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__label__cc	0.749409	0.250591	COVID-19 VACCINE BULLETIN #22 On Saturday, a total of 851 people received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. No second doses were administered yesterday. A total of 9,498 doses have been administered to date. The regional breakdown data is not available today. The eligibility criteria for immunization are being expanded today to include: • home-care workers employed by a regional health authority (RHA), a RHA-contracted service provider, or a self- and family-managed care client, born on or before Dec. 31, 1960. To date, Manitoba has received a total of 22,230 doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which includes approximately 7,020 doses delivered earlier this week. There are currently about 12,500 doses of Pfizer in the province, which will be used for the remainder of this week’s immunizations as well as appointments for first- and second-dose immunizations at the Winnipeg super site this week. Next week’s shipment of the Pfizer vaccine is expected to be 9,360 doses and about one-third of that will be shipped to Brandon to launch the super site at the Keystone Centre on Jan. 18. To date, Manitoba has received 7,300 doses of Moderna. Of these, 5,300 have been allocated for First Nation immunization priorities, and regular shipments began by air and road on Jan. 7. All of the remaining Moderna doses will be used to support the immunization campaign at personal care homes that will begin tomorrow. More information about the vaccine campaign in Manitoba is available at www.manitoba.ca/vaccine.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1969
__label__cc	0.687808	0.312192	SU Physics Department presents magnetism program Oct. 23 Thursday, October 18, 2007, By News Staff SU Physics Department presents magnetism program Oct. 23October 18, 2007Rob Enslinrmenslin@syr.edu The Department of Physics at Syracuse University is presenting “That’s Repulsive: The Marvels of Magnetism” as part of its popular Tuesday Night Lecture Series (formerly Saturday Morning Physics) Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. in the Physics Building’s Stolkin Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public; parking is available in the University’s visitor pay lots. Sam Sampere, manager of the physics department’s lecture demonstration facility, will provide a historical overview of magnetism, as well as discuss and demonstrate its major discoveries and breakthroughs. The evening concludes with an examination and possible demonstration of “giant magnetoresistance,” the process by which the resistance of certain materials dramatically changes as a magnetic field is applied. This discovery led to the 2007 Nobel Prize in physics. “Everyone has played with magnets since their childhood, yet few people really know how they work or what use they have for them, except for hanging graded papers on the refrigerator,” says Sampere. “Magnetic phenomena are amazing because you cannot see how they interact with objects. Nevertheless, these interactions have profound and interesting effects.” Sampere is a nationally recognized physics demonstrator who leads workshops that teach collegiate physics instructors how to build and incorporate demonstrations in their classrooms. The Department of Physics is housed in SU’s College of Arts and Sciences. More information about The College is available at http://TheCollege.syr.edu. For more information about the Tuesday Night Lecture Series, call 443-5958 or visit http://physics.syr.edu/TuesdayNight.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1973
__label__cc	0.716964	0.283036	Quarterhill Inc. (QTRHF) CEO Paul Hill on Q3 2020 Results – Earnings Call Transcript Quarterhill Inc. (OTCQX:QTRHF) Q3 2020 Results Conference Call November 5, 2020 10:00 AM ET Company Participants Paul Hill – President and CEO John Rim – CFO Conference Call Participants Gavin Fairweather – Cormark Doug Taylor – Canaccord Genuity Todd Coupland – CIBC Good morning, and welcome to Quarterhill’s Q3 2020 Financial Results Conference Call. On this morning’s call, we have Paul Hill, President and CEO; and John Rim, Chief Financial Officer. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Following management’s presentation, we will conduct a question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] Earlier this morning, Quarterhill issued a news release announcing its financial results for the 3- and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2020. This news release, along with the Company’s MD&A and financial statements, will be available on Quarterhill’s website and will be filed on SEDAR. Certain matters discussed during today’s conference call or answers that may be given to questions could constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. Risk factors that could affect results are detailed on the Company’s annual information form and other public filings that are available on SEDAR. During this conference call, Quarterhill will refer to adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by the IFRS. Adjusted EBITDA is defined in the Company’s quarterly and annual filings that are available on SEDAR. Please refer to Page 3 of the Company’s Q3 2020 management’s discussion and analysis for our full cautionary notes regarding the use of forward-looking statements and non-IFRS measures. Finally, please note that all financial information provided is in Canadian dollars unless otherwise specified. I would now like to turn the meeting over to Mr. Paul Hill. Please go ahead, sir. Thank you very much, and good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us on today’s call. In terms of agenda, I’ll begin with a look at recent business activity, followed by an update on our M&A strategy. After that, John will take a more detailed look at some of the key numbers for the quarter, and then we’ll open it up for questions. To start things off, I’d like to welcome John to his first call as CFO of Quarterhill. Hiring a CFO was one of my top priorities upon joining in June, and I’m really pleased to have John in the seat. John has 25 years of executive experience, including his most recent stint as CFO of a publicly traded company. We are both based in Toronto and plan to move our head office from Kitchener to Downtown Toronto in the near future. Our leadership team is now firmly in place, and I look forward to John’s contributions as we execute on our plan to build Quarterhill into a leading Canadian technology company. Q3 was a busy and successful period for Quarterhill. On October 8, we announced preliminary revenue of $80 million to $87 million and adjusted EBITDA of $32 million to $36 million. We are pleased to have come in above the high end of the revenue range of $88 million and above the adjusted EBITDA range of $39 million. These strong results were driven by a record quarter at IRD and by substantial licensing activity at WiLAN, which had its best quarter in 3 years. At the same time, Quarterhill delivered on its promise to return capital to shareholders via the completion of our substantial issuer bid and commencement of our normal course issuer bid. Q3 results combined with our already strong balance sheet have increased the optionality with our M&A strategy, enabling us to look at a broad set of opportunities. Taking a quick look at our portfolio companies. I’ll start with IRD. This is our business in the intelligent transportation systems, or ITS, industry. Overall, business remains very strong at IRD with order bookings and backlog both at high levels. During Q3, IRD announced new contract wins in the Ukraine, Paraguay, New York State and with the U.S. federal government as well that happened just after quarter end. These transactions highlight how IRD continues to successfully build out its global footprint. IRD helps cash-strapped governments drive efficiencies and improve revenue collection. This is a value proposition that resonates very well during this pandemic time. Depending on the path that COVID takes as well as the impact of the U.S. election, it is possible there could be some delays in timing of orders or delivery of materials in the coming quarters. But overall, the outlook for IRD remains positive as its products and services support essential services for governments. Now turning to WiLAN. Q3 results reflect a strong quarter based on the closing of several license agreements and settlement of some litigations. The cash flows generated from Q3 further strengthened our balance sheet and can be used to support growth and return of capital initiatives. While WiLAN’s results are difficult to predict quarter-to-quarter, this is the sixth quarter of positive adjusted EBITDA in the past 8 quarters. Demonstrating consistency when reviewed over a broader time horizon. The COVID-19 pandemic has had some impact on WiLAN’s business, driven by the postponement of certain litigations in the U.S. as well as an inability to hold face-to-face meetings. These postponements may result in delays in concluding agreements rather than resulting in lost opportunities. Our transaction with Kingston Technology is an example of a planned Q2 deal that slipped into Q3. However, even with delays, WiLAN showed that despite the pandemic, you can still complete agreements and deliver significant financial performance. Regarding its litigation with Apple, as expected, Apple filed its appeal on July 15th with the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This is the appellate court in the U.S. that handles all patent appeal matters. WiLAN filed a cross-appeal on July 28th. Opening briefs are expected to be filed before year-end. Beyond that, we expect a trial date sometime in the fall of 2021, with that date likely being set in the spring of 2021. Regarding the return of capital to shareholders, we’ve made several commitments in 2020, and we continue to follow through on them. We completed our substantial issuer bid in July, canceling approximately 2.7 million shares in the process. And in early August, we launched a normal-course issuer bid. The NCIB runs through August 9, 2021, during which time, we can purchase up to 11.3 million common shares. At the end of Q3, less than two months in, we had already purchased 1.6 million shares. I’d now like to take a few minutes to update you on our strategy, which relies on organic growth from WiLAN and IRD as well as growth through acquisitions. A more detailed overview of our strategy was provided on our Q2 call, a recording of which is available on our website. At a high level, our M&A activity will focus on ITS. ITS is a stable, recession-resistant industry with high barriers to entry, and it blends technology with infrastructure in order to provide essential services to governments that are looking to drive efficiencies and new revenue opportunities. As ITS becomes more interconnected, we believe we can use WiLAN’s deep expertise in 5G, which is a key enabling technology for ITS in the future. Looking at the landscape of opportunities, we see three legs to our M&A strategy: The first involves tuck-in acquisitions in the ITS road market that IRD currently operates in. This would include areas such as commercial vehicle operations. The second leg seeks out larger ITS segments such as rail. These would most likely be stand-alone businesses reporting directly into Quarterhill. The third leg of the strategy is where we are looking at adjacencies to ITS, which might include investments in smart cities. These likely would be stand-alone acquisitions as well and initially on the larger side in order to provide a beachhead to build from. This is a natural complement to the IRD business as these are tech-enabled markets focused on infrastructure. Our M&A pipeline continues to grow in each of these areas, and we are well positioned to execute on our plan. We see ample opportunity to diversify in the markets with attractive growth dynamics, reliable revenue streams and reasonable valuations. Execution of this strategy will make ITS more material through our financial results over time, which will help to generate more predictable revenue streams and ultimately enhance shareholder value. We are pleased with our strong Q3 performance and the resilience of our companies during the pandemic. These results have further strengthened our financial position and increased our options within our M&A plan. With that, I’ll turn it over to John for a look at the Q3 numbers. John Rim Thank you, Paul. Good morning, everyone. It’s a pleasure to be here with you today. Just to note up front that, with the sale of VIZIYA, the financial statements for the 3- and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2020, and for the respective comparison periods in 2019 have been prepared to reflect continuing operations and, therefore, exclude results during those periods from VIZIYA. Operating results from VIZIYA for 2019 and 2020 are reported as net income or loss from discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5. So I’ll start my review with a look at revenue. For the quarter and year-to-date period, revenues are up, reflecting strong performance from both IRD and WiLAN, as Paul mentioned. Q3 revenue was up fourfold from Q3 last year, and the year-to-date revenue was $126.4 million, up from $124.6 million last year in the same period. As Paul mentioned, in Q3, we saw the upside of the variability in WiLAN’s business model, which drove a year-over-year increase in revenue for both the quarter and year-to-date period. So while there may be variability on a quarterly basis, over longer horizons, WiLAN has had a relatively consistent track record of performance. IRD also had strong top-line growth of approximately 22% in Q3 compared to the same period last year. IRD’s Q3 2020 results reflect the fundamental strength in the business as well as certain ongoing projects in the U.S., such as with the State of Indiana. Recurring revenue was $5.4 million in Q3, of which more than 95% of that is generated by IRD. Finally, so far in 2020, IRD has maintained a 100% renewal rate on all term maintenance contracts. Gross margin in Q3 was 52% and year-to-date was 45% compared to 11% and 41% in the same periods last year. The increase in gross margins year-over-year primarily reflect lower cost of revenue achieved by WiLAN related to license agreements signed in Q3 as well as IRD achieving higher and climbinggross margin on the project with the State of Indiana. Quarterly cost of revenues for WiLAN are primarily contingent in nature. For example, they are dependent upon the level of contingent litigation and contingent licensing partner expenses incurred in a particular period. These contingent payments, arrangements have allowed WiLAN to often generate solid financial results and derisk the capital costs for IP acquisition as the patents are typically acquired for little to no upfront cost in exchange for a profit sharing model on the licensing. Moreover, the selective use of contingent or partial, contingent legal prearrangements aim to minimize litigation costs until litigation settlements occur. Excluding special charges from 2020 and 2019, operating expenses for Q3 and the year-to-date period decreased by approximately 10% and 12%, respectively. This primarily reflects lower amortization of intangibles and lower SG&A. The portfolio companies have kept close eye on expenses during the pandemic and have received some benefit from the government’s CEWS program on both the SG&A and R&D levels. Also of note, we have embarked on the implementation of an enterprise-wide back-end SaaS solution, which has some onetime costs reflected in our SG&A. These solutions directly support our M&A growth plans and help to scale up the business and drive back-end admin efficiencies as acquired companies are added to our portfolio. Adjusted EBITDA on a consolidated basis for Q3 was $39 million, up from negative $4.4 million last year. Year-to-date, adjusted EBITDA of $37.3 million or a margin of 30% compared to $29.8 million or a margin of 24% last year. Adjusted EBITDA was driven by strong revenue and gross margins from both businesses as well as overall cost management. Returning to the theme of looking at WiLAN over a longer period of time, in the 6 years from 2014 through 2019, WiLAN had only 1 year of negative adjusted EBITDA and in all other 5 years generated healthy levels of adjusted EBITDA. So far this year, WiLAN’s adjusted EBITDA is $34.4 million through 9 months. Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments at quarter end were $129.7 million, up significantly from year-end but down a little bit from the end of Q2. The decline from Q2 is due to the timing of collections for certain patent licensing agreements signed in the quarter as well as the payment of approximately $9 million on share buybacks and $1.4 million on dividends. Our cash balance has increased significantly since the end of Q3 due to the collection of a large portion of our receivables, offset in part by certain contingency payments related to those licensing agreements I just mentioned. Overall, from a working capital perspective, we had $180.3 million of working capital at the end of Q3, and that’s up from $153.9 million of working capital at the end of Q2. The strength of our Q3 results gives us a lot of options with which we can pursue our diversification strategy and support the growth of our existing portfolio companies. Regarding the return of capital to shareholders, in Q3, we used $5.8 million to cancel 2.7 million shares via the SIB and used approximately $3 million to cancel approximately 1.6 million shares via the NCIB. As a result, total common shares outstanding at the end of Q3 stood at approximately 114.6 million compared to just under 119 million earlier this year, and the buyback has continued since the end of Q3. In addition to the buybacks, we also paid dividends in Q3 totaling $1.4 million. Taking into account 3 dividend payments made this year, along with the SIB and NCIB activity, Quarterhill has returned approximately $13 million of capital to shareholders so far in 2020. And finally, this morning, in our earnings release, we announced details of our next dividend payment. The Board of Directors has declared an eligible dividend of $0.0125 per share payable on January 11, 2021, for shareholders of record on December 11, 2020. So this concludes my review of the financial results, and I’ll now turn the call back to the operator for questions. Question-and-Answer Session [Operator Instructions] Your first question comes from the line of Gavin Fairweather from Cormark. Gavin Fairweather I just wanted to start out on WiLAN. Obviously, an impressive quarter for that business. Would you characterize kind of the plumbing in terms of litigation and license negotiation as being kind of back to normal now? Or are you still finding that things are kind of building up and not moving at the same speed as before? Yes. We, as I mentioned in my remarks, there has been a bit of a COVID effect. And I think I highlighted an example of that where the Kingston agreement was actually planned in Q2 but ended up slipping to Q3. And it’s really dealing with logistics around having in-person meetings and that sort of thing. So there has been some of that. But we are seeing things improve somewhat. And obviously, Q3 is sort of evidence of that. And then just on IRD, I mean, maybe you can add some kind of color to the international expansion here. Obviously, a string of international deals for that business. I mean, how much more upside are you seeing internationally? And how are you kind of working to make that business more and more international in nature? The growth in international in North America is similar right now. And actually, I would say, if anything right now, Europe is being more affected, or the IRD business is more affected in Europe and South America due to COVID than even North America. So I would say sort of the profile of revenue mix across various geographies is going to be kind of similar in the next number of quarters as to its historical performance. Now having said that, we do see a lot of opportunity in Eastern Europe. We’re quite interested in that market. The issue right now is, in Eastern Europe, they are experiencing a bit of a spike in COVID right now. And then maybe for John. So your receivables kind of jumped from $11 million to $72 million. So obviously, reading kind of between the lines and your commentary, it sounds like that, most of that is some of the license deals from WiLAN that you finalized towards the end of the quarter. So in terms of coming up with more of a current cash balance, we could kind of tax that and assume some direct costs associated to that to come up with a kind of current cash balance. Is that, am I thinking about that correctly? Yes, definitely, you are. We look at our overall working capital. And as I mentioned, since the end of the quarter, we have received a significant amount of the receivables that you see there reported. Your next question comes from the line of Doug Taylor from Canaccord Genuity. Your line is open. Douglas Taylor Thank you. Good morning. Just to put a finer point on Gavin’s last question. With all the receivables and payables kind of settling out from what was a very strong quarter since quarter end, the incremental cash to the quarter end cash balance, I mean, is it fair to say an additional $30 million once you normalize payables and receivables? Is that in the range? Can you just help there because we don’t really know what’s a normal level of payables and receivables in those businesses? Yes, absolutely. I have to be careful with what I say because, as you know, the licensing agreements are confidential as well as our partnering agreements as well. So what I can say generally is that we derisked our legal fees as it relates to licensing and settlement agreements. And the quicker you settle them — actually, they’re on a sliding scale. So that’s why you’ll see from quarter-to-quarter, you’ll see sometimes better margins. And that just means that we’re closing deals a little quicker. So the close — the quicker you close them, the less contingency that you have to pay. So what I would say about the cash is that you have our receivables and you have our gross margin that we reported. And so you can kind of back into sort of the overall, including all activity that we had in the quarter, the cost of revenue associated with that. So if you take the net of that, that could be a proxy for what you could expect for our cash balance. Now of course, we also have the share buybacks, the dividends and our ongoing operating costs. So that will have to be factored in as well. So there’s a potential for the payables to be different than what you’ve allocated there in — depending on when those payables are paid in terms of contingent consideration. Is that — am I understanding that correctly? No. With the payables, the — as soon as we book our cost of revenues, which we have for the licensing agreements, the payables are set. Okay. All right. We’ll switch gears then. You mentioned, I mean, the impact of COVID on the WiLAN business and your ability to — the courts and things like that. But with respect to the M&A program, have you found that COVID and restrictions regarding travel and social distancing continue to impact your ability to evaluate transactions and management teams and things like that face to face? Or do you — is that a hurdle at all that you need to overcome with respect to beginning to deploy capital against the 3 legs of your M&A program that you laid out? Yes. It’s not insurmountable, but it certainly poses some challenges, especially acquisitions that we have to travel to. I think people are doing creative things to work around it. We are doing things like on-site due diligence by having representatives or companies that are in those countries, walking around with camera phones and things like that. So there’s ways to do it. It’s — and so that’s sort of the challenge part. I think on the more positive side, I think there are, some of the valuations are getting attractive, more attractive, I would say. So, but yes, but definitely not insurmountable. It just poses a little bit of a challenge. And I think getting deals done perhaps take a little bit longer than they might under normal circumstances because of some of those logistical issues. And I would add to that… Doug Taylor Okay. And, go ahead. Sorry. The only thing I was going to add to that, though, is, as with is typical with M&A activity, a lot of it is an information review as part of the due diligence. And so that part hasn’t changed. And anecdotally, I’m sure you can corroborate this with others as well, but with the partners that we’re working with, we certainly have a robust M&A pipeline with a lot of opportunities that we’re reviewing. But we’re not alone in that respect. There is a lot of activity that’s going on right now in terms of investigation. So I think it’s common to everyone. Paul, you made an interesting point there about the valuations of potential targets becoming more attractive. And I think most who would spend time in the technology landscape would say that valuations have, are increasing. So I wonder if I can press you a little bit on where you are seeing more attractive, if it’s at the smaller end of the scale or across your 3, the 3 pillars of your M&A program. Well, one of the reasons, as I mentioned on the last call, that we decided on ITS as our focus area is valuations. We feel we, they are less competitive because it is a niche market to an extent. It’s a very large niche market, but it is a niche market. And so certainly, if you look at enterprise software or consumer software, those valuations are very high right now, and I completely agree with you. I don’t see that as much in the ITS space. And the other dynamic, of course, is with COVID, every business, virtually every business has experienced some softness in their bookings or even their revenue and profitability. And that ultimately translates to value as well. So I would say these are, the deals that we’re looking at would be less competitive than you would see in something like enterprise software, where you might have 10, 15 potential buyers at the table. We’re not seeing that. We have, in some cases, we’re either alone at the table, or it’s a small number of potential suitors. And so that creates better-value kind of opportunities for us. [Operator Instructions] Your next question comes from the line of Todd Coupland from CIBC. Todd Coupland A couple of modeling questions, if I could. What’s the rough run rate OpEx for the business, excluding large lumpy WiLAN quarters? Could you just give an idea of what that is, please? Yes. I can speak to it a little bit. I think if you look at our historical sort of SG&A, as I mentioned, we do have some onetime costs this year because we’re fortifying and enhancing sort of some back-end SaaS solutions that we have that position us to grow and scale rapidly. But I would say they’re a good indicator. Just take out, just look at our cash flow statement and take out sort of depreciation and those types of things and you get a good sort of run rate of our cash OpEx. What I would like to point out, though, is in the cost of revenues. I touched upon this a little before. Since you bring up WiLAN, specifically, they have a diversified strategy, but more and more, we’re seeing this partnership model where we acquired those portfolios with our partners and we help them monetize those portfolios. Along with that, though, are contingent legal fees. And so there’s a portion of the legal fees that make sense for us to pay on an ongoing basis, but it’s a very small proportion. By far the larger portion is the litigation. And those, we derisk now by having a contingent payment model. And so it’s very difficult to tell you sort of what our run rate is as it relates to sort of WiLAN’s business because of that contingent model, but what it does is it derisks those cash costs upfront for litigation. So in other words, we don’t have to incur those costs and wait for the final conclusion of the litigation. It’s only if and when we are successful and we win that those get paid out. So we feel like this is a very good model that derisks our cash costs and provides a more predictable base for sort of operating expenses. And then just on M&A, if you think about your pipeline, would you expect to put cash to work in 2020? Or are the COVID hurdles likely to push that into 2021? Yes, it’s possible. We have an active pipeline. It’s possible. As I said earlier, I think COVID does slow things down a little bit on due diligence because of the challenges around on-site meetings and reviews. But what I can tell you is we are very active. And it’s hard to say with certainty, but it is possible. There are no further questions. At this time, I will pass the call back to [Paul] for closing remarks. Well, thank you, everyone, for joining today. We look forward to reporting back on our activities in the coming months and certainly speaking with you again on our next earnings call. Have a good day. Goodbye. That concludes today’s conference call. I will now, you may now disconnect. Chipmakers Petition for Language Change in Funding Bill to Include Mission-Critical Devices US business leaders call for peaceful transfer of power 5 Content Marketing Ideas for October 2020 Brazilian wildlife under pressure – in pictures Why Delaying the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans Was a Wise Call Bookish Baby Shower Gift Ideas	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1974
__label__cc	0.725199	0.274801	Library Access Services Assistant Jasmine Cardi: International Books and Local Clients by Cynthia Rockwell • January 17, 2018 Jasmine Cardi, the weekend and evening supervisor for Interlibrary Loans—both for Olin library’s scholars in need of incoming books and outgoing volumes for academic institutions elsewhere—appreciates the institutional standard of service that she and her colleagues are able to provide. (Photo by Cynthia Rockwell) In this Q&A, we speak to Jasmine Cardi, who joined the Access Services staff at Wesleyan’s Olin Library on Jan. 7, 2013 (“Five years already!” she says). Now the weekend and evening supervisor, she provides support to the departments of Interlibrary Loan (ILL), Olin Reference, Reserves/E-Reserves, and Olin Circulation. With her arrival, the ILL office was able to lengthen their hours until 10 p.m. some evenings, offering availability for those geared to later study nights in the library. Q: What do you like best about working for Interlibrary Loan? A: I love seeing all the books we get from around the world—Italy and Russia, everywhere, depending on what people are studying. When we get one of these volumes from far away, we all think it’s really cool and just have to hold it and open it—before we quickly put it on the shelf for the borrower. Q: How many people does ILL assist each year? A: ILL serves hundreds of people, between borrowing from other libraries and lending to them. Last year there were almost 14,000 requests, combined. Q: Tell us about Olin Library—as building, an institution, a workspace? A: Olin is a unique building. My favorite place is on the second-floor balcony, overlooking the front foyer. I love the chandelier; I love on Saturday and Sunday morning when I come in to open the library, the way the sun shines through the windows and onto that chandelier. I actually took a picture one morning of that and made it into the screensaver on my phone. When we think of a library, we think of books—but I love that libraries are evolving into places where the core value is patron service—whether it’s students, faculty, staff, co-workers, or the community. Q: What’s your own educational background? Where did you begin your career? A: I went to the University of St. Joseph back when it was an all-girls school known as St. Joseph College. My major was psychology and education with a minor in art history. Before coming to Wesleyan, I worked at Hartford Public Library for more than 10 years. Fun fact: My first job was at a library at age 16. Q: Outside of work, what are your interests and hobbies? A: I love to read and I run—I’ve done four half-marathons, and a lot of 10Ks and 5Ks, more than I can count. I also did my first Spartan race in November. They’re a mix of running and obstacle courses, and the tradition goes back to ancient Greece. I like that we’re bringing that into the contemporary culture; I’m training to do more this year. I also like to go boating on the Connecticut River. We have a small 14-foot boat; my husband’s family has been boating every weekend their whole life, and now it’s our tradition. We’ve been together 17 years and we make it a point to get out on the water at least once on Saturday or Sunday. Q: Are there any challenging/surprising moments—an outstanding moment that illustrates your work day you’d like to share? A: Much of my day is spent helping someone find something in the stacks, or finding it elsewhere via interlibrary loan. Many times it’s an urgent request, with a deadline in the next 48 hours. It’s like saving the day when you can find what is needed within that timeframe. And another story: One night as I was getting ready to leave, a family came in with an urgent request. Their two middle-school children had reports due the next day, but the family had been out of power for a few days after a storm, and they needed to print their papers. The kids were so grateful that the library was open and we could help them be ready for school the next day. Their appreciation was heartwarming. Cynthia Rockwell Cynthia Rockwell, MALS ’19, P’11 View all posts by Cynthia Rockwell → Tags:employee news ← Library Oversees Wesleyan’s Archaeological Collections, Visual Resource Center Sorey MA ’11 and Orr Awarded Artistic Fellowships →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1977
__label__wiki	0.687945	0.687945	Tag Archive for Matesan Matesan’s New Book Explores Political Violence, Islamist Mobilization in Egypt and Indonesia by Olivia Drake • December 7, 2020 Ioana Emy Matesan, assistant professor of government, is the author of The Violence Pendulum: Tactical Change in Islamist Groups in Egypt and Indonesia, published by Oxford University Press, September 2020. The Violence Pendulum challenges the notion that democracy can reduce violence, or that there is anything exceptional about violent Islamist mobilization in the Middle East. It also addresses an ongoing puzzle in the study of political violence, and shows why repression can sometimes encourage violence, and other times discourage it. Matesan also investigates escalation and de-escalation in an inter-generational and cross-regional study of Islamist mobilization in Egypt and in Indonesia. The Violence Pendulum is currently featured in Oxford University Press’s collection on Peace Studies. Faculty Publish Books, Journal Articles by Olivia Drake • June 17, 2020 Several faculty have recently authored or co-authored books, book chapters, and articles that appear in prestigious academic journals. Book by Joslyn Barnhart Book translated by Susanne Fusso Book by Kari Weil Joslyn Barnhart, assistant professor of government, is the author of The Consequences of Humiliation: Anger and Status in World Politics (Cornell University Press, 2020). Susanne Fusso, Marcus L. Taft Professor of Modern Languages, is the translator of The Nose and Other Stories by Nikolai Gogol (Columbia University Press, 2020). Ruth Johnson, associate professor of biology, is the author of a book chapter titled “Adhesion and the Cytoskeleton in the Drosophila Pupal Eye,” published in the book Molecular Genetics of Axial Patterning, Growth and Disease in the Drosophila Eye (Springer Science and Business Media, 2020). Elizabeth McAlister, professor of religion, is the author of a chapter titled “Sacred Waters of Haitian Vodou: The Pilgrimage of Sodo,” published in Sacred Waters: A Cross-Cultural Compendium of Hallowed Springs and Holy Wells (Routledge, 2020). Kari Weil, University Professor of Letters, is the author of the book Precarious Partners: Horses and Their Humans in Nineteenth-Century France (University of Chicago Press, 2020). She also wrote a book chapter titled “The Animal Novel That Therefore This Isn’t,” published in New Approaches to the Twenty-First–Century Anglophone Novel (Palgrave MacMillan, 2019). Lindsay Dolan, assistant professor of government, is the author of “Rethinking Foreign Aid and Legitimacy: Views from Aid Recipients in Kenya,” which was published in Studies in Comparative International Development 55(2) in 2020. Ruth Johnson, associate professor of biology, and Joe Coolon, assistant professor of biology, are co-authors of “Mask, a Component of the Hippo Pathway, is Required for Drosophila Eye Morphogenesis,” published in Developmental Biology in August 2020. The study also is featured on the cover of Issue 464. Bill Johnston, professor of history, is the author of “Epidemic Culture in Premodern Japan,” published June 23 by the Society for Cultural Anthropology, from the Series “Responding to an Unfolding Pandemic: Asian Medicines and Covid-19.” Robert Lane, associate professor and chair of molecular biology and biochemistry, is the author of “Bioinformatics discovery of putative enhancers within mouse odorant receptor gene clusters,” published in Chemical Senses, 44(9), 2019. Ioana Emy Matesan, assistant professor of government, is the author of “Grievances and Fears in Islamist Movements: Revisiting the Link between Exclusion, Insecurity, and Political Violence,” published in the Journal of Global Security Studies in 2020. Ishita Mukerji, Fisk Professor of Natural Science and professor of molecular biology and biochemistry, and Manju Hingorani, visiting scholar in molecular biology and biochemistry, are the co-authors of “Mismatch Recognition by Msh2-Msh6: Role of Structure and Dynamics,” published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences on Aug. 31, 2019. Anna Shusterman, associate professor of psychology, is the co-author of “Working in the Research-to-Practice Gap: Case Studies, Core Principles, and a Call to Action,” published in PsyArXiv on Sept. 23, 2019. Six Wesleyan students also are co-authors of the article. Justine Quijada is the author of “From Culture to Experience: Shamanism in the Pages of the Soviet Anti-Religious Press,” published in Contemporary European History, Vol. 29, Special Issue 2 (Religion and Socialism in the Long 1960s: From Antithesis to Dialogue in Eastern and Western Europe), 2020. View all faculty publications online here. Matesan in The Conversation: Why Do Rebel Groups Apologize? by Lauren Rubenstein • July 8, 2019 Ioana Emy Matesan Wesleyan faculty frequently publish articles based on their scholarship in The Conversation US, a nonprofit news organization with the tagline, “Academic rigor, journalistic flair.” In a new article, Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan and Ronit Berger of Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya write about their research trying to understand when and why armed groups apologize for their mistakes. They hope this research will help to find ways to negotiate resolutions during conflicts. Why Do Rebel Groups Apologize? Armed groups often rely on violence and instilling fear to show strength and resilience. And yet, every so often, they are willing to apologize when things go wrong. The New IRA recently apologized for killing Lyra McKee, an investigative journalist, during a riot in Derry. The group’s targets, which they described as “enemy forces,” were officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Matesan Speaks at Meeting with Policymakers in Switzerland by Lauren Rubenstein • October 15, 2018 From left, Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan, Imelda Deinla, Clark Lombardi, and moderator Mimmi Söderberg Kovacs in a panel discussion with policymakers on conflict resolution. On Sept. 29–Oct. 1, Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan traveled to Switzerland to participate in a research workshop that brought together an international and interdisciplinary group of scholars working on conflict and violence, as well as in a meeting with policymakers. Matesan was one of only six researchers from five different countries invited to attend the meeting with policymakers—primarily from the Human Security Division within the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs—which was organized by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (the Swedish government agency for peace, security, and development), the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, the Center for Security Studies in Zurich, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. Matesan participated in a panel discussion on resolving conflicts involving Islamist actors, along with Imelda Deinla, the director of the Philippines Project at Australian National University, and Clark Lombardi, the director of Islamic legal studies at the University of Washington. “The panel was centered on the question of what research can tell us about the prospects of conflict resolution, and what questions it raises for policymakers and practitioners who want to engage in negotiations and mediation,” said Matesan. “In my comments I drew on my research on Egypt and Indonesia to emphasize that group ideology and tactics can change over time in response to internal dynamics and public condemnation, but I also warned against policies that use overwhelming force, and the assumption that either groups or publics are passive recipients of propaganda with little agency.” Matesan Discusses Manchester Terror Attack on CBS Connecticut by Lauren Rubenstein • May 24, 2017 Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan discussed the recent terror attack in Manchester, England on CBS Connecticut. Matesan said the big question on her mind is the nature of the perpetrator’s connection to ISIS. At this time, not much is known about the perpetrator’s background. We know from terrorism studies that there is no single profile to explain “why an individual would join a terrorist group or why they would undertake a terrorist attack, so there are so many possible paths to radicalization. That story we do not know yet,” she said. “The other interesting question that we’re not exactly sure about yet is the connection to ISIS. Because ISIS has claimed the attack […] but it seems like they don’t have their story straight.” “It seems most likely that [ISIS] simply inspired the attack but had no direct connection in organizing or coordinating it,” she said. Understanding how ISIS is either inspiring or directing terror attacks like this this is important in dictating policy response, she added. It’s quite difficult to predict where the next attack will come from when attackers are acting relatively independently. Matesan also noted that in this case, the attacker chose a high-profile venue with significantly less security than in other locations, such as in London. The fact that the victims included many women and children resulted in a high shock value. “The message that ISIS wants to send is to be scared, that they’re coming for us, and that’s exactly the message that we need to undermine,” she said. “In terms of responses, of course enhanced security and intelligence cooperation and hardening targets is the only clear and obvious response. What perhaps is most important is what we should not do, and that is not to fall into the trap of provocation and in the trap of Islamophobia and xenophobia.” Matesan also is a tutor in the College of Social Studies. Wesleyan to Offer Muslim Studies Certificate by Lauren Rubenstein • May 8, 2017 The certificate, approved by the faculty on April 25, was proposed by steering committee members Peter Gottschalk, professor of religion, director of the Office of Faculty Career Development; Typhaine Leservot, associate professor of French studies, chair of the Romance Languages and Literatures Department, associate professor of letters; and Ioana Emy Matesan, assistant professor of government, tutor in the College of Social Studies. “Students in the certificate program will gain an appreciation for the diversity among Muslims geographically, culturally, historically, and religiously,” Leservot said. “They will become accomplished in multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches to the study of Muslim communities and their expressions and productions. In an American setting in which stereotypes reduce the more than 1 billion Muslims around the globe to singular caricatures, this represents no small accomplishment.” The Muslim Studies Certificate will mirror an existing certificate in Jewish and Israeli Studies. Students must complete six designated courses in a range of areas, including contemporary society and practice; literary, artistic and musical studies; and historical inquiry. Courses involving Muslim studies already offered by more than a dozen faculty members will be included. “This new certificate will highlight Wesleyan’s remarkable collection of faculty, courses, and resources for students interested in studying the lives of Muslims around the globe,” Gottschalk said. “Our faculty teach and conduct research in fields as diverse as Arabic, art history, College of Letters, English, French, government, history, music, religion, and Spanish. As Muslims become increasingly prominent in the United States, the number of faculty and students alike interested in Muslim studies has expanded.” “The certificate aims to maximize students’ education in Muslim traditions by providing a structured program to guide their studies,” he added. “This will require students to diversify their exposure across disciplines and divisions, period and place.” At a time when American Muslims are becoming increasingly marginalized, the certificate “will also help our non-Muslim students better understand a set of groups and traditions increasingly the target of disinformation and prejudice,” Matesan said. “Meanwhile, it would signal to our Muslim students and potential applicants that Wesleyan recognizes the diversity and significance of Muslim traditions.” Matesan Writes on Why ISIS Will Not Thrive in Indonesia by Lauren Rubenstein • January 29, 2016 Following an ISIS attack in the heart of Jakarta earlier this month, Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan writes on the blog “Political Violence @ a Glance” why she believes ISIS will not thrive in Indonesia. The ISIS affiliate in Indonesia remains very small, and “varies drastically from its counterpart in Syria in terms of motivations, organization, and perhaps more importantly, ability to challenge the state or claim territory.” Matesan notes, “Indonesia has seen its fair share of violence, and even some earlier attempts to build an Islamic state.” She provides a history of different groups that over time have rejected the Republic and attempted to form separate Islamic states, resulting in periods of violence. Since 2009, however, there have been no major terrorist attacks in Indonesia. The trend that has been emerging over the last five years is a move away from hierarchical organizations and large scale attacks towards online, individual self-radicalization and decentralized networks of radical ideologues. Such is the case also with ISIS supporters in Indonesia, who are no more than several hundred across the entire archipelago. This number is large enough to stage attacks such as the recent ones in Jakarta. But the number is minuscule when compared with the 50 million strong, pro-democratic and tolerant Nahdlatul Ulama (on their anti-ISIS and anti-extremism activities, see here). Compared to Syria and Iraq, there is also no significant challenge to the legitimacy of the Indonesian state or Indonesian democracy; there is no power vacuum or disintegration in the rule of law that these ISIS fighters could take advantage of. To be sure, the threat of violence might not disappear in Indonesia. But it is important not to overreact to these attacks, not to overestimate the reach of ISIS, and not to conflate developments in the Middle East with developments in Southeast Asia. American involvement in counter-terrorism and harsh tactics by the police or Densus 88 (the counter-terrorism unit) have only spurred violent attacks before. Unlike many other countries countering terrorism, Indonesia has done many things right – it adopted a legalist rather than militaristic approach to counterterrorism and it has combined soft and hard tactics, understanding the importance of incentives, exit options, and respect for the rule of law. Rather than give in to an ISIS hysteria, the country should keep building on the lessons it has already learned from its tumultuous past. Allbritton Center to Host Series of Panels on the Refugee Crisis The Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life will host a series of three panels in February and March on the refugee crisis. All events will take place in PAC 001. The first panel, The Development of the Crisis and the Response in Europe, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 3. Moderated by Professor of Economics Richard Grossman, the panel is comprised of Bruce Masters, the John E. Andrus Professor of History; Robert Ford, former U.S. ambassador to Syria; and Marcie Patton, professor of politics at Fairfield University. The second panel, The Refugee Experience, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 17. Moderated by Victoria Smolkin-Rothrock, assistant professor of history, assistant professor of Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies, it will feature discussion between Steve Poellot, legal director at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP); Mohammed Kadalah, of the University of Connecticut Department of Literature, Cultures and Languages, who was recently granted asylum after fleeing Syria in 2011; and Baselieus Zeno, a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and a Syrian refugee. The final panel, The U.S. Response, Locally and Nationally, will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 31. Moderated by Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan, the panel will include Christina Pope of Welcoming America; Chris George, director of Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services; and Jen Smyers, director of policy and advocacy at Church World Service. It will also feature a video message from U.S. Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut. For more information, contact Rob Rosenthal, director of the Allbritton Center, at rrosenthal@wesleyan.edu. Matesan Writes About Strategic Response to ISIS Attacks on Paris by Lauren Rubenstein • November 18, 2015 In an op-ed written for Inside Sources (and appearing in Las Vegas Sun and other newspapers), Assistant Professor of Government Ioana Emy Matesan questions whether the swift French military response to the recent ISIS attacks on Paris will be effective in preventing future attacks and improving security for civilians. Matesan, who studies contentious politics and political violence in the Middle East, considers different opinions on ISIS’s strategic logic and what each would mean for the repercussions of a military response. She concludes that the most likely logic is one of provocation. [Provocation] is a strategy beloved by al-Qaida and many other extremist groups, who count on the emotional response of their opponents, and who know that the use of indiscriminate violence against them will turn them into martyrs and heroes, boosting their ranks and recruitment potential. And if this is the case, then the escalation in military strikes, the resurgent sectarian rhetoric and the bubbling xenophobia in the West in response to the attacks is precisely what ISIS was counting on, and hoping for. That is not to say that the military strikes might not be effective in destroying the military capabilities or even much of the leadership of the Islamic State. The fact that the group has a very clear geographic concentration in Syria makes this quite possible. But would such a destruction of capabilities count as “success”? Over the last decade the United States has recognized that destroying the military capabilities of a group does not equate to winning “the war on terror,” it does not necessarily undermine the sources of violent extremism, and it does not always make civilians at home or abroad any safer. Furthermore, if we’ve learned anything over the last decade of counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, it’s that clandestine organizations learn and adapt, quite often much faster than military organizations and state governments. Matesan writes that it’s critical to recognize that much of ISIS’s recruiting has been fueled by a refrain of social justice and opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. We would be remiss if we condemn the violence perpetrated by ISIS and remain silent about the unthinkable violence that Assad has inflicted on his country’s population over the past five years. Improving domestic security can work, but it can also become counterproductive if it results in profiling, and if it doesn’t prioritize human security. Unlike what some governors in the United States might have us believe, showing hospitality toward Syrian refugees might in some ways be the best way to undermine radical groups, and to show that the United States is indeed committed to social justice and to the protection of human life. This is particularly important because there is growing evidence that individuals who engage in terrorist groups can and do renounce violence and leave the organization if they become disillusioned with the group and with the cause. This is an incredibly important silver lining and opportunity that liberal democracies should be able to take advantage of, and which might hold more promise than a solely military approach, which we have seen fail time and again. A student group also invited Matesan to discuss the recent attacks on Paris, Beirut, Baghdad and the Sinai and alternative policy responses at 4 p.m. Nov. 23 in PAC 002. Matesan Studies Contentious Politics, Violence in the Middle East by Lauren Rubenstein • September 5, 2014 Ioana Emy Matesan, assistant professor of government, is teaching two sections of GOVT 157 Democracy and Dictatorship. Matesan is an expert on Middle Eastern politics and joined the faculty this fall. (Photo by Cynthia Rockwell) Q: Welcome to Wesleyan, Professor Matesan! Can you please tell us a little about your background? A: I’m originally from Romania. I came to the U.S. for undergrad in 1998, and earned a degree in economics and political science from Monmouth College in Illinois. Coming from Romania, I had no sense of differences in states. I got together with a couple friends, and we looked at the admission of international students and amount of aid for them at different colleges, and we applied to the colleges with the most aid per international student. It was very much a cost-benefit analysis. I loved the small liberal arts college experience, which is one of the reasons why I love Wesleyan. It was a very good transition coming from Romania on my own at 18—I made meaningful connections with both faculty and students. After undergrad, I worked with a Romanian-American nonprofit, which I had volunteered with in Romania. They had incorporated as a 501(c)(3), and were looking for someone to start the fundraising arm in the U.S. We worked with families who were at risk of abandoning their children to orphanages because of economic or social problems. We offered tutoring and social activities for the children; we helped the parents get jobs, training, etc. After three years at the nonprofit, I decided to go to grad school at Arizona State, where I got my master’s in political science. Then I went on to Syracuse University and got my Ph.D. in political science. From there, I came to Wesleyan. Q: How did you become interested in studying Middle Eastern politics? A: I specialize in contentious politics and political violence, with a regional focus in the Middle East. The very first time I became interested in this topic was when I attended a youth UN conference in 1993. There, I met children from Israel and Palestine. I learned a lot about the conflict, but it also became very real, and I suddenly had friends I could associate with both sides.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1978
__label__cc	0.505353	0.494647	Governor Announces Modified Stay At Home Order by Press Release \| Dec 10, 2020 \| Local, News The latest data for Davidson. On Tuesday, December 8, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen announced that North Carolina will begin a Modified Stay at Home Order after a rapid increase in North Carolina’s key COVID-19 trends. Executive Order 181, which goes into effect Friday, December 11, requires people to stay at home between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. The order will be in effect until at least January 8, 2021. Order 181 requires restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, personal care businesses and more to close at 10:00 p.m. Travel to and from work; to obtain food, medical care, fuel or social services; or to take care of a family member is exempted. Read more in the Frequently Asked Questions document. Governor Cooper was clear that further action would be taken to slow the spread of the virus if trends do not improve. This could require further limiting of restaurant dining, indoor entertainment or shopping and retail capacity restrictions, among other safety protocols. Read Executive Order 181 here. Read the Frequently Asked Questions here. Read the slides from yesterday’s briefing here.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1979
__label__wiki	0.909771	0.909771	Akwa Ibom Journalists boycott Fani-Kayode’s press conference The state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Akwa Ibom state has directed its members to boycott a press conference planned for Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation. In a statement on Friday, the chapter asked journalists not to attend any activity organised by the former minister. This came days after Fani-Kayode insulted a journalist for asking him what he described as a “stupid question” at a press conference after his tour of Cross River state. The ex-minister, who began a tour of some states, especially those controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states in July, visited Cross River last week. At a press conference in Calabar, Cross River state capital, Eyo Charles, a journalist with Daily Trust, had asked a question about who was bankrolling Fani-Kayode’s trip. The former minister was offended by the question and went ahead to insult the journalist, referring to him as “very stupid”. “I could see from your face before you got here, how stupid you are. Don’t ever talk to me like that. Who do you think you’re talking to. Bankroll who? You think I am one of those ones you… from who, when, how? You have a small mind, a very small mind. Don’t judge me by your own standards,” he had said. His comments had generated widespread criticism from many Nigerians and groups, including the NUJ which described him as “intolerant and unstable”. Chris Isiguzo, NUJ president, had said it is disappointing that Fani-Kayode, who holds leaders to account, is the same person attacking a journalist for doing his job. “By denigrating the journalist, Fani Kayode has exposed himself the more as an intolerant and unstable person who will not want his activities closely scrutinised by the media,” he had said via a statement. The former minister later regretted his use of the word, “stupid,” but did not apologise to the journalist. Related Topics:Fani-Kayode Helicopter Crashes In Lagos Blasphemy death sentence: I will sign warrant without hesitation says Ganduje I only reprimanded him for a premeditated plan to embarrass me – Fani-Kayode responds to NUJ Daily Trust condems Fani-Kayode’s verbal assault on journalist, says journalists must not be intimidated Femi Fani-Kayode insults and disgraces the North; Zamfara community leaders allege	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1980
__label__wiki	0.826607	0.826607	“I had been thinking a lot about the challenges and rewards of being fully present in the different aspects of one’s life. After seeing ‘Revolution in the Making: Abstract Sculpture by Women, 1947-2016’, the inaugural show at Hauser & Wirth in Los Angeles and hearing the curators speak about all the other artists they could have included, I had a simple idea- let’s gather and photograph all these artists who were not in the show. This event was an opportunity to take a snapshot of all the women-identifying and non-binary identifying working artists in the LA contemporary art community. It was an opportunity for us to capture a moment where we stood together with each other in all of our diversity.” -Kim Schoenstadt, August, 2016 This website’s purpose is to be a connection point with a community of artists, an archive of the photographs and events, and provide a resource for artists. If you have questions about the artist’s work, I encourage you to reach out and connect with them directly through the link they provided on the individual artist pages. I can tell you, I love these emails, they make my day! Now Be Here is a fiscally sponsored Non-Profit through Fulcrum Arts. We do not charge artists for this project and are sustained by people who believe in supporting women-identifying and non-binary artists. To make a donation please visit the SUPPORT page. On August 28, 2016, in the courtyard of Hauser Wirth & Schimmel in Los Angeles over 700 women-identifying and non-binary artists gathered and the resulting group photograph immediately went viral. To achieve this I collaborated with curator Aandrea Stang and photographers Isabel Avila and Carrie Yury, Ruben Diaz was our photo sponsor. The project traveled to the Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, New York where Shinique Smith was the local artist collaborator, Paola Kudacki was the photographer and Carmen Hermo was our curator, and Perez Art Museum in Miami, Florida where Jane Heart was the local artist collaborator, Gesi Schilling was the photographer, and Diana Nawi and Sarah Michelle Rupert were the curators. The following year the project was realized at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. with linn meyers as the local artist collaborator, Kim Johnson was the photographer and Melani Douglass was the curator, the event included artists from the DC/MD/VA areas. This iteration of the project expanded to include “Now Be Here: Now Let’s Talk,” a series of 17 programs and an Artist Resource Fair comprised of 21 non-profit organizations serving artists and their practices. All of this was made available to the artists in a casual reception setting, allowing them to easily get to know their support networks and connect with one another. Following the first “Now Let’s Talk” event, founder Kim Schoenstadt circulated a survey to the LA artist pool gauging interest in continuing education and community conversation support and a website upgrade. Generating a 55% response rate, there was a clear need voiced for this kind of support of the creative community. Now Be Here established non-profit status in the summer of 2019. With Fulcrum Arts operating as fiscal sponsor. The first action was to respond to feedback about the usability of the website and redo the project website to shift it from passive support of listing the artists to become an interactive directory to promote this pool of artists. The website also will host lists of resources artists to help their practices thrive. The website does not charge the artists to promote their work and is funded entirely through donations. The momentum was continuing with planned reunions in Washington, D.C. at the National Gallery of Art and in Los Angeles at UCLA both of which are currently being rescheduled due to COVID-19. This project is a collective effort and is made possible through collaboration. The project, events, and directory are open to women-identifying and non-binary artists and do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. Below are the bios of all the artists, curators and photographers who made the events possible. Thank you again for supporting and realizing the project. Please note that these numbers only represent a fraction of the artists living and working in these areas. August 28, 2016: October 23, 2016: Now Be Here #1, LA Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, Los Angeles, CA 893 artists RSVP’d 733 artists were able to attend Now Be Here #2, NY Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY 965 artists RSVP’s Now Be Here #3, South Florida, Miami Pérez Art Museum, Miami, FL with The Girls’ Club Now Be Here #4, DC/MD/VA National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, D.C. Isabel Avila photographer LA Isabel Avila was born in East Los Angeles in 1979 and is currently based in Pasadena, California. She received her B.F.A. in Photography and Imaging at Art Center College of Design in 2005 and was a photography instructor for several years at her alma mater, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. She currently works freelance in photography and video while pursuing personal projects. Local exhibitions have been at Compact Space Gallery, The Hive Gallery and Studios, M.J.Higgins Fine Arts, and Art Center College of Design. She has been awarded First Grand Prize for the David A Dechman Photography Award, a Grant from the Richard & Jean Coyne Family Foundation, and an Art Center Grant. Ruben Diaz Los Angeles Photo Sponsor Ruben Diaz is a southern california native and has lived in Los Angeles for over 16 years. He earned his undergraduate degree in Photography at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His many years in film and tv production give him the experience and knowhow to take on any project. In 2012 he officially launched Ping Pong Paw, specializing in Art Documentation. He is right at home immersing himself in the creative collaboration between art and artist. Melani Douglass Curator DC/MD/VA Melani Douglass is an artist, educator, advocate for social change and self-proclaimed lifelong learner. Her latest work of group art is the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ FRESH TALK series for which her role is to connect women’s issues on both the national and international levels. The series, which serves as the signature program of the museum’s Women’s, Arts and Social Change initiative, features engaging community conversations on art and activism and gives audiences a chance to directly engage with featured artists. Photo Credit: Louis Constant Duit local artist collaborator Miami Working under the under the alias TJ Ahearn, (an anagram of her name), Hart has been a working artist, making collages that have been exhibited and collected internationally. She attended the School of Visual Arts in New York as well as both the University of Miami BFA Program and Miami Dade Fine Arts Program. From 2006 until 2015, she held the position as Curator of Exhibitions at The Art and Culture Center of Hollywood, an acclaimed non-profit institution which focuses on contemporary visual art. During her tenure at the Center, Hart curated over 100 exhibitions, and also created the John L. and James S. Knight Foundation award-winning lecture series “Hot Topics,” and numerous other special projects. Her 2015 curated exhibition of Wayne White’s art work won the Center’s first NEA grant ever for an exhibit. She has also been an independent curator, notably organizing the large scale exhibition “100+ Degrees In The Shade: A Survey of South Florida Art,” which included over 150 artists working in all mediums, with an accompanying book. In 2019 Hart relocated to New York, where she continues her pursuits. Photo credit: Jonathan Dorado Carmen Hermo Curator New York Carmen Hermo is the Associate Curator for the Brooklyn Museum’s Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art. She curated Roots of “The Dinner Party”: History in the Making, formed part of the Nobody Promised You Tomorrow: Art 50 Years After Stonewall curatorial collective, and co-organized Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960–1985 and Half the Picture: A Feminist Look at the Collection, among other exhibitions. Previously, Carmen was Assistant Curator for Collections at the Guggenheim Museum. Carmen received her B.A. in Art History and English from the University of Richmond and her M.A. in Art History from Hunter College. She lives in Jersey City. Photo Credit: Brenna Youngblood Cole M James Collaborator For Future Los Angeles Reunion, Artist Resource Fair, Development Team For Artist Infrastructure Initiative Cole M James is an interdisciplinary artist. Her work uses both figurative and abstract images, sound and scent to amplify the subtle ways perception can collapse and expand time. She received an MFA from Claremont Graduate University in Installation & Digital Media and a BA from Cal State San Bernardino in Painting. She was awarded the Alfred B. Friedman Grant, Walker Parker Artist Fellowship, Mignon Schweitzer Award and is the 2019-20 Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation Artist in Residence. Her work has been exhibited in New York, Miami, Korea, and throughout Los Angeles. James creates objects and community engagement workshops centered on empathy and civic engagement. She has worked as a community collaborative partner with organizations such as Justice LA, artworx LA, Liberated Arts Collective, Los Angeles Nomadic Division, Project 51, Hammer Museum, LACMA, California African American Museum , Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego and Michelada Think Tank. James is Assistant Professor at Otis College of Art & Design and lives in Los Angeles CA. Kim Johnson photographer DC/MD/VA Kim Johnson lives in Washington D.C and has been a professional photographer for over twenty years. She is the Lead photographer and Creative Director of Urban Oasis Studio where she fuses soul with an unbridled flow of creativity, enhancing the conceptual process as well as the finished product. Our ultimate goal is to serve you, the client, and to utilize the magic of photography to convert each significant life moment into indelible photographic images. Paola Kudacki Photographer NY Paola Kudacki was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She graduated as a Graphic Designer at Panamericana of Art and Design in Buenos Aires. Her career has been diverse, from Ballet Dancer to Styling and Art Direction. Since an early age painting and drawing were her passion and her way of expression – an output for her imagination and creativity. All of these prepared her for her ultimate profession as a Photographer and Director. Paola’s works can be found in publications such as ELLE US, GQ US, Vogue Nippon, Vogue Spain, Harper’s Bazaar, i-D Magazine, PAPER,Numero, Hercules, Purple, Beauty Papers, 25 Magazine, Office Magazine, Paper Magazine, ESPN Magazine and TIME. Most recently Paola has been directing exclusive videos for a multitude of clients – including Cover Girl, Pantene, L’Oreal, Pepsi, The Metropolitan Opera, 25 Magazine, in addition to collaborating with many of todays most influential talents, musicians and artists, such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Kendrick Lamar. Photo Credit: Shep Lewin linn meyers Local artist collaborator DC/MD/VA Time is central to the work of Washington DC-based artist linn meyers, whose practice revolves around drawing and painting. Each dense and intricate painting, drawing, or site-specific work, is the result of a process by which meyers lays down consecutive marks into largely organic forms, creating rhythmic repetitive patterns. Each stroke becomes the record of a physical movement, and the inevitable inconsistencies and imperfections of the body as it moves through time and space become integral to the final composition. linn meyers’s works have been shown in public and private venues, including: The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC, The Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, The Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan, The Drawing Center, NYC, The National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC, Sandra Gering Inc, NYC, Morgan Lehman, NYC, Margaret Thatcher Projects, New York City, G Fine Art, Washington, DC, and ParisConcret, Paris, France, among others. Diana Nawi Curator For Miami/South Florida Diana Nawi is an independent curator based in Los Angeles. Recent projects include Michael Rakowitz: Dispute Between the Tamarisk and the Date Palm at REDCAT, Los Angeles, and Mark Bradford: Los Angeles at the Long Museum, Shanghai. She previously served as Associate Curator at Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) for five years, where she curated major exhibitions and organized newly commissioned projects. Prior to joining PAMM, Nawi worked as an assistant curator on the Abu Dhabi Project of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and served as a fellow at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. She received her BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her MA from the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art. Nawi will serve as the co-Artist Director (alongside Naima J. Keith) of Prospect.5 in New Orleans in 2020. Photo Credit: Paola Kudacki Sarah Michelle Rupert Curator Miami/South Florida Sarah Michelle Rupert is an artist, educator and cultural producer living and working in Miami, FL. Working with photography, video, collage, drawing and animation, her creative practice revolves around consumer and mass-communication culture and its beautiful, tragic and humorous interactions within contemporary life. As a cultural producer, she works collaboratively with artists and organizations to build innovative and fun projects across artistic disciplines. She is the Director of Collections at Girls’ Club, a private collection and nonprofit alternative art space, where she has presented exhibitions, public programs, publications and web projects that focus on contemporary art by women since 2008. Other projects include: Founder of Mixed Use Space and co-founded the Small Press Fair Fort Lauderdale. She received an MA in Visual Arts Administration from New York University and BFA in Creative Photography and Art History from the University of Florida. Gesi Schilling Photographer Miami/South Florida Gesi Schilling is a Miami-based photographer with a background in photojournalism, Gesi’s work has been seen worldwide. Kim Schoenstadt local Artist Los Angeles and originator/ coordinator of the project Kim Schoenstadt is a Los Angeles based internationally exhibiting artist whose work explores the junctures of architecture and the social landscape. Through multimedia site specific projects that often include public input, the artist prompts the viewer to empathize with different perspectives. Born in Chicago with a B.A. from Pitzer College, CA, her selected exhibitions include: Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Hartford, CT; Van Abbemuseum, Eindhoven, NL; Perez Art Museum, Miami, FL; Santa Monica Museum of Art, CA; Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; Prague Biennale; Poland Biennale, Lodz, PL; The Getty Center, Los Angeles; and the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London. Local Artist Collaborator NY Shinique Smith is a Los Angeles based painter and sculptor known for her monumental creations of fabric, calligraphy and collage that are inspired by the vast nature of ‘things’ that we consume and discard, which resonate on a personal and social scale. She has presented over 20 solo exhibitions at institutions such as; Baltimore Museum of Art, California African American Museum, Frist Center, MOCA Jacksonville, LA County Museum of Art and Studio Museum in Harlem. Her exuberant works are featured in many collections including, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Denver Art Museum, Joyner-Giuffrida Collection, Minneapolis Art Institute, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Rubell Family Museum and Whitney Museum. Smith has received awards from Joan Mitchell Foundation, the UBS Art Collection Tiffany Foundation and Anonymous Was a Woman among others. Smith earned her BFA and MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art where she was also awarded the Alumni Medal of Honor. Photo credit: Ani Berberian Aandrea Stang Curator Los Angeles Aandrea Stang is the University Art Gallery Director and Assistant Professor of Art History at California State University Dominguez Hills. Stang has diverse professional experience including education, curatorial, and management roles at museums, galleries, and academic institutions with additional experience in non-profit galleries and government agencies. She has developed and launched contemporary art and arts education programs for a variety of audiences at major cultural organizations including Hauser Wirth & Schimmel, Occidental College, and MOCA, Los Angeles. Known for her innovative programs and strong cross-institutional collaborations, Stang was responsible for MOCA’s Engagement Party, the pioneering program for socially engaged artwork, from 2008 to 2012. Stang holds degrees from USC and Oberlin College Christina Valentine Collaborator For Future Los Angeles Reunion, Artist Resource Fair, and Development Team For Artist Infrastructure Initiative Since the early ’90s, Christina has engaged in the visual and performing arts as an administrator, curator and writer. She has worked with UCLA Live, one of the leading performing arts series in the United States, and served as education associate with the Hammer Museum where she was integral in establishing cultural programs and a series of artist lectures for landmark exhibitions such as Sexual Politics, Black Male and Too Jewish. Her recent writings include a catalogue essay for artist and archivist Carole Francis Lung titled ART Work: Frau Fiber and the work of ILGWU (2019), a catalogue essay for artist Monique Prieto titled Shoulds and Wants: Needs and Desires (2017) and catalogue essay Perpetually Existing: #edwardweston (2019). Christina was also contributing writer for the artist monograph, Piotr Uklański: Fatal Attraction (2015). She is the program director for ArtCenter DTLA and adjunct faculty in the Humanities and Sciences department at ArtCenter College of Design. Photo Credit: Marlene Picard Carrie Yury photographer Los Angeles Carrie Yury is a feminist artist and writer. Yury has had solo shows in Los Angeles and Chicago. Her work has been shown in Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York in group exhibitions, including Figure and Form in Contemporary Photography at LACMA, Fruitique with Fallen Fruit at the Hammer Museum, Veronica at Pitzer Art Galleries, and The Wight Biennialat UCLA. Her work is included in the permanent collection at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Yury holds two Masters degrees: an A.M. in English from the University of Chicago (1996), and an M.F.A in Studio Art from the University of California at Irvine (2006). Yury is also a Design Director at Fjord / Accenture Interactive, where she brings her creative approach to conceptualizing and solving problems with her to the consulting field.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1984
__label__cc	0.676349	0.323651	100 in ’11: Shriver, Hosseini and Isaacson The Post-Birthday World – Lionel Shriver Summary: The ultimate what-if scenario; Irina’s two very different possible lives play out, one in which she succumbs to an adulterous attraction, and one in which she doesn’t. Here’s the deal: Irina is dopey and spineless. Her defacto, Lawrence, is dull, emotionally stunted and won’t marry her. She’s forced to choose between him and Ramsey, the snooker-playing cad who offers a life of colour, excitement and hot sex. He’s also terrible with money, immature, jealous and temperamental. And that’s the choice, really – a happy-enough existence, or a turbulent one of high highs and low lows? What would you choose? Shriver plots very tightly; Irina’s divergent futures parallel each other closely, usually mirroring the other. While it works well (they are alternated chapter by chapter) it’s also predictable; I wonder if the book would have been stronger had her alternate realities diverged more strongly. And it’s not a short book. It could definitely have had the axe taken to it; some of the exhaustive pool passages could have been trimmed, or the vaguely political ones. But by the very end, Shriver makes it pretty clear which side she’s on. Irina ends up in exactly the same position either way, except for one crucial point. And that disappointed me. A novel based on this premise, IMO, should be ultimately ambiguous. Summary: After Amir witnesses an unspeakable atrocity on his childhood friend/servant Hassan, who endures it for his master’s sake, his guilt haunts him for years to come, through Afghanistan’s war and over the ocean to his new life in San Francisco. Afghanistan’s history is pretty depressing. And so is Amir’s sorry story. Unable to deal with his guilt, he drives Hassan literally out of the city, and doesn’t get the chance to begin to atone for his sins until decades later. He’s drawn back to his home country to try to set things right in a small way and slay his demons once and for all. What’s wrong with The Kite Runner? Hosseini prefers to tell even more than show. He beats you over the head with cliches and foreshadowing and symbolism. The first person viewpoint didn’t help in that regard – one of the many reasons I preferred A Thousand Splendid Suns. That said, it’s a nice history lesson, an ode to the once-great Afghanistan of old, and a tearjerker. It also always breaks my heart to read about immigrants starting over in poverty in a new country – that saddened me possibly even more than the atrocities in Kabul and elsewhere. I don’t want to give you the impression that I hated this book; I enjoyed it. And to Hosseini’s credit, for all my criticism of his heavyhanded plotting, the conclusion was decidedly not neat and tidy, but delightfully grey. But I think it could have been so much more, with a less contemptuous and cowardly narrator, and less long-suffering, endlessly loyal secondary characters. Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson Summary: An intriguing, if not intimate glimpse into the workings of a flawed and mercurial genius. It’s not often I read biographies. But I actually wanted to read this one, and when a copy popped up on my work desk, I was stoked. And because I didn’t get to do it justice in my 200-word review, you’ll get the full unpolished monty here. I think we all know the Steve Jobs story. It’s great stuff; you couldn’t make it up if you tried. But it gets better; Isaacson has managed to extract some fabulous quotes, eg: “She [mother Clara] just wanted him to be healthy, and he would be making weird pronouncements like, ‘I’m a fruitarian and will only eat leaves picked by virgins in the moonlight.” (One of my 100 in 1001 is to do NaNoWriMo, which I probably won’t pull off, but I reckon I could do a fair job of a biography. It’s just longform journalism, after all.) As well as following the narrative of Jobs’ life, it offers an insight into the tech world and the tensions of Silicon Valley- open vs closed, Apple vs Microsoft, Apple vs Google, Disney vs Pixar, etc. It doesn’t shy away from his failures: NeXT, the Lisa, Antennagate, etc. What it does leave out is the Foxconn suicides – while I don’t believe there’s anything unique about Apple’s use of cheap labour, I do think the major negative publicity surrounding worker deaths warranted a mention. It’s not a particularly flattering picture of Jobs. He was a genius at what he did – almost everyone who knew him agreed on that. He drove others to perform beyond their expectations – his reality distortion field, as they call it, sucked others in, hypnotising them almost. While not a technical guy, he pursued perfection at all costs, demanding beauty in his products and in his personal life – house, plane, boat. He married technology and design like nobody had before. But he was ruthless. He’d dismiss others’ ideas, then claim them as his own a day later. He cheated Woz (whom I think of as a giant teddy bear) out of money in the early days and denied founding member Daniel Kottke any stock. He wanted to let employees go on the spot without severance. He saw things in black and white, dismissing those who weren’t A players, and everything was either genius or a piece of crap to him. No middle ground. He had no time for social niceties. He was volatile and complex and played favourites with his children. And of course, he eerily echoed his own father’s abandonment of a child at 23. And he did not endure his illness well. But to his credit, it was never about the money. I especially loved the moment when Jobs told the head of Oracle to stop thinking about making more money, because he already had more than enough to last him a lifetime. It’s these anecdots, collected by Isaacson and supplemented by exhaustive interviews with family, friends, business contacts and material from other published interviews, that really start to offer insight into his essence, his quirks, his drive. Steve Jobs was an enigma. Some say his issues came down to his adoption and feelings of abandonment. Others say he may have been undiagnosed bipolar. Did Isaacson truly get inside his head? I’m not sure. On the other hand, I’m not sure he himself, nor anyone who knew him, could truly say they fully understood Steve Jobs Tags: books 3 thoughts on “100 in ’11: Shriver, Hosseini and Isaacson” Reply Two Degrees November 9, 2011 at 16:40 Did you know there is a graphic novel of Kite Runner? What I enjoyed most about this book was is how Amir’s father was transformed from an important character into a ‘silly old immigrant’. It made me wonder – the people I meet in Toronto, where did they come from and what sort of past did they have? Reply eemusings November 9, 2011 at 20:32 Yes – in fact I accidentally requested the graphic novel version from the library initially! I didn’t pick it up once I realised. I’m kind of a traditional book gal. Reply 100 in ’11: Eggers, Rubenfeld and Brandt \| Musings of an Abstract Aucklander December 2, 2011 at 11:19 […] founder Jeff Bezos is classically driven, like many ambitious tycoons. (Having just read the Steve Jobs biography, I couldn’t help but draw parallels). From his childhood spent buried in books and pulling […] Previous post: Link love (Powered by summer sandals and stupid tax) Next post: 20/20 vision. What’s that?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1985
__label__wiki	0.571364	0.571364	Human Rights Defender of the Republic of Armenia Arman Tatoyan RA Constitution RA Constitutional Law on the Human Rights Defender International Conventional statuses COUNCILS ADJUNCT TO THE DEFENDER MISSION OF THE INSTITUTION HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTION Larisa Alaverdyan Armen Harutyunyan Karen Andreasyan WORKING DIRECTIONS Applications and complaints Monitoring and individual visits ANNUAL COMMUNICATIONS AND REPORTS ANNUAL AND AD HOC REPORTS APPLICATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT AMICUS BRIEFS TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT OPINIONS TO LEGISLATIVE DRAFTS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AND OPINIONS LEGAL ANALYSES APPLY TO THE DEFENDER Votre navigateur ne supporte pas la balise audio. Because of the approaches used to determine the state borders of the Republic of Armenia in Nrnadzor, Syunik, villagers have been deprived of some gardens and arable land Our visits to Meghri and Nrnadzor continued today. During the discussions in Nrnadzor, it turned out that the residents could not use almost 200 hectares of agricultural land in the village due to a number of administrative and judicial processes. The Human Rights Defender's Office will take the necessary measures in this regard. Moreover, according to both the Mayor of Meghri and the residents of Nrnadzor, this issue has become very urgent after the end of the wartime military hostilities. As a result of the Human Rights Defender's meetings with the residents of Nrnadzor, discussions with community bodies and field studies, it was revealed that due to the approaches used to determine the state borders of the Republic of Armenia (RA), there are lands in the village after the war (for example, for private or economic purposes) which the residents of the region have been deprived of the opportunity of their use, and which are of foremost necessity to provide for and to sustain their livelihood. Investigations by the Human Rights Defender's Office have also revealed that threats to the right to life and safety of border residents, their physical and mental inviolability, and other vital rights guaranteed by the RA Constitution, have already been violated. The Armenian authorities should make these issues directly related to the determination of the state borders of the Republic of Armenia a priority issue in order to ensure the unimpeded implementation of the rights of the border settlements of our country, and in this case, specifically as it relates to the residents of Nrnadzor. It is unacceptable that at present there are no direct communications between the public administration bodies of the Republic of Armenia and the referenced issues of the villagers. For example, what should a person do if he has a certificate of state registration of land ownership, but because the Azerbaijani military directly targets him, the use of the land will endanger his life and his mental health, or that of his family member, or that the use of such land has become impossible? Moreover, these references are to such lands, for which the certificates confirming the state registration of rights, including property rights, were issued either by Soviet Armenia or by the competent bodies of different periods of the Independent Republic of Armenia (Cadastre Committee, etc.). During today's visit, important discussions took place with the Mayor of Meghri, as well as with the personnel of the RA Armed Forces who are carrying out their selfless heroic service. During today's visits, the Human Rights Defender's Office also obtained facts necessary for the protection of human rights in specific situations, which in connection with, separate summaries will be made and the necessary measures will be taken. © www.ombuds.am VooDoo programming This website is made possible by the support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1988
__label__cc	0.669529	0.330471	World Day of the Sick Celebration in San Jose 15 Feb 2020\| Every year since its inception in 1992 by Pope John Paul II, the Order of Malta celebrates the World Day of the Sick on or around February 11, the Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. On Saturday, February 15, 2020, the San Jose Location held this special event at St.Christopher Church in San Jose, coordinated by the Pastor and Location Chaplain Father Chris Bennett, and Keeth Souza-Courpet, DM. Before Mass, Knights and Dames greeted people at the front of the church and distributed a Worship Aid, which included this year’s Message from the Holy Father, the Prayer of the Order and a Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes. Before and after Mass, attendees had the opportunity to fill out a prayer petition card, which was to be hand- carried to Lourdes during the annual pilgrimage in May. Unfortunately, the pilgrimage was cancelled this year due to the coronavirus, so all petitions were mailed to Lourdes instead. Bishop Oscar Cantu of San Jose celebrated the Mass, along with Father Bennett, and several other priests from the diocese. The choir from St. Christopher, with soloist Melissa Bloom, provided the beautiful music for the nearly 500 malades, companions, families and Order of Malta members in attendance. During the celebration, attendees received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Blessing for Caregivers. As in past years, a former malade and companion carried up the Offertory Gifts. This year, for the first time, the San Jose Location hosted a reception after the Mass, which gave members an opportunity to meet and talk with the attendees, listen to their challenges and concerns in life, and answer their questions about the Order, while sharing croissants, doughnuts, fresh fruit, and beverages. Appreciative malades, companions and people from the diocese received a pre-assembled packet containing a small vial of Lourdes water, a medal of Our Lady of Lourdes with Bernadette, and a novena prayer card. They departed expressing many a “thank you” and “please pray for me.” Our deepest thanks to the members of St. Christopher Parish and all the San Jose Knights and Dames for their great teamwork at this beloved event. By Keeth Souza-Courpet, DM and Ginny Hurley, DM	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1989
__label__wiki	0.97421	0.97421	PageUpDown United States News No. 2 Notre Dame beats Boston College for Kelly’s... No. 2 Notre Dame beats Boston College for Kelly’s 100th win BOSTON (AP) — Ian Book threw three touchdown passes and ran for a score and No. 2 Notre Dame overcame an early deficit to roll to a 45-31 victory over Boston College on Saturday. The Fighting Irish gave coach Brian Kelly his 100th career victory at the school, tying him with Lou Holtz for second place — five behind Knute Rockne. Notre Dame has won eight straight in the series between the FBS’s only Catholic institutions Coming off a thrilling victory over Clemson, Notre Dame (8-0, 7-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) racked up a season-high 561 total yards against BC (5-4, 4-4). Book was 20 of 27 for 283 yards, and ran for a 85 yards and a touchdown. Ben Skowronek caught all three of Book’s TD passes, but also had one of three Notre Dame fumbles. C’Bo Flemister ran for two touchdowns before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent left leg injury. Phil Jurkovec, a transfer from Notre Dame playing against his former team for the first time, was 18 of 40 for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception. NO. 6 FLORIDA 63, ARKANSAS 35 GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Trask extended his school record for consecutive games with at least four touchdown passes to six and Florida overwhelmed Arkansas in the Swamp. Trask threw for 356 yards and six scores against the Razorbacks (3-4), who were without coach Sam Pittman and without much of a chance by halftime. It was the second time this season Trask tossed six TDs in a game. He’s the only player in school history to accomplish that feat. Arkansas quarterback Feleipe Franks, a three-year starter for the Gators (5-1), was booed in his return to Florida Field and unable to do much to steal the spotlight from Trask. Trask started a new streak by throwing at least four TD passes in the first half for the second straight week, quite possibly raising his stock from Heisman Trophy hopeful to Heisman front-runner. He had five in Florida’s first six drives and might have had another had the Gators not failed to convert a fourth-down play at the Arkansas 16. NO. 9 MIAMI 25, VIRGINIA TECH 24 BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — D’Eriq King threw for 255 yards and a touchdown and ran for a score in Miami’s comeback victory over Virginia Tech. READ MORE David Chang’s Fuku has shuttered — but there are plans for it to return in another form The Hurricanes (7-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) overcame an 11-point, third-quarter deficit to win their fourth consecutive game and stay alive for a spot in the ACC championship game. Miami scored the final 12 points and held the Hokies (4-4, 4-3) scoreless on their last five possessions. READ MORE Biden wins Wisconsin in fight for White House King guided the ’Canes on two long second-half scoring marches. A 13-play, 75-yard drive ended with Cam’Ron Harris’ 6-yard touchdown run, and cut the lead to 24-19 with 1:27 left in the third quarter. Miami failed to convert a 2-point conversion. Miami put together a 10-play, 82-yard drive that ended with King throwing a dart to Mark Pope for a 36-yarder and a 25-24 lead with 5:59 left in the fourth quarter. King completed 24 of 38 passes. He had a 10-yard touchdown run in the second quarter,. Virginia Tech’s Hendon Hooker threw for 201 yards and ran for 53 yards and a touchdown. NO. 10 INDIANA 24, MICHIGAN STATE 0 EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. threw for 320 yards, hitting Ty Fryfogle with two scoring passes, and Indiana beat Michigan State to remain unbeaten. The Hoosiers (4-0) set up a showdown next weekend at Ohio State, the only other unbeaten team in the Big Ten East. Penix threw two interceptions in the first half, but that didn’t matter much. The Spartans (1-3, 1-3) were just as sloppy — to the point where quarterback Rocky Lombardi was pulled in the second quarter. Fryfogle had 11 catches for 200 yards — both career highs. Hee did most of that in the first two quarters, when all the game’s scoring occurred. Indiana has won its first four Big Ten games for the first time since 1987, and the Hoosiers beat Michigan State for the Old Brass Spittoon for only the second time in the last 12 meetings. NO. 11 OREGON 43, WASHINGTON STATE 29 PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Tyler Shough threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns and Oregon came back to beat Washington State. Travis Dye caught two second-half touchdown passes to help Oregon improve to 2-0. The Ducks piled up 582 yards of total offense. READ MORE Christie reveals he spent 7 days in ICU and admits he was ‘wrong’ to not wear a mask Oregon has won 17 of its past 19 games and is on track to claim a second consecutive Pac-12 championship. Freshman Jayden de Laura threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns for Washington State (1-1), which led at halftime but could not stop the Ducks in the second half. Freshman defensive back Ayden Hector recovered three Oregon turnovers in the first half. NO. 16 MARSHALL 42, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 14 HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Redshirt freshman Grant Wells threw a season-high five touchdown passes and Marshall commemorated the 50th anniversary of the worst disaster in U.S. sports history during a victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. Marshall (7-0, 4-0 Conference USA) got another standout performance from its defense and turned three turnovers into scores on a day when the university and surrounding community remembered 75 people killed in a Nov. 14, 1970, plane crash. Marshall wore special black uniforms and the No. 75 on its helmets to honor those who were lost, which included most of the Thundering Herd football team. The crash occurred as the team’s plane was returning from a game at East Carolina. There were no survivors. READ MORE Georgia Republican who supports QAnon wins U.S. House seat Middle Tennessee is 2-6 overall and 2-4 in conference play. NO. 20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 34, ARIZONA 30 TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Vavae Malepeai bulled his way through multiple tacklers for an 8-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left, and No. 20 Southern California beat Arizona 34-30 on Saturday with another late rally. USC was outplayed by Arizona State last week in its opener before scoring two touchdowns in the final three minutes to win 28-27. The Trojans again had two late scoring drives to win a game they were outplayed in for most of the afternoon. Kevon Slovis hit Erik Krommenhoek on a 6-yard touchdown, but Arizona marched quickly down the field for a 6-yard touchdown pass from Grant Gunnell from Stanley Berryhill III with 1:20 left. Slovis completed four straight passes for 68 yards and Malepeai capped the 75-yard drive by carrying several Arizona defenders with him into the end zone. Slovis threw for 325 yards and a touchdown on 30-of-43 passing. Gunnell threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns for Arizona in its opener. READ MORE What is bringing western Massachusetts mild temperatures NO. 22 LIBERTY 58, WESTERN KENTUCKY 14 LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Malik Willis threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores, leading Liberty over Western Carolina. Liberty (8-0) won its 10th straight game and remained second behind Notre Dame for the nation’s longest active winning streak. Willis completed 14 of 19 passes with touchdown strikes of 44, 40 and 83 yards. He scored on runs of 11 and 43 yards and rushed for 97 yards on eight carries. Kevin Shaa caught two passes for a career-high 137 yards and a touchdown. CJ Daniels added 96 yards and two TDs on two catches. Western Carolina was playing its first game of the season. NO. 23 NORTHWESTERN 27 PURDUE 20 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Peyton Ramsey threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns, all to Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman, and Northwestern beat Purdue. The Wildcats defense also made two late stops to preserve a fifth straight Big Ten win and the school’s first 4-0 start in league play since coach Pat Fitzgerald was still playing in 1996. Purdue (2-1) has lost five straight home games in the series. Ramsey completed 23 of 36 passes and had one interception but looked as poised and efficient as he did last November when he led Indiana to an overtime victory at Purdue. Northwestern held Purdue to 2 yards rushing. NO. 25 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 38, SOUTH ALABAMA 10 LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Levi Lewis passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns, Louisiana-Lafayette gained 254 yards on the ground and the Ragin’ Cajuns wrapped up a third straight Sun Belt Conference West Division title. Lewis tossed TD passes of 5 yards to Jalen Williams and 3 yards to Errol Rogers. He also hit running back Trey Ragas for a 25-yard score on a fourth-down conversion, with Ragas narrowly staying inside the left sideline to put the game away in the fourth quarter. READ MORE Bridgewater flips, votes for Biden over Trump in 2020 Chris Smith and Elijah Mitchell each had touchdowns rushing for Louisiana-Lafayette (7-1, 5-1 Sun Belt). The Ragin’ Cajuns have has won four straight since falling to No. 15 Coastal Carolina on a last-second field goal. Desmond Trotter threw for 133 yards and a touchdown for South Alabama (3-5, 2-3). Previous articleNWA Council offers $10k to out-of-state remote workers who move to Northwest Arkansas; some call it a ‘slap in the face’ during pandemic Next articleAir Force training on Guam Rhode IslandAuthor - December 11, 2020 KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE: WaterFire, other arts groups key to R.I. recovery are under heavy strain – Providence Business News LIGHTING THE LAMP: Barnaby Evans, founder and... South CarolinaAuthor - December 11, 2020 Bon Secours St. Francis first health system in SC to get ventilation hoods for COVID-19 patients OregonAuthor - December 8, 2020 Healthier Honey Sweetened Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups \| An Oregon Cottage You can have a healthier candy with this recipe for honey sweetened chocolate peanut butter cups! The... South DakotaAuthor - November 15, 2020 Biden advisers call for urgent COVID-19 action, including financial relief \| The Mitchell Republic VermontAuthor - November 15, 2020 Mail-in voting amplified Red and Blue Vermont; the effect turned out to be fairly even While many Vermont Republicans expressed concern last spring about expanding the state’s vote-by-mail system for the general election, politicians... New YorkAuthor - November 15, 2020 ‘Murder on Middle Beach’ director was ‘willing to do whatever it takes’ to probe mom’s murder With HBO’s four-part docuseries, “Murder on Middle Beach,” premiering Sunday, the 29-year-old Connecticut director explores the life... Stress from an election could take a toll on your heart health, doctors say HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- With COVID-19 cases spiking in North... Author - November 15, 2020 Longtime friends, teammates lead Lowell to unbeaten season Their homes are all within a mile of each... Baltimore to pay about $8M in police corruption settlement BALTIMORE (AP) — Baltimore officials are set to approve... Lawmakers speak out after two State House members test positive for COVID-19 Rhode Island Author - December 11, 2020 0 LIGHTING THE... South Carolina Author - December 11, 2020 0 Oregon Author - December 8, 2020 0 You can have a healthier candy with this recipe for honey sweetened... Florida378 Hawaii284 Guam281	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1991
__label__wiki	0.630956	0.630956	Piglet’s Big Movie Parent Guide This Disney script hits the honey pot so accurately one may wonder if there wasn't some ghost from Pooh Corner directing this animation. Overall A Piglet, one of the most diminutive animated characters to grace the screen, get his own movie in this Disney animation based on the classic Winnie the Pooh tales by A. A. Milne. Release date March 21, 2003 Violence A Why is Piglet’s Big Movie rated G? The MPAA rated Piglet’s Big Movie G Expecting something big from Disney is one thing… but from Piglet? One of the most diminutive animated characters to grace the screen, the little porker makes Pikachu look like a pit bull. Nonetheless, Piglet’s Big Movie gives the little guy front line billing, along with the usual gang from Pooh Corner—Eeyore, Rabbit, Tigger and the proverbial bear himself. Since A.A. Milne has long since passed away, Disney screenwriters were left with the tall order of keeping the creator’s vision (and series) alive. On Pooh’s last two outings, The Tigger Movie and Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin, their effort fell short of the mark. But this time Disney has hit the honey pot so accurately one may wonder if there wasn’t some ghost from Pooh Corner directing them. The first thing done right was deciding to revert to the tried and true Pooh formula found in The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Like that movie, this film treats us to three shorter segments glued together by a running narrative. Realizing they have forgotten to include Piglet in their daily plans, the friends set out to find him. While the search is in progress, the gang takes time to recall the fun memories they’ve enjoyed with their friend. These flashback stories about the origin of Eeyore’s house, the misunderstanding that happened when Kanga and Roo moved into the neighborhood, and their quest for the North Pole with Christopher Robin allow young audiences to view a movie in bite-sized pieces. A moving musical score with songs written by Carly Simon emphasizes the heartfelt messages about friendship, motherhood, and prejudice. And just like the Pooh we grew up with, the lessons are subtle, yet complete. In the end you have a warm fuzzy feeling—one that was shared by the packed theater of young people I screened this movie with, who expressed their appreciation with a rare round of spontaneous applause. Directed by Francis Glebas. Starring ohn Fiedler, Jim Cummings, Ken Sansom . Running time: 75 minutes. Theatrical release March 21, 2003. Updated September 15, 2017 Piglet’s Big Movie Parents' Guide Piglet’s friends use his scrapbook to act as a map of memories. You may want to use this movie in your family as a way to encourage children to begin building their own books of memories through drawings, writings, and photographs. One segment in this movie has the friends concerned about how Kanga treats her baby Roo because they don’t understand what Kanga’s pouch is used for. Do you ever misunderstand other people’s customs or “way of doing things?” Does your opinion sometimes change after you get to know them? The friends learn how valuable their relationship with Piglet is after they think he is lost. Can you think of anyone you take for granted? How would you feel if they were suddenly gone? Disney’s The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a movie featuring three segments based on A.A. Milne’s original stories. Related news about Piglet’s Big Movie 5 Fun Facts About Winnie the Pooh	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1992
__label__wiki	0.937566	0.937566	Home Commentary India Is Shocked Over The Rape And Killing Of A Young Dalit Woman in Commentary The family of a 19-year-old woman in India accused the police of forcibly cremating her body after she died of injuries as a result of rape. The victim was allegedly raped by four men in Uttar Pradesh, a state in North India, on Sept. 14. She died two weeks later at a hospital in New Delhi. She was Dalit, a still-marginalized caste in India known historically as “untouchable.” Gut-wrenching details about the woman’s injuries have been widely reported in the Indian press, as well as on social media, drawing new attention to the country’s pervasive rape culture, particularly against Dalit women. Before she died, the woman named four men from her village as her rapists. All four men were reportedly arrested on Sept. 27. In the early hours of Sept. 30, the woman’s body was brought back to her village from New Delhi. Her family alleges that police officers refused to hand over her body so that they could perform final rites, instead forcibly — and hurriedly — cremating her in the middle of the night. The woman’s brother gave an interview to the Indian Express at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday. “It appears that my sister has been cremated; the police are not telling us anything,” the brother told the Express. “We begged them to let us bring her body inside the house one last time, but they didn’t listen to us.” Video footage from the cremation ground, which has gone viral on Twitter, shows a lone pyre burning in the dark with no family members present, while police officers push reporters away from the scene. Police officers from the city of Hathras did not respond to calls from BuzzFeed News. In a tweet on Wednesday, the department said members of the woman’s family were present at the cremation ground. The horrific incident has outraged Indians, with activists and students gathering to protest the police’s actions in New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, and leaders of the opposition party asking for the resignation of Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly asked the state to ensure that the “strictest action” is taken against the woman’s rapists. Startups In India Want To Build Their Own App Store To Bypass Google's Does WFP Deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? The World Food Program Has Won The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize © 2020 PatriotVigilante	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1995
__label__wiki	0.692632	0.692632	Nightmare on Elm Street Slot Review February 1, 2017 Cara 0 Comments It was 33 years ago when Nightmare on Elm Street first reached the screens and, although it came from a little known director and had a relatively modest $1.8 million budget, it has become one of the most popular, not to say scary, film franchises of all time, leading on to nine follow-up films, a while TV series and, now, a brilliant A Nightmare on Elm Street online slots game has been made too. Of course, at the heart of the action is the terrifying Freddy Krueger, supposedly named after a boy who used to bully the original film’s director, Wes Craven, at school. At the heart of the terror is the fact that Krueger comes for his victims when they’re asleep so there really is no escape. So, from this scary premise, it’s no surprise that the game itself should be 18-rated for the shocks and scares that it uses along the way. The scary atmosphere and feeling of threat is further heightened by the soundtrack that goes with the game, not to mention the fact that Krueger is ever present in the action, waiting in the shadows and waiting to leap out at any moment. The game is a five reel, thirty pay line machines and includes many terrified potential victims who appear on the on blood-smeared reels, along with the standard 9, 10, J, Q. K and A. Other special features include the Never Sleep Again bonus, a scatter which sets off free spins, Pick Me which starts a mini game and the spookily silhouetted form of Freddy that acts as a wild. Because he only comes for you when you’re fast asleep staying awake is the way to keep out of Freddy’s clutches and this forms the action in the Never Sleep Again bonus. In this you’ll have to try everything you can to fight off sleep from drinking strong coffee to talking to friends on the phone. The more of these you manage to collect the bigger the winnings could be. The Krueger wild is, surprisingly, a good sight to see because depending on where it appears, it will mean different things. When it’s on reels one and five it starts the Pick Me round where you can choose from different symbols to reveal prizes. Sometimes it will also expand into a full size figure of Freddy and this will start a 2 times multiplier. Just to keep you really on tenterhooks there are also two progressive jackpots waiting to be won. The first is called the Freddy Krueger jackpot and the second is called the Nightmare on Elm Street jackpot. Like most progressive jackpots, both are awarded randomly but a tip to follow is that the higher your stake the more likely you’ll be to scoop one of these potentially sizeable prizes. So, to sum up, Nightmare on Elm Street is a great slot that more than captures the scary excitement of the source film and has more than enough features to keep you interested, and a little bit on edge too. And isn’t that exactly what you want from a horror film, as well as a slot? ← Artists Create Algorithm to Show the Spooky ‘Face’ of Films Check Out The Trailer for Indie Horror ‘Scared To Death’ → Horror Movies About Mental Health April 8, 2020 Marie Miguel 0 Netflix Hacks You Need To Know November 5, 2019 Cara 0 Review: Girl’s Night 2 (2017) March 14, 2018 Rebecca Kolodziej 0	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line1996
__label__wiki	0.81899	0.81899	The power of sport is the power of character and characters, of people’s stories. Tatyana McFadden, originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, was born with a part of her spine outside of her body. She’s paralyzed from the waist down. Her mother was too poor to afford a wheelchair for her, so Tatyana walked on her hands for the first six years of her life. The doctors believed she would not live much longer. To give her daughter a chance of life, her biological mother left Tatyana at an orphanage. There she met and captivated Deborah McFadden, who was visiting Russia distributing aid for the U.S. government. A single mother, Deborah adopted Tatyana and took her to live in Baltimore. “That was my rebirth of life,” said Tatyana in a 2013 interview. “I go everywhere just to talk about disability and rebirthing life.” At school in the US, McFadden won a legal battle which led to a change in Maryland State law: schools are now required to give students with disabilities the opportunity to compete in interschool athletics. In wheelchair racing, Tatyana McFadden has won international events in every distance from the 100 metres through to marathons, including three gold medals at the London 2012 Paralympics. She is also the first person – able-bodied or otherwise – to win the four major marathons in the same year (2013): Boston, Chicago, London, and New York. Once Russia was awarded the Winter Paralympics, Tatyana was determined to compete – and to bring both her American and her Russian families to watch her. If you missed the coverage of the Sochi Paralympics, including Tatyana’s cross-country sit-ski race, catch-up at Paralympic.org. Videos of ice sledge hockey are not for the faint-hearted, nor is visually impaired skiing. Here, Kelly Gallagher, who is 95% blind, became Britain’s first ever Olympian or Paralympian to win a gold medal for an alpine discipline. She would follow her unimpaired partner down the mountain, listening to communications through the headset inside her helmet. Until, one day, the Sochi fog was so thick the races had to be postponed for fear the un-impaired athletes wouldn’t be safe; the visually impaired skiers are proficient at hurtling down a mountain at 95 km per hour with five per cent vision. Tatyana McFadden has fallen fowl of the Russian Government’s sightlessness of anything beyond its political interests. Her campaigning against a 2012 Russian law prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by American parents ended in failure. But why did President Putin sign this law? – because of sanctions the US placed on Russian officials who were involved in an unrelated tax scandal. Tatyana doesn’t get the recognition of mega-star Olympians such as Usain Bolt. Paralympians are teachers, engineers, social workers – or, in Tatyana’s case, a university student. She missed out on Sochi gold in the 1km cross-country sprint by just 0.1 seconds. She says she’s ‘fulfilled’ by winning silver, but more impressive, are her personal and moral fulfilments.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2001
__label__wiki	0.659045	0.659045	1929 Duesenberg J LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton shown by Peter Rosi A former marine who became a real estate developer, Pete Rosi’s love of cars began with a Model T Ford, and as a teenager hot rods drew his eye. But his passion grew to focus on American classics, which he loved to not only own and restore and share in concours but to drive — all over the United States and Canada. He hailed from St. Charles, Illinois, so the win by his Duesenberg J LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaeton marked the first by an entry from East of the Mississippi River. The Concours was fast becoming a national contest, and it would soon cross the Atlantic, drawing cars from throughout Europe. Rosi later compared the Pebble Beach Concours to “the World Series and Super Bowl all rolled into one” and said the effort to show a car at Pebble was “like climbing Mount Everest.” As for winning? “It does have an effect on your life. That glow. . . . I still have that glow more than twenty years later.” Identifiable by their distinctive “sweep panel,” just eighteen Duesenberg J LeBaron Dual Cowl Phaetons were produced, and they are highly prized among collectors. This particular Duesenberg (J-223) was delivered new to the Los Angeles area, and eventually passed into the hands of Texas collector Dave Pennington, who participated with it regularly in various Duesenberg events, so “Big Red” became well known. Rosi purchased the car in 1973 and painstakingly restored it, taking Best of Show at the 1977 Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club National Reunion before entering it at Pebble. Rosi sold “Big Red” to New Jersey collector Robert Rooke in 1981. Thereafter, it went into seclusion for three and a half decades, until its purchase in 2016 by the Lehrman Collection, where it now resides.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2002
__label__wiki	0.938607	0.938607	73-Year-Old Woman Earns Ph.D from Howard — and Her Thesis Is About a War She Survived Florence Nwando Onwusi Didigu focused her studies on female survivors of the Nigerian Civil War, which she lived through in the late 1960s By Rachel DeSantis Florence Nwando Onwusi Didigu \| Credit: Florence Didigu One of Howard University’s latest Ph.D graduates is proving it’s never too late to achieve your dreams. Florence Nwando Onwusi Didigu, 73, defended her dissertation at the historically black university in Washington, D.C. on April 26, earning her doctorate in Communication, Culture and Media Studies, the school said in a news release. Didigu’s studies drew largely upon her own experiences as a survivor of the Nigerian Civil War, which took place between the country’s Igbo people and the government from 1967 to 1970. Though it was her fourth degree, Didigu said the accomplishment was bittersweet, as she lost both of her parents in recent years – and it had always been her father’s dream to see his her as a “doctor.” RELATED VIDEO: Brad Pitt Surprises Missouri State University Grads in Video Shout-out: 'We're Rooting for You' “In my second year at Howard, and very close to my screening test, I lost my mother and my father within months,” she said in the release. “I had to return to Nigeria each time to perform the demanding burial ceremonies for each. I was completely deflated, both physically and emotionally, but I persevered because my father always wanted me to be a ‘Doctor.’” As she worked toward her studies, she faced other obstacles, too, like a bout with shingles that paralyzed the right side of her face and robbed her of her voice. RELATED: 8 Ways to Celebrate Your 2020 Graduate at Home — from Virtual Gatherings to Town-Wide Tributes! “I was unable to speak clearly; this was the greatest tragedy of all, since I was teaching a sophomore research course!” she said in the release. “The day I started speaking again and was discharged from the hospital was a special life moment.” Losing her voice proved symbolic for Didigu, as she has dedicated her work to amplifying the voices of Igbo women who survived the war just as she did. Her dissertation, which she hopes to turn into a book, is titled, “Igbo Collective Memory of the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967-1970): Reclaiming Forgotten Women’s Voices and Building Peace through a Gendered Lens.” Carolyn Byerly, Didigu’s advisor and chair of her doctorate program, said the recent graduate “embodies endurance and intellectual determination,” and praised the way she used “feminist standpoint theory” to interpret interviews she conducted with 10 female survivors. In reflecting on the end of the war, Didigu said that she was filled with “anxiety and fear” — until a stranger approached and reminded her that she had plenty to be happy about. RELATED: Julianne Moore Says She's 'Heartbroken' She Can't Celebrate Son Cal's College Graduation “I stood up, even though the Nigerian Airforce was on its last bombing raid, and leaped up in the air in mad glee, repeating to myself and others, ‘Yes, I have survived, I am a survivor!” she recalled. “This powerful survival instinct in me, which I call daring, and God’s help, are what made me overcome all personal challenges during my doctoral program and get to where I am today.” In the years since, she’s worked as a writer and producer at the Nigerian Television Authority, and as a broadcast regulator at the National Broadcasting Commission in Nigeria. With her Ph.D under her belt, Didigu is showing no signs of slowing down, and has already taken courses at Howard in the Preparing Future Faculty program, as she hopes to become a professor and continue doing research and scholarly writings.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2005
__label__wiki	0.973044	0.973044	The X Factor Reveals Top 12 Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid cut one of their beloved acts By Aaron Parsley Credit: Nino Munoz/FOX After performing live for the first time on Wednesday, four of The X Factor‘s top 16 were eliminated by the celebrity mentors who prepared them for their big night. With new hosts Khloé Kardashian Odom and Mario Lopez at the helm once again Thursday, each of the four judges – Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid – had to pick two contestants to put into the top 12 and two to sing for survival. Keep reading for all the results … Young adults team leader Demi went first, saving Jennel Garcia and Paige Thomas. CeCe Frey overcame what Britney called a Ke$ha-inspired “identity crisis” for her last-chance performance of “Out Here On My Own.” It was enough for Demi to keep her and send home Willie Jones, who sang “You Don’t Know Me.” L.A.’s over 25 contestants were next – and the music exec saved Vino Alan and Tate Stevens right away. Before David Correy and Jason Brock sang, L.A. told Brock of his song choice the night before, “I think I failed you because you can sing much better than that.” After singing Whitney Houston’s “One Moment in Time,” Brock will get another chance to perform. “They’re like my children,” Britney said of her young charges at the start of the two-hour show, “so it’s going to be really hard to choose which of my children go home.” RELATED: The X Factor Goes Live: Readers React From the teens, Britney saved Beatrice Miller and Carly Rose Sonenclar, leaving Arin Ray and Diamond White to sing for survival. “I wouldn’t want to be in Britney’s position,” Simon said after Arin sang “I Look to You” and Diamond performed “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.” In the end, Britney saved Arin and sent Diamond home. “I’m happy I made it this far and I’m going to keep smiling,” Diamond said. “I still love you Britney!” Finally, it was time for Simon to cut one of his groups. “I loved all four of them – genuinely loved all four of them,” he said. “Even up until five minutes ago I haven’t made my mind up.” Surfer boys Emblem3 and hip-hop group Lyric 145 were declared safe right away. Then, Sister C performed Miley Cyrus‘s “When I Look at You” and 1432, formerly known as LYLAS, sang “Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato. “It would be a mistake” to send home the sisters, Demi said, but after 1432 performed her song, she said, “You did better than the original singer.” “I can make an argument for both of these groups,” Simon said, delaying his decision, adding that it may be a surprise and it might make him unpopular. Finally, he said he was going to send Sister C home and keep 1432. But in a final bit of news, The X Factor boss said he was going to ask the public to pick a new name for the girl group. Submit your suggestions on the show’s web site.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2006
__label__wiki	0.795509	0.795509	Home Housing and Transportation Putting the Public First in Public-Private Partnerships Putting the Public First in Public-Private Partnerships Public-sector competence is needed to make sure citizens get a good deal—and private vendors are no substitute for adequate public funding. by Gabrielle Gurley This article appears in the Spring 2018 issue of The American Prospect magazine. Subscribe here. In a perfect world, a big-city mayor would not have to wrangle over how to finance a tunnel to the port. But Manny Diaz did not live in a perfect world: He lived in Miami. Port traffic clogging downtown was a decades-old problem. To realize his vision of a vibrant region showcased by a vital city center, Mayor Diaz had to get rumbling, port-bound 18-wheelers off downtown streets. In 2007, with a plan and money on the table, the Florida Department of Transportation turned up the heat on the term-limited mayor to deliver the tunnel. So Diaz devised a strategy to gin up city and surrounding county support: He tossed a baseball stadium, museums, more funds for a performing arts center—and the tunnel—into one civic wish-list basket and made a successful appeal to regional pride for funding them all. Meanwhile, two multinational firms, Meridiam, a public infrastructure investor, and Bouygues Travaux Publics, a tunneling and engineering firm, arrived on the scene with the dollars to move the complex initiative forward after the Great Recession unspooled the original consortium. “It was perfect timing,” says Diaz. More than a decade later, the Port of Miami Tunnel is the marquee example of a public-private transportation infrastructure partnership. The concessionaire's financing sources totaled about $900 million. It gets back a revenue stream based on state and federal funding sources, so there are no tolls. The city now has several new amenities, as well as two tunnels with two lanes each that, shortly after opening, decreased the weekly average volume of all port-bound traffic in downtown Miami by 35 percent and reduced weekly commercial truck traffic by nearly 80 percent. AP Photo/Steven Senne When the public sector fails to transfer enough risk to private entities or fails in its own oversight obligations, a state can end up with a fiasco like the Big Dig. Here, activists in Boston protest fare hikes resulting from the project's cost overruns. But the tunnel's success is deceptive, since the unique factors that converged in South Florida cannot be replicated everywhere. For every Port of Miami Tunnel, scores of ill-conceived projects dot the American landscape. The United States lags behind not only in basic maintenance of existing assets at the end of their life cycles but in building the next generation of roads, bridges, rail, tunnels, and aviation projects. With public funds scarce in a climate of tax-cutting and budgetary austerity, the risk is that the contactor/partner pays the up-front costs but sticks future generations of taxpayers and rate-payers with exorbitant charges. That outcome can be the fruit of cynicism, corruption, naïveté, or fiscal desperation. But states and municipalities can learn to appreciate the differences between partnerships that put the public first and the rip-offs that erode public confidence in government and drain public coffers. A key is the competence of public officials to supervise private ones and negotiate smart contracts. That's another basic public resource at risk in an age of fiscal scarcity. In a sense, nearly all transportation projects are public-private partnerships. Public entities own most roads, tunnels, bridges, and subway systems, but private contractors invariably build them. The new wrinkle is the option of having contractors provide some or all of the up-front financing, often in exchange for either a long-term lease or a share of revenues. The Trump administration's version of an infrastructure initiative relies heavily on private financing, which may or may not materialize. Trump proposes to have the federal government contribute $200 billion, with the rest of the illusory $1.5 trillion coming from cash-strapped state and local governments and the private sector. This model is disingenuous, partly because not all public needs are profitable; partly because it also hides other cuts to the Highway Trust Fund, Federal Aviation Administration, Amtrak, transit programs, and other areas; and partly because state and local governments are strapped for funds to contribute their proposed share. But the Trump framework is only an exaggeration of recent trends. At best, new fiscal pressures can lead public officials to get creative, seeking private partners who may bring superior engineering, financing, and legal expertise, and better attention to maintenance and operations. But private-sector involvement does not automatically mean a better outcome. Citizens and public officials often forget that the private sector's prime motive is profit, not philanthropy. If a firm cannot clear a good return on an investment, either the deal will not materialize or the terms will be onerous to the public. Public debates can be marred by false expectations, and confusion or obfuscation of what distinguishes a good partnership from a rip-off. A KEY QUESTION IS THE degree of risk assumed by the public sector or the private entity because of the unknown vagaries of construction. What would the unearthing of significant archeological artifacts do to a construction timetable? Who pays the cost if an underwater tunnel hits unforeseen obstacles? What happens if there is unexpected community opposition and litigation? These factors and dozens more pose risks that must be assessed and calculated in the early planning stages on both sides. “A strong contract lays out the performance metrics: who is accepting what kind of risk and what happens each step of the way with the meeting of those metrics or the failure to meet those metrics,” says Jim Aloisi, who was Massachusetts transportation secretary under former Democratic Governor Deval Patrick. Massachusetts is infamous for the cost overruns associated with the Big Dig, which included a new tunnel linking the Massachusetts Turnpike to Logan International Airport and put the major north-south highway bisecting Boston underground. The project came in more than $20 billion over budget counting interest on the extra debt. Public planners erred in contracting out the project design, construction, andmanagement. State lawmakers later intervened and turned management over to a public agency. If it went massively over budget, it was no skin off the supervising contractors' noses. Instead of performing its own inspections along the way and holding the multiple vendors accountable, government ended up paying for the overruns after the fact. A public-private partnership is a hybrid that exists along a continuum of risks. In traditional procurement, the public sector assumes the greater risk, turning over the design and construction to the private sector or consortium while the public agency secures financing, operates, maintains, and owns the completed project. This model is known as design-build. Further along the risk continuum are long-term leases, known as DBFOM arrangements (for design, build, finance, operate, and maintain). Typically, the private sector takes on all the risks associated with unforeseen engineering issues, cost overruns, legal entanglements, or other issues. Those details, of course, depend on whether government negotiates a good contract. The private partner provides the bulk of the up-front dollars, in effect a loan to the public sector. Taxpayers or toll-payers eventually pay the cost one way or another. “The whole business has matured and has changed the way [the] private sector and the public sector thinks about it,” says Aloisi. “People like me who are progressive … have looked at the direction this has moved in and are much more sanguine about it. I have seen too many examples of the public sector failing. I don't think it's appropriate to adhere to strict ideology at this point. I'm more ‘show me the facts': Where are the risks, incentives, and what are you paying labor?” Some municipalities have moved to get out of the business of owning and operating assets like parking garages or local roads and are selling these public assets outright to private companies—these are usual smaller deals. Under leasing deals, arrangements can run anywhere from roughly 30 to 50 years with the public entity maintaining ownership, but ceding functions like operation and maintenance to the private partner. Many public officials take a dim view of ceding public assets like roadways that are integral to a transportation network for longer periods, since that means giving up public stewardship, which is needed to respond to changing traffic and housing patterns. Despite Trump administration hyperbole about encouraging private-sector participation in the country's infrastructure enterprise, the majority of transportation infrastructure projects do not interest the private sector, since they do not have an associated revenue stream, such as tolls, or offer any other attractive features to tempt investors, particularly in rural areas. AP Photo/M. Spencer Green To attract private-sector interest in rural projects, Pennsylvania, for example, bundled some 560 rural bridge-replacement projects into a nearly $1 billion, 25-year maintenance package, contracting with a private consortium to provide the funds and do the work. In its analysis of the project, the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington research organization, noted that the consortium could increase its profit margins by skimping on longer-term quality. Which means that the Keystone State must have a strong inspection regime in place to monitor the spans. When the public sector fails to transfer enough risk to private entities or fails in its own oversight obligations, a state can end up with a fiasco like the Big Dig. A key factor in a good public-private partnership, or P3, is whether the public entity has the expertise and integrity to keep the private partner honest. Large P3s comprise only a fraction of the highway projects built in the United States. In the 23-year period between 1989 and 2012, 79 design-build transportation projects (the more public variant) budgeted at $50 million or higher were launched in the United States, according to the “Public Works Financing” newsletter. Of the more complex DBFOMprojects, only 13 projects of $50 million or more were built during that period. So P3s are no panacea, but just one tool among many. A more fundamental problem is dwindling public capacity. For the past several decades, conservatives have so undermined citizens' faith in the public sector and stripped it of resources that pursuing new taxes, tolls, or fees to build new bridges, tunnels, and subways can be a political nonstarter. But these attitudes could change, if voters realize that failure to countenance tax increases means many public agencies will no longer have the resources to hire well-trained planners and engineers to keep up with maintenance demands, or to build new roads and bridges, or to keep contractors from passing hidden costs to the public. COMPLETED IN 2014, the $1 billion Port of Miami Tunnel involved a 35-year concession agreement. “When you have high-profile, expensive projects, you don’t have that kind of cash lying around,” says Diaz, now a senior partner at Lydecker Diaz, a Miami law firm. “But you do have the ability to raise that cash over time; so it’s almost like a long-term loan that gives you access to capital that allows you to do those major projects.” Florida benefited from exceptionally strong technical, commercial, legal, and financial advisers who were well-matched to their private-sector counterparts. Today, most states know that they must have first-caliber in-house experts and consultants if they intend to partner with a private company on a major project. “But back then, a lot of times when people said ‘public-private partnership,' a governor or a mayor would hire their brother-in-law's accounting firm and say, ‘Figure out what this means for us,'” says Joe Aiello, a partner at Meridiam who helped steer the project. “But Florida and Miami-Dade [County] went out and got the best.” Aiello concedes that it may “sound crazy” that an investor would prefer going up against seasoned public-sector officials who can pull together a solid procurement process. But he sees long-term benefits for the private partner. “We want these deals to be rock solid and well thought-out because we are going to be there for 35 to 40 years,” he says. A well-executed contract gives a public agency leverage when things go wrong. As long as the tunnel adheres to performance standards specified in the contract, the consortium continues to receive “availability” payments from the state. “The investor-developer in the private sector [is] in the world of no-excuses … so that the government is getting [the] best possible price,” Aiello says. “This is what astounded everybody … especially public officials who didn't realize that you could transfer so much risk, especially long-term, to the private sector at a fixed cost.” How labor fares should be key, especially in a right-to-work state like Florida. Some P3 deals try to save money by avoiding union contracts that would be required on explicitly public projects, as mandated by federal or state law. Unions, including the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Laborers' International Union of North America, worked on the tunnel. But a 2013 Center for American Progress report found that the union representing workers who operate heavy equipment did not participate in creating the project's hiring program. One union official also claimed that Bouygues “wouldn't talk to us.” Union representation in these arrangements hinges on the state labor climate. When the Maryland Port Administration decided to modernize the container berth at the Port of Baltimore's Seagirt Marine Terminal to accommodate Super Post Panamax cargo ships, using a $1.3 billion, 50-year P3 contract with Ports America to operate the facility, the company preserved all union jobs. State enabling legislation, experienced public agency procurement teams, and brokering of regional buy-in were also features of the Denver area's $2 billion Eagle P3 Project. Its Regional Transportation District brought in a private consortium to build commuter rail lines connecting the city's Union Station to outlying areas as well as a maintenance facility. The 34-year deal (which also survived the Great Recession) relied on $1 billion in federal funding, a regional sales tax, and $450 million in capital from Denver Transit Partners, the private consortium. For that, the private entity gets payments linked to meeting performance, operation, and maintenance metrics and is responsible for keeping the commuter rail cars in good repair. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper recalls that when he was mayor of Denver during the initial phases of the Eagle P3 project, he had to quell the “Hatfields and McCoys”–style feuding between Denver and its suburbs (much like Diaz did in Miami and its environs) to smooth the way for expanding the regional transit system and to persuade voters to back the network with a 0.4 percent sales tax increase in 2004. The regional transportation agency laid out the performance standards it expected the concessionaire to adhere to in cost-effectiveness, performance, safety, rider experience, and reliability and prioritized those standards over design and other aspects of the project. “The key there is if you run into trouble [or] if your concessionaire creates a problem, [you know] who pays the freight,” says Hickenlooper. Apportionment of risk to the concessionaire has already protected area taxpayers. When Denver Transit Partners determined that one of the bridges would not hold up to specified performance standards, the group demolished and rebuilt the span. The public Regional Transportation District was not liable for additional monies. OF THE PITFALLS THAT DOOM partnerships with private vendors, the most damning is insufficient transparency. Ironically, when private contractors cheat the public, it is government rather than the privatization process that gets the blame—fueling a conservative narrative that the government is an unreliable guardian of public assets while corporations can parachute in better solutions. Some politicians feed this story when their desire for a quick cash infusion causes public officials to accept arrangements with little to no public oversight, unleashing a cascade of missteps that negate short-term fiscal benefits and reverberate years later. Chicago's 75-year lease for its 36,000 parking meters with a limited liability company headed by Morgan Stanley and others (among them a German financial firm and the government of Abu Dhabi) was one of the worst, if not the worst, P3 deal in U.S. history. The slipshod agreement dented residents' already low confidence in the city's leaders and undermined the city's fiscal health for decades. In 2008, Mayor Richard M. Daley rammed the $1.1 billion plan through a quiescent city council in three days, refusing to divulge the bidders or detailed financial analyses. No municipal transportation officials or lawmakers ever studied the agreement. A deeper analysis would have shown that the deal called for additional payments to the concessionaire if parking meters came out of service for street fairs, repaving projects, or traffic circulation improvements. Daley used lump-sum payments to plug budget deficits. Residents went ballistic as rates exploded. The city now has the highest on-street parking fees in the country. The Chicago inspector general found that the meters were worth at least twice as much as the lump-sum payment the city received for transferring them to the private consortium. The city is stuck with the deal until 2083. The current mayor, Rahm Emanuel, sided with the consortium in a 2014 lawsuit challenging the deal. The group's lawyers had contributed to his re-election campaign. In 2018, along with turning over all of the revenue from the parking meters to the concessionaire, the city owes an additional $20 million, a nearly 20 percent increase over the previous year, to compensate for lost revenues from meters taken out of service. The deal continues to undermine Chicago's ability to plan for future transit improvements. Instead of being able to consider bus, rapid transit, pedestrian safety improvements, or other projects on their merits, planners must consider how many parking meters must be taken out of service (with the attendant uptick in additional payments to the vendor), which may doom some of those projects. Public accountability has also gone missing in St. Louis, where city officials continue to debate a proposal to lease the city-owned and -operated Lambert International Airport, a plan championed by former mayor Francis Slay and his successor Lyda Krewson. The airport director learned about the plan after the application had been filed with the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Privatization Pilot Program in 2017. The city's board of aldermen were not consulted. Missouri billionaire and Republican political donor Rex Sinquefield steered the escapade. He funded the FAA application and will be reimbursed if an agreement is finalized, while his political action committee, Grow Missouri, advises the city on the agency's process and pays the consultants. Meanwhile, the airport remains a valuable transportation asset, having retired and refinanced debt. A recent In the Public Interest report, which conducts research on privatization and investigated the St. Louis plan, found: “The [request for proposals] for the advisory contract is structured in a way that will eliminate the city's opportunity to fully evaluate options for the development of the airport. Since the contractor is only compensated if the airport is privatized, it will not be in their interest to provide full, independent and objective analysis that would benefit and serve the interests of the city. This contract should not be finalized under these conditions.” AP Photo/J Pat Carter “The advocates for privatizing the St. Louis airport are failing to heed important lessons from Chicago's parking meter disaster,” says ITPI Executive Director Donald Cohen. “They aren't doing a rigorous fiscal and financial analysis to compare public versus private options that cost Chicago $1 billion. And they aren't thinking long-term about what decisions city leaders won't be able to make because [those decisions could] hurt the private operator's bottom line.” WHEN A PRIVATE-SECTOR actor fails to live up to the role of turnaround artist, it falls to public entities to pick up the pieces. To acquire Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, New York, in 2000, the National Express Group (NEG), a British rail, bus, and coach transit company that expanded into airport operations in Great Britain, paid $35 million to the New York State Department of Transportation for a 99-year lease to operate the facility under the FAA’s 1997 Airport Privatization Pilot Program. The hope was that the new operator could improve the facility and attract more passengers to the lightly used airport north of New York City. Metro New York has long sought a fourth airport. The premise unraveled as the fallout from September 11, 2001, rippled through the aviation industry. NEG also ran into legal opposition from local environmentalists opposed to the plan for a new access road to the airport. NEG soon announced other priorities, and tried to relinquish the lease. But there were no offers. After seven years, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey acquired Stewart for nearly $80 million. A 20-year plan to upgrade the airport included a name change, renovations, and better transit connections. Of the 12 airports that have pursued privatization through the FAAprogram since 1997, only one, the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico, remains in the hands of a private operator. Currently, three airports (including Lambert) have submitted preliminary privatization applications. The FAA's complex regulations make most privatization scenarios unappealing, especially since airlines have veto power over such transfers. STATES AND LOCALITIES that pursue public-private partnerships must do their homework. Public officials must determine whether involvement of the private sector is cost-effective, and they must engage highly experienced professionals who can run a transparent procurement process, particularly in the case of projects that a private entity wants to finance, operate, and maintain. Purely political considerations, especially ones predicated on general budgetary pressures rather than on the needs of the transportation sector, should be resisted. The temptation to look for private-sector rescues is understandable. The United States is trillions of dollars short in funding to build the next generation of megaprojects. The bill is past due for repairs to transportation assets of the past century. Public-private partnerships can play a role, but no one should exaggerate what they can achieve. “P3s are a very effective tool that helps communities build critical infrastructure, not the solution,” says Governor Hickenlooper. “We as a society are fighting over whether it's federal, state, or local money. We've got to resolve the bickering and say, ‘This is the real infrastructure that we need, we can afford it, so let's build.'” Issue: How Not to Cover America Issue: Spring 2018 Cities & Communities Gabrielle Gurley Gabrielle Gurley is The American Prospect’s deputy editor. Read more by Gabrielle Gurley	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2011
__label__wiki	0.598243	0.598243	PubliCola News. Politics. Urbanism. Addiction, City Council, Courts, Crime, criminal justice, Elections, homelessness, Morning Crank, neighborhoods May 23, 2019 May 22, 2019 Morning Crank: The Council Takes a Closer Look at the “Prolific Offenders” Report 1. Six of the seven District 2 city council candidates participated in a forum at the Georgetown Ballroom last night, and I livetweeted the whole thing. Check out the thread to find out what committee Ari Hoffman wants to chair, when Tammy Morales last called 911, why socialist Henry Dennison won’t answer yes/no questions… and also a lot of information about the candidates’ plans are for addressing homelessness, environmental racism, and how they would counter displacement in South Seattle. 2. City council members Lisa Herbold and Lorena Gonzalez invited leaders of several of the business groups that funded a recent report on so-called “prolific offenders” Wednesday, and raised questions about the methodology behind the report and some of its conclusions. Mike Stewart, the head of the Ballard Alliance, said he and other business leaders got the idea for the report after they “started to realize that things are changing a lot” for business owners, who he said are dealing with a level of crime they’ve never experienced before. “It feels like many of the instances of the criminal behavior that happens seems to be coming from many of the same people—so an individual might commit a crime in a business district one day and the next week, they’re back again,” Stewart said. Erin Goodman, the head of the SODO Business Improvement Area, added, “One individual in our sample is quite simply terrorizing the Ballard business district. … In a single day in 2018, he shoplifted from five stores in a two-hour period, brazenly pushing a shopping cart full of the stolen items from store to store.” These bookings include charges for failure to appear or comply with terms of release, which made up 41% of the charges in a King County assessment of its “Familiar Faces” program, which deals with a similar population. The report, “System Failure,” was put together by former mayor Ed Murray’s public safety advisor, Scott Lindsay. It highlights the booking histories of 100 individuals, hand-picked by Lindsay and characterized in the report as “roughly representative of a larger population of individuals who are frequently involved in criminal activity in Seattle’s busiest neighborhoods.” Every person on Lindsay’s list had four or more bookings into King County Jail over a 12-month period and had “indicators” that they were chronically homeless and had a substance use disorder. The criteria Lindsay used for his list are similar to those used in King County’s Familiar Faces initiative, which, in 2014, identified 1,252 people with four or more annual bookings (94 percent of them with a substance use disorder or behavioral health issue, or both), except that Lindsay chose to zero in specifically on frequent offenders who are homeless, which Familiar Faces does not. Just 58 percent of the people on the 2013 Familiar Faces list had indicators that they were homeless. By hand-picking a list of offenders who are homeless (and by choosing to highlight the stories of mostly people who moved to Seattle from elsewhere), Lindsay’s report feeds into the common, but unsupported, belief that most people who commit property crimes are homeless and that homeless people from across the country come to Seattle to mooch off the city’s generosity. Support The C Is for Crank Hey there! Just a quick reminder that this entire site, including the post you’re reading, is supported by generous contributions from readers like you, without which this site would quite literally cease to exist. If you enjoy reading The C Is for Crank and would like to keep it going, please consider becoming a sustaining supporter. For just $5, $10, or $20 a month (or whatever you can give), you can help keep this site going, and help me continue to dedicate the many hours it takes to bring you stories like this one every week. This site is my full-time job. Help keep that work sustainable by becoming a supporter now! If you don’t wish to become a monthly contributor, you can always make a one-time donation via PayPal, Venmo (Erica-Barnett-7) or by mailing your contribution to P.O. Box 14328, Seattle, WA 98104. Thank you for reading, and I’m truly grateful for your support. Gonzalez and Herbold pressed the “System Failure” funders on some of the methodology in their report, including the fact that Lindsay determined the number of crimes each person had committed using police reports, complaints, and charging documents, without looking at anything the person said in their own defense or tracking whether they were ultimately found guilty. Goodman, from the SODO BIA, acknowledged that “some of these folks could have gone through the criminal system and been found innocent,” but added, “This is simply a snapshot based on bookings. [Lindsay] clearly states that it does not say how the case was adjudicated.” Goodman expressed frustration that so many people were let out of jail within hours or days of being arrested; that so few of the people found incompetent to stand trial because of mental illness were subject to involuntary commitment; and that “there was zero accountability in the system for consequences for failure to comply with court-ordered release conditions.” Those conditions, according to the report, included things like appearing at every court date; abstaining from drugs and alcohol; submitting to random drug tests; and going to abstinence-based inpatient or outpatient treatment. Underfunding services and then complaining that they aren’t working “is like sprinkling a little bit of salt over a giant bowl of soup and then [saying], ‘Oh, salt doesn’t work,'” Public Defender Association director Lisa Daugaard said. One issue with these kinds of conditions is that there simply isn’t enough available capacity—in other words, funding—for the services that do exist to serve clients with mental health and substance abuse challenges. The Law Enforcement Diversion Program, for example, recently expanded with funding from the recent Trueblood court settlement to provide a vastly expanded suite of services (including mental health care, transitional housing, and intensive case management) to people whose competency to stand trial has been called into question. That funding will serve about 150 people who would not have previously been eligible for the program. But, as Public Defender Association director Lisa Daugaard, who was also at the table, pointed out, there are likely thousands of people who could benefit from similar services, while the total capacity for all such programs is in the hundreds. Underfunding services and then complaining that they aren’t working “is like sprinkling a little bit of salt over a giant bowl of soup and then [saying], ‘Oh, salt doesn’t work,'” Daugaard said. “We are not right-sizing the things that are effective.” The other, related, issue with expecting people to comply with court conditions is that those conditions are often unreasonable. As long as the underlying issues that are causing someone to shoplift or act aggressively or loiter in the doorway of a business aren’t addressed, telling people to show up to day reporting or abstain from their drug of choice is a losing strategy. It’s little wonder that 100 percent of the people Lindsay chose for his report failed to comply with the conditions imposed by the court. Goodman’s frustration is understandable: Her group represents businesses in an area of the city with the highest concentration of people living in RVs, many of them with substance use disorders, untreated mental illness, or both. But there’s little point, experts say, in trying to force people into treatment when they aren’t ready. “If the clients aren’t ready, they aren’t ready, and therein lies the challenge,” Heather Aman, a deputy prosecutor at the city attorney’s office who works with LEAD clients, told me recently. “Anyone who isn’t addressing their substance use or mental health issues has an impact on their community, because there’s not an ability to force individuals to [get help or treatment] until they’re ready. And what do you do with the person that needs to be ready? That’s the million-dollar question.” Filed under: "System Failure" report, Addiction, City Council District 2, Crime, Election 2019, homelessness, mental illness City’s Outreach Partner Disengages from Navigation Team as City Removes More Encampments Without Notice Dueling Motions Filed as Both Sides Prepare for Preliminary Hearing in Showbox Case Next Month 3 thoughts on “Morning Crank: The Council Takes a Closer Look at the “Prolific Offenders” Report” Erica you completely misunderstood or misrepresented the methodology used to compile the list of offenders by saying Lindsey chose to focus on homeless offenders. That is simply not true. The sample was done over 60 consecutive days looking at each days bookings and using the criteria of people who had been booked at least 4 times in the last year to define a prolific offender. When he reached the first100 offenders he stopped. He did not focus on homeless offenders, rather it was just a fact that all of those first 100 had self reported as homeless. I hope this was a mistake and not a deliberate attempt to discredit the validity of the information. Only you know for sure. SteveH says: For me, this article further proves the utterly tragic lack of urgency from our City Leadership for 10 years now. It’s clear that they want to maintain the status quo and focus almost entirely on housing, while completely under-supporting intervention on the front lines. After billions have been spent regionally over the past 10 years and we’re waiting for needed housing, people are abandoned and dying on the streets of our neighborhoods and public safety/property crimes are dismissed as “inconvenient” by City Leadership. If City Leadership says that they support LEAD and Navigation Teams, why are they ridiculously under-funded, to the point of guaranteed failure. If City Leadership themselves say that we don’t have enough police officers or city prosecutors, then why not? Amid a long-booming local economy with record government revenues, how is it possible we don’t have the funds for these things which City Leadership themselves “say” they support and “say” we need? Despite impassioned and urgent concerns by the public, where has the City Leadership been the past 10 years and where is THEIR urgency? Pingback: Thursday news roundup Two Bills on Cop Discipline Illustrate Limits of Labor Support for Police Reform Tunnel Option Back on the Table? Plus: Updates on Homeless Authority and Vaccinating Unsheltered People Police Union Head’s Refusal to Resign Raises Questions About Upcoming Contract Negotiations Unclear if Cops in D.C. During Riot Will Face Discipline; Council Weighs in on Cuba; Mosqueda Aide to Run for Mayor Report on SPD Destruction of DNA Evidence Reveals Serious Problems in Department’s Evidence Storage Support PubliCola PubliCola is supported entirely by generous contributions from readers like you. If you enjoy the breaking news, commentary, and deep dives on issues that matter to you, please support this work by donating $5, $10, or $20 a month. Or make a one-time donation via PayPal, Venmo (Erica-Barnett-7) or by mailing your contribution to P.O. Box 14328, Seattle, WA 98104. Thank you for keeping this site going and growing. I’m truly grateful for your support. Subscribe to PubliCola via Email	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2012
__label__cc	0.551142	0.448858	Поместные церкви Православный календарь Аналитическое обозрение Слово Патриарха\| Инфографика\| Архив сайта\| Вопросы священнику\| English version\| Српска верзиjа Официальная хроника Московского Патриархата\| Епархиальная жизнь\| Поместные Церкви\| Русская Православная Церковь за границей\| Святыни, храмы, монастыри\| Государство и общество\| Культура, искусство, наука, СМИ\| Семья, образование, молодежь\| Опросы читателей Записи богослужений Издательство Сретенского монасты Basil Sokolov: “In the Selfsame Hour…” Recollections of Life in the Camps As the Sunday of the Holy New Martyrs of Russia approaches, we present the story of a man who also suffered for the truth in the soviet gulag, related by the doctor who treated him in the prison tuberculosis ward. 1. The Steppe and the Camp. Steppe. I was walking hurriedly along the steppe road from the dairy farm to the village belonging to one of the NKVD camps in the steppe. It was a warm evening. The sun had not yet fallen beyond the horizon, and the sky had already turned pink over the hillock. Between the farm and the place where the tubercular hospital was located lay an undeveloped parcel of steppe about one kilometer long. On this parcel the grass was now green, and bright steppe flowers were in blossom—red carnations, pale-lilac and dark “marsh-beet,” and many yellow flowers. I was in a hurry. The camp hospital consisted of three small houses on the edge of the parcel, built of home-made clay and straw bricks. I was the director of this hospital, and its only doctor. A patient’s words had caused my anxiety. That morning, as I was leaving the ward after rounds, he summoned me, and with facial expression unusual to him, asked, “Will you be returning today, doctor?” “I will return in the evening. I must go to the dairy farm this afternoon.” “Will you be returning late?” He had never asked me like this before. In fact, Basil had always been rather silent. “No, not late, about 8:00. What do you need? Do you not feel well?” “No, I am fine. Do not worry. I need to give you something.” “Can’t you give it to me now?” “No, but if you come at eight, that would be good.” It happened that there were many sick people at the farm. I tried not to take too long, but there was no time to think and now I was becoming more and more overcome by anxiety. Basil Sokolov had been a front-line soldier, and was still quite young. He had been sent to the camps straight from the front. He told me that he had always been a jolly fellow from childhood—he played the accordion well, and like to play at weddings. At the front he played in soldiers’ concerts. Once as he was hanging portraits in the clubhouse he hung Stalin’s portrait in the wrong way, then made some remark in that regard. He was arrested the next day, and given the standard sentence of ten years of reformatory labor camp according to the 58th statute for anti-soviet agitation (tenth paragraph). He had been in the komsomol, and was a wood-worker. Before the war he had worked in Kirovgrad, and knew how to make delicate items out of wood. His father, also a wood-worker, had trained him to labor. He lived with his parents and large family. When the war broke out he landed in the army as a volunteer almost from the start, during the eighteenth year of his life. After he was sentenced, he was sent to cut trees in the far north. The joyful spirit of this defender of the Fatherland, victor over fascist aggressors, and gregarious accordionist, was speedily destroyed by oppression, hunger, and cruel fate; the more he tried to fight, (as at first he did), for justice, the more speedily he was crushed. He was crushed by scurvy, dystrophia, pellagra (an inflammation of the skin common in the far north). He was no longer able to labor, and so they beat him. He was beaten in the darkness of the barracks as they kicked everyone out to work, making no attempt to discern the reason for any delay. Foremen and brigadiers, chosen from amongst the criminal element, beat all the others. The barracks were cold, and the weather outside severely cold. This led to the tuberculosis ward. “They beat us on the lungs and then wrote ‘tuberculosis’,” said the patients. In the summer of 1974 Basil found himself in a prisoners’ convoy to the southern camps, and arrived at our agricultural camp for rehabilitation together with other over-worked prisoners. His tuberculosis was widespread and aggressive. The camp was small-scale agricultural; it had its own granary, vegetable garden, melon and squash field, and dairy farm. I was able to get food for patients beyond the meager camp rations. Using the hospital tractor which carried food products to the hospital kitchen—and which also carried the dead to the cemetery—we, the hospital personnel together with recovering patients, dug a large garden, which was the hospitals’ own agricultural territory. Thus, without x-ray equipment, respirators, or medicines (other than the most primitive and specific) did our patients recover on potatoes, peas, and beets. No one in the cities could believe our results. But what fine air we had! The little hospital houses stood on the shores of a steppe river. Beyond the river lay a limitless steppe stretching many hundreds of kilometers. Yes, miraculous cures took place there. “The main thing,” said the patients, “is to turn the illness around, and then everything will get going in the right direction!” In order to turn the illness around they had to have something even more necessary than medicines. We had to create a peaceful atmosphere, remove the stone that oppressed their souls, banish the thought from out of their consciousness that they were humiliated by imprisonment, deprived of human rights and dignity. We had to create an atmosphere of care for them, good will towards them, respect, emotional warmth, some at least primitive coziness, surity of their firm protection, and even love for them. We also had to create our own joys and entertainments. This was not easy, but nevertheless we achieved it. My brain worked day and night to achieve this aim. The main problem was proving to the administration that it was actually in their own interests to simply waive their hands at me and turn a blind eye to my order in the hospital. I had to become needed to them. When two directors received awards for reduced mortality it became much easier for me. 2. Basil Sokolov. Basil Sokolov was twenty-seven years old. He was particularly able to win people’s hearts, and the patients always remembered him. He was ever serious, and at the same time amiable and affectionate, calm and satisfied with everything, always inwardly joyful. He attracted people, and they would become attached to him. Patients of all categories loved him—political and criminal, young and old. The hospital personnel also loved him. People came to him for advice, and when they received letters, sad or happy, they shared them with him. In the winter, when our houses were covered with snow, he would lay there for long periods of time, as if thinking something over, reminiscing. In the summertime he liked to sit by the bank of the river and watch the water. He never took part in other patients’ noisy joking and conversation. He read much. He never received letters nor did he write them, although his parents were still alive. “It’s better that they not know where I am or what’s become of me,” he said to me. “And if I remain here, let them think that I died at the front. It will be easier for them.” This was understandable. He never worried about anything, but to contrary, always assuaged others’ anxieties. In his radiant joy, his stride, his deeds, his eyes—the clarity of his gaze, was hidden a mystery; he literally carried within himself something which he loved and cherished, venerating it and rejoicing over it. When people came to him he responded with joyful readiness, as if he were eagerly anticipating them. They would ask him questions, he would answer them, and everyone would depart encouraged about something. What attracted people to him so? I myself experienced this. Oh, what wouldn’t I have done to save him! As I walked, I thought about how everything that we now see but do not understand will someday be explained and clear, but we will never understand people if we do not make it our rule to remember that some peoples’ eyes are blinded, while others’ see all in a bright light that shines before them; and that truth and true happiness have no clear outward distinction amongst everyday realities, but can only be recognized in the radiant light of the soul. But where did Basil get this? One month ago he had tracheal bleeding which was not repeated. He felt significantly better. Just a few days ago he had given one of the patients a very beautiful chess set which he had carved out of wood. Could it be that he was feeling badly, and felt trouble ahead? That would explain why he wanted to see me a second time that day. Probably he was very agitated yesterday, although he did not betray it outwardly. He even comforted me. Could this have played a part in his condition? The matter was that the head of the sanitary unit, a hired paramedic, a proven worker and lieutenant of the medical-sanitary service of the NKVD, had received another of a number of reports against me in which Basil’s name was mentioned. It was written that I was keeping Basil in the hospital although he was perfectly healthy, that he had “stuffed himself,” that I was fattening him up and even prescribing extra food for him. This was obviously written by some guileful and angry man in an attempt to play up to the authorities. He was not the only one who foamed at the mouth and lost his composure over the humane atmosphere in the tuberculosis ward, it’s “free spirit,” which seemed to go against the rules and regime. As for me, I often experienced heavy pressure from the stalwarts of the regime against this spirit. I had become toughened in this battle, and learned how to maneuver. I was able to hold my position, but the reports continued to come. No one paid any attention to them, but all the same, I could never be sure that they would cease. The contents of these reports never differed. They always wrote that half of my patients were well; that I detain my favorites and do not write their releases; that the majority of my patients have very long prison sentences; that I harbor and coddle traitors of the Fatherland; that I create conditions for the patients as if they were free men; that communication in the hospital is built upon such phrases as “would you be so kind,” and “if you please”; that I had opened a resort for the prisoners, with various procedures in the sun and shade; that I had instituted the celebration of patients’ birthdays, and that on those days pies are baked and other pleasures provided. Names were cited and examples recounted. It had been very difficult to save Basil from death. And now the director of the sanitation department had the idea of calling me and Basil into the sanitation unit with his case history in order to review the warning—that is, the report. Oh, why did I take him there? Why did I carry out the director’s request? He should have come to the ward himself. They are all afraid to come to us, afraid of being infected with tuberculosis in the wards. One of the prisoners’ doctors once said to me, “I can understand, colleague, why you prefer the company of tuberculosis patients over that of the authorities. It is because the authorities are much worse, more dangerous and repulsive that the tuberculars.” But Basil answered the directors’ questions on his own behalf as well as mine, and with such composure and dignity! When he was asked, “Well, Sokolov, aren’t you felling well already? Couldn’t you have requested a release?” he replied, “I would never ask to be retained, neither would I ask to be released from the hospital, because I know quite well that only Marina Sergeevna knows what needs to be done with the patients, while our subjective sensations are very deceptive and often change.” “Listen to the patient yourself,” I said, “here is my stethoscope.” “Bring some alcohol from the bandage department,” the director said to an assistant. He wiped the stethoscope with alcohol and pronounced importantly, “Undress. Breathe.” “Under the left corner of the scapula is a sharp, windy, cavernous sound,” I said, by way of assistance. “Above that is widespread wheezing,” “Yes,” the director said with deep thought, and once again pressed the stethoscope to Basil’s scapula, where nothing could be heard at all. “You may depart to the corridor, Sokolov, but you, Marina Sergeevna, remain here.” Then a ludicrous conversation ensued, instructing and warning me, concluding in a command to take him off the supplementary nourishment. I made no reply, repeating only “alright,” although I never did what he said. This, they understood. But could it really be that all of this had an effect upon Basil? Why did he ask me to come again that day at eight o’clock in the evening? I was almost running back to the ward. Upon arrival I quickly put on my doctor’s coat and went with the shift nurse on rounds, beginning with the room where Basil lay. He was pale, but he looked at me and smiled. The nurse told me that after lunch, he had experienced a slight coughing up of blood. “Well, Basil my dear,” how do you feel? Now we are going to give you an IV.” “I feel fine,” he said, “You can skip it.” “No, the night is still ahead,” I said, “It’s better that we do it. “Well, alright, I’ll rest a bit after the IV, and you come back to me after finishing the rounds, please. Alright?” “Alright,” I answered. 3. Remember the Lord! After my rounds I went alone, without the nurse, and sat down near Basil. There was no patient in the bed to his left, and from the bed to his right the patient arose and left the room. We were now alone. “I want to give you something,” Basil said, “It is a poem, only without rhyme. It’s not mine, but it is very dear to me, for it turned me around—not immediately after reading it, but gradually. It carved its way into my soul, and made me think. Reading many wise books also helped. I want you to have it. I’ll tell you a little about it. After a heavy battle in 1944 (I thought that no one would be left alive)—it is terribly difficult to recall it—I and only a very few were by some miracle left alive. The sanitation instructor found a slip of paper with poetry in the coat pocket of one young soldier. Many of us read it. It touched me immediately; I kept it, and many others later copied it. Only, this one I am giving you is not the original, for that was taken from me when I was put into prison, and I now have written it down again from memory. I had learned these lines right away by heart. The poem was signed: ‘Alexander Zatsepa.’ Here, take it.” “Why are you in such a hurry, Basil? We are not separating.” He lowered his eyes. I again felt strange. “How are you feeling?” I asked. “Fine, right now, very fine. Good night Marina Sergeevna. Thank you for everything.” “Good night to you, Basil,” I said, “I still have to sit and work; I have case histories to write.” “Oh, how good it will be for me to sleep,” he again smiled joyfully. I left. I decided not to read them right away, otherwise I would get lost in thought once again, and once again I would fail to finish the case histories I had already put off for several days. That night the nurse came running in, saying, “Marina Sergeevna, Sokolov is in bad condition. He’s dying.” Running into the room I saw the shift nurse standing next to Basil with an empty syringe, and Basil was already dead; but no, not dead, for when I took his hand to check his pulse and called “Basil, Basil!” the corners of his mouth quivered and parted into a smile, and this smile remained on his face. This could not have been my imagination. It really happened! Finding no pulse or breathe in him, I closed his eyes. The nurse told me that he had begun again to cough up blood. He was very weak, but nevertheless he carefully spat out the blood so as not to stain the bed sheets. She had succeeded in administering medicine to stop the bleeding, but he suddenly sat up in the bed, straightened himself, and pronounced with a full voice so loudly that the patients in both adjoining rooms heard it and woke up, “Remember the Lord!” He then raised his hand, blessed everyone, and fell back upon the pillow. The nurse broke into tears. 4. Alexander Zatsepa. I went into my office, threw open the window, and sat down at the table. Outside it was already getting light. I took the poem Basil had given me out of my pocket and began to read. Alexander Zatsepa had artlessly directed himself to the One to Whom he was directing himself for the first time in his life, and in this was contained an awesome power. I read: Listen, God… not once in my life Have I spoken with You, but today I wanted to greet You. You know that from my childhood days I was always told, That You do not exist. And I, a fool, believed it. I never contemplated Your creation. But tonight I gazed Out of the crater that a grenade had blown, At the starry sky that was above me. I suddenly understood as I admired the twinkling, How cruel a deception can be. I do not know, O God, if You will give me Your hand, But I will tell You, and You will understand me. Isn’t it strange that amidst this horrible hell The light was suddenly revealed to me and I beheld You? Besides this I have nothing more to say, Only that I am glad that I have seen You. At midnight we are supposed to attack. But I am not afraid—You are watching over us. The signal. Well, I am supposed to start out. It was good to be with You. I also want to say, That as You know, the battle will be vicious, And, perhaps I will be knocking at Your door tonight… Although up to now I had not been Your friend, Will you let me in when I come? Well, it seems I’m weeping… my God, You see, It has happened that I have beheld… Farewell, my God, I am going, and am unlikely to return. How strange it is, but now I do not fear death. (Alexander Zatsepa) I did not wipe away my tears, they ran down my neck and under my collar. Soon it was completely light outside and I put out the lamp, but I did not rise from my chair. “In the selfsame hour, Thou didst vouchsafe, O Lord…” the words from the song about the good thief, whose eyes were opened on Golgotha, rang in my ears. Alexander Zatsepa’s eyes were also opened in the very hour before death to: “how cruel a deception can be.” “The Light suddenly appeared to me!” he said. How miraculous! And in that brief hour, so significant for him, so earth-shaking, he does not want to remain alone with his joy, or keep it all to himself. No, he wants to share it, to give it to others. He is afraid to take it with him. He searches his pockets for a pencil; he finds one. He writes inspired lines. So that the slip of paper would more readily be found, he places it in his outer-most coat pocket—or perhaps be hadn’t time to hide it better?, Alexander wrote these lines during the very last minutes of his life. Basil received it all from him. He had said, “I do not know by what miracle I remained alive.” Then, after the battle, what a path of suffering he had to travel, what a Golgotha. And how high he had ascended the spiritual ladder—so high! Yes; and perhaps he was not the only one? I went to the women’s quarters and gave them some dark cloth from which to sew a shirt for Basil, and some gauze for a shroud. Then I went to the construction section and said to the foreman, “You are going to receive an order for a coffin from the sanitation section. I ask you to make a real coffin, a good one—not the kind that you make from rough, splintering boards with cracks throughout. A holy man has died in my hospital.” The foreman answered, “I have just the material needed right now, and I’ll ask a good craftsman to make it.” 5. Fr Arseny. Afterwards I went to the prisoners’ zone. There, in the common barracks lived a seventy-four-year-old hieroschemamonk, Fr. Arseny, with a twenty-five year sentence. Before he was arrested in 1945, he had lived twelve years in the mountains of Sukhumi, in Svanetia, Georgia. There he had no contact with people other than three or four times a year, when he descended into the village for necessities (lamp oil and salt). He was living in a cell that he had built with his own hands. In 1945, the authorities began capturing those people who had been hiding from them in the mountains for a period of time. Not knowing what was going on, Fr. Arseny descended the mountain and fell into an ambush. He had no papers, no work, and no pension. He was tried and sentenced to twenty-five years of labor camps. I told him about Basil. He made a band to be placed upon his forehead, and wrote the prayer of absolution. He explained to me what to do. He said that he would serve a funeral and pannikhida. He blessed my hands, transmitting through them a blessing to Basil, saying, “Bury him.” A pick-up truck from the construction section carried the coffin covered with rush mats so that it would not attract attention by its unordinariness (for, the coffin was an Orthodox one), together with a beautiful wooden cross. I had not even mentioned a cross to the workers… The driver said, “I can’t go to the cemetery right now. I was told to bring a gas tank to the yard right away.” I rejoiced. How wonderful! There was still much to be done with Basil, and many would want to come and say their farewells to him. If the sanitation division were to see a truck standing for a long time outside the morgue, they would come out to investigate. Basil lay all clean and dressed as if he were a free man. He was handsome. His lips were touched by a smile. Quietly, all those who had know him came to say good-bye. They walked along a low, unnoticeable path. One by one they walked up, removed their hats, and without lingering, looked around and continued on, allowing the next person to come. Workers came from the building sector. I stood by the window, watching the whole time. The truck could by seen driving up. I went out and did everything to Basil that Fr. Arseny had instructed me to do. Then I said “close the lid.” The coffin and cross was again covered with rush mats. The old paramedic came to conduct Basil to the cemetery. The workers dug a deep grave. They carefully lowered the coffin, then covered it with earth, and planted the cross. They covered the large mound with sod from a nearby ditch. I gave each worker a little bottle of spirits and a packet of food as a remembrance of him for their prayers, and they were pleased. Everyone departed. 6. Basil’s cross. The old paramedic took out a blue notebook and began to read a prayer. I sat down on a nearby mound and looked out over the steppe at the sky and the grave mounds of deceased prisoners. It was a scene that I will never forget to the end of my days, which shook me to the very soul. Stretched out upon the vast expanse of barren steppe was one mound after another, like hillocks, and upon each one stood a placard with a number—the prisoner’s personal number. These numbers were written on the prisoners’ records. They were also printed on the envelopes addressed to relatives, waiting long for a letter… Then I began to ponder that now, in the barracks of the prisoners’ zone, in a dark corner, the saintly schemamonk was serving a funeral and pannikhida for slave of God Basil. How could it be that everything had come together so well today? Here, in a prison camp, we, by the elder’s powerful prayers, had been able to bury him according to the Christian custom without being discovered. It became perfectly and distinctly clear to me how miraculously the Lord had revealed His will toward Basil, who deserved such mercy! I had acted almost mechanically. I went here and there, said a word or two without forethought, and everything happened as it should have. I felt somehow joyful that I had been, at least to some small measure, the instrument of God’s will. I glanced at the tall, beautiful cross over the grave, then out upon the boundless steppe all around. In the warm air, fragrant with the pleasant smell of sagebrush, birds chirped as they flew. They flew by me, landed on the nearby hillocks, raised their heads and looked around, then froze to their perches, as if listening to the elder’s voice as he read his prayers. A light breeze was blowing. The sun came out. I thought about the rays that would shine over Basil’s grave, and again my gaze rested upon his cross. Peace and joy began to penetrate my heart, and suddenly I saw the grave-yard in a completely different way. I saw that the cross stood not only over Basil’s grave, but over the entire cemetery. I saw that his high, green grave was the pedestal beneath the monument which united all the hillocks and placards, protecting them and preserving them from destruction and oblivion, and that in the singing of the birds rang out Basil’s final words, “REMEMBER THE LORD!” Such harmony and wisdom can be found in every corner of the earth, in the great and the small, in every tiny note of every singing bird. For two thousand years, mankind has now fallen on its knees before, now crucified over and over the One who has revealed to men the mystery of Divine wisdom; the One Who has shown by His example that after Golgotha comes the resurrection which conquers death, the Feast of feasts and Triumph of triumphs. The triumph of love! Oh unfathomable mercy! Every hour, it nudges forward those who have become lost on life’s path, the misfortunate and sick, towards the healing springs! Today the Lord has lifted the veil and shown how eternal is His love, and how unshakeable and eternal His justice! A bird flying by chirped, as it were, into my very ear. Over the earth and its grave-mounds, in the bright setting sunlight, the day’s heated air shimmered like a bright aurora, like someone’s pure breath…. And Basil Sokolov’s words sounded out, “REMEMBER THE LORD!” By C. C., Russky Palomnik, No.28, 2003. Translated by Nun Cornelia (Rees) Здесь Вы можете оставить свой комментарий к данной статье. Все комментарии будут прочитаны редакцией портала Православие.Ru. James Hazen16 марта 2011, 05:00 Thank you. A very moving story.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2020
__label__cc	0.541393	0.458607	8-57 marker Side A: Paul Laurence Dunbar. The first African-American to achieve prominence as a poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar was born and raised in Dayton, the son of former slaves. Working as an elevator operator while he established himself as a writer, Dunbar published his first book of poems, Oak and Ivy, in 1893. His third collection, Lyrics of a Lowly Life (1896) with an introduction by another Ohio-born author William Dean Howells, gained Dunbar widespread critical acclaim and popular recognition. Widely published in contemporary journals and literary magazines, Dunbar employed both turn-of-the-century African-American dialect and standard English verse to give a voice to the themes of everyday discrimination and struggles for racial equality. Tuberculosis cut his life short at age 33. Dunbar's body of work includes twelve volumes of poetry, four books of short stories, a play, and five novels. Side B: Same. Same	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2022
__label__wiki	0.973102	0.973102	Jeffrey Crelinsten Publisher & CEO Jeffrey Crelinsten is CEO of Research Money Inc. and publisher of RE$EARCH MONEY. He is also President and CEO of The Impact Group, a consultancy he co-founded in 1987, specializing in science, technology and innovation policy, communications and education. Jeffrey has been studying challenges facing tech entrepreneurs and the innovation ecosystems that try to support them for over 25 years. He developed the R$ conferences to bring together leaders from the private and public sector to address critical issues around innovation policy and knowledge-based commerce. Before founding The Impact Group, Jeffrey taught science and human affairs at Concordia University and had an active career as a science documentary writer for radio and television. Jeffrey is Senior Research Fellow at the Innovation Policy Lab, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. He is a founding director of the International Commercialization Alliance and is a past-President of the Canadian Science Writers Association. Jeffrey has a B.Sc. in physics from McGill University, a M.Sc. in astronomy from University of Toronto and a Ph.D. in history of science and science policy from University of Montreal. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jeffrey-crelinsten/6/459/307 Mark Mann Mark Mann is the Managing Editor of RE$EARCH MONEY. In this role, Mark tracks the latest news and trends in Canada’s innovation economy and ecosystem and strives to ensure the magazine’s coverage is thorough, balanced, timely and incisive. As an award-winning journalist and editor based in Montreal, Mark has more than a decade of experience writing for Canada’s most prominent magazines, newspapers and websites, covering topics related to health, technology, culture and the environment. His feature stories have appeared in Toronto Life, The Walrus, Report on Business, Reader’s Digest, the Toronto Star, and Maisonneuve, among others. He is a senior editor at Beside, a magazine devoted to nature and culture, and a contributing editor at Momus, an international art criticism site. His writing about science and tech has appeared extensively on Motherboard at Vice Media. He won a National Magazine Award in 2011 for his essay “Lucky Strikes” in Maisonneuve, which was subsequently published in The Best Canadian Essays of 2011 by Tightrope Books. He was short-listed in the Longform category in 2018 for his story “The Man Who Saved 200 Syrian Refugees” in Toronto Life. Adity Das Gupta Manager, Operations & Projects Adity is the lead on customer engagement, relationship management and administration. Adity is on a mission to connect with existing customers, develop and implement sales strategies, and innovate new ways for RE$EARCH MONEY to expand its business and create value for customers and stakeholders. Adity has experience working in academia and the non-profit and private sectors, and brings a strong understanding of the science, technology and innovation space, as well as experience with vendor relationship and partnership management and event management. Adity has a number of academic publications and her interests include innovation policy and the regulatory space, and social policy. Adity holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan and a BSS in Economics from BRAC University (Bangladesh). LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adity-das-gupta-12091992/ Lindsay Borthwick Lindsay Borthwick has been journalist for more than 15 years, specializing in science, health and the environment. She has worked as an editor at award-winning national magazines in the United States and Canada, including Seed, Best Health and Green Living. She is also a freelance writer and editor, based in Toronto, with extensive experience covering brain research and working with science philanthropies. She is particularly interested in the role of private funders in supporting basic science research and innovation, and in open science and its impact on science, technology and innovation. From 2007 to 2012, she was a staff member of Open Medicine, an independent, peer-reviewed, open-access Canadian medical journal. Lindsay has been nominated for a Canadian National Magazine Award and is the recipient of a Canadian Institutes for Health Research Journalism Award. She holds graduate degrees in neuroscience from McGill University in Montreal and in journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto. Mark Lowey Mark Lowey lives in Calgary, Alberta, where he has worked as a professional journalist for 38 years. He is the publisher and managing editor of EnviroLine, a business publication for western Canada’s environmental business industry. He is also a freelance writer and editor, and the former communications director at the Institute for Sustainable Energy, Environment and Economy at the University of Calgary. His journalism has garnered numerous awards, including: two Canadian Science Writers’ Association national awards; a Governor General’s Michener citation; the first Alberta Science Technology Foundation award for science journalism; the first Canadian Petroleum Association/Banff Centre national award for environmental reporting; and, most recently, the Engineers Canada 2016 Award of Journalism Excellence in Engineering. Mark worked at the Calgary Herald for 20 years, where he became a senior reporter. He is a member and former president of the Canadian Science Writers’ Association and a member of the Writers’ Guild of Alberta. Mark Henderson Mark was Managing Editor of RE$EARCH MONEY from 1994 to 2018. He has written extensively on research and innovation policy and funding issues since 1994. As the Editor of RE$EARCH MONEY, he interviewed hundreds of industry executives, senior government officials, research managers and other leaders in Canada’s science, technology and innovation communities. Mark has worked as a journalist and editor for several publications over the past 35 years, including “Network Letter, Report on Wireless”, “Canadian Communications Reports”, “The Electronics Communicator” and “The Ottawa Citizen”. He resides in Ottawa and is an avid music and film aficionado. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-henderson/22/72/82 Roxanne Garraway Roxanne is the administrative officer and provides support and customer service for RE$EARCH MONEY subscribers. As the administrative officer Roxanne is interested in speaking with R$ subscribers as well as implementing metric analytics to better understand and improve subscriber experience. Roxanne has 7+ years of experience in graphic design and digital marketing disciplines and has previously freelanced in both the private and public sector. She considers herself a life-long learner and most recently attended University of Toronto for Introduction to Project Management and Humber College for Marketing Communications. Roxanne lives in Toronto and her passions include learning percussion instruments and documenting afro-diasporic cultural expressions throughout the Americas. Debbie Lawes Debbie Lawes has worked in Ottawa as a journalist and editor for more than 30 years. She has held senior editorial positions with several publications, including RE$EARCH MONEY, Canadian Innovation News and Tech Media Reports (rebranded The Wire Report). Prior to co-founding Dovercourt Editorial Services with Mark Henderson in 2001, Debbie was Publisher and Managing Editor at Decima Publishing and Managing Editor at Evert Communications. Through Dovercourt Editorial Services, Debbie has also written extensively for several science-based departments and agencies, not-for-profits and the private sector. Recent clients have included the Networks of Centres of Excellence, National Research Council, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Science Policy Conference, International Development Research Centre, Baylis Medical and Research Infosource. Twitter: debbie_lawes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/debbie-lawes/20/3b/45 Paul Dufour is Principal of PaulicyWorks, a science and technology policy consulting firm based in Gatineau, Québec. He is a Fellow and Adjunct Professor with the Institute for Science, Society and Policy at the University of Ottawa. In addition, he is a Board member of the Science and Policy Exchange based in Montréal and is Investment Committee Member of Grand Challenges Canada. Mr Dufour served as interim executive director of the Office of the National Science Adviser to the Government of Canada. With over 30 years experience in policy advice, he was with the International Development Research Centre as well as Ministerial Assistant to Canada’s Secretary of State for Science, Research and Development; senior analyst with Industry Canada; and international S&T relations’ adviser with the Secretariat to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology. Mr Dufour was also research advisor for the Science Council of Canada.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2026
__label__cc	0.526537	0.473463	Commission Staff Freedom of Information Act 2014 Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015 Legislation Directory Classified List of Legislation Revised Acts Annotations in Revised Acts Children Act 2001 Latest News and Publications Three Commissioners Appointed to Law Reform Commission The Law Reform Commission Publishes Report on Capping Damages in Personal Injuries Actions Law Reform Commission Publishes Report on Accessibility of Legislation in the Digital Age View Full Act View As Enacted View Amendments, Commencement, Go to Front Supervision in community. 207.—(1) F187 [ Subject to subsection (1A) , where a child ] is detained in a children detention school, the Director of the school may at any time, after consultation with the F188 [ Director of the Probation and Welfare Service ], authorise the placing out of the child under supervision in the community to reside with his or her parents or guardian or a responsible person who is willing to receive and take charge of the child. F189 [ (1A) In the case of a child aged 18 years or over detained in a children detention school pursuant to section 155 , the Director of the school may, if he or she is of opinion that it is appropriate to do so, authorise under subsection (1) the placing out of the child without a requirement for that child to reside with any specified person, but with a requirement that he or she reside in a place specified or approved by the Director, and if the Director so authorises — (a) subsection (4)(a)(i) shall not apply to the authorisation, (b) the provisions of subsection (5)(a) relating to the communication of the conditions of the child ’ s placing out to the person receiving and taking charge of the child shall not apply to the Director, and (c) subsection (8) shall not apply to the child. (1B) In forming an opinion under subsection (1A) , the Director shall take into account — (a) the child ’ s record of behaviour while in detention, (b) the family circumstances of the child, (c) the child ’ s physical, emotional and mental health, and (d) any other matters affecting the child ’ s suitability to be the subject of a placing out referred to in subsection (1A) that the Director in his or her discretion considers relevant. ] (2) Before authorising a placing out under subsection (1), the Director shall be satisfied that the child will continue to receive appropriate education or training while he or she is placed out and that the placing out conforms to the rules of the school’s board of management in that regard. (3) A child placed out under subsection (1) shall be under the supervision in the community of a probation and welfare officer. (4) ( a) An authorisation under subsection (1) shall be in writing and be signed by the Director and shall specify— (i) the name of the person who is willing to receive and take charge of the child, and (ii) any conditions imposed by the Director which he or she considers appropriate and which are consistent with any rules made by the board of management of the school under section 179 . ( b) The child shall comply with any conditions so specified. (5) Where a child is placed out under this section, the Director shall ensure that at the time of the placing out— ( a) the conditions of the child’s placing out are communicated in writing to the child, to the person receiving and taking charge of the child and to the probation and welfare officer supervising the child in the community, and ( b) the placing out and those conditions are notified to the member in charge of the Garda Síochána station for the area in which the child will be residing. (6) A placing out under this section shall be in force until revoked or until the period of detention imposed by the court has expired, whichever is the sooner, and while it is in force the child shall be deemed to be under the care of the Director. (7) The Director may at any time, after consultation with the F188 [ Director of the Probation and Welfare Service ], revoke a placing out where— ( a) he or she has reason to believe that it is necessary to do so for the protection or welfare of the child, F190 [ (aa) the child, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement under subsection (1A) to reside in a place specified or approved by the Director, ] ( b) the child, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a condition imposed under subsection (4) (a) (ii), or ( c) the child is not receiving appropriate education or training, and order the child to return to the school. (8) Any child escaping from the person with whom he or she is placed out shall be liable to the same penalty as if he or she had escaped from the school itself. (9) The period during which a child who is placed out is absent from a school shall be deemed to be part of the child’s period of detention in the school but, if a child fails to return to the school when the placing out is revoked, the time that elapses thereafter shall be excluded in calculating the period during which he or she is to be detained. (10) Where a member of the Garda Síochána has been notified that a child whose placing out has been revoked refuses or fails, without reasonable cause, to return to the school, the member may arrest the child without warrant and forthwith return the child to the school. (11) Where a placing out of a child has been revoked and the child has returned or has been returned to the school, the Director of the school shall inform the member in charge of the Garda Síochána station for the area where the child resided accordingly. (12) Where a child is found guilty of an offence committed while placed out, the placing out shall be deemed to be revoked. Amendments: Substituted (1.12.2015) by Children (Amendment) Act 2015 (30/2015), s. 22(a), S.I. No. 539 of 2015. Substituted (1.03.2007) by Criminal Justice Act 2006 (26/2006), s. 137, S.I. No. 65 of 2007. Inserted (1.12.2015) by Children (Amendment) Act 2015 (30/2015), s. 22(b), S.I. No. 539 of 2015. Inserted (1.12.2015) by Children (Amendment) Act 2015 (30/2015), s. 21(c), S.I. No. 539 of 2015. Law Reform Commission Styne House, Upper Hatch Street, Dublin 2, D02 DY27, Telephone:+ 353 1 637 7600 Fax:+ 353 1 637 7601 Email:info@lawreform.ie	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2027
__label__cc	0.69286	0.30714	Give The “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour” A Chance 15 Feb, 2007 by John Hawkins Fox has a new comedy show, designed to be a conservative answer to the Daily Show, that’s coming out this week and there are a couple of clips out there, one that even features Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. Unfortunately, the reviews on the right so far have been savage. For example, here’s Ace of Spades HQ: “I guess this proves that “clapper” comedy is just as popular on the right as it is on the left. Margaret Cho has been making money off people with absolutely no functioning taste in humor for years, just giving them non-joke jokes that flatter their liberal sensibilities, and garner claps and fake “solidarity laughs” in return. Stewart too. And Colbert. Why should liberals be the only ones riding this wonderful “let’s-pretend-it’s- funny-because-they’re-making-fun- of-our-ideological-opponents gravy train”? It’s time to get ours.” And Hog On Ice? He’s even more brutal. “My GOD, does this show blow. The guy doing the newscast shouldn’t be allowed on studio property for fear whatever he has might be transmitted to other actors. The writing…well, it’s like something you would expect from writers who have never done humor. Which makes me wonder if the second-tier talent from 24 is involved. Earth to Joel Surnow: comedy is a SPECIALTY. It’s not enough to be able to fill a page and make a deadline. You have to have a special talent.” First of all, have you ever sat down and watched Saturday Night Live, Mad TV, Kids in the Hall, etc.? Typically, the ratio is something like one funny skit, one sorta-funny skit, for every 3 skits that absolutely stink. Now the two “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour” skits that are out there? I’d put both of those in the “sorta funny” category, which probably isn’t great news given that you’d think they’d want to put their “A-list” material out there to build up buzz for the show. Still, the show hasn’t even debuted yet, so I think people are rushing to judgment here. Give it a few weeks and let’s see how it does. It may turn out to be a lot better than people think. PS: I thought now would be a great time to announce that I have also been hired as a consultant for the “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour,” a show that may very well turn out to be the biggest laugh riot of our generation! PS #2: I’m just kidding about that. I really haven’t been hired by the “1/2 Hour Comedy Hour.” PS #3: Joel Surnow, call me, I can help you in the blogosphere. PS #4: I was kidding about that. PS #5: But, if I were hired as a consultant, I’d suggest they hire writers from blogs like IMAO, Scrappleface, BlameBush!, Iowahawk and The Nose On Your Face, among other websites. PS #6: I thought now would be a great time to announce that I have also been hired as consultant for IMAO, Scrappleface, BlameBush!, Iowahawk and The Nose On Your Face, among other websites. PS #7: I was just kidding about that, too. PS #8: I was also kidding about having a PS #8. PS #7 was actually the last real PS.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2028
__label__cc	0.599049	0.400951	Radiation Oncology Associates Mission And Values Statements Emergencies and Phone Calls Patient Bill Of Rights Radiation Oncologists Judy Chin, M.D., F.A.C.R.O. Christopher R. Chipko Gregory D. Judy, MD, MS Lang Robertson Liebman, M.D. J. Daniel Pennington, MD, PHD Jo Anne Walker, M.D. General Cancer Information Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN) Introduction to Cancer Treatment Precision Cancer Medicines ROA Frequently Asked Questions Financial / Travel Assistance Disease Specific Sites Advanced Directives & Living Wills ROA Links Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cancer The objective of radiation therapy is to kill uterine cancer cells for a maximum probability of cure or palliation with a minimum of side effects. Radiation therapy can be used to prevent local cancer recurrences after surgery (adjuvant therapy) or for the treatment of recurrent cancer. Radiation is generally given in the form of high-energy beams that deposit the radiation dose into the body where the risk of cancer cells is greatest. Radiation therapy, unlike chemotherapy, is considered a local treatment. Cancer cells can only be killed where the actual radiation is delivered to the body. If cancer exists outside the radiation field, the cancer cells are not destroyed by the radiation. Therefore, radiation therapy is typically used for early stage cancers confined to a single location (field) in the body. Radiation can also be directly placed in the area of the cancer (brachytherapy) or in the area where unseen cancer is suspected. For uterine cancer, this is the “vaginal cuff” region where the incision was made when the uterus was removed. Brachytherapy does not penetrate very deep and external beam radiation therapy is often combined with brachytherapy for treatment of uterine cancer. Delivery of Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cancers Modern radiation therapy for uterine cancers is given via machines called linear accelerators, which produce high-energy external radiation beams that penetrate the tissues and deliver the radiation dose deep into the areas where the cancer resides. These modern machines and other state-of-the-art techniques have enabled radiation oncologists to significantly reduce side-effects while improving the ability to deliver a maximum radiation dose to cancer-containing areas and minimizing the radiation dose to normal tissue. After an initial consultation with a radiation oncologist, the next session is usually a planning session, which is called a simulation. During this session, the radiation treatment fields and most of the treatment planning are determined. Of all the visits to the radiation oncology facility, the simulation session may actually take the most time. During simulation, patients lie on a table somewhat similar to that used for a CT scan. The table can be raised and lowered and rotated around a central axis. The “simulator” machine is a machine whose dimensions and movements closely match that of an actual linear accelerator. Rather than delivering radiation treatment, the simulator lets the radiation oncologist and technologists see the area to be treated. The simulation is usually guided by fluoroscopy, so that a patient’s internal anatomy can be observed (mainly the skeleton, but if contrast material is given, the kidneys, bowels, bladder or esophagus can be visualized as well). The room is periodically darkened while the treatment fields are being set and temporary marks may be made on the patient’s skin with magic markers. The radiation oncologist is aided by one or more radiation technologists and often a dosimetrist, who performs calculations necessary in the treatment planning. The simulation may last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the complexity of what is being planned. Once the aspects of the treatment fields are satisfactorily set, x-rays representing the treatment fields are taken. In most centers, the patient is given multiple “tattoos” which mark the treatment fields, and replace the marks previously made with magic markers. These tattoos are not elaborate and consist of no more than pinpricks followed by ink, appearing like a small freckle. Tattoos enable the radiation technologists to set up the treatment fields each day with precision, while allowing the patient to wash and bathe without worrying about obscuring the treatment fields. Radiation treatment is usually given in another room separate from the simulation room. The treatment plans and treatment fields resulting from the simulation session are transferred over to the treatment room, which contains a linear accelerator focused on a patient table similar to the one in the simulation room. The treatment plan is verified and treatment started only after the radiation oncologist and technologists have rechecked the treatment field and calculations and are thoroughly satisfied with the “setup”. Treatment Schedules A typical course of radiation for uterine cancer would entail daily radiation treatments, Monday through Friday, for 3 to 5 weeks. The actual treatment with radiation generally last no more than a few minutes, during which time the patient is unlikely to feel any discomfort. Anesthesia is not needed for radiation treatments and patients generally have few restrictions on activities during radiation therapy. Many patients continue to work during the weeks of treatment. Patients are encouraged, however, to carefully gauge how they feel and to not overexert themselves. Side Effects and Complications The vast majority of patients are able to complete radiation therapy for uterine cancer without significant difficulty. Side effects and potential complications of radiation therapy are infrequent and when they do occur are typically limited to the areas that are receiving treatment with radiation. The chance of a patient experiencing side effects, however, is highly variable. A dose that causes some discomfort in one patient may cause no side effects in other patients. If side effects occur, the patient should inform the technologists and radiation oncologist because treatment is almost always available and effective. Radiation therapy to the abdominal/pelvic area may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramping or increased frequency of bowel movements or urination. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve once the radiation is completed. Occasionally abdominal cramping may be accompanied by nausea. Blood counts can be affected by radiation therapy. In particular, the white blood cell and platelet counts may be decreased. This is dependent on how much bone marrow is in the treatment field and whether the patient has previously received or is receiving chemotherapy. These changes in cell counts are usually insignificant and resolve once the radiation is completed. However, many radiation therapy institutions make it a policy to check the blood counts at least once during the radiation treatments. It is not unusual for some patients to note changes in sleep or rest patterns during the time they are receiving radiation therapy and some patients will describe a sense of tiredness and fatigue. Late complications are infrequent following radiation treatment of uterine cancer. Potential complications do include bowel obstruction, ulcers or cancers caused by the radiation. Radiation to the pelvis also increases the risk of lower-body lymphedema. Lymphedema is the buildup of lymph fluid in the tissues just under the skin, resulting in swelling, tightness and discomfort in the affected part of the body. The probabilities of these late complications are affected by previous extensive abdominal or pelvic surgery, radiation therapy and/or concurrent chemotherapy. Adjuvant Radiation Therapy The delivery of cancer treatment following local treatment with surgery is referred to as “adjuvant” therapy and may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy and/or biologic therapy. The goal of adjuvant radiation therapy is to eradicate any remaining cancer cells after surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy may consist of brachytherapy and/or external beam radiation. Stage I Uterine Cancer: Although it is still being evaluated in clinical trials, many patients with stage IB and IC uterine cancer are often treated with adjuvant radiation therapy. When the uterus is surgically removed, the cut ends of the vagina are surgically sewn together forming a “vaginal cuff”. The vaginal cuff is a common site of local cancer recurrence following treatment with surgery alone. Women with stage I uterine cancer who receive treatment with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy have a 5-year survival of 80-90% and a local cancer recurrence rate of only 4-8%. A large clinical trial that involved 715 women with stage I uterine cancer compared treatment with surgery alone or treatment with surgery followed by adjuvant external beam radiation therapy. These women had deep invasion of the muscle wall of the uterus and/or had high-grade (more aggressive) types of cancer. The cancer recurrence rates were 4% for patients treated with surgery and radiation and 14% for patients treated with surgery alone. Survival rates, however, were 81% for treatment with surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy and 85% for surgery alone. Although patients treated with surgery and radiation experienced fewer cancer recurrences, patients treated with surgery alone survived longer. This is because there were more side effects in women treated with radiation therapy. The doctors concluded that postoperative radiation therapy reduced local recurrences of cancer following surgery for stage I uterine cancer, but did not improve survival. Brachytherapy treatment involves the placement of a radioactive isotope into the vagina and may have fewer side effects than external beam radiation. Brachytherapy delivers radiation therapy at a very high dose rate in 3 weekly treatments to the “vaginal cuff” region. Brachytherapy without external beam radiation therapy has been used to prevent local recurrences after surgery. In a clinical trial that involved 102 women with stage IB and IC uterine cancer who were treated with brachytherapy following surgery, cancer recurrences occurred in 7% of women, 4% of which were local recurrences. Of the 3 local recurrences, only one occurred in the vaginal cuff. The survival at 5 years was 84%. Brachytherapy alone appeared very effective for preventing local cancer recurrences without the major side effects associated with external beam radiation. Researchers in Florida have also evaluated outcomes of 396 women with stage I uterine cancer treated with hysterectomy, lymph node dissection and brachytherapy. Following treatment, 5-year survival was 100% for patients with stage IA cancer, 97% for patients with stage IB cancer and 93% for patients with stage IC cancer. All cancer recurrences occurred at distant sites that would not have been treated in an external beam radiation field. These studies suggest that brachytherapy alone is as effective for the treatment of stage I uterine cancer as external beam radiation therapy. However, since these clinical trials did not directly compare brachytherapy to brachytherapy plus hysterectomy, it remains unknown whether hysterectomy plus brachytherapy definitely improves survival compared to surgery alone. This is because treatment of a local cancer recurrence in patients initially treated with surgery can be accomplished with additional surgery and/or radiation. A strategy utilizing initial treatment with surgery alone followed by additional surgery or radiation therapy only for the 5-20% of patients who experience a local cancer recurrence would spare the majority of women with stage IB and IC uterine cancer from radiation treatment. For patients who do not receive radiation therapy, frequent examinations are necessary because 5-20% of patients will experience a local cancer recurrence following treatment with surgery alone. It is important to detect recurrences early. Stage II Uterine Cancer: Treatment of stage II uterine cancer with surgery followed by adjuvant brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy has been reported to cure 60-80% of patients. Post-operative radiation therapy consists of external beam radiation to the pelvis, brachytherapy or both external beam radiation therapy and brachytherapy. Despite adjuvant radiation therapy, 20-40% of patients will experience a cancer recurrence. Recurrences occur outside the pelvis in 25% of women, primarily those with cancer deep in the uterus and those with less differentiated cancers under the microscope. Further treatment with systemic hormonal and/or chemotherapy, in addition to radiation therapy, may be required to prevent recurrences in the 25% who fail treatment outside the pelvis. Stage III Uterine Cancer: Patients with stage III uterine cancer who have complete surgical removal of all cancer are candidates for adjuvant radiation therapy. The objective of adjuvant radiation therapy is to kill cancer cells that persist after surgery for a maximum probability of cure with a minimum of side effects. Treatment of stage III uterine cancer with surgery followed by adjuvant brachytherapy and/ or external beam radiation therapy has been reported to cure approximately 50% of patients. Despite adjuvant radiation therapy, many patients will experience a cancer recurrence. Further treatment with systemic hormonal and/or chemotherapy, instead of or in addition to radiation therapy, may be required to further decrease the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with stage III cancer. Radiation Therapy for Stage IV Uterine Cancer: For bulky pelvic disease, radiation therapy consisting of a combination of brachytherapy and external-beam radiation therapy is used. Radiation therapy provides significant palliation for patients with inoperable uterine cancer. Women with Early Stage Cancer who Fail Treatment with Surgery Alone Women who initially had stage I or IIB cancer and recur after treatment with surgery alone are frequently cured with further surgery and the addition of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is usually given as brachytherapy and external-beam radiation therapy. This therapy is often successful, since stage I and IIB patients treated initially with surgery alone have frequent follow-up examinations with detection of a recurrence early when it is curable. For patients with bulky pelvic disease, radiation therapy consisting of a combination of brachytherapy and external-beam radiation therapy is also used. Radiation therapy can decrease symptoms and improve survival for patients with inoperable uterine cancer. Women who Fail Surgery and Radiation Therapy Further radiation therapy in women who have failed initial radiation is usually not possible. However, some women will fail treatment that only included brachytherapy and these women could be treated with external-beam radiation therapy if they develop a recurrence in the pelvis away from the site of isotope placement. Radiation Treatment of Metastatic Uterine Cancer Metastatic uterine cancers, especially large cancers, may respond poorly to chemotherapy. In these instances, radiation therapy may also be needed to have the best chance of cure. In other instances, cancer may have invaded critical areas such as the spinal cord, resulting in symptoms such as pain or weakness. Radiation therapy in these instances may also be necessary and is usually effective in “palliating” the symptoms. In some patients, the cancer may have spread widely and have gone into areas that are difficult to treat with chemotherapy, such as the brain. Brain metastases are also often treated with radiation therapy. Side effects resulting from radiation therapy for each of these situations are usually limited to the area being treated. The radiation oncologist usually selects a dose that is expected to be effective but is also under the tolerance of the nearby normal tissues and organs, also taking into account whether chemotherapy is being administered. Strategies to Improve Treatment The progress that has been made in the treatment of uterine cancer with radiation therapy has resulted from the development of improved radiation delivery techniques and doctor and patient participation in clinical studies. Future progress in the treatment of cancer of the uterus will result from continued participation in appropriate studies. Currently, there are several areas of active exploration aimed at improving the treatment of recurrent uterine cancer. Improved delivery of radiation: Radiation oncologists continue to evaluate methods of delivering radiation therapy, including conformal radiation, where sophisticated imaging techniques are used to define the cancer in three dimensions. Conformal radiation allows delivery of more radiation to the cancer while sparing normal tissues. Radiation oncologists are also evaluating placement of different isotopes in attempts to improve brachytherapy. Radioactive isotopes are also being linked to monoclonal antibodies, which may assist in localizing radiation specifically to the area of cancer. Next: Surgery & Uterine Cancer Uterine Cancer Overview Stage I Uterine Cancer Stage II Uterine Cancer Stage III Uterine Cancer Stage IV Uterine Cancer Recurrent Uterine Cancer Surgery for Uterine Cancer Powered by Nitro Theme. © 2021 Radiation Oncology Associates. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2029
__label__wiki	0.741187	0.741187	A great gift to music entered into the world on 23 February 1685 in Halle, Germany. A life of great musical interest; one filled with an unbelievable talent that would become a beacon to many throughout the European continent and span centuries past its lifetime. It is a life that would become centered around a great mystery of how the musical talent would blossom into a recognized and celebrated gift; a life that would alter the musical landscape and the spiritual worship realm in a short 24 days, and a life that would become so influential that it would dictate musical compositions for many years afterwards. A musical life that in the beginning would find itself struggling to exist; a life that will be forever known in George Frideric Handel. It is through Handel that we credit many great musical accomplishments; accomplishments in the mixture of homophonic and polyphonic textures, through the creation of his own unique works through the process of combining German, Italian, French, and English musical traditions into his highly successful English Oratorios. And most importantly through the lasting effects of Handel’s single greatest gift to the world, and the world of music: The Messiah. But how does the work of this single musician leave such a strong impression on the music that we have today? What could possibly make the music of Handel something that would be hailed as electric, memorable, unique, and even cutting edge? And most importantly how could one person alter the musical idiom through a single twenty-four day creation of a setting of Christ’s life? Through these questions I will explore Handel’s impact on music in a way that shed’s light onto the significance of Handel as a musician, a teacher, and inventor and as a religious preserver. It is with Handel that we credit a great deal of musical advancement. Adversity in Handel’s life was something that he encountered early on in life. At an early age Handel found himself faced with a father that did not support a career in music, in fact his father was a person that greatly hated music; noting that it was a pastime that served the sole purpose of casting a light on the weakness of character found within a person. It was his father that wished he would strive to obtain a career as a lawyer, a position that would come with a great deal of security in position and financial stability. This was something that Handel himself would have to come to terms with, because he himself was born with “signs of a fierce ambition, born of an awareness of his superiority as a musician, and with a determination to maintain his independence.” This determination to advance his musical skill became a task that took a great deal of hard work and convincing; though it was Handel’s mother that provided access to a clavichord hidden in the family’s attic. The hours spent hiding from his father in the attic, covering the strings of the clavichord with cloth to dampen the sound, allowed young George the time to practice his musical development and eventually the knowledge of how to play both the clavichord and the organ. This early study is most likely what saved the musical career for Handel, because it was during the time stuck in the attic that a young Duke passing by heard young George playing in the attic and was so moved by what he heard, that he stopped to listen. After hearing young George play the organ, the Duke pleaded with George’s father to allow him to travel to Berlin and begin to take music lessons. The young Handel began taking lessons at the age of eight, and was easily able to conquer learning the violin, composition and theory techniques, harpsichord, and reinforce the organ playing skills. By the age of 11, there seemed little that any music teacher could teach George; it was at this point that George’s father began angry and again expressed his desire for George to cease playing in the music, and to return home and do as he wished. Handel at the request of his father did in fact return home, only to arrive at his father’s deathbed. This was a dark period of struggle for the young Handel, compelled to honor his father’s wishes, George decided that it was best to keep to his studies in law; though during this same time he continued to also sharpen the musical skills that he knew he possessed. It was during this time that Handel began to write cantatas for the various churches that he was serving in as an organist. It was the service in music that called out to Handel, and by the time he reached the age of eighteen, Handel had realized that it was in fact his destiny to become a great musician noting that he was destined to improve his musical abilities and his knowledge of music.[…] Tagged as Dj EDM Music themes Music wp themes Party Post formats Liam Payne Opens Up About the Complications of Co-Parenting During the Pandemic 10/01/2021 Liam Payne has had to go a couple weeks without seeing Bear, his 3-year-old, due to safety precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic. Ashley Iasimone Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ Becomes the Highest Certified Song in RIAA History 09/01/2021 Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' has been certified 14-times platinum by the RIAA. Randy Rainbow Blasts Trump After U.S. Capitol Riot in ‘Sedition!’ Parody: Watch 09/01/2021 Comedian Randy Rainbow has returned with a hilarious new parody video blaming President Donald Trump for the recent U.S. Capitol siege in Washington, D.C. Mitchell Peters Does A Woman Help Progression In Music?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2030
__label__wiki	0.897328	0.897328	Iga Swiatek and Sofia Kenin Will Meet in the French Open Final October 8, 2020 October 8, 2020 0 Comments Sports Since they each misplaced in the opening spherical in Rome, at their solely clay-court event earlier than the French Open, Sofia Kenin and Iga Swiatek have taken radically completely different paths to their sudden locations in Saturday’s last. Kenin, the 21-year-old American who gained the Australian Open in February, has needed to scrap and improvise to avert defeat, preventing and drop-shotting via 4 matches that lasted three units. But Kenin has labored her manner into a way more authoritative place, as she demonstrated on Thursday. She blunted Petra Kvitova’s straightforward energy and learn the angles of her recreation like a mathematician, regularly taking a fast step in simply the proper route and repeatedly profitable the exchanges that mattered most in a 6-Four, 7-5, semifinal victory on this blustery afternoon on Philippe Chatrier Court. “She just has something you can’t teach: The bigger the point, the more she wants it,” stated Lindsay Davenport, a former No. 1 who’s now a Tennis Channel analyst. Swiatek, an unseeded 19-year-old from Poland, has not needed to dig practically so deep. Instead, she been a drive of nature, developing factors and demolishing the opposition with out dropping a set, or greater than 5 video games in any match. Out of nowhere in this uncommon Grand Slam event, nobody has come near discovering an answer to Swiatek’s compact mix of offense and protection. Not the No. 1 seed and former champion Simona Halep, whom Swiatek crushed, 6-1, 6-2, in the fourth spherical. Not the qualifier Nadia Podoroska, whom Swiatek routed, 6-2, 6-1, in a semifinal that lasted little greater than an hour on Thursday. Swiatek has but to win a tour title. She has a surname that many tennis followers are nonetheless struggling to pronounce (strive Shvee-ON-tek), but right here she is in her first Grand Slam last, with an opportunity to play in two this week if she and her doubles companion, Nicole Melichar, can win their semifinal on Friday. “It seems unreal,” stated Swiatek, who’s ranked 54th in singles. “On one hand, I know that I can play great tennis. On the other hand, it’s kind of surprising for me. I never would have thought that I’m going to be in the final.” The French Open, of course, has been something of a haven for wild results. Michael Chang won here at age 17 after serving underhand against No. 1 Ivan Lendl and then beating the great Stefan Edberg in the final. Gustavo Kuerten showed up in 1997 with a world ranking of 66 and a reservation at a two-star hotel, then cruised all the way to the trophy with his elastic strokes and surfer’s shuffle. In 2017, Jelena Ostapenko arrived unseeded and without a tour singles title, then ran the table, derailing Halep in the final. Clearly, shifting the tournament from spring to autumn in the year of the coronavirus has changed the Parisian public’s wardrobe (parkas, anyone?) but has done nothing to dampen the chances of the underdogs. The women’s tournament has been a dizzying succession of upsets and introductions, with players like Podoroska, a 23-year-old from Argentina, making their French Open debuts with rankings outside the top 100 and beating up on the veterans. The match between the fourth-seeded Kenin and seventh-seeded Kvitova was only the fourth between seeded players in the women’s singles tournament. The men will have a total of 11 such matches. But it is hard to call the Swiatek-Kenin final a fluke. Swiatek’s game has been irresistible, and Kenin has already shown she belongs at this lofty level, winning her first major title at the Australian Open by defeating the local hero Ashleigh Barty and the two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza. Kenin reached the fourth round of the United States Open last month, is 16-1 in Grand Slam singles play in 2020 and is now in her second Grand Slam final of the season, the sort of achievement typically reserved for Americans named Williams. She has turned things around in Paris after losing, 6-0, 6-0, to Victoria Azarenka last month in Rome, where Kenin sometimes looked overwrought and bounced a racket or two on the red clay. But, in what is becoming her trademark, she quickly reset and got back to business. “I’m just really grateful with the way that I’m playing, with the way things are going,” Kenin said. “It’s not easy getting to a Grand Slam final. Having two this year, it’s really special.” Like the Williams sisters, Kenin lives in Florida, in Pembroke Pines. But her story bears a greater resemblance to that of the now-retired Maria Sharapova, who left Russia as a child to take a long-shot chance at tennis stardom in the packed academies of Florida. Kenin, nicknamed Sonya, was born in Moscow in 1998, long after her parents, Alex and Svetlana, had immigrated to the United States, where they soon returned with their daughter. Though Kenin often speaks Russian with her father, who is also her coach, she has only an American passport. Like Sharapova, she was groomed bright and early to be a champion, attending tournaments and posing for photographs with the likes of Kim Clijsters. She also shares some of Sharapova’s inner fire, relishing the point-to-point combat while playing at an even brisker pace. “Sonya’s not afraid to play Rafa,” Rick Macci, one of her childhood coaches, once said of Kenin and the prospect of facing Rafael Nadal. Nor is Kenin likely to be afraid of facing Swiatek, particularly since she knows she has the edge in big-match experience. “I’ve been there, done that. I know what the emotions are getting into your first Grand Slam final,” she said. “I’m hoping she’s going to be a little bit nervous.” It will be their first match on the professional tour, but not their first at Roland Garros. Swiatek beat Kenin in the French Open junior event in 2016. They both have come a long way in a hurry since then. Swiatek, whose father was an Olympic rower, is the first Polish player to reach the French Open women’s singles final since 1939, when Jadwiga Jedrzejowska lost to Simonne Mathieu of France. Swiatek has only recently focused fully on tennis, after graduating from high school this year. But she already has a big support team, which includes Daria Abramowicz, a sports psychologist. “I always wanted to work with a psychologist because I had this belief that it’s like a big part of the game,” Swiatek said. “But my parents, they weren’t as open to that as I was.” Though psychologists are nothing new in tennis, the emerging generation of stars seems more willing to be open about using them. Bianca Andreescu, the Canadian who won the U.S. Open last year at 19, has also emphasized the mental game. In Swiatek’s view, Abramowicz has helped her manage her emotions under duress and helped her focus on the point at hand rather than the prize at stake. Walking out on Chatrier on Thursday, Swiatek told herself to treat the semifinal like a first-round match. It worked, just as everything seems to have worked in her charmed 12-day run at Roland Garros. But Kenin is not the sort to step quietly aside and let another youngster pass her by. Kenin moves around the court like a point guard who wants the ball, defines herself as “really fierce” and often reacts to her own winners with an exasperated look that basically says: “What took so long?” When asked this week if she could pick one word to express what she loved most about tennis, she answered quickly: “Winning, definitely.” Believe it. ← ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ Brings Back the Ghosts of Henry James U.S. Appeals Injunction Against TikTok Ban → A Girl Wanted to Try Out for Boys Tennis. Ginsburg Helped Make it Happen. City Traffic Deaths Dropped to 200. That’s the Lowest Level in a Century. January 1, 2019 January 1, 2019 0 Top Prospects Take an Unconventional Path to the World Juniors	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2034
__label__wiki	0.928427	0.928427	The world is net enough! Amazon joins other streaming services in £4bn bidding war for Bond films as MGM considers selling back catalogue He has fought Blofeld and defeated Scaramanga but James Bond could be heading for his most dramatic assignment yet: a bidding war. The studio behind the 007 franchise is considering a sale of its back catalogue – and possibly the rights to produce future films – for around £4billion. MGM hopes to spark a battle that could interest streaming services such as Amazon Prime. Its biggest asset is the James Bond franchise – which it shares with the Broccoli family, who co-own the copyright. Interest in Bond spiked in October after the death of Sir Sean Connery, the first and, many would argue, the best actor to play the role. MGM has also produced or distributed films such as the Rocky franchise, Dances With Wolves and The Silence of The Lambs, as well as TV shows including The Handmaid’s Tale. It has toyed with a sale before but the pandemic and growth in the use of streaming services has made it think that this time they could cash in, with private equity investors a possible rival to the streaming giants in a bidding battle. MGM, which has a film library of 4,000 titles and more than 17,000 hours of television programmes, has already been the subject of speculation, with Apple and Amazon touted as potential buyers. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the studio – whose biggest shareholder is a New York hedge fund – has recruited Morgan Stanley and LionTree LLC to advise on the process of a formal sale. A source close to the company told the newspaper: ‘MGM is hopeful the process will generate interest beyond Hollywood’s traditional players.’ US TV networks have spent billions of dollars this year for content to promote their own streaming services to rival Netflix and Hulu. NBCUniversal splashed £372million to reclaim The Office and WarnerMedia paid £316million to get back Friends for HBO Max. The Bond franchise suffered a setback this year with the repeated delays to the latest film, No Time To Die – the final outing with Daniel Craig as 007. It was due to be released in April but that has now been postponed by at least a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. In October, reports claimed that the Broccoli family were considering selling the rights to stream the movie for a year to either Netflix or Apple for £450million. Instead they hung on for a traditional theatrical release, partly because they did not want to jeopardise future releases in cinemas. Neither MGM nor Eon Productions, the Broccoli-owned company which produces the Bond films, were available for comment. BoI to miss P1-T investment pledge goal The pandemic cramped Rent the Runway’s style—but here’s how the company is fashioning a comeback in 2021	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2036
__label__cc	0.722913	0.277087	Why Liberals Hate War By Lee 19 Dec, 2005 by John Hawkins I’m an excellent multitasker, and often times I do some of my best thinking when I’m doing four things at once. Such was the case the other day at work, the day of the Iraqi elections. Like everyone else I had been reading the news reports, and also the naysaying coming from the Democrats. I was amazed at how a party could be so unified in its contempt for George W. Bush that they could work feverishly to downplay one of the most significant accomplishments of any president since the collapse of the Soviet Union. I mean, politics is politics, and the elections are coming up next year, but this is different. What could their motivation be? And then it hit me. The last major war the United States was involved in was Vietnam. The modern Democratic Party leadership all came of age during that war, as did most of the editorial staff in the manistream media. It wasn’t just a defining moment in the modern American left, it was the defining moment, the prism through which the left would view the world from that moment on. Vietnam was justification for every pacifist tendency that every liberal has ever had. When they said that war didn’t solve anything, they could point to Vietnam. When they wanted to show the consequences of war, they could point to Vietnam. When they wanted to show the failure of military force as a tool for political change, they could point to Vietnam. It was the last major war this country was ever involved in. Sure we’ve had military operations, from Grenada to the Gulf War to the Balkans, but Vietnam our last big one, and it was a war we ended up losing. Vietnam has been their de facto answer for everything for the past 30 years. Iraq threatens their entire belief system. Look at it from their point of view. We now face an enemy such as this country has never faced before. There have been and will continue to be legitimate differences of opinion on how to prosecute that war. Shortly after 9/11, when the United States went into Afghanistan, the left immediately hauled out all their old Vietnam-era anti-war slogans and rhetoric. And why not? The last big war was a loss in large part due to the political activism of the American left. These were tried-and-true methods of getting out the left-wing message. Then, when the controversial decision was made to go into Iraq, the anti-war left was at a fever pitch. How many stickers on how many cars have we seen the last few years saying “War is NOT the answer!” Think about that for a minute. It doesn’t say that this particular war is not the answer in this particular instance, it makes a blanket condemnation of war under any circumstances. This position is only tenable because our last full-scale military conflict, Vietnam, was a loser. 58,000 Americans lost their lives for nothing, which they feel is a strong argument towards their proposition that war doesn’t solve anything. The Korean war was a draw, and WWII was a winner, but only our grandparents and great grandparents were around to experience that one. Vietnam is all the left has in their corner. Let’s assume that this election is, indeed, a crossroads for Iraq. That from here on, with a constitution of their own design an a government of their own choosing, and a military capable of defending that government and the Iraqi people from Islamist forces, Iraq will surely grow bigger and stronger and more independent. In short, from the ruin of an authoritarian regime comes the font of democracy, and a new nation is born. I mean, think about this for a second. If someone had come to you in the mid 1990s and says that a decade from now there was going to be a functioning democracy in the Middle East, you would have laughed in their face. Not only a democracy, mind you, but an Arab democracy comprising three main ethnic and religious groups. One where women have the right of the vote. It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? What an amazing achievement. The Democrats can see the writing on the wall. They know that if we stick around and maintain our will there is no way we can lose this conflict. We shall prevail! And that idea is terrifying to the Democrats and the rest of the American left. Why? Because it shows that war CAN solve problems. That with our overwhelming technical skill we can invade and secure just about any other country in the world, and not only that, but we can get a democratically elected government in place within just a few years. War never solved anything? My fat *ss it didn’t. In the last four years two wars have liberated two countries, and we are in the process of getting those countries on their way to prosperity and self-sufficience. In terms of the cost of life, especially when you look at the numbers for previous wars, we have suffered quite a low number. While the death of any man or woman is tragic, they should be honored to the fullest for their sacrifice to this nation, and to the people of Iraq. The Democrats and the left cannot have this. The US has been in the “lose” column for so long now, That’s been one of their main sources of political strength. They must prevent, at all costs, the US from getting to a point where this was can be chalked up as a win. If we get a win then we negate the rallying cry of Vietnam. The next time a war is proposed and someone mentions Vietnam, we can point to Iraq as an example of just how many legitimate problems war can solve. Conversely, if they can get Iraq declared a loss, then they’ll have a patten. “We’re two for two!” So the next time someone proposes military force, the lefties will get to pull out Iraq and Vietnam. Their message will get new life breathed into it for the next forty years. This is why they will stop at nothing to prevent President Bush from winning this war. A win in Iraq means that their whole “War Solves Nothing” argument becomes virtually worthless, a relic of a bygone era. And that terrifies them. Iraq must be a loss at all costs. The future of left-wing political activism is at stake. This content is being used with the permission of Right-Thinking From The Left-Coast.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2037
__label__cc	0.558632	0.441368	Dr. Dre says estranged wife stole more than $360K from his business account By A.R. Shaw \| September 21, 2020 \| 0 Dr. Dre and Nicole Young (Photo credit: Jen Lowery / Splash News) The daily drama surrounding Dr. Dre and his estranged wife, Nicole Young, continues to unfold. On Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, TMZ reported that Dr. Dre is accusing Young of embezzlement. Record One recording studio is a joint business founded by Dr. Dre and Larry Chatman. During her marriage to Dr. Dre, Young served as a trustee and signatory on the LLC’s checking account. Dr. Dre’s attorney, Ed McPherson, produced a copy of a check that Young wrote to herself on behalf of Record One for $363,571.85 on Aug. 27. The check reportedly decimated the entire business account. McPherson says that Young committed a crime that was “blatant and unjustifiable criminal embezzlement of corporate funds.” Dr. Dre is demanding that she return all of the funds, or he will file a lawsuit against her. This comes days after Young claimed that she co-owned Dr. Dre’s name and signature album. On Sept. 18, Page Six reported that Young filed a lawsuit against Dr. Dre claiming that she co-owns the trademarks to his name and his classic hip-hop album, The Chronic. In the lawsuit, Young says that Dr. Dre forced her to leave their Los Angeles-area home on April 2. After their separation, she claims that Dr. Dre transferred trademarks to another holding company. “After Andre forced Nicole out of their family home on or about April 2, 2020, he quickly plotted to secretly transfer their assets, to deny Nicole her equal share,” the lawsuit states. The alleged trademarks reportedly were filed when the two were married. “These valuable trademarks were filed during Andre’s years married to Nicole, which coincided with Andre’s years of rising success in the music industry,” the lawsuit claims. “The trademarks are presumed to be community property pursuant to California Family Code Section 760. Because they were married, Nicole and Andre owned the Trademarks jointly, from the date of their first filing in 1997, and through 2013, by virtue of being community property owners.” Young has yet to respond to the embezzlement accusation. Posted in Music and tagged celebrity divorces 2020, divorce, dr. dre, embezzlement, Money, Music, Nicole Young, wealth	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2041
__label__wiki	0.861819	0.861819	Coming Out of the Margins: LGBTI Activists in Costa Rica and Nicaragua Samantha Abelove, Scripps CollegeFollow Sumita Pahwa Suyapa Portillo-Villeda © 2014 Samantha Abelove For decades LGBTQ rights have been approached purely by a legal strategy, in particular advocating for the legalization of same-sex marriage. However, discrimination and violence against the LGBTQ community continues to be a major issue in Latin America because of cultural values such as Catholicism and machismo that uphold a standard of and, in turn, have control over people’s sexuality. Using a human rights approach towards the politics of sexuality, LGBTI activists in Costa Rican and Nicaragua have been successful in transforming public opinion about sexuality and more importantly, sexual diversity. As a result of their egalitarian framework and efforts to educate people about sexual diversity, they have made great advancements toward achieving acceptance and equality for LGBTI people. This study focuses on how Costa Rican and Nicaraguan LGBTI activists have worked around traditional cultural values such as Catholicism and machismo that prevent people from accepting and tolerating LGBTI people. The examples of LGBTI activists in these two countries have important implications for other LGBTI activists and the strategies they use to try to achieve full equality (social and legal) for people whose sexual identity differs from the conventional. Abelove, Samantha, "Coming Out of the Margins: LGBTI Activists in Costa Rica and Nicaragua" (2015). Scripps Senior Theses. 524. Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Comparative Politics Commons, Human Rights Law Commons	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2052
__label__wiki	0.667607	0.667607	Astronomy Terms Does space have a shape? by Jonathan Strickland The Big Bang, Gravity and General Relativity The spiral galaxy M100, as seen through the Hubble telescope. Courtesy STScI and NASA Three theories that are instrumental in understanding the shape of the universe are the big bang, the theory of gravity and Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Cosmologists consider all of these theories when forming hypotheses about the shape of space. But what exactly do these theories try to explain? The big bang theory is an attempt to describe the beginning of the universe. Through observation and analysis, astronomers determined that the universe is expanding. They have also detected and studied light that originated billions of years ago back when the universe was very young. They theorized that at one time, all the matter and energy in the universe was contained in an incredibly tiny point. Then, the universe expanded suddenly. Matter and energy exploded outward at millions of light years every fraction of a second. These became the building blocks for the universe as we know it. The theory of gravity states that every particle of matter has an attraction to every other particle of matter. Specifically, particles will attract one another with a force proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The equation looks like this: F = GMm/r2. F is the force of gravitational attraction. The M and m represent the masses of the two objects in question. The r2 is the distance between the two objects squared. So what’s the G? It’s the gravitational constant. It represents the constant proportionality between any two objects, no matter what their masses. The gravitational constant is 6.672 x 10-11 N m2 kg-2 [source: World of Physics]. That’s a very small number, and it explains why objects don’t just stick to each other all the time. It takes objects of great mass to have anything more than a negligible gravitational effect on other objects. If the big bang theory is true, then when the universe began there must have been a huge burst of energy to push matter so far so fast. It had to overcome the gravitational attraction among all the matter in the universe. What cosmologists are trying to determine now is how much matter is actually in the universe. With enough matter, the gravitational attraction will gradually slow and then reverse the universe’s expansion. Eventually, the universe could shrink into another singularity. This is called the big crunch. But if there’s not enough matter, the gravitational attraction won’t be strong enough to stop the universe’s expansion, and it will grow indefinitely. What about the theory of relativity? Besides explaining the relationship between energy and matter, it also leads to the conclusion that space is curved. Objects in space move in elliptical orbits not because of gravity, but because space itself is curved and therefore a straight line is actually a loop. In geometry, a straight line on a curved surface is a geodesic. The three theories described above form the basis of the various theories about what the shape of space actually is. But there’s no actual consensus on which shape is the right one. What are the theoretical shapes of space, and why don't we know which one is right? Find out in the next section. General relativity suggests that just before the big bang, a point with zero volume and infinite density contained all the matter of the universe. This phenomenon is called a singularity. Matter that enters a black hole also enters a singularity as its volume reduces to zero and its density increases to infinity [source: Hawking].	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2053
__label__wiki	0.847368	0.847368	Abstinence the way forward for African nations in fight against AIDS Posted on February 3, 2015 at 11:40 AM comments (0) In the face of increased sexualisation and increased use of contraception across the world, some African nations are resorting to more traditional means of disease control. In 2002, a Harvard University Study revealed how the east African nation of Uganda managed to significantly decrease the number of people suffering from the AIDS virus, and all because of abstinence. The country started a programme in the late 1980's aimed at tackling AIDS through abstinence and the preservation of sexual relations for marriage. The results were astounding. By 2001, only 6.2% of pregnant women were infected with the virus. This compared to 21.2% when the program started in the late 80's. Compare this to other nations which sought to tackle the AIDS crisis by use of contraception. In Botswana for example, where condoms were promoted as the answer to the AIDS crisis, 38% of pregnant women were found to be infected in 2001. The success rate of contraception, as you would expect, lags miles behind the success rate of abstinence. More recently, in Ghana, the Salesian movement (a Catholic movement founded by St John Bosco) has sought to encourage young people to live chaste lives and commit to abstinence until marriage. And, despite what many western governments, secular groups and the media may say, the young people of Ghana are apparently hungry to become involved. A Nigerian woman who took part in a recent Catholic Answers podcast, said that on a recent visit to Ghana to promote this project she was inundated with requests for pledge cards so that the youngsters could commit to live a chaste life. It would appear that these young people are desperate to achieve a higher level of living rather than simply subscribing to western secular ways of 'putting a plaster on the problem'. All of this is of course contrary to the contraception programme being supported by the United Nations and some western governments. Increased contraception, it would seem, is the western world's way of alleviating hunger and controlling population in Africa. This coupled with Melinda Gates (wife of Bill Gates) pledging $4.5 billion for contraception reveals just how shallow the west can be when it comes to issues of poverty, disease and deprivation in other countries. Just spend a whole load of money on a whole load of condoms and that will soon fix it. Fools. As Patrick Coffin, host on Catholic Answers radio so eloquently put it: 'it's more a case of mouths to feed than hearts to love.' Vatican hits back at UN interference on the dignity of the human person Holy See will consider UN observations on child abuse by clergy but will not take on board abortion criticism The United Nations has accused the Vatican of failing to sufficiently protect children from paedophile clergy, claiming that it has “adopted policies and practices which have led to the continuation of abuse”. There is also concern that many children are still at risk of abuse today and has requested swift action be taken to identify perpetrators and deal with them accordingly. While recent moves by Pope Francis have suggested a more robust approach to child abuse by clergy, there is clearly a lot of work still to be done and the Church must ensure it does as much as it can to combat these horrific crimes. These crimes simply have no place in the Church and, while the Church is full of sinners, it does not mean that the Church should sit back and do nothing about it. While the full extent of the Church’s work to eradicate such behaviour is still not known and is, I suspect, more widespread than many in the mainstream media believe, this is an opportunity for the Vatican to set out its stall to deal with the matter once and for all. Thankfully the Vatican has already put in place new procedures to combat these crimes and, further, Bishops across the world, including the Bishops of Scotland, are starting to look at their own processes and put in place new protections. In Scotland, the Bishops Conference sent a letter to all parishes across the country in November 2013 detailing its plans to tackle child abuse (click here to access the letter). Among the plans was the publication of a safeguarding audit between 2006 and 2012, giving details of any safeguarding incidents in that time. There will also be an external review of safeguarding protocols and procedures undertaken by the Very Rev Dr Andrew McLellan, former Moderator of the Church of Scotland, and a statistical review of abuse cases between 1947 and 2005. Details of the Bishops’ safeguarding service can be accessed by clicking here. For many, these reviews and new processes will not be enough but there is no doubt that it is a significant step in the right direction for the Church. Sadly, however, in delivering its recommendations, the UN felt the need to criticise the Church for its stance on abortion and contraception. The Vatican, in response, stated: "The Holy See does, however, regret to see in some points of the Concluding Observations [by the UN] an attempt to interfere with Catholic Church teaching on the dignity of human person and in the exercise of religious freedom. The Holy See reiterates its commitment to defending and protecting the rights of the child, in line with the principles promoted by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and according to the moral and religious values offered by Catholic doctrine." The Holy See quite rightly refers to the UN’s very own Convention on the Rights of the Child in making its point. The UN, through the Convention, claims that ‘all human beings, rich and poor, strong and weak, male and female, of all races and religions, are to be treated equally and with respect for their natural worth as human beings’. All human beings except the very weakest it would seem; those who cannot speak for themselves. While the UN is correct to urge the Church to correct past mistakes and do its utmost to ensure they are not repeated, the UN must look at its own human rights failings, particularly those relating to the unborn.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2055
__label__wiki	0.692176	0.692176	The Visscher Family For nearly a century, the members of the Visscher family were important art dealers and map publishers in Amsterdam. Claes Jansz. Visscher, or N.J. Piscator (1587-1652) Claes Jansz. Vischer bought a house in Amsterdam, 'de gulden Bors', on the important Kalverstraat and changed the name into "In de Visscher" and it was under this title that the shop was to flourish for many years. He was famous for his engravings and etchings of Dutch landscape and of 'historical scenes', such as sieges, battles, etc. These 'historical scenes' were considered as contemporary illustrated news items, especially, e.g., that of 'the Eighty Years' War'. For the publication of his first atlas, he bought copperplates of the atlas Germania Inferior by Pieter van den Keere (1623). In 1649, he published an atlas entitled Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum, containing the same maps as Langenes' Caert Thresoor, for which Visscher had only new title-pages engraved. Claes Jansz. Visscher died in 1652. His wife, Neeltjen Florisdr., had already died in 1640. They had seven children, four of whom were still alive at Claes Jansz.'s death. One of them was Nicolaes Visscher I, who was to continue his father's business. Nicolaes Visscher I (1618-1679) Nicolaes Visscher I entered into partnership with his father and continued the busines and stayed on the Kalverstraat 'in de Visscher' till his death. About 1657, the first edition appeared of his Atlas Contractus Orbis Terrarum. Between 1664 and 1677, several editions of his Atlas Contractus appeared without a printed index, for these atlases had no fixed contents, but were composed according to the buyer's financial leaping-pole. In May 1664, Nicolaes Visscher was admitted as a member of the Booksellers' Guild of his town. In July 1677, he was granted a patent of the States of Holland and West-Friesland for the printing and publishing of maps and atlases for a period of 15 years. After this, he again published an Atlas Contractus, this time with a printed index. At about the same time, he also brought out an Atlas Minor. Nicolaes Visscher II (1649-1702) Nicolaes Visscher II inherited the 'shop' from his father. To obtain a new privilegio he applied to the States of Holland and West-Friesland in 1682, for a patent for printing and publishing maps. This patent was granted to him the same year. He moved the firm to the Dam, but it kept the same sign-board: "In de Visscher". Around 1683, he published his first Atlas Minor with a printed index of 91 maps. In 1684, an atlas Germania Inferior appeared. Till 1697 he published another number of atlases. He used his grandfather's (Claes Jansz.) maps less often now and relied more and more on his own. The wars waged in this time initiated the compilation of maps of the countries where the armies were operating. Many maps of war were included in the various editions of his Atlas Minor. After Nicolaes' death, his wife, Elizabeth Verseyl, published all the maps of war in the form of an atlas under the title: De Stoel des Oorlogs in de Wereld (The seat of war in the world). The widow of Nicolaes Visscher II (?-1726) His widow continued the business energetically, and by her hand, under the name of her deceased husband, numerous atlases appeared, e.g., several editions of the Atlas Minor, an Atlas Maior and De Stoel des Oorlogs. The shop enjoyed a high reputation owing to the great variety of the assortment. Not only 'Visscher' maps, but also maps of other publishers were obtainable. With the death of Elizabeth Verseyl, in 1726, the last descendant died of a great map- and atlas-publishing firm in Amsterdam. References: Van der Krogt 1 - 1000:51 Old map of Europe by N. Visscher. Size: 43.5 x 54.5cm (17 x 21.1 inches) Verso: Blank Condition: Hand coloured, on large, heavy paper, ruled in red, excellent. Condition Rating: A References: Van der Krogt 1, 1000:51. From: The English Atlas. Oxford, Moses Pitt, 1680. (Van der Krogt 1, 451) €1000 ($1210 / £890) Europa, ad Magnae Europae Gerardi Mercatoris P. ... Europe, by Barent Langenes. 1598 Europa [Title above:] Europa oft Kerstenrijck.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2057
__label__cc	0.743	0.257	Kick-starting unprecedented magictr \| June 9, 2020 \| Sport \| No Comments The looks of the planet sport are looking towards Texas this week as the PGA tour resumes its regular activities, not without upheavals. In a completely different atmosphere, golfers have to undergo medical tests and must adhere to strict instructions. Three months have passed since the last golf tournament. It was in the hours following the first round of the players Championship of the PGA tour in Ponte Vedra Beach, cancelled due to the pandemic of sars coronavirus. On 12 march, the PGA Tour was the last great sports tour in the u.s. to weigh-in on break. It is one of the first to switch it back on after the NASCAR and combat sports, including the UFC. The smallest operational details of the circuit, Monahan will be controlled by the leaders of the major sports in american. It is sort of a test bench. Without spectators In the new reality, the events as we knew them have disappeared. This week, the Challenge Charles Schwab will be played behind closed doors on the Country Club, Colonial Fort Worth, Texas. Looking forward to the idea of reconnecting with the competition and regain their rivals, the golfers arrived early to the Colonial. The face of the unknown, they could not but apprehend their return to work. What will be the impacts of hygiene on the game, their routine and the absence of spectators? “Everything will be different, as have been these last three months. The year 2020 is really weird, ” said Justin Thomas on Tuesday, happy to answer questions at the press conference. If we want to get back into the game and play the sport that we love for the fans, it must accept the fact that it will be different and even a little weird. ” With restraint Golfers must be at least six feet of their youngest and manage their equipment. After a good shot, no reaction from the crowd, and no tape in the hands with his younger brother or his playmates. “It will be strange. If someone managed a long rode for an eagle, which is frequent here each year, it will be able to celebrate. And let’s imagine a bomb from 30 feet successful to win the tournament on the green of the 72nd hole. Nothing, we’re going to hear crickets, has imaged Jon Rahm. We will not be able to rely on the reactions of the crowd when the target is hidden in order to know if this is a good shot. “ Rahm has warned that it expects to see “oops” in the heat of the action, where emotions prevail. This tournament played behind closed doors will remind her of those of the circuit of the NCAA when he wore the colors of the Sun Devils of Arizona state University. “I finished university, there are only four years old, it should be similar. If this will be different for us, this should not be the case for viewers. We give you the best show possible “, assured the Spanish, which may surpass the first in the world ranking to Rory McIlroy in the event of a victory in Fort Worth, where he has experienced success in the past. The circuit has reserved the start time of 8: 46 a.m. of the four rounds of the Challenge Charles Schwab to honor the memory of George Floyd. This moment of silence will be observed to reflect on the problems of racial and social inequality in the United States. Cancellation major In addition, the LPGA tour has decided to cancel on Tuesday, the Championship Evian, this major tournament which was to be held in France from 6 to 9 August, due to restrictions and travel guidelines due to the pandemic. The tour season female is expected to commence on 23 July on the occasion of the Classic Marathon, Ohio. Between celebrations and tragedies No Comments \| May 8, 2020 The first is sufficient for the Blue Jackets NHL: phase two in the month of may? Olivier Renard has evaluated his team	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2063
__label__wiki	0.545295	0.545295	Lucerne Festival at Easter: Jansons with the Bavarians and Bruckner 04/04/2015 30/03/2015 by John Rhodes Switzerland Beethoven, Bruckner Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Mariss Jansons (conductor), Radu Lupu (piano), Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern, Lucerne 29.3.15 (JR) Mariss Jansons Photo copyright Priska Ketterer Bruckner: Symphony No. 6 Lucerne’s Easter Festival, unlike Salzburg, does not seem to attract as international and elegant an audience as their prestigious summer festival, it’s more of a precursor for the locals. Nevertheless, the festival was graced by some big names, among them Bernard Haitink in a conducting masterclass, John Eliot Gardiner , the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir in a Bach B minor Mass, Ingo Metzmacher and the South West German Symphony Orchestra with Mahler 6 and two concerts with Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. The first was Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, the second – to conclude the mini-festival – was Bruckner’s Sixth Symphony. The first half of the concert was devoted to Beethoven, his First Piano Concerto in the highly capable and experienced hands of Radu Lupu. How many times must he have played this? Nonetheless he managed to make it sound as though everything was fresh. He walked nonchalantly, almost shambled, onto the stage and took his seat (as usual, a proper chair, not a stool) so he could sit back, arms folded until his participation was required. It was like watching an old friend play to a few onlookers in his home, so relaxed did he look and play. His many years of intimate knowledge with this concerto paid dividends, as he playfully and elegantly deconstructed the piece whilst maintaining its flowing lines. There was no flamboyance, no histrionics, just technical and musical perfection. Jansons was a very sprightly accompanist, speeds were judged perfectly, and the beauty of his Bavarian orchestra – particularly the principal clarinet and bassoon – shone through between the lines. It was all over too soon but Lupu rewarded us with the gentlest of encores, from Schumann’s “Waldszene” op. 82, “Einsame Blume”. Jansons is probably not my Bruckner conductor of choice – but I can no longer experience the luxury of a previous principal conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Eugen Jochum, or a Günter Wand. Jansons has been performing and recording all the Bruckner symphonies (mainly with the Concertgebouw) and having got the mainstream symphonies out of the way is turning his attention to the “lesser” works. His Sixth has been described as the “ugly duckling” of his symphonies though Bruckner himself said it was his “boldest” (“die Sechste ist meine Keckste”). At least we do not have to discuss the various revisions and versions, and Bruckner himself made no substantial revisions to it (Mahler made a few to the inner movements). Bruckner’s detractors say he wrote the same symphony many times over: I know exactly what they mean but fundamentally disagree with their open denigration of this composer. The Sixth stands apart from the works around it, the Fourth and Fifth before it, the Seventh and Eighth afterwards: there is more lyricism in the Sixth but also, in parts, extraordinary rhythmic complexity. These virtues are also some of Janson’s strengths and we were given a performance which portrayed most convincingly and persuasively some of the fine aspects of this score, played so less often than its mature companions, and why it should not be ignored. There are many wondrous passages, stirring brass outbursts and the orchestra was on top form: the double basses were spectacular in the opening movement and at the end of the work were given a particularly warm reception, also by the other sections of the orchestra – as was the timpanist. The symphony has meandering sections, particularly in the slow movement, where I fail to follow the argument and a puzzling, disjointed Finale. Jansons completed the task in 52 minutes, well short of the 60 minutes usually accorded the symphony. Jansons never lingers, never hangs around, and has a tendency to pull the tempi about, so that some critics call it Bruckner-lite and prefer other interpreters. It was still satisfying to hear the Sixth played by a magnificent orchestra in splendid acoustics. Categories Concert Reviews, International Concerts, Previously Published Tags John Rhodes, Lucerne Post navigation Bob Chilcott’s St. John Passion Revived in Wells Cathedral Magnificent Meistersinger in Helsinki	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2068
__label__wiki	0.547808	0.547808	Tag Archives for " new release " Author Spotlight: Jason Kasper / Interview / By Severn River Publishing SRP: Where did you come up with the idea for The Enemies of My Country? Jason: Many heroes of military thrillers have no family—a fact inconveniently pointed out to me by a reader of my first book, shortly after I’d committed to writing about a military thriller hero with no family. At the time I was fresh out of the Army, and didn’t think much of it. But since then I’ve become a father myself, and my adorable daughter has succeeded in making me very, very soft and weak. I just couldn’t write about a lone mercenary killer anymore; at the same time, I was far too ruined for a normal job to pursue any other line of work. So for this book, I decided to flip the normal convention on its head. This time, my hero would have a family—and he was going to find them in grave danger. SRP: What can you tell us about the plot? Jason: David Rivers is an elite-level assassin. He’s an expert in the art of violence. Honing his skill first as a Ranger, then as a mercenary, and now as a CIA contractor conducting covert action around the world. But in his secluded mountain home in Virginia, David Rivers lives a double life. There, Rivers is known as a caring husband to his new wife, and the doting father to his young daughter. Soft targets to his enemies. Half a world away, on a mission to assassinate a foreign operative, Rivers uncovers his worst fear. An imminent attack on US soil will occur in four days. The target is in his hometown. And his wife and daughter are mentioned by name. SRP: What were the easiest and most difficult parts of writing The Enemies of My Country? Jason: The easiest part was the premise—a man finds his family in danger, and has four days to uncover and stop an imminent terrorist attack. Simple, right? The catch was figuring out how to turn that promising foundation into a full storyline, and packing all the events and characters into one cohesive and fast-paced book. THAT was the hard part, and I quickly wondered if I’d bit off more than I could chew. Several months, many hours of weeping at a keyboard, and untold bottles of bourbon later, the result is this book. SRP: The hero of this book is former Army Ranger David Rivers. What would he say if he met you in person? Jason: First and foremost, he’d probably shame me for being a cat owner—rightfully so. Then he’d slap me for all the trouble I’ve put him through in this book—once again, fully justified. After that, we’d probably sit down and enjoy our shared favorite pastime: drinking bourbon. And I’d try not to make him angry. SRP: What’s next for David? Jason: The Enemies of My Country kicks off a ten-book series outline that will take David to the world’s most dangerous corners, as he uncovers a sinister conspiracy with global implications. The second book will be released later this year. SRP: You’re known for engaging with your readers, from answering emails to chatting on your Facebook reader group. What’s it like interacting with them on a daily basis? Jason: There’s an Eastern saying that “the teacher and the taught together create the teaching.” I think this applies equally well as “the author and the readers together create the books.” If no one read my work, I’d still write every day—but my stories wouldn’t be nearly as good. Feedback from readers helps me improve with each book, and their support keeps me going no matter how difficult a manuscript gets. As any author can tell you, the writing process is filled with dizzying highs and crushing lows. It helps a lot to know the readers have my back, and no matter how many books I write in this lifetime, I owe them a lot more than they owe me. Also, I vividly remember starting out and having no readers at all. The world is a cold and lonely place for a struggling writer, so it’s hard for me not to be deliriously grateful today. SRP: What good books have you read lately? Jason: Confession time—I’ve never been big into zombie movies. When a friend of mine recommended World War Z, I reluctantly agreed to check out the first few chapters. Three days later I’d not only finished the book, but was ready to wrap a baseball bat in barbed wire and go battle the undead hordes. If you haven’t read that book, check it out! SRP: You’re stranded on a desert island with all of your basic needs taken care of (food, shelter, clothes). What three items would you bring? Jason: All the bourbon I could take with me, obviously. Then a baseball bat. And finally, some barbed wire to wrap around the bat, just in case the zombies come. The Enemies of My Country launches January 15. Pre-order here. Author Spotlight: Shannon Baker SRP: How did you come up with Kate Fox, the main character in your new release, Stripped Bare? Shannon: I lived in the Nebraska Sandhills for 20 years. To be honest, I didn’t love it when I arrived there as a young bride. But I was determined to make it my home, and the landscapes and people grew on me until I was hooked. I always wanted to write about the Sandhills because it’s unique and so quirky. But I ended up leaving because my husband had an affair. (Long story but ends happy.) It took me a while to get my sense of humor back and when I did, Kate Fox popped into my head. She got here all at once and demanded I tell her stories. Kate’s nothing like me, except she shares my sense of humor and she’s got a cheating spouse (where do I get my ideas?). She’s a total insider, related to everyone in Grand County by one degree of separation—or less. She’s capable, competent, and never wants to live anywhere else. SRP: What can you tell us about The Kate Fox series? Shannon: The series is set in the Nebraska Sandhills where cattle outnumber people by more than 60:1. The population is .9 people per square mile which leaves a whole lot of places to hide bodies. Grand County has one law enforcement officer, the sheriff, so it’s like the wild west. With so few people around, it’s hard to keep secrets, but it can happen. Kate is smack dab in the middle of nine brothers and sisters, all caring and all meddling, creating havoc in Kate’s life. SRP: What was the most difficult part of writing Stripped Bare, the first book in the series? Shannon: When I wrote Stripped Bare we were living in McCook, Nebraska. I’d just fired myself from a start-up in Boulder, CO because it wasn’t starting up. My husband worked for BNSF Railroad and was due to retire in two years so we figured we could move to a small town in Nebraska and live on his salary. Feeling kind of failure-ish and kind of lonely (he was on the road several days a week) I settled into the hovel we bought and started to entertain myself with Kate’s disaster of a life. Winter in McCook was long and gray and very cold. I had one rule: I had to get out of the house for at least two hours every day to keep from sinking into depression. I took long walks and every day I’d go to the library and write there. I did that for months and the librarians never spoke more than two words to me, even after I donated books from my first series. But I finished Stripped Bare while we lived there, so I have fond memories. SRP: What’s next for Kate? Shannon: I’m super excited for Kate to have a second life and for new readers to discover the Nebraska Sandhills. It’s been a blast diving back into Grand County and all the characters I’ve missed. First, Stripped Bare will take flight December 8, then Dark Signal is coming in hot just a week later on December 15. After that, Bitter Rain is rearing its head in the spring. Right now, I’m finishing up book four, and if you could give me a title, I’d be happy to name a character after you. This story features Kate’s loveable younger brother, Jeremy, horses, and elements south of the border. SRP: What are you working on now? Shannon: Just before I bumped down the dusty trail road back to the Sandhills, I was working on a suspense set in Tucson. When I moved here a few years ago and discovered Joe Bonanno, the boss of one of the Five Families of New York, retired here in the 70’s, I knew I had to write about the Mafia in Tucson. It’s twisty, so much so that it twisted out of my head and I need to figure out how my main character, Josephine, did what she did and when she knew she was going to do it. SRP: What are you reading now and/or what good books have you read lately? Shannon: It’s good to be a writer and have amazing writer friends. Last summer, I got to read Jess Lourey’s latest book, Bloodline, well before it was released. It’s a Kindle First Reads right now and I highly recommend you all get it. They call it Rosemary’s Baby meets Get Out. And it’s creepy in all the best ways! And right now, I’m loving Alice Hoffman’s Rules of Magic. What a writer! If you’re a fan of historical mysteries, I’d recommend Karen Odden’s A Trace of Deceit. SRP: What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? Shannon: I don’t even have to think about this. Hands down the best money I ever spent was hiring my editor Jessica. She’s like a personalized MFA. Stripped Bare launches December 8. Author Spotlight: J.D. Allen SRP: Where did you come up with the idea for Sin City Investigations and Jim Bean? J.D.: I knew I wanted to write a Private Investigator series. I crushed hard on Rockford as a youngster (and still do!). At about the same time I was plotting through it, a good friend of mine was falsely accused of a serious crime. It devastated his life in more ways than I would have ever imagined. He had to start over. New job. New friends. New city. I found his experience, as bad as it was, made an excellent backstory for a PI. He gave his blessing and Jim was born. SRP: What can you tell us about the series? J.D.: I want to see characters in a series change over time. It makes them seem more human. With 19 Souls, Jim Bean starts the series dealing with a life-changing incident in his past. He’s gone to Vegas to lick his wounds, changed his name, and is happy to exist with minimal clients, his cat, and a good bottle of scotch. I’d like to think that after a while, he’ll get out of his own way and move past his anger. I’ve started the third book in the series, and he’s still a combination of Dirty Harry and Jim Rockford. SRP: What was the most difficult part of writing 19 Souls, the first book in the series? J.D.: I loved writing that book! Female serial killer? What’s not to love about that. Smart villains are super interesting to create, and Sophie Evers fits that bill! I had to take Jim to some pretty dark places though, and I sort of felt sorry for him at times. SRP: What’s next for the series? J.D.: Skin Game is next up in the series. In it, Jim and the woman who broke his heart in college have only a few days to rescue several young girls from a human trafficking ring. J.D.: Wrapping up the next adventure with Jim. I’ll just say that I did some research with a taxidermist. J.D.: Wow. Right now, I’m reading this weird Sci-fi my hubs gave me. Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. It’s an entire novel in journal entries and interviews. It’s fascinating! SRP: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? J.D.: Go big. Stories need to be large, not in word count, but in scope. Big characters, big setting, big themes. You can always back it down if needed, but making a thin story work is difficult. Her bloody finger left a translucent smear on the phone screen as she glanced through the list of private investigators in Vegas. Her stained nail came to rest on Sin City Investigations. Jim Bean would serve her well. Private investigator Jim Bean is a straightforward, to-the-point man. He likes his cases to follow suit. But when his latest client, Sophie Evers, asks him to find her brother Daniel, Jim has no idea how complicated his life is about to become. As he falls deep into a manipulative game of cat and mouse, Jim uncovers the horrible truth about Sophie. Now he must set things right before her plan leads to the loss of innocent souls . . . even more than it already has. 19 Souls releases October 27. Pre-order today for only $0.99. Author Spotlight: Don’t Look In Author Tom Saric With Don’t Look In, the debut in his newest series, Tom Saric pens a twisting novel of psychological suspense, introducing a psychiatrist trying to save lives while battling his own demons. We talked with Tom about writing his new series— from the inception of main character Gus Young to what his writing weakness is. Read the interview below! SRP: Where did you come up with the idea for Don’t Look In, and what can you tell us about the plot? TOM: Don’t Look In started with Gus Young. The idea of a grizzled looking man, with a thick beard, wearing work boots and hunting jacket while being an exceptional psychiatrist spoke to me. In the years after I finished my training in psychiatry, I realized that working as a psychiatrist wasn’t the idealized version I had fantasized about. In addition to seeing patients, my day was filled with paperwork, managerial pressures to see more people more quickly, and therapy was something psychologists did while psychiatrists seemed to be expected to prescribe medications only. So, the idea of this pure, genuine psychiatrist who wasn’t afraid to buck the trend and do his own thing in his own way appealed to me. The seed for the plot came from realizing that in order to maintain the purity of his work, confidentiality of his patients would have to be absolute. And he would have to take this duty further than the average therapist would. The plot really developed from there. It follows Gus as he is working in the small practice that he operates out of the back of a hardware store in a rural town. When a patient of his is murdered, he seeks to find out who did it, but in doing so it will put him in conflict with many of his deepest held values. SRP: How did you choose this setting? TOM: The story takes place in a fictitious town in Maine. I decided against using a real place in part to make my life easier by giving the setting flexibility for future books. But the town itself has elements of a few different places I’ve visited, worked in or lived in in Eastern Canada and the Prairies. On top of this, I love the East Coast, I love Maine. I find the entire region rich, and atmospheric. The rain, the fog, the hurricanes, the history just give it so much richness that I couldn’t see the book being set anywhere else. SRP: What was the most difficult part of writing this book? TOM: I think the most difficult part was trying to describe psychological processes without the jargon in order to make it accessible to people. Psychoanalytic writings and theory is its own language. It took me years to become comfortable with the language and nuance of the differing theories. That’s my biggest criticism (and Gus’) of psychoanalysis: It is largely inaccessible and can come across as elitist. But, in fact, it should be anything but. It is likely the richest understanding we have of the human mind. So, in keeping with Gus’ character, I was mindful that he would be able to avoid jargon and explain complex theories simply. So it required constant iteration to get it right. TOM: I’m already working on the second book in the series, titled Believe In Me. In this book a young woman is found wandering on the outskirts of Bridgetown with no memory of who she is. Gus is called in to help police recover her memories. As he works with her, she begins to show abilities that verge on the supernatural. I don’t want to reveal much more than that at this point, but it will test Gus’ abilities in a way that he hasn’t yet faced. TOM: I started reading a couple of books by C.J. Box recently because after I submitted Don’t Look In, my publisher compared it to his novels. I hadn’t read his books previously, though I’d known about them. I picked up Bitterroots and loved it. He has a masterful way of creating setting and atmosphere. So what I said about Don’t Look In not being able to be set anywhere but Maine, perhaps Montana would be a close second. SRP: What is your writing Kryptonite? TOM: Social Media. I have a real love hate relationship with social media. On the one hand, it allows me to connect with readers, and other authors. On the other hand, I have spent 4-5 hours mindlessly thumbing through Instagram photos when I meant to be writing. I’m always telling my kids to set limits with screen time. Maybe I should take my own advice. Don’t Look In launches October 6. Click here to buy Don’t Look In. The e-book is $.99 for a limited time! Copyright © 2021 by Severn River Publishing. Privacy Policy \| Terms and Conditions	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2070
__label__wiki	0.981067	0.981067	‘Aayirathil Oruvan’ Sequel Announced: Dhanush Will Star, Selvaraghavan Will Direct Director Selvaraghavan announced the sequel to his 2010 action-adventure film, Aayirathil Oruvan, on Friday. He also said that his brother, actor Dhanush, would play the lead role. Following the announcement, Dhanush said on social media that audiences had a long wait ahead for the final release, as the film was a “magnum opus” that would take time to make. He said that pre-production alone would take the team a year. The first installment of Aayirathil Oruvan starred actors Karthi, Andrea Jeremiah, and Reemma Sen, with actors R Parthiepan and Pratap K Pothen in supporting roles. The story followed a group of Indian archaeologists on an expedition to discover the lost dynasty of the Chola kingdom. The film was influential in establishing the then-newcomer Karthi’s acting career. It also won Parthiepan the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2010, while Reemma Sen won acclaim for her role as the antagonist. Aayirathil Oruvan went on to achieve cult status. On Wednesday, actor Karthi had said that Aayirathil Oruvan would be re-released in over 55 Tamil Nadu theatres from December 31, 2020 onwards. One of these theaters is GK Cinemas, which is screening the film three times a week. Speaking to Silverscreen India, GK Cinemas owner Ruban said, “The re-release is going really well. In March 2019, when we screened the film, we had a very good response from moviegoers. The film has achieved cult status. It appeals to audiences at all levels, from youngsters to all members of the family, everybody has coming to see the film. Though it is not house full, we are getting a sizeable audience for the film.” He added, “I am very glad that Selvaraghavan sir announced the sequel of the film by quoting my tweet.” On Friday, Selvaraghavan released an illustrated poster of the sequel. இது வரை கேட்டிருந்த ,காத்திருந்த என் அன்பு உள்ளங்களுக்கு இதோ உங்கள் முன்னால் @dhanushkraja #a.o2 pic.twitter.com/4siF01hiJL — selvaraghavan (@selvaraghavan) January 1, 2021 Aayirathil Oruvan’s sequel will mark Selvaraghavan’s fourth film as a director with Dhanush. Tamil News April 1, 2017 Selvaraghavan: “I Won’t Rest Till I Make ‘Aayirathil Oruvan 2’ And ‘Pudhupettai 2′” Tamil News October 14, 2015 Selvaraghavan’s Kaan Put On Hold Tamil News August 18, 2020 Selvaraghavan To Make His Acting Debut For A Multilingual Titled ‘Saani Kaayidham’ Alongside Keerthy Suresh Dhanush Sings “Trippy” Song For Nenjam Marapathillai	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2071
__label__wiki	0.616973	0.616973	Posted on October 13, 2016 October 13, 2016 by slothonline Posted in D. Allan Kerr Former President Bill Clinton has never been convicted of rape or sexual assault, but Donald J. Trump wants everyone to know Clinton has been ACCUSED of these acts. Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton has not been charged or convicted of any crimes, but Donald J. Trump wants everyone to know that if he were President of the United States she would “be in jail.” The father of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has never been implicated in the assassination of John F. Kennedy, but Donald J. Trump wanted everyone to believe during the Republican primary that Pa Cruz used to hang out with assassin Lee Harvey Oswald. “Right prior to his (Oswald) being shot and nobody even brings it up,” Trump said earlier this year. “I mean, they don’t even talk about that. That was reported and nobody talks about it.” It’s not as if Trump himself is making these accusations – he’s just repeating what he’s heard. You know, “People are saying.” (In the Cruz case, it was the National Enquirer.) He believes voters have the right to know what kind of people are running for office. He’s absolutely correct. And in that same vein, using Trump’s own logic, I think people should know Trump is being ACCUSED of raping a 13-year-old girl. No, this isn’t something I’m making up – this has actually been REPORTED. The New York Daily News reported yesterday that a federal judge in Manhattan has scheduled a hearing for the civil lawsuit to take place in December. The newspaper reports that lawyers in the case “will also discuss whether both sides have talked about a settlement as well as a possible trial length.” I mean, that sounds pretty serious to me. According to this woman, who is using the name Jane Doe, Trump had sexual contact with her on four occasions in 1994 when she was 13 years old. During one of these instances described in The Huffington Post, she alleges he tied her to a bed and forcibly raped her while she pleaded with him to stop, even striking her violently in the face. Then she says Trump threatened that if she ever reported this she and her family would be “physically harmed if not killed.” Trump would have been around 48 years old at the time, and married to his second wife. Jane Doe remained so fearful of Trump she maintained her silence for several years, she says. Which is understandable, considering how irate the man gets when someone doesn’t endorse him for President of the United States, let alone accuse him of rape. Initially she filed the lawsuit herself – well before the notorious “Access Hollywood” tape – but it was thrown out in May by a California judge because she cited laws not relevant to the case, according to The Huffington Post. Now she actually has a lawyer. The Indy Channel is reporting that attorney Cheney Mason, who helped get Casey Anthony acquitted in 2011 of murdering her daughter, is now representing Jane Doe. The Huffington piece, written by attorney and legal analyst Lisa Bloom, explains the normal statute of limitations may not apply here due to “tolling.” In other words, since Jane Doe was ALLEGEDLY in fear for her life and did not have “freedom of will to institute suit earlier in time,” she should be allowed additional time. “These are allegations that are completely unfounded but are alleged to have occurred more than 20 years ago by someone who refuses to give their name,” Trump attorney Alan Garten told The Daily News this week. Now, I don’t know Alan Garten, but if he’s a bigshot lawyer I would assume he’s at least smart enough to know that rape victims, for some odd reason, often don’t want to be publicly identified. But if these ACCUSATIONS are more than 20 years old, well, what’s the big deal right? Although I do seem to recall Trump bringing out a parade of alleged Bill Clinton victims from previous decades for a press conference last Sunday … Wow, that’s weird – for a moment the words “SELF-RIGHTEOUS HYPOCRITE” flashed through my mind. Sorry, don’t know where THAT came from. Anyway, this woman ACCUSES both Trump and his fellow billionaire Jeffrey Epstein of assaulting her during a series of sex parties. There is also a witness to all this, a woman called Tiffany Doe who says she served as Epstein’s “party planner” throughout the 1990s, according to the Huffington piece that ran back in June. Epstein and Trump both deny the charges. You know, like the way Bill Clinton denied the charges against him. However, Epstein IS a convicted pedophile and Level Three registered sex offender who served prison time in 2008. People have ACCUSED Epstein of recruiting underage girls as sex slaves, as documented in the recent book “Filthy Rich” by best-selling author James Patterson of Alex Cross fame. He was also friends with both Bill Clinton and Trump. In fact, Trump once told New York magazine: “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Umm… WHAT??? Trump can claim that this is some kind of political stunt, but perhaps voters should know it isn’t the first time he’s been ACCUSED of sexual assaults. For instance, his first wife, Ivana, stated under oath during their divorce proceedings in 1993 that Trump had raped her four years earlier. She later claimed in a written statement she hadn’t intended to use the term “in a literal or criminal sense.” (You may recall when Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen made the curious claim last year that “by the very definition, you can’t rape your spouse.”) The Guardian reported another woman filed a $125 million federal lawsuit in 1997, claiming Trump attempted to rape her. The suit was later dropped when a separate business dispute between Trump and her husband was settled. I don’t have the time or space to get into all the details here, but these things are pretty easy to find online. However, I can tell you the ACCUSATIONS detailed in these accounts share a very similar, Trumpian pattern. I’m just saying. And now just this week, a former People magazine reporter and two women cited in The New York Times all say Trump groped and kissed them in the same manner as he described in the “Access Hollywood” tape. “I turned around, and within seconds, he was pushing me against the wall, and forcing his tongue down my throat,” wrote former People scribe Natasha Stoynoff. Ironically, this was just prior to a joint interview with Trump and his wife, Melania, to mark their first anniversary, she said. All the women say they were finally inspired to step forward when the candidate claimed during Sunday’s debate that he had never actually COMMITTED the acts he bragged about on tape. Trump has denied all of these incidents, of course, but he’s also proven himself – again and again – to be what I describe as a chronological liar. And that’s already been pretty well documented in this space. Just saying. Meanwhile, Trump supporters have lately taken up the “Bill Clinton is a rapist” meme at various rallies around the country. Now you’ve got to wonder if the tactic’s going to boomerang back on him. You also have to wonder what kind of whackjob would keep pushing the Clinton sex allegations when he too seems to have this kind of personal history. I do think the Donald is right about one thing, though – when stuff like this gets reported, people should talk about it. One thought on “Is Donald Trump The Real Rapist?” Gary Fieldsend says: I am extremely disappointed in the U.S. electorate for voting this man into office. But, as P.T. Barnum once said, “There’s one (a sucker) born every minute.” Looks as though millions of them have just declared their status!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2072
__label__cc	0.707848	0.292152	Provoking New Crimes Rather than Uncovering Past Crimes: Mueller’s Modus Operandi Posted on December 03, 2018, 11:54 am The recent guilty plea of Michael Cohen of lying represents the dominant trend in Mueller’s approach to prosecution. The vast majority of indictments and guilty pleas obtained against Americans by Mueller have not been for substantive crimes relating to his mandate: namely, to uncover crimes involving illegal contacts with Russia. They have involved indictments and guilty pleas either for lying, or for financial crimes by individuals unrelated to the Russia probe. If this remains true after the filing of the Mueller report, it would represent a significant failure on Mueller’s part. Mueller was appointed Special Counsel not to provoke individuals into committing new crimes, but rather to uncover past crimes specifically involving alleged illegal coordination between the Trump campaign and Russian agents. No one doubted that Russia attempted to influence the 2016 election in favor of Donald Trump and against Hillary Clinton. But Mueller’s mandate was not to prosecute Russians or to point the finger at Vladimir Putin. His mandate was to uncover crimes committed by the Trump campaign with regard to Russia’s attempts to influence the election. It was always an uphill struggle for Mueller, since collusion itself is not a crime. In other words, even if he could show that individuals in the Trump campaign had colluded with Russian agents to help elect Trump, that would be a serious political sin, but not a federal crime. Even if Mueller could prove that members of the Trump team had colluded with Julian Assange to use material that Assange had unlawfully obtained, that, too, would not be a crime. What would be a crime is something that no one claims happened: namely, that members of the Trump campaign told Assange to hack the Democratic National Committee before Assange did so. Merely using the product of an already committed theft of information is not a crime. If you don’t believe me, ask the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian and other newspapers that used material illegally obtained by Assange with full knowledge that it was illegally obtained. Not only did they use information from Assange, but also from Chelsea Manning and from the stolen Pentagon Papers. The First Amendment protects publication by the media of stolen information. It also protects use of such information by a political campaign, since political campaigns are also covered by the First Amendment. It is important to note that Special Counsel Robert Mueller does not have a roving commission to ferret out political sin, to provoke new crimes, or to publish non-criminal conclusions that may be embarrassing to the President. His mandate, like that of every other prosecutor, is to uncover past crimes. In Mueller’s case those crimes must relate to Russia. He also has the authority to prosecute crimes growing out of the Russia probe, but that is collateral to his central mission. In the end, Mueller should be judged by how successful he has been in satisfying his central mission. Judged by that standard and based on what we now know, he seems to be an abysmal failure. Perhaps more will come out when his report is published, but it is unlikely that he uncovered anything dramatically new with regard to allegations that the Trump campaign acted illegally in an attempt to help Russia undercut Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Even if the report alleges uncharged criminal behavior, it must be remembered that much of what will be in the report are merely allegations based on uncross-examined evidence. Some of that evidence seems to come from admitted liars, who have pleaded guilty for lying. These liars would make poor witnesses in an actual trial, but if their evidence serves as a basis for conclusions reached in the Mueller report, then these conclusions may seem more credible than they actually are. We must, of course, wait for the publication of the Mueller report before reaching any final judgments, but if the Mueller report merely catalogues all the guilty pleas and indictments achieved thus far for lying and unrelated financial crimes, and tries to build a case of guilt by association around them, the American public will be justly critical of the process. america chelsea manning crime doanld trump julian assange law michael cohen potus robert mueller russia united states vladmir putin Mourn Bush Sr., But Don’t Celebrate Him for What He Did to America and the World USMCA Entrenches Tech Companies’ Right To Censor Miami Beach’s Flooding Is More Complicated Than Yelling ‘Global Warming’ Judicial Watch Sues For George Soros’ Funding Records / Jun 1 Soros on the Ropes / Jan 29	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2076
__label__cc	0.727691	0.272309	SpeakingofDemocracy.com A Factual Alternative to the Corporate Media Posts Tagged ‘economy’ Warning: Use of undefined constant archives - assumed 'archives' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/imagina0/public_html/speakingofdemocracy/wp-content/themes/cordobo-green-park-2/archive.php on line 32 Warning: Use of undefined constant page - assumed 'page' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /home/imagina0/public_html/speakingofdemocracy/wp-content/themes/cordobo-green-park-2/archive.php on line 32 Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/imagina0/public_html/speakingofdemocracy/wp-content/themes/cordobo-green-park-2/archive.php on line 32 class="post-657 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-conservatives category-economic-policy tag-clinton tag-democrats tag-economic-performance tag-economy tag-obama tag-political-parties tag-republicans"> Republicans are Bad for the Economy Democrats Outperform Republicans by Wide Margin The Dow Jones industrial average increased by 29.5% in the one-year period following Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009—the third best showing, going back 110 years, for the U.S. stock market in the 12 months following the inauguration of a new President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s first year, which began on March 4, 1933, tops the list with the Dow increasing by 96.5% over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter trails his peers with a loss of 19.6%. On average, Presidents in the Democrat party saw an average one-year gain of 24%, while Republicans averaged 1%. Barack Obama (DEM) Inauguration Date: Jan. 20, 2009 Percentage Change in Dow Jones Industrial Average During First Year in Office: +29.5% At 468%, Genworth Financial was the best-performing S&P 500 stock during Obama’s first year in office. William J. Clinton (DEM) The industrial sector was the best-performing sector in the 12 months following Clinton’s inauguration. Woodrow Wilson (DEM) Inauguration Date: Mar. 4, 1913 Percentage Change in Dow Jones Industrial Average During First Year in Office: +0.5% After World War I began during Wilson’s second year, the U.S. stock market closed for 4 1/2 months. John F. Kennedy (DEM) The U.S. economy grew 6% in 1961, more than any other President’s first year since at least 1948. Lyndon B. Johnson (DEM) Inauguration Date: Nov. 22, 1963 The Dow increased 27% over the length of Johnson’s five-plus years in office, or about 5% a year. Richard M. Nixon (REP) Percentage Change in Dow Jones Industrial Average During First Year in Office: -17.0% The Dow also lost 17% during the first year of Nixon’s second term. Ronald Reagan (REP) The prime rate topped 21%—the highest level on record—during Reagan’s inaugural year. Dwight D. Eisenhower (REP) The Dow hit a bottom in September 1953 and then went on to double over the next 2 1/2 years. Franklin Delano Roosevelt (DEM) The Dow Jones industrial average rose by an average 9% a year during FDR’s 12-year tenure. George Bush (REP) The 1980s ended during Bush’s first year, with the Dow rising 228% over the decade, or 13% a year. George W. Bush (REP) Percentage Change in Dow Jones Industrial Average During First Year in Office: -7.7% During his eight years in office, the Dow fell 22%, to 8,281. The S&P 500 lost 37%, closing at 850. Gerald R. Ford (REP) Inauguration Date: Aug. 9, 1974 The Dow fell 45% between Jan. 11, 1973, and Dec. 6, 1974, one of the worst bear markets in history. Harry S. Truman (DEM) Inauguration Date: Apr. 12, 1945 Almost 18 years after reaching 200 for the first time, the Dow again climbed to 200 in January 1946. Herbert Hoover (REP) The Dow dropped 48% from Sept. 3 to Nov. 13 in 1929. Jimmy Carter (DEM) Inflation increased by more than 6% during Carter’s fi rst year. Posted in Conservatives, Economic Policy Tags: Clinton Democrats economic performance economy Obama political parties Republicans class="post-1072 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-economic-policy category-obama tag-april-13th tag-budget tag-debt tag-deficit tag-economy tag-obama tag-speech"> Obama Throws Down Highlights from Obama’s important speech on the budget this week: What we’ve been debating here in Washington for the last few weeks will affect your lives in ways that are potentially profound. This debate over budgets and deficits is about more than just numbers on a page, more than just cutting and spending. It’s about the kind of future we want. It’s about the kind of country we believe in. And that’s what I want to talk about today. From our first days as a nation, we have put our faith in free markets and free enterprise as the engine of America’s wealth and prosperity. More than citizens of any other country, we are rugged individualists, a self-reliant people with a healthy skepticism of too much government. But there has always been another thread running throughout our history – a belief that we are all connected; and that there are some things we can only do together, as a nation. We believe, in the words of our first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln, that through government, we should do together what we cannot do as well for ourselves. And so we’ve built a strong military to keep us secure, and public schools and universities to educate our citizens. We’ve laid down railroads and highways to facilitate travel and commerce. We’ve supported the work of scientists and researchers whose discoveries have saved lives, unleashed repeated technological revolutions, and led to countless new jobs and entire industries. Each of us has benefitted from these investments, and we are a more prosperous country as a result. Part of this American belief that we are all connected also expresses itself in a conviction that each one of us deserves some basic measure of security. We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, hard times or bad luck, a crippling illness or a layoff, may strike any one of us. “There but for the grace of God go I,” we say to ourselves, and so we contribute to programs like Medicare and Social Security, which guarantee us health care and a measure of basic income after a lifetime of hard work; unemployment insurance, which protects us against unexpected job loss; and Medicaid, which provides care for millions of seniors in nursing homes, poor children, and those with disabilities. We are a better country because of these commitments. I’ll go further – we would not be a great country without those commitments. For much of the last century, our nation found a way to afford these investments and priorities with the taxes paid by its citizens. As a country that values fairness, wealthier individuals have traditionally born a greater share of this burden than the middle class or those less fortunate. This is not because we begrudge those who’ve done well – we rightly celebrate their success. Rather, it is a basic reflection of our belief that those who have benefitted most from our way of life can afford to give a bit more back. Moreover, this belief has not hindered the success of those at the top of the income scale, who continue to do better and better with each passing year. …America’s finances were in great shape by the year 2000. We went from deficit to surplus. America was actually on track to becoming completely debt-free, and we were prepared for the retirement of the Baby Boomers. But after Democrats and Republicans committed to fiscal discipline during the 1990s, we lost our way in the decade that followed. We increased spending dramatically for two wars and an expensive prescription drug program – but we didn’t pay for any of this new spending. Instead, we made the problem worse with trillions of dollars in unpaid-for tax cuts – tax cuts that went to every millionaire and billionaire in the country; tax cuts that will force us to borrow an average of $500 billion every year over the next decade. To give you an idea of how much damage this caused to our national checkbook, consider this: in the last decade, if we had simply found a way to pay for the tax cuts and the prescription drug benefit, our deficit would currently be at low historical levels in the coming years. Of course, that’s not what happened. And so, by the time I took office, we once again found ourselves deeply in debt and unprepared for a Baby Boom retirement that is now starting to take place. When I took office, our projected deficit was more than $1 trillion. On top of that, we faced a terrible financial crisis and a recession that, like most recessions, led us to temporarily borrow even more. In this case, we took a series of emergency steps that saved millions of jobs, kept credit flowing, and provided working families extra money in their pockets. It was the right thing to do, but these steps were expensive, and added to our deficits in the short term. So that’s how our fiscal challenge was created. This is how we got here. And now that our economic recovery is gaining strength, Democrats and Republicans must come together and restore the fiscal responsibility that served us so well in the 1990s. We have to live within our means, reduce our deficit, and get back on a path that will allow us to pay down our debt. And we have to do it in a way that protects the recovery, and protects the investments we need to grow, create jobs, and win the future. …Ultimately, all this rising debt will cost us jobs and damage our economy. It will prevent us from making the investments we need to win the future. We won’t be able to afford good schools, new research, or the repair of roads and bridges – all the things that will create new jobs and businesses here in America. Businesses will be less likely to invest and open up shop in a country that seems unwilling or unable to balance its books. And if our creditors start worrying that we may be unable to pay back our debts, it could drive up interest rates for everyone who borrows money – making it harder for businesses to expand and hire, or families to take out a mortgage. The good news is, this doesn’t have to be our future. This doesn’t have to be the country we leave to our children. We can solve this problem. We came together as Democrats and Republicans to meet this challenge before, and we can do it again. But that starts by being honest about what’s causing our deficit. You see, most Americans tend to dislike government spending in the abstract, but they like the stuff it buys. Most of us, regardless of party affiliation, believe that we should have a strong military and a strong defense. Most Americans believe we should invest in education and medical research. Most Americans think we should protect commitments like Social Security and Medicare. And without even looking at a poll, my finely honed political skills tell me that almost no one believes they should be paying higher taxes. Because all this spending is popular with both Republicans and Democrats alike, and because nobody wants to pay higher taxes, politicians are often eager to feed the impression that solving the problem is just a matter of eliminating waste and abuse –that tackling the deficit issue won’t require tough choices. Or they suggest that we can somehow close our entire deficit by eliminating things like foreign aid, even though foreign aid makes up about 1% of our entire budget. So here’s the truth. Around two-thirds of our budget is spent on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and national security. Programs like unemployment insurance, student loans, veterans’ benefits, and tax credits for working families take up another 20%. What’s left, after interest on the debt, is just 12 percent for everything else. That’s 12 percent for all of our other national priorities like education and clean energy; medical research and transportation; food safety and keeping our air and water clean. Up until now, the cuts proposed by a lot of folks in Washington have focused almost exclusively on that 12%. But cuts to that 12% alone won’t solve the problem. So any serious plan to tackle our deficit will require us to put everything on the table, and take on excess spending wherever it exists in the budget. A serious plan doesn’t require us to balance our budget overnight – in fact, economists think that with the economy just starting to grow again, we will need a phased-in approach – but it does require tough decisions and support from leaders in both parties. And above all, it will require us to choose a vision of the America we want to see five and ten and twenty years down the road. THE REPUBLICAN PLAN One vision has been championed by Republicans in the House of Representatives and embraced by several of their party’s presidential candidates. It’s a plan that aims to reduce our deficit by $4 trillion over the next ten years, and one that addresses the challenge of Medicare and Medicaid in the years after that. Those are both worthy goals for us to achieve. But the way this plan achieves those goals would lead to a fundamentally different America than the one we’ve known throughout most of our history. A 70% cut to clean energy. A 25% cut in education. A 30% cut in transportation. Cuts in college Pell Grants that will grow to more than $1,000 per year. That’s what they’re proposing. These aren’t the kind of cuts you make when you’re trying to get rid of some waste or find extra savings in the budget. These aren’t the kind of cuts that Republicans and Democrats on the Fiscal Commission proposed. These are the kind of cuts that tell us we can’t afford the America we believe in. And they paint a vision of our future that’s deeply pessimistic. It’s a vision that says if our roads crumble and our bridges collapse, we can’t afford to fix them. If there are bright young Americans who have the drive and the will but not the money to go to college, we can’t afford to send them. Go to China and you’ll see businesses opening research labs and solar facilities. South Korean children are outpacing our kids in math and science. Brazil is investing billions in new infrastructure and can run half their cars not on high-priced gasoline, but biofuels. And yet, we are presented with a vision that says the United States of America – the greatest nation on Earth – can’t afford any of this. It’s a vision that says America can’t afford to keep the promise we’ve made to care for our seniors. It says that ten years from now, if you’re a 65 year old who’s eligible for Medicare, you should have to pay nearly $6,400 more than you would today. It says instead of guaranteed health care, you will get a voucher. And if that voucher isn’t worth enough to buy insurance, tough luck – you’re on your own. Put simply, it ends Medicare as we know it. This is a vision that says up to 50 million Americans have to lose their health insurance in order for us to reduce the deficit. And who are those 50 million Americans? Many are someone’s grandparents who wouldn’t be able afford nursing home care without Medicaid. Many are poor children. Some are middle-class families who have children with autism or Down’s syndrome. Some are kids with disabilities so severe that they require 24-hour care. These are the Americans we’d be telling to fend for themselves. Worst of all, this is a vision that says even though America can’t afford to invest in education or clean energy; even though we can’t afford to care for seniors and poor children, we can somehow afford more than $1 trillion in new tax breaks for the wealthy. Think about it. In the last decade, the average income of the bottom 90% of all working Americans actually declined. The top 1% saw their income rise by an average of more than a quarter of a million dollars each. And that’s who needs to pay less taxes? They want to give people like me a two hundred thousand dollar tax cut that’s paid for by asking thirty three seniors to each pay six thousand dollars more in health costs? That’s not right, and it’s not going to happen as long as I’m President. The fact is, their vision is less about reducing the deficit than it is about changing the basic social compact in America. As Ronald Reagan’s own budget director said, there’s nothing “serious” or “courageous” about this plan. There’s nothing serious about a plan that claims to reduce the deficit by spending a trillion dollars on tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. There’s nothing courageous about asking for sacrifice from those who can least afford it and don’t have any clout on Capitol Hill. And this is not a vision of the America I know. OBAMA’S PLAN The America I know is generous and compassionate; a land of opportunity and optimism. We take responsibility for ourselves and each other; for the country we want and the future we share. We are the nation that built a railroad across a continent and brought light to communities shrouded in darkness. We sent a generation to college on the GI bill and saved millions of seniors from poverty with Social Security and Medicare. We have led the world in scientific research and technological breakthroughs that have transformed millions of lives. This is who we are. This is the America I know. We don’t have to choose between a future of spiraling debt and one where we forfeit investments in our people and our country. To meet our fiscal challenge, we will need to make reforms. We will all need to make sacrifices. But we do not have to sacrifice the America we believe in. And as long as I’m President, we won’t. Today, I’m proposing a more balanced approach to achieve $4 trillion in deficit reduction over twelve years. It’s an approach that borrows from the recommendations of the bipartisan Fiscal Commission I appointed last year, and builds on the roughly $1 trillion in deficit reduction I already proposed in my 2012 budget. It’s an approach that puts every kind of spending on the table, but one that protects the middle-class, our promise to seniors, and our investments in the future. The first step in our approach is to keep annual domestic spending low by building on the savings that both parties agreed to last week – a step that will save us about $750 billion over twelve years. We will make the tough cuts necessary to achieve these savings, including in programs I care about, but I will not sacrifice the core investments we need to grow and create jobs. We’ll invest in medical research and clean energy technology. We’ll invest in new roads and airports and broadband access. We will invest in education and job training. We will do what we need to compete and we will win the future. …Just as we must find more savings in domestic programs, we must do the same in defense. Over the last two years, Secretary Gates has courageously taken on wasteful spending, saving $400 billion in current and future spending. I believe we can do that again. We need to not only eliminate waste and improve efficiency and effectiveness, but conduct a fundamental review of America’s missions, capabilities, and our role in a changing world. I intend to work with Secretary Gates and the Joint Chiefs on this review, and I will make specific decisions about spending after it’s complete. The third step in our approach is to further reduce health care spending in our budget. Here, the difference with the House Republican plan could not be clearer: their plan lowers the government’s health care bills by asking seniors and poor families to pay them instead. Our approach lowers the government’s health care bills by reducing the cost of health care itself. Already, the reforms we passed in the health care law will reduce our deficit by $1 trillion. My approach would build on these reforms. We will reduce wasteful subsidies and erroneous payments. We will cut spending on prescription drugs by using Medicare’s purchasing power to drive greater efficiency and speed generic brands of medicine onto the market. We will work with governors of both parties to demand more efficiency and accountability from Medicaid. We will change the way we pay for health care – not by procedure or the number of days spent in a hospital, but with new incentives for doctors and hospitals to prevent injuries and improve results. And we will slow the growth of Medicare costs by strengthening an independent commission of doctors, nurses, medical experts and consumers who will look at all the evidence and recommend the best ways to reduce unnecessary spending while protecting access to the services seniors need. Now, we believe the reforms we’ve proposed to strengthen Medicare and Medicaid will enable us to keep these commitments to our citizens while saving us $500 billion by 2023, and an additional one trillion dollars in the decade after that. And if we’re wrong, and Medicare costs rise faster than we expect, this approach will give the independent commission the authority to make additional savings by further improving Medicare. But let me be absolutely clear: I will preserve these health care programs as a promise we make to each other in this society. I will not allow Medicare to become a voucher program that leaves seniors at the mercy of the insurance industry, with a shrinking benefit to pay for rising costs. I will not tell families with children who have disabilities that they have to fend for themselves. We will reform these programs, but we will not abandon the fundamental commitment this country has kept for generations. That includes, by the way, our commitment to Social Security. While Social Security is not the cause of our deficit, it faces real long-term challenges in a country that is growing older. As I said in the State of the Union, both parties should work together now to strengthen Social Security for future generations. But we must do it without putting at risk current retirees, the most vulnerable, or people with disabilities; without slashing benefits for future generations; and without subjecting Americans’ guaranteed retirement income to the whims of the stock market. The fourth step in our approach is to reduce spending in the tax code. In December, I agreed to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans because it was the only way I could prevent a tax hike on middle-class Americans. But we cannot afford $1 trillion worth of tax cuts for every millionaire and billionaire in our society. And I refuse to renew them again. Beyond that, the tax code is also loaded up with spending on things like itemized deductions. And while I agree with the goals of many of these deductions, like home ownership or charitable giving, we cannot ignore the fact that they provide millionaires an average tax break of $75,000 while doing nothing for the typical middle-class family that doesn’t itemize. My budget calls for limiting itemized deductions for the wealthiest 2% of Americans – a reform that would reduce the deficit by $320 billion over ten years. But to reduce the deficit, I believe we should go further. That’s why I’m calling on Congress to reform our individual tax code so that it is fair and simple – so that the amount of taxes you pay isn’t determined by what kind of accountant you can afford. I believe reform should protect the middle class, promote economic growth, and build on the Fiscal Commission’s model of reducing tax expenditures so that there is enough savings to both lower rates and lower the deficit. And as I called for in the State of the Union, we should reform our corporate tax code as well, to make our businesses and our economy more competitive. This is my approach to reduce the deficit by $4 trillion over the next twelve years. It’s an approach that achieves about $2 trillion in spending cuts across the budget. It will lower our interest payments on the debt by $1 trillion. It calls for tax reform to cut about $1 trillion in spending from the tax code. And it achieves these goals while protecting the middle class, our commitment to seniors, and our investments in the future. In the coming years, if the recovery speeds up and our economy grows faster than our current projections, we can make even greater progress than I have pledged here. But just to hold Washington – and me – accountable and make sure that the debt burden continues to decline, my plan includes a debt failsafe. If, by 2014, our debt is not projected to fall as a share of the economy – or if Congress has failed to act – my plan will require us to come together and make up the additional savings with more spending cuts and more spending reductions in the tax code. That should be an incentive for us to act boldly now, instead of kicking our problems further down the road. So this is our vision for America – a vision where we live within our means while still investing in our future; where everyone makes sacrifices but no one bears all the burden; where we provide a basic measure of security for our citizens and rising opportunity for our children. Of course, there will be those who disagree with my approach. Some will argue we shouldn’t even consider raising taxes, even if only on the wealthiest Americans. It’s just an article of faith for them. I say that at a time when the tax burden on the wealthy is at its lowest level in half a century, the most fortunate among us can afford to pay a little more. I don’t need another tax cut. Warren Buffett doesn’t need another tax cut. Not if we have to pay for it by making seniors pay more for Medicare. Or by cutting kids from Head Start. Or by taking away college scholarships that I wouldn’t be here without. That some of you wouldn’t be here without. And I believe that most wealthy Americans would agree with me. They want to give back to the country that’s done so much for them. Washington just hasn’t asked them to. Others will say that we shouldn’t even talk about cutting spending until the economy is fully recovered. I’m sympathetic to this view, which is one of the reasons I supported the payroll tax cuts we passed in December. It’s also why we have to use a scalpel and not a machete to reduce the deficit – so that we can keep making the investments that create jobs. But doing nothing on the deficit is just not an option. Our debt has grown so large that we could do real damage to the economy if we don’t begin a process now to get our fiscal house in order. Finally, there are those who believe we shouldn’t make any reforms to Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Security out of a fear that any talk of change to these programs will usher in the sort of radical steps that House Republicans have proposed. I understand these fears. But I guarantee that if we don’t make any changes at all, we won’t be able to keep our commitments to a retiring generation that will live longer and face higher health care costs than those who came before. Indeed, to those in my own party, I say that if we truly believe in a progressive vision of our society, we have the obligation to prove that we can afford our commitments. If we believe that government can make a difference in people’s lives, we have the obligation to prove that it works – by making government smarter, leaner and more effective. Of course, there are those who will simply say that there’s no way we can come together and agree on a solution to this challenge. They’ll say the politics of this city are just too broken; that the choices are just too hard; that the parties are just too far apart. And after a few years in this job, I certainly have some sympathy for this view. But I also know that we’ve come together and met big challenges before. Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill came together to save Social Security for future generations. The first President Bush and a Democratic Congress came together to reduce the deficit. President Clinton and a Republican Congress battled each other ferociously and still found a way to balance the budget. In the last few months, both parties have come together to pass historic tax relief and spending cuts. And I know there are Republicans and Democrats in Congress who want to see a balanced approach to deficit reduction. I believe we can and must come together again. This morning, I met with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress to discuss the approach I laid out today. And in early May, the Vice President will begin regular meetings with leaders in both parties with the aim of reaching a final agreement on a plan to reduce the deficit by the end of June. I don’t expect the details in any final agreement to look exactly like the approach I laid out today. I’m eager to hear other ideas from all ends of the political spectrum. And though I’m sure the criticism of what I’ve said here today will be fierce in some quarters, and my critique of the House Republican approach has been strong, Americans deserve and will demand that we all bridge our differences, and find common ground. This larger debate we’re having, about the size and role of government, has been with us since our founding days. And during moments of great challenge and change, like the one we’re living through now, the debate gets sharper and more vigorous. That’s a good thing. As a country that prizes both our individual freedom and our obligations to one another, this is one of the most important debates we can have. But no matter what we argue or where we stand, we’ve always held certain beliefs as Americans. We believe that in order to preserve our own freedoms and pursue our own happiness, we can’t just think about ourselves. We have to think about the country that made those liberties possible. We have to think about our fellow citizens with whom we share a community. And we have to think about what’s required to preserve the American Dream for future generations. This sense of responsibility – to each other and to our country – this isn’t a partisan feeling. It isn’t a Democratic or Republican idea. It’s patriotism. …And I know that if we can come together, and uphold our responsibilities to one another and to this larger enterprise that is America, we will keep the dream of our founding alive in our time, and pass on to our children the country we believe in. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.” Posted in Economic Policy, Obama Tags: April 13th Budget Debt deficit economy Obama speech class="post-340 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-economic-policy category-foreign-policy category-war tag-economy tag-george-bush tag-military tag-military-spending tag-military-industry-complex tag-war"> The War Economy The military has become an integral part of our economy. What happens when something becomes incredibly profitable?…Will we get more of it, or less of it? Weaponry is one of the last remaining manufacturing sectors in the U.S. We are the largest producer and exporter of arms and munitions on earth. The U.S. Government spends more on the military than all other nations combined—about $1 trillion annually. The cost of our military adds tremendously to the deficit. Conservatives typically ignore military spending and favor cuts in social program instead (what they call “entitlements”; i.e., programs that assist people in need). Of course, it isn’t just conservatives. There are many in congress who have military jobs in their district or state that they aim to protect by voting to maintain (or increasing) military spending. Also, private military contractors make massive political donations that make peace candidates almost non-existent. With these elements in place, it makes it very difficult to rein in our ever-expanding military. We now have over half a million military personnel serving on more than 737 military bases all over the world. These bases are on more than 130 countries. According to the late military scholar, Chalmers Johnson, these bases facilitate the “policing” of the globe and are meant to ensure that no other nation, friendly or hostile, can ever challenge us militarily. He predicts that military spending will “sooner or later…threaten our nation with bankruptcy.” Many would argue that a strong military is necessary because it is a deterrent to potential adversaries. Really? Then explain to me why our tax-payer-funded military bases include a ski center, over 200 military golf courses, dozens of luxury jets, and many luxury hotels. Conservatives like to compare government (public) workers (such as military personnel and Wisconsin teachers) with private workers, insisting, for instance, that Wisconsin teacher, police, and firefighters’ pensions and wages are too generous compared to what private workers are paid (to justify why unions should be crushed). So I am sure they will not want to make the argument that military personnel should have private golf courses and other superfluous luxuries that those in the private sector do not enjoy. Come on! We don’t need 200 military golf courses…but we do need more and better-paid teachers! If we are sincere about the deficit, there are plenty of places in the military to cut–including out-dated Cold War-era nuclear facilities and weapons. In 1961, President Eisenhower delivered his farewell address. His message was a warning against the massive influence of the military: “We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. . . . This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. . . .Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. . . . In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist” (source). See the video of the speech: See this excellent interview with filmmaker Eugene Jarecki: (his film, “Why We Fight”, is included in its entirely at the end of the post.) Listen to this radio interview with Eugene Jarecki about the military-industrial complex: Unwarranted Influence Article #1 – Worldwide Military Bases Article #2 – Civilian Control of Military is a Joke Article #3 – The Hidden National Security Budget Néstor Kirchner of Argentina, NÉSTOR KIRCHNER: [translated] Bush told me the best way to revitalize the economy is war and that the United States has grown stronger with war. Those were his exact words. OLIVER STONE: Were there any eye-to-eye moments with President Bush that day, that night? NÉSTOR KIRCHNER: [translated] I say it’s not necessary to kneel before power. Nor do you need to be rude to say the things you have to say to those who oppose our actions. We had a discussion in Monterey. I said that a solution to the problems right now, I told Bush, is a Marshall Plan. And he got angry. He said the Marshall Plan is a crazy idea of the Democrats. He said the best way to revitalize the economy is war and that the United States has grown stronger with war. OLIVER STONE: War. He said that? NÉSTOR KIRCHNER: [translated] He said that. Those were his exact words. OLIVER STONE: Was he suggesting that South America go to war? NÉSTOR KIRCHNER: [translated] Well, he was talking about the United States. The Democrats had been wrong. All of the economic growth of the United States has been encouraged by the various wars. He said it very clearly. President Bush is—well, he’s only got six days left, right? OLIVER STONE: Yes. NÉSTOR KIRCHNER: [translated] Thank God. JUAN GONZALEZ: That was former President Kirchner. And these comments of President Bush that he says about the United States growing strong through war, I don’t think that’s ever been reported anywhere. JUAN GONZALEZ: Well, on this issue of war and, of course, the statement that President Bush made, which to me was startling, is, in essence, when our government goes to war, not only does it spend huge amounts of money that it turns over to the contractors who assist the war, but also technological development always increases sharply, sponsored by the government. And then, after the war, these same companies then use the new technological development to open up new arenas of business. So, in that sense, I think Bush was talking about how war— OLIVER STONE: Yeah. JUAN GONZALEZ: —forces the productive forces ahead and allows capitalism to continue to exploit. OLIVER STONE: It’s a hard way to die. The only way we can control the deficit, reduce war, and promote peace is by putting pressure on our government to change course. We need to “starve the beast” of the military-industrial complex, and perhaps create a Department of Peace, as others have suggested. To learn more about this important topic read on… » Read more: The War Economy Posted in Economic Policy, Foreign Policy, War Tags: economy George Bush military military spending military-industry complex War class="post-937 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-economic-policy tag-economy tag-infrastructure tag-obama"> Infrastructure: The Best Government Investment In his recent State of the Union speech, President Obama promoted infrastructure development as an essential component to remaining competitive in the world, for providing jobs, and keeping our economy strong. Here’s what he said: “Our infrastructure used to be the best, but our lead has slipped. South Korean homes now have greater Internet access than we do. Countries in Europe and Russia invest more in their roads and railways than we do. China is building faster trains and newer airports. Meanwhile, when our own engineers graded our nation’s infrastructure, they gave us a “D.” We have to do better. America is the nation that built the transcontinental railroad, brought electricity to rural communities, constructed the Interstate Highway System. The jobs created by these projects didn’t just come from laying down track or pavement. They came from businesses that opened near a town’s new train station or the new off-ramp. So over the last two years, we’ve begun rebuilding for the 21st century, a project that has meant thousands of good jobs for the hard-hit construction industry. And tonight, I’m proposing that we redouble those efforts. (Applause.) We’ll put more Americans to work repairing crumbling roads and bridges. We’ll make sure this is fully paid for, attract private investment, and pick projects based [on] what’s best for the economy, not politicians.” Infrastructure spending was only 7.5% of the 2009 stimulus. Yet one dollar invested in infrastructure has a return of $1.59 in GDP growth, while most tax cuts don’t even return 50 cents. “The performance of the nation’s transportation system is not keeping pace with the rate of growth of the demands on that system,” said Thomas J. Donohue, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “As our economy recovers, the nation’s transportation infrastructure must be prepared to meet the projected growth in freight and population. Yet our index shows that from now through 2015 there will be a rapid decline in the performance of the system if we continue business as usual. Right now we’re on an unsustainable path.” Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman explained, “The one thing we know is that the good thing about federal spending is it’s actually spent, that it actually does boost the economy. And if it’s infrastructure, it also leaves you with something of value afterwards. Whereas if you do it the way the Republicans want to do it, which is always tax breaks, first of all, it might not be not be spent or it might not help the economy at all. And then, you’ve got nothing to show for when the thing is over.” See this press release by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Chris Farrell’s Bloomberg article, “U.S. Infrastructure Spending: No Time to Get Cheap,” “Spending now on infrastructure stimulates the economy in a way that will help provide for long-term higher economic growth that will increase future tax revenue and bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio,” says David Aschauer, economist at Bates College. The most striking example in U.S. history of the economic payoff from infrastructure expenditures has been largely obscured with time: the building of the Erie Canal. It was a 363-mile-long canal dug through the middle of New York State. A bold adventure, it cost about $7 million, an astounding sum equal to more than a third of all the banking and insurance capital in New York State (and more than three-quarters of the federal budget in 1810). The Canal was started in 1817 and finished 8 years later, after much political wrangling. Perhaps even more striking (considering the current economic climate), after the panic of 1818 the price of money and labor fell sharply when the economy sank into recession. “By 1820, the canal commissioners were drawing contracts at prices 30 percent to 40 percent below what they had paid during the first three years of construction,” notes the late Peter Bernstein in Wedding of the Waters: The Erie Canal and the Making of a Great Nation. When it was done, the cost of commercial transport plunged. For instance, it had taken three weeks and $120 to send a ton of flour from Buffalo to New York City before the canal opened. Afterwards, it took 8 days and $6. “The Erie Canal would prove to be the most consequential public works project in American history and make New York, both state and city, the linchpins of the American economy for more than a century,” writes historian John Steele Gordon in An Empire of Wealth. (source) “In their 2005 paper, ‘Healthy Returns,’ they calculated that Americans gained more than $788 billion a year from transportation infrastructure and paid taxes and fees of $185 billion to support that infrastructure…’These findings establish clearly that strong commitments to surface transportation and the spending required to support it well serve America’s economic interest,’ they concluded. The construction industry is in a depression, with about 20% unemployment. A national infrastructure investment will immediate improve the lives of hundred of thousands of workers in the construction industry, it will revitalize this critical part of our economy, it will improve public safety by improving our run-down public infrastructure, and it will inject new money into the economy in a way that will give us a strong return. Enough fear-mongering about the deficit. We need a substantial injection of capital into infrastructure now. Republicans need to stop filibustering initiatives to pass infrastructure investments. And Democrats need to make this priority number one! It is a priority that will affect all Americans in a positive way. http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/pe/pfma06/EdwardGramlich.pdf http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/conf/conf34/conf34b.pdf http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2010/september/us-chamber-commerce-releases-first-ever-indexes Posted in Economic Policy Tags: economy infrastructure Obama Latest Tweet No public Twitter messages. Follow me on twitter here. speakingofdemocracy.com is a factual alternative to corporate media, discussing the most pressing issues of our day. Our purpose is to carve out a more-factual, less-partisan, niche in the political blogging world. The intention is not to defend a particular political party, ideology, or a particular issue, but to challenge the established narratives that are spread via the corporate media and the interests they represent, and to do so with academic research standards. 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__label__wiki	0.795538	0.795538	Central NC Around Raleigh Menu Hopping CLOSINGS ALERTSFull List of Active Closings 10 Places in North Carolina That Are Reportedly Haunted By Spectrum News Staff North Carolina PUBLISHED 8:40 AM ET Oct. 24, 2018 PUBLISHED October 24, 2018 @8:40 AM NORTH CAROLINA -- In the spirit of Halloween, we've rounded up places where people say they've experienced ghoulish encounters. From the mountains to the coast, here are 10 locations in the Tar Heel State which are allegedly haunted: Biltmore Estate (Asheville, N.C.) The Biltmore Estate, the largest privately-owned home in the United States, was build by Vanderbilt heir, George Washington Vanderbilt. Many believe that the founders of Biltmore Estate haunt the home. Many have reported seeing a “shadowy figure” in the Estate’s library, believed to be George, and others have reported his wife, Edith, whispering “George” through the halls . Workers and visitors to Biltmore have heard sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, music, and splashes from a swimming pool that is now empty. Lydia’s Bridge (Jamestown, N.C) People traveling between Jamestown and Greensboro on U.S. Highway 70-A said they’ve encountered the ghost of Lydia, a hitchhiker. If she is picked up, she gets into the car and vanishes before she reaches the requested destination. Various versions of the Lydia legend have been passed along over the years, and there are apparently eleven different versions of the story that are set in North Carolina. It is common for folks to go ghost hunting for Lydia near the bridge. In the book, Looking for Lydia, historians Michael Renegar and Amy Greer cite the 1923 death of Annie C. Johnson as the real life "Lydia," who died after a car flipped in 1920. Queens University (Charlotte, N.C) Queens University, located in Myers Park in Charlotte, is said to have multiple haunted locations on campus. Students said they have experienced paranormal activity in multiple buildings, including happenings like doors opening and closing by themselves and knocking sounds. Rí Rá Irish Pub (Charlotte, N.C.) The building in which Rí Rá is located is the second-oldest original building in uptown Charlotte. Rí Rá’s opened there in 1997. A red brick was found one night after an alarm system went off, and there were no signs of anyone entering the building to place it there. Ghost stories include a young girl practicing her ABCs above the host stand, beer taps turning on by themselves, and sewing machine sounds in the basement. The Carolina Inn (Chapel Hill, N.C.) Named one the Top 10 Haunted Hotels in America, at UNC’s The Carolina Inn, you can rent the room through the hotel’s Boo! Package, and spend a night with the room’s ghost, Dr. William Jacocks. The hotel says the room used to be the doctor’s permanent residence and that he is a “friendly spirit” that likes to play practical jokes. Staff and guests that have stayed in the room have witnessed an aroma of flowers and a loud ‘whizzing’ noise, among other things. They’ve also seen a “finely-attired, portly” man walking the halls, seeking an unlocked door. If a guest opens the door, he gets scared and runs away. The New Hanover County Library (Wilmington, N.C.) A haunted spot cited in Wilmington is the New Hanover County Library, which is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman believed to be a patron. Her apparition has been seen over the years, as well as people hearing footsteps, books moving and another ghost, who people believe was a man killed in a duel. His home stood on the current site of the library. North Carolina State Capitol (Raleigh, N.C.) Legend has it that “former inhabitants” of the building still remain. A former night watchman heard noises, which included screaming, doors slamming and books hitting the floor in the third-story library, breaking glass, keys jingling, and the sound of footsteps. The same watchman also said the manually-operated elevator went up and down by itself. A building curator also said that he heard sounds from the committee room off the Senate chamber, and when he went to go look, saw an apparition which dissolved. Fort Fisher (Wilmington, N.C.) Several legends have been talked about over the years surrounding the former Civil War fort, including the ghost of General W.H.C. Whitting, who sits atop the fort’s parapet, watching over. Another, referred to as a sentinel or “watcher in the woods” has been spotted as well, and other things have happened like doors opening without reason. A paranormal research time from Carthage, N.C. conducted an investigation at Fort Fisher, which captured images of several oddities, including one which could be the sentinel. The Devil’s Tramping Ground (Bear Creek N.C.) The ground is a circle area trapped between grass in Chatham County. According to legend, anything placed within the spot is thrown outside of it the next day so that the devil “has room to dance.” People have said they’ve seen red glowing eyes in the circle. A journalist also spent the night in a tent inside the circle a few years back and heard ghostly footsteps going around the tent. Dana Auditorium (Greensboro, N.C.) This auditorium on the campus of Guilford College was built in 1961. The spot where it stands can be traced back to the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War. During the war, the area was used as a field hospital and many say that a fallen solider haunts the space. There have also been reports of a little girl being spotted in the Choir Room, as well as a man in a brown suit in the halls. Spectrum News Text and Email Alerts Sign-up Get the latest news, sports and weather delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign up for email and text alerts.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2081
__label__wiki	0.924623	0.924623	2 newspapers appeal court decision allowing Louisiana State U. to withhold names of some presidential search applicants January 30, 2015 September 5, 2018 Mariana Viera LOUISIANA — Attorneys for two Louisiana newspapers have appealed to the state Supreme Court a lower court’s decision that said the state’s largest public university could withhold the names of most applicants during presidential searches. Attorneys for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune said in a letter to the Louisiana Supreme Court Thursday the appellate court was mistaken in its Dec. 30 decision that said Louisiana State University officials were required to release only the names of the four finalists for university president, according to The Advocate. The four finalists included F. King Alexander, who ultimately accepted the job. The attorneys argued the names of all 35 semifinalists are a matter of public record. According to The Advocate, the attorneys said the appellate court’s ruling “frustrated” the purpose of Louisiana’s open records law, which is to ensure all information of importance to the public is open for inspection. They argued LSU violated the state’s open records or open meetings laws by conducting the search in private. The appellate court’s decision rested on who is considered an applicant in a presidential search. The court ruled only those who expressed desire in the position were considered applicants. In 2013, District Court Judge Janice Clark ruled LSU would have to release the names of all presidential semifinalists and pay a $500-a-day fine for every day the university didn’t disclose the information requested by the papers. The newspapers are only urging the Supreme Court to compel the university to release the names of the 35 semifinalists, according to The Advocate. They are not asking for LSU to pay the contempt fines set by the district court. Tagged F. King Alexander, Louisiana, Louisiana State University, Louisiana Supreme Court, presidential search, recent-news, The Advocate, The Times-Picayune	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2082
__label__cc	0.555303	0.444697	STORIES FROM THE PAST told for the future Why We Tell Stories the original “Untold Stories” Cousin Connection The Cousin Finder ABELES, Rudolf, c. 1835, Austria/Hungary DAVIS/DAVIES, Thomas, 1816–1899 Llannelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales/Plain City, Weber, Utah, USA WIKOFF/WYCKOFF/WYKOFF, Auke “Aukey”, 1748 -1820 Monmouth Co., NJ The Second Wife’s Story Raising Voices Unsolved Histories A Quick Apology and a (very) Short Explanation Caroline Smart Smith Skeen, Frenz Denial Skeen, Mary Davis Skeen, Plain City, Utah, Plain City, Utah Cemetery, William Dolby Skeen What Happened to the Skeen Family? August 13, 2014 November 25, 2018 Too Many Hats I wrote the original Untold Stories more than ten years ago. At that time, there was little information to be found on the internet, and since I no longer lived in the area, I had to wait to get my questions about the Skeen family answered. I’ve been doing my research on my own free time, knowing that there was a story there. I haven’t been disappointed. Thanks to a few phone calls, Family Search, Ancestry.com, Plain City Utah.org, and one more trip to the Plain City Cemetery, I was able to find all the information that I needed to complete the Skeen’s story. The story coincides with the history of town itself, so it must be told as part of the town’s history. William Skeen. Courtesy of Ancestry.com William Dolby Skeen was born in 1839 in Steelville Pennsylvania, son to Joseph Skeen, and brother to Lyman Skeen, all of whom were primary settlers in the Plain City , Utah area. The three men were among a larger group of Mormon pioneers who had originally settled in Lehi, but left to scout out an area in Weber County for a place with rich land for farming and a good water source. The area now known as Plain City lies at the edge of a delta where the Weber River fans out upon entering the Great Salt Lake. These early pioneers found that they could use water from the river for irrigation, and culinary water could easily be found by sinking wells. It was a good spot with plenty of water for their small party of pioneers. This group of men staked claim to the land, and are therefore among the founders of Plain City. Caroline Skeen courtesy of Ancestry.com After lots had been divided, William Skeen returned to Lehi for the women and children. His wife Caroline, and their infant son Joseph William (a.k.a. William Jr.) enter the picture here. Caroline was born in England, and had immigrated west along with other Mormon pioneers. She was not yet nineteen years old when she took her child and followed her husband along with several other families to settle in their new home. William’s mother, Maria Amanda Dolby, had passed on a few short years before, and was buried in Lehi. William Skeen’s stone house, circa 1863. Most of the early settlers in Plain City built dugouts with “dirt floors and roofs, a fireplace in one end, and a door and a window in the other . . . Sagebrush was used for fuel, also for light” (Plain City History Written by Daughters of Utah Pioneers). However, Joseph Skeen built a log house–the first in Plain City. His son William also built a log house for Caroline and the baby. Not long after, Joseph Skeen began assisting homesteaders in building adobe structures. Joseph Skeen is accredited with “having made the first adobes in Utah. He learned the process in California while with the Mormon Battalion and introduced it first into Salt Lake” (Plain City History by DUP). Although William did add an adobe section to his log home, his growing family didn’t stay there long. “In 1862 or 1863, he built a stone house of rock hauled from the hot springs northeast of Plain City” (Plain City History by DUP). It was the first house made of stone in town. By that time, William and Caroline had three children, and in 1864 a fourth was born. That house still stands, and is in use today. Once families had begun to settle in to their homes in Plain City, it became necessary to establish a way to make a living. The Skeen boys (William and Lyman) joined their father in the lucrative business of animal husbandry, specializing in horses and beef. William owned a couple of race horses, said to be famous in the area. He built a race track at the south end of town so he and his brother Lyman could race the horses brought by Lyman from Europe. William and his young family seemed to be doing quite well for themselves in Plain City. They followed the Mormon faith, and in 1865 William did as many faithful Mormons did at the time–he entered into polygamy. William’s second wife was a 19 year-old Welsh girl named Mary Davis–another immigrant. Although church leaders publicly abolished polygamy in 1890, William and Mary remained married, as most other polygamists in Utah did at the time. Eventually, the old polygamist marriages died off, and church leaders denounced the practice. On a side note: today any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (formerly known by the nick-name “Mormon”) who enters into a polygamous marriage is excommunicated, and only fringe groups actively practice polygamy. Mary Davis Skeen and children born after the tragedy. Courtesy of Ancestry.com Mary’s story fascinates me. I wonder how she felt coming into Plain City and entering into marriage as the second wife. History has not treated polygamous wives kindly–especially those who were not the first wives. It was difficult to find any information that mentioned Mary in the several histories of Plain City, although Caroline is nearly always mentioned in connection to William. It was not until I returned to the cemetery for a second look at the family memorial that I realized there was a second wife. This seems unfair to me, given that so much of this story centers around Mary and her children. In 1868, William sold the stone house and moved his family to a larger home in town. At that time, Caroline had five children and Mary had an infant son. With two young wives, and six kids already, it seems clear that an even larger home would be necessary. By the fall of 1870, Caroline had given birth to another child, making six altogether. Mary now had three, and both women were expecting, bringing the total number of children to nine, with two on the way. I could find no evidence anywhere of how smallpox came to Plain City, but I find it interesting that the Plain City epidemic coincided with a European pandemic of the same disease. The fatalities in Plain City were high compared to the population, and in Europe over half a million died. I see no relation betwen the two epidemics, although it is also interesting to note that vaccinations were available but not yet widely used. I think it is likely that William, Caroline and Mary had either survived the disease as children or were previously inoculated. A pest house in England. http://www.deddington.org.uk/history/buildings/pesthouse The first case of Plain City smallpox appeared in September of 1870, at which point all meetings in town were cancelled. It was a long, lonely winter for the residents of Plain City, since meetings were not resumed until March. When the epidemic first appeared, the townspeople quickly constructed a hospital of sorts, a pest house, about a mile outside of town. Not much mention is made of the pest house, except to say that the first pest house was poorly built, and was later torn down and reconstructed. The purpose of a pest house is simply isolation. Patients suffering from communicable diseases were left alone in the pest house to either die or recover. Food and water was brought in on a daily basis, but no one stayed to take care of those inside. Small pox. Image courtesy of stephenornes.com. The incubation period for smallpox is about two weeks, the disease itself lasts two to three weeks, and the first death in the Skeen household occurred in late November. Since the quarantine began in September, it is probable that the disease was inadvertently brought into the home by an adult helping other families suffering from the epidemic. Six year-old Jane probably contracted the disease sometime in mid October, well after the quarantine took effect. Little Jane’s life came to an end on November twenty-third. Not three weeks later, Caroline gave birth to a baby boy. As I studied family records, I found that the only mention of a child dying at birth, for either woman, is of Caroline’s son. Just two days after this somber delivery, Caroline lost another daughter–her ten year-old namesake. I wonder if the stress of having the epidemic in the household caused Caroline to deliver prematurely? As I mentioned previously, Mary had three children at this time–all boys: Elisha (4), Benjamin (3) and Thomas (20 months). Elisha and Benjamin took their last breaths on January 2, and Thomas succumbed to the illness a few days later on January 8. Mary’s young family was wiped out in less than a week. Given the young ages of Mary’s children (and possibly even Caroline’s), I can’t imagine that their parents would have left them in the pest house to fend for themselves. It must have been that the children were cared for at home–resulting in even more exposure to the disease. During this time, William reached out to community members for help. Dinners for the family were made and left at the doorstep, but no one dared knock on the door or come in. William asked the elders of the church to come and give the children priesthood blessings but no one came. No one would help him bury his children and he was not allowed to bring their bodies to the graveyard until all activity in town had ceased–at night. Townspeople were afraid for their lives. William was burying his little children on his own, in the dead of night, in the coldest part of the year. I can only imagine his anguish. The tall monument to the left is the Skeen family marker containing names and dates. To the right are the children. After Mary’s children died, Caroline lost two more: seven year-old Amanda and thirteen year-old William Jr. I think that William Sr’s biggest heartbreak must have come as he buried the babe-in-arms that accompanied him and his young wife as they settled in Plain City. William Jr. was the very first child born, and the very last to succumb to smallpox. Out of nine children, only two survived: eight year-old James, and one year-old Mary Ann. The big house must have seemed deathly quiet after losing seven children. We can see the evidence of the family’s pain in the birth of Mary’s son born sixteen days after William Jr.’s death. William insisted that the boy be named after his heart-break: Frenz Denial (friends’ denial). It was so hard for William to get over his pain that he quit attending church for awhile, and was later excommunicated. His rights and blessings within the church were restored posthumously. Both wives went on to bear more children for William, although it was once again Mary who suffered grievous loss: her six year-old namesake died in the fall of 1878. If you look closely at the photo above, you can count nine small headstones to the right of the tall monument. These are for each of the seven small-pox victims, Caroline’s infant son born in the midst of the epidemic, and Mary Jr. Three spaces were saved next to the nine children so their parents could keep their children company when they finally left his world. You can see the parents’ graves in the photograph–the three flat headstones between the memorial and the headstones of the children. As I said in Untold Stories, there are other graves in the cemetery bearing dates ranging from September 1870 to February 1871. Several families in the town were hit hard by the small-pox epidemic of 1870-1871. None one were hit harder than the Skeens. When I wrote Untold Stories, I said that I desperately wanted to tell this story. There is still much more to Mary Davis Skeen’s story. Just recently I came into contact with one of William and Mary’s descendants. I feel that I have just touched the tip of the iceberg here, and I am more determined than ever that Mary’s story really belongs in book form. I can’t wait to speak more with the great-granddaughter of William and Mary Skeen. Finally, her story can be told. Tagged cemeteries, Immigration, small pox Published by Too Many Hats Writer, researcher, genealogy aficionado, deep thinker, wife, mother, and grandmother with a passion for history and blogging. I might be spread a little too thin. View all posts by Too Many Hats Previous postWhat I found in Plain City Next postHow my Mormon Mom learned she was a Jew 10 thoughts on “What Happened to the Skeen Family?” Pingback: a free gift for you \| Untold Stories kuliner bandung says: І apρreciate, cause I ԁiscovered just what I was taking a look for. You have ended mу 4 day long hunt! GoԀ Bless you man. Have a nice day. Bye kowsdontski says: You’re welcome! BTW I’m a woman 😉 Lisa Perkins says: I just now came across your blog, my third great grandmother is Caroline Skeen. I didn’t know anything about the tragic events of her children. It makes my heart break for her!! There are some additional family mysteries that nobody has been able to resolve. I really appreciate your efforts, it was a treasure to find this information. Your writing is beautiful, I am looking forward to reading through your entire blog. Miss Quoted says: Thanks so much. I have been off of the internet for a few months, but I am repeatedly compelled to return to this project. I do know a bit more about the Skeen family now, including what happened to Elisha David– Stay tuned. Pingback: What I found in Plain City – Stories From the Past Pingback: Life Gets in the Way. – Stories From the Past thegenealogygirl says: I’m so glad you shared these links with me. I had never heard about this despite descending from Lyman. My Grandpa, Lyman’s great-grandson got a degree in animal husbandry and ranched with his father, brothers, and sons for a time before getting a PhD in psychology. Cattle ranching ran deep in our family. David Tracy Skeen says: Very well written. A couple of items that may need more research. History of Plain City identifies Joseph Skeen rather than William Dolby as being in the party that established Pain City. William Dolby would have only been 19 years old at the time. Also, my research shows that Joseph Skeen was part of a sick detachment from the Mormon Battalion and was sent to Pueblo Colorado and from there eventually went to Utah for a few months before going back to Winter Quarters to meet his family and bring them to Utah. It should also be noted that while Amanda died in Lehi, her remains were eventually moved to Plain City Cemetery to be placed next to Joseph. I first noticed this event in about 2005 or so. According to Plain City History Written by and in Possession of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, Plain City Camp, Joseph Skeen Jr., son of Joseph Skeen of Pennsylvania, was indeed part of the 1858 survey party along with his son, William Dolby Skeen (paragraph 4). As you mentioned, Joseph was a widower by the time Plain City was founded, so he arrived with several children, married and single, to settle the area in 1959 (list of 1959 Plain City Pioneers of 1859; “Came in the Fall of 1859”}. Joseph Skeen’s daughter-in-law, Caroline, and his infant grandson William Jr., were in that same group which was led by none other than William himself (paragraph17). That same list from the aforementioned article includes Joseph’s wife but does not say whether or not this is a second marriage, as his first wife Amanda died, and was buried in, Lehi. I was under the impression that Amanda’s body remains in Lehi (as told to me by William Skeen’s great-great granddaughter). I would be interested to see your documentation on this change. William’s wife, Caroline, and his brother Lyman were the only remaining family members counted as pioneers at the 50th anniversary celebration of the city’s founding. I did not mention Joseph Skeen or any others his family, including Lyman, due to the fact that my focus was on the fate of William’s children. I don’t recall any other of his close family members being included as victims of the small pox epidemic of 1870. http://plaincityutah.org/plain-city-camp/ http://plaincityutah.org/50th-anniversary/ https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K2HX-FTH names and places names and places Select Category cemeteries graveyard Jewish Cemeteries Linden Grove Cemetery, Covington, KY Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague Plain City, Utah Cemetery St. Bonaventure Cemetery Wharton Cemetery Cousin Connection Project cousins customs and traditions Christmas Eve Christmas Stollen Christmas Trees Navajo language Recipe Welsh Maritime History Eisteddfod genealogy tips Family History Conference genealogy brick walls organization patronymics groups Ashkenazim Baby Boomers Dutch Reformed Church Generation X Navajo Sephardim U.S. Civil War Holocaust Kennecott Copper marginalized groups autism Newsletter places Allegany New York Bratislava, Slovakia Bucklige Welt, Austria Burgenland, Austria Burry Port, Wales Burton Upon Trent, England Chicago, Ill Covington, Kentucky Groton, Connecticut Herriman, Utah Honolulu, HI Kentucky Northern Kentucky Llanelly Wales Mexico Navajo Reservation, Arizona Olean, New York painted hills Pennsylvania Pitten, Niederösterreich, Austria Pittsburgh, PA Plain City, Utah Portville, New York Potter County Pennsylvania Pozsony, Hungary Pressburg, Austria-Hungary Wales Raising Voices stories ghost stories Lark, Utah Ruth Contreras Untold Stories surnames Abeles Bartram Berfield Card Damron Daniel Franziska Daniel Davies/Davis Giselle Daniel Helene Daniel Boe Hermine Daniel Jordan Josephine Daniel Rothsprack Kubiak Kwiatkowski Loew Polhemus Rosa Daniel Rothsprack Rudolf Abeles Skeen Caroline Smart Smith Skeen Frenz Denial Skeen Mary Davis Skeen William Dolby Skeen Sterling Szadlowski Walker Wightman Edward Wightman George Wightman Valentine Wightman Wikoff Wilhelm Heinrich Dietrich Rothsprack William Auckey Wyckoff Williams Wyckoff Wyckoff combine with Wyckoff Wykoff Yee Thomas Davies 1816-1899 Uncategorized Emily Dickinson Mark Twain Robert Lax Follow STORIES FROM THE PAST on WordPress.com Stories From the Past is currently an individually owned and operated endeavor. 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__label__cc	0.644483	0.355517	People Map Create a Personalized A&S Viewbook Visit A&S A&S FAQs AP/IB Credit Transfer Explore all A&S majors and minors A&S Viewbook A&S Voices Mathematical and Natural Sciences Living Learning Programs A&S Courses Accelerated Opportunities Dual Degree in STEM+World Language Exploratory Studies myA&S Visit The College of Arts & Sciences As the flagship university of the state, UK is the primary depository for Kentucky’s archaeological collections. Our majors have the opportunity to intern (i.e., pursue independent research projects) with the faculty and staff because of our significant archaeological collections. They can do so through the museum (see Nr. 2) or the Program for Archaeological research, which conducts archaeological surveys and excavations through contracts with the state. This provides opportunities for students to get hands on experience in excavation, laboratory analysis, or museum work. The Department of Anthropology encompasses a museum (the William S. Webb Museum of Anthropology) with approximately 9,000 collections containing more than 2 million artifacts! This provides internship opportunities for our majors that are unique in the state! The Department of Anthropology also encompasses the Office of State Archaeology, with a library that holds approximately 8,500 volumes on Kentucky archaeology and records on approximately 23,000 archaeological sites in the commonwealth. Here, too, are unique opportunities for our majors to conduct independent study or to complete an internship. The Department of Anthropology encompasses a vibrant undergraduate student organization. Called Umoja (KiSwahili for “unity”), membership allows students to explore their interests in anthropology outside the classroom. Member of Umoja host a number of events that promote the study of anthropology, that enrich the community, and that facilitate student-faculty interaction outside the classroom. Joining and active participation is an excellent way to meet peers that share your own interests! Almost every summer, the Department of Anthropology offers a field school in Archaeology. Conducted during the 8-week summer session, the 6 credit hour course provides students with hands-on experience in archaeological excavation methods. Fors students considering the field of archaeology as a career, field school is a crucial first step in gaining first hand knowledge and expertise. Past sites include: Camp Nelson, KY; Sapelo Island, GA; and the Carter Robinson Mississippian mound and village site, VA. Biology is the largest major at UK. Research in Biology brings more than $6 million to the University. The new Biology curriculum prepares students for a wide array of careers including scientific research, medicine, allied health such as nursing, nutrition and physical therapy, forest rangers, pharmaceutical sales and many others. Biology houses the international Ambystoma stock center. Biology has a unique urban field station called the Ecological Research Facility. The Chemistry Department has 34 faculty members, all of whom have PhDs and do research. Three majors are offered: BS - Traditional, BS - Biochemistry, BS - Materials and BA. Classes in the first two years are large, but individual help is easy to get. Majors normally do independent research under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Majors go on to professional or graduate school (including some of the best) or to full-time employment. English is one of the most popular majors in the college of Arts & Sciences. Many of our students study abroad, and earn credit for doing internships in publishing, media, and education. Some participate in Honors, become Chellgren Fellows, or Fellows at the Gaines Center for the Humanities. In courses in literature, film, and creative writing, students use not just their rational minds, but their emotions and subjectivity. We teach you to think critically and creatively about the human experience. This makes you a better person! Our faculty is top-notch: three of the last five Kentucky Poet Laureates were from the English Dept; our faculty regularly win teaching awards, including the Provost Award for Outstanding Teaching; and many of our professors are experts in their fields and publish books and articles in well-respected, peer-reviewed presses and journals. Getting a degree in English will give you skills that apply widely in today's job market: reading, research, writing, and communicating with others. After graduation our students have gone on to jobs in business, the arts, publishing, education, law, and much more. Students in English have a lively community and have several clubs--Sigma Tau Delta (an international English Honor Society), Graphite (for creative writers)--and contribute to the undergraduate literary journal, Shale. There are many ways to get involved. Gender and Women's Studies Courses with Interdisciplinary, transnational Material Research focus on body, transnational, queer, & popular culture issues Student-Friendly Atmosphere; Student-Friendly Spaces Opportunities for Connections between Courses and Experiential Learning Active connections to student groups including VIP Center. Small classes and extensive individual attention from faculty Many study abroad opportunities with scholarships available Classes in German and English; culture classes on film, pop culture, business and the economy Faculty assistance to pursue internships and other professional opportunities Kaffeestundes, “Coffee Hours”, are hosted by German graduate students and features a presentation in English on some aspect of German culture once a month. All students are welcomed to attend and enjoy some German pastries and coffee. Hispanic Studies is a top-ten program nation-wide: Our doctoral program was ranked in the top ten of our discipline according to the Faculty Productivity Index (Academic Analytics, 2007). Hispanic Studies is devoted to Spanish, Latin American, and Transatlantic Studies (3 faculty in Language, Second Language Acquisition and Hispanic Linguistics; 5 in Spanish Studies; 4 in Latin American Studies; and 5 lecturers in different fields) Hispanic Studies enjoys a well-established concentration in Film & Visual Studies (Spain and Latin America), a film series, and the participation of renowned film makers. Hispanic Studies established a departmental Spanish Honors program in 2008-09 that is producing cutting-edge research among our highly-motivated undergraduates. Hispanic Studies is proud of its students, its diverse faculty, its interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and learning, and its outreach to the Hispanic community in Central Kentucky. Six current members of the history faculty have received the “Great Teacher” Award, and several others have won the Provost’s Outstanding Teacher Award. Faculty are engaged in a wide variety of disciplines, and have written some of the standard works in their fields. History is a great major for pre-law students, as well as those contemplating a career in government or teaching. Students are given the opportunity to take part and become a member in Phi Alpha Theta, The History Honor Society. The history curriculum is designed with 4 goals in mind: to enhance writing and communication skills, acquaint students with the basic tools of interpretation, enhance critical thinking and analytical skills, & develop student awareness of the diversity and complexity of human social, cultural, political, and economic institutions. . As one of the youngest majors in the College of Arts and Sciences, the International Studies Major began in Fall, 2007, and has grown extremely quickly to more than 365 IS majors today! This fast growth is a testament to the interest and recognition of students in Kentucky and surrounding states in the importance of being globally connected in today’s world. The IS major requires at least one more year of a world language than is required by the College of Arts and Sciences, but many majors like the challenge of learning languages so much that they learn one very well, and then try another! The vast majority of IS majors study or conduct an internship (a work or volunteer experience) abroad. Through UK’s Education Abroad office, UK students can study abroad for an intersession, a summer, a semester or a year. There is competitive scholarship money available for IS majors through IS, the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Education Abroad office. And students loans can be used while having an abroad term. So take advantage of the extracurricular opportunities afforded by your undergraduate career at UK! The IS major includes NoGS, the Network of Global Scholars, which is the student organization connected to the IS program. NoGS members share an interest in all things international, organizing activities, liaising with foreign students studying at UK, and sharing meals of international cuisine. This is a great way to meet peers with your same interests. Get involved in NoGS! Every spring, IS offers a service-learning course called Internship in International Studies. Students intern with an internationally focused business or agency in the Bluegrass, volunteering there for approximately 7 hours per week. The internship experience is reinforced through class readings and weekly seminars where participants share their real world experiences. In the past, students have volunteered to help resettle brand new refugees through Kentucky Refugee Ministries. They have tutored English as a second language students, and they have offered workshops for new refugees on topics of how to manage life in America! Offer a rigorous undergraduate (B.A. and B.S.) program in a friendly environment. Offer a joint undergraduate program in Mathematics Economics with the Department of Economic in the Gatton College of Business. Over 60 students in the graduate program which offers both Masters and Ph.D. degrees. The courses of study are available in all major areas of pure and applied math. Have a student exchange program with the Math Department at the City University of Hong Kong. Students have access to the Mathskeller, a convenient place for any UK student to hang out between classes, socialize, and get free tutoring in numerous math courses. No appointments necessary. Military Science (Army ROTC) UK Army ROTC is the #1 Leadership Development Program on UK’s Campus. Prepares UK students to be U.S. Army Commissioned Officers, while earning their degree of choice. Develops students academically, physically, morally, and militarily through challenging, real-world curriculum and practical application. Provides exciting, fully-funded cultural immersion experiences. Recent destinations include Argentina, Panama, Ghana, Tanzania, India, and Slovakia. Take advantage of unique leadership development training to include parachuting, rappelling, and other team competitions. Modern and Classical Languages We offer courses in ten languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, and Russian. We offer BA programs in Arabic, Chinese, Classics, French, German, Japanese, and Russian. We offer a joint BA/BS program in Foreign Languages and International Economics in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. We offer minors in Arabic & Islamic Studies and Folklore and Mythology We strongly encourage and help our students to study abroad. Philosophy deals with the “big questions” such as the nature of reality, the possibility of knowledge, and the purpose of human life. Philosophy also teaches practical skills such as how to analyze an argument, how to articulate and defend your views, and how to read and think critically. Philosophy majors score higher on the GRE verbal and analytic components than students in any other major. The UK Philosophy department has a well-balanced program including specialists in the history of philosophy, ethics, political philosophy, metaphysics, and epistemology. We have recently hired several young faculty with interests as diverse as the ethics of pornography, the philosophy of race, and the nature of space and time. Home of the MacAdam Student Observatory Home of the UK Center for Advanced Materials Active Chapter of the Society of Physics Students Substantial Departmental Scholarship opportunities for majors/minors Small class sizes for all upper division majors courses 16 faculty members Around 500 majors Pi Sigma Alpha, undergraduate student honorary Well-rounded curriculum Popular major for students into in going to law school Various, interesting research opportunities, ranging from brain activity to social behavior Many internship opportunities Capstone courses with small class size Senior thesis opportunity Strong Ph.D. program (e.g., # 1 nationally ranked clinical Ph.D. program in scholarly productivity) Sociology faculty are internationally recognized researchers in areas such as globalization, the environment, criminology, and inequality. Our department has an outstanding teaching reputation and includes several award-winning instructors. We expand education beyond the classroom with service-learning, internships, study abroad, and other innovative courses. Sociology faculty are active members of interdisciplinary research centers and programs across campus, studying topics such as drug and alcohol use, children at risk, violence against women and Appalachia. Our new criminology minor is easily coupled with a Sociology major and offers excellent preparation for a career in law and criminal justice. ‹ A&S FAQs up Career Opportunities › 202 Patterson Office Tower Lexington KY, 40506-0027 Enter your linkblue username. Enter your linkblue password.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2085
__label__wiki	0.677923	0.677923	British Columbia Accessibility Act Last updated: 2020-07-21 — Accessibility Accessibility in British Columbia and the Accessibility 2024 Plan What is the British Columbia Accessibility Act? Website accessibility and the British Columbia Accessibility Act In 2014, the Government of British Columbia announced its Accessibility 2024 plan. The goal is to make British Columbia (B.C.) the most progressive province in Canada for people with disabilities by 2024. Included in the plan is the objective to make internet access in B.C. the most accessible in Canada. The Government of British Columbia has committed to ensuring its website and online content meet the international web standards, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0 AA). In 2018, four years after the Accessibility 2024 plan was revealed, B.C. proposed the British Columbia Accessibility Act, also known as Bill M 219. The idea is to establish accessibility standards law in the province. Leading the charge are a group of volunteers throughout the province, called Barrier-Free BC. The purpose of the act is to achieve accessibility by preventing and removing barriers in: The delivery and receipt of goods and services Public transportation and transportation infrastructure A prescribed activity or undertaking The act will also facilitate the implementation of accessibility standards with the goal of achieving an accessible British Columbia by 2024. The Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction of British Columbia, the Honourable Shane Simpson, stated that the legislation will complement Canada's Accessible Canada Act, which passed in June 2019. Website accessibility falls under the purpose of removing barriers in information and communication. Since the Government of British Columbia is adhering to internationally accepted web standards (WCAG 2.0 AA), it is expected that the act will include the same requirements. In May 2018, the British Columbia Accessibility Act had its first reading. To gather feedback in preparation for the development of the law and its standards and policies, Shane Simpson held a public engagement from September 16 to November 29, 2019, allowing citizens to provide feedback and ideas to help inform the legislation. What is a Manual Accessibility Audit? What is Bill C-81, The Accessible Canada Act? Nova Scotia Accessibility Act The Accessibility for Manitobans Act (AMA) Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Website Compliance Schedule a time to talk to us about analyzing, optimizing, and protecting your digital presence from a single platform Schedule a time to talk to us Change Region: Canada (English ) Sitemprove is a registered trademark of Siteimprove A/S Siteimprove on Xing	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2089
__label__wiki	0.904013	0.904013	Michael Anthony Says He Has Reconnected With Alex Van Halen By Andrew Magnotta @AndrewMagnotta Jan 13, 2021 Longtime Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony was never able to reconnect with Eddie Van Halen before the guitarist's death this past fall, but he says the same won't be true for himself and Alex Van Halen. Anthony parted ways with Van Halen in 2006 and for years lamented the rift between singer Sammy Hagar and himself and the two Van Halen brothers. Aside from running into Alex years ago on vacation, Anthony had no contact with his former bandmates for close to 15 years. Anthony said in a recent radio interview that he spoke with Alex soon after getting the news of Eddie's passing. The conversation left the bassist hopeful about their relationship going forward. "I spoke briefly with Alex right after Eddie passed, but I wanted them to have their privacy," Anthony said. "...Alex has been pretty much grieving, or however you wanna put it, pretty much been to himself. So I'm just kind of letting that happen, and I'm sure at one point we'll talk again here or even get together." Alex and Eddie were practically inseparable for their near-50-year musical career together, rarely performing without one another. The drummer released one brief statement following his brother's death and has yet to grant any interviews, leaving press relations to Eddie's son Wolfgang Van Halen, who recently launched his long-awaited solo career. Wolfgang replaced Anthony in Van Halen 14 years ago. He told Howard Stern in November that he was looking forward to Van Halen's planned 2019 reunion tour so he could finally get to know his predecessor. While the two have yet to speak directly, they have texted "and everything is all good, obviously," Anthony added. Hagar and Anthony revealed Wednesday morning in a conversation with Q104.3 New York that Eddie's family is planning a tribute concert in his memory and that they will take part, along with other former Van Halen members and friends of the band.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2090
__label__cc	0.589516	0.410484	The Parish Third World Group was established in 1989. For over 30 years we have been fundraising and have donated one and a half million pounds to help people living in extreme poverty in developing countries. All money raised has gone directly for the relief of poverty – we do not spend any of it on administration. We are registered with the Charity Commission for NI (Number 102818) and recognised by HMRC for gift aid purposes. The facts about poverty are stark. Millions of people do not have enough food or access to clean water or basic healthcare because of poverty. Twenty two thousand children die every day as a result of severe malnourishment or disease due to poverty – that’s the equivalent of around 25 primary schools the size of St Bride’s being wiped out on a daily basis. Millions of people mainly women and children, are victims of human trafficking and suffer degrading and cruel treatment because of poverty. All those people suffer and die far removed from the scrutiny of the world. They are invisible. Our Group supports 17 projects in developing countries in Africa, Asia and South America. (https://stbrigids3wg.com/people-we-help/). We also respond to some one-off requests for funding. Last year we were able to send out £127,000 to help people get the basic necessities of life that we all take completely for granted such as simple food to live on, clean water, basic healthcare, education and training for work to support families and provide them a better future. Our beneficiaries are very grateful for the generosity of St Brigid’s parishioners and friends. All the reports we get from them are heart rending, inspirational and challenging. They tell us they couldn’t continue their good work without this help. For further information on such support click on the link here below. Messages from some of our beneficiaries Normally we would hold our Annual Collection in September, bread and soup lunches in Lent and Advent and table quizzes in January and October. We also organise practise interviews each November for students applying for medical school and around 90 doctors and other professionals give their services on a voluntary basis – parents/students are invited to make a donation to the group. We would meet at 7.30 pm in the Parish Hall on the first Monday of each month from September to April. Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, all our normal meetings and fundraising events have been put on hold for now. So we are now trying to continue to fundraise as best we can. On the People We Help page you can find a full list of the projects giving more details of each one. And you can help the work of the Group in various ways – see How Can You Help? And why might you do this? See Why Support Us? You can keep up to date on our news as it happens by following the instructions on the Keep Up to Date page The content of this site is managed and moderated by members of the Group. Every effort is made to ensure that content is relevant and appropriate but if you have any concerns about content or want to get in touch with us, please contact us through the Parish Office or email stbrigids3wg@gmail.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2094
__label__cc	0.521934	0.478066	Tag Archives: Elijah Wood Cooties (2014) Review Cooties (2014) Directed by Jonathan Milott & Cary Murnion Starring: Elijah Wood, Alison Pill, Rainn Wilson, Jack McBrayer, Jorge Garcia A mysterious virus hits an isolated elementary school, transforming the kids into a feral swarm of mass savages. An unlikely hero must lead a motley band of teachers in the fight of their lives. I know I’ve been reviewing horror movies for all of October but I didn’t actually watch any of them in October. I’ve finally watched my first horror movie this month! I watched Cooties on Thursday night. I have to say it was one hell of a disappointment, especially as it’s the only damn horror I’ve watched in quite a while. I’ll keep this review short. I love a good horror comedy (Yes, I did a Top Ten HERE). I especially love a good zombie comedy (as you’ll see on that list, I chose several ZomComs). ZomCom! I love that term. And I love that there’s actually a ZomRomCom with Warm Bodies… By the way – I know this is “virus” movie and not strictly a “zombie” movie. Whatever. It’s still a zombie movie. And possibly the weakest of all the ZomComs that I’ve seen. What can I say? Mainly that Cooties wasn’t very funny. I had a couple of very small giggles & that was it. For me, the comedy part of a horror comedy is far more important than the horror part, so… I expect more than a couple small giggles. This is no Shaun Of The Dead! As for the horror part, I wouldn’t say Cooties managed to get this right either. It’s mainly some “gross-out” low budget effects & there’s no real sense of fear for these teachers trapped in a school while the children go berserk. I’ll say that I hadn’t watched this sooner as, even though it’s a comedy, I still didn’t like the thought of them having to kill a bunch of kids. They did what I expected: They made the kids complete & utter assholes so you wouldn’t feel so bad! They did at least make two kids likable, who aren’t infected & end up with the teachers. I was glad about that. Just FYI for the childless or the child-haters watching this: Kids aren’t usually evil, people! If they’re bratty, it’s probably because their parents are c^ts. Yeah, I used that word since it was used in this movie. 😉 Meh. Sorry. I know I don’t have a lot to say about this one. I was just kind of bored. Elijah Wood, Alison Pill & Rainn Wilson did a decent enough job with a weak script but I didn’t care about the rest of the characters. Oh, wait – I also kind of liked Jorge Garcia’s stoner character. I kept going “Hurley!” because I loved him in Lost. Remember those first couple of seasons when Lost was good?! The ZomCom I’d say this is most similar to is Life After Beth. That was also meh. But I think I ever so slightly preferred that one… By the way, I thought of a positive comment to add so I don’t sound so negative. I do think this Cooties poster is pretty great and I liked how it appeared outside a cinema in the film, next to a poster of A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night: Edit to say that I watched another horror movie after writing this review. I watched the Netflix adaptation of Stephen King’s 1922. I’ll be reviewing that on Monday followed by a review on Tuesday of Gerald’s Game. I’ll then do a few days of Mike Flanagan movie reviews before ending on the 30th & 31st with reviews of my two favorite horrors that I watched at home this year. Neither of those films are in English. You need to start making better horror movies, Hollywood! Tagged 5.5/10, Alison Pill, Cary Murnion, Chicken, Comedy, Cooties, Elijah Wood, Film, Horror, Horror Comedy, Jack McBrayer, Jonathan Milott, Jorge Garcia, Movie Review, Movie Reviews, Movies, Rainn Wilson, Review, Reviews, Virus, Zombies My Top Ten Wooden Movie Actors/Characters I’m just messing with you! 😉 I had 16 to choose from for this list and I couldn’t really leave six out so I’ll count down from 16 (but I’ll still call it a “Top Ten” to stay consistent with my other lists. Ha! I’m so annoying). So here are My Top Ten Wooden Movie Actors/Characters (and my favorite film from each). But counting down from 16 just to be awkward… 16. James Woods My Favorite Movie: Videodrome 15. Kurtwood Smith My Favorite Movie: RoboCop 14. Shailene Woodley My Favorite Movie: The Spectacular Now or The Fault In Our Stars 13. Joanne Woodward My Favorite Movie: Oh dear – the only one I’ve seen is Philadelphia! But I so love her long, romantic marriage to Paul Newman. Look at them! So beautiful… 🙂 12. Evan Rachel Wood My Favorite Movie: Across The Universe but The Wrestler is great too 11. Woody Allen My Favorite Movie: Um, I’ve only seen one & he wasn’t IN it. So, Midnight In Paris… My Top Ten: 10. Natalie Wood My Favorite Movie: Miracle On 34th Street 9. Alfre Woodard My Favorite Movie: Scrooged 8. Woody Strode My Favorite Movie: Once Upon A Time In The West 7. Scott Eastwood My Favorite Movie: Who cares?! Look at him!! Okay, I’ll go with Gran Torino… 6. Elijah Wood My Favorite Movie: The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy 5. Woody Harrelson My Favorite Movie: Natural Born Killers & Zombieland My Favorite Movie: Well, Ed Wood… 3. Clint Eastwood My Favorite Movie: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly or Escape From Alcatraz 2. Woody My Favorite Movie: The Toy Story Trilogy 1. Edward Woodward My Favorite Movie: The Wicker Man (Edward Woodward tops the list on name alone. It’s so fun to say… Say it ten times fast!) How much wood would an Edward Woodward chuck chuck if an Edward Woodward chuck could chuck Edward Woodward? Tagged Actors, Alfre Woodard, Characters, Clint Eastwood, Edward Woodward, Elijah Wood, Evan Rachel Wood, Film, Groot, James Woods, Joanne Woodward, Kurtwood Smith, List, Movies, Natalie Wood, Ranked, Scott Eastwood, Shailene Woodley, Top Ten, Toy Story, Wood, Wooden, Woody, Woody Allen, Woody Harrelson, Woody Strode The Lord Of The Rings (Full Trilogy) IMDB Top 250 Guest Review Today’s IMDB Top 250 Guest Review comes from James of Slate The Silver Screen. Thanks for the review, James! 🙂 Now let’s see what he has to say about The Entire Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, IMDB ranks 9, 13 & 21 out of 250… There are still some movies up for grabs if anyone wants to do a guest IMDB Top 250 review. You can find the list of remaining films HERE. See the full list & links to all the reviews that have already been done HERE. Also, if you’d like to add a link to your IMDB review(s) on your own blogs, feel free to use any of the logos I’ve used at the top of any of these guest reviews. WARNING: SPOILERS Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy is adapted from J.R.R. Tolkein’s incredible books. These films take you on an epic journey through the detailed and beautiful cinematic universe of Middle Earth and the arduous battle between good and evil., The films are widely regarded as one of the most critically and financially successful franchises of all time, spawning a highly divisive prequel trilogy (The Hobbit) that could never live up to the success of the original. Wait…this is an exact description of Star Wars…You sure?…alright fine. Anyway! So without further a do, here is a trailer for the LOTR trilogy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnf4h5HT4dc FUN FACT: The word Frodo is said 116 times in the trilogy. This is a rate of 0.208 Frodo’s per minute. BEFORE I START THIS, TRILOGY IS A DEFINITE MUST SEE! The LOTR franchise is split into The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Towers and Return Of The King. I will not go into too much plot detail, as this is a review, not a PhD thesis. Frodo (Elijah Wood), a young, inquisitive hobbit, comes into possession of a mysterious ring following the disappearance of his uncle, Bilbo (Tom Holms). Gandalf (Ian McKellan), an aging, powerful wizard discovers this is ‘’The One Ring’’ of power that belonged to the Dark Lord Sauron. Thus begins a chain reaction which sees Frodo on a quest to destroy the one true ring and save middle Earth…COME ON…THIS IS JUST STAR WARS SET IN THE MIDDLE AGES…THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT GOING ON HERE…FINE…I’LL DROP IT Frodo, accompanied by Sam, his closest friend and gardener, sets off to meet Gandalf in the village of Bree so that he can get the ring somewhere safe. En route they bump into Merry and Pippin, while they’re stealing crops, who join them on their journey. Incidentally, Merry and Pip are the least qualified saviours in the history of everything…during the course of the trilogy they make blunders of such utter stupidity that I wonder how they made it this far in life. When they reach Bree Gandalf is not there and instead they find Stryder, a mysterious ranger, who helps them evade Sauron’s Black riders. Something they only had to do because Pip blew Frodo’s cover. The group reach the Elven stronghold of Rivendell where they are reunited with Gandalf. Here a Fellowship is formed to aide Frodo in his quest. The Hobbits, Gandalf, Stryder (now called Aragorn), a bitter man called Boromir. And finally Legolas and Gimli, an elf and dwarf who are constantly bickering. Plot wise that is about all you need to know. What follows in a 558-minute epic that takes you through highs, lows, battles, betrayal, love, immortality, obsession, mental illness and emotional connection. (By the way there is a 683 minute extended cut, which is also worth a watch). The first instalment, The Fellowship, serves as an introduction to Middle Earth, its inhabitants, its history, the horrors of the previous war and the malevolence that once again threatens Middle Earth. At its core is the journey of our Hobbits and the bonds of the fellowship. The violence and hardships are personal, the losses are intimate and the battle is for the life of you and your friends. The film never drags and is a great first entry and, although not small by any stretch of the imagination, it is on a smaller scale than its sequels. The second film, Two Towers, shifts away from Frodo and Sam and more towards the realms of men and Saruman’s fall from grace, the white wizard who Gandalf initially considered a friend. This film is really about redemption; the bonds of the fellowship following their breakdown, the waning strength of men and of those lost to evil. There are a myriad of new characters, however, the standout is Gollum, played by Andy Serkis using motion capture CGI. Gollum was once a hobbit who was corrupted by the ring and is obsessed with it. His ‘’precious’’ fills his every waking thought since he lost it to Bilbo Baggins (see prequel trilogy for clarification). He exhibits serious symptoms of a nearly dozen mental illnesses and disorders that I would not wish on my worst enemy. But grudgingly he develops a fragile relationship with Frodo and agrees to help him find his way into Mordor. Serkis is exceptional in every scene, he is nuanced, he is over the top and he is captivating. It truly is a remarkable performance! Everything is bigger this time around. The battles, the castles, the enemies, the stakes. Sauron grows more powerful each day, and as such the second film should feel more charged and deadly. It all serves to increase the tension and completely draw you in. The final instalment, Return Of The King, is the big finish. Everything is stepped up to another level. This time we are not fighting for our home or friends. This could be the end of everything and you can feel it through every second of the final confrontation with Sauron’s army. You cannot discuss LOTR without discussing the visuals, it is basically a giant tourism piece for New Zealand, where it was filmed. The beautiful landscapes are combined with CGI and set pieces and in doing so become the most important character in the trilogy. The Shire is green and tranquil and captures the innocent, simple life of Hobbits. The grandiose pomposity of the Elves is captured by Rivendell. The realms of men are impressive and foreboding but have been neglected and miss repaired, much like the fading strength of men maligned at the beginning of the series. Then there is Mordor, explored deeply in the final film, a putrid landscape so foul and toxic that it could only breed pure evil. These backdrops are all encompassing, detailed and beautiful and draw you in. You become part of Middle Earth, this is a fight for your home and your people! Without this the series would have not been the success it is! Furthermore, they provide the huge scale that makes the series so impressive. Even the first film, with its much smaller set pieces and action, takes you on a journey across half a world: the Shire, Bree, Weathertop, Rivendell, mines of Moria, Woods of Lothlorien, the woods of Parth Galen (the final action sequence is here)… This is a complete world of such magnitude and detail that it paved the way for modern cinematic franchises. Before this film no one even attempted something of this scale. The Marvel cinematic universe wouldn’t have been possible without LOTR blazing a trail. But a series of pretty pictures do not a film make. The film needs heart, you need to care about the characters and believe their relationships. And you are not let down. Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, Frodo and Sam, provide the emotional core of the film as they go through hell and back. Their relationship is heart-warming and it is difficult to watch their burdens way heavy on it. Interestingly they haven’t delivered performances anywhere near this level since. Ian McKellan’s Gandalf is fantastic, his stage background was perfect to produce the gravitas and presence needed. He received the trilogy’s only acting Oscar nomination. Viggo Mortensen delivers a strong turn as Aragorn. And I’ve already mentioned Gollum. However it is not all sunshine and rainbows; the rest of the cast do a great job but for the most part they are replaceable and not memorable of their own accord. The screenwriting and dialogue is generally great, but there are some scenes that come across as quite cliché. There also seems to be an undercurrent of sexual tension between Sam and Frodo, although I could be reading too much into this. There are lots of longing glances, intimate dialogue and a slow-mo scene towards the end where Frodo’s laughing turns into a deep, sensual stare as Sam enters the room. Alas, with praise also comes criticism: The female characters are strong, powerful and interesting but underused. Most of the time the women serve to propel their male counterparts forward in the plot. And they do not once interact with each other, although with this being a book adaptation maybe this wasn’t possible within the confines of the story. The exception maybe Eowyn but even she falls for Aragorn who cannot return her love. The entire cast is white. I know this is a fictional place so we don’t have anything to base racial proportions on but that’s sort of my point. Would it have really mattered if some of the characters were played by non-white actors? No. This is less of a problem with the film itself than the industry as a whole but it is still worth mentioning. The relationship between Legolas and Gimli is interesting as they overcome, generations of tension and animosity between their races to become close friends. This obviously has some current relevancy as we have a long way to go with racial equality. But again they are both white…so see above. Even Nazgul, Sauron’s minions, whose only drive is their primal need to find the ring still fall victim to, ‘’Bad Guy Monologue-ing’’. We’ve all seen it. The good guy is done for all the bad guy has to do now is just get on with it. Instead he wastes just enough time explaining his plans that the good guy can escape. And while the Nazgul do not monologue they do waste time and get distracted. Or, more frustratingly, just aren’t very good at finding things. This happens at least 7 times during the trilogy. Multiple endings! This has been the films biggest criticism. The final film takes about 40 minutes to end including: eagles, two weddings, book writing, narration, a whitewash reunion and a boat trip. There are at least five different places where the film could have feasibly ended without causing any problems. There is no denying Tolkein’s genius but here are some of my issues! THE FUCKING EAGLES. Whenever Tolkein ran out of ideas on how to solve a problem he just called in the eagles. Gandalf’s trapped. Eagles. Outnumbered in battle. Eagles. Frodo’s trapped. Eagles. The entire prequel Hobbit trilogy. Eagles. Why not just give them the bloody ring and let them fly to Mordor? It’d certainly be much quicker. This one is more of a niggle. Dwarfes and Elves hate each other. SO why, in the name of all that is holy, is the password to get into Moria an Elvish word? This series is black and white. Good vs Evil. The characters are either one or the other. I suppose it makes sense in this story but it does leave some of the characters a bit flat. I suppose everyone has the same enemy so maybe they put all other duplicitous plans on the back burner for now? I mean if you exclude Sauron the biggest dicks in the series are men. But even then that’s only because there are two evil men and the rest are good. The only character with any level of grey is Boromir, but his grey is negated by the fact that his actions are part of a misguided plan to do the right thing for his people by fighting the enemy with his own weapon. All that being said, this series is not just an exceptional cinematic achievement but is an all-encompassing, engrossing and enjoyable watch. Do yourself a favour, set aside 9 hours and watch it! PS/ If you want to make a good movie, cast Sean Bean and then kill him. It just works…Patriot Games, Golden Eye, The Field, Game Of Thrones. It’s not worth the risk of letting him live, just ask Jupiter Ascending or The Silent Hill franchise! Although he does still die in some bad movies…trust Michael Bay to ruin a good thing! PPS/ As a reward for reading all that here are some fun facts. Number of times Legolas stands and stares at something : 7 Number of moments of intense sexual tension between Frodo and Sam: 9 Number of times you hear the ‘’Shire’’ music: 32 fucking times! Tagged Andy Serkis, Barrie M. Osborne, Bernard Hill, Billy Boyd, Brad Dourif, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, David Wenham, Dominic Monaghan, Elijah Wood, Film, Fran Walsh, Guest Reviews, Howard Shore, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, IMDB Top 250, J. R. R. Tolkien, John Noble, John Rhys-Davies, Karl Urban, Liv Tyler, Mark Ordesky, Miranda Otto, Movies, Orlando Bloom, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Sean Astin, Sean Bean, Stephen Sinclair, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord Of The Rings, The Return Of The King, The Two Towers, Tim Sanders, Trilogy, Viggo Mortensen Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004) IMDB Top 250 Guest Review Today’s IMDB Top 250 Guest Review comes from Kelechi of Confessions From A Geek Mind. Thanks for the review, Kelechi! 🙂 Now let’s see what he has to say about Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, IMDB rank 75 out of 250… I’ve received 3 remaining IMDB guest reviews to post but have a lot still outstanding. Let me know if you still wish to review the movie(s) you’ve signed up for. If not, I’ll add them back to the list of available films. Thanks!* “How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray’r accepted, and each wish resign’d.” – Mary I have nothing but good memories about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. See what I did there? Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is not your usual and conventional romantic film. The ‘boy meets girl’ concept is a familiar and overused trope in the film world. But with the added sci-fi twist involving memories, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ignores the trend and takes the audience on a mind bending and surreal experience that is full of charm, wit and most importantly, sentiment. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind stars Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel and Clementine. After spending two years together as a couple, the relationship turns sour. They undergo a procedure that erases their memories of each other. Trouble is, as impulsive they were in committing themselves to the procedure, they rediscover what they had in the first place. “Random thoughts for Valentine’s day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.” – Joel The unique quirks in this film are displayed in its brilliant visual concept. It taps into the surreal nature of the mind where it’s never consistent or logical. Its visual complexity and how each scene transitions unto the next are handled seamlessly. Most scenes don’t contain any CGI effects, just clever camera movements! It may feel jarring at first but once your mind gets to grip with the concept, it’s a rewarding experience. There’s something very low key about the technology used in the film by Lacuna Inc. 2015 and swiping on everything that has a screen size over four inches has become the norm. With its ease of use and simplicity, you can’t imagine how we coped before! But for a film that came out in 2004, the technology is a little clunky with CRT monitors straight out of the 80s or 90s, a time capsule reminder of the evolving past we use to belong to…and it wasn’t that long ago! It never looks sleek, state of the art or high tech – there are many functional parts in order to make it work and it does its job. The film doesn’t dwell on how the procedure works except for acknowledging that the effects are on par with a night of heavy drinking. It gives us as the audience a basic understanding of what it does, mapping personal items with emotional connections, which form as part of the erasure development process. Because of this, the essence of the business by Lacuna Inc. is small scale and experimental. It’s not seen as a global attraction like something out of Total Recall with its tongue-in-cheek advertising. In fact, it’s the opposite where the experience is a more personal and intimate, like visiting your local doctor. While the film doesn’t explore in great detail about Lacuna’s operations, the film does raise some ethical questions. There’s never a feeling over who is held accountable for its practices. The characters of Patrick (Elijah Wood), Stan (Mark Ruffalo) Mary (Kirsten Dunst) and Dr. Mierzwiak (Tom Wilkinson) are quirky individuals who have used the memory erasure technology for their own gain and advantages. A great example of this belongs with Patrick who steals Joel’s personal items to make a good impression with Clementine. It completely backfires on him but what he essentially does is commit identity fraud. The actual procedure happens at night in the comfort of your home while you’re asleep. So is it right that the technicians raid your fridge or dance on your bed with great freedom while you’re undergoing your treatment? You will wake up without any recognition that they were there the night before but there’s a certain level of trust to be had to accept the strange and intrusive circumstances. In essence it is a clandestine and artificial relationship of convenience. Someone from your inner circle will be informed about the procedure and you (or them) are expected to live with that knowledge, such as Joel’s friends. While the Doctor or any of his team can preach about how wonderful the process is, the real issue is the aftercare. At times there’s a lack of professionalism within the group and if they’re not accepting their responsibilities and the consequences from their actions, would you want to undergo an experiment like this? I certainly wouldn’t. Clementine: “You know me, I’m impulsive.” Joel: “That’s what I love about you.” However, the sci-fi element is secondary to the actual plot because its main focus is on Joel and Clementine. When they are first introduced, they are complete opposites both in personality and character. Joel acts more like an introvert. He’s quiet and unadventurous. He’s comfortable within his own head. He’s clearly talented and likes to draw but otherwise his life is pretty mundane. Clementine on the other hand is more of an extrovert – outspoken, forward and defiant. It’s a relationship that probably shouldn’t work but their qualities make them attractive. Clementine brings excitement for Joel, allowing him to do something out of his comfort zone. Joel brings stability and reassurance, accepting Clementine’s personality for what it is without compromise. The greatest strength of the film is that their relationship is presented as honest and real. Nothing feels clichéd or predictable. When their relationship does fall apart, you can’t help but go through the motions with them and the actual reason for the break up will seem silly as an outsider. Cleverly, Joel’s erasure of his memory occurs backwards from the time of the break up, ending to where he met Clementine for the first time. You see Joel’s world literally falling apart, a visual representation of the hurt and anger he was experiencing – a scene helped with brilliant visual effects. But are all memories bad? Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind says no and over the course of the film, Joel changes his mind despite being physically powerless to do so. With the help of Clementine (the dream version in his head) he runs and battles against the deletion by creating scenarios in his mind where the machine couldn’t find him. On the flip side, the real Clementine who already had the procedure is not the vibrant, confident girl that you witnessed at the beginning of the film. She’s lost, manic and feels disconnected. Her new boyfriend Patrick might be saying all the right things to her but it fails to put her mind at ease. Something is missing in her life but she can’t remember what. That’s what special about Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Memories both good and bad can define a person. It shapes your personality and character. What this film has in abundance is the acknowledgement of sentiment, living and embracing your life. The negative memories will hurt, as they should do but it portrays the positives ones as something you should hold onto and treasure. It makes life worth living. For Joel and Clementine, being together is what made them whole. The film does strike a chord even if this is not your type of movie. There are plenty of identifiable and personal moments that you as the audience can relate to. Lacuna Inc. may have perfected a procedure to erase your thoughts but there is no perfect formula for love and at times, it can’t be explained. If your relationship is based on a lie (e.g. Patrick and Clementine), then the foundations will crumble. What Joel and Clementine have is something magnetic that kept pulling them together in every bizarre situation without them realising it. That is something that Lacuna Inc. didn’t count on. They were so busy fulfilling a misguided duty that in the end it exposed their own hypocrisy and business practice. To them everything was a quick fix without addressing the real problem. “Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Let’s pretend we had one.” – Clementine Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey are fantastic and once again it proves that Jim Carrey is a man of many talents. He’s not limited to comedy and can do something dramatic. For me, this is up there with his performance in The Truman Show. It’s great to see him as an everyman character. He’s famous for playing eccentric characters, but in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, he underplays it. He is often reacting to the dream scenarios around him rather than being the direct cause of it. The technicians from Lacuna Inc. deliver the eccentricity and humorous nature of film. Joel and Clementine deliver the heart. Aided with a beautiful soundtrack by Jon Brion, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a deep and emotional exploration on the nature of relationships. It breaks down each moment of Joel and Clementine’s relationship into sizable chunks because in the end, you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. The ending is left up to the audience to interpret which can be viewed as optimistic or pessimistic but it’s a film worth watching again and again because of the underlying messages it conveys. It’s a wonderful, unique and enjoyable movie. Or as Joel would say, it’s nice. Tagged Anthony Bregman, Charlie Kaufman, Elijah Wood, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Film, Guest Reviews, IMDB Top 250, Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Michel Gondry, Movies, Pierre Bismuth, Steve Golin, Tom Wilkinson Sin City (2005) IMDB Top Guest Review Today’s IMDB Top 250 Guest Review comes from Damien of Flashback/Backslide. Thanks for the review, Damien! 🙂 Now let’s see what he has to say about Sin City, IMDB rank 136 out of 250… Also, if you’d like to add a link to your IMDB Review(s) on your own blogs, feel free to use any of the logos I’ve used at the top of any of these guest reviews. I know I’ve made a few that are specific to the movie being reviewed. I’ll also do an IMDB update post soon & will post some more logos. Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez’s creation is the ultimate marriage of comics and film. Dozens of comic book adaptations hit screens before Sin City and with Hollywood’s habit of churning out superhero films (except for a Deadpool movie) it certainly won’t be the last. But it’s hard to think of another film that embodies the visual style of comics so well. Rodriguez applies his characteristic innovative film-making to capture the imagery and motifs of Miller’s series in a way few other directors could. Even other adaptations of Miller’s works including Zack Snyder’s 300 (2005) and Watchmen (2009), both great in their own right, don’t absorb the visual tendencies like Rodriguez’s tour de force. Like Miller’s other adaptations, Sin City received mixed reviews on initial release, polarizing critics with its hyperviolence and extreme stylization. When judging the film it is impossible to separate the striking visuals and its unconventional storytelling. The majority of the film is presented in black-and-white but unlike Hitchcock who used lack of color to reduce the violence and gore in Psycho (1960), Rodriguez uses the technique to heighten the violence and draw attention to the gore. Our eyes are drawn to bright red streaks of blood flicking off a grayscale knife or the hot white blood pouring out of Benicio del Toro’s freshly shurikened wrist. Even though the film is in black-and-white, Rodriguez manages to create sequences that feel saturated with color using extreme contrast paired with busy frames filled with multiple shadows and bright foci like Kevin’s (Elijah Wood) glasses, or the bandages littering Marv’s (Mickey Rourke) face and arms. Many scenes go full comic using bright white silhouettes on black backgrounds. Rodriguez pairs this visual style with near-constant voice-overs providing slick narration from multiple characters. Here Rodriguez combines Miller’s style with his own penchant for paying homage to films past. In the same way that Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino’s Grindouse (2007) celebrates B-movies and Rodriguez’s The Faculty (1998) does the same with sci-fi horror (albeit to a lesser extent), Sin City celebrates film noir and old crime films. Well-versed on the genre’s mannerisms, Rodriguez uses them to full effect to breathe life into Miller’s creation. In an earlier post on flashbackbackslide.com we walked through a list of commonly used techniques in noir’s bag of tricks. And Sin City applies them by the fistful. Femme fatales and Sam Spade-type tough guys enter and exit the film continuously, none of them taking a majority of the spotlight. With this arrangement an extensive list of chain-smoking Hollywood A and B-listers sneak onscreen. Mickey Rourke’s scenes as Marv in particular feel like a scene cut out of a Golden Age noir. With a keen eye for quality trench coats and a near indestructibility, Marv alone could fill a board of film noir bingo with his voice-overs: “She fires up two cigarettes and hands me one and I taste her lipstick on it and suddenly my heart’s pounding so loud I can’t hear anything else.” -Marv (Mickey Rourke) The cinematography and shot selections are covered with noir fingerprints. An early scene with Clive Owen, Benicio Del Toro and Brittany Murphy plays out a familiar scenario with Owen out-tough-guying Murphy’s abusive boyfriend Del Toro. Venetian blinds, mirrors, Dutch angles and silhouettes, all tools in the noir kit, are used in this one brief scene, as outlined in the two stills below: With Sin City, Miller and Rodriguez have created a space to flex all of their combined creative muscles. After an initial phase of critical uncertainty, time has served the film well and it is now considered an artistic benchmark and one of the best neo-noirs of the last ten years along with Memento (2000), Brick (2005) and Drive (2011). The visual style the film wraps itself in has influenced other films in the genre including 300 (2006), The Spirit (2008), 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) and in some ways Snyder’s Watchmen. We will remember Sin City for this style but the hyperstylization is also what makes the film less enjoyable when judged alone. At times the images are headache-inducing with awkward dull red hues playing on bright white lines. This may also be a stylistic choice but two hours in the world of Sin City’s style can become exhausting. And the stylistic choices seem to have taken precedence over a coherent and interesting plot as the continuous jolt of storylines tends to be frustrating as we are dropped into sequences with no knowledge of our context or the characters’ relationships. It appears that the trailer recognizes these inconsistencies and tries to sell a single unified plot that really does not exist in the movie. The film’s nonsequential timeline is reminiscent of Pulp Fiction (1994) but far less comprehensible and not nearly as enjoyable. Pulp Fiction presents its story in a deliberate order, controlling the action and tension to maximize the film’s effect. Sin City gives the impression of randomness without cause. During the Pulp Fiction scene when John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson sit down for breakfast after being hosed down by Harvey Keitel we know that Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer are in the diner and the tension builds as we wait for the chaos to begin. But in Sin City, we see Elijah Wood in a scene even though we already witnessed his death. The problem is that knowing about the previous scene does not add any tension to the later scene like it does in Pulp Fiction. Part of the plot problems stem from the film’s base in an expanded comic universe which does not serve the story well at times as it cannot hope to contain all the stories of the graphic novels. But the film never sets out to be judged on story alone and puts all its money on style. And the bet pays off in the long run as it is still relevant today especially with its highly anticipated sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For coming out soon. It will be interesting to see how the sequel treats its storyline and uses updated visual effects technology but there’s little reason to believe the newest Sin City will be drastically different from the original and will awe us with its visuals while leaving narrative content to be desired. Rating: 7/10. The sequences with Marv at the beginning of the movie earn a 9/10. After that I found the stories less interesting and the visuals no longer as exciting. Where to see it: On the best HD TV you can find. Flashback/Backslide Tagged Benicio del Toro, Brittany Murphy, Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Elijah Wood, Film, Frank Miller, Guest Reviews, IMDB Top 250, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Movies, Robert Rodriguez, Sin City	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2097
__label__cc	0.650998	0.349002	Heather Lineberry Associate Director and Senior Curator, ASU Art Museum, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Heather.Lineberry@asu.edu ASU Art Museum Heather Sealy Lineberry is Senior Curator/Associate Director at the Arizona State University Art Museum and curates contemporary art exhibitions with an emphasis on new art forms, collaborations across disciplines and experimental curatorial approaches. Beginning in 2000, her research and curatorial work have focused on artists who explore the interconnected natural, built, social and political environment and employ strategies from visualization to engagement to shift our understanding and behavior. Lineberry organized Defining Sustainability (Fall 2009), a series of exhibitions and projects in a variety of media and practices that came together to define sustainability. The goal was to outline the complex ideas for a broad audience through work by artists and designers, and generate ongoing, interdisciplinary conversations on the challenges. Recent projects include Cu29: Mining for You, 2013, a collaborative exhibition by artists Matthew Moore (Phoenix) and Clare Patey (London) centered on the issue of the depletion of elements in the periodic table, specifically copper. Aspects of the exhibition explored the legal and cultural implications of staking a claim and our dependence on copper for everything from saucepans to cell phones. Lineberry and the artists collaborated with students and faculty from the School of Art, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, and the School of Earth and Space Exploration. Lineberry’s exhibitions and accompanying catalogs have traveled to museums across the U.S. She participates on The Endeavor Consortium on Interdisciplinary Sustainability Research, and teaches in the Museum Studies program in the School of Art. MA, Art History (Early 20th Century European Art), University of Texas-Austin, 1988 BA Plan II Liberal Arts Honors Program, Art History and German, University of Texas-Austin, 1985 citizen actions Lineberry, H. S. and A. Wiek. 2016. Art and sustainability. Pp. 311-324 In: Heinrichs, H., P. Martens, G. Michelsen and A. Wiek eds., Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-017-7242-6_26. ISBN: 978-94-017-7241-9. (link )	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2101
__label__cc	0.613082	0.386918	Development Regulations What Happens When a Saudi Consulate Complex Tries To Build on ‘Foreign Soil’ in Westchase by Swamplot Featured Posts, Proposed Developments, Westchase “Does a building have diplomatic immunity to local ordinances if [its site] is deemed international soil?” asks Architect’s Newspaper reporter Jay Thomas, reporting on the variance request made on behalf of a new General Consulate of Saudi Arabia complex in Westchase — which Houston’s planning commission denied in December. The applicants for the variance appear to say yes, it does: “The Consulate should be considered foreign soil and should be allowed to develop the property as they have planned as long as it doesn’t harm the public in any way,” reads the application. But the design team went ahead and applied for the variance anyway. Why? “We recognize that while we are asking to be considered foreign soil, the development will also need to access city utilities,” reads the application, explaining why an earlier request for a 5-ft. setback for the 2.5-acre complex’s frontage along Wilcrest Dr. between Richmond Ave and Meadowglen Ln. had been relaxed to a request for a 10-ft. setback — and gained approval from the Westchase management district. The plan by Studio Red Architects submitted with the application (below) shows 2 guard houses in front of the required 25-ft. setback along Wilcrest. The consulate office building itself is sited 40 ft. back from the property line; the complex also includes sites for several residential structures, dubbed villas in the plans and “temporary housing units” in the application. “The guard houses will keep the general public from accessing the property, preventing incidents. Security for the Consulate is extremely important,” the application continues. “We believe this request is reasonable and just.” A representative of the planning department tells Swamplot it isn’t clear whether the applicants intend to abide by the commission’s denial — for example, by moving the guard houses deeper into the site — or to submit plans for a different scheme. Line in the Plan [The Architect’s Newspaper] Photo: The Architect’s Newspaper/Jay Thomas. Site plan: Studio Red Architects International Setbacks 77042, Consulates, Development Regulations, Planning Commission, Proposed Developments, Variances, Westchase Houston Home Listing Photo of the Day: You Rang? Reaching the Downtown Skyline Photography Studio at the Top of Houston Highrises ZAW February 13, 2015 at 1:45 pm This is one of those cases where the law and the politics give two different answers. From a strictly legal standpoint, the Consulate could probably build the guard towers, and say “kiss off” to the City, since they don’t really have jurisdiction. But doing so could ignite forceful protests from neighbors and other parties. Unfortunately, a big part of it is that it’s the Saudi consulate and not, say, Canadian or British. Studio Red was right to put the guard towers through the Variance process. I hope things don’t get ugly should the variance be accepted or denied…. Phil February 13, 2015 at 2:57 pm I had this happen on a British Consulate office in LA a loooong time ago. Brits basically told code officials to bugger off, citing security and ‘foreign sovereignty’ domain. Quite enjoyable from this architect’s viewpoint. Old School February 13, 2015 at 3:03 pm There is a commercial activity exception to diplomatic immunity. If a foreign country buys land in the US for an embassy, they can be sued if they don’t pay, etc. I think the main problem with the claim of diplomatic immunity in this matter is that the immunity does not extend to non-diplomatic personnel. Unless the Saudis build the complex using consulate officials, the local contractors will have to abide by City code, stop work orders, etc. But I am sure some developers are watching closely and wondering whether they should include a consulate for the Republic of Djibouti in there next development if they can’t get a setback variance. ShadyHeightster February 13, 2015 at 4:08 pm A quick call to the appropriate person at the State Department would tell the city how they should proceed. State deals with these kind of issues all the time. Ornlu February 13, 2015 at 4:48 pm Awesome, I rented my first post-college apartment across the street from there. The Indonesian consulate is on the same block, and the Venezuelan consulate’s less than a mile away, so I guess there goes (?comes?) the neighborhood. From an engineering perspective, this variance request should really be granted. http://www.stratfor.com/ et al have published a few articles detailing how high security facilities are designed; I’m sure the DoD has a more authoritative engineering manual, but I’m not privy to that info. The answer is set the most secure building back by the blast radius of the largest anticipated threat, which is a vehicle-born IED. The fence needs to then be designed to stop vehicles, and the gate house is put in-line with the fence. This means that the gate house needs to go as close to the property line as practical; 10′ sounds about right. I find it curious that the variance request was denied. This seems to be a clear exception to the normal set back rules since the compound’s functionality necessitates secure design. Anyway, the consulate really can tell the City to shove off and just build it like they like – but then the city can deny them the ability to connect to City water, sewer, power, and roads. I’m sure that’s not a situation they want, so the Saudis will cave. Even consulates need a certificate of occupancy from the City before getting utilities turned on. Shannon February 13, 2015 at 7:34 pm This is a PR disaster. It’s immaterial if the Saudi’s can get their variance, it reflects poorly on them. In a city that’s the Energy Capital, in a country that protects their interests, in climate that’s hardly pro Islam, it seems unnecessarily provocative and not neighborly. They might should rethink this, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Jardinero1 February 13, 2015 at 11:20 pm The property is currently only dirt owned by a sovereign government. Since a consulate doesn’t yet exist, on the site, assertions about diplomatic immunity are legally irrelevant. TheNiche February 14, 2015 at 2:26 am This shtick that the variance should be granted “as long as it doesn’t harm the public in any way” has a problem on the face of it. If they think that there’s a reasonable chance that somebody will try and set off an explosive device then the setback from the city street is that much more important to ensuring public safety. The further from the middle of a public street that a would-be explosion is likely to be set off, the better for Houstonians. They really should have anticipated this as a potential problem before going hard on the land deal and made it a stipulation that they needed to obtain approval of their variance request prior to closing. Ultimately, if the site isn’t deep enough to accommodate their security preferences and also comply with code, then that’s not a site that they should have bought — and that’s their problem. ZAW February 14, 2015 at 10:49 am Shannon’s post is exactly the kind of politics I’m talking about. Lots of developers and architects scoff at it, but in this world of blogs, comments on news articles, and Twitter, land use politics is as important as land use law. Look at some of the recent fights here in Houston and elsewhere in the US. Ashby High Rise. “Victory Mosque” in Manhattan. Brooklyn Atlantic Yards. Even the Keystone Pipeline. I doubt Studio Red thought these things through in their design. I used to work there myself. I would bring these things up. I was let go in 2007. Post hoc ergo proptor hoc? I still don’t know for sure. Based on this and the grain silo on top of the Alley Theater, SRA’s design work seems to have gone downhill since I was there. Houstonian February 14, 2015 at 3:40 pm There is no consular exception to deed restrictions. They can build it but if only residential homes are allowed under the deed, legally it can be bulldozed or the Saudis can pay off the other homeowners to modify the deed restrictions. If a structure is built against deed restrictions, the city is obligated to refuse it basic amenities like water and it can refuse permits to the builders who will build at risk to their licenses and bonding. Zoning is all politics but deed restrictions are valid and basically written in stone. @ Houstonian: Its not my impression that this is a deed restriction issue. Houston Home Listing Photo of the Day: When Nature Calls New Overflow Pools Coming To Clear Out Trees, Anthills from the South Side of Buffalo Bayou	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2102
__label__cc	0.695467	0.304533	« Sweden's top diplomat Sverker Åström and Wikileaks \| Main \| Swedish Sex and Assange in Germany » In my three part series on Assange, Ecuador, Rape and Sweden I promised to expound upon the following subject: 3) Even if Assange would be convicted in Sweden he would not serve any time. In part 1 I argued that the Ecuador asylum application could not really be explained by an urge to escape the Swedish legal case since he would not serve any time in Sweden and since the broader issue of being an enemy of the United States seems forgotten. This is a comment I did on the Ecuador case via a Skype video interview from the Swedish countryside for RT.com: In part 2 I wrote about the allegations against Assange and claimed that no Swedish woman has actually accused Julian Assange of raping her but that the Swedish state seeks him for one count of "less aggravated rape" (of his one-night stand admirer SW) anyway. There are however one or more lesser potential offences committed and morally condemnable acts, given that we believe the stories of the accusers. In my new book A Brief History of Swedish Sex I don't go into the accusations or details of the legal case at all. I put the Assange case in a political context in Sweden where sex is politics today. I will therefore go into some detail here: SW's story is that she did not want sex without a condom, due to fear for STDs and pregnancy, but that JA anyway initiated this without her knowledge (after first having protected sex a couple of times at least). She became aware of it very soon and then she accepted it and let him continue with the words "You better don't have HIV" to which he responded "Of course not". This is what she herself told the police. Given that we believe the details of the story I think most people would say that the act of going forward with condomless sex seems morally deplorable. Legally, it may be another matter, since SW accepts it. She apparently regrets it afterwards however. Her friends later convinced SW that she should go to the police. A Swedish Chief Prosecutor considered this act to not entail any sex offence whatsoever. Presumably she considered SW to have given a post-factual consent. Those who vote for rape (including the Head Prosecutor who brought forth the rape allegation again, after it had been dismissed by her colleague) focus on the act of initiating unprotected sex, while discounting the subsequent consent to continue the act. There is another woman (AA) who accuses Julian Assange of one main sex offence: She tells in the interrogation protocols how Assange wished unprotected sex but only begrudgingly accepted to use a condom. Afterwards she came to believe that he had deliberately broken it in order to ejaculate inside her. [Update: I should point out that Julian Assange has already been interrogated in Sweden about this encounter and that he denies AA's claim. I use the leaked interrogation protocols as a basis for my postings, but obviously have no way of evaluating who is right. But I want a more rational and calm evaluation of events. There are enormous emotions involved here from supporters and detractors]. Let's assume the worst possible scenario, that it actually happened that way. Morally, it is obviously reprehensible to deliberately break a condom. But from a legal point of view, what kind of offence is it? It seems that this is not as well regulated as I guess many would expect. There are two main issues, STDs and pregnancy (discounting a general distaste for fluids). In Sweden anyone who is knowingly infected with HIV has a duty to actively inform a sexual partner about it. The one who does not inform before sex commits the crime "attempt to gross assault". It does not matter (as in most cases) whether no infection was transmitted, s/he can be sentenced to prison. The crime is to not actively telling. Not informing and breaking a condom while the partner had insisted on a condom would most likely be classified as "gross assault". It seems that Assange is not knowingly HIV-positive so that law would not be applicable. Note that these are non-sexual crimes. It has been suggested in some interrogations that Julian Assange would wish to see small Assanges populate the world and might try to increase the probability for pregnancy from a sexual encounter through condomless intercourse (something that would presumably not be a particularly effective strategy, since most women use their own contraceptives to prevent pregnancy). But if that were in fact the case, trying to induce pregnancy, wouldn't that be a gross crime? In fact not a crime at all, at least not in Sweden. The reason is most likely that it would be bad for women as a group to criminalize the specific act of deceptively inducing mother- or fatherhood, at least if we demand gender equality from the judicial system. I have talked to a law professor who says that the judicial system takes an almost Catholic position: every child is seen as a blessing to the parents. Pregnancy for a woman is of course a major event but can be terminated. But a man who becomes a father against his will has no legal recourse whatsoever. It does not matter whether the woman intended to become pregnant and lied about her own contraceptives, or - I conclude - if she e.g. saved a condom with sperm and injected that sperm into herself later. She certainly commits no crime by doing this. He cannot ask her to make an abortion, it is entirely her choice. And he will be financially liable for a child he did not want, huge costs. Neither can he get damages from her for her deceptive behavior. Fatherhood is strict, probably to "protect" women and children. In the U.S. there is a debate concerning these issues. Katie Roiphe recently wrote in Slate. Just a few days before the sexual encounters in the Assange case a 16-year old boy was convicted of killing a 16-year old girl in Västerås in Sweden. They were fuckbuddies. He saw her as a friend and an outlet for sex. She supposedly fell in love and suddenly announced she was pregnant and he was the father. He tells how he tried to convince her that they would destroy their entire youth and lives by having a baby at 16. He pleaded with her for a month or so to abort the pregnancy, offered her money and things. Nothing helped. They talked about it every time they met and eventually he freaked out into a desperate and violent rage that ended with her death. [I have read the entire investigation, just a link to one article about the case here (in Swedish)] To deliberately break a condom has in fact been classified by the Head Prosecutor and the Svea Court of Appeals as the weakest sex offence: "sexual molestation". It is legally seen as grabbing the crotch of someone unwilling. This is the main offence that Assange is wanted for when it comes to AA. The other two offences seem to have been strenuously extracted from the story of AA to make the whole episode more punishable. A non-sexual crime is thrown in: "unlawful coercion", when Assange is supposed to have grabbed AA's hand and weighed her down in connection with sexual intercourse. This was not done to coerce her into any sexual act however so it is calssified as a non-sexual offence. Subsequently Assange is supposed to have rubbed his frontside against her backside when he continued to stay in her apartment, classified as "sexual molestation". What sentence could JA get? I have read quite many court cases on sex crimes and from that I see it as highly unlikely that Julian Assange would get a higher sentence than let's say 18 months of imprisonment, even if convicted on all counts, including the gravest, "less aggravated rape". In my book A Brief History of Swedish Sex there are a number of legal cases with sentences cited. Those who read it are in for a surprise when sexual crimes are compared to violent crime. Sexual touching is regarded as much more harmful than gross violence. As I understand it (but noone should take this as legal advice, legal experts should corroborate this), Julian Assange would not serve any time in a Swedish prison, even if convicted. Sweden has a system with detention of suspects under quite wide circumstances. In theory one can be locked up for years while an investigation is performed. If the suspect is convicted and sentenced that previous detention is subtracted from the sentence. If you end up in the negative the state can be forced to pay damages. The rules for subtracting time are found in Law (1974:202) §19. Other laws are referred to there. But my conclusion is that the kind of detention that Julian Assange has been subject to, where he has to report to a police station every day, is counted, also when abroad, when it has been requested by Swedish prosecutors. To conclude: There may be morally deplorable behavior involved in this case. That's what the two accusers claim. From the point of Law it is not as clear. Even if convicted Julian Assange would most likely walk out as a free man immediately after a trial, since he has been under detention for 569 days so far, almost 19 months. Jun 28, 2012 at 17:34 \| Permalink	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2103
__label__wiki	0.66351	0.66351	Introduction to Firearms Become a Certified USCCA Instructor Info by State Michigan CPL Classes and Info Michigan CPL Classes How to get a Concealed Pistol License How to Purchase a Pistol in Michigan Pistol-Free Zones Michigan Reciprocity Concealed Pistol License Eligibility and Requirements Michigan CPL Renewal Ranges and Clubs Illinois CCL and Firearms Info Illinois CCL CCW Classes How to get a FOID Card How to Purchase a Firearm in Illinois CCL Renewal Concealed Carry License Eligibility and Requirements How to get a Concealed Carry License Ohio CCW Info Ohio CCW Classes How to Purchase a Pistol in Ohio Ohio License to Carry Concealed Handgun CCW Renewal Ohio Reciprocity How to get an Ohio CCW Ohio Pistol-Free Zones Ohio Concealed Handgun License (CCW) Eligibility Kentucky CCL CCDW and Firearms Info How to Purchase a Firearm in Kentucky Kentucky CCDW Application Process Kentucky Reciprocity Kentucky CCDW Renewal Compiled list of Michigan CPL laws 2012: We have compiled a fairly complete listing of laws pertaining to CPL in Michigan as of 2012. These are directly from the Michigan Legislature website. We’ve done our best to ensure they are as up-to-date and accurate as possible, but we are not lawyers and this is not intended to be a complete, exclusive or binding listing of firearms laws in Michigan. 28.421a Concealed pistol licenses; issuance; creation of standardized system. Sec. 1a. It is the intent of the legislature to create a standardized system for issuing concealed pistol licenses to prevent criminals and other violent individuals from obtaining a license to carry a concealed pistol, to allow law abiding residents to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol, and to prescribe the rights and responsibilities of individuals who have obtained a license to carry a concealed pistol. It is also the intent of the legislature to grant an applicant the right to know why his or her application for a concealed pistol license is denied and to create a process by which an applicant may appeal that denial. 28.422 License to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistol; issuance; qualifications; applications; sale of pistol; exemptions; nonresidents; basic pistol safety brochure; forging application; implementation during business hours. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not purchase, carry, possess, or transport a pistol in this state without first having obtained a license for the pistol as prescribed in this section. (2) A person who brings a pistol into this state who is on leave from active duty with the armed forces of the United States or who has been discharged from active duty with the armed forces of the United States shall obtain a license for the pistol within 30 days after his or her arrival in this state. (3) The commissioner or chief of police of a city, township, or village police department that issues licenses to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistols, or his or her duly authorized deputy, or the sheriff or his or her duly authorized deputy, in the parts of a county not included within a city, township, or village having an organized police department, in discharging the duty to issue licenses shall with due speed and diligence issue licenses to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistols to qualified applicants residing within the city, village, township, or county, as applicable unless he or she has probable cause to believe that the applicant would be a threat to himself or herself or to other individuals, or would commit an offense with the pistol that would violate a law of this or another state or of the United States. An applicant is qualified if all of the following circumstances exist: (a) The person is not subject to an order or disposition for which he or she has received notice and an opportunity for a hearing, and which was entered into the law enforcement information network pursuant to any of the following: (i) Section 464a of the mental health code, 1974 PA 258, MCL 330.1464a. (ii) Section 5107 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5107, or section 444a of former 1978 PA 642. (iii) Section 2950 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2950. (iv) Section 2950a of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2950a. (v) Section 14 of 1846 RS 84, MCL 552.14. (vi) Section 6b of chapter V of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 765.6b, if the order has a condition imposed under section 6b(3) of chapter V of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 765.6b. (vii) Section 16b of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.16b. (b) The person is 18 years of age or older or, if the seller is licensed under 18 USC 923, is 21 years of age or older. (c) The person is a citizen of the United States and is a legal resident of this state. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be considered a legal resident of this state if any of the following apply: (i) The person has a valid, lawfully obtained Michigan driver license issued under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, or an official state personal identification card issued under 1972 PA 222, MCL 28.291 to 28.300. (ii) The person is lawfully registered to vote in this state. (iii) The person is on active duty status with the United States armed forces and is stationed outside of this state, but the person’s home of record is in this state. (iv) The person is on active duty status with the United States armed forces and is permanently stationed in this state, but the person’s home of record is in another state. (d) A felony charge or a criminal charge listed in section 5b against the person is not pending at the time of application. (e) The person is not prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving, or distributing a firearm under section 224f of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.224f. (f) The person has not been adjudged insane in this state or elsewhere unless he or she has been adjudged restored to sanity by court order. (g) The person is not under an order of involuntary commitment in an inpatient or outpatient setting due to mental illness. (h) The person has not been adjudged legally incapacitated in this state or elsewhere. This subdivision does not apply to a person who has had his or her legal capacity restored by order of the court. (i) The person correctly answers 70% or more of the questions on a basic pistol safety review questionnaire approved by the department of state police and provided to the individual free of charge by the licensing authority. If the person fails to correctly answer 70% or more of the questions on the basic pistol safety review questionnaire, the licensing authority shall inform the person of the questions he or she answered incorrectly and allow the person to attempt to complete another basic pistol safety review questionnaire. The person shall not be allowed to attempt to complete more than 2 basic pistol safety review questionnaires on any single day. The licensing authority shall allow the person to attempt to complete the questionnaire during normal business hours on the day the person applies for his or her license. (4) Applications for licenses under this section shall be signed by the applicant under oath upon forms provided by the director of the department of state police. Licenses to purchase, carry, possess, or transport pistols shall be executed in quadruplicate upon forms provided by the director of the department of state police and shall be signed by the licensing authority. Four copies of the license shall be delivered to the applicant by the licensing authority. A license is void unless used within 10 days after the date it is issued. (5) If an individual purchases or otherwise acquires a pistol, the seller shall fill out the license forms describing the pistol, together with the date of sale or acquisition, and sign his or her name in ink indicating that the pistol was sold to or otherwise acquired by the purchaser. The purchaser shall also sign his or her name in ink indicating the purchase or other acquisition of the pistol from the seller. The seller may retain a copy of the license as a record of the transaction. The purchaser shall receive 3 copies of the license. The purchaser shall return 2 copies of the license to the licensing authority within 10 days after the date the pistol is purchased or acquired. The return of the copies to the licensing authority may be made in person or may be made by first-class mail or certified mail sent within the 10-day period to the proper address of the licensing authority. A purchaser who fails to comply with the requirements of this subsection is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be fined not more than $250.00. If a purchaser is found responsible for a state civil infraction under this subsection, the court shall notify the department of state police of that determination. (6) Within 48 hours after receiving the license copies returned under subsection (5), the licensing authority shall forward 1 copy of the license to the department of state police. The licensing authority shall retain the other copy of the license as an official record for not less than 6 years. Within 10 days after receiving the license copies returned under subsection (5), the licensing authority shall electronically enter the information into the pistol entry database as required by the department of state police if it has the ability to electronically enter that information. If the licensing authority does not have that ability, the licensing authority shall provide that information to the department of state police in a manner otherwise required by the department of state police. Any licensing authority that provided pistol descriptions to the department of state police under former section 9 of this act shall continue to provide pistol descriptions to the department of state police under this subsection. The purchaser has the right to obtain a copy of the information placed in the pistol entry database under this subsection to verify the accuracy of that information. The licensing authority may charge a fee not to exceed $1.00 for the cost of providing the copy. The licensee may carry, use, possess, and transport the pistol for 30 days beginning on the date of purchase or acquisition only while he or she is in possession of his or her copy of the license. However, the person is not required to have the license in his or her possession while carrying, using, possessing, or transporting the pistol after this period. (7) This section does not apply to the purchase of pistols from wholesalers by dealers regularly engaged in the business of selling pistols at retail, or to the sale, barter, or exchange of pistols kept as relics or curios not made for modern ammunition or permanently deactivated. This section does not prevent the transfer of ownership of pistols that are inherited if the license to purchase is approved by the commissioner or chief of police, sheriff, or their authorized deputies, and signed by the personal representative of the estate or by the next of kin having authority to dispose of the pistol. (8) An individual who is not a resident of this state is not required to obtain a license under this section if all of the following conditions apply: (a) The individual is licensed in his or her state of residence to purchase, carry, or transport a pistol. (b) The individual is in possession of the license described in subdivision (a). (c) The individual is the owner of the pistol he or she possesses, carries, or transports. (d) The individual possesses the pistol for a lawful purpose as that term is defined in section 231a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.231a. (e) The individual is in this state for a period of 180 days or less and does not intend to establish residency in this state. (9) An individual who is a nonresident of this state shall present the license described in subsection (8)(a) upon the demand of a police officer. An individual who violates this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $100.00, or both. (10) The licensing authority may require a person claiming active duty status with the United States armed forces to provide proof of 1 or both of the following: (a) The person’s home of record. (b) Permanent active duty assignment in this state. (11) This section does not apply to a person who is younger than the age required under subsection (3)(b) and who possesses a pistol if all of the following conditions apply: (a) The person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing that pistol. (b) The person is at a recognized target range. (c) The person possesses the pistol for the purpose of target practice or instruction in the safe use of a pistol. (d) The person’s parent or guardian is physically present and supervising the person. (e) The owner of the pistol is physically present. (12) This section does not apply to a person who possesses a pistol if all of the following conditions apply: (a) The person is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a pistol. (b) The person is at a recognized target range or shooting facility. (d) The owner of the pistol is physically present and supervising the use of the pistol. (13) The licensing authority shall provide a basic pistol safety brochure to each applicant for a license under this section before the applicant answers the basic pistol safety review questionnaire. A basic pistol safety brochure shall contain, but is not limited to providing, information on all of the following subjects: (a) Rules for safe handling and use of pistols. (b) Safe storage of pistols. (c) Nomenclature and description of various types of pistols. (d) The responsibilities of owning a pistol. (14) The basic pistol safety brochure shall be supplied in addition to the safety pamphlet required by section 9b. (15) The basic pistol safety brochure required in subsection (13) shall be produced by a national nonprofit membership organization that provides voluntary pistol safety programs that include training individuals in the safe handling and use of pistols. (16) A person who forges any matter on an application for a license under this section is guilty of a felony, punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000.00, or both. (17) A licensing authority shall implement this section during all of the licensing authority’s normal business hours and shall set hours for implementation that allow an applicant to use the license within the time period set forth in subsection (4). 28.424 Restoration of rights by concealed weapons licensing board; application; fee; determination; circumstances; judicial review. (1) A person who is prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving, or distributing a firearm under section 224f(2) of the Michigan penal code, Act No. 328 of the Public Acts of 1931, being section 750.224f of the Michigan Compiled Laws, may apply to the concealed weapons licensing board in the county in which he or she resides for restoration of those rights. (2) Not more than 1 application may be submitted under subsection (1) in any calendar year. The concealed weapons licensing board may charge a fee of not more than $10.00 for the actual and necessary expenses of each application. (3) The concealed weapons licensing board shall, by written order of the board, restore the rights of a person to possess, use, transport, sell, purchase, carry, ship, receive, or distribute a firearm if the board determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that all of the following circumstances exist: (a) The person properly submitted an application for restoration of those rights as provided under this section. (b) The expiration of 5 years after all of the following circumstances: (i) The person has paid all fines imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition. (ii) The person has served all terms of imprisonment imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition. (iii) The person has successfully completed all conditions of probation or parole imposed for the violation resulting in the prohibition. (c) The person’s record and reputation are such that the person is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to the safety of other persons. (4) If the concealed weapons licensing board pursuant to subsection (3) refuses to restore a right under this section, the person may petition the circuit court for review of that decision. 28.425 Concealed pistol application kits. (1) County sheriffs, local police agencies, and county clerks shall provide concealed pistol application kits during normal business hours and free of charge to individuals who wish to apply for licenses to carry concealed pistols. Each kit shall only contain all of the following: (a) A concealed pistol license application form provided by the director of the department of state police. (b) The fingerprint cards required under section 5b(11). (c) Written information regarding the procedures involved in obtaining a license to carry a concealed pistol, including information regarding the right to appeal the denial of a license and the form required for that appeal. (d) Written information identifying entities that offer the training required under section 5b(7)(c). (2) A county sheriff, local police agency, or county clerk shall not deny an individual the right to receive a concealed pistol application kit under this section. (3) An individual who is denied an application kit under this section and obtains an order of mandamus directing the concealed weapon licensing board to provide him or her with the application kit shall be awarded his or her actual and reasonable costs and attorney fees for obtaining the order. (4) The department of state police shall provide the application kits required under this section to county sheriffs, local law enforcement agencies, and county clerks in sufficient quantities to meet demand. The department of state police shall not charge a fee for the kits. 28.425a Concealed weapon licensing board; membership; quorum; voting; clerk; authority and duties; panel; investigation of license applicant; temporary license; compilation of firearms laws by legislative service bureau; distribution; statement. (1) Each county shall have a concealed weapon licensing board. The concealed weapon licensing board of each county shall have the following members: (a) The county prosecuting attorney or his or her designee. However, if the county prosecuting attorney decides that he or she does not want to be a member of the concealed weapon licensing board, he or she shall notify the county board of commissioners in writing that he or she does not want to be a member of the concealed weapon licensing board for the balance of his or her term in office. The county board of commissioners shall then appoint a replacement for the prosecuting attorney who is a firearms instructor who has the qualifications prescribed in section 5j(1)(c). The person who replaces the prosecuting attorney shall serve on the concealed weapon licensing board in place of the prosecuting attorney for the remaining term of the county prosecuting attorney unless removed for cause by the county board of commissioners. If a vacancy occurs on the concealed weapon licensing board of the person appointed pursuant to this section during the term of office of the county prosecuting attorney, the county board of commissioners shall appoint a replacement person who is a firearms instructor who has the qualifications prescribed in section 5j(1)(c). (b) The county sheriff or his or her designee. (c) The director of the department of state police or his or her designee. (2) If a prosecuting attorney chooses not to be a member of the concealed weapon licensing board, all of the following apply: (a) The prosecuting attorney shall be notified of all applications received by the concealed weapon licensing board. (b) The prosecuting attorney shall be given an opportunity to object to granting a license to carry a concealed pistol and present evidence bearing directly on an applicant’s suitability to carry a concealed pistol safely. (c) The prosecuting attorney shall disclose to the concealed weapon licensing board any information of which he or she has actual knowledge that bears directly on an applicant’s suitability to carry a concealed pistol safely. (3) The county prosecuting attorney or his or her designee shall serve as chairperson of the board unless the prosecuting attorney does not want to be a member of the concealed weapon licensing board, in which case the concealed weapon licensing board shall elect its chairperson. Two members of the concealed weapon licensing board constitute a quorum of the concealed weapon licensing board. The business of the concealed weapon licensing board shall be conducted by a majority vote of all of the members of the concealed weapon licensing board. (4) The county clerk shall serve as the clerk of the concealed weapon licensing board. (5) Except as otherwise provided in this act, the concealed weapon licensing board has exclusive authority to issue, deny, revoke, or suspend a license to carry a concealed pistol. The concealed weapon licensing board shall perform other duties as provided by law. (6) The concealed weapon licensing board may convene not more than 3 panels to assist the board in evaluating applicants. The panels shall be composed of representatives as prescribed in subsection (1). The panels do not have the authority to issue, deny, revoke, or suspend a license. (7) The concealed weapon licensing board may investigate the applicant for a license to carry a concealed pistol. The investigation shall be restricted to determining only whether the applicant is eligible under this act to receive a license to carry a concealed pistol, and the investigation regarding the issuance of a license shall end after that determination is made. The concealed weapon licensing board may require the applicant to appear before the board at a mutually agreed-upon time for a conference. The applicant’s failure or refusal to appear without valid reason before the concealed weapon licensing board as provided in this subsection is grounds for the board to deny issuance of a license to carry a concealed pistol to that applicant. (8) If the concealed weapon licensing board determines there is probable cause to believe the safety of the applicant or the safety of a member of the applicant’s family is endangered by the applicant’s inability to immediately obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol, the concealed weapon licensing board may, pending issuance of a license, issue a temporary license to the individual to carry a concealed pistol. A temporary license shall be on a form provided by the department of state police. A temporary license shall be unrestricted and shall be valid for not more than 180 days. A temporary license may be renewed for 1 additional period of not more than 180 days. A temporary license is, for all other purposes of this act, a license to carry a concealed pistol. (9) The legislative service bureau shall compile the firearms laws of this state, including laws that apply to carrying a concealed pistol, and shall provide copies of the compilation to each concealed weapon licensing board in this state for distribution under this subsection. A concealed weapon licensing board shall distribute a copy of the compilation to each individual who applies for a license to carry a concealed pistol at the time the application is submitted. The concealed weapon licensing board shall require the applicant to sign a written statement acknowledging that he or she has received a copy of the compilation. An individual is not eligible to receive a license to carry a concealed pistol until he or she has signed the statement. 28.425b License application; fee; verification of requirements; determination; circumstances for issuance; fingerprints; issuance or denial; temporary license; suspension or revocation of license; definitions. Sec. 5b. (1) To obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol, an individual shall apply to the concealed weapon licensing board in the county in which that individual resides. The application shall be filed with the county clerk during the county clerk’s normal business hours. The application shall be on a form provided by the director of the department of state police and shall allow the applicant to designate whether the applicant seeks a temporary license. The application shall be signed under oath by the applicant. The oath shall be administered by the county clerk or his or her representative. The application shall contain all of the following information: (a) The applicant’s legal name and date of birth and the address of his or her primary residence. If the applicant resides in a city, village, or township that has a police department, the name of the police department. Information received under this subdivision is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for purposes of this act or for law enforcement purposes. (b) A statement by the applicant that the applicant meets the criteria for a license under this act to carry a concealed pistol. (c) A statement by the applicant authorizing the concealed weapon licensing board to access any record, including any medical record, pertaining to the applicant’s qualifications for a license to carry a concealed pistol under this act. The applicant may request that information received by the concealed weapon licensing board under this subdivision be reviewed in a closed session. If the applicant requests that the session be closed, the concealed weapon licensing board shall close the session only for purposes of this subdivision. The applicant and his or her representative have the right to be present in the closed session. Medical records and personal identifying information received by the concealed weapon licensing board under this subdivision is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for purposes of this act or for law enforcement purposes or if the applicant is convicted of a felony involving a pistol. (d) A statement by the applicant regarding whether he or she has a history of mental illness that would disqualify him or her under subsection (7)(j) to (l) from receiving a license to carry a concealed pistol, and authorizing the concealed weapon licensing board to access the mental health records of the applicant relating to his or her mental health history. The applicant may request that information received by the concealed weapon licensing board under this subdivision be reviewed in a closed session. If the applicant requests that the session be closed, the concealed weapon licensing board shall close the session only for purposes of this subdivision. The applicant and his or her representative have the right to be present in the closed session. Medical records and personal identifying information received by the concealed weapon licensing board under this subdivision is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for purposes of this act or for law enforcement purposes. (e) A statement by the applicant regarding whether he or she has ever been convicted in this state or elsewhere for any of the following: (i) Any felony. (ii) A misdemeanor listed under subsection (7)(h) or (i), if the applicant was convicted of violating that misdemeanor in the 8 years immediately preceding the date of the application. (f) A statement by the applicant whether he or she has been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces. (g) If the applicant seeks a temporary license, the facts supporting the issuance of that temporary license. (h) The names, residential addresses, and telephone numbers of 2 individuals who are references for the applicant. Information received under this subdivision is confidential, is not subject to disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246, and shall not be disclosed to any person except for purposes of this act or for law enforcement purposes. (i) A passport-quality photograph of the applicant provided by the applicant at the time of application. (j) A certificate stating that the applicant has completed the training course prescribed by this act. (2) The application form shall contain a conspicuous warning that the application is executed under oath and that intentionally making a material false statement on the application is a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both. (3) An individual who intentionally makes a material false statement on an application under subsection (1) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both. (4) The concealed weapon licensing board shall retain a copy of each application for a license to carry a concealed pistol as an official record. One year after the expiration of a concealed pistol license, the county clerk may destroy the record and maintain only a name index of the record. (5) Each applicant shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $105.00 by any method of payment accepted by that county for payments of other fees and penalties. Except for a local police agency as provided in subsection (9), a unit of local government, an agency of a unit of local government, or an agency or department of this state shall not charge an additional fee, assessment, or other amount in connection with a license under this section. The fee shall be payable to the county. The county treasurer shall deposit $41.00 of each fee collected under this section in the general fund of the county and credit $26.00 of that deposit to the credit of the county clerk and $15.00 of that deposit to the credit of the county sheriff and forward the balance to the state treasurer. The state treasurer shall deposit the balance of the fee in the general fund to the credit of the department of state police. The department of state police shall use the money received under this act to process the fingerprints and to reimburse the federal bureau of investigation for the costs associated with processing fingerprints submitted under this act. The balance of the money received under this act shall be credited to the department of state police. (6) The county sheriff on behalf of the concealed weapon licensing board shall verify the requirements of subsection (7)(d), (e), (f), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), and (m) through the law enforcement information network and report his or her finding to the concealed weapon licensing board. If the applicant resides in a city, village, or township that has a police department, the concealed weapon licensing board shall contact that city, village, or township police department to determine only whether that city, village, or township police department has any information relevant to the investigation of whether the applicant is eligible under this act to receive a license to carry a concealed pistol. The concealed weapon licensing board may require a person claiming active duty status with the United States armed forces under this section to provide proof of 1 or both of the following: (7) The concealed weapon licensing board shall issue a license to an applicant to carry a concealed pistol within the period required under this act after the applicant properly submits an application under subsection (1) and the concealed weapon licensing board determines that all of the following circumstances exist: (a) The applicant is 21 years of age or older. (b) The applicant is a citizen of the United States or is an alien lawfully admitted into the United States, is a legal resident of this state, and has resided in this state for not less than the 6 months immediately preceding the date of application. The concealed weapon licensing board may waive the 6-month residency requirement for a temporary license under section 5a(8) if the concealed weapon licensing board determines there is probable cause to believe the safety of the applicant or the safety of a member of the applicant’s family is endangered by the applicant’s inability to immediately obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol. If the applicant holds a valid concealed pistol license issued by another state at the time the applicant’s residency in this state is established, the concealed weapon licensing board may waive the 6-month waiting period and the applicant may apply for a concealed pistol license at the time the applicant’s residency in this state is established. The concealed weapon licensing board shall immediately issue a temporary license to that applicant. The temporary license shall be valid until the concealed weapon licensing board decides whether to grant or deny the application. For the purposes of this section, a person shall be considered a legal resident of this state if any of the following apply: (i) The person has a valid, lawfully obtained Michigan driver license issued under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, or official state personal identification card issued under 1972 PA 222, MCL 28.291 to 28.300. (c) The applicant has knowledge and has had training in the safe use and handling of a pistol by the successful completion of a pistol safety training course or class that meets the requirements of section 5j, and that is available to the general public and presented by a law enforcement agency, junior or community college, college, or public or private institution or organization or firearms training school. (d) The applicant is not the subject of an order or disposition under any of the following: (ii) Section 5107 of the estates and protected individuals code, 1998 PA 386, MCL 700.5107. (iii) Sections 2950 and 2950a of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.2950 and 600.2950a. (iv) Section 6b of chapter V of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 765.6b, if the order has a condition imposed pursuant to section 6b(3) of chapter V of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 765.6b. (v) Section 16b of chapter IX of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 769.16b. (e) The applicant is not prohibited from possessing, using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving, or distributing a firearm under section 224f of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.224f. (f) The applicant has never been convicted of a felony in this state or elsewhere, and a felony charge against the applicant is not pending in this state or elsewhere at the time he or she applies for a license described in this section. (g) The applicant has not been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces. (h) The applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of any of the following in the 8 years immediately preceding the date of application: (i) Section 617a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.617a (failing to stop when involved in a personal injury accident). (ii) Section 625 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625, punishable as provided in subsection (9)(b) of that section (operating while intoxicated, second offense). (iii) Section 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625m punishable under subsection (4) of that section (operating a commercial vehicle with alcohol content, second offense). (iv) Section 626 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.626 (reckless driving). (v) Section 904(1) of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.904 (operating while license suspended or revoked), punishable as a second or subsequent offense. (vi) Section 185 of the aeronautics code of the state of Michigan, 1945 PA 327, MCL 259.185 (operating aircraft while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance with prior conviction). (vii) Section 29 of the weights and measures act, 1964 PA 283, MCL 290.629 (hindering or obstructing certain persons performing official weights and measures duties). (viii) Section 10 of the motor fuels quality act, 1984 PA 44, MCL 290.650 (hindering, obstructing, assaulting, or committing bodily injury upon director or authorized representative). (ix) Section 81134 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81134, punishable under subsection (5) or (6) of that section (operating ORV under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance, second or subsequent offense). (x) Section 82127 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.82127 (operating a snowmobile under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance), punishable as a second or subsequent offense under section 82128(1)(b) or (c) of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.82128. (xi) Section 80176 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.80176, and punishable under section 80177(1)(b) (operating vessel under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance, second or subsequent offense). (xii) Section 7403 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7403. (xiii) Section 353 of the railroad code of 1993, 1993 PA 354, MCL 462.353 (operating locomotive under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance, or while visibly impaired), punishable under subsection (4) of that section. (xiv) Section 7 of 1978 PA 33, MCL 722.677 (displaying sexually explicit matter to minors). (xv) Section 81 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.81 (assault or domestic assault). (xvi) Section 81a(1) or (2) of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.81a (aggravated assault or aggravated domestic assault). (xvii) Section 115 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.115 (breaking and entering or entering without breaking). (xviii) Section 136b(6) of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.136b (fourth degree child abuse). (xix) Section 145a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145a (accosting, enticing, or soliciting a child for immoral purposes). (xx) Section 145n of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.145n (vulnerable adult abuse). (xxi) Section 157b(3)(b) of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.157b (solicitation to commit a felony). (xxii) Section 215 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.215 (impersonating peace officer or medical examiner). (xxiii) Section 223 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.223 (illegal sale of a firearm or ammunition). (xxiv) Section 224d of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.224d (illegal use or sale of a self-defense spray). (xxv) Section 226a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.226a (sale or possession of a switchblade). (xxvi) Section 227c of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.227c (improper transportation of a loaded firearm). (xxvii) Section 228 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.228 (failure to have a pistol inspected). (xxviii) Section 229 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.229 (accepting a pistol in pawn). (xxix) Section 232 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.232 (failure to register the purchase of a firearm or a firearm component). (xxx) Section 232a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.232a (improperly obtaining a pistol, making a false statement on an application to purchase a pistol, or using false identification to purchase a pistol). (xxxi) Section 233 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.233 (intentionally aiming a firearm without malice). (xxxii) Section 234 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.234 (intentionally discharging a firearm aimed without malice). (xxxiii) Section 234d of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.234d (possessing a firearm on prohibited premises). (xxxiv) Section 234e of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.234e (brandishing a firearm in public). (xxxv) Section 234f of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.234f (possession of a firearm by an individual less than 18 years of age). (xxxvi) Section 235 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.235 (intentionally discharging a firearm aimed without malice causing injury). (xxxvii) Section 235a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.235a (parent of a minor who possessed a firearm in a weapon free school zone). (xxxviii) Section 236 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.236 (setting a spring gun or other device). (xxxix) Section 237 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.237 (possessing a firearm while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or a drug). (xl) Section 237a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.237a (weapon free school zone violation). (xli) Section 335a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.335a (indecent exposure). (xlii) Section 411h of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.411h (stalking). (xliii) Section 520e of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.520e (fourth degree criminal sexual conduct). (xliv) Section 1 of 1952 PA 45, MCL 752.861 (reckless, careless, or negligent use of a firearm resulting in injury or death). (xlv) Section 2 of 1952 PA 45, MCL 752.862 (careless, reckless, or negligent use of a firearm resulting in property damage). (xlvi) Section 3a of 1952 PA 45, MCL 752.863a (reckless discharge of a firearm). (xlvii) A violation of a law of the United States, another state, or a local unit of government of this state or another state substantially corresponding to a violation described in subparagraphs (i) to (xlvi). (i) The applicant has not been convicted of a misdemeanor violation of any of the following in the 3 years immediately preceding the date of application unless the misdemeanor violation is listed under subdivision (h): (i) Section 625 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 (operating under the influence). (ii) Section 625a of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625a (refusal of commercial vehicle operator to submit to a chemical test). (iii) Section 625k of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625k (ignition interlock device reporting violation). (iv) Section 625l of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625l (circumventing an ignition interlocking device). (v) Section 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625m, punishable under subsection (3) of that section (operating a commercial vehicle with alcohol content). (vi) Section 185 of the aeronautics code of the state of Michigan, 1945 PA 327, MCL 259.185 (operating aircraft under the influence). (vii) Section 81134 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81134 (operating ORV under the influence). (viii) Section 81135 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81135 (operating ORV while visibly impaired). (ix) Section 82127 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.82127 (operating a snowmobile under the influence). (x) Part 74 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7401 to 333.7461 (controlled substance violation). (xi) Section 353 of the railroad code of 1993, 1993 PA 354, MCL 462.353 (operating locomotive under the influence), punishable under subsection (3) of that section. (xii) Section 167 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.167 (disorderly person). (xiii) Section 174 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.174 (embezzlement). (xiv) Section 218 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.218 (false pretenses with intent to defraud). (xv) Section 356 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.356 (larceny). (xvi) Section 356d of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.356d (second degree retail fraud). (xvii) Section 359 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.359 (larceny-vacant building). (xviii) Section 362 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.362 (larceny by conversion). (xix) Section 362a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.362a (larceny-defrauding lessor). (xx) Section 377a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.377a (malicious destruction of property). (xxi) Section 380 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.380 (malicious destruction of real property). (xxii) Section 535 of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.535 (receiving stolen property). (xxiii) Section 540e of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.540e (malicious use of telephones). (xxiv) A violation of a law of the United States, another state, or a local unit of government of this state or another state substantially corresponding to a violation described in subparagraphs (i) to (xxiii). (j) The applicant has not been found guilty but mentally ill of any crime and has not offered a plea of not guilty of, or been acquitted of, any crime by reason of insanity. (k) The applicant has never been subject to an order of involuntary commitment in an inpatient or outpatient setting due to mental illness. (l) The applicant does not have a diagnosed mental illness at the time the application is made regardless of whether he or she is receiving treatment for that illness. (m) The applicant is not under a court order of legal incapacity in this state or elsewhere. (n) Issuing a license to the applicant to carry a concealed pistol in this state is not detrimental to the safety of the applicant or to any other individual. A determination under this subdivision shall be based on clear and convincing evidence of repeated violations of this act, crimes, personal protection orders or injunctions, or police reports or other clear and convincing evidence of the actions of, or statements of, the applicant that bear directly on the applicant’s ability to carry a concealed pistol. (8) Upon entry of a court order or conviction of 1 of the enumerated prohibitions for using, transporting, selling, purchasing, carrying, shipping, receiving or distributing a firearm in this section the department of state police shall immediately enter the order or conviction into the law enforcement information network. For purposes of this act, information of the court order or conviction shall not be removed from the law enforcement information network, but may be moved to a separate file intended for the use of the county concealed weapon licensing boards, the courts, and other government entities as necessary and exclusively to determine eligibility to be licensed under this act. (9) An individual, after submitting an application and paying the fee prescribed under subsection (5), shall request and have classifiable fingerprints taken by the county sheriff or a local police agency if that local police agency maintains fingerprinting capability. If the individual requests that classifiable fingerprints be taken by a local police agency, the individual shall also pay to that local police agency a fee of $15.00 by any method of payment accepted by the unit of local government for payments of other fees and penalties. The county sheriff or local police agency shall take the fingerprints within 5 business days after the request. (10) The fingerprints shall be taken, under subsection (9), on forms and in a manner prescribed by the department of state police. The fingerprints shall be immediately forwarded to the department of state police for comparison with fingerprints already on file with the department of state police. The department of state police shall forward the fingerprints to the federal bureau of investigation. Within 10 days after receiving a report of the fingerprints from the federal bureau of investigation, the department of state police shall provide a copy to the submitting sheriff’s department or local police agency as appropriate and the clerk of the appropriate concealed weapon licensing board. Except as provided in subsection (14), the concealed weapon licensing board shall not issue a concealed pistol license until it receives the fingerprint comparison report prescribed in this subsection. The concealed weapon licensing board may deny a license if an individual’s fingerprints are not classifiable by the federal bureau of investigation. (11) The concealed weapon licensing board shall deny a license to an applicant to carry a concealed pistol if the applicant is not qualified under subsection (7) to receive that license. (12) A license to carry a concealed pistol that is issued based upon an application that contains a material false statement is void from the date the license is issued. (13) Subject to subsections (10) and (14), the concealed weapon licensing board shall issue or deny issuance of a license within 45 days after the concealed weapon licensing board receives the fingerprint comparison report provided under subsection (10). If the concealed weapon licensing board denies issuance of a license to carry a concealed pistol, the concealed weapon licensing board shall within 5 business days do both of the following: (a) Inform the applicant in writing of the reasons for the denial. Information under this subdivision shall include all of the following: (i) A statement of the specific and articulable facts supporting the denial. (ii) Copies of any writings, photographs, records, or other documentary evidence upon which the denial is based. (b) Inform the applicant in writing of his or her right to appeal the denial to the circuit court as provided in section 5d. (14) If the fingerprint comparison report is not received by the concealed weapon licensing board within 60 days after the fingerprint report is forwarded to the department of state police by the federal bureau of investigation, the concealed weapon licensing board shall issue a temporary license to carry a concealed pistol to the applicant if the applicant is otherwise qualified for a license. A temporary license issued under this section is valid for 180 days or until the concealed weapon licensing board receives the fingerprint comparison report provided under subsection (10) and issues or denies issuance of a license to carry a concealed pistol as otherwise provided under this act. Upon issuance or the denial of issuance of the license to carry a concealed pistol to an applicant who received a temporary license under this section, the applicant shall immediately surrender the temporary license to the concealed weapon licensing board that issued that temporary license. (15) If an individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol moves to a different county within this state, his or her license remains valid until it expires or is otherwise suspended or revoked under this act. A license to carry a concealed pistol that is lost, stolen, or defaced may be replaced by the issuing county clerk for a replacement fee of $10.00. (16) If a concealed weapons licensing board suspends or revokes a license issued under this act, the license is forfeited and shall be returned to the concealed weapon licensing board forthwith. An individual who fails to return a license as required under this subsection after he or she was notified that his or her license was suspended or revoked is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $500.00, or both. (17) An applicant or an individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol may be furnished a copy of his or her application under this section upon request and the payment of a reasonable fee. (18) This section does not prohibit the concealed weapon licensing board from making public and distributing to the public at no cost lists of individuals who are certified as qualified instructors as prescribed under section 5j. (19) As used in this section: (a) “Convicted” means a final conviction, the payment of a fine, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere if accepted by the court, or a finding of guilt for a criminal law violation or a juvenile adjudication or disposition by the juvenile division of probate court or family division of circuit court for a violation that if committed by an adult would be a crime. (b) “Felony” means that term as defined in section 1 of chapter I of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 761.1, or a violation of a law of the United States or another state that is designated as a felony or that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than 1 year. (c) “Mental illness” means a substantial disorder of thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality, or ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, and includes, but is not limited to, clinical depression. (d) “Misdemeanor” means a violation of a penal law of this state or violation of a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a violation of a penal law of this state that is not a felony or a violation of an order, rule, or regulation of a state agency that is punishable by imprisonment or a fine that is not a civil fine, or both. (e) “Treatment” means care or any therapeutic service, including, but not limited to, the administration of a drug, and any other service for the treatment of a mental illness. 28.425f Concealed pistol license; possession; disclosure to peace officer; violation; penalty; notice to department and issuing board; seizure; forfeiture; “peace officer” defined. Sec. 5f. (1) An individual who is licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol shall have his or her license to carry that pistol in his or her possession at all times he or she is carrying a concealed pistol or a portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology. (2) An individual who is licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol and who is carrying a concealed pistol or a portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology shall show both of the following to a peace officer upon request by that peace officer: (a) His or her license to carry a concealed pistol. (b) His or her driver license or Michigan personal identification card. (3) An individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol and who is carrying a concealed pistol or a portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology and who is stopped by a peace officer shall immediately disclose to the peace officer that he or she is carrying a pistol or a portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology concealed upon his or her person or in his or her vehicle. (4) An individual who violates subsection (1) or (2) is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be fined not more than $100.00. (5) An individual who violates subsection (3) is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be fined as follows: (a) For a first offense, by a fine of not more than $500.00 or by the individual’s license to carry a concealed pistol being suspended for 6 months, or both. (b) For a subsequent offense within 3 years of a prior offense, by a fine of not more than $1,000.00 and by the individual’s license to carry a concealed pistol being revoked. (6) If an individual is found responsible for a state civil infraction under this section, the court shall notify the department of state police and the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the license of that determination. (7) A pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology carried in violation of this section is subject to immediate seizure by a peace officer. If a peace officer seizes a pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology under this subsection, the individual has 45 days in which to display his or her license or documentation to an authorized employee of the law enforcement entity that employs the peace officer. If the individual displays his or her license or documentation to an authorized employee of the law enforcement entity that employs the peace officer within the 45-day period, the authorized employee of that law enforcement entity shall return the pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology to the individual unless the individual is prohibited by law from possessing a firearm or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology. If the individual does not display his or her license or documentation within the 45-day period, the pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology is subject to forfeiture as provided in section 5g. A pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology is not subject to immediate seizure under this subsection if both of the following circumstances exist: (a) The individual has his or her driver license or Michigan personal identification card in his or her possession when the violation occurs. (b) The peace officer verifies through the law enforcement information network that the individual is licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol. (8) As used in this section, “peace officer” includes a motor carrier officer appointed under section 6d of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6d, and security personnel employed by the state under section 6c of 1935 PA 59, MCL 28.6c. 28.425g Pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology; subject to seizure and forfeiture; exception. Sec. 5g. A pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology carried in violation of this act is subject to seizure and forfeiture in the same manner that property is subject to seizure and forfeiture under sections 4701 to 4709 of the revised judicature act of 1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.4701 to 600.4709. This section does not apply if the violation is a state civil infraction under section 5f unless the individual fails to present his or her license within the 45-day period described in that section. 28.425i Instruction or training; liability. Sec. 5i. (1) A person or entity that provides instruction or training to another person under section 5b is immune from civil liability for damages to any person or property caused by the person who was trained. (2) This section does not apply if the person or entity providing the instruction or training was grossly negligent. (3) This section is in addition to and not in lieu of immunity otherwise provided by law. 28.425j Pistol training or safety program; conditions. Sec. 5j. (1) A pistol training or safety program described in section 5b(7)(c) meets the requirements for knowledge or training in the safe use and handling of a pistol only if the program consists of not less than 8 hours of instruction and all of the following conditions are met: (a) The program is certified by this state or a national or state firearms training organization and provides 5 hours of instruction in, but is not limited to providing instruction in, all of the following: (i) The safe storage, use, and handling of a pistol including, but not limited to, safe storage, use, and handling to protect child safety. (ii) Ammunition knowledge, and the fundamentals of pistol shooting. (iii) Pistol shooting positions. (iv) Firearms and the law, including civil liability issues and the use of deadly force. This portion shall be taught by an attorney or an individual trained in the use of deadly force. (v) Avoiding criminal attack and controlling a violent confrontation. (vi) All laws that apply to carrying a concealed pistol in this state. (b) The program provides at least 3 hours of instruction on a firing range and requires firing at least 30 rounds of ammunition. (c) The program provides a certificate of completion that states the program complies with the requirements of this section and that the individual successfully completed the course, and that contains the printed name and signature of the course instructor. Not later than October 1, 2004, the certificate of completion shall contain the statement, “This course complies with section 5j of 1927 PA 372.” (d) The instructor of the course is certified by this state or a national organization to teach the 8-hour pistol safety training course described in this section. (2) A person shall not do either of the following: (a) Grant a certificate of completion described under subsection (1)(c) to an individual knowing the individual did not satisfactorily complete the course. (b) Present a certificate of completion described under subsection (1)(c) to a concealed weapon licensing board knowing that the individual did not satisfactorily complete the course. (3) A person who violates subsection (2) is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both. (4) A concealed weapons licensing board shall not require that a specific form, color, wording, or other content appear on a certificate of completion, except as provided in subsection (5), and shall accept as valid a certificate of completion issued prior to the effective date of the amendatory act that added this subsection that contains an inaccurate reference or no reference to this section but otherwise complies with this section. (5) Beginning October 1, 2004, a concealed weapons licensing board shall require that a certificate of completion contain the statement, “This course complies with section 5j of 1927 PA 372.”. 28.425k Acceptance of license as implied consent to submit to chemical analysis of breath, blood, or urine; definitions. Sec. 5k. (1) Acceptance of a license issued under this act to carry a concealed pistol constitutes implied consent to submit to a chemical analysis under this section. This section also applies to individuals listed in section 12a. (2) An individual shall not carry a concealed pistol or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology while he or she is under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance or while having a bodily alcohol content prohibited under this section. An individual who violates this section is responsible for a state civil infraction or guilty of a crime as follows: (a) If the person was under the influence of alcoholic liquor or a controlled substance or a combination of alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance, or had a bodily alcohol content of .10 or more grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, the individual is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or $100.00, or both. The court shall order the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the individual a license to carry a concealed pistol to permanently revoke the license. The concealed weapon licensing board shall permanently revoke the license as ordered by the court. (b) If the person had a bodily alcohol content of .08 or more but less than .10 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, the individual is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or $100.00, or both. The court may order the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the individual a license to carry a concealed pistol to revoke the license for not more than 3 years. The concealed weapon licensing board shall revoke the license as ordered by the court. (c) If the person had a bodily alcohol content of .02 or more but less than .08 grams per 100 milliliters of blood, per 210 liters of breath, or per 67 milliliters of urine, the individual is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be fined not more than $100.00. The court may order the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the individual the license to revoke the license for 1 year. The concealed weapon licensing board shall revoke the license as ordered by the court. The court shall notify the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the individual a license to carry a concealed pistol if an individual is found responsible for a subsequent violation of this subdivision. (3) This section does not prohibit an individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol who has any bodily alcohol content from doing any of the following: (a) Transporting that pistol in the locked trunk of his or her motor vehicle or another motor vehicle in which he or she is a passenger or, if the vehicle does not have a trunk, from transporting that pistol unloaded in a locked compartment or container that is separated from the ammunition for that pistol. (b) Transporting that pistol on a vessel if the pistol is transported unloaded in a locked compartment or container that is separated from the ammunition for that pistol. (c) Transporting a portable device using electro-muscular disruption technology in the locked trunk of his or her motor vehicle or another motor vehicle in which he or she is a passenger, or, if the vehicle does not have a trunk, from transporting that portable device in a locked compartment or container. (d) Transporting a portable device using electro-muscular disruption technology on a vessel if the portable device is transported in a locked compartment or container. (4) A peace officer who has probable cause to believe an individual is carrying a concealed pistol or a portable device using electro-muscular disruption technology in violation of this section may require the individual to submit to a chemical analysis of his or her breath, blood, or urine. (5) Before an individual is required to submit to a chemical analysis under subsection (4), the peace officer shall inform the individual of all of the following: (a) The individual may refuse to submit to the chemical analysis, but if he or she chooses to do so, all of the following apply: (i) The officer may obtain a court order requiring the individual to submit to a chemical analysis. (ii) The refusal may result in his or her license to carry a concealed pistol being suspended or revoked. (b) If the individual submits to the chemical analysis, he or she may obtain a chemical analysis described in subsection (4) from a person of his or her own choosing. (6) The collection and testing of breath, blood, and urine specimens under this section shall be conducted in the same manner that breath, blood, and urine specimens are collected and tested for alcohol- and controlled-substance-related driving violations under the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923. (7) If a person refuses to take a chemical test authorized under this section, the peace officer shall promptly report the refusal in writing to the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the license to the individual to carry a concealed pistol. (8) If a person takes a chemical test authorized under this section and the test results indicate that the individual had any bodily alcohol content while carrying a concealed pistol, the peace officer shall promptly report the violation in writing to the concealed weapon licensing board that issued the license to the individual to carry a concealed pistol. (9) As used in this section: (a) “Alcoholic liquor” means that term as defined in section 105 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1105. (b) “Controlled substance” means that term as defined in section 7104 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7104. 28.425l License; validity; duration; renewal; waiver of educational requirements; fingerprints. Sec. 5l. (1) A license to carry a concealed pistol issued on or after July 1, 2003 but before July 1, 2006 is valid for 5 years. (2) An initial license to carry a concealed pistol issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2006, other than a license described in subsection (1), is valid until the applicant’s date of birth that falls not less than 4 years or more than 5 years after the license is issued or renewed, as applicable. Except as provided in subsections (8) and (9), a renewal of a license under section 5b shall, except as provided in this section, be issued in the same manner as an original license issued under section 5b. (3) Subject to subsections (8) and (9), an application to renew a license to carry a concealed pistol may be submitted not more than 6 months before the expiration of the current license. If the concealed weapon licensing board approves the renewal, the effective date of the renewal license is the date of expiration of the current license or the date of approval of the renewal, whichever is later, and the date of expiration is the applicant’s date of birth which is not less than 4 years or more than 5 years from the effective date of the license. (4) The concealed weapon licensing board shall issue or deny issuance of a renewal license within 60 days after the application for renewal is properly submitted. The county clerk shall issue the applicant a receipt for his or her renewal application at the time the application is submitted. The receipt shall contain all of the following: (b) The date and time the receipt is issued. (c) The amount paid. (d) A statement that the receipt is for a license renewal. (e) A statement of whether the applicant qualifies for an extension under subsection (5). (f) The name of the county in which the receipt is issued. (g) An impression of the county seal. (5) If the concealed weapon licensing board fails to deny or issue a renewal license to the person within 60 days as required under subsection (4), the expiration date of the current license is extended by 180 days or until the renewal license is issued, whichever occurs first. This subsection does not apply unless the person pays the renewal fee at the time the renewal application is submitted and the person has submitted a receipt from a police agency that confirms that a background check has been requested by the applicant. (6) A person carrying a concealed pistol after the expiration date of his or her license pursuant to an extension under subsection (5) shall keep the receipt issued by the county clerk under subsection (4) and his or her expired license in his or her possession at all times that he or she is carrying the pistol. For the purposes of this act, the receipt is considered to be part of the license to carry a concealed pistol until a renewal license is issued or denied. Failing to have the receipt and expired license in possession while carrying a concealed pistol or failing to display the receipt to a peace officer upon request is a violation of this act. (7) The educational requirements under section 5b(7)(c) are waived for an applicant who is a retired police officer or retired law enforcement officer. (8) The educational requirements under section 5b(7)(c) for an applicant who is applying for a renewal of a license under this act are waived except that the applicant shall certify that he or she has completed at least 3 hours’ review of the training described under section 5b(7)(c) and has had at least 1 hour of firing range time in the 6 months immediately preceding the subsequent application. (9) Beginning January 1, 2007, an applicant who is applying for a renewal of a license issued under section 5b is not required to have fingerprints taken again under section 5b(9) if all of the following conditions have been met: (a) There has been established a system for the department of state police to save and maintain in its automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) database all fingerprints that are submitted to the department of state police under section 5b. (b) The applicant’s fingerprints have been submitted to and maintained by the department of state police as described in subdivision (a) for ongoing comparison with the automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) database. 28.425n Other license or permit; limitations by employer prohibited. Sec. 5n. (1) This state or a local unit of government of this state shall not prohibit an individual from doing either of the following as a condition for receiving or maintaining any other license or permit authorized by law: (a) Applying for or receiving a license to carry a concealed pistol under this act. (b) Carrying a concealed pistol in compliance with a license issued under this act. (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), an employer shall not prohibit an employee from doing either of the following: (b) Carrying a concealed pistol in compliance with a license issued under this act. This subdivision does not prohibit an employer from prohibiting an employee from carrying a concealed pistol in the course of his or her employment with that employer. (3) A police agency may prohibit an employee of that police agency from carrying a concealed pistol if carrying a concealed pistol would result in increased insurance premiums or a loss or reduction of insurance coverage for that employer. 28.425o Premises on which carrying concealed weapon or portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology prohibited; “premises” defined; exceptions to subsections (1) and (2); violation; penalties. Sec. 5o. (1) Subject to subsection (5), an individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol, or who is exempt from licensure under section 12a(1)(f), shall not carry a concealed pistol on the premises of any of the following: (a) A school or school property except that a parent or legal guardian of a student of the school is not precluded from carrying a concealed pistol while in a vehicle on school property, if he or she is dropping the student off at the school or picking up the child from the school. As used in this section, “school” and “school property” mean those terms as defined in section 237a of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.237a. (b) A public or private child care center or day care center, public or private child caring institution, or public or private child placing agency. (c) A sports arena or stadium. (d) A bar or tavern licensed under the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303, where the primary source of income of the business is the sale of alcoholic liquor by the glass and consumed on the premises. This subdivision does not apply to an owner or employee of the business. The Michigan liquor control commission shall develop and make available to holders of licenses under the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303, an appropriate sign stating that “This establishment prohibits patrons from carrying concealed weapons”. The owner or operator of an establishment licensed under the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303, may, but is not required to, post the sign developed under this subdivision. A record made available by an establishment licensed under the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1101 to 436.2303, necessary to enforce this subdivision is exempt from disclosure under the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. (e) Any property or facility owned or operated by a church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship, unless the presiding official or officials of the church, synagogue, mosque, temple, or other place of worship permit the carrying of concealed pistol on that property or facility. (f) An entertainment facility with a seating capacity of 2,500 or more individuals that the individual knows or should know has a seating capacity of 2,500 or more individuals or that has a sign above each public entrance stating in letters not less than 1-inch high a seating capacity of 2,500 or more individuals. (g) A hospital. (h) A dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university. (2) Subject to subsection (5), an individual shall not carry a portable device that uses electro-muscular disruption technology on any of the premises described in subsection (1). (3) An individual licensed under this act to carry a concealed pistol, or who is exempt from licensure under section 12a(1)(f), shall not carry a concealed pistol in violation of R 432.1212 or a successor rule of the Michigan administrative code promulgated under the Michigan gaming control and revenue act, 1996 IL 1, MCL 432.201 to 432.226. (4) As used in subsection (1), “premises” does not include parking areas of the places identified under subsection (1). (5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to any of the following: (a) An individual licensed under this act who is a retired police officer or retired law enforcement officer. The concealed weapon licensing board may require a letter from the law enforcement agency stating that the retired police officer or law enforcement officer retired in good standing. (b) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is employed or contracted by an entity described under subsection (1) to provide security services and is required by his or her employer or the terms of a contract to carry a concealed firearm on the premises of the employing or contracting entity. (c) An individual who is licensed as a private investigator or private detective under the professional investigator licensure act, 1965 PA 285, MCL 338.821 to 338.851. (d) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is a corrections officer of a county sheriff’s department. (e) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is a motor carrier officer or capitol security officer of the department of state police. (f) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is a member of a sheriff’s posse. (g) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is an auxiliary officer or reserve officer of a police or sheriff’s department. (h) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is a parole or probation officer of the department of corrections. (i) A state court judge or state court retired judge who is licensed under this act. The concealed weapon licensing board may require a state court retired judge to obtain and carry a letter from the judicial tenure commission stating that the state court retired judge is in good standing as authorized under section 30 of article VI of the state constitution of 1963, and rules promulgated under that section, in order to qualify under this subdivision. (j) An individual who is licensed under this act and who is a court officer. (6) An individual who violates this section is responsible for a state civil infraction or guilty of a crime as follows: (a) Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the individual is responsible for a state civil infraction and may be fined not more than $500.00. The court shall order the individual’s license to carry a concealed pistol suspended for 6 months. (b) For a second violation, the individual is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000.00. The court shall order the individual’s license to carry a concealed pistol revoked. (c) For a third or subsequent violation, the individual is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $5,000.00, or both. The court shall order the individual’s license to carry a concealed pistol revoked. 28.426 Issuance of license; conditions. A license shall not be issued to an applicant under section 2 or 5b unless both of the following apply: (a) The issuing agency has determined through the federal national instant criminal background check system (NICS) that the applicant is not prohibited under federal law from possessing or transporting a firearm. (b) If the applicant is not a United States citizen, the issuing agency has verified through the United States immigration and customs enforcement databases that the applicant is not an illegal alien or a nonimmigrant alien. 28.430 Theft of firearm; report required; failure to report theft as civil violation; penalty. (1) A person who owns a firearm shall, within 5 days after he or she knows his or her firearm is stolen, report the theft to a police agency having jurisdiction over that theft. (2) A person who fails to report the theft of a firearm as required under subsection (1) is responsible for a civil violation and may be fined not more than $500.00. 28.434a Disposition of firearm; immunity from civil liability; “law enforcement agency” defined. Sec. 14a. (1) A law enforcement agency that seizes or otherwise comes into possession of a firearm or a part of a firearm subject to disposal under section 14 may, instead of forwarding the firearm or part of a firearm to the director of the department of state police or his or her designated representative for disposal under that section, retain that firearm or part of a firearm for the following purposes: (a) For legal sale or trade to a federally licensed firearm dealer. The proceeds from any sale or trade under this subdivision shall be used by the law enforcement agency only for law enforcement purposes. The law enforcement agency shall not sell or trade a firearm or part of a firearm under this subdivision to any individual who is a member of that law enforcement agency unless the individual is a federally licensed firearms dealer and the sale is made pursuant to a public auction. (b) For official use by members of the seizing law enforcement agency who are employed as peace officers. A firearm or part of a firearm shall not be sold under this subdivision. (2) A law enforcement agency that sells or trades any pistol to a licensed dealer under subsection (1)(a) or retains any pistol under subsection (1)(b) shall complete a record of the transaction under section 2 or section 2a, as applicable. (3) A law enforcement agency that sells or trades a firearm or part of a firearm under this section shall retain a receipt of the sale or trade for a period of not less than 7 years. The law enforcement agency shall make all receipts retained under this subsection available for inspection by the department of state police upon demand and for auditing purposes by the state and the local unit of government of which the agency is a part. (4) Before disposing of a firearm under this section, the law enforcement agency shall do both of the following: (a) Determine through the law enforcement information network whether the firearm has been reported lost or stolen. If the firearm has been reported lost or stolen and the name and address of the owner can be determined, the law enforcement agency shall provide 30 days’ written notice of its intent to dispose of the firearm under this section to the owner, and allow the owner to claim the firearm within that 30-day period if he or she is authorized to possess the firearm. If the police agency determines that a serial number has been altered or has been removed or obliterated from the firearm, the police agency shall submit the firearm to the department of state police or a forensic laboratory for serial number verification or restoration to determine legal ownership. (b) Provide 30 days’ notice to the public on a website maintained by the law enforcement agency of its intent to dispose of the firearm under this section. The notice shall include a description of the firearm and shall state the firearm’s serial number, if the serial number can be determined. The law enforcement agency shall allow the owner of the firearm to claim the firearm within that 30-day period if he or she is authorized to possess the firearm. The 30-day period required under this subdivision is in addition to the 30-day period required under subdivision (a). (5) The law enforcement agency is immune from civil liability for disposing of a firearm in compliance with this section. (6) As used in this section, “law enforcement agency” means any agency that employs peace officers. Upcoming Michigan Classes Enter your ZIP to find classes near you Category All CategoriesAdvanced PistolAdvanced RifleBasic PistolBasic RifleConcealed PistolDefensive Carbine 1Defensive Carbine 2Defensive Handgun 1Defensive Handgun 2Free EventIntroNRA Range Safety OfficerUSCCA Instructor Within 5102550100 distance units mikm Why Choose US Gun Classes? Because Quality Matters. Instructors are not all created equal. We hand-pick the very best instructors in your area. Easily see reviews and testimonials for each instructor. The Best Student Experience. We want to be the best training resource in the world. The only way to do that is by making sure each student has the best training experience, and looks to us for future training. Have a question about a class? Not sure which class to take? Call us. That’s what we’re here for. Before, during and after class, we’re here to help. No Drill Instructors. Our instructors use a variety of teaching methods to ensure open and practical learning while in a safe and comfortable environment.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2104
__label__wiki	0.596613	0.596613	First Inaugural Address (1789) George Washington \| April 30, 1789 Washington's Inauguration, 1789, Allyn Cox, 1973-1974, Great Experiment Hall, Cox Corridors, Architect of the Capitol. George Washington > First Inaugural Address (1789) American Presidents: George Washington, Father of the Country On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention signed the document they had labored over for three months. Nine states needed to ratify before it went into effect. New Hampshire was the ninth state to do so, on June 21, 1788. After much debate and many close votes, the grand experiment in self-government was about to begin. (Two more states, Virginia and New York, would ratify the Constitution before Washington’s inauguration. Eventually, all the states would ratify). The first Presidential inaugural address of this new government was not delivered to a public audience, as it is today. Washington took the oath of office on a second-floor balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, where an assembled crowd could witness the historic event, but afterwards he retired to the Senate Chamber to speak before a joint session of the new Congress. Noting his Constitutional duty to advise the legislature, he offered encouragement and instruction to Congress as they embarked on an historic “experiment” in republican government, one that heaven had “entrusted to the hands of the American people” but that the entire world would note and learn from. At the same time, he spoke with characteristic humility, prefacing his speech with a denial of any ambition for the honor of the presidency and professing a feeling of inadequacy to the task before him. After praising the work of the Constitutional Convention and giving thanks to the “invisible hand” of Providence for directing the deliberations at the convention and the ratification process that followed it, Washington signaled his desire that the First Congress complete the Convention’s work, by adopting a bill of rights. Again, he referred Congress to a provision already made in the Constitution: the amendment process. Instead of speaking of particular rights needing protection, he spoke of a need to guarantee “the characteristic rights of freemen” without undermining the unity of the nation and the effectiveness of the federal government. Source: W.B. Allen, ed., George Washington: A Collection (Indianapolis: Liberty Classics, 1988) 460-463. Fellow Citizens of the Senate and of the House of Representatives. Among the vicissitudes incident to life, no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the fourteenth day of the present month. On the one hand, I was summoned by my Country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love, from a retreat which I had chosen with the fondest predilection, and, in my flattering hopes, with an immutable decision, as the asylum of my declining years: a retreat which was rendered every day more necessary as well as more dear to me, by the addition of habit to inclination, and of frequent interruptions in my health to the gradual waste committed on it by time. On the other hand, the magnitude and difficulty of the trust to which the voice of my Country called me, being sufficient to awaken in the wisest and most experienced of her citizens, a distrustful scrutiny into his qualifications, could not but overwhelm with despondence, one, who, inheriting inferior endowments from nature and unpracticed in the duties of civil administration, ought to be peculiarly conscious of his own deficiencies. In this conflict of emotions, all I dare aver,[1] is, that it has been my faithful study to collect my duty from a just appreciation of every circumstance, by which it might be affected. All I dare hope, is, that, if in executing this task I have been too much swayed by a grateful remembrance of former instances, or by an affectionate sensibility to this transcendent proof, of the confidence of my fellow-citizens; and have thence too little consulted my incapacity as well as disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before me; my error will be palliated by the motives which misled me, and its consequences be judged by my Country, with some share of the partiality in which they originated. Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station; it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official Act, my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the Universe, who presides in the Councils of Nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that his benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the People of the United States, a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes: and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success, the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own; nor those of my fellow-citizens at large, less than either. No People can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand, which conducts the Affairs of men more than the People of the United States. Every step, by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation, seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency. And in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their United Government, the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities, from which the event has resulted, cannot be compared with the means by which most Governments have been established, without some return of pious gratitude along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage. These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me I trust in thinking, that there are none under the influence of which, the proceedings of a new and free Government can more auspiciously commence. By the article[2] establishing the Executive Department, it is made the duty of the President “to recommend to your consideration, such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The circumstances under which I now meet you, will acquit me from entering into that subject, farther than to refer to the Great Constitutional Charter under which you are assembled; and which, in defining your powers, designates the objects to which your attention is to be given. It will be more consistent with those circumstances, and far more congenial with the feelings which actuate me, to substitute, in place of a recommendation of particular measures, the tribute that is due to the talents, the rectitude, and the patriotism which adorn the characters selected to devise and adopt them. In these honorable qualifications, I behold the surest pledges, that as on one side, no local prejudices, or attachments; no separate views, nor party animosities, will misdirect the comprehensive and equal eye which ought to watch over this great assemblage of communities and interests: so, on another, that the foundations of our National policy will be laid in the pure and immutable principles of private morality; and the pre-eminence of a free Government, be exemplified by all the attributes which can win the affections of its Citizens, and command the respect of the world. I dwell on this prospect with every satisfaction which an ardent love for my Country can inspire: since there is no truth more thoroughly established, than that there exists in the economy and course of nature, an indissoluble union between virtue and happiness, between duty and advantage, between the genuine maxims of an honest and magnanimous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and felicity: Since we ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven, can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained: And since the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people. Besides the ordinary objects submitted to your care, it will remain with your judgment to decide, how far an exercise of the occasional power delegated by the Fifth article of the Constitution[3] is rendered expedient at the present juncture by the nature of objections which have been urged against the System, or by the degree of inquietude which has given birth to them. Instead of undertaking particular recommendations on this subject, in which I could be guided by no lights derived from official opportunities, I shall again give way to my entire confidence in your discernment and pursuit of the public good: For I assure myself that whilst you carefully avoid every alteration which might endanger the benefits of an United and effective Government, or which ought to await the future lessons of experience; a reverence for the characteristic rights of freemen, and a regard for the public harmony, will sufficiently influence your deliberations on the question how far the former can be more impregnably fortified, or the latter be safely and advantageously promoted. To the preceding observations I have one to add, which will be most properly addressed to the House of Representatives. It concerns myself, and will therefore be as brief as possible. When I was first honored with a call into the Service of my Country, then on the eve of an arduous struggle for its liberties, the light in which I contemplated my duty required that I should renounce every pecuniary compensation. From this resolution I have in no instance departed. And being still under the impressions which produced it, I must decline as inapplicable to myself, any share in the personal emoluments, which may be indispensably included in a permanent provision for the Executive Department; and must accordingly pray that the pecuniary estimates for the Station in which I am placed, may, during my continuance in it, be limited to such actual expenditures as the public good may be thought to require. Having thus imported to you my sentiments, as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign parent of the human race, in humble supplication that since he has been pleased to favor the American people, with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of Government, for the security of their Union, and the advancement of their happiness; so his divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend. A. What is the “conflict in emotions” to which Washington refers? Beyond expressing his personal feelings at this moment, does this portion of the speech serve any public purpose? Why does Washington refer to “the invisible hand,” “providential agency” and “the propitious smiles of Heaven” at the beginning of his presidency? Does this language serve a public purpose? B. Compare Washington’s comment on the “preservation of the sacred fire of liberty” to the opening paragraph of Federalist 1. Compare this speech also with Madison’s June 8, 1789 speech to the First Congress. Article II of the Constitution Article V of the Constitution outlines the amendment process. Instructions from the Town of Malden, Massachusetts, for a Declaration of Independence A Naval View of the Washington Treaties, April 1922 New York Ratifying Convention “Recent Tendencies” Letter to J. R. Barlow	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2105
__label__wiki	0.932165	0.932165	A year after its launch, Tech:NYC has become a force in New York politics Jonathan Shieber @jshieber / 4 years It’s been a little over a year since Fred Wilson and Tim Armstrong appeared onstage at Disrupt in New York to launch Tech:NYC. The two titans of New York City’s tech scene were angling to create a new organization that would speak out for the interests of the tech industry in both city and state government while planting a flag for New York’s place at the forefront of innovation around the country. With Julie Samuels at the helm as executive director, the organization has done more in that year than I think either Armstrong (my boss at… um…. Yahool, AOoo, Oauth, Oath) or Wilson could have imagined. From battling back bills that would have hamstrung online marketplaces like hometown heroes Etsy, or marshaling the community to speak out against national policies that effect the technology industry, Tech:NYC has taken a leading role in policy discussions in city hall, the Albany statehouse, and as a beacon nationally. “The biggest achievement is that we’ve been able to create a community,” says Wilson. Indeed they have. Over the year, Tech:NYC hasn’t gone from just zero to one (thanks Peter) it’s gone from zero to over 400 members (technically it started with five founding members — the pre-Yahoo AOL, Bloomberg, Facebook, Google, and venture firm Union Square Ventures). But the organization’s reach extends beyond its sheer numbers. For Wilson and the executive director Samuels, nothing exemplifies the kind of work that Tech:NYC can and should do more than its response to the Executive Order signed earlier this year that denied entry to immigrants, refugees (and even US citizens) from several countries from entering the United States without extreme vetting. “Just getting the local community to stand up against what’s happening down in Washington was an achievement,” Wilson says. “We need to do it.” For Samuels, the response to the executive order crystallized everything that the new technology organization can do, both locally and more broadly. “It was an expression of New York values,” says Samuels, and something that the organization will continue to advocate. The coalition of signatories (and indeed the technology community in New York broadly) reflects the diversity of experience and background that Samuels believes will make New York one of the great technology centers in the world. Part of that effort is also dependent on policy… another area where the Tech:NYC coalition came together to battle for its interests against what it viewed as bad laws coming from Albany. Earlier this year, the state government floated a proposal for a marketplace tax that would, in essence, place unfair burdens on companies like Amazon, Etsy, and any other ecommerce company looking to do business in New York, according to the Tech:NYC arguments. With a coordinated effort including education, and a well-placed op-ed in the New York Post, Tech:NYC was able to kill the proposal. Finally, the organization is pushing an agenda that emphasizes gender and racial diversity in the New York technology industry and looking to encourage that through job training and primary education efforts. Wilson has been instrumental in encouraging New York City to develop its Computer Science For All program, first instituted by current Mayor Bill de Blasio, and Tech:NYC is picking up the banner and encouraging the governor to expand the program statewide. Given the current political climate, Wilson said, it’s important for the technology industry to stand up for its interests and, more importantly, its beliefs. Organizations like Tech:NYC enable companies to use their collective power to influence policy and have a voice in what their communities and cities look like. Given its successes, it looks like the organization is well on its way to ensuring that the technology industry is well-represented in the discussions of what a future New York state looks like. And since New York is one of the wealthiest and most populous states in the country — its policy decisions can shape the national discussion.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2109
__label__wiki	0.736367	0.736367	OnePlus will return to the production of “cheaper” smartphones Once there was a “flagship killer” Oneplus: the type of smartphone that marked the era and helped create an almost mystical patina on what was a startup in its own way revolutionary. However, over the years there has been a transformation into a global company, and gradually the offer of its products also corresponded to the offer of its natural competitors. With launch OnePlus 8 ProThe first smartphone of the Chinese manufacturer, which exceeded 1000 euros, ended the era. Expansion plans, however, are ongoing and Oneplus he knows that he cannot easily abandon cheaper market segments. For this reason, in recent months there have been constant rumors about the possible launch of a new smartphone at lower prices, a device that would still support a very good level of hardware. To confirm this strategy directly to the CEO and co-founder, Pete lauduring an interview with ‘Fast Company‘:“ We will soon feel the taste of this new strategy in India. Over the course of the year, more affordable devices will also be launched in Europe and North America. “ In short, the opportunity to find out soon Oneplus z (it was the name that appeared in previous rumors) equipped with the Snapdragon 765, it becomes more specific. But calm your heart old oneplus never come back. A copywriter for over ten years, passionate about sports, history, technology and new media. He loves to travel, for many years he decided to live in Spain, without denying his origin in Campania. Enthusiastic about Apple and how the “apple” has changed our perception of technology, it still manages to fully appreciate Android and its many aspects. Putin broke during the meeting and nervously threw the pen on the table: the situation in Russia is catastrophic (Video) Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite receives May security patches	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2112
__label__cc	0.668756	0.331244	Fundamentals of Law for Health Informatics and Information Management Laurie A. Rinehart-Thompson, JD, RHIA, CHP, FAHIMA; Melanie S. Brodnik, PhD, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA; Rebecca B. Reynolds, EdD, MHA, RHIA, FAHIMA Healthcare Informatics, Allied Health, Basic Sciences, Ethics Health law is a complex and rapidly-changing topic, and students studying health information management (HIM) or health informatics require the most current information to be prepared to achieve legal compliance in a professional context. This third edition of Fundamentals of Law for Health Informatics and Information Management contains new chapters on ethics and patient rights and responsibilities. It also includes updates to topics contained in earlier editions, including expanded HIPAA privacy and security chapters and new content on patient safety and legal proceedings. This book is ideal for courses specific to health informatics and information management education, but can also be used as a key resource for health professionals, providers, and organizations, all of whom must comply with laws for protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of patient information. The logical structure of the text walks the reader through the United States legal system, from basic legal proceedings to evidence, consent to treatment, corporate law, and ethical issues, and includes an emphasis on the importance of health information privacy and security requirements. • New chapters on law and ethics and patient rights and responsibilities • Expanded coverage on the HIPAA Security Rule • Reorganized chapters on legal proceedings, corporate compliance, and risk management • Updated and streamlined content on legal proceedings, including e-discovery and tort law, and patient safety • More robust student and instructor ancillaries include activities mapped to the applicable Bloom’s Taxonomy Level • New content-based scenarios with questions in each chapter, and ethical scenarios with questions included in each chapter’s instructor materials, along with answer keys • Curriculum maps for the 2014 American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) HIM Professional Competencies as referenced within the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) Accreditation Standards for Health Information Management programs Doody's Core Titles (DCT) Specialty Score: 2.67 Health Sciences - Medicolegal Issues "Overall, this is a necessarily recurring update on the complex topic of laws surrounding health information management in the United States. Given the clear nature of the chapters, along with a glossary, this is a useful reference for students entering this field. For established professionals, it may provide a refresh on selected topics, although access to real-time updates on the status of any pending regulations would be a helpful addition." -- David Liebovitz, MD (University of Chicago Medicine)Doody's Review It is intended for students in fields related to health information management. Nice examples, potential workflow diagrams, and cases are used to highlight important concepts. This book meets the needs of the intended audience, with the caveat that access to updated resources as laws related to health information management evolve would be a useful addition. The authors are credible experts based on their work on prior editions and professional roles in directly related fields. Clinical Documentation Improvement: Principles and Practice (2015)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2114
__label__wiki	0.841584	0.841584	Ontario parents can soon apply for second COVID-19 payout, should receive it before holidays Published Friday, November 27, 2020 1:28PM EST TORONTO -- Ontario parents will soon be able to apply for their next COVID-19 cheque from the provincial government and should receive the funds before the holidays. On Friday, Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced the application portal to receive the second payout will open “within the next week.” “It’s part of a broader effort to get money in the pockets of parents ahead of the holidays,” he said. “We know it’s tough. We are going to be there for parents and for the kids.” The second payment was initially announced when the province tabled its budget earlier this month. Parents of children aged 12 or younger will again be able to receive a one-time payment of $200 per child, and $250 for children 21 years of age or younger with special education needs. This is the second payout from the province to Ontario families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first payout came in the spring. The payments are meant as “a measure of relief” for those affected by outbreaks of the disease in schools and for those choosing to learn at home. The government will spend $380 million on the second payout to parents, on top of the $378 million from the first round. Last week, the province announced that Ontario schools will not have an extended winter break. On Friday, Lecce said the government is doing everything possible to keep students, staff and parents safe amid the second wave of the disease. “The chief medical officer of health made a determination that at this time (an extended winter break) is not required,” Lecce said. “His belief is that our schools remain fundamentally safe, with 99.9 per cent of kids in the province COVID-19 free.” “If the circumstances change – as you know, I acted to close schools, the first in the country, and I obviously will act to add new layers of prevention, or take additional recommendations from public health.” Premier Doug Ford and Lecce announced on Thursday that students at participating schools in Ontario COVID-19 hot spots will be able to get tested for the disease regardless of whether or not they are experiencing symptoms. As of Friday, 4,470 lab-confirmed positive cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed in Ontario schools. There are 671 schools across the province that have reported an infection and six of those schools currently remain closed. In this May 27, 2020 photo, a teacher at a daycare centre in Tacoma, Wash., wears a mask as he takes the temperature of a four-year-old boy. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) Ontario parents will get another $200 payout to help with education costs Ontario parents can apply for one-time payment to help with education at home	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2118
__label__wiki	0.781616	0.781616	TIM SHIPMAN Journalist \| Political Commentator \| Writer Penny Jones penny@kirbyjones.co.uk Hire me to speak Tim Shipman has been a national newspaper journalist for seventeen years and has more than a decade of experience reporting on British and American politics and international relations. Currently the Political Editor of the Sunday Times, Tim was previously the Deputy Political Editor of the Daily Mail, Washington Correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph and held several posts, both Political and Foreign, at the Daily and Sunday Express. He is currently writing “All Out War”, a book that will chronicle the greatest upheaval in British politics for a generation; from David Cameron's efforts to secure a new EU deal from Brussels, through to the European referendum campaign and the explosive fallout in both major parties. In the book to be published by Harper Collins in October of this year Tim will chronicle in lively and unprecedented detail the relationships, rivalries and infighting between David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and George Osborne. He will reveal how Nigel Farage capitalised on these differences to help steer the country towards Brexit and Theresa May picked her way through the carnage to seize the keys to 10 Downing Street. Tim’s experience is diverse and has seen him coordinate a wide range of news, from the war in Kosovo to Bill Clinton's impeachment, as well as writing extensively on security issues. He was the main anchorman for the Express’s coverage of the Iraq War, reporting from the US Central Command in Doha. During his office as parliamentary press gallery chairman Tim honed his public speaking skills and was lauded for securing both David Cameron and Tony Blair to address the gallery in the same month. Tim has covered four British General Elections and three American elections from the US. Well known in the Westminster political mix, he is a trusted confidant of politicians from all political parties. Renowned for his humour, as a speaker Tim is both insightful and entertaining. Tim has written for The Spectator and Total Politics and has a growing following as a witty and sometimes irascible observer of the political scene on Twitter, @ShippersUnbound. He is an excellent host, chair and moderator as well as an authoritative speaker on politics, either about a specific issue or in general. http://www.kirbyjones.co.uk/tim-shipman Tim Shipman is the Political Editor of the Sunday Times and regularly appears on TV offering his political commentary. He was recognised as print journalist of the year by the London Press Club in 2017 and won both political reporter and political commentator of the year at the British Press Awards in 2018. His inside view of the Brexit upheaval in 'All Out War' was published by Harper Collins in November 2016. The follow-up 'Fall Out: A Year of Political Mayhem' came out in hardback in November 2017. Volume 3 of the trilogy will be published in March 2021 and is available for pre-order now. tim@timshipman.co.uk Copyright © 2020 Tim Shipman. All Rights Reserved. Created by HLS	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2129
__label__wiki	0.509499	0.509499	A to Z By Author Starting with O 25 Books O'DONNELL (Capt. H.) Ed. Historical Records of the 14th Regiment, Now the Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) from its Formation in 1685, to 1892. O'FLAHERTY (Liam) Return of the Brute. O'RORKE (Rev. B.G., CF) In the Hands of the Enemy: Being the Experiences of a Prisoner of War. Official Copy. The Army Act. Revised to 1906. The Army Act. 1904. The Army Act. Revised to 1915-1916. OGILVIE (Major D.D.) The Fife & Forfar Yeomanry & 14th (F. & F. Yeo.) Bn. Royal Highlanders 1914-1919. OLDHAM (P.) Pill Boxes on the Western Front: A Guide to the Design, Construction & Use of Concrete Pill Boxes 1914-1918. OMAN (Sir Charles, KBE) The Unfortunate Colonel Despard & Other Studies. ORPEN (Col. Neil) & MARTIN (Lt.-Gen. H.J.) South African Forces World War II (Vol. VIII, Parts I & II): Salute the Sappers. Part I: The Formation of the South African Engineer Corps & its Operations in East Africa & the Middle East to the Battle of Alamein. Part II: The Operations of the South African Engineer Corps in the North African & Italian Theatres of War from the Battle of El Alamein to the end of WW2. ORR (David R.) & TRUESDALE (David) Ulster Will Fight. Vol. I: Home Rule & the Ulster Volunteer Force 1886-1922 [And:] Vol. 2: The 36th (ULster) Division from Formation to the Armistice. OSBURN (Arthur, DSO) Unwilling Passenger. OSMAN (Lt.-Col. A.H.) Pigeons in the Great War: A Complete History of the Carrier-Pigeon Service during the Great War, 1914 to 1918. OTC: Record of War Service 1914-1918, Officers Training Corps (Junior Division), Public School Officers & other Members of the Staffs. OTWAY (Lt.-Col. T.B.H., DSO) Airborne Forces. OWEN (H. Collinson) Salonica & After: The Sideshow that Ended the War.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2131
__label__cc	0.502838	0.497162	Nine / Episodes / Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent – 18 November 2020 – 18/11/2020 – Wednesday – Nine – 9 by TV Daily · Published November 18, 2020 · Updated November 8, 2020 Detectives suspect a Chinese immigrant was shot dead by someone she recognized from the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Starring: Kathryn Erbe, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jamey Sheridan Watch this episode on 9Now Watched this episode? Discuss the show on TV Daily! This show is broadcast on Channel Nine. Latest Episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent Law & Order: Criminal Intent – 12 January 2021 – 12/1/2021 – Tuesday – Nine – 9 Law & Order: Criminal Intent – 29 December 2020 – 29/12/2020 – Tuesday – Nine – 9 Law & Order: Criminal Intent – 23 December 2020 – 23/12/2020 – Wednesday – Nine – 9 Law & Order: Criminal Intent – 9 December 2020 – 9/12/2020 – Wednesday – Nine – 9 Latest Episodes on Nine 60 Minutes – 17 January 2021 – 17/1/2021 – Sunday – Nine – 9 RBT – 17 January 2021 – 17/1/2021 – Sunday – Nine – 9 Fracture – 17 January 2021 – 17/1/2021 – Sunday – Nine – 9 5 Mistakes That Caught a Killer – 17 January 2021 – 17/1/2021 – Sunday – Nine – 9 Young, Dumb & Banged Up in the Sun – 17 January 2021 – 17/1/2021 – Sunday – Nine – 9 Tipping Point – 16 January 2021 – 16/1/2021 – Saturday – Nine – 9 High Crimes – 16 January 2021 – 16/1/2021 – Saturday – Nine – 9 Closed Circuit – 16 January 2021 – 16/1/2021 – Saturday – Nine – 9 A Current Affair – Nine (copy) Country House Hunters Australia – 15 January 2021 – 15/1/2021 – Friday – Nine – 9 About the Nine Network Channel Nine is an Australian free-to-air commercial network, and is one of the five main free-to-air television networks in Australia. Some of the most popular shows and programs on Channel Nine are the NRL, The Voice, 60 Minutes, A Current Affair, Married at First Sight, The Footy SHow ,The Block, Today, Millionaire Hot Seat and more. Tags: Cast Law & Order: Criminal IntentCatch Up Law & Order: Criminal IntentEpisode Law & Order: Criminal IntentEpisodes Law & Order: Criminal IntentFree Watch Law & Order: Criminal IntentFull Episode Law & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal Intent CastLaw & Order: Criminal Intent Catch UpLaw & Order: Criminal Intent EpisodeLaw & Order: Criminal Intent EpisodesLaw & Order: Criminal Intent Full EpisodeLaw & Order: Criminal Intent LinkLaw & Order: Criminal Intent OfficialLaw & Order: Criminal Intent OnlineLaw & Order: Criminal Intent RecapLaw & Order: Criminal Intent SeasonLaw & Order: Criminal Intent SeasonsLaw & Order: Criminal Intent SiteLaw & Order: Criminal Intent SpoilerLaw & Order: Criminal Intent SpoilersLaw & Order: Criminal Intent StreamLaw & Order: Criminal Intent TrailerLaw & Order: Criminal Intent TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intent WatchLaw & Order: Criminal Intent WebsiteLink Law & Order: Criminal IntentOfficial Law & Order: Criminal IntentOnline Law & Order: Criminal IntentOnline Watch Law & Order: Criminal IntentRecap Law & Order: Criminal IntentSeasons Law & Order: Criminal IntentSpoiler Law & Order: Criminal IntentSpoilers Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream Law & Order: Criminal IntentTV Law & Order: Criminal IntentWatch Free Law & Order: Criminal IntentWatch Free Online Law & Order: Criminal IntentWatch Law & Order: Criminal IntentWatch Law & Order: Criminal Intent OnlineWatch Online Law & Order: Criminal Intent Celebrity Wheel of Fortune – January 16 2021 – 1/16/2021 – Saturday – ABC For Life – January 16 2021 – 1/16/2021 – Saturday – ABC The Chase – January 16 2021 – 1/16/2021 – Saturday – ABC Cruising with Jane McDonald – 16 January 2021 – 16/1/2021 – Saturday – Channel 5 Hudson & Rex – January 16 2021 – 1/16/2021 – Saturday – Citytv	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2132
__label__wiki	0.701796	0.701796	People > Attorney > Robert Koch robert.koch@tonkon.com Bob chairs the firm’s Appellate Practice Group. He represents individuals, companies, and government entities in state and federal appellate courts. Throughout his career, Bob has successfully handled appeals in the U.S. Supreme Court, Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, and federal courts of appeals across the country, including the Ninth Circuit. Each client has a story to tell. Bob works closely with clients to tell their story in a way that is clear, concise, and compelling. He also advises trial teams on winning strategies and arguments, either to avoid the need for an appeal or to lay the groundwork for one. Before joining Tonkon Torp, Bob served for ten years in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. He served for five years as a Senior Attorney in the Division’s Appellate Section, where he briefed and argued civil and criminal appeals, as well as drafted memoranda for Department leadership on high-profile legal matters. For example, Bob wrote a first draft of the Department’s amicus brief advocating for nationwide marriage equality in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges, and developed the legal analysis behind the Department’s challenge to North Carolina’s H.B. 2 bathroom bill. Bob also served for five years as an Honors Attorney in the Division’s Special Litigation Section. There, he led litigation teams vindicating the rights of individuals with mental illness and developmental disabilities. He also negotiated settlement agreements with the states of Oregon, Georgia, and Texas to improve their community-based mental health services. In addition, Bob served on a detail to the Office of White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. In that role, he vetted candidates for Executive and Judicial Branch nominations and drafted memoranda to the President. Following his graduation from law school, Bob clerked for Judge Susan P. Graber of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in Portland. Bob graduated from the University of Michigan Law School magna cum laude and Order of the Coif. At Michigan, he served as Editor in Chief of the Michigan Journal of Law Reform and finished third in the Henry M. Campbell Moot Court Competition. In his free time, Bob enjoys tennis, hiking, travel, volleyball, football, and organizing scavenger hunts. Featured Representative Matters Won a favorable ruling from the Oregon Court of Appeals that allows for Masjid Ibrahim, a local mosque, to be built in the Bethany area of Multnomah County. While the county and the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) approved the building of the mosque, the plan was opposed by a neighbor, who cited traffic and other impacts as not compatible with the residential character of the neighborhood. The court’s ruling opens opportunities across the state for others seeking to site new places of worship (Oregon Court of Appeals). Represented a plaintiff in an individual and class action lawsuit against a national auto insurer; successfully obtained a reversal of the federal district court’s dismissal of the plaintiff’s complaint (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit). Represented a father in a child custody dispute; successfully obtained a reversal of the decision by the Oregon Court of Appeals, which had reversed the trial court’s award of custody to the father (Oregon Supreme Court). Represented a company seeking to redeem the shares of minority shareholders; successfully defended against an attempt to stop the redemption proceedings ordered by the trial court (Oregon Court of Appeals). Tonkon Torp Helps to Clear Path for Building Mosque, Other Religious Facilities Tonkon Torp appellate attorney Bob Koch recently won a favorable ruling from the Oregon Court of Appeals that allows for Masjid Ibrahim, a local mosque, to be built in the Bethany area of Multnomah County. The court’s ruling is also an important victory for all proposed places of worship throughout Oregon. Robert Koch Wins Pro Bono Appeal at Oregon Supreme Court Tonkon Torp attorney Robert Koch, Chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, won a family law appeal in the Oregon Supreme Court involving a child custody dispute for his client. Tonkon Torp Wins Appellate Victory in Auto Insurer Case Tonkon Torp recently achieved a complete appellate win on behalf of its client, Leif Hansen, in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2018, Tonkon Torp attorneys Steve Olson, Paul Conable, and Meg Houlihan represented Hansen individually and in a proposed class action against his auto insurer, GEICO, for refusing to pay for digital scans of his truck as part of the truck’s repair following a collision. Hansen sued for breach of contract under his insurance policy and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The federal district court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim. That dismissal prompted an appeal to the Ninth Circuit, which was led by Bob Koch and Meg Houlihan. Oregon State Bar – Constitutional Law Section Executive Committee, Member-at-Large (2020 – present) Oregon State Bar – Appellate Practice Section Oregon State Bar – Procedure & Practice Committee Member (2019 – present) Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative – District of Oregon At-Large Representative (2020 – present) District Co-Chair (2019 – 2020) Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society Membership Director (2019 – present) Classroom Law Project We the People Coach, Franklin High School (2018 – present) Owen M. Panner American Inn of Court Barrister Member (2018 – present) Camp Kesem – Oregon Chapter Advisory Board Member (2018 – present) U.S. Department of Justice – DOJ Pride Vice President (2017) Secretary (2015 – 2016) Capital Tennis Association President (2013 – 2014) Social Chair (2010 – 2012) LGBT Bar Association of Oregon Oregon State Bar, Appellate and Constitutional Law Sections Oregon Women Lawyers DOJ Pride 2017, James R. Douglass Award (for contributing to the work-life environment for LGBT employees at the U.S. Department of Justice) National LGBT Bar Association 2015, Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40 2016, Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award (the Department’s second-highest award for employee performance) 2010 & 2016, Civil Rights Division’s Special Commendation Award 2012 & 2015, Civil Rights Division’s Special Achievement Award 2011, Civil Rights Division’s Distinguished Service Award Tonkon Torp Litigators Share Expertise in Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation Publication Tonkon Torp litigators have contributed their expertise to a new treatise on civil litigation practice, Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation. Bob Koch Moderates Annual U.S. Supreme Court Review/Preview for OSB On November 13, Tonkon Torp attorney Bob Koch moderated the Annual United States Supreme Court Review/Preview hosted by the Oregon State Bar's Constitutional Law Section. The program featured guest speaker Professor Pamela Karlan, one of the nation’s… Bob Koch and Sadie Concepción Share Pro Bono Opportunities on MBA Panel Attorneys Bob Koch and Sadie Concepción were featured panelists on a June 24 webinar hosted by the Multnomah Bar Association. The program, moderated by US District Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman, offered a variety of perspectives and options… Robert Koch Represents the District of Oregon to the Ninth Circuit Conference of Chief District Judges Tonkon Torp attorney Robert Koch recently represented the District of Oregon at the Ninth Circuit’s Conference of Chief District Judges held in San Diego, CA. The Conference of Chief District Judges brings together the chief judges of the 15 judicial… Robert Koch Appointed to Two OSB Section Executive Committees Tonkon Torp attorney Robert Koch has been appointed to the Executive Committees of the Oregon State Bar (OSB) Appellate Practice and Constitutional Law Sections. The OSB Appellate Practice Section serves state and federal appellate practitioners in… Robert Koch Joins Board of Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society Robert Koch has joined the Board of Directors for the Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society as its Membership Director. The Society is an organization of judges, court staff, lawyers, historians, architects, and exhibit designers who work to preserve… Robert Koch Named District of Oregon Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative Tonkon Torp attorney Robert Koch has been selected to serve a three-year term as a Ninth Circuit Lawyer Representative for the District of Oregon. Tonkon Torp nominated Koch for the position to the Honorable Michael W. Mosman, Chief Judge of the U.S… Bob Koch Appointed to OSB Procedure and Practice Committee Tonkon Torp attorney Bob Koch has been appointed to a three-year term on the Procedure and Practice Committee of the Oregon State Bar (OSB). The committee studies and makes recommendations to the OSB Board of Governors on the procedures and practices… Tonkon Torp Proud to Make a Strike for Diversity Tonkon Torp has long been a champion of increasing the diversity of the Oregon legal community. One of the programs the firm supports is Opportunities for Law in Oregon (OLIO). OLIO is the Oregon State Bar's recruitment and retention program for law… Robert Koch Joins Advisory Board of Camp Kesem Tonkon Torp attorney Robert Koch has joined the Advisory Board of Camp Kesem at the University of Oregon. Kesem is a national organization that provides free summer camps and community events to children impacted by a parent’s cancer. "U.S. Supreme Court Review/Preview with Professor Pamela Karlan," OSB Constitutional Law Section, November 2020 "Appellate Considerations for Trial Counsel," Litigation Journal, Fall 2020 “Appellate Considerations for Trial Counsel,” Oregon Civil Pleading and Litigation (2020 ed.) Panelist, “Sharpening Your Skills Through Pro Bono Practice,” Multnomah Bar Association, June 2020 Appeals Constitutional Law & Civil Rights Government Solutions J.D., magna cum laude, University of Michigan Law School, 2006, Order of the Coif B.A., cum laude, Duke University, 2000 U.S. Court of Appeals for the First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits U.S. District Court, District of Oregon	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2137
__label__wiki	0.652063	0.652063	Share this Story: Yes to Uber and Lyft: Province says ride-hailing services can operate starting Sept. 16 Yes to Uber and Lyft: Province says ride-hailing services can operate starting Sept. 16 Drivers working for ride hailing companies will require a Class 4 commercial licence Stephanie Ip The provincial government says its regulations for ride hailing will be in effect as of Sept. 16, 2019. Photo by Seth Wenig /AP Welcome to B.C., Uber and Lyft. The ride-hailing companies could be operating on B.C. roads as early as Sept. 16, as the provincial government announced Monday its regulations on licensing and insurance for ride-hailing will be in effect as of that date. Yes to Uber and Lyft: Province says ride-hailing services can operate starting Sept. 16 Back to video However, ride-hailing companies would first need to apply for permission to operate through the Passenger Transportation Board. Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 3. The PTB, an independent board, is also responsible for setting guidelines around supply, boundaries and fares. “Our plan has made it possible for ride-hailing companies to apply to enter the market this fall, with vehicles on the road later this year, while ensuring the safety of passengers and promoting accessibility options in the industry,” said Transportation Minister Claire Trevena in a statement. “British Columbians have been asking and waiting for these services after more than five years of delay by the former government. We took action to allow for the services people want and we’re delivering on that promise.” B.C. transportation minister wants ride-hail drivers to have commercial licence NDP legislation pushes ride hailing in B.C. to late 2019 The Passenger Transportation Act regulations will require criminal-record checks and annual driver-record checks for any driver working with a ride-hailing company, and will introduce a new 30-cent per-trip fee and a $5,000 annual licence fee for the company. The Motor Vehicle Act regulations will change how frequently cars must undergo inspections, will remove seat-belt exceptions for all for-hire vehicles, and will introduce side-entry accessible taxis. Drivers working for ride-hailing companies are still required to hold a Class 4 commercial licence, a requirement supported by B.C.’s police chiefs association, but that was not recommended by a legislative committee tasked with making recommendations for ride-hailing. A majority of the committee proposed that ride-hail drivers should be allowed to work with the more common Class 5 licence rather than a Class 4, which is a commercial licence held by taxi and limo drivers, but B.C.’s NDP government is insisting on the Class 4 requirement. “The requirement is not negotiable for to us; safety is of utmost responsibility. And we believe that it is our responsibility as the government to ensure that any public consumer service like this is held to a standard that they can rely on and trust in,” Bowinn Ma, MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale, said during a media call Monday. NDP MLA Bowinn Ma says the Class 4 requirement is non-negotiable. Alberta, which has Uber, requires ride-hailing drivers hold a Class 1, 2 or 4 licence, all of which are for professional drivers. Most other provinces do not require a commercial licence. Aaron Zifkin, the managing director of Lyft Canada, said his company, which has cars in Toronto and Ottawa along with most of the U.S., does not currently operate in any jurisdiction that requires drivers to have a commercial driver’s licence. Commercial licences for ride-hailing drivers will not improve safety but will increase waiting times and benefit the taxi industry, because the requirement will limit the driver supply. “Ninety-one per cent of the drivers on our platform drive less than 20 hours a week. These are people like single moms, students in school and people trying to supplement their incomes,” he said. “As soon as you introduce that Class 4 commercial licence, these people tend not to apply for that type of work.” When asked if the commercial licence was a deal-breaker for Lyft, Zifkin said he was cautiously optimistic that solutions could be found working with the PTB this summer. The Surrey Board of Trade, although pleased that ride-hailing has finally received the green light in B.C., is also disappointed with the Class 4 licence requirement. “This needs to be revisited by government to enable full market participation in the ride-hailing industry,” said Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey Board of Trade. The B.C. Taxi Association, meanwhile, said the Class 4 requirement shows the NDP government cares about public safety. “I believe the government has taken the time to make sure they do not repeat the same mistakes that were made in other parts of Canada and the world,” said association president Mohan Singh Kang. “We have never said no to Uber or ride-sharing … but we’ve always stated that they must meet the safety standards and there also has to be an even playing field, because they are doing the same type of job. The taxi industry will not be able to compete with them unless the rules and ground rules are identical.” Ian Tostenson of Ridesharing Now for B.C., a coalition sponsored by Uber and Lyft, said he doesn’t expect the Class 4 requirement will kill ride-hailing, but it will slow its rollout. “What I’m worried about is if (ICBC) is staffed up, geared up and trained up to handle the onslaught of people (applying for Class 4),” he said. “I hope they’ve anticipated this because you can imagine all the road tests that would happen for Class 4, and you have to have qualified (ICBC driver) examiners — and where are you going to get those guys?” An ICBC spokesperson said ICBC is prepared to increase the number of available Class 4 road test appointments to support additional demand. ICBC will also introduce a new insurance policy for drivers and vehicles operating with ride-hailing companies, effective this September. The policy is a blanket, per-kilometre insurance product that provides third-party liability and accident coverage. Drivers working with ride-hailing companies would be required to have their own basic vehicle insurance policy when they are not working. It will also be left to the PTB to decide how many ride-hailing vehicles will be allowed to operate, what boundaries if any are applicable and what rates would be charged. “It was decided many months ago by the all-party committee to not have boundaries, to not put a limit on drivers and let the market determine pricing,” Tostenson said. “We believe the tone coming from the Passenger Transportation Board is one of flexibility, so we don’t expect anything to be concerned about when the rules eventually do come out.” Uber has yet to respond to the news officially, though a spokesman said the company was reviewing the details announced Monday before discussing publicly how it might impact the company’s entry into B.C. ABOUT CLASS 4 LICENCES What’s a Class 4 licence? There are two types of Class 4 licence: unrestricted and restricted. An unrestricted Class 4 allows you to drive buses with a maximum capacity of 25 people, taxis, limousines, ambulances and any normal vehicle under a Class 5. A restricted Class 4 allows you to drive taxis, limousines, ambulances and special vehicles carrying not more than 10 people designed for wheelchair-accessible transport. Am I eligible for a Class 4 licence? You must be 19 years of age, hold a full-privilege Class 5 B.C. driver’s licence or equivalent, have two years of non-learner driving experience, and fewer than four offences and no motor vehicle-related Criminal Code convictions on your driving record. You’ll also need to have any outstanding ICBC fines paid off and be in good health. Some medical conditions — such as epilepsy, neurological conditions, heart conditions, sleep disorders and more — may restrict you from getting a commercial licence. What are the steps to getting a Class 4 licence? Just like a regular licence, you’ll need to be in good health and take a knowledge and road signs test to get your learner’s licence. Study up and bring the necessary identifying documents with you to an ICBC licensing office to take your written test. Your Class 4 learner’s licence is good for one year and can be renewed by taking and passing the knowledge test again. To get your full-privilege Class 4 licence, you’ll need to pass a commercial road test, which includes a pre-trip inspection test, a road test and a medical exam. For more information on getting a Class 4 licence, visit the ICBC website. sip@postmedia.com twitter.com/stephanie_ip sbrown@postmedia.com twitter.com/browniescott	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2144
__label__wiki	0.551765	0.551765	Lenders could miss full credit picture under new policy Mar.March 13, 2017 03:45 PM By Kenneth R. Harney It could be a boon for some home buyers — their credit scores will get a surprise boost — but worrisome for mortgage lenders, landlords and others who depend on credit reports to evaluate their potential customers. In a little-known policy shift, the three national credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — plan to stop collecting and reporting substantial amounts of civil judgment and tax lien information on public records affecting millions of American consumers starting July 1. Both types of information have negative impacts on credit scores and remain in credit files for extended periods. Tax liens are levied against properties when the owner is delinquent on payment of taxes. Civil judgments are ordered by courts in legal disputes, typically involving monetary damages — debts owed by the losing party. With the elimination of this information from vast numbers of consumer credit files, some lenders are concerned that when they order credit reports to evaluate an applicant, they may no longer get the full picture of the risk of nonpayment posed by the consumer. David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, told me that if tax lien and civil judgment data is suppressed from credit reports, “it’s unclear whether creditors will be able to make informed decisions” about loan applicants. Stevens said that blocking this information will raise some applicants’ credit scores artificially, creating “false positives” that make individuals appear lower risk than they are. A study by credit scoring developer Vantage Score Solutions, which was created by the three credit bureaus, estimated that 8 percent of consumers would see an average score increase of 10 points on its most widely used scoring model if all civil judgments and tax liens were removed from credit reports. Stevens said 8 percent and 10 points may sound small, but in the mortgage business they equate to significant numbers of applicants. Terry W. Clemans, executive director of the National Consumer Reporting Association, a group that represents companies that provide credit reports for mortgage lenders, said home buyers “who are on the edge” — they need a score increase to get approved for a loan or obtain a better interest rate — “may be of higher risk than (lenders) are aware after this data is removed.” Tim Coyle, senior director of real estate and mortgage for LexisNexis Risk Solutions, a large data and technology company that sells creditors data on public records including judgments and tax liens, told me in an interview that an internal study by his firm found that borrowers who have a judgment or a tax lien are 5 1/2 times more likely to end up in serious default or foreclosure compared with borrowers who don’t have such items in their files. For their part, the three national credit bureaus have been tight lipped about the details of their July 1 changes. Mortgage lenders say they’ve heard nothing from the three bureaus and are in the dark about the possible ramifications. Stevens told me that “nobody” in the mortgage industry “knows about this.” In response to a request for this column, the bureaus’ national trade organization, the Consumer Data Industry Association, provided a statement indicating that the changes are part of the bureaus’ “National Consumer Assistance Plan,” following a settlement in 2016 with 31 state attorneys general over alleged problems with credit reporting accuracy and correction of errors on credit reports. Eric J. Ellman, the group’s interim president, said the bureaus have adopted “enhanced public record data standards for the collection and timely updating of civil judgments and tax liens.” The standards will apply to new and existing data in files and will require that the public records sources include the individual’s name, address, Social Security number or date of birth. Public records sources will also need to be updated on a timely basis to be eligible for inclusion in credit files. Most civil judgment data and up to half of tax lien information cannot currently meet these tests, according to one industry estimate. Chi Chi Wu, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center and an expert on credit issues, welcomed the upcoming change. “To the extent that it’s preventing errors” in credit reports, she said — especially situations where a credit file has one consumer confused with another, which Wu says occurs too frequently — “it should be a good thing.” How much of a good thing it will be for you depends on what’s in your credit files and how lenders adapt to the elimination of what they consider important information — if it’s accurate. credit scoresResidential Real Estate Diesel family dishes on Wynwood condo project	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2146
__label__wiki	0.958575	0.958575	A Lady on first date falls to her death when 16th-floor balcony collapses A first date ended in unimaginable horror Thursday when an ad exec plunged to her death after the railing of her narrow 16th-floor balcony suddenly buckled. Jennifer Rosoff, 35, brought Stephen Close back to her apartment on E. 57th St. near First Ave. after they chowed down at Maya, a Mexican restaurant about eight blocks away. They walked through a set of French doors that open to the balcony. Rosoff was smoking a cigarette and had a drink. She sat on the metal railing about 12:45 a.m., which instantly made Close nervous. “He advised her not to sit on the rail,” said Paul Browne, the NYPD’s chief spokesman. “She said that she had done it before and wasn’t worried. She didn’t think it was a problem.”Stephen Close, who was invited to Jennifer Rosoff after their first dinner date, said he warned her not to sit on the railing but Rosoff said she had done it before, police said.Close, who lives nearby, told detectives that he heard “two cracks or pops.” The metal railing at Stonehenge 57 bent, sending her falling backward 140 feet. She landed on construction scaffolding outside the first story of a building in front of the Sofrito restaurant and died instantly. Police questioned Close, who works in real estate, but cops don’t suspect foul play. Jennifer Rosoff was smoking a cigarette when she plunged to her death from her 16th-floor apartment’s balcony. The railing collapsed while she was sitting on it. Residents heard Close, 35, screaming. And some saw him in the lobby after he emerged from the elevator “He was hysterical,” a resident said of the devastated date. Rosoff’s sister, Alexis Treeby, 37, was heartbroken when reached at her Pennsylvania home hours after the tragic plunge. Police investigated the death of Rosoff at the site of her death, 400 E. 57 St. “She’s a lovely person,” Treeby said. “Everyone adores her. I really can’t talk right now.” The Department of Buildings was investigating the accident, city spokeswoman Kelly Magee said. As a precaution, the agency issued a vacate order for all balconies in the building. The corner apartments on the higher floors have balconies. City law requires all buildings over six floors inspect their exteriors, including balconies, every five years. A licensed expert must issue a report declaring the areas “safe,” “unsafe” or “safe with a repair and maintenance program.” Magee said the building received its last report in February. She said she couldn’t provide details of the results because of the pending investigation into Rosoff’s fall. In 2010, Connor Donohue, 24, died after the bars to his balcony at E. 39th St. and First Ave. gave way. Donohue, who mentored inner-city kids, plummeted 24 stories. The Buildings Department ordered a review of balconies across the city months after that fatal fall. The Buildings Department declared 16 off-limits and determined hundreds more weren’t properly inspected. Rosoff was the director of sales at Triplelift, a digital advertising firm in the Flatiron District.The 16th-floor balcony rail suddenly collapsed while Jennifer Rosoff smoked a cigarette. “She was a well-loved and highly respected member of our team. Her tremendous energy and humor brought so much joy to the office,” Triplelift CEO Eric Berry said in a statement. “The entire company is distraught by the loss of Ms. Rosoff — she will be deeply missed.” A graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans, Rosoff also worked stints at The New Yorker, Lucky and Cosmopolitan magazines, according to her LinkedIn page. Richard Dansereau, managing director of the luxury real estate company Stonehenge Management LLC, released a statement expressing sympathy. Stephen Close said he warned 35-year-old Rosoff about railing before she sat on it. “This is a tragedy and our sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Ms. Rosoff,” the statement said. “I am trying to reach out to the family to express these sentiments personally. We are cooperating fully with the investigation into the cause of this terrible accident.” Stonehenge took over the prewar building a year and a half ago and has made upgrades and raised rents, residents say. A one-bedroom apartment goes for $3,595 per month, according to the company’s website. “They run a tight ship,” said resident Sara Shubert, who has lived in the building eight years. “There’s been a lot of improvements. They inherited a very old building with lots of problems, pipes and things. I would think they would have done an inspection all around. It’s shocking to hear that the railing would have given way.” A friend of Shubert’s used to live in the victim’s apartment, so she has seen the balcony. “The balconies are very narrow,” Shubert said. “You can’t fit a chair out there. It’s for standing and smoking and looking at the moon.” Two employees of Maya, where Rosoff and Close had dined, said they sat at a table in the back of the restaurant, and were not drinking at the bar. Residents of the luxury building were left reeling over the freak accident that ended the young woman’s life. “I’m shocked,” said Pearl Harrison, 86. “I can’t believe it. It’s terrible, a young girl like that.” With Chelsia Rose Marcius and Andy Mai Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/woman-35-dies-17th-floor-balcony-collapses-article-1.1414513#ixzz313hh1su7 Shot Callers Of The Nuestra Familia Gang, Arrested On Federal Racketeering and Attempted Murder Charges bank robber wrote demand on back of his food stamps account receipt The Rise And Fall Of The Mutiny Hotel Girls N The Hood Shoes You Should Never Wear (In Certain Neighborhoods) Sports Hats You Should Never Wear In Long Beach 9 Most Dangerous Housing Projects In Atlanta Gangs Who Defied The Nuestra Familia	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2149
__label__wiki	0.709914	0.709914	Brightline High-Speed Rail (Formally All Aboard Florida) Brightline is a privately run inter-city rail route between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. Brightline began operating over its current route in January 2018 and the company is currently building an extension to the Orlando International Airport which is expected to enter service in 2022. As of August 2020, it was the only privately owned and operated intercity passenger railroad in the United States. The line was initially in development starting in March 2012 as "All Aboard Florida" (AAF) by Florida East Coast Industries, a Florida real estate developer owned by Fortress Investment Group. In 2012, Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) announced plans to operate passenger rail service between Miami and Orlando. The construction was projected at the time to be $1.5 billion. Construction of Phase I rail alignment began in November 2014 on improvements to tracks and bridges owned by the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR). In October 2014, work on the Fort Lauderdale station began with the demolition of existing buildings on the site. A groundbreaking ceremony for the West Palm Beach station was held in November 2014. During Phase I All Aboard Florida secured leasing of easement rights alongside the Beachline from the Central Florida Expressway Authority for $1.4 million in December 2015. Phase I Construction was completed in 2016. Construction work on Phase II, between West Palm Beach and Orlando, officially began in June 2019, with a groundbreaking ceremony at Orlando International Airport. The rail alignment and bridge work on the East West Zone 3 Section from Orlando to Cocoa began in October 2019. Four additional portions of rail within the corridor are being constructed simultaneously by Hubbard Construction Company, Wharton-Smith Inc., The Middlesex Corporation, and HSR Constructors. These five contractors are responsible for the development of 170 miles of new track into the completed state-of-the-art intermodal facility located in the new South Terminal at the Orlando International Airport (MCO). Universal holds multiple contracts valued at over $4.5M, we provided over $2.5M in services to our client, Granite Construction to date, with services ongoing through 2022. UES's Contractor Quality Control services include performing construction materials testing and sampling, inspection services and site management for the rail alignment utilizing the following certification's and professional licensure: CTQP Level I/II Technician/Inspector, CTQP Asphalt Paving Inspector Level I/II, Welding Inspector, Non-Destructive Testing Inspector (UT/MT/PT), and ACI Level I Concrete and ACI Level II Concrete Transportation The project scope for the Orlando to Cocoa section with Granite construction consists of 35 miles of new rail alignment. The project includes 18 new rail bridges, a conveyor system over SR 528 for embankment backfill, the arch tunnel under I-95, and the installation of two unique jack-driven box tunnel for the Brightline Trains route being constructed at Goldenrod Road in Orlando and under SR 528 in Cocoa. The pre-cast, box-jack system is only the third of its kind used in the U.S. and reduces construction time from nearly a year to just a few weeks. Florida East Coast Industries (FECI) / Fortress Investment Group LLC Miami to Orlando Testing/Inspections Amway Center, LEED GOLD NASA Headquarters Building Central Campus	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2150
__label__wiki	0.901391	0.901391	Photos: TWA Cocktail Lounge Airplane Travels from Maine to NYC’s JFK by Nicole Saraniero Photograph by Ryan Dorsett “Connie,” a 1958 Lockheed Constellation L-1649A Starliner airplane, arrived at New York City’s John F. Kennedy airport this fall to undergo a make-over from historic plane to one-of-a-kind cocktail lounge. The plane traveled 300 miles from Auburn-Lewiston Airport in Maine to its new location at JFK where it will be transformed into a cocktail lounge for the eagerly anticipated TWA Hotel. Emblazoned with a “Queens or Bust,” Connie’s fuselage and tail hit the road on two flatbed trucks, creating an incongruent site along New England’s highways, rest stops and scenic spots along the way. Photograph by Aaron Flacke Connie was escorted by a convoy of state police and civilians through Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York. The journey took just under a week and, except for a flat tire, went smoothly through five states. The plane was disassembled for the journey by Worldwide Aircraft Recovery, Ltd. and the fuselage and tail of the plane, which measures 116 feet, two inches long and twenty-three feet high, were transported on two of their flatbed trucks while the wings and engines were brought in separately. This historic Starliner, tail number N8083H, is one of only four remaining L-1649As in the world. Commissioned in 1939, the Starliner airplanes broke the transcontinental speed record of the time and served as Air Force One for President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In an advertisement brochure from 1951, the “sleek, swift airplane” is referred to as the “Queen of the Skyways.” The Starliners were noted for their speed and comfort for passengers. In the 1960s however, the Starliners were outshone by the new Boeing 707 which could hold 132 more passengers and go 300 MPH faster. After her final passenger flight in 1960, Connie was used to shuttle cargo and eventually sold to the highest bidder in 1979. “Our Connie started her illustrious TWA career at Idlewild (now JFK) in 1958. She was replaced by jets in 1960 and survived working as an Alaskan bush plane in the 1970s, only to be abandoned by drug runners in Honduras in the 1980s,” says Tyler Morse, CEO and Managing Partner of MCR and MORSE Development. “We’re excited for her return to JFK as the Queen of Queens.” In early 2018 MCR/MORSE Development bought the dilapidated plane and partnered with Atlantic Models/Gogo Aviation to restore it to its original condition. The companies searched for authentic parts including flooring and windows, and even replaced cockpit controls. The restoration took six months and was completed at Maine’s Auburn-Lewiston Airport. The restored airliner will continue to be worked on as it is turned into a cocktail lounge for the 512-room TWA Hotel inside the landmark 1962 former TWA terminal designed by Eero Saarinen. Saarinen was inspired by the Starliner’s design when creating the terminal, though it opened just as the Starliners were being retired. The hotel is set to open in Spring 2019. Check out more photos form Connie’s journey below! Photograph Courtesy of MCR Next, check out	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2152
__label__cc	0.537815	0.462185	Authorized and trustworthy auction website. Online auction sale of old & rare books. No buyer's premium! scheduled for Home/Old & Rare Antiquarian Books/Religious Books/Ars Moriendi (“The Art of Dying”) Ars Moriendi (“The Art of Dying”) At the beginning of the 15th century, we find Europe in one of the least stable periods in its history. England and France were in the midst of their Hundred Years’ War; many local conflicts were also simmering, bringing along death, poverty and famine; and the trail of the Black Death, which ravaged the continent 50 years prior, was still visible in places. These volatile circumstances represented a background for the emergence of Ars Moriendi – a collection of Church writings that were supposed to serve as practical guides for the achievement of “good death.” The origin of Ars Moriendi, or “the art of dying”, can be traced back to the year 1414 and The Council of Constance. On the occasion, a short essay was presented that would constitute a basis for a longer discourse titled Tractatus artis bene moriendi, probably commissioned by the Council itself. The authorship of the latter is ascribed to an anonymous Dominican friar, and it was the network of monasteries belonging to this order that secured the spread of the new book throughout Europe. There are actually two versions of Ars Moriendi that are regarded as sources for all the subsequent works in this genre – one is the above-mentioned discourse, and the other is adapted and illustrated version of its second chapter. Such division exists because the discourse as a whole describes prayers and actions that both the dying and those in attendance should practice, whereas the second chapter is solely dedicated to five temptations besetting a dying person, overcoming of which was considered particularly important for the salvation of the soul and its reunification with God. These five temptations are lack of faith, despair, impatience, pride and avarice, and aside from describing their detrimental effect, the book also offers remedies, or ways to fight them. Lack of faith is thus fought with assertion of faith, despair with hope for forgiveness, impatience with kindness and patience, and so on. These battles are unequivocally depicted with various foul creatures surrounding the deathbed in an attempt to lure the soul of the dying man and angels and saints trying to protect him and steer him in the right direction. The final illustration shows the predictable outcome: an angel receives the soul after it has left the body, while the devils fume in the background, having lost yet another battle. A good death has been attained. An English translation of the original discourse appeared around 1450. About the same time, the second, abridged and illustrated version was first printed as a block book in Netherlands. One of the oldest and scarcest editions of this second version, printed by Weissenburger in 1510, was auctioned and sold at Sotheby’s in 1953. As has been demonstrated by numerous examples, the concept of Ars Moriendi was well received by both Roman Catholic and Protestant writers, growing into a tradition that endured until the mid-18th century. The most notable works that considered this topic are Preparation for Death by a Dutch Renaissance humanist and theologian Erasmus of Rotterdam, published in 1538; The Art of Dying Well by a prominent Jesuit author Robert Bellarmine, published in 1619; and The Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying by an English cleric Jeremy Taylor. However, in line with the shift of perception as regards the value of the person’s earthly life, there is a visible tendency in these and many other works to observe the art of dying within a broader frame of the “art of living.” Adherence to core Christian values through life thus gradually gains more importance for the attainment of good death than the performance of rituals and prayers on one’s deathbed. Categories: Old & Rare Antiquarian Books, Religious Books Tags: Ars Moriendi, Jeremy Taylor, Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying, The Art of Dying Well, The Rule and Exercises of Holy Dying info@theantiquarianbook.com Website by: TYR	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2157
__label__wiki	0.863975	0.863975	Home Military Aviation VMFA-323 is carrying out USMC last deployment to an aircraft carrier for F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters VMFA-323 is carrying out USMC last deployment to an aircraft carrier for F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters by Dario Leone Jun 11 2020 written by Dario Leone Jun 11 2020 This will be the Marine Corps’ last deployment to an aircraft carrier for Hornets, which are being replaced after nearly 40 years by the F-35 Lightning II. Taken on May 8, 2020 the photos in this post show U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, taking off from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, Calif. The squadron, commonly referred to as the “Death Rattlers” were headed to the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) for the final F/A-18C deployment in 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing’s history. According to The Orange County Register, this will be the Marine Corps’ last deployment to an aircraft carrier for Hornets, which are being replaced after nearly 40 years by the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35B Lightning II – a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft – is one of two models (the other being the F-35C carrier variant) of new-age fighters to be used by the Marines. “They’re old, but they’re battle-proven said,” Lt. Zach Bodner, spokesman for the aircraft wing, said about the Hornet. The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and elements of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), deployed from San Diego, Jun. 8, in support of global maritime security operations. Prior to deploying, the strike group completed a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), designed to fully integrate units of a carrier strike group, while testing a strike group’s ability as a whole to carry out sustained combat operations from the sea. Ships, squadrons and staffs were tested across every core warfare area within their mission sets through a variety of simulated and live events, including air warfare, strait transits, and responses to surface and subsurface contacts and electronic attacks. This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F/A-18B Hornet VMFAT-101 Sharpshooters, SH215 / 163115 – Medal of Honor. MAG-11, MAW-3, MCAS Miramar, CA – 2014 In addition to Nimitz, Nimitz CSG deploying units include Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114). CVW-17 consists of the Lemoore, California-based “Kestrels” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 137, “Mighty Shrikes” of VFA 94, “Fighting Redcocks” of VFA 22; the San Diego-based “Death Rattlers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, the Whidbey Island, Washington-based “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139, the Point Mugu, California-based “Sun Kings” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 116, and the San Diego-based “Indians” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 6, “Battlecats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 and “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30. Sterett departed Naval Base San Diego on Jun. 4, Princeton departed Naval Base San Diego on Jun. 6, and Ralph Johnson departed San Diego on Jun. 9. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) departed Naval Air Station North Island on Jun. 8, 2020. Photo credit: Sgt. Samuel Ruiz / U.S. Marine Corps and MC2 Natalie M. Byers / U.S. Navy F-35B Lightning IIF/A-18C HornetMarine Corps Air Station MiramarU.S. Marine CorpsUSS Nimitz Dario Leone Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force. First female F-35A pilot to fly in combat launched by all-female maintenance crew for her first combat sortie in the JSF USAF investigates hypersonic test mishap after B-52 inadvertently dropped scramjet-powered missile BAE Systems to provide US Navy P-8A Poseidon...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2158
__label__wiki	0.969043	0.969043	VARIOUS ARTISTS – ” A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four – The Problem of Leisure “ Posted: December 2, 2020 in ALBUMS, MUSIC Tags: Andy Gill, Dog with Bone, Gang Of Four, Serj Tankian, The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, Tom Morello “Everybody who grew up with Gang of Four in their lives can remember how mind-blowing and forward-thinking and filled with creative energy it was at the time and guess what? It still is now. It’s art. Art that’s reaching out of this world yet somehow still down to earth. It’s so great be involved with this release and to see and hear a new generation of musicians paying tribute to Andy Gill’s incredible music. My artwork ‘Dog with Bone’, which Andy picked for the cover from a few ideas I had, is from a new series of giant pipe cleaner animals based on little ones made in my studio by kids. I think he wanted this work for the cover because it’s new and unexpected and in your face and hard not to like, they make adults feel like children and Andy always wanted to celebrate that.” – Damien Hirst A new Gang of Four tribute album has been announced. The double album, titled The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, will arrive in May 2021 and feature covers of Gang of Four and Andy Gill songs by a number of artists. The first single will be released on Friday, January 1st, 2021, which would have been Gill’s 65th birthday. It’s a cover of “Natural’s Not in It,” performed by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and System of a Down’s Serj Tankian. Andy Gill was one of a handful of artists in history who changed the way guitars are played,” Tom Morello said in a statement. “His band Gang of Four were just incendiary and completely groundbreaking with Andy’s confrontational, unnerving and sublime playing at the forefront. His jagged plague-disco raptor-attack industrial-funk deconstructed guitar anti-hero sonics and fierce poetic radical intellect were hugely influential to me.” “This new version of Natural’s Not In It is the first single from the album The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, set for release in May 2021. It’s a double album of tracks written by Andy Gill and Gang of Four, all newly reinterpreted and recorded by artists whose own unique contributions to music were enriched by listening to Gang of Four. Says Tom Morello: “Andy Gill was one of a handful of artists in history who changed the way guitars are played. His band Gang of Four were just incendiary and completely ground breaking with Andy’s confrontational, unnerving and sublime playing at the forefront. His jagged plague-disco raptor-attack industrial-funk deconstructed guitar anti-hero sonics and fierce poetic radical intellect were hugely influential to me.” Serj Tankian says: “It was a real pleasure to work on this track with Tom and honour the legacy of Andy and Gang of Four at the same time.” It is with pride, joy, excitement and a measure of sadness that we announce The Problem of Leisure: A Celebration of Andy Gill and Gang of Four, a project Andy worked on right up to his death in February. This double album features tracks written by Andy and Gang of Four, newly reinterpreted and recorded by artists whose own unique contributions to music were enriched by listening to Gang of Four. The first single has seen Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) collaborate with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down) to create an incredible cover of Natural’s Not In It. It will be released on Andy’s birthday, January 1st 2021. All the brilliant artists and bands participating in the album chose which track they wished to cover from across Gang of Four’s 40-plus year history. Details of the contributors and the full track listing will be revealed in January. We can already tell you this: The Problem of Leisure is the dog’s bollocks. And so is the album artwork, created specially by artist Damien Hirst, a long-term Gang of Four aficionado. The album is available to pre-order now in a variety of different formats exclusively from our merchandise store. It will be released on 14th May 2021. Andy Gill died in February of this year. According to press materials, he’d been planning the release of The Problem of Leisure to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Entertainment! in 2019. “Andy was massively excited about this project,” Catherine Mayer said. “It wasn’t, of course, conceived as a tribute album, but it’s comforting to me that he lived to see artists he hugely admired enthusiastically agreeing to participate, signalling that the admiration was mutual.” Damien Hirst made the artwork for The Problem of Leisure PYLON – ” The Box Set “ SYLVAN ESSO – ” With Love ” EP Feat. Members Of Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2164
__label__wiki	0.511229	0.511229	Russell Kirk On the American and French Revolutions By Darrin Moore\|2016-07-26T15:27:56-05:00April 6th, 2012\|Categories: American Republic, Revolution, Russell Kirk\|Tags: Darrin Moore\| The long heritage of ideas, principles, norms and traditions that conservatives have sought to conserve since the age of Edmund Burke were magnificently chronicled in the groundbreaking book The Conservative Mind by Russell Kirk. In his book The Roots of American Order, Kirk traced the rich heritage of Western Civilization farther back through London to ancient Rome, Athens and Jerusalem. From the Judeo-Christian tradition the West learned how to order its soul, from the Greek philosophers it learned how to order its mind and from the Romans the West acquired our republican political foundations upon which Europe has been building for two millennia. As the Constitution of the United States was being ratified, revolution was breaking out in France. At a time when a new country would consecrate old established customs, an old country would attempt new abstract theories of government and demolish its old institutions and the Ancient Regime. In attempting to remake mankind and its social contracts, France for decades would devour its own and disfigure the continent in its bloody revolution which ended in despotism, but America would enjoy law and order, liberty, and relative peace and prosperity and would grow into the greatest republic the world has ever known. The different ideas which lay at the heart of the American and French Revolutions continue to powerfully shape in opposing ways the world in which we live today. America’s War of Independence was “a revolution not made, but prevented,” Kirk explains. Britain’s American colonies had grown accustomed to and rather liked that the mother country had permitted them to govern themselves. Our Founders sought to conserve the societal order that had bestowed the blessings of liberty on the fledgling commonwealths. It was King George, the Founders felt, who was infringing on the “chartered rights of Englishmen.” When our Framers mustered in Philadelphia, they constructed little that was innovative but rather conserved the best of the constitutional bequest from our British heritage. An independent judiciary empowered with a check on the executive and legislative branches was certainly a new creation, but Americans were not caught up in the radical philosophies which were catching fire in and burning down France. Instead of desiring to create some new sentimental egalitarianism, Americans were concerned with preserving the existing order and restating long observed principles of law. Unlike the fifty-five refined Framers in Philadelphia, the rancorous seventeen hundred which comprised France’s National Assembly “entertained extravagant notions of social perfectibility, being quite unacquainted with representative government,” Kirk explains in his compilation The Conservative Constitution (later republished as Rights and Duties). The Americans were steeped in the tradition of Blackstone’s Commentaries on English Law, and Baron de Montesquieu was the man whose name was most mentioned from the “democracy of the dead” at our Constitutional Convention. His glowing praise of the British Constitution and his theories of checks and balances, and of divisions of powers were among the brightest stars in the constellation of ideas by which our Framers charted America’s course. The French ironically didn’t learn from our favorite Frenchman, but instead embraced atheistic faith in absolute Reason of the likes of Thomas Paine who left America for England in 1787 and that ‘insane Socrates’ from Geneva, Jean Jacques Rousseau whose Social Contract has been called the handbook of the French Revolution. Irish statesman Edmund Burke made a profound impact on our Founding Fathers. Burke was an outspoken critic of King George in Parliament calling for reconciliation with the colonies and for discontinuing the taxes placed upon them. He also edited The Annual Register which provided the only detailed account of the Revolution which, along with Burke’s essays and speeches in defense of British Law and its prudent reform, was read thoroughly in America. Burke’s prescient and eloquent excoriation of the underlying philosophies of French Revolution stands as a devastating remonstration of the folly of faith in abstract Reason and the pursuit of spurious Perfect Freedom. In his biography of Burke, Kirk writes: “the romantic face of Jean Jacques darts out, at intervals, from behind a variety of masks—the flushed face of Paine, the grim brow of Marx, the pedantic countenance of Dewey. . . Let us concede that a knowledge of the mind of Rousseau is as important as an apprehension of Burke’s, for any man who would understand our present discontents.” Conservatives discern the need for prudent restraints upon political power and upon human passion, Russell Kirk reminds us, providing a timely and timeless warning that the philosophies of the French Enlightenment “could not make man and society anew: they could only ruin the constructions of thousands of years of painful human endeavor.” The American Founders, with prudent piety toward prescription, experience, duty, and custom, maintained the continuity of our inherited Western Civilization which enabled our spectacular ascension. Books by Russell Kirk may be found in The Imaginative Conservative Bookstore. About the Author: Darrin Moore Darrin Moore is writing a book with the working title The Rise of the Savage: How the Immoral Mass Man and the Amoral Nietzschean Superman Are Destroying Civil Society . January 8th, 2021 \| 11 Comments Reflections on American Order Russell Kirk’s Beauty and Civilization Harry Beadle Apr 6, 2012 at 10:12 pm - Reply There are few things on which I disagree with the brilliant Russell Kirk. And while this is a small point, it is one: that Kirk says "America's War of Independence was 'a revolution not made, but prevented.'" I understand what Kirk was getting at, but if the American colonists were trying to conserve "the chartered rights of Englishmen," then what they engaged in was, indeed, a revolution. A revolution by definition is not a "throwing off," as in France and later Russia, but a "revolving" or a "returning to" the original. Revolution was precisely what we had at the Founding — and what we desperately need again. John Willson Apr 7, 2012 at 6:37 pm - Reply No, I think, Mr. Beadle, it is a BIG one. If the American secession from the British Empire was a revolution, then you have just given the game away to the progressives who have claimed the same thing since the beginning. Your little definitions don't get at the source. If you read our documents carefully, you will see that the colonists understood the British as promoting a revolution, and that is exactly what Kirk was getting at. If there was a revolution, then we are like the French and like the Russians. If not, then we are inheritors of the Judeo-Christian-Greco-Roman-Germanic heritage, and the champions thereof. This is a divide in our current culture, and I know which side I am on. Anonymous Apr 12, 2012 at 8:04 am - Reply Mr. Beadle, I beleive you are perhaps more right than you know. Kirk even considered the two meanings of revolution before it became to mean only radical change in the social and governmental institutions. I excerpted from Kirk's chapter for purposes of clarification: http://www.imaginativeconservative.org/2012/04/revolution-defined.html But I beleive Mr. Wilson is right on. I excerpted from Kirk's chapter for purposes of clarification: http://www.imaginativeconservative.org/2012/04/revolution-defined.html HS Apr 12, 2012 at 7:37 pm - Reply Indeed, the wise Dr. Willson speaks the truth. Only Jaffa and the Neo-Jacobins on the Right term the American secession a "revolution". Unfortunately, both the liberal progressives and the (neo-)"conservative" progressives (Straussians) want us to live in the post-French revolutionary world. rightdetour Apr 15, 2012 at 10:56 am - Reply Although the word "revolution" can be tossed around to mean different things to different people in different eras, the founders called the war a revolution. I do not see any compelling reason to change (how's that for conservative prescription!). Some conservative intellectuals have accused Kirk of tossing around the word "conservative" in the same way. He promiscuously applies the name "conservative" to conservers of British political order, orthodox religion, the Southern planation regime, state sovereignty, and high culture that have little in common with respect to the political order established by our founders. As to the French Revolution in general, I am not sure what "ancient liberties" or "chartered rights of Frenchmen" the French people could hope to reestablish. I am no expert on the FR, but maybe they had no alternative but to scrap the monarchy and the aristocracy along with their religious props and start anew. JMS Apr 17, 2012 at 11:34 am - Reply Historian Pauline Maier noted in the closing minutes of Episode 6 of the documentary Liberty! The American Revolution that, “I think it’s one of the greatest ironies of human history that the American Revolution is sometimes considered no revolution at all. That honor goes to others – the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution — revolutions that fail to realize their promise of liberty, revolutions that ultimately failed. Our revolution, I think, is underestimated mainly because it succeeded.” Thiago Kistenmacher Vieira Apr 29, 2014 at 1:33 pm - Reply Congratulations Darrin! This is exactly what I want to study…btw, I didn’t know this website, just the channel on Youtube until now.. This is what i’d like the people here in Brazil learn…i’m reading and studying the conservative thinking in England and USA here but we have not almost anything in portuguese language. I am humble to admit that your country is an example and it isn’t something to be ignored and hated like a lot of people around here and from middle east does…in our universities it is almost impossible to talk to someone about these ideas, the most people prefer talk about Fidel Castro than Reagan or Thatcher, when they know who were these leaders, of course… Michael Bauman Feb 26, 2015 at 6:45 am - Reply When a despotic king, like George III, usurps rights not properly his, then it falls to the citizens to restore the balance and to end the tyranny. Doing so is not a revolution; it is in response to the revolution that already happened. Without such opposition, there is no way to conserve the usurped rights. Taxation without representation is a revolution in English law and governance. To preserve the old order, it had to be resisted. Resisting the revolution was not liberal then, and resisting the effort to fundamentally transform America is not liberal now.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2167
__label__cc	0.6121	0.3879	Find out More About VanWiT A Growing Industry The technology sector is a important part of B.C.’s economy. It is a growing sector, with increasing employment opportunities. The supply of trained professionals in this industry has not kept up with demand, and many organizations are feeling the “skills gap”, when it comes to hiring and retaining talent. Average earnings in the tech sector are rising and are also far higher than the overall B.C. average (BCStats). It is an exciting and rewarding industry to be a part of. A Shortage of Women in Tech Unfortunately, statistics also show that there is a strong gender imbalance in this industry. Statistics Canada reports that the number of women in fields of study related to IT, especially computer science, is declining. Women are less likely than men to choose a program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM). Reports also show that women who begin their careers in technology are also much more likely than men to exit the industry within their first few years. According to a 2014 study, women in IT roles are 45% more likely than men to leave in their first year. VanWIT is comprised of a group of professional women dedicated to supporting the advancement of women working in the technology sector. VanWIT was founded in 2016 by Catherine Boivie, Sheila Eddin, Shelley Gilberg, Joanne Hausch, Sandra Horvath and Maryam Zargar. How VanWIT Helps VanWIT provides a supportive community for women in technology at all stages of their careers. Founded in 2016, VanWIT is led by a group of professional women with a passion for helping other women grow and advance. We hope that by supporting women in the technology industry we will be able to pass on our passion, dedication and support to women in Vancouver. We create mentorship, networking and educational opportunities to help women grow and succeed in Vancouver’s tech community. Our community of students, up-and-comers and seasoned professionals shares experiences and opportunities, connecting at quarterly events that encourage, inspire and motivate. We provide a vendor-neutral, supportive environment that encourages personal and professional growth and collaboration. We welcome everyone who shares our mission, to join us. There are many volunteering opportunities available with VanWIT. If you are interested, please contact us directly. Empowering Women In Technology VanWiT was started by a group of women who wanted to advance women in Vancouver’s ever growing technology industry. We want to grow the number and quality of women workers in tech and advocate for their advancement going into the future and growing along with BC and its economy. Tweets by VanWomeninTech © 2018 \| Vancouver Women In Tech	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2168
__label__cc	0.569397	0.430603	Four leaf clovers, leprechauns, travellers, beer… just some of the many things that come to mind when you think of Ireland However, the real Ireland is even more enchanting. Its landscapes are breath-taking, ranging from wild and rugged mountains to green hills and valleys. It has beautiful, historic cities, a great musical culture, fantastic pubs and most importantly, a warm, welcoming hospitable people. And yes, lots of beer. All this, and more, is what makes backpacking Ireland so amazing. Lough Tay, Dublin : gregda Jump straight to: The best time to visit Ireland Best places to visit in Ireland Travelling around Ireland Accommodation in Ireland Ireland backpacking itinerary Cost of backpacking Ireland What to eat and drink in Ireland Irish culture and people Travel advice for Ireland Best time to visit Ireland Ireland is known for its emerald green landscape, but there’s a reason for this: the weather. Ireland tends to be quite rainy all year round, however, it’s no worse than parts of England. The climate is best summed up with one word: changeable. You can really see all four seasons in one day here. The wettest months tend to be in Autumn and Winter, and the driest in the spring, but this changes year by year. So remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad preparation! Remember to bring your waterproof jacket and a jumper whenever you go, and don’t let the weather dictate your plans! There’s not that much seasonal variation in temperature either, with the summer months averaging highs of around 13-18 degrees. On the flip side, winters don’t get too cold. One thing that does vary widely, however, is the length of the days. In winter, the sun goes down around 4 pm, but in the middle of summer, it doesn’t get dark until after 10 pm, allowing you to sit out long into the evening. Ireland is pretty small, so the differences between places aren’t too drastic. It’s generally a bit rainier on the west coast, with clouds coming in from the Atlantic, as well as getting a little cooler the further north you go. Best time to visit Northern Ireland The best time to visit Northern Ireland for a backpacking trip is in late spring and early summer, when you’re likely to get the most sunshine. However, if you’re doing a short city break, you can go at any time of year, as you’re unlikely to get extreme weather. The coldest months are between late February and early March, with very little chance of snow. The driest areas are around Belfast and the eastern coast, which get significantly less rainfall than Galway, Cork and the rest of the south/west. Best time to visit Dublin Dublin’s where you’ll find the driest climate relative to the rest of Ireland. It’s also pretty mild, with winter temperatures similar to those in Southeast England. The driest months in Dublin are between February and April, but the best time to visit Dublin is in late spring, when the temperatures are a little warmer. Given that the city has plenty to see – the weather usually isn’t too much trouble anyway, as there are plenty of pubs and free museums to duck into. Best time to visit Galway The west coast, around Galway, is the wettest part of Ireland. However, it’s slightly warmer than Dublin. So, if you’re lucky, you might get some hot, sunny weather – with the isolated white-sand beaches making it worth the risk! The best time to visit Galway is probably when it’s driest, in the late spring and early summer. Best places to visit in Ireland :@iaraanddavid_travel Ireland’s landscapes are beautiful, ranging from the dramatic to the gentle. Each of its national parks have their own unique character and can be just as breath-taking as more well-known destinations (if a bit rainier!) Apart from Dublin, its cities are relatively small, but are full of life, easily walkable, and have a rich history. To help you choose where to spend your time we’ve listed some of the best places to visit in Ireland including the most scenic places the country has to offer, as well as the best cities in Ireland to visit: Scenic spots: Mount Errigal and Dunlewy Lough, County Donegal As you approach the Derryveagh mountains, all you see are dark shadows on the horizon. Before you know it, you are amongst them, with the long, unfenced road winding through the valleys. Drive far enough and you’ll come to Dunlewy Lough, which sits down in a quiet valley, cut off from the outside world. Rising above its shores is Errigal, the highest mountain in Donegal, and one of the best hikes in Ireland. However, the steep, rocky slopes means the route can be challenging. If you’d prefer something a little more gentle, you can also take a walk down around the lake. This will take you a forest in which you’ll find a hidden world covered bright purple flowers and almost luminous green mosses. You’ll also pass an abandoned church, where you can sit and look out over the water! Find hostels in Donegal Glencolumbkille and Malin Beg, County Donegal Glencolumbkille sits on a stretch of coast Donegal’s southwestern corner. As you travel round the cliffs, you’ll be greeted with the spectacular sight of grey, stony headlands and jagged rocks being pounded by the mighty waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually, you’ll reach the beautiful white sand beach of Silver Strand: a serene, isolated cove, hidden beneath the steep cliffs. Just behind Glencolumbkille are the Slieve League (Sliabh Liag) cliffs, some of the highest sea cliffs in Ireland. Here, a jagged mountainside plunges straight down into the ocean. The colossal scale of this is difficult to capture in any photograph: really huge waves end up looking like tiny ripples. If you want to explore, there are great hikes in the area, including the so-called “One Man’s Path” a narrow, rocky trail with sheer drops on either side. Just be careful, this should not be attempted if you’re not an experienced hiker – even if it is a great place for getting that perfect Instagram shot! Wicklow Mountains, County Wicklow The northern edge of this national park can be reached by taking a €3.30 local bus service from Dublin to Enniskerry, meaning it’s ideal if you want to escape the city for a while. If you’re really keen, you can hike along the so-called “Wicklow Way,” a 130 km interlinked network of roads and paths stretching all the way down through the county. If you don’t feel up to that, you can simply wander along the trail for as long as you like, through fields and glades filled with ferns, wildflowers and shamrocks. One great walk, which takes about an hour each way, is from Knockree hostel to Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest in Ireland. Seeing it this way also allows you to avoid paying the entry fee! Find hostels in Wicklow Copper Coast, County Waterford If you want a day by the sea, some ice cream or fish and chips, head on down to the scenic little harbour town of Dunmore East. It’s an hour away from Waterford city by bike, or 20 or so minutes by car or bus. The little sheltered cove is gorgeous, with golden sand and deep blue water, overlooked by cliffs on both sides. If you don’t feel like getting your feet wet, sit outside at the Strand Inn, which overlooks the beach, looking out towards Hook Head and its famous lighthouse. From Dunmore, you can head around the coastline along the so-called “Copper Coast”, which has been designated an UNESCO Geopark. Even if you’re not a geologist, it’s easy to appreciate the beautiful cliffs and seaside villages, such as Stradbally and Tramore, which literally means “big strand”. Here you’ll find a 5 km stretch of golden sand where you can hire surfboards, fish, or go sea kayaking. Find hostels in Waterford Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry With sea on three sides and towering green mountains behind, the Dingle peninsula is a spectacular setting for a drive by the sea. We’d recommend you stop off at Inch Beach, a spit of sand that juts out into the bay for miles, with towering dunes full of wildflowers. On the right side, you can see the Dingle Peninsula, to the left the golden shores of the Iveragh Peninsula. From Inch Beach, you can head along the coastal roads to the colourful little harbour town of Dingle. But, if you’ve got a little time, it’s worth taking a minor detour down to Minard Castle. The roads are a bit narrow and windy, but it’s definitely worth it. You’ll not only be rewarded with the sight of a medieval stone tower, but also a quiet little beach with a clear mountain stream flowing into the bay. From the colourful town of Dingle, you can head up towards Conor Pass along Spa Road, which snakes away out of sight, tightly hugging the undulating landscape. If you look hard on a clear day, you can even see the rocky pyramid-shaped Skellig Islands jutting out of the sea. If they look familiar, perhaps that’s because they were used as a location in the new Star Wars films! Find hostels in Dingle Killarney National Park, County Kerry Killarney National Park :@cochou33 Killarney, is home to one of Ireland’s most beautiful national parks, and its tallest peak, Carrauntoohil. It’s hardly surprising then, that you’ll find some of the best hikes in Ireland here. In fact, the “Kerry Way” signposted route runs through the county, for over 200 km, taking experienced hikers eight days or more to conquer. However, you don’t have to be a seasoned hiker to enjoy the trail – you can always walk along one of its 20 sections. There’s a walking loop starting in Killarney, which takes in the Victorian stately home, a ruined monastery and old traditional farms. Nearby you’ll find Torc waterfall, which crashes down into a little pool, creating a surrounding mist. If you continue up the steps past the waterfall, you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Killarney’s three lakes. For a break while you’re driving or hiking round the national park, there’s no better place than The Strawberry Field Pancake Cottage. Renowned for its delicious pancakes, the café rests within Killarney’s isolated countryside. Afterwards, you can head on up to the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow valley, with steep, high sides. It feels incredibly isolated and cut-off, almost like going through a tunnel. Look one way and you’ll see the valley and lakes of Killarney open up in front of you, look back and you see the mountains closing in on each other. Find hostels in Killarney Strawberry Field Pancake Cottage :@iaraanddavid_travel Aran Islands, County Galway The Aran Islands are three, isolated rocky pieces of land lying between the edge of Galway Bay and the North Atlantic. They’re pretty inhospitable and rugged, battered by the waves and winds, making the place feel like it’s at the edge of the world. The historic isolation of the islanders means that many of them speak Irish as a native language. In fact, we heard it being spoken on the Ferry, and by locals in the local pub. To get there, you can book a ferry and bus transfer from Galway, or from Doolin, in County Clare. The two smaller islands, Inisheer (Inis Oír), and Inishmaan (Inis Meáin), are a little less touristed and easier to get around. However, if you’re visiting Inishmore (Inis Mór), the largest island, it’s a good idea to go for a whole day, as there’s a lot to see. It’s still only 14 km (8.7 miles) long: meaning that the best way to get around is renting a bike. Head around the coast and there’s a spot where, if you look hard enough, you can spot the silvery heads of seals bobbing up and down on the water. Continue a little further around the coast and you’ll stumble upon Kilmurvey beach, where the sands are a pristine, dazzling shade of white. The island is also home to a handful of prehistoric stone forts, with the most well-known being Dún Aonghasa. However, if you don’t want to pay, it’s perhaps better to head to Dún Eochla, which perhaps even more impressive in scale. These historical sights blend in with its natural wonders, such as Poll na Bpeist or “the wormhole”. This natural, perfectly rectangular pool sits atop a bare, rocky clifftop. As calm as it seems, diving into the pool is strongly advised against. Sometimes, the drop down to the water can be about 15 metres, with waves crashing over the clifftops and draining down into the pool. Find hostels in Aran Islands Connemara is another national park, in the west of the country, but it differs a lot to the others. The Wicklow mountains are characterised by rolling valleys and forests, whereas Killarney has huge lakes and dramatic rocky mountains. Connemara national park, on the other hand, feature huge, rounded hills that are curved like a camel’s hump. The roads wind through the misty valleys as you approach the park’s visitor centre, about an hour and a half away from Galway. From here, there are several well-marked walking and hiking routes, each for different abilities. The toughest one leads to the summit of Diamond Hill, going over boardwalk, and rocky slopes, with views of the sea on three sides and golden beaches in the distance. When you reach the summit, you can see all the way down to the Victorian grandeur of Kylemore Abbey. Kylemore Abbey is a huge 19th century “castle” – but it’s the setting that really sets it apart. Unlike other, similar places, it is set against the backdrop of a steep mountain slope, with a serene lake stretching out in front. However, the main highlight is provided by the gardens. The manicured flowerbeds contrast beautifully with the surrounding wilderness and the kitchen gardens are full of juicy redcurrants, blackcurrants and raspberries. Find hostels in Connemara North coast of Northern Ireland, County Antrim and County Derry/Londonderry The north coast is probably the one of the most well-known and best places to visit in Northern Ireland. It’s known for its white sandy beaches, green fields and of course, the Giant’s Causeway. More recently, it’s gained fame as one of the locations for the acclaimed fantasy series, Game of Thrones. These Game of Thrones locations are worth seeing for the sake of their wild beauty, even if you’re not a fantasy fan. One such place is Ballintoy harbour, a tiny cove at the bottom of a single-track winding road, full of little fishing boats. Another recommended stop is at the Dark Hedges, otherwise known as the “King’s Road”, where ancient trees curve and twist to form an eerie tunnel. If you want a little adventure, and are a fan of wildlife, catch the boat from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island. During the late spring and summer months, it’s home to a huge colony of birds who nest on its high cliffs, including cute little puffins! If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see seals relaxing around the harbour. For something a little more daring, head to the notorious Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, where you can test your mettle by walking across a vertical drop above the rough, churning waves. If you’d rather just relax, there’s always the White Rocks beach, near Portrush, with its golden sands and dazzling white limestone cliffs. The most famous sight around here, the Giant’s Causeway, is also worth seeing. Layers upon layers of hexagonal columns rise up out of the ocean, looking as if they were fashioned by a giant’s hand. the best part is probably the walk, which takes you over the cliffs, giving you a spectacular bird’s eye view. And for those in need of a little refreshment after a tiring day outdoors, the Old Bushmills Distillery is just a few miles away. Founded in 1608, it’s also the oldest continually-operating distillery in the world. Find hostels in Derry Mourne Mountains, County Down This is where you’ll find Northern Ireland’s biggest mountain, Slieve Donard. You can reach it without a car, by taking a bus from Belfast to the seaside town of Newcastle. The route is quite easy to follow, but requires hiking shoes, as it can be a bit muddy in places. The views from the summit, however, are gorgeous, looking out for miles out over the coast. If you’d prefer to do something more gentle, you can also hike to a viewpoint part of the way up the mountain, or just walk along the beautiful seafront promenade with an ice cream. Those people renting a car should also consider visiting the Silent Valley Reservoir. This huge artificial lake supplies the entire population of Belfast and is hidden away in the narrow space between the mountain slopes. It’s a beautiful and secluded location to sit, relax, or take a walk around. Temple Bar, Dublin :@diogopalhais If you ask anyone who’s visited Ireland about the best places to see, the Republic of Ireland’s capital is always high on the list. There’s s a lot to see, a lot to do, as well as a lot of visitors! The historical centre is packed to the brim with beautiful buildings and parks, many of which are free. Free attractions in Dublin: Stephen’s Green: this 17th century square is filled with trees, ponds and sculptures, and was one of the spots held by the rebels during the 1916 Easter Rising. Merrion Square: another park in a city square, which is home to a famous statue of Oscar Wilde. Phoenix Park: this is the largest urban park in Europe, and home to a herd of deer! Áras an Uachtaráin, the official residence of the President of Ireland is located here, and on Saturdays, you can even book a free guided tour! Museums and Galleries: As Ireland’s capital, Dublin is home to many of Ireland’s best public museums and galleries, many of which are free to explore, so take advantage of this! Chester Beattie Library: housed in Dublin Castle, this museum displays beautiful and rare manuscripts from places such as East Asia, the Middle East and North America. Irish Museum of Modern Art: situated in a former hospital, this place has six multi-roomed exhibits, which are constantly changing. National Gallery of Ireland: this fascinating gallery includes medieval, renaissance and modern works, including those of renowned local artists. National Museum of Ireland: this is not really one museum, but four, with three of them located in Dublin – specialising in Archaeology, Natural History and Decorative Arts. Given its history full of literature, scholarship, conflict and revolution: Dublin is fascinating just to wander around. So, take advantage of a free walking tour, or explore these historical sites for yourself: Statues of O’Connell Street: this busy shopping street is full of statues of famous Irish revolutionaries, labour leaders, parliamentarians and reformers, including Daniel O’Connell, after whom it is named. GPO (General Post Office): this imposing stone building was the main headquarters of those taking part in the Easter rising, an armed insurrection that aimed to create an independent Irish Republic. There is a paid exhibition inside, but you can still visit the post office itself, which has beautiful floors and an ornate ceiling. Trinity College Grounds: you have to pay a steep charge to visit its historical library, which contains the precious medieval manuscript “the Book of Kells”. However, the grounds themselves are free to enter. Famine Memorial: this tribute to the millions of people who died and emigrated during the potato famine of 1845-1849, shows emaciated figures trekking along to the port of Dublin in search of a new life abroad (though many died during their journey). Glasnevin cemetery: this is the resting place for many famous Irish figures, including the musician Luke Kelly, of the Dubliners, and the writer Brendan Behan. One paid attraction that is worth seeing is Kilmainham Gaol. This cold, grey stone building, located in a quiet suburb, has witnessed many key events in Irish history, including five rebellions. It is where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were held and then executed. It has held prisoners from the subsequent Irish War of Independence and Irish Civil War. Perhaps the most shocking fact, however, is how some victims of the famine committed crimes simply to be held here and have a roof over their heads. Going out in Dublin can feel overwhelming, with hordes of tourists flocking into the iconic pubs of the Temple Bar area, which gets extremely crowded and quite rowdy. In terms of iconic bars, O’Donoghue’s near Merrion Square is a good bet. This spot has live music every night and is where the trad band “The Dubliners” started out. Although it’s packed with tourists, the crowd is generally less rowdy. Also worth a visit is the Brazen Head, which claims to be Ireland’s oldest pub, dating back to 1198. For somewhere a bit more off the beaten track, head north of the river to the area of Stoneybatter, where you’ll find great pubs and cocktail bars, full of locals. We arrived in the middle of the “Stoneybatter Festival” which takes place in June each year. The events even included Wuffstock, a fancy-dress parade for dogs and their owners! Find out more about all the free things to do in Dublin in our guide. Find hostels in Dublin Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny :@kmitchhodge Kilkenny, although compact, is worth visiting. Hundreds of years of history is packed into two adjoining streets, known as the Medieval Mile, which stretches from the cathedral at one end and the castle at the other. The space in between is teeming with history: from the Tudor Roche House to the Black Abbey. It’s not all grey, medieval stone though, the town is like a picture postcard snapshot of Ireland – with colourful pubs, restaurants and cafes on cobbled streets. As well as being a medieval town, Kilkenny is known as being the birthplace of Smithwicks (pronounced Smith-icks), probably the second most well-known Irish beer (after Guinness). You can still visit the old brewery today, where you’ll get the chance taste the beer at different stages of the brewing process and smell the different types of hops used. This will give you all you need to bluff with even the most seasoned of craft beer snobs! Even if you’re not all that interested in this boozy barley beverage, the tour is fascinating simply from a historical point of view: it’s built on the ruins of an abbey that brewed beer until it was closed down by King Henry VIII. In the end, you’ll get the chance to sample a pint, with three different varieties on offer! In the same way as with its historical sights, Kilkenny’s nightlife packs a big punch for its size, with over 15 bars and pubs within 10-15 minutes’ walk of one-another. It’s a historic town, so there are tourists, but it’s nowhere near as crowded as central Dublin. Plus, if you’re more of a fan of tea and coffee than beer, don’t fret! Kilkenny has some cute little cafes, including Cakeface patisserie, which serves up delicious baked treats. Find hostels in Kilkenny Waterford :@yaboicarl Waterford is one of Ireland’s oldest cities, dating back to Viking times. The traces of this history are most evident in the old part of the city, the so-called “Viking Triangle”. In fact, there are six medieval towers scattered around. If it’s a rainy day, why not visit the “Museum of Treasures”? This is actually made up of three separate buildings, each within 3 minutes’ walk of each other: the Viking-built Reginald’s tower, the Medieval Museum and the Bishop’s Palace. The city itself is incredibly pretty, its main street extending along a stretch of river for about a kilometre and a half. This creates a dazzling effect as the lights from bars, restaurants, and shops are reflected in the water. Step back from here, and you’ll end up on bustling pedestrian streets full of little squares, coffee shops and boutiques. Given that it’s a relatively small city and not as much of a tourist hotspot as Dublin, it’s easy to wander from one place to the other without getting lost. We’d recommend a little bar called ‘An Uisce Beatha’, the Irish name for whisky literally translating as “water of life”. This pub hosts a lively, youthful crowd, with free music on most nights. Cork :@yvesalarie Cork is the Republic of Ireland’s second city, but sees less travellers than Dublin and Galway. However, it really shouldn’t, as it’s absolutely full of life, music and history! Also just outside Cork is Blarney castle, one of the most famous attractions in all of Ireland. It’s a very touristy spot, and entrance costs between €14 and €18 (with online discounts available). Although this may seem like a lot, the castle’s gardens are huge and there’s a lot to see – in fact, you could spend the whole day exploring. The beautiful grounds contain a garden of poisonous plants, a glade filled with huge ferns and a waterfall, as well as a dungeon, where you can crawl through medieval stone passages on your hands and knees. In the high season, queues for the castle can be huge, but you can avoid this by going on a weekday. Once you get to the top, you can admire the views, and kiss the legendary Blarney stone, which is said to bless you with the gift of the gab. The whole thing might seem like a bit of a silly tourist ritual, but it’s impossible not to get caught up in the atmosphere of the whole thing! Cork itself is great for going out, with music around every corner and streets full of people. In the Victorian Quarter there’s Sin É, which serves a huge selection of whiskies, gins and beers, as well as having a traditional music session every night. If you want to listen to something a bit different, head down to the Crane Lane Theatre. This consists of three different bars, each with different things going on, as well as the theatre itself. There you can see free gigs (everything from jazz to reggae), DJ nights, and even take a dance lesson. Oh, and if you’re looking for a caffeine rather than alcohol-based pick-me-up, head to Three Fools’ Coffee or Cork Coffee Roasters. Budget travellers looking for something to do can take a wander around the Campus of University College Cork. Here, you can enjoy the parkland, visit the exhibitions at the Glucksman Institute, and admire the beautiful stained-glass windows of the Great Hall, all without spending a cent. The English Market is also free to enter, but you’ll probably end up spending something! It’s situated in a building that dates back to 1786 and is full of stalls selling fresh meat, fish, vegetables and fresh local baked goods, as well as arts and crafts. There’s even a brightly coloured fountain filled with models of birds! For something quirky to do, head to the Butter Museum: Cork used to be a centre of the huge Irish butter business, and even had its own Butter Exchange (like a Wall Street for butter). Just around the corner, you will see (or hear) Shandon Church. Here you can pay to climb the tower and have a go at ringing the bells yourself. A little less imposing is Shandon Sweets, a cute family run factory and shop, where you can enjoy some locally-made sugary goodness. Find hostels in Cork Galway, Ireland :@mymytudoan Galway is smaller than Dublin, Belfast and Cork – but is very lively (perhaps, in part, due to its high student population). You can see this in the Latin Quarter – home to many medieval buildings and filled with narrow, cobbled streets onto which partygoers pour onto to at night to enjoy a drink in the open air. We went to the Quays bar, which blasted out cheesy indie and pop hits all night long. We also ended up in a great rock bar called Sally Long’s, after which we headed to the west end to hear some traditional music at the Crane Bar. There was a trad music session in the upstairs room, with everyone crowded around, sitting on stools, listening attentively to around 8 musicians on fiddle, tin whistle, flute and mandolin. The historic Latin Quarter is also great for exploring during the day, and as you head further down the river, you’ll find another historical landmark, the Spanish Arch. This stone gateway, built in 1584, is connected to the remains of the city walls, and used to house the soldiers who manned the battlements. On the other side of this is the Galway City Museum, which is free to enter, and will give you an insight into what Galway looked like in medieval times. It also houses a full-size “Galway Hooker”: a sailboat designed to withstand the harsh North Atlantic weather. Although Galway’s medieval buildings date back hundreds of years, the cathedral was only built in the 50s and 60s. It looks much older, but it’s actually the last great stone cathedral to be built in Europe. It’s worth visiting to admire the artwork underneath the dome, consisting of angels and stars set against an emerald green background. Another thing that’s great about Galway is that if it’s a sunny day, and you don’t feel tramping around the streets or standing indoors, you can easily just head out to the area of Salthill. This is just 20 minutes’ walk from Eyre Square, past the west end and has some beautiful beaches, as well as a diving platform where you take the plunge into the not-so-tropical water of Galway Bay. Find hostels in Galway Belfast :@kaelihearn The island’s other capital city, Belfast, is very different to Dublin. It’s a much younger city and is perhaps less “classically beautiful”. However, it’s emerged from its turbulent past to become a great destination and has somewhat of an alternative feel in places. It’s also cheaper for going out than in a lot of cities in the Republic, with a great bar and restaurant scene. In terms of sights, you’ll be spoilt for choice. A lot of hostels are located around the university, which is made up of beautiful redbrick buildings. Just around the corner, you’ll be able to see the Botanical Gardens, with its ornate Victorian greenhouse, as well as the Ulster Museum. Alternatively, you can visit the exhibitions at the City Hall, and take a tour of this spectacular building, which is full of marble floors and columns, stained glass windows and chandeliers. Best of all, every one of these attractions are completely free! One of Belfast’s biggest draws in recent years has been the Titanic Museum, a huge shining metal structure, as high as the ship itself, where you can find interactive exhibitions and even a ride guiding you through the history of the shipyards. It may seem quite pricey, but the ticket also includes entrance to the Nomadic, a boat that brought passengers to the Titanic at Cherbourg, France. If you want to go out somewhere that’s cheap and student friendly, the area around the University and the Dublin Road is a good bet. However, for something slightly more upmarket, the Cathedral Quarter is the place to go. Here you can find “the Harp Bar”, which is all red velvet seats and fancy decorations, or the Dirty Onion, which has an outdoor terrace in a ruined building. There are also cultural venues, such as the MAC and Black Box, which host art exhibitions, theatrical performances and films. Still, if you’d prefer something a little more alternative, it’s just a short walk to the Sunflower Bar, which hosts musical events ranging from ukulele sessions to bluegrass music, and attracts a young, progressive, activist crowd. Find hostels in Belfast Londonderry : @kmitchhodge Northern Ireland’s second city is definitely worth a stop, not least because it’s the only fully-intact walled city in all of Ireland. You can still walk round the top of the walls, free of charge, look down over the rest of the city. Within the walls themselves, you’ll find the “Tower Museum”, which takes you through the city’s eventful history, from prehistoric times to the sectarian violence that plagued the city from the 1960s to the 1990s. It’s not all dark and depressing though: you’ll also hear about the city’s cultural heritage, including the band “The Undertones”, who penned the song “Teenage Kicks”. The history of the Derry/Londonderry, is very contested, all the way down to the city’s name. It should come as no surprise then, that it has witnessed key events for people on both sides of the Unionist/Nationalist divide. The city saw historic civil rights marches in the 1960s and early 1970s. The predominantly nationalist “Bogside” also witnessed clashes between police and the local residents, as well as the incident known as “Bloody Sunday”. It’s in the Bogside that you’ll find the Free Derry Museum (which shares its name with a famous mural), a place that recounts the story of this conflict. On the other side there is the Siege Museum, which focuses on 17th century siege during which the Protestants of Derry/Londonderry held out against an army led by the Catholic King James. However, there’s more to the city than the dark days of its past, with plenty of cheery, and good value bars and restaurants. One such place is Sandino’s, which is full of posters and memorabilia supporting various progressive causes, and often hosts great live music events. You can also pose with one of the city’s newest murals, a painting of the stars of Derry Girls, a hit comedy series set in the city! Find hostels in Derry/Londonderry Travelling around Ireland Unfortunately, in Ireland, the public transport network isn’t as extensive or developed as in other western European countries. However, both buses and trains are relatively affordable, making backpacking on a budget in Ireland easy. There are easy links between a lot of the major towns and cities. But when it comes to more rural spots, provision can be a bit lacking. Trains in Ireland are modern, comfortable and usually punctual, with good links on the east coast and to Galway. The prices here are reasonable too: an advance ticket between Dublin and Kilkenny can cost as little as €14, with extra discounts available for students. But there’s no direct line from Waterford to Cork, which makes a round trip by train difficult. Travelling by train also needs planning, as they often don’t run as regularly as buses or coaches. In the west of Ireland, train links are much less developed, and although it’s easy to reach Galway, heading north through the scenic counties of Sligo and Mayo requires a lot of changeovers. It’s even harder to navigate the scenic and isolated county of Donegal, where there are no train connections at all. Indeed, in the past, many rural train stations were shut down in favour of a (short-sighted) transport policy favouring cars. On the other hand, some of these former lines, such as the “Waterford Greenway”, have been repurposed as cycle and walking paths – allowing you to explore the countryside away from the roads. Trains in Northern Ireland are pretty lacking too, and many places in the southwest, such as the beautiful Lakeland county of Fermanagh, have no railway lines at all. Luckily for tourists, in addition to the line from Belfast to Dublin, there’s one that stretches north, linking Belfast to towns on the scenic Causeway coast, such as Portrush and Castlerock. This same line then heads west alongside the sea and finishes in the city of Derry/Londonderry, with the last stretch of the journey overlooking the sea. One of the easiest ways to get to places is travelling around Ireland by bus. A lot of the services, especially those between more major towns and cities, are comfortable and modern, and have lots of luggage space, as well as occasional internet access. These usually run more regularly than trains and are often just as quick. They also have routes between cities where trains do not, and if you’re travelling up the west coast without a car, buses are a lifesaver. They can reach beautiful rural areas and isolated counties such as Donegal where trains do not. In addition, local bus services will allow you travel to tourist attractions just outside cities. From Dublin, you can catch a bus to Enniskerry and explore the Wicklow Mountains, from Cork, you can head out to the colourful little fishing village of Kinsale. There are a lot of isolated sights in Ireland that can’t easily be reached by bus or train, and require you to take an organised tour. Some of these go directly from the hostels, and are pretty good value. Another alternative is travelling around Ireland by car for the ultimate Ireland road trip! This will allow you to see ruined churches, abbeys and abandoned stone cottages, as well as letting you stop to get out and appreciate the landscape: something you’ll want to do every five minutes or so! Just be aware that the roads in some rural areas are full of cracks, are narrow, and sometimes even have sheep wandering across them. Accommodation in Ireland Gardiner House Hostel, Dublin Ireland is a popular place for backpackers, meaning that there’s a wide range of hostels and budget accommodation. Hostels in cities such as Dublin and Galway tend to be bigger, with more going on, but can be quite busy. In the countryside, or smaller towns, such as Kilkenny, you can find cute little places with just a handful of rooms, where it’s easy to get to know other guests! Hostels in Dublin and Galway are significantly more expensive than other places, with prices soaring on the weekends. However, nightly rates in Dublin can more than double to over €50, the price of a weekend room in Galway is more reasonable at around €30. Strangely, the same is not true of Cork, where prices remain pretty steady. Where you stay in Dublin depends a lot on what you want to do. Gardiner House Hostel is about 20 minutes’ walk from the city centre, allowing you to avoid the noisiness of the city centre. Another great spot, Abigail’s Hostel, is right in the middle of Temple Bar, hosting nightly pub crawls and surrounded by lively pubs, bars and clubs. There are also a couple of places that are a little closer to the city, but in the quieter areas, such as the Four Courts Hostel. All these places have facilities including storage lockers and fully-equipped kitchens, as well as providing a free breakfast and wifi. There’s also plenty of choice when it comes to hostels in Galway, with almost all of them being rated above an 8 on the Hostelworld website. Sleepzone is good if you want somewhere central at a reasonable price: it’s five minutes from Kinlay Square Centre, most of the dorms are ensuites and there’s a fantastic kitchen, TV room and outdoor terrace. Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel, which is just around the corner, is another good choice. But if you want something a little quieter and still within walking distance of the city, you can stay at Nest Boutique Hostel, located right beside the beaches of Salthill. Hostels in Cork are pretty few and far between, with the choice essentially coming down to Kinlay House Cork and Bru Bar & Hostel. Both are located at the northern end of the city centre, close to sights such as the Shandon Bells and the Butter Museum. Both also offer free Wifi and free breakfast. Bru Bar & Hostel, as you might guess from the name, it has its own bar with discounts available for guests! But if you want to relax, go for Kinlay House, you can get access to the pool and gym next door (which includes a jacuzzi and steam room) for €5. Some of the best hostels we stayed in on our trip were in rural areas, where you can find small, cosy places that feel more like guesthouses. One of those places is Tom’s Cottage, an eco-friendly hostel that’s a 15-minute drive from Waterford. Apart from a couple of houses across the road, there’s nothing but green fields all around, making it the perfect place to relax and recharge. Tom, who runs the hostel, is an incredibly friendly guy, often even inviting guests to hear him play in an Irish trad music band at the local pub. Global Village, Belfast When it comes to city hostels, Belfast is really good value. Global Village, Vagabonds and Botanical Backpackers are all rated at 9 or above on Hostelworld. They’re also located in the youthful Queen’s Quarter, nearby Queen’s University Belfast. You can get a bed from about £14 and all of them offer free breakfast, WiFi and a common room to relax and hang out in. There are also plenty of hostels in the towns and villages in the north coast. Bushmills Youth Hostel is perfectly situated, just 5 minutes’ walk from the Old Bushmills Distillery and a short bus ride from the Giant’s Causeway. The village itself also has plenty of pubs, restaurants and cafés. If you don’t mind being a little more isolated, the Sheep Island View hostel in the village of Ballintoy is a good shout. Its picturesque location overlooks the sea and cliffs, and is only a short walk from a cute little harbour and beach. Outside Belfast and the north coast, there aren’t so many options when it comes to hostels in Northern Ireland. While there’s not many dorms in Derry/Londonderry, Hostel Connect is great value and fantastically located, with beds for as little as £17.30 (€19.26). Compare all hostels in Ireland Ireland Backpacking Itinerary Connemara National Park :@benorloff There are endless things to see and explore in Ireland, and you could spend years without having discovered all that it has to offer. However, this being the real world, most people don’t have that much time or money. So, to help you, we’ve put together a few rough travel itineraries. Given how different every backpacker is, we’ve tried to make this relatively flexible. Just bear in mind that it’s not exhaustive and you may want to skip certain places or choose to discover somewhere else entirely. We’ll start with a simple Ireland itinerary, for 7 days long, as many backpackers won’t have much more time than that. Lack of time shouldn’t put you off though, as there’s plenty you can see if you manage it right. Itinerary 1: Day 1: Dublin This is where you’ll most likely be arriving into, whether by boat or by plane. Depending on the amount of time you have, you can explore some of the free museums, or Phoenix Park (which doesn’t close, meaning you can go and visit later in the evening to save some time). Day 2: Kilkenny The journey here from Dublin is less than two hours by bus or train. This means you’ll have time to explore the medieval sights of the city, whether it’s the castle, cathedral or abbey! If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can always pop into the brewery. Day 3: Waterford Again, this Viking city is a short hop by bus or train from Kilkenny. You can either wander around and take in these sights for yourself, take a city tour, or visit one of the city’s museums. If you’re more of a sporty type, you can head out along the Waterford Greenway cycle route! Day 4: Cork The easiest way to get here from Waterford is by bus, as the train takes a long and complicated route. Once you’re here, you can head out on a local bus to Blarney to explore the castle and gardens. Or you can choose to stay in the city and ring the bells of Shandon at St. Anne’s Church, as well as visiting the Butter Museum, university campus and English Market. Day 5: Galway The bus journey from Cork to Galway takes a little longer, at around two and a half hours. But this will still allow you to explore some of the main sights, such as the Cathedral and Spanish Arch, as well as enjoying the local nightlife. Day 6: Galway day trip Galway is a good base for exploring some of the most scenic areas in Ireland. From here, you can take a day trip out to Connemara National Park, or to the Aran Islands. Those of you who have a car can always spend a night in Connemara if you want! From Galway you can take a bus or train straight back to Dublin. Spend your afternoon exploring more of the free museums and galleries, wandering around the city centre parks, or heading out to Kilmainham Gaol. If you’ve got a car, and enjoy the outdoors, you can easily do a day trip out to the Wicklow Mountains instead of spending a second day in Dublin (or skip a destination and go to Killarney national park instead). If you’d rather explore the big city more, you can even catch the bus or train from Cork straight back to Dublin. It’s all up to you! Even though it’s a small island, for an Ireland itinerary, 14 days isn’t that long. Given that lack of public transport in some places makes things complicated, the guide below sets out separate routes for travelling with and without a car, giving you some alternatives if you want to alter your journey a bit. (See section above) Day 5: Killarney Take a day trip out through the National Park by bus, a boat trip around the lakes, or visit Ross Castle, which is just a short walk away! Take a trip out to see the gorgeous Dingle peninsula, and maybe even go whale watching. Use your second day in Cork to explore some of the sights of the city, or head out to Blarney, whichever you missed the first-time round! Day 10: Dublin Option 1: you can take the bus to Letterkenny, in County Donegal, basing yourself there for two or three nights. You can then take day trips out to places such as Errigal, Slieve League or the Inishowen Peninsula, before heading back to Dublin for another night before you get your flight. Option 2: you can get the train or bus up to Belfast, stay there a night or two, then head up to the north coast for a night. After this you can head back to Belfast and then to Dublin (if you’re flying home from there). Option 3: if you don’t want to go that far, you can simply go hiking in the Wicklow mountains, and take some extra time to explore Dublin’s many sights. Head straight from the airport to this beautiful medieval town. (See above) Use the drive from Cork to see some of the breathtaking Copper Coast, and maybe visit some scenic villages along the way. Check in and then head off to explore the beautiful Dingle peninsula, stopping off at the beach if it’s a sunny day. Take a trip around the Ring of Kerry road to see some stunning landscapes, or park up somewhere in the national park to do a hike. It’s also worth making a slight diversion to see the Gap of Dunloe. Head to Galway, perhaps stopping off at the famous “Cliffs of Moher” along the way. Use the rest of the day to explore the town and its sights! You can use this day to see the Aran Islands, either driving or taking the bus to the ferry terminal. Day 9: Connemara Head out to Connemara and explore the unique mountains. You can take the Connemara Loop route (see below), go hiking, or even do some water sports on Killary Fjord. Days 10-12: Option 1: take the car up the West Coast, along the Wild Atlantic Way (see below) to Donegal. There you can visit the cliffs of Slieve League and nearby beaches, then head on up to the Derryveagh Mountains and Glenveagh National Park. You can spend the third day exploring more of Donegal or visit Derry/Londonderry, just over the border. Option 2: take the car up to Belfast and then spend a couple of days exploring the north coast or go to Derry/Londonderry. Option 3: head to the Wicklow mountains, and spend a couple of days hiking and exploring, before heading back to Dublin. You can even go back to the city a day earlier, if you want more of a chance to see all its sights properly. Once you get back to Dublin, you can return your rental car and spend the next couple of days exploring the city. Given its small size, it’s pretty easy to put together a Northern Ireland itinerary. However, if you’d like to visit the west of Northern Ireland as well, transport can be a bit of an issue. To help with this, I’ve put together one itinerary for those with a car, and one for those without a car. Without a car Day 1: Belfast Here you can spend the day exploring the free attractions around the University, including the museum and botanical gardens. Afterwards, why not go out to explore some of the pubs and coffee shops around the Cathedral Quarter? Here, you can find out what exhibitions and events are going on at the MAC or Black Box. Day 2: north coast In the morning, take the train to Coleraine. Then, take the train to Portrush, where you can go to the beach, go surfing, or just enjoy an ice cream by the sea. Alternatively, you can head to Bushmills, from where you can take the bus or walk to the Giant’s Causeway, and take a tour of the whiskey distillery. You can take the bus from either Portrush or Bushmills to Ballycastle, from where you can head off to see the wildlife of Rathlin Island. Another option is to go to Ballintoy harbour, which (as mentioned above) was a filming location for Game of Thrones. Day 4: Derry/Londonderry Take the bus from Bushmills or train from Portrush to Coleraine. From there, you can take the train to Derry/Londonderry. You can explore the city walls, cathedral, Guildhall and museums, and have a night out if you’re feeling like it. On returning to Belfast you can visit the Titanic Experience museum, as well as taking a tour of the City Hall. Day 6: head home or take a day trip to the Mournes. From there, you can head home, or if you want to explore a bit more, take the bus down to Newcastle. You can even walk from the town to the peak of Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland’s highest mountain. With a car Drive from the airport in Belfast up to a hostel in Bushmills or Portrush. On the way you can visit various scenic spots, some of which have been in the TV series “Game of Thrones”, such as the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy harbour. Later on, you can visit the Giant’s Causeway, and then, if you’re staying in Bushmills, make a stop at the legendary distillery. You can also take the beautifully scenic Antrim coast road (see below) – a scenic, but indirect route. On your second day, you can visit the seaside town of Portrush, and go for a surfing lesson, or just enjoy a day by the sea. You can also get the ferry from Ballycastle to go and enjoy the wildlife there. Option 1: head back to Belfast for a couple of days, and see some of the things you missed. Option 2: go and explore Donegal, just over the border before heading back. Option 3: continue your Northern Ireland journey, by going to see the beautiful Lakelands of County Fermanagh. From there, you can head back east to Newcastle and the Mournes (see section above), before returning to Belfast. When you take a car around Ireland, it’s not just a mode of transport. For many people, doing an Ireland road trip is a long-held dream. There are plenty of amazing roads through the breathtaking countryside, so we’ve included a short selection of some great routes that you can include in your itinerary: Causeway Coastal Route – County Antrim and Derry/Londonderry This route stretches all the way from Belfast, heading past castles, green forested valleys, little beaches and harbours, as well as Game of Thrones sights. The most scenic part of it is probably “the Antrim Coast Road” which was built in the 19th century. It runs along a small stretch of ground beneath the foot of the cliffs and the sea, making it a beautiful drive. This 2,500 km signposted route covers the entire length of Ireland’s west coast, from just outside Derry/Londonderry all the way to Kinsale, outside Cork. The website Wild Atlantic Way lets you customise your journey, so you don’t have to tackle the whole thing in one trip: This road takes you right around Killarney National Park, taking in some of its most remarkable and beautiful sights, such as Moll’s Gap and Torc waterfall. Conveniently, it starts and finishes in the town of Killarney, where there are plenty of hostels. Connemara Loop Like the Ring of Kerry, this signposted circuit takes you around the beautiful mountains, lakes and fjords of the Connemara National Park. (Bonus non-car route) Waterford Greenway You don’t need to have a car to explore the Irish countryside at your leisure, and the Waterford Greenway is a great example of this. Built along a disused railway line, it cuts through beautiful landscapes on its way from Waterford city to the harbour town of Dungarvan. Cost of backpacking Ireland When you’re backpacking around Ireland, you’ll notice that prices can vary widely from place to place. Restaurants, groceries and accommodation in bigger cities tend to cost a lot more than rural areas. Northern Ireland is also generally cheaper, especially when it comes to alcohol. So, if you’re going through Northern Ireland on your way to the Republic, and enjoy the occasional drink, it’s best to stock up on alcohol there and take it with you. One saving grace is that the costs of travel are quite cheap – both with intercity buses and trains. However, if you’re travelling long distances by rail, it’s worth booking in advance to get a good deal. Also, there are plenty of free attractions. The countryside is full of gorgeous hiking routes, abandoned buildings, and castles and monasteries that are free to explore. In the cities, you can find green parks full of flowers, as well as museums, botanical gardens and scenic university campuses, many of which charge no entrance fee. When it comes to food, it’s obviously best to stay out of the touristy areas. If you want something cheap, but don’t want to cook, there are supermarkets such as Dunnes and small shops such as Centra, where you can find salad bars full of rice, pasta and veggies, as well as fast food such as pizzas, cooked breakfasts and potato wedges! Remembering the currency Ireland uses is pretty simple if you remember one thing: the Republic of Ireland uses the Euro, and because Northern Ireland is part of the UK, it uses British Pounds. Even though Northern Irish notes look different, you will still be able to spend English or Scottish notes there without any problems. Budget for backpacking Ireland When you’re backpacking around Ireland, travel costs per day can be difficult to estimate, depending on where you’re going, what and where you’re eating and where you’re staying. So, I’ve set out a rough guide to potential prices for each activity, at the lower and higher price ends: Costs per day (Republic of Ireland) Average Price – (Lower end) Average Price (Upper end) Transport €5 (short intercity bus) €25 (small hire car) Breakfast €0 (free hostel breakfast) €8 (breakfast in a café) Lunch €5 (salad bar at a supermarket, deli or sandwich) €12 (lunch at a café) Snacks €2 (supermarket) €6 (artisan coffee shop coffee and baked treat) Dinner €6 (ingredients from supermarket to cook at home) €26 (nice restaurant in Dublin including drink) Drinks €8 (for a cheap bottle of wine, or four cans of beer) €5.50 x 3 = €16.50 (three pints in a Dublin pub) Hostels €15 (hostel in a rural area) €55 (hostel on a weekend in Dublin) Total price €41 €148.50 Costs per day (Northern Ireland) Average Price – (Lower end) Average Price (Upper end) Transport £10 (intercity bus) £20 (small hire car) Breakfast £0 (free hostel breakfast) £6 (breakfast in a cafe) Lunch £3 (supermarket “meal deal”) £10 (hot café lunch) Snacks £2 (supermarket) £4 (coffee shop coffee and cake) Dinner £4 (ingredients from supermarket to cook at home) £10 (hot café lunch) Drinks £2 (supermarket) £4 (coffee shop coffee and cake) Hostels £12 (for a dorm in Belfast) £24 (for a shared private room) Total price £33 £78 Dublin has a reputation for being expensive, and once you get there, you’ll realise it’s not entirely undeserved. However, since it’s the capital, there are plenty of free attractions, which I’ve listed in the section “where to go in Ireland”, above. To help you out some more, I’ve set out some other tips for visiting Dublin on a budget below: Taxis in Dublin are extortionate – and can be about €18 for a 10-15 minute journey. It’s better to either walk or take advantage of the city’s many buses and trams. Another big cost is accommodation. Obviously, hostels are a great place to stay and meet other like-minded people, as well as for saving money, but prices skyrocket on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s best to go during the week. Food and drink are obviously expensive in Dublin, especially in areas such as Temple Bar- meaning it’s often better to cook in or grab something ready-made from a supermarket. If you want to eat out, remember, the further you go out from the city centre, the less likely you’re going to get stung with high prices. If money’s a little tight, it’s perhaps best to enjoy one nice meal out, rather than going to a string of mediocre places and spending more money overall. What to eat and drink in Ireland Duke of York Pub, Belfast :@kmitchhodge Traditional Irish food is rich and hearty, perfect for a grey, rainy day. One great thing about food in Ireland is the quality produce: fish from the nearby sea, fresh local fruit and vegetables, cheese from local creameries and freshly baked sweet treats. The best places to look out for fresh local produce are at the markets. Both Belfast (St. George’s Market) and Cork (the English Market) have centuries-old marketplaces serving up fresh fish, fruit and veg and cooked food, alongside arts and crafts. One of the great delights of Irish cuisine is the bread, specifically soda bread and wheaten (or brown soda, depending on where you’re from). White soda is soft, fluffy and dense, and in the North is often served fried as part of a cooked breakfast. This makes it beautifully crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside: an unhealthy, but vegetarian-friendly treat. There’s also brown soda, or wheaten, which is rich, crumbly and best served with a steaming hot bowl of vegetable soup. It may be a stereotype – but traditionally, the Irish do eat a lot of potatoes. Many people, especially the older generation, are connoisseurs, knowing all the different varieties. There’s no better way to enjoy these beautiful carbs than in champ: a dish consisting of crunchy spring onions mixed into potatoes with rich butter and milk to make smooth, creamy side. Alternatively, there’s Colcannon, in which flavoursome curly green cabbage is mixed in instead. When it comes to pub food, the Irish do it really well. Some meals are similar to what you can get in Britain, but with a bit of a twist. The classic example of this is the steak and Guinness pie, ideally with a crumbly buttery crust, the beer adding to the rich, meaty flavour. If this sounds appealing, head to The Pie Maker in Galway, where you can also find chicken and vegetarian pies baked with a delicious spelt-flour crust. If that’s not your thing, try a warming lamb stew, or the most simple Irish dish of all, bacon, potatoes and cabbage. For Irish snacks, the best place to go is the bakery. Here you’ll find beautiful, soft scones in a variety of flavours, as well as huge array of traybakes. One such delight is Fifteens, which you’ll only be able to find in Northern Ireland. These are delicious, squidgy treats made from 15 cherries, 15 marshmallows, 15 biscuits mixed up with sweetened condensed milk. Ireland also has soft drinks and crisps you won’t find anywhere else. People are fanatical about Tayto crisps, but there’s a big rivalry here, as the brands are different in the North and South. We’ll leave it up to you to decide which you prefer! On St. Patrick’s Day, you’ll probably find the usual treats, such as candy floss and chips, being sold around the streets. However, there are no real St. Patrick’s Day food traditions: green beer and milkshakes are both American inventions. If you really want to go traditional, it’s probably best to go with a hearty stew or lamb roast. Up North though, at traditional fairs, there are some odd food traditions. Go to the Auld Lammas Fair in Ballycastle and you’ll find people snacking on “dulse”, a type of edible seaweed, and “yellow man” – a type of honeycomb that’s liable to break your teeth if you’re not careful! Ireland is pretty renowned for its beer, and Guinness beer is one of its main exports. You can even do a tour of their brewery in Dublin! The pub culture is also very prominent particularly in cities like Dublin and Galway. Irish culture and people Until relatively recently, Ireland was a very rural country and one of the poorest in Europe. It has had a long and turbulent history, characterised by war, colonisation, famine, violent revolution and sectarian tension. However, it also has a long tradition of scholarship, poetry and music. Although it’s now a thoroughly modern country, Ireland’s culture has been shaped by its history. One thing that can’t be denied however, is the warmth and hospitality of its people, perhaps owing itself to the that fact that, in the past tight-knit communities had to rely on each other to get through hardship. Below, I’ll set out some Irish culture facts to help you get by, and hopefully give you a deeper appreciation for the things you’ll come across. There are some isolated parts of Ireland, particularly in the west, where you can still see traces of the old, slow rural way of life. Many parts of the County Donegal, for example, still feel very cut off from the rest of the world. Here you can find Doagh Famine Village and Glencolumbkille Folk Village: which both allow you to see the type of two-room white cottages where whole families used to live, scraping a meagre living off the barren land. You can also witness rural life first hand, by visiting the working farms at Muckross House in County Kerry, which still use age-old agricultural techniques. If you’re a dog lover, and want to get a taste of life in the Irish countryside, why not go to see some sheepdog demonstrations at “Away to Me”, which is part of a working farm in southern Donegal? It is also mostly in the western counties that you’ll find Gaeltachta, areas in which the Irish language is spoken in an everyday context. These include the Aran Islands and Connemara in Galway, as large areas of Donegal and Kerry. Irish shouldn’t be confused with the local dialect of English however, since it’s from a completely different language family. The first time you’ll encounter it will probably be on road signs, all of which are bilingual. In places like Dublin, you’re unlikely to hear it, but go into a pub in certain rural areas in the west, and you’ll hear locals switching seamlessly between English and Irish. But don’t worry, even in Gaeltacht areas, almost everyone speaks English at a native level too. Still, there are summer Irish language courses available in Gaeltacht areas if you’re interested in learning more. Traditional music is a big part of Irish culture, and typically involves instruments such as the fiddle (violin), tin whistle, flute, banjo, guitar and uillean pipes (a type of Irish bagpipes). The style includes songs that tell tales of lost loves, historical events, misfortune and celebration, coming from a time when stories were passed down through word of mouth. There’s also more instrumental music, which is often played at lively traditional dances called céilis. The music also can be performed in a more casual, informal environment. A group of musicians often gather round a pub table, sipping beer and playing songs together, something that’s known as a session (séisun). This creates a warm and friendly atmosphere, with people in the bar chatting to each other rather than sitting in silence. Northern Irish culture is similar to the rest of Ireland, and you’ll find traditional music, quaint rural villages and friendly, hospitable people there too. However, the tension surrounding historical events feels much closer. From the late 60s to mid-90s there was conflict arising from tensions between those who identified as Irish and support a united Ireland, and those who identified as British. Today, these tensions have greatly lessened, with both sides, especially young people, freely mixing with one another. In reality, they share most aspects of their culture, yet close links with southwest Scotland have left their mark here. You may hear this in the way people speak, and encounter Scots-language poetry, bagpipe performances and highland dancing. Another aspect of life in Ireland is Irish Gypsy culture. Known commonly as “gypsies” but more accurately referred to as travellers, these people are a recognised ethnic minority group, making up around 0.5% of the Irish population. They mainly speak English, but also use “Shelta” or “Cant”, a language formed using aspects of both English and Irish. They are a traditionally nomadic, setting up camp in traditional “stopping places”. Traditionally travellers played a key role in the Irish economy, providing seasonal labour in planting or harvesting crops, as well as trading in certain wares. However, the historical prejudice against these groups has put increasing pressure on them: many cannot camp in their traditional spaces without fear of eviction, and they are often discriminated against by society at large. Travel advice for Ireland Ireland visa Not only is the Republic of Ireland a member state of the EU, it’s also part of the so-called “common travel area”. This means that British citizens technically don’t need visas or passports to cross the border. However, airport officials will check the ID of visitors travelling by air from the UK. Travelling from the UK by sea doesn’t require any ID, but it’s still best to bring either your passport or driving licence in case you need to prove your nationality at some point. Northern Ireland is even easier to visit when travelling from the UK, as you won’t have to go through any sort of passport control, with most airlines accepting UK driving licences as a form of ID (to be safe, check your airline’s website before travelling). If you’re a non-UK citizen, it’s best to bring either your passport or national identity card. Crossing the border between Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland is even easier, as there are no controls or checkpoints, meaning you won’t need any documents to do so. Although both the UK (including Northern Ireland) and Republic of Ireland are currently Member States of the EU, they are not part of the “Schengen Zone”, which abolishes internal border controls. This means that you will be subject to passport control when travelling from another EU country. However, if you are an EU citizen, this will only consist of a quick glance at your ID, after which you’ll be waved through. You’ll then have the same rights to travel/stay as in any other Member State, allowing you stay for three months with no further conditions. If you want to stay for longer, you may need to get a job, apply to study, or prove you have sufficient means to support yourself, including health insurance. Please bear in mind however that the rights and visa requirements applicable to EU citizens travelling to Northern Ireland, as well as the requirements for crossing the Irish/UK border, may change after the Brexit deadline on 31 October 2019. Visitors to Ireland from outside the UK and EU may not need a visa either. For Australian, Canadian, US and New Zealand citizens, as well as nationals of the other countries listed here who are visiting Ireland, visa requirements are practically non-existent. Citizens of these countries are entitled to visa-free entry for up to 90 days in the Republic of Ireland. In general, the visa requirements in Northern Ireland are the same as the rest of the UK. Visitors from certain countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the USA or Canada who are flying to Northern Ireland (or elsewhere in the UK) can enter the country and stay for up to 6 months without a visa. However, they must bring the same documents as you would if applying for a visa. If you are travelling for tourism, this simply constitutes a travel document (i.e. a passport). If the travel document is not in English or Welsh, this must be translated into English. For any further document requirements that may need, please check this page. Also bear in mind however, that if you are already visiting the Republic of Ireland, you can visit Northern Ireland by crossing the border on land without having to go through any checks. If you want to stay in the Republic of Ireland for a little longer, but are not an EU or UK citizen, there’s a chance you could apply for a working holiday scheme. These schemes are based on two-way agreements between Ireland and other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. There are specific requirements for each, and you can find the details under the following links: There are similar schemes in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK for citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand (see more details here), but there is no UK working holiday scheme for US citizens. So, to sum up, Ireland’s a great destination, with small, but lively cities, in addition to beautiful landscapes. There are plenty of places to go hiking, cycling, and when the weather’s nice, there aren’t many places with nicer beaches. It’s somewhere you can find complete isolation and serenity, or enjoy the atmosphere of a busy pub. It may not the warmest place in the world, but with all this to offer, don’t miss out on what is surely one of Europe’s most scenic, interesting and friendly destinations. I’m David Irvine, and I’m originally from Northern Ireland. I’ve got a passion for languages, other cultures, and learning about local history. I’m currently based in Glasgow, Scotland, have previously lived and worked in Germany and in Portugal, and love nothing more than showing people around my favourite places, wherever I am. I’m a translator (of German, French and Portuguese), and love adapting travel writing for speakers of different languages. I’m also an occasional scribbler, passionate (geeky) fan of jazz music and amateur dramatics enthusiast. You can follow my travels (along with my partner, Iara) at @iaraanddavid_travel and find out more about my translating/blogging work on my LinkedIn profile. Special thanks goes out to my girlfriend, Iara Calton, for helping me research my trip, taking beautiful pictures and putting up with my scatter-brained nature. Thanks too to Allie Mairs and Philip Tallon for their company on the second leg of the journey, especially to Phil, for driving us around for miles! 15 best places to visit in Ireland The 15 best hostels in Ireland The best hostels in Galway The post The ultimate guide to backpacking Ireland appeared first on Hostelworld Blog. #TravelTips #NorthernIreland #Ireland	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2171
__label__cc	0.518482	0.481518	The rake middle East the crossroads Syria, whose territory is between the interests of major regional players like Turkey, qatar, saudi arabia, Egypt, uae, Israel and Iran, not to mention the participants of the second and third row: Iraq, jordan and lebanon, has become a testing ground, where there is a new system of international relations, including Russian-american. For obvious reasons, for the Russian reader this country and what is happening around her since, as the Russian vks and a half years ago came into the fight with international terrorism, is of particular interest. Consider the situation there, based on the expert input of ibv a. Bystrov and yu. Segovia. Careful sotrudnichestvom Vladimir Putin noted the positive developments in cooperation between Russia and USA on syria. "In some sensitive areas. Collaboration is growing. We feel the interest of american partners in the development of cooperation, and this is a very good signal. " in turn, the white house issued a statement in which he stressed that Assad's departure has now been removed from the agenda. This setting from Washington heard and taken note of the sponsors of the syrian opposition, which closes on saudi arabia. The proof was the statement of the higher committee on negotiations (of the cpsu) that the requirement of resignation of the president of Syria is not a condition for participation in the negotiations on a political settlement. This is based on the understanding that Moscow will not hand over al-Assad and in finding ways to overcome the crisis, the role of damascus and the syrian president remains a key, and he was legitimate. In addition, pay attention to the position of the us and Russia in indirect role of the kurds of the democratic union party (pds) won by blocking Turkey's plans to promote controlled by Ankara's forces to manbij where loyal to the United States, the kurds. The americans were unable to create their own cordon under managem, because they were few. Moscow and damascus by the syrian army did it. If to negotiate with Moscow failed, the americans will likely be moved away from manuja. To war with the turks and their allies, they would not. Thus was solved the main task of the Russian Federation – the preservation of a kurdish buffer on the border with Turkey, which is a guarantee in case of failure of president Erdogan of cooperation with Moscow on Syria, including in the framework of negotiations in astana. Continue contacts on flight safety of military aviation. As far as can be judged, taking into account the constraints that exist for d. Trump, U.S. Actions in Syria on cooperation with Russia will go through intermediaries (in addition to the syrian kurds there and jordanians) in case of emergency. Talks on joint actions in the framework of any of the coalitions will not. The next round of signals from the USA should probably be expected after the capture of raqqa and began their actions in the direction of deir ez-zor. It is likely to be the main object of efforts of the us and its allies for the defeat of the main strongholds of the "Islamic State" (banned in russia). Instead of the kurds in this area will involve the arabs, trained by the americans and germans in jordanian camps. Liniasuibra kurdish, the kurds hope that after the liberation from ISIS raqqa will be part of the administration which they and their allies are creating in the North of syria. This was stated in an interview with "Reuters" salih muslim, the leader of the pds. The military wing of the vcp and the people's protection units (pc) are the basis of the coalition of "Democratic forces of syria" (sds), a leading us-backed offensive in raqqa. The establishment of the regional federal administration in the North of the syrian kurds announced on march 17 the results of the congress more than 30 political parties in the syrian town roumalade. The power of this education are going to represent the interests of all ethnic groups living on their territory. In the forum held under the motto "A federal democratic Syria is a guarantee joint life and brotherhood of peoples", was attended by 200 delegates – representatives of kurds, arabs, assyrians, turkmens, circassians and Armenians living in the Northern and North-Eastern parts of the country. Thus, a completed "Temporary pause" in the actions of the us administration in Syria caused by the change of president. The dynamics of the offensive the americans and their allies in raqqa and mosul is shaping the contours of the strategy of Washington. In the military aspect of this is the buildup of forces in Syria and Iraq for a quick solution to the main task – the capture of the centers of resistance of the ig. After that a significant portion of american troops will be withdrawn from syria. Will the group air support, swat and parts logistics. The basis of the diagram of the Pentagon on the defeat of organized resistance in the shortest period of time without involvement in a guerrilla war. This explains the massive firepower of an impact on ISIS without regard to casualties among the population. The goal is the psychological impact on the sunni population, as the ig – a tool against the sunnis for the economic and social preferences. Then start the "Political isolation" ig from its rear base – sunni population. In Iraq it will go through a compromise with the sunni tribes of anbar province. Washington will intensify pressure on baghdad to persuade him to share power with the sunnis. In Syria, despite the diversity of the participants of the conference, to dominate the North are the kurds. Sunnis with the tacit consent of the americans will squeeze in idlib or in the "Turkish zone" between azzaz and dzharablus. This will ensure that the lack of guerrilla resistance in the kurdish areas and will provide an opportunity to build in the North of Syria analogue of Iraqi kurdistan. Pro-saudi islamist idlib will not be actively at war with the kurds, concentrating the main efforts on the fight against damascus. This was discussed at us-saudi consultations during a visit to the United States the heir of the crown prince and minister of defense, ksa mohammed bin salman. Moscow in this situation can the use of advocacy opportunities arising from the american tactics. Registration for the Northern kurdish enclave (existing in fact) the interests of the Russian Federation, fortunately, it is us who will reap all the negative consequences of this step, especially after the aggravation of relations between Washington and Ankara. Turkey will constantly encourage military action against the kurds controlled the arab groups. Ankara will direct the effort against the regime in damascus, and to fight with the kurds. Antinausea position of the american administration – an extra guarantee against the unpredictable steps of the turkish president. This scenario poses the need for Russia to outstrip U.S. In the sweep of deir ez-zor. Otherwise the americans will take over "Red lines" purely kurdish areas. In case of success in the area of there the second idlib – region, which is in opposition to the peace process. To prevent it. The syrian retreat tulipier-minister of Turkey, binali yildirim on 30 march said that the joint with the free syrian army (fsa) operation "Shield of the euphrates" has been completed. The prime minister explained that the new military action may be prepared and implemented against the Islamic State group, and in the case of threats to national security. National security council of Turkey has announced the successful completion of the operation in syria. In the beginning of march the turkish government (including the prime minister) said that the operation will be completed only after taking manuja. Ankara changed the plans internally, as are faced with negative position of the United States and Russia regarding the participation of Turkey in the establishment of control over raqqa. As a result of agreements between Moscow and Washington part manuja and its suburbs were under the control of the syrian army, which created a cordon in case of promotion of pro-turkish forces and the armed opposition of the turkish troops. The United States blocked the transfer to Syria of the kurdish peshmerga, loyal to the president of the kurdish autonomy in Iraq barzani initiated by Erdogan. His dissatisfaction with this resulted in the introduction of protective duties on Russian wheat and the cessation of ferry communication with the crimea. In addition, he failed the next stage of the inter-syrian talks in astana, disrupting the arrival of representatives of pro-turkish organizations of the opposition. The hands of the United States destroyed the stronghold of the ig in Syria and the kurdish maintained a cordon at the turkish border that reduces the activity of channels of logistical support for the opposition from Turkey. This is a sufficient guarantee from the actions of Erdogan. The growing disagreement between Washington and Ankara. The statements of the turkish leadership mean that Erdogan retreated. This will lead to the gradual fixation of the situation in the North of syria. Conciliatory statements from Ankara came on the eve of the march 30 arrival in Turkey, U.S. Secretary r. Tillerson. According to the Erdogan visit is supposed to mean support for the United States future "The fateful referendum". The main issues in us-turkish consultations, in addition to the situation in Syria, will the extradition of islamic preacher f. Gulen and problems with the beginning of the investigation in respect of the financial activity affiliated with Erdogan turkish bankers in the United States. Gulen is unlikely to be granted. He is influential and knows a lot, against the background of inconclusive evidence of his participation in the coup of july 15, allows the preacher to influence the situation in Turkey in favor of the United States. On the second question all the more difficult. In the United States has arrested a deputy general manager of the turkish branch of bank halkbank h. Atilla. Turkey as a state has within it a controlling stake. Experts point out that the owners – people from the close environment of the president of Turkey and the bank is actively used by Erdogan for projects in Turkey and Iraqi kurdistan, including the illegal financing of the barzani clan and the purchase of kurdish oil. Erdogan will do anything to convince tillerson not use the arrest of h. Attila the hun, and for initiating investigations in respect of all operations halkbank. This arrest happened just in time. It is enough to remove from the agenda of the negotiations is not convenient for Washington issues, including support to the syrian kurds and the extradition of gulen. The Iraqi strengthening yanawa time visit. And you say wolves, PIM leaky... The skit on anti-terrorist actinically we here recently with the men. The dead were commemorated. Expected after all. Naturally, I remembered about that on the TV show. About Peter. Also commemorated. Paused. And then I remembered... Hybrid warfare is a new form of interstate warfare Us tankers are embracing the Baltic States.In military science and practice have increasingly noted the tendency of transition of modern warfare strategy, indirect, asymmetrical action, based on a combination of military efforts w... Salaries and membership cards of famous people in Soviet Union In the left column of the membership card number is the salary. To the right is the size of the membership fee. When viewing photos, note year. It should be noted that in 1961, underwent a currency reform, when 10 old rubles were ...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2177
__label__wiki	0.666138	0.666138	Illinois Lawyers Schaumburg Wills & Trusts Lawyers Schaumburg IL Charitable Giving Attorneys Charitable Giving in Schaumburg, Illinois Find the right Charitable Giving attorney in Schaumburg, IL In Schaumburg, Illinois, "charitable giving" involves donating money or property to an individual or organization, expecting nothing directly in return. In life, charitable giving typically simply involves writing a check or handing cash over to the charitable organization of the donor's choice. Some generous donors will sometimes give virtually everything they own to charity. This is a wonderful thing to do, but it's not really practical - after all, just about everyone has bills to pay. One solution to this is to put off such a generous donation until after death. This allows the donor to meet their obligations during life, while having the satisfaction of knowing that a cause they care about will be given a large amount of assistance after their death. If you want to make a donation that's effective after your death, there are a few ways to do this. The most prevalent method is also the simplest: leaving the charity whatever property you want to give to it in your will - this is known as a "testamentary gift." Charitable Trusts in Schaumburg, Illinois A charitable trust is an arrangement by which a large amount of money can be given to a charity after the death of the donor, or during the donor's life. While the money, for a time at least, is still technically owned by the donor, it is possessed and controlled by the charity, which acts as a trustee. The trustee is then able to use the money for the charitable purposes which have been laid out in the agreement that first created the trust. In Schaumburg, Illinois, a "charitable remainder trust" is the most common kind of charitable trust. This permits the money or property to immediately pass to the charity of the donor's choice, so they can benefit from it as soon as possible. The charity takes the money, and invests it (usually in reliable, but not necessarily high-yield, investments). They keep most of the income that this generates, but return a portion of it to the donor on a regular basis, for a set period of time. When this time runs out, the original donation, along with all the income it will generate, becomes the legal property of the charity, to dispose of as it pleases. Most charitable donations are deductible from your state and federal taxable income. However, in order for your donations to count, the charity should be registered with the IRS and equivalent institution in . Do I Need a Schaumburg, Illinois Attorney? If you want to set up a charitable trust, you should first speak with a representative of the charity you want to support. You should also talk with an efficient attorney in Schaumburg, Illinois, who will be able to help you navigate the legal details, making it easier to give effect to your intentions. Life in Schaumburg Schaumburg, Illinois is a village in Cook County. It is less than 30 miles northwest of Chicago, and has a population of about 75,000 people. By the mid-19th Century, the area now known as Schaumburg, Illinois had been permanently settled, mostly by immigrants from Germany. The city takes its name from Schaumburg, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, where many of the German immigrants came from. Thanks to this strong influence early in its history, the city's German character is still visible, in its architecture, restaurants, and culture. For nearly a century, the village was somewhat isolated from the rest of Illinois, even from nearby Chicago. Howoever, the post-war building boom, and the near-universal adoption of the automobile by the early 1950s, ended this isolation. Modernly, the city is an affluent suburb of Chicago, with the median household income being about ,000. Theenormous wealth produced in a city such as Chicago is able to support a surrounding area many times larger than the city itself, which contributes to the high standard of living and income seen in Schaumburg. If you live in Schaumburg, Illinois, and need a lawyer, you're in luck. Schaumburg, Illinois attorneys are able to handle just about any legal problem a resident of Schaumburg is likely to face. Schaumburg Contested Wills Attorneys Schaumburg Drafting Wills Lawyers Schaumburg Estate Administration Attorneys Schaumburg Power of Attorney Lawyers Schaumburg Probate Attorney Schaumburg Drafting Trusts Lawyer Schaumburg Estate Planning Attorney Schaumburg Living Will Lawyer in other Illinois cities and towns Charitable Giving Lawyers in Northbrook Charitable Giving Lawyers in Olympia Fields Charitable Giving Lawyers in Des Plaines Charitable Giving Lawyers in New Lenox Charitable Giving Lawyers in Bethalto Charitable Giving Lawyers in West Peoria Charitable Giving Lawyers in Orland Park Charitable Giving Lawyers in Aurora	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2180
__label__cc	0.549803	0.450197	Gloucester Wills & Trusts Lawyers Estate Administration in Gloucester MA Estate Administration in Gloucester, Massachusetts Find the right Estate Administration attorney in Gloucester, MA "Estate administration" refers to the procedure which must be followed when the estate of a person who has recently died is being distributed, either according to his or her wishes as laid out in a will, or the laws regulating the distribution of the assets of a person who dies without a will. If the decedent wrote a will before his or her death in Gloucester, Massachusetts, the process will be carried out according to the directives included in the will, assuming they are legitimate and enforceable. Frequently, the will appoints an executor whose job it is to oversee the administration of the will. The executor is frequently the person who will get the most money or property out of the will if it is given effect, because this is the person who will have the greatest incentive to see that the probate process goes as rapidly as possible. What if The Will Does Not Name an Executor? If the will in Gloucester, Massachusetts does not name an executor, or the decedent left no will to be found, the court has to assign a person to serve as the administrator of the estate. Typically, the person chosen to be executor is the one who would benefit most under the will, or under Massachusetts's intestacy laws. "Intestacy" refers to a situation in which a person dies without a will, or "dies intestate." Every state has laws to address this situation, and there isn't a lot of variation from state to state. Typically, the decedent's property will go to his or her closest relative, and if absolutely no living relatives can be found, it will go to the state. If the will doesn't name a person who is to serve as executor, or the individual named is no longer alive or cannot be found, anyone with a direct interest in the will can apply to the Gloucester, Massachusetts court to be the executor. Whoever ends up as the executor, it is their responsibility to serve as the personal representative of the estate. They will be accountable for taking account of all of the decedent's assets and debts, as well as notifying beneficiaries who may be estranged from the decedent, among other things. Can a Gloucester, Massachusetts Estate Administration Attorney Help? Some people are surprised when they find out they've been named the executor of a relative's estate. The responsibilities can seem daunting, but with the help of a reliable Gloucester, Massachusetts attorney, the process almost always goes pretty smoothly. Life in Gloucester Gloucester, Massachusetts is a city located on Cape Ann, in Essex County. According to a 2007 Census estimate, its population is approximately 30,000 people. The area now known as Gloucester was first reached by British settlers in the 1620s. The town of Gloucester was so named in the 1640s (or that's when the first known written reference to the name exists) from a town of the same name en England. The town, thanks to its once-abundant supply of lumber, and its proximity to the ocean, used to be an important shipbuilding center. Though this industry has largely moved elsewhere, it is still an important part of the town's history and culture. It was also once a very important center for commercial fishing, and fishing is still an important component of the local economy. The architecture of Gloucester is quite beautiful, with many sections of the town comprised almost entirely of 100+ year old buildings, giving it the idyllic look distinctive to New England. There are also plenty of lawyers in and around Gloucester, Massachusetts who can handle whatever legal problem you might find yourself facing. New England is home to several exceptional law schools, and, by extension, many exceptional lawyers. If you have a legal issue, a Gloucester, Massachusetts lawyer can help. Gloucester Charitable Giving Attorneys Gloucester Probate Lawyers Gloucester Drafting Trusts Attorneys Gloucester Power of Attorney Lawyers Gloucester Contested Wills Attorney Gloucester Drafting Wills Lawyer Gloucester Estate Planning Attorney Gloucester Living Will Lawyer Estate Administration Lawyers in Wakefield Estate Administration Lawyers in Topsfield Estate Administration Lawyers in Melrose Estate Administration Lawyers in Ludlow Estate Administration Lawyers in Franklin Estate Administration Lawyers in Leominster Estate Administration Lawyers in Belmont Estate Administration Lawyers in Lynn	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2181
__label__wiki	0.941989	0.941989	49ers Sign OL Garry Gilliam to a Two-year Contract Extension 49ers Staff The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday they have signed offensive lineman Garry Gilliamto a two-year contract extension through the 2019 season. Gilliam(6-5, 315), who originally signed with the team as a free agent on April 19, 2017, appeared in each of the team's first eight games (one start) of the 2017 season and was placed on the Injured Reserve List on November 7, 2017. Through four seasons in the NFL, he has appeared in 52 games (31 starts) with the 49ers (2017) and Seattle Seahawks (2014-16). A 27-year-old native of Carlisle, PA, Gilliam* *played collegiately at Penn State University from 2009-13, appearing in 27 games for the Nittany Lions. He began his career as a tight end, registering eight receptions for 86 yards before transitioning to an offensive lineman prior to the 2013 season.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2184
__label__wiki	0.912971	0.912971	Multigenerational Housing Helps 'Grandfamilies' Come Together Apartment complexes offer subsidized housing and community support by Ronda Kaysen, AARP, March 6, 2020 \| Comments: 0 JACKIE MOLLOY Jaida Cordero helping her grandfather Peter Cordero on the computer Jan. 28, 2020 in the Bronx, New York. En español \| They lived more than a year without a permanent home, but Peter Cordero and his 12-year-old granddaughter, Jaida, found a place to lay their heads at Grandparent Family Apartments. This 50-unit complex in the South Bronx, New York, was designed specifically for grandparents raising grandchildren. Jaida gets tutoring help and no longer has to worry about where to do her homework in the cramped quarters of a homeless shelter. “When she first came to see the apartment and they gave us the keys, she was the happiest girl in the world,” says Cordero, 64, who has raised Jaida since birth because her mother was unable to care for her. But Cordero has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema, and supports the two of them on disability income. “If it was just me, I'm OK. I can survive,” he says. “But she's growing; she grows out of her clothes.” At Grandparents Family Apartments, he pays $303 in monthly rent, an amount based on his income. Communities with grandfamily housing options South Tucson, Arizona South Bronx, New York Grand Ronde, Oregon North Portland, Oregon Smithville, Tennessee This “grandfamily” complex opened in 2005, part of a trend in which such specialized housing has been developed in 17 U.S. cities, according to the nonprofit group Generations United. About 2.6 million children are being raised without a parent in the home by grandparents, other relatives or close family friends, Generations United says. That dynamic is driven, at least in part, by social problems such as the opioid epidemic, incarceration and — most recently — immigration policies that have left American-born children separated from their parents. This has put particular stress on grandparents, many of whom lack the money or coping skills to take on all the challenges of a parental role. "The complexes that are successful have the social workers, the tutors, the support groups, the special services,” says Donna Butts, Generations United executive director. “Where it has not been successful is where it was just an apartment." Residents also help each other. “You're putting people together who have similar experiences and needs, and providing them with a sense of community,” says Megan Dolbin-MacNab, an associate professor in Virginia Tech's Department of Human Development and Family Science. "It can be difficult for grandchildren. They're trying to make sense of, ‘Why can't my mom take care of me?’ Living near other children raised by grandparents has the potential to help grandchildren cope with these types of issues." Generations United has more information about housing at gu.org and grandfamilies.org. AARP helped found Generations United and provides continuing financial support. Financing for such complexes and services is from a mix of private and public funds. The $12.8 million Grandparent Family Apartments was built with low-income housing tax credits and private financing and fundraising. The complex is a joint effort among Presbyterian Senior Services, the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing, and the New York City Housing Authority. The housing authority contributes to a subsidy to keep the rent affordable. Gail Fedele, 69, arrived at the complex in 2013, when her grandchildren were teenagers. Before that, they spent three years in a New York City homeless shelter. They now live in a three-bedroom apartment. Fedele volunteers in the office. Her grandson is a 22-year-old student at City College of New York in Manhattan. And her 24-year-old granddaughter, who has mental health needs, may soon move into supportive housing. Fedele has diabetes, COPD and congestive heart failure; she recently submitted a request to be transferred to public housing in Manhattan as her grandchildren age out of grandfamily housing. In time, her grandson may reverse roles and start caring for his grandmother. “He will take care of me until the day he gets married,” Fedele says. “And then he can leave.” Ronda Kaysen is a freelance journalist who writes about real estate for the New York Times. More on Home and Family AARP research finds grandparents play a big role in grandchildren's lives Nearly all grandparents provide financial support to grandkids One law helps grandparents with info and services affected by opioid crisis \| 0 \| Add Yours Radisson® Members save 10% off the best available rate 8-Month No-Penalty CD from Marcus by Goldman Sachs® Guaranteed rate of return on an exclusive 8-month term	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2185
__label__wiki	0.786248	0.786248	The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart The Lonely Century Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart Society & Social Sciences; Social & cultural anthropology; Psychology: emotions; Economics; Digital lifestyle; Popular psychology A radical call to arms and a bold new vision of how we must act, fast, to reconnect society at individual, government and business level, from a global economist hailed by the Observer as 'one of the world's leading thinkers'. Professor Noreena Hertz has travelled the world to explore the loneliness epidemic first hand: 'renting a friend' in Japan, visiting co-habitation spaces in Israel and trying a week experienced entirely online. From the spread of social media and the rise of AI to the architecture of our cities and the growing elderly population, loneliness is a global issue that is affecting our health and financial security. She takes on a world increasingly dominated by big business and consumerism, and challenges us all - and most importantly, our politicians, business leaders and economists - to take urgent action to ensure we survive and thrive in the centuries to come. THE LONELY CENTURY is a bold, game-changing book that has the power to transform how we behave. By: Noreena Hertz Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton Country of Publication: United Kingdom Audience: General/trade , Professional and scholarly , General/trade , ELT Advanced , Undergraduate Described as 'one of the world's most inspiring women' by Vogue and 'one of the world's leading thinkers' by the Observer, Noreena Hertz has an impressive track record in predicting global trends. She advises a select group of the world's leading business and political figures on strategy, economic and geo-political risk, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, millennials and post-millennials. Having graduated from university aged just nineteen, Noreena went on to complete a PhD from Cambridge University and has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After ten years at the University of Cambridge as Associate Director of the Centre for International Business and Management, in 2014 she moved to University College London where she is an Honorary Professor. Her best-selling books, The Silent Takeover, IOU: The Debt Threat and Eyes Wide Open are published in 23 countries. Reviews for The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart Brilliant and full of captivating stories about the power of human connection in our lives. A truly engrossing and important book that left me feeling both wiser and more hopeful! -- Brian Grazer We are living in an age where we have forgotten a fundamental truth about humankind that is as old as the Hebrew Bible itself: that we were not meant to live alone. In The Lonely Century, Noreena Hertz recognises this and provides an enlightening, engaging and compelling analysis of the dangers posed by the loneliness pandemic not just to our individual health and happiness, but to our collective ability to reinvigorate society and tackle the many challenges we face today. -- Rabbi Jonathan Sacks An indispensable, engaging and brilliant book about the pervasiveness of loneliness in the twenty-first century and its far-reaching impact. It reveals the way that loneliness is political as well as personal, playing a powerful role in everything from the rise of extremist politics to the vibrancy of our communities to how we relate to those we love. With its powerful vision for how we can come together again, ultimately it is a hopeful book that couldn't be more important or timely. -- Philippa Perry, author of THE BOOK YOU WISH YOUR PARENTS HAD READ How Not To Be Wrong: The Art of... Difficult Women: A History of Feminism... Helen Lewis Does Monogamy Work? Luke Brunning Feminism and the Politics of 'Resilience':... Angela McRobbie Creating Australian Television Drama:... Susan Lever Because Internet: Understanding... Gretchen McCulloch	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2186
__label__wiki	0.966757	0.966757	Nill: "No excuses" after UBC falls flat in Canada West football opener UBC's Payton LaGrange returns an interception against Regina on Friday. It was one of the few highlights for the visiting Thunderbirds. Glen McMurchy/UBC Athletics It was supposed to be a duel. The UBC Thunderbirds, for all the wrong reasons, made it feel very singular. The nationally No. 5-ranked Regina Rams jumped out to a 33-6 lead against No. 7 UBC Friday at Mosaic Stadium before giving up a pair of late touchdowns in what wound up a 36-20 final score in the Canada West regular season opener. The game featured two of the best quarterbacks this country has seen recently in Regina’s Noah Picton, who won the Hec Crighton Trophy last year as U Sports top football player, and Michael O’Connor, who led UBC to the Vanier Cup national title in 2015. Picton finished the night 23-of-35 for 335 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. O’Connor was 14-of-25 for 155 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. UBC produced 318 yards of total offence. They also were flagged for 210 yards in penalties. “To be honest, we played like it was our first exhibition game of the year,” said UBC coach Blake Nill, whose team did actually have a preseason encounter, recording a 33-30 win over the Alberta Golden Bears in Kamloops Aug. 23. “Just the amount of mistakes that were made, the lack of discipline … we never gave ourselves a chance. That’s what is most disappointing. “We organized the game last week to get the wrinkles out, and it appears it went for nothing. “I’m not very happy. Half our team was part of a national championship. There are no excuses for them. And there are no excuses for the coaches, either. We certainly didn’t do what we needed to do. The coaches need to wear their share of it, and myself included. It’s my team. Ultimately, it falls to me.” Regina beat UBC twice during the regular season last year, but the fourth-place T-Birds upset the first-place Rams 40-34 in the opening round of the playoffs. “I don’t want to say it completely wipes out the playoff game, because it doesn’t, obviously,” Picton told the Regina Leader-Post after the game Friday. “But it was good to get back out there against these guys and win the football game and outplay them in all three phases of the game. “You get familiar with some of the players on their team and the coaches and whatnot. There’s a little bit of bad blood, but we’re happy we won this one.” Shane Noel, on a one-yard run, and Marcus Davis, on a 23-yard pass from back-up pivot Cole Meyer, scored the UBC majors in the fourth quarter. Meyer was 3-of-7 for 50 yards in relief, with one interception to go with the scoring pass to Davis. Ben Cummings led UBC on the ground, rushing for 71 yards on 15 carries. Davis had seven catches for 54 yards. Greg Hutchins was 2-of-2 on field goals, connecting from 41 and then 31 yards. UBC returns to action next Saturday, hosting the Manitoba Bisons in a 1 p.m. game at Thunderbird Stadium. The No. 10-ranked Bisons dropped a 44-23 decision to the unranked Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday. View full story here	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2187
__label__wiki	0.583865	0.583865	What are the main responsibilities of an A&R? A&R means artist and repertoire – so essentially you are the individual who would be responsible for making the body of work for the artist you have signed. The record labels role is to develop and promote talent to a mass audience for a monetary gain but also for that feel good factor, because music is an aphrodisiac. I have been A&R at Universal Music, Edel Records, Def Jam Mobile, Primary Wave (Violator), so predominately what I would do is, under the umbrella of urban music, I would try and identify from a UK point, what I believe can sell to the masses and therefore encourage my bosses to give me the money to sign the artists and arm them with the relevant ammunition they need in regards of production, remixes, features and TV appearances. My job is to brand their name into a scene. What was your journey into becoming an A&R? I fell in love with music as a boy, my Caribbean father played the guitar and loved music. He would purchase popular vinyl records from Motown to Stevie Wonder when I was a kid. His love of music forced me to be a curious boy by putting a needle on his precious vinyl’s. I was fascinated by the technology and mechanics of it all. From an early age, I could identify that Otis Reading for example can sing better than other people, or Aretha Franklin really is better than what I am seeing. From young, I could identify the talent of individuals which got me to start collecting music as a teenager. What three things make a great A&R and why? Love what you do! – I collect music, I can talk about country and western, pop music, rock music and I would say I am knowledgeable because I am passionate about music. I live breathe and eat black music. I would say if you are immersed in a scene, you are able to make things happen faster so you need to have a passion for the genre of music you lean towards Humility – Don’t ever think that you know everything. There’s always something to be learned. Be open to suggestions because the wacky ideas from the person not from your world who tells you about a new producer or genre, don’t dismiss them, as that crazy collaboration might be the thing that takes your artist to the next level. Don’t take things for granted – If you have that link to help get your act to a higher platform even though the job might be designated to a certain PR person or plugger, then just do it. I might have a great relationship with a DJ so I would want to use this as I have the relationship with the DJ already. Capitalise on your relationships because you are as hot and famous as you make your acts. What do you look for in an Artist before signing them? On the left hand side, talent. On the right hand side, the capacity and desire to want to be famous, and what that means is, to want to do the hard work. Near enough every week the official charts has a new number 1. I would say much of the people who have success are the ones who put the hard work in. Get to your rehearsals on time, get to your song writing sessions on time. Reply to the producers who sent you the beat. I have realised in this world, you can have that God given talent but unless you put in equal amounts or even more of the hard work, by and large, you won’t reach your potential. There are individuals who aren’t as talented as others at rapping or singing or playing an instrument but they would practice their craft and become better guitarists or keyboard players and the bottom line is, hard work can pay off equally as much as God given talent. What is the best and worst thing about being an A&R? The worst thing about being an A&R is, the bosses who do not understand and see the clarity of your vision. Record companies who want immediacy of their financial outlay and sometimes the time necessary for your acts to come to fruition. The best thing about being an A&R is that you wake up each morning and you get to do the thing that you love every day. As someone who eats, lives and sleeps music, being an A&R at a major or independent record company is like the feeling of euphoria. What has been the highlight of your career so far? Getting a job working in the game. I have been fortunate, my first A&R role at Universal began in 1996. I have been fortunate to have worked during the UK Garage peak and worked with a lot of the artists in UK Hip Hop scene including Klashnekoff and Skinny Man. Another highlight would be, many years ago, I met a young man called Mark Ronson in America, and we kept a good relationship and when he released his album, he allowed my producer Baby J to remix his track ‘Valerie’ which went to number 1 on MTV. Artists I have signed such as Kele Le Roc and Phoebe one winning Mobo Awards and me having the right ears to go to Detroit to work with Hip Hop legend J Dilla, who many producers revere and equate to as the God beat maker or music producer. I think going to LA and working with a young producer from Chicago called Kanye West. I had an R&B artist who was signed to Edel/Universal and I told my bosses to send me to America to work with Kanye West. I would say the highlight is success. What one thing do you wish you knew about the music industry when you were younger? I had no idea, prior to me coming into the music game that the country I live in, didn’t really embrace urban music. What I saw on a street level as a DJ, working in a record shop playing predominately black music to a night time audience of colour, I could never understand why. I realised that the lack of transmission information wise was that the upper echelons of the music industry were not fans of the music, they didn’t listen or engage with the music itself. Urban music was relevant because there were huge Urban acts in America that had broken records and the UK was told to also push that element over here. Which other roles in the music industry do you work closely with? I entered the music industry as a DJ, which in time helped me to form my promotion company Big Promowhereby I work alongside managers, labels and people who are interested in the culture of music who want a fan base by providing a service. In this case, I would put my Promoter hat on but still use my connections as an A&R and DJ to make things happen. What advice do you have for anyone that wants to become an A&R? Apply for internships at Major and independent record companies. Usually, internships are unpaid but at the end of the day, you must be in it to win it! If you’re fortunate, they might pay you but if you really want to get a job in a corporate environment, you need to be noticed by the people inside that organisation. The only other solution is for you to make noise independently so that A&R’s at record companies recognise you and want to work with you and your artists. Make sure you follow Thad on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram via @Thadboogie and check out www.2rype.com	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2188
__label__wiki	0.973355	0.973355	Stay Tuned column: Ethan Hawke gives a standout performance in ‘The Good Lord Bird’ Melissa Crawley Darren Star tackles Paris, Patrick Dempsey stars in a financial thriller and Ethan Hawke wins the week. Dispatches: Weekly TV news Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role as Nick Fury in a new Marvel series currently in development at Disney+. No plot details have been released. YouTube star, Arif Zahir, has been cast as the new voice of “Family Guy’s” Cleveland Brown. He will take over from Mike Henry in season 19. Contenders: Shows to keep on your radar “Kingdom of Silence” explores the complex relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia as a backdrop to the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist and U.S. resident, Jamal Khashoggi (Oct. 2, Showtime, 9 p.m. ET). Using Khashoggi’s death as a starting point, the film examines the history of U.S./Saudi relations in the years leading up to the current interactions between the Trump administration and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the process, it offers a detailed look at Khashoggi’s life, work and legacy. Also on Showtime is new limited series, “The Good Lord Bird” (Oct. 4, 9 p.m. ET). Based on the National Book Award-winning novel of the same name by James McBride, the story is told from the point of view of Onion (Joshua Caleb Johnson), a fictional enslaved boy who joins abolitionist John Brown’s (Ethan Hawke) soldiers and eventually participates in the famous 1859 raid on the U.S. Armory at Harpers Ferry. The raid did not initiate Brown’s intended slave revolt but it pushed the country to the brink of the Civil War. The seven-episode series is a humorous and dramatic look at Antebellum America. An ambitious 20-something marketing executive gets her dream job in Paris in “Emily in Paris” (Oct. 4, Netflix). Lilly Collins stars as Emily, who has to navigate colleagues, making friends and a new romance in the Darren Star (“Sex and the City”) created dramedy. “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” (Oct. 4, AMC, 10 p.m. ET) expands the storytelling universe of “The Walking Dead” with new mythology. It follows the first generation raised in a surviving civilization of the post-apocalyptic world. The British Prime Minister, his top contingency planners and senior politicians deal with a major national crisis in “COBRA” (Oct. 4, PBS, 10 p.m. ET). An intercontinental financial thriller meets a murder investigation in “Devils” (Oct. 7, The CW, 8 p.m. ET). The action follows Massimo Ruggero (Alessandro Borghi), a charming but ruthless investment banker and his mentor and CEO, Dominic Morgan (Patrick Dempsey). After Dominic passes Massimo over for a promotion, Massimo is named a prime suspect in a murder. While trying to clear his name, he gets caught up in a worldwide financial conspiracy. It’s a choice between walking the straight and narrow or taking the path lined with fast money and violence in the original feature film, “Charm City Kings” (Oct. 8, HBO Max). The film won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Acting at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Report Card: Ratings winners and losers Winners: Fox renewed “Bob’s Burgers” and “Family Guy” through 2023. Losers: “Star Trek: Discovery’s” (CBS) broadcast debut rated low. Melissa Crawley is the author of “Mr. Sorkin Goes to Washington: Shaping the President on Television’s ‘The West Wing.’” She has a Ph.D. in media studies and is a member of the Television Critics Association. To comment on Stay Tuned, email her at staytuned@outlook.com or follow her on Twitter at @mcstaytuned.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2192
__label__wiki	0.54627	0.54627	Kayak trip raises awareness of Delaware River’s importance to the region Through the Delaware River Sojourn, paddlers gain new appreciation for the river's ecology and history. (Photo courtesy of Delaware River Sojourn) This is part of a series from Ilene Dube of The Artful Blogger. Every river has its stories. For the Delaware, there’s the one about logger Daniel Skinner who, in the 1760s, made an 80-foot raft of logs and set off from the Catskill Mountains to the shore of Philadelphia, some 200 miles downstream. Skinner was honored as Lord High Admiral of the Delaware when he reached Philadelphia. Since 1997, the Delaware River Sojourn has bestowed the title on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to protect the health of the river and its environs. The goal of the Delaware River Sojourn is to heighten awareness of and appreciation for the ecological, historical, recreational and economic significance of the river, which flows 320 miles through New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The Sojourn combines canoeing/kayaking, camping, educational programs and historical interpretation. Sojourners paddle each section (upper, middle, lower, and estuary), taking detours along historic canals, tidal marshes and scenic tributaries. Area naturalists enlighten Sojourners about the river’s ecology and ties to local communities. The 60-mile trip began June 22 at Ten Mile River Access in New York State, but there are still two more days left to join, from Trenton to Philadelphia, June 28 and 29, putting in at Bull’s Island, New Jersey, . The daily trips range from six to 10 miles, and are suitable for paddlers at all skill levels. A ride on the Steamboat SPLASH, an authentic steam powered stern wheel paddle boat, will be offered June 28, and a tour of the Independence Seaport Museum and its historic ships, the Olympia & Becuna, on June 29. During a recent Sojourn, after a safety briefing by the National Canoe Safety Patrol, a volunteer group that paddles alongside the Sojourners, we chanted a blessing and took off. Our group included a grade-school angler in a camouflage fishing hat, a young man about to start at military high school, retired school teachers and B&B owners from the Poconos. There was a gentleman who required crutches on land but paddled mightily in a Klepper, a German folding kayak. The Delaware is the longest undammed river east of the Mississippi, and supplies water to five percent of the nation’s population — more than 15 million people, we learned. White pine, hemlock, silver maple, elm, sycamore, river birch, oak, sugar maple, beech, black walnut and hickory are among the trees native to the region. More than 260 species of birds can be spotted along Delaware, which is part of the Atlantic Flyway, including the American merganser, the American Bald Eagle, red tailed hawk, owls, osprey, herons, belted kingfisher, gray catbird, Baltimore Oriole and turkey vultures. Black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, fox, beaver, otter and aquatic insects and dragonflies are at home here. The upper Delaware is one of the finest fishing rivers in the U.S., with shad, bass, walleye, pickerel, American eel, turtles, frogs, newts, salamanders and snakes. During the mid 1900s, the Delaware’s shad population was decimated from depleted oxygen in the water. Since the late 1980s, the shad have been making a comeback, thanks to pollution control measures, and their return each spring is celebrated at Lambertville’s Shadfest. In Trenton, we pulled off onto a small island, where we saw morning glories, nightshade and baby American toads. Sarah Berg of Delaware Canal State Park told us how we’d soon be passing Trenton Falls, where the freshwater river would turn into a tidal zone. It gets very interesting where fresh water mixes with saltwater, and the shad is one of few creatures that survive in both. Shad live in the ocean but travel upstream to spawn in fresh water. Shad was a wonderful food source for Washington’s troops during the Battle of Trenton, we learned. After paddling through the Trenton Falls – OK, it’s not Niagara Falls — we could see the RiverLine and the Hamilton-Trenton-Bordentown Marsh. As we pulled into the Bordentown Yacht Club, some paddlers spotted a peregrine falcon perched under an elevated highway. The wandering bird of prey typically nests on a cliff or, these days, on manmade structures such as this concrete support overlooking the water. It eats small mammals, reptiles, insects and medium-size birds. The peregrine falcon became endangered from rampant use of pesticides, but since DDT was banned it has made a comeback. “You have to do it for more than one day,” said one of the seasoned Sojourners. “When you spend several days paddling along the river, the shoreline fades away and nature takes over. The river gets into your soul and becomes the new normal.” Registration fees cover the guided river trip, single or tandem kayak rental (with paddle and PFD), shuttle transportation, educational programs, most meals, a souvenir T-shirt, and optional overnight camping sites. Registration details, daily plans, event guidelines, and more are available at www.delawareriversojourn.org. Register by calling (646) 205-2724 or info@riversojourn.com. The Artful Blogger is written by Ilene Dube and offers a look inside the art world of the greater Princeton area. Ilene Dube is an award-winning arts writer and editor, as well as an artist, curator and activist for the arts.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2193
__label__wiki	0.985776	0.985776	Games of the XXXII Olympiad The 2020 Summer Olympics, which will be officially known as the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, is a sporting event that will happen from 23 July 2021 to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.[1] Tokyo was announced as the host city at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 7 September 2013. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has yet to organise it. The winning bid, Tokyo, was announced on 7 September 2013.[2] On 24 March 2020, the IOC officially announced the games have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.[3] 1 Olympic bids 3 Stadiums Olympic bids Six cities applied to host the Games. International Olympic Committee Tokyo, Japan (chosen) The Sports played in the competition will be similar to those played in previous Olympic years. Popular sports that will be played include Athletics, Swimming, Tennis, gymnastics, and diving. The international Olympic committee said that there will be at least 25 sports played in addition to these. All sports competitions will feature athletes from many countries playing to try and win a medal, which is given to the winning player or team. The Olympics will take place at many stadiums and locations throughout the Tokyo area. National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo will be the main stadium and host the opening and closing ceremonies, along with athletics. Other sports will take place in new and already built stadiums in and around Tokyo. The athletes will sleep in an Olympic village. ↑ "New Tokyo 2020 Olympic dates will be 23 July to 8 August 2021". https://www.olympicchannel.com/en/stories/news/detail/new-tokyo-2020-olympics-2021-dates-revealed/. ↑ Executive Board concludes first meeting of the new year January 13, 2011. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic". March 24, 2020. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/24/tokyo-olympics-to-be-postponed-to-2021-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic. Summer Games: 1896, 1900, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1912, (1916), 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028 Winter Games: 1924, 1928, 1932, 1936, (1940), (1944), 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 Athens 2004 — Turin 2006 — Beijing 2008 — Vancouver 2010 — London 2012 — Sochi 2014 — Rio 2016 — Pyeongchang 2018 — Tokyo 2020 Games in italics will be held in the future, and those in (brackets) were cancelled because of war. See also: Ancient Olympic Games Summer Games: 2010, 2014, 2018 Winter Games: 2012, 2016 Singapore 2010 — Innsbruck 2012 — Nanjing 2014 Retrieved from "https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=2020_Summer_Olympics&oldid=4982199" Articles which use infobox templates with no data rows 2020 in sports 21st century in Japan History of Tokyo	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2194
__label__wiki	0.770827	0.770827	REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK Features\|Occupied East Jerusalem Israel’s right defies rabbinate over Al-Aqsa Settler movement is challenging traditional interpretation of rabbinic law backed by ruling right-wing coalition. Mike Hanna NOTICE AND WARNING: ENTERING THE TEMPLE MOUNT AREA IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY JEWISH LAW DUE TO THE SACRED NATURE OF THE SITE- ISRAEL CHIEF RABBINATE There’s no missing these signs that have been in place since Israeli’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967; and there has been no change whatsoever in the position of the country’s religious authority which interprets the Torah and advises the government of the day. Palestinian ambassador: Al-Aqsa standoff could unravel Why, then, are numerous groups within Israel clamouring for full access to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and why are they claiming this access on the basis of a religious right? The answer to this question makes one thing very clear: What has changed is not religious law, but the interpretation of the law by a government that appears intent on undermining the authority of the rabbis. I have seen the changes first hand. I was in the Old City that September day in 2000 when Ariel Sharon insisted on access to the area above the Western Wall. The government of the day headed by Ehud Barak pleaded with him not to do it, and then instructed him not to do it. The only thing that prevented Barak from forcibly preventing Sharon was the tenuous nature of his domestic political status. At the time, he was engaging in accelerated talks on a final status peace deal. Sharon went ahead and the rest is history. Within days, the second Intifada was underway, and within months, Sharon’s approval rating had risen from three percent at the time of the walk to more than 70 percent going into new elections. RELATED: Stabbings linked to Israel’s ‘systematic violence’ Sharon was not a religious man, though he wore his kippa, or skull cap, on that occasion. Cynics may argue that the decision was taken with an eye to reviving a failed political career; but as always, with Sharon, there was also a strong nationalistic drive. Moving 15 years forward, I am once again outside the walls of the Old City, watching Palestinian after Palestinian being turned away by heavily armed police officers at every point of access. The total lockdown of the entire Old City to all but Palestinians who live or own businesses within the walls is unprecedented, it was never done even at the height of both Intifadas. Jewish Israeli citizens along with tourists, though, maintain their full access, and some choose to ignore the religious injunction and retrace Sharon’s footsteps and visit the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Inside Story – Can Netanyahu change Al-Aqsa status quo? I watch group after group take the tour, escorted by police and guides from the supervising authority, the Waqf, who are on hand to ensure that no one stops and prays. It’s significant that the vast majority of those I observe on the walk are also wearing the kippa skull cap that, while denoting faith, has also become the signature headwear of those in the hardline settler movement. Israeli police produced figures noting that more than 500 people were escorted through the al-Aqsa Mosque compound on that day; the bulk were classified as “tourists”, but some 120 were confirmed to be Jewish Israeli citizens. The al-Aqsa Mosque compound is in full view from the Mount of Olives opposite, and throughout the morning, I watched small Palestinian parties gathering away from the tourists, looking down as group after group was escorted through the compound and shaking their heads. The question once again crosses my mind: Why is this being allowed when it is such clear provocation? Government support for settlers Israeli security forces enter the al-Aqsa Mosque compound The answer to that may be found in looking at some strange recipients of official government funding that have an interest in the Old City. These range from a women’s group in the settlement of Ofra that makes imitation artefacts from the Third Temple to the increasingly influential Temple Mount Institute. The institute receives over one hundred and ten thousand dollars a year from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education. It argues strongly that the rabbis are wrong, and that not all of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound ground is sacred – only one tiny area in which it says the “Holy of Holies”. This is the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle where God dwelt and where, in the First Temple, the Ark of the Covenant was kept. In fact, the institute advocates and has drawn up plans for the rebuilding of the Third Temple. By continuing to fund the institute, the Netanyahu government is not only condoning but perhaps advocating building on the land occupied by the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Then one looks closely at the nature of the current government: The most influential force within it are representatives of the settler movement. If the Jewish Home party of hardline and proud settler leader Naftali Bennet no longer supports Netanyahu for example, the government falls. Then one looks closely at the nature of the current government, the most influential force within it are representatives of the settler movement. I am not alone in believing that the Old City has once again become a political tool as well as a place sacred to Muslim, Christian and Jew. Ariel Sharon saw clearly the potential for gaining wider political support by making a nationalist claim to the whole of the Old City. The settler movement may well be seeking its own Sharon moment; after all, what was once a fringe movement is now mainstream. And it is likely to gain even more support and legitimacy in the eyes of the wider Israeli public arguing for a right to the Old City than it would for some remote hilltop in the West Bank. In this thesis, the al-Aqsa Mosque compound has become the focal point of a settler movement seeking full control of all Occupied Territory. In 2000 the then prime minister did everything in his power to prevent Israeli access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, citing security concerns as well as backing the religious law as outlined by the country’s Chief Rabbinate. In 2015, the prime minister stays silent as members of his government press for complete access – defying the country’s supreme religious authority and ignoring – or perhaps encouraging – devastating consequences throughout the region. Playing with fire at Al-Aqsa In the enlightened 21st century, Muslims and Jews should once more share this holy site. Khaled Diab Al-Aqsa Mosque clashes and protests Fighting between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces continue at iconic mosque in the heart of Jerusalem. Saving al-Aqsa mosque Israel’s right wing politicians and religious extremists are eyeing al-Aqsa for annexation. Why does the US mythologise its former presidents? Remembering the day Tunisia’s President Ben Ali fled Could Houston I-45 expansion be upended under a Biden presidency? From lynchings to the Capitol: Racism and the violence of revelry	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2202
__label__wiki	0.524533	0.524533	Open Section Education and scholarship (1) Open Section philosophy (1) philosopher (general) (1) Open Section Medicine and health (1) Open Section mental health (1) psychologist (1) Open Section Religion and belief (1) Christian: Catholic - clergy (1) Medicine and health x Christian: Catholic - clergy x Education and scholarship x mental health x Pace, Edward Aloysius (1861-1938), Catholic priest and scholar Robert Trisco Pace, Edward Aloysius (03 July 1861–26 April 1938), Catholic priest and scholar, was born in Starke, Florida, the son of George Edward Pace, a Methodist planter and manufacturer of turpentine, and Margaret Kelly, a Catholic and daughter of the comptroller of the Port of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The first of eight children, Pace attended Duval High School in Jacksonville (1872–1876) and St. Charles College in Ellicott City, Maryland, a preparatory seminary (1876–1880, A.B.). He then became a seminarian at the North American College in Rome, studying philosophy (1880–1882) and theology (1882–1886, S.T.D.) at the Urbanian College. One of his professors was Francesco Satolli, a promoter of the Thomistic revival. Pace was ordained priest on 30 May 1885 for the Diocese of St. Augustine....	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2206
__label__wiki	0.744485	0.744485	Obituaries for Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 Published 12:13 am Thursday, October 4, 2018 Ms. Ruth Franklin, age 90, of Andalusia, passed away on Wed., Sept. 26, 2018, at Andalusia Manor. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m., Thurs., Oct. 4, at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery in Dozier. No prior visitation is scheduled. She is survived by her son, Steve Bryant of Andalusia; two daughters and sons-in-law, Gina and Terry Bradley of Andalusia and Margo and Mark Anderson of Opp; a daughter-in-law, Marissa Quintanilla; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her two sons, Rex Bryant, Jr., SFC US Army (Retired) and Marty Stephens; a daughter, Lynn Stephens; and granddaughter, Stephanie Bryant. Those unable to attend the services may sign the guest registry online at www.foremanfuneralhome.com. PATRICIA ANN WARD HAMILTON WHEELER The seasons of life began for Patricia Ann Ward Hamilton Wheeler on Jan. 15, 1944, and ended some 74 years later on Tues., Sept. 25, 2018. Patricia W. Hamilton Wheeler, the second of six children, was born to the union of Mrs. Alice Kitchen Ward and the late Mr. King Solomon Ward. She grew up in this community, frequently called “NanNan” by family and friends. She confessed Christ at an early age and joined the St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church of Andalusia. Patricia completed her elementary, junior high schooling at Covington County Trade School and senior year at Woodson High School. She was united in marriage to Leonard Hamilton Sr., and Donald Wheeler, who preceded her in death. This union was blessed with four children: Lenora, Leonard, Pamela and Keith; one granddaughter, Brianna Clark, who preceded her in death. She was preceded in death by other individuals whom she loved dearly: two sisters, Minnie Pearl Foy and Mary Ann Mattos; her aunts, Estella Ingram, Cassie Harris, Ann Ward Turk, Maggie Ivey, Annie Pearl Ward, and Frances Matthews. After graduation, she gained employment as a sales clerk at J.C. Penney’s and Company in Andalusia. Her determination motivated her to further her education in cosmetology at Douglas MacArthur State Technical School in Opp. Her gentle and loving spirit provided professional skill of beautifying the hair and as owner of Pat’s Style Shop located on North Cotton Street. Patricia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She leaves to cherish fond memories four children: Lenora Lynn, Moreno Valley, California, Leonard, Loxley, Ala., Pamela (Gary) and Keith Bernard, all of Andalusia; her mother Alice K. Ward, Andalusia; grandchildren, Jasmine (Rafeal) Salter, Uniquia Hamilton, Andalusia, Brian (Violet), Brittany and Brandon Clark, Moreno, Cal., Courtney and KeShawn Hamilton, Norfolk Va.; great-grandchildren, RaMiya, RaKayla, Majesty and Elijah; brothers, Minister James (Sarah) Ward, Billy Joe (Anita) Taylor, Akron, Ohio; sisters, Sharon K. (Comer) Daniels, Debra C. Ward , Andalusia; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., Oct. 6, 2018, at St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church, 501 Eighth Avenue, Andalusia, with the Rev. Bobby C. Rhodes officiating and Minister James Ward eulogizing. Burial will follow at Mount Moriah Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home of Andalusia directing. Active pallbearers are Iron Wheel Lodge #556; honorary pallbearers are Brother Dominic Williams, Brother Larry Pitts, Brother Christopher Grace and Brother Byron McClain; and the Flower Bearers will be nieces and friends of the family. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m., until 7 p.m., Fri., Oct. 5, 2018, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. Please join us in remembering Patricia Ann Ward Hamilton Wheeler by visiting her memorial page at www.keaheyfuneralhome.com. JAMES ANDERSON JENKINS Mr. James Anderson Jenkins of Springdale, Md., passed away peacefully on Sept. 25, 2018. James was born in Andalusia, on Sept. 3, 1937, to James Bryant and Annie Murl Jenkins and was the oldest of three children. He married the former Margaret Genell Jones of Dozier, in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 12, 1963. James received his early education in Andalusia at the Covington County Training School, where he graduated in 1956. He continued his education at Alabama A&M University, where he earned his bachelor of science degree in education and mechanical arts. James worked for the federal government where his career spanned more than three decades (31 years). His assignments included the General Services Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. He retired in 1994, as a management analyst after a distinguished career, receiving many commendations for his outstanding work. He is survived by his loving wife, Margaret; two daughters, Felicia Jenkins of Upper Marlboro, Md., and Synthia Jenkins of Laurel, Md.; two grandchildren, Braedon Jenkins and Janai Foster; and a host of other relatives and friends. Services will be held at 10 a.m., Fri., Oct. 5, 2018, at Sargent Memorial Presbyterian Church 5109 Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20019. Expressions of condolences and flowers can be sent to the church. Obituaries for Wed., Oct. 3, 2018 REV. JOHN HURST MCGUKIN The Rev. John Hurst McGukin, age 90, of Andalusia, passed into his eternal reward in heaven... read more	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2207
__label__cc	0.618877	0.381123	Workshops & Tuition Andy Farrer is a full time landscape photographer from the Isle of Purbeck area of Dorset at the Eastern end of the Jurassic Coast. The dramatic scenery of the United Kingdom and the thrill of travel fuel Andy’s passion for photographing the natural world. His keen eye for composition earned him the prestigious title of Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2015. Andy runs a variety of landscape photography courses on an individual basis as well as running group workshops both in the UK and abroad. These are either fully field based, concentrating on camera technique, or incorporate RAW image processing workflow tuition right though to print. The tuition on the 1-2-1 courses is bespoke and objective based, while the group workshops are more structured. The art of printing is one of the aspects of photography that gave Andy the bug and it is something he still enjoys very much. To the extent that he has set up a professional fine art print studio and prints for many professional photographers and artists. Holding a beautifully printed image in your hands is a very rewarding experience. Converting pixels to print allows the images to be enjoyed for generations, rather than disappearing down a timeline in favour of newer pixels. In addition to his own workshops Andy tutors for Light & Land, alongside some of the UK’s leading photographers. Please follow Andy’s social media channels and subscribe to the newsletter via the form in the footer, to be the first to hear about new tours and news. Andy has a current Permission for Commercial Operation (PfCO) for his UAV. Andy is a professional photographer with over 20 years’ experience behind the camera and has a great following. He has regularly had his shots used in publications and on magazine covers. His prints can be purchased as both canvas prints and fine art prints. Based in Swanage and inspired by the dramatic landscapes of the Isle of Purbeck where he grew up, Andy is available for commissions and corporate work as well as running his own workshops and landscape photography tuition classes. Subscribe for updates and my latest workshops Unit 3, Anvil Centre, Prospect Business Park, Swanage, BH19 1EJ Copyright © Andy Farrer 2019 \| Delivery \| Refund and Return Policy \| Privacy Policy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2209
__label__wiki	0.846754	0.846754	Anthony W. Orlando Assistant Professor \| Finance, Real Estate, & Law \| Cal Poly Pomona Posted on November 2, 2009 May 4, 2010 by Anthony W. Orlando Greatest Songs, #490: “Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones Album: Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones Records) Written by: Mick Jagger & Keith Richards Billboard Hot 100: #1 From Rolling Stone: Here the Stones lay waste to a battery of taboo topics — slavery, sadomasochism, inter-racial sex — and still manage to be catchy as hell. The song got its start at a session at Muscle Shoals studios: Jagger scrawled three verses on a stenographer’s pad, and Richards followed with an impossibly raunchy riff. Add some exultant punctuations (“Yeah! Yeah! Woooo!” ) and you have a Stones concert staple. Though credited, like most Stones compositions, to singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards, the lyrics were primarily the work of Jagger, who wrote it sometime during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969. Originally recorded over a three day period at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama during December 2-4, 1969, the song was not released until over a year later due to legal wranglings with the band’s former label though at the request of guitarist Mick Taylor, they debuted the number live during the infamous concert at Altamont on December 6. The song, with its prominent blues-rock riffs, dual horn/guitar instrumental break, and danceable rock rhythms, is representative of the Stones’ definitive mid-period and the tough, bluesy hard-rock most often associated with the group. However, its lyrical subject matter has often been a point of interest and controversy. Described by rock critic Robert Christgau as “a rocker so compelling that it discourages exegesis“… In the liner notes to the 1993 compilation disc Jump Back, Jagger says, “The lyric was all to do with the dual combination of drugs and girls. This song was a very instant thing, a definite high point.” From the BBC, reviewing the album: By 1970 the Stones had earned the right to take a little time to turn out their next album. Bedding in new boy, Mick Taylor, on their well-documented tour of the states the year before had also involved a little studio time at Muscle Shoals studio. The results of these sessions and songs held over from Beggars Banquet were also brought to the table when they reconvened, still a little bruised from the apocalyptic events at Altamont. These were now grown-up men with families, demons and more to cope with who assembled at Jagger’s Stargroves mansion with their mobile studio in the summer of 1970. The incessant touring meant that the band were now world citizens, but they still moved closer to their American roots. Using the usual support cast of Bobby Keys, Ry Cooder, and Nicky Hopkins they turned their experiences into ten tracks of narcotic misery and sexual frustration Narcotics are a major theme, of course, but also loss, frustration and incredible world-weariness. Reviews at the time complained that Sticky Fingers lacked the bite of previous releases like Let It Bleed or Beggars Banquet, but it’s this very quality that makes the album special. While many hold their next album, Exile On Main St, as their zenith, Sticky Fingers, balancing on the knife edge between the 60s and 70s, remains their most coherent statement. From Blender.com, reviewing the album: In 1969, Brian Jones was found face-down in his pool, the victim of what a coroner called “death by misadventure.” The Stones were prodigious drug users, and narcotics seeped into this ramshackle masterpiece, especially “Sister Morphine,” a terrifying overdose song. The themes are dark—even party-hearty single “Brown Sugar” has lyrics about rape and the African slave trade—but the playing is festive, with Jones’s replacement Mick Taylor blazing in guitar-hero mode. From Rolling Stone‘s original review of the album in 1971: It begins with some magical raunch chords on the right channel. In the tradition of great guitar intros (“All Day and All of the Night,” “Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown,” and “Satisfaction” itself) it transfixes you: instant recognition, instant connection. Suddenly the electric guitar is joined by an acoustic guitar on the left channel, an acoustic that is merely strumming the chords that the electric is spitting out with such fury. It washes over the electric to no apparent purpose, stripping it momentarily of its authority and intensity. and so, in the first 15 seconds of the albums first cut we are presented with its major conflict: driving, intense, wide-open rock versus a controlled and manipulative musical conception determined to fill every whole and touch every base. As soon as the voices come on, the acoustic recedes into inaudibility: on “Brown Sugar” wide open rock wins by a hair, but it is a hollow victory. Opening cuts on Stones albums have always been special, from the early ones – “Not Fade Away,” “Round and Round,” and “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love“: – with their promise of rock and roll to come, to the tour de force openings of the later albums – “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Gimme Shelter” – which served as overwhelming entrances into a more complex musical world view. At their best these opening cuts were statements of themes that transcended both the theme itself and the music that was to follow. As I listened to “Sticky Fingers,” for the first time I thought “Brown Sugar” was good, but not that good. I certainly hoped it wasn’t the best thing on the album. As it turns out, there are a few moments that surpass it but it still sets the tone for the album perfectly: middle-level Rolling Stones competence. The lowpoints aren’t that low, but the high points, with one exception, aren’t that high. As to the performance itself, the chords, harmony, and song are powerful stuff. The instrumentation however, is too diffuse, occasionally undermining the vocals instead of supporting them. But when Richards joins Jagger for the last chorus they finally make it home free. CategoriesFrom the Editor's Desk TagsBeggars Banquet, Bobby Keys, Brian Jones, Brown Sugar, Entertainment/Culture, Exile on Main St., Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Mick Taylor, Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Ned Kelly, Nicky Hopkins, Robert Christgau, Ry Cooder, Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones Previous PostPrevious Greatest Songs, #491: “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” by Dusty Springfield Next PostNext Greatest Songs, #489: “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor Anthony W. Orlando is an Assistant Professor in the Finance, Real Estate, & Law Department at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. He can be followed at @AnthonyWOrlando New Report: COVID-19 Job Losses Will Worsen L.A. Homelessness by 2023 Fannie and Freddie Are Helping American Homeowners During the COVID Recession — So Why Reprivatize Now? Small Cities vs. Large Cities: An Interview with WalletHub When Disaster Strikes: How COVID-19 Broke the Economy and How the Next Generation Can Fix It What the Pandemic Taught Us About the Homeless — and What We Shouldn’t Forget Get this blog by email. You can get new content from this blog as it is published via email. Enter your address, Entertainment/Culture A Look Back at “Letter to the One Percent” with Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic – Anthony W. Orlando on Book Music Advisor on Greatest Songs, #448: “Heroin” by The Velvet Underground stephanie on Greatest Songs, #483: “Just Like Heaven” by The Cure In Defense of Economists, Capitalists, and Canada – Anthony W. Orlando on Less Is More: The Ugly Truth about American Health Care Why Jon Huntsman Is More Dangerous Than You Think – Anthony W. Orlando on What to Read on Michele Bachmann	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2211
__label__wiki	0.890613	0.890613	Keep up with the world. Break out of the bubble. Our expressly international daily newsletter Please check your email to confirm! How Biden Could Help Solve The Venezuela Conundrum At a demonstration in Caracas by health and education workers for better salaries - Rafael Hernandez/DPA/ZUMA Press Unlike his populist predecessor, the U.S. president-elect has an opportunity to engage with the leftist forces within Latin America that can then bring pressure to bear on the Maduro regime. Gabriel C. Salvia* English edition • WORLDCRUNCH -Analysis- BUENOS AIRES — The Venezuelan crisis will be U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's big Latin American challenge. The next four years are more than enough time to push Venezuela toward democratic normalization by involving political actors with whom the regime of President Nicolás Maduro is prepared to talk. With Donald Trump at the helm, the United States had considerably less credibility in its bid to find a democratic solution for Venezuela. Working against that effort was Trump's particular brand of populism, as well as his alliances with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro, who openly admires his country's last military dictatorship, and Iván Duque of Colombia, where dozens of rights activists have been murdered just this year. The Organization of American States (OAS) is another of the actors the Maduro regime won't heed, especially under its present secretary-general, Luis Almagro. Biden will, however, benefit from the contribution and credibility of former Chilean leader Michelle Bachelet, who has since become the UN's human rights chief. His administration can also work with the European Union, prominent rights organizations, and influential South American political groups such as Brazil's Workers Party (PT), the socialists of Chile, and Uruguay's Broad Front (Frente amplio) — all of them on the left — so that they will intercede and help ease the impasse in Venezuela. Free elections have become impossible in Venezuela as results cannot be verified. At the same time, there's one thing to always keep in mind when talking to the Maduro regime: Since 2015, when the Bolivarian movement, founded by the late Hugo Chávez, suffered its first electoral defeat and lost control of parliament, free elections have become impossible in Venezuela as results cannot be verified. The opposition, as a result, refuses to take part in elections devoid of transparency, which only serve to legitimize a dictatorship. Effectively, free elections, which even the socialist governments of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico and Argentina's Alberto Fernández seem to back, would very likely have one loser, the Bolivarians clinging to power without democratic legitimacy. Biden and Maduro in 2015 — Photo: Xinhua/ZUMA Those who are upset with international pressures on the Venezuelan regime must know they are accomplices to the country's human tragedy. And they are not just the leftist regimes of Cuba, Nicaragua, or Ecuador and Bolivia, under past presidents Rafael Correa and Evo Morales respectively. Under Chávez and Maduro, democratic institutions and the rule of law were gradually undermined as Venezuela mutated into a military-backed dictatorship. In the meantime, Latin America mostly looked the other way, which makes many of the region's democratic rulers partly responsible for this tragedy. That is especially the case of the PT in Brazil, the two Kirchner presidents and their backers in Argentina, and the Broad Front in Uruguay. The last report by the UN Human Rights Office in September 2020, headed by Bachelet, is unequivocal. It repeats the charges made in 2011 when the UN Human Rights Council made its first Universal Periodic Review (EPR) for Venezuela. In that year, drawing on information provided by UN agencies, the EPR found a range of abusive practices including illegal detentions, extra-judicial killings and excessive and indiscriminate use of force by police, a partial judiciary or restrictions on the freedom of speech and political and electoral rights. Those who are upset with international pressures on the Venezuelan regime must know they are accomplices to the country's human tragedy. Chávez was president in 2011, when Dilma Rousseff was president of Brazil, Cristina Kirchner led Argentina, and José Mújica was president of Uruguay with Luis Almagro as his foreign minister. Chile's Bachelet had recently completed her first term in office. The CELAC regional organization was also formed at this time with the approval of regional states, and used to embolden Venezuelan socialism, which had already been firmly denounced by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. By including these progressive forces, which the Maduro regime is prepared to hear, the Biden administration could, with the EU, open the door to democratization in Venezuela and help end its humanitarian tragedy. In doing so, his administration could also boost the regional left's commitment to democracy. This commitment is overdue. The left is indebted for its historical support for authoritarian outfits in Cuba and more recently Nicaragua, where the regime of Daniel Ortega is borrowing a page from the worst days of the Southern Cone juntas. *Gabriel C. Salvia is head of CADAL, a think tank in Buenos Aires focusing on human rights. See more from World Affairs here View article in original language All rights reserved © Worldcrunch - in partnership with CLARIN Subscribe to our newsletter for more great reads CRUNCHED BY Alidad Vassigh Venezuela's Maduro Has A Surprising New "Ally" — Trump The socialist strongman has plenty of critics. But he also has a remarkable amount of staying pow... China, Venezuela And The Limits Of Pandemic Diplomacy Latin American countries are, for the most part, appreciative of Beijing's donations of much need...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2217
__label__cc	0.714709	0.285291	Searching for: "Michael Feeney Callan" Newest Titles Book Title (A-Z) Book Title (Z-A) Robert Redford: The Biography Michael Feeney Callan The long-anticipated biography of Robert Redford. Among the most widely admired Hollywood stars of his generation, Redford has appeared onstage and on-screen, in front of and behind the camera, earning Academy, Golden Globe, and a multitude of other awards and nominations for acting, directing, and producing, and for his contributions to the arts. His Sundance Film Festival transformed the world of filmmaking; his films defined a generation. America has come to know him as the Sundance Kid, Bob Woodward, Johnny Hooker, Jay Gatsby, and Roy Hobbs. But only now, with this revelatory biography, do we see the surprising and complex man beneath the Hollywood façade. From...read more	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2220
__label__cc	0.709965	0.290035	Will Work for Donations No money, no clothes, no food, and lapping Oz in eight months. Could you do it? Imagine spending eight months travelling through Australia with no money, clothes, food and fuel. Three Poms have been doing this for the past eight months. Without a stitch of clothing (they started off wearing garbage bags) and without spending any money on themselves, Anne Race, Gareth Owen and Phil Car have travelled more than 20,000km around Australia raising money for Book Aid International. They’ve cleaned up after all kinds of animals, picked fruit and worked hard on various jobs. They campaign for donations, swap work for things they need and rely solely on the kindness and generosity of strangers. All the money they earn and receive has gone straight to charity. So far they’ve raised more than $20,000 to help children’s literacy. It’s not an easy thing to do, being out of your comfort zone in an unknown land. Sure, the As Cheeky As You Can’t trio have had their days of bad luck – they haven’t gotten paid for working at Alice Springs Table Grapes yet, and one night in Perth a few drunken idiots threw a bottle through their (donated) van as they slept in it. Nonetheless, the trio have had far more good days than bad. They’ve experienced true Aussie hospitality. “We’ve been astounded by how generous Aussies have been,” says Anne. “People have always come to our rescue.” They’ve had all types dig deep to help them, from rich philanthropists to a homeless man offering them his last 45 cents. They’ve received so many offers that sometimes they have to turn them down for lack of time. They chose Australia for the challenge of going around a huge country and they’ve been amazed by the changing landscapes of the country and the isolated outback. Mostly, though, they’ve been surprised by how quick Aussies are to help and how mateship is well and truly alive. As they near the end of their trip, Anne says they are excited to achieve their goal and see it done. “It’s been a life-changing experience.” To donate to Book Aid International and read their blog, visit www.ascheekyasyoucant.blogspot.com The best non-flying last minute holidays for families Every school holidays, the same problem emerges... where do we take the kids? With fights skyrocketing, and your busy life getting in the way of prop... What to do in Bright, Victoria Three-and-a-half hours’ drive north-east of Melbourne lives Bright: here we share some secrets on how to have the perfect day in this Victorian town... Five of Australia’s best old pubs There are days when nothing beats a no-frills Aussie pub, but sometimes we want the best of both worlds. (more…)... Ultimate AUS itinerary for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle With Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex heading to Australia this month for Sydney’s Invictus Games, we thought the couple migh... The best things to do around Australia in September There’s no shortage of things to do in Australia. If anyone knows that, it’s us… However with such a breadth of things going on around the coun... A run down of the Hilton Hotels, Australia Everything you need to know about the Hilton in Australia, from the staff at Australian Traveller Magazine. There are 7 Hilton hotels located in Au...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2221
__label__wiki	0.743227	0.743227	by Jyotsna Ramani Mercedes Benz Ready to Take Orders for E 350 BlueTEC Speed and luxury has always remained one of the strong points for German automaker Mercedes Benz and the company has now announced the debut of their first ever nine speed automatic transmission with torque converter Mercedes Benz e 350 BlueTEC. The automaker said that they have always been trying to improve the technology that can allow them to offer the best driving experience along with better fuel economy and the new Mercedes Benz E 350 BlueTEC will become the most fuel efficient six cylinder diesel vehicle in its class. Mercedes Benz to Support The Open Championship for Third Consecutive Year For the last two years Mercedes Benz has remained the official car and official patron of The Open Championship and this year again Mercedes Benz has announced that they will continue to support the event for the third consecutive year because the company is really passionate about golf. This year The Open Championship will take place from 18 to 21 July at the Muirfield Golf Club in Scotland. Lueder Fromm, Head of Global Marketing Communications for Mercedes Benz cars announced that The Open Championship is one of the prestigious events and tournaments in the world of golf and therefore they...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2222
__label__wiki	0.693703	0.693703	Alice Johnson is a British writer, editor and multimedia journalist, based in Dubai. During her three-year tenure as a reporter for Gulf News, Alice travelled the Middle East reporting for print, online and video – both in front and behind the camera. She started her career in London, UK, where she worked as a sub-editor, production editor and editor. Alice has handled the print production process of several substantial magazines and supplements – from feature writing to final print stages. She has a keen eye for detail and is known as one of the most thorough editors in the UAE. She also worked as Deputy UAE Editor at the aforementioned daily newspaper, planning news, pages and editing copy to extremely tight hourly deadlines. She is a trained videographer and video editor and has shot to tight deadlines, as well as under trying circumstances in Afghanistan. She also interviewed significant political players (David Cameron, William Hague and Liam Fox) and best-selling authors including Margaret Atwood, Martin Amis and Vikas Swarup (of Slumdog Millionaire fame) and has broken worldwide exclusives. With more than 10 years experience in the industry, she has invaluable in-depth knowledge of editorial requirements. Alice is available for copywriting, editing, feature/news/interview commissions, videography, video editing and print production work. ARTICLES BY: ALICE JOHNSON Oldest Qur’an in the world discovered In the middle of a low-lit, quiet, temperature-controlled room at the University of Birmingham (UOB), England, stands a glass case. What’s being displayed is re...Read more Rasha Al Dhanhani doesn’t do things half-heartedly. Back in 2009 she opened the first PappaRoti café in Dubai Mall. Today, she manages 400 franchised outlets in...Read more A Classical Lifestyle Alia Al Neyadi is the UAE’s highest profile ballerina. She explains to Alice Johnson that it has taken gruelling dedication to achieve her goals.Read more Educating “Little Moslems” Mennah Ibrahim has put a 21st spin on Islam with her Little Moslems series of children’s books. She tells Alice Johnson what inspired her to write the series.Read more The Louvre Abu Dhabi: A history of the world under one roof In 2015 the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi will fling open its doors on the ground-breaking Louvre museum project, to visitors from around the globe. Alice Johnson giv...Read more Artistically Speaking The UAE has become a bustling art centre in just a few short years. Alice Johnson looks at the birth of the art scene in Dubai and how it has evolved into a vib...Read more 'Great expectations' at literary festival A wealth of international authors descend on Dubai in March for the city’s Literature Festival. Alice Johnson went to find which Arab-world authors are on the g...Read more An Entrepreneurial Spirit Muna Easa Al Gurg needs no introduction – as guest host on UAE TV show ‘The Entrepreneur’, Chairwoman of the Young Arab Leaders (YAL) and Director of Retail for...Read more Challenging Perceptions Emirati artist Lamya Gargash is considered one of the UAE’s most creative minds. You just need to look at her manipulated imagery to understand why. Alice Johns...Read more Dubai Creek – a remnamt of old Dubai Recently nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Creek in Dubai is also the subject of a new award-winning documentary. We take a look at this little sli...Read more	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2224
__label__cc	0.546845	0.453155	St Athan – AGL Control system replacement SMGCS Over recent years RAF St Athan has been developed by the Welsh Government, who’s primary role, is working towards Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) accreditation of the airfield. As part of this programme of transition of the estate, from military to civilian use, the site has benefitted from a newly resurfaced runway and also a Cat 1 ILS system. The airfield lighting control system had in the past few years been converted from a MK3 to Mk4 Modular Control System (MCS) which is being implemented across the military airfields. In addition to the Mk4 upgrade, a soft mimic had been installed in the VCR, giving the operators a visual overview of the lighting pattern selected. With new airfield lighting services being installed, and also traffic lights being replaced by runway guard lights, consideration was given to replace the MCS with a new airfield lighting control system to provide a more flexible control solution. The SMARTPLC control system was the choice of the client as it offered additional benefits to the user, and also compatible with the soft mimic that was already installed. The main scope of the works was to design and manufacture the control panels that would be situated in the substation and interface to the constant current regulators (CCR’s) and other plant equipment. As the CCR’s used on site was a mixture of Micro100 and Micro200 regulators, the units were modified so that they would communicate via Modbus TCP in a dual redundancy configuration. Bespoke software would be written to ensure that the lighting applications functioned in accordance with the client’s requirements. The Software also interfaced with the existing maintenance SCADA and additional alarms pages on the SCADA would be provided so as to indicate to the users any failures within the system. The main challenge on the project was to ensure that the communications between all the substations and control tower was reliable. At all military sites, the use or a multipair copper cable is used between control centres and the MCS would communicate using frequency shift keying between the locations. As the airfield control ring cables over the years have dilapidated, the airports generally upgrade to a fibre optic ring. This is an expensive option, however the main copper ring at this site was still in a good condition. Subsequently DSL extender switches were installed in order to create an ethernet copper ring between the A centre and the two sub-stations. The old MCS system which had be in place for over 25 years was removed and the SMARTPLC system was installed and commissioned by the atg airports engineering team. As the airfield continues to develop the client now has the comfort that the new system can expand with their aspirations. St_Athan_new_sys St Athan Airport - Wales Download PDF: Case Study	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2228
__label__cc	0.610803	0.389197	Home>Farm Operations>Sustainability Scratching My Head Over “Frack-Free” Beef I’m familiar with a few different certifications, but this was a new one to me. Joe Roybal 1 \| Jun 22, 2012 A couple of months back, I received the following letter from a writer looking for a source of “frack-free” beef. Here’s most of the letter: “I keep reading that toxic flowback and production fluids used in natural gas hydro-fracturing horizontal drilling wells are leaking in Wyoming, Pennsylvania and Louisiana where they are making people sick and killing livestock that drink the salty water. “This type of drilling is occurring in 34 states. I don’t want to take a chance with my children’s and my life eating cows from these states. My family is not eating any more hamburgers or steaks until we find out what state our meat comes from and that it’s certified Frack-Free.” I’m familiar with a few different certifications, but this was a new one to me. I advised him that if this indeed was an issue for him, he should find a local producer and buy his beef direct. While environmental groups claim otherwise, the Environmental Protection Agency says there are no reported cases of groundwater contamination due to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, as it’s called. It’s a process of drilling for natural gas and oil that involves pumping a mixture (95% water, 9.5% sand, plus other components) under high pressure deep into the ground to create cracks in rock to release the gas into wells that have been built for collection. Over the years, the technology has been used safely and successfully in over one million wells, the industry says. You can watch a video on the process at www.what-is-fracking.com. I think the letter writer’s sentiments, however, are illustrative of how green groups demagogue technology for their own financial interests (fundraising) and to further an anti-fossil fuel agenda. The truth is many environmental groups don’t want domestic energy independence unless it’s based on green technologies, which remain extremely unreliable and inefficient. This issue is important because proven technologies, such as fracking, have huge implications for America’s energy future. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that more than 750 trillion cu. ft. of technically recoverable shale gas, and 24 billion barrels of technically recoverable shale oil, exist in discovered shale plays in this country. Responsible development offers tremendous opportunities in job creation, economic growth and energy security for generations to come. This issue is important to U.S. beef producers because it’s important to every American. Higher-priced energy leads to higher-priced goods and services. That not only raises production costs, but suppresses demand for a lot of goods and services, not the least of which is beef. Opinion: Awash In Neglected Lands, Senate Goes For More Environmental Groups Collecting Millions From Federal Agencies They Sue Juniper control restores rangeland health New Rule Makes Enhancements to EQIP	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2231
__label__cc	0.679059	0.320941	CGS Program Kiyona Turner Pridetime Reporter Brien Mcmahon is all for its unique take on highschool. As many of the students here know, McMahon has plenty of clubs and programs. One major program in McMahon is CGS. CGS is a globalized program that gives kids from other cities and in the district of Norwalk, a chance at learning a distinctive language, literature and history on an international perspective. Language options are: Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. Center for Global Studies gives you highschool experiences on things that are hard to find elsewhere. CGS offers study tours to the country of your desired language, which many highschools do not. Realizing the abundant amount of opportunities you can get from attending this program is quite mind opening. Many colleges look at programs like CGS because of their take on a world wide perspective. Now this isn’t just a program you join because you want too, you have to prove you’re fit to have this advantage given to you. The process is, sending in a written essay on why you’d like to attend, and what language you’d like to take. You’d also need recommendations from prior teachers you’ve had and send in your grades so that the administrators see what a dedicated student you are. CGS is very diverse with many distinctive kids attending the program. Many misunderstand the concept of CGS and what it is mainly about. Center for Global Studies is all about not only learning our country's history and cultures, but understanding other countries perspectives on various situations and learning about their past to become more multinationally educated. Ultimately it gives students a chance to learn something different than the “normal American education.” Overall if your interested and dedicated on being educated on a broad level and not being minimized to America's history and take on situations, then apply to CGS! They’re a very welcoming and understanding program which makes you feel accepted. Poinsettia & Mistletoe Fashanti Lee As a student of Brien Mcmahon High School, I have known about Poinsettia and Mistletoe --two amazing occasions since I was young. Now that I'm a student at McMahon, I’m eager to take part in them. Poinsettia and Mistletoe are dances for juniors and seniors which take place in the winter time. Students from McMahon and Norwalk High are usually joined at these dances. Poinsettia and Mistletoe usually take place in Stamford's Italian Center. Students tend to enjoy these events and have fun with their peers. Most students have probably gone to a party with friends or attend a Sweet Sixteen, but school dances are different. Everyone is invited, so exclusion is never something to worry about. Even more, strict parents are eased by the presence of administrators and staff members. Senior Jalen Mullins ('20), has been to both Poinsettia & Mistletoe in the past 2 years. Mullins shared that he enjoyed getting dressed up for the dances, saying he was “feeling myself for the one time, a little pop out." Mullins attended Poinsettia for the first time when he was a junior. “It [Poinsettia] showed me how to have a good time and also showed the maturity with the students who were older than me,” he explained. Mullins says he enjoys the "theme" of the dance-- having it in the winter time. He went on to share how he thinks the dances "bring everyone together, especially sharing the dance with Norwalk High so both schools can enjoy themselves.” Norwalk High and Brien McMahon usually don’t do much together so it's always different at these dances. The tradition of these school dances has been going on for years now. Students think they should keep the tradition going for the future Brien McMahon students. Mullins says, “I think the tradition should continue whether new changes are made or added. I feel like it is a good opportunity for students to come together.” Freshmen v. Senior Thoughts On Uniform Policy In ROTC Zheyla Jimenez Vasquez In ROTC, it is expected of all of us to wear our uniforms once a week. My freshman year was a tough year with all the drastic changes, and on top of that I had to wear a uniform. It became very overwhelming, but I somehow came to manage it and now in my sophomore year I am not bothered by the uniform, I’m actually starting to enjoy wearing it. All the McMahon Senators in NJROTC have or have had an opinion on this matter. I went and interviewed two of our NJROTC Senators and asked them their views and opinions of the uniforms we are supposed to wear. Kevin Jimenez Vasquez is a freshman at McMahon. Along with ROTC, he plays on the soccer team. This routine is all new to him, unlike for the upperclassmen, So I decided to ask for his input on the matter, “I feel like it's not so necessary or like I think that wearing it just for the ROTC class is enough not the whole day. I feel good wearing it, I don't have a problem with wearing it.” Vasquez also offered a suggestion to those in superior positions, “I would change having to wear the uniform the whole day and just have us wear it for a class.” Then I asked Senior Nicole Perez, the CO of the unit; the highest authority position, her opinion on the attire, “At first I wasn't very happy about wearing the uniform but now I like it a lot because I'm more decorated and it makes me feel more confident. I know a couple freshman/NS1s that hate the uniform but there are a handful that were excited they received their uniforms. Some seniors still don't accept it. But the majority of us do. We like it because we can be very competitive and it's fun being able to compare uniforms seeing who has earned what. We also can accept it because some of us want to go into the military and being able to wear the uniforms makes us understand the importance of it and what we stand for." Perez then shared her first impressions of the program and doubts she had early on. Nevertheless, she's grateful for the connections she's made throughout her training, "My freshman year was interesting. I thought I would hate ROTC and I’m not sure what happened but as soon as I walked into the classroom on the first day of school, I was surprised that I actually liked the class. Quickly I became more involved with the community service events and made some lifelong friendships.” Perez is in favor of this tradition, so much so she has expressed interest in the uniforms to be offered in other patterns. Interests made her recognize the significance behind the attire, and keeps her motivated to pursue a future in the military. She voices her desire for more participation within the underclassmen, “I would love to get new uniforms like camouflage ones or the dress whites. As for improvements in the unit I want to find a way to get the freshmen more involved. I want to train my cadets so that they can learn to lead the unit once us seniors leave to me that's the most important thing at the moment’’. NHS vs. BMHS: A Comparison Guadalupe Oliveros Have you ever wondered how different Norwalk High and Brien McMahon are? To gain some insight, I interviewed one of the social workers at Brien McMahon, Mr. Matute, who has worked at both Norwalk High and Brien McMahon. He’s been working in Norwalk public schools for over 20 years now. When asked about which school Matute prefers working at, he responded with McMahon. “I like working at both schools but I enjoy my time at McMahon because I’m more familiar with the staff and being a track coach here adds a plus. Furthermore, I am a McMahon graduate,” he said. Matute went on to offer information regarding the resources that both schools give to the students. He says that he believes McMahon offers more to students, especially in terms of technology. “Students are given a chromebook their freshman year and are able to take it home for school-related work for all 4 years.” Another thing to compare between the two schools is the counseling system. Matute shares, “At McMahon, school counselors can be found in the same office, with every grade having more than 3 counselors. Unlike BMHS, Norwalk High students only get 2 counselors per grade and they’re harder to find since they’re not all together. For example, depending on your grade, your counselor is put into houses, like House A or House D.” One more important comparison between the two schools is the programs they offer. Brien McMahon offers the Center for Global Studies (C.G.S), a program that contains about 290 students. Students choose to learn Arabic, Chinese, or Japanese. Additionally, students travel on 2 week study tours to gain a better understanding of the world. CGS students come from all over Fairfield County; Darien, Ridgefield, Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stamford and more. Where McMahon offers CGS, Norwalk High offers the the P-Tech Program, formerly known as N.E.C.A. P-Tech is an early college-experience high school from grades 9-12. Within the 4-year span, students graduate high school with a diploma with a no-cost associates degree in a competitive STEM discipline. Even more, International Business Machines (I.B.M) has partnered with nine P-Tech schools, six in the United States, one of which is NECA, three abroad in Australia, Morocco and Taiwan. The rivalry between Norwalk High Bears and Brien McMahon Senators has been a conflict for a long time. However, it doesn’t always come down to what football or soccer team is better than the other, but what the schools can offer students to prepare them for the future. Where's All the School Spirit These Days? Ramses Perez Spirit Week is a time that unites the Brien McMahon community as a family and brings us together as a whole. Lately, students have been talking about school spirit dying. If this is true, the school has to do something different to revive students’ pride and participation. Spirit Week 2019 was eerily the same as last year’s. Monday, October 1st, was Jersey Day. Tuesday was Superhero Day and Wednesday was Twin Day combined with #ThrowbackThursday. Last but not least, Brien McMahon ended off their spirit week with Red, White, and Blue Day showing their pride for this year’s football Homecoming game. Doing the same thing every year is not exciting and soon enough, the spirit week tradition at McMahon will reach an endpoint. Brien McMahon junior, Rockelle Robinson, was interviewed and asked a few questions about school spirit. When asked about how spirit could be restored, Robinson (‘21) says she thinks the school should come up with “trendy” activities for the students, “This year’s spirit week was very basic and has been done before. As a student, I would like to see or do something new and fun.” Robinson (‘21) was also asked what she thought the purpose of school spirit was. She says, “School spirit can make school a more enjoyable environment for students. Red white and blue day is my favorite day out of spirit week, as it allows for a chance for everyone to connect someway.” Robinson (‘21) isn’t the only student who strongly feels that making this place more upbeat. Overall, there seems to be a sense of hesitation for Brien McMahon students to truly let go and allow their spirit to flow; not many students actually participate in spirit week. Spirit Week is a fun time for Brien McMahon students. Halls are with bright colors and wacky outfits. But is it really an enjoyable week if not even half the school is showing their spirit? Instead of having only a couple of kids in a room coming up with ideas, McMahon should allow all of the students to be innovative and creative together. Let’s uplift our voices and make sure we are heard as one for next year’s Spirit Week! Interested in reading more about our school? Click "School News" on the bar above!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2238
__label__cc	0.675559	0.324441	BookJane made it to the 2020 List of Best Workplaces™ in Healthcare BookJane is proud to announce that we have been named on the 2020 list of Best Workplaces in Healthcare. TORONTO, September 15th, 2020 -- BookJane is proud to announce that we have been named on the 2020 list of Best Workplaces in Healthcare. BookJane received this honour after a thorough and independent analysis conducted by Great Place to Work®. The list is based on direct feedback from employees of the hundreds of organizations that were surveyed by Great Place to Work®. The data has a 90% confidence and a plus or minus 5% margin of error. To be eligible for this list, organizations must be Great Place to Work-Certified in the past year and work primarily in the Healthcare Sector. Great Place to Work® ranked the best based on employee responses to their Trust Index survey. At BookJane, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive company culture that celebrates new ideas and different perspectives. We strive to create a true team environment with trust and collaboration at the core of all we do together. About Great Place to Work® Great Place to Work is the global authority on high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures. Through proprietary assessment tools, advisory services, and certification programs, GPTW recognizes the world's Best Workplaces in a series of national lists including those published by The Globe & Mail (Canada) and Fortune magazine (USA). Great Place to Work provides the benchmarks, framework, and expertise needed to create, sustain, and recognize outstanding workplace cultures. Visit us at www.greatplacetowork.ca or find us on Twitter at @GPTW_Canada.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0042.json.gz/line2239

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