school having been caught red-handed engaging in recruiting violations, and despite its dismal record serving troops and other students. The University of Phoenix has been getting as much as $3.8 billion annually from taxpayers, but its toxic mix of high prices and low spending on instruction has left many students with overwhelming debt. In recent years, the University of Phoenix has been under investigation for fraud and other misconduct by the US Department of Education, Department of Defense, Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Securities and Exchange Commission and attorneys general of California, Delaware, Florida and Massachusetts.
And now, Trump. Elite Washingtonians will argue that Gorelick is simply providing wise legal counsel to the Trump family, helping to ensure that they comply with the law. But in addition to the fact that her arguments aggressively press against at least the spirit, if not the letter, of the ethics laws, there is the question of whether Gorelick should be lending her skills and Democratic credentials to the Trump cause. Because for many people, Democrats, Republicans, and independents, this is not a normal presidency.
In case you missed it, Trump has a disturbing record of bigotry, /www.telegraph.co.uk/women/politics/donald-trump-sexism-tracker-every-offensive-comment-in-one-place/"}}">misogyny and /nymag.com/thecut/2016/10/all-the-women-accusing-trump-of-rape-sexual-assault.html"}}">sexual abuse, /www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/"}}">dishonesty, /www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-court-university-231082"}}">predatory /www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trumps-business-plan-left-a-trail-of-unpaid-bills-1465504454"}}">business practices, /www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-dealt-with-a-series-of-people-who-had-mob-ties-1472736922"}}">association with organized crime figures, and misuse of charitable entities. He also has advocated for /www.thirdway.org/memo/10-reckless-donald-trump-statements-on-terrorism-and-national-security"}}">torture, bombing civilians, and other reckless acts that no conscientious military officer could carry out. Since the November election, he has appointed to top administration jobs people with disturbing records of bigotry. While tweeting complaints about the media, "Saturday Night Live," Meryl Streep, and the cast of "Hamilton," he has failed to assertively disavow hateful acts perpetrated by his supporters. He has brushed off the pointed conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies that the Russian government engaged in extensive operations to influence the outcome of the U.S. election in his favor. And he has assumed a passive-aggressive stance regarding his obligations under the law to separate his government power from his private interests, repeatedly discussing his overseas investments in calls with foreign leaders, and always insisting that while he will announce plans to behave ethically, he has no obligation to do so.
Trump promised to put Hillary Clinton in jail. And now Hillary Clinton's lawyer, Bill Clinton's deputy attorney general, is getting paid to vouch for the the Trump family's ethics and help them assume full powers in the White House.
Anything is possible in Washington. If you have enough money to buy people.
This article also appears on Republic Report.
Politics Ivanka Trump Jared Kushner Donald Trump Lobbyists
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1040
|
__label__cc
| 0.542338
| 0.457662
|
Field Notes: The Scoop on Hawai‘i’s Dog Parks
Field Notes explores Honolulu’s vast and varied scenes and subcultures. This month: the Ala Wai Dog Park.
Photo: Odeelo Dayondon
Show Caption Hide Caption
Photos: Odeelo Dayondon
Dog parks provide pet owners a much-needed place—safe and enclosed—for their dogs to run and play. Open in September 2014, the Ala Wai Dog Park is the newest off-leash dog park on O‘ahu, located adjacent to Ala Wai Elementary School. The roughly 15,000-square-foot, fenced-in grassy area has two separate sections: one for small dogs, another for larger breeds. After nearly 10 years of planning and fundraising, this park was built through a public-private partnership between the city and the nonprofit Ala Wai K-9 Playground Association. City rules here still apply, though the park is maintained and monitored by volunteers.
About 60 percent of O‘ahu families have pets, according to the O‘ahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The majority of people who bring their dogs here live in nearby condos and apartments. But there are owners who drive from other neighborhoods including Kaimukī, Makiki, Nu‘uanu and Mānoa to use this park. “We have everybody from homeless people to lawyers bringing their dogs,” says Judy Wright, the unofficial mayor of the park and a retired accountant who brings Stella, a 10-year-old basset hound, here most days. “We just know the dogs. You don’t really realize what people do for a living. We’re all on the same level. We’re pet owners. There’s no echelon here.”
Peak times
The busiest time at the dog park is between 4:30 and 7 p.m. on weeknights, right after work. There are often around 15 to 25 dogs in both parks during that time. But there have been more than 55—40 small dogs, 15 big dogs—running around the park at once.
The park has rangers—all volunteers—who monitor the park and make sure everyone follows the rules. They wear royal blue T-shirts that say, “Ranger,” and float between both sections during peak hours. They can—and have—broken up dog fights and kicked owners out of the park.
Dog parks are great places to get advice about pet ownership, says Wright, and the conversations extend well beyond vet recommendations and dog food allergies. “We talk about everything—work, life, traffic,” she says, laughing. Many of these dog owners have forged friendships beyond the park and meet up for dinner, dim sum or drinks. On the other hand, don’t be offended if people only know you by your dog’s name.
There are a lot of rules, some city-issued, others community-spawned, that include:
Never leave your dog unattended.
Owners must clean up after their dog(s).
Dogs must be licensed and fully vaccinated before entering the park.
It’s recommended dogs be spayed or neutered, and dogs in heat are absolutely not allowed.
No food/drinks, including doggie treats.
No more than two dogs per person.
Toys aren’t allowed, as these can cause fights between dogs.
Meet the Dog Parkers
Anderson O'Mealy: 57, artist, Waikīkī
Dickens: 9-month-old Portuguese water dog
“If you want a conversation with someone, you should walk your dog. People seem to be more willing to talk to people with dogs.”
Cathy Au Hoy: 32, marketing specialist, Chinatown
Pono: 2-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier mix
“Dog parks really promote a sense of community, and not just for the dogs. They keep public spaces green and makes them more useful to people.”
Nally Doerr: 10, fifth grader at Noelani Elementary School, Mānoa
Mello: 4-month-old Labrador mix
“It’s an awesome place to relax. I don’t have to worry about her. She’s not aggressive, so I can do my own thing—like play with the other dogs.”
2020 Hale ‘Aina Award Winner: The Beginner’s Guide to Korean Barbecue
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1043
|
__label__wiki
| 0.630312
| 0.630312
|
Image Nes Fotos
The Story Behind The Inventors of The Slot Machine
Have you ever been curious to know who invented the brilliant innovation that is the slot machine while you were spinning the reels? If so, here’s a brief rundown of the history of where it all began and the man behind the slot machine that has grown to be a casino staple and a gambler’s favourite to play at Wizard Slots.
The Man behind the Machine
The man who first invented the slot machine is none other than Bavarian-born Charles August Fey. America, as the land of the free with its entrepreneurial spirit, has always many technical inventors and innovative minds but many will argue that Charles August Fey has been one of the most influential on American business, culture and technology through his invention of the slot machine. He was born in the winter of 1862, in a town called Vöhringen in Bavaria and lived to see his invention become a success, passing away in California, a state he grew to call home and where he lived until his death on the 4th November 1944. Charles August Fey came to the USA when he was in his prime at the age of 23 but had been working on his inventions and technology projects since he was a young teenager. He was known as an inventor and a traveller, first living in England and France as a young man before he made it across the pond to America.
The Very First Slot Machine
This first slot machine he ever constructed was in 1894 and even then it was evident that he had a revolutionary grip on mechanics and technology. Shortly after this Charles August Fey built another machine that is more in the likeness of the classic slot machines we would recognise today. It was a three-reel machine called Liberty Bell which automatically paid out upon a win and Liberty Bell still forms the mechanics of how modern-day slot games work.
The invention of the slot machine was a marriage made in heaven between technology and entertainment and the success of the slot machines owes a debt to the perseverance of Charles August Fey and his hard work in continuing to refine and perfect the slot machines he invented. Charles August Fey’s main aim was to capitalise on the opportunity to perfect the slot machine just as the entertainment industry in America was on the up, especially in California and San Francisco.
Finally in the late 1920s, Charles August Fey became the first slot machine manufacturer who managed to bring to market a three-reel slot machine which accepted dollar coins. Charles August Fey remained an innovator in the industry throughout his life and inspired many innovators both in the US and abroad to invent new slot machines and games. The first slot machines were not like the ones we know and love today, although Charles August Fey invented slot machines which could accept coins, the machines he invented could not pay out winnings. Instead, a casino attendant or barkeeper would be nearby and on hand to give the player the payout if they won and a lot of the machines were in bars or cigarette store, so instead of actual money, the players would get tokens which they could then use to buy cigarettes or drinks! It wasn’t until 1894 that Charles August Fey invented a machine with an automatic payout. This 4-11-14 machine was so popular that he quickly set to work to create more machines and shortly launched his own company called Charles Fey & Company which was extremely successful and soon moved to San Francisco’s flourishing business district.
The Invention of the Liberty Bell
In 1898, he made another breakthrough, inventing the world’s first Card Bell slot machine which had three reels with a staggered stop and once again with an automatic payout. This slot machine features poker cards which were very popular with players at the time and player’s loved this thrilling game of suspense. This game soon needed a facelift and to bring it into modern times, the symbols on the reels were developed and changed from suits to new and exciting symbols which included a star and bells and was renamed the Liberty Bell slot machine. Many classic styles slot games still feature stars and bells, paying homage to one of the first slot machines. An interesting fact is that the starts represent the starts on the United States flag and it was named in honour of the symbol of freedom – ‘Liberty’. This slot game had a level on the side of it which is why some people nickname slot machines “one-armed bandits” as in order to spin the reels on the slot machine, the player would need to pull down the arm/lever.
The Liberty Bell slot machine had a total of ten symbols on each of the reels and ten stops, giving a total of 1,000 different combinations. Other symbols associated with luck were included on the reels, including horseshoes as well as card symbols like diamonds, spades and hearts. The Liberty Bell’s RTP was around 86%, which is quite low in comparison to the online slot games which are played now! If a player was to be lucky enough to line up three bells on the three reels, they would win a whole 50 cents!
This style of slot machine continued to be extremely popular with players and dominated the gambling and entertainment industry until advancements in technology brought us the age of the internet and cutting edge graphic design. Although the slot machine was popular with gamblers, it wasn’t always a smooth ride for Fey and his inventions, many people hated the idea of slot machines, believing they were corrupting San Francisco and many anti-gambling crusades were launched in an attempt to rid San Francisco of Fey’s inventions.
Well, there you have it, an interesting history lesson which might make you want to play some of the classic retro style slot machines which are available both in brick and mortar casinos as well as online casinos!
To read more on topics like this, check out the Money category.
Leave a Comment · Money
Hey! I’m Danielle, a Lifestyle Blogger from San Francisco, CA
A little bit about me: I love to cook and writing on my blog is my favorite pastime. I also like to travel, but don’t do it often enough since I got married and had two beautiful kids! Read More…
How To Create the Perfect Travel Memories
What Can You Do if Your Child Shows Symptoms of Hearing Loss?
What is White Glove Logistics
The Importance Of Your Child’s First Birthday Party
5 Best Practices You Should Hear From A New York Web Design Company
Image Nes Foto
Traveling the world is one of the most . . .
Hearing loss occurs when a part of the . . .
You may have heard the term ‘white . . .
There seems to be an ongoing debate . . .
Your web design plays a significant role . . .
Digital Marketing: Tech Solutions That Work
If you were alive in the 1960s, you . . .
Copyright © 2019 Image Nes Fotos
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1045
|
__label__wiki
| 0.55899
| 0.55899
|
Crime / Accidents
Five remanded in custody for suspected murder
GK CRONJE
According to the SAPS reports, the rival gang revolted and torched a vehicle, and damaged several residences while on the hunt for the suspects. SAPS investigations led to the arrest of the suspects in Leandra. The suspects remain in custody as the investigation continues.
The Kinross SAPS arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of Siyabonga Mathebula (20), who was allegedly stabbed by gang members in Extension 25. Mathebula succumbed to his injuries while being treated at the hospital. The incident occurred shortly after two rival gangs were embroiled in a turf war, with Mathebula encroaching on gang territory, according to reports.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1047
|
__label__wiki
| 0.611695
| 0.611695
|
Walliams & Friend: Series 1 DVD
Starring David Walliams, Joanna Lumley, Jack Whitehall, Sheridan Smith, Meera Syal, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Bonneville, Morgana Robinson, Harry Enfield
Every episode from the first series of the BBC comedy starring David Walliams and some of his famous friends in a series of sketches.
Each episode sees a new celebrity join David, with stars including Jack Whitehall, Harry Enfield, Sheridan Smith, Meera Syal, Miranda Richardson and Morgana Robinson, to take part in a number of sketches which include a parody of the 'Great British Bake Off', a new, twisted reality TV show, the Queen exploring her family history and a 1970s comedy film.
The collection also includes the 2015 Christmas special with Joanna Lumley as well as the 2016 special with Hugh Bonneville.
Format:DVD
Region:2,4
Certification:(12)
Catalogue number:BBCDVD4164
Studio:2 Entertain
Release date:09/01/2017
Genre:Comedy
Colour:Colour
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1052
|
__label__wiki
| 0.699022
| 0.699022
|
Home / Energy / European Union / Oil & Gas / Papers / The Middle East / PAPER | Turkey's Role in Energy Security through Eastern Partnership
PAPER | Turkey's Role in Energy Security through Eastern Partnership
IndraStra Global Saturday, January 16, 2016 Energy , European Union , Oil & Gas , Papers , The Middle East Edit
By Tolga Demiryol
What role does energy security play in the Eastern Partnership (EaP)? How can Turkey, as a regional partner to both the EU and most EaP countries, contribute to the energy platform of the EaP? This article discusses the prospects and challenges of EU-Turkish energy cooperation within the context of the EaP. Turkey’s relevance to the energy initiatives of the EaP in part stems from Turkey’s geopolitical position as an energy corridor.
Image Attribute: Turkey's Oil and Natural Gas Pipelines / Source: The Middle East Eye
Turkey is located between the rich hydrocarbon reserves in the Caspian region and the European markets and thus sits at the intersection of the most feasible energy transit lines. Yet, geopolitics is not the only reason why Turkey is relevant to the EU’s energy interests in the Caspian. Turkey also has significant political capital and economic ties in the Caspian region that the EU can capitalize on to achieve its long-term energy policy objectives.
Despite the fact that the EU and Turkey have a shared interest in energy security, there are at least two major obstacles that have so far prevented the EU and Turkey from effectively coordinating on energy policy. First, the dissimilar and at times incompatible energy interests of the EU members undermine the EU’s capacity to implement a common external energy policy. Unable to speak in one voice, the EU sends mixed signals to its regional partners, including Turkey. Similarly, Turkey tends to prioritize its own short-term national energy interests over the long-term benefits from cooperation with the EU. The prevalence of national interests over communal ones thus generates a credible commitment problem between the EU and Turkey, where parties are unable to make binding promises for cooperation. For the EU and Turkey to establish a working partnership on energy issues, they should arrive at a common understanding whereby each actor not only values long-term cooperation over short-term interests but also trusts that the other side will do the same. Second, the commitment issue is aggravated by the apparently mismatched perspectives that the EU and Turkey adopt on the political implications of energy cooperation. Turkish decision makers hold that Turkey’s position as an energy corridor merits tangible political benefits, most notably concrete progress in Turkey’s accession talks. Even though most EU officials acknowledge that Turkey could be a strategic asset for European energy security, few go so far as to establish a direct issue-linkage between energy and membership. The discordance of the EU’s and Turkey’s expectations regarding the political payoffs of energy cooperation undermines the mutual trust that is required for long-term partnership.
The EaP was introduced as a joint Polish-Swedish initiative in May 2008. The initiative was conceived as a venue for dialogue and cooperation between the EU and the former Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. The Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit, signed on 7 May 2009, stated that the “main goal of the Eastern Partnership is to create the necessary conditions to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the European and interested partner countries” (European Union, 2009). Through the implementation of Association Agreements, the EaP aims to facilitate the social, economic, and political transformation in the six partner states.
The EaP is a multi-dimensional directive, yet energy security has been at the core of the partnership since its inception. The Prague Declaration says, “The eastern partnership aims to strengthen energy security through cooperation with regard to long term stable and secure energy supply and transit, including through better regulation, energy efficiency and more use of renewable energy sources” (European Union, 2009). Energy security is one of the four thematic platforms of the EaP, along with democracy and good governance, economic integration and contacts with people. Two of the six flagship initiatives of the EaP are also energy-related. One of these initiatives concerns the integration of regional energy markets and raising the profile of renewable energy in partner states, whereas the other initiative directly involves the diversification of energy import routes. On 8 May 2009, the very next day following the EaP Summit, the Southern Corridor Summit was held in Prague, where European Commission officials as well as the presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, expressed their “political support to the realization of the Southern Corridor as an important and mutually beneficial initiative” (EU at the UN, 2009). Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, speaking at the summit, underlined that diversification was indeed a priority: “The context of this summit is very clear. Our strategic priority in the EU is to enhance energy security in particular by diversifying the EU’s energy sources and energy routes”.
At the core of the EU’s diversification strategy is the development and integration of multiple pipeline systems under the general framework of the Southern Gas Corridor, which would carry gas to Europe primarily from the Caspian region (possibly from Turkmenistan, Iran, and the Middle East as well), bypassing transit networks owned or controlled by Russia. This grand energy strategy can be traced back to the establishment of INOGATE (Interstate Oil and Gas transport to Europe) in 1995. INOGATE was later expanded through the signing of umbrella agreements in 2001 when 21 countries agreed to cooperate on pipeline development. Through conferences in Baku in 2004 and in Astana in 2006, INOGATE evolved into the primary institutional framework of regional cooperation on energy security and integration of markets. The next major step in building the institutional framework of a European energy policy was the signing of Energy Community Treaty, which entered into force in July 2006, establishing an Energy Community among the EU members as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia, Serbia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Yet another landmark was the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, which included an article on energy policy, calling for solidarity among Member States. In February 2010, the European Commission established a new DirectorateGeneral for Energy, further indicating the significance attached to the issue. The EaP’s energy agenda should thus be considered the latest step in the evolution of EU’s long-standing efforts to resolve the energy security problem.
How severe is the energy security problem of the EU? Europe is an energy-poor region. It possesses only 0.4 per cent of the world’s proved oil reserves but consumes 15.9 per cent. Similarly, 0.9 per cent of world’s natural gas reserves are in Europe while European consumption constitutes 13.9 per cent of the global consumption (BP, 2012). Not only are the hydrocarbon reserves limited but also production is falling. Total energy production in the EU declined by 13 per cent over the last 20 years. Natural gas production in Europe is in decline. Since 2001, EU-28’s natural gas production decreased by 38 per cent while consumption was reduced by only about 7 per cent. This unfavorable supply and demand structure inevitably led to greater import dependency. Europe’s total energy import dependency rose from 47.1 per cent in 2001 to 53.4 per cent in 2012. Europe imports 90 per cent of its oil and 42 per cent of its solid fuels, yet gas dependency is the most alarming. Gas import dependency jumped from 48.8 per cent in 2001 to 65.8 per cent in 2012 (Eurostat, 2014).
EU is following a multifaceted energy security strategy (European Commission, 2014a,b). The union is committed to reducing primary energy consumption by 20 per cent by 2020 (European Commission, 2011). The energy saving measures are helpful but ultimately insufficient to compensate for the decline in production. In 2012, natural gas consumption in Europe declined 9.9 per cent while production fell by 11.4 per cent. It is possible that part of the decline in energy consumption over the past few years is due to the contraction of the European economy since 2008. With economic restoration over the next decade, energy demand will likely increase, unless policy changes produce significant changes in the structure of energy consumption.
Indeed, projections for EU’s natural gas demand for the two decades indicate significant variations based on policy environment and expectations regarding macro-economic performance. According to Eurogas’ Base Case, which assumes no significant departure from current policy and market conditions, EU-27’s natural gas demand will increase from 438 mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) in 2010 to 471 mtoe in 2035 (Eurogas, 2013, p. 3) In the Environmental Case, which assumes a growing share of renewables and a restoration of economic growth in Europe, demand for natural gas will rise to 527 mtoe by 2035, a 20 per cent increase over the 2010 baseline. Only under the Slow Developments Case, which assumes that gas would become less competitive in Europe, will demand decline to 394 mtoe by 2035 (Eurogas, 2013, p. 3). Thus, barring a significant change in policy and market conditions, natural gas will likely remain a key source of energy for Europe over the next two decades.
Similarly, a report published by Fitch Ratings in August 2014 confirmed that Europe will continue to depend on Russian gas supplies “for at least the next decade and potentially much longer” (Fitch Ratings, 2014). According to Fitch Rating’s projections, European gas demand will grow slightly until the mid-2020s and after that, demand growth will once again accelerate as gas-fired electricity generation replaces coal and nuclear capacity. European shale gas, the report indicates, will not be a viable option for another decade when production reaches a critical volume. Even then, shale gas production would most likely be just enough to compensate for the decline in domestic conventional gas production in Europe. The best the EU can hope for, the report concludes, is to avoid significantly increasing gas purchases from Russia. (Fitch Ratings, 2014).
Thus, energy import dependency will likely continue to be a major issue for Europe. Dependency, particularly on a single supplier, is considered a source of economic and political vulnerability in international relations (Waltz, 1970). Dependent countries are highly vulnerable to supply disruptions whether they are of technical or political nature. The 2006 and 2009 gas shortages in Ukraine and 2007 crisis involving Belarus served as bitter reminders that import dependency threatens the material well-being and security of ordinary citizens. Import dependency has negative consequences on the foreign policy capabilities of the dependent country as well. The potential cost of aggravating an energy supplier casts the dependent actor into an involuntarily cooperative role. Foreign policy implications of energy dependency are particularly relevant when the energy exporters are keen on using their market power as a weapon over importers and transit countries (Gereben, 2013; Stegen, 2011). Ukraine Crisis in 2014 evidenced the extent to which energy dependence constrains EU foreign policy.
Given the political and economic costs of energy dependency, the EU has no choice but to seek to diversify its energy suppliers and import routes. The EU has a few alternative natural gas suppliers, including Iraq, Iran and most recently Eastern Mediterranean but none of these alternatives appears to be as readily accessible as the Caspian reserves in the near future. Iraqi natural gas reserves rank 12th in the world (EIA, 2013) but given various infrastructure issues and the continuing political turmoil in the country, Iraq’s natural gas export capacity is currently limited. Importing natural gas from Iran has long been on the agenda of the EU and the most recent problems with the availability of Russian gas have once again brought the issue to the forefront (The Telegraph, 2014). Most European countries are looking forward to the normalization of relations with Tehran, as evidenced most recently by UK’s plans to reopen its embassy in Tehran (Foreign & Commonwealth Office, 2014). With a treasury badly damaged by the international sanctions, Iran too would be most interested in selling its gas to Europe, arguably more so than selling to Pakistan (Forbes, 2014). While Iranian natural gas reserves, estimated to be the second largest in the world, constitute a viable alternative for Europe, accessing these reserves poses a challenge in the short term. Even if the ongoing negotiations between P5+1 and Iran ultimately succeed in lifting the sanctions on Iranian energy trade, Iran’s South Pars gas reserves require significant development and investment over the next decade. Once developed and rendered available for international trade, Iranian natural gas will likely be transported to Europe via the proposed Persian Pipeline (Iran-Europe pipeline) or possibly a re-animated Nabucco pipeline, both of which are projected to pass through Turkey. Recently discovered gas in the Eastern Mediterranean would also be a welcome addition to Europe’s energy portfolio yet given the disputes over maritime borders in the region (Eissler & Arasıl, 2014), the enduring Cyprus problem and the diminishing of hostilities between Turkey and Israel since the escalation of Turkey-Russia border spat on downing of latter's Su-24 in Syria (in 2015), it is getting quite clear that Eastern Mediterranean gas may be available for European consumption in a significant quantities in the future. Though, fingers are crossed.
Given the various political and economic limitations of bringing online the natural gas from Iraq, Iran and the East Mediterranean in the near term, the Caspian region—estimated to hold six per cent of the world’s proven reserves and well-endowed with foreign investment—currently appears to be the most politically and economically feasible option for European diversification strategy.
The Southern Gas Corridor linking Caspian reserves to European markets consists of several existing and projected pipelines. The Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (BTE) gas pipeline carries gas from Shah Deniz gas field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea to Turkey since late 2006. The current capacity of the pipeline is 8 bcma (billion cubic meters per annum) but with the completion of the phase II of the Shah Deniz project it can be scaled up to 25 bcma. BTE currently supplies Georgia and Turkey but it can be linked to other projects like the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) which will initially carry about 16 bcma of gas from Georgian-Turkish border to Turkish-European border. Depending on the gas flow, the capacity of the pipeline can later be increased up to 60 bcma.
There are several options to further transport the Caspian gas from Turkish territory to European markets. The primary existing route is the Turkey-Greece Inter-connector, which carries up to 12 bcma of natural gas. A key aspect of this project is the extension across Greece to Italy, which will carry Caspian gas deeper into Europe. A few additional routes to transport Caspian gas from Turkey to Europe have been considered. Nabucco West, the revised version of the defunct Nabucco project, was planned to start from the Turkish-Bulgarian border and transport gas from Shah Deniz Gas field phase II via Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary to Austria. Yet Shah Deniz Consortium partners rejected Nabucco West in 2013 and opted for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) instead. The main supply source of TAP will be the gas extracted from phase II of the Shah Deniz field, which will be carried through Turkish territory via BTE and TANAP. TAP is planned to start at Greece, cross Albania and the Adriatic to reach Italy.
Turkey thus sits at the intersection of the pipelines that constitute the Southern Gas Corridor. Turkey’s relevance to the EU’s energy policy with respect to Eastern Partnership, however, is not limited to Turkey’s fortunate geopolitical position. Secure and reliable access to Caspian hydrocarbon reserves requires not only a network of pipelines but also regional political stability and cooperation between supplier and transit states. Turkey, with its long-standing economic ties in the Caspian region can potentially act as an intermediary between the EU and the partner countries. Turkey has also been willing to contribute to the resolution of the several “frozen conflicts” throughout the region by acting as an interlocutor between the EU and other relevant parties.
Ankara has a standing policy of promoting interdependence among the three South Caucasus states in order to expand their trade and energy ties with Turkey. Georgia is not only a transit corridor of Azerbaijan’s gas, but also a major trade route for Turkish exports to Central Asia. Turkey also has considerable investments in Azerbaijan, Georgian and Abkhazian economies. Pending on the normalization of relations with Armenia and the opening of the Turkish-Armenian border, economic relations with Armenia also hold great promise for Turkey. Turkey can also help the EU in its capacity building efforts in the Caspian region. Turkish state-owned energy companies TPAO and BOTAS are partners in many pipeline projects in the region. Turkey has also recently shown a great deal of interest in investing in upstream development projects in the region. TPAO for instance signed in May 2014 a 1.5 billion USD deal to acquire French Total’s 10 per cent stake in Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz project. In addition to Shah Deniz, TPAO owns shares in the two major fields in Azerbaijan, ACG (6.75 %) and Alov (9 %). Turkey has a strong presence on the ground and Turkish private sector accumulated expertise that is critical for secure and long-term cooperation.
Lastly, Turkey due to its historic ties to the region has considerable political capital in the Caspian, particularly in Azerbaijan, with which Turkey has sustained a very close relationship since its independence. Turkey also cooperated with the US in its efforts to help Georgia build a new state after independence. Given the difficulties that the EU has experienced in politically reaching out to its Caspian partners over the last decade, the EU can benefit from Turkey’s role as a regional interlocutor between Europe and the Caspian partners.
It is evident that the EU and Turkey can both benefit from extending their cooperation on regional energy issues. Despite the commonality of interests, however, EU-Turkey energy cooperation has so far failed to meet mutual expectations. The next section examines how the prevalence of national interests over communal ones and the opposing views on the Turkish and European sides regarding the political implications of energy partnership undermine the ability of these two actors to commit to a more extended form of energy cooperation.
Tolga Demiryol is assistant professor of Political Science in the School of Economics and Administrative Sciences at Istanbul Kemerburgaz University in Turkey. Tolga Demiryol received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Virginia in 2010. Dr. Demiryol specializes in international political economy and security. His recent research focuses on the geopolitics of energy.
Publication Details:
Baltic Journal of European Studies. Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages 50–68, ISSN (Online) 2228-0596, DOI: 10.2478/bjes-2014-0015, November 2014
This work is an abstract form of author's original work, titled "The Eastern Partnership and the EU-Turkey Energy Relations"which is licensed under Creative Commons 3.0
Download the Paper - LINK
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1054
|
__label__wiki
| 0.55623
| 0.55623
|
Infosecurity Magazine Home » Magazine Features » PSD2: Why Security Practices Now Matter to Payment Standards
9 Oct 2019 Magazine Feature
PSD2: Why Security Practices Now Matter to Payment Standards
Dan Raywood Deputy Editor, Infosecurity Magazine
Follow @DanRaywood
September will see the introduction of a directive for payment standards and security, but how ready is the world for PSD2? Dan Raywood investigates.
Mid-September will see the final introduction of a directive for the regulation of payment services and payment service providers. The original Payment Services Directive (PSD) became legislation for all EU and EEA member states in 2007, and its successor (PSD2) was originally proposed in 2015. The new rules were intended to better protect consumers when they make payments, and promote the development and use of innovative online and mobile payments.
According to a statement published in October 2015 by the European Commission: “This legislation is a step towards a digital single market; it will benefit consumers and businesses, and help the economy grow.”
"The intention of the PSD2 is to harmonize payments across European markets”
The Current State of Compliance
The PSD2 was passed on November 2015, came into law in January 2018, and comes into full effect on September 14 2019. That date is the final deadline for all companies within the EU to comply with PSD2’s Regulatory Technical Standard (RTS). The RTS was created by the European Banking Authority (EBA) in order to enhance security protection levels and reduce the escalating amounts of financial fraud.
Mark McMurtrie, director at Payments Consultancy Ltd, explains that the intention of the PSD2 is to “harmonize payments across European markets” as well as level the playing field for FinTech companies to compete with banks.
The PSD2 is also about introducing the concept of open banking, allowing consumers to move around between banks, for UK-regulated banks to share financial data with authorized providers, and for established banks to share direct access to data on their customers.
The security element is the RTS, which McMurtrie explains was on a delayed timeline because of lobbying on accessing information via “screen scraping,” or whether data could be collected via APIs.
According to Alisdair Faulkner, chief identity officer for Business Services at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, screen scraping is used by third-party providers to access user account information from HTML forms, and is generally considered contrary to banks’ general terms and conditions.
“While screen scraping is prohibited under the directive, banks are required to grant third parties access to customer data via specific, dedicated interfaces,” he says. Screen scraping tools can copy available data to an external database and can be used outside of the financial institution.
Payment security consultant Neira Jones tells Infosecurity that the RTS banned screen scraping as it is not secure, but there are two better options for collecting data – either via a public API, which is deliberately open to enable competition so that it is not done via a single bank’s API, or through the modification of the modern banking interface. “The problem is we’re asking the banks to open up their infrastructure,” Jones says.
So why is this directive needed? McMurtrie says that the UK’s total card fraud cost is £566m, and £310m of that comes from e-commerce. This, he says, “is why the regulation has come in, to stop this growing and reduce the amount of e-commerce fraud.”
However, McMurtrie adds that there is doubt about whether European businesses will be ready for the September 14 deadline, and his belief is that businesses will not be ready. “The EBA has required that each member state appoint a single, competent authority, and in the UK it is the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). National regulators are the ones who have the job of enforcing compliance on any regulated financial institutions.”
These regulated financial institutions include banks, card issuers and merchant acquirers, but not corporations like enterprises or merchants, “but enforcement will be requested by those who are regulated.”
In terms of not achieving compliance, McMurtrie says the overall ecosystem is not ready for the deadline and the reasons include: computing requirements, late availability of the specifications, late solution availability and the regulators changing their mind on the specifications.
McMurtrie continues: “In the UK, what is happening from a card payment perspective is that a roadmap to compliance is being negotiated with the regulator, and UK Finance represents all of the financial institutions and providers. They have created a phased roadmap with milestones and are in active negotiations with the FCA to ask for more time for compliance with the scheme.”
He points out that an additional 18 months was being requested, and that an official decision is expected in August. That “managed roadmap is under intense discussion” he says, and that an official decision will require an agreed plan with several milestones. “This would allow active enforcement to be delayed.”
In a statement published in June 2019, the FCA stated: “The legal deadline for complying with the RTS on Strong Customer Authentication remains September 14 2019. However, the FCA recognizes the challenges in meeting this deadline and has been working with the industry to develop a plan to migrate the industry to implement Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for card payments in e-commerce as soon as possible after this.”
For next steps, the FCA tells Infosecurity that it is “working with industry on creating a plan” that will determine a blueprint for compliance and readiness, a timetable for achieving this, and key milestones and targets to deliver improved security of customer authentication and fraud reduction along the way. The statement said that the FCA will not take enforcement action against firms if they do not meet the relevant requirements for strong authentication from September 14 2019 in areas covered by the agreed migration plan, where there is evidence that they have taken the necessary steps to comply.
“PSD2 is much broader in terms of who it applies to”
What Role Does Security Play?
What makes this particularly relevant for the cybersecurity industry is the introduction of strict security requirements for the initiation and processing of electronic payments.
In particular, articles 94-98 (in chapter four) of the directive cover the areas of security and data protection. Article 94 states that “payment service providers shall only access, process and retain personal data necessary for the provision of their payment services, with the explicit consent of the payment service user” – echoing the guidelines of the GDPR.
Neira Jones explains that “PSD2 is much broader in terms of who it applies to” than PSD, as the PSD2 RTS contains directives on strong customer authentication and secure communication.
Jones adds: “Modification of the online banking interface means providing an interface for the third party upon authentication of the customer” and this means securely authenticating anyone who is accessing the data.
McMurtrie says that strong customer authentication means more use of multi-factor authentication, typically using two factors: knowledge elements, possession elements and inherent elements. “Each person has to be authenticated by a means of authentication from at least two of these.”
He says that one of the issues here is that e-commerce typically does not involve physical presence, and this has led to a reliance on passwords. He predicts more of a move to the use of biometrics as one of the inherent elements.
As well as authentication, Jones says that it is about securing the connection interface between the user and the third party, or the user and the bank. This is where security plays a major part in PSD2, as Jones explains that “if your CISO is not involved in PSD2 endeavors, talk to them as that is their job, and there are various specifications in security in PSD2 as it is about basic requirements that are nothing new.” Jones admits that, since she has been working on PSD2, she is yet to find a CISO who has been involved in implementing the regulation.
One thing that GDPR has driven is better standards on incident response with its 72-hour data breach reporting rule. Likewise, the PSD2 RTS article 96 states that “in the case of a major operational or security incident, payment service providers shall, without undue delay, notify the competent authority in the home Member State of the payment service provider” and provide the relevant details of the incident to the regulator.
However, Paul van der Lee, director, EMEA North at Ping Identity, argues that it is unfair to compare GDPR and PSD2, as “the aims of the regulations are different.”
He says: “PSD2 is aimed not just at protecting customer rights and allowing for proper handling of complaints, but is also about opening up opportunity for new service providers and enabling new products and services, whilst at the same time, increasing security.
“It took some time post-GDPR for companies to get fully up to speed on the required level of response to major incidents and we are only just seeing fines at the level that was originally threatened.”
“If your CISO is not involved in PSD2 endeavors, talk to them as that is their job"
Have You Heard the News?
Jones argues that there is a general lack of understanding about PSD2 within the security sector, saying it is only in the industry’s “vague consciousness.”
Part of the challenge is that some aspects of the RTS remain open to interpretation, points out van der Lee, and what some people believe to be compliance falls short in the eyes of other experts. “Ultimately, customer adoption will impact what organizations seek to do with regards to PSD2. The organizations that are best able to develop new offerings based on the disruption will get a competitive advantage, and the people (and technology companies) that can make that happen will become very valuable.”
What about fraud – will PSD2 go far enough to rule that out? Jones says she feels it has “got more than enough” to do so, while McMurtrie says that there has been low awareness levels regarding the payment fraud problem that PSD2 is trying to resolve. “This lack of consistency is a problem for understanding the directive, and likely even harder for those trying to comply with it,” he says.
Overall, the aim to reduce payment fraud should be welcomed, and while the time has been provided to achieve compliance, the feeling that the majority will not achieve it is a concern. A survey of over 2000 British adults by Equifax found that 66% rate “safe and secure payments” as the most important factor in the online checkout process, while 76% would be willing to accept a slower or less convenient checkout experience in return for greater payment security.
Perhaps this is evident of siloes across the business; if PSD2 is not seen as a priority for security but is still seen to be a responsibility of the fraud team, then a better converged business will deal with it more efficiently.
Zelle: A New Door Opens, But is Crime Walking In?
What is the Right Response to the Extended PSD2 Deadline?
Authentication in the Age of GDPR
#RBTE: PCI Compliance is Cheap Compared to EU GDPR, Says Payment Security Panel
2020 Cybersecurity Predictions: Compliance, Authentication and CISO Evolution
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1056
|
__label__wiki
| 0.970143
| 0.970143
|
National | 60 YEARS
War's end brought cash to Hokkaido
But prosperity has proven elusive in former front line for the Cold War
by Mayumi Negishi
When the 77th Division of the 9th Army Corps landed in Hakodate, Hokkaido, on Oct. 4, 1945, it began a low-key U.S. presence in Japan’s northernmost prefecture which continues to this day.
Some 20,700 U.S. troops were stationed in Hokkaido in 1945. The main reason was security. Fighting between Japan and the Soviet Union continued even after Japan’s Aug. 15 surrender, and Soviet troops by September had occupied what Japan still refers to as the Northern Territories and Russia calls its South Kuril District.
Hokkaido marked one of the borders between the U.S. sphere of influence and that of the former Soviet Union, said Mikine Yamazaki, a professor of political administration at the Hokkaido University Graduate School of Political Science. “Suddenly, Hokkaido’s local concerns became matters of national policy.”
Here began the frontline mentality that rationalized funneling cash from central government coffers to sparsely populated Hokkaido for decades to come, he said.
Central government cash remains the lifeblood of Hokkaido. Dependent on public works for 12 percent of its economy — the highest in Japan and twice the national average — the prefecture consistently guzzles 10 percent of the nation’s public works funds every year.
This is despite Hokkaido’s first-rate infrastructure, the result of five campaigns to “develop” Hokkaido since the end of World War II at the cost of 71.9 trillion yen.
Sewers reach 85.8 percent of its territory, far outpacing the national average of 66.7 percent, and 69.4 percent of its roads are paved, compared to the national average of 55.8 percent.
The roads and sewers come at a price.
“Dependency kills autonomy,” said Naoki Azuma, an author living in Hokkaido. “We’ve become hooked on public works; we’ve lost the ability to think whether the prefecture needs them.”
But where did Hokkaido’s addiction to public works — and the central government’s tolerance of that addiction — begin?
At the height of its expansion in 1942, the “Great Empire of Japan” stretched across Asia, reaching north to the Aleutian Islands and the southern tip of Kamchatka, west to British colonial territories of Burma and south to New Guinea of the Netherlands and French Indochina.
With defeat, Japan found itself not only resource poor but pressed to absorb a sudden influx of 6.6 million former soldiers and other Japanese returning from abroad.
It was then that government officials turned to Hokkaido, which was estimated to hold 50 percent of the nation’s unmined coal, 40 percent of its fisheries, 50 percent of Japan’s untilled land and 30 percent of its forests.
“Hokkaido is the new frontier of postwar Japan, and has the potential of playing a large part in our country’s economic revival,” wrote Kaneyoshi Okada, first vice minister of Hokkaido’s Regional Development Agency in October 1952.
It was a matter of national security to put development of Hokkaido’s resources under the direct control of the central government, instead of under the local government, Okada reasoned.
But such a move would require a special law that would apply only to Hokkaido. And that, wrote Alfred Oppler, head of the legal division of the U.S. Occupation’s General Headquarters, would be illegal.
“The Diet cannot legally enact a law that applies only to a single regional public entity, without the majority approval of the residents of that regional public entity in a public referendum,” he wrote in a memo dated June 1950.
But the GHQ had other worries: Hokkaido could turn into one of the fronts of the Cold War between the U.S. and the former Soviet Union.
Further, Japan’s energy shortages were growing critical year by year, and the GHQ was demanding that Hokkaido boost coal production.
At the outset of the Occupation, one of the GHQ’s first moves was to allow workers to unionize and strike. But strikes caused productivity to fall 28 percent short of goals set by the GHQ in 1948. Soon, the GHQ’s Natural Resources Section was arguing that strikes constituted a huge risk to stability in Japan.
In 1950, the central government persuaded the GHQ to approve the creation of the Hokkaido Regional Development Agency. In 1951, it created the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, the development agency’s local outpost that would oversee major public works projects.
With the creation of the agency and its branch, huge funds began to flow into the northernmost prefecture, the majority of which would be under the control of the central government outpost.
The creation of the outpost created a peculiar two-tier bureaucratic structure, where the minister of the development bureau became known as “Hokkaido’s second governor.”
Local bureaucrats must get approval from both the central and prefecture governments for the same projects and funding sources, doubling the already formidable amount of paperwork.
But the most overwhelming evidence lies in the results, Yamazaki said.
Despite the huge flow of funds, Hokkaido’s industries have not grown as specified in five long-term “development plans.”
“It’s a paradox: Hokkaido was poor, so it got money for public works to catch up. But it only benefited construction companies needing more money for public works,” he said.
Former Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Muneo Suzuki and the pork-barrel politics he stands for in Hokkaido are the natural culmination of the decisions made in the postwar years, Yamazaki said.
A politician’s job in Hokkaido is to bring money and public works from Tokyo, and this was something Suzuki did extremely well.
Suzuki’s conviction in December on charges of bribery, however, spurred mass soul-searching about Hokkaido’s addition to public works, said author Azuma.
Self-disgust has also whetted the public’s appetite for stories of individuals taking the initiative to change Hokkaido’s status quo. Most recently, local media have latched onto Asahiyama Zoo, Japan’s northernmost zoo in the city of Asahikawa.
Here, penguins take walks through the park from late fall to early spring, and visitors can see polar bears and seals up close in surroundings close to the animals’ natural habitats. These and other employee ideas brought the zoo back from the brink of closure and the annual number of visitors jumped five-fold from 1996 to 1.45 million in 2004.
“Innovation is here in Hokkaido’s private sector,” said Harumi Takahashi, governor of Hokkaido.
Takahashi is spearheading a campaign to put all public works projects under local government control by 2010, even if it means less funding, “to eliminate public works for public works’ sake.”
“Just because it’s never been done doesn’t mean Hokkaido can never become self-sufficient,” she said. “It would be cowardly to give up hope.”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1059
|
__label__wiki
| 0.842201
| 0.842201
|
Abductee's parents facing a losing battle with time
KAWASAKI – The parents of Megumi Yokota, one of the Japanese abducted by North Korean agents, are frustrated by the lack of progress over their daughter’s return as Thursday marked 35 years since her disappearance.
“Thirty-five years is a long time. I’ve reached such an old age and am in a race against time,” said Shigeru Yokota, who turned 80 on Wednesday.
“Every year, I’m saddened to see no progress,” he said, holding a comb given to him by his daughter on Nov. 14, 1977, for his 45th birthday, the day before she was abducted on the way home from school at age 13.
His wife, Sakie, 76, likewise is feeling the stress: “We’re mentally and physically strained to the breaking point.
“The Japanese government must make all-out efforts to settle the matter” while the parents of all the victims are still alive.
Japan and North Korea were slated to hold senior working-level talks Thursday and Friday in Ulan Bator, during which the abductions could be on the agenda.
Megumi Yokota was taken near her home in the city of Niigata coast while walking home from badminton practice on Nov. 15, 1977.
Her parents have spoken more than 1,300 times in rallies across Japan to call for her rescue. Their physical conditions have worsened as they have gotten older, with Shigeru hospitalized in 2005 for blood disease and Sakie suffering from an irregular heartbeat. He also underwent an operation in 2007 to remove his gallbladder.
Megumi’s twin brothers, Takuya and Tetsuya, who are 44, have asked their parents not to work themselves too hard, but Shigeru said he will continue activities for his daughter’s return “as long as I can move my body.”
Sakie said she is disgusted at the constant change of state ministers in charge of the abduction issue due to political scandals and other reasons.
“We cannot die” before Megumi is returned, she said.
Pyongyang has said their daughter has died, but this is disputed by her parents and Japanese authorities.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1061
|
__label__wiki
| 0.780424
| 0.780424
|
Domestic Internet monitoring has since stopped
NSA email collection violated law: court
WASHINGTON – For several years, the National Security Agency unlawfully gathered tens of thousands of emails and other electronic communications between Americans as part of a now-revised collection method, according to a 2011 secret court opinion.
The redacted 85-page opinion, which was declassified by U.S. intelligence officials on Wednesday, states that, based on NSA estimates, the spy agency may have been collecting as many as 56,000 “wholly domestic” communications each year.
In a strongly worded opinion, the chief judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court expressed consternation at what he saw as a pattern of misleading statements by the government and hinted that the NSA possibly violated a criminal law against spying on Americans.
“For the first time, the government has now advised the court that the volume and nature of the information it has been collecting is fundamentally different from what the court had been led to believe,” John Bates, then the surveillance court’s chief judge, wrote in his Oct. 3, 2011, opinion.
The court, which meets in secret, oversees the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, the law authorizing such surveillance in the United States. It has been criticized by some as a “rubber stamp” for the government, but the opinion makes clear the court does not see itself that way.
Bates’ frustration with the government’s lack of candor extended beyond the program at issue to other NSA surveillance efforts. “The court is troubled that the government’s revelations regarding NSA’s acquisition of Internet transactions mark the third instance in less than three years in which the government has disclosed a substantial misrepresentation regarding the scope of a major collection program,” Bates wrote.
The Washington Post reported last week that the court had ruled the collection method unconstitutional. The declassified opinion sheds new light on the volume of Americans’ communications that were obtained by the NSA and the nature of the violations, as well as the FISA court’s interpretation of the program.
The release marks the first time the government has disclosed a FISA court opinion in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The lawsuit was brought a year ago by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy group.
The pressure to release the opinion was heightened by a series of recent revelations about government surveillance based on documents leaked to The Washington Post and Britain’s Guardian newspaper by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
Over the past 2½ months, those revelations have reignited a national debate on the balance between privacy and security, and President Barack Obama has promised to assuage concerns about government overreach, in part through more transparency.
The document was released along with several others related to a controversial collection program approved by Congress in 2008 under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. Through that program, the NSA may target for collection the emails and phone calls of foreigners “reasonably believed” to be overseas.
Under Section 702, the NSA collects more than 250 million Internet communications each year, the opinion said. The vast majority — 91 percent — are obtained from Internet providers such as Google, Yahoo and AOL through a program code-named PRISM.
At issue here was the less voluminous “upstream” collection that takes place as communications flow across Internet hubs — not from service providers such as Google.
Under that program, the NSA diverted international data passing through fiber-optic cables in the United States into a repository where the material could be stored temporarily for processing and for the selection of foreign communications, rather than domestic ones. But in practice, because of technological difficulties, the NSA was unable to filter out the “wholly domestic” communications between Americans.
Officials stressed that it was the NSA that brought the collection method to the court’s attention as part of its regular reporting process.
“This was not in any respect an intentional or wholesale breach of privacy of American persons,” said Robert Litt III, the general counsel for the Office of the Director of the National Intelligence.
Still, Bates noted that it was not until May 2011 — several years after Section 702 was approved — that the NSA told the court that its upstream collection of Internet communications may contain entire Internet “transactions” not related to the target. In other words, the agency may be collecting emails between two Americans or people inside the U.S. in violation of FISA.
In June 2011, the NSA informed Bates that an Internet transaction may be a single communication or it may include “multiple discrete communications,” including those that are not to, from or about a target. That means instead of one email, a string of Americans’ emails could be inadvertently picked up. “That revelation fundamentally alters the court’s understanding of the scope of the collection conducted pursuant to Section 702,” Bates said.
“By expanding its Section 702 acquisitions to include the acquisition of Internet transactions through its upstream collection, NSA has, as a practical matter, circumvented the spirit of [the law],” Bates wrote. “NSA’s knowing acquisition of tens of thousands of wholly domestic communications through its upstream collection is a cause of concern for the court.”
He ordered the collection to stop until the NSA could propose an acceptable remedy. In November 2011, Bates signed an order approving the fix, which included a new technical means to segregate transactions most likely to contain U.S. persons’ communications and reducing the retention period from five to two years.
surveillance, counterterrorism, U.S. domestic spying, Edward Snowden, NSA leaks
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1062
|
__label__wiki
| 0.940071
| 0.940071
|
FTC puts Apple, Japanese carriers in antitrust cross hairs
An iPhone 7 Plus is displayed at a SoftBank store in Tokyo on Sept. 16. | BLOOMBERG
by Yoshiyasu Shida
Regulators are considering taking action against Apple Inc. over possible antitrust violations that may have helped it dominate Japan’s smartphone sales, government sources said, a move that could damage the company’s profit margins in one of its most profitable markets.
In a report published last month, the Fair Trade Commission said NTT Docomo, KDDI Corp. and SoftBank Group were refusing to sell older surplus iPhone models to third-party retailers, thereby hobbling smaller competitors.
Apple was not named in that report, but two senior government sources said regulators were also focusing on Apple’s supply agreements with all three carriers.
Under those deals, surplus stock of older iPhones is kept out of the market and sent to overseas markets, such as Hong Kong, according to industry sources.
The carriers, locked in a costly battle to win consumers who covet iPhones, also bulk-purchase the Apple smartphones and sell them at a discount, which gives the U.S. company an advantage over rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co., according to the two government officials and an industry source.
Both iPhone 7 and Samsung’s Galaxy S7 edge model sell for ¥93,960 under Docomo’s main service package without any contract, but the cost for the iPhone drops sharply to ¥38,232 with a two-year contract, while the Galaxy falls to ¥54,432.
When asked about the antitrust concerns, Apple forwarded a link to a web page published at the time of the Aug. 2 FTC report that says it has created or supports 715,000 jobs in Japan, with Japanese-based developers raking in more than $9 billion in revenue from Apple apps since 2008. It did not comment further.
The strategy has helped Apple sustain demand for new iPhones, making Japan one of its most profitable markets. The U.S. company accounts for almost one in every two smartphones sold in Japan, its largest share in a major market.
It also kept upstart mobile service providers such as messaging app firm Line Corp. and online retailer Rakuten Inc. from selling iPhones, and helped the top three carriers control more than 90 percent of the mobile phone market.
Any government order for corrective measures may crimp demand for more profitable new iPhone models that compete against well-reviewed Android phones such as the Galaxy S7.
“The actions of the three operators alone do not account for the state of the market,” said one of the officials, who confirmed that the August report was also directed at Apple. “We are getting closer to taking action.”
The officials said the watchdog hoped pressing the carriers would get them to solve the antitrust issue, which could include renegotiating contracts with Apple.
They asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.
The FTC did not give a deadline or say what penalties, such as fines, it would impose if the companies did not act.
In the past, FTC has issued cease and desist orders, and imposed a “surplus charge” to recoup profits resulting from antitrust violations. The biggest surplus charge to date for a case, which involved five companies, is ¥27 billion.
Fines on companies judged to be operating cartels or monopolies, however, can be higher.
NTT Docomo said it did not believe it was blocking new entrants.
“We have always strived to conduct sales and services appropriately and we will take the FTC’s report on board and consider our response,” a spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for KDDI said her company had operated its business in an appropriate manner and followed guidelines.
A Softbank spokesman also said it would work with regulators. “Up to now we have never had any issues with competition laws over our sales practices and pricing,” he said.
Samsung declined to comment.
Apple Inc., iPhone, FTC, cellphones, antitrust
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1063
|
__label__wiki
| 0.906345
| 0.906345
|
A 10 billion-tree plan is restoring Pakistan’s lost forests
A worker prepares plant sand bags at the Model Colony forest nursery in Karachi. | BLOOMBERG
by Faseeh Mangi
Pakistan’s arid climate and rocky deserts may seem an unlikely place to look for a green revolution, but the nation of more than 200 million people has begun one of the world’s largest reforestation programs.
The government is in the first phase of planting 3.25 billion trees at an estimated cost of around 105 billion rupees ($650 million), Malik Amin Aslam, minister for climate change said in an interview. Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to extend that to almost 10 billion by the time his term in office ends in 2023.
“We are trying to unleash a green economy,” Aslam said by phone.
The task is enormous. Pakistan is among the six countries that face the biggest impact from climate change, according to the United Nations, with risks of floods, melting glaciers and droughts. Its forest cover is now among the lowest in the world — about 5% of the land, compared with a global average of 31%, according to U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
“Unfortunately, we never cared about them,” said Khan at a tree-planting ceremony in July. “After independence from the British, we have lost forests instead of adding to them.”
Pakistan is planting trees that need relatively little water, like the azadirachta indica, a fast-growing mahogany commonly known as the neem tree. Neems typically don’t need to be watered after the first five years, while the other species that have been chosen only need extra water for the first few months, according to Tabish Hussain, a government-employed forester in Karachi.
Khan has been advocating reforestation since his days as a professional cricketer more than three decades ago. He has added nine new national parks, the first additions since independence in 1947. As provincial ruler of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province he oversaw a program to raise a billion trees that raised the region’s forest cover to forest cover to 27%, from 20%, in the five years to 2019.
When Saudi Crown Price Muhammad bin Salman visited Pakistan for the first time last year, he was invited to add some soil with a shovel and to water a plant at Pakistan’s Prime Minister House. On Aug. 9, Khan asked everyone in the nation to plant a tree, with a target of 3.5 million for the day.
Despite Khan’s efforts to raise public awareness, economic pressures continue to beset the nation’s forests. The need to feed the world’s fifth largest population means that most fertile land has already been turned over to food grains like wheat or cash crops like cotton. Trees are also cut down to make firewood, though the government has tried to curb the practice in recent years.
Trees and plants are grown along a highway in Karachi. | BLOOMBERG
Critics say the government may struggle to undo the damage to the nation’s forests.
“It’s not enough,” said Lahore-based climate policy consultant Dawar Butt. “The government has other agendas as well.” He said that while the central administration has the environment as a top priority, “actual environment-related laws are broken by state institutions.”
Often in the past, many energy and infrastructure projects skipped public environmental-impact hearings and many construction programs still do, Butt said.
The nation has also been investing heavily in coal. With Chinese backing, Pakistan inaugurated its biggest coal mine last year and produced a record 20% of its electricity from the fossil fuel in the fiscal year through June. It generated only 3% from solar and wind. The government has set a target of drawing 30% of its power from renewables by 2030.
In addition to restoring some ecosystems and absorbing planet-warming carbon emissions, the tree plantation drive has provided thousand of jobs in a country that struggles with unemployment. “I am hopeful that we can save our nation,” said Khan. “You go to Dubai, its all a desert, they don’t have trees. God has given us everything, we just need to take care of it.”
Fierce, frequent climate-fueled wildfires may decimate forests worldwide
Close to tipping point, Amazon forest could collapse within 50 years
Pakistan, forests, Climate change, environment
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1064
|
__label__wiki
| 0.700722
| 0.700722
|
Arming the Indian elephant
NEW DELHI – The rise in U.S. arms sales to India is being widely cited as evidence of the two countries’ deepening defense relationship.
But the long-term sustainability of the relationship, in which India is more a client than a partner, remains a deep concern for Indians. Does the recently issued Joint Declaration on Defense Cooperation, which establishes intent to move beyond weapons sales to the co-production of military hardware, mark a turning point, or is it merely a contrivance to placate India?
The factors driving the strategic relationship’s development are obvious. Since 2006, bilateral trade has quadrupled, reaching roughly $100 billion this year. And, over the last decade, U.S. defense exports to India have skyrocketed from just $100 million to billions of dollars annually.
With U.S. military spending slowing and other export markets remaining tight, American defense firms are eager to expand sales to India, which is now the world’s largest arms importer. And the political environment is amenable to their plans: India now conducts more joint military exercises with the United States than with any other country.
For the U.S., displacing Russia as India’s leading arms supplier was a major diplomatic triumph, akin to Egypt’s decision during the Cold War to shift its allegiance — and its arms supplier — from the Soviet Union to America. The difference is that India can actually pay for the weapons that it acquires.
And the bills are substantial. In recent years, India has ordered American arms worth roughly $9 billion. It is now purchasing additional U.S. weapons systems — 22 Apache attack helicopters, six C-130J turbo military transport aircraft, 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and 145 M-777 ultra-light howitzers — worth $5 billion. The value of India’s arms contracts with U.S. firms exceeds that of American military aid to any country except Israel.
Nirupama Rao, India’s ambassador to the U.S., has called such defense transactions “the new frontier” in U.S.-India relations and “a very promising one at that.” But, while it is certainly a positive development for the U.S., for India, it represents a new frontier of dependency.
The problem is that India’s defense sector has virtually nothing that it can sell to the U.S. The country has yet to develop a credible armament-production base like that of, say, Japan, which is co-developing advanced weapons systems with the U.S. In fact, India depends on imports — not only from major suppliers like the U.S. and Russia, but also from Israel, the world’s sixth-largest arms exporter — to meet even basic defense needs.
Moreover, India’s leaders have not leveraged the bargaining power afforded by its massive arms purchases to advance national interests.
They could, for example, try to persuade the U.S. to stop selling arms to Pakistan, or secure better access to the American market for India’s highly competitive IT and pharmaceutical sectors, which are facing new U.S. nontariff barriers.
Applying the recent declaration on defense cooperation will not be easy. For example, efforts to identify specific opportunities for collaborative weapons-related projects are to be pursued in accordance with “national policies and procedures.” But the two sides cannot truly “place each other at the same level as their closest partners” unless national policies and procedures — especially in the U.S. — evolve sufficiently.
Similarly the declaration merely reiterates America’s position that it supports India’s “full membership” in the four U.S.-led technology-control regimes: the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, and the Australia Group.
Given that U.S. policy is to deny sensitive technologies to those outside these regimes, India’s admission would make all the difference in facilitating technology sharing. But the declaration does not include any commitment from the U.S. to expedite India’s admission.
All of this suggests that the U.S. is pandering to India’s desire for a more equal defense relationship. It is willing to co-produce with India some smaller defensive systems, such as Javelin anti-tank missiles, in order to pave the way for more multibillion-dollar deals for U.S.-made systems. The Indian media are doing their part to strengthen the illusion of progress, latching onto the phrase “closest partners” in their acclaim for the agreement.
The irony is that, while America’s pursuit of a stronger defense relationship with India is aimed largely at offsetting an increasingly assertive China, U.S. President Barack Obama has charted a neutral course in Sino-Indian disputes. For example, the U.S. has declined to hold joint military exercises in the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China has claimed as “South Tibet” since 2006.
As it stands, the U.S. sells mainly defensive weapons systems to India, while Russia, for example, offers India offensive weapons, including strategic bombers, an aircraft carrier, and a lease on a nuclear submarine. Would the U.S. be willing to sell India offensive weapons — including high-precision conventional arms, anti-submarine systems, and long-range air- and sea-launched cruise missiles — that could help to deter Chinese military preemption?
As U.S.-India defense cooperation broadens, this question will loom ever larger.
Brahma Chellaney is a professor of Strategic Studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research. © 2013 Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org)
India, United States, arms sales
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1065
|
__label__wiki
| 0.853752
| 0.853752
|
Thailand must overcome obsession with Thaksin
by William Pesek
“Welcome to the Republic of Thaksin.” You won’t see these words displayed in the customs hall when arriving in Thailand, but the Land of Smiles has indeed morphed into the land of Thaksin Shinawatra.
That should be giving Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy plenty to frown about. Seven years after the former prime minister was ousted in a coup, Thaksin’s long shadow continues to dominate Thai politics. Since then, the country has seen six prime ministers, the most recent one being Thaksin’s baby sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
Like many loving siblings, Yingluck looks out for her kin. Recently she tried to ram a get-out-of-jail-free card for Thaksin and other politicians through the parliament — as big a political blunder as Asia has seen in years. Markets plunged and more than 32,000 people joined demonstrations in the capital and 17 other provinces. This week, Yingluck backed down and agreed to scrap the bill for now.
But anyone who thinks that’s the end of Thailand’s Thaksin nightmare is wrong. The proud and acerbic billionaire, Asia’s answer to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, isn’t about to shelve his obsession with returning home, reclaiming the portion of his telecommunications fortune frozen by the state and succeeding his sister. Many fear Yingluck is little more than a placeholder for big bro.
With his ambitions thwarted for now, the focus has turned to how much money this setback will cost Thaksin. Thais should be worrying instead about how much this political circus is hurting their $366 billion economy.
Every day that politicians and policy makers in Bangkok spend obsessing over Thaksin’s return is one that’s not being used to modernize the economy, increase competitiveness and avoid the “middle-income trap” that befalls many developing nations and may soon ensnare Thailand.
The politics of personality aren’t confined to Thailand. Asia is awash with larger-than-life populists bigger on charisma and spin than concrete reforms: leaders like Shinzo Abe in Japan, Xi Jinping in China and, in some ways, Benigno Aquino in the Philippines.
The same problem afflicts several figures who have yet to take the helm, including India’s Rahul Gandhi. All have neglected tough policy work in hopes that a strong personality will be enough to carry them through and bolster their approval ratings.
But Thaksin raised the strategy to an art form, essentially making an entire nation about him. His tenure from February 2001 to September 2006 saw nothing less than the wholesale bastardization of Thai democracy. He neutered its institutions and enriched his family members and cronies in ways that would have made a Russian oligarch blush.
Like former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, Thaksin was a powerful tycoon who leveraged his business success to become leader. Thaksin, like Berlusconi, was later accused of bending the government to his will and in alignment with his business interests.
He got away with it by literally bribing the rural communities that formed his power base. His “Thaksinomics” program of flooding the hinterlands with cheap loans was never more than Tammany Hall-like doling out of cash for support. The money did nothing to improve the economy’s fundamentals or capacity for innovation.
It’s a strategy Yingluck copied early and often after becoming prime minister in 2011. Take her disastrous rice-subsidy plan, which by the latest estimate has cost $19 billion since October 2011 and over time has recorded losses equivalent to 59 percent of that figure.
Thailand is now sitting on two years of export production, which has distorted rice markets in the Mekong River region and cost Thailand the title of world’s biggest rice exporter. What’s depressing is that in that time Thailand could have, say, built a new state-of-the-art airport. Instead Suvarnabhumi Airport, opened the same month in 2006 in which Thaksin was ousted, continues to struggle with capacity constraints that are impeding the all-important tourism market.
Why champion such a debacle? The rice program is sure to pay huge dividends for Yingluck, and by extension Thaksin, come early 2014 when her government may call a snap poll. The hope would be for Yingluck’s party to demonstrate enough of a mandate to resurrect the amnesty bill. To do that, they will need the farmers. Hence the linear focus on boosting rice prices.
It’s frustrating to think where Thailand might be today had the nation not squandered the last seven years on all things Thaksin. By overreaching so spectacularly with the amnesty bill, Yingluck displayed a level of cluelessness that will further hobble her ability to govern.
The bill might have gotten further if it had also applied to people charged with lese-majeste, which mandates prison sentences as long as 15 years for defaming or insulting the king, queen, heir apparent or regent.
Instead the bill would have allowed Yingluck’s brother, army officers and former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who faces murder charges for authorizing soldiers to use weapons during unrest in 2010, to walk free — not average Thais. It left the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts and opponents known as the Yellow Shirts wondering who, or what, they had been fighting for.
It’s time that the Republic of Thaksin became less about one man and more about the aspirations and needs of Thais.
William Pesek is a Bloomberg View columnist based in Tokyo.
Yingluck Shinawatra, Thaksin Shinawatra
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1066
|
__label__wiki
| 0.652337
| 0.652337
|
Making the case against helicopter money
by Michael Heise
MUNICH – Despite years of expansionary monetary policy, the European Central Bank has failed to push inflation back up to its target of “below but close to 2 percent.” The latest measures — a zero interest rate on the ECB’s main refinancing operations, an increase in monthly asset purchases from €60 billion ($67 billion) to €80 billion, and an even lower deposit rate of minus 0.40 percent — are unlikely to change this. That is why some economists are urging the ECB to go even further, with “helicopter drops” — that is, financing private consumption by printing money.
The idea of helicopter money dates back to the monetarism debates of the 1960s. A central bank, it was argued, never runs out of options for stimulating aggregate demand and stoking inflation, provided it is willing to resort to radical measures. But what was once a theoretical notion now seems to be a concrete possibility.
In practice, helicopter drops would arrive in the form of lump-sum payments to households or consumption vouchers for everybody, funded exclusively by central banks. Governments or commercial banks distributing the money would be credited with a deposit or be given cash, but no claim would be created on the left-hand side of the central bank’s balance sheet.
This type of single accounting would reduce the central bank’s equity capital, unless it realized (sold) valuation reserves on its balance sheet. Proponents defend this approach by claiming that central banks are subject to special accounting rules that could be adjusted as needed.
The proponents of helicopter drops today include some eminent figures, including former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and Adair Turner, former head of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority. And while ECB President Mario Draghi has highlighted the technical, legal and accounting obstacles that stand in the way of helicopter drops by his institution, he has not ruled them out.
The question now: Is such an extreme step really justified?
The answer is no. While helicopter drops are a viable policy option if deflation is spiraling downward, as it was in the late 1920s and early 1930s, that is not the case today — neither in the eurozone nor in the global economy.
True, demand growth is subdued, reflecting the lingering fallout from the global financial crisis that erupted in 2008. Banks, firms and households are still cleaning up their balance sheets and working off the heaps of debt they amassed during the credit boom that preceded the bust. But they have already made significant progress, meaning that the drag on growth is set to diminish.
Consumers today are not holding back on spending because they expect goods and services to become cheaper, as one would expect during a period of deflation. Instead, they are gradually increasing their spending, taking advantage of restored income growth and large gains in purchasing power caused by collapsing oil and commodity prices. As a result, most advanced economies are once again producing at close to capacity.
Data on corporate profits also contradict the view that we are mired in deflation. Price stability has not put profit margins under pressure. On the contrary, in many advanced economies, profits are high — even reaching record levels — owing partly to lower input costs.
In this environment, distributing largesse financed by the central bank would have dangerous systemic consequences in the long run, because it would create perverse incentives for everyone involved. Policymakers would be tempted to resort to helicopter money whenever growth was not as strong as they would like, instead of implementing difficult structural reforms that address the underlying causes of weak economic performance.
All of this would raise expectations among financial market actors that central banks and governments would always step in to smooth out credit bubbles and mitigate their consequences, even if that meant accumulating more debt. These actors’ risk perception would thus be distorted, and the role of risk premiums would be diminished.
Add to that the impact of the depletion of valuation reserves and the risk of negative equity — developments that could undermine the credibility of central banks and thus of currencies — and it seems clear that helicopter drops should, at least for now, remain firmly in the realm of academic debate.
Michael Heise is chief economist of Allianz SE. © Project Syndicate, 2016
macroeconomics, Europe debt crisis
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1067
|
__label__wiki
| 0.68317
| 0.68317
|
Jerusalem Post Opinion
2021 welcomes pleasant era of boredom for Israeli politics - opinion
A dull era is ahead of us, which may actually be good news, if the parties are able to feel the spirit of the public and decide to be boring.
By MOSHE KLUGHAFT
ALTERNATE PRIME Minister and Defense Minister Benny Gantz (left) with justice minister Avi Nissenkorn, in November. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH 90)
After three rounds of elections that looked like one long election, with no dramatic differences in the results, it looks like the 2021 election is going to be one of the most fascinating elections seen in our country.
Why is it so interesting? Because it can bring boredom.
Let’s detail what the age of boredom entails.
First, the end of the costume era. When Avi Nissenkorn decided to say goodbye to Defense Minister Benny Gantz and retire from Blue and White, he told him in a recent conversation, as reported on Channel 12: “I do not intend to dress up in costume anymore.” He is right.
If there is one thing we have learned in the past elections it is that the costumes do not work. Blue and White disguised itself as the Center-Right, placed in its public relations front Yoaz Hendel and Zvi Hauser, who toured the Samarian hills as part of the campaign, and then was stunned when they refused to enter the government with the support of the Joint List. One costume.
Also in 2019, in the first election, Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman ran under the statement that he would support Netanyahu, and then in practice set conditions that undermined his ability to form a government. Another costume that surprised the public.
In the post-costumes age, parties will have to do two things: announce a clear ideology and announce a prime ministerial candidate clearly.
Ideology – Right or Left, for sovereignty or against, for a Palestinian state or against, for a free market or for the Histadrut, for LGBT rights or against, for public transportation on Shabbat or against. And, who knows? we might even get to see the parties advertise, perish the thought, platforms.
Announcing a candidate for prime minister: It should be noted that in this week’s announcements about the opening of a party campaign, both by Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and Gantz, the parties refrained from saying whom they would recommend as prime minister. They will not be able to last like that. At the end of the costume era, eventually the parties will have to clearly say who their prime minister will be.
The reason is simple: Voting in Israel is personal. The role of the prime minister is a centralized and powerful one. The last election always included two candidates running head-to-head for prime minister, and this should not be ignored. The elections in Israel are so personal that when there were attempts to present a model of joint leadership in rotation, both in the case of Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid and Gantz, and in the case of Tzipi Livni and Isaac Herzog, both Lapid and Livni had to retire from the rotation because the choice must be clear, sharp, and the whole greater than its rotations.
At the end of the costume era, the political system needs to return to homogeneous, clear parties that are not split within themselves to both the Left and Right, that clearly state what their ideology is and who their candidate for prime minister is.
Another characteristic of the age of boredom: we may actually see less negative, and more matter-of-fact, choices. The reason is not that any of the actors became righteous. Don’t worry. The reason is that, according to every study, the issue of division among the people is one of the most worrying parameters for the Israeli public.
All politicians know this. The question is whether everyone will act accordingly. So, surprisingly, we may see more relaxed choices. Add to that the fact that we also saw in the United States that the side whose conduct was more conservative and matter-of-fact won, or let’s put it bluntly: the boring side won. So it may be that these elections will look relatively different, and after a year in which the coronavirus shook people, they’re a little tired and looking for quiet.
Another characteristic of the age of boredom: the end of strategy. The Israeli public has an opportunity to establish a new and strange custom: to vote for whoever you think represents your position, and give up the custom of violating the political balance, according to which every voter sits in his house and decides to vote according to the sum of his hatreds, and not according to the sum of his positions. Precisely such conduct will lead to a more accurate result.
It should be remembered that unlike physics, politics is both an exact science, but also a pure psychology. The situation that emerged in the polls according to which 80 seats go to right-wing parties could not remain. If the public abandons the strategic vote, nature will correct itself. The ratio in the public is no more than 70 seats to the Right. It is not healthy if it looks different in the election results.
Another important parameter for the age of boredom: Return to professional politicians and managers.
The opening of the election campaign brought with it a number of mayors who joined: Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv, Raz Kinstlich, mayor of Rishon Lezion, Meir Yitzhak Halevi from Eilat; and it is likely that they will not be the last. The rise of Nissenkorn, the entry of Yaron Zelekha, Naftali Bennett’s focus on entrepreneurship, Lapid’s discourse around specific programs – also symbolize a dull spirit in the interesting sense of the word.
Even Gadi Eisenkot’s decision not to run in the election symbolizes a spirit of turning one’s back on “stars” and “Messiahs,” and he seems to have realized this in time.
To sum up: disgust with costumes, disgust with the division of the people, disgust with strategic voting, a return to the people who run, a return to positions and ideology and a clear statement of who the prime ministerial candidate is: these are the materials from which the 2021 election campaign can be made.
According to recent polls, there are about 20 seats sitting on the fence and debating. Be boring.
The writer is a strategic adviser to leaders and election campaigns around the world.
Tags Benny Gantz Politics Blue and White
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1069
|
__label__wiki
| 0.952893
| 0.952893
|
Two climbers die in avalanche on Scotland's Ben Nevis
LONDON (Reuters) - Two climbers died on Tuesday and two more were injured in an avalanche on Britain's highest mountain Ben Nevis, police said.
The incident occurred shortly before mid-day on the 1,345-metre high mountain in the Grampian range near the town of Fort William in western Scotland.
"We can sadly confirm that two people have died and two people have been injured," a police statement said.
"This is absolutely tragic news," Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in a Tweet. "My thoughts are very much with the bereaved and injured."
Earlier this year, a woman died after plunging 500 ft from the mountain on New Year's Day.
(Reporting by Stephen Addison; Editing by Giles Elgood)
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1070
|
__label__wiki
| 0.713777
| 0.713777
|
Hello and welcome to the Career Success podcast. I'm Jason Connolly. If you knew listener thanks very much for joining us on the show, but if you are a regular listener it's great to have you back in this series. We speak to leaders in the world of business and people have had tremendous career success. We speak to people all across the globe across a wide range of industries. We lead the way in conversation to understand what makes someone successful. Listen to their stories of rising to the top, the challenges they overcome, adversity faced and what success means to them. We will also discuss the lessons learned. Along the way, myself and my guest will give practical advice on how to grow your business and climb the career ladder. If you're someone that has a passion for business, then this is the podcast for you. In this episodes, I'm delighted to be joined by Michael Byrne from Cardiff. Michael is the founder and chief executive of Carbon or Partners and national law firm. Throughout his career, Michael's work from Magic Circle firm, Allen and Overy, he was also a board director of 150 million at Turnover Financial Services business. Listed on a mad 32. In 2002, Michael started his own law firm, Carbon Door Partners, from Scratch in 2010 with no money, no clients, and as build over 1.5 million over the 1st two years in business, he's developed a really innovative law firm that is different. Michael has spoken at lectures, including notably do lectures in 2016 about his story and beliefs. The lectures had views of over 150 million Michael thanks for joining me on the show. Hi Jason, it's great to be here. Thanks for having me on. So first of all, tell us about your before we sort of get talking about carbon law partners and what you do today. Tell us about your journey into law because you've worked for one of the world's best law firms, which in itself is a career achievement. But tell us about your story from the beginning. So I guess I'm a fairly ordinary sort of bloke. I went to a comprehensive school in south London. I was the first University in my family. When I when I went off and I didn't know anyone in the law so I didn't really know my way around or have anyone to help give me a leg up. So I went off to University. I did a law degree. I went to Leicester, had an absolutely fantastic time there, loved it. I probably did what most people do. University. I didn't do very much work in the first year and I got the tap on the shoulder too often. If I was serious about doing a law degree anywhere, never mind at the University, did not make you Buck your ideas up, or will it did I went from about 190 four 1200 students in the first year to six in the second year and 1st in the third year. So they gave me a right kick up the backside and it really did the trick. I'm very grateful to them right? OK, and then you went and so tell us about your journey into law. So when I was at uni, are the milkround happened where law firms came to the law faculty and. And try to find promising students to give what used to be called Ben Articles these days called training contracts. And yeah, I was really lucky I got a gig with City Lofan then called Denton Hallberg in Warrens. There's a mouthful and I loved it there. I wondered in impressed by the glass lift thinking that an atrium was something that people like me didn't deserve to be associated with in their lobby and really feeling like I was on the set of a TV show that probably mostly listens to be too old to remember called LA Law. So I thought I'd arrive. Yeah, when I got to Denton Hall, Bergen and more and I think they're now called Dentons. Make a global firms and I had a fantastic training at the firm. Was very lucky qualified there, stayed there and then when I was a couple years years in I went for lunch with Katrina Smith who was the head of IP litigation intellectual property at Allen and Overy and I thought it was just a lunch. Came back and got a call to say we'd like you to come to Allen and Overy. Wow, so you know, given my background, blokes like me, don't don't say no to going to a magic circle global law firm when invited to do so, and I dutifully went and had a really fantastic couple years Allen and Overy, and got to practice law on a pretty big scale, even as a junior Reich. It was great work. Do you think it's Katrina? But you mentioned what was it she think about? She may be soaring you at the time, but. Mate, I want to reach out to you in that way. I know it's really difficult to say, but I think there was something about, I suppose hoping that you were bright, hoping that you were able hoping you were hard working, but hoping that there was a bit more to you than just the standard sort of pinstripe brogue wearing lawyer. And you know my background means that as I say, come from pretty ordinary, pretty ordinary family, pretty ordinary schooling background like the normal things in life, on the sort of regular person. No airs and graces. And we just got on over lunch. We really got on. I liked her a lot. I thought she was great. We sort of clicked and I think it was that you know it's so his relationships I think isn't it, Jason? It's like the relationships between people. You click with some people and maybe not with everybody. The way it's you know it's great to hear stories as as well when you hear people who haven't gone to an Oxbridge University. Kind of rising up the ranks, especially coming from a comprehensive school. I went to a comprehensive so I know that. But what did you learn from your time? Allen and Overy 'cause? It's a people in in legal. Everyone knows who they are. And I think I learned about the fundamentals of how to work with the team, how to work on world class legal services delivered by a fantastic law firm, kind of a scale of operation that was just knew to me. I mean, back in the day when I was there, I was very fortunate. Had an office overlooking St Pauls. It's now a shopping centre and Allen and Overy have moved. Not much new to Liverpool Street, but so so you know, I really am that old, but I learned I learned an awful lot about how to do things properly for world leading brands, and I think that was really fantastic experience. I guess if I was really honest with you, I also learned that I felt quite constrained by the way in which back then. And I'm talking in the late 90s. So along time ago, the way in which the things I wrote were amended and changed with. Red pen back then. It wasn't done with track changes and all kinds of modern technology. It was literally a red pen on her on a printed document that you may have drafted for a partner who you were working with and I found I didn't. I don't mind being corrected and I think we all need to learn. I've got a real passion for learning, but I always felt that I never got to give advice. It I can understand the need for accuracy, but it feels somewhat like a school group. So marking situation, it reminds me of something of a primary school. Yeah, it was a little a little bit like that and you know, of course, if you're a magic circle law firm with a global reputation, you don't want a two year qualified junior solicitor like me making mistakes because you know that's just not what your brand stands for, but there was something about I think it was. This is more a comment on me than it is on Allen and Overy. I wanted I realised I wanted to not advise clients. I realised I wanted to be a decision maker and I can remember coming to that realisation after doing a really exciting management buyout transaction that I wanted to not be the person advising on what the law was, I wanted to be the person deciding what to do with the law as a tool, right there. Speaking to the decision maker and the someone owner managed business or going straight to the person who holds the purse strings. Well, I can remember telling my dad when I was that I decided voluntarily to leave Allen and Overy, and it's a bizarre story because that week Allen and Overy were in the headlines of the times that my dad had started to read for having the UK's first million pound partner. And so I remember ringing my dad and saying, Dad, I'm going to leave Allen and Overy and I'm going to go into industry 'cause I want to be a decision maker. My dad wasn't very convinced by my. On my move, I'm honest Jason. People like I don't walk away from firms like that. Do you 'cause I? I always think that the type of lawyer that you get and I am speaking in really general terms so you know no offence intended. But I always think that when you go to the West End and you see West End firms, the kind of vibrant CD exposure people get at the junior level. As a lawyer, the kind of contact they get with businesses. It's very different and the type of the candidate, even the way that candidates I think of a lot more dynamic in firms like the Western. I think junior lawyers, they get trained in stuff. You know, in terms of business that you might not get, you know, a large practice. I think there's quite a difference between and. I think that mindset that you summed up is that a mindset that you often see it firms like that you know. I suppose what I'm trying to get at is, do you think there's a big difference between this sort candidates in the West End and the city? And so on. And your thoughts about that. Yeah, I think I think that's right, Jason. I think there's very much a horses for courses way of thinking about not just law, but any industry. So some people suit certain environments better than others and you go to one play-through. Different experience to another place, so you can't fault the Magic circle law firm with the pedigree of Allen and Overy an. I got an enormous amount out of being there and don't get me wrong after I left it didn't have help to open doors to say I was at an an ovary so it has an enormous amount of value, but I think in terms of the kind of my type of personality, I think I've learned since then that I would rather the cut and thrust of the world of the entrepreneur than I would. The world of the of the of the legal advisor to a blue chip. Citi financial banking institution. But you know, that's a different. It's a different mindset I think. Yeah, I'm inclined to agree with you definitely. So you're sometimes your buyout, which I found it did make me smile. I'm sometimes described as disruptive in a maverick or rebel with A cause. All unfair as I'm just asking why about many of the things in the legal profession to tell us more about that. Rebel with A cause. Well it in my mind the way in which law firms as a generalisation and it's a sweeping generalisation. Many running law firms shaking their fists if they ever listen to this, but in as a generalisation, I think the business model operated by law firms is fundamentally broken, and I think it's broken because it doesn't suit lawyers, and it doesn't suit clients. And much of my career actually has been spent being a client. A buyer of legal services as opposed to a lawyer who. In there I use The Dirty word. It's a seller of legal services, so being a poacher gamekeeper means I suppose I've got a perspective on both sides of the line. Of you know what it means to be a consumer of legal services, and it struck me that the model that I'm talking predominantly about not just the partnership model but the pyramid structure of a law firm was wrong. That's interesting. So did you spend you spend time in house? Yeah, OK, and I think the people that don't know the sort of necessarily the difference in House is working for a company as a lawyer and there are distinct differences in the whole kind of mindset in the general actual Job Bowl itself.
It's your advising on business. Michael yeah, absolutely. And when I left Allen and Overy I went to Footsie listed business called Saint James's Place, which is a wealth management company. Very well known, very well known exactly so, although when I told my dad I was leaving Allen and Overy to go to Saint James's place, he said Saint James is who? Because he had heard of them back then. We're talking late late 90s and they'd only just reverted into a listing on the Stock Exchange. So it, you know, very kind of heard of them then he certainly would have heard of them now. And so yeah, I went into industry, and as a lawyer inside a company you get exposure to commercial decision making and at quite a young age you're really privileged. Actually, I think because you can be spending quite a lot of time with directors and decision makers and that really really started to shape a lot of my thinking about. What I wanted to do, but also it gave me a model for a law firm. Yeah, an identity. Really interesting just to sort of sidestep a podcast about this the other day of being an in house lawyer, and even at a junior level you're walking in and you know you're dealing with directors. It's about how you hold yourself in these positions, 'cause you might in turn be quite junior sometimes it's you know who do you go to is a lawyer. You know it's it can be a different world from that being in private practice absolutely. I mean, I was very fortunate there was a legal director. Saint James's place back then. He was ex Herbert Smith. He was very qualified, very capable. He'd been there a number of years. He recruited me. I joined his team. You know, I learned. I learned my craft. If you like in-house through working closely with him as well as the other board members, and I learned about the industry as well because I didn't know one end of a pension or a life insurance policy from the other. When I went to this business. So there was a lot to learn, a lot to take in. And again, I was very fortunate. I've got a really good schooling there, and it's really great. Rounding, but it also gave me this idea that I've come back to in the time that followed, I saw the business model that they operated there and then that has really stuck with me and that as part I suppose of the of why I think some would say I was a bit maverick and I would say that I was just finding a better way to do something from another sector that already does it that way, which I don't think is that traffic really is it? It's just a readable, I think legalising. So what you mean is a consultancy model. So people. Traditionally, in an old fashioned way, eat what you kill, but now we call it a consultancy model fee split model. So and that's the model you're talking about, yeah it well it is in part, so by what we have set out to do in our business is to crab and law partners. Let's just bring this back to the current day and that's what you set up in with no money. And this is this is the innovative model that you've set up just to kind of paint the picture. Yeah, absolutely. So the business is run on a platform. And actually the platform can be used by multiple businesses, not just One South, to demonstrate it's versatility. We created a feature Model Law firm, and that's what you said. Cool carbon law partners. But in September this year, we launched a second branded proposition, so someone else is running a law firm using the same platform as carbon, more partners. And so now what we've ended up with, and we intend to continue to grow is not just Carbon ell partners, which I'm. Really passionate about because it's the firm I started. And it's now developing with a range of partners across the country, all on a feature model. So that's a fairly well trodden path. I don't think there's anything hugely innovative and disruptive about that. That's something that's happening a lot now, and there are some really major players doing that. In the UK, the app services market, the bit that's different to me is what we actually set out to do. Wasn't just to do that, we set out to do more than that, and to build a platform on which you could build multiple brands in legal services, and ultimately multiple brands. In other professions as well. Really interesting and and was that to kind of encapsulate having kind of more niche businesses that specialise in certain areas. Yes in part, but what it was to do is to recognise my sort of fairly bold assertion that the way law works as a profession is broken and that what you need a new business models to bring you thinking. So for example, if you're thinking about whether you want to become a partner in a law firm and. Buy into that equity with the bank loan that you probably will need to do it. Do you want to do that or do you want to back yourself to start your own law firm? And how do you cope with the cost? The fear, the risk, the anxiety of starting a law firm, and does that option feel close to you? So I'm on a bit of a mission to grow law firms for people to put their brands on and to be able to create an environment for lawyers to create their own future destiny and never more so now than in these really remarkable covid times. Yeah, it's what, why? Why do you think that was broken? But what's broken about the pyramid model? What's broken to me is that you effectively have three tiers in the pyramid. At the bottom you have the aspires, the young lawyers coming in, doing their training contracts, qualifying, becoming associate's, working their way up the pyramid. And if you're being unfair to them, they're not just aspire as they perspire as they work very hard indeed, and they get paid about 30% of what they built. That's the typical law firm model that the lawyer gets a third, the overheads get a third, and the partners get a third. So that model to me there's there are lots of important things about it, but one of them is that it's it's not a fair remuneration model for the risks that are taken, because when you do then get up to the next level above the Aspira level, you get into the partnership and you get into equity. You have to borrow money if you're not independently wealthy to pay. Sometimes A6 figure number to buy into the equity of a law firm. And your money sits at risk in the law firm. And if the law firm struggles, you don't get it back and you still owe the bank. Yeah, it's you very much preaching to the converted here. I totally agree with what you're saying. I think that the whole partnership LLP model has problems riddled all over it. I think that how can you have a partnership of equals when nothing is necessarily equal? And then this is where we place a lot of partners. We get people come to us. For example, the employment partners unhappy because that passing will work to the commercial partner there receiving back and then all of a sudden you get these internal bureaucracy or these internal politics that happen which make it difficult, which I think is why so many of these a BS is that have started up and done so well because of the changing model. Well indeed. And if you survive through the partnership structure to the top of the pyramid, that's where you become an older, wiser member of the partnership but something. I think quite surprising happens then be 'cause there's only a limited amount of equity in a law firm. They need you at senior level to leave and retire so you sign up to a date when you're going to leave. When you become a partner because there's an agreement about what that age is, you know is it 60? What is the age and so many law firms, not just in the UK market across the world struggle with what happens to senior lawyers in the five years before retirement, because there's suddenly going to be disenfranchised. They're walking towards what they feel might be a Cliff edge. Because there's nothing for them to do after that age, and they have to move on or have a massive demotion from partner all the way back down to consultant. And yet they've actually helped to build this business, and they've even invested money that they've borrowed from a bank to do it it. That's why I like this broken to get to that level in itself to then get there, to have to raise the capital, to put into, then see if it aids you. 10 years of slog before you even get to that point, potentially it's. At least I mean back when I first started out, some people made it to partnership in seven or eight years. Now it can be 15 of perspiring to get to the equity. Then you take the bank loan. Then you hope that the firm is going to continue to grow. And if you think about a normal investment base and you take some money and you invest it and you expect to return. What you doing that actually in a law firm in a traditional model where you buy into the equity and it's not real equity, like the sort of activities on a Stock Exchange you buying with alone, but you don't get any return on capital, you just get an income. You buy the right to an income over a period of years and then when you come to leave at a date where you may not be, let's face it. it. 60 these days as young right? Yeah, it is. Who wants to stop. So one of the things that we've done is to create a different way of looking. That the pyramid completely. So we think there's appointments even exist in your world. Well, not, not not in our world, no I can. It's a it's a level playing field when I basically it's a 70% feature, not a 30% feature. You have the opportunity but not the obligation to buy real equity. So you can buy real shares in our company and who knows, one day we may float in. There may be an exit and therefore there may be a multiple return on your capital investment. We've also then said when it comes to retirement, we don't believe in retirement. We believe that lawyers should be able to work until they want to stop, and the only thing that otherwise would make them stop is they become incompetent. Yeah, and when they come to that point where they say look enough is enough, we think they've got something of value. They've got a client base that they will have served, hopefully, and for many years and built relationships through serving that client base so they're not transactional. Well, that's gotta value that client base, and I thought it does. I learn it back at Saint James's place where they have something called practice buyout where young financial advisors are supported to buy the practices of older retiring financial advisors. Yeah, I. I've known about this and this scheme that you offer, and I think it's a great scheme, and it also let someone know that for all their years of hard work, they're not going to get to like you. Kind of alluded to or mentioned earlier, they're going to get to a certain age and then that's it. It's gone. It's swallowed into the firm. And I think it's yeah, I think it's it's a great scheme and it it gives someone you know a nice time and in itself. But it shouldn't. Yeah exactly. It gives you a capital play, but I think there's something it gives lawyers that's really important to lawyers in my experience of them. It's a small word, but it's an important word, and that word is control. So yeah, if you think right now, we're in this strange world where how many of us genuinely feeling control of what's happening with this virus that we're living with and law firms have been changing their shape, adapting actually remarkably quickly. And I would argue that some of them have done five years of evolution in five months. To change the way that they are structured and how they work and operate, but that that control. So if you're a lawyer sitting there, do you know whether or not you've got a job? It's a good. It's a good question and yeah, and who's in control of your fate, your career? So what we want to do is to say to people you should take back control. So like, yeah, you should. You should have control of your destiny of when you work where you work, how you work, who you work for. What you charge and when you want to retire and when you do want to retire then you should be able to take any capital value in your client base that exists. There's no guarantee it will be there, it depends what you do and who you are, but if there is some, it should be yours and you should even be able to bring in someone to run your practice and just take an income from it so you don't actually stop. You don't stop earning from the business that you built. Why would you do that? It's it's a really great scheme to hear about, and I think that. It what you said before you. Normally you're not in control of your destiny. Many people at the moment or in the mercy of you know a partner's hand in hand. How able they are to lead the Department through the current pandemic and what we've seen it. We've seen you know some firms acting, but you know if you're acting emotionally and you're not acting rationally, your loads of people let conveyances go. Oh, there we go all of a sudden the the stamp duty. Now we need to hire them all again so you know. You see it time, time and time again, but you know, I do agree with you. I think the legal profession has acted really quickly and it's it may be the reason. It's about five months done five years of evolution in five months is because it was so slow moving previously who knows. So tell us in terms of I guess one bit of advice. I always give to Junie Loison. Please tell me and expand on this. If you do agree is always a junior Louise now and I think you've hit the nail on the head when you spoke about. Kind of going up that that those runs of the ladder and how long it can take. I would say the best bit of advice is start trying to build a client base as soon as you possibly 'cause then you know your destiny is very much in your own hands and you know don't be the person who gets to 7, eight years PQE and you've got no client relationships because it's all driven by the partner and your workhorse for the partner. Start trying to get clients early on, but you agree with that definitely and it's interesting. Back in back in my day when I was a young lawyer we had this phrase that was used to kind of segment us and you were a Finder.
Reminder, a grinder or a binder. So. Reminder is sort of got a bit of a ronseal testing going on here. A Finder is someone who finds clients get a minder is someone who looks after clients are grind there is somebody does loads of the actual work, and a binder is someone who helps make teams and the argument was that you you naturally were stronger in one of those areas than you were in all of the others. Now I actually when I think about that, think that's absolutely bonkers. Because lawyers. Are in the relationship business a law firm does not have a relationship with a client to humans. Have a relationship with each other and they both happen to work inside a brand. So your client might be. I don't know Caterpillar and the law firm might be Allen and Overy, but Caterpillar and Allen and Overy don't have a relationship. It's Fred and Sally who work at the two businesses that have got a relationship. Now who is Fred and who is Sally? Well, there are two people and people are different. And they like different things, and they buy different things from different places, so I think there's space for what used to unfairly be called a grinder. The sort of person who does all the legal works. A bit technical. You want to keep them in a dark room. Never let them see the client. What about the client that likes the detail? It's yeah, I think you make a very valid sales points, but I think it is about that well. It's I I like to think I'm sales expert, but you know, when you strip it back, it sounds like basics but so many people get it wrong. What the client wants is what you give them well and again, this is where I think there's actually historically quite a lot of arrogant, so the legal professional says we build and structure law firms to suit lawyers, not to suit clients. Well, obviously that's the wrong way around. We should be doing everything to suit clients.
Law firms say that they do that, but I really don't see them being client LED businesses. One of the things I've been passionate about is having been a client and bought legal services. I have only my own subjective view, but it's a view of what clients want to buy and what they want to buy is often not what law firms where. They don't even want to use the word cell. I mean, they're better. Now, let's be fair there. Better now, yes, but for me, I think we, I think in a funny old world. We've got a lawyer and a client to human beings. 11 They both need each other. One needs advice and the other needs to be paid for it. What do we need to do? We need to match them together, so let me not trivialise this too much. But aren't we just in the role of a dating agency? Finding the right matches of people for each other, owning a recruitment agency, I would save it. You've got exactly the right E force when it comes to winning business, and I think that a lot of people. And I think people who have maybe risen up the equity scale. People have this mindset, not necessarily in law, but in any industry. This is a client of the company. This is a client of the firm and its when people have that kind of mindset as well and see you know, the client has some kind of you know, object, the client. It's it's all driven by personal relationships within the services business with a services economy, but so many businesses do lose sight of that and that's how you know you find partners leaving your practice with massive whatever client base, because even if you hold them too restrictive covenants, the clients not going to say anyway. That and then that's where you find yourself in that territory. Well, it's interesting you've used the phrase there that I love the phrase restrictive covenant. So first of all I stripped. If yeah, I think that they're fundamentally Roman. If if a firm ever said you know, XY Zed PLC is our client, then I would ask them what they need restrictive covenants for with a single individual lawyer leaving them. I agree with you and I agree. The restriction for exactly and it's you know, we come across this time and time again when partners come to us and it's it's a relationship business and people must not lose sight of that. And I think to bring this back to the advice that we're giving to junior lawyers. It's build relationships. I think that's really valuable lesson. Then it's people, get, we get asked all the time. You know about questions, and that's always one of the first ones. What advice would you give to someone? Michael, that's. We get a lot of people who listen to this podcast too, or maybe starting out in their career that you know there are more at the junior end of the scale. Having been there, done there worked in-house. What advice would you give to people yourselves? Maybe starting out or you know a bit more junior and PQ, E12, three years, etc. I would give the same advice to anyone setting out to do anything. Find something that makes you feel passionate and do that because it's much easier to work every single day off and long hours if you're. Passionate about what you do now, if you're passionate about working for the world's leading investment banks, get yourself in a magic circle firm and you will be happy as Larry. If you really want to work with owner managed or knew startup or fast growth or tech businesses, go to affirm like that so you have to kind of try and get a feel for what drives your passion. So I think one of the most important things I would say to young lawyers or anyone starting out their career is workout. What motivates you, and I think increasingly we see in the younger generation and now I'm 50. I can call people the younger generation. I think we see in the younger generation people. Want to know what the purpose is? What is their purpose for themselves, and what is the purpose of their organisation? And I think firms that offer that clarity of purpose, mission, vision, what, why they are, what they are, where they're going, and why that's important that really motivates.
I think young lawyers so understand your passion and what drives you and find a firm that aligns to that, because then it's again packed to the dating game. It's a good match of the firm and the opportunity, or have to the. The young lawyer in the experience that they know they they crave and will thrive with, I think that's absolutely great advice. I think purpose it is important and you need to have a sense of fulfilment in what you do. That's what drives happiness is. Having that underlying passion. Just Lastly, what's the biggest lesson that you've learned since running a business? Well, multiple businesses. What's kind of your pinnacle listens, but you can share with us not to put him on the spot or anything. Well, one of the most important lessons I've learned. There's a kind of a bit of a line in the song that I don't get. I get knocked down, I get up again. So yeah, I I think in life you are going to face difficulty and adversity and it's about realising that success is not linear. It comes in fits and starts. It's like buses there will be 3 buses at once in the Lotus success and then you'll have a real problem or crisis. Life is not straightforward and success is not linear. So my learning is about developing resilience so that you can cope with what life chucks at you, and I think if you are following a purpose, you know what you're passionate about and you can cope with adversity, then you'll be alright in the end. And it's always. There's always for me that sense, and I say this to my own kids. Just do your best and you'll be alright in the end. And that's literally a simple kind of rationale for how to live your life. I think it is, but it's it's very, very true, and I think you know that's even advice in itself. Michael is being absolutely great talking to you. Thanks for the last 35 minutes. If people want to find out more about you and carbon door, where can they go to so you can find out a bit more about me on Twitter at MJ Burne or you can go and find out about us at carbonlawpartners.com and we're always very happy to have a chat with anybody. We love to talk. Fantastic, that's Michael Burne from Carbon Law Partners on Jason Connolly. This is the Career Success podcast until next time goodbye.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1076
|
__label__cc
| 0.680567
| 0.319433
|
Prosopagnosia, also known as "face blindness", is the inability to recognise faces – a problem that usually affects the person for most or all of their life.
Many people with prosopagnosia cannot even recognise family members, partners or friends.
They may cope by using alternative ways to recognise people, such as remembering the way they walk, or their hairstyle, voice or clothing.
However, compensation strategies like this don't always work, and the condition can have a severe impact on a person's everyday life.
What impact can it have?
Some people with prosopagnosia may avoid social situations and develop social anxiety disorder. Relationships and careers can be affected.
Some are also unable to recognise facial expressions, follow a person's gaze or judge a person's age or gender.
Prosopagnosia can also affect a person's ability to recognise other objects, such as places or cars.
Some may not even recognise their own face in the mirror or in photos.
Following the plot of television programmes and movies can be almost impossible, because characters aren't recognisable.
Even those who cope well with prosopagnosia may worry that they seem rude or disinterested when they fail to recognise a person.
What is the cause?
Developmental prosopagnosia
Most people with prosopagnosia simply fail to develop the ability to recognise faces, despite not having any brain damage.
They may have been born with this condition, so may not realise they have the problem.
There may be a genetic influence in developmental prosopagnosia, as it has been shown to run in families.
Acquired prosopagnosia
Less commonly, prosopagnosia can be caused by brain damage following a severe head injury, stroke or brain disease, including dementia.
When prosopagnosia is acquired in this way, the person will quickly notice that they have lost the ability to recognise people they know.
However, if it occurs after brain damage in early childhood, before the child has fully developed the ability to recognise faces, they may grow up not realising they are unable to recognise faces as well as other people can.
Prosopagnosia is not related to memory problems, loss of vision or learning disabilities, although it is sometimes seen in people with autistic spectrum disorders.
How common is it?
According to the Centre for Face Processing Disorders at Bournemouth University, acquired prosopagnosia is rare. However, developmental prosopagnosia appears to be much more common – affecting up to 1 in 50 (the equivalent of about 1.5 million people in the UK).
People with face recognition difficulties may be referred by their GP to a clinical neuropsychologist working within the or private practice.
Alternatively, they may be referred to a researcher who specialises in the field and is based at a nearby university.
They will have an assessment involving a range of tests that assess their face recognition ability, among other skills. They may be asked to:
memorise and later recognise a set of faces they have never seen before
recognise very famous faces
spot similarities and differences between faces that are presented next to each other
judge age, gender or emotional expression from a set of faces
If you live within travelling distance of Bournemouth University, the Centre for Face Processing Disorders may be able to offer you a formal testing session and the opportunity to take part in their research.
Can it be treated?
There's no specific treatment for prosopagnosia, although researchers are investigating the cause and working on training programmes designed to help improve facial recognition.
Treatment may focus on the development of compensatory strategies (clues that can be used to recognise people) or attempt to restore more typical face recognition strategies.
Headway has a long list of tips and coping strategies (PDF, 405kb), which have been suggested by people with prosopagnosia. It covers social, observational, memory, preparation and navigation strategies, as well as tips for watching films and TV shows.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1079
|
__label__cc
| 0.525734
| 0.474266
|
APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY WARDENS (ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS)
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation established by an Act of parliament to conserve and manage wildlife in Kenya, and to enforce wildlife –related laws. Section 12 (5) of the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act 2013 provides for the appointment of suitable persons to be honorary wardens for the purpose of assisting the Service in carrying out the provisions of this Act.
ENGAGEMENT OF 5,500 COMMUNITY SCOUTS UNDER THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT POST COVID-19 ECONOMIC STIMULUS PROGRAM
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a State Corporation whose responsibility is to manage and conserve wildlife in Kenya. The Service seeks to engage 5,500 Community Scouts drawn from communities within wildlife areas to assist in wildlife conservation efforts as part of the National Government post COVID-19 economic stimulus program announced vide the Seventh Presidential Address on the coronavirus pandemic on 23rd May, 2020.
Early warning for resolution of human-wildlife-conflict
COMMUNITY SCOUTS APPLICATION FORM
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1082
|
__label__cc
| 0.596214
| 0.403786
|
Personal Insights: Why I am campaigning to save my pen pal from the executioner's chair
Aoibhinn O'Sullivan is a 24-year-old University of Limerick graduate from Laois. In this 'Personal Insights' submission she reveals how she has joined a campaign to save a federal death row inmate - and her pen pal - from the executioner's chair.
24-year-old Aoibhinn O'Sullivan who is campaigning to save Brandon Bernard from executioner's chair. Source: Aoibhin O'Sullivan
Mon, 23 Nov, 2020 - 11:50
BRANDON Bernard is a 40-year-old man who is living on death row and is currently set to be executed on December 10th. Ironically, International Human Right’s Day.
There had been no federal executions in the US since 2003. That changed this year, under Donald Trump’s presidency where executions started up again in July. Brandon unfortunately received his execution date last month and his defence team have been trying to fight it.
Before I begin, I’d like to address the fact that although Brandon is not innocent, his crime did not warrant the death penalty. There are so many facts in this case that can be dismissed so easily by news outlets and headlines that are unfair to Brandon and his case.
I’ve seen so many misinformed comments under articles that claim he’s a murderer or that he deserves to die. This case was not black and white, and when you read the facts and learn about the trial and its misgivings, you will understand just how unfair and unjust Brandon’s sentence was.
Brandon is a good person, he was just a young, naïve 18-year-old kid who was at the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you would like to read and judge for yourself, you can visit the savebrandon.com
for more information on his case. His trial is also available to read on caselaw.findlaw.com. It’s better to educate yourself on the facts before judging.
Limerick woman appeals for support for US pen-pal who faces execution
Many of the surviving jurors on Brandon’s case strongly regret their sentencing and wish they had known more facts and had been more informed before making their decision. Brandon’s trial was full of racial prejudices, horrific misinformation and “leading expert” opinions that have since been debunked.
Brandon was barely 18 when he was sentenced. 18 years old. He was one of the youngest people ever to receive the death penalty. He has been imprisoned ever since.
Brandon has been living on death row for the last 20 years. For more than half of his life, he has spent his time in a 6x8ft cell for up to 22 to 23 hours a day. All he has in his room is a metal bed, a toilet and a shower. Anytime he leaves this small room, he is shackled and escorted by guards.
The only time he goes outside is when (and if) he is permitted to exercise for one hour of the day. He is bought to a cage outside where he plays basketball by himself.
He hasn’t hugged or touched his family in over 20 years.
As they live so far away from where he is imprisoned, they only get to see him once a year, on his birthday. They are separated by a glass partition. They didn’t get to see him this year because of Covid.
I got to know Brandon through a website called Write A Prisoner, where you can write a letter to prisoners all over the United States. I came across Brandon as his bio was so endearing.
He said he was an avid reader and loved books, so I wrote him a letter, introducing myself. I wrote about 500 words, I’d say, not even half a page. A month passed and I got a letter back from him in the post. He had written 8 pages. Front and back.
For someone who has spent most of their life cooped up in a tiny metal room, Brandon has the most positive outlook on life. One time, he wrote to me and said how happy he was because the film on his window had peeled off and he could see the sunlight outside. Usually, the windows in the prison are covered with a white film to prevent prisoners from looking out. Brandon was just happy to be able to finally see the sun.
Federal death row inmate Brandon Bernard. Source: Aoibhin O'Sullivan
It’s hard to care for someone you’ve never met but Brandon makes it easy. He writes pages and pages of meaningful letters; I always look forward to reading his words. He’s thoughtful, kind and insightful. He’s read so many books, he’s learned to play the guitar and to crotchet. He doesn’t define himself by his past, nor does he ignore it. He’s so self-developed and self-aware, his profoundness just seeps through his letters.
Brandon doesn’t deserve to be killed and his defence team are doing everything they can to move him off death row. For those who are worried that Brandon will walk free, that’s not what we’re fighting for. His lawyers want him to be moved to Life without Parole. He would still be imprisoned for the rest of his life, but Brandon would still have a chance at life, he would still have his life. That’s all they are asking for. That Brandon gets a chance to live.
I would like to share an extract from one of Brandon’s letters below that I think sums up his kindness and mindset. We were discussing failure and how to bounce back from it. This is what he said:
“I saw this commercial once and when I saw it, it inspired me to think like the kid in the commercial. It was of this kid by himself on a baseball field. He is pretending to be the greatest hitter of all time. He throws a ball in the air, swings the bat and says ‘I’m the greatest hitter in the world.’
He swings and misses. Strike One. He throws the ball in the air a second time, swings and says ‘I am the greatest hitter in the world.’ He misses again. He does this one more time and he still misses.
Afterwards, he stands silently and looks at the ball and bat. At first, you think he is disappointed but then he says ‘I’m the greatest pitcher in the world.’ The boy didn’t let his dream of being great be ruined, he just changed what he was great in.”
One of Brandon's letters. Source: Aoibhin O'Sullivan
This is why Brandon needs your help. His defence team have set up a website, where people can send a letter to Trump asking him to spare Brandon’s life. They have gotten over 6000 letters already, but they need more.
If you could sign the letter, I would be so grateful. It takes less than a minute, you could help save Brandon’s life. All you have to do is click into the website, scroll down until you get to “Send Letter to Trump”, click into the link and sign your name and email.
Brandon has got less than a month until his execution date and needs all the help he can get. See below for a link to the website and his defence team’s social accounts.
Website: helpsavebrandon.com
Twitter: twitter.com/helpsavebrandon
instagram.com/helpsavebrandon
Personal Insights: From Kinsale to Iran and the human kindness I will never forget
more #Personal Insights articles
Personal Insights: Life will bring ups and downs in 2021 but whatever happens try something new
Personal Insights: A letter from a victim of domestic violence to her abuser
Personal Insights: One young woman's account of living with depression
Renaissance of Reading: Four life-changing journeys into the written word
George Nkencho shooting: The questions that have to be answered
#personal insightsusdeath row
Mother and Baby Homes: one woman's fight for justice
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1083
|
__label__cc
| 0.62596
| 0.37404
|
Sitcoms with a message
The Sitcom Class Wars: The 20th Century, by Ray Starman, The Troy Book Makers, 208 pages, $15.95
In the long history of television, the preferred method of communicating social change is and always has been the sitcom. From the Cold War era, when shows from The Honeymooners to The Goldbergs were used to demonstrate how America was indeed the land of opportunity, to All in the Family and The Jeffersons, programs that conveyed messages of racial and social equality, to contemporary series that deal with issues ranging from homosexuality to divorce, from death to disabilities, from the strength of the American household to the disintegration of the nuclear family, and spanning the economic divide from the wealthiest professionals to the earthiest blue-collar couples, it is the situation comedy that has best dealt with those most serious topics.
This is one constant. The second is that the sitcom thrives on conflict, allowing these opposing viewpoints (whether taken seriously or not) to be aired out, often loudly and with great emotion, but also subtly and with regret. The conflict is often generational, occurring within a family, but it can also be within an office, in a neighborhood, or in the middle of a WWII prisoner-of-war camp. The venue of conflict adds an extra dimension, one of strata, pitting the young and the old, the rich and the poor, the employer and the employee, the conformist and the rebel. It is, one way or another, a class war.
The format of the sitcom is perfect for such discussion: non-threatening, short enough (at 22 minutes) to keep an individual story from becoming too complicated, with a likable individual or family at the center, and leavened with humor to keep from becoming overly proselytizing. This is not to say that dramas have ignored social issues or conflict. The risk inherent, however, was obvious - dramas too easily can wind up as depressing, sanctimonious, prone to very low ratings and very strong pressure from advertisers, or some combination of all four. Is it any wonder, then, that the sitcom has become the lens through which America's class wars are observed?
Which is why a book such as Ray Starman's latest, The Sitcom Class Wars: The 20th Century is such a valuable asset to anyone interested in following the evolution of such discussions. Taking an brief, objective look at sitcoms from the earliest post-World War II era to the present day, The Sitcom Class Wars explains how each of these shows captured the feel of a particular part of American social culture, portraying various aspects of the American experience, and how the class wars of the day played out within the show itself. For example, in The Goldbergs, one of the earliest ethnic sitcoms, we see the glories of assimilation, as a Jewish family struggles (in a gentle, humorous way) with children casting off the old customs in favor of a new, uniquely American way of life. We also see firsthand how life in the city shapes the family (Starman points out that this was one of the first shows to specifically feature an urban, rather than suburban or rural, lifestyle), and how they deal with the new and unique challenges of the post-war era. This gives us a vital understanding of post-war culture, and shows us the blueprint for family sitcoms of the future.
Starman makes some very astute observations as he surveys the sitcom landscape, often giving an additional level of gravitas to shows that today are taken more for nostalgic or sentimental value. He calls Leave It to Beaver "smarter than it looked" in the way it took the two children, Wally and the Beaver, through the maze of adolescence and into the minefield of adult expectations, knowing what was expected of them but not quite understanding why. Lost in the criticism of the show as corny or cute is that the dialogue was often witty and clever. In The Dick Van Dyke Show, Starman illustrates the double-edged sword that was upper-middle class Rob Petrie's life. Rob's next-door neighbor Jerry, a dentist, can afford to lose a patient or two without seriously endangering his practice; Rob, on the other hand, risks being out of work for a week or a year if The Alan Brady Show goes off the air. While the Petries live the upper-middle-class lifestyle, complete with ranch house and mid-furnishings in the suburbs, his position - and their status in that class - is far more vulnerable than some.
By the time we get to The Jeffersons, we see the various American class wars played out in all their messy, glorious variety. There is the racial divide, obviously, with George Jefferson still trying to prove himself after all these years; though he has become a successful businessman, with a home filled with expensive objects meant to send the message that "I've made it," he still carries a chip on his shoulder, still with something to prove to others or himself, without any real ability to appreciate the very objects he's accumulated. He has a son with a completely different outlook on life, a maid who shows him no respect whatsoever, a wife taller (and more level-headed than he is), and for all his success remains, as Starman says, "a stranger in a strange land."
The last entry in Starman's book is The King of Queens, and by that time we've had a full survey of the sitcom landscape, with the various inner conflicts from each show representing America in a microcosm. The good and the bad, the rich and the poor, the successes and the failures; they're all here to see, each one of them telling multiple stories from their own little worlds that unite to present the larger story of the nation as a whole.
This book can be read either from cover to cover, allowing the reader to look at the evolution over time of the class wars and their place in the national discussion, or as a reference guide that can be used to check out your favorite shows or eras. There will be different ways in which one can interpret Starman's examples and theses as well; should you read this book, you might look at it in an entirely different way than I have, and challenge my assertions as to what Starman is trying to say. But however you choose to do it, The Sitcom Class Wars is a book that belongs in your library if you're interested in how the sitcom serves as the mirror that America holds up to itself.
Labels: Books, Review, Sitcoms
Rick29 July 30, 2015 at 7:04 PM
It certainly sounds like an interesting read. IOf course, I always thought LEAVE IT TO BEAVER was a smart, well-written show (the relationship among the kids and between them and the adults was very natural). Does Starman address the urban/country conflict at the root of GREEN ACRES? It was always treated in a warped, funny way (and expanded from THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES)--but it was there for all to see.
Ray Starman July 31, 2015 at 10:46 AM
I do. Besides the eternal country mouse vs city mouse issue, the city slickers, especially Eddie Albert's character bales hay while dressed in a three piece business suit. The sympathetic viewer can chuckle at the urban couple whose ignorance of country ways are paramount. As I said in my book, despite good ratings CBS (the Tiffany network) dropped these shows thinking they had gone too Hee Haw to attract so-called more sophisticated audiences and the sponsors that would appeal to them.
TV you can hold in your hand!
What's on TV? Sunday, July 29, 1962
This week in TV Guide: July 28, 1962
TV Jibe - anything for a better picture
The brilliantly clever, ethically dubious world of...
What's on TV? Tuesday, July 21, 1959
Summer rerun: How The Beverly Hillbillies explains...
What's on TV? Saturday, July 13, 1963
Around the dial: Sinatra, Steed, Benny, Hitch & more!
What PBS really stands for
What's on TV? Tuesday, July 7, 1964
This week in TV Guide: July 4, 1964
The Senator, and the problem with politics as part...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1087
|
__label__wiki
| 0.848015
| 0.848015
|
It was a Thing on TV: An Anthology on Forgotten Television
An anthology podcast about obscure, forgotten, and odd TV shows, commercials, televised events, and almost anyone and anything else that was on television. For the most part, the subjects we cover are from the United States and Canada. We’re just three guys with a love for television.
Episode 11–Pitfall
Pitfall definitely had its ups and downs, and we're not talking just the elevators. Some people might have gotten their earnings while others, including the host, only got the shaft.
It was a Thing on TV on Facebook
It was a Thing on TV on Twitter
It was a Thing on TV on Instagram
It was a Thing on TV on YouTube
Mike's Discord, where you can talk about our show
It was a Thing on TV FAQ
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1088
|
__label__cc
| 0.527668
| 0.472332
|
Movie Review: "The November Man" (2014)
Movie: "The November Man"
Director: Roger Donaldson
Devereaux (Pierce Brosnan) is a retired CIA operative who has just been reactivated by his old friend Hanley (Bill Smitrovich), who is still with the agency. Devereaux is told to extract a woman he was once very close to named Natalia (Mediha Musliovic), who has information as to the whereabouts of a witness to war crimes committed by Arkady Federov (Lazar Ristovski), the lead candidate for the president of Russia. It turns out Devereaux isn't the only one trying to get Natalia: both the CIA, who are unaware of Devereaux's involvement, and the Russians are out to get her as well. Once Devereaux receives the name of the witness, he locates the last person to see her alive, a social worker named Alice (Olga Kurylenko), who may very well be in great danger. As it turns out, this witness may also have information about the involvement of the CIA in these war crimes. In an attempt to get Alice for themselves, the CIA has assigned Mason (Luke Bracey), who was trained by Devereaux, to kill him and obtain Alice for the CIA.
There seems to be a recent trend of older, more mature actors playing ass-kickers lately, and this movie doesn't deviate from that trend. Pierce Brosnan is good in the lead role of Devereaux. He performs his part well and plays a convincing older spy as he has a history with this type of character. He might not have been the best James Bond in the history of Bonds, but being chosen for that role gave Brosnan a much more convincing air about him when playing Devereaux. The same can't be said for his younger counterpart Mason, played by Luke Bracey, who has the stiffness and personality of a tree stump. He might as well have been reading his lines off of a cue card. His facial expression hardly changed throughout the film. Even when someone he cares about is in great danger, he can't bring himself to look even the slightest bit concerned for her safety.
The story itself is rather weak and is full of nonsensical twists that will leave audiences saying WTF instead of leaving them genuinely surprised. There are also a lot of plot holes and unexplained circumstances throughout the film. For example, Devereaux and Alice end up in an apartment to spy on Mason. Devereaux promptly raids the liquor cabinet and begins downing drinks. Moments later, he shows up at Mason's apartment seemingly intoxicated. There are many scenes throughout the movie that beg the question: is Devereaux an alcoholic? If so, why isn't it casually mentioned, and if not, why is he showing drinking many times in the movie? It might not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it seems to be a plot point that obviously made it into the film more than once, and yet never gets explained. Also, how and why did the neighbor's cat keep getting into Mason's abode? Was the neighbor really that desperate for a reason to talk to him? If a cat can get into Mason's apartment when he's supposed to be this intuitive, super-sleuthing CIA badass, maybe he would just, I don't know, naturally WANT to figure out how the hell the cat is getting inside his apartment, where he keeps his top secret CIA information? Maybe these incidents are explained in more detail in the book, but they sure didn't go anywhere during the film, and there are a host of other examples we won't divulge for fear of giving away the ending.
The one thing that pissed me off the most about this movie was how the character of Hanley kept calling one of the female agents interrogating him "Tits," and "Twat," and "Bitch." I usually take these comments in stride and try not to let them bother me, but it was the degrading way in which he called her these names that was disturbing. I feel like every single time she was on screen, he was calling her another name when he didn't even really need to; it was just to show how much of an ass his character was and nothing more. His character's name may as well have been Mel Gibson with that lazy and stereotypical sexist trash talk.
Another quick but unrelated point is that this movie is one that relies heavily on the use of drones, not just for filming, but as part of the plot, too. Many camera shots are obviously taken via drone, and the camera pans on them quite a few times during a car chase early on in the film. It was very noticeable and pretty creepy in a "big brother is watching you" sort of way. Beyond that, there's not really all that much to say about this movie. The story is weak and if you don't mind the ridiculous plot and Luke Bracey's terrible stump acting, there are a lot of cool, mindless action sequences, some decent fight scenes, and a few car chases to keep the audience entertained. It would be worth a cheap ticket price of admission just to sit in a cool, air conditioned theater for almost 2 hours.
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.
One year ago, we were watching: "Closed Circuit"
Posted by Lolo at Saturday, August 30, 2014
Labels: 2010's, action, crime, movie review, thriller, year 2
Mary September 5, 2014 at 8:37 AM
I was totally wondering how that cat kept getting into his apartment! It would have made more sense if their apartments were side by side... like... maybe through the fire escape into his window (but why would he leave his window open). And I felt like those two had zero chemistry anyway. So, I expected zero from this movie but it was still enjoyable to me since I didn't expect anything out of it (I didn't choose this movie, obviously, haha)!
Lolo September 15, 2014 at 4:08 PM
Haha! Sometimes it's the movies we don't pick that we're the most surprised by, but not this one. I also thought that no one in this movie had any chemistry whatsoever. I wonder what's next for Mr. Bond!
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1097
|
__label__cc
| 0.641328
| 0.358672
|
Found in: Blog
Now when you start looking back to the beginning of something, I have found you need to pick a starting point and go forward from there otherwise you can just keep on going. So I have chosen to commence from December 1696,
When on 29 December 1696, Willem de Vlamingh landed on Rottnest Island. He saw giant jarrah, trees, numerous quokkas (a native marsupial), and thinking they were large rats he named the island "rats' nest" (Rattennest in Dutch) because of them.
He afterwards wrote: "I had great pleasure in admiring this island, which is very attractive, and where it seems to me that nature has denied nothing to make it pleasurable beyond all islands I have ever seen, being very well provided for man's well-being, with timber, stone, and lime for building him houses, only lacking ploughmen to fill these fine plains. There is plentiful salt, and the coast is full of fish. Birds make themselves heard with pleasant song in these scented groves. So I believe that of the many people who seek to make themselves happy, there are many who would scorn the fortunes of our country for the choice of this one here, which would seem a paradise on earth".
Hard to believe that it was the negative comments said to have been made by some explorers that did not inspire the interest of the VOC (Dutch East India trading company) in exploring the possibility of settling the area after reading the above note Willem made in his journal.5
Willem De Vlamingh on 5 January 1697 named the river “Swartte Swaane Drift” which translates to the “Black Swan River”
His party of 42 heavily armed men landed at Cottesloe and walked to Fremantle (It could have been Vlamingh’s second in command, Gerritt Collaert who led the party in Willem’s place, history is not really clear on this point but as it has been said “Who would go to Disneyland to sit in the car park”.
Their intention of this group was to capture a Great South Man, whose giant foot and hand prints had been seen on the shore line. They failed their quest and instead named our river, they climbed Buckland Hill and for the first time looked down on a river covered in black Swan’s
Willem was so impressed with the large number of birds he is said to have named the Waters the “Swartte Swaane Drift” after them.
In his exploration of the river it is believed his party ventured up river to the area known now as Point Fraser but decided that from there it was just an estuary and not worth exploring further. On this point Captain James Stirling was to disagree in 1827 he stated that “Limiting the use of the name Swan to the stream, which joining the Sea at the Islands below Fraser’s Point concludes its career as a river”
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1098
|
__label__wiki
| 0.846797
| 0.846797
|
Four Generations of Service
Magrath Funeral Home
| 336 Chelsea St
| East Boston, MA 02128
A United States flag is provided, at no cost, to drape the casket or accompany the urn of a deceased veteran who served honorably in the U. S. Armed Forces. It is furnished to honor the memory of a veteran's military service to his or her country. VA will furnish a burial flag for memorialization for:
A veteran who served during wartime
A veteran who died on active duty after May 27, 1941
A veteran who served after January 31, 1955
A peacetime veteran who was discharged or released before June 27, 1950
Certain persons who served in the organized military forces of the Commonwealth of the Philippines while in service of the U.S. Armed Forces and who died on or after April 25, 1951
Certain former members of the Selected Reserves
Who Is Eligible to Receive the Burial Flag?
Generally, the flag is given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake, after its use during the funeral service. When there is no next-of-kin, VA will furnish the flag to a friend making request for it. For those VA national cemeteries with an Avenue of Flags, families of veterans buried in these national cemeteries may donate the burial flags of their loved ones to be flown on patriotic holidays.
How Can You Apply?
You may apply for the flag by completing VA Form 27-2008, Application for United States Flag for Burial Purposes. You may get a flag at any VA regional office or U.S. Post Office. Generally, the funeral director will help you obtain the flag.
Can a Burial Flag Be Replaced?
The law allows us to issue one flag for a veteran's funeral. We cannot replace it if it is lost, destroyed, or stolen. However, some veterans' organizations or other community groups may be able to help you get another flag.
How Should the Burial Flag Be Displayed?
The proper way to display the flag depends upon whether the casket is open or closed. VA Form 27-2008 provides the correct method for displaying and folding the flag. The burial flag is not suitable for outside display because of its size and fabric. It is made of cotton and can easily be damaged by weather.
For More Information Call Toll-Free at 1-800-827-1000
© 2021 Magrath Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved. Funeral Home website by CFS & TA | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1103
|
__label__wiki
| 0.675288
| 0.675288
|
Ford issues recall on 8,000 F-150 trucks and certain Focus, C-Max cars
Published: Jan. 26, 2017 at 9:02 a.m. ET
Tomi Kilgore
Ford Motor Co. F, -3.34% issued Thursday a safety recall on certain 2016 Ford Focus and C-Max hybrid vehicles, as improper left-hand body apron joints could increase the risk of injury in a frontal crash. The auto maker also issued a safety compliance recall for about 8,000 2017 Ford F-150 trucks, as instrument cluster displays may experience a loss of functionality after startup in cold weather. Regarding the safety recall, Ford said 18 Focus and C-Max cars may have reduced front-end structural integrity. For the safety compliance recall, Ford said the transmission shift position indicator may not light up, which may increase the risk of a crash from unintended vehicle movement. Ford said it was not aware of any fires, accidents or injuries associated with either issue. The stock slipped 0.4% in premarket trade after the company reported fourth-quarter results. It has gained 4.3% over the past 12 months, while rival General Motors Co. shares GM, -3.03% have run up 29% and the S&P 500 SPX, -0.72% has climbed 21%.
Bumble Inc. disclosed Friday that it has filed for an initial public offering, as the Texas-based dating-app maker is looking to go public at a time of strong investor for IPOs and after a strong year for rival Match Group Inc. undefined. Bloomberg had reported last month that Bumble had filed confidentially for an IPO, and was seeking a valuation of $6 billion to $8 billion. Bumble has not yet determined the number of shares it will offering in the IPO, the expected pricing or the number of shares it expects have outstanding after the IPO. The stock is expected to list on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker symbol "BMBL." Goldman Sachs and Citigroup are the lead underwriters. From Jan. 29, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2020, the company recorded a net loss of $84.0 million on revenue of $376.6 million. The company is looking to go public at a time that the Renaissance IPO ETF undefined has run up 23.1% over the past three months while, which Match shares have soared 35.4% and the S&P 500 undefined has gained 8.5%.
Exxon Mobil's stock falls after WSJ report of SEC investigation
Barron's: Welcome to the Roaring ’20s, but Maybe Not for Stocks
Tomi Kilgore is MarketWatch's deputy investing and corporate news editor and is based in New York. You can follow him on Twitter @TomiKilgore.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1104
|
__label__wiki
| 0.722257
| 0.722257
|
Reel 352 Item 5250 17th Armored Infantry Battalion
Author: Marshall, George C.
Dear Mr. Pinkey:
I have your letter of 10 August concerning the letters you have received from boys of the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion showing that it has been reduced to a labor unit.
The duties of all forces in the European Theater were changed from combat to occupation when hostilities ceased and most of the divisions were assigned to areas in Germany to occupy and administer. The 12th Armored Division, of which the 17th Armored Infantry Battalion is still a part, was assigned an area in the vicinity of Stuttgart. Its duties there are essentially the same as those of other divisions stationed in Europe. At the present time the division in scheduled to remain on occupational duty for the remainder of 1945 and return to the United States in early 1946.
It is realized that occupational duties are often very trying on troop morale and that to a large extent the work required is laborious. Every effort is being made to provide entertainment, furloughs, and educational facilities to help in alleviatiing the tedious nature of this duty.
G. C. Marshall
Mr. Addison V. Pinkey
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People
402 Dolphin Street
Baltimore 17, Maryland
Call No. Reel 352 Item 5250
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1105
|
__label__cc
| 0.70748
| 0.29252
|
Original Lithograph "Jour de Printemps" from "Derrière le Miroir," No. 198, 1972
11 x15 inches
Printed by Mourlot for Galerie Maeght, Paris
Certiicate of authentication
Available framed - choose from our custom-made options or contact us for a bespoke service to suit your needs - see our Framing section for full specifications.
Marc Chagall,Un jour de printemps, original, 1972
Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was a Jewish Belorussian-French early Modernist. His whimsical, semi-abstract painting style acted as a precursor to Surrealism. Although Russian, his heart was in Paris, yet as a
Jewish man, during the Second World War, he travelled extensively even taking refuge in New York City with his family. After the war he returned to France where he remained for the rest of his life. Many of his works include his wife and muse Bella with the backdrop of Paris or his hometown, Vitebsk. In his later years Chagall designed stage backdrops for ballets and theatres. He also excelled in the printmaking and mastered the art of staining glass windows. Hailed as 'the godfather of Surrealism' he was also the last surviving Modernist, and is deemed one of
the greatest artists from the early 20th Century.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1107
|
__label__cc
| 0.720266
| 0.279734
|
John Oliver Explains Why He Attacked Mitch McConnell With an Old, Wrinkly Penis
Asawin Suebsaeng
Eric Liebowitz/HBO
On Sunday’s episode of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver and his crew got… graphic.
During one of the segments, Oliver discussed the state of the American political attack ad, and argued that as more money floods into the system, the quality of the ads declines. He said that the only way attack ads could get any worse would be if they were shown on cable TV, which doesn’t have to abide by network content standards. To demonstrate the point, the LWT crew made a pair of fake attack ads for the Kentucky Senate race between Alison Lundergan Grimes and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“For too long, politics in Washington have been dominated by old, white, wrinkled dicks,” the narrator says in the fake anti-McConnell ad. “And no dick is older, whiter, or wrinklier than Mitch McConnell’s.”
And then viewers are treated to a shot of an old, wrinkled penis that is supposed to represent Mitch McConnell.
Try unseeing that. You can’t.
Anyway, I talked to Oliver on Tuesday to get the inside scoop on the humor and the horror that is his show’s old, wrinkly attack ad. Here’s an excerpt of our conversation:
MJ: Whose idea was it, if you recall, and whose penis did you use?
JO: Okay, those are two excellent questions. The first one, I’m not sure, and it might help to just [go with] collective responsibility. I don’t want to go with a sort of “I am Spartacus” moment but I think plausible deniability might be useful at that point. The second is the much more interesting question. And that is that, of course, you do need to cast a penis. And to do that you have to be presented with a selection of penii—I don’t know if that’s the collective term. And so then what you’re looking for—it’s amazing—when you look at then you start judging them for the purpose, because you want something that is funny but not sad. Because, you know, a sad penis does not help the comedy. No, it makes you think about the person the penis is attached to. So really, you just want a representative old man penis. And I’m not sure that sentence…has ever been said out loud before…We got to one that we liked, and the owner of that penis was generous enough to model it for us.
MJ: How did you get to one you liked? Like, what is the process of “getting” penii?
JO: We went through photos. It was basically the penis version of a headshot.
MJ: So this was like models?
JO: Models, basically. And you go through and say, “This one’s good, this one’s good, let’s get down to a short-list. Okay, it’s between these three. Um. I like this one.” And then what you do is you make a decision, you walk out of a room, and you stare out a window and question what the fuck you’re doing with your life…That’s basically how it goes.
MJ: I’m assuming you weren’t in the room when they shot it?
JO: I actually wasn’t because we were having to write…But apparently the man was very happy…I just came back and our editor, she had to live with that footage for a few days, but she did a fantastic job.
MJ: Has she recovered, psychologically?
JO: Yeah, she was very good. She’s called Cori [McKenna], and she actually edited both the commercials…The other commercial was basically a chainsaw massacre in a mine involving a kitten, and I think she found that slightly less alarming to cut together than a sequence of beautiful tracking shots of an old man’s junk.
My full interview with Oliver with be featured on Friday’s episode of the Inquiring Minds podcast, so stay tuned.
Watch: John Oliver and Bill Nye Show Why Cable News Climate “Debates” Are So Ridiculous
“The Simpsons” Producer Responds To Insane Conspiracy Theory That His Show Helped Start the Arab Spring
Watch John Oliver Take on the Death Penalty on “Last Week Tonight”
Jack Abramoff Explains Why His Planned Remake of Jerry Lewis’ Holocaust Clown Film Failed
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1110
|
__label__wiki
| 0.757755
| 0.757755
|
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Watch Online Free
This English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson follows a disgraced journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, as he investigates the disappearance of a weary patriarch’s niece from 40 years ago. He is aided by the pierced, tattooed, punk computer hacker named Lisbeth Salander. As they work together in the investigation, Blomkvist and Salander uncover immense corruption beyond anything they have ever imagined.
Director: David Fincher
Actors: Christopher Plummer, Daniel Craig, Joely Richardson, Robin Wright, Rooney Mara, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff
Country: Norway, Sweden, USA
In a quiet suburban town in the summer of 1958, two recently orphaned sisters are placed in the care of their mentally unstable Aunt Ruth. But Ruth’s depraved sense of…
Genre: Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller
Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him…
A retired thief swears revenge on the lunatic who murdered his brother and partner, while going on the run with the loot they stole.
Batman: Year One
Two men come to Gotham City: Bruce Wayne after years abroad feeding his lifelong obsession for justice and Jim Gordon after being too honest a cop with the wrong people…
Genre: Action, Adventure, Animation, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller
Undercover Blues
When fun-loving American agents Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner are called back from maternity leave for a special assignment in New Orleans, the spy parents decide to skip the sitter…
Two policemen must join forces to take on an international drug- smuggling gang – one, an unorthodox Irish policeman and the other, a straitlaced FBI agent. Sergeant Gerry Boyle is…
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Thriller
Former Special Forces officer, Frank Martin will deliver anything to anyone for the right price, and his no-questions-asked policy puts him in high demand. But when he realizes his latest…
Following the death of his mother, J finds himself living with his estranged family, under the watchful eye of his doting grandmother, Smurf, mother to the Cody boys. J quickly…
A female executive and a night janitor conspire to commit a daring diamond heist from their mutual employer, The London Diamond Corporation.
Country: Luxembourg, UK
A Prayer for the Dying
Jack Higgins’ straightforward thriller about a guilt-ridden IRA bomber forced into “one last job”
The film is a semi-biographical story based on the experiences of former prison guard Ronnie Thompson who spent seven years working in some of the UK’s most dangerous prisons. Based…
A father is without the means to pay for his daughter’s medical treatment. As a last resort, he partners with a greedy co-worker to rob a casino. When things go…
Watch The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Online Free
Trailer: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1111
|
__label__cc
| 0.500955
| 0.499045
|
Contact Sociology
Maxwell / Department of Sociology
mnejatba@syr.edu
Mehdi Nejatbakhsh
Educations & Degrees:
MS, Urban Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2014
BA, Urban Planning, University of Tehran, 2010
Globalization, Cosmopolitanism, National and Cultural Identity, Political Sociology, Immigration and Diaspora, the Middle East and Iran
Mehdi started his PhD in Sociology at Syracuse University in the Fall 2016. Prior to this, he earned a BA in Urban Planning from University of Tehran and a MS in Urban Studies from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His master’s thesis there focused on the effects of Globalization on new generations in terms of Cosmopolitanism. After completing his master’s degree, he also worked for one year voluntarily in a community center in Milwaukee for refugee resettlement. Beside globalization and cosmopolitanism, his current research interests also include (cultural and national) identity, political sociology, immigration and refugees, the Middle East, and Iran.
302 Maxwell Hall
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1112
|
__label__wiki
| 0.780919
| 0.780919
|
MetroLink Work Scheduled April 28 – May 4
Work is scheduled on the MetroLink system Monday through Sunday (April 28 – May 4), and some passengers may experience short delays in the work zones. The affected areas of the MetroLink system are:
• Maplewood-Manchester Station
• Sunnen Station
• Shrewsbury Lansdowne I-44
• Richmond Heights Station
• Brentwood I-64 Station
MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Maplewood-Manchester and Sunnen Stations from 11:30 p.m. until the end of service Monday and Tuesday (April 28-29), as well as from 8 p.m. until the end of service Wednesday and Thursday (April 30-May 1), to accommodate crews conducting track maintenance work.
• Eastbound Blue Line trains will depart the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44, Sunnen and Maplewood-Manchester Stations approximately five minutes earlier than scheduled departure times.
• Red Line service will not be affected.
MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Richmond Heights and Brentwood I-64 Stations from 8 p.m. until the end of service Friday (May 2), and then all day Saturday and Sunday (May 3-4), to accommodate crews conducting MetroLink maintenance work.
• Eastbound Blue Line service may experience up to five minute delays.
Updates on MetroLink operations can be found at www.metrostlouis.org in the Rider Alert section.
The Bi-State Development Agency/Metro (BSDA/Metro) is the operator of the Metro public transportation system for the St. Louis region, which includes the 87 vehicle, 46-mile MetroLink light rail system; 375 MetroBus vehicle fleet that operates on 75 MetroBus routes; and Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 120 vans. BSDA/Metro also owns and operates St. Louis Downtown Airport and its surrounding industrial business park, and the Gateway Arch Riverboats, as well as operates the Gateway Arch Revenue Collections Center, the Gateway Arch Transportation System, and the Gateway Arch Parking Facility.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1117
|
__label__wiki
| 0.939832
| 0.939832
|
MetroLink Work Scheduled September 17-23
Some Blue Line MetroLink trains will leave five minutes earlier than scheduled during the evenings this week and over the weekend, and Red Line and Blue Line MetroLink riders may experience brief delays to allow for work on the light rail system.
On Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (September 17, 19, 20, 21) from 8 p.m. to the end of service and all day on Saturday and Sunday (September 22 & 23), MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Sunnen and Maplewood-Manchester MetroLink Stations to allow crews to perform track maintenance. This work will not affect Red Line service.
Eastbound Blue Line trains will depart 5 minutes early from the Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44, Sunnen and Maplewood-Manchester Stations. Eastbound Blue Line trains will operate on their normal schedule beginning at the Brentwood I-64 MetroLink Station.
Westbound Blue LineMetroLink passengers traveling to the Maplewood-Manchester, Sunnen or Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 Stations may experience delays of 5 minutes.
On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (September 17, 19, 20) from 8 p.m. to the end of service, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Central West End MetroLink Station to accommodate work on the station’s platform extension project, and Blue Line trains will only operate between the Forest Park-DeBaliviere and Shrewsbury-Lansdowne I-44 MetroLink Stations.
Westbound Blue Line passengers will need to board a Red Line train between the Fairview Heights and Central West End MetroLink Stations, and travel to the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station to transfer to a Blue Line train and continue their westbound trips.
Eastbound Blue Line passengers will need to board a Red Line train at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station to continue their eastbound trips.
Red Line MetroLink passengers may experience delays of 5 to 10 minutes.
Passengers should allow 10 minutes when transferring between Red Line and Blue Line
Passengers transferring between MetroLink and MetroBus at the Central West End Station, please allow an extra 10 minutes due to the closure of the walkway.
On Friday (September 21) from 11:30 p.m. to the end of service, MetroLink will operate on a single track at the Central West End MetroLink Station.
Red Line and Blue Line passengers may experience delays of 5 minutes.
Updates on Metro Transit operations can be found at metrostlouis.org in the Rider Alert section, on Twitter at @STLMetro and on Facebook at St. Louis Metro Transit. For more information, contact Metro Transit Information by calling 314-231-2345 or 618-271-2345 or texting 314-207-9786, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Metro riders can also text Metro Transit Public Safety directly at 314-300-0188, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
About Metro Transit
Metro Transit operates the St. Louis region’s public transportation system which includes 400 clean-burning diesel buses that serve 83 MetroBus routes in eastern Missouri and southwestern Illinois. Metro also operates MetroLink light rail vehicles on 46 miles of track serving 38 stations in the two-state area, and operates Metro Call-A-Ride, a paratransit fleet of 122 vans. Metro Transit is one of five enterprises operated by Bi-State Development.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1118
|
__label__wiki
| 0.675358
| 0.675358
|
Joint Ministerial Statement affirming commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation – updated
Home / Trade / COVID-19 and trade / Joint Ministerial Statement affirming commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation – updated
Joint Ministerial Statement affirming commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the CO
Joint Ministerial Statement on action plans to facilitate the flow of goods and services as well as
This updated Joint Ministerial Statement by New Zealand and other countries is current as at 6 July 2020.
A Joint Ministerial Statement affirming commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation was first published on 14 April 2020.
This updated version reflects additional countries that have since supported the statement.
Joint Ministerial Statement by Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Lao People's Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay affirming commitment to ensuring supply chain connectivity amidst the COVID-19 situation.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a serious global crisis. As part of our collective response to combat COVID-19, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Nauru, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay are committed to maintaining open and connected supply chains. We will also work closely to identify and address trade disruptions with ramifications on the flow of necessities.
We recognise that it is in our mutual interest to ensure that trade lines remain open, including via air and sea freight, to facilitate the flow of goods including essential supplies.
We affirm the importance of refraining from the imposition of export controls or tariffs and non-tariff barriers and of removing any existing trade restrictive measures on essential goods, especially medical supplies, at this time.
We are committed to working with all like-minded countries to ensure that trade continues to flow unimpeded, and that critical infrastructure such as our air and seaports remain open to support the viability and integrity of supply chains globally.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei Darussalam, Hon Dato Dr Amin Liew Abdullah
Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Canada, Hon Mary Ng
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chile, Teodoro Ribera
Minister of Commerce, People's Republic of China, Zhong Shan
Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Khemmani Pholsena
Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, The Republic of the Union of Myanmar, ThaungTun
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nauru, Hon Lionel Rouwen Aingimea, President of the Republic of Nauru
Minister for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand, Hon David Parker
Minister for Trade and Industry Singapore, Hon Chan Chun Sing
Minister of Economy, The United Arab Emirates, Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Uruguay, Ernesto Talvi
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1119
|
__label__cc
| 0.621542
| 0.378458
|
Expositions and Exhibitions
Archive of exhibitions
Digitization Studio
About the museumSponsors of exhibitionsProjectsVisitors InformationHow to find the MuseumThe Museum LibraryOffer leasing rooms of the museum
ExpositionsExhibitionsArchive of exhibitions
filme xxx
Events and Exhibitions Nebyl nalezen žádný článek
Petr Hecht - The Jára Cimrman Theatre and Other Photographs / On the eve of the anniversary of this legendary theatre
28 June - 30 September 2016, Vernissage 26 June 2016 at 4pm
The exhibition The Jára Cimrman Theatre and Other Photographs, which bears the distinctive subtitle "On the eve of the anniversary of this legendary theatre", is the first event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Jára Cimrman Theatre which takes place next year. The founding member of the theatre, the well known playwright, screenwriter, author of numerous song lyrics and actor, Zdeněk Svěrák, gave a speech at the vernissage.
The author of the pictures is the photographer Petr Hecht, who worked at this legendary theater for many years as the official photographer and as a stagehand.The photographs capture selected moments from the history of the Jára Cimrman Theatre, its performances and actors. Visitors can also see many props, such as the medical bag of Jára Cimrman, his camera for fog conditions, or small pictures in display cases.
Besides photographs from the Jára Cimrman Theatre, the exhibition also includes a selection of photographs from other theatres and from the author´s other work. Almost all the pictures - there are 73 - are black and white, except for one colour photograph of Ladislav Smoljak.
Petr Hecht and his photography.
Petr Hecht studied photography at the Prague School of Photography, where he later also taught for a few years. He had a number of different professions and in most of them photography was ever present in various forms, be it his own photo studio, the publishing of photographic yearbooks or a camera store. As a member of the Jára Cimrman Theater (from 1997 to 2003) not only had he the possibility of meeting up-close the other members of the company, but as a stagehand he got the hands-on experience of the theatre backstage .Unlike most other theatre photographers he was therefore directly associated with the theater he photographed. As a lover and promoter of classical ,, wet " black and white photography and with the exception of taking colour photographs upon request - he still photographs the action on stage on black and white film. In technically the same way, he creates his series from the natural environment of exterior nature shots in which he often combines a dreaminess which evokes bygone times with contrasts from the present.
Text in Italics: Pavel Scheufler
Činnost Muzea fotografie a moderních
obrazových médií
je realizována s finanční účastí
města Jindřichův Hradec.
The entire premises of the Museum are fully accessible to the physically handicapped.
© 2013 Museum of Photography and Modern Visual Media
All Rights Reserved. Created by inWebio
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1120
|
__label__wiki
| 0.554708
| 0.554708
|
Watching Your Wallet: Thousands of consumer complaints hidden in federal watchdog database
Major financial institutions escape scrutiny and regulation, according to NerdWallet
Hidden Complaints: Thousands of complaints against financial companies not on national database
By Rachel DePompa | March 18, 2019 at 12:57 PM EDT - Updated April 1 at 2:52 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. (InvestigateTV) - A federal watchdog agency that was created to protect consumers is keeping complaints about some banks and financial companies hidden from view.
That agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), does not have jurisdiction over some companies that have generated tens of thousands of complaints, and the public is kept in the dark about those potential problems.
According to findings from InvestigateTV partner NerdWallet, two of those companies escaping scrutiny are Green Dot Corp, which sells prepaid debit cards through more than 100,000 retailers including Walmart and Apple, and Credit One Bank, a leading credit card company.
NerdWallet reporters discovered those two companies are some of the most-complained-about businesses – but those complaints are hidden from the public.
The history of publishing consumer complaints
Looking back, words in 2008 headlines painted a bleak picture: Crisis, disarray, bailout, calamity.
"We were in a really, really bad position,” said Ruth Susswein, the deputy director of national priorities at the advocacy group Consumer Action.
She said, “Foreclosures happening by the tens of thousands… There were so many people who were in so much trouble. They had lost their jobs. They were on the verge of losing their homes.”
Out of the ashes of the Great Recession of 2008 grew an agency meant to protect consumers.
The CFPB was created in 2011 to promote fairness and transparency in financial markets and to protect Americans from financial harm.
“Consumers are right in the top of their name because that's who they're looking out for,” Susswein said.
Susswein’s organization is one of several that fought for the CFPB’s creation.
“You can file a complaint with them, and you will then get a response back from the lender because the CFPB passes that complaint on to the lender,” she said.
The CFPB’s mission is it protects consumers from unfair, deceptive or abusive practices and take enforcement action against financial companies that break the law.
It offers financial advice for anyone looking to get a credit card, mortgage or student loan. The agency also has a one-of-kind database filled with complaints from consumers across the U.S. about financial institutions.
“This is an opportunity for consumers to report to consumers and warn people if there are problems and the CFPB makes it possible for people to access that information,” Susswein said.
Each week thousands of complaints are posted online so consumers can search for a company and see if anyone else is having problems. But thousands are missing.
The CFPB online database allows consumers to search complaints against financial institutions; however, NerdWallet found thousands of complaints are missing from the site.
NerdWallet finds hundreds of thousands of hidden complaints
Over the past 10 years the CFPB has collected roughly a million complaints, but more than 400,000 of them are not on the bureau's public database.
“That means that more than a third of those complaints never made it to the public,” said Brad Wolverton, an investigative reporter for financial website NerdWallet.
Wolverton uncovered the hidden complaints through a records request and shared them with InvestigateTV.
NerdWallet investigative reporter Brad Wolverton talks to InvestigateTV investigative reporter Rachel DePompa about his findings that the CFPB database leaves out thousands of complaints because the bureau does not have jurisdiction over some companies. (Source: InvestigateTV)
“You go to the CFPB site and you search that company, and many times that company doesn't have any complaints. So it looks to you as a consumer, ‘that's a good company. I should do business with them,’” Wolverton said.
InvestigateTV looked into some of the companies that are missing from the CFPB's data, pulling numerous complaints to state attorneys general in Virginia, Missouri, Ohio and Texas.
The hidden complaints InvestigateTV found through the Virginia Attorney General’s Office included one from a man who said he had a credit card opened without his approval. He said when he asked the bank to close it, the bank did not.
One person complained they asked for a $500 credit card and was turned down. But then, they said they got a bill for annual charges.
Another customer in Virginia wrote to the state asking if a problem he had with a bank is common. But Virginia sent that complaint to the CFPB, which did not have jurisdiction, so the complaint is not in the database.
“The CFPB has oversight over only the largest financial institutions,” Wolverton said. “Many of these complaints don't get investigated by the CFPB. They get sent to agencies that don't have the same incentive to investigate.”
The CFPB only regulates companies with more than $10 billion in assets. Wolverton said while some of these financial institutions with hidden complaints do tens of billions of dollars in transactions, they technically don’t fall under the CFPB because their combined assets don’t go over the $10 billion mark.
InvestigateTV examined complaints made to state attorneys general offices. Excerpts show consumer concerns from Virginia. Graphic illustration: InvestigateTV
Looking forward: Add complaints or ditch the database?
“We think all complaints that go to the CFPB should be part of their public database,” Susswein said.
Susswein said whether the CFPB has jurisdiction should not stop the agency from telling consumers about issues.
“This is information the public should have to be able to make wise, informed decisions,” she said.
In Ohio, for example, all complaints sent to the attorney general’s office are public regardless of whether the agency has jurisdiction.
Financial industry executives have long argued that the whole system unfairly shames companies and provides them with inadequate opportunities to respond to consumers.
Former budget director Mick Mulvaney, who was appointed by the president to oversee the CFPB, threatened in 2018 to remove the entire database from public view. There is now a new director who is reviewing the situation and has not publicly announced a decision.
On its site, the CFPB acknowledges it does not post every complaint it gets, but it does say, "Every complaint provides insight into problems that people are experiencing, helping us identify inappropriate practices and allowing us to stop them before they become major issues."
CFPB responds with background information
The CFPB has not responded with answers to specific questions InvestigateTV asked about the database. A spokesperson sent the following response with background information on the bureau.
The Bureau’s Consumer Response annual reports provide more detailed information about the complaints not published on the database. You can access the reports on our website. To give you more context, in some instances the unpublished complaints are about a company or product that is outside the Bureau’s complaint handling authority. In cases where the company, product or market is outside the Bureau’s complaint handling authority, those complaints are referred to the appropriate regulator. For example, where appropriate, the Bureau refers complaints about small banks and credit unions to the appropriate prudential federal regulator. In other cases, the complaint may not be about a consumer financial product or service. For example, a complaint from a consumer about the cost of their phone services by their phone company would be referred to the FTC Sentinel Network, a secure online database operated by the FTC and used by law enforcement agencies worldwide, including the FCC. Our most recent annual report, covering calendar year 2017, provides a product level breakdown of complaints referred to other regulatory agencies.
When a complaint is received, the Bureau sends it to the company for response via a secure, web-based portal. In some cases, the company will notify the Bureau that it does not have a commercial relationship with the consumer. If, after contacting the consumer, the Bureau is unable to locate the correct company, the complaint will be considered incomplete. Companies can also alert the Bureau via administrative response if it receives a complaint that was submitted by an unauthorized third party. Our 2017 annual report, provides more detail on how companies respond to complaints. Also, the Bureau’s publication criteria, which is publicly available, provides more information about what complaints are published in the Bureau’s online database.
The Bureau launched the public database on June 19, 2012 to provide insight into complaints handled by the Bureau since July 21, 2011. All complaints handled by the Bureau, including those sent to other regulators, serve to inform the Bureau in its work to supervise companies, to enforce consumer financial laws, to write better rules and regulations, and to educate and engage consumers.
Copyright 2019 Gray Television Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Rachel DePompa
Investigative reporter
Rachel DePompa is NBC12's On Your Side Investigator. Before joining WWBT in March of 2008 Rachel worked in Roanoke, Bristol and Harrisonburg.
The chill will be on for the weekend as the cold front will be well to our south by sunrise on Saturday. It will be blustery to start the day with winds blowing out of the northwest at 20 mph along with some higher gusts at times. Look for a mixture of sun and clouds throughout the day on Saturday
A North Port senior facility administers the first round of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Published 4h at 5:38 PM
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium teams up with FWC, Zoo Tampa to save 2 manatees
Published 4:20 PM at 4:20 PM
Sheriff: Man set fire to apartments and immediately turned himself in to authorities on scene
Bringing a kid to the Manatee County Fair? MCSO Explorers are providing armbands to help reunite lost children with guardians
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1129
|
__label__wiki
| 0.971094
| 0.971094
|
FILE – In this Wednesday, May 9, 2018 file photo, Hua Qu, the wife of detained Chinese-American Xiyue Wang, poses for a photograph with a portrait of her family in Princeton, N.J. Iran’s foreign minister says a detained Princeton graduate student will be exchanged for an Iranian scientist held by the U.S. Mohammed Javad Zarif made the announcement on Twitter on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. The trade involves graduate student Xiyue Wang and scientist Massoud Soleimani. Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly “infiltrating” the country and sending confidential material abroad. His family and Princeton strongly denied the claims. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Princeton scholar held for three years in Iran on widely criticized espionage charges was freed Saturday as part of a prisoner exchange that saw America release a detained Iranian scientist, a rare diplomatic breakthrough between Tehran and Washington after months of tensions.
The trade on the tarmac of a Swiss airport saw Iranian officials hand over Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang for scientist Massoud Soleimani, who had faced a federal trial in Georgia over charges he violated sanctions by trying to have biological material brought to Iran.
The swap, however, had clear limits. Crushing U.S. sanctions on Iran blocking it from selling crude oil abroad remain in place, part of President Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign imposed following his unilateral withdraw from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers last year. Those sanctions in part fueled the anger seen in nationwide protests last month that Iranian security forces violently put down, unrest that reportedly killed over 200 people.
Meanwhile, Western detainees from the U.S. and elsewhere remain held by Tehran, likely to be used as bargaining chips for future negotiations. At least two American families of detainees, while praising Wang’s release, questioned why their loved ones didn’t come home as well.
Wang’s release had been rumored over recent days. One lawyer involved in his case tweeted out a Bible verse about an angel freeing the apostle Peter just hours before Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif broke the news in his own tweet. He posted pictures of himself with Soleimani at the Zurich airport before quickly whisking him back to Tehran by jet.
Trump shortly after acknowledged Wang was free in a statement from the White House, thanking Switzerland for its help. The Swiss Embassy in Tehran looks out for America’s interests in the country as the U.S. Embassy there has been closed since the 1979 student takeover and 444-day hostage crisis.
“We’re very happy to have our hostage back. The whole Princeton University community is very thrilled and it was a one-on-one hostage swap,” said Trump, speaking to reporters outside the White House before he left on a trip to Florida. “Actually I think it was a great thing for Iran. I think it was great to show that we can do something. It might have been a precursor as to what can be done. But we have our hostage back.’’
Brian Hook, the U.S. special representative for Iran, accompanied the Soleimani to Switzerland to make the exchange. He later posed for a photograph with Wang, who carried a folded American flag in his arms while wearing gray workout clothes.
Hook and Wang traveled to Landstuhl hospital near Ramstein Air Base in Germany where Wang likely will be examined by doctors for several days.
Wang’s wife, Hua Qu, released a statement saying “our family is complete once again.”
“Our son Shaofan and I have waited three long years for this day and it’s hard to express in words how excited we are to be reunited with Xiyue,” she said. “We are thankful to everyone who helped make this happen.”
Soleimani arrived at Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport with Zarif, where his wife and family wrapped garlands of yellow and purple carnations around his neck. He briefly spoke to journalists from state-run media, his voice shaking and a tear running down his face under a portrait of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
“Their grudge against us is based on our scientific growth,” Soleimani said. “They are afraid of our knowledge.”
Wang was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran for allegedly “infiltrating” the country and sending confidential material abroad. Wang was arrested in 2016 while conducting research on the Qajar dynasty that once ruled Iran for his doctorate in late 19th- and early 20th-century Eurasian history, according to Princeton.
Wang’s family and Princeton strongly denied the claims. The United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said “there was no legal basis for the arrest and detention.”
Westerners and Iranian dual nationals with ties to the West often find themselves tried and convicted in closed-door trials, only later to be used as bargaining chips in negotiations.
Soleimani works in stem cell research, hematology and regenerative medicine. He and his lawyers maintained his innocence, saying he seized on a former student’s plans to travel from the U.S. to Iran in September 2016 as a chance to get recombinant proteins used in his research for a fraction of the price he’d pay at home.
Zarif in September said in an interview with NPR that he had pushed for an exchange of Wang for Soleimani. Speaking in Tehran on Saturday night, Zarif referred to Wang as a “spy” who received his release due to “Islamic mercy.”
It remains unclear whether this exchange will have a wider effect on Iranian-U.S. relations. Iran has accused the U.S. without evidence of being behind the mid-November protests over gasoline prices. The demonstrations and the crackdown reportedly killed at least 208 people, though Iran has refused to release nationwide statistics over the unrest.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out direct talks between the nations.
A U.S. official, speaking to journalists on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations with Iran, suggested the maximum pressure campaign targeting Tehran would continue.
“There’s been absolutely no payment of cash or lifting of sanctions or any sort of concessions or ransom in any of these cases, and certainly not with respect to Mr. Wang,” the official said.
There had been signs a swap could be coming. In June, Iran released Nizar Zakka, a U.S. permanent resident from Lebanon who advocated for internet freedom and has done work for the U.S. government. The U.S. then deported Iranian Negar Ghodskani in September, who had been brought from Australia and later sentenced to time served for conspiracy to illegally export restricted technology to Iran.
Others held in Iran include U.S. Navyveteran Michael White, who is serving a 10-year espionage sentence, as well as environmentalist Morad Tahbaz, an Iranian with U.S. and British citizenship also initially sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Also in Iran are 83-year-old Baquer Namazi and his son, Siamak Namazi, dual Iranian-American nationals facing 10-year sentences after they were convicted of collaborating with a hostile power. Baquer Namazi now is on a prison furlough, said Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman at Iran’s mission to the United Nations. However, the Namazis say he remains unable to leave Iran.
Babak Namazi, Baquer’s son and Siamak’s brother, issued a statement saying he was “beyond devastated that a second president” had left the two behind. An earlier 2016 prisoner swap as the nuclear deal took effect saw prisoners including Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian released but not the Namazis.
Former FBI agent Robert Levinson, who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on an unauthorized CIA mission, remains missing as well. Iran says that Levinson is not in the country and that it has no further information about him, but his family holds Tehran responsible for his disappearance.
“We can’t help but be extremely disappointed that, despite all its efforts, the United States government was unable to secure his release, especially after such a painful week for our family,” the Levinson family said in a statement. “Iranian authorities continue to play a cruel game with our father’s life, and with our family. But the world knows the truth, and Iranian leadership must come clean.”
Lee reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Darlene Superville in Washingtonand Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1131
|
__label__wiki
| 0.582695
| 0.582695
|
Resource Library | Article
The Battle of New Orleans
Learn about the people and places key to the Battle of New Orleans, one of the last major battles of the War of 1812.
Geography, Social Studies, U.S. History
The Battle of New Orleans was the final major battle of the War of 1812, fought between the British Empire and the newly formed United States. The battle, which took place on January 8, 1815, featured the British aggressors intent on capturing New Orleans, which they thought would give them control of the vast majority of the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. The battle itself was fought on the grounds of the Chalmette Plantation, roughly 8 kilometers (5 miles) southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Battle of New Orleans is referred to by many historians as the greatest American land victory of the war. American troops, led by future President Andrew Jackson, defeated the much larger British force, which bolstered U.S. hopes for a speedy end to the war.
The battle is also famous for some of the characters involved, including noted French pirate Jean Lafitte who, with his fellow pirates, fought for the U.S. military and even claimed special accolades in the field of artillery.
The importance of Louisiana (especially New Orleans) to the fledgling United States was tantamount to success in the war at large, and the continued growth of the nation. In 1907, the battleground was established as a federal park, which currently resides in Jean Lafitte National Park and Preserve, and acts as a reminder of the importance of the battle that took place there.
Why was keeping New Orleans free of British control so important to the United States?
New Orleans was one of the most important port cities in the U.S. at the time. The city allowed access to the Mississippi River, an important route for both transportation (of both troops and civilians) and shipping. Many strategists during the War of 1812 saw control of the Mississippi River as control of the war itself.
What advantages did the U.S. have over British forces at the battle with regards to the environment?
British forces were unaccustomed to fighting in the swampy, humid climate of the Louisiana bayou. Many U.S. troops, on the other hand, were from the area and found the terrain famillar and relatively easy to navigate.
Why do you think the U.S. government wanted the help of Jean Lafitte during the Battle of New Orleans?
On the surface, a law-breaking pirate seems an odd choice for an ally in battle, but Lafitte and his crew proved to be valuable assets in the fight against the British aggressors. Lafitte and his men had intimate knowledge of the area, as well as skills in the field of artillery. Fueled by a growing distaste for the British after they took over his base of operations on the nearby Barataria Preserve, Lafitte agreed to fight for the U.S.
Lafitte: The Pirate of the Gulf
Cox 4: Battle of New Orleans
Smithsonian: War of 1812
Benjamin Kessler
Sean P. O'Connor
Multicultural Stew
A short article on the current Latinx immigration into New Orleans along with the city's past immigration trends.
Revolutionary War Battles
Map of battles in the 13 colonies
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1132
|
__label__wiki
| 0.535343
| 0.535343
|
“Dow” supports a community in Klong Toey District in building a waste management learning center and hopes to develop it into a zero-waste city.
“Dow” promotes “Koh Klang Community” in Klong Toey District as a model in comprehensive waste management with an emphasis on optimum utilization of resources according to the circular economy principle. A waste sorting system has been set up, areas have been improved, and channels for waste sale have been sought. The project aims to generate income and welfare for the community and will also serve as a learning center for other areas to build upon.
Today (27 November), Dow Thailand Group (Dow) held an opening ceremony of a model learning center for comprehensive waste management in Koh Klang Community in Klong Toey District, Bangkok. The community, located on a small island in the Phra Khanong Canal, is the only “island community” in Bangkok and is ready to welcome community members and interested parties who would like to learn more about waste management and further make use of the knowledge to help prevent waste from ending up in the environment.
Koh Klang Community in Klong Toey District goes back more than 100 years ago. It has a population of 270 living in 58 households. The small island, which is owned by the Crown Property Bureau, has an area of 3 rai in the middle ofthe Phra Khanong Canal. It is currently part of a pilot project for a self-managed community, where the residents lead a self-sufficient life, making their own household items to lower expenses, and are committed to conserving the environment. The comprehensive waste management project was, therefore, launched in the community to generate extra income and increase benefits for the community from selling waste. It is also expected to serve as a learning center where other communities can learn from their experience.
“Dow Thailand Group is committed to creating sustainability in combatting global warming, reducing plastic waste, and encouraging recycling to ensure optimum utilization of resources as per the circular economy framework. The company has joined forces with other organizations and communities with a similar outlook to build this pilot project. We found that Koh Klang is our headquarters’ neighboring community with the residents who want to improve their homes and neighborhood. They also have a strong community leader who places emphasis on waste management at the source and they are also prepared to pass on the knowledge to other communities. This has led to the project’s collaboration and success that we see today,” said Mr. SupojKatetohprakarn, Business Director of Dow Thailand Group.
The project is a collaboration between Dow, Klong Toey District Office, and Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE), an expert in packaging management as the project’s consultant. The community’s waste management is divided into four groups according to the types of waste found in the community, comprising 1. Organic waste management 2. Recycle material management 3. General waste management 4. Hazardous waste management. The different types of waste will either be made into sellable items or delivered to the Klong Toey District Office for proper disposal. Land improvement for the project has been carried out since January 2020.
“Dow has worked with TIPMSE to provide knowledge about comprehensive waste management to the community including organizing workshops on types of plastic, proper plastic waste sorting, and the recycling process as well as setting up a better waste sorting system, improving areas for proper waste sorting, and coordinating with organizations that could purchase the waste and make use of it. Dow is currently in talks to Klong Toey District Office to set up a system for a pick-up of clean stretchy plastic waste that has been sorted for further recycling,” added Mr. Supoj.
Dow has also worked with the community in setting up an accounting system that will ensure thorough distribution of income within the community. The income will be divided into two categories, which are income from waste sales and income from study visits by interested organizations and communities. Innovation in a form of an application called O.K. Recycle will also be used to facilitate the community’s buying prices updates and waste selling and buying data collection.
Mr. SinchaiTiansiri, Director of TIPMSE said “TIPMSE, which is an organization that has been promoting packaging for over 15 years, has seen the potential of Koh Klang Community in becoming an interesting learning center. Not only is it located on an island, but it is also an urban community, where promoting waste management is quite difficult with the limited space and urban people’s relaxed attitudes toward waste sorting. Therefore, anyone who would like to learn from a community with so many limitations but has concretely succeeded in carrying out the project can come to Koh Klang, where Dow and TIPMSE have joined forces with the local authorities in developing the area into another interesting learning center.”
Mr. PrateungwitJaidee, Deputy Director of Klong Toey District Office, said “Waste management has always been conducted in Koh Klang community including waste sorting and recycling though it might not be as comprehensive or systematic. Getting support from Dow Thailand Group is wonderful and helps build upon what the community has always been doing. The Kong Toey District Office is more than happy to support the community and the learning center’s future activities that will benefit other communities and organizations who can come for study visits. The knowledge gained from the visits will be useful in reducing waste at the source and building a zero-waste community.
According to the survey, the types of waste in Koh Klang Community comprises 31 percent organic waste, 41 percent recyclable materials, 27 percent general waste, and 1 percent hazardous waste. With all reusable and recyclable waste sorted out, the amount of waste going to the landfill could be reduced by over four tons from 18 tons in the first phase of the project or more than 20 percent. The organic waste can be used to make biogas, compost, and fermented bio-extracts. The recyclablewaste can be sold for added income. For the general waste, the 3 Rs concept will be applied through encouraging reducing and reusing as well as making crafts or other useful items.
Out of all the community’s wastes, 18 percent is plastic waste, which can be divided into 26 percent non-sellable plastic waste and up to 74 percent sellable recyclable plastic waste. The sellable waste can be a source of income and other welfare programs for the community such as a cremation fund or improvement of the community’s common areas.
For a study visit at Koh Klang Community’s Comprehensive Waste Management Learning Center, please contact KhunJurairat (Eiu) at 089-4269723
More in BizMoves
CP Foods and partners supply food for Myanmar migrant workers
Unicef distributes Covid-19 prevention gear to migrant communities in risky provinces
KBank credit-card holders get a chance at free insurance for Covid-19
Experts to explore global economic landscape at 14th Asian Financial Forum
Four TFG factories become completely solar powered
JLL shuffles to execs as part of growth strategy
Thais come out tops in the region in health and wellness study
CP Foods delivers ready-to-eat meals to 15 hospitals in six ‘red-zone’ provinces
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1133
|
__label__wiki
| 0.988967
| 0.988967
|
So far, the excitement surrounding the film has been an experience in itself.
“The lead-up has been very hectic,” Cooperman said. “I’m looking forward to just being able to sit back and really take in the moment, and enjoy this incredible honor. It’s just incredibly exciting.”
Cooperman noted that she was proud to be representing a small number of female directors in the film industry.
No matter the outcome on Sunday, the filmmakers were satisfied with what’s come to them so far.
“We already made this film that really moved people and affected people,” Cooperman said. “It’s really beyond our wildest dreams what’s already happened.”
“You never known when you work on a film where it’s going to go,” observed Richman. “I try not to think about that stuff. I don’t try to think about the awards. I just try to think about the process of making a film, and making this film was a real joy.”
Email: gray@northjersey.com
© 2021 www.northjersey.com. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1134
|
__label__wiki
| 0.890738
| 0.890738
|
Pod Apps
Back Us
Mourinho banking on in-form forwards to take Reds through testing month
September 22, 2017 by Ed Articles Premier League, Southampton
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t was only Burton. It was only Burton. It was only Burton. Repeat the mantra. In fact, given Nigel Clough’s decision to rest a number of his first choice players on Wednesday, any judgment about Manchester United’s victory over Burton Albion reserves must be taken with some caution. Still, excitement there was, especially with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard all outstanding on the night. The Reds are back! Right?
Yet, United’s positive start to the new season faces a real test over the next four weeks. José Mourinho’s outfit faces six games on the road – and one at home – in a busy month of fixtures and travel. The Portuguese’s side faces Southampton at St Mary’s this weekend, before the long-haul to Moscow to meet with CSKA on Wednesday in the Champions League. The seven-match sequence concludes with United’s League Cup trip to Swansea City in late October.
“It is difficult, but it means it’s going to be easier later,” said Mourinho on Friday. “If we play now, CSKA in Moscow and Benfica in Lisbon, it means, later, we are going to play them at Old Trafford. If we have consecutive matches away at Liverpool and Huddersfield it means later we will play them at Old Trafford, so I’m never too worried about matches home and away because the number of matches is going to be the same.
[blockquote who=”” cite=””]United’s positive start to the new season faces a real test over the next four weeks. Mourinho’s outfit faces six games on the road in a busy month of fixtures and travel.[/blockquote]
“I know it’s difficult to play at home, but it’s difficult to play away – probably a bit more difficult to play away but, if we cannot win, we try to get a point. We go to win every match but, if it’s not possible to win all the time, we get points, and then try to compensate with good form at home.”
Mourinho’s team will be without talisman Paul Pogba throughout that time, and while the Frenchman’s absence will surely be felt over the next few weeks, Mourinho can bask in the glow of a vibrant forward line. For much of last season United struggled to score goals, even if the chance-creation data pointed to a profligate side, rather than one lacking in creativity. That is no longer so; Mourinho’s team is both creating and taking plenty of chances. It is why some bookmakers now make the Reds favourites to win this season’s Premier League.
Indeed, while United beat Championship strugglers Burton during Wednesday’s 4-1 League Cup win, it was still a night of electric attacking play that has rarely been seen at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. Rashford, Martial and Lingard, in particular, connected repeatedly, providing the kind of slick attacking play absence for much of last season.
The Frenchman’s performance and goal may have been the most satisfying though. The former Monaco forward has started just twice so far this season, but his fourth goal of the campaign is evidence enough of rapidly improving form.
Rashford’s double means that it will be hard for Mourinho to continue the job-share arrangement he has set up between the two youngsters this season. It would be unfair on Juan Mata, who was excellent in United’s victory over Everton last weekend, but just how long can Mourinho hold back two immensely talented attacking players?
Martial’s improvement in down to confidence and happiness, says his manager.
“I see a great improvement in the person,” added Mourinho. “In his mood, in his face, in his body language. If you want one word: happiness. I am very pleased with his attitude overall, which means it’s easier for him to play well.
“He’s a happy guy, he’s working extremely well. If he starts matches, he tries to do well and if he goes on from the bench, even if it is for just 10 minutes, he tries to enjoy it and to give something extra in his time on the pitch.”
With Pogba’s leadership and drive missing during the coming difficult run it might just be United’s in-form forwards that carry the load.
New Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has presided over a mixed start to the new campaign. Although the Saints have lost just once in the Premier League, defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the League Cup and a difficult pre-season, has meant a challenging start to life in England for Argentinian Pellegrino.
The start to the campaign was dominated by talk of Virgil van Dijk’s future at the club. The defender was the subject of protracted – and illegal – interest from Liverpool over the summer. With the player’s focus elsewhere and a long-term injury hampering his fitness, van Dijk is yet to start a game this season, although the former Celtic player made the bench last weekend.
“Every single week Virgil is getting better,” Pellegrino said on Thursday. “After a long period of time without playing a game, now he is training well and that is good news for us because we need Virgil like every single player in our squad. Every single week he will improve, but at the same time he needs to train and to play.
“But the structure of the defence doesn’t change too much when you change one player. Our defensive level is not just about the back four or one centre-back. I believe in the collective, to be together when we attack and defend. We have to be 100 per cent focused against United.”
Former international Pellegrino once played for Liverpool, having featured 12 times for the club in the 2005 season. It is a fact that is unlikely to be lost on United’s legion of travelling supporters.
“This is part of my history as a player and as a first coach with Rafa Benitez in Liverpool,” said Pellegrino. “But for me my challenge is to try to prepare my team as best as possible to try to win the game. I don’t have any relationship with Liverpool.”
Mourinho is unlikely to make many changes from the side that beat Everton last weekend. Phil Jones and Eric Bailly enjoyed a midweek rest and should return to the side, while Mourinho is likely to pick the more attack-minded Daley Blind at left-back ahead of Matteo Darmian or winger-turned-defender Ashley Young. Luke Shaw made his competitive return against Burton, but is unlikely to feature at the weekend as he builds up his fitness.
In midfield Marouane Fellaini’s improved form means that Ander Herrera will again start on the bench, with his fellow Spaniard Mata fighting against Martial and Rashford for one place in the team. Romelu Lukaku returns up front having enjoyed a midweek rest.
Pellegrino may welcome van Dijk back into the side for the first time since January, with the player having returned to competitive action as a substitute last weekend. The Dutchman played for Southampton’s under-23 side on Monday. Matt Targett has an ankle injury and misses out.
Referee: Craig Pawson
Assistants: Ian Hussin, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Mike Jones
Southampton 1-2 United
2004-2019 © No Question About That
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1136
|
__label__wiki
| 0.598873
| 0.598873
|
« ~ from the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center, by Dennis Apel
Two French anti-nuclear activists arrested on Hiroshima Day »
What Makes a Hate Group?
Kathy Kelly & Brian Terrell
by Brian Terrell
“As a matter of fact, you have had a person attend your protests in Camp Douglas who has threatened to kill our Deputies.” This piece of startling news was revealed to me in a letter from Juneau County, Wisconsin, Undersheriff Craig Stuchlik dated July 25.
I had written to the sheriff’s department requesting documents under the Open Records Law and for an explanation of the department’s response to a demonstration at Volk Field, a Wisconsin Air National Guard base near the town of Camp Douglas, where my colleague at Voices for Creative Nonviolence Kathy Kelly and I had been arrested on February 23, carrying a loaf of bread and a letter for the base commander. There is a facility at this base where military personnel are trained in the operation of remotely controlled Shadow Drones that have been instrumental in the targeted assassination program that legal experts label war crimes and that military experts say recruit more enemies for our country than they kill.
Undersheriff Stuchlik put this purported threat into a broader context that suggests that the sheriff’s department views Voices for Creative Nonviolence and the Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars that organizes these demonstrations as hate groups: “Law Enforcement Officers are being targeted in the United States by hate groups because they stand for law and order. Law Enforcement Officers are being executed by these hate groups at an alarming rate and it does not appear to be slowing down.”
One of my specific requests had concerned the department’s practice of singling out of protesters’ vehicles for scrutiny and frivolous citations. Stuchlik admitted that on February 23, deputies “ran” the license plate numbers of “all vehicles… that appeared to be involved in the protest,” even when parked legally. “When Deputies respond to such incidents, we need to know who we are dealing with,” said Stuchlik. “Thus the reason that we run license numbers. As I mentioned before, you have had a party attend your protests who has openly threatened to kill us.”
My letter asked for explanations of other police responses to protests at Volk Field. Although police reports confirm that Kathy and I were arrested on open land and out of sight of any residence, the complaint that deputies swore against us in District Court fraudulently alleged that we had “entered the dwelling of Volk Field” and charged us with the crime of “trespass to a dwelling”. (“Dwelling” is defined in the Wisconsin trespass statute as “a structure or that part of a structure intended to be used as a home , residence or sleeping place by one or two or more persons.”) We were also charged with “disorderly conduct”, even though we had no more engaged in the “violent, abusive, indecent, profane, boisterous, unreasonably loud or otherwise disorderly conduct” that this second charge is supposed to cover than we had broken into anyone’s house for the purpose of causing a disturbance. These phony charges were soon dropped, but not before Kathy and I were held overnight in the Juneau County Jail on $350 bonds. The county’s “trespass to land” forfeiture ordinance that we were eventually cited for is not a criminal offense. Had the sheriff’s department charged us properly on February 23, they would have not been able to take us to jail but could only have written us tickets at the site and let us go on our way.
On the day of our protest, Juneau County Sheriff Brent Oleson made a statement to the media: “Certainly anybody who wants to make a statement and protest an issue, I don’t have a problem with that, but in doing so, they can’t affect the rights of other individuals and that’s what these individuals seem to do,” he told a reporter for the local paper. “They’ll protest peacefully on the side and then after a period of time they impede traffic and basically interfere with the rights of others and that’s not going to be tolerated… I would hope the punishments get harsher, but that remains to be seen.” My Open Records Law request sought documentation of Sheriff Oleson’s allegation, but Undersheriff Stuchlik’s letter confirmed that the sheriff’s department has no record indicating that protestors at Volk Field impeded traffic or interfered with the rights of others on February 23 or at any other time.
An appeal from the Coalition to meet with members of the Sheriff’s Department to discuss the threats made against them has not been answered. On August 2, Undersheriff Stuchlik denied another Open Records Law request from me for information on the threat, “Because it is an ongoing investigation, the information in the investigation is not open to the public at this time. In order to protect the rights of the person that is being investigated, we cannot release their name.” While other protestors who have attempted to enter the base peacefully with a loaf of bread have been jailed, the one who “has openly threatened to kill” deputies at the demonstrations might get off scot-free. As Stuchlik explains, “At the conclusion of this investigation, either the case will be closed or sent to the District Attorney’s Office for possible charges… Because we are Law Enforcement, we have been threatened in the past and I am sure we will be threatened in the future. The threats come with the job.”
On August 19, when I finally got to trial on the reduced charge of “trespass to land,” (Kathy declined to contest the forfeiture) the whole thing took less than twenty minutes. District Attorney Mike Solovey had subpoenaed three county sheriff’s deputies and a representative from Volk Field security to testify against me, but only one of the deputies, my own arresting officer Robb Pfaff, showed up along with Air Force Sergeant Scott Glass. The DA told my arresting officer he was not needed and sent him away, so Sergeant Glass was the only witness to testify. To say the least, it is an unusual trial where no arresting police officer is called to the stand, especially considering that one had been present and ready.
In the narrow parameters the court allowed, the case was open and shut. Sergeant Glass testified that he asked me to leave base property and I did not. Under my cross examination, however, he admitted that Kathy Kelly and I did not disrupt traffic as we attempted to bring our bread and a letter to the commander. Each of the deputies who had been subpoenaed had signed statements that Sergeant Glass had told them that our actions had disrupted traffic. Two of them had sworn declarations that they had witnessed this disruption themselves. Since none of them took the stand, these discrepancy could not be challenged. Sergeant Glass’ testimony was reasonable and truthful, contradicting both Sheriff Oleson’s false statements to the press and his deputies’ bogus reports made on the day of our arrest. The DA evidently did not want to leave the sheriff’s deputies’ obvious perjuries exposed to my examination.
In my closing statement to the court, I noted that the strange strategy of keeping the police off the stand is an obvious cover for gross misconduct by the sheriff’s department and that, considering the paucity of evidence presented at trial I should be found not guilty. Judge Paul Curran, quite annoyed, snapped that I was on trial for trespass to land only, and not to any other crime the police previously alleged. He found me guilty and gave me a fine of $223. I pointed out to Judge Curran that the law requires him to allow me allocution, to make a statement before passing sentence, and that I expected to be heard. With this Judge Curran lost his temper and said that if I regretted the closing statement he had already “allowed” me to make at trial, it was too late now to take it back. The experience of drone protestors with Judge Curran is that he has his little way of abruptly ending hearings and storming out of the courtroom after making such absurd, dramatic and puzzling non sequiturs as this.
For more than four years, members of the Wisconsin Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars have sponsored a monthly vigil at Volk Field. They have made many unsuccessful attempts to voice their concerns to officials at Volk Field and letters mailed to the base commander have gone unanswered. On at least three previous occasions when vigilers have attempted to walk onto the base and hand deliver their messages, base personnel have halted them in public space before they ever reached the base’s front gate. On these occasions, Juneau County sheriff’s deputies have arrested these protestors and transported them to the county jail on trumped up charges that have always been dismissed. Many good women and men have patiently endured the harassment of Sheriff Oleson’s deputies and the derision and condescension of Judge Curran’s court.
Those attending protests at Volk Field include local activists and others from around the country. Among those arrested there have been at least one attorney, members of the clergy, several academics, healthcare professionals and Catholic Workers. Many of these are grandparents and none has ever been accused of a crime of violence. There are no gentler and kinder people to be found anywhere. Undersheriff Stuchlik’s contention that any one of us would be targeting officers for execution is absurd on many levels, not the least because our protests at Volk Field are witness against targeted assassinations in the first place. We oppose killing, threats of killing, and violence against anyone, anywhere, for any purpose or justification whatsoever. Undersheriff Stuchlik says that “the threats come with the job,” but the protesters at Volk Field disagree and do not accept that anyone should be targeted or threatened for extermination because of the color of their skin, the country they live in, their religion or the uniform they wear.
Undersheriff Stuchlik’s terrifying contention that “Officers are being targeted at an alarming rate” is contradicted by statistics from the National Police Officers Memorial Fund that indicate that killings of police officers have declined over the past twenty years. As for the “hate groups” that are executing police officers, it might be noted, too, that Micah Xavier Johnson who recently murdered five Dallas police officers was an Army Reservist and a veteran of the senseless violence in Afghanistan and Gavin Eugene Long, who killed three officers in Baton Rouge, was a former Marine who had participated in the destruction of Iraq. It is the protestors that Undersheriff Stuchlik chooses to slander who are constructively addressing the roots of the violence against police officers that he decries.
The actions of the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department show a disturbing pattern that is reminiscent of the chilling effects of McCarthyism in the 1950s and the COINTELPRO activities of the FBI in the 1960s. In some cases these corrupt practices were effective in silencing crucial voices of reason and sometimes they crushed whole movements. The appearance that the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department is likewise deliberately conspiring to discourage citizens from exercising their constitutionally protected rights to peaceably assemble for the redress of grievances cannot be discounted.
Malfeasance by the police and the courts, as they protect the criminals and the twist laws to jail and malign those who cannot abide the killing going on in their names, is not an aberration. It is not limited to the treatment of a handful of white middle-aged people in one rural Wisconsin county by uninformed and frightened small town cops and judges. Black Lives Matter has been vilified as a hate group by higher authorities than Undersheriff Stuchlik. Prosecutors, politicians and police have over filled the nation’s jails with poor and Black people by manipulating charges.
In North Dakota, Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier is engaging in a similar “psyops” (psychological operations) campaign as his Juneau County counterparts by making unsubstantiated accusations regarding the indigenous people gathered nonviolently at Standing Rock to oppose the Bakken pipeline. These include making public “reports of uh, weapons, of uh, pipebombs, of some shots fired, of vandalism happening in that area, and uh, assaults on private security.” In both places false accusations are used to justify oppressive, disproportionate and even illegal police responses to peaceful protests. Planting suspicions, even if they were not blatant fabrications, that we have among us those who would so violate the spirit and purpose of our organizations as to threaten violence without identifying that person to us is an attack on our communities.
Such misconduct by police only escalates the likelihood of violence, just as the drone attacks by United States military escalate the violence in the many nations where they are used. The ignorance and fear that seems to inform the actions of the Juneau County Sheriff’s Department is not so different from that which impels our nation’s foreign policy and what drives the prison industrial complex here at home.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, long ago noted that the violence in American streets is a direct and inevitable result of the violence of our county’s wars. The racial profiling that results in the killings of unarmed Black citizens, even children, by police in American streets is the domestic expression of the “patterns of behavior” surveilled by Shadow Drones that trigger the “signature strike” executions of people of color in the wars abroad. The violence in our streets is the war coming home and running the license plates of law abiding citizens will not make Juneau County Sheriff’s deputies any safer so long as those wars rage on.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1138
|
__label__wiki
| 0.864611
| 0.864611
|
Virtual Explorations
GPS Coordinates to the park: 45.5201049, -123.9527877. Approximate coordinates to the Bayocean townsite: 45.528059, -123.9519792
EXPERIENCE > YOUTH ACTIVITIES > LIFE IN RUINS > BAYOCEAN
Not every third grader has the chance to spend a day searching for a lost city on the North Oregon Coast. But for students in Carrie Lee’s class at South Prairie Elementary School in Tillamook, this foray into Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and inquiry-based learning is part of a larger multi-year project to uncover one of the state’s least known historical sites.
“I knew about Bayocean, I knew that this was here and I thought, gosh, nobody in the community really knows about this place,” Carrie told the Network when we visited her class at work in May 2015. “We need to foster that love of what used to be here. People come out for the beach but they have no idea there was this huge city here.”
The Town That Fell Into the Sea:
The story of Bayocean is one of big dreams and poor planning. The sandy spit on which the town was located sat between the Pacific Ocean and the Tillamook Bay. Although the location offered extraordinary views and plenty of beachfront property, coastal weather, grinding tides and the persistent forces of natural erosion doomed the community from its first days. After only five decades, Bayocean was all but abandoned and more and more of its infrastructure collapsed into the waves. Once the last resident had left, the Army Corps of Engineers demolished the remaining buildings to keep them from becoming hazards to visitors and then covered the streets and foundations with ten feet (3 meters) of sand dredged from the bay. As nature reclaimed the site, the memory of Bayocean slipped into history. Today, visitors to the Bayocean Peninsula Park would be hard pressed to find any signs that a community of hundreds of people once existed on the narrow strip of sand.
But Carrie and her students hope to change all that.
“I’m in the Oregon Coast STEM Center program and the previous year I did a program on ocean acidification so I already had a great love for the ocean,” she explained. “When I was thinking about a new project for my kids, I immediately thought about doing something at Bayocean. I thought, you know, third graders can do that… and they really took off with it!”
Bayocean: Lost to the Sea: A group of third graders and their teachers attempt to solve an Oregon Coast mystery — what happened to the missing town of Bayocean?
Beginning in 2014, Carrie and her colleague Clair Thomas, Tillamook High School’s Natural Resources Coordinator, organized her students to research, locate and mark the major sites of the lost city. Working with historical documents obtained from the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, the students were trained on the use of compasses and the global positioning system (GPS) to chart where buildings once stood, even though all signs of foundations were destroyed or hidden under deep sand and thick vegetation.
“We also had to determine how the shoreline of the spit had changed,” said Carrie. “After nearly one hundred years, the ocean had dramatically reshaped the land. For example, we found that Bayocean’s pier was now located in the middle of the land because so much sand had been deposited on the east side of the spit since the 1920s and 30s.”
Over the last few years, Carrie’s students have helped establish trails, erect historical markers and research the people and places of Bayocean. In May 2016, the team hopes to begin placing educational kiosks at all the major sites, including the luxury hotel, the natatorium and the general store. The students were responsible for researching and writing the interpretive materials for the kiosks. To help publicize their work, they also set up a Facebook group called Remembering Bayocean Oregon.
These exercises are not only teaching Carrie’s students about their local history (and sometimes their own family history), but also about the natural forces which are constantly reshaping the Oregon coast. As climate change impacts the area, there are also lessons to be learned from the past about where and how to live in coastal areas to minimize property damage and lessen impacts on wild species.
“Understanding Bayocean is about learning from our mistakes, it’s about understanding and respecting nature,” said Carrie. “This isn’t just a lesson about the past. It’s a lesson for the future and how we need to respect and cherish our natural places.”
About Oceanscape
The Oregon Coast Aquarium's Oceanscape Network is an educational program for youth designed to inspire curiosity in science, nature, conservation and outdoor exploration while providing valuable classroom resources for educators. MORE.
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads
Site Updates | For Educators | For Youth | Translate This Website | Contact Form | Privacy Policy | Conditions of Use | Website Accessibility
Finding the Aquarium
2820 SE Ferry Slip Road, Newport, Oregon 97365
(541) 867-3474 | oceanscape@aquarium.org
Oceanscape Network copyright © 2019-2020 by the Oregon Coast Aquarium. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1141
|
__label__cc
| 0.519923
| 0.480077
|
© Ohmymag Photo credit for all images on this site (except where noted): © iStockphoto.
Coronavirus: Should We Add Hearing Loss to the List of Symptoms?
We all know the coronavirus can cause a loss of taste and smell, but is hearing loss also a symptom of COVID-19?
As the epidemic tore across the world, giving those infected a fever, headaches and trouble breathing, new symptoms started to appear, such as a loss of taste and smell. Now, a new, although rare symptom may be added to the list.
The alert was issued in the medical journal BMJ Case Reports, where the "first case" of sudden, complete hearing loss linked to COVID-19was reported. As a result, hearing loss has been added to the long list of symptoms associated with the virus.
Despite plenty of published research on sudden onset hearing loss, only a handful of other cases associated with COVID-19 have been reported, and none in the UK—until now.
British scientists elaborated on this case in the journal. According to them, screenings for hearing loss should be performed routinely in hospitals, including intensive care units. That would make it easier to take care of and cure with the help of steroids.
45-year-old man with COVID-19 develops sudden hearing loss
Scientists established a link between coronavirus and hearing loss after observing the case of a patient who suffers from asthma and caught the virus.
The 45-year-old man had been hospitalized after being infected with COVID-19. The patient was put on respiratory assistance and was cleared to leave the intensive care unit after a few days. However, a couple of days later, the man reported a high-pitched ringing in his left ear (a sign of tinnitus), followed by complete hearing loss.
An examination of the patient showed no evidence of what might have caused him to lose his hearing. His ear canals were not blocked or inflamed, and his eardrums were intact. So far, the man has only partially recovered after being treated with corticosteroids.
Can the virus be found in our ears?
Scientists have no doubt that SARS-CoV-2 can be found in the cells that line our ears, which (in rare cases) can cause hearing loss. In fact, the virus causes inflammation, which might explain this new symptom.
As a reminder, every year, 5 to 160 people lose their hearing for a variety reasons, such as a clogged blood vessel or a viral infection like the flu or herpes. The scientists' findings have yet to be confirmed on a larger scale.
By Nancy Youm on December 28, 2020 at 4:00 PM
newsukcoronavirus
UK Ban on Gay Men Donating Blood to Be Lifted
The UK Has the Highest Per Capita Infection Rate in the World
Full List Shows Which Areas of England Are Seeing a Rise in Coronavirus Cases
An Open Letter Urges Government's Worldwide to Use Vitamin D as Part of COVID...
Lidl customers are ignoring health codes and store rules and could end up infecting...
Viewers Distracted by Boris Johnson’s Hair During Public Address: ‘Has He Been...
Things you should do if you think you have Coronavirus
The unexpected impact of Coronavirus on sexuality
Coronavirus: the loss of the senses of taste and smell are two new symptoms
Blocked Nose, Cough, Loss Of Taste: Coronavirus Symptoms Can Differ Depending On Your Age And Gender
Get the latest and greatest from Ohmymag in your inbox daily.
Follow Ohmymag on Facebook
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1142
|
__label__wiki
| 0.534588
| 0.534588
|
Docs: Robert Indiana had $13M in bank as house crumbled
FILE – In this Sept. 24, 2013, file photo, artist Robert Indiana, known for his LOVE artwork, poses in front of that painting at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art. Court documents indicate pop artist Robert Indiana had $13 million in the bank even as his house sank into disrepair before his death. Documents filed Wednesday, August 14, 2019 by Indiana’s estate alleged his aide, Jamie Thomas, was not a selfless caregiver. (AP Photo/Lauren Casselberry, File)
ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — Pop artist Robert Indiana had $13 million in the bank even as his house sank into disrepair before his death, with pigeons living in the roof, water damaging books, rotting wood and the stench of cat urine, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
Documents filed by Indiana’s estate allege that aide Jamie Thomas was not a selfless caregiver, contending he “improperly lined his pockets,” claimed as gifts more than 100 of Indiana’s works, and allowed Indiana to live in “squalor and filth.”
Indiana, whose “LOVE” series is instantly recognizable worldwide, died at his home on Vinalhaven Island on May 19, 2018. He was 89.
The documents, filed in Superior Court, accuse Thomas of violating his duties to Indiana. “By the time of Indiana’s death, the home where Indiana lived to the end of his days with millions of dollars of artwork was littered with animal feces and urine,” a document said.
In the end, it took more than 1,000 hours of cleanup and the disposal of 8.6 tons of ruined, waterlogged paper to get the home in order, the document said.
The documents were in response to Thomas’ lawsuit seeking $2 million for legal fees. Thomas and the estate are being sued by a company that held the copyright for Indiana’s “LOVE.” There was no immediate comment from Thomas’ attorney.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1143
|
__label__wiki
| 0.625168
| 0.625168
|
Artistic Committee
Christos Lenoutsos, founder
Christos Lenoutsos was born in Larisa. He obtained his Diploma in Piano with distinction from the class of Ariadne Kalliazi at the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa, where he also studied Music Theory with Yannis Tsanakas.
He continued his studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz, on the piano concert part, with Doris Wolf-Blumauer & Elza Kolodin. He graduated with the title "Magister der Künste" (Master of Arts). During his studies, he was honored by the Academy of Athens with the "Helen Mykoniou "Prize, and has received scholarships from the "Gina Bachaouer" Foundation, the Public Benefit Foundation "Alexander S. Onassis" and the Ministry of Science and Research of Austria.
He actively participated in master courses with Lazar Berman, Katerina Polyzoidou - Sourvali, Lev Vlassenko, Rudolf Kehrer, Bernard Ringeissen, Patrick Cohen and Malcolm Bilson.
His artistic activities include numerous solo recitals and chamber music concerts in Greece and Austria. He has performed as soloist with orchestras in Romania, Serbia and Greece. He is also a member of the Piandaemonium ensemble (6 pianos-12 pianists) and the founder and artistic
director of the music festival Mousikotropo, of the Municipal Conservatory of Larissa (Greece). He teaches piano at the Municipal Conservatory of Larisa. He also taught piano for 13 years at the Department of Music Science and Art, University of Macedonia.
Dimitri Papageorgiou, artistic co-director
Papageorgiou’s music presents a continuous negotiation of the distinction between the self and the other and the fluidity of their relationship (where does the similarity ends between two different entities and where does the difference start?). The core of his work revolves around specific themes: time, identity/similarity/difference, repetition, memory, and order — the fragility of order in the creative process. Papageorgiou perceives the concept of memory - the way we consider the past - not as faithful reconstitution driven by nostalgia, but from the point of view of its creative dimension, that is, as a constantly updated reconstruction of the past from the point of view of the present and through a process of constant reformulation: the workings of memory as a compositional metaphor. All musical ideas are imperfect and vulnerable, ephemeral and distorted. They are constantly in a state of flux and under constant revision.
His works have been aired several times by the in Germany, Austria, Greece, and several U.S. Radio Stations. He has appeared in festivals, conferences, and concerts in almost 40
different cities in Europe, U.S.A. and Asia and in countries such as Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, France, Spain, Finland, Russia, Greece, Cyprus, Serbia, Croatia, Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Hong Kong, and several States of the U.S.A. (NY, IL, CA, FL, MI, IA, OH, GA, etc). He has worked together with ensembles such as Klangforum Vienna, Oerknal, Interface, Zeitfluss, Airborne Extended, Il Suono Giallo, dissonart, Etcetera, UMS & JIP, Trio IAMA, duo Goliardi, trio Artresonanz, Thessaloniki State Orchestra, Athens Radio Symphony Orchestra, etc. He has received commissions by several institutions — such as the Delian Academy with the support of Siemens Music Foundation, Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics of the University of Music and Drama at Graz, Austrian National Radio (ÖRF) and Literature Forum Graz, Kultur Zentrum bei den Minoriten Graz, SCI/ASCAP (U.S.A.), Thessaloniki Concert Hall, Il Suono Contemporary Music Week, Yarava Music Group (Tehran, Iran) — and performers and ensembles — such as Dimitri Polisoidis (violist of the ensemble Klangforum, Austria), Ensemble Interface (Germany), Zeitfluss Ensemble (Austria), UMS & JIP (Switzerland), Trio IAMA (Greece), Ensemble Etcetera (USA), duo Goliardi (Greece), etc.
He has served as guest composer at the University of Iowa School of Music, the University of Nevada at Reno, the University of Music, Drama and Media at Hanover, Bilgi University of Istanbul, and the University of Tehran. He is a faculty member at the Delian Academy for New Music, an international summer academy for composers and sound artists, which is curated under the auspices of Georges Aperghis and is located on the island of Mykonos, Greece.
Currently an associate professor of composition, he was appointed at the Department of Music Studies of the Aristotle University of Thessaloni in 2007. He majored in composition with Hermann Markus Pres sl and Andrej Dobrowolski at the University of Music and Drama at Graz, Austria. From 1998-2002 he held a Presidential Fellowship of the University of Iowa, U.S.A., for a Ph.D. in composition with Donald Martin Jenni, Jeremy Dale Roberts, and David Karl Gompper.
Orestis Toufektsis, University of Music and Drama Graz
Orestis Toufektsis (Austria/Greece) was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. From 1986 he studied piano, harmony and counterpoint at the conservatory, and at the same time geodesy at the Technical University in Thessaloniki. From 1993 he studied composition with Gerd Kühr at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz.
He is the winner of many awards and acknowledgments (for instance, the City of Klagenfurt Prize for Composition in 1995 and the Advancement Award for Music from the City of Graz in 2007). He is one of the founders of the artresonanz ensemble. Since 2007 he has been the president of the composers’ association "die andere saite".
He had works commissioned by ORF-Musikprotokoll 2012, State of Styria, Cultural Centre of Minoriten (Kulturzentrum bei den Minoriten, Graz), by the ensembles artresonanz and zeitfluss as well as the City of Thessaloniki Symphony Orchestra. His compositions were performed in Vienna, Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, London, Bremen, Zagreb, Athens and Thessaloniki, as well as Austrian, German and Greek radio stations.
In the season 2007/2008 Toufektsis was a guest-composer at the Institute for Electronic Music of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz („Compositional aspects of self-similar structures“), in 2010 he took part in the project „Algorithmic composition in the context of New Music“, and 2011-2014 an international research project Point/Patterns of Intuition (IEM of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz).
Since October 1999 he teaches Music Theory at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts of Graz.
With the friendly support of
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1149
|
__label__cc
| 0.617231
| 0.382769
|
Turkey: the rigged referendum and implications for economic fragility
Following in the footstep of the rating agencies, investment banks were busy building up a self-fulfilling prophecy before and after the Turkish referendum of 16 April, 2017.
Mehmet Ugur
Istanbul Stock Exchange. Wikicommons/Thomas Steiner. Some rights reserved.Before the referendum, global and domestic capital betted on the Justice and Development Party (AKP) regime like a horse whose jockey knows how to win by bending the rules. The bet has reflected the business elites’ preference for stability and their lack of interest in democracy.
In what follows, I discuss the rating agency and investment bank bias in favour of right-wing authoritarian regimes, the sources of fragilities in the Turkish economy, and the vengeance with which the institutional cull under the AKP regime may come to haunt both domestic and foreign capital in Turkey.
Rating agency bias in favour of right-wing authoritarian regimes
The role of rating agency bias in the global financial crisis of 2007-2009 has been discussed and documented. There has been a high level of correlation between agency ratings, all characterised by upward bias in the pricing asset-backed securities. Two common explanations for the upward bias are: (i) conflicts of interest and moral hazard problems due to the payment of rating agency fees by security issuers; and (ii) selective disclosures (or ratings shopping) that arise because of the room for issuers to choose the ratings to be published in conjunction with the security they put on offer.
Rating agencies are also known to be biased in favour of authoritarian regimes. According to Archer et al (2007), agency ratings do not differ between authoritarian and democratic regimes as regime type and most other political factors seem to have little or no effect on bond raters. The findings were based on ratings for fifty developing countries from 1987 to 2003. More recent research by Barta and Johnston (2017) reports that the bias is even worse in developed countries: using data for 23 OECD countries from 1995-2014, the authors report that left governments and the electoral victory of non-incumbent left governments are associated with significantly higher probabilities of negative rating changes.
Given this track record, it was not surprising to observe a similar bias in favour of the authoritarian AKP regime in Turkey too. Large-scale corruption scandals that involved the president and minsters in 2013, Turkey’s slide from 53rd to 74th country in the Transparency International ranking for corruption control in 2015, the president’s and government’s interventions into the central bank’s monetary policy decisions from 2014-2016 had only little effect on rating agency ratings for Turkey. Indeed, from 2014-2016, two out of three major rating agencies downgraded Brazil (with an incumbent left-of-centre government) more heavily than Turkey (with a right-wing authoritarian regime). Also, at the end of 2016, Turkey’s credit worthiness (44 points) was higher than that of Brazil at 34 points. And this is despite the fact that Turkey experienced a botched political coup and that the political regime has become ever more dictatorial over the last two years.
Betting on Erdogan’s sultanate after the referendum
Following in the footstep of the rating agencies, investment banks were busy building up a self-fulfilling prophecy before and after the Turkish referendum of 16 April, 2017. The story is quite familiar: drawing on the results of a selected list of opinion polls, Morgan Stanley Research (5 April 2017) declares that a Yes vote is more likely. The prediction is backed by opinions from an unspecified selection of ‘politicians, policy-makers, political analysts, survey companies, local banks and embassies’.
Looking past the referendum, and overlooking the unfair campaign, Morgan Stanley declares that they would ‘hold onto their long bond positions ahead of the referendum’. The reasoning is revealing: the ‘yes’ vote is ahead and the monetary policy is expected to stay ‘tight’. No mention of institutional degradation or doing away with the rule of law under the state of emergency. No word either about the fact that a yes vote would enable the president to control the executive, the legislature and the judiciary – with total judicial and parliamentary immunity.
After the referendum, a long list of investment banks advise in favour of holding long positions with Turkish assets. The payoffs were expected to be high as the markets bounce back due to the future stability (emphasis added) that the continuity of an authoritarian regime would bring. For example, Namoura advised its clients to expect an appreciation of the Turkish currency and increasing bond yields as the AKP regime would remain in power until the elections in 2019. Raiffeisen Centrobank, Radobank, Nordea, and Commerzbank all agree: the narrow (and controversial) victory of the AKP regime would remove political uncertainty and usher in a period of rallying asset prices.
These self-fulfilling prophecies are delivering a short-run rally in favour of Turkish assets. The slide in the Turkish Lira is checked and the Istanbul Stock Market is on an upward trend. The AKP government has played its part by increasing government spending and announcing a set of measures aimed at enabling commercial banks to engage in unlimited securitisation of existing debts. Foreign investors are impressed – despite the fact that debt securitisation was a major cause of the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and that the commercial bank debt to be securitised includes credits extended both to the melting tourism industry and bubbling housing market participants.
The rally can also be observed despite diplomatically worded warnings by the IMF, the February 2017 country report of which projects: a sluggish growth at 2.9% in 2017, with considerable downward risks; domestic consumption to be the main driver of growth; weakened corporate profitability and a sharp fall in tourism revenues; a negative output gap; and a persistent current account deficit of around 6% of GDP.
Self-fulfilling prophecies end in disaster
Self-fulfilling prophecies are driven by expectations which are confirmed by behavioural change and commitment to the chosen line of action. Stated differently, self-fulfilling prophecies generate one-way bets that continue until the pay-offs begin to fall. Any trigger that causes a fall in the pay-offs can instigate a negative self-fulfilling prophecy where flight at the earliest moment is the preferred option. The rigged referendum has increased the probability of a negative self-fulfilling prophecy for several reasons.
The new constitution enables the president to monopolise all powers. Control of the legislature is ensured in article 116, under which the president can dissolve the parliament. Control of the Constitutional court is ensured in Article 146, under which 12 out of 15 members of the Constitutional Court will be appointed by the president. Under Article 104, the president monopolises the executive power, including the power to appoint and dismiss the senior state executives. Under article 119, the president also has full power to declare state of emergency and martial law. Against this full control, the president is immune to criminal liability and/or parliamentary scrutiny.
As a result, elections are now a less likely means of changing governments in Turkey: whilst the party in power would mobilise all state resources to maintain its rule, the opposition would be forced to rely on the streets for regime change. Local and foreign business interests are likely to be targeted. The probability of such targeting will be an increasing function of people’s perceptions of the business elite as complicit in propping up the AKP regime.
The power of the street in non-Kurdish regions of Turkey will cause serious fissures in the nationalist coalition against the Kurds that cuts across all mainstream parties. As a result, nationalist support for ratcheting state terror against the Kurds is likely to weaken. Any such weakening is likely to open new channels for the Kurdish political movement to strengthen its demands for democratic autonomy. What is more important is that the armed sections of the Kurdish political movement would seek democratic autonomy by defeating the AKP regime rather than negotiating with it.
The change in emphasis is evident in a piece published on the ANF NEWS website on 25 May 2017. Mustafa Karasu, a high-level Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) representative who is known to have participated in the Oslo negotiations with the AKP government until 2014, states the following: “Of course, many problems in the word have been resolved through negotiations with governments. However, the Kurdish question cannot be compared with other issues in the world. This is because we are faced with a mentality that seeks genocide rather than resolution of the Kurdish issue. … Therefore, Turkey is in need of a democratic revolution. The Kurdish issue can be resolved only through a democratic revolution.”
Beyond these political fragilities that the authoritarian AKP regime brings with it, the institutional cull in Turkey is feeding economic fragilities too. The risks associated with the drive for securitisation mentioned above should be considered in conjunction with the risk of a bursting housing-market bubble in Turkey. An FT piece on 19 May 2017 bears the following title: ‘Istanbul’s prime market hit as investors rethink Turkish property’. Turkey’s exponentially increasing residential property market has been a major boon for the AKP regime. In 2016, the property price index increased by 13% on average and by 12% in Istanbul. The prime home index, however, has fallen by 8.4% over the same year. This is a bad sign for a regime whose fortunes are tied with the property market, particularly the high-end of the market.
Taking into account the fact that the demand for property is a significant part of the domestic demand that is driving GDP growth, the increasing risk of a housing-market crisis constitutes a major source fragility in the Turkish economy. This risk is increasing not only because of the fall in the prime-market prices but also because of the increasing demand for property in foreign countries such as Portugal, where a golden visa programme for anyone spending more than €500,000 on property is considered by well-to-do Turks as an ‘insurance policy’.
Another source of fragility in the Turkish economy is the persistent current account deficit, currently at around 6% of the GDP – the highest among the emerging markets. Given the risk premia that Turkey is paying to finance this deficit, the servicing of the external debt is increasing. In addition, Turkey needs to grow at least 3.5% per year to avoid further increases in the unemployment rate, which is currently at 13%. A broader definition puts the figure at about 20%, with the official rate for young people aged 15-24 years standing at 24.5%. However, any increase in the growth rate, which can be obtained mainly through fiscal expansion, would exacerbate both the current account deficit and the budget deficit.
Finally, there are structural sources of fragility too. According to OECD figures, the poverty rate in Turkey is currently at 17.2% – worse than 28 out of 31 OECD countries. According to official figures reported in the opposition paper Cumhuriyet, the number of people on at least one type of social support program in 2014 was 30 million, up from 23.7 million in 2012. This is equivalent to about 40% of the population. The explosion in the number of people receiving state benefits may well be designed to secure voter support. However, it comes with a fiscal cost and with a dependency-culture cost that hits labour-market participation and skills at the same time.
Erdogan at the G-20 summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, D.C., November 2008. Wikicommons/Presidencia de la Nación Argentina.Some rights reserved.The business elites’ bias in favour of stability and right-wing authoritarian regimes has generated a self-fulfilling prophecy that has paid off since the vulnerabilities of the Turkish economy were exposed during the 2008-2009 crisis. This prophecy, however, is not sustainable and has made the Turkish and global business elites complicit in the dictatorial drift in Turkey. This choice has low cost for foot-loose finance capital as the latter can pull out of the country quickly when the chickens come home to roost. However, it may well cause regret among foreign direct investors and domestic industries that cannot divest so quickly. Perhaps that is part of the reason why the two leading conglomerates in Turkey (Koc and Sabanci Holdings) have started to sell shares massively (with a total value of $600 million) – leading to falls of 6% in Koc share prices and 2.25% in Sabanci share prices in one day after the sale.
Had enough of ‘alternative facts’? openDemocracy is different Join the conversation: get our weekly email
Introducing this week's theme: New Turkey and Old Troubles
Written by: Mehmet Kurt All articles by: Mehmet Kurt
The Sultan is dead, long live “Başyüce” Erdogan Sultan!
Written by: Tunç Aybak All articles by: Tunç Aybak
Turkish Dawn
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1150
|
__label__wiki
| 0.67683
| 0.67683
|
The Oxford Nizami Ganjavi Centre (ONGC) is pleased to offer small grants of up to £500 for projects related to research into the history, languages and cultures of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus and Central Asia. This includes presenting research at workshops and conferences. The grants are open to all academic staff and research students of the University of Oxford. The next deadline for applications is the 27 May 2020.
Note to applicants: please complete the application form and return it to nizami.ganjavi@orinst.ox.ac.uk. Further information may be requested upon receipt of the form.
Book Series Arabo-Islamica Welcomes Submissions
The book series Arabo-Islamica welcomes submissions in all relevant fields.
Professor Erie Awarded ERC Starting Grant of €1.5 Million
The Faculty of Oriental Studies would like to congratulate Professor Matthew S. Erie for being awarded a European Research Council Starting Grant of €1.5 million.
Latest Research Conversations
The latest in our series of Research Conversations took place on 5 June 2018. Please click here for further details and links to the video recordings.
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships
The Faculty of Oriental Studies welcomes interest for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship scheme.
The Faculty of Oriental Studies welcomes interest for the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme.
Dr Sebastian Brock to Receive Honorary Doctorate
The Faculty of Oriental Studies would like to congratulate Sebastian Brock, who is to receive an honorary doctorate at the EPHE.
Digitization Project of the Inscriptions of the National Museum of Iran
The National Museum of Iran (NMI), in collaboration with the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), have presented their efforts to digitize and disseminate all available documentation on NMI’s extensive cuneiform collection.
Tsering Dhondup Gonkatsang (1951-2018)
A tribute to Tsering Gonkatsang, Language Instructor in Tibetan, who sadly passed away on Friday 27 April 2018.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1152
|
__label__wiki
| 0.968537
| 0.968537
|
FASHION AT ATTENTION!
Jean Patteson, Sentinel Staff WriterTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL
When the two Marines met at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in the spring of 2001, their hair was cropped military-style close.
Today, Jon Proechel and Patrick Reed wear their hair long and shaggy, rock-video style.
Their hairdos aren't the only things that have done an about-face since the ex-Marines settled in Orlando three years ago. They've also swapped guns for scissors, salutes for air kisses, and uniforms for outfits that are head-turning trendy.
These former Marines are now self-taught fashion designers, investing about $10,000 of their savings in the endeavor. In a few weeks, they'll launch their first collection of hip, military-inspired, his-and-hers styles under the label Poetic Rage.
They dream of owning a chain of boutiques someday. But for starters, they'll sell their collection of shredded jeans, camo-patched jackets and canvas pistol belts on their Web site, poeticrageclothing.com. It will be open for business by the end of September.
Military-inspired fashion was huge when Iraq was first invaded, says Paige Blackwelder, co-owner of trendy Tuni boutique in Winter Park.
"It's not as big now, but there's still a definite military theme going on," she says. "I've seen a lot of jackets for fall with metal buttons and epaulettes. Diane von Furstenberg is doing these great tiered skirts in olive with striping that look military-influenced."
A top seller in her store this summer was "a cute camouflage cropped pant," says Blackwelder.
On a recent sweltering afternoon, the Poetic Rage design duo are shooting images for their Web site in downtown Orlando. Their staging area is Antigua, a club on Church Street. Clothes and combat boots are scattered over the dance floor. A tattooed model sits on a barstool as a makeup artist dabs purple glitter shadow onto his eyelids. A photographer fiddles impatiently with her camera.
"Let's go, let's go," barks Reed, as two female models emerge from a restroom-turned-dressing room wearing tank tops and skirts trimmed with camouflage patches. "Jon, see if they need any more accessories."
One thing Reed hasn't forgotten from his time in the Marines is how to give orders.
"I was in a position where I had to delegate: 'Do this, do that,' " he says. "I like it when things are planned, go smoothly."
He's learning, however, that fashion shoots rarely proceed with military precision. After the inevitable problems -- one model's shoes are too big, another's jacket is too small -- they're ready to start shooting.
Reed, who is not as buff as the two male models, solves the jacket problem by modeling it himself. A swipe of eyeliner, a spritz of hairspray, and he's ready for his close-up.
'We had our own style'
After their meeting at Camp Lejeune, Reed and Proechel were assigned to the same six-month "float" in the Mediterranean. But they didn't hang out together, and their personal styles couldn't have been more different.
Proechel, 26, blond and laid-back, was into designer fashion. The slender, frenetic Reed, 25, preferred the hip-hop look.
"We weren't even on first-name terms," says Reed.
Proechel, who is from Upstate New York, joined the Marines in 1997. During his four years of active service, he served in 19 countries, came within hearing distance of combat during a brief stay in Kosovo, and was discharged two days before the attacks of 9-11.
He ended up in Orlando because his parents moved here, and he wanted to study acting at the Lisa Maile school. To pay his rent, he took a bartending job on International Drive.
One day he called a buddy who was still in the Marines. The buddy put Reed on the line.
"I talked about bartending, acting classes," says Proechel. "He said he was also interested in acting and wouldn't mind bartending. After that, we talked every few weeks."
Reed, who is from Tennessee, was discharged in the summer of 2002. His four-year stint in the Marines included three weeks at Gitmo, the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"When I got out, I packed my life in my car and drove straight to Orlando," he says.
The two rented a house near I-Drive and tended bar together. They went to the same concerts, patronized the same hairdresser. And they started modifying their jeans and T-shirts, giving them a distinctive vibe with military-style patches, name tags and hand-stenciled graphics.
"Whenever we'd go out, people would look at us weird," says Reed. "We were different. We had our own style. People often mistook us for a gay couple."
Friends and acquaintances also asked where Reed and Proechel bought their clothes.
"We started doing designs for them, just as a hobby," says Proechel. "Then about a year ago we got serious about Poetic Rage."
No one was more surprised than Proechel's father, Bob Proechel, president of the American Safety Council in Orlando.
The pair are "talented young men who think outside the box," he says. "And the most amazing part: They've never asked me for a penny. They're doing it on their own."
Designs have a military twist
Reed explains the Poetic Rage name:
"We wanted to use our initials, P and R, so we came up with all kinds of combinations, words starting with P and R.
"Poetic Rage is an interesting oxymoron. Everybody has a poetic side and a rage side, a light and dark side. We liked the way it sounded," he says.
The designing Marines have learned by doing. They incorporated their business, took out an occupational license and found suppliers of basic garments -- jeans, shirts, track jackets.
Proechel learned to use a sewing machine. Reed experimented with fabric paints. Together they interviewed seamstresses and Web-site designers.
Their home's upstairs became their design studio and office. It's where they sketch, shred, sew and paint, listen to music and swap ideas.
The UPS truck shuttles up and down the drive. It hauls away shirts to be embroidered with slogans such as IT'S OK2B DIFFERENT. It delivers bundles of beanies, bracelets, blue jeans.
To test consumer reaction, Proechel and Reed took a sampling of their designs to the Vans Warped Tour concert in Tampa in early August.
Even though they slashed their prices, charging about $10 for items that eventually will retail for closer to $25, they cleared $600.
"That's a lot of $5 and $10 items," says Reed.
A best seller was their "Gitmo" T-shirt, featuring a giant key on the front, and a bird behind bars on the back.
Annie Gordon, a friend of Reed from Nashville, Tenn., owns a Gitmo shirt.
"It's military- and music-influenced, but it's also art," says Gordon, 25, an administrative assistant. "To me, I'm wearing art."
Chris Meyer, one of the design team's models, was able to keep all the clothes he wore during the photo shoot. His favorite is a black baseball cap with the Poetic Rage logo.
"It's the name people like," he says. "It's very catchy. All the stuff is pretty cool."
There is a military or patriotic twist to most of their designs, Proechel says -- stars, stripes, eagles. "But it's not obvious unless we explain it."
The fashions aren't designed to make a statement about war, he says. "They're just reminders of our time in the military, most of it good. We'd never change the experience for the world, and there are times when we miss it -- the camaraderie, the organization."
Being in the Marines "helped me mature a lot," says Proechel. "It makes me strive harder, concentrate more on trying to make something successful."
Besides, he says, "If it wasn't for the Marines, we'd never have met. Never had the drive to do something as crazy as Poetic Rage."
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1153
|
__label__wiki
| 0.839845
| 0.839845
|
Babalakin Accuses Visitation Panel To UNILAG Of Bias, Resigns
September 18, 2020 Tonnison 0 Comments Babalakin Accuses Visitation Panel To UNILAG Of Bias, Resigns
Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin has resigned after he accused visitation panel to UNILAG of Bias.
Babalakin went into a squabble with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Toyin Ogundipe following which he “sacked” the VC.
But the government reversed the action and asked both of them to vacate office for a visitation panel to examine the situation.
The panel sat for two weeks during which it took evidence from all the parties in the dispute and submitted its report on Thursday.
Babalakin’s resignation letter was also released on Thursday although dated September 15.
The erstwhile pro-chancellor accused the visitation panel of having a pre-determined position to exonerate the VC and indict the pro-chancellor.
He said although he appeared in protest before the panel, he told panel members that they could not determine the issues before it.
He said he will also not be available again to serve as the chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team on the Agreement reached with university unions in 2009.
He has been the chairman of the negotiating team since January 6th, 2017.
He said he had served the university system in Nigeria with his heart and intellect.
He said as Pro-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and the University of Lagos, he did not receive sitting allowances and other perks of office.
He said he did not allow the two institutions to provide him with food or drinks.
He said he paid for every right or privilege that was conferred on me.
The letter of resignation was copied to President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Visitor to the university.
The letter reads in part: ”I would like to thank the President of the Federal of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari for giving me the opportunity to serve as the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (the “University”) from May 2017 till date.
“I am also grateful that I was considered fit to be the Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team on the Agreement reached with university unions in 2009, from 6th January 2017 till date. I equally want to thank you, sir, for your role in recommending me to the President.
“Recent events have made my position in these two offices untenable.
”I led the Governing Council of the University to remove the Vice-Chancellor of the University from office for among other reasons: (a)Corruption and financial recklessness; (b)Forgery; (c) Complicity in the collapse of the University library and planned cover-up; (d) Deliberate policy of wrongfully concealing information; ( e) Depriving the Faculties in the University of funds; (f)Concealing and distorting finances of the Internally Generating Units of the University; (g)Undermining the academic process and seeking to appoint a Professor by fiat; (h) Siphoning of the University’s funds through dubious contract awards; (i)Undermining the office of the Registrar; (j) Failure to follow due process in organizing the University’s convocation ceremony; and (k)Sponsoring or acquiescing in the unconstitutional actions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Lagos chapter.
“Sir, it is noteworthy that all the Federal Government Representatives who are the independent members on the Governing Council voted for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.
“After calm had been restored in the University, the Visitor acting within his powers, set up a Presidential Visitation Panel to review the actions taken by Governing Council.
“The Vice-Chancellor (who had been removed from office) and myself were told to recuse ourselves for the duration of the Visitation Panel.
“I find it difficult to understand how a non-executive Chairman of a Governing Council could be requested to recuse himself during the visitation
“The Vice-Chancellor could only recuse himself if he were still in office. Implicit in this position is that the Vice-Chancellor was acknowledged as still being in office despite his removal.”
Babalakin faulted the terms of reference of the committee, which he claimed, were set to achieve a predetermined agenda.
He added: “The terms of reference of the Visitation Panel clearly indicated to any discerning person that the Visitation Panel was empanelled to exonerate the Vice-Chancellor and implicate the Pro-Chancellor.
Babalakin also alleged that the composition of the panel was awkward.
He said he only appeared before the Panel in protest because the panel could not determine the issues before it
He said: “The membership of the Visitation Panel is simply inappropriate in the circumstance. How can a committee of Vice-Chancellors determine the culpability or otherwise of the actions of a Pro-Chancellor and a Governing Council?”
“On the face of it, it is simply wrong. Furthermore, the Vice-Chancellors on the Panel were drawn from relatively smaller universities who are not likely to have a comprehensive understanding of the procedure contained in the University of Lagos Act (as amended).
“Even Vice-Chancellors of state universities were included. As Chairman of the Federal Government Negotiation Team, I know the challenges faced with the administration of state universities.
“I only appeared before the Panel out of my very great respect for you, Sir. My training as a lawyer revealed to me very clearly, that the Panel was inappropriate for the assignment.
“During my appearance, I made it very clear that I was appearing in protest and the Panel, as constituted, could not determine the issues before it. The active participation of the staff of the Ministry of Education in the Panel and their contributions throughout the sittings especially the hounding of witnesses who came to testify against the Vice-Chancellor was enough to show very clearly that the technocrats in the Ministry had a defined agenda.
The provision is seen to be against the provisions of sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 constitution, which guarantee the fundamental rights to freedom of liberty and human dignity.
Section 35(4) specifically provides that any person who is arrested or detained ”shall be brought before a court of law within a reasonable time”.
Subsection five states such period could be one day “in the case of an arrest or detention in any place where there is a court of competent jurisdiction within a radius of forty kilometres” or two days/longer period as may be considered by the court “in any other case”.
← Unpopular Gov. Uzodinma Sets Up New Law That Will Allows Him Detain Anyone At Will
Security operatives lay siege to Governor Wike’s hotel in Benin City →
Biafra: Nnamdi Kanu Explodes Over ‘Assassins Visit’ At His Abia Residence
September 15, 2019 Tonnison 0
Governor Zulum Condemns Police Brutality, Warns Youths Against Escalating Protests
November 7, 2020 Tonnison 0
Police Arrests Pastor For Raping 16 Year Old, Six Rifles Found In Delta Church
June 27, 2020 Tonnison 0
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1156
|
__label__cc
| 0.600455
| 0.399545
|
The G.O.P. Debt-Ceiling Offer Is a Travesty
That was the attitude in the financial markets this morning, when it became clear that the Speaker of the House, John Boehner, was offering to raise the debt ceiling for six weeks. The Dow shot up two hundred points, and the cost of insuring against a default in treasuries fell sharply.
It was what Wall Street calls a “relief rally,” but for the rest of us there’s not much to cheer about. Far from solving the country’s budget crisis, the G.O.P. offer would extend it until Thanksgiving at the earliest. In the meantime, large parts of the federal government would stay closed: the House Republicans are sticking with their position that they won’t pass a new funding bill until the White House agrees to big changes in Obamacare. Yellowstone National Park, the Smithsonian, and the National Zoo wouldn’t reopen; federal agencies including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Communications Commission, and NASA would remain in a state of partial shutdown; and many furloughed federal employees would stay at home.
The deal wouldn’t even solve the debt-ceiling crisis. It would simply kick it back for six weeks, during which time there would be negotiations about cuts to entitlements and other spending programs. Since the two sides are as far apart as ever on these issues, there is no realistic prospect of an agreement emerging from these discussions. Come mid-November, we will almost certainly be back to where we were yesterday, with the markets starting to fret about a possible default. But, by that stage, the government shutdown will be having a much bigger impact on the economy than it is now. For a week or two, the country can scape along without some essential government services. But an unprecedented two-month shutdown would have untold effects.
In short, the G.O.P. offer is a travesty. Far from serving the best interests of the country, it was designed purely to extricate Boehner and other Republican leaders from the hole they have dug for themselves. In that goal, sadly, it may succeed—at least temporarily. Having talked up the dire consequences of a failure to raise the debt ceiling, the White House can hardly turn around now and refuse the G.O.P.’s offer. Hitherto, Obama has said that he won’t negotiate with the Republicans until they raise the debt ceiling and end the partial government shutdown. But it’s hard to see how the President can now stick to that line and, in effect, sanction a possible breach of the debt limit later this month.
Right now, the most likely outcome is that large parts of the government will remain closed, the dispute over Obamacare will be extended, and the issue of raising the debt ceiling will continue to hang over everything, creating a climate of uncertainty that is very damaging to the economy and to the international reputation of the United States. Once the markets take this dismal scenario on board, I would expect today’s gains to be reversed, and then some.
Photograph: Richard Drew/AP
More:bizpagesBusinessDebt CeilingPolitics
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1159
|
__label__wiki
| 0.922429
| 0.922429
|
David Procter
David E. Procter is a professor of communication studies and the director of Kansas State University’s Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy (ICDD) and Center for Engagement and Community Development (CECD). Procter arrived at K-State in 1987 and served as head of the department of communication studies, theatre and dance for thirteen years, from 1993-2006. Procter research and outreach efforts focus on political communication and community development. Before coming to K-State, Procter worked for Senator Bob Dole and for several other state and national political candidates. He has written numerous research papers and book chapters on political communication, focusing primarily on political advertising. Procter has studied the structure and strategies of political advertisements, examining the effects of negative political ads on political efficacy as well as gender differences in political advertising.
Procter has also worked in partnership with Kansas municipalities and communities worldwide assisting with communication strategies that help preserve, sustain, and energize those communities. He has worked on issues of economic development, emergency management, school consolidation, strategic planning, land use planning, and strategies for re-populating rural communities. Procter has authored several essays and two books on community development - Enacting Political Culture (1991) and The Rhetoric of Community Building (2005). At the heart of all this work is the belief that community deliberation is critical to community development. To energize this work, Procter and several colleagues founded KSU’s Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy in 2004. This institute works to train community moderators and facilitate community deliberations around salient public policy issues. ICDD also serves as a catalyst for research and life-long learning around the connection between deliberation and democracy.
In 2006, Kansas State University created the Center for Engagement and Community Development to energize campus and community partnerships. Procter was hired as the inaugural director of this center. Procter and the center work to develop and strengthen campus and community partnerships by working collaboratively to address significant public issues. Deliberation remains a cornerstone of this engagement work.
While at Kansas State University, Dr. David Procter has received the 1991 William L. Stamey Teaching Award; the 2000 Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Sampler Foundation; the 2001 Presidential Award for Outstanding Department Head; and the 2005 Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas National Guard.
Procter earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from K-State and his doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1989.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1160
|
__label__wiki
| 0.694537
| 0.694537
|
PCORI Selects 47 Individuals, Small G...
PCORI Selects 47 Individuals, Small Groups Receive Initial Project Funding through Pipeline to Proposal Awards
Awards totaling $700,000 will support initiation of community-building projects that can lead to research proposals
WASHINGTON, DC (April 29, 2015) – The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved 47 new projects to receive community-building funding support through its Pipeline to Proposal Awards program.
The 47 projects will receive Tier I awards ranging from about $10,700 to $15,000 and totaling nearly $700,000. The projects will bring together patients, other healthcare stakeholders, and researchers who share a desire to participate in patient-centered outcomes research. The goal of Tier I funding is to build partnerships around a healthcare topic and enable them to form ideas for proposals for patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) studies.
The awards are provided through PCORI’s Pipeline to Proposal Awards program, which enables individuals and groups that are not typically involved in clinical research to develop the means to produce community-led funding proposals. This is the second round of Tier I awards approved through the program.
The 47 projects focus on 35 health issues, including liver cirrhosis, osteoarthritis, sickle cell disease, spinal cord injuries, and chronic pain. The awardees span 20 states and Puerto Rico. Eight of the awardees are organizations that span multiple regions and are considered national. A list of the Tier I projects can be found on PCORI’s website.
“Giving an opportunity for these patient- and community-driven partnerships to develop represents part of PCORI’s commitment to patient-centered research,” said Jean Slutsky, PA, MSPH, PCORI's Chief Engagement and Dissemination Officer. “We’re excited to offer another opportunity to assist those who are eager to promote and engage in community building through the second round of Pipeline to Proposal awardees. We look forward to seeing their work over the next nine months.”
Tier I awards provide up to $15,000 per project to help recipients build their community partnerships and begin developing governance structures, communications plans, and potential research questions.
Tier I funding is the first phase of PCORI’s three-tier Pipeline to Proposal Awards program. Tier I awards fund community-building and engagement projects. Tier II awards of up to $25,000 further enhance projects’ capacities, and Tier III awards of up to $50,000 support the development of high-quality, patient-centered research proposals that can be submitted to PCORI or other funders.
The new awardees are the second group to receive funding through this awards program. Tier I awards are open to patients, caregivers, researchers, or other healthcare stakeholders with a compelling idea for a research project. The 47 new Tier I award recipients have up to nine months to complete their proposed work after which they can apply for Tier II funding. More information on the program is available on PCORI’s website.
About PCORI
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is an independent, non-profit organization authorized by Congress in 2010. Its mission is to fund research that will provide patients, their caregivers and clinicians with the evidence-based information needed to make better-informed healthcare decisions. PCORI is committed to continuously seeking input from a broad range of stakeholders to guide its work.
Find out more about PCORI through our news releases, blog, videos, and other resources.
For media inquiries only, contact:
Christine Stencel
Associate Director of Media Relations
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1164
|
__label__wiki
| 0.503214
| 0.503214
|
Mobile World Congress 2015: The best phones, smartwatches and gadgets we saw
This is it: the most promising gear we saw under the Barcelona big-top. Send us review units, now!
By Florence Ion and Jason Cross, Greenbot |
The best of the bunch
LG Fx0
Alcatel Hero 2+
The rest of the bunch
The very name of Mobile World Congress tips you off to its size and importance. Every March, the biggest hardware makers in the world converge in Barcelona, Spain, dragging their latest and greatest gadgets with them. The avalanche of new smartwatches, phones, and tablets stretches far and wide; just trying to see each device is difficult, much less touch them all.
But a small handful of gadgets inevitably stand out from the crowd. This year was no different. These are the best smartphones, watches, and gadgets we saw at Mobile World Congress 2015.
With the Galaxy S6, it’s like Samsung is giving us almost everything we ever asked for—even if they’re taking away the removable battery and SD card slot in the process. It’s got a gorgeous metal and glass body, a touch fingerprint sensor you don’t have to swipe, an impressive new camera on the front and back, a super high-res AMOLED display, wireless charging that supports the two most popular standards, and a new payment technology that works with any credit card reader that does magnetic stripe swiping.
The new One M9, on the other hand, is all about subtle refinements.
HTC took its winning design from the One M8 and made it better by tweaking button placement and grip. Then they improved the already-stellar audio, moved the 4-megapixel UltraPixel camera to the front, and put a high-res 20MP camera on back. Themes and dynamic app icons are highlights of the new Sense 7 interface.
Huawei’s Android Wear watch does what other Android Wear watches do. So what makes it so special? Just look at it! This is the classiest watch in the Android Wear family. The simple sleek body is dominated by a round, bright, sharp OLED display. Available in stainless steel and gold, with a few bands to choose from, we can’t wait for it to land this summer.
The camera is so important to Lenovo’s new Vibe Shot that they made the back of the phone look like a camera. It’s an affordable phone with mid-tier specs, but sports a 16-megapixel camera with optical image stabilization, fast infrared autofocus, and a tri-color flash. There’s a physical shutter button, and a pro/smart switch that enables features like white balance and ISO control for enthusiasts.
There are actually two Idol 3 phones—a 4.7-inch model and a 5.5-inch version—but they share similar design. The nifty trick of these phones? They have a mic and speaker on both ends of the phone, so you can use it flipped upside down or rightside up. Even to make phone calls! As a bonus, those two speakers enable stereo sound. These aren’t high-end phones: the smaller one should cost about $200, while the larger one will go for $250 when they go on sale in June.
The specs aren’t super high-end, but it’s a lot of phone for that price, and the stereo JBL speakers and hold-it-whatever-way design might help it gain notice.
We really love Samsung’s mid-range devices. They’re stylish, cute, and compact, and they come with most of the same features as their flagship counterparts. It also just goes to show you that you don’t need to spend a whopping $600 to get a solid smartphone. The Galaxy E5 LTE version offers a bevy of selfie features, for instance, and it runs on a quad-core 1.2GHz processor.
LG’s Firefox OS phone is seriously cool looking. First off, it’s see-through, like one of those first-generation Gameboy Color handhelds. It also has a very bright 4.7-inch IPS display and a 2,370 mAh battery pack, and the Home button is actually a gold-etched Firefox logo. You’ll likely never see this one in the US, though: it’s currently only available in Japan.
The Hero 2+ is Alcatel’s first Cyanogen-powered phone, and we got a peak at the hardware. It’s a 6-inch phablet with a 1080p display, 2GHz Mediatek processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 13-megapixel camera, as well as LTE support for AT&T and T-Mobile when it arrives in the US. It’ll also come equipped with a detachable stylus, which Cyanogen’s Steve Kondik says you’ll be able to use a la the Galaxy Note family. The phone we played with is still just a work in progress, however, and the finished product won’t be revealed until later this spring.
To quote the esteemed Mr. Keanu Reeves: Whoa.
The surprise of the show, HTC's SteamVR-powered virtual reality headset made this virtual reality noob into a virtual reality believer. Unlike sedentary alternatives like Samsung's GearVR or the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive was designed to let you wander around spaces up to 15 foot by 15 foot, with the help of a pair of base stations and wand-like controllers for each hand.
For a more thorough list of all the gear and gadgets at Mobile World Congress, check out PCWorld's comprehensive guide to the major announcements. From HTC's first wearable to Windows 10 phones and smartphone chips with cognitive silicon brains, there was a slew of cool stuff on hand.
22 terrifying PC horror games to play with the lights off
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1165
|
__label__cc
| 0.735501
| 0.264499
|
Pest Defence Blog
Common Food Pests and the Dangers for Restaurants and Retailers
Food pests can cause your customers to become ill and your reputation to be tarnished, resulting in significant setbacks for your business. This is why it’s important for all businesses, no matter how big or small they are, to maintain sanitation standards to prevent pest damages. In this article, we’ve put together a guide to the most common pest issues facing food retailers and restaurants, so you can save your produce and your business before it’s too late. Why are pests a food safety hazard? When pests get access to food stores, it is easy to understand how they can…
Who Provides Pest Control in Ilford and London Borough of Redbridge?
Pest infestations are thankfully quite uncommon, but when they do happen it can have a huge effect on our day-to-day life. These nuisance critters can cause much more destruction than their size would suggest, damaging all sorts of things from food, to crops, to livestock. When an infestation strikes and you need help getting rid of it, it’s important to be aware of what your first port of call should be. If you’re looking for pest control in Ilford or elsewhere in the London Borough of Redbridge, this article will give you the lowdown on the services available and what you…
How to Prevent and Get Rid of House Dust Mites
Though you would never be able to sense their presence, dust mites are a cause of aggravation to many. These tiny creatures hide in dust all over our houses without us knowing, leaving up to 20 droppings a day, which is bad news for allergy sufferers. So what can you do about this common pest? In this guide, we’ll go through everything you (might not) want to know about dust mites. What are dust mites? Dust mites (sometimes known as house mites) are tiny, microscopic creatures that can be found pretty much anywhere humans can. They are a type of…
How To Get Rid of Ladybirds and Prevent An Infestation
Ladybirds are less scary-looking than your typical insect, but just like any other pest, they can cause significant disruption when they appear in large numbers. A ladybird infestation can be a huge nuisance but overall they are nothing to worry about, and can be dealt with easily. In this guide, we will go through everything you should know about how to deal with ladybirds in the home, and why the Harlequin variety has been stirring up such a fuss. What are ladybirds? Contrary to what their cute, dome-shaped, polka-dot appearance may have you believe, ladybirds are a type of beetle,…
How To Prevent and Get Rid of Biscuit Beetles
Kamran [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons Most people don’t think to check their dried food for pests as it’s not somewhere you’d necessarily expect to find an infestation. Your store-cupboards can, however, become somewhere for pests such as biscuit beetles (or drugstore beetles) to thrive, which can cause contamination and health risks, as well as being a huge inconvenience. In this guide, we’ll look at everything you need to know about biscuit beetles and take you through some common questions about infestations. What are biscuit beetles? Biscuit beetles are small, hard-shelled, reddish-brown beetles with an oval-shaped body which is…
What Types of Insect Pests Are Living in My Home?
Your home can be a thriving ecosystem for a number of pests and creepy crawlies. Most of the time, you won’t be aware of their presence, but when they begin to grow in numbers, they can infest your home and become a persistent nuisance. In this article, we’re looking at some of the different types of insects you might find living in your home, which will include information to help you identify them, and learn how they can infest your property. Silverfish What do they look like? Silverfish are easy to identify by their shimmery, silver appearance and rapid, wriggly…
How to Prevent and Get Rid of Bird Mites
Here at Pest Defence Ltd, we are often asked to identify lesser-known insect species which have been found in the home. One of these is the bird mite – also known as pigeon mites, red mites and bird lice – which can be mistaken for bed bugs. They do pose a risk to humans and are certainly an unwelcome presence in the home, so read on for our advice on what to do if you think you may have a bird mite infestation. What are bird mites? ‘Bird mites’ is the collective name for several types of mites for which…
How to Prevent and Get Rid Of Woodlice In the House
Woodlice are a common household nuisance in the UK. In small numbers, they don’t pose much of a problem, but a woodlice infestation can become difficult to handle and hard to stop. While woodlice won’t pose much of a risk to your health, an infestation is not a pleasant thing to deal with; this article will help you understand why woodlice are appearing in your home, as well as how you can prevent an infestation from occurring. What do woodlice look like? Woodlice (‘Pill Bugs’ in the United States, and ‘Slater Bugs’ in New Zealand) come in a variety of…
How to Prevent and Get Rid of Booklice
Booklice thrive in damp conditions. These tiny insects are harmless to humans but can quickly grow in numbers, causing an infestation which can be difficult to control. The name might make it seem like they exist purely in the confines of old books, but actually, booklice are happy to take root in any dark, warm and humid places where damp might be found. Booklice do not leave behind a great deal of evidence of their presence, so it might be tough to know you have an infestation unless you spot the creatures yourself. But by learning more about booklice, including what…
What are cluster flies and how do you get rid of a cluster fly infestation?
Aiwok [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons Pests are irritating, unsightly and insanitary – which is why finding an infestation is worrying – and finding cluster flies is no exception. Cluster flies are 8mm long and are a dark grey colour, with small patches of gold hair on their back and long wings. Appearing in spring, cluster flies will begin to lay eggs outside and will hibernate in your home around nearing winter, around August time. To get rid of cluster flies you can use your vacuum cleaner, aerosol fly killer or call your local professionals who will be able to…
Pest Control In Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth: Your Options
Types of Flies in the UK
Pests That Can Damage Your Home and Belongings
Types of Mites and How to Get Rid of Them
How to Get Rid of Wasp Nests and Prevent Wasps
How to Get Rid of Drain Flies/Moth Flies and Prevent an Infestation
Who Can Provide Pest Control in Romford or elsewhere in Havering?
Who Offers Pest Control in Loughton & Epping Forest District?
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1167
|
__label__wiki
| 0.793422
| 0.793422
|
Example Essays
Flash Card Generator
Select 1 - 3 4 - 6 7 - 10 10+
Filter by Keywords:(add comma between each)
Alexander Hamilton Essays
We have over 106 essays for "Alexander Hamilton"
Alexander Dumas
Other Topics in this Category:
William Howard Taft
Alexander Hamilton S Financial Plans First Thesis
Thesis / 1 pages
Alexander Hamilton Essay
Essay / 2 pages
Hamilton Economics Essay
Hamilton S Role In Effecting The New Nation Of America Essay
Having trouble coming up with an Essay Title?
Use our essay title generator to get ideas and recommendations instantly
Generate Essay Titles >
Alexander Hamilton's Financial Plans First
Words: 364 Length: 1 Pages Document Type: Thesis Paper #: 96196468
Through these three main measures, Alexander Hamilton ensured the main instruments with which a young economy could be built and become competitive in the future: strong public credit, corroborated with a central financial and monetary institution which would regulate monetary policies and with protectionist tariffs that would defend the manufacturing industry against the cheaper imports from Europe.
1. Digital History - Online American History Textbook. On the Internet at http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=6.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
2. 18b. Hamilton's Financial Plan. On the Internet at http://www.ushistory.org/us/18b.asp.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
. Hamilton and the U.S. Constitution. 2000. On the Internet at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/sfeature/hamiltonusconstituion.html.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
Digital History - Online American History Textbook. On the Internet at http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=6.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
18b. Hamilton's Financial Plan. On the Internet at http://www.ushistory.org/us/18b.asp.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009… [Read More]
3. Hamilton and the U.S. Constitution. 2000. On the Internet at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/sfeature/hamiltonusconstituion.html.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
18b. Hamilton's Financial Plan. On the Internet at http://www.ushistory.org/us/18b.asp.Lastretrieved on February 18, 2009
Words: 573 Length: 2 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 23155525
Founding fathers were primarily oriented towards weak central government. The approach to government that was advocated by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, were particularly interested in a republican form of government that fractured the power structure of the United States in such a way that no one branch of government could exercise unilateral control over the others. They sought to create a system of government that would avoid the parliamentary model, wherein the leader would create the government. Their views would ultimately lead to the separation of the three branches of government. They also looked to maintain a high level of power within the individual states, which further served as a check on the powers of the central government.
The idea of a fractured power structure is favored by both major political parties. It is not, as near as can be determined, within the stated aims of either party to…… [Read More]
Hamilton, A. (1787) The Federalist Paper No. 1: Introduction. Library of Congress. Retrieved November 1, 2014 from http://thomas.loc.gov/home/histdox/fed_01.html
Hamilton Economics
Hamilton's Economic Plan
Alexander Hamilton was one of the Founding Fathers, and was the first Secretary of the Treasury. His economic plan was contained in a series of written works that provided the framework for the nation's economic governance. The underlying objectives of Hamilton's economic plan were to provide the nation with the financial stability it would need in case of war, and was also driven by his Federalist viewpoint, in direct contrast to the many anti-Federalists of the time (SparkNotes, 2015).
The first element of Hamilton's plan was with respect to the pending credit crisis that the new country was to have. As a new country, America had no reputation to draw on with respect to credit. The nation's debts were large and largely unpaid. oughly half of this debt was owed by the states. Hamilton suggested public bonds as a means of financing wars in particular, but as…… [Read More]
SparkNotes (2015). Building the state 1781-1797. SparkNotes. Retrieved May 11, 2015 from http://www.sparknotes.com/history/american/statebuilding/section9.rhtml
Hamilton, A. (1790) First report on the public credit.
Hamilton, A. (1790) Second report on the public credit.
Hamilton, A. (1791) Report on manufactures.
Hamilton's Role in Effecting the New Nation of America
Words: 1218 Length: 4 Pages Document Type: Essay Paper #: 79855396
evolutionary Character
Alexander Hamilton was the prototypical opportunist of the American evolution: of obscure and humble origins, he longed for an escape from his lowly rank as accountant and, as Wood (2006) notes, it was "war" that Hamilton believed would provide just such an escape (p. 124). Hamilton's revolutionary character was found in this desire for opportunity out of crisis and displayed the future maxim of ahm Emmanuel, "Let no good crisis go to waste," in a manner that suggests that Hamilton is indeed the progenitor of a centralized, fascistic government headed by a financial sector that has less interest in democratic ideals than it does in the control and steering of a new empire. This paper will explore the theme set out by Wood (2006) that shows how Alexander Hamilton was a revolutionary character whose special talents lay in the direction of fostering a new nation that could be…… [Read More]
Roark, J., Johnson, M., Cohen, P., Stage, S., Hartmann, S. (2012). The American
Promise. NY: St. Martin's.
Wood, G. (2006). Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different. UK:
Penguin Books.
Hamilton and the Federalists on the Constitution
Federalist Papers are important to any analysis of the U.S. Constitution because they provided the philosophical and socio-political justification for the adoption of the Constitution. Prior to the ratification of the Constitution, the states were loosely united under the Articles of Confederation. However, Alexander Hamilton and his group of elites did not like that they could not be part of a federal/central government that oversaw and wielded power over the rest of the states. Thus, Hamilton penned many of the Federalist Papers (including Federalist no. 1) in order to combat the ideas expressed by the Anti-Federalists who condemned the Constitution as an attempt to subjugate states' rights.
The Federalist Papers may be read therefore as a series of a letters and arguments meant to sway the reader as to why the U.S. should adopt the Constitution in place of the Articles of Confederation. It is a body of writing that…… [Read More]
What Does Hamilton Say in Federalist No 6
Hamilton's "Federalist No. 6"
The purpose of Alexander Hamilton's "Federalist No. 6" is to convince the reader of the dangers of an only partially united group of states. Hamilton urges total centralization under the guise of a ruling Constitution to protect the nation from "ambitious, vindictive, and rapacious" men, which is what men turn into when they are given independence, according to him. (The irony of Hamilton's argument is that he is arguing for that which the American Revolutionaries just threw off!) His thesis is contained in the opening paragraph: "I shall now proceed to delineate dangers of a different and, perhaps, still more alarming kind -- those which will in all probability flow from dissensions between the States themselves, and from domestic factions and convulsions" (Hamilton). His aim is clear: a loose confederation of states, each with its own authority, will not work because men simply cannot get along.…… [Read More]
Alexander the Great Books on
Words: 1442 Length: 5 Pages Document Type: Book Review Paper #: 88216034
Hamilton notes the biographies of Alexander often reflected the backgrounds of authors who wrote about him. For example, Sir William Tarn, a Scottish gentleman of the ritish imperial era, characterized Alexander as a chivalrous Greek gentleman with a missionary zeal to spread Greek civilization. In contrast, Fritz Schachermeyr, a German historian who had experienced the rise and fall of the Nazi Germany, described Alexander as a ruthless and cruel ruler, indulged "in deceit and treachery to gain his ends, as a 'Titanic' figure aiming at the conquest of the world."
oth Tarn and Schachermeyr are among the great modern historians of Alexander but even they could not escape personal biases.
The irony of Hamilton's book is that, although he is at pains in his discussion of the difficulty of writing about Alexander and is critical of biased historians, the book starts with a straightforward admission of a bias. Rejecting the…… [Read More]
Freeman, Philip. Alexander the Great. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009.
Hamilton, J.R. Alexander the Great. Pittsburg: The University of Pittsburg Press, 1974.
Philip Freeman, Alexander the Great (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009), p. xxii.
Washington Hamilton Franklin as founding fathers
Words: 938 Length: 3 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 99646754
All of the founding fathers of the United States were great because they acted on their values and beliefs, helping to sow the seeds of a new nation. The work of the founding fathers became instrumental for independence from the British Crown. Being willing to stand up to Britain was no small feat, making the deeds of the founding fathers even more admirable. The founding fathers will be celebrated throughout history for their contribution not just to America but to the world. Although many men and women can be considered instrumental to founding the nation, there are seven key players that most historians identify as being the founding fathers. Those seven include George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe, and Ben Franklin. All seven of the founding fathers and their contributions are important. Therefore, it can be helpful to compare and contrast three of them—such…… [Read More]
Liberal Capitalism Is the Ideology
Words: 1474 Length: 5 Pages Document Type: Thesis Paper #: 54749738
Flax was a major industry because of the ease of production. The prosaic nature of the homespun ideal led it to be the symbol of the revolution. It also induced progress. enjamin Franklin referred to it as the "first Ages of the world." ut this was linked to European finery, historically made from the animal skins of the Indians, who did not have a cloth-making industry. In his 1787 Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson declared all forms of manufacturing, including household, as a mortal threat to American virtue. As the American president in 1806, he drew the attention of Cherokee chiefs on the civilizing effect of spinning and weaving their own cotton cloths. In 1812, Jefferson and John Adams agreed to a common homespun vision of commercial progress (Zakim).
The overall view is that capitalism threatens or hinders democracy (Muller 2007). Capitalism involves an inequality of reward,…… [Read More]
Anderson, Kim. Liberal Capitalism: the Will to Happiness. Policy: the Centre for Independent Studies, Summer 2007
Lowell National Historical Park. Early American Manufacturing. National Park Services:
US Department of the Interior, 2002. Retrieved on October 8, 2008 at http://www.nps.gov/archive/lowe/loweweb/Lowell_History/earlyam.htm
Muller, Jerry Z. The Democratic Threat to Capitalism. Daedalus: MIT Press Summer,
Republicans and Federalists Differences the
The Hartford Convention was a gathering of Federalist Party delegates from five New England states that met in Hartford, Connecticut, between December 15, 1814, and January 5, 1815. Its members convened to discuss their long-held grievances against the policies of the successive Democratic-
Republican administrations of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
After that, the party never regained a national following. Its beliefs and actions during the War of 1812 helped seal its fate. y 1828 the Federalists became the first American political party to die out because it could not adjust to an increasingly democratic national spirit, especially in the nation's towns and cities. And among most Americans, mainly farmers suspicious of government, its policies of strong federal involvement in the economy kept it un-popular. Inconsistency in its stance toward military action (first undertaking a naval war with France, then treating for peace with that same nation, then actively opposing…… [Read More]
Alexander Hamilton's Anglo-American vision. (2008, July 26). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from American Founding: http://americanfounding.blogspot.com/2008/07/alexander-hamiltons-anglo-american.html
Corps of discovery: President Jefferson's vision. (2003, October 10). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Center of Military History - U.S. Army: http://www.history.army.mil/LC/the%20Mission/Expedition/page_2.htm
Democratic-Republican party. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Law Library - American Law and Legal Information: http://law.jrank.org/pages/6058/Democratic-Republican-Party.html
Federalist party. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2009, from Bookrags.com: http://www.bookrags.com/history/federalist-party-aaw-01/
Macro Vision of Jefferson vs
Words: 2374 Length: 9 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 12612725
Hamilton's Arguments in Favor of the Debt and the Bank
Jefferson would have no position against witch to argue had not Hamilton made the argument for the national debt so eloquently and so forcefully. Essentially, Hamilton and Jefferson entirely disagreed on the proper course to put the nation on a prosperous track. The greatest issue was whether the multitudinous colonial debts piled up by the individual colonies during and since the war with England should, in the spirit of e pluribus unum, be taken on by the federal government.
Hamilton postulated that the assumption of these colonies' - now states' - debts was essential to make the nation a credible, operating reality, deserving of trust in seeking credit from other countries. Also, Hamilton felt that "monied men" - those wealthy Americans who had made the loans to the state governments and how had in many instances not been paid yet…… [Read More]
Establishment of a Nation Discuss
Delegates' top priorities include the following. First, the delegates set out to revise the Articles of Confederation to weaken the power of the state legislatures and increase the powers of the central government. Delegates also sought changes in the ways states were represented in the federal government and introduced the concept of separation of powers to create a system of checks and balances. Debates between federalism and republicanism brewed during the Constitutional Convention, as delegates like Alexander Hamilton favored an exceedingly strong executive branch whereas traditional republicans hoped for term limits for elected officials. Compromise was a must and the Constitution of the United States reflects the confluence of republican and federalist values.
Second, the delegates heatedly debated the question of how to deal with slavery. An abolitionist movement had taken root in Europe and delegates were forced to address concerns about the international and inter-state slave trade. Once again,…… [Read More]
Articles of Confederation." MSN Encarta. Retrieved Oct 13, 2006 at http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761567227
Hamilton vs. Jefferson." Retrieved Oct 13, 2006 at http://countrystudies.us/united-states/history-41.htm
Lloyd, G. (2006). "Introduction to the Constitutional Convention." Teaching American History.org. Retrieved Oct 13, 2006 at http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/intro.html
Abortion Is Illegal Legally and
Words: 873 Length: 3 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 64522699
In this case, according to Alexander Hamilton, the court would have had the right to interfere and it would have had the superior power to declare the Texas statue void on its face.
However, Hamilton aside, our natural law and natural rights also prohibit first trimester abortion. Derived from Locke, Natural law and natural rights follow from the nature of man and the world. For instance, we have the right to defend ourselves and our property, because of our nature, because of the kind of creatures that we are. True law derives from this right, not from the arbitrary power of the omnipotent state.
Natural law has an objective, extrinsic existence. The ability to make moral judgment - or in other words, the capacity to know good and evil -- has immediate evolutionary benefits: just as the capacity to perceive three dimensionally tells one when one is standing on…… [Read More]
Gaining Their Independence What Were the Principal
gaining their independence, what were the principal concerns Americans had about constructing a frame of government, and how were these concerns addressed in the structure of the Constitution?
After Americans gained their independence from England the next step was to structure the frame of a new government. In 1787 it was determined that the Articles of Confederation would be tossed out and an entirely new government frame would be constructed which would reflect the new views of the nation. he delegates from each state argued and debated behind closed doors about what the framework of the new government would include (he Constitution of the United States (http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/constitution/constitution.html).here were several chief points of concern to those who were developing the frame. One of the most important aspects of the debate was how much power each state should be allowed to have. his included debates on how many members each state should…… [Read More]
The Pope of Liberty
http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/96oct/obrien/obrien.htm
The Transportation Revolution http://www.dur.ac.uk/h.j.harris/3MR/mr04.htm
Business -- Political Science the
Words: 6973 Length: 20 Pages Document Type: Capstone Project Paper #: 39808881
Today the outbound telephone marketing industry has given political campaigns the ability to reach out to a large group of targeted voters in a quick and quiet way, just below the radar. This notion went way beyond the small volunteer call centers that have existed for over forty years. It was essential for the technology to be in place and widely utilized. Political campaigns could not have put into production a complete industry of dissimilar companies, large and small, with many thousands of telephones in call centers. This was a revolution as one could target using any criteria from gender, age, vote propensity, income, level of education, to presence of children. One could shape the message even within a single calling agenda, so that they may be calling all women, but the script may be different for younger women in comparison to older women. And maybe most importantly, one can…… [Read More]
Bimber, B., and Davis, R. 2003. Campaigning Online: TheInternet in U.S. Elections, New
York: Oxford University Press.
Cornfield, M. 2005. Commentary on the Impact of the Internet onthe 2004 Election,
Washington, DC: Pew Internet and American Life Project, March 3.
American Political Philosophy
American Political Philosophy: epublicanism
Within this paper, the general theory of republicanism will be presented. The conceptualization of republicanism discussed within the paper as an American political philosophy will be based on The Federalist Papers written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison in 1787. Initially, a brief overview of relevant background information on The Federalist Papers will be provided. This will be followed by a discussion of the primary components of republicanism as set forth within the works of Hamilton, Jay and Madison. A summary and conclusions will then be provided.
Overview of The Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers have been suggested as representing one of the most important writing in American political thought (Yarbrough, 1986). It represents a collection of 85 letters written by Hamilton, Jay and Madison under the pseudonym of Publius. The letters were written to the American public and were initially published in a…… [Read More]
Hamilton, A., Jay, J. & Madison, J. (1961). The Federalist papers. C. Rossiter (ed.). NY: New American Library.
Yarbrough, J. (1986). The Federalist. News for Teachers of Political Science, (Spring 1986). 7 June 2003: http://www.apsanet.org/CENnet/thisconstitution/yarbrough.cfm..
Federal Antifederal the Framing of
45, for instance, where he argues that "the State governments may be regarded as constituent and essential parts of the federal government; whilst the latter is nowise essential to the operation or organization of the former. ithout the intervention of the State legislatures, the President of the United States cannot be elected at all." (Rossiter, 287) This is a position which suggests not only that the Federalists felt that significant power had already been entrusted to leaders at the state level, but also that this power is seen primarily as a function of the power of the federal government. Thus, we are given further confirmation that the Constitution was inherently a federal document.
In key segments of the debate such as that shown in the Anti-Federalist Paper No. 17, we can see that those who stood in opposition to the empowerment of federal authority derived from the Constitution were a…… [Read More]
Mansfield, Harvey C. Jr., (1979). Selected Writings Jefferson. Harlan Davidson Press.
Rossiter, Clinton. (1961). The Federalist Papers. Signet Classics.
Storing, Herbert J. (1985). The Anti-Federalist. The University of Chicago Press.
The Nation (TN). (2008). The Antifederalist Papers. This Nation.com.
Language of Ordinary People Thomas Paine
Language of Ordinary People
The American evolution could not have been as strong as it was if it were not for one man, Thomas Paine. He was the one who supported and fought for it with all his synergies, combined in the written form of most celebrated and valued book and pamphlet Common Sense and The American Crisis, which turned the tables for revolution and brought a vibrant change in the history of America. Thomas Paine spoke the language of common people through his words. This assisted them in being able to rise up for their individual rights. He believed that ordinary people should defend their liberty and this concept was written strongly in his top works of eighteenth century, which is still remembered and read throughout the America as an inspiring piece of inscription to raise the most necessary revolution to change America. This thesis tends to explain how…… [Read More]
"Hope for the Wrongly Accused." Voices for Freedom. 1-21, 2011. http://voices4freedom.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/hope-for-the-wrongly-accused / (accessed 7-6, 2012).
Marin., Lucian E. "Free Women from Domestic Violence." Voices for Freedom. 1-16, 2012. http://voices4freedom.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/free-women-from-domestic-violence / (accessed 7-6, 2012).
"Together We Can Change the World." Voices for Freedom. 12-13, 2011. http://voices4freedom.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/toegther-we-can-change-the-world-volunteer / (accessed 7-6, 2012).
Whittier, John Greenleaf. Voices of Freedom. london: BiblioBazaar, 2011.
Polygamous Revolt the Response of
S. Congress' prohibition of the practice and the Court's refusal to allow the practice, conflicted with the rights of individuals engaged in such practice. The actions of a religious group which are normally protected under the First Amendment and the laws of states like Utah that might wish to turn a blind eye to the practice were not allowed.
The states claim the social contract has been broken because the U.S. government has infringed upon individuals' liberty to marry more than one person and the states' rights to regulate matters not specifically delineated in the Bill of Rights. However, if this were the case that a state could secede every time the federal government disagreed with a state's definition of individual liberties. Virtually every constitutional dispute in the history of the nation, regarding the Bill of Rights, from abortion, to affirmative action, to gay marriage, to free speech, could justify…… [Read More]
Factions: Help or Hindrance
James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, aided by John Jay, were responsible for writing eighty-five anonymous essays for the New York Journal in 1787 and 1788. These articles were known as The Federalist Papers, and they were intended to persuade people into ratifying the proposed Constitution. In The Federalist Paper Number 10, Madison responded to critics who had argued that the United States was too large, and had too many groups, or "factions," to be ruled democratically by a single government. Madison acknowledged the importance of factions in the opening paragraph, stating that, "Among the numerous advantages promised by a well constructed Union, none deserves to be more accurately developed than its tendency to break and control the violence of faction" (Rossiter, 1961). In prescribing how to rule and control the effects of factions, Madison detailed their relationships with other important concepts, such as liberty and property,…… [Read More]
Rossiter, C. ed. The Federalist Papers. New York: New American Library, 1961.
On Liberty and the US Constitution
Words: 2791 Length: 8 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 1296870
Mill and U.S. Constitution
None of the issues being raised today by the Occupy all Street (OS) movement are new, but rather they date back to the very beginning of the United States. At the time the Constitution was written in 1787, human rights and civil liberties were far more constrained than they are in the 21st Century. Only white men with property had voting rights for example, while most states still had slavery and women and children were still the property of fathers and husbands. Only very gradually was the Constitution amended to grant equal citizenship and voting rights to all, and even the original Bill of Rights was added only because the Antifederalists threatened to block ratification. In comparison, the libertarianism of John Stuart Mill in his famous book On Liberty was very radical indeed, even in 1859 much less 1789. He insisted that individuals should be left…… [Read More]
Dahl, Robert Alan. How Democratic is the American Constitution? Yale University Press, 2003.
Kaplan, Lawrence. S. Alexander Hamilton: Ambivalent Anglophile. Scholarly Resources, Inc., 2002.
Main, Jackson Turner. The Antifederalists: Critics of the Constitution, 1781-1788. University of North Carolina Press, 1989, 2004.
Mill, John Stuart. On Liberty. London, 1859.
Special Identifications in History Person Event Place
Special Identifications in History; Person, Event and Place
Transition from New Amsterdam to New York (1664)
New York City is located right at the mouth of the Hudson iver. The first European power to visit New York was the Dutch in 1624. The land caught the attention of the administration in Netherlands. The Dutch West India Company hoped to explore the region's fur trade. Peter Minuit purchased a major real estate. Peter traded trinkets with natives for the island of Manhattan in 1626. A new town was set up there and was called New Amsterdam. The colony sought to enrich the stockholders from the Netherlands. The first governor of New Amsterdam (Peter Stuyvesant) ruled it with decree and dictatorship. The Dutch West India Company thrived in slave trade.
The English focused their eyes on the Dutch holding after Charles II assumed the throne. Charles gave the land to his brother…… [Read More]
Caswell, J. E. (2015, May 19). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved October 9, 2016, from Henry Hudson: English Navigator and Explorer: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-Hudson
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2016). Hudson River school; American Art Movement. Retrieved October 9, 2016, from Encyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/art/Hudson-River-school
Lankevich, G. (2016, August 12). New York City. Retrieved October 9, 2016, from Encyclopaedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/place/New-York-City/
Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia. (2016). George Washington (1732-1799). Retrieved October 9, 2016, from Miller Center of Public Affairs: http://millercenter.org/president/washington
Revolutionary Generation
Founding Brothers
When studying the history of the formation of the United States, one usually thinks in terms of separate events and individuals. However, the American republic was established, instead, by a series of important decisions and the joint efforts of some of the most prominent men of all time. In a matter of ten years, these critical interactions among the eight leading figures of John Adams, Aaron Burr, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and George Washington formed a nation that to this day remains one of the most successful "experiments" of democratic governments. As Joseph J. Ellis, the author of Founding Brothers: the Revolutionary Generation states:
What in retrospect has the look of a foreordained unfolding of God's will was in reality an improvisational affair ... If hindsight enhances our appreciation for the solidity and stability of the republican legacy, it also blinds us to the…… [Read More]
Leaders Are Made Not Born
In his Pulitzer Prize winning biography, His Excellency George ashington, Joseph J. Ellis presents a balanced and comprehensive portrait on the nation's first president that steers a course between hero-worship and debunking. He based his work on the latest edition of the ashington papers, which now include virtually every scrap of written information available except for his last three years as commander of the Continental Army and the second presidential term in 1793-97. For many modern readers, ashington comes across as a cold, distant, patriarchal figure, an iconic face on Mount Rushmore or the dollar bill, but not exactly a people's president like Abraham Lincoln. At the opposite extreme, Leftist and revisionist writers regard him as the creator of a nation that "was imperialistic, racist, elitist, and patriarchal," and prefer to write social history about women, slaves and common soldiers rather than the dead, white male ruling class (Ellis,…… [Read More]
Ellis, Joseph J. His Excellency George Washington. NY: Vintage Books, 2005.
Grant, Susan-Mary. Book Review. History Today, Vol. 55, June 2005.
Wesiberger, R, W. Book Review. Pennsylvania History, 2006.
Ratifying the U S Constitution
America went from being a loose union of individual states to being a nation with a central government when the Constitution was ratified. This was more important than the War for Independence, because it dictated the type of government we would have. The Federalists, led by Hamilton, wanted a strong central government. The Anti-Federalists wanted every state to be its own government. The guiding question of this essay is: Should the U.S. have ratified the Constitution or stayed a loose confederation? This paper will show why the U.S. was better off not ratifying the Constitution and remaining a loose confederation of states.
An interesting article at Mises Institute by Gary Galles argued that history has proven that the Anti-Federalists were right in their fears of what would happen should a central government be founded. As Galles notes, the Anti-Federalists were opposed to the ratification of the U.S. Constitution because they…… [Read More]
Political Design and Today
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered a brief but stirring speech while the country was in the process of tearing itself apart in a civil war. During that speech President Lincoln stated a phrase that has helped to capture what democracy means. Lincoln told the audience that had gathered to dedicate a soldier's cemetery that the government that had been formed "of the people, by the people, for the people" would not "perish from the earth." In that phrase, Lincoln summarized what the founding fathers had hoped to capture in documents that shaped the system of government they believed was essential for prosperity and happiness for all mankind. The fact that the United States has remained in existence for more than 200 years does not necessarily mean that the ideals Lincoln spoke of are in existence today. In fact, many would argue that the concepts Lincoln captured in his…… [Read More]
Hamilton, Alexander, "Federalist Paper 79," Independent Journal 18 Jun. 1788
Madison, James, "Federalist Paper 37," Daily Advertiser 11 Jan. 1788
Madison, James, "Federalist Paper 52," New York Packet 8 Feb. 1788
Training Levels and Number of
Words: 3726 Length: 12 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 73371699
Harassment, including sexual and other types as well, is also a common type of formal complaint that must be taken very seriously by contemporary businesses. More extensive employee training can help better inform employees of appropriate work behavior, so that there are less incidences of harassment between employees unknowingly.
etter trained employees makes for a more efficient work environment with less complications. Therefore, the research showed that "many organizations within it industries focus on providing "extensive retraining of employees," especially "as reengineering efforts go forward it is important to define and redefine performance goals and objectives, maintain a strong commitment to the vision, break the barriers between the departments, and be flexible as the business environment changes."
More extensive formal training can help with "nipping negativity before it derails morale" by reassuring the proper procedures but also by explaining appropriate company policy more directly and intimately so that all…… [Read More]
Alexander Hamilton Institute. "Bad Attitudes & Complaints: Handling Workplace Negativity." Business Management (2012). Web. http://www.businessmanagementdaily.com/19426/bad-attitudes-complaints-handling-workplace-negativity
Attaran, Moshen. "Exploring the Relationship between Information Technology and Business Process Reengineering." Information & Management 41 (2004), 585-596.
Bartel, Ann P. "Measuring the Employer's Return on Investments in Training: Evidence from the Literature." Industrial Relations 39, no. 3 (2000), 502-525.
Batt, Rosemary, Colvin, Alexander, & Keefe, Jeffrey. "Employee Voice, Human Resource Practices, and Quit Rates: Evidence from the Telecommunications Industry." Industrial and Labor Relations Reviews 55, no. 4 (2002), 573-595.
Limits to Democracy in the Early Republic
limits to democracy in the early republic, as its first president George ashington reflected the elitist view of the federalists in his approach to the executive branch of government. As Patrick Henry stated in 1788, "The Constitution is said to have beautiful features, but when I come to examine these features…they appear to me horridly frightful…it squints towards monarchy," (p. 146). According to Henry, the "President may easily become King," a fact that should "raise indignation in the breast of every American," (p. 146). Henry was himself not concerned with issues related to race, class, or gender, but he did understand the ideals of the democracy when he lamented, "hither is the spirit of America gone? hither is the genius of America fled?" (146). This question can easily be posed to point out the gross hypocrisy in denying Constitutional rights to more than half the population living in the borders…… [Read More]
Bailey, Ronald. "The Other Side of Slavery." Agricultural History. Vol 62, No. 2, 1994.
Hershberger, Mary. "Mobilizing Women, Anticipating Abolition." The Journal of American History. Vol 86, No. 1, June 1999.
Matthaei, Julie A. "An economic history of women in America: Women's work, the sexual division of labor, and the development of capitalism." Schocken Books, 1982.
All Primary Source Material from: Major Problems in American History:
Differences Between Constitutional Models
Constitutional Models and Political Parties
Constitutionalism and noble representative government are concepts and practices that have existed longer than the American epublic. The existence of these concepts provided the foundation for the formation of the American Democratic Experiment through acting as ingredients towards this process. Since the foundation of American epublic, there are various constitutional models that have been established. These different models have been established in attempts to respond to several governance issues that emerge from time to time. Actually, these different models have provided the foundation for governance models and practices for better governance of the society. Some examples of constitutional models include the 18th Century Madisonian and Hamiltonian constitutional models and Barker's normative democratic theory, which differ with regards to their major components.
Madisonian and Hamiltonian Models v. Normative Democratic Theory
The 18th Century constitutional models basically relied on principles introduced by Madison and Hamilton. Madisonian constitutional…… [Read More]
APSA Committee on Political Parties (1950). Towards a More Responsible Two-Party System.
Barker, E. (1942). Reflections on Government.
Garrison, A.H. (2008). Hamiltonian and Madisonian Democracy, The Rule of Law and Why the Courts Have a Role in the War on Terrorism. In Papers from the February 2008 conference: terrorism & justice -- The balance of civil liberties. Retrieved from https://www.ucmo.edu/cjinst/Issue8.pdf
Hamilton, A. (n.d.). The Presidency. The Federalist No.70.
American History Slave Revolts Although
Words: 6354 Length: 20 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 54831518
Alexander Hamilton carried on an affair with the wife of "a notorious political schemer," Maria Reynolds. Andrew Jackson married Rachel Jackson before her divorce from Lewis Robards was finalized and therefore was accused of marrying a married woman. Jackson's opponent in 1828, John Quincy Adams, was in turn accused of "corrupt bargaining" during his term. Jackson also championed Margaret O'Neill Timberlake, who married his secretary of war, John Eaton. "Peggy O'Neill" was considered a woman of "questionable virtue," and as a result Martin Van Buren became Jackson's successor in the presidency. After the death of Jackson and Eaton, Peggy married a 19-year-old dance teacher (which raised eyebrows, as she was 59), who embezzled her money and ran off to Europe with her 17-year-old granddaughter.
Other scandals concerned Richard Mentor Johnson, who ran for vice president in 1836 with Martin Van Buren. He supposedly shot Tecumseh during the ar of 1812,…… [Read More]
Ferling, John. Adams vs. Jefferson: the tumultuous election of 1800. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004.
American History as it Relates to the
Words: 2191 Length: 6 Pages Document Type: Term Paper Paper #: 2477589
American history as it relates to the first five Presidents of the United States. Specifically, it will discuss the impact of early leaders of America on the democratic government, and how the first five presidents impacted early American government. It will also look at the accomplishments of each president and different facts about each that contributed positively and negatively on America as it formed as a nation. The first five presidents of the United States were George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Each man influenced American history in his own unique and significant ways, with both positive and negative results. These leaders were really creating the office of President as they tried to run the country with intelligence and finesse. Their accomplishments were not always perfect, but they did the best they could with the knowledge and resources available at the time.
THE IMPACT OF…… [Read More]
Agar, Herbert. The People's Choice, from Washington to Harding: A Study in Democracy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1933.
Kane, Joseph Nashan. Facts about the Presidents: A Compilation of Biographical and Historical Data. New York H.W. Wilson Co., 1959.
Kurtz, Stephen G. The Presidency of John Adams: The Collapse of Federalism, 1795-1800. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1957.
Smith, Abbot Emerson. James Madison: Builder: A New Estimate of a Memorable Career. New York: Wilson-Erickson, Incorporated, 1937.
America Without the Constitution Without
Words: 3372 Length: 9 Pages Document Type: Research Paper Paper #: 94195078
Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation were approved in November, 1777 and were the basic format for what would become the Constitution and Bill of ights for the United States. There were, of course, deficiencies in the document, this was a new experiment and getting the delegates to agree in kind to pass any sort of document was challenging at best. The Articles did allow a semblance of unity, the further impetus to remain at war with the British, and the conclusion that there would be some sort of Federal government. The Articles, however, failed to require individual States to help fund the Federal (National) government, a template for an Executive and National Judicial Branch, or the issuance of paper money and a central banking system. In essence, the largest failure was the Articles' inability to allow a Federal government to regulate commerce, tax, or impose laws upon the…… [Read More]
REFERENCES and WORKS CONSULTED
Amar, a. (2005). America's Constitution: A Biography. New York: Random House.
Bailyn, B., ed. (1993). The Debate on the Constitution. Library of America Press.
Beeman, R. (2009). Plain, Honest Men: The Making of the American Constitution.
Random House.
American Presidency McDonald Forest The
The second section examines the processes of the Constitutional Convention, the rectification of the weak Articles of Confederation, the ratification of the new Constitution, and the Washington and Jeffersonian Administrations. The first presidents had to try to make sense of the wording of the new document and put the presidency's ideals into practice. The third section examines the evolving role of presidents from Jackson to the present and how they defined the role in relationship to the legislative and judicial branches, public opinion, historical events, and foreign affairs.
McDonald notes that although Democrats today tend to be most critical of so-called imperially styled presidents, it was Republicans who decried the increasingly powerful office of the presidency during the Roosevelt and Johnson administrations, and only later did the two parties flip-flop, after Nixon created what would later be called the imperial presidency by Democrats. This suggests that there is less of…… [Read More]
Approval of the Constitution of
DUAL FEDEALISM PHASE
The Dual Federalism is the reflection of the ideology that stressed over the balance of powers between the national and state governments, and considers both the governments as 'equal partners with separate and distinct spheres of authority' (Sergio, 2005). Previously, the 'federal or national government was limited in its authority to those powers enumerated in the Constitution', and it was evident that there was partial understanding and correspondence between the national and stat. There existed little collaboration between the national and state governments, which resulted in the 'occasional tensions over the nature of the union and the doctrine of nullification and state sovereignty'.
In 1789, the Constitution was approved by the States; ratification of the conventions convened took place. The period from 1789 to 1801 has been regarded as the Federalist Perios, 'the period takes its name from the dominant political party of the time, which believed…… [Read More]
Michael Mcguire. American Federalism and the Search for Models of Management. Public Administration Review. Volume: 61. Issue: 6. 2001. American Society for Public Administration.
Stever, James a. The Growth and Decline of Executive-Centered Intergovernmental Management. Publius: The Journal of Federalism Vol. 23. 1993. pp. 71-84.
Stoker, Gerry, and Karen Mossberger. Urban Regime Theory in Comparative Perspective. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy Vol. 12. 1992. pp. 195-212.
Stone, Clarence. Regime Politics. University Press of Kansas. 1989. pp. 218.
Peace Agreements and International Intervention
A peace treaty is an agreement between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a war or armed conflict. Treaties are often ratified in territories deemed neutral in the previous conflict and delegates from these neutral territories act as witnesses to the signatories. In the case of large conflicts between numerous parties there may be one global treaty covering all issues or separate treaties signed between each party. In more modern times, certain intractable conflict situations, especially those involving terrorism, may first be brought to cease-fire and are then dealt with via a peace process where a number of discrete steps are taken on each side to eventually reach the mutually desired goal of peace and the signing of a treaty. Some ceasefires, such as the one following the American Revolution, may last a number of years and follow a tortuous process.…… [Read More]
Berdal, Mats and David M. Malone, eds. Greed and Grievance: Economic Agendas in Civil Wars. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2000.
Chomsky, Noam. "Peace Process' Prospects." July 27, 2000. June 27, 2005. .
Collier, Paul and Anke Hoeffler. "Greed and Grievance, Policy Research Paper 2355." World Bank Development Group. May 2000.
Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.
How Did the Constitution Satisfy Complaints
United States Constitution concentrates on. It will address how it treated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and the complaints in the Declaration of Independence.
How the Constitution Deals with Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation
One key factor that has helped keep the constitution of the United States alive is the processes involved in its amendment. These processes require 2/3 majority votes from the two houses of Congress or by every state legislature. The Articles of Confederation could not be changed easily because a unanimous vote required from each of the states. As the number of the sates in the United States increased from 13 to 50, it would have been almost impossible to change the articles. No judicial system was provided for the United States by the Articles of Confederation.
In the same way, Congress lacked the legal power to enforce any laws (Morelock, n.d). Each of…… [Read More]
Boyd, S. (1995). Ashbrook -- Strengthening Constitutional Self-Government. A Look Into the Constitutional Understanding of Slavery -- Ashbrook. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from http://ashbrook.org/publications/respub-v6n1-boyd /
DeLaney, A. (n.d.). How-To Help and Videos - For Dummies . Understanding Elected Offices - For Dummies . Retrieved October 29, 2015, from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/understanding-elected-offices.html
Kimberling, W. (n.d.). Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections. The Electoral College - Origin and History. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from http://uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_history.php
(n.d.). Legal Dictionary. Commerce Clause legal definition of Commerce Clause. Retrieved October 31, 2015, from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Commerce+Clause
How to Become a U S Citizen Essay
Words: 1323 Length: 4 Pages Document Type: Paper #: Array
Essay Prompt
Naturalize Me
Click the link below to visit the Naturalization page:
https://www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
Complete the following:
Define naturalization.
In your own words, list the requirements to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Review the sample Naturalization Self Test that may be asked on the naturalization exam.
Answer the first twenty questions. Be sure to include the questions in your assignment submission (for your instructor).
Which question(s) did you find to be challenging?
Are the questions asked of those persons wishing to become naturalized citizens fair?
Do you think most U.S. born citizens could answer these questions? Why or why not?
Most of the people in the United States on a permanent basis are born as United States citizens. However, there are many other people that are present in the United States on temporary visas, on permanent resident cards or that have…… [Read More]
Two Visions of Government Federalist vs Anti Federalist
ratification of the U.S. Constitution pushed the nation to extremes: on the one hand were the Federalists, led by men like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison -- men who promoted the idea of a central government (the reasons for which they enumerated at length in their "Federalist" papers); on the other hand were the Anti-Federalists, led by men like obert Yates and George Clinton (Yates being the presumptive author of the pseudonymously penned Anti-Federalist papers under the name of "Brutus"). Each side had its own view, not just of government, but of humanity and the way in which political society should be organized. This paper will present the underlying fundamental perspective of each side and show why I would have sided with the Anti-Federalists.
The Federalist plan to organize the federal government was to make it capable of overriding the individual autonomy and authority of the individual states, which the…… [Read More]
Brutus No. 1. (1787). Retrieved from http://www.constitution.org/afp/brutus01.htm
Federalist No. 6 (n.d.). Retrieved from http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed06.asp
Politics Six Questions & Discussion on American
Six Questions & Discussion on American Politics
During the U.S. Constitutional Convention of 1787, two primary plans were forwarded that shaped the development and discussion at the convention that would forever impact the shape of American politics. The first plan, the Virginia Plan, introduced by Governor Randolph, was an effort to simply revise the existing Articles of Confederation. It was characterized by three major points: the structural exclusion of states from elections and representation at the national level, reductions of powers to individual states, and the abandonment of the some national features of republicanism like institutional separation of powers. The Virginia Plan was countered by two alternative plans, and a division at the Convention: the New Jersey Plan that believed the Virginia Plan went too far in affording power to the national government, and the Hamilton Plan that argued the Virginia Plan didn't go far enough (Lloyd).…… [Read More]
Burner, David and Rosenfield, Ross. "Polling." Dictionary of American History. 2003. 15 Dec. 2009 .
"Evolution of American Political Parties from the Revolution to the Reconstruction." 2003. 15 Dec. 2009 .
Follesdal, Andreas. "Federalism." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2006. 15 Dec. 2009 .
Green, John, Smidt, Corwin, Guth, James, and Kellstedt, Lyman. "The American Religious Landscape and the 2004 Presidential Vote: Increased Polarization." 15 Dec. 2009 .
John Adams Was the Second
Words: 3045 Length: 10 Pages Document Type: Thesis Paper #: 50445004
In fact, many turned to Toryism because they believed that the aim of government was "to place man out of the reach of his own power." Adams strongly disagreed as he believed that the purpose of government was to secure for the citizenry "the greatest quantity of happiness" for the greatest number of people. His strong conviction was that this 'general happiness' could be achieved if the citizenry not only made the laws, but if "an Empire of Laws and not of men" came into being. Furthermore, Adams believed that the American Revolution would enhance individual opportunity. His aim was to destroy the system of elite privileges which existed in both monarchical and aristocratic societies; this wish was based on his belief that power should never be an inherited right because the first objective of the governing elite would be to serve themselves.
Adams contended that private virtue was crucial…… [Read More]
Miroff, Bruce. "John Adams: Merit, Fame, and Political Leadership," the Journal of Politics, Vol. 48, No. 1 (Feb., 1986): pp. 116-132
Ferling, John. Setting the World Ablaze: Washington, Adams, Jefferson, and the American Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
Morse, Anson, "The Politics of John Adams," the American Historical Review Vol. 4, No. 2,
Morse, Jr., John T. John Adams. Read Books, 2007.
Branches of Government the Three
This meant that President was not allowed to encroach upon the rights and powers of other branches. Hamilton further explains in the Federalist Paper # 75:
The essence of the legislative authority is to enact laws, or, in other words, to prescribe rules for the regulation of society; while the execution of the laws, and the employment of the common strength, either for this purpose or for the common defense, seem to comprise all the functions of the executive magistrate.
It was because the framers wanted to limit the powers of the President that his term was fixed at four-years. It was much later that the condition of twice consecutive terms was incorporated in the Constitution to further curtail the powers of the Executive branch. While the framers tried to control all braches of the government by means of limiting powers, they did intend to have a stronger executive branch…… [Read More]
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Papers, accessed on 18th May 2005 at http://www.naawp.com/gov/fed/_nav/fed_nav.htm
Maryland Many Consider Mccullough v
" (McCullough v. Maryland, 1819). Doherty's response to that statement is:
Ah well, the constitution is not a suicide pact, after all; nor is it a shopping list, a condominium agreement, or any number of other things. But it was meant to be a document that defined in a strictly limited way what government could do, and also to a significant degree how it could do it. (Doherty).
Obviously, Doherty recognizes that the Constitution is different than a mere law, but he is concerned that an overly liberal interpretation could give the Federal government too much power over the states and, ultimately, over the people. Such an argument is the prime reason that some people continue to question the doctrine of Federalism as outlined in the case, and why people debate the merits of the decision to this very day.
orks Cited
Atkins, Chris. "Important Tax Cases: McCullough v. Maryland…… [Read More]
Atkins, Chris. "Important Tax Cases: McCullough v. Maryland and the Sovereign Power to Tax." Tax Policy Blog. 2005. Tax Foundation. 5 Oct. 2006 http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/show/1002.html .
Doherty, Brian. "Recruiters in My Cornflakes: Time to Give McCullough v. Maryland Another
Look." ReasonOnline. 2006. Reason. 5 Oct. 2006 http://www.reason.com/links/links030906.shtml .
McCullough v. Maryland. (1819). American Government: Online Almanac. 2004. Houghton
American System Henry Clay Gave His Famous
Henry Clay gave his famous speech in support of the American System to the House of Representatives in 1824, although Alexander Hamilton had used the same term decades before. It rested "on the idea of harmonizing all the segments of the economy for their mutual benefit and of doing so by active support from an intervening national government" (Baxter 27). Clay's conversion to this policy was surprising since Hamilton had been a member of the Federalist Party while Henry Clay was supposedly a Democratic Republican and a Jeffersonian, opposed to Federal plans for government aid to industry, a national bank, protective tariffs and federal funding for highways, canals, railroads and other internal improvements. After the ar of 1812, however, the first political party system had come to an end and the Federalists were discredited by their opposition to the war and threats of secession in New England. During…… [Read More]
Baxter, Maurice G. Henry Clay and the American System. University Press of Kentucky, 2004.
Hounshell, David A. From the American System to Mass Production, 1800-1932. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984.
U S Political Party System
Anti-Federalists and the Constitution in the Development of Political Parties
The Development of Political Parties
The Constitution and Political Parties
The Changing Ideology of Political Parties
Even before the adoption of the Constitution, political parties were beginning to form. Those who favored the Constitution were called Federalists, and were led by Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Another group, led by Thomas Jefferson, opposed the adoption of the Constitution and was known as Antifederalists. The Antifederalists broke up after the Constitution was ratified, but they set the stage for the development of other political parties, resulting in the two party system that we have today.
The debate over the Constitution split people into two groups. Those who favored ratification believed that a strong federal government that would dominate the individual states. Hamilton particularly argued that the future of the country depended on the development of a…… [Read More]
Brief History of the Democratic Party." 2003. Democratic National Committee. 30 April 2003 http://www.democrats.org/about/history.html .
Elkins, Stanley and Eric McKitrick. The Age of Federalism: The Early American Republic, 1788-1800. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.
Main, Jackson Turner. The Antifederalists: Critics of the Constitution, 1781-1788. Chapel
Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1961.
Words: 2406 Length: 8 Pages Document Type: Book Report Paper #: 29477523
The arguments contrast two observations. Which of them is the best and why? Give a detailed and substantial response.
Charles eard and John Roche had differing views regarding the American constitution as they hailed from different background. Due to their diverse backgrounds, they have their own views regarding American constitution. A deep study of both authors shows that, John Roche is an optimist and a reformer, while Charles eard attempts to expose the inner intentions of the founding fathers (Thesis Statement, 2014). oth authors give interesting insight into the minds of the founding fathers with rock solid evidence. eard (1913) proposes that founding fathers had huge properties to protect while Roche (1961) argues that constitution united the nation quite effectively.
eard's points
Those penning the constitution had sold commercial and financial interest of their own (p. 36)
The authors of the constitution were bent on penning a…… [Read More]
Berg, S. (2012). The Founding Fathers and the Constitutional Struggle over Centralized Power. Baltimore County: University of Maryland. Retrieved from: http://www.umbc.edu/che/tahlessons/pdf/The_Founding_Fathers_and_the_Constitutional_Struggle_PF.pdf
Dalleva, N. (2010, August 30). An Analysis Of John Roche's Essay "A Reform Caucus in Action." Retrieved from Essencearticles.com: http://www.essencearticles.com/book-reviews-politics/an-analysis-of-john-roches-essay-a-reform-caucus-in-action
Dalleva, N. (2010, September 15). Education. Retrieved from articlesfactory.com: http://www.articlesfactory.com/articles/education/an-analysis-of-john-roches-essay.html
Folsom, B. (2009, June 11). The Freeman. Retrieved from Fee.com: http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-founders-the-constitution-and-the-historians
Paulson Multiple Foundings and Evolutions
Words: 397 Length: 1 Pages Document Type: Research Proposal Paper #: 25388928
S. Constitution; Bertelli & Lynn). The general outline and structure of this paper will build from historical roots of bureaucracies as described in the literature and follow a chronological through-line of administration development through to the modern era.
Discussion of the founding principles of the United States
Conflicting Ideals of Self-eliance/Government protection
Development of Bureaucracies
Examination of Hamilton's views on public administration
Analysis of Madison's administration
General growth of federal government
Different Founding of Public Administration
Initial administration and principles reviewed
Aftermath of Civil War
Teddy oosevelt
Franklin D. oosevelt
Shifts in Modern Era
Pull-back in regulations of business, return to laissez faire
Greater emphasis on personal responsibility
TAP Decision
Lack of regulation leading to ultimate fallout
Protective/preemptive measures determined to be necessary
Developing ideals behind protection v self-reliance
eferences
Bertelli, a. & Lynn, L. (). Madison's managers. Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press.
Green, . (2002).…… [Read More]
Green, R. (2002). Alexander Hamilton: Founder of the American Public Administration. Administration & society 34(5), pp. 541-62.
Nelson, W. (1982). The roots of American bureaucracy, pp. 1-8.
Stillman, R. (1991). Preface to Public Administration: A Search for Themes and Direction. New York: St. Martin's Press.
The Ripple Effects of American
Words: 4742 Length: 14 Pages Document Type: Research Proposal Paper #: 5699076
In this encouragement, American would help to touch off something
perhaps all the more miraculous given the proximity to its oppression to
the European peasantry at large. First in the doctrines which would be
formulated in the wake of French independence and secondly in the way that
Napoleon Bonaparte would begin the spread of such doctrines to a continent
driven by inequality, America's revolution could be said to have been the
opening round in the deconstruction of colonialism and feudalism throughout
Europe and thus, the world.
Drafted in the image of the American Declaration of Independence,
though perhaps more ambitious and sweeping even in its trajectories, the
Declaration of the Rights of Men would dictate a universal principle
arguing that all men are born equal and that any distinctions made between
men according to the social conditions must be terms agreed upon by all
parties. The constitutional document underscoring the…… [Read More]
Center for History and New Media (CHNM). (2005). Monarchy Embattled.
George Mason University. Online at
Chew, Robin. (2004). Napoleon I: Emperor of the French. Lucid Caf?.
Online at http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/95aug/napoleon.html.
Locke, John. (2003). Two Treatise of Government, 14th. ed. Cambridge
Madison's Role in Trying to
In fact, during the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Slonim notes that the need for a bill of rights was not even a topic of discussion until Virginian delegate George Mason raised the issue just several days before the Convention was scheduled to rise on September 17; Mason suggested that a bill of rights "would give great quiet to the people." Following this assertion, Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts moved that the Convention add a bill of rights to the Constitution and Mason seconded his motion to no avail: "The Convention unanimously rejected the proposal by a vote of 10 to 0, with one state absent. Failure to heed Mason's counsel was to plague the Federalists throughout the ratification campaign" (emphasis added).
The first major confrontation concerning the ratification of the Constitution involving the need for a bill of rights occurred in Pennsylvania several weeks after the close of the Constitutional Convention; at…… [Read More]
Banning, Lance. The Sacred Fire of Liberty: James Madison and the Founding of the Federal Republic. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1995.
Binkley, Wilfred E. And Malcolm C Moos. A Grammar of American Politics: The National Government. New York: A.A. Knopf, 1949.
Bernhard, Virginia, David Burner and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese. A College History of the United States, St. James: Brandywine Press, 1991.
Brant, Irving. The Bill of Rights: Its Origin and Meaning. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill, 1965.
Analyzing the Partisan Politics
Partisan Politics
At the time the U.S. Constitution was ratified, the new America of the 19th century saw its indigenes with varied political opinions. Those in favor of a powerful central government and therefore, a restraint of the powers the states possessed were part of the Federalist Party; those with the belief that interpretation should be given to the Constitution in order to reduce the powers the national government wields, which would further empower the states, became part of the epublican PartyTherefore, The Federalists adopted a nationalistic opinion; the epublicans, although they would not refute the efficiency of the central government, held the opinion that certain rights ought to be kept for the states. Thus, this essay will explore the aforementioned idea (Writer Thoughts). It will examine how the Federalist philosophy and ideas shaped modern American Society.
Supporters of the Constitution
The proposed American Constitution's advocates labeled themselves as "Federalists."…… [Read More]
Boyd. "American Federalism, 1776 to 1997: Significant Events." USA Embassy. N.p., 1997. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. .
"Constitution of the United States." The Free Dictionary. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. .
"Federalists." U.S. History. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2016. .
MacDonald, William. Select Documents Illustrative of the History of the United States, 1776-1861. N.p.: Macmillan, n.d. Google Books. 1905. Web. 26 Mar. 2016. .
Federalist vs Anti-Federalist Papers
The Federalists advocated a strong central government while the Anti-Federalists advocated state governments. The former feared that division would lead to fighting and instability. The latter feared that centralized power would lead to the kind of totalitarianism that the American Revolutionaries had just victoriously opposed in the War for Independence. This paper will describe why I would align myself with the Anti-Federalists because of their aversion for centralized power.
The difference between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists was all about what kind of government the United States would have. The Federalists wanted to ratify the Constitution (which we have today) because it defined the ways in which states would be subject to a federal government and the ways in which they would be free to act on their own. The view of the Federalists was that the Constitution would protect the states from "domestic factions and convulsions" and provide unity…… [Read More]
The American Revolution and Enlightenment Thought
Revolution, Constitution and Enlightenment
The American Revolution and the ensuing U.S. Constitution put forward by the Federalists were both products of and directly informed by the European Enlightenment. The Founding Fathers were considerably influenced by thinkers like Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu (whose separation of powers served as the model of the three-branched government of the U.S.). This paper will explain how the European Enlightenment set the stage for the American Revolution and U.S. Constitution by putting out the ideas that the Americans would use as the basis of the political and social foundation.
The Enlightenment aka the Age of Reason was an Age in which natural philosophy assumed the vaulted position of guiding light over the preceding Age of Faith, which had served as the socio-political basis in Europe for centuries. The Reformation had upended the Age of Faith and introduced secularization into the political realm (Laux), particularly via…… [Read More]
Economic Society and New World
Words: 2145 Length: 7 Pages Document Type: Capstone Project Paper #: 40030140
(Zinn 8)
Human societies within the context of civilization most always are organized into deference periods. The Constitution is a product of worldviews developed within such a limited paradigm, as paradigms tend to be, whether individuals -- including the Founders -- were and are aware of it. This condition, in part, touches on what Heilbroner frames as "The Unresolved Problem of Economic Power." He accepts that the wonderful free market system of Adam Smith is tainted by "giant oligopoly." The logic positing the market economy "as the servant of the consumer," therefore, might as well be null-and-void, but, still, "the emergence of these new attributes," Heilbroner argues, "can be seen as new functional mechanisms for the support of that system." (Heilbroner 18)
To make natural the influence of "giant oligopolies" to the free-market economy, Heilbroner borrows examples from the world of advertising and the manipulation of consumer wants. He admits…… [Read More]
3. Chomsky, Noam. (3 March 1993) Notes of NAFTA: "The Masters of Man." The Nation.
4. Zinn, Howard. (1980) a People's History of the United States. Boston: HarperPerennial
5. ____. (1997) Britain and America: Studies in Comparative History 1760-1970. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
American Government the Five Main
It separates the various forms of government and does not allow one to become more powerful than another, and it ensures that laws are created fairly, that justice is fair, and that the President does not gain too much power. Essentially, it is the backbone of our Democracy, and that assures our freedom and the public good.
Critics of the Constitution and its support of the public good believe that the laws can promote gridlock in legislation, and that it can make it easier for government leaders to not take responsibility for problems. However, the framers of the Constitution had the citizens in mind, and they formed it to create a Democratic country with the good of the public as a foremost concern.
The Virginia Plan was a plan favored by James Madison, and it had three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislature chose the executive and judicial branches,…… [Read More]
Evolution of Modern U S Society
In an era where the issue of human and civil rights was considered an element that could not be addressed by law, the drafting of the U.S. constitution came as a result of a great democratic endeavor which tried to point out several aspects. On the one hand, it proved the fact that the people are the supreme judges of the way in which the country is developing through the fact that Thus, the most important line for the American democracy is part of the Declaration of Independence which underlines the fact "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" (the Declaration of Independence, n.d.). This aspect certifies the idea that according to the American documents, people have the right to be free in all their respects.
The Constitution comes…… [Read More]
Adams, John. "Novanglus, Febuary 6, 1775." From Revolution to Reconstruction. 2003. 5 May 2008 http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P.ja2/writtings/novan1.htm
American Foreign Relations. Revolution: Impact on the Economy. 2007. 5 May 2008 http://www.americanforeignrelations.com/Re-Ro/Revolution-Impact-on-the-Economy.html
Jenkins, P. (1997). A history of the United States. New York: Palgrave
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Republicanism. 2006. 5 May 2008. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/republicanism/
Thomas Jefferson Background and Description
Summary of the three most important leadership lessons learned
What one can and should learn from studying the life and thinking of Thomas Jefferson is that leaders are not necessarily born, but they are also shaped. What is takes to be a leader in those days, is similar to these. One needs constant learning and interest in different fields of activity that will cultivate not only a good understanding of their society but also a way of thinking that results into initiative. One of the features of Jefferson's leadership is the importance of initiative. Also, one should have within his communication skill those of persuasion. Without a convincingly presentation of one's ideas, these cannot become valuable initiatives - support, and later on persons that carry on one's idea, so therefore followers, are won by powerful statements by powerful men. That is what Thomas Jefferson had: initiative, based on a rigorous…… [Read More]
Biography Online. 3 Major Achievements of Thomas Jefferson. n.d. 22 March 2008. http://www.biographyonline.net/thomas_jefferson/achievements.html
Chemers, Martin M.. An Integrative Theory of Leadership. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1997
Eicholz, Hans. Harmonizing Sentiments: The Declaration of Independence and the Jeffersonian Idea of Self-Government. New York: Peter Lang. 2001
Gould, William D. "
Politics in America From 1775
Both large states with a great population, they did not want to lose influence or power to a federal government. In particular, there was great debate in New York as existing political leaders feared a lose of power. The Federalists were those who supported the Constitution and include James Madison and Alexander Hamilton. They were the Federalist Papers that were published in New York and not only helped the Constitution to be ratified, but guided the direction of the new American nation. Those who opposed a strong government were the anti-federalists and they feared America would turn into a corrupt nation like Great Britain.
George Washington, who would be the first President, was a federalist and had great influence and therefore helped the country to go in that direction. A Bill of Rights quelled further fears about the oppression of the federal government. In 1788 the Constitution went into effect.…… [Read More]
Rediscovering George Washington Founding Father
One can assume from his writing that he wants his readers to be persuaded with his point-of-view and appreciate the accomplishments of George Washington (Kuegler). It is also believed that his secondary aim of writing the book is to give rebirth to politics of morals and ethics.
Monty Rainey. ook Review. Junto Society.
A www.juntosociety.com/
Thomas Kuegler. Review www.skyline.net.com
All in all, one can say that his book represents dynamism, intellectualism and exceeding pleasure. As mentioned above, his book does not fully cover his life and works, however, it aims to bring alive the politics of those times so as to transform the hearts and minds of all those who read his book (Kuegler).
The most unexpected result of his book is the warmth it provokes amongst those who read it. It is clear that rookhiser does not make an effort to create an acceptable image of Washington to the…… [Read More]
A.J. Bacevich. Book Review: "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington." National
Review, March 11, 1996. www.findarticles.com
Monty Rainey. Review: "Founding Father: Rediscovering George Washington." Junto Society.
John Steele Gordon Considers the
Words: 355 Length: 1 Pages Document Type: Article Review Paper #: 60634320
In the study of history, an article like Gordon's is extremely important in a variety of ways. When examining aspects of history in such a linear way, it becomes easy to identify mistakes and problems arising from certain events and actions, for example. In this way, linier history can be used as a lesson for future events and actions, and the cliche that "history repeats itself" might become less likely. On the other hand, the sound decisions and developments made during the examined period can also be used to replicate for future success.
Examining Gordon's article is also interesting in terms of examining sequential events such as the slavery issue. I for example find the question of slavery and the cotton industry intriguing. The possibility of avoiding one of the most terrible wars in American history by a ten-year development delay is certainly food for thought.
Gordon, John Steele.…… [Read More]
Race and Revolution an Iconoclastic Figure in
ace and evolution
An iconoclastic figure in the study of American History, Gary Nash, who is Director of the National Center for History in the Schools at UCLA, writes from a position of authority as he questions the history that many of us were taught during our primary and secondary educations. In ace and evolution, Nash turns his keen vision toward the matter of slavery at the time our country was founded. A collection of essays based upon his series of Merrill Jensen Lectures in Constitutional Studies at the University of Wisconsin, ace and evolution is an indictment of our country's, primarily northern, founders as they hemmed and hawed and, ultimately, declined the opportunity to create a true, free, racially diverse republic.
ather than focusing on the issue of slavery at its post-independence height, during the antebellum period in the South, ace and evolution examines the issues surrounding slavery during…… [Read More]
Nash, G. (1990). Race and revolution. Lanham, Maryland:
Madison House Publishers
Nash, G. (2010). Red, white, and black: the peoples of early North America (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Independent United States Shed Colonial Past Begin
independent United States shed colonial past begin a direction, politically
Political and Economic Unity
In order to properly understand the methodology employed by the newly independent United States used to effectively shed its colonial past and begin a new direction politically and economically, one must first understand how the country operated on these two fronts as a series of British colonies prior to the waging of the Revolutionary War. Politically, the colonies existed as an extension of the British crown, were governed by the monarchy which ruled the foreign kingdom, and had little say in matters that were mandated by Britain. The colonists preferred a form of salutary neglect in terms of British involvement with their daily political lives, but when Britain intervened (particularly in the years leading up to the revolution) in the daily affairs of the colonialists, there was little they could actually do about it -- save…… [Read More]
At paperdue.com, we provide students the tools they need to streamline their studying, researching, and writing tasks.
Example Essays Essay Tutorials Citation GeneratorFlash Card Generator Homework Help
Sign Up Log In FAQs Our Blog Contact UsAbout Us
Sitemap Privacy Policy Terms Of Service Browse All Essays Recently Added Essays
Copyright 2021 . electronic inspiration llc . All rights Reserved
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1169
|
__label__wiki
| 0.558634
| 0.558634
|
PublicSource | News for a better Pittsburgh (https://www.publicsource.org/video-facebook-live-interview-with-the-allegheny-county-department-of-human-services-director/)
Key takeaways from our interview with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services director
By Brittany Hailer | November 6, 2017
Subscribe to HEALTH
When Marc Cherna came to Allegheny County 21 years ago, the area’s youth and family services were seen as “a national disgrace.”
The agency was besieged by scandals. The number of young people being removed from their homes and put in the system was “out of control,” and its budget was rife with problems, he said.
Cherna was brought in to rehabilitate. A year after his 1996 start date, Cherna created the county Department of Human Services by taking 32 departments and merging them into five. Residents told his team they would benefit from centralized services.
“We want to be able to tell our story once,” Cherna recalls their clients saying. “Because most people who we serve have multiple issues and multiple problems, we formed a department and started that road of integrating.”
Cherna is now the longest reigning executive in the country.
In a Nov. 6 Facebook Live interview with PublicSource, Cherna focused on the county’s No. 1 public health issue — the opioid crisis. Below are some key takeaways from our 45-minute discussion. You can view the whole interview in the video above.
On the progression and severity of the opioid epidemic:
It's horrible. I mean it's really an out-of-control epidemic right now and it's probably going to get worse before it gets better.
And I've been in this business for almost 45 years so I've been doing this a long time. I ran a state system for 13 years before I came here to the county system. So, I've been through the crack epidemic. I've been through many of the other things, but the opiate epidemic has its own challenges that are different. The challenge with this is that, one, it affects everybody and, two, a lot of addictions are being generated by the pills more than anything else.
There are thousands of people who need treatment. It's a question of, one, are they willing? And, two, can we get them a bed when they are? And oftentimes, somebody will be ready for treatment, but for a very short period of time. If you don't get them right then when they're ready, they'll go out and get high — you've lost the opportunity. There's not enough beds right now because the demand is so great. Being able to reach people when they need it and having treatment on demand is key.
We've always had heroin but it used to be a lot less potent. Sometimes people would overdose and die, but it’s nowhere near the way it is right now. We had 650 overdose deaths in 2016. But I think the more telling number is [there were 10 times as many reversals].
On Narcan (naloxone), an overdose-reversing medication:
We put so much Narcan out there, and the EMS folks have been great. We have been reversing a lot of overdoses, so people are staying alive. But if that wasn't out there, you'd have 5,000 deaths. And that's probably a low number.
Watch: PublicSource LIVE interview with Dr. Stacy Beck on maternal health
PublicSource LIVE interview with Dr. Stacy Beck on maternal health.
Video: Facebook Live interview with artist Vanessa German
Vanessa German is a renowned artist and a community activist. She runs ARThouse in Homewood, where youth in the neighborhood have the opportunity to immerse themselves in art. German most recently made news when she spoke out at a community conversation about the removal of a billboard that contained the message, “THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE.”
I mean, I think addiction is such a nasty disease. I've seen it firsthand. It's affected my family. It's affected my friends. I don't know anybody who hasn't been affected. And if people could quit, they would. It gets past being fun very quickly. Usually people get addicted and they don't even realize it and then they're stuck. But, I've seen an awful lot of people get into recovery. So, there is a time when the lightbulb will go on for most people and you just got to keep them alive until then.
I'm a big proponent of Narcan to keep people alive and hope that maybe this time it will work for them.
On medication-assisted treatment:
One of the things that we are very much stressing is that all the evidence and research is showing that the most effective thing to do is medication-assisted treatment. It allows people to stabilize and get their life stable and then they can start to deal with things.
Methadone, Suboxone, Vivitrol shots, all of these things will take people from chasing the drug 24/7 to being able to get on with their lives and getting some stability in their lives. After a period of time, they can start to wean off of that.
A lot of people who are on methadone or Suboxone lead very productive lives. They have their daily dose and then they go to work and they raise their kids and they go to school.
Some people will say, ‘Well, that's just another drug.’ And the response is: Well, if you're a diabetic, you're taking the drug. You're taking insulin. This is a disease. It's physical. It's a health-related thing. It's not something that people do out of choice.
On abstinence and 12-step programs, which employ a set of guiding principles designed to help with overcoming substance abuse:
Abstinence is fine if somebody could stay abstinent. And that's a very difficult thing to do. There are some people who get into recovery, go to treatment or go to meetings, and they manage to never use again. But there's so many people who have not been successful at that. They relapse. Things happen. Triggers happen.
This is a brain disease, so your brain is not thinking right. It’s not that you don't want to stay abstinent.
I think we can do a lot better with stigma, and it always really bothers me the whole anonymity thing. Unfortunately, society's stigma kind of does that, where you're afraid that if you say that you have a problem, or that you have had a problem, then other folks will stigmatize you. It would be harder to get a job, it would be harder to socialize with people.
Then you have the 12-step programs, which really pride themselves on anonymity — Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous. So people don't come forward and say, ‘I've got a problem. I have this disease.’ I think if everybody stood up with who is affected, this would go away in a hurry.
On babies being born addicted and when children are removed from their homes:
If a parent is addicted or a parent is using drugs, the child will be born addicted and then has to go through withdrawal and it's really a pretty horrible kind of thing. If somebody is a heroin addict and is pregnant then [Magee-Women’s Hospital of UPMC] and places like that will try to move them to methadone because it's not quite as bad on their withdrawal. It's medically managed in a different way. You're controlling what's going into your body. Methadone is a controlled substance. Whereas, if you're on the street purchasing heroin, you don't know if you're getting heroin, or if you're getting fentanyl or carfentanil.
If a child is born addicted, [the neonatal folks] will refer to Children and Youth and we have to do an investigation. It doesn't mean we're going to remove the child necessarily, but we have to go and see what's going on and try to provide services, try to minimize any risk. A number of children do get referred and do end up getting placed.
[Cherna said that, officially, about 40 percent of children referred to the Office of Children, Youth and Families are because of the opioid epidemic. He believes the figure is actually closer to 60 to 65 percent and that those cases just aren’t being identified as opioid-related.]
Over 65 percent of the kids we place, we place with relatives. We try to keep it in the family. We certainly work on reunification, help mom, get them to treatment or whatever is needed so she can stabilize to get her child back.
We also leave a lot of kids in their home, if we can have other kinds of support. We do have a contract with the Children's Institute, where anybody we get who's born addicted, we refer to them for case management. They carry that family for five years. We work closely with Children’s Hospital. One of our addiction agencies, POWER, works in our offices. They have women in recovery who help engage the mom who has an issue.
On the national emergency declaration by President Donald Trump:
It’s a declaration, but there’s no money behind it. If it’s going to help us, there needs to be some resources that go with it. It would be nice if they changed some of their policies and some of the restrictive things around confidentiality, so you can better serve people and coordinate their services and their care. It's a good first step. But then, what comes behind it? I'd like to see them really pushing harm reduction. And really pushing that this is a disease.
On how the Department of Human Services approaches rehabilitation of addicted individuals and their families:
We're trying to be very aggressive in terms of treatment. We have [requests for proposals] out right now for drug treatments for entire families. A lot of times, one spouse or the other partner will not go in [for treatment] because they're afraid they will lose their kids or they don't want to break up the family. If they were able to go in together with the children, I think we’d be better off.
If you have a family and you can do this, then it's a combination of funding. They'll save money. It's an investment because if they stay addicted, or you end up having to remove the children, that costs a lot of money for placement. If the parents are going in and out of treatment, if they’re ending up in homeless shelters, or high utilizers of other services, over time that costs a lot of money. If they have healthcare needs because they're not treating their addiction, you’re paying for hospitalizations.
We're doing an evidence-based, in-home, home-visiting type drug treatment program that the former White House recommended.
We're looking at a one-stop engagement center for folks to come into and get assessed and try to get treatment.
On addiction treatment in the Allegheny County Jail and reentry programs to ease inmates’ transitions into the community:
We’re leaders in terms of providing services to folks in the county jail and coming out [through our jail reentry programs]. The majority of folks who are arrested go in because of addiction. If you can provide treatment, if you can provide resources, if you can provide intensive case management that stays with them, you hopefully can reduce [recidivism]. Right now, there's this revolving door.
We've had a national evaluation by the Urban Institute [released in 2014], which has said we really are making a difference and that it saves money and it's much better for public safety.
There is not [medication-assisted treatment at the jail] right now. There’s a little bit of Vivitrol starting. It's $1,000 a shot, but if you can do that and you get people on track, then it's money well spent. I’m certainly encouraging it. They should do more and more of that.
On the Department of Human Services’ workforce and funding:
We have about an $800 million budget, which is federal, state and county funds. We have 300 or so agencies on the contract, so our community-based providers are the ones doing the bulk of the work. We have about maybe 3,200 employees overall.
Unfortunately, the workforce, we can't pay enough for it. It's a really hard job. And they're basically entry level in a lot of ways. We’re limited in that respect. It's hard to get people who can qualify. It's also so difficult that people leave. So how do you maintain that? We have a lot of trouble recruiting and retaining good staff going forward on this. And part of that is because of lack of funding.
On new programs that are not yet public:
The big piece we're doing that we haven't talked about yet is predictive analytics. We are further ahead than anybody in terms of how we share data and how we analyze data. We've really invested heavily in that. So you can figure out, where are the trends?
We have to think about suburban poverty because things don't stay stable. So what a community needs today, five years from now may not be. Lawrenceville, for instance, you know with gentrification, there might have been a lot of needs 10 years ago in Lawrenceville. They may not need as many human services today. But someplace like Braddock or Clairton may be in worse shape today. Penn Hills is a growing area of need. So you have to shift resources to try to meet those needs, but unless you do the analytics, you don't know that in advance.
We're first in the nation on predictive analytics for looking at our child welfare. We screen out about 50 percent of our calls. When we took a look after coming up with a predicted analytics tool, [we asked]: Are we going out on the ones that are highest risk? Or, are we going out on the ones that are lower risk? Can we use our resources better that way?
By using predictive analytics as a screening tool, we can make sure we're going out on the ones who have the highest likelihood that something adverse is going to happen down the road. So many cases are gray-area cases, so it's a judgment call. It’s a better use of our resources to be more effective and hopefully keep kids more safe.
On hope:
Well, I'm hopeful because I see that we make progress in spite of all the challenges. Just using children and youth as an example, when I came here, there were 3,318 kids in care. Today, there are under 1,500. Almost 2,000 kids less are in care. They’re living in their homes. They’re doing well. When I came, we had 1,600 kids waiting to be adopted. Today, there’s no backlog.
We have specialty courts. We have mental health courts. We have drug courts. The services that are being provided are much higher quality. We have very few homeless, especially chronic homeless. We closed the institutions, the mental health institutions.
That said, we have plenty of problems. There's always going to be the need to do more. When you look back 20 years ago or 10 years ago, we've come a long way.
I think the challenge in many other places is turnover is so great for the administrators that they never get that kind of thing — they never build those kind of long-standing relationships to actually do things.
It’s a community’s responsibility to help each other.
Correction (11/9/2017): A previous version of this story provided an incorrect budget figure for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services. Its budget is $800 million.
Brittany Hailer is a freelance journalist based in Pittsburgh. She can be reached at bhailer08@gmail.com.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1177
|
__label__cc
| 0.592304
| 0.407696
|
3 Physicians Who Make a Living with Words
January 20, 2015 /in Career Beat /by truog
For many physicians, the world of family practice or hospital employment is a richly rewarding career path. But if, like the famed poet and physician William Carlos Williams, you enjoy putting pen to paper as much as you like practicing medicine, you may not have to choose between the two. Whereas in the early 1900s, Williams scribbled poems on his prescription pad, today a growing number of physicians are building careers that combine medicine and writing. Like these awesome guys.
James Hamblin, M.D.
A senior editor at The Atlantic, Hamblin also writes the health column for the monthly magazine. There, he contributes insightful, entertaining missives on topics like chocolate as a memory food, the health benefits in writing about yourself and the health perils of social media breakups.
He also hosts a regular video series on the site called If Our Bodies Could Talk. Here, Hamblin calls upon his background as both a physician and an improv artist to create videos about the health benefits of going outside, the case for napping at work and how, exactly, women’s reproductive systems work.
Hamblin’s work has been featured on, or covered by, NPR, BBC, MSNBC, New York, The New York Times and a slew of other media, and TIME named @jameshamblin among the 140 people to follow on Twitter in 2014. Read more about Hamblin on his website, and in this compelling interview in Capital New York.
Sanjay Gupta, M.D.
Sanjay Gupta is a household name due to his superb work as an Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN. A practicing neurosurgeon, Gupta also finds time to report and health and medical news for Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien, Anderson Cooper 360, various CNN documentaries and, of course, the weekend medical affairs program Sanjay Gupta, M.D. You may have also read his column in TIME magazine, or his New York Times bestsellers, Chasing Life and Cheating Death.
When Japan founds itself in the aftermath of a tsunami and earthquake in 2011, Gupta was there on the scene, giving Americans a firsthand glimpse into the severity of the impact on human lives. He also reported on Haiti’s devastating earthquake in 2010 and was awarded two Emmys for his work. He was there at Ground Zero in 2001, after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centers in 2001.
In addition to his media work, Gupta works at the Emory University School of Medicine as a member of the staff and faculty. Read more about Gupta on his CNN profile page and blog. Read his tweets via @drsanjaygupta
Kevin Pho, M.D.
If you’re drawn to blogging and social media, you’ll be impressed with the niche Kevin Pho, M.D., has created for himself. His popular website, KevinMD.com now boasts over 1,500 contributing authors, including front-line primary care doctors, surgeons, specialist physicians, nurses, medical students, policy experts and patients.
The media has taken notice. The Wall Street Journal says KevinMD.com is, “A punchy, prolific blog that chronicles America’s often dysfunctional health care system through the prism of a primary care provider,” and the New York Times called it, “A highly coveted publishing place for doctors and patients.” CNN has named @KevinMD as one of its five recommended health care Twitter feeds.
Along with his media work, Pho is a practicing, board-certified internal medicine physician, national media commentator and an acclaimed keynote speaker. He is co-author of the book Establishing, Managing, and Protecting Your Online Reputation: A Social Media Guide for Physicians and Medical Practices. Read more about Pho on his profile page at KevinMD.com.
So, is the pen mightier than the stethoscope? The good news is: you don’t have to choose. If you’re equally interested in medicine and writing, there’s never been a better time to pursue a career that involves both.
Tags: family practice jobs, medical writers, physician careers, physician jobs
https://physemp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/physemp-logo-200x58.png 0 0 truog https://physemp.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/physemp-logo-200x58.png truog2015-01-20 19:37:302019-11-14 20:35:593 Physicians Who Make a Living with Words
Top Physician Job: Internal Medicine Hospitalist, Albuquerque, NM
Physician Job Interviewing Tips: Top 5 Don’ts
Some 2015 Highlights from Your Favorite Physician Job Board
Your Favorite CareerBeat Stories in 2015
Top Physician Job: Hospitalist, Stockton, CA
Earn More This Summer with Locum Tenens Jobs
Recent Posts for Physicians
Q & A with Charles Wright, M.D. – COVID-19’s Effects on the Physician & Nursing Job Market in Tampa Bay
Telemedicine in the time of Coronavirus
TOP 10 METROPOLITAN AREA JOB LOCATIONS FOR PHYSICIANS – PART TWO: SURGEONS AND PHYSICIANS
TOP 10 JOB LOCATIONS FOR PHYSICIANS – PART ONE
Why It’s Best to Leave Work at Work
Physician’s Post Categories
Career Beat
Job Burnout
Job-Finding Tips
Your future job, in your inbox
We’ve been helping physicians find great opportunities for over 25 years. During that time, we’ve learned a few things about your crazy lifestyle. It’s why we only connect you to reputable employers. It’s why we keep your information safe and protected. And it’s why we save you precious time with email alerts for relevant jobs. This all just makes good sense to us.
Physician FAQs
Physician Blog
Start Posting
© PhysEmp. All rights reserved 2019
You’ve worked hard to get here. Find a physician job worthy of the pursuit.
Physicians Top the List of U.S. News’ 2015 “Best Jobs” Report The Affordable Care Act & Taxes: What Every Physician Should Know
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1182
|
__label__cc
| 0.724202
| 0.275798
|
Three Letter Plague
WINNER OF THE WINDHAM-CAMPBELL LITERATURE PRIZE 2013
WASHINGTON POST BOOK OF THE YEAR
At the end of a steep gravel road in one of the remotest corners of South Africa's Eastern Cape lies the village of Ithanga. Home to a few hundred villagers, the majority of them unemployed, it is inconceivably poor. It is to here that award-winning author Jonny Steinberg travels to explore the lives of a community caught up in a battle to survive the ravages of the greatest plague of our times, the African AIDS epidemic.
He befriends Sizwe, a young local man who refuses to be tested for AIDS despite the existence of a well-run testing and anti-retroviral programme. It is Sizwe's deep ambivalence, rooted in his deep sense of the cultural divide, that becomes the key to understanding the dynamics that thread their way through a terrified community.
As Steinberg grapples to get closer to finding answers that remain just out of reach, he realizes that he must look within himself to unlock the paradoxes at the heart of his country.
The City of Tears
June 1572: for ten, violent years the Wars of Religion have raged across France. Neighbours have become enemies, countless lives have been lost, and the country has been torn apart...
Dog Diaries
The Museum of Desire
A mansion in Beverly Hills is leased out to host an event wild enough to herald the end of days.The next day there isn't a living soul to be seen....
Flowers on the Moon
Social media sensation Billy Chapata shares insight and advice into the powerful world of love, heartbreak, and what comes next. This collection of poetry and prose will justify heartache and...
The Clockmaker's Daughter
From the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Secret Keeper, Kate Morton brings us her trademark mix of secrets, lies, and intricately layered mysteries in The Clockmaker's...
The first book in the Kay Scarpetta series, from No. 1 bestselling author Patricia Cornwell.'America's most chilling writer of crime fiction' The TimesA serial killer is on the loose in...
Emotional Intelligence : 25th Anniversary Edition
A 25th anniversary edition of the number one, multi-million copy international bestseller that taught us how emotional intelligence is more important than IQ - 'a revolutionary, paradigm-shattering idea' (Harvard Business...
The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman
What do you get when you cross a painfully awkward son, lofty comedic ambition anda dead best friend?Norman.Norman and Jax were a legendary comedic duo in waiting. They had a...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1184
|
__label__wiki
| 0.55376
| 0.55376
|
Why Economic Policy is Paralyzed
By Robert Samuelson - July 9, 2012
WASHINGTON -- Wondering why government can't restart the sluggish economy? Well, one reason is that we are still paying the price for the greatest blunder in domestic policy since World War II. This occurred a half-century ago and helps explain today's policy paralysis. The story -- largely unrecognized -- is worth understanding.
Until the 1960s, Americans generally believed in low inflation and balanced budgets. President John Kennedy shared the consensus but was persuaded to change his mind. His economic advisers argued that, through deficit spending and modest increases in inflation, government could raise economic growth, lower unemployment and smooth business cycles.
None of this proved true; all of it led to grief.
Chapter One involved inflation. Increases weren't modest; by 1980, they approached 14 percent annually. Business cycles weren't smoothed; from 1969 to 1981, there were four recessions. Unemployment, on average, didn't fall; the peak monthly rate -- reached in the savage 1980-82 slump -- was 10.8 percent. Americans lost faith in government and the future, much as now. Confidence revived only after high inflation was quashed in the early 1980s.
Now comes Chapter Two: How the retreat from balanced budgets has weakened America's response to today's downturn, the worst since the Great Depression. It has limited government's ability to "stimulate" the economy through higher spending or deeper tax cuts -- or, at least, to have a legitimate debate over these proposals. The careless resort to deficits in the past has made them harder to use in the present, when the justification is stronger.
The balanced-budget tradition was never completely rigid. During wars and deep economic downturns, budgets were allowed to sink into deficit. But in normal times, balance was the standard. Dueling political traditions led to this result. Jefferson thought balanced budgets would keep government small; Hamilton believed that servicing past debts would preserve the nation's credit -- the ability to borrow -- when credit was needed.
Kennedy's economists, fashioning themselves as heirs to John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946), shattered this consensus. They contended that deficits weren't immoral and could be manipulated to boost economic performance. This destroyed the intellectual and moral props for balanced budgets.
Norms changed. Political leaders and average Americans noticed that continuous deficits did no great economic harm. Neither, of course, did they do much good, but their charm was "something for nothing." Politicians could spend more and tax less. This appealed to both parties and the public. Since 1961, the federal government has balanced its budget only five times. Arguably, only one of these (1969) resulted from policy; the other four (1998-2001) stemmed heavily from the surging tax revenues of the then-economic boom.
We are now facing the consequences of all these permissive deficits. The recovery is lackluster. Economic growth creeps along at 2 percent annually or less. Unemployment has exceeded 8 percent for 41 months. But economic policy seems ineffective. Since late 2008, the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates low. And budget deficits are enormous, about $5.5 trillion since 2008.
Only one group of economists has a coherent response: Keynesians. Led by New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, they argue that the deficits haven't been large enough. If consumers and businesses aren't spending enough to revive the economy, government must substitute. Its support would be temporary until more jobs and profits strengthened private spending. Sounds convincing.
But it collides with the 1960s' legacy. Running routine deficits meant that the federal debt (all past annual deficits) was already high before the crisis: 41 percent of the economy, or gross domestic product (GDP), in 2008. Huge deficits have now raised that to about 70 percent of GDP; Krugman-like proposals would increase debt further. It would approach the 90 percent of GDP that economists Kenneth Rogoff of Harvard and Carmen Reinhart of the Peterson Institute have found is associated with higher interest rates and slower economic growth.
Since 1800, major countries have experienced 26 episodes when government debt has reached 90 percent of GDP for at least five years, they find in a study done with Vincent Reinhart of Morgan Stanley. Periods of slower economic growth typically lasted two decades.
Now, imagine that the country had adhered to its balanced-budget tradition before the crisis. Some deficits would have remained, but the cumulative debt would have been much lower: plausibly between 10 percent and 20 percent of GDP. There would have been more room for expansion. Balancing the budget might even have forced Congress to face the costs of an aging society.
The blunder of the Sixties has had a long afterlife. Economic policy is trapped between weak demand and the fears of too much debt. Yesterday's Keynesians undercut today's Keynesians. "In the long run we are all dead," Keynes said. But others are alive -- and suffer from bad decisions made decades ago.
Related Topics: John Kennedy, John Maynard Keynes, Washington, President
Robert Samuelson
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1185
|
__label__wiki
| 0.697975
| 0.697975
|
Digital Music by Genre, Style & Type
Symphonies & Concertos
Piano Recitals & Piano Concertos
Choral- & Vocal Music
Gregorian Chants
Online Audio Releases
Digital Music by Composer
Weekly Free Digital MP3 Album
MIDNIGHT CLASSICS
Home » Digital Music » Genres & Styles » Symphonies & Concertos » Composers » Tchaikovsky
TCHAIKOVSKY: Souvenir de Florence for String Orchestra, Op. 70
Play Track 1
Play Track 10
Pause Track 1
Pause Track 10
Play Next Track
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky:
Souvenir de Florence
for String Orchestra, Op. 70
Performed by the South-West German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim
Conductor: Sebastian Tewinkel
A live recording from the German
HD Recording · DDD · Duration: 34 Min. 07 Sec.
Digital Album · 4 Tracks · incl. Booklet
Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: I. Allegro con spirito
∅ 10:43
MP3 · 320kBit/sec.
by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, performed by the South-West German Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sebastian Tewinkel
Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: II. Adagio cantabile e con moto
∅ 9:42
Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: III. Allegretto moderato
Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: IV. Allegro vivace
Souvenir de Florence, Op. 70: Booklet
PDF File · 5 Pages
MP3 Album
256 kBit/sec.
Qobuz HD
HDtracks
yotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) is considered as the most important Russian composer of the 19th century. He composed 'Souvenir de Florence' in 1890, thus during his later period, and dedicated the work to the St. Petersburg Chamber Music Society in response to his appointment as an Honorary Member. Originally scored for string sextet (2 violins, 2 violas and 2 cellos), Tchaikovsky arranged the work later also for string orchestra. The title 'Memory of Florence' probably originates from the fact that the composer started working on it while visiting Florence in Italy.
he hallmark of the South-west German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim is its fresh and gripping musical approach and stylistic diversity from early to contemporary music. The ensemble consists of fourteen musicians of seven different nationalities and is one of the few full-time chamber orchestras in Europe. This allows for exceptional richness and flexibility of sound, which is maintained even when the Orchestra is enlarged with further wind or string players. The ensemble was founded in 1950 by Paul Hindemith's former student Friedrich Tilegant. Soon the ensemble won international recognition: One talked of the 'Tilegant-sound', which could not only be heard at the festivals in Salzburg, Lucerne and Leipzig as well as on world-wide tours, but which was also documented on numerous recordings. Maurice André, Dietrich Fischer-Diskau, Frans Brüggen and Yehudi Menuhin are only a few of the celebrity names who have worked with the Orchestra. After the Tilegant-era, which ended far too early after the premature death of its founder in 1968, the Orchestra was moulded by the Viennese Paul Angerer (1971-1981), Vladislav Czarnecki (1986-2002), who came from the Czech music tradition, and Sebastian Tewinkel (2002-2013). To shape and develop sound, style and program in the future Timo Handschuh has assumed the position of the orchestra's music director with beginning of the concert season 2013/14. On its road to success the South-west German Chamber Orchestra has made numerous broadcasts for almost all European radio stations and released nearly 250 records and CDs, many of which were awarded international prizes (Grand Prix du Disque, Monteverdi Prize, Prox Artur Honegger). Several premiere performances (Jean Françaix, Harald Genzmer, Enjott Schneider) prove its competence in contemporary music. Currently the Chamber Orchestra plays together with renowned soloists such as Gidon Kremer, Rudolf Buchbinder, Christian Tetzlaff, Sabine Meyer, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Mischa Maisky and Anatol Ugorski. Together with them - but also with up-and-coming young musicians - the Orchestra has been invited to perform in all European countries as well as in the USA and Japan. Ideas for new programmes beyond the traditional subscription concerts extend the ensemble's profile. In 2001, the South-west German Chamber Orchestra toured Europe's great concert halls with Giora Feidman and Facundo Ramirez, playing Klezmer and Argentinian folklore (Misa Criolla), and the ensemble continues to tread new paths with American violinist Monique Mead to win young audiences for classical music ("Classic for Kids"). The Orchestra recently recorded a newly composed score which was mixed with original soundtracks of the Comedian Harmonists and performs other projects of chamber opera, dance (Flamenco with Nina Corti) and marionette theatre.
orn in Unna (Germany) in 1971, Sebastian Tewinkel started his violin and general music studies at the Hannover University of Music and Drama. He then continued at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts with Thomas Ungar, graduating with a mark of distinction and supplementing with master courses given by Gianluigi Gelmetti and Sir Colin Davis. After his studies Sebastian Tewinkel was awarded a scholarship by the Herbert von Karajan Foundation in Berlin and admitted to the patronage programme "Dirigentenforum" of the 'Deutscher Musikrat'. Shortly after, he succeeded in winning two important competitons: in 2000 he received the first (and only) prize at the International Conducting Competition of the foundation 'Fundação Oriente' at Lisbon, and in 2001 he won the Conductors Award in Bad Homburg. Already early in his career, Sebastian Tewinkel conducted numerous well-known orchestras, among them the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, the NDR Radio Philharmony Hannover, the Halle Philharmonic State Orchestra, the Sofia Symphony Orchestra and the Munich Chamber Orchestra. He has toured extensively throughout Europe, as well as Russia and Japan. With the start of the 2002-03 season, he was appointed Music Director and Chief Conductor of the South-west German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim. He broadened the range of stylistic versatility and developed new programmes for this ensemble of long-standing tradition. Besides working with the Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, Sebastian Tewinkel continues conducting large orchestras. He was invited by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, the Hamamatsu Philharmonic in Japan, the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, the St Petersburg Academic Symphony Orchestra and the Lisbon Metroplitan Orchestra for concerts, CD and broadcasting productions alike.
Music Periods » Romanticism [1780-1910]
Genres: Classical Music Instrumental Orchestral Concertos, Sonatas & Serenades Romantic Era (c.1780-1910)
Digital Music Albums:
Online-Musik-Alben:
Catalog: Symphonies & Concertos Tchaikovsky Digital Music
ArtistsSeriesComposers: Sebastian Tewinkel South-West German Chamber Orchestra TCHAIKOVSKY
Genres_Specials: Music from the Romantic Period [1780-1910] Releases available in Hi-Res/HD Audio
Release Type: Digital Work Albums
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1187
|
__label__cc
| 0.520309
| 0.479691
|
GO Bonds: $153 million first tranche approved
GO Bonds: $153 million first tranche approved:
North Beach, Fire Station #1 concerns addressed
Miami Beach Commissioners this week gave final approval for the City to issue the first tranche of the General Obligation (GO) Bonds approved by voters in November. The bonds are expected to be issued next month, but some projects will get underway immediately in anticipation of the funding.
The GO Bond program encompasses 57 projects with a total estimated cost of $439 million to be spread out over 10-12 years in four tranches approximately three years apart. Tranche one is $153 million but the City will issue bonds for $185 million so it can refinance $32 million in older debt at a lower interest rate thus reducing the tax impact of this first round of bonds.
GO Bond Program Project Director Maria Hernandez said 38 of the GOB projects are included within tranche one. “67 percent or two thirds of the projects in the entire GO Bond are scheduled to be executed or started in the first three years,” Hernandez said. “Of those, 55% are considered quick wins. Quick win projects are mostly public safety enhancements and projects that deliver fast quality of life improvements to every area of the city.”
The quick wins list includes 21 projects for a total of $40 million that will be delivered in less than 14 months, she noted.
In prioritizing the list of projects, the City administration proposed a draft schedule which was reviewed by the GO Bond Oversight Committee and then the City Commission. Commissioners agreed with the list but moved construction of the new Marine Patrol Fire/Police facility from tranche four to tranche one to coincide with the renovations of Maurice Gibb Park in order to minimize disruption to the neighborhood.
Hernandez described the criteria used for prioritization. “The quick win projects were given the highest priority. Projects which are shovel ready are given top priority. Projects that have a big impact to the most amount of people with the most benefits have priority." Asset preservation was important including repairs to roofs, flood damage, etc., she said.
“Interdependency with non-GO Bond projects was also a consideration,” Hernandez told Commissioners. “Interdependencies, not only with a substantial amount of projects which the City is implementing, but also agencies that we cannot control such as the [Florida] DOT and the County.”
Of the $153 million in tranche one, $87.7 million is allocated to parks, recreational facilities and cultural facilities; $36.9 million for police, fire and public safety measures; and $28.4 million for neighborhoods and infrastructure improvements.
Commissioners approved $20 million in capital budget amendments to begin seven of the quick wins projects immediately in anticipation of the bond issuance. They include several related to public safety – license plate readers, security bollards for highly used public spaces, and additional security cameras – as well as construction of the Mid Beach Beachwalk and demolition of the existing wooden boardwalk between 23rd and 46th Streets.
After concerns were expressed by North Beach residents about the bulk of the funding for the 72nd Street Park, Library, and Aquatic Center being placed in tranche two, Hernandez said $10 million in funding for planning and design is included upfront, a process that is expected to take about two years due to the project’s complexity. Requesting all of the funding in tranche one would require residents to pay taxes on money that is not ready to be spent and would delay other projects that are ready to go. That said, both she and Miami Beach CFO John Woodruff said the program is fluid.
“I do want to emphasize that there is flexibility in this plan,” Woodruff said. “If a project is delayed we can advance funding for other projects within a category such as the parks money. So, if a parks project, something slows down, we can always accelerate something else. Also as we get closer to the next tranche, if we’re within a year or so, we can usually provide bridge funding for projects that are advancing faster than we planned or that we’d like to move up.”
“For example, if the 72nd Street project starts to move great guns and we need to start spending construction dollars, our intent would not be to pause that project and wait for tranche two,” Woodruff explained. “Our intent would be to recognize that, work with our plan to either use other parks money that has already been issued that isn’t needed right now because other projects have slowed down, or to be able to provide some bridge funding to be able to accelerate funds that we would get in tranche two.”
However, he said, “If you just look at tranche one and two to really see what’s being prioritized in this plan overall, North Beach is being prioritized. It’s getting 80% of its funding in the first two tranches. Mid Beach, South Beach, they’re getting 50-some percent.”
Hernandez added there’s nearly $15 million worth of non-GOB projects starting in North Beach this year, including the North Beach Oceanside Park renovation ($8.66 million), a public plaza for Rue Vendome near the fountain ($1.75 million), renovations for Fairway Park ($1.27 million) and Brittany Bay Park which will include a living shoreline ($1.24 million). Since 2013, there have been $39 million in projects completed or soon to be completed in North Beach, she said.
“When you add that to the GO Bond projects, it’s going to total about $90 million worth of investment in North Beach in less than ten years, that’s when we include the citywide projects, sidewalks and things like that that they are also entitled to,” Hernandez said. “So I think when we get all of this going, they’re going to be very happy.”
Mayor Dan Gelber responded that the City needs to make extra effort to communicate the volume of activity that’s coming. “There’s so much activity that is going to be happening in North Beach that people need to not be surprised.”
“I find it interesting and very encouraging for all of us that the residents not only voted overwhelmingly for the GO Bond, but they’re coming to us and saying ‘Go faster,’” Commissioner Ricky Arriola said. He noted the new contract for City Manager Jimmy Morales includes “a list of goals and objectives very closely tied to the implementation of these GO Bond projects, tying jimmy and his team to this GO Bond schedule, which is important to reassure the public that we want to get these things done as badly as you do.”
Karen Rivo who chairs the GO Bond Oversight Committee said, “We did make a promise to the voters to have a gradual impact fiscally from these projects. We wish that we could do them all at once but it’s not realistic.”
Another area of concern is the location of a new fire station in South Beach. One potential location, an asphalt parking lot in Flamingo Park is causing the most angst. Funding is in the first tranche.
Commissioner Mark Samuelian reassured residents, “This funding does not presume a location. We need to define a location and, given the strategic nature of this project, the amount of money involved, I think it goes without saying, we want a data driven approach. We’ll look at all sorts of options. We’re gonna figure out what to do and we’re going to do that in a thorough manner and that’s part of this work.”
Morales added, “Obviously, there are several factors that will weigh into that [choice of location]. Number one, driven by the Fire Department is service area it covers. Therefore, what’s the proper location, not too far north, not something too far south. That’s all gonna be driven by the demands and requirements applicable to the Fire Department on what’s the right area that it could fall within. Then, secondly, obviously, we’re going to have to look at the size of properties available. Do they have enough of a footprint to do what needs to be done.”
“We’ll figure in if it’s something we own or will have to acquire,” Morales said, “but I can tell you from my perspective, everything’s on the table. We have heard the community loud and clear and obviously it behooves all of us if we could find a better location that has the support of the community. I’d prefer to not have to buy something because, generally, you’re going to spend valuable capital dollars to purchase land.”
Morales said the administration has “some thoughts on potentially other locations” that will be discussed in the future with the Commission, “but approving this today does not already approve any set location.”
The remaining tranches of the GO Bond are anticipated to be $103 million for tranche two which is anticipated in FY 2022, tranche three for $98 million in FY 2025, and $85 million in FY 2028. In spreading out the bonds, millage rates will increase gradually over the next ten years.
Follow the progress of the GO Bond program here.
Ricky Arriola
Jimmy Morales
Maria Hernandez
Dan Gelber
Mark Samuelian
John Woodruff
Karen Rivo
New contract for city manager
Four years and substantial goals
Miami Beach Grappling with Unruly Spring Break
Special city commission meeting called
Miami Beach Police to Take Aggressive Measures for Last Peak Spring Break Weekend
New strategy includes making arrests on the beach for alcohol and drugs
New Economic Development Director for Miami Beach
Improving the business experience at top of agenda
Miami Beach Receives Upgraded Rating from FEMA
Improved designation will mean savings on flood insurance premiums
Miami Beach Sets Distance Requirements for Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Commission decides against allowing dispensary in process to open
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1189
|
__label__cc
| 0.636269
| 0.363731
|
Buying property with your super
28-05-2018 Buying
Hotly-contested changes in the 2017 Budget promised to open the property market to first home buyers by allowing property seekers to access their super savings – so what do these changes mean, how can you make the most of them and most importantly, should you?
As of July 1, 2017, individuals have been able to make additional, voluntary contributions to their superannuation funds in order to eventually withdraw these savings and the earnings generated from them from July 1, 2018. Up to $15,000 in voluntary contributions can be made each year, with a maximum of $30,000. Individuals will be able to withdraw this maximum of $30,000 and couples are free to combine their savings to make single deposits, reducing the time necessary in saving for a deposit.
These changes are intended to help fight the challenge of housing affordability in Australia and have attracted a range of opinions from financial pundits. The policy, announced by the Australian Government, is projected to cost $250 million over four years.
Why make changes to super?
Despite the warnings the global financial crisis offered in relation to an inflated real estate market, house prices in Sydney alone have increased by 113.7% since January 2009, with the combined increase in house values across Australia’s capital cities at 72.4%. With these huge increases in property values and relatively low wage growth in the same period, housing affordability has become a major concern for voters nationwide, and as such a major concern for Australian politicians.
Voluntary contributions to individuals’ superannuation accounts has been a hotly debated policy change, with some claiming that it will only drive house prices up, especially within inner-city areas, and others claiming that it will destabilise the value of super and negate the entire purpose of superannuation, which is to create a bedrock of financial support for retirees, who can withdraw their super tax-free from age 60. On the other hand, the Federal Government and other experts have claimed that these changes will help first home buyers by reducing the time required to save for a property, which has increased from an average of six years in Sydney to eight years.
Benefits and risks to the scheme.
The greatest benefit as just mentioned is that this scheme will help potential home owners save for their homes more quickly through the benefit of paying 15% tax on contributions on an individual’s pre-tax income, while withdrawals will be taxed at 30% less than an individual’s marginal tax rate.
At an early stage in its life, the scheme reveals issues that first home buyers should be aware of, the largest of which is that the policy is yet to go through parliament and turned into legislation.
Secondly, according to the proposed policy, members do not currently need to inform their super provider of what their additional contributions will be used for. The reason why this can be considered as a risk is that these providers will have to guess at how long contributions will remain within accounts before being withdrawn, and as such have the adequate liquid assets to cover these withdrawals. A lack of significant long-term data about customer usage trends and proper legislation may prove to be a major challenge for superannuation funds and be a reason why experts have claimed that the value of super assets may be compromised.
Queries have been made by the media to the Federal Government about the details of withdrawing any savings made through the scheme. For instance, what checks individuals will need to satisfy in order to qualify for the withdrawal. Will there need to be an impending property purchase before a withdrawal can be made, for instance?
As a potential home owner seeking a way to accelerate your savings efforts, the government’s super scheme may be a valuable savings tool. However, caution needs to be taken before investing significant funds into a policy that remains to have its legislation finalised and as such risk having your savings locked within your super fund if the policy fails to get through parliament. If you have the freedom to do so, wait for the policy to go through parliament and find out the particular details about how the ATO will judge whether you are eligible to withdraw your savings.
Source by realestateview.com.au
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1190
|
__label__wiki
| 0.845205
| 0.845205
|
Rubio Applauds Trump Administration's Actions on Human Fetal Tissue From Elective Abortions
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded the Trump administration’s action to protect the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today that its contract with the University of California, San Francisco regarding research involving human fetal tissue from elective abortions, which expires today on June 5, 2019, will not be renewed.
“The federal government should never be complicit in the horrific scheme of buying fetal tissue from aborted babies,” Rubio said. “I commend the Trump administration for protecting the dignity of human life by ending contracts that provide the fetal tissue of aborted babies for federally funded research.”
HHS also announced plans to undertake changes to its regulations and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants policy to adopt or strengthen safeguards and program integrity requirements applicable to extramural research involving human fetal tissue. HHS will continue to review whether adequate alternatives exist to the use of human fetal tissue from elective abortions in HHS-funded research and will ensure that efforts to develop such alternatives are funded and accelerated. In December 2018, NIH announced a $20 million funding opportunity for research to develop, demonstrate, and validate experimental models that do not rely on human fetal tissue from elective abortions.
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1191
|
__label__cc
| 0.691935
| 0.308065
|
Farm Boy to Philosopher
Being small allows us the luxury of meticulous scrutiny. However, we must give the lion’s share of the credit to our soil. Frankly, some soil just makes better wine than others. Bruce thanks his father for that.
Bruce Russell’s connection to the land started at a young age. He grew up working on the family ranches in Sonoma County. His first taste of farm life took place on a dairy farm just outside of Sonoma and later on the family ranch located near Healdsburg. He split his time between skipping rocks on the nearby Russian River, caring for the farm animals, and working the soil.
He spent his formative years attending a one-room schoolhouse off Westside Road, then on to Healdsburg High School, Santa Rosa Junior College, and ultimately to UC Davis where he earned an undergraduate degree in math and a PHD in Philosophy.
Today he teaches Philosophy at Wayne State University and writes in ethics, theory of knowledge, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of film.
His early years taught him to appreciate the potential of a well-cared for piece of land, while his years as a professor, teacher, mentor, and writer have cultivated a life-long passion for keeping an eye on the fine details.
These traits have benefitted our wines well.
The Russell Vineyard is on land the family has owned for over fifty years. It is located off Westside Road, a popular winery road that runs along the west side of the Russian River. The two-acre vineyard sits on a hilltop in the middle of a 208-acre ranch with steep hills dotted with oak, madrone and manzanita trees.
A creek flows through the property in winter and the neighbor grazes his dairy cows on open grass-covered slopes in the back of the ranch. Deer, foxes, bobcats, coyotes, quail, raccoons, wild pigs, and turkeys are common visitors to the vineyard. The Russells raise Dwarf Goats and miniature horses as pets. And Jake the retired border collie keeps the goats out of the roses and barks at squirrels, both real and imagined.
Wine from the vineyard has been sold at some of the finest restaurants and wine shops in the San Francisco and Detroit area.
The early days of the vineyard.
Our grandchildren run around the vineyard and play with our goats, sheep and miniature horses! Our future wine makers!
Keep up on our news and events!
© Copyright - Russell Vineyards
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1192
|
__label__wiki
| 0.557236
| 0.557236
|
Fort Union and Fort William https://www.sdshspress.com/books/fort-union-and-fort-william https://www.sdshspress.com/@@site-logo/sdshp-logo.jpg
Fort Union and Fort William
Letter Book and Journal, 1833–1835
by W. Raymond Wood and Michael M. Casler
158 pages | 15 black-and-white
$29.95, Paperback
"An impressively informative work of original historical scholarship, Fort Union and Fort William: Letter Book and Journal, 1833-1835 will prove to be a prized addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library 19th Century American History collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading lists."—Midwest Book Review
"Wood and Casler have combined their respective strengths to make this a reference work of use to all in Western history."—W. R. Swagerty
From 1828 until the late 1860s, the Upper Missouri Outfit of the American Fur Company controlled the fur trade on the upper Missouri River from headquarters at Fort Union on the western edge of present-day North Dakota. In contrast, Fort William, an outpost of the rival Missouri Fur Company located a few miles east at the mouth of the Yellowstone River, struggled and sold out to its competitor less than a year after it opened in 1833.
Published in full for the first time, the 1833–1835 Fort Union Letter Book features dispatches from several prominent fur-trade figures. This rare official record of outgoing correspondence reveals intriguing details about the day-to-day workings of an industry on the cusp of change. Robert Campbell’s journal of his year at Fort William, on the other hand, is a personal account of his attempts to keep Fort Union founder Kenneth McKenzie from taking over the fledgling post he and William Sublette had started.
Fort Union and Fort William offers a window into the fur and bison robe trade of the early 1830s, building upon the previous work of editors W. Raymond Wood and Michael M. Casler in Fort Tecumseh and Fort Pierre Chouteau: Journal and Letter Books, 1830–1850, published by the South Dakota Historical Society Press in 2017. The documents Wood and Casler have compiled and annotated include newly transcribed letters from Robert Campbell and William Sublette, providing two sides of the extraordinary story of the fur trade on the Northern Great Plains.
The South Dakota Historical Society Press gratefully acknowledges Orville and Janelle Loomer and W. Raymond Wood for their help in funding this publication.
W. Raymond Wood
Wood has a Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Oregon and taught anthropology at the University of Missouri for nearly four decades. Among his many publications are Prologue to Lewis and Clark (2002), Twilight of the Upper Missouri River Fur Trade (2008), and A White-Bearded Plainsman: The Memoirs of Archaeologist W. Raymond Wood (2011). He is also the co-author of Fort Clark and Its Indian Neighbors (2011). He lives in Columbia, Missouri, with his wife, Carolee.
Michael M. Casler
A former park ranger with the National Park Service, Casler is currently working as an independent historical researcher. Casler is the author of Steamboats of the Fort Union Fur Trade (1999) and editor of The Original Journals of Charles Larpenteur (2007). He has also written numerous articles on the Upper Missouri fur trade from his home in Williston, North Dakota.
Eastern South Dakota
Exploring South Dakota
Historical Preservation Series
Prairie Tale Series
South Dakota Biography Series
The Mystery Series
Visual Coffee Table Books
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1195
|
__label__wiki
| 0.893871
| 0.893871
|
More Than a Therapist, An Advocate
November 19, 2020 By Talya Sanders, Samuel Merritt University Magazine
Juliana Lainez, OTD '22, and her son, Pancho.
Juliana Lainez, OTD ’22, knows what it’s like to be the parent of an occupational therapy patient. In fact, it’s the driving force behind her desire to become an occupational therapist. When her son, Pancho, was about two years old, he struggled in loud places, couldn’t stand touching certain materials, and often crashed into things.
Thankfully, Pancho started occupational therapy that helped his sensory issues. But for the past seven years, Juliana has needed to consistently push for the services Pancho needs at school and from healthcare providers. Now, she is preparing to fight that fight for a broader population as a career.
“I realized I’m going to have to be the advocate for my son, and if I go into this field of occupational therapy, I can help him and children like him,” she says. “Sensory issues in kids often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with ADHD symptoms, especially in Black or Brown children who are also struggling with generational trauma and other trauma. You cannot lose the social justice piece behind it, and I’m always an advocate for that in my classes.”
Lainez recently received the Choksi Scholarship, a $3,000 award that came in the nick of time. As a single mom in graduate school in the Bay Area, she moved in with her mother to save money. With COVID-19 distance learning requirements, Pancho needed a computer and the family’s food costs rose significantly without access to school meals.
“The Choksi Scholarship is significant for me because every dollar counts right now and it takes a bit of the stress off,” she says. “It helps me focus more on what I’m doing in school to begin with.”
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
OTD Alumnus Spreads Joy in Time of COVID-19
Whether donning a pink wig and feather boa or playing guitar while he sings into a banana microphone, Dave Pilon, ODT ’12, is spreading joy and love in the time of COVID-19 to kids and families. His...
Real-to-Life: Emergency Room Simulations Shift Online
It’s 8 p.m. and Howard is despondent. Earlier in the day, he was hit by a scooter on the streets of Oakland. He’s being treated at a local hospital for a fractured ankle and burning pain in his hand...
Innovative SMU Research Points Way for Cultural Responsiveness Training
New research out of Samuel Merritt University’s Occupational Therapy program offers a potential road map for how to teach health science students cultural responsiveness. The research, published in...
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1199
|
__label__wiki
| 0.973675
| 0.973675
|
Boise State, Ole Miss among highlights in Georgia Southern’s 2020 football schedule
Georgia Southern announced its 2020 football schedule on Friday, Feb. 28, featuring three conference champions from a year ago, six home games, at least one nationally televised game and five contests against teams that played in a bowl game last year.
The Eagles will open the 2020 season on the road, traveling to Boise, Idaho, to take on defending Mountain West Conference champion Boise State on Sept. 5, before opening their home slate on Sept. 12 against Campbell.
They follow that game by hosting defending Conference USA champion Florida Atlantic on Sept. 19. The final non-conference game comes in November as the Eagles travel to Ole Miss on Nov. 21.
Georgia Southern opens up Sun Belt play at the end of September, traveling to the two-time defending SBC West champion Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana on Sept. 26.
October kicks off with a game against the University of Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 3 followed by an 11-day break prior to a meeting with rival Appalachian State on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at Paulson Stadium. That game is set to be televised on ESPN2.
The Eagles will follow their game against App State with a road trip to Coastal Carolina on Oct. 24, followed by a rare three-game homestretch as the Eagles host South Alabama (Oct. 31), Troy (Nov. 7) and Texas State (Nov. 14) on successive Saturdays.
The last time the Eagles had three consecutive home games was in 2011 when they hosted Chattanooga, Furman and Presbyterian College in early October. It's the latest in the regular season GS will host three straight home games since 1992 when the Eagles hosted Middle Tennessee, Mississippi College and Troy as part of a five-game homestand. Those games were played on the same dates as this year's games will be.
Arkansas State will be the lone SBC member that the Eagles will not play this season.
The regular season wraps up in Atlanta on Nov. 28 at Georgia State.
Times and broadcast information for all 12 games, as well as promotional days for the six home contests, will be announced at a later date. Dates and times are subject to change up to 12 days before kickoff due to broadcast rights with the league's television partners.
“What’s all the hubbub, bub?”
Let’s go, 2020!!! #HailSouthern #GATA pic.twitter.com/F5IqAZ1dZi
— Ga. Southern Football (@GSAthletics_FB) February 28, 2020
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1201
|
__label__wiki
| 0.715947
| 0.715947
|
Two people and pets injured in early morning Virginia Beach fire
By Robyn Sidersky
Two people were taken to the hospital after a fire started at their home on the 200 block of Victoria Drive in Virginia Beach early Saturday, according to the Virginia Beach Fire Department.
Firefighters arrived at about 4:40 a.m. and found a woman already outside the house, who told them that there was a man still inside. Firefighters removed the front window of the bedroom where he was believed to be and found him unconscious but breathing. Both were taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital to be treated for burns and smoke inhalation, according to the Fire Department.
The extent of their injuries has not been released.
Firefighters also found two dogs in the home – one deceased and the other rescued, according to the department.
They gave oxygen to the surviving dog and it was taken to a nearby veterinary clinic for further treatment.
The fire started in the rear of the structure and appears to be accidental, but as of 9 a.m. investigators were still trying to determine the exact cause.
Robyn Sidersky, 757-222-5117, robyn.sidersky@pilotonline.com
Virginia Beach Fire
Victoria Drive
Virginia Beach Fire Department
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1202
|
__label__wiki
| 0.543815
| 0.543815
|
Universities given just six months to 'impact assess' everything Universities given just six months to 'impact assess' everything
Universities given just six months to 'impact assess' everything
Out-Law Guide | 26 Oct 2010 | 9:54 am | 12 min. read
This guide was written in October 2010. It is based on UK law.
The Government proposes that universities be given just six months to carry out impact assessments of their entire policies and practices to comply with the single equality duty which was introduced by the Equality Act.
This guide was written by Chris Mordue, Head of the Universities Employment Team at Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM. It explains the proposals, which are the subject of a consultation due to close on 10th November 2010. Chris argues that the proposals are deeply flawed.
Do you have the time and resources to carry out impact assessments of your university's entire policies and practices, for all protected equality strands, before 4th April next year? That is the massive compliance challenge facing the sector under draft regulations which would introduce specific obligations on public authorities to take action to further the new public sector single equality duty.
The proposals are currently subject to a Government consultation exercise which ends on 10th November. In our view, the consultation paper and draft legislation appear to seriously underestimate the time and effort that will be required to comply with these new equality obligations.
That problem is exacerbated by the fact that the legislation is still in draft form – it may change as a result of consultation and will not be confirmed in its final form until February 2011 at the earliest.
This presents universities with an uncomfortable dilemma. Do you start work on this impact assessment exercise now, which would be necessary to have any chance of meeting the proposed deadline? Or do you wait to see whether these draft Regulations are changed to relax the deadline or lighten the compliance burden?
In addition to the impact assessment requirement, universities will also need to publish workforce data on equality issues, again by 4th April 2011.
The extent of this obligation is very unclear at present. There are no details in the Regulations themselves and it appears that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) will be issuing guidance or a code of practice – itself likely to be subject to consultation – which will flesh out this duty. This data, and indeed the equality impact assessments, will also need to be published in a way which meets draft (that word again!) transparency guidelines, but what this actually means in practice is not yet clear.
In short, our view is that the draft Regulations fail to meet a key requirement of any new legislation – namely that those affected are given clear and certain advance warning of what the law will require and that they have enough time before the new rules take effect to take steps to avoid being in breach of the law the moment it comes into force.
The sector should be responding vigorously to the consultation paper, seeking greater clarity and a more reasonable period of time to prepare.
Single equality duty
The Equality Act introduces a new single equality duty which comes into force on 4th April 2011. This replaces the existing public equality duties in relation to race, gender and disability. The single equality duty covers all equality strands or protected characteristics, namely: race, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment.
The single equality duty follows the format of the existing race, sex and disability duties by having two separate parts: a general overarching duty to eliminate discrimination and promote equality; and specific duties that support the general duty.
The general duty – which is not covered by the current consultation exercise as it is already enacted in section 149 of the Equality Act – requires a public authority "to have due regard, in the exercise of its functions, to the need to –
(a) eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act;
(b) advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it; and
(c) foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it."
The proposed specific duties are covered by the current consultation exercise. They have two elements. The first is an obligation to publish information relating to equality. The second is a duty to set, and report on, equality objectives. This second obligation appears very "light touch" but the first sets institutions a Herculean compliance task.
Information publishing and impact assessments
The draft Regulations would require public authorities to publish information relevant to their performance of the general equality duty. Without limiting that requirement (but also begging the question of what else needs to be published) the draft Regulations state that this information "shall in particular include
(a) information relating to the protected characteristics of its employees, if the public authority has 150 employees or more;
(b) assessments of the impact of its policies and practices, and the likely impact of its proposed policies and practices, on the furtherance of the three aims set out in the general duty, i.e.
to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act;
to advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it;
to foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it.
(c) information that it took into account when it made these impact assessments; and
(d) details of any engagement that it undertook with persons whom it considered to have an interest in furthering the aims set out in the general duty."
This information has to be published by 4th April 2011 and in a way that meets the data transparency standards described below. It must then be updated at intervals of not less than one year.
Is this feasible?
The primary difficulty with this obligation is the need to carry out equality impact assessments of all of your "policies and practices", actual and proposed, and for every equality strand, within the next six months.
There is no definition of "policies and practices" in the draft Regulations. On the face of it, that is a stunning lack of clarity, but it must be acknowledged that there is no such definition in the existing specific duties for sex, race and disability either.
However, under those existing duties, Codes of Practice issued by the EHRC have defined the term "policies and practices" in the widest terms. "Policies and practices are very broad terms, and cover every aspect of a public authority's activities and functions," say the Codes.
It appears that under the new rules, the EHRC will again be responsible for drafting Codes which explain what the Regulations require (rather than the Government doing this itself in its legislation). We can expect the EHRC's current definition of "policies and practices" to be carried over into the new specific duties.
On that basis, the scope of the impact assessment is enormous. Every single aspect of a university's activities will be covered: policies and practices affecting staff and prospective staff, students and prospective students, estates and facilities provision, procurement, as well as relationships with other institutions, funders, business and the wider community.
"Policies and practices" will include not just formal written policies and practices but also informal rules and practices, and how formal policies are applied. In some equality strands – religion and belief and sexual orientation – universities may currently lack the necessary quality of data to enable meaningful impact assessment to take place.
There are indications in the consultation paper that, at best, the Government does not actually intend to impose a duty as onerous as this or, at worst, has seriously misjudged what public authorities must do to comply.
Underestimating the compliance challenge
The main text of the consultation paper offers no comment or clue about how extensive the obligation to produce impact assessments is intended to be. However, Annex 6 of the consultation paper, which sets out the anticipated regulatory impact of the new legislation, refers to public bodies carrying out assessments of "the impact of their policies in the design of key policy and service delivery initiatives".
If the duty to carry out impact assessments is intended to be limited in that way, then one might expect the Regulations to say so. They don't. In our view, the phrase "policies and practices" suggests something far more comprehensive, as reflected in the existing EHRC Code.
It is also notable that the estimated cost to the public sector of complying with these new rules, set out in Annex 6, omits the cost of carrying out this initial wave of impact assessments.
The one-off costs are expressed to be the cost of an equality officer/manager familiarising him/herself with the legislation, producing an estimated time cost per public authority of 1.5 – 2 days per organisation.
While the estimated recurring costs of compliance do not address universities expressly, estimates are given for local authorities and NHS Trusts. These envisage that each organisation will have to assess 15 to 20 changes per year to key policy and service delivery initiatives, at a time cost of one analyst day per assessment.
Leaving aside the question of whether the full impact assessment process – gathering data, analysing, writing up and reviewing – can be expressed as a day's work by a single employee, it is clear that this is an estimate of the cost of future impact assessments, not the immediate need to impact assess every single policy and practice before next April. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that this initial cost is simply not included in the calculations at all, and that as a result the cost to the public sector is massively underestimated.
Our experience is that the process of impact assessment is neither quick nor easy. Many institutions are still unsure about what is actually required – and certainly we have seen many disputes between institutions and trade unions over what needs to be assessed, when, how and in what detail. Further guidance from the EHRC would probably be welcomed but it is not clear when this will become available.
Another area of real uncertainty is the obligation to publish workforce data on equality. Neither the consultation paper nor the draft Regulations say anything much about what information actually needs to be published or what if anything institutions will need to do to gather that information before April.
The consultation paper states that the EHRC's Code of Practice and guidance "will set out what workforce equality data should be published by different types of public bodies, and we would expect this to include data on important inequalities such as the gender pay gap, the proportion of staff from ethnic minority communities and the distribution of disabled employees throughout an organisation’s structure."
The EHRC seems to have been handed the task not just of issuing codes of practice or guidance but of actually defining the substantive legal obligations that they will then enforce. Further, with the clock ticking down to 4th April 2011, there is nothing that universities can meaningfully do to prepare for compliance because nothing of substance is known about what will have to be published.
The workforce equality data and impact assessments will have to be published in a manner compatible with the Public Data Principles set out by the Public Sector Transparency Board established by the Prime Minister. These are again in draft form at present but appear at Annex 3 of the consultation paper. What they mean in practice is another question, but they are summarised in the consultation paper as including the following principles:
timeliness;
fine granularity;
openness;
aggregated and anonymised data;
standardised formats; and
publication under a standard open licence which allows free re-use (including commercial re-use) of the data for any lawful purpose without additional permission.
Timetable for implementation
The Government will publish the results of consultation within three months of 10th November. Presumably the final form of the Regulations will not be available until then, i.e. February 2011.
The EHRC consultation timetable is not yet published. The consultation paper states that the EHRC will produce practical guidance 12 weeks before the Regulations come into force, to explain the requirements of the general and specific duties in more detail and set out what different types and sizes of public bodies need to do to comply.
This puts universities in a dilemma. If you wait until February to begin the process of impact assessing everything your institution does, you will have less than two months to comply and are essentially guaranteed to be in default when the new laws come into force. Even if you start now, the compliance task looks unachievable – but you also risk diverting valuable resource and time striving to meet obligations which are currently imprecise and possibly subject to change, in terms of substance and timetable.
Equality objective setting
The existing race, gender and disability equality duties require public authorities to adopt equality schemes and a detailed action plan for implementing the relevant public equality duties.
In comparison, the consultation paper and draft Regulations propose a very light touch approach to the single equality duty. The requirement will be to prepare and publish – by 2nd April 2012 – one or more objectives which the public authority reasonably thinks that it should achieve in order to further one or more of the aims set out in paragraphs (a) to (c) of the section 149(1) duty (see above).
The objectives must be specific and measurable and set out how progress towards achieving them will be measured. The equality information and impact assessments have to be considered before the objectives are determined. After no more than four years, the process has to be repeated with a new objective or objectives being set.
Under this approach, there will be no requirement to produce equality schemes at all. Indeed, a single equality objective will suffice. You should note that the objective will have to address one of the following: eliminating unlawful discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity or fostering good relations between different protected groups.
What is not clear, however, is whether every single equality strand needs to be addressed by the chosen objective. That seems to follow from the fact that the objective must address an element of the general duty that applies to all protected characteristics; but the consultation paper is still ambiguous on the point.
While this element of the specific duties is light touch, it is important to remember that the general duty itself still requires public authorities to have due regard to the equality objectives set out above in the exercise of all of their functions. The specific duty to identify at least one equality objective in no way dilutes that overarching requirement.
The specific duties will be enforced by the EHRC, as they are currently. However, the rationale for the duty to publish impact assessments and other equality data is firmly expressed in the consultation paper as a move designed to promote transparency and democratic accountability. The Government intends that interested parties or individuals will be able to monitor compliance with the law and, where necessary, challenge public authorities on compliance, although they will not have power to take legal action to enforce the duties.
Universities can expect that equality groups, staff, students and trade unions will all scrutinise compliance with these obligations from the moment that the Regulations take effect. Our experience in relation to restructuring exercises, major organisational changes and changes to academic provision suggests that equality impact assessments become an immediate pressure point, often exacerbated by the absence of a shared understanding of what the process of impact assessment actually requires.
The draft Regulations seem to set the sector an impossible challenge. It is doubtful that every policy and practice could be impact assessed before 4th April 2011.
While the EHRC may not immediately begin enforcement action, there is clearly scope for universities to be publicly challenged as being in breach of these equality obligations from the very moment they come into force. For that to happen simply because the sector has been set an insurmountable challenge by Government – and one which the Government appears not to fully appreciate – would be hugely unsatisfactory.
The equality obligations being set for the sector need further clarification – a fact acknowledged in the consultation paper itself. On the present timetable, that clarification will come far too late to allow universities to actually comply before the new laws take effect.
The resource implications, at a time when the sector already faces some fundamental challenges and significant changes, have clearly been underestimated. At the very least, the proposed implementation date for these obligations needs to be pushed back to avoid the manifest injustice of institutions being in breach of the law only because they have been given insufficient time to properly understand what is required and to act.
The consultation exercise gives you an opportunity to change these proposals. You need to take it and make sure that your voice is heard. For help with preparing your consultation response, feel free to get in touch.
M&A and Private Equity Market Themes report 2019
Out-Law Legal Update
Prohibited purpose of evading creditors could not be inferred, says court
LEGAL UPDATE: The Court of Appeal has set out a helpful explanation of the 'prohibited purpose' test under s423 IA 1986. The appeal decision also demonstrates the courts’ reluctance to reopen decisions of lower courts which involve evaluating and drawing inferences from primary facts.
24 Jul 2018 Restructuring
High Court: e-filing notice of administrator appointment not effective out of hours
High Court rulings have said that a notice to appoint administrators must not be filed electronically outside of court counter opening hours, which are 10am – 4.30pm in London and 10am – 4pm in respect of the business and property courts in the regions.
24 Oct 2019 Restructuring
Ground rent reforms 'to affect retirement sector'
Right to disconnect a step closer in Ireland
Increase in HMRC criminal investigations 'marks evolution in tax compliance'
EU-UK trade: cost of divergence must be weighed against potential benefits
Guidance on higher education restructuring scheme issued
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1203
|
__label__wiki
| 0.659947
| 0.659947
|
Leo Palazzo
Palazzo announces his candidacy for District Attorney
Tue, 2020/07/21 - 12:00am News Staff
Prominent Belle Chase attorney and businessman Leo Palazzo has announced his candidacy for District Attorney. The former lead attorney for Plaquemines Parish plans to enter the race on the first day of qualifying.
“I am blessed to have received so much support for this campaign. We have a real need in this parish for an efficient and fair criminal justice system. That’s what this campaign is all about and that’s what I’ll stand for as the next District Attorney,” said Palazzo.
Palazzo resides in Belle Chasse with his wife Dana and son Leonardo. After graduating from Holy Cross High School and Loyola School of Law with his Juris Doctorate, Palazzo opened the Palazzo Law Firm and Select Title, LLC. He has been practicing law for 27 years and is committed to the community of Plaquemines Parish. During law school he served as the Student Body President, Lead Attorney in the American Trial Lawyers Association Trial Competition, and member of the Clinic Program, successfully trying and winning cases on behalf of individuals’ rights. Protecting the rights of victims, as well as the rights of due process for the accused, are values Palazzo takes to heart.
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition. http://www.etypeservices.com/Plaquemines%20GazetteID369/
District Attorney’s Annual Christmas Wish Program
Pets and Fireworks on New Year’s Eve
Search for unclaimed money on State’s Treasury website
Robyn Jean Cook Manno
BVES Support Staff of the Year
Classified Advertisement
Plaquemines Gazette
Belle Chasse, LA 70037
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1205
|
__label__wiki
| 0.829416
| 0.829416
|
Robison - Finch
Estate Sales and Appraisals - Serving Memphis, TN and the Mid-South
Email Contact Bus:901.488.8100
ABOUT ROBISON-FINCH ESTATE SALES AND APPRAISALS
Experienced. Robison-Finch, formerly Sally MacAdoo and Len Finch, originated in Memphis in 1977. In 2004, Ken Robison acquired the business as principal after working with Len Finch for several years and has been a dealer in antiques for more than two decades.
Qualified. Robison-Finch, fully bonded and insured, conforms to all professional and ethical standards of the Uniform Standards or Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP), as well as standards of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Mr. Robison is also a former accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers (ISA) for 10 years, as authorized by the Appraisal Foundation and U.S. Congress as the source of Appraisal Standards and Qualifications. Mr. Robison is also a member of The Brooks Museum and Decorative Arts Trust in Memphis.
Full Service. Robison-Finch offers full service estate liquidations and appraisals. The company focuses on high-end estates with period antique furniture, fine and decorative arts, currency, coins, firearms, gems and jewelry. Robison-Finch draws a significant and loyal following to its sales, including established antique and art collectors, dealers and decorators from the across the country.
Sale Featured in Commercial Appeal
See the write up about the Shelby Foote sale in the Commercial Appeal. See the follow-up article as well. There was also an article on the Ask Vance Blog. Article about Charlie Rich Sale.
Next Sale(s)
Conducting an
Ken Robison
ISA AM
© 2021 Robison - Finch -- Hosted by EstateSales.NET
|
cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1206
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.