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__label__wiki	0.608087	0.608087	Vivian’s Relationships in W;t and How They Shape Her Illness Experience August 16, 2019 by Essay Writer In Margaret Edson’s play W;t, a variety of characters with complex, unique personalities are brought to life. Edson uses vivid imagery and poignant monologues in order to highlight and simultaneously criticize the social structure, doctor-patient relationship, and implicit stigmas associated with terminal cancer. Many themes, such as the ones aforementioned, are displayed within the elaborate rhetoric Edson uses to construct both the outer appearances and the inner thoughts of the characters, which often contradict with one another. Edson’s intricate blending of each character’s juxtaposed identities gives readers a deep connection to the personal struggles of each character’s past and present. The main protagonist in the book, Vivian Bearing, experiences an immense shift in mentality when she is diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. Although Vivian understands the seriousness of her diagnosis, her thoughts remain consumed with maintaining her image as an accomplished and world-renowned literature professor. Through the reader’s journey with Vivian Bearing, we encounter several of her relationships that each serve to propagate Vivian’s spiritual awakening and acceptance of her diagnosis. Through her relationship with herself, Dr. Jason Posner, and Sally, we see that her “sick experience” is the product of ongoing social interactions and relationships encountered throughout the play, rather than a defined, concrete set of principles. Before delving into Vivian’s relationships and their impact on her “sick experience,” her character must first be analyzed from the point of view of how Vivian views herself. Ever since a young age, Vivian was exposed to reading literature. Mr. Bearing, Vivian’s father, encouraged her to continue reading more books, to which she replied, “I think I’ll read…The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies” (Edson, 41.) While she read the book, her father would help her sound out the words that she had trouble reading. He said, “…now use it in a sentence. What has a soporific effect on you?” (Edson, 42.) This scenario of significance because it illustrates the deep learning that Vivian was exposed to from an early age and most likely provoked her interest in deciphering the meaning of words. Vivian goes on to become one of the top professors in her field and when she gets admitted to the hospital, she boasts about her accomplishments to the technicians. She says, “I have made an immeasurable contribution to the discipline..I am a force” (Edson, 17.) It appears that concentrating on her achievements took her mind off of the harsh reality of her diagnosis. It may be that constantly reiterating her accomplishments made her feel stronger, propelling her to further accept the fate of her diagnosis and subsequent treatment. The power of language is explored extensively in this play, giving readers a glimpse into how Vivian’s understanding of the sonnets of Donne helps her to make sense of her extremely gruesome and terminal diagnosis. Vivian uses her exposure to Donne’s sonnets as a means to transcend the boundaries and understand her diagnosis in a deep way. In fact, she relies very heavily on her knowledge and education when she is first diagnosed. Vivian’s positive mentality toward herself and her accomplishments funneled into a unique relationship with her doctor, Jason Posner. Upon their first interaction, we learn that Jason was in her class as an undergraduate student. He says, “You can’t get into medical school unless you’re well-rounded…I made a bet with myself that I could get an A in the three hardest courses on campus” (Edson, 21.) When Jason reveals to Vivian that he got an A- in her course, it further clarifies the notion that Vivian was an extremely harsh and demanding professor. Vivian and Jason continue to have an interesting relationship throughout the play as we learn that Vivian is part of an extensive clinical trial that Jason is leading with his team. In essence, Vivian and Jason can be seen as each other’s opposites, at the same time as each other’s doubles. As discussed earlier, Vivian is an extremely ambitious professor who is strict and dismissive with her students. This is exemplified during a flashback scene, when Vivian refuses to grant a student’s extension request after their grandparent has passed away. She says, “Do what you will, but the paper is due when it is due” (Edson, 63.) We can see that Vivian believes in the rigidity of deadlines and in what she sees as the integrity of education. Similarly, Jason is completely engrossed with his clinical trial, and throughout their relationship in the play, we are exposed to an almost inhuman side of Jason. He says, “It [cancer] is awesome. How does it do it? The intercellular regulatory mechanisms…” (Edson, 56.) We can see that Jason is passionate about cancer research, however, the fact that he describes cancer as “awesome” to his patient, while she is slowly withering away from the illness, is inconsiderate. Many of Jason’s monologues and lines are full of mindless tone and lack of emotion. He asks Vivian blanket, routine questions in a manner that his mentor has taught him and he fails to see the humans that he is harming through his work. When Vivian is taking her final breath, Jason desperately tries to resuscitate His relationship with Vivian is purely clinical in the same way that Vivian’s relationship with her students had been comprised of distant, dismissive, and disparaging connections. The relationship between Vivian and Jason, along with the overlap between how they both view their work, is a critical component in the play because it gives Vivian a platform to reevaluate how she conducted herself as a scholar and a professor throughout her career. Another important relationship in the play is the strong connection formed between Vivian and her nurse, Susie Monahan. As discussed earlier, Vivian’s primary view of herself and Jason’s view of Vivian is purely transactional: Vivian sees herself as a worthy individual solely based on her accomplishments in life and nothing deeper than that, and Jason views Vivian as a research specimen. This makes Vivian’s relationship with Sally an inherently special relationship, one in which the readers finally see Vivian being treated like a human. Sally says, “There’s something we need to talk about, you need to think about” (Edson, 66.) Susie then proceeds to tell Vivian that although her tumor got smaller, the tests indicated that cancer had been found in other parts of her body. With this full disclosure, which Vivian didn’t receive in the play until this point, Susie begins to discuss how she would like to proceed when her predicted death occurs (DNR vs. full code.) Susie says, “…they should have explained this…” (Edson, 67.) In the code scene, Susie defends Vivian’s choice of being DNR and fights with Jason when he tries to revive her despite her wishes. Her endless dedication to Vivian, despite the circumstances of the clinical trial, shows Sally’s genuineness towards Vivian and her dedication to preserving Vivian’s integrity. Susie’s directness, combined with her deep disapproval of Jason’s decisions, displays how Sally was one of the only people in the play who was straightforward with Vivian and respectful of her as a human being. Sally’s relationship with Vivian had a profound impact on Vivian’s spiritual awakening at the end of the play. The juxtaposition of Sally’s character with Jason’s character directly affected Vivian’s illness experience. Vivian says, “At the same time the senior scholar, in her pathetic state as a simpering victim, wishes the young doctor would take more interest in personal contact” (Edson, 58). After witnessing the kindness of Sally along with Jason’s impersonal behaviors, she was able to relate to both the senior scholar role and to the amateur student role. She realized how much a little bit of kindness could make the greatest difference in somebody’s life. She began to reflect on the type of professor she was to her students. Because she was such a dismissive professor and spent her entire life advancing her career, Vivian had no friends or family appear until the very end of her life. When Vivian has already signed the DNR and is in her final moments of life, her friend Professor E.M. Ashford comes into the hospital room and recites Vivian excerpts of a poem before she passes. As Vivian reflected, she began to understand that a life of scholarly pursuits can ruin a person’s social and personal life. Through her experience with Sally and Professor Ashford, Vivian realized that she should have been kinder to her students as she finally took the time to understand the value of kindness during her debilitating treatments. Edson’s elaborate rhetoric and stream-of-consciousness writing in W;t serves as a powerful indicator that the illness experience is a byproduct of intrapersonal relationships within the play. The enchanting use of interior monologues gives readers an unparalleled view into the complexities surrounding a cancer patient’s journey from diagnosis through treatment and, in the case of Vivian, death. From Vivian’s very first monologue, we can see how interesting her relationship with herself is. On the outside, Vivian portrays an extreme sense of self-fulfillment and accomplishment, even after hearing her diagnosis. However, her internal monologues give us a unique insight into the damage that her intense pursuit of scholarly research has infringed on her. By including Dr. Jason Posner as a character who indirectly challenges the nurse, Sally, W;t provides a stark contrast between the human side of medicine and the robotic side of medicine. The contrast between Jason and Sally serves as a direct platform for Vivian to evaluate her past, present, and future as a cancer patient. Edson’s way of illustrating the complexities of the illness experience in Vivian’s life, while managing to shatter Vivian’s preconceived notions of self and society, is masterful its understanding of modern society and human nature. Wit: How Are You Feeling Today? July 1, 2019 by Essay Writer Margaret Edson’s play Wit, devalues the question ‘how are you feeling today?’ by the lack of emotion and the harsh clinical empathy that ruins the effect of the query in order to highlight the professional, physical, mental, and spiritual connotations behind the meaning of the question. Medical students across the world are taught “the importance of…providing compassionate care” (Meltzer). Due to the fact that the question is repeated multiple times throughout the day, it becomes routine instead of genuine compassion. Vivian Bearing, a professor who is diagnosed with advanced metastatic ovarian cancer, opens up the play with an everyday question, “Hi. How are you feeling today?” (5). She assures the audience that this is not her usual formal opening, and in fact, is the beginning of a question lacking emotion. In fact, this is just the beginning of what will only amount to more of this formal perfunctory greeting. Due to her more professional mannerism, Vivian informs the audience she would say hello instead. Jason Posner is the oncology clinical fellow and a former student of Vivian. He is often the one who is asking Vivian how she is doing. To answer the question, Vivian just says “fine”, due to obligation as it is the accepted answer. When she answers fine, Jason “satisfies his desire to empathize with his patient and minimizes Vivian’s actual feelings…” (Amanatullah). Jason simply asks the question to maintain his professional aura. There is one part where Vivian becomes furious at Dr. Harry Kelekian, her primary doctor, for his inability to understand her physical pain. Thus, she sits up and rhetorically asks the audience “[Is she] in pain?” “to emphasize the irony of medical compassion” (Amanatullah). She is angry at Dr. Kelekian mainly because he is not giving her a second thought as he asks about how she is feeling. The physical attribute behind ‘how are you feeling today?’ is the leading force behind deciding if Vivian is truly sick or not. While she may lie, saying she is fine, her vitals or visible symptoms say otherwise. In the beginning, Vivian honestly answers the question, stating that “it is not very often that [she does] feel fine” (5). There are several instances where Vivian may be asked this and she happens to be “while throwing up in a plastic washbasin” (5). She is even asked, possibly in excruciating pain and on anesthesia, after a “four-hour operation with a tube in every orifice” (5). When Vivian returns to the hospital in a “shaking, feverish, weakened state [Jason] begins, as usual, with ‘how are you feeling?’” (Amanatullah). The question has turned from a true inquiry to a greeting that is asking the person in an attempt to be polite. It has come to the truth that people do not want the real answer; it is easier to say fine rather than rattle off a list of aches and pains. Clinical empathy plays on mental well-being and happiness in patients. Due to the obligation that patients feel to just say they are fine, doctors take it as is because it is “not something [they] want to do nor feel comfortable doing…” (Meltzer). Vivian shows a lack of empathy towards her students as seen in flashbacks, but when her “physicians have been unable or unwilling to offer her the emotional support…” and instead, she needs Susie “to support her emotionally, Vivian no longer needs to have uncompromisingly strong character” (Amanatullah). Vivian begins breaking down mentally as she comes to terms with her past actions such as giving Jason an A minus and declining a student’s wish to have an extension. Guilt begins eating at her, and Vivian starts craving for the compassion that she never really received, which can be seen when she latches onto Nurse Susie Monahan who is one of the only characters to truly attend to Vivian’s fears. After her emotional breakdown at the lack of compassion on Dr. Kelekian’s end, Vivian slowly begins “her silent acceptance of both life and death” (Amanatullah). The question eventually shifts almost into a spiritual awakening for Vivian. Her last coherent words are “Hi. How are you feeling today?” (72). She then remembers what her professor told her about using a capital d and commas and exclamation points for Holy Sonnet 10: Death, be not proud by John Donne. She is accepting to succumb to death at that current moment by remembering that certain lesson. After Vivian’s studying of Donne’s works, she begins to realize that the truth is she does not know as much as she believed about life or death. Vivian only confronts at the most difficult point when she comes to “understand that intellect is only one aspect of being human” (Cohen). Her spiritual awakening behind the question only occurs when her cancer forces her “to look at her own life, does she truly understand Donne’s fears and spiritual struggle” (Cohen). As Vivian begins to accept the spirituality that comes with the cancer, she slowly begins to let go of life. Through professional, physical, mental, and spiritual emphasis behind ‘How are you feeling today?’, Vivian is able to understand that there is more to life than knowledge; and Jason is unable to provide genuine compassion due to the need for knowledge is more important. Changing the routine question to one with feeling, it is possible that the different emphasis’ will change to accommodate patients and how they feel. Amanatullah, Derek F. “The Importance of a Physician’s Wit: A Critical Analysis of Science in Medicine.” Commentary (2002): 139-43. Einstein Quarterly. The Einstein Quarterly Journal of Biology and Medicine, 2002. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. Cohen, Carol. “Wit Guide.” Wit Guide. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 20 Aug. 2000. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. Edson, Margaret. Wit: A Play. New York: Faber and Faber, 1999. Print. Meltzer, Daniel L. “Ask Patients How They Feel, along with How They Are Feeling.”KevinMD.com. KevinMD, 11 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. Riess, Helen. “The Impact of Clinical Empathy on Patients and Clinicians: Understanding Empathy’s Side Effects.” The Impact of Clinical Empathy on Patients and Clinicians: Understanding Empathy’s Side Effects 6.3 (2015): 51-53. AJOB Neuroscience. Taylor & Francis, 30 July 2015. Web. 17 Jan. 2017. The Digression of Vivian’s Power within Wit May 10, 2019 by Essay Writer The play Wit by Margaret Edson addresses one of the most challenging topics that mankind is forced to grapple with: death. For Vivian Bearing though, death had always been more of a subject to study rather than one to face. Death in Vivian’s experience is a tool to teach with, an inevitable end of life not to be feared and as she will find out through her own experience, a force that will totally alter the way social status is perceived. Edson addresses Vivian’s passing through the use of intertextual references in order to align Vivian’s experience to her studies in poetry, and give her play an extra dimension for the audience to explore. Vivian Bearing’s disease first begins to take major tolls when she signs the informed consent form, for at this moment she is forced to recognize that her fate is no longer her own. Similarly to Donne’s “Holy Sonnet 6”, Vivian has been forced to come to the understanding that her life is quickly fleeting as a result of being diagnosed with terminal cancer. This first stage of Vivian’s treatment represents a coming to terms with her future. Coming to terms with the fact that “This is [her] playes last scene, here heavens appoint / [Her] pilgrimages last mile, and [her] race / Idly, yet quickly runne…” (Donne, Holy Sonnet 6). Donne’s many references to time and repetition of the word ‘last’ within the sonnet help to build the idea that life is moving ever more quickly and will not move forward until its fate is accepted. Although Vivian understands that her death is approaching, she maintains her confidence and social status initially with the help of Dr. Kelekian, who addresses her as ‘Dr. Bearing,’ and creates a level playing field so to speak by referencing the commonalities between the two professors. Here, Edson builds a relationship of equality between them. Jennifer Givhan also notes this relationship, writing that “Like the medical researchers who have dissected her body, Vivian in turn has learned to dissect poetry with her own skillful employment of language” (79). As a result of Kelekian and Bearing’s mutual respect, the audience is able to feel comfort in the fact that although Vivian’s medical procedures are invasive, her new found and unique relationships are supportive. Before Vivian’s arrival at the Ground Rounds, her position of power at the university was all consuming. Jason describes Donne as the “Hardest poetry in the English department,” and Vivian’s role in the class made her consumption by it mandatory (Edson, 31). As a result, she was unable to build supportive relationships to help her through the hardship that she did not know she would have to face. This power over language preoccupied Vivian during the initial treatments (as she questioned her relation as a study subject to a poem in her own study), but her vast knowledge of language also had a negative effect on her. In the opinion of Givhan, Vivian’s education pushed her “…to erect distancing walls between herself and other people…atop which she [was] dominant…” and as a result, she grew more and more alone (78). This very well may have contributed to the digression from Vivian’s initial confidence to suffering, and forces the audience to consider their own social standing and the relationships that fluctuate as a result of that standing. Vivian’s second stage at the hospital begins with her inspections by the fellows, but is solidified upon her entrance to the isolation unit. This second stage marks a change in the relationships between Vivian and the staff at hospital and is illustrated by the way Jason treats her. One clear example is Jason explaining her ailments to the other fellows and Dr. Kelekian: “He takes a sheet and carefully covers her legs and groin, then pulls up her gown to reveal her entire abdomen. He is barely audible, but his gestures are clear” (Edson, 36). Jason’s abrupt and degrading actions show a clear change in Vivian’s social status from the way that she is treated by Kelekian, beginning her entrance to a far less confident period of time. In the perception of Jennifer Givhan, “Jason uses Vivian’s body – indicated by the stage directions that he ‘puts his finger on the spot on her abdomen’ and ‘moves his hand over her entire body’ (36) – as a demonstration of his own superior intellect, while he enumerates her symptoms, seemingly unconcerned with her presence as a thinking, subjective person in the room with him.” (78). Regardless of how the reader perceives the specifics of Jason’s actions towards Vivian, he undeniably finds himself to be the dominant one in the relationship, illustrating the swiftly changing power dynamics referenced previously and showing the audience the effect perceived social status has on the way people are treated. After being socially degraded, Vivian’s physical suffering arises. Continuously growing from the moment that she takes the popsicle like a child, explaining that “The epithelial cells in [her] GI tract have been killed by the chemo [and] The cold popsicle feels good…” Vivian’s disease grows steadily more painful. This stage is characterized by the next Holy Sonnet in the sequence, “if poysonous minerals.” Donne writes, “To God, in his sterne wrath, why threatens hee? / But who am I, that dare dispute with thee? / O God, oh! …” (Donne, Holy Sonnet 9). Throughout this sonnet, the speaker approaching death is asking God why they must suffer while animals and objects that have sinned may pass peacefully. Vivian too finds herself in this situation. “There is cancer eating away at my goddamn bones, and I did not know there could be such pain on this earth. (She flops back on the bed and cries audibly to them.) Oh, God” ( Edson, 71). Vivian will not move beyond this pain until she passes, and until then her language choices grow more and more similar to those demonstrated in “Holy Sonnet 9.” Vivian’s previous social status and references to poetry are replaced with basic moans and questions directed to higher powers, illustrating once again to the reader that even after a respected career studying death, often the only conclusion is to face it, and in Vivian’s case all the pain that came along with it. On page 84 through the end of Wit, Edson creates a situation characterized by a final power struggle and contrasted by the peace of Vivian’s death in order to further connect her text to the poems of John Donne and form the last stage of Vivian’s time at the hospital shown through the diction choices and chaotic characterization throughout this final passage. As Vivian begins to fall into cardiac arrest and Jason calls the code, the hierarchy of the medical world becomes instantly apparent. The code team, yelling “Get out of the way!” and “Move it!” is in control. Susie’s frail attempts to stop them are an obvious failure, putting the code team in the position of power and Vivian in the lowest position of all. In connection to “Holy Sonnet 10,” Susie is attempting to allow Vivian to die, and plays the role of death. Here though, Vivian’s choice is to be made at the mercy of the code team. Their role is fate, illustrated by the inevitability of their actions. In essence, Edson is connecting the final roles of the characters in Wit to the final “Holy Sonnet 10” through the line “[death,] Thou’art slave to Fate, chance, kings and desperate men.” Secondly, Edson characterizes the code team as robotic and inevitable through diction choices to further illustrate that as in “Holy Sonnet 10,” death is powerless under Fate. The most prevalent method of diction that Edson utilizes to create this persona for the code team is the uniformity of their speech. For example, “-Almost ready! -Hit her! -CLEAR! -Pulse? Pulse?” (Edson, 84). The way in which the team completes each other’s thoughts, anticipates each other’s actions and follows through on each task as a single unit molds the character of the code team into the mechanical (inevitable after being called in by Jason) and unstoppable force that Donne claims is more powerful than death. Then, as Vivian begins her final passing, Edson draws one final connection to “Holy Sonnet 10”: “One short sleepe past, wee wake eternally, / And death shall be no more, Death, thou shalt die.” (Donne, Holy Sonnet 10). As in the poetry of John Donne, Vivian had struggled with death since she was a student. Her studies taught her not to fear death, yet as it approached, she began to question her beliefs. Her final battle with death though relieved her fears, for as “Vivian walks out of bed…away from the scene, toward a little light,” her short sleep is past. And finally, as “She loosens the ties and… She lets the second gown fall… reaching toward the light,” death has passed too, and Vivian gains a final understanding of death that all her years of studying could not provide. (Edson, 85). In accordance with John Sykes’ “Wit, Pride and the Resurrection,” “Professor Bearing herself undergoes an inner religious drama remarkably like one portrayed in the sonnets in which she is expert. Her suffering…[and passing] is, as Donne suggests, a means to correction, and ultimately salvation” (60). By drawing the connection between Wit and John Donne’s poetry, Edson is able to show that even after a lifetime of studying death, its power to alter relationships, status perception and provide relief to suffering cannot truly be understood until a passing is experienced. By making continual reference to Donne’s Holy Sonnets and aligning Vivian’s fight against cancer with the themes present in them, Edson alters the original relationships and social standings found in her play to match the degradation that occurs within Vivian’s body and mind. This choice makes her play even more intriguing for those who have studied the works of Donne as Vivian had, and pays homage to her for the suffering that she is forced to endure as a result of her ordeal. Finally, Edson illustrates to the reader that only as her social status declined was Vivian’s understanding of death able to improve, providing a catharsis to the audience in knowing that her passing would allow Vivian to rest peacefully having finally completed her studies. Givhan, Jennifer. “Crossing the Language Barrier: Coalescing the Mind/Body Split and Embracing Krisevas’s Semiotic in Margaret Edson’s Wit.” Women and Language 32.1: 77-81. Print. Sykes, John. Wit, Pride and the Resurrection: Margaret Edson’s Play and John Donne’s Poetry. EBSCO, 2003. 163-174. Print. Redemption in Wit April 19, 2019 by Essay Writer In Margaret Edson’s Wit, Jason, Susie, and Professor Ashwood guide Vivian Bearing toward redemption, changing her into a person who can be both intellectual and compassionate. Jason’s cold intellectualism helps Vivian realize her own neglect of humanity; Susie’s compassion shows her how people should act; and Professor Ashwood, by embodying both intellect and compassion, brings Vivian full circle in her redemption so that she might die in peace. Jason begins Vivian’s road to redemption by showing her the error of her ways. At the start of the play, Vivian strongly identifies with Jason because he represents research and “uncompromising scholarly standards” (15). Being a scholar herself, Vivian feels at home with the anatomization and dehumanization of research. Just as Jason anatomizes her as research, she picks apart John Donne’s “Holy Sonnets.” She focuses on Donne’s use of punctuation, pronunciation, and scansion like Jason focuses on her anatomy, both completely missing the “psychological depression” (39) of their subjects. After one morning’s “Grand Rounds” (36), Vivian begins to equate her situation with her scholarly studies, noting “they read me like a book. Once I did the teaching, now I am taught” (37). This realization devastates and humbles Vivian because she has now been reduced to mere subject matter. Jason, much like Vivian, completely ignores the necessity of humanity in his job. He feels that dealing with people in a humane and caring manner is a “colossal waste of time for researchers” (55). Through Jason’s coldness towards her, Vivian realizes that she has “ruthlessly denied her simpering students the touch of human kindness she now seeks” (59). By becoming the recipient of Jason’s intellectual coldness, she can now see her own mistake in treating her students cruelly and inhumanely, not even acknowledging the death of a grandmother. Once Vivian grasps the importance of humanity through Jason’s lack of it, she turns to Susie as an example of compassion, which leads her closer to her own redemption. Susie reinforces Vivian’s newfound belief in the value of compassion and humanity towards those that are suffering. Before Vivian’s realization, she feels extremely uncomfortable with Susie’s kindness towards her. Yet as her suffering increases and becomes unbearable, she cannot refuse the soothing effects of Susie’s simple compassion. Susie invests herself deeply in seeing that Vivian is as comfortable as possible. Susie provides childlike comforts by calling her “sweetheart” (64), holding her when she cries, and giving her a Popsicle. Susie shows Vivian the “simple human truth” (15) that she could not grasp the meaning of before when studying Donne’s sonnets. Vivian sees now that death and life are no longer abstract but are very personal. Her and Susie’s discussion about resuscitation mirrors the correct punctuation of Donne’s Holy Sonnet Six. Vivian finally decides that she will end her life with a comma, peacefully passing from life to death without a struggle. Susie provides Vivian with proof that there is something more fulfilling outside of her intellectual world. Although Vivian comes to appreciate Susie’s compassionate personality, she cannot fully connect with her because Susie lacks the intellect necessary for Vivian to truly identify with her. Vivian still feels the need to be intellectual as well as compassionate; therefore, she cannot complete the unification of her soul without the help of Professor Ashwood. Professor Ashwood allows Vivian to see that intellect and humanity can coexist, thereby allowing her to be redeemed and die in peace. Throughout Vivian’s life, Professor Ashwood tries to ground her in the world of intellectualism as well as humanity. Even when Vivian is a young graduate, Professor Ashwood attempts to show her the delicate balance between intellect and humanity. Professor Ashwood uses Vivian’s paper on Donne as an example, telling her that Donne’s poetry “is not wit. . .It is truth.” (15). Although Professor Ashwood reveals from the beginning the secret of Donne’s poetry, Vivian continues for twenty years to search for its meaning, still completely missing its “simple human truth” (15). Because Vivian spends twenty years invested in her research instead of in humanity, she finds herself without friends or colleagues to come see her in her time of need. Unfortunately, Vivian cannot even grasp the importance of human companionship until she is about to die. Although Professor Ashwood has always been there as her friend and intellectual equal, she can only recognize that after she encounters both cold intellect and simple human compassion in their raw forms through Jason and Susie. After her experiences with the two extremes, she can fully be redeemed when Professor Ashwood comes to visit her at the end. Professor Ashwood compassionately crosses the lines of intellectual formality, comforting Vivian with a “little allegory about the soul” (80). Although she could quote Donne’s “Holy Sonnets,” Professor Ashwood allows Vivian to see the simplicity in God’s love through the bunny story. Once Vivian sees that humanity and intellect can coexist in a person that she admires, she can finally unify the two halves of her soul and die in peace. In Wit, Vivian discovers her past mistakes through Jason’s cold intellectualism, her need for compassion through Susie, and the possibility of intellect and humanity coexisting through Professor Ashwood. It is only after her encounters with Jason, Susie, and Professor Ashwood that Vivian can finally reconcile her soul to be both intellectual and humane. In literature (novels, folk tales, plays, movies, etc.) one finds presented two forms of so called “coming-of-age” stories. The traditional method is preparation for adulthood. A youth (generally between 10 years old and 20) passes, by some calamity or other intense situation, from the world of innocence to the world of experience to join the rest of the adults who made the passage before him. The youth is stripped of utopian illusions about life and acquainted with the hard facts of reality in a fashion that is painful, but never lethal. Classic examples of this type of tale include the folk tale “Hansel and Gretel” and Charles Dickens’s novel David Copperfield.Another coming of age or rite of passage presented by literature is the preparation for death. In this version, the character is stripped of the illusions of adulthood and made ready to die peacefully. The plot of these stories (like any in literature) involves some conflict or dilemma which opens the eyes of the character to the certainty of death. Once this is done and the character accepts mortality, he is then able to put his affairs in order (usually with loved ones) and possibly able to pass on learning to his loved ones. An example of this form of literature is the play Wit by Margaret Edson (also wittily titled W;t).So what is the purpose of this less often used rite of passage? Generally it is to teach readers/viewers about death in order to allow them a fuller life. Furthermore, if they are presented with someone else’s mistakes that cause the conflict of the story, they can perhaps see a reflection of themselves in the literature and be able to side-step the unpleasant dilemmas that cause anxiety about death which can prevent living a fulfilling life.One of these dilemmas presented in this rite of passage is grappling with the illusion of control. If a person cannot accept that control is an illusion, then he will face much anxiety and unhappiness. Religion has often sought to deal with this crisis, offering the simple mantra “let go and let God” as well as the more meaningful serenity prayer (used by Alcoholics Anonymous, an organization dedicated to helping people to regain some measure of control in their lives). The serenity prayer attempts to meet people halfway: “Lord, give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” A key word used in this prayer is the driving goal behind much of literature and religion – the attainment of wisdom. Part of this wisdom is understanding that total control in life is an illusion. The thwarting of control leads to anxiety and pain because people feel that something is being taken from them. Literature often seeks to show that it was never there to be taken (truthful literature, at least). While it is possible and desirable for one to be the “captain” of his or her own soul, that is the extent of the control one can achieve in life, and some, the mentally ill for example, do not even have that control. It is this wisdom that is the focus of the play Wit.Wit’s main character is Vivian Bearing, a scholar of 17th century poetry, particularly John Donne. Her life, which has been under control for half a century, is undergoing drastic changes. She has been diagnosed with terminal stage four metastatic ovarian cancer, the cancer having slipped by undetected when it would have been treatable in stages one through three. Up until this point in her life, she had exercised great control over her environment. In terms of her scholarly career, she at one point refers to herself as “a force” in the study of literature (Edson 17). She is the queen of the department, and her colleagues, it appears, cannot wait for her to move on so that they may take her place, even those that are former students of hers (32). In the classroom, Vivian exercised tremendous control and poise, never needing notes and never slipping in her lectures (74). She had tremendous control of the subject matter, saying, “I could work my students into a frenzy. Every ambiguity, every shifting awareness. I could draw so much from the poems. I could be so powerful” (48). Apparently, she expected others to control their situations to the same extent, not showing mercy to students who may have needed a little extra time or a little extra help. If a student could not control his situation, this was no reason for her to show kindness – ironically, this comes back to bite her in the end with her doctors not showing her the kindness that she aches for when she starts to feel as if she has lost control of her life.This perceived loss of control is evidenced in the latter half of the play; however, she could not lose what she never had. In her life, she felt the illusion of control, but she never really had it. If she had control over her life, a few things would have been different. First off, she would not have ever gotten cancer. She did not tell her cells to behave in such a manner, nor did she have the power to stop them. Furthermore, she is not able to control what happens to her body as a result of the treatment. While she has actively chosen to undergo the particular therapy, she cannot control the hair loss or nausea that she experiences. Moreover, she has given herself over to the care of the doctors who treat her not as a person but as research. These doctors may claim to be trying to help her, but they are actually more concerned with seeing the effects of their experimental medicine. Further evidence of this lack of control is that she must submit to the rules of the hospital: she must wear a gown, she must be ready when the doctors are ready, and most importantly, she must undergo tests when they want her to, no matter how inconvenient or demeaning the test may be. For instance, at one point she has to (at least, she feels she has to) undergo a “degrading” pelvic exam by a doctor who is a former student of hers (30-32). This subservience to the doctors is well characterized by her comments in regard to the “grand rounds” of the doctors. This is when the head researcher, Dr. Kelekian, brings all of his students through the hospital to examine the patients in order to review diseases, treatments, symptoms, side effects, etc. She saysFull of subservience, hierarchy, gratuitous displays, sublimated rivalries – I feel right at home. It is just like a graduate seminar. With one important difference: in Grand Rounds, they read me like a book. Once I did the teaching, now I am taught. This is much easier. I just hold still and look cancerous. It requires less acting every time. (37)This gives us further evidence that Vivian is not in control, rather she must bend to the doctors’ wishes. The most salient example to prove this subservience to the doctors comes a little later in the play when she is demonstrating for the audience what it was like when she taught a class. In the middle of this enactment, however, the nurse Susie comes in and tells Vivian that the doctors need her for a test. When she complains that she is busy teaching her class, Susie is insistent and finally persuades her to go down to the lab for the test. As it turns out, though, the test which has to be done immediately (as per the doctor’s order) must be postponed because the technician is on break at the moment, thus revealing that she actually could have reveled in her teaching fantasy for a while longer after all (50-52).Regardless of who is in control, Vivian finally comes to terms with lack of control (and her need for human kindness) at the end when confronted with the certainty of death. She has undergone every phase of the treatment and realizes that she is not getting any better. Moreover, she fully realizes by this point that Dr. Kelekian never really expected her to get better, but was rather using her to further his research (67). She confesses her lack of control and the fear this generates to the nurse Susie. In an atypical emotional display, she breaks down and declares: “I do not feel sure of myself anymore” (65). With the help of Susie, Vivian exercises one final bit of control, perhaps the only control one can have in life. She decides, in one of her final scenes, that if her body should stop functioning, she will not be resuscitated; she will be allowed to die peacefully (68-69).Despite the fabulous control that Vivian felt she had in her life, her circumstances brought her face to face with her fear of losing control. This fear, along with the fear of death, troubled her greatly throughout the play until she was able to gain the serenity to accept the things she could not change. Before she could do that, before she could grow, she had to lose everything in her life, she had to leave behind the lifestyle that she had. There is a fantastic quote from the movie Fight Club that goes something like “it’s only when you’ve lost everything that you are free to do anything.” Because she lost everything, Vivian was able to be prepared for death and to lose her fear of death, thus bringing about the final scene of the play in which she was able to walk gracefully from her earthly life.Works CitedEdson, Margaret. Wit. New York: Faber and Faber Inc.,1993. Comparative Essay of Donne and W;t January 28, 2019 by Essay Writer Existential quandaries remain ingrained within the human condition, where superficial evasions by intellectualizing such concerns are eventually addressed by universal values of humility and compassion within contextual constructs. When confronted by death, the notion of wit postures as a mechanism to disguise insecurities, with mortal suffering allowing the edification to renounce pride and form genuine emotional bonds. Although composed in vastly differing contexts, John Donne’s 17th century metaphysical poems and Margaret Edson’s late 20th century postmodern play W;t, retain significance through examining mortal fears to approach the spiritual processes necessary to gain acceptance of death. In an attempt to mask the omnipresent fear of mortality, intellectualism allows individuals to gain a sense of control over immutable existential anxieties. Revered during the Age of Discovery, Donne’s employment of wit within his 17th century poetry serves to condone God’s arbitrary judgement, arguing the finality of death to offer solace of the afterlife. Within Death be not Proud, Donne circumvents the capabilities of death through the condescending apostrophe in the metaphysical conceit of sleep, ‘Die not, poor death nor yet canst thou kill me,’ depicting death as a transition into the spiritual afterlife, subverting longstanding apprehension towards human transience within Protestant scripture. Donne furthers the disempowerment of death in If Poisonous Minerals, engendering a prideful veneer through the argumentative structure in the biblical allusion, ‘if serpents envious cannot be damned,’ coupled with the rhetorical question, ‘why should I be?’ denoting Donne’s fear of damnation, implying inherent human qualities should not impede personal redemption. Similarly, despite composition in a secular context, Edson’s W;t explores how Vivian utilizes her academic prowess to conceal her impending demise during her taxing chemotherapy treatment. Paralleling Donne’s façade of intellect, Vivian’s ironic hyperbole describing how she knew, ‘all about life and death. I am…a scholar of Donne’s Holy Sonnet,’ establishes how the theoretical comprehension of death within her research-oriented milieu has hindered the ability to grasp the complexities of mortality as a tangible human emotion. Emphasizing the use of intellectualism to obscure mortal vulnerabilities, Vivian’s repetition when getting tested, ‘I have a Ph.D.’ conveys the use of academia to perpetuate a sense of hubris compensating for the fear regarding a terminal illness. Hence, the attempt to rationalize the abstract of death as a panacea for mortal suffering provides a temporary patronizing sense of certainty. Moreover, potent confrontations with mortality force personal self-effacement, where an initial defense of arrogance is eroded by introspection, inciting subsequent redemption. The contextual Christian notions of suffering as penance is exemplified as Donne argues for God’s absolution in Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness, through the allusion to Jesus, ‘by these his thorn, give me his other crown,’ metaphorically representing the need to reconcile one’s sins through physical hardships. Donne renounces any skepticism of death in This is my Playes Last Scene, through the apostrophe to God, ‘impute me righteous, thus purg’d of evil,’ inferring the disavowal towards a supercilious stand towards God’s judgement, capturing contextual value for repentance to mitigate trauma within the Jacobean afterlife. Contrastingly, in W;t, Edson portrays Vivian’s suffering as a conduit for reflection to denounce her previous hubris. Provoking a renunciation of academic arrogance, the dramatization of Vivian’s physical pain through the stage direction, ‘writhing … screaming … cries,’ coupled with Vivian’s reflective tone after talking to Jason, ‘I wish I had given him an A,’ evokes a sense of regret, alluding to Donne’s recognition of physical suffering to resolve personal flaws, conveying the need to rectify sins to gain closure before the insuperability of death even within a secular context. Additionally, capturing the inability of theoretical concepts to console individuals facing death, the use of intertextuality when EM reads, ‘The Runaway Bunny,’ where the simplicities of the books symbolize how ephemeral suffering helps Vivian to reject her pride, realizing the necessity for genuine connection to attune to the inevitability of death. Thus, both texts highlight how the process of personal reappraisal when facing mortality catalyses in a spiritual metamorphosis, promoting religious or moral salvation contingent on a theological or humanistic context. Furthermore, embracing death engenders the re-examination of prior relationships to understand inherent need for connection to aid in personal fulfillment. Realizing the capacity for spiritual connection in A Valediction: forbidding mourning, Donne’s conceit describing love as, ‘stiff twin compasses are two,’ explores the metaphysical synchronization of love, accentuating how intrinsic bonds transcend temporal displacement. Donne reinforces how these human connections reduce apprehension towards death in the humbling metaphor, ‘let us melt, and make no noise,’ suggesting a burgeoning acceptance of death facilitated by the fulfillment of a compassionate symbiotic relationship. However, Edson conveys how the innate desire for interpersonal relationships exacerbates Vivian’s existential anxiety due to the scholarly austerity that initially isolated her. Despite highly valued within the information era, Edson conveys how academic rigor is not analogous to self-worth in Vivian’s anaphora when contemplating her life, ‘now is a time for simplicity. Now it is time for … kindness,’ alluding to the emotional gratification embedded within the human condition. Similar to Donne’s representation of relationships to calm tensions regarding mortality, the stage direction, ‘[Vivian unwraps [the popsicle] and breaks it in half],’ metaphorically represents the enlightening comprehension towards the necessity of simple personal bonds, that triumphs over the restrictive medical ethics in Vivian’s depersonalised context, to harmonise with the otherwise unpalatable reality of death. Therefore, both texts underscore the universal need for connection during peak individual insecurities when approaching death to provide a sense of salvation. Ultimately, the rationalisation of mortality consistently proves futile in contextual variances, with suffering and genuine human connections catalyzing an enlightened embrace of death. Donne and W;t recognize the necessity to dismantle intellectual wit, undergoing a didactic process to surrender one’s pride, resulting in a humbling acceptance of death. Woman at Point Zero Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories Woman of Colour Novel Women and Other Animals Woodcuts of Women Stories Wordsworths Poetical Works Written on the Body	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2021
__label__wiki	0.570887	0.570887	Batgirl and the Birds of Prey (2016-2018) Vol. 3: Full Circle Batgirl and the Birds of Prey (2016-2018) Vol. 3: Full Circle Save an additional 15%. Learn How The Birds of Prey are more than a team: Batgirl, Black Canary and Huntress are friends, allies and sisters. Even when the Birds’ membership swells to include partners like Catwoman, Poison Ivy and even Harley Quinn, those three heroes—Barbara, Dinah and Helena—are the beating heart of the team. So what happens when the trust that unites them is betrayed? Barbara Gordon isn’t just Batgirl—she’s also the elite hacker known as Oracle, and she’s been using a backdoor into the computer system of the dangerous information broker known as the Calculator to take down his criminal enterprise, bit by bit. But when the Calculator decides to make it his mission to find and destroy Oracle, Dinah and Helena discover that Barbara hasn’t been open with them about where her intel is coming from … and innocent lives are lost in the cross-fire. Now, their most dangerous and personal enemies are united against them, and the Birds are barely on speaking terms. Can the Birds of Prey learn to stand united … or will they fall once and for all? Julie Benson Shawna Benson Roge Antonio Marcio Takara Superhero Leading Ladies Batgirl and Black Canary are together again, working a case that strikes right at the heart of their partnership! Someone's uncovered the greatest secret Barbara Gordon ever kept: her time as Oracle, the most powerful hacker on the planet. And not only do they know her secret, they're using her name to sell dangerous information to criminals! Now one of those deals has brought some major heat to G Batwoman (2017-2018) The newest chapter of Batwoman’s life begins here! Monster Venom is the hottest new bioweapon on the market…and to break up the syndicate spreading it around the world, Batwoman’s going to have to return to the place where she spent some of her darkest hours! Batgirl (2016-) The Batgirl you know and love is going global with Eisner Award-winning and New York Times best-selling writer Hope Larson (A Wrinkle in Time, Goldie Vance) and all-star artist Rafael Albuquerque (AMERICAN VAMPIRE). In order to up her game, Babs travels to Japan on a quest to train with the most elite modern combat masters of the East. But when a chance meeting with an old friend puts a target on Cyborg (2016-2018) Victor Stone was once a star athlete and brilliant student with a bright future. But after a tragic accident destroyed over half of his body, Victor was kept alive by merging flesh with advanced technology. Today he is the Justice League co-founder called Cyborg. But is the young hero a man…or a machine that merely believes it’s a man? Trinity (2016-2018) Together again for the first time! Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. The core of the World's Greatest Heroes…but with a new Man of Steel, the bonds these three share will be tested and redefined by super-star writer/artist Francis Manapul.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2024
__label__cc	0.50815	0.49185	Highlights of the Month Arabic Highlights of the Month Children's Highlights of the Month Fresh New Reads Magrudy's Bestsellers Cookbooks & Food Travel Guides - DK Travel Guides - Lonely Planet Children's & Teen Fiction Children's Fiction: 0-5 Children's Fiction: 6-12 Teen/ Young Adult Fiction Study Guides & Textbooks شعر وادب اطفال من صفر - 3 سنوات ماقبل المدرسة - رياض اطفال قصص أطفال مصورة قصص لليافعين قصص أطفال من سن 4-12 تعليم الأطفال قواميس تاريخ وسياسة العقل والجسم والروح كتب إسلامية إنجليزية كتب مسموعة واسطوانا لغات اجنبية المعارف العامة Dubai College Latifa School for Girls The English College Dubai Jumeirah Baccalaureate School Rashid School for Boys Uptown International School SATs Key Stage 1 11+ Exam GCSE Books by Exam Board AS and A Level Books by Exam Board Maths Equipment Popular Brands - Stationery Boxclever Press Fringoo McLaggan Mugs Raspberry Blossom Popular Brands - Art & Crafts Folders & Filing Accessories Lunch Bags & Accessories Math Equipment Sticky Notes & Memo Blocks Wool & Accessories Forever Funny Hammond & Gower HOTCHPOTCH London Stop the Clock Stormy Knight Deva Designs Stewo Ann Williams Les Déglingos Arts & Craft Toys Infant Toys (Birth to 36 Months) Preschool Toys (3 to 6 Yrs) Let's Pretend 60 - 149.99 AED 150 AED + Bookfair Under a week (1) More than a week (100+) Unavailable (74) $15–39.99 (49) $40+ (100+) Xenophon (7) Stephen Leacock (4) B J G Van Der Kooij (4) Walter Bagehot (3) Charles Whiting Baker (3) Hartley Withers (3) Richard E Carmichael Ph D (3) English (100+) Paperback / softback (100+) General (100+) Higher Education (22) Palgrave Macmillan (100+) Taylor & Francis Ltd (100+) Proquest, Eebo Editions (100+) Cambridge University Press (100+) Hachette Livre Bnf (100+) Eebo Editions, Proquest (100+) Princeton University Press (100+) Createspace Independent Publishing Platform (100+) Springer International Publishing AG (100+) Oxford University Press (100+) Relevance Price Descending Price Ascending Popularity (found 362 products) This book examines one of the most important economic outcomes in American history-the breakdown of the Keynesian Revolution. Drawing on economic literature, the memoirs of economists and politicians, and the popular press, Eric Crouse examines how economic decline in the 1970s precipitated a political revolution. Keynesian thought flourished through the ... America's Failing Economy and the Rise of Ronald Reagan This book examines one of the most important economic outcomes in American history-the breakdown of the Keynesian Revolution. Drawing on economic literature, the memoirs of economists and politicians, and the popular press, Eric Crouse examines how economic decline in the 1970s precipitated a political revolution. Keynesian thought flourished through the presidencies of Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford, until stagflation devastated American workers and Jimmy Carter's economic policies faltered, setting the stage for the 1980 presidential campaign. Tracking years of shifting public opinion and colorful debate between free-market and Keynesian economists, this book illuminates a neglected era of American economic history and shows how Ronald Reagan harnessed a vision of small government and personal freedom that transformed the American political landscape. https://magrudy-assets.storage.googleapis.com/9783319889573.jpg https://magrudy.com/book/americas-failing-economy-and-the-rise-of-ronald-reagan-9783319889573/ 104.990000 USD by Eric R. Crouse Quantity: 1 $104.99 This is the first collection of essays dedicated to the topics of money and economics in the English literature of the late Middle Ages. These essays explore ways that late medieval economic thought informs contemporary English texts and apply modern modes of economic analysis to medieval literature. In so doing, ... Money, Commerce, and Economics in Late Medieval English Literature This is the first collection of essays dedicated to the topics of money and economics in the English literature of the late Middle Ages. These essays explore ways that late medieval economic thought informs contemporary English texts and apply modern modes of economic analysis to medieval literature. In so doing, they read the importance and influence of historical records of practices as aids to contextualizing these texts. They also apply recent modes of economic history as a means to understand the questions the texts ask about economics, trade, and money. Collectively, these papers argue that both medieval and modern economic thought are key to valuable historical contextualization of medieval literary texts, but that this criticism can be advanced only if we also recognize the specificity of the economic and social conditions of late-medieval England. https://magrudy.com/book/money-commerce-and-economics-in-late-medieval-english-literature-9783319891187/ in The New Middle Ages This book explores the history of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its place within capitalist development. Since 1948, the OECD and its forerunner, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) worked on almost every subject of interest to national governments ranging from economic growth to education ... The OECD and the International Political Economy Since 1948 This book explores the history of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its place within capitalist development. Since 1948, the OECD and its forerunner, the Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC) worked on almost every subject of interest to national governments ranging from economic growth to education (PISA rankings), statistics, to the environment. With varying success the OEEC/OECD thus played a key role as a warden of the West and of capitalist development. However, it has remained one of the least understood international organizations. Bringing together a number of case studies by scholars from around the world, this first source-based volume on the history of the OEEC/OECD in global governance offers not only a new understanding of the Organization's key areas of activities, but also its multiple relations to member states, other international organizations, and private networks. The volume thus critically re-examines postwar international history, most importantly decolonization and the Cold War, through the prism of one international organization in its various contexts. https://magrudy.com/book/the-oecd-and-the-international-political-economy-since-1948-9783319868158/ Praise for the first edition: 'The new book by Michael Mitsopoulos and Theodore Pelagidis offers insightful analysis of the Greek drama. It makes fascinating reading and well demonstrates that the blame is widely shared.' Andre Sapir, University Professor, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and former Economic Advisor to the President ... Who's to Blame for Greece?: How Austerity and Populism are Destroying a Country with High Potential Praise for the first edition: 'The new book by Michael Mitsopoulos and Theodore Pelagidis offers insightful analysis of the Greek drama. It makes fascinating reading and well demonstrates that the blame is widely shared.' Andre Sapir, University Professor, Universite libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, and former Economic Advisor to the President of the European Commission 'Who is to blame for Greece? If I could pick just two experts on the Greek debacle to answer this question it would be Theodore Pelagidis and Michael Mitsopoulos. And thankfully they have done just that in this penetrating analysis of what has happened to Greece over the past five years. It's a timely and incisive work and no one gets off easy a must read.' Landon Thomas, Jr, Financial Reporter, New York Times, USA This expanded and enlarged second edition of Theodore Pelagidis and Michael Mitsopoulos' popular Who's to Blame for Greece? (2016) reviews Greece's economy since its accession to the Monetary Union, with new research focusing on the perils of the populist Syrizia government during the critical 'Grexit' period of 2015-2016. The authors also focus on political developments since that time and in particular propose a new form of taxation as well as explore debt sustainability in relation to Greece's economic challenges. This book will appeal to researchers, practitioners and policy makers interested in the EU and the political economy of Greece and offers valuable updates on the first edition. https://magrudy.com/book/whos-to-blame-for-greece-how-austerity-and-populism-are-destroying-a-country-with-high-potential-9783319885827/ by Michael Mitsopoulos, Theodore Pelagidis This book brings together analysis on the conditions of agricultural sectors in countries and regions of the world's peripheries, from a wide variety of international contributors. The contributors to this volume proffer an understanding of the processes of agricultural transformations and their interaction with the overall economies of Africa, Asia ... Agricultural Development in the World Periphery: A Global Economic History Approach This book brings together analysis on the conditions of agricultural sectors in countries and regions of the world's peripheries, from a wide variety of international contributors. The contributors to this volume proffer an understanding of the processes of agricultural transformations and their interaction with the overall economies of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Looking at the nineteenth and twentieth centuries - the onset of modern economic growth - the book studies the relationship between agriculture and other economic sectors, exploring the use of resources (land, labour, capital) and the influence of institutional and technological factors in the long-run performance of agricultural activities. Pinilla and Willebald challenge the notion that agriculture played a negligible role in promoting economic development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, when the impulse towards industrialization in the developing world was more impactful. https://magrudy.com/book/agricultural-development-in-the-world-periphery-a-global-economic-history-approach-9783319881553/ in Palgrave Studies in Economic History This book is a textual criticism of modern ideas about the work of Adam Smith that offers a new perspective on many of his famous contributions to economic thought. Adam Smith is often hailed as a leading figure in the development of economic theories, but modern presentations of his works ... An Authentic Account of Adam Smith This book is a textual criticism of modern ideas about the work of Adam Smith that offers a new perspective on many of his famous contributions to economic thought. Adam Smith is often hailed as a leading figure in the development of economic theories, but modern presentations of his works do not reflect Smith's actual ideas or influence during his lifetime. Gavin Kennedy believes that Smith's name and legacy were often appropriated or made into myths in the 19th and 20th centuries, with many misconceptions persisting today. Offering new analysis of works on rhetoric, moral sentiments, jurisprudence, the invisible hand, The Wealth of Nations, and Smith's very private views on religion, the book gives a new perspective on this important canonical thinker https://magrudy.com/book/an-authentic-account-of-adam-smith-9783319876399/ by Gavin Kennedy This book deconstructs a series of myths surrounding China's economic rise. The first myth is that globalization led directly to China's rise; the second is that China is another East Asian developmental state; the third that China's market reform had been implemented in an incremental way; and fourth that China's ... China's Rise in the Age of Globalization: Myth or Reality? This book deconstructs a series of myths surrounding China's economic rise. The first myth is that globalization led directly to China's rise; the second is that China is another East Asian developmental state; the third that China's market reform had been implemented in an incremental way; and fourth that China's 'resilient authoritarianism' has been effective in ensuring the country's economic and political transformation. Yue argues that the China model is one of 'crony comprador capitalism' that has hindered the country's attempts at economic and political modernity. It is argued that the United States' strategy of integrating China into the international system is self-defeating in the long run; not because such an approach has created a 'restless empire' capable of challenging US primacy, but because the Chinese 'miracle' has subsequently backfired on the liberal order created after World War Two. Covering the entire reform period from the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976 to the present day, the author calls for readers to rethink globalization and leave more policy space for China and the developing nations to pursue national development through internal integration, which is more conducive to democratic transition and global peace. https://magrudy.com/book/chinas-rise-in-the-age-of-globalization-myth-or-reality-9783319876948/ by Jianyong Yue This book examines the macroeconomic and regulatory impact of domestic and international shocks on the South African economy resulting from the 2009 financial crisis. It also assesses the impact of the US economy's eventual recovery from the crisis and the prospect of higher US interest rates in future. Told in ... Global Economic Uncertainties and Exchange Rate Shocks: Transmission Channels to the South African Economy This book examines the macroeconomic and regulatory impact of domestic and international shocks on the South African economy resulting from the 2009 financial crisis. It also assesses the impact of the US economy's eventual recovery from the crisis and the prospect of higher US interest rates in future. Told in three parts, the book explores associations between economic growth, policy uncertainty and the key domestic and international transmission channels, and transmission effects, of global financial regulatory and domestic macro-economic uncertainties on subdued and volatile economic recovery, financial channels, lending rate margins, and credit growth. The book concludes by extending its focus to the role of US monetary policy, capital flows and rand/US dollar volatility on the South African economy. https://magrudy.com/book/global-economic-uncertainties-and-exchange-rate-shocks-transmission-channels-to-the-south-african-economy-9783319872797/ 89.240000 USD by Mthuli Ncube, Nombulelo Gumata, Eliphas Ndou Quantity: 1 $89.24 This book reveals the business history of the Australian Government Clothing Factory as it introduced innovative changes in the production and design of the Australian Army uniform during the twentieth century. While adopting a Schumpeterian interpretation of the concept of innovation, Anneke van Mosseveld traces the driving forces behind innovation ... The Australian Army Uniform and the Government Clothing Factory: Innovation in the Twentieth Century This book reveals the business history of the Australian Government Clothing Factory as it introduced innovative changes in the production and design of the Australian Army uniform during the twentieth century. While adopting a Schumpeterian interpretation of the concept of innovation, Anneke van Mosseveld traces the driving forces behind innovation and delivers a comprehensive explanation of the resulting changes in the combat uniform. Using an array of archival sources, this book displays details of extensive collaborations between the factory, the Army and scientists in the development of camouflage patterns and military textiles. It uncovers a system of intellectual property management to protect the designs of the uniform, and delivers new insights into the wider economic influences and industry linkages of the Government owned factory. https://magrudy.com/book/the-australian-army-uniform-and-the-government-clothing-factory-innovation-in-the-twentieth-century-9783319890722/ by Anneke van Mosseveld This book investigates the birth and evolution of craft breweries around the world. Microbrewery, brewpub, artisanal brewery, henceforth craft brewery, are terms referred to a new kind of production in the brewing industry contraposed to the mass production of beer, which has started and diffused in almost all industrialized countries ... Economic Perspectives on Craft Beer: A Revolution in the Global Beer Industry This book investigates the birth and evolution of craft breweries around the world. Microbrewery, brewpub, artisanal brewery, henceforth craft brewery, are terms referred to a new kind of production in the brewing industry contraposed to the mass production of beer, which has started and diffused in almost all industrialized countries in the last decades. This project provides an explanation of the entrepreneurial dynamics behind these new firms from an economic perspective. The product standardization of large producers, the emergence of a new more sophisticated demand and set of consumers, the effect of contagion, and technology aspects are analyzed as the main determinants behind this 'revolution'. The worldwide perspective makes the project distinctive, presenting cases from many relevant countries, including the USA, Australia, Japan, China, UK, Belgium, Italy and many other EU countries. https://magrudy.com/book/economic-perspectives-on-craft-beer-a-revolution-in-the-global-beer-industry-9783319863559/ The quality of life experienced by people in the past is one of the most important areas of historical enquiry, and the standard of living of populations is one of the leading measures of the economic performance of nations. Yet how accurate is the information on which these judgments are ... Seven Centuries of Unreal Wages: The Unreliable Data, Sources and Methods that have been used for Measuring Standards of Living in the Past The quality of life experienced by people in the past is one of the most important areas of historical enquiry, and the standard of living of populations is one of the leading measures of the economic performance of nations. Yet how accurate is the information on which these judgments are based? This collection of essays, written by renowned scholars in the fields of labour, wage and welfare history, cogently undermine the validity of the data that have for decades dominated the measurement of these phenomena in Britain, Europe and Asia, and provided the statistical backbone for countless descriptions and analyses of economic development, welfare and many other prime subjects in economic and social history. The contributors to this volume rigorously expose misapprehensions of long-run macroeconomic estimates of the real wage and provide a host of improved methods and data for revising and rejecting them. This volume is essential reading for anyone interested in economic and social history, economics and the application of statistical methods to historical evidence. https://magrudy.com/book/seven-centuries-of-unreal-wages-the-unreliable-data-sources-and-methods-that-have-been-used-for-measuring-standards-of-living-in-the-past-9783319969619/ This contributed volume applies cliometric methods to the study of family and households in order to derive global patterns and determine their impact on economic development. Family and households are a fundamental feature of societies and economies. They are found throughout history and are the place where key decisions on ... Cliometrics of the Family This contributed volume applies cliometric methods to the study of family and households in order to derive global patterns and determine their impact on economic development. Family and households are a fundamental feature of societies and economies. They are found throughout history and are the place where key decisions on fertility, labour force participation, education, consumption are made. This is especially relevant for the position of women. The book gathers key insights from a variety of fields - economics, history, demography, anthropology, biology - to shed light on the relation between family organisation and the long-term process of economic development. https://magrudy.com/book/cliometrics-of-the-family-9783319994796/ in Studies in Economic History This book- which features a foreword by Jean-Claude Juncker and Preface by Professor Harold James- examines the European vocation and achievements of Pierre Werner (1913-2002), former Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, unanimously recognized as one of the architects of Economic and Monetary Union. The author makes ... Pierre Werner and Europe: The Family Archives Behind the Werner Report This book- which features a foreword by Jean-Claude Juncker and Preface by Professor Harold James- examines the European vocation and achievements of Pierre Werner (1913-2002), former Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Foreign Minister of Luxembourg, unanimously recognized as one of the architects of Economic and Monetary Union. The author makes extensive use of Pierre Werner's previously unpublished archives belonging to the Werner family, opened for the first time for research purposes. The book analyses the Werner Report, negotiations within the Werner Committee, the emergence of the Committee's views on EMU, their political commitment to a European currency, the similarities and differences between their ideas, their personal networks, the influence of the states they represented, their theoretical and methodological input and their contribution to the political consensus. Chapters shed new light on various aspects of the European integration process and also on the role of Luxembourg and its European policy. In addition, the author has carried out a series of original interviews with Luxembourg and European figures who share their memories and thoughts concerning Pierre Werner, his achievements and his views on the European integration process, and also other topics such as Economic and Monetary Union and Luxembourg`s European policy. This book will be of interest and value to researchers, EU policy makers and students in the fields of political economy, political science, economic history and history of economic thought. https://magrudy.com/book/pierre-werner-and-europe-the-family-archives-behind-the-werner-report-9783319962948/ by Elena Danescu in Archival Insights into the Evolution of Economics Absent evidence to the contrary, it is usually assumed that US financial markets developed in spite of government attempts to regulate, and therefore laissez faire is the best approach for developing critically important and enduring market institutions. This book makes heavy use of extensive archival sources that are no longer ... The Government of Markets: How Interwar Collaborations between the CBOT and the State Created Modern Futures Trading Absent evidence to the contrary, it is usually assumed that US financial markets developed in spite of government attempts to regulate, and therefore laissez faire is the best approach for developing critically important and enduring market institutions. This book makes heavy use of extensive archival sources that are no longer publicly available to describe in detail the discussions inside the CBOT and the often private and confidential negotiations between industry leaders and government officials. This work suggests that, contrary to the accepted story, what we now know of as modern futures markets were heavily co-constructed through a meaningful long-term collaboration between a progressive CBOT leadership and an extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic US federal government. The industry leaders had a difficult time evolving the modern institutions in the face of powerful reactionary internal forces. Yet in the end the CBOT, by co-opting and cooperating with federal officials, led the exchange and Chicago markets in general to a near century of global dominance. On the federal government side, knowledgeable technocrats and inspired politicians led an information and analysis explosion while interacting with industry, both formally and informally, to craft better markets for all. https://magrudy.com/book/the-government-of-markets-how-interwar-collaborations-between-the-cbot-and-the-state-created-modern-futures-trading-9783319931838/ by Rasheed Saleuddin in Palgrave Studies in the History of Finance This book traces regional income inequality in Spain during the transition from a pre-industrial society to a modern economy, using the Spanish case to shed further light on the challenges that emerging economies are facing today. Regional inequality is currently one of the most pressing problems in the European Union, ... Regional Inequality in Spain: 1860-2015 This book traces regional income inequality in Spain during the transition from a pre-industrial society to a modern economy, using the Spanish case to shed further light on the challenges that emerging economies are facing today. Regional inequality is currently one of the most pressing problems in the European Union, and this text presents a novel dataset covering 150 years to analyse long-run trends in regional per capita GDP. Spatial clustering and a new economic geography approach also contribute to the historical analysis provided, which points to the role played by spatial externalities and their growing relevance over time. To identify the presence of spatial dependence is crucial, not only for getting a better understanding of distribution dynamics, but also for economic policy purposes. What are the potential causes behind the disparities in regional per capita income and productivity? The authors answer this by comparing results with evidence available for other countries, chiefly France, Italy and Portugal, but is of global relevance. https://magrudy.com/book/regional-inequality-in-spain-1860-2015-9783319961095/ by Daniel A. Tirado-Fabregat, Julio Martinez-Galarraga, Alfonso Diez Minguela From Crisis to Crisis examines the impact of the harsh conditions of the interwar economy on the British merchant banks. The financial crises of 1914 and 1931 are assessed using primary sources. The competitive threats, including the rise of New York as a rival financial centre, are considered. It challenges ... From Crisis to Crisis: The Transformation of Merchant Banking, 1914-1939 From Crisis to Crisis examines the impact of the harsh conditions of the interwar economy on the British merchant banks. The financial crises of 1914 and 1931 are assessed using primary sources. The competitive threats, including the rise of New York as a rival financial centre, are considered. It challenges alleged special treatment and provides fresh perspectives on the interwar rationalisation of industry. During the late nineteenth century, Britain's merchant banks had become pre-eminent in a world of fixed exchange rates, free trade and the unfettered mobility of international capital. This world was increasingly challenged in the interwar period, being replaced by floating exchange rates, trade protectionism and restrictions on capital movements. This book fills a gap in the historiography of British banking by recovering the histories of long-forgotten merchant banks rather than focusing on the better-known firms. Using a wide range of archival resources, it traces the strategic transformation by some merchant banks from higher-risk, capital intensive activities to lower-risk, advisory services. https://magrudy.com/book/from-crisis-to-crisis-the-transformation-of-merchant-banking-1914-1939-9783319966977/ by Brian O'Sullivan Without economic history, economics runs the risk of being too abstract or parochial, of failing to notice precedents, trends and cycles, of overlooking the long-run and thus misunderstanding 'how we got here'. Recent financial and economic crises illustrate spectacularly how the economics profession has not learnt from its past. This ... An Economist's Guide to Economic History Without economic history, economics runs the risk of being too abstract or parochial, of failing to notice precedents, trends and cycles, of overlooking the long-run and thus misunderstanding 'how we got here'. Recent financial and economic crises illustrate spectacularly how the economics profession has not learnt from its past. This important and unique book addresses this problem by demonstrating the power of historical thinking in economic research. Concise chapters guide economics lecturers and their students through the field of economic history, demonstrating the use of historical thinking in economic research, and advising them on how they can actively engage with economic history in their teaching and learning. Blum and Colvin bring together important voices in the field to show readers how they can use their existing economics training to explore different facets of economic history. Each chapter introduces a question or topic, historical context or research method and explores how they can be used in economics scholarship and pedagogy. In a century characterised to date by economic uncertainty, bubbles and crashes, An Economist's Guide to Economic History is essential reading. For further information visit http://www.blumandcolvin.org https://magrudy.com/book/an-economists-guide-to-economic-history-9783319965673/ Drawing on largely unexplored nineteenth- and twentieth-century sources, this book offers an in-depth study of Britain's presence in Argentina. Its subjects include the nineteenth-century rise of British trade, merchants and explorers, of investment and railways, and of British imperialism. Spanning the period from the Napoleonic Wars until the end of ... The British in Argentina: Commerce, Settlers and Power, 1800-2000 Drawing on largely unexplored nineteenth- and twentieth-century sources, this book offers an in-depth study of Britain's presence in Argentina. Its subjects include the nineteenth-century rise of British trade, merchants and explorers, of investment and railways, and of British imperialism. Spanning the period from the Napoleonic Wars until the end of the twentieth century, it provides a comprehensive history of the unique British community in Argentina. Later sections examine the decline of British influence in Argentina from World War I into the early 1950s. Finally, the book traces links between British multinationals and the political breakdown in Argentina of the 1970s and early 1980s, leading into dictatorship and the Falklands War. Combining economic, social and political history, this extensive volume offers new insights into both the historical development of Argentina and of British interests overseas. https://magrudy.com/book/the-british-in-argentina-commerce-settlers-and-power-1800-2000-9783319978543/ by David Rock in Britain and the World When the Act of Union was passed in 1707, Scottish parliament was dissolved and the nation's capital became London. While the general public balked at the perceived unfairness of the treaty, the majority of Scottish ministers seemed satisfied with its terms. This book offers an explanation of how that outcome ... Shifting Capital: Mercantilism and the Economics of the Act of Union of 1707 When the Act of Union was passed in 1707, Scottish parliament was dissolved and the nation's capital became London. While the general public balked at the perceived unfairness of the treaty, the majority of Scottish ministers seemed satisfied with its terms. This book offers an explanation of how that outcome came about. By examining the influence of a particular strain of mercantilist thought, Ramos demonstrates how the negotiations preceding the passage of the Act of Union were shaped by ideas of value, wealth, trade and power, and, accordingly, how the model of positive balance was used to justify the necessity of the Act. Utilizing contemporary evidence from the English and Scottish ministers involved, this book explores alternative arguments regarding the Union, from before 1707 and in early Scottish political economy, thus highlighting the differing economic and political views that have persisted between England and Scotland for centuries. With twenty-first century discontent leading to the Scottish independence referendum and arguments that persist in the wake of the Brexit decision, Ramos produces timely research that investigates ideas of protectionism that feed into mercantilist economic thought. https://magrudy.com/book/shifting-capital-mercantilism-and-the-economics-of-the-act-of-union-of-1707-9783319964027/ by Aida Ramos in Palgrave Studies in the History of Economic Thought This book surveys Poland's move from being a post-feudal, backward, peripheral country to being a modern, capitalist, European state: from the partition of the commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania to the abolishment of `second serfdom'; late industrialization to state socialism; post-partition fragmentation to post-Second World War westward dislocation; and from ... Poland From Partitions to EU Accession: A Modern Economic History, 1772-2004 This book surveys Poland's move from being a post-feudal, backward, peripheral country to being a modern, capitalist, European state: from the partition of the commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania to the abolishment of `second serfdom'; late industrialization to state socialism; post-partition fragmentation to post-Second World War westward dislocation; and from the `Solidarnosc' movement to accession into the European Union. Could Poland really be considered an `underdeveloped' nation throughout the last 200 years? What factors contributed to its `backwardness'? Has Poland yet managed to catch up with the West? This book, the first overview of the modern economic history of Poland to be published in English, addresses these and many other questions crucial for developing our understanding of the economic history of modern Central-Eastern Europe. The economic development of Poland is analyzed through data and statistics, as well as through analysis of the ideas that paved the way for the politics of economic and social modernization. https://magrudy.com/book/poland-from-partitions-to-eu-accession-a-modern-economic-history-1772-2004-9783319971254/ by Piotr Korys Written in honor of Emeritus Professor Georges Prat (University of Paris Nanterre, France), this book includes contributions from eminent authors on a range of topics that are of interest to researchers and graduates, as well as investors and portfolio managers. The topics discussed include the effects of information and transaction ... Uncertainty, Expectations and Asset Price Dynamics: Essays in Honor of Georges Prat Written in honor of Emeritus Professor Georges Prat (University of Paris Nanterre, France), this book includes contributions from eminent authors on a range of topics that are of interest to researchers and graduates, as well as investors and portfolio managers. The topics discussed include the effects of information and transaction costs on informational and allocative market efficiency, bubbles and stock price dynamics, paradox of rational expectations and the principle of limited information, uncertainty and expectation hypotheses, oil price dynamics, and nonlinearity in asset price dynamics. https://magrudy.com/book/uncertainty-expectations-and-asset-price-dynamics-essays-in-honor-of-georges-prat-9783319987132/ in Dynamic Modeling and Econometrics in Economics and Finance (24) This book provides an intimate history of Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith's early life, combining elements of biography, history, economics and philosophy to show how crucial incidents early in his life provided the necessary framework for his research into experimental economics. Smith takes the reader from his family roots on the ... A Life of Experimental Economics, Volume I: Forty Years of Discovery This book provides an intimate history of Nobel Laureate Vernon Smith's early life, combining elements of biography, history, economics and philosophy to show how crucial incidents early in his life provided the necessary framework for his research into experimental economics. Smith takes the reader from his family roots on the railroads and oil fields of Middle America to his early life on a farm in Depression-wracked Kansas. A mediocre student in high school, Smith attended Friends University, on Wichita's west side, where an intense study of mathematics, physics, chemistry, and astronomy enabled him to pass the examinations to enter Caltech and study under luminary scientists like Linus Pauling. Eventually Smith discovered economics and pursued graduate study in the field at University of Kansas and Harvard. This volume ends with his Camelot years at Purdue, where he began his famous work in experimental economics, nurturing his research into an unlikely new field of economics. https://magrudy.com/book/a-life-of-experimental-economics-volume-i-forty-years-of-discovery-9783319984032/ by Vernon L. Smith This sequel to A Life of Experimental Economics, Volume I, continues the intimate history of Vernon Smith's personal and professional maturation after a dozen years at Purdue. The scene now shifts to twenty-six transformative years at the University of Arizona, then to George Mason University, and his recognition by the ... A Life of Experimental Economics, Volume II: The Next Fifty Years This sequel to A Life of Experimental Economics, Volume I, continues the intimate history of Vernon Smith's personal and professional maturation after a dozen years at Purdue. The scene now shifts to twenty-six transformative years at the University of Arizona, then to George Mason University, and his recognition by the Nobel Prize Committee in 2002. The book ends with his most recent decade at Chapman University. At Arizona Vernon and his students studied asset trading markets and learned how wrong it had been to suppose that price bubbles could not occur where markets were full-information transparent. Their work in computerization of the lab facilitated very complex supply and demand experiments in natural gas pipeline, communication and electricity markets that paved the way for implementing, through decentralized market processes, the liberalization of industries traditionally believed to be natural monopolies. The Smart Computer Assisted Market was born. Smith's move to George Mason University greatly facilitated government and industry work in tandem with various public and private entities, whereas his relocation to Chapman University coincided with the Great Recession, whose similarity with the Depression was evident in his research. There he integrated two fundamental kinds of markets with laboratory experiments: Consumer non-durables, the supply and demand for which was stable in the lab and in the economy, and durable assets whose bubble tendencies made them unstable in the lab as well as in the economy-witness the great housing-mortgage market bubble run-up of 1997-2007. This book's conversational style and emphasis on the backstory of published research accomplishments allows readers an exclusive peak into how and why economists pursue their work. It's a must-read for those interested in experimental economics, the housing crisis, and economic history. https://magrudy.com/book/a-life-of-experimental-economics-volume-ii-the-next-fifty-years-9783319984247/ 'This is essential reading for anybody interested in global history.' -Professor Ugo Panizza, The Graduate Institute of Geneva, Switzerland This illuminating book offers a compact survey and new interpretation of trends and policies in the US economy from the end of the nineteenth century to the initial period of the ... The American Economy from Roosevelt to Trump 'This is essential reading for anybody interested in global history.' -Professor Ugo Panizza, The Graduate Institute of Geneva, Switzerland This illuminating book offers a compact survey and new interpretation of trends and policies in the US economy from the end of the nineteenth century to the initial period of the Trump administration. Valli maps three stages in this period of US economic history: first, the economic and demographic consequences of the frontier; second, the Fordist model of growth; and third, the attempt to build an economic empire through economic and financial globalization, military and political power and rapid technological progress. Examining pivotal moments from the Wall Street Crash and the World Wars to the recent Great Recession, Obamacare and Trump's electoral promises and first controversial decisions, this book is essential reading for all those interested in American economic power and its future. https://magrudy.com/book/the-american-economy-from-roosevelt-to-trump-9783319969527/ by Vittorio Valli This monograph is devoted to a modern theory of capital cost and capital structure created by this book's authors, called the Brusov-Filatova-Orekhova (BFO) theory, and its application to the real economy. BFO theory promises to replace the traditional theory of capital cost and capital structure by Nobel laureates Modigliani and ... Modern Corporate Finance, Investments, Taxation and Ratings This monograph is devoted to a modern theory of capital cost and capital structure created by this book's authors, called the Brusov-Filatova-Orekhova (BFO) theory, and its application to the real economy. BFO theory promises to replace the traditional theory of capital cost and capital structure by Nobel laureates Modigliani and Miller. This new theory in particular, presents a possible explanation to the causes of the recent global financial crisis. The authors of the book describe the general theory of capital cost and capital structure that can be applied to corporations of arbitrary age (or with arbitrary lifetime) and investment projects with arbitrary duration. The authors illustrate their theory with examples from corporate practice and develop investment models that can be applied by companies in their financial operations. This updated second edition includes new chapters devoted to the application of the BFO theory in ratings, banking and other areas. The authors also provide a new approach to rating methodology highlighting the need for including financial flow discounting, the incorporation of rating parameters (in particular, financial ratios) into the modern theory of capital structure - BFO theory. This book aims to change our understanding of corporate finance, investments, taxation and rating procedures. The authors emphasize that the most used principles of financial management should be changed in accordance to BFO theory. https://magrudy.com/book/modern-corporate-finance-investments-taxation-and-ratings-9783319996851/ by Mukhadin Eskindarov, Natali Orekhova, Tatiana Filatova, Peter Brusov This book rejects the idea that natural resource industries are doomed to slow growth. Rather, it examines the case of Norway to demonstrate that such industries can prove highly innovative and dynamic. Here, the case is compellingly made that a key empirical problem with the popular 'resource curse' argument is ... Knowledge-Based Growth in Natural Resource Intensive Economies: Mining, Knowledge Development and Innovation in Norway 1860-1940 This book rejects the idea that natural resource industries are doomed to slow growth. Rather, it examines the case of Norway to demonstrate that such industries can prove highly innovative and dynamic. Here, the case is compellingly made that a key empirical problem with the popular 'resource curse' argument is that some of the richest countries in the world - namely Norway, Sweden, Canada and Australia - have all developed fast-growing economies based on natural resources. Analysis of innovation and knowledge development in natural resource industries reveal important new insights about the role of learning and innovation. These insights are key to understanding variances in growth levels between natural resource-based economies. Ranestad illustrates how Norway's high economic performance is built on knowledge-based natural resource industries. While Norwegian industries may have originated because of foreign technology and expertise, they thrived due to further developments carried out by organisations within Norway. Ranestad looks at how these developments were possible due to the country's high level of human capital, capacity for knowledge absorption and ability to adapt to new global technological and economic circumstances. https://magrudy.com/book/knowledge-based-growth-in-natural-resource-intensive-economies-mining-knowledge-development-and-innovation-in-norway-1860-1940-9783319964119/ by Kristin Ranestad In the last decades, women's role in the workforce has dramatically changed, though gender inequality persists and for women, gender identity still prevails over work identity. It is important not to forget or diminish the historical role of women in the labour market though and this book proposes a critical ... Women's Work and Rights in Early Modern Urban Europe In the last decades, women's role in the workforce has dramatically changed, though gender inequality persists and for women, gender identity still prevails over work identity. It is important not to forget or diminish the historical role of women in the labour market though and this book proposes a critical overview of the most recent historical research on women's roles in economic urban activities. Covering a wide area of early modern Europe, from Portugal to Poland and from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Bellavitis presents an overview of the economic rights of women - property, inheritance, management of their wealth, access to the guilds, access to education - and assesses the evolution of female work in different urban contexts. https://magrudy.com/book/womens-work-and-rights-in-early-modern-urban-europe-9783319965406/ by Anna Bellavitis This contributed volume provides 11 illustrative case studies of technological transformation in the global pulp and paper industry from the inception of mechanical papermaking in early nineteenth century Europe until its recent developments in today's business environment with rapidly changing market dynamics and consumer behaviour. It deals with the relationships ... Technological Transformation in the Global Pulp and Paper Industry 1800-2018: Comparative Perspectives This contributed volume provides 11 illustrative case studies of technological transformation in the global pulp and paper industry from the inception of mechanical papermaking in early nineteenth century Europe until its recent developments in today's business environment with rapidly changing market dynamics and consumer behaviour. It deals with the relationships between technology transfer, technology leadership, raw material dependence, and product variety on a global scale. The study itemises the main drivers in technology transfer that affected this process, including the availability of technology, knowledge, investments and raw materials on the one hand, and demand characteristics on the other hand, within regional, national and transnational organisational frameworks. The volume is intended as a basic introduction to the history of papermaking technology, and it is aimed at students and teachers as course material and as a handbook for professionals working in either industry, research centres or universities. It caters to graduate audiences in forestry, business, technical sciences, and history. https://magrudy.com/book/technological-transformation-in-the-global-paper-industry-1800-2015-comparative-perspectives-9783319949611/ in World Forests (23) This book offers a pluralistic vision of the way economists have dealt with the question of power in society over the last two centuries. Economists' ideas about power are examined from political, theoretical and policy-making points of view, with additional discussion of the active participation of economists in the management ... Power in Economic Thought This book offers a pluralistic vision of the way economists have dealt with the question of power in society over the last two centuries. Economists' ideas about power are examined from political, theoretical and policy-making points of view, with additional discussion of the active participation of economists in the management of power. The book is organized into four main conceptions of power relations: i) Power as embedded in political institutions; ii) Power as emerging from the asymmetric relations caused by the unequal distribution of income and wealth; iii) Power as associated to the monopolistic or oligopolistic position held by some firms in the market; and iv) Power as the management of economic policies by the state. Mosca brings together contributions from a range of scholars to analyse how economists have considered the role of power, putting the discussion into a much needed historical context. https://magrudy.com/book/power-in-economic-thought-9783319940380/ This book presents the complete and pioneering works of the great Spanish economist, German Bernacer (1883-1965), to an English audience for the first time. Bernacer, the first director of the Research Service of the Bank of Spain (1930-55), inspired Keynes' theory but was also a major critic and opponent of ... Radical Origins to Economic Crises: German Bernacer, A Visionary Precursor This book presents the complete and pioneering works of the great Spanish economist, German Bernacer (1883-1965), to an English audience for the first time. Bernacer, the first director of the Research Service of the Bank of Spain (1930-55), inspired Keynes' theory but was also a major critic and opponent of it. A macro economist by trade, Bernacer's major theory related to recurring crises, which he believed were inherent in the existence of speculative markets such as property, works of art, long term currency markets, commercial trading, materials, and energy. Bernacer believed that these speculative markets generate unearned income and hoarding,they abound in financial capital and, when such capital is captured, it then lacks in production industries where real value is created, draining their financing. The author shows how history has repeated itself in this manner in 1929, 2007, 2008, 2014 and 2016. The author derives his content from Bernacer's Spanish publications and his private correspondence with his contemporary economists, providing an historical and thematic insight into his thinking. It is well-timed to contribute to current worldwide debates on monetary,financial and budgetary policies needed to implement an economic order that can restore economic stability, providing readers with rare and important insights into the deep roots of crises. The book will be of interest to all readers interested in the history of economic thought, history of financial crises, Keynesian approaches to economics and criticism to Keynesian approaches. https://magrudy.com/book/radical-origins-to-economic-crises-german-bernacer-a-visionary-precursor-9783319933658/ by Henri Savall My Magrudys About Magrudy's Facebook profile Twitter profile Instagram profile Exclusive offers, news, updates. © 2021 Magrudy.com \| Terms of Use \| Copyright \| Privacy Policy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2028
__label__wiki	0.746851	0.746851	872 F. 2d 1563 - Foster v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County Alabama 872 F2d 1563 Foster v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County Alabama 49 Fair Empl.Prac.Cas. 1397, 50 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 39,057 Edwin FOSTER, et al., Plaintiffs, George L. Langham, Gabe W. Wright and Charles Buskey, Jr., Plaintiffs-Appellants, BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OF MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA, Defendant-Appellee. May 23, 1989. Joseph G. Pierce, Russell Jackson Drake, Drake, Knowles & Pierce, Tuscaloosa, Ala., Thomas H. Figures, Mobile, Ala., for plaintiffs-appellants. Frank G. Taylor, Thomas R. McAlpine, Sintz, Campbell, Duke, Taylor & Cunningham, Mobile, Ala., for defendant-appellee. Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. Before JOHNSON, HATCHETT and COX, Circuit Judges. This appeal arises from the denial of relief to seventy-four members of a class of black school teachers in Mobile County, Alabama, who allege they were denied promotions to principal positions in the Mobile County school district on the basis of race in violation of 42 U.S.C.A. Secs. 1982, 1983, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 2000e et seq. We affirm. I. FACTS This case originally arose in 1963. Black employees of the Mobile County public school system filed a class action challenging the hiring and promotion practices of the Mobile County School Board. In 1974, two black professionals in the school system, Foster and Buskey, intervened, arguing that the Mobile County School Board discriminated against them in promotion-to-principalship decisions.1 This Court's predecessor found that the School Board had engaged in a pattern of racially discriminatory promotion and assignment practices against prospective principals and principals within the school system. See Davis v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, 600 F.2d 470, 473-74 (5th Cir.1979), modified at 616 F.2d 893 (5th Cir.1980). The Court remanded the case to the district court to determine which members of the class had suffered injury from this discrimination and were entitled to relief. On remand, the district court severed the principalship promotion claims from the remainder of the claims in Davis. On September 3, 1981, the district court certified as a subclass under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(2) black professionals in the Mobile County school district who alleged they had been denied principal positions within the school district on the basis of race between January 1972 and August 1981.2 Because plaintiffs had already proven that the school board had engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination, the district court entered an order establishing the framework for Stage II proceedings to determine which plaintiffs were entitled to relief. See generally Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 361-62, 97 S.Ct. 1843, 1867-68, 52 L.Ed.2d 396 (1977). Under that framework, class members had to present claims with the district court indicating the period for which the member alleged injury and requested relief from the school board's discriminatory promotion practices. Upon presenting a claim, the member presumptively was entitled to relief subject to four defenses available to the defendants. Those defenses were: (1) defendants proved by clear and convincing evidence that a plaintiff would not have been promoted absent discrimination; (2) a plaintiff was offered and refused a promotion within a reasonable time period before or after the vacancy; (3) a plaintiff did not suffer economic harm from defendants' conduct; and (4) a plaintiff was barred from further relief by some other legally cognizable affirmative defense. The district court referred the case to a United States Magistrate, Patrick H. Sims, as Special Master to conduct the Stage II proceedings and to issue a Report and Recommendation identifying those plaintiffs entitled to relief. His goal was to determine the promotion process followed by the school board, to delete racial considerations from that promotion process, and to ascertain the promotions that would have occurred absent discrimination. See generally Franks v. Bowman Transportation Co., 424 U.S. 747, 772-73, 96 S.Ct. 1251, 1267-68, 47 L.Ed.2d 444 (1976). Discovery occurred over a three-year period. In 1984, the magistrate held hearings on the claims of each of the 104 members of the class. On June 5, 1985, the magistrate issued his Report and Recommendation. The report divided the class into two groups, those who were eligible to receive relief and those who were not. The magistrate recommended relief for twenty-eight class members. The district court adopted the magistrate's recommendations as to all except one plaintiff, granting relief to Booker T. Davis although the magistrate had recommended no relief. On July 27, 1985, pursuant to a motion made by attorneys for the class members who were not entitled to relief, the district court severed the class under Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(c)(4)(B) into two subclasses based on the groups established by the magistrate. On December 15, 1987, the recovering class members entered into a consent agreement regarding the damages claimed by each member. On December 17, 1987, the district court entered a final order and judgment granting relief to the members of the recovering class pursuant to the consent agreement and denying relief to the seventy-four3 members of the non-recovering class. It is from this final order that the non-recovering class members appeal. Appellants argue that a six-year statute of limitations rather than the one-year limitations period applied by the district court should control their section 1983 claims. The class certified on September 3, 1981, was defined as all black professionals employed by the Mobile County school district since August 27, 1971, who sought or would seek employment as principals within the school system. Plaintiffs brought suit under section 1981, section 1983, and Title VII. The August 27, 1971, date for defining the class was selected as the first date on which violations could have occurred that were not barred by the statute of limitations. Buskey, one of the original named plaintiffs, filed a charge with the EEOC on August 27, 1973, as required by Title VII. The statute of limitations for Title VII actions was two years. See 42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 2000e-5(g). Prior to 1985, Alabama's one-year statute of limitations applied to section 1983 claims alleging discriminatory employment practices. See, e.g., Smith v. McClammy, 740 F.2d 925, 927 (11th Cir.1984) (per curiam) (citing Doyle v. University of Alabama, 680 F.2d 1323 (11th Cir.1982)). Thus, the applicable statutes of limitations prevented plaintiffs from asserting claims based on events occurring prior to August 27, 1971. In 1985, the Supreme Court decided Wilson v. Garcia, 471 U.S. 261, 105 S.Ct. 1938, 85 L.Ed.2d 254 (1985). In Wilson, the Court held that the state limitations period for personal injury actions would apply to all actions arising under section 1983 within a particular state. Id. at 276, 105 S.Ct. at 1947. Subsequently, this Court decided that the six-year limitations period provided in Ala.Code Sec. 6-2-34(1) applies to section 1983 actions arising in Alabama. Jones v. Preuit & Mauldin, 763 F.2d 1250 (11th Cir.1985), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 1105, 106 S.Ct. 893, 88 L.Ed.2d 926 (1986). Appellants argue that this six-year limitations period should apply retroactively to their claims, and that therefore they should be allowed to try the merits of claims arising before 1971. Judicial decisions presumptively apply retroactively to all pending cases. Gulf Offshore Co. v. Mobil Oil Co., 453 U.S. 473, 101 S.Ct. 2870, 69 L.Ed.2d 784 (1981). To determine whether to deny retroactive effect to a judicial decision, we must follow the three-factor test set out in Chevron Oil Co. v. Huson, 404 U.S. 97, 92 S.Ct. 349, 30 L.Ed.2d 296 (1971). See, e.g., Williams v. City of Atlanta, 794 F.2d 624 (11th Cir.1986) (applying Chevron to grant retroactive effect to uniform limitations period for section 1983 actions in Georgia). First, we must determine whether Jones established a new principle of law, either by overruling clear precedent on which litigants may have relied or by deciding an issue of first impression. Chevron, 404 U.S. at 106, 92 S.Ct. at 355. Second, we must look to the purpose and effect of Jones and determine whether retroactive application in this case would advance or inhibit that purpose and effect. Id. at 106-07, 92 S.Ct. at 355-56. Finally, we must consider the inequity that would be created by retroactive application of the new rule. Id. at 107, 92 S.Ct. at 355. The first Chevron factor works against retroactive application of the decision in Jones. The six-year statute of limitations represented a clear break from the past. Prior to 1985, a one-year limitations period applied in Alabama to section 1983 actions based on employment discrimination. See, e.g., Dumas v. Mount Vernon, 612 F.2d 974 (5th Cir.1980) (one-year limitations period applies under Alabama law to action alleging racial discrimination in hiring decision). Jones established a new rule that a six-year limitations period applies to all section 1983 actions arising in Alabama. Jones thus overruled clear precedent. The second Chevron factor does not weigh in favor of retroactive application of the six-year limitations period. The second factor focuses on the purpose and effect of the new decision. See Chevron, 404 U.S. at 106-07, 92 S.Ct. at 355-56. The Supreme Court intended Wilson to further uniformity and certainty of limitations periods for section 1983 actions and to reduce unnecessary expenses incurred in contesting the proper limitations period. Wilson, 471 U.S. at 275, 105 S.Ct. at 1946. Jones established that limitations period as six years for cases arising in Alabama. Courts had already established a uniform and certain one-year limitations period, however. Retroactive application of the new rule in this case increases the limitations period, but does not necessarily increase uniformity and certainty in this area. The third Chevron factor weighs against retroactive application of Jones. That factor requires courts to evaluate the potential inequity caused by retroactive application of the new rule. It would not be inequitable to deny plaintiffs the advantages of a longer limitations period. The one-year period was clear, and plaintiffs as well as defendants have relied on that period throughout the long course of this litigation. Adherence to a one-year limitations period would not work any unfairness on the plaintiffs because they did not rely on the longer limitations period. See Williams v. City of Atlanta, 794 F.2d at 628 (not unfair to apply uniform two-year limitations period because it was unreasonable for plaintiffs to rely on four-year period); cf. Gibson v. United States, 781 F.2d 1334 (9th Cir.1986) (unfair to deny access to courts through retroactive application of a shorter limitations period), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 1054, 107 S.Ct. 928, 93 L.Ed.2d 979 (1987); Jackson v. City of Bloomfield, 731 F.2d 652 (10th Cir.1984) (unfair to apply shorter limitations period when plaintiffs had relied on longer preexisting limitations period). On the other hand, expanding the limitations period retroactively would be unfair to defendants, because defendants have relied on the existing limitations period for fifteen years. To change that limitations period at this stage in the litigation to allow plaintiffs to assert twenty-year-old claims would be tremendously disruptive and expensive. Based on our application of Chevron, we hold that on the facts of this case the district court was correct in denying retroactive application of the six-year limitations period established in Jones.4 Petitioners also challenge the merits of the district court's denial of relief to each of the seventy-four members of the non-recovering class. The district court found that petitioners either were not qualified for promotion or would not have been promoted in a nondiscriminatory system. These findings will not be reversed unless clearly erroneous. See Pullman-Standard v. Swint, 456 U.S. 273, 288-89, 102 S.Ct. 1781, 1789-90, 72 L.Ed.2d 66 (1982); McCarthney v. Griffin-Spalding County Bd. of Educ., 791 F.2d 1549, 1551 n. 2 (11th Cir.1986). A finding is clearly erroneous if after reviewing the entire record the reviewing court "is left with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made." Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. 564, 573, 105 S.Ct. 1504, 1511, 84 L.Ed.2d 518 (1985) (citing United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 395, 68 S.Ct. 525, 542, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948)). In order to recover, a candidate5 had to be qualified for promotion to principal. See Texas Dept. of Comm. Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 1093, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981). The district court adopted the magistrate's finding that the Mobile County School Board had established two objective criteria relevant to this appeal for promotion of candidates to principalship positions during the period at issue in this case.6 In order to be qualified, after 1973 a candidate had to have a principal's certificate,7 and for promotion to principal of secondary schools, a candidate had to have had at least two years of experience as principal or assistant principal. Approximately thirty-five members of the class of non-recovering plaintiffs lacked the G-1 endorsement or the educational qualifications represented by the A-01 and the AA-38 certificates. Those plaintiffs thus were eligible only for positions available between 1971 and 1973 or for positions available after they obtained the G-1 endorsement. Many members of the non-recovering class lacked the necessary experience for promotion to secondary schools. Those plaintiffs were not entitled to principalships available in secondary schools until they obtained two years of experience as principal or assistant principal. Plaintiffs challenge the finding that the G-1 endorsement or the principal's certificate was an actual prerequisite for promotion to principalship positions. The magistrate made detailed findings that at least after 1973, this was an enforced requirement for promotion to the position of principal. This finding is subject to a clearly erroneous standard of review. Georgia State Conference of Branches of NAACP v. Georgia, 775 F.2d 1403, 1419 (11th Cir.1985) (findings about whether criterion is prerequisite for position subject to clearly erroneous standard of review). The magistrate supported his conclusion in great detail with an extensive analysis of the promotion practices followed by the Mobile County School Board. For all vacancies after 1973, and for principal positions in some schools prior to 1973, applicants lacking the principal's certificate were considered unqualified. After reviewing the record and the magistrate's report, we conclude that the finding that the principal's certificate was a requirement for promotion to principal positions after 1973 is not clearly erroneous. Plaintiffs argue that in order to assert that the principal's certificate was a criterion for promotion, the absence of which would remove a candidate from consideration, the defendants had the burden of proving that the principal's certificate was a business necessity. Plaintiffs rely on Griffin v. Carlin, 755 F.2d 1516, 1526-28 (11th Cir.1985). In Carlin, this Court adopted the reasoning of Judge Wright in Segar v. Smith, 738 F.2d 1249, 1268-70 (D.C.Cir.1984), cert. denied, 471 U.S. 1115, 105 S.Ct. 2357, 86 L.Ed.2d 258 (1985), that in disparate treatment class actions brought under Title VII, where the plaintiffs rely on statistical evidence proving pervasive disparities based on race to present their prima facie case of intentional discrimination, defendants must prove the business necessity of the practice or requirement causing the disparity before defendants can assert that practice or requirement as a defense to plaintiffs' claims. This case is different from Carlin and Segar, however. Plaintiffs did not use statistical evidence to support their claim that defendants had intentionally discriminated against them. This Court's predecessor had already determined the School Board had engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination. The reason for validation of the requirement that existed in Carlin and Segar, that defendant could not assert the very reason for a statistical disparity in employment decisions based on race in defense of a claim of employment discrimination without showing that the reason was valid, is not present in this case. In the absence of a showing of disparate impact, then, the establishment, without validation through proof of business necessity, of a legitimate, nondiscriminatory requirement for promotion actually applied and enforced satisfied defendants' Stage II burden. See generally Franks, 424 U.S. at 773 n. 32, 96 S.Ct. at 1268 n. 32. Plaintiffs alternatively argue that the requirement of a principal's certificate had a disparate impact on minority applicants. In disparate impact cases, a plaintiff must first show that a facially neutral requirement has a disproportionate impact on members of a protected group. See generally Powers v. Alabama Dept. of Educ., 854 F.2d 1285, 1291-92 (11th Cir.1988). In this case, the magistrate found "no evidence in the case that the certificate requirement, if actually enforced, has had any disparate impact on black professionals. That is, there is no evidence that the required certificates are possessed disproportionately by whites." Plaintiffs thus failed in the presentation of their evidence on this claim. Plaintiffs also challenge the finding that an applicant had to have two years of experience as a principal or assistant principal to qualify for promotion to principal at secondary schools. The magistrate found "that the Board at relevant times maintained a general policy of appointing to principalship at middle and high schools only persons who previously had experience as assistant principal or principal." That finding is not clearly erroneous. Only one person was promoted without experience, but that promotion occurred in 1982, and the person was exceptionally qualified. Although the experience requirement was not established in a written school board policy, not all requirements for a particular position need to be in writing. See McCarthney v. Griffin-Spalding County Bd. of Educ., 791 F.2d at 1552. Plaintiffs alternatively argue that this requirement had a disparate impact on minorities. Again, plaintiffs had the burden of showing that the requirement had a disproportionate impact on members of a protected group. Powers v. Alabama Dept. of Educ., 854 F.2d at 1291-92. The magistrate found plaintiffs made "no showing that the pool of persons having experience as principal or assistant principal is disproportionately white." Plaintiffs admitted as much in their brief, stating, "A counting of the number of blacks and whites promoted to intern and assistant principal is not available from the evidence before the Court." Plaintiffs failed in the presentation of their evidence on this point by failing to show that the experience requirement had a disparate impact on minority applicants for principal positions available in Mobile County during the relevant period. Even if there had been a prima facie showing of disparate impact of the experience requirement, plaintiffs who lack such experience would not be entitled to relief. An employer is not liable for job requirements having a disparate impact on protected minority groups if the requirements are closely related to the skills necessary for success on the job. See Powers v. Alabama Dept. of Educ., 854 F.2d at 1292. In order for a job requirement to be considered a business necessity, there must be a "manifest relationship" between the requirement and the qualities needed for success in the particular position. Walker v. Jefferson County Home, 726 F.2d 1554, 1558 (11th Cir.1984); see generally Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424, 431, 91 S.Ct. 849, 853, 28 L.Ed.2d 158 (1971). The magistrate found that "the administrative functions at the secondary level cannot normally be handled by a person without administrative experience." Plaintiffs did not introduce any evidence to show that the requirement was pretextual or that there existed an adequate alternative criterion with a less disparate impact. Defendants thus satisfied their burden of proving this requirement was a business necessity. See Powers v. Alabama Dept. of Educ., 854 F.2d at 1292 (employer has burden of proving requirement legitimate business necessity); accord Walker, 726 F.2d at 1558; but see Watson v. Fort Worth Bank & Trust, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 2777, 2790, 101 L.Ed.2d 827 (1988) (plurality) (plaintiff has burden of proving absence of business necessity).8 The district court did not err in finding that the principal's certificate and administrative experience were legitimate, nondiscriminatory requirements for promotion to the position of principal for the years at issue in this case. Consequently, we affirm the district court in denying relief to those plaintiffs who lacked either qualification. For those plaintiffs qualified for but denied promotions, the magistrate conducted an individual evidentiary hearing on the merits of each plaintiff's claim, and compared each plaintiff's qualifications with the qualifications of the individual eventually hired for the positions available. Ninety-four principal positions were available during the period at issue in this case. The magistrate considered each plaintiff's qualifications for all positions available after the plaintiff applied in some informal way, determined which positions the plaintiff may have been qualified to assume, and evaluated whether plaintiff would have been hired for each position absent discrimination. The magistrate concluded that these plaintiffs would not have been hired in a nondiscriminatory system.9 The magistrate's findings on these issues are comprehensive and supported by facts presented in great detail. In his report, the magistrate presented the qualifications of each plaintiff, the vacancies within the school district each plaintiff could have assumed, and the reasons he concluded each non-recovering plaintiff was not entitled to relief. The magistrate considered seven subjective factors in reconstructing the promotion process: administrative screening evaluations, letters of recommendation, prior evaluations of administrative performance, teacher evaluations, compliance with Board policies and regulations, incumbency at Barton (where candidates would have become known by the appointing authorities), and specific evidence regarding character flaws, dishonesty, or misfeasance. The magistrate then reconstructed the promotion process absent discrimination based on the evidence before him. Appellants primarily challenge the magistrate's balancing of these factors and interpretation of the evidence presented. Appellants must overcome a high burden on appeal for this Court to reverse the district court's evaluation of conflicting evidence. See Anderson v. City of Bessemer City, 470 U.S. at 574, 105 S.Ct. at 1511 ("Where there are two permissible views of the evidence, the factfinder's choice between them cannot be clearly erroneous."). We will not repeat the magistrate's findings here. After a thorough examination of the record and the magistrate's report, we cannot say the magistrate's conclusions that these plaintiffs would not have been promoted absent discrimination are clearly erroneous.10 In two cases, the district court found that the plaintiffs were qualified for promotion but denied relief because another member of the class was more qualified for the position at the time it was available. Appellants argue that the district court either should have granted full relief to all qualified applicants or should have split the damages awarded between or among the qualified applicants. The district court did adopt the latter approach for two vacancies for which several plaintiffs were qualified where the magistrate could not distinguish the applicants. The magistrate was able to distinguish these two plaintiffs from the other members of the class who were qualified and applied for the vacancies. The magistrate determined these two applicants would not have been promoted in a nondiscriminatory system because the individuals who would have been promoted had clearly superior credentials. The district court did not err in denying these plaintiffs relief. Because the magistrate's factual findings are not clearly erroneous, and because the magistrate committed no errors of law, we affirm the district court's determination that these plaintiffs would not have been promoted to the available principal positions in a nondiscriminatory system. The judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED. HATCHETT, Circuit Judge, concurring in part and dissenting in part: I concur in the majority's opinion except that portion which holds that two of the discriminatees are not entitled to any relief. My disagreement is based on binding precedent of this circuit and a clear directive from the Supreme Court. In Pettway v. American Cast Iron Pipe Co., 494 F.2d 211 (5th Cir.1974), we discussed the rationale behind backpay and Title VII relief. We stated: Under Title VII and section 1981 the injured workers must be restored to the economic position in which they would have been but for the discrimination--their 'rightful place.' Because of the compensatory nature of a back pay award and because of the 'rightful place' theory, adopted by the courts, and of the strong congressional policy, embodied in Title VII, for remedying employment discrimination, the scope of a court's discretion to deny back pay is narrow. Once a court has determined that a plaintiff or complaining class has sustained economic loss from a discriminatory employment practice, back pay should normally be awarded unless special circumstances are present. [Emphasis in original.] The district court's reasons for denying back pay must be examined for the evidence of 'special circumstances.' ... Whether black workers were economically injured by unlawful discrimination and require a back pay award [or other relief] to make them whole is the issue. [Citations and footnotes omitted.] Pettway at 252-53. We further explained: From the employer's viewpoint back pay may be a punishment. But just as the National Labor Relations Act, Title VII was written to protect the employee. Not only has the company violated a strong public policy against racial discrimination here, but it has substantially injured this class of black workers. 'As between the obviously innocent discriminatee and the employer who may have some equities on his side [good faith], it seems fairer to require the employer with his usually superior resources to bear the loss. This generous approach with an emphasis on compensation of the employee is found in the NLRA cases and in several noteworthy Title VII decisions.' [Citations omitted.] [Emphasis added.] Pettway at 252 n. 120. We enumerated reasons for denying backpay awards: "(1) the unsettled nature of the law concerning a particular practice; (2) the good faith of an employer; (3) a state statute conflicting with Title VII; (4) and impossibility of determining the period for which back pay is to be awarded." Pettway at 253 n. 122 (citations omitted). See Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody, 422 U.S. 405, 421-22, 95 S.Ct. 2362, 2373-74, 45 L.Ed.2d 280 (1975). Where are the special circumstances required by Pettway? This employer did not act in good faith; it intentionally practiced discrimination for a long time involving hundreds of its employees. The majority is required to follow precedent; it has not done so as to this issue. In Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 97 S.Ct. 1843, 52 L.Ed.2d 396 (1977), the Supreme Court explained:[A]s is typical of Title VII pattern-or-practice suits, the question of individual relief does not arise until it has been proved that the employer has followed an employment policy of unlawful discrimination. The force of that proof does not dissipate at the remedial stage of the trial. The employer cannot, therefore, claim that there is no reason to believe that its individual employment decisions were discriminatorily based; it has already been shown to have maintained a policy of discriminatory decision making. The [class] need only show that an alleged individual discriminatee unsuccessfully applied for a job and therefore was a potential victim of proved discrimination.... [T]he burden then rests on the employer to demonstrate that the individual applicant was denied an employment opportunity for lawful reasons. [Emphasis added] [footnote and citation omitted]. Teamsters at 361-62, 97 S.Ct. at 1868. What are the "lawful reasons" demonstrated by the employer? The fact that another member of the class is more qualified for the same positions can never be a "lawful reason" upon which to base a denial of Title VII relief. Not a single case from our circuit or the Supreme Court supports this rationale for denying Title VII relief. Under the majority's opinion, a hypothetical employer may assert that one of two discriminatees is better qualified than the other, and deny the other discriminatee any relief at all. It is too late in the day for the majority to undermine the rationale of class actions and render Title VII lawsuits exercises in futility. This case has a long and complicated history. The various lawsuits are identified in Davis v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, 517 F.2d 1044 (5th Cir.1975), cert. denied, 425 U.S. 944, 96 S.Ct. 1685, 48 L.Ed.2d 188 (1976). For a more complete version of the proceedings in this segment of the Mobile County School Board discrimination action, see Foster v. Board of School Commissioners of Mobile County, 810 F.2d 1021 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 108 S.Ct. 99, 98 L.Ed.2d 60 (1987) The actual class consisted of individuals who had applied for principalships after August 27, 1971. The first positions became available in January 1972. Vacancies filled for the 1982-83 school year were not included because there was no determination of liability by the district court beyond September 3, 1981 Johnny Davis was denied relief but is not a member of the non-recovering subclass appealing the entry of judgment. Consequently, although there were 104 original plaintiffs and twenty-nine received relief, only seventy-four individuals are involved in this appeal An additional reason to deny retroactive application of Jones is that the six-year limitations period no longer applies to section 1983 actions in Alabama. The Supreme Court recently held that in states like Alabama with more than a single statute of limitations for personal injury actions, the residual personal injury limitations period applies. Owens v. Okure, --- U.S. ----, 109 S.Ct. 573, 102 L.Ed.2d 594 (1989). That period in Alabama is the two-year period provided in Ala.Code Sec. 6-2-38(l ). See Owens, 109 S.Ct. at 580 n. 9 The magistrate defined candidates as those professionals within the Mobile County school district who had made their interest in an administrative position known. Once a candidate made his or her interest known, he or she was considered for all vacancies. The failure to apply for a position does not automatically bar relief, International Brotherhood of Teamsters v. United States, 431 U.S. 324, 364, 97 S.Ct. 1843, 1869, 52 L.Ed.2d 396 (1977), although the non-applicant has the burden of showing he or she would have applied absent the existing discriminatory practices. Id. at 368, 97 S.Ct. at 1871. Appellants do not challenge the magistrate's ruling that a plaintiff had to apply at some point in some informal way to be entitled to relief The magistrate rejected six objective criteria claimed by the school board because they either were inconsistently applied or had a disparate impact on minority candidates. The magistrate accepted other objective criteria, but they are not relevant to this appeal The Alabama Board of Education issued certificates indicating an area of specialization or concentration. The G-1 endorsement reflected a teacher's specialization in administration. The G-1 endorsement was included on the A-01 certificate, indicating a Master's degree plus a specialization in administration, or on the AA-38 certificate, indicating certain post-Master's degree study plus specialization in administration. The G-1 endorsement on either of these certificates was the "principal's certificate." A plurality opinion is not binding on this Court, Powers v. Alabama Dept. of Educ., 854 F.2d 1285, 1292 n. 11 (11th Cir.1988), and we are compelled to follow both our prior precedent, see, e.g., Craig v. Alabama State University, 804 F.2d 682, 689 (11th Cir.1986), as well as prior Supreme Court precedent indicating that the employer has the burden of proving a business necessity. See e.g., Albemarle Paper Co. v. Moody, 422 U.S. 405, 425, 95 S.Ct. 2362, 2375, 45 L.Ed.2d 280 (1977) (employer must prove requirements are job related) The district court imposed on defendants the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that the plaintiff would not have been promoted in a nondiscriminatory system. Defendants argue that the burden of proof should have been by a preponderance of the evidence rather than by clear and convincing evidence. See Lewis v. Smith, 731 F.2d 1535, 1539 (11th Cir.1984). The magistrate's findings that defendants proved by clear and convincing evidence that these plaintiffs would not have been promoted in a nondiscriminatory system are not clearly erroneous. Consequently, we need not decide whether the district court erred in requiring proof by clear and convincing evidence that plaintiffs would not have been promoted absent discrimination Doris Alexander is included in appellants' brief as a member of the non-recovering subclass, but the district court entered judgment in her favor in the amount of $52,643.25. We have also reviewed the claim of Geraldine D. Colley, although her appeal is not presented in appellants' brief	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2030
__label__wiki	0.976445	0.976445	Shap Smith to Run for Lieutenant Governor File: Paul Heintz House Speaker Shap Smith Ending months of speculation about his political future, House Speaker Shap Smith (D-Morristown) announced Wednesday that he will make a bid for lieutenant governor. "I think that there is a real opportunity for someone who wants to work on many of the challenges that the state faces and is willing to use that office to convene people around issues like tax reform, higher education financing, health care and downtown redevelopment," he said. After 14 years in the House — including eight as its speaker — the 50-year-old lawyer has been looking for an opportunity to trade his Lamoille County district for a statewide perch. Smith launched a campaign for governor last August but suspended it in November when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. After her health improved this spring, he considered reentering the gubernatorial race but determined he couldn't raise enough money. Smith said the lieutenant governor gig appealed to him because its part-time nature would allow him to focus on complex policy issues without having to manage "the day-to-day issues of running either the Senate or the House." "As I thought more about the office and how it can be used, I have gotten more excited by the possibilities," he said. Smith acknowledged that he's anything but a shoo-in. Rep. Kesha Ram (D-Burlington) and Sen. David Zuckerman (P/D-Chittenden) have been campaigning for the Democratic nomination since late last year. The primary is scheduled for August 9. Former state auditor and senator Randy Brock is currently the only candidate seeking the Republican nomination. "I'm getting a late start. I have two very credible opponents that I'm running against — people I have respect for and people who have put together very good campaigns," Smith said. "There's no doubt in my mind that I'm coming from behind, and I'm going to have to work my butt off to be competitive on Primary Day." Smith won't be starting completely from scratch. As of March, he had roughly $31,000 left over from his gubernatorial campaign. As a darling of the Democratic Party establishment, he should have little trouble replenishing his campaign account. "I plan to have a strong organization. I plan to have a lot of support," he said. "I think my record stands out as someone who can get a lot of tough things done and who is known for being able to work with a lot of different people and bring people together — and I think those messages will be attractive to primary voters." Gray, Milne Spar Over Super PAC Support With Voting Underway, Campaign Finance Reports Show Uptick in Spending Soapbox Derby: Molly Gray and Scott Milne Compete for the Lieutenant Governor’s Perch Q&A With the Candidates: Lieutenant Governor In LG Race, Gray and Milne Clash Over Their Voting Records Shap Smith lieutenant governor Election 2016 Web Only	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2031
__label__wiki	0.748718	0.748718	Enemy of Monarchy: Pol Pot The man known to history as Pol Pot was born Saloth Sar in or around 1928 to a relatively prosperous middle class family. As a boy his family sent him to high school in Phnom Penh where his cousin was a dancer at the royal ballet. It is important to note that with the young Saloth Sar his hatred of monarchy came first and all of his later revolutionary, genocidal policies grew out of his anti-monarchism. Because of his cousin he saw the royal court and developed a very negative view of the Cambodian monarchy. Disregarding all of the circumstances the embittered youth did not see a beautiful cultural, historical institution that had been the political and spiritual heart of Cambodia for centuries (as well as providing work and an artistic outlet for people like his cousin) and instead chose to see only corrupt and idle royals doing the bidding of their French colonial masters. It was a point of view he would never really lose throughout his long life. Saloth Sar got together with other young revolutionary enemies of the monarchy and was later sent to continue his education in France where he joined the colonial wing of the French communist party. Saloth Sar wrote his first piece of propaganda as a communist against the Cambodian monarchy, calling it a “malodorous running sore”. However, his education in Paris was a total failure and, finally giving up, he returned to Cambodia in 1954 to be a history teacher. However, he lost none of his political ardor and soon joined the Vietnamese-led Indochinese Communist Party. However, he soon became suspicious of the Vietnamese Communists who he believed (correctly) wished to unite all of French Indochina under their rule. He split off with his own faction and when France granted independence it was done through King Norodom Sihanouk; only increasing the hatred of the monarchy already held by Saloth Sar who started going under the name Pol Pot. The organization Pol Pot led was very communist, very paranoid and thus very secretive. The people who knew of the leadership knew them only by their code names. Pol Pot was simply “Brother #1”, for most a faceless, ghost-like voice giving orders over a radio set. He envisioned a utopian society which he would create by wiping out absolutely all inequalities, destroying all foreign influences, emptying the cities and returning the entire population to the simple agrarian life of the villages. Yet, his communist propaganda earned him fairly few followers. An economic upturn and good crops brought a period of prosperity and the people gave the credit to the semi-divine intervention of their king; Norodom Sihanouk, whom Pol Pot hated more with each passing day. The King played the feuding parties against each other and tried to juggle neutrality with maintaining good relations with both the western democracies and the communist bloc. He was not entirely successful. When U.S. forces intervened in Cambodia to wipe out communist Vietnamese bases, which King Sihanouk had unofficially allowed to be established, the Cold War came to Cambodia. King Sihanouk went off to make friends with Communist China, North Korea and the USSR and in his absence the U.S. supported a coup by General Lon Nol against him. This was a golden opportunity for Pol Pot. He now had a foreign-backed capitalist regime to wage his revolution against and a sure source of popular support in the person of the deposed monarch who had no other ally to turn to. In a blatant lie he promised Sihanouk he would restore him to his throne once his forces were victorious. Sihanouk backed the Khmer Rouge (though not Pol Pot who he never met and indeed had no idea was the one actually running the organization) and urged the people to go to the jungles and join the communist guerillas. The king’s godlike status among the faithful peasantry ensured the success of the Khmer Rouge. Following the U.S. withdrawal from South Vietnam the republican regime in Cambodia lost its primary support and quickly collapsed. On April 17, 1975 the Khmer Rouge occupied Phnom Penh. Pol Pot declared it “Year Zero”, the start of a new era and renamed Cambodia “Democratic Kampuchea”. Despite his promise he did not restore King Norodom Sihanouk but instead placed him under house arrest. Unlike other communist dictators, there was no cult of personality around Pol Pot. Most still had no idea who he was and in the initial government organization he made one of his subordinates ‘head of state’ while taking the post of prime minister for himself. He also played no favorites, some of his closest relatives had been brutalized in vicious labor camps before seeing a photo or poster and realizing that their new dictator was their own Saloth Sar. King Sihanouk was placed under house arrest, a number of the royal family were killed and Pol Pot unleashed a reign of terror unsurpassed even amongst the most brutal of communists dictators around the world. Anyone with any foreign ties was killed, anyone displaying overt religious devotion was killed. The disabled were killed. Anyone with any ties to a previous government was killed. Everyone was made absolutely equal and any deviation from the new norm was punishable by death. Families were abolished since words like “mother” and “father” were hierarchical and considered superior to children so everyone became “brother” and “sister”. Anyone who referred to their parents as such were killed, a woman who referred to her husband as such was killed, anyone who used any traditional form of address was liable to be killed. The educated class was wiped out, since they would be held as superior to the uneducated and even those wearing glasses would be killed as this was taken as a symbol of intellectualism. Currency was abolished and the cities were emptied as everyone was sent to work on the communal rice fields; essentially vast slave labor camps where many city dwellers who had no experience growing their own food quickly died. Hordes of people died of starvation and hundreds of thousands were executed. Over the years Pol Pot became more paranoid and had many of his own allies, even lifelong supporters put to death as well. The notorious prison, essentially a massive torture chamber, S-21 or Tuol Sleng was set up for anyone accused of being an enemy of the regime or an agent of the CIA. People were tortured, often by electrocution, to give up names of accomplices, most of whom had never heard of the CIA or had the slightest idea what the initials meant. However, people would give any number of names to make the torture stop and these people then were arrested and given similar treatment. To save bullets most of those executed were taken to the countryside, beaten to death and buried in mass graves. It is estimated that as many as 2 million Cambodians died during Pol Pot’s reign of terror. The rest of the world was outraged at the reports that emerged from the secretive, nightmarish hell on earth that was “Democratic Kampuchea”. However, many governments in the west gave subtle support to the regime of Pol Pot and even King Sihanouk, despite being constantly kicked around by the Khmer Rouge, stuck up for them in the UN. This was, again, all about Vietnam at the end of the day. Pol Pot had originally been part of the Vietnamese-organized “Indochinese Communist Party” but he left because he was very paranoid about the Vietnamese, even the Reds, wanting to dominate Cambodia. In this he happened to be mostly right. Vietnam’s original communist dictator, Ho Chi Minh, made no secret of the fact that his long-term goal was a communist Indochina that would include Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. So the Khmer Rouge was quick to ally with China against the Vietnamese. The reason people like King Sihanouk and governments like the United States gave some tacit support to Pol Pot was because they viewed him as the only thing stopping Cambodia from being dominated by the Vietnamese. Just after the United States pulled out of Southeast Asia the Red Chinese even invaded North Vietnam because of their antagonism with Cambodia. However, the Vietnamese gave the People’s Liberation Army a bloody nose after which they declared “mission accomplished” and beat a hasty retreat back to China, leaving Vietnam free to deal with Cambodia. Pol Pot made his greatest political blunder when he jumped the gun and attacked the Vietnamese. This was all the excuse Hanoi needed. In 1976 they forced a treaty on the communist regime in Laos which effectively put the country under Vietnamese domination and after increasing hostilities between the two countries the Vietnamese invaded Cambodia in 1978. The Cambodian army was soundly beaten, Pol Pot fled to the Thai border and Vietnam set up their own puppet administration. By 1979 the Vietnamese had totally driven the Khmer Rouge from power and forced them to retreat into remote strongholds in the jungle where they were mostly ineffective. The international community refused to recognize the Vietnamese imposed government and this eventually led to the United Nations taking control of the situation and this finally resulted in the restoration of King Norodom Sihanouk in a constitutional monarchy but with Hun Sen (who was supported by Vietnam) as the prime minister. Hun Sen has remained in power ever since. His regime destroyed and country lost Pol Pot fled to Thailand where he lived for six years. When the Vietnamese army withdrew in 1989 the Khmer Rouge could set up new strongholds and Pol Pot returned home, refusing to recognize any of the succeeding administrations and nominally presiding over the guerilla war his forces continued to wage in the jungles against the ruling government. When his life-long deputy and designated successor, Son Sen, tried to negotiate a settlement with the government Pol Pot had him executed along with eleven members of his family. Some things never change. Khmer Rouge military commander Ta Mok arrested Pol Pot for this, held a show trial for him and placed him under house arrest. He died in his bed on April 15, 1998. Like most genocidal communist dictators he had escaped justice for his innumerable crimes but his memory haunts Cambodia to this day. Even alongside the likes of Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong, in terms of the size of the Cambodian population, Pol Pot surpasses them all. By some estimates his rule led to the death of one third of the entire population of his country. Remember that all of this started with the obsessive anti-royalist sentiment of Pol Pot. In many ways he was the ideal communist and his case should be looked to by anyone wanting to see the true face of what revolutionary communism is all about. What others only talked about doing eventually Pol Pot actually put into effect, there was no build-up, no step-by-step process, it was full, complete communism all at once. It grew out of his class-hatred and his original, life-long opposition to the Cambodian monarchy. There are still many, many people and regimes around the world that advocate the same basic principles that the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot advocated. They should look to his example to see the unwashed, horrific truth of what those principles cause when taken to their full, logical conclusion. Labels: Cambodia, enemy, pol pot Monarch Profile: King Edward I of England HRH Prince Edward, who would go on to great fame as King Edward I of England, was born to King Henry III and Eleanor of Provence at Westminster Palace on June 17, 1239. When he was just fifteen years old his mother took him to Spain where he was married to the daughter of King Fernando III of Castile and Leon, the Infanta Leonor (Eleanor). Their marriage was to be a very happy one with the great devotion each spouse felt for the other never diminishing over the years. Yet, Edward also knew the hardships of life early on as well and grew up fighting in support of his father for royal rights against the barons, emboldened by the Magna Carta. In 1270, in an act of courage and religious devotion he left England to join the Crusades. His wife actually accompanied him and it was on the island of Sicily on their way back from the Middle East that he learned of the death of his father. On August 19, 1274 King Edward I and Queen Eleanor were crowned together as King and Queen of England at Westminster Abbey; the first such coronation of a husband and wife since the Norman conquest. As a monarch King Edward I was exemplary; intelligent, bold, practical and hard working with no time for frivolity. He first set about a considerable reorganization of the government, strengthening the royal authority that had been so weakened in all the quarrels leading up to his reign. Many new, sweeping statutes were issued dealing with everything from property rights to trade to law and justice. King Edward proved an adept statesman as well as a warrior king and the call to war came quickly. Skirmishing with the Welsh had been going on for some time and there had been internal troubles in Wales between the local prince and his brother. When Prince Llewellyn refused to do homage to Edward I as his feudal overlord, as past Welsh rulers had done, Edward I invaded Wales. The fighting was hard but by 1283 Wales was pacified and in the face of further minor rebellions against English rule King Edward had a series of great castles built across the country and in 1301 he named his son, the future King Edward II, Prince of Wales, beginning the tradition of that title being given to the English heir. King Edward I, a former crusader, never gave up hope of leading another great crusade to retake the Holy Land and it was toward this end that he worked to negotiate a peace between France and Aragon who were at war over competing aims in the Mediterranean. However, the peace he arranged proved short-lived and disaster struck in 1291 when the Mamlukes captured the Christian stronghold of Acre. To make matters worse, in 1294 King Philip IV of France seized Edward’s lands in Gascony. Edward I made an alliance with several other princes but these were defeated prior to his arrival while he was dealing with problems at home. By the time he landed in Flanders there was no help from Germany and the war ground to a halt with Edward forced to make peace with France. The issue that had distracted Edward came from Scotland and, thanks to one highly successful and very moving but grossly historically inaccurate movie, it is now his war with the Scots for which Edward is probably best known. King Edward I became involved in Scotland after the country was split by a succession crisis and Edward, given his reputation as an astute statesman and as prior Scottish kings had paid him homage as their feudal overlord. Edward then stepped in and chose one John Baliol as the King of Scots, whom he very much viewed as ‘his man’ in Scotland. This did not sit well with the Scots nor did his call for Scotland to contribute soldiers to his war with France. Instead, the Scots made an alliance with France and launched an attack on Carlisle in northwest England. So, in 1296 an outraged King Edward invaded Scotland, crushed all opposition, carried off the Scottish coronation stone, hauled John Baliol off to the Tower of London and assigned English governors to rule Scotland. These campaigns in Wales, France and Scotland caused a money crunch for Edward and his efforts to solve his financial problem has caused controversy in light of recent attitudes. King Edward I took a direct and straightforward view of the situation. The King looked at the economic state of affairs and noticed that money transactions were disproportionately in the hands of the Jewish minority, mostly brought in with the branches of banks from the Italian city-state republics. The Jewish population had grown quite wealthy through money lending (loaning with interest being forbidden to Christians) and their riches stood out all the more as the rest of the country became poorer. At first, King Edward simply tried to redress the imbalance by confiscating the earnings made from high interest loans to Christians by the Jewish minority and later to forbid money-lending for Jews but none of this solved the problem completely. Finally, King Edward I ordered the expulsion of the Jews from England and banned them from ever returning. Of course, they could avoid this by converting to Catholicism and King Edward tried his best to get them to do this by forcing them to attend sermons by Dominican priests. It did not work. Finally, in 1290 King Edward formally expelled all Jews from England. They would not be allowed back in until the overthrow of the monarchy when Oliver Cromwell agreed to lift the ban in exchange for large loans from Jewish bankers on the continent. After so much trouble with money lending, King Edward tried to raise money on his own and this led to the establishment of much of the original system of parliamentary government that we know today. Particularly, the right of the members of Parliament to vote taxes. For the first time commoners sat in Parliament (originally knights) with full power to vote. This was the start of the House of Commons in England and, combined with his other administrative reforms, earned King Edward I the nickname of “the English Justinian”. The tall, short-tempered but intelligent and admired King of England was beginning to show his age when rebellion broke out again in Scotland, led by the dynamic Scottish hero William Wallace. In a stunning upset Wallace led a small Scots army to victory over a much larger English force at the battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 using innovative tactics and the terrain to their advantage. The following year Edward I led a large English army and met Wallace at the battle of Falkirk, soundly defeating him, after which he returned home. However, though the Scots had been defeated the country had not been pacified and there were further campaigns into Scotland but the Scots simply concentrated on harassing tactics and refused open combat against the English forces. Yet, in 1305 Wallace was captured, taken to London and executed for treason after which English rule over Scotland was solidified. But, again, the trouble began again with the rise of Robert the Bruce who led a new wave of Scottish resistance. In 1307 the old and ailing Edward I took to the field again determined to lead his armies on another campaign to finally and forever subdue Scotland. However, while still in northern England King Edward took a turn for the worse and died just south of the Scottish border on July 7, 1307. To summarize, King Edward I is frequently ranked among the greatest of English monarchs and there is ample evidence to support this. In every way that a successful sovereign of his era is defined, Edward I measures up. He was a devoted husband if a rather short-tempered father (his son Edward II being as unlike him as possible), he was a capable administrator and adept at government and he was a talented and courageous military leader. More to the point on that score he was a quite successful military leader at a time when warrior kings were not just a romantic ideal but something that was expected of royal leaders. Many rank him as the most successful King of England of the Middle Ages. This makes it all the more unusual that his tomb in Westminster Abbey is completely unadorned. He did, however, fare better in death than his second wife, Queen Margaret, whose monument was sold by the Lord Mayor of London for 50 pounds during the reign of Elizabeth I. Labels: England, Great Britain, king of england, monarch Brief Reflection on Christ the King When His Holiness Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King it was remarked on at the time as a very odd thing to do. Since the revolutionary period and certainly since World War I the title of “king” had become a rather unpopular one throughout the world and yet the Pope chose this aspect of Christ to emphasize. It made many people uncomfortable. Jesus as a prophet, as a teacher, a healer and Jesus the meek servant was perfectly acceptable but Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, a figure of authority, a judge and the dispenser of divine justice; that was not the image of Jesus most at the time, and most still today, preferred to consider. However, the Pope looked at the world of 1925 and saw this aspect of Christ as one that needed to be remembered and not only remembered by emphasized every year in the Church calendar. Up to this point Pope Pius XI had seen Christians persecuted for their faith by secularist governments around the world with particular atrocities being carried out by the forerunners of the PRI in Mexico, by the leftist republicans in Spain and by the communists of the Soviet Union. Secularism was spreading and this threat so concerned Pius XI that he devoted his first papal encyclical to the subject. As he saw it the world needed a reminder that Christ was the King of kings. The communists and egalitarians on the left needed to know that the divine order was hierarchical, that there was a King in Heaven that ruled all, like it or not, and could not be overthrown. Likewise, the nationalists on the left and the right needed to know that Christ was King of all and that His reign was for all nations and all times. Christ the King was above any one nation and above any state no matter how totalitarian. It was also an obvious shot across the bow at the whole revolutionary, republican mentality that had been growing so consistently. The kingship of Christ was to symbolize that Christianity is an all-encompassing religion and that no part of the life of any Christian, whether their private behavior, their public institutions or how they order their life and their society, is beyond the rule of Christ the King, their divine sovereign in Heaven. This was a message the world needed to hear in 1925 and as much, if not more so, still today. In our growing secularism, egalitarianism and internationalist centralization today the message conveyed by the symbolism of Christ the King remains crucial. Labels: Catholic, Catholic Church, Christ the King, christianity, opinion MM Video: Imperial Family of Japan Labels: Japan, video This week celebrations in Cambodia were marred by tragedy in the long suffering kingdom. HM King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the water festival, held for centuries to commemorate the victory of King Jayvarman VII in the 12th century. Everything started out normally for the 3-day event with prayers over the rice harvest, boat races and the King pardoning 558 prisoners. However, on Monday, the last day of celebration, a canon shot to warn the public to clear a bridge near the royal palace caused a stampede that resulted in the deaths of more than 330 people. Prime Minister Hun Sen called it the greatest tragedy Cambodia has suffered since the end of the Khmer Rouge regime. In the Middle East, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia slipped a disc and suffered a blood clot that left him hospitalized and forced to pass some royal duties to his son. Later this week the King and a large retinue traveled to New York for medical treatment leaving national affairs in the hands of his brother Crown Prince Sultan who has also suffered a number of health problems recently. The 86-year-old monarch has reportedly been suffering increasingly lately from physical ailments and the ravages of old age leaving many nervous about the succession and the future of the Saudi monarchy. Rumors have been rampant lately of discontent among the 7,000 princes of the Saudi Royal Family as well as increasing criticism from the fundamentalist clerics who have opposed many of the recent reforms enacted by King Abdullah. Monday marked the 35th anniversary of the proclamation by the Cortes of “Don Juan Carlos de Borbon y Borbon” as King Juan Carlos I of Spain upon the death of Generalissimo Francisco Franco. This act also marked the beginning of the transition of Spain from an authoritarian state to a parliamentary democracy. Congratulations to HM Juan Carlos on this occasion (royal restorations being a rather rare thing). Viva el Rey! Also this week the Prince and Princess of the Asturias traveled to the South American republic of Peru for a visit to strengthen ties between the two countries. In Rome a media frenzy was unleashed when the Vatican newspaper leaked a quote from a new book of a German reporter interviewing HH Pope Benedict XVI which was heralded as a reversal of the official Catholic position against the use of condoms. Of course, the Pontiff had done no such thing and the piece quoted was of a hypothetical situation judging, more or less, the lesser of two evils. The Pope went on to stress that condom use was no solution to the real problem of a disordered view of sexuality. Last Saturday HRH Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Parma, son of Princess Irene of the Netherlands and Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma, held his religious wedding in Brussels to Annemarie Van Weezel. The Prince, as Carlos V, is heir to the former Italian Duchy of Parma. In Great Britain HRH Prince William and fiancé Catherine Middleton have announced the time and date for their wedding next year which will be held on Friday, April 29 at the historic Westminster Abbey. The House of Windsor and the Middleton family will be covering the expense of the wedding with the government responsible only for security (and remember that these policemen would be on duty anyway if there was no wedding so this is not an “extra” expense). They have also set up a lottery system by which members of the general public will be chosen at random to receive an invitation to the royal wedding in order to include as diverse an array of guests as possible. HM the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also undertook a trip this week to the United Arab Emirates to strengthen ties between the two countries. Also in northern Europe, in Sweden a poll taken by the newspaper Expressen showed increased support for HM King Carl XVI Gustaf who has had to deal with some bad press as of late. The survey found 69% of Swedes in favor of the monarchy, an increase from the 63% who gave the same answer earlier this year. Monarchist Military: The Chetniks One of the monarchist organizations I have the greatest respect for were the Chetniks of Serbia. Unfortunately, to many today that is, itself, a controversial statement. The Chetniks, after all, were Axis collaborators who cooperated with the Nazi and fascist occupiers of the Balkans we are constantly told. Let me say up front that it is a fact which I will in no way dispute that Chetniks cooperated with the Axis forces. However, I detest the fact that this is all many people seem to remember about them and, as with virtually any issue involving the Balkans, the situation was not so simple as many make it out to be. To a large extent the Chetniks who fought with the Axis were forced to do so by circumstances imposed by others. It was not a choice they made freely or out of any conviction to what the Axis was fighting for. The same could be said about many countries and peoples who found themselves on the same “side” as the Axis powers from Finland to Inner Mongolia. The organization most think of when they refer to the Chetniks was the “Yugoslav Army in the Fatherland”. The image many have of them is grossly inaccurate with many seeing them as villainous, bearded bandits fighting for whatever side served their current interest. This is absolutely false. The Chetniks were a disciplined, highly dedicated fighting force determined to restore the former Yugoslavia and their beloved ideal of a “Greater Serbia”. They were also staunchly royalist and the beards many wore was a traditional sign of mourning in the Orthodox Church and they were mourning for the loss of their king. “For King and Fatherland” was their battle cry and that was the only thing they were fighting for, plain and simple, and having nothing whatever to do with the war aims of the Axis. This is proved by the fact that all the way up to 1943 the Chetniks fought the Germans and Italians who were occupying the carved up remnants of the former Yugoslavia. It was the desire of the Chetniks to restore the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and to resist any power which occupied any part of Yugoslav territory. However, Serbians also had an internal conflict to deal with. Quite apart from the various ethnic groups that had been lumped together by the Allies after World War I into Yugoslavia who were only too willing to cooperate with anyone for the chance of their own independence, amongst the Serbs themselves there was a division of the fighting forces between the royalist Chetniks, loyal to their King and country, and the communist Partisans of Josef Broz (aka Tito) who reprehensibly took advantage of the downfall of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia to the Axis forces to assert their own control of the country to turn it into a communist dictatorship. Because of this they were obviously strongly supported by the Soviet Union from the very beginning and the Partisans were fanatical in their opposition to the Chetniks as well as to the Axis who were also the sworn enemies of the success of communism. Even while the Chetniks were still fighting the Axis forces they came to regard the communists as possibly a greater threat to what they stood for simply because no foreign occupation was bound to last for very long whereas the communists were a home-grown threat. It should also be noted that whereas the vast majority of Chetniks were Serbs and Orthodox they were not completely uniform and other nationalities including Catholic Croats and Muslim Bosnians who favored the restoration of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia also fought as Chetniks. The key factor in keeping the Chetniks fighting the Axis and the communists simultaneously was the support they received from the western Allied powers. In the United States and the British Empire the Chetniks were originally applauded for their heroism and tenacity as the most active and well organized guerillas in occupied Europe fighting for freedom. The Chetniks received money and supplies from the Allies during these years while the Nazis exacted brutal retaliation for their attacks and offered huge sums of money as rewards for Chetnik leaders. The Chetniks carried out a number of spectacularly successful raids on both the Axis forces and the communists but of course they also shed no tears when the Germans attacked the communist Partisans. Some cooperated in these offensives, others did not but it was finally the Allied powers which forced most Chetniks into the Axis camp. Allied leaders agreed that Eastern Europe would be under the control of the Soviet Union after the war and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill made the decision to stop supporting the royalist Chetniks and shift all Allied assistance to the communist Partisans. That was really the key factor. The Soviets had always supported their fellow communists, when the western democracies dropped the Chetniks and supported the reds as well the royalist Serbs were left with no other choice but to turn to the Axis for help in carrying on their fight to salvage something of their long-cherished dream of a Greater Serbian kingdom. It was then that the Chetniks joined the Axis in fighting the communists (and only the communists) and this was only after the western Allies had betrayed them and left them to their fate. With no other option, no other friends, their only possible choice for survival was to make common cause with the Axis. This is important to remember because it was a matter of necessity, forced upon them and not any sort of political sympathy that drove the Chetniks into the Nazi camp. Churchill also pushed for the monstrously absurd Treaty of Vis between the Serb royal government-in-exile and the communist partisans which effectively killed any hope that a Serbian or Yugoslav kingdom would be restored after the war in the event of an Allied victory and placed all power in communist hands. In the summer of 1944 the most bitter blow of all came when the dedicated Chetnik leader, General “Draza” Mihailovic was dismissed by King Peter II as chief-of-staff of the Yugoslav army and replaced by the communist Marshal “Tito”. The Chetniks had officially been abandoned by everyone. It is to their credit, and very telling of their character and true motives, that even after this time, up until the very end of the war, the Chetniks continued to rescue Allied (mostly American) pilots who were shot down over Serbian territory. Of course, after being betrayed by the Allies the Chetniks were doomed. Aid to the Partisans only increased while the sole source of aid to the Chetniks, the Germans, dwindled away as the Axis went down in defeat and by 1945 the Chetniks were wiped out by the communist Partisans and their Soviet allies. Scattered groups continued to resist communist domination but they were eliminated one by one and their leaders executed, aided by the fact that their own government-in-exile had turned against them so that the communists could hit them with a double charge of “treason” against both their government and the royal government they had been fighting for. This is why I am, and will remain, and ardent defender of the Chetniks. There is no denying that they made alliances with unsavory characters, but such moves were forced on them by circumstances beyond their control. There were many sad events that occurred, unfortunate and even scandalous actions. Accusations abound of massacres and ethnic cleansing and, in all honesty, some have merit. It was a very confused situation and a very brutal war with little mercy shown or expected by any of the forces on either side. However, the bottom line is that the Chetniks were fighting for the very soul of their nation against the worst enemy imaginable and in such circumstances no one should expect soft behavior. They were in the right, fighting for righteous principles and the real scandal is how they were stabbed in the back by their original allies. Which is also all the more reason why their sacrifices should be honored, their memory preserved and their legacy defended. За краља и отаџбину! Labels: military, serbia, World War II, yugoslavia The Real "First Thanksgiving" When most people think of the first Thanksgiving in North America they usually think of dour, grim-faced Puritans in New England, the revolutionary general George Washington or President Lincoln ordering a day of thanks for the victories of the Union armies in the Civil War. However, Texans know that it was actually our country which was home to the first Thanksgiving, carried out by missionaries and conquistadors rather than Puritans, all loyal forces of His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain. It was on April 30, 1598 near what is now the West Texas city of El Paso and the man responsible was Juan de Oñate. He came from a well regarded family long known for their loyal service to the Spanish crown. His father had discovered and developed the mining industry in Zacatecas, Mexico and Juan de Oñate opened the mines in San Luis Potosi and carried out numerous duties for the King of Spain. However, he had itching feet as the old timers would say and longed to make a name for himself as an intrepid explorer. Monarchists may also be interested to know that Juan de Oñate was married to Isabel de Tolosa, the granddaughter of Fernando Cortes and Isabel Montezuma who was herself one of the many children of the famous Aztec Emperor Montezuma II. Juan de Oñate was given a land grant in the unexplored lands of the northern Rio Grande Valley among the Pueblo Indians by the Spanish Viceroy. However, when that post changed hands the plans for an expedition were put on hold until final approval came in 1597. That summer Juan de Oñate send Vicente de Zaldivar to blaze a trail from Santa Barbara in southern Chihuahua along a route north that would have available food and water. Poor Zaldivar had a rough time of it, suffering a great deal from the elements, privation and even being captured for a time by hostile Indians but he persevered in his duty. Today this original route is now the main highway between Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas. In early March of 1598 Juan de Oñate set out on his expedition with 500-600 Spanish soldiers, colonists (women and children included) and about 7,000 head of livestock. They endured immense hardships as they tramped north over 50 miles of rough terrain. By the last five days they had run out of water and were scrounging for roots and cactus and all were nearly dead from dehydration before they reached water. After reaching the Rio Grande at or about San Elizario the column rested for ten days after which time Oñate ordered a special feast of thanksgiving to God for their survival. Wild game was shot, fish was provided by local Indians and everything was set for a traditional Spanish fiesta. First a special mass of thanks to God was said by the Franciscan missionaries who accompanied the expedition and Juan de Oñate also took the occasion to formally claim possession of the lands drained by the Rio Grande for Almighty God and King Philip II of Spain. Everyone feasted and celebrated around a great bonfire. A member of the expedition wrote, “We were happy that our trials were over; as happy as were the passengers in the Ark when they saw the dove returning with the olive branch in his beak, bringing tidings that the deluge had subsided”. Once the thanksgiving feast was over Oñate and his intrepid band continued north to settle near what is now Santa Fé, New Mexico. So, for all of you who have not heard about this before, consider yourself enlightened as to the real “first” thanksgiving in North America. Instead of Pilgrims in black hats and white collars picture brown-robed Franciscans and Spaniards in comb-morion helmets. Instead of George Washington in 1789 or Abraham Lincoln in 1863 picture King Philip II in 1598. Now, to be fair, monarchists are correct to point out that the New England pilgrims did begin their famous “Mayflower Compact” with a declaration of loyalty to King James I of Britain, but given their adamant religious dissent, their flight to Holland and then to America, I do not think any would take the Pilgrims for ardent royalists and, indeed, in the English Civil War of later years the Puritan area of New England was the most firmly anti-royalist region of all the English colonies in America. For that reason, not only as a proud Texan but a monarchist as well (and there are other reasons) I prefer to remember the actual ‘first thanksgiving’ on the Rio Grande rather than the Puritan affair of New England. Labels: holiday, Spain, texas, thanks Consort Profile: Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha One of the most significant consorts in the history of the British monarchy was Queen Victoria’s Prince Albert. He was born on August 26, 1819 in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Saxony, the son of Duke Ernst III. Coincidentally, the same midwife who delivered Albert shortly thereafter also delivered his future bride Victoria. When Albert was still only a boy a re-shuffling in the ducal family made his father Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Family life was not exactly ideal for the young prince with his parents separating and his mother finally being banished from the country. Still, Albert grew up as normally as one could expect and as a young man went to the University of Bonn. He excelled in a wide variety of academic subjects and sports and began to form his opinions which were rather liberal for the time. In 1836 Albert became a subject of interest as a potential husband for his cousin Victoria who was set to inherit the British throne from her uncle King William IV. Victoria’s uncle, King Leopold I of the Belgians, thought Albert would make a good husband and arranged a meeting. King William IV, however, wanted Victoria to marry a son of the Dutch King Willem II. However, Victoria herself found Albert the much more attractive choice. In 1837 Victoria became Queen and already had her heart set on marrying Albert, however, it was not until 1839 that the couple were formally engaged and they married in 1840. His initial reception in Britain was a cold one. The public were not impressed with a German marrying their Queen and Parliament voted him the smallest allowance ever given to a consort, would not hear of making him “King consort” and even refused to grant him a title in the peerage. Prince Albert shrugged off these snubs, happy enough with his own title, and content with the love of his wife who was absolutely devoted to him. It was not until 1857 that he was formally given the title of “Prince consort”. This all reveals the extent to which Prince Albert was charting new waters in his role of husband to the Queen. Dealing with the spouse of a Queen regnant was not something the British had a great deal of experience with. It says a lot that their most beloved Queen regnant never married. Prince Albert was happy enough but early on felt rather bored and unused. Still, the succession was secured for the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Queen Victoria was pregnant within the first two years of her marriage and ultimately the couple would have nine children. The Queen’s total devotion to Albert and his own displays of competence and liberal views finally began to win over those in power in Great Britain and his influence grew. He was a great source of strength to the Queen at a time when it was needed. There were several attempts on her life and, though few realize it today, the historic height of British republicanism was actually during the Victorian era. Prince Albert had a vision of royalty as being involved in government but furthering “enlightenment” principles. He was a champion of the rights of workers, improvements in education, social welfare, the abolition of slavery and so on. It was in part because of his often stated point of view that the royals and high-born of society had a duty to help the poor and downtrodden that helped Britain avoid major upheavals during the revolutions of 1848. He helped in modernizing the army and tried to encourage a diplomatic solution to the problems between Russia and the Ottoman Empire though this effort was unsuccessful and Britain ultimately joined what became known as the Crimean War. The public image of Prince Albert suffered because of this perceived hesitancy to fight. He also helped calm relations with the United States in 1861 when the two countries were on the bring of war. Ruffling feathers was nothing new for Prince Albert and it did not bother him. He was a very idealistic man who felt obligated to do what he could to advance those ideals. He arranged the marriage of the Princess Royal Victoria to Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia (the future Kaiser Friedrich III) specifically to try to encourage the spread of liberalism in conservative, militant Prussia. His promotion of education and educational reforms were widely applauded but he also encouraged religious opposition when he extended this support to new ideas that called the reality of God into question. His proposal that Charles Darwin be knighted was not well received. However, Albert’s own confrontation with mortality was not far off. By the time Prince Albert was helping diffuse a possible war with America in 1861 he was already gravely ill with typhoid fever. On December 14 in Windsor Castle he passed away with Queen Victoria and five of their children around him. Queen Victoria was devastated by his loss and probably no other consort in Great Britain has had the lasting impact of Prince Albert. Monuments and memorials to him abound and in many ways he set the trend that subsequent generations of the British Royal Family would follow. Labels: consort, Great Britain, saxe-coburg-gotha Who Would Hate a Happy Couple? I find it rather outrageous that anyone could react with anger, disdain or hostility over the announcement of an engagement of any two people. An impending marriage should be viewed as a happy occasion and met with best wishes from all. Sadly, this does not seem to be the case these days even with the British and Commonwealth Royal Family. Again, I find it distasteful that anyone, from any country, would take such an occasion to be negative but I was even more disturbed to find such attitudes exhibited, not only by British and Commonwealth subjects, but even those who are actually in the employ of the Crown! Two cases stand out as particularly outrageous because of their origins. A bishop of the Church of England, Pete Broadbent of Willesden, compared the young couple to “shallow celebrities”, bemoaned the potential cost of a royal wedding to the British public and sneered that the House of Windsor was full of “broken marriages and philanderers”. He said that when a date for the wedding was announced he would take a republican holiday to France. To rub further salt into the wound he predicted the marriage would fail after seven years. What a “Christian” attitude for a bishop to take! This makes my blood boil and I am not comforted in the least by the comment from Lambeth Palace that the bishop is “entitled to his views”. My response to that would be, “the Hell he is!” This man (I use the term lightly) is a bishop of the Church of England, the established church of his country. I wonder if he has forgotten that it was a philandering royal with a string of “broken marriages” to his credit that is responsible for there being a Church of England in the first place. This reveals how far the Church of England has fallen from the pedestal of its foundation. From its inception the Anglican church was based on Christianity and non-resistance to the royal power. Today we see that not only has Christianity been fairly well eradicated from the Church of England but alarming progress has been made in eradicating monarchism from it as well. For a church founded by a king, based on non-resistance to royal power and which still maintains Her Majesty the Queen as Supreme Governor of the Church of England I can think of no better evidence of the fact that the Anglican communion will very soon be reduced to dust and the Church of England disestablished and left to die a lonely death. Quite apart from the religious issues this treasonous tirade by an Anglican bishop serves as quite stunning evidence of how completely the Church of England has abandoned its own roots, turned against its core principles and effectively cut its own throat. When this disgrace of a bishop goes to France for his republican holiday he would do well to recall the horrific bloodlust that came with republicanism and the French Revolution, a Reign of Terror that the British kingdoms were spared from. The bishop has since apologized for his remarks (made on Facebook) both for their content and the public forum in which they were made but it is noticeable that he did not apologize for the content -something public figures have become quite good at in recent days; uttering meaningless apologies for offending without actually admitting they were wrong about anything. He wished the couple success in their marriage and said he would be praying for them. Oh, spare me your public piety Pharisee! The fact that an Anglican bishop would even think of saying such a thing is outrageous and says a lot about his church and his own character as does the dismissal of the issue by Lambeth Palace which evidently has also lost track of why they hold a place of privilege to begin with and which side of their bread is buttered. So much for the clergy, what about the political class? A member of the Mad Monarchist Brain Trust drew my attention to the treasonous remarks of Greater Manchester senior councillor Mike Connolly who referred to Prince William and his bride-to-be as “multi-millionaire parasites” in comments posted on his Facebook account. Following a public outcry he issued an apology for his words but nonetheless retracted none of the sentiment behind it, expressing his hopes that the Royal Family would pay for the upcoming wedding rather than the British public. His only given reasoning for this was that the “local people and hardworking families” he knew had to pay for their own weddings and so the royals should do the same. Of course, by that same logic royals should be able to travel as they wish, speak out on any issue with any opinion they wish, lobby the government and exercise all of the other rights and privileges enjoyed by “local people” but denied to members of the Royal Family. Somehow I doubt Mr Connolly would hold this same opinion if a member of the Royal Family came to help organize opposition to his reelection and campaign for his challenger. More striking to me than this, though, is that this man who refers to the royals as “multi-millionaire parasites” is himself, as a politician, a parasite on the body of the British taxpaying public. This basic truth seems lost on the entire republican population. They also are willingly ignorant of the fact that the private income surrendered by the Queen in return for a public allowance is far greater than the amount the Queen receives from the British taxpayer. This, of course, is an old argument and not one monarchists are likely to gain much ground with so long as the prevailing media in Britain and around the world continues its stubborn refusal to state the facts about royal finances and the Crown Estates. However, all of that seems to me to be a less frightening fact of life than the basic lack of national pride, the free allowance of such ardent opposition to the fundamental basis of British life and government which these individuals reflect. The fact that anyone serving in public office in Great Britain would voice such vile opposition to the very foundation of their country and their government says a great deal about the state to which the western world today has fallen. Labels: Anglican, engaged, Great Britain, prince william Monarchist Profile: Baron de Charette The future Church hero and French baron, Athanase Charles Marie Charette de la Contrie, was born on September 3, 1832. He was a great nephew of the famous and heroic General Charette of the Catholic and Royal Army that rose in the Vendee to oppose the French Revolution and who was executed at Nantes on March 29, 1795; the same city where the young Charette was born. As such, he came from very conservative, royalist, traditional and Catholic roots, from a family that did not shirk in the face of danger or even martyrdom in the cause of Christendom. Yet, he also had illustrious roots on the maternal side of his family. His mother, Louise, Countess de Vierzon, was the daughter of the Duc de Berry and Amy Brown, which was yet again a very conservative, legitimist-royalist family. It was, because of these very roots, that Charette became the man he did, but also because of these roots he was born ‘on the run’ in a rebellious, resistance movement that stood opposed to the standing government in his native France just as his great uncle had in the French Revolution. As such, his birth was kept secret and shortly thereafter he was spirited out of the city and his birth documents were later falsified to protect him. As he grew up, in keeping with his family tradition, Charette desired a military career. However, as the son of adherents of King Charles X, he was totally unwilling to serve in the French army of the so-called “Citizen King” Louis Philippe. As a result he went Italian and in 1846 began studying at the military academy of the Kingdom of Piedmont Sardinia in Turin. Unfortunately, this was one of, if not the, most liberal Italian states and in the liberal revolutionary year of 1848 he left Turin for the Austrian allied Duchy of Modena. Charette was well placed to prosper in Modena as the Duke was the brother in law of the Comte de Chambord, the legitimate King of France, and he saw to it that in 1852 Charette was given a commission as a second lieutenant in the Austrian Imperial army, specifically one of the regiments stationed in Modena. Here was the fulfillment of the army career Charette had long worked for, yet, it was to be a very short assignment due to the outbreak of war between Austria and France in northern Italy. Opposed as Charette might have been to the French government, he could not bring himself to take up arms against his own people and his own country and so was forced to resign his commission in 1859 and look for an opportunity to serve in a worthy cause against a wicked enemy. Unfortunately there were plenty of enemies to be found for a young, conservative, traditional Catholic royalist like Charette; especially in Italy. For some time the Italian states had been harassed by radical, liberal revolutionaries and nationalists who sought to create a united Italian nation state by overthrowing the local Italian princes, destroying their countries and, for good measure, tearing down the Catholic Church as the source of all evil in their warped, ultra-liberal viewpoint. One of the places where this conflict was most intense was in the very conservative Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Charrette had two brothers who opted to defend the Sicilian King Francis II and his lovely and heroic wife Queen Maria Sophia. This was a noble endeavor, but Charette himself opted instead to join in the defense of the Papal States and Blessed Pope Pius IX in May of 1860. As the Papal States had come under attack from the liberal Italian nationalists Pius IX was forced to organize a military defense. He appointed Monsignor Xavier de Merode Minister of War and General Christophe de Lamoriciere as commander of the papal armed forces. The army was an international one with volunteers from Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and Canada. Charette was commissioned captain in the first company of French and Belgian troops known a year later as the Pontifical Zouaves. Charette was certainly in good company as a great many of his comrades in the papal army were legitimist French royalists to the extent that one of their Italian enemies remarked that the officers of the papal army could easily have been a list of guests at the court of King Louis XIV. It was a truly heroic army with men like Charrette and his comrades, with very little pay, few supplies and hopelessly outnumbered fighting for the Church and the sovereignty of the Pope against a vastly superior enemy. He was following in the same grand tradition of his great uncle, the martyr of the Vendee counterrevolution. He served in the forces of Colonel Georges Marquis de Pimodan at the battle of Castelfidaro in September of 1860 where the papal army was outnumbered 6 to 1. Charette was wounded and Pimodan was killed. The Papal States were taken and much of the papal army disbanded as only the City of Rome remained under the control of Pius IX and that was due solely to the presence of French forces sent by Emperor Napoleon III rather than his own meager defense force. Lamoriciere was succeeded by the Swiss General Hermann von Kanzler who presided over the mostly symbolic resistance against the combined Italian nationalist forces which attacked Rome in 1870 after the French forces were withdrawn to fight in the war against Prussia and her allies. The papal army was disbanded but Charette and many of his men were still eager to fight. Since the French Empire had aided the Pope and since it was the Prussian invasion of France which ruined the whole situation it was easy for Charette to see the justice in fighting for Catholic France against Protestant Prussia. He soon began negotiations to take his former Papal Zouaves together into the French Imperial military. This was finally agreed to, due mostly to the desperate situation in France as Emperor Napoleon III had always been fearful of the French legitimist officers in the papal army and feared importing an armed force of Catholic royalists who considered him nothing more than a glorified peasant usurper. This continued and intensified the great adventure Charette first embarked on when he joined the papal army. He styled his zouaves as the "Volunteers of the West" and took them to France where he gallantly led them into battle against the Germans. Charette and his men represented, in the French army or any other, a truly unique and remarkable military unit. During the war against the Papal States the great English cleric Cardinal Manning referred to the papal troops as modern day Crusaders fighting for the Kingdom of God on earth. In the case of Charette and his Papal Zouaves, this was certainly true. Here was a group of men, all devout Catholics and supporters of the “papal monarchy” as it had long been known, also French legitimist royalists, fighting against those they considered enemies of God and man and basing their allegiance largely, not totally, on religious principle rather than on money or blind nationalist loyalty. And they were committed! Charette was wounded at the battle of Loigny and was taken prisoner on December 2, 1870 as part of the Army of the Loire by the Prussians after having previously beaten the Bavarians there. However, with typical dash, Charette managed to escape and was thereafter promoted to general by the French provisional government on January 14, 1870 (Emperor Napoleon III having abdicated following his defeat at Sedan). In the chaotic period following the fall of the Second French Empire there were numerous ideas about what sort of government would succeed it; everything from a traditional royal restoration to a secular, socialist republican model. Charette was even elected to the National Assembly by the Department of Bouches-du-Rhone but he never took his seat; republican politics being quite against his taste. He, as well as his men, was still as committed as ever to legitimate monarchism. The first President of the Third French Republic, Louis-Adolphe Thiers, even broached the subject of Charette and his zouaves permanently integrating into the French army. However, Charette rejected this suggestion, both because he had no desire to fight for a secular, republican France and also because he and his men still saw themselves as papal soldiers and wished to remain ready to rush to the defense of the Pontiff whenever he called on them. As a result his men were mustered out of the French army on August 15, 1871 and for the first time in a long time Charette returned to civilian life. Blessed Pope Pius IX was, by this time, a prisoner in the Vatican and there was no possibility of him or any future pope having a separate and militarily viable fighting force. Nonetheless, Charette remained at the disposal of the Church and continued to practice his devout Catholicism for the rest of his life as well as supporting the cause of a restoration of the legitimate Bourbon monarchy in France, which also never happened. Charette died on October 9, 1911 having been a valiant soldier for God but one who never knew victory on the battlefield. Both in Italy and in France the crowns for which he fought, that of the Pope and the Emperor, both lost their respective wars. Yet, Charette was in a unique position due to his family ties with the Vendee counterrevolution so that success or failure on the battlefield and the political arena was not finally the point. Those the world might consider failures are quite often venerated as martyrs by the people of God, God having said that He would use the weak to confound the mighty. Charette left a perfect example of a zealous and devout soldier who looked for what was just and righteous in the world and then fought for it against all odds no matter what the circumstances. Whether he won or lost did matter to him, like any he did want to win, but the right was more sacred than the victory for Charette and it is for that reason that he should be honored as a hero by the French and all Catholics in the world. Labels: Catholic, Catholic Church, France, italy, Monarchist, Risorgimento Russian Monarchist News Russian Monarchists Autumn News Labels: links, news, Russia MM Video: Royals of Bulgaria Labels: bulgaria, video What news happened this week? Well, in case you haven’t heard Prince William announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton -that’s been rather a big story around the world. The future King of Great Britain and the Commonwealths popped the question in October while vacationing in Africa and presented his bride-to-be with his late mother’s engagement ring after getting the approval of Kate’s father. No official word yet on an exact time or place for the wedding next year (so far Westminster Abbey seems to be the odds-on favorite). After looking after some details the Prince was back to Wales to resume his duties as a rescue pilot with the RAF while Kate has been at Buckingham Palace spending some time with her future grandmother-in-law, the Queen. The wedding promises to be a huge affair, already garnering a frenzy of media activity from the United States to Australia. Spring or summer of 2011 is the closest we have yet to a date. Once again, The Mad Monarchist sends congratulations to the happy young couple and best wishes that their marriage will be a happy, life-long one. On the continent, newlyweds of the past five months Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden finally moved into a place of their own; the Haga Palace, childhood home of the Swedish king and his sisters. In Spain HM King Juan Carlos donned his uniform to review and congratulate some 46,000 Spanish military forces, veterans of the 18-year Spanish peace-keeping presence in the troubled Balkan state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The King of Spain congratulated the soldiers, sailors and airmen for their service and noted that the hard earned experience these forces gained in Bosnia will prove invaluable in the other areas of the world in which Spanish forces are deployed, from Lebanon to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Queen Sofia of Spain has spent the last few days in New York visiting the Spanish Institute which promotes Spanish culture in the Americas. On Monday the Belgian Royal Family, sans-the King and Queen, were on hand to celebrate “King’s Day” in which the people pay tribute to their monarch. Starting with a special Church service in which the Archbishop of Brussels prayed for national unity, a meeting at Parliament followed and finally there was a march past the palace for the King to take the salute of his military forces in a pledge of loyalty to the Crown. Yesterday the Principality of Monaco celebrated its national day, honoring the five year anniversary of the reign of Prince Albert II. This was the first time Princess of Monaco-to be Charlene Wittstock appeared on the balcony with the Princely Family alongside the Sovereign Prince. You can review the day-long coverage of this event at Mad for Monaco. Monarch Profile: King Afonso V of Portugal Prince Afonso of Portugal was born in Sintra on January 15, 1432, the son and heir of King Edward of Portugal and his consort Eleanor of Aragon. He did not have much of a childhood, being only six years old in 1438 when he was called upon to succeed his father as King Afonso V of Portugal and the Algarves. Who might have guessed at that time that the young boy would become one of the most famous warrior kings in Portuguese history. During his minority Afonso had been acted for by, first, his mother and then his uncle Infante Pedro, Duke of Coimbra but the favorite of the King was the first Duke of Braganza, the most powerful noble in the country and one of the most wealthy men in all of Europe. Once he took up his powers as King in 1448, Afonso V nullified the laws passed during the regency and this, along with some accusations taken as fact, led to Pedro of Coimbra being declared a traitor. At the battle of Alfarrobeira north of Lisbon Pedro and his forces were defeated by King Afonso V, the duke himself being killed in the fighting. It was an ugly episode, especially considering that in 1447 Pedro had given King Afonso V his daughter Isabella as his first wife (she died in 1455, possibly from poisoning). That bit of unpleasantness done, King Afonso V turned his attention to the traditional enemy of Portugal; the Moors of North Africa. Ceuta (today a Spanish enclave) on the north African coast had been seized by previously by King João I and this provided a foothold for further campaigns by Afonso V. With the blessing of Pope Nicholas V the King set out and captured Alcácer Ceguer (today Ksar-el-Kebir) in what is now Morocco in 1458. The city would remain in Portuguese hands for the next forty-two years. Turning back north with his army Afonso V captured Tangiers in 1460 though that city proved very difficult to hold and for about four years Tangiers changed hands as the Moors recaptured it only to have Afonso capture it yet again before Portuguese control was firmly secured. In 1471 the King captured Arzila, securing Portuguese rule over northern Morocco. This string of hard-won victories earned Afonso V his lasting nickname “Afonso the African”. It was also during this time that ‘Prince Henry the Navigator’ was making important contributions toward the exploration of the Atlantic. Afonso V supported these efforts, further exploration of the African coast being a potential way of outflanking his enemies, but he pursued the issue no further on his own after the death of Prince Henry in 1460. In 1475 Afonso V married again, without papal recognition, to Juana of Castile in an effort to take advantage of internal problems in the Kingdom of Castile. Juana was the only child of King Henrique IV but her legitimacy was considered questionable. Because of this, the half-aunt of Juana, the future Isabella the Catholic, was recognized as heir to the throne. However, after his marriage to Juana, King Afonso V claimed the throne of Castile on behalf of his wife when Henrique IV died. This was also a matter of protecting the honor of the Portuguese Royal Family as Afonso was Juana’s uncle (her mother being his sister) and so accusations that she was illegitimate cast her mother, Queen Juana of Portugal, Afonso’s sister, in a very negative light. King Afonso invaded Castile to enforce this claim but he was defeated at the battle of Toro in 1476 by King Fernando II of Aragon, husband of Isabella of Castile. The Portuguese forces were scattered and forced to surrender. King Afonso returned to Portugal and his wife went into retirement in a convent. After so much previous success on the battlefield the lost war with Castile was a severe blow to the morale of Afonso V, a situation made worse after a failed effort to enlist the assistance of King Louis XI of France. In 1477 Afonso V abdicated in favor of his son, João II, and retired to a monastery in Sintra where he passed his final years in religious seclusion until his death in 1481. His campaigns had gained great glory for the Kingdom of Portugal, though they had been costly. His son would carry on his work, revitalize the country and lead the Portuguese to further victories and expansion through exploration. Labels: Avis, monarch, Portugal A Request to Readers Yesterday on the radio listeners across central and south Texas as well as internet listeners around the world on a certain station heard a tirade against Prince William and Kate Middleton as well as the House of Windsor in general from a certain right-wing bomb thrower. He spent the first segment of his show talking about how stupid it was to talk about William & Kate as most news did the previous morning. That would be absurd enough but he then had to go on a tirade about how all the royals are cousins (William and Kate in his head too) and heaping insults on all the royals, calling them inbred morons, calling Prince Harry a "butt-face" and saying that Kate and William were going to have ugly children and on and on and on. I fired off an email to complain about his rude behavior toward one of America's closest allies and he seemed shocked that anyone would actually be offended by his insults. I hate to do this but I would like to ask all readers to do the same. I'm sure not everyone will but if just half of the people who read this blog would take a minute to email their displeasure at such insulting behavior it would be significant. I did not, and I would advise others not to expound on the benefits of monarchism -that would be a waste of time in this case and I do not wish to "give that which is holy unto the dogs" but I would really like it if as many of you who read this (I would think readers from the UK, Canada and Australia would be especially motivated) would let your feelings be known that such rude and un-called for insults toward a happy young couple I think it would definitely have an impact and let this guy know that his brand of "humor" is not funny, not appreciated and is offensive to many, many people. I'm sure not everyone will do this (though I would love it if all would) but I make the request because even if only half of the people who follow and read this blog every day would take a minute to send an email it would be a blow against this kind of offensive behavior. So, if you would like to do something to defend the British monarchy and the future King and Queen of the U.K. and Commonwealth realms send your email to joepags@woai.com The (very) Mad Monarchist Labels: appeal, blog, personal, request The Elizabethan Era It was on November 17, 1558 that Elizabeth I, of the House of Tudor, became “Queen of England, Ireland and France”. There was a time, years ago, when I was a struggling university student pepped up on classes in British literature, Tudor history and the like that my admiration for “Good Queen Bess” was so complete as be approaching idolatry. Because of some personal changes and deeper studies my opinion has certainly modified since then. “Good Queen Bess” was not all that good to certain peoples and segments of society nor was she responsible for most of the great achievements of the Elizabethan Era. In fact, she was a quite indecisive ruler who tended to put things off until they resolved themselves or someone else resolved it for her. She was also quite irresponsible as a monarch in many ways, particularly in her refusal to secure the succession by either marrying and having children or naming an heir to the throne. There was also the execution of Mary Queen of Scots which I, as a monarchist, have a huge problem with and the trial and execution of one sovereign monarch by another is not something I am going to ever get past. Trust me. Now, having said all of that, Queen Elizabeth I still must stand out as one of the most significant, effective and success monarchs of England. She was a woman of great political instincts, great determination and was one of the greatest monarchs ever, in my opinion, when it came to mastering the public image of monarchy. If the almost divine image of the “Virgin Queen” is not completely accurate the Queen still deserves a great deal of credit for putting that best possible image forward and making it stick. If every monarch were so talented in the area of public relations republicans would positively be an endangered species if they exist at all. Some have attributed this to post-Elizabethan writers embellishing the accomplishments and popularity of Elizabeth I, and that may be true to some extent, but it is certainly not the whole truth. The abilities and accomplishments of Elizabeth I were widely recognized in her own time and even by her enemies. The Pope famously said that if only Elizabeth I were Catholic she would be their “most beloved daughter” and noted that while ruling only half an island she had made herself feared by France, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire. She was evidently doing something right. Above all, Queen Elizabeth I was a very pragmatic ruler. On the religious question she was not known for firm convictions. Before coming to the throne she had declared herself a Protestant and a Catholic depending on who held power. She was always opposed to the more extreme Protestants yet she recognized that it was the anti-Catholics who were her base of power and so she was certainly never going to be friendly toward the Catholic Church. There were terrible persecution of Catholics though it was not as bad as it could have been. In the area of politics she was also more practical than principled. She supported Protestant rebels in Scotland to keep the pro-French regent and queen there in check, she supported the Dutch against the Spanish to keep Philip II occupied and supported the Protestants in France for the same reason. Her support for the ‘English Sea Dogs’ against Spanish shipping also helped thwart a powerful enemy without a direct confrontation. The defeat of the Armada was a pivotal event in English history and while she may not have been directly responsible for that, in as much as she would be blamed if the Armada had succeeded she deserves credit for its defeat. She opened trade with the Muslim world, sending arms to Morocco, as a way to support their war against Spain and she sent the first English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire who were at that time almost constantly at war with the Empire. For a time she even considered a military alliance with the Turks against the Spanish but nothing ever came of it. It was during the reign of Elizabeth I that there also first came to be complaints over various methods of the Crown for obtaining funds without the support of Parliament which led to some problems. However, the Queen was very adept at dealing with this problem with a speech to Parliament that played on emotions, protesting her ignorance of the corruptions that existed and of her boundless love for her people and her country. This was no long-term solution and as we know the problem would arise again and again after Elizabeth was gone, coming to a head under Charles I. This, in a way, relates to the only negative aspect of the Queen’s mastery of public image and public relations. The devotion was to her personally, Gloriana, the iconic embodiment of England and English greatness and as happens this meant that such loyalty was not focused on the monarchy and would not carry over to her successor. This was exacerbated by the fact that there was no Royal Family to speak of and the only potential successor was the King of Scots at a time when suspicion of all foreigners had been purposely aroused. The precedent set by the trial and execution of Mary Queen of Scots would also have severe repercussions later on as well. Again, I have serious “issues” with Queen Elizabeth I and yet her significance cannot be denied and regardless of how one feels about her, Elizabeth I was obviously a queen of exceptional talent. Under her reign England again became a country that mattered after years of decline since the latter years of Henry VIII. Under her England mastered the sea, undermined Spanish power in such a way that Spain would decline and England would rise on the world stage as well as gaining a valuable lead on the French by playing off factions against each other. Her enemies could not help but admire her and even many of those she had executed went to their deaths pledging their loyalty to her. She embodied her country in such a way that her Protestant subjects all but worshipped her and even her Catholic subjects rallied to her against the Armada. She left England, if not the monarchy, stronger than she found it and left a legacy that no other British monarch has ever matched. Labels: elizabeth I, England, Great Britain, Tudor Tibetan Anniversary Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the XIV Dalai Lama officially taking up his duties as the temporal monarch of Tibet. His accession came earlier than usual due to the crisis with China. Labels: anniversary, Tibet, XIV Dalai Lama Favorite Royal Images: Brother and Sister The future King Baudouin of the Belgians and his sister the future Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte of Luxembourg Labels: Belgium, images, luxembourg It Is Official! Even in the staunchly republican United States every morning news show has gleefully reported the big news from Great Britain: HRH Prince William is officially engaged to marry longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton in London next year. Palace officials stated that Prince William proposed to Kate while on vacation in Kenya in October but informed only the Royal Family and of course Kate's family with whom the Prince is very close. The Prince also kept to tradition by asking Kate's father for his permission to marry his daughter. Prince William presented his beloved with his late mother Diana's engagement ring, in an effort, he said, to include her in this grand occasion. So far no further details have been released as to exact date and location but those answers have been promised to come "in due course". The Mad Monarchist joins all the loyal subjects of Great Britain and the Commonwealth realms in sending heartfelt congratulations to the young couple, the future King and Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland etc on the occasion of this happy event. May Prince William and the soon-to-be Princess Catherine have a lifetime of happiness together. God Save the Queen! Labels: engaged, England, Great Britain, Wales, William Was Austria-Hungary Doomed? It frequently happens in history that the odd remark, even addressing a situation truthfully, can be repeated so often over the years that it is blown out of all proportion to historic reality. To some extent this has been the case with the Dual-Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Because it was not the most powerful nation in Europe and because her military was not the most efficient or cohesive, Austria-Hungary is often portrayed as a decaying, weak, decrepit power that was doomed to fall, war or no war. Yet, if one takes an objective look at Austro-Hungarian society, the economy and even the military and their war record, a rather different picture reveals itself. Austria-Hungary had its problems certainly and probably more than her share due to the rise of nationalist sentiment in the multi-national Hapsburg lands but had it not been for the war there is at least some evidence that Austria-Hungary could have survived and that the Hapsburg Empire was not, in fact, a doomed ghost of a bygone era. First, one area in which Austria-Hungary was positively thriving was in the artistic and scientific segment of her society. This was the country of architects like Frederick Schmidt, Theophil Hansen and Karl Hasenauer. Inside their magnificent buildings one could find great composers of the period like Anton Bruckner, Gustav Mahler, Brahms, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss. For the less grand there was pieces known as light operas by Johann Strauss, Karl Millocker and Franz Lehar. There were poets like Hugo von Hofmannsthal, painters like Hans Makart, Gustav Klimt, Franz von Stuck and Kolo Moser. There were writers like Adalbert Stifter, Franz Kafka and Arthur Schnitzler. The medical department of the University of Vienna was renowned as probably the best in the world and produced such famous names in medicine as Theodor Billroth in antiseptic surgery, Theodor Meynert in brain surgery and Sigmund Freud in psychiatry. In other fields of study Vienna gave the world the philosopher Ernst Mach, the economist Carl Menger, the war historian Heinrich Friedjung, the legal experts Rudolf von Ihering and Joseph Unger, and the anthropologist Rudolf Poech. Does this sound like the product of a doomed and decaying society? For some, their theories are still hotly debated, for the artistic types their work is subject to individual taste, but no one can deny the wealth of talent represented in these products of late Imperial Austria. This certainly does not look like a society on the verge of collapse considering it had one of the greatest concentrations of artistic and scientific talent then in the world. Secondly, there is the economic arena. While it is true that Austria-Hungary labored behind countries like Germany, France and Britain in the area of modernization and industrialization, significant economic progress was being made right up to the start of the First World War and the people of Austria-Hungary were nowhere close to being among the most impoverished or over-burdened in Europe to say nothing of the wider world. Industry was growing, railroad networks were expanding and between 1870 and 1913 per capita GNP in Austria-Hungary actually grew at a slightly higher rate than in Britain, France or Germany. The Austrian Empire was more developed than other areas but the Kingdom of Hungary, before World War I, was a major source of food exports to the rest of Europe and had a thriving agricultural industry. As the Twentieth Century dawned the Austro-Hungarian economy was growing by leaps and bounds. The rapid expansion of railways, particularly after the government sold much of these to private investors, greatly increased trade and economic opportunities across the empire. Still, as stated, Austria-Hungary was by no means the economic powerhouse of Europe but nor was it poor or backward and the economy was growing faster than in most other countries. Finally we come to the way most powers at the time judged their national strength and that was, of course, the military. It is true that Austria-Hungary did not have the best military in the world or the best military in Europe. They were hampered by the basic fact that Austria had never been a militaristic country. If you wanted a country that lived by the sword you went to Prussia. Austria was always more famous for its music, art, grand buildings and glamorous society than it was for its military and battlefield successes. Additionally, the Austro-Hungarian military was hampered by the fact that most of the officers spoke German but relatively few of the soldiers understood the language. The dizzying array of languages and ethnic differences made the sort of rigid unit cohesion present in other armies virtually impossible in the Imperial-Royal military. However, all of that being said, the Austro-Hungarian armed forces were nothing to sneer at. They were a formidable fighting force, among the largest in the world with some excellent units and some brilliant commanders. They also had a record that included a number of often over-looked victories as well as their much talked about defeats. The driving force behind the Imperial-Royal Army was Field Marshal Conrad von Hoetzendorf. He, like the empire he served, has suffered from a great deal of bad press in recent histories (regarding his ability and not his personality and opinions -in that regard he was certainly among the most vociferous and aggressive). Yet, it must be kept in mind that at the time of the outbreak of war the Field Marshal was widely respected, around the world, and considered by contemporaries to be the most brilliant strategic mind in Central Europe. He should also be given credit for his efforts to modernize the army and keep up to date with technological innovations which was always a struggle since Vienna was constantly cutting the military budget in preference for other things. The campaigns in the east that the Germans are given so much credit for winning were all based on the original strategies put down by Hoetzendorf. The disabilities of the army may have tainted the results but few would deny that grand strategy of Hoetzendorf was the work of a military genius and were ultimately successful. And, despite the disabilities of the army it was a formidable force and upon mobilization was able to field over three million well armed men with some of the biggest and best artillery in Europe, guns of such superior quality that they were imported by the Germans to level the Belgian fortresses that gave them so much trouble. When it came to actually fighting there is no doubt that the initial campaign against Serbia was a disaster for Austria-Hungary and much is often made of this, however, it happened because of some crucial and unavoidable reasons. First, the Austrian-Hungarians had to weaken their forces for the drive on Serbia because of the need to concentrate the bulk of their forces to meet the Russian threat to the east. Second, the Serbs had the advantage of fighting a defensive war on their own ground -and that is a very rugged part of the world and perhaps most importantly the Serbs were simply extremely tenacious, tough and determined fighters, much more so than anyone at the time gave them credit for. However, working alone or in conjunction with the Germans, the Austro-Hungarian forces won numerous victories against the Russians, Romanians, finally did conquer the Serbs and when Italy joined the war the forces of Austria-Hungary performed magnificently. To the very end of the conflict they held off superior Italian forces, made daring counter-attacks and even forced the French and British to divert troops to help the Italians to keep them in the war. It is also true, though not widely known, that Austria-Hungary sent small forces to aid Germany on the western front and even to the Middle East to support the faltering Ottoman Turks toward the end of the war. On the naval front, Austria-Hungary was far from helpless as well. Simply their presence prevented Allied forces operating with impunity due to their fear of an all-out battle with the formidable Austrian fleet. Large surface ships were mostly confined to the Adriatic because of this stand-off but the Imperial-Royal Navy did launch a number of damaging raids against the Allied blockading squadrons. Likewise, on the undersea front, for her small size the Austrian u-boat fleet proved extremely effective. In fact, the Austrian u-boats actually had a higher ratio of hits versus torpedoes fired than even the legendary German submarine force did. Another interesting fact is that the top scoring Austrian sub captain was none other than Georg Ritter von Trapp of “The Sound of Music” fame. Similarly, the Imperial and Royal Aviation Troops, despite working under severe hardships, proved themselves extremely capable with about 20 flying “aces” which included such pilots as Julius Arigi with 32 confirmed victories and Godwin Brumowski with 35 confirmed victories. Considering all of this, it seems quite clear to me that, despite some considerable problems, Austria-Hungary was not an empire destined to collapse in any event. This is not something that should be seen as an inevitable event that would have happened with or without the war. Austria-Hungary had a vibrant social, scientific and artistic life, a growing economy and a respectable military. Of course no one can say for sure what would have happened but I think it is clear that it is at least very possible that without the war Austria-Hungary could have survived, it could have instituted the changes favored by many for “trialism” or a “United States of Greater Austria” and could have carried on very well. All the proper ingredients were there and in the person of either Archduke Franz Ferdinand or Emperor Charles I significant political changes would have been made. Austria-Hungary was not doomed, its collapse was not inevitable and people should not think that it was. Labels: Austria, Austria-Hungary, Hapsburg, Word War I Monarchist Music: King Christian Stood By the Lofty Mast The Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of Denmark Labels: Denmark, music Monarchist Music: King Christian Stood By the Loft... MM Video: Royals of Tuscany Monarch Profile: Blessed Emperor Charles I Great Britain and the E.U. Monarchy Profile: Andorra Future Princess of Monaco Politics and Modern Western Monarchy Monarchy Profile: Bahrain America's Potential War with Britain Monarchy Profile: Belgium Monarchist Music: Wha'll Be King But Charlie Monarchy Profile: Bhutan King of Sweden in the News Monarchy Profile: Brunei Thank God She's Gone Remember, Remember Monarchy Profile: Cambodia More of My Fan Mail Monarchy Profile: Denmark The Election Results Are In Monarchy Profile: Japan The Shameful Ways of Republicanism MM Video: Emperor Joseph II Monarchy Profile: Jordan Consort Profile: Empress Teimei of Japan Monarchy Profile: Kuwait	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2033
__label__wiki	0.990955	0.990955	Porn in US 'a public health crisis' by Robert Macpherson Pornography now is so widespread in the United States that it deserves to be addressed seriously as a major public health crisis, a panel of activists said Thursday. On the eve of a two-day conference on sexual exploitation, they suggested that porn be tackled in the same manner as teenage smoking or drunk driving. "There's an untreated pandemic of harm from pornography," said Dawn Hawkins, executive director of Morality in Media, which has campaigned against pornography since 1962. "There's a lot of science now proving that pornography is harmful," Hawkins told reporters at the National Press Club in Washington. "We know now that almost every family in America has been touched by the harm of pornography." The Coalition to End Sexual Exploitation summit that opens Friday in the Washington suburb of Tysons Corner aims to look at pornography as a complex social problem that needs to be framed as a public health issue. Participants include health professionals, social workers, academics, feminists, faith leaders, campaigners against human trafficking and former members of the multibillion-dollar adult entertainment industry. 'Considerable political clout' "This is a business with considerable political clout," said Gail Dines, a sociology and women's studies professor at Wheelock College in Boston and author of "Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality." Porn sites get more visitors per month than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined, a third of all downloads contain porn and the Internet now hosts 4.2 million porn websites, said Dines, who is also president of the international feminist group Stop Porn Culture. "Porn is without doubt the most powerful form of sex education today, with studies showing that the average age of first viewing porn is between 11 and 14—and let me tell you, this is not your father's Playboy," she said. "These degrading misogynist images have become the wallpaper of our lives and they are robbing young people of an authentic healthy sexuality that is a basic right of ever human being." Donny Pauling, a former adult film producer for Playboy and others who also ran a network of adult websites before quitting the business in 2006, said he has personally seen the ill effects of the porn business on the women who appear in front of the camera. Doubts porn star is 'empowered' He doubted that Miriam Weeks—a 19-year-old women's studies student at elite Duke University who caused a national stir recently when she came out as moonlighting Internet porn star Belle Knox—feels as "empowered" as she has claimed. "I don't buy her story," Pauling said. "I recruited more than 500 first-timers into the business and there's never been one that came back and thanked me." Mary Anne Layden of the University of Pennsylvania, who specializes in sexual trauma, said pornography has been a factor in every case of sexual violence that she has treated as a psychotherapist. "The earlier males are exposed to pornography, the more likely they are to engage in non-consensual sex—and for females, the more pornography they use, the more likely they are to be victims of non-consensual sex," she said. In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this month, Weeks revealed that she started watching pornography at the age of 12—and that she was once raped at a high school house party. "There is going to have to be programs out there that get kids to understand how porn is manipulating them," Dines said. And Layden suggested that if the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention got "interested in this as a public health issue, we can have success in the way that we had success with the issue of cigarette smoking." Could Porn Be Good For Society? Citation: Porn in US 'a public health crisis' (2014, May 16) retrieved 16 January 2021 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-05-porn-health-crisis.html Pornography reinforces sexist attitudes among a subgroup of heterosexuals, study says No such thing as porn 'addiction,' researchers say Teenagers' pornography and sexual experiences—fewer differences than expected German court raises doubts about porn piracy case Egypt prosecutor orders Internet porn ban	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2036
__label__cc	0.643797	0.356203	Tag Archives: Pen Bookbinding, Medieval Scribes, Paleography October 5, 2018 Erik Kwakkel 5 Comments Doodling is something we all do, from time to time, often without realising. Listening to someone on the phone or perhaps attending a meeting (or class), we scribble, rather haphazardly and spontaneously, squiggly lines, random words, and mini drawings. The practice is quite old. Doodled squiggly lines and mini drawings are encountered frequently in medieval books, mostly in the margins or on flyleaves. The one in Figure 1 was added to the lower margin of a manuscript with Juvenal’s Satires. Its style resembles our modern stick figures and it may just be the artistic creation of a child. Figure 1. Doodle in the lower margin of a medieval page (Carpentras, Bibliothèque municipale, 368 (15th century). Source In spite of the parallel with modern times, the rationale behind doodling in manuscripts is usually very different. Exceptions such as the one in Figure 1 aside, the medieval practice of doodling has little to do with boredom or absent-minded pen movements. They are calculated products of the pen, executed with a particular goal in mind. Why Pen Trials? The answer to this question lies in the two tools wielded by medieval scribes more than any other instrument. In miniatures scribes are often shown with a pen in one hand and a knife in the other, such as the hermit seen copying text from an exemplar in Figure 2. (Note, incidentally, the handy paraphernalia he has at his disposal, like the slider that helped him keep track of the line he was supposed to copy.) Here we see the scribe using the tip of the knife to keep the parchment in place: using his hands would release oily grease onto the writing surface, which would subsequently prevent the ink from sticking properly. Figure 2. Scribe at work, pen and knife in hand (London, British Library, Royal 14 E.iii, 14th century). Source An equally important use of the knife, however, was to adjust the nib; and it is here that the origins of the pen trial – and the doodle – are found. After some time, a few hours perhaps, the nib became dull and it needed to be cut again in order to produce crisp letters. After trimming the nib, the scribe tested his pen to check that it had the right width and to make sure there would be no streaks of white visible within the strokes of the letters. For this testing process he turned to an empty piece of paper or parchment and scribbled down some squiggly lines or short words. The process was quick and routine among scribes across medieval Europe (Figure 3). Figure 3. Two flyleaves filled with pen trials (Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek, BPL 111-I, 13th-15th centuries). Photo by the author Pen trials, which are most often encountered on flyleaves in the back of manuscripts, can be quite appealing. As it happened, scribes did not just write down squiggly lines or words when testing their pens, but they even produced modest works of art. In Leiden University Library some great “artistic” specimens are encountered. In the back of BPL 111-I, for example, we find a collection of large initial letters with faces inside them (Figure 3). It includes a letter B with two monks (note the tonsures), a D with a stern-looking lady wearing a pointy hat, a bearded person in a letter S, and a duck containing a long-nosed man. This page and the facing one are filled with dozens of pen trials. The shapes of the letters and the ink colour suggests that the doodles on these pages were produced by a limited number of individuals, perhaps two or three, which is in line with what we commonly see on flyleaves that contain pen trials. The two pages in the back of BPL 111-I are also in line with broader European traditions regarding the kind of tests they contain. We encounter single letters and words, as well as nonsensical phrases (“e,” “egi de e,” “ego panne,” “autem”). Another popular theme is also found in Figure 3: musical notation (somewhat out of focus near the top of the picture). The square notes of the Middle Ages were perfect for testing the nib, because they naturally showed how wide it was, while the short square shape also invited the scribe to execute a series of quick test strokes. Common also are the little specks visible in Figure 3: you can vaguely see them in the white zone below the initial letters. These result from tapping the quill on the parchment, probably in an attempt to adjust the nib by “tapping” it into shape. Figure 4. Pen trials by a high volume of individuals (Cambridge, Parker Library, MS 223, p. 338, twelfth century). Source While the pen trials in Figure 3 were executed by perhaps two or three individuals, there could be far more scribes involved. Figure 4 shows a page in a ninth-century manuscript. Present in the back of the last quire, it was left blank because the text had already ended. Some three centuries later, likely in the second half of the twelfth century, the page was filled with pen trials by least fifteen scribes. We are probably looking at a group of individuals in the same scriptorium, who favoured very different “doodles” for testing their pen, from alphabets to a small portrait. And the musical notation appears as well, at various locations. A similar case where a large group of individuals share the same empty page is found in a set of manuscripts from Rochester Priory in Kent, now Oxford, Bodleian Library, MSS Bodley 340 and 342 (Figure 5). Several individuals from the early twelfth-century wrote down short passages on their flyleaves, including – with a peculiar sense of appropriateness – the phrase probatio pennae, “I test my pen” (near the top of the detail shown in Figure 5). Figure 5. Pen trials by several twelfth-century scribes in Rochester Priory, Kent (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 340, f. 169v, detail). Groups of pen trials from a medieval scriptorium can be important sources of information about scribal practices and the backgrounds of scribes. Those in the back of Bodley 340 and 342, for example, show that the scriptorium of Rochester Abbey was filled with individuals who were trained across the European Continent, including in Germany, Holland and Italy (see Kwakkel, “Hidden in Plain Sight”). This verdict is based on the letter shapes of the pen trials, which reveal where their makers are from: scribes were trained to produce slightly different letter shapes all over Europe, which shows in the pen trials. By proxy, the page in Figure 5 highlights the ethnical diversity of the monks in Rochester Abbey. Sometimes one encounters truly special collections of pen trials. Leiden University Library holds a loose double-leaf filled with an unusual amount of them (Figure 6). Its existence adds significantly to our understanding of medieval pen trials. One may be inclined to think that scribes always turned to empty pages in the back of existing manuscripts and filled them pen trials. While this happened, as the previous cases show, there is also another practice at play. The Leiden sheet suggests that scribes also used loose – i.e. unbound – sheets, which likely lay on their desk. Some of these “test sheets” were repurposed and turned into flyleaves, making it look, to somebody observing the pen trials today, as if they were directly written into the book. Figure 6. Upper half of a flyleaf filled with dozens of pen trials (Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek, BPL 3327, 22, 15th century). Photo by the author This particular test sheet was filled to the brim with several hundred pen trials: there are more than I have ever seen in one location (note that Figure 6 shows only a detail). When one looks carefully, running themes can be observed across the page, sometimes clustered in the same location. There is the large capital letter H that is frequently drawn, especially near the top of the page; and there are recurring human figures as well, such as a grumpy lady, a man with curly hair, and a few bishops. Another theme is the nota sign, the attention sign that is encountered in the margins of manuscripts: quite a few are observed under the two red arches (they look like “nt” with a curly line over top). There are as many as ten individuals at work on this sheet, which suggests this sheet, too, was used in a scriptorium. Figure 7. Fifteenth-century test sheet used as flyleaf (Leiden, Universiteitsbibliotheek, PER 16). Photo by the author Another test sheet is seen in Figure 7. It was used by a single scribe, who used the crumbly sheet to write down letters, parts of religious verses, and non-sensicle expressions. Here the earlier purpose is clearly visible through the rough and well-used appearance of the flyleaf. It concerns a piece that was ripped off of a larger paper sheet and subsequently used for testing the pen. At a later stage it was repurposed as a flyleaf. Figures 6 and 7 show us the far ends of the spectrum of medieval test sheets: some were inhabited with words and doodles by a group of individuals, as indicated by the variations in ink color, letter shape, and nib width, while others were tools used by single scribes. This is an expanded and modified version of a post that first appeared on Leiden Medievalists Blog. Read more about pen-trials: Erik Kwakkel, “Hidden in Plain Sight: Continental Scribes in Rochester Cathedral Priory, 1075-1150,” in Writing in Context: Insular Manuscript Culture, 500-1200, ed. Erik Kwakkel, Studies in Medieval and Renaissance Book Culture (Leiden: Leiden University Press, 2013), 231-61. doodlesPenpen trialsScribesScript	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2037
__label__wiki	0.9587	0.9587	Naya Rivera’s Final On-Screen Appearance Airs on Netflix David Livingston, Getty Images Naya Rivera's final television on-screen appearance has aired. The former Glee star was a guest judge on Season 3 of Sugar Rush, a competitive baking show. Rivera's season was filmed in Los Angeles back in February, right before the production and filming of shows shut down due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After Rivera’s passing, Netflix consulted the actress's manager, Gladys Gonzalez, to figure out what to do with the footage. Deadline reported that Gonzalez was working closely with the actress’ family, who came to the decision to release her episode. The Sugar Rush episode is dedicated to Rivera. Prior to the opening credits, a note and dedication appear on the screen. Sugar Rush is now available to stream on Netflix. Rivera was laid to rest in a private funeral on July 24 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. Her death certificate confirmed that her official cause of death was accidental "drowning." The coroner's office confirmed that there were no other conditions that contributed to her death. 15 Celebrity TV Co-Stars Who Disliked Each Other in Real Life Source: Naya Rivera’s Final On-Screen Appearance Airs on Netflix Filed Under: Naya Rivera	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2041
__label__wiki	0.573425	0.573425	MASSachusetts State Universities MEDIEVAL Blog About MassMedieval John P. Sexton Kisha Tracy Category Archives: Pop Culture by Kisha Tracy \| February 19, 2014 · 5:20 PM English Studies Abroad: A Gest of Robyn Hode For anyone who has known me for any length of time, one fact quickly becomes apparent: I’m an avid Robin Hood fan. I have been for as long as I can remember. My first clear memory is watching Errol Flynn’s The Adventures of Robin Hood, and my college dorm room was decorated with a poster of Flynn in his best heroic pose from the film – that poster now graces my dining room wall. I have an extensive collection of Robin Hood memorabilia that I’ve been amassing for over 20 years. All of this to say, I simply could not leave the outlaw off the syllabus in this course, even though we are not going to make it to Nottingham. This post only serves as a small snippet of an introduction to the character. One of the first mentions of Robin Hood recorded is in William Langland’s fourteenth-century Piers Plowman. The site “Robin Hood: The Facts and the Fiction” contains a good online resource, as it pulls out from the Skeat version of the three parallel texts (A, B, and C) the passages related to the outlaw legend. The most significant is in Passus B.V in which the sin Sloth lists his shortcomings: I can nouȝte perfitly my pater-noster as the prest it syngeth, But I can rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf erle of Chestre, Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady the leste that euere was made. (B.V.401-3) In a similar fashion as Saint Augustine who castigates his younger self at the beginning of the Confessions for loving to read the stories of Aeneas and Dido rather than to focus on God, Sloth here admits to knowing the stories of Robin Hood rather than any prayers or Christian stories. The implication is that the stories of Robin Hood are well-known popular tales at this time. In the guide to an exhibit at the Robbins Library in 2006-07, John Chandler writes, “Sloth’s familiarity with drinking songs about Robin Hood, but utter lack of knowledge of things spiritual, also reflects the concern of the Church for the souls of people who likely attended mass grudgingly, but could readily recite popular songs.” This echoes Augustine’s disgust with himself over the same issue. And, yet, we all know the popular stories continue to be “more fun.” As a side note, this particular line also plays a role in my interest in memory in Passus V of Piers Plowman. Directly afterwards Sloth talks about forgetting his responsibilities and what he owes to others, making forgetfulness a part of the sin he personifies. The Robin Hood line too speaks to memory in that he can remember what he wants to, just not what he “should.” Selective memory, we call it today. It is this popularity that makes Robin Hood a frequent presence in early printed books. For the first part of the week (which was, again, interrupted by snow – I’m beginning to feel that Mother Nature has a grudge), we read selections from the TEAMS Robin Hood and Other Outlaws. In particular, we read the “Early Ballads and Tales,” which mostly originated in the fifteenth century. For whom were these tales written? In their introduction to the text, editors Stephen Knight and Thomas H. Ohlgren state: The audience has been a matter of speculation. Some have thought it was close to the discontented peasantry who were central to the 1381 revolt (Hilton, 1976); another view saw the ballads as a set of general complaints from the lower gentry (Holt, 1989). Neither party has accounted for the lack of agrarian and tenurial issues, apart from the unusual episode of the knight in the Gest. Another commentator has seen the dynamic of the ballads in the struggle for power in towns themselves and the forest as a fantasy land of freedom (Tardif, 1983). As a result of these debates there now seems general agreement that the audience was not single, that it represented the social mobility of the late Middle Ages, and the myth was diffused across a wide variety of social groupings who were alive to the dangers of increasingly central authority, whether over town, village, or forest (Coss, 1985). The “general agreement” that these tales indicate the “social mobility of the late Middle Ages” and that they appeal to a “wide variety of social groupings” seems like an accurate and useful way to think about them. The early ballads are quite different from the Robin Hood that has evolved down to us today. Yet, at the same time, we see familiar characters and characteristics. Robin’s home in the greenwood (wherever that greenwood may be – Sherwood Forest or ones nearby) is fairly constant. One of my favorite memories is visiting the Major Oak in Sherwood (photo below). It is an incredibly peaceful location, and it is easy enough to imagine Robin and his merry men living a life of unabashed freedom under its branches. Also, his companion Little John is generally always nearby. The other familiar figures get added over time. Maid Marian, for instance, seems to be an addition when the tale is transformed into plays performed on May Day. Robin’s association with the spring is seen in the early ballads. In “Robin Hood and the Monk,” the tale begins, “Erly in a May mornyng” (l. 10). In “Robin Hood and the Potter,” the season is summer, yet no less descriptive of nature and its bounty: In schomer, when the leves spryng, The bloschoms on every bowe, So merey doyt the berdys syng Yn wodys merey now. (ll. 1-4) It is no stretch to see how these stories, which laud the greenwood, the newness of leaves, and the singing of birds, became associated with the May Day celebrations. And it is no surprise that Robin needed a lady; thus, Marian was born. The outlaw himself is not the noble gentleman who only thinks of the poor and the plight of the common man. He is the common man in the ballads, described as a yeoman, and we see him frequently not showing what we have come to know as his trademark chivalrous mercy to his opponents. Indeed, many of the texts end with the death of the opponent. For instance, in “Robin Hood and the Monk,” Little John unceremoniously hauls the monk who betrayed his friend to the ground and kills him as another man Much kills the page with him simply to keep him quiet: John smote of the munkis hed, No longer wolde he dwell; So did Moch the litull page, For ferd lest he wolde tell. (ll. 203-6) It is a bloody scene with little in the way of any kind of mercy for those who oppose the outlaw or his men. Robin Hood’s famous nobility and chivalrous nature are later inventions, added and manipulated for the needs of his various audiences throughout the centuries. For the second part of the week, we turned away from the late medieval origins of Robin Hood and looked instead at the evolution of the legend and its continued popularity. To that end, we read Stephen Knight’s article “Remembering Robin Hood.” Also, while it feels a bit odd to do so, I assigned my students to listen to/watch a lecture I gave a couple of years ago on this very subject, entitled “Robin Hood, the Once and Future Hero.” The lecture is here for those interested in it: My point in this lecture is that there are many qualities the Robin Hood legends possess that have kept them alive and vibrant for centuries. One of the major qualities is that greenwood I mentioned earlier. While there are challenges in being exiled from society, “outside” of the “law,” there is also freedom in not having to answer to authority, in seeing those who are corrupt receive the justice they deserve (but might not receive if protected by society). Robin is often depicted, in whatever incarnation, as freely roaming the woods, doing what he wants when he wants to do it, making his own law and living his own code. This is appealing to a variety of people, not the least of which would be children who sometimes chafe against adult authority, which explains why the legend became such a popular children’s story: [H]is popularity with children and the relatively powerless continued long after the popular vogue of the other medieval romance survivals faded…[H]is identification with unsophisticated readers, especially children, during his extraordinary extended vogue may well explain, even though there is no categorical evidence, his peculiar place in the company of children. (Brockman 68) Or, as Joseph Falaky Nagy, writes: The narrative tradition about Robin Hood, which throve in folklore and the popular literature of England from the medieval period to the nineteenth century, reflects the worldwide fascination with the figure of the outlaw, the man who exists beyond human society and has adventures which would be impossible for normal members of society in their normal social environments. (198) Robin Hood is in a position, that space between civilized and uncivilized, doing what we only think about doing, that speaks to those who, for one reason or another, seek an escape from limitations. In the Weekly Activity for Robin Hood, the students were asked to pick a film featuring the character (alas, with the exception of the animated Disney version, as it is an “easy” choice) in order to think about its representation of the outlaw, particularly considering how it stacks up against the original tales. There are many lists available of Robin Hood films; one, for example, is on IMDb, if you feel like a marathon (or you could just raid my DVD collection!). What, might you ask, is my favorite? The Adventures of Robin Hood will always have a special place in my heart and, thus, is in a class of its own. Also, it tends to be the iconic image of the hero. The live-action Disney The Story of Robin Hood with Richard Todd is also one I return to often; I think the music makes it particularly special. Interestingly enough, in that one, Robin does not start off as a nobleman. The silent version with Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., is incredible; the full version is available on YouTube, which I have included below. The athleticism of Fairbanks combined with its charming simplicity is, in a word, wonderful. (I also have a soft spot for it because I received as a gift several original props from the film. They are a centerpiece of my collection.) The most recent Robin Hood with Russell Crowe is disappointing on many levels. Although it attempts to return to the grittiness of the original tales, it fails to capture the lightness and freedom so inherent in the legend. It does, nonetheless, speak to the idea that the story is malleable and can be applied to different situations in various time periods (here, Magna Carta). Class links: Google Map Project Robin Hood Readlists Storify Journals Next week: we visit Oxford and Tolkien. PS In my spare time (what little there is!), I am reading the King Raven trilogy by Stephen R. Lawhead. It reimagines the Robin Hood legend in Wales and sets it during the time of William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror. It is a new take on the story, but, so far, it is working well, and I am far enough in that I can recommend it. Brockman, B.A. “Children and the Audiences of Robin Hood.” South Atlantic Review 48.2 (1983): 67-83. Print. Chandler, John H. Robin Hood: Development of a Popular Hero. Exhibition Guide. Robbins Library. University of Rochester, 2006-07. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. The Robin Hood Handbook: The Outlaw in History, Myth and Legend. United Kingdom: Sutton, 2006. Print. Fortunaso, Robert. “Robin Hood: The Facts and the Fiction.” N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. Holt, J.C. Robin Hood. London: Thames and Hudson, 1993. Print. Knight, Stephen. “Remembering Robin Hood.” European Journal of English Studies 10.2 (2006): 149-61. Print. Nagy, Joseph Falaky. “The Paradoxes of Robin Hood.” Folklore 91.2 (1980): 198-210. Print. Robin Hood and Other Outlaw Tales. Eds. Stephen Knight and Thomas H. Ohlgren. TEAMS Middle English Text Series. Kalamazoo, MI: Medieval Institute Publications, 1997. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. Filed under Medieval Movies, Medievalism, Pop Culture, Robin Hood, Teaching, Travels Tagged as study abroad by Kisha Tracy \| January 29, 2014 · 4:28 PM English Studies Abroad: Arthurian Texts, Once and Future This week in English Studies Abroad has been Arthurian readings and discussions. You might ask, how do you cover Arthur in one week? The obvious truth is you can’t. The subject is vast, wide, and never-ending. So settle in for a long winter’s post! My approach was to tackle some of the medieval texts on the first day of class and then move into the post-medieval Arthurian tradition on the second in order to get a sense of how authors have manipulated, deployed, and co-opted the legends. Some thoughts of the week… Continuing in the spirit of considering our readings in light of locations we plan to visit, we took a look at the sections related to Stonehenge in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s Historia Regum Britanniae. The story goes that Aurelius wanted to erect a monument to honor those loyal men who had been slain by the treacherous Saxon Hengist. Merlin advises that he relocate the Giant’s Dance from Ireland: “If you are desirous,” said Merlin, “to honour the burying-place of these men with an ever-lasting monument, send for the Giant’s Dance, which is in Killaraus, a mountain in Ireland. For there is a structure of stones there, which none of this age could raise, without a profound knowledge of the mechanical arts. They are stones of a vast magnitude and wonderful quality; and if they can be placed here, as they are there, round this spot of ground, they will stand for ever.” (Book VIII, Chapter X) Pulling Stonehenge even more fully into the Arthurian tradition, Merlin is accompanied by Uther Pendragon on this expedition, fittingly so given that their mission leads to a battle with the Irish, who must be thoroughly routed. I am always amused at how Merlin, his mischievous, devlish side coming out, sends the men to try their luck at moving the large stones while he simply watches and chuckles at their fruitless efforts. It is reminiscent of the later iconic story of Arthur and the Sword in the Stone, when everyone else tries and tries to remove it to no avail. Here Merlin waits until they pretty much give up and then he comes to their rescue: Merlin laughed at their vain efforts, and then began his own contrivances. When he had placed in order the engines that were necessary, he took down the stones with an incredible facility, and gave directions for carrying them to the ships, and placing them therein. This done, they with joy set sail again, to return to Britain; where they arrived with a fair gale, and repaired to the burying-place with the stones. (Book VIII, Chapter XII) Of course, the exact nature of these “contrivances” and “engines” is left to the imagination. After all, we can’t give away all the secrets, can we? I try to imagine the ships it would require to sail away with Stonehenge, but it boggles the mind. Drawing of Stonehenge, 1440 MS (click for news story) Reading further in Geoffrey’s Historia, we focused in particular on the sections detailing Uther’s reign and then Arthur’s origin story. Our discussion led us to the collective origin stories of Merlin (parentage, early history, etc.) and what he is both capable of as well as the choices he makes and their effects on the Arthurian world. In this case, the choice to use his skills to transform Uther into the form of Gorlois in order to sleep with Igerna is a trade-off – an anti-Christian act which brings about the creation of the great king Arthur: The same night therefore she conceived of the most renowned Arthur, whose heroic and wonderful actions have justly rendered his name famous to posterity. (Book VIII, Chapter XIX) The ramifications of this choice – his “ends justify the means” attitude – is not fully explored by Geoffrey, but later authors, of course, run with it. In the discussion of Merlin’s parentage, I was even able to work in my previous research into the role of his mother in various incarnations of the story. She’s quite a character, particularly with her ability to manipulate speech in order to protect herself and her son. Perceval, receiving the sword from the Fisher King, c. 1330, Bibliothèque nationale de France As an example of Arthurian romances, I chose Chrétien de Troyes’ Le Conte du Graal. There were a couple of reasons for this choice. One, a couple of students in the class took my Middle Ages class last semester and read Cligès and Le Chevalier de la Charrette; thus, I wanted to assign a different text. Two, Le Conte du Graal provides opportunities for different discussions: the representation of Arthur, the development and definition of a knight (and an Arthurian knight at that), the tradition behind the popular concept of the Grail, certain customs (real or fictional) Chrétien embeds in the narrative, the interaction between the religious and secular, the romance form (with a digression into the English/French similarities and differences), the French interest in and contributions to the Matters of Britain, among other topics. It’s a rich text and serves as a useful window for our brief foray into the medieval Arthurian world. Also, speaking of mothers, we have here a fascinating one. She prevents Perceval from knowing about his true heritage in an attempt to protect him – and herself, as it happens, from more grief. Her advice shapes Perceval’s early development in the text, even as he misinterprets her. Her death occurs early, yet she continues to influence his choices, requiring him to leave the side of his lady out of concern for her. On a personal note, I have always been particularly fascinated by the Fisher King (coincidentally, another figure I have spent a great deal of time researching in the past – our teaching reflects our own interests, no?) and was again upon this re-reading. This time around, I was struck by his soothing qualities. He is in great pain, unable to stand, though he lifts himself up to the best of his ability in order to honor his guest. His demeanor is no doubt courtly and courteous, as any number of characters are in this and other romances. Yet, his persona appears more than that as I read, as if his courtliness is less performance (as so often it comes across) and more an intricate part of him. His disability seems to soften (but certainly not weaken) him. Perhaps part of this impression lies in his willingness to express his suffering as indicated by one of his few lines of dialogue (in translation, as we read it in class): “Friend, now it is time for bed. Don’t be offended if I leave you and go into my own chambers to sleep; and whenever you are ready you may lie down out here. I have no strength in my body and will have to be carried.” (422) Though we are given little insight into his history or his societal role, I would hesitate to say – at least as I mull my reaction this time – that the Fisher King is rendered “real” by his hardship. As a segue between the medieval Arthurian world and the post-medieval one, I had assigned Tolkien’s recently-released The Fall of Arthur; however, I was a bit overly ambitious in the amount of reading assigned and thus made this one more optional. It does, however, fulfill its intended role well, as a work written in Old English alliterative verse at the same time that it pays homage to the literary tradition concerning the collapse of Arthur’s kingdom. Even from the beginning of the poem, Tolkien captures the Old English sense of elegy while marrying it to the collapse of the Arthurian world: As when the earth dwindles in autumn days and soon to its setting the sun is waning under mournful mist, then a man will lust for work and wandering, while yet warm floweth blood sun-kindled, so burned his soul after long glory for a last assay of pride and prowess, to the proof setting will unyielding in war with fate. (17) I look forward to spending more time with this work in a future class. Cross discovered at Glastonbury Abbey in c. 1190, claims to be the burial site of Arthur; Engraved: HIC IACIT SEPVLTVS INCLITVS REX ARTHVRIVS, IN INSVLA AVALONIA. [“Here lies entombed the renowned King Arthur on the Isle of Avalon”] Due to the fact it is a rather well-known modern rendition of Arthurian literature as well as the fact it conveniently paired well with our other readings, I chose to assign the first sixty pages of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon. This section parallels Arthur’s origin story that we read in Geoffrey of Monmouth, providing fodder for discussion, particularly as Bradley’s work is so focused on telling the story from the women’s perspective, which is not a concern of the Historia. There is an echo in Mists of the tension between the Christian and pagan found in early medieval texts influenced by or written in the time of conversion. At the beginning of the novel, Merlin and Viviane identify a need and a desire to allow the two to live in harmony n parallel worlds; as Viviane states: “We must have our own leader, one who can command all of Britain. Otherwise, when they mass against us, all Britain will fall, and for hundreds and hundreds of years, we will lie in ruins beneath the Saxon barbarians. The worlds will drift irrevocably apart and the memory of Avalon will not remain even in legend, to give hope to mankind. No, we must have a leader who can command loyalty from all the people of both the Britains – the Britain of the priests, and the world of the mists, rules from Avalon. Healed by this Great King . . . the worlds shall once again come together, a world with room for the Goddess and for the Christ, the cauldron and the cross. And this leader shall make us one.” (14-5) Geoffrey’s “most renowned Arthur, whose heroic and wonderful actions have justly rendered his name famous to posterity” is expanded by Bradley into a king who will “command loyalty from the people of both the Britains – the Britain of the priests, and the world of the mists” and who “shall make room for the Goddess and for the Christ.” There is still the sense of manipulation by Merlin as he orchestrates the creation of this king, though the story shifts with Igraine’s fore-knowledge (and her reluctance and initial disgust) that she has been chosen as mother to this savior. Bradley, intentionally or unintentionally, parallels Igraine’s story with that of the Virgin Mary, whose pregnancy as well as the special qualities of her son are also foretold. And, just to belabor a point, we have returned once again to the subject of mothers. Bradley weaves in the concept of the Waste Land, so integral to the Fisher King narratives, in a rather effective way. Viviane explains to Igraine about the relationship between a king and his land: “In the old days . . . the High King was bound with his life to the fortunes of the land, and pledged . . . that if the land comes upon disaster or perilous times, he will die that the land may live. And should he refuse this sacrifice, the land would perish.” (22-3) The barren Waste Land of the Fisher King is so affected, it is often said, because he himself has been rendered impotent. Bradley inserts this idea into her novel by claiming that kings take blood oaths, and, if they refuse to honor these oaths, their people and lands will suffer the consequences. It is a much less metaphoric connection between the king and his land, attributing to the lord an active role in maintaining the health of his kingdom. Any may sacrifice his blood to counter disaster (or refuse to do so), yet, in the metaphoric reading, an impotent king can do little to rectify his situation (on his own at least – a hero is required). Special side note: Stonehenge makes its appearance again in a story rife with Druids and the “old religions.” It is referenced as a “ring of stones . . . in a great circle” that is “precisely calculated . . . so that even those who did not know the secrets of the priests could tell when eclipses were to come, and trace the movements of stars and seasons” (55). And, thus, across the centuries, the record of Merlin’s deed in bringing Stonehenge to England echoes in the modern Arthurian tradition. A section of the film version of The Mists of Avalon: In class, we split up into smaller groups to take a more in-depth look at some of the writings in Alan Lupack’s Modern Arthurian Literature, particularly the sections on “The Victorians” and “The Modern Period.” We did some small group bonding while discussing different readings, getting a feel for the reasons authors co-opt the Arthurian world. Its flexibility, malleability, the sheer magnitude of the stories and characters, and the possibilities of a “once and future king” were theories we explored. As before, here is the link to our ongoing Google Map project. And this is the link to a collection of some of our online readings in Readlists. Our Storify journals are also taking shape here. Next week’s stop: London! Annis, Matthew. “The Fisher King.” The Camelot Project. University of Rochester, 2007. Web. 26 Jan. 2014. Bradley, Marion Zimmer. The Mists of Avalon. New York: Knopf, 1982. Print. Chrétien de Troyes. “The Story of the Grail (Perceval).” Arthurian Romances. Trans. William W. Kibler. New York: Penguin, 1991. 381-494. Print. Geoffrey of Monmouth. “Arthurian Passages from The History of the Kings of Britain.” The Camelot Project. University of Rochester, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014. Modern Arthurian Literature. Ed. Alan Lupack. New York: Garland, 1992. Print. Tolkien, J.R.R. The Fall of Arthur. Ed. Christopher Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Print. Filed under Arthurian, Medievalism, Non-Medieval, Pop Culture, Teaching, Travels by jpsexton \| December 13, 2011 · 12:36 PM A Plague on the History Channel I’ve just spent a few minutes stocking up my Netflix account with a set of films and documentaries with a vaguely medieval theme, ranging in quality from “looks like a pleasant enough way to kill a couple of hours” to “how bad could it possibly be?” This is one of the ways I like to entertain myself during breaks from teaching, and sometimes it pays off with a new short scene to use or reference in a lecture, or at least with greater (if sometimes painful) knowledge of what my students may have seen or heard recently. One of the documentaries that popped up during my search is a hideous misfire by the History Channel called The Dark Ages (A&E Home Video, Dir. C. Cassel, 2007), which I actually watched during a break this past year. The Dark Ages was merely bad—poor production elements, questionable research, and people who looked as if they wished they were elsewhere. I watched it and forgot it. The Dark Ages DVD, however, harbored a dark secret—a second documentary, The Plague (A&E Home Video, Dir. R. Gardner, 2005), which was presumably deemed so terrible that it was never given an independent release and instead was hitched onto The Dark Ages‘ bonus features rather like a surprise yersinia pestis-carrying flea on a rat. I watched this second excremental documentary in a state of disbelief—and, caught somewhere between horror and grudging wonder, I offer the following comments. In the interest of getting on with my day, I’ll limit myself here to just five moments in The Plague that made me want to scream out my pain and agony and then track down the writer and director to make them suffer as I have suffered. FIVE MOMENTS IN THE PLAGUE THAT SAPPED MY FAITH IN HUMANITY 1. The narration The story this documentary and its guest experts (who acquit themselves reasonably well and, I assume, had no idea what was going to be done to their efforts) are trying to tell is already quite dramatic enough–the Great Mortality (the actual name used in the 14th century for the plague; “Black Death” wasn’t coined until the 19th century) wiped out something close to half the population of Eurasia in the space of a few years, and left a fundamentally different geopolitical and socioeconomic world behind. Apparently this wasn’t thought to be enough to sustain the interest of the target audience of this documentary (children? Intelligent border collies? Steven Seagal fans? Steven Seagal?), so the producers tracked down a voice-over actor who contributed a passable impression of the movie-trailer guy (“In a world where…”) and gave him a script that also sounds like a bad movie trailer, so that the narration provides us with grimly-intoned but oddly silly lines like “they had no idea that within the ships were cargoes of food, textiles…and death.” One assumes that, in fact, the crew of the average 14th century merchant ship did know that at least two of those things were down there, unless sailors were routinely shocked when they’d peer down into the ship’s hold: “Say, Guiseppe, where did all these carefully-stowed containers of cinnamon, pepper, and assorted foodstuffs of the East come from? And is that a waterproof-wrapped selection of costly silks brocaded with silver thread down there, or am I nuts?” Oh, and while we’re on the voice work… 2. The silly, silly accents Admittedly, this is a pet peeve of mine–movies and documentaries that want us to understand that the person speaking is NBOA (Not British Or American), but that don’t trust us to read subtitles. The solution, and it’s apparently so obvious that even the director of The Plague figured it out, is to bring in actors to put on fake and hilarious accents so we know they’re playing foreigners. In this documentary, there are “Mongols,” “French,” and “Italian” speakers in addition to English speakers (and, of course, the Movie Trailer guy). Leaving aside for the moment the problem of sticking modern versions of these accents on the characters, and the fact that they’re all speaking modern English anyway, it’s hard to take the whole thing seriously when half the speakers sound like Peter Sellers. The whole thing reaches the height of inanity when a voice-over, purportedly that of Italian chronicler Gabriel di Mussis, speaks on the horror of the plague: “Alla-mighty a-God, son ava de entire-a human-a race, we are-a wallowing in-a the mire av manifold-a wickedness…” I assume the voice actor was wearing a bushy black mustache, holding a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, and recording his lines on break from helping his brother Luigi to fight Donkey Kong. Later, the same actor reads an account by Agnolo di Tuola of the early mass graves dug in the Italian countryside, presumably not realizing that his I’m-a-da-pizza-guy delivery somewhat undermines the gravity of the lines: “In-a many-a places, great-a peets were dug and-a piled-a deep with-a da multitude of-a da dead…” 3. The presentation of various popular legends as fact There are a few really egregious examples here–my favorite is the recounting of a well-known (and, quite possibly, true) story about the Mongol army using “crude catapults” to toss plague victims into the city of Kaffa. The narrative seems a little confused about whether or not this happened: “While the story might be more legend than fact, the Mongol pestilence spreads to the townspeople of Kaffa. But while these facts seem clear, a mystery remains…” I should say so. For starters, what facts are we talking about here? Why bother including the disclaimer immediately before asserting that the catapult-a-plague strategy was real? How, exactly, do apocryphal stories spread disease? And while we’re at it, is it worth mentioning that plague could also be spread quite easily between two clashing armies, with or without what the narrator (in another of his Movie Trailer moments) calls “the first example of germ warfare”? 4. A World Gone To Hell I lost count of the number of variations on this particular theme–it’s almost the theme of the entire film. I counted at least half-a-dozen actual references to “hell on earth” or “a world gone to hell.” It’s not a question of whether things were really very bad in the late 1340s–they absolutely were. The problem is that these lines, almost invariably, are accompanied either by pictures of actual fire (even if that means just showing a torch on a wall) or by totally incongruous images (such as a bored-looking Jewish merchant named “Agamnet” or something similar, whose performer was apparently chosen specifically for his ability to make Jewish merchants look shifty and untrustworthy, but who here seems to be wondering whether he left the oven on). Apparently the idea of people actually dying of a disease they couldn’t explain and couldn’t stop isn’t horrifying enough, but a picture of a large candle is meant to make us widdle ourselves in horror. 5. Joan of England The documentary builds its narrative around a number of key figures (among them Pope Clement VI, the physician Guy de Chauliac, and Agamnet). One of the major plotlines revolves around Joan of England, the teenage daughter of the English king Edward III. Since essentially the only significant thing anyone knows about Joan is that she died in 1348 on her way to Castile to meet her fiancé, the documentary has to work extra-hard to build some kind of suspense around her story. It fails utterly to do this, opting instead for a series of tooth-achingly-ironic ruminations on the elaborate security precautions and vast personal guard her father expended on getting her safely to Castile: “Along with many distinguished clergymen and diplomats, 100 bowmen will make the journey will make the journey to protect this…precious cargo. But their precautions will come to nothing. Within a year, almost all of them will be dead...” Later, in case we’d forgotten, we are reminded, “Joan is perhaps the most well-guarded woman in Europe right now…but archers and castle walls cannot shield her from an unseen enemy. The phantom, the plague, strikes randomly.” By the time Joan finally grows ill, we are fully expecting an over-the-top moment, and even here the documentary goes beyond our wildest hopes and fears. As we watch the actress playing Joan laugh and toss her hair fetchingly with her attendants, the narrator intones, “Joan, princess of England, favorite daughter of the king of England, does not survive. Like almost half the population of Europe, she falls victim…” [dramatic pause, while church bells begin to chime] “…to the Black Death. Her father, Edward III, is powerless to do anything but mourn.” And the scene fades out, but not before we are treated to a fade-in of magnified green-tinted yersina pestis bacteria and a brief image of a skull over Joan’s face. There’s plenty more that was equally ridiculous–the hammy overacting of the Flagellants; the constant re-use of a limited amount of re-enactment footage (so that peasant burials in Italy, France, Germany, and England all involve suspiciously familiar-looking peasants); the shots of Joan of England playing “Ring Around the Rosey” with her friends, seemingly without the connect-the-dots irony which limns the rest of her story; the depiction of prostitutes in plague-era Germany as, apparently, bawdy Italians; and on and on. If you have the opportunity and are of a Mystery Science Theater 3000 temperament, I recommend hunting down the full documentary and treating yourself to an unparalleled viewing experience. If you take the rather narrow view that something calling itself a “documentary” ought to resist forced melodrama or, indeed, be in any way based on documentary evidence, then you can probably afford to skip it. In the meantime, does anyone have any recommendations for me to add to my Winter Recess viewing list? ~jpsexton Filed under 14th Century, History, Medieval Movies, Medievalism, Pop Culture by jpsexton \| August 22, 2011 · 3:07 PM A Medieval Mind? Those who know me (or, more to the point, those who know that many of my “medieval instincts” were instilled by Sherri Olson at the University of Connecticut) will know that I can sometimes be a bit sensitive about the modern tendency to use “the Middle Ages”–or “Medieval Times,” or the ever-popular “Dark Ages”–as a convenient catch-all for “things that we think we’re better than.” I like to think that I’m not fanatical about this–I do generally manage to differentiate between the harmless anachronisms of The Pillars of the Earth or the silliness of A Knight’s Tale and the real and damaging habits of mind that equate “Middle Ages” with either “benighted” or “magical,” i.e., the “dark” and “light” myths of Medieval history. Obviously, a preface like that means that I’m about to get on a soapbox on a high horse on another soapbox. Today, it’s about last week’s New Yorker article on Michele Bachmann–or, more specifically, about the responses to that article. For those who missed the article itself: Ryan Lizza, a political writer who has done a number of profiles of political figures for The New Yorker, spent some time on the campaign trail with Minnesota Representative and current Republican/Tea Party Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann and wrote a history of Bachmann’s religious philosophy as part of his profile of her. He focused (among other things) on her admiration for Francis Schaeffer, a conservative Evangelical Christian theologian who is most well-known for his book A Christian Manifesto and, within the Evangelical community, for a documentary series titled “How Should We Then Live?” As Lizza writes, “In the films, Schaeffer…condemns the influence of the Italian Renaissance, the Enlightenment, Darwin, secular humanism, and postmodernism.” Bachmann has cited this series in her speeches as a “profound influence on…my life.” Predictably, this has led to responses from Bachmann’s critics and from academics (with some sizable overlap between the two groups) railing against Bachmann’s (or Schaeffer’s) worldview as “medieval.” The response “Michele’s Medieval Mind,” authored by Laurie Fendrich and published on the Chronicle of Higher Education‘s website on August 11, is a typical example. Fendrich’s essay offers the following summation of Schaeffer’s work: “To Schaeffer, the secular humanism born in the Renaissance marked a wrong turn for humanity. The solution to the twin modern problems—meaningless lives and moral relativism—unleashed by the Renaissance lay in returning to the absolutism of the Christianity that ruled Europe before the Renaissance. (Never mind that, up until the Reformation, all of Western European Christianity = Catholicism.)” Fendrich errs in several particulars here. It is, for instance, incorrect to cede that Schaeffer’s desire for a return to a pre-Reformation Christian absolutism is informed by anything like a full understanding of the historical periods involved. Schaeffer’s work expresses a nostalgic impulse for an imagined and somewhat idealized past; it doesn’t necessarily attach to recognizably historical fact. That this is a defining quality of reactionary thought (such as that represented by Schaeffer’s anti-humanism) is perhaps self-evident, as has been suggested by work reflecting on other lost and lamented pasts, such as Svetlana Boym’s reflection on post-Communist Russia’s romanticization of the Soviet era in The Future of Nostalgia (2002) or Dennis Walder’s dissection of the aftermath of Colonialism in Postcolonial Nostalgias (2010). Indeed, Schaeffer’s own work argues for a more historically-minded Protestantism (note that Schaeffer does not suggest a return to Catholicism), but also looks forward (as all nostalgic literature ultimately must) in How Should We Then Live? to enjoin his readers to speak out against “authoritarian Government” (256). That Schaeffer’s particular brand of Christian thought should become a standard of one of the leaders of the Tea Party suddenly makes a great deal of sense–but not if one dismisses his theology as mere backward-looking primitivism. Further, Fendrich’s blithe reduction of pre-Reformation pan-European Christianity to a simple equation suggests, one hopes inadvertently, that medieval Catholicism is reducible to a historical singularity–one orthodoxy practiced with equal assiduity and scrupulous uniformity across a continent and a millennium. This is so far from our knowledge of medieval Christianity as to require no further refutation, though a brief survey of medieval history, literature, philosophy, art, architecture, or any other subject would provide a preponderance of evidence. Fendrich continues: “Liberals see only irrationality, anti-intellectualism and stupidity in Schaeffer’s ideas—most obviously, in his criticism of the Renaissance.” My own status as a politically liberal medievalist (who actually finds a great deal to admire in medieval European intellectual life) apparently doesn’t fit into Fendrich’s preference for simple binaries. More significantly, Fendrich makes the same error made by many in academia, and by extremists on both ends of current American political discourse, in assuming that views in opposition to their own can only be arrived at from a position of ignorance (willful or inadvertent) or “stupidity.” Schaeffer was far from ignorant, stupid, or anti-intellectual–he was, in fact, a intelligent, well-read religious philosopher whose worldview was arrived at from different premises and conclusions than those of a modern secular humanist. To differ from the received orthodoxies of the intellectual majority is not inherently to be “stupid” or “anti-intellectual”–a fact, incidentally, that any medieval university (and not a few monastic colleges) would have been able to teach by example. It’s important to note that Fendrich never revisits or modifies this characterization, and, as we will see below, later explicitly allies herself with the liberal viewpoint. This is, at best, unfortunate. To resort, or appear to resort, to insults in characterizing Schaeffer’s philosophy demeans the seriousness of the modern Evangelical movement in whose name Bachmann claims to speak. Further, it ill serves the intellectual purposes of Fendrich’s essay to lower herself to name-calling (even through the transparent trick of ventriloquizing those slurs through straw man “liberals”) and thereby to miss the opportunity to engage Schaeffer’s ideas and to demonstrate by argument the flaws in his thought. A second example of Fendrich’s too-easy binary: “Yet the Renaissance is poorly understood if it’s confined to celebrating such geniuses as Michelangelo, Raphael or Leonardo, or to talking about how the age “freed” man from the shackles of medieval religion and thought. In opening the way for modern natural science, for political systems (like democracy) that are based on individual rights of man instead of the divine right of kings, and in making it the responsibility of human beings to construct their world, it was, in a word, scary.” Note that the ironic-distancing quotation marks in Fendrich’s first sentence appear only around the word “freed”–not around the shackles of medieval religion and thought. Fendrich concludes her essay: “I agree with liberals who find Michele Bachmann a dangerous politician figure who would make an awful President. Anyone who would say, as she did, in the spring of 2009, “I find it interesting that it was back in the nineteen-seventies that the swine flu broke out then under another Democrat President, Jimmy Carter. And I’m not blaming this on President Obama—I just think it’s an interesting coincidence,” thinks that correlation is the same as cause-and-effect. This is the kind of Medievalism that is really scary in a modern political figure.” Fendrich proceeds from a number of assumptions throughout this essay, but by far the most damaging is her acceptance that Schaeffer (and Bachmann) are more or less accurately living according to a medieval religious philosophy. Her criticism of Schaeffer, then, begins from a false substitution-by-analogy–Schaeffer is to postmodern secular humanism as medieval is to Renaissance. One can argue that Schaeffer’s wrong for a number of reasons, but if one proceeds from the assumption that he is ‘irrational,’ ‘anti-intellectual,’ and ‘stupid’ why then assume that he’s correct in allying himself to a previous historical period? To put it simply, why assume that Schaeffer is correct only insofar as he asserts a “medievalness” to his philosophy? To do so is, at best, to be guilty of the same sort of faulty correlative deductions that Bachmann herself makes. Filed under Early Modern, Medievalism, Pop Culture, Religion by jpsexton \| June 24, 2011 · 9:23 AM Primitivism and the Warrior My major project for the next few weeks is to write and, with luck, complete an article on accommodating the recent spate of Beowulf films in teaching Anglo-Saxon literature. This involves tracking down the little that’s been written on the topic, learning a bit about film theory, limbering up my pedagogy-speak, sifting through some recent Beowulf scholarship for some important bits I’ll be using, and reviewing my own notes on the poem from grad school and several years’ teaching (my undergraduate notes on medieval literature were, mercifully, almost entirely destroyed in a house fire in 1998; this conveniently allows me to complain bitterly about losing all that hard work without the awkwardness of actually having to confront just how bad most of it was). It also involves re-viewing the six films that have been released in the last dozen years–and believe me, that’s going to be the hardest part of the whole project. I’ll undoubtedly be reviewing them here; pain shared, after all, is pain divided. Or sadism made manifest. Perhaps a miniseries is in order–can one write a miniseries on a blog? Among the articles I’ve collected is Stephen T. Asma’s reflection on the 2007 Zemeckis Beowulf in the context of other releases of the same time (Snyder’s 300; the HBO Rome series) which seemed to be about unfettered (i.e., pre-Christian) masculinity. Asma’s point seems to be that modern interpretations of these stories are, inevitably, colored by contemporary masculinities–so that the Zemeckis Beowulf is defeated not by his own arrogance or the inevitability of senescence, but by a weakness of moral character. As Asma notes, the modern movie Beowulf is “basically a jerk, whose most sympathetic moment is when he finally realizes that he’s a jerk.” The article is rather brilliantly titled “Never Mind Grendel. Can Beowulf Conquer the 21st Century Guilt Trip?”1 and you can read it if you have a Chronicle of Higher Education subscription. There’s a lot of food for thought there, and in general I agree with Asma’s conclusions–particularly his point that this “Nietzschean version” of Beowulf is no more a construction than (and, in some ways, not all that different from) the Tolkien version that preceded it. I’ll have more to say about this when I get to the film. In the meantime, I’m boiling a bit about the other “hit” I got when looking up Asma’s article on the Chronicle site—a letter responding to the article, titled “An Afterlife for Beowulf.” I could (and do) take exception to the author’s reading of the poem as a whole, but what got my dander up was, predictably, the apparently unintentional condescension toward medieval culture. In a short letter, the author manages to work in two descriptions of medieval culture and writers as “primitive”; given the context, it’s hard to imagine this was meant even in the problematic Victorian “noble savage” mode. The reference comes when the author, having already mentioned that his interest in Beowulf stems in the main from an interest in Tolkien and Seamus Heaney, posits that an “important theme [runs] through the story: The pre-Christian fixations on gold and reputation can be read as a primitive longing for something that does not die.” In the following paragraph, he echoes this statement: “In Beowulf we see, among many other things, a primitive warrior culture groping for something beyond this world.” Look. I could spend all day going into detail about why this is not a useful comment, and enjoy myself thoroughly in the process. But in fact, shorn of its benighted adjectives, the point is entirely valid. Let’s try that first sentence again without the disdainful attitude: “The fixations on gold and reputation can be read as a longing for something that does not die.” This is, I think, a reading that most of us would be happy to have our students walk away from Beowulf with–not the final word, perhaps, but a reasonable and illuminating approach to understanding the text. One can even imagine turning this analysis around on moments such as Hrothgar’s farewell speech to Beowulf and the search for an “eternal” monument that does not rely on wealth or fame. So why a primitive culture? Three possible responses leap to mind in response to this kind of thing (four, really, but since our own culture does not highly prize dueling with large axes, let’s stick with three). The first is to add this to the poisonous collected wordhord most medievalists nurture somewhere behind their bile ducts–the same heap where we keep Pulp Fiction’s sodomy, CNN’s descriptions of war zones, and anything by or about Jacob Burckhardt. The second is to make a lengthy and impassioned argument concerning the complexity of Anglo-Saxon (or late Roman, or Byzantine, or Abbasid Caliphate, or Carolingian, or Scandinavian, or Ethiopian) culture; this might perhaps include a few salient remarks about the comparative values implied by, say, Germanic feud culture and the modern American prison system. The third option, of greater interest and probably more illuminating, is to consider whether contrasting the culture of Beowulf with our own is less useful than considering whether they’re all that different in the ways the author means. Let’s briefly investigate just what is being called “primitive” here: The desire for fame? A 2009 survey2 showed that the top three dream careers of modern British children are Sports Star, Pop Star, and Actor. The obsession with mortality and the possibility of immortality? Visit a cemetery sometime. Better yet, visit a cryogenics lab, or the Immortality Institute’s website.3 The question of (or desire for) life after death? Religious institutions still argue for this with some force, and a comfortable majority of Americans believe in some form of an afterlife. The pursuit of wealth? I’ll forgo the dubious pleasures of laying bare the soul of modern capitalism, a task for which I am not professionally or temperamentally suited; I do, however, enjoy the minor irony that this letter was written early in 2008, just as the worldwide economy was about to crash down due to the unbridled pursuit of unearned riches. The dangers of the dragon’s den, indeed… So the question is—does treating Beowulf as an artifact of a “primitive” culture demonstrate a lack of understanding of that culture, or a (possibly warranted) cynicism about our own? All right, I’m off to re-watch the first of six Beowulf movies and take notes. Wish me luck… 1 http://chronicle.com/article/Never-Mind-Grendel-Can/1974/ 2 http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/index.php/tag/traditional-careers/ 3 http://www.imminst.org/ Filed under Anglo-Saxon, Beowulf, Pop Culture, Uncategorized The “medieval turn” in Ice Hockey While the medievalists of Massachusetts are busy working on our various summer projects, we’re also being hopelessly distracted by the ongoing drama of the Stanley Cup finals. Obviously, we’re a bit partial here at MassMedieval (I, for one, am wearing my Bruins sweatshirt while typing this), and since it’s unlikely that I’ll be able to keep from thinking about tonight’s game, it’s time to talk ice hockey. A contest recognizable as the modern game of ice hockey can only be reliably traced back to the 19th century, when it was already a popular pastime among Canadians. The origins of the game, however, go back much, much further, with roots in medieval sport and even older games. Most people who have given thought to the matter argue (sometimes passionately) that hockey belongs among the descendants of one of three games: hurling, bandy, or kolf. I, armed with half an hour’s research in the OED and Encyclopedia Britannica and the iron-clad hubris of the blogging medievalist, offer the following assessment. First, there are these “ancestor” games. Hurling, for those unfamiliar with this terrifying sport, is a game played in Ireland, and has been for a long, long time. It’s actually pre-historic, having been around since before records of Celtic activity on the island, and may stretch back more than 3000 years. The legends of Cú Chulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhail both include reference to games of hurling, and the game is referenced in documents surviving from every period of Irish history. It’s known to have been brought to North America by Irish immigrants in the 18th and 19th centuries, and remains a niche game in many cities with a history of Irish immigration. Why is it terrifying? Well, it’s played with sticks called hurleys, with which players pass or hit a hard ball (the sliotar, pronounced approximately as “slither”) at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour while trying to work their way to the opposing team’s net…and only last year did the Gaelic Athletic Association mandate that players must wear helmets during match play. Interestingly, the sliotar, when it’s not being called “a hard missile moving at speeds capable of shattering bone,” is often colloquially referred to as the “puck.” The second contender is bandy, a Russian game dating back to 11th century monasteries. The modern game does date back at least to the 17th century, though, and hasn’t changed a great deal since. The game, like hurling, is played with a cork-center hard ball hit with sticks; unlike hurling, bandy is played on an ice surface, and has offside, substitution, and face-off rules similar to those of ice hockey. Its playing field size, however, is massive (closer to the size of a soccer field than to an ice hockey rink), and, like hurling, it involves many more players in-game at any one time than ice hockey. Kolf, the third game sometimes mentioned in connection with ice hockey, seems to me to have much the weakest claim to kinship. The game of kolf is of medieval, or possibly pre-medieval, Dutch origin, and resembles a combination of croquet, shuffleboard, quoits, and curling. While it is most frequently played on an ice surface, its resemblance to hockey is otherwise questionable (it’s a lot closer to golf, as its name may suggest)—and no one seems to be able to substantiate the connection in any case. Unable to work out any satisfying reason for the supposed link between hockey and kolf, I did a little Googling (is that the appropriate verb form?); most of the connections I found were either highly speculative or parroted a Wikipedia entry (even to the extent of repeating a typo from the entry over and over again). Wiki-creep aside, no one seems to have any valid reason for including kolf in the conversation (though I’m not ruling out a global conspiracy of Netherlandish kolf enthusiasts protecting a secret list of kolf’s descendants hidden under an inverted pyramid in a museum in Utrecht. Has anyone checked the underside of the Stanley Cup for cryptoglyphs?). An intriguing possibility is that ice hockey may actually be a hybrid of both bandy and hurling—another team sport called bando, highly popular in Wales by the 18th century, appears to have followed this route, having been adapted from games with characteristics of both sports (bandy through importation of the game by Britist sportsmen, and hurling through its Scots cousin shinty). Though the rules and play of bando aren’t entirely understood today, the game involved teams of players using sticks very similar to modern ice hockey sticks to bat a ball around a field laid out in the usual rectangular shape. The game was apparently hugely popular in Wales and may have been known elsewhere in the British Isles. If hurling and bandy jointly inspired bando, what are the chances that other games—some unrecorded, some surviving—were similarly derived? And how likely is it that hockey deserves an invite to the Bandy/Hurling family reunion? Now, the OED steps in here with an interesting tidbit: the word “hockey” used in connection with a team sport can first be found in a single Galway document dated to 1527 and catalogued in 1885 during a survey of historical manuscripts undertaken by royal commission under Victoria. The manuscript records a statute banning the play of a game (probably either hurling or a closely related game) described as “the horlinge of [a] litill balle with hockie stickes or staves”; since the reference here appears to be to a kind of stick called a hockie rather than to a game by that name, speculation has been offered about the likelihood that the name derives from the Old French word hoquet, a kind of shepherd’s crook. Unfortunately, there is no direct evidence linking hoquet staves to the 1527 game—and, frustratingly, there isn’t another surviving reference to an equivalent game (or stick) called “hockey” for three hundred years, when William Holloway records a game called “hawkey” played with “hawkey-bats” and a ball; this is, I would suspect, most likely another of the stick-and-ball games related to either bandy or hurling. At least one 19th century observer agreed—an 1857 edition of Chambers’ Information for the People (also cited in the OED) noted that “Shinty in Scotland, Hockey in England, and Hurling in Ireland seem to be very much the same out-of-door sport.” One last (and, from what I can tell, unlikely) possibility is that the modern game is actually an invention of the New World, and may have only a thin cloak of rules and regulations imported by Europeans. Stick-and-ball games were certainly known to the indigenous North American peoples, and a number of them are recorded. There are even hints of games more directly akin to ice hockey being played; in 1865, for example, the quirky archeologist John Lubbock wrote in his Pre-Historic Times that an informant had observed Eskimo children “playing hockey on the ice.” While this is certainly possible, it is impossible to know whether this game predated European contact—John Franklin, the explorer, wrote in 1825 that his men enjoyed “the game of hockey played on the ice” while exploring northwestern Canada. And in any case, a degree of convergent evolution is entirely possible–after all, we’re talking about using sticks to hit things across the ice. To work out that this is fun, you really only need sticks, things, and ice. Taken all in all, it seems most likely that ice hockey, though recognizable in its current form for only a couple of centuries, has a lineage that stretches back much further—to Tudor English folk contests, medieval Russian monks’ pastimes, Celtic warriors’ sports, with perhaps a hint of indigenous peoples’ games in the New World. There’s a “medieval turn” to the sport after all…or, at least, that’s my story—and as a medievalist rooting hard for Boston tonight, I’m sticking to it. Go Bruins! Filed under History, Pop Culture Bridgewater State University English Fitchburg State University English Studies International Congress on Medieval Studies Medieval Academy of America New England Saga Society (NESS) ORB: The Online Reference Book for Medieval Studies TEAMS Middle English Texts Next Lone Medievalist CFP! Out of the Cloister: Lone Medievalists Making the Middle Ages Matter Teaching with Reading Lenses: What a Difference a Change in Approach Makes Bisclavret’s Wife and the Fear of Abuse Teaching the Pre-Modern Post-Inauguration Medieval Studies Books Every Student Should Read in 2017 (Selected by Medievalists) Post Categories Select Category 14th Century Angevin Anglo-Norman Anglo-Saxon Arthurian Beowulf Call for Papers Chaucer Conferences Disability Early Modern Guest Post History Huzzah! Introduction Julian of Norwich Kalamazoo Lone Medievalist Medieval Movies Medievalism Mystics New England News Non-Medieval Personal stuff Pop Culture Professional stuff Religion Robin Hood Sabbatical stuff Sagas Scholar Teaching Technology Tolkien Travels Uncategorized University MASSachusetts State Universities MEDIEVAL Blog · A site for Massachusetts medievalists.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2044
__label__cc	0.690268	0.309732	Untitled, 1973 (SF73-656) Home › Untitled, 1973 (SF73-656) Product Variants 14 x 11 - $78,850 "Untitled, 1973 (SF73-656)" is an acrylic on paper stamped on verso with the Sam Francis Estate Logo. The artwork ships framed, and with a certificate of authenticity. Born in Northern California in 1923, Sam Francis briefly attended the University of California at Berkeley before leaving to join the Army Air Corps in 1943. While in military service, he suffered injuries that led to spinal tuberculosis, requiring a long recuperation. During this period, he began to paint. In the late 1940s, Francis began to study at the California School of Fine Arts (now the San Francisco Art Institute) and to work with fellow painter, David Parks. A short time later, he returned to UC Berkeley to study both painting and art history, eventually earning bachelor's and master's degrees. The artist's desire to explore his art led him to Paris in the early '50s, and it was here that his professional career as an artist truly began. Soon after arriving in Europe, he began to travel extensively, living working and exhibiting in Paris, Tokyo, Switzerland and eventually, the United States. In 1962, Francis settled in Southern California. More from Sam Francis Untitled (SFE-015, grey) aquatint $14,850 Untitled, c.1974-1976 (SF134s) silkscreen/monotype, mixed media on handmade paper, estate stamped $19,850 $4,995 Untitled (SF-56s) monotype on BFK Rives wove paper $29,500 $14,950 Untitled (SFP94-36) acrylic on canvas Contact Gallery	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2050
__label__wiki	0.592656	0.592656	Marxist Left Review A journal published by Socialist Alternative Leninism and Party Building Theory and Philosophy Left Debates No.-3 December 1990 Journal of the now defunct International Socialist Organisation, predecessor organisation to Socialist Alternative. Stalin’s industrialisation and the myth of the planned economy #Eastern Europe #Left Debates #Stalinism #Trotskyism by Anne Picot The debate about the Russian economy and the nature of the Eastern bloc, even on the left, is dominated by the argument for the market economy against the virtues of central planning. The consensus, left and right, is that central planning has failed dismally and that the only hope of rescuing the Russian people from its dire consequences is introduction of a market economy. Both sides of this debate, I hope to show, are wrong. That Russia’s economy was centrally planned, in any common-sense understanding of the word, is a myth. That market forces (or the forces of capitalist competition) had no impact inside Russia since the Five Year Plans were introduced is equally a myth. Nor is it the case that opening up the Eastern bloc countries to direct competition in the world market (what is actually meant by introduction of the market economy) will in any sense improve the lot of ordinary people from Berlin to Vladivostok. To establish the mythical nature of central planning I want to look at the introduction of the first Five Year Plan in 1928 and see what its impact was. The analysis which will be put forward here is the state capitalist analysis of Russia which has been argued by the International Socialist tendency since Tony Cliff’s path-breaking account of the Russian economy, State Capitalism in Russia. appeared in 1948. We argue that Russia, since the Stalinist counter-revolution, has been a capitalist, class society in which the means of production are controlled by the state bureaucracy, the upper echelons of which form the ruling class.[1] Introduction of the first Five Year Plan signalled the beginning of the counter-revolution which crushed every remaining vestige of the gains of the 1917 revolution. 1928 found Russia in profound economic and political crisis. The precipitating factor was the drastic shortfall in grain requisition in 1927-28. This sent shock waves through the extremely weak Russian economy. Unemployment was already rising in the industrial centres as the period of reconstruction begun in 1925 drew to a close at the end of 1927. Imports were cut because the fall in grain exports threatened foreign currency reserves. This rebounded on industry dependent on imported raw materials or components, exacerbating unemployment and the existing shortage of consumer goods. The grain shortage itself hit food supplies to such an extent that some centres had only a few days’ supply on hand.[2] Internationally the Russian state was isolated following the defeat of the Chinese revolution, which ended any hope of rescue by international revolution. Trading relations with Britain were broken off after the Russian intervention in the Chinese revolution, and as news of the impending collapse of the Russian economy spread, other foreign governments were reluctant to extend credit or sign new trading agreements. The economic crisis was preceded by the escalation of political conflict within the factions in the Bolshevik party bureaucracy. This bureaucracy formed the administrative core of the state and dominated the working class which had been critically weakened by the impact of the civil war on the economy and the whole social fabric. Stalin’s faction represented the interests of the party bureaucracy as opposed to those of both the working class and those of the peasants and the capitalist layer thrown up by the New Economic Policy.[3] The onset of the grain crisis, combined with Russia’s international isolation, convinced Stalin that there was no future for the regime in seeking support from foreign governments and that the country had to develop its industrial base from its own resources. Stalin’s manoeuvres from the end of 1927 turned the bureaucracy decisively away from a revolutionary international perspective and set the regime on a course which would bring it into sharp conflict with the working class and the peasants. First Stalin moved to defeat the United Opposition, whose support in the working class was growing as the economic crisis hit. He expelled its leadership (Trotsky and Zinoviev) at the end of 1927. Then he used the excuse of the grain crisis to attack the peasant base of what remained of the Right Opposition and deal decisively with the crisis. The party bureaucracy at the local level, combined with the GPU, were sent into the countryside to seize the grain by force. Resistance was punished by arrest, and imprisonment. Taxes were increased to force the peasants to sell any hidden grain reserves, but were also an excuse to seize property as well as grain. This was done in the name of attacking the rich peasants (the kulaks) but in fact affected all peasants. To escape the further loss of property and the threat of starvation the peasants took refuge on the collective farms or fled to the towns to join the ranks of the unemployed. The process, called by the party “extraordinary measures”, but better known as forced collectivisation, began the destruction of the kulaks as a class, ending with the catastrophic famine of 1932 and the deaths of more than four million people. At the same time Stalin completed the rout of the right by seizing the form (but not the democratic content) of the Left Opposition’s program – the Five Year Plan to expand industry. The plan had been drafted some years earlier, essentially as an analysis of the weaknesses and gaps in the economy, and its dependence on imported input (technology, raw materials or components). These gaps were transformed into targets and then arbitrarily increased, regardless of whether the resources, labour or capital existed to warrant the increases. On the contrary, the increases were justified with the argument that as new factories, new power plants, steel plants, and chemical plants came on stream, they would generate savings in the form of reduced production costs, increased labour productivity and increased capacity.[4] The projected cost savings and productivity increase were figured into the costing of the capital outlay for implementing the massive increase in industrialisation from the beginning, so the Five Year Plan from the outset was an exercise in creative accounting worthy of the balance sheets of Australian entrepreneurs. Fictional or not, the new targets were translated into new workplace norms which constituted an actual attack on the working class of unparalleled ferocity. This was the deliberate strategy of the Stalinist bureaucracy, since the Plan’s central principle was the diversion of capital, raw materials and labour away from light industry (which produced consumer goods) to heavy industry. What the consequence of that change in priorities would be, given the existing shortage of consumer goods, was well understood by the bureaucrats-a drastic fall in living standards. This was one reason that Tomsky, head of the trade union organisation and member of the Right Opposition, opposed the increased rate of industrialisation. He feared the increased pressure which workers’ resistance to the attack on their living standards would place on the trade unions. The immediate impact of the new targets was wage cuts. This came about because wages had been tied to quotas or norms – piece rates – in virtually all workplaces since the mid-twenties. Failure to reach the new norms, even if output exceeded the old levels, meant a cut in pay. To reach the new norms workers were subjected to speed-ups, to compulsory overtime and to double shifts. The irony of the announcement of the cut in standard hours to a seven-hour day was that this disguised the move to the three shift system in production, without compensatory wage increases. On top of this, managers commonly delayed paying wages to use the cash for buying up scarce supplies. With shortages, particularly food shortages, driving up prices, the delay in getting their wages exacerbated the impact of inflation on the real value of workers’ pay. The working class also bore the brunt of the compulsory state loan deducted directly from their wages – workers paid 70 percent of the loan although they constituted a mere 10 percent of the population.[5] Thus the regime funded its massive industrialisation program – by a dramatic lift in the rate of exploitation in both absolute and relative terms. The other source of capital was grain, which was exported to pay for imported technology, raw materials and machinery at the cost of starvation for a percentage of the population. That this cost was recognised and accepted by the bureaucracy is made clear by the fact that Stalin was able to persuade the leadership not to import grain in the 1929 crisis to feed the people because this would cut into funds earmarked for the industrialisation program.[6] The new norms, and from 1929 actual wage cuts, were reinforced by campaigns of “socialist” competition and shock work. Both campaigns urged individual workers and workplaces to exceed the new norms. “Socialist” competition between workplaces set higher targets which could only be reached if workers did double shifts and worked on their days off. Its impact was graphically reported in an extract from the Menshevik exiles’ paper, Socialist Herald: The situation in which we are now living doesn’t for a moment allow us to forget we’re building the five-year plan. This means that today we “willingly” have to subscribe to the regular loan, that tomorrow we equally “willingly” have to go on a Communist Saturday to unload firewood, bricks etc., and then in the course of socialist competition, we have to spend our rest days working on a neighbouring collective farm. When you discharge this obligation the regular campaign comes and it starts all over again.[7] Shock work served a dual purpose. The first was to increase the new norms by getting individual workers to compete to exceed them (and then setting those levels to be the new norms). The second was to divide workers by creating a more privileged layer, as shock workers were rewarded with conspicuous material benefits. The benefits consisted of such things as better food for shock workers in the workplace canteens, preference for housing, for childcare, even clothing and footwear. These were substantial benefits in a period of rationing (introduced across the country in 1929) and they were also conspicuous, to encourage workers to compete for shock worker status. The relatively privileged layer then formed a material base of support for the bureaucracy within the working class, from which lower level management and party officials were drawn. However, in its mania to raise output and to divert working class resentment into vicious individual competition, the regime generated chaos in industry and made nonsense of any notion of planning. The Plan never did co-ordinate production so that increased production in one sector was balanced by increases in the related sectors. On the contrary, the goals were set – the new hydro-electric scheme, the new oil refinery, so many trucks, so much rolling stock, etc. – and then the components, materials and capital goods needed to fulfill the goals were calculated from there to become the new production targets. The rush to reach the targets, combined with the existing shortages and bottlenecks, ensured that industrial sectors got out of kilter, which in turn exacerbated the hold-ups in production. The competition to get the scarce machinery, raw materials and labour increased the shortages so production became more chaotic after the implementation of the Plan than before. The rush to increase output had a second, unforeseen, effect: deterioration in quality. Speed and quantity were the key factors and support tasks like machinery maintenance, supply control, even storage of the finished products, were neglected. The result was high levels of waste and defective products, and more supply bottlenecks and hold-ups in production as machinery broke down. Continuous production put machinery never designed for it under enormous pressure, made worse by the neglect of maintenance. Filtzer quotes Rakovsky, a member of the Left Opposition, as predicting that the mania to fulfil the Plan would result in the systematic production of defective products, as poor quality raw materials, components, tools and machinery spread defects throughout production. This would greatly increase the level of waste and breakdowns to the point of actual decline in output.[8] According to one account, the first half of 1931 saw an actual fall in output in such critical supply industries as iron ore, crude steel, bricks and glass production. Output fell precisely because the response of the regime to failure to reach the Plan’s targets was to increase them. The example of the Dneprostroi hydro-electric scheme explains why. The labour and material needs of the project were calculated on the assumption of availability of labour-saving equipment. The equipment never arrived and the management had to substitute labour-intensive construction methods which sent costs up. To hide the over-runs management redrafted the original scheme to increase its size and so account for the greatly increased labour force and material needs. Magnify that phenomenon across the economy and the pressure on material and labour supplies is explained. The bureaucracy reacted by incorporating such projected increases into new, higher targets. After all, they were arbitrary to begin with, and completion of the Plan was predicated on projects like Dneprostroi coming on stream to supply the new industrial centres’ production. So by 1931 most areas of “heavy industry had targets ranging from 25 to 80 per cent higher than the original plan’s specification for that year”.[9] This is not planning. This is a system of centrally imposed targets, imposed with callous disregard for its effects on the lives of the mass of the population. Implementation of the first Five Year Plan was the act of a ruling class whose interests were hostile to those of the Russian masses in whose name they purported to rule. Working class resistance This is made clear by the resistance to the Plan’s ever increasing targets by the working class. 1929-1934 was a period of intense class struggle as the Plan put workers under enormous pressure in the workplace and simultaneously cut real wages and the supply of consumer goods. Workers responded with protest meetings, go-slows, demonstrations and strikes. Women workers led demonstrations about the lack of food and the rotten quality of what was available, demonstrations which became riots when the militia was sent in to disperse the protesters. Workers struck in protest against the new norms, the wage cuts, the delay in paying wages, and the size of the compulsory state loan deductions, as well as the food supplies and their appalling living conditions.[10] A contradiction which the regime could never comprehend was that the protests were often led by shock workers and Communist Party members. A certain percentage of workers, especially the young, took the rhetoric of the regime seriously and were committed to the supposed ideal of building socialism. They responded with real anger to the attacks on workers. At a meeting of shock workers one worker said: You drag the peasants forcibly into the collective farms under threat of being shot and us into the [shock work] brigades. You, the trade union officials, only oppress the workers.[11] (By 1930 the trade union organisation had been purged of opposition to Stalin – Tomsky was removed in 1 929 – and had been incorporated into the machinery to control the workforce.) The regime was increasingly concerned about the level of resistance as well as the failure to reach the Plan’s targets. It responded selectively, making concessions in the more important factories like the Putilov works in Leningrad, and rounding up the leadership of strike committees in the provincial centres to behead the resistance. The campaigns for socialist competition and shock work were stepped up, combined with propaganda campaigns against the militants leading the resistance (who were called wreckers and truants) to divide the workers. Brutal repression by the GPU was used where industrial action still broke out. By 1934 collective action against the regime was becoming rare as the GPU’s measures combined with the desperate struggle to survive broke workers’ resistance. However from 1929 onwards the most common response to intolerable living and working conditions was to change jobs. High labour turnover became characteristic of the workforce, made possible by the rising demand for labour. Substitution of labour for scarce equipment plus new projects starting everywhere created an insatiable demand for labour which rapidly soaked up the 1.2 million who had been unemployed at the end of 1927 and absorbed the dispossessed peasants crowding into the urban centres. A labour shortage emerged which forced up money wages (as managers outbid each other to hold onto scarce labour) at the same time as real wages fell by as much as 50 percent,[12] The emergence of a sellers’ market for labour proved an objective shift in the balance of class forces which enabled workers to take collective action in their defence, but as the regime cracked down, workers increasingly could only respond individually and move on. The turnover figures through the decade are almost incredible. Filtzer’s calculations run thus: The average Soviet industrial worker changed jobs once every 8 months in 1930, every 9 months in 1932, every 14 months in 1936 and 1937, every 17 months in 1938 and every 13 months in 1939.[13] In the coal industry in the first years of industrialisation the annual turnover was more than 200 percent.[14] This was the reason for the punitive labour laws prohibiting job-changing. When first introduced, the laws had an impact in reducing truancy (absenteeism) and lowering turnover, but as managers discovered that the result of punishing workers for discipline violations was losing them, they tended to ignore the violations and the laws. The high turnover clearly had an impact on productivity – hence the regime’s harsh response. However, as collective action became impossible and the ideology of “socialist competition” meshed with the reality of the daily struggle to survive, the individual response of changing jobs became the main pressure valve for workers’ resentment towards the regime. Using socialist competition and repression to break collective resistance had an adverse effect on productivity which the bureaucracy may not have anticipated. Setting worker against worker breaks down not only the collective ability to resist but also the co-operation between workers necessary for modern industry. Shock workers (and later the Stakhanovites) grabbed the best machines and tools and the lion’s share of the materials to set their records at the expense of the rest of the workers. If their productivity went up, that of the other workers went down, along with their earnings, adding to the resentment felt towards shock workers. It also meant that output became impossible to predict and production impossible to co-ordinate, as individual record levels of output were achieved without any regard for overall production. Whole sectors of industry, even workshops within individual factories, got out of kilter. Without a certain level of stability and predictability in production, planning becomes meaningless, so the atomisation of the Russian working class made central planning a fiction. Added to this was the hostility of the workers, bitterly resentful at bearing the brunt of the industrialisation program but only able to express that resentment individually. The alienation of the workforce found expression instead in high rates of absenteeism, alcoholism, individual acts of sabotage and violence (towards shock workers as well as management) and high turnover. Recognising that hostility is critical to the argument that the Russian economy was not planned. Filtzer’s account presents a substantial body of empirical evidence which makes any notion that the Stalinist economy was planned ridiculous. In fact without the commitment and input of the direct producers, any idea that something as complex as a modern industrial economy can be centrally planned is absurd, something Trotsky pointed out in 1936: For the regulation and application of plans two levers are needed: the political lever, in the form of a real participation in leadership of the interested masses themselves, a thing unthinkable without Soviet democracy.[15] Without the participation of the direct producers in setting the goals, based on their knowledge and commitment, planning becomes mere target-setting and enforcement of the targets a hostile act. Real workers’ democracy based on workers’ councils, and genuine workers’ control in the workplace, are necessary for planning of production to work. Otherwise imposition of planning founders on the indifference or even the active resistance of the workers, which makes output impossible to predict and planning a myth. That Russian workers resisted collectively while they could, and reacted individually thereafter is evidence that implementation of the first Five Year Plan was not socialist planning but counter-revolution promulgated by the new, bureaucratic ruling class. The greater the resistance of the masses, the greater the repression the bureaucracy needed to carry through their program of primitive accumulation,[16] and the more sharply they defined their interests in opposition to those of the masses. By 1934 the worst of the economic crisis was over, rationing of basic goods had been lifted, many projects had come into production and output increased, dramatically in some sectors.[17] The round of struggle had been settled decisively in favour of the new ruling class, in terms which set the framework for exploitation in Russia for decades. And what had it all been for? Essentially to lift the state’s military capacity. In the isolation of 1927-28, the bureaucracy feared invasion and saw their only chance of surviving in building up the country’s defence capabilities: It is impossible to defend the independence of our country without a sufficient industrial base for defence. It is impossible to create such an industrial base without technology in industry… Either we acquire it or we will be wiped out.[18] Military competition The competitive accumulation characteristic of capitalism in which the bureaucracy was engaged was primarily military competition. The bureaucracy could close the borders to foreign goods and monopolise foreign trade to develop industry protected from the pressure of direct competition in the world market place, but their arms and military technology had to match their rivals’ in quantity and quality. This was the goad behind the acceleration of industrialisation and the strategy of diverting investment away from consumer goods production to heavy industry. What had begun under the NEP as a holding operation, pending rescue by international revolution, transformed one section of the Bolshevik party bureaucracy into a new capitalist ruling class which competed with rival capitalist ruling classes on a military basis. This was how the impact of the law of value in the global capitalist system was transmitted to the Russian economy.[19] Stalinist Russia competed with the rest of the world in military capacity, not in market-based price competition. This limited the effects of competition to the heavy industry and arms sector, which were relatively efficient and technically advanced compared to the capital-starved light industry of the consumer goods sector, especially after 1938 as the state geared up for war. But does this mean that the law of value did not operate inside the Stalinist state? That is, did the absence of direct market competition mean that inside Russia goods were not exchanged at their real value, that money was not real, that labour power was not a commodity and workers were not exploited through a wages system? What the bourgeois economists mean by market forces is the discipline of competition which, in theory, acts to prevent prices of goods from rising artificially higher than the cost of their production. Of course monopoly production eliminates that discipline and allows prices (and profits) to be maintained regardless of the efficiency or otherwise of the producer. Indirectly, the effects of military competition were transmitted through the Russian economy, distorted by the effective monopoly of state production. Nonetheless costs continued to be counted in roubles, however inflated by shortages and the state printing presses. Capital diverted from consumer goods production to heavy industry represented real value, just as cross subsidies to keep the price of necessities like bread low were real costs to the economy. The existence of the rationing system in the early 1930s was a distortion of capitalist production, not the elimination of it. As for labour power, as the consequences of the shortage of labour made clear, there was a labour market in which supply and demand operated. When the price of labour fell below its value – that is, the cost of feeding, clothing and housing the worker and his/her family – there was no choice but to move on. Management competed by bidding money wages up to hold on to labour – in other words, labour power was, and is, a commodity. Private markets, especially in food, continued through the 1930s and unofficial markets in raw materials, tools, machinery and components operated for some time. Despite the distortions of inflation from shortages and the state’s arbitrary intervention, a money economy continued to exist and workers continued to be exploited through the mechanism of the wages system. The struggle about wage rates (norms), about unpaid wages, the size of state loans, are evidence of the reality of the wages system, even though the state was the monopoly supplier of most goods which workers could buy. Russian workers’ situation in the 1930s is comparable to that of workers in company towns in Western capitalist states, where the company owns the store selling workers their supplies. The law of value continues to operate, although greatly insulated from world market competition. So today in Russia we see the explosive contradiction of an extremely sophisticated arms sector alongside very backward consumer goods sectors and a low wage economy overall. It has been the strains of that contradiction – between arms production and the greater part of Russian capital investment it has absorbed at the expense of the rest of the economy – which has precipitated the present crisis. The proposed solution (perestroika and opening up the economy to the cleansing forces of competition) may well include removal of some of the distortions in the internal economy, but at what cost? Removal of the subsidies needed to keep the price of basic necessities within workers’ reach ensures that workers bear the brunt of the solution. A shake-out of inefficient enterprises and restructuring of those remaining will see unemployment skyrocket. Consumer goods may well become more plentiful in the process, but who will be able to buy them, a question the Poles are asking now. The magic of the market is simply the current fashionable cant for making the working class pay, a solution Russian workers have been familiar with for more than 60 years. Could a planned economy be any worse? The Eastern bloc countries and Russia are no evidence that it would be worse, since their economies were not and are not planned. The point is that under capitalism, where the direct producers do not control the production process, the question cannot be tested. The real argument is that of capitalist production versus socialist production. To make that argument it is necessary to establish, once and for all, that the Stalinist state has nothing to do with socialism, but is merely another for of capitalism, a particularly brutal form. That, I hope, has been demonstrated by this account of the first Five Year Plan. [1] m Tony Cliff, State Capitalism in Russia, Bookmarks, London, 1988. First appeared under the title The Nature of Stalinist Russia in June 1948. [2] Michael Reiman, The Birth of Stalinism, London, 1987, pp53-57. [3] The New Economic Policy was introduced in 1921, restoring a private market in grain to ease pressure on the peasants who were increasingly hostile to the Bolshevik regime of War Communism. It was recognised as a retreat by the Bolsheviks and was intended to provide a breathing space until the revival of revolutionary struggle internationally. [4] Reiman, The Birth of Stalinism, p89. [5] Donald Filtzer, Soviet Workers and Stalinist Industrialisation, London, 1986, pp82-83, where these things are recorded as reasons for strikes. The account in this article draws heavily on Donald Filtzer’s book which is a devastating indictment of the Stalinist version of the Five Year Plans, marred by his analysis of Stalinist Russia as a class society, but not capitalist. [6] Reiman, The Birth of Stalinism, p109. [7] Filtzer, Soviet Workers and Stalinist Industrialisation, p72. [8] ibid., pp43-44. Rakovsky’s article was written in July-August, 1930. [9] ibid., p36. [10] ibid., pp81-87. 1932-33, the period of the Ukraine famine, saw strikes in a wide range of centres which could only be calmed down by the delivery of special food supplies. See also Reiman, The Birth of Stalinism, p109. [11] Filtzer, Soviet Workers and Stalinist Industrialisation, p79, quoted from Northern Worker (title translated), April 1930. [12] ibid., p91. [13] ibid., p135. [14] ibid., pp52-53. [15] Leon Trotsky, The Revolution Betrayed, New York, 1972, p67. The other lever was a stable currency for cost accounting. [16] See Tony Cliff’s comments, State Capitalism in Russia, pp66-67. [17] Filtzer, Soviet Workers and Stalinist Industrialisation, p126. [18] Quoted by Reiman, The Birth of Stalinism, p86. [19] The law of value refers to the theory that the value of goods is determined by the amount of socially necessary labour time which goes into making them. The Left and Gorbachev Marxist historian Robert Bollard surveys a range of responses to Mikhail Gorbachev on the broad left, and finds them wanting. Lenin vs "Leninism" Sandra Bloodworth attacks the persistent myths and misconceptions about "Leninism with an examination of Lenin's writings and activities as he struggled to build a revolutionary party. Confronting the Stalinist legacy One of the magnificent features of the Arab revolutions is the ruthless manner in which they have exposed the dirty, duplicitous, hypocritical, blood-soaked truth about the global political establishment. As the revolutionary wave spread to envelop almost the whole of North Africa and the Middle East, Western politicians, diplomats, university heads, business executives and government bureaucrats squirmed, as evidence of their ties with the despots of the Arab world circulated across the internet. Marxist Left Review will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2051
__label__wiki	0.75792	0.75792	Titans-Texans Preview: Tennessee Hopes To Secure Wild-Card Spot Filed Under:Houston Texans, NFL On CBS, Norm Elrod, Tennessee Titans (CBS DFW/CBS Local) — The Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans saw each other just two weeks ago in Nashville. Both teams, at 8-5, went into that first matchup of the season looking to gain control of the AFC South. The Texans prevailed, 24-21, holding off a Titans team that scored all of its three touchdowns in the second half. The Texans edged out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 23-20, in Week 16 to move to 10-5. The Titans fell to the New Orleans Saints last week, 38-28, to drop to 8-7. Those two outcomes gave the Texans the AFC South title and relegated the Titans to wild-card contention. The Texans and Titans still may have plenty to play for in their regular season-ending matchup. The Texans, currently the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs, can win their way into the third seed if the Kansas City Chiefs lose. The third-seeded Chiefs play the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET on CBS and are nine-point favorites. The Titans and Texans kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET, also on CBS, meaning Houston will know by the game’s start (or soon after) if a win over their division rival can better their playoff standing. Stream your local NFL on CBS game live with CBS All Access. Unlike the Texans, who have clinched a playoff spot regardless of Sunday’s outcome, the Titans need to win to ensure a postseason bid. They currently hold the tiebreaker over the also 8-7 Pittsburgh Steelers. So a Titans win secures them the sixth seed, regardless of what the Steelers do in Baltimore against the Ravens. (It’s worth noting that the Ravens have clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs and will be resting many of their key starters, including Lamar Jackson.) A Titans loss, however, means they’ll need the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts to lose to make the postseason. Understand all that? Well, here’s the short version. The Texans only need to beat the Titans if the Chiefs lose, which will be known by game time, while the Titans must win to guarantee a playoff spot. For now, both teams are looking at their Week 17 matchup as a must-win. (Things could change for the Texans Sunday afternoon, of course.) The Texans and Titans approached their Week 15 matchup with same level of finality, going scoreless through the first quarter. Deshaun Watson then connected with Kenny Stills for touchdowns on consecutive possessions in the second quarter pushing the Texans to a 14-0 halftime lead. Ryan Tannehill responded with two second-half TD passes of his own, along with a goal-line run, but it ultimately wasn’t enough. The Texans, when they show up, can pose problems for good teams. Their season so far includes a 31-24 win over the Chiefs and a 28-22 win over the New England Patriots, both division winners. They also stuck with the New Orleans Saints in a season-opening loss. Watson leads a top-10 passing offense that puts up 239.4 yards per game. His 26 touchdowns — seven to DeAndre Hopkins, the NFL’s second-leading receiver — put him up with the league’s best. The Texans’ rushing attack, also among the NFL’s top 10, averages 126.7 yards per game. The Titans stumbled to a 2-4 start before replacing quarterback Marcus Mariota with Ryan Tannehill as starter. Tannehill’s consistency and production seemed to ignite their stagnant offense; he’s one of only a few starters completing over 70% of his passes. Tennessee won six of their next seven with him under center to climb back into the playoff race. Derrick Henry steamrolling opposing defenses to the tune of almost 100 yards per game has certainly helped. He sat out the loss to the Saints with a hamstring issue, however. The Titans will need a healthy Henry if they hope to take down the Texans and do some damage in the playoffs. (He appears on track to play.) The Texans run defense gives up a healthy 4.6 yards per carry, among the worst in the NFL. The 112.8 yards per game they allow is comparatively better. But either way, Henry should see opportunities to pick up yardage. Perhaps the bigger factor in the Titans-Texans game is a team not even playing. If the Chiefs beat the Chargers in the early game, the Texans no longer have anything to play for. That could lead to a premature exit for many Houston starters, as coaches look to protect key players from injuries. Tannehill, Henry and others may quickly find themselves facing a lesser team than they saw just two weeks ago. It also would increase their chances of a better result. The Titans play the Texans Sunday @ 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2052
__label__wiki	0.596998	0.596998	Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health: Press Releases We need a strong World Health Organization more than ever. The U.S. exit will drastically weaken it. In 1948, health leaders established the World Health Organization (WHO) out of a new spirit of international cooperation. A world war had just ended and the United Nations had been born. These leaders felt a moral responsibility to help people who were falling sick and dying from preventable causes. Management Sciences for Health Congratulates Guatemala’s New Ministry of Health Staff Arlington, VA—Management Sciences for Health (MSH) congratulates Dr. Amelia Flores and Dr. Edwin Montufar on their appointments as Guatemala’s Minister of Health and Vice-Minister for Primary Care, respectively. Both doctors are former MSH staff members. Their appointments come at a crucial time for the country, which is battling a spike in COVID-19 cases. Management Sciences for Health Responds to Unprecedented Measles Outbreak in Madagascar Arlington, VA—Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a nonprofit global health organization, has joined forces with the Madagascar Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) to combat an unprecedented measles outbreak with support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Since October 2018, the outbreak has infected approximately 140,000 people and claimed the lives of 1,250 Malagasies, including more than 650 children.“MSH is committed to strengthening Madagascar’s health system in partnership with the national government and local communities,” said Marian W. Strong Health Systems for Better Family Planning Services and HIV Prevention and Care MSH calls for improved access to contraceptives and women’s autonomy over family planning choicesArlington, VA —The long-awaited results of the ECHO study published in The Lancet last week show that three common contraceptives—copper IUD, LNG implant, and the DMPA-IM shot—have no substantial effect on HIV risk. Malawi’s Ministry of Health Receives Medical Equipment and Supplies from the US Agency for International Development Left to right: Dan Namarika, Principal Secretary of Health, Virginia Palmer, US Ambassador to Malawi, and Dr Charles Mwansambo, Chief of Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Population hold an oxygen concentrator, one of many pieces of medical equipment that have now been transferred to the MOH. Management Sciences for Health to Strengthen Pregnancy Care for Underserved Indigenous Women in Guatemala Project builds on the organization's pioneering work in Uganda and KenyaArlington, VA—Management Sciences for Health (MSH) announced today that it will introduce its successful pregnancy care model to indigenous women in the western highlands of Guatemala, a region characterized by poverty, high fertility rates, and substandard access to health services.“I am pleased that MSH will have the opportunity to adapt our successful antenatal care model for women in communities with some of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Guatemala,” said Dana Sandstrom Keating, MSH’ Management Sciences for Health to Reduce Malaria-related Maternal and Child Mortality in Nigeria Arlington, VA —Management Sciences for Health (MSH) announced today that it has been awarded USAID funding to support Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Program. MSH will support the delivery of quality services to manage malaria treatment and complications, and to help prevent the disease during pregnancy, with the goal of reducing malaria-related under-five and maternal mortality. Management Sciences for Health to Improve Access and Quality of Health Services for Women and Children in Benin Arlington, VA—Management Sciences for Health (MSH) announced today that it has been selected by USAID to strengthen Benin’s health system with a focus on reducing maternal, newborn, children, and adolescent girls’ mortality and morbidity. MSH will also focus on decentralizing accountability for the health system to local communities—those who best understand their needs and are prepared to address them. Management Sciences for Health Launches MedSource, a New Company Dedicated to Improving the Availability and Affordability of Quality Medicines for the People of Kenya Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a nonprofit global health organization dedicated to saving lives and improving the health of some of the world’s most vulnerable people, today launched MedSource, a private commercial group purchasing organization (GPO) based in Kenya. The launch is part of MSH’s new global initiative that aims to improve health ecosystems by making quality medicines more affordable.“MedSource represents an innovative way for MSH to create private sector opportunities to help deliver quality health services and products to more people. Management Sciences for Health to Share Six Years of Pharmaceutical Systems Strengthening Experience in 46 Countries at Event in Arlington, VA Arlington, VA—On Thursday, March 1, 2018, Management Sciences for Health (MSH) will host an end-of-program event for the USAID-funded Systems for Improved Access to Pharmaceuticals and Services (SIAPS) program. The event, under the theme, Toward Building Resilient Pharmaceutical Systems, will address progress made and opportunities toward ensuring that quality, life-saving essential medicines and services are available and affordable for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2055
__label__wiki	0.513272	0.513272	MTO News Actress Felicity Huffman Pleads Guilty In College Admissions Scandal Actress Felicity Huffman has officially pleaded guilty to paying $15,000 to a false charity to help fake her daughter’s SAT scores in the college admissions scandal. Huffman, 56, faces up to 20 years in prison sentence for the crime, but prosecutors are not pushing for the maximum. Huffman reportedly broke down in tears in front of the judge, explaining that her daughter had been seeing a neuropsychologist since the age of eight and had been receiving extra time on exams since she was 11, per PEOPLE. Under her plea deal, Huffman is prohibited from running for office, owning a firearm and ammunition, and faces other restrictions. She also agrees not to appeal any prison decision up to 20 years. In return, the government is recommending that she receive 4 to 10 months behind bars. "I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions," she said back in April. “I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community,” she continued. “I want to apologize to them and, especially, I want to apologize to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2059
__label__wiki	0.764082	0.764082	Press Release \| 12 Apr 2018 Vodafone UK first to test new 5G spectrum across a live network Vodafone UK today completed the first test of new 5G spectrum across an existing live network between Manchester and the company’s headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire. Vodafone UK’s Jade Knight, Head of Network Deployment for the South, and Peter Rodriquez, Head of 5G Delivery, conducting the UK’s first test of new 5G spectrum* This is a major milestone in UK telecommunications, as it is the first time that the 3.4 Gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency allocated for 5G has been used in the UK. The test was carried out just a week after Vodafone secured the largest slice of 5G spectrum in Ofcom’s auction. Vodafone UK Chief Executive Nick Jeffery said: “5G will improve the quality of our lives and transform how we work. This next generation technology will enable medical services that could save lives, from remote surgery to remote care for the elderly. It will enhance industrial applications, from automated systems to robotics, helping manufacturers across the UK boost their productivity. And it will enable families to share their experiences with loved ones wherever they are, thanks to innovations like augmented reality. “Today’s test is just the beginning. We are now preparing our network for 5G while continuing to increase the capacity and extend the reach of our existing 4G network.” To carry out the 5G spectrum test, Vodafone used a site at its Manchester contact centre, which houses around 1,000 customer service employees, and its offices in Newbury. The test relied on a technology known as Active Antennae or Massive MIMO combined with 3.4 GHz spectrum running over the core 4G network. A key building block for 5G, the system has multiple antennae to send and receive data more efficiently, boosting capacity where lots of people are connecting to the network at the same time. *The drone in the image above enabled Vodafone UK’s Jade Knight and Peter Rodriquez to check on the status of the 5G mobile site in Newbury without having to turn the service off. Drones are used extensively by Vodafone to check the position of antennae on its 16,000 mobile sites across the UK, to ensure customers get the strongest signal possible.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2062
__label__wiki	0.759132	0.759132	Robert and Margaret Patricelli Honored with Baldwin Medal by Bill Holder • May 24, 2011 Robert 61, P’88, P’90 and Margaret Patricelli received the Baldwin Medal from Wesleyan President Michael Roth. Robert 61, P’88, P’90 and Margaret Patricelli are among the Hartford area’s leading citizens and friends of Wesleyan. Their philanthropic and service activities have ranged from the arts to a science museum; from hospitals and educational institutions to programs that assist low-income neighborhoods. For their efforts, President Michael Roth awarded them with the Baldwin Medal during commencement ceremonies May 22. The Baldwin Medal pays tribute to the late Judge Raymond E. Baldwin ’16. Baldwin was the only man to have held the offices of Connecticut governor, U.S. senator and chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. First awarded September 20, 1981, during the opening convocation of Wesleyan’s Sesquicentennial, the Baldwin Medal is the highest honor Wesleyan’s alumni body presents for extraordinary service to Wesleyan or for careers and other activities which have contributed significantly to the public good. Recipients are selected by an ad-hoc committee of the Wesleyan University Alumni Association consisting of the Chair of the Association, an Alumni-Elected Trustee appointed by the Chair and the President of Wesleyan University. Robert Patricelli is chair and chief executive officer of Women’s Health, USA. He previously was founder, chair, and CEO of both Value Health, a NYSE company and the nation’s leading company in specialty managed care (sold in 1997), and Evolution Benefits, a provider of electronic payment solutions (sold in 2010). After graduating from Harvard Law School, he began his career in the federal government, starting as a White House Fellow and then serving as minority counsel to a U.S. Senate Subcommittee, deputy under secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, and administrator of the Urban Mass Transit Administration. He then joined CIGNA Corp., rising to executive vice president of the parent company and president of the health care group. At Wesleyan, he served as a trustee for 15 years and is now an emeritus trustee. In 1986, he received Wesleyan’s Distinguished Alumni Award. He and Margaret are major donors to Shining Hope for Communities, founded by Wesleyan students to ameliorate conditions in the Kibera slum outside Nairobi. Margaret is board chair and Robert is a board member, and Shining Hope’s facilities, which they have visited, include “Margaret’s Safe Place” for housing vulnerable girls. In addition, the Patricelli ’92 Theater is named in honor of Robert’s father, Leonard J. Patricelli ’29. Mr. Patricelli’s many other affiliations include service as a director of numerous companies and nonprofit entities including Newman’s Own Foundation, Newman’s Own food company, Northeast Utilities, the MetroHartford Alliance, and the Connecticut Science Center. He is chair of the board of the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. He likes to cook and drive tractors on their home on Folly Farm in Simsbury, Conn. Margaret Patricelli is president and CEO of the Robert and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation, which focuses on programs designed to assist low-income neighborhoods in Hartford. It played a leading role in creating the innovative TeacherDollars program in Hartford public schools, which awards principals and teachers in high performing Hartford schools special debit cards that allow them to purchase classroom supplies and equipment. The foundation also created GospelFest at the Bushnell (featuring an all-Hartford 40-church gospel choir), and provided initial funding for Hartford’s CrimeStoppers Program. Ms. Patricelli previously worked in health planning at the Harvard School of Public Health and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, marketing and communications at Connecticut General and CIGNA, and public affairs at ConnectiCare, where she created the ConnectiCare Foundation. She is active in numerous local, national, and international philanthropic activities, having served on the boards of the Mark Twain House and Museum, Foodshare, Planned Parenthood of Connecticut, the Hartford Ballet, and the Simsbury Public Health Commission. She currently serves on the boards of Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and the Friends of Simsbury Public Library. Ms. Patricelli has made several trips as a volunteer health worker in rural communities in Haiti. She is a graduate of Goucher College and has a master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles. She likes cats and rhythm and blues. William L. Holder ’75 served as editor of Wesleyan from 1994 until he retired in 2018. View all posts by Bill Holder → Tags:baldwin medal commencement 2011 ← 5 Questions With . . . Dick Miller on Keeping Track of the Money Rubenstein Leads Senior Voices Baccalaureate Address →	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2063
__label__wiki	0.90903	0.90903	Tribute set for local teen City increases tenant protection PSHH staff member joins Rural Housing Coalition board Gagneja to lead medical association board Sansum’s 100 years Vincent’s first NBA start could be the start… Gauchos ranked No. 10, Boone named to All-America… Home Local Carbajal supports stimulus bill Carbajal supports stimulus bill by Dave Mason December 10, 2020 0 comment Congressman tells News-Press passage would mean help soon NEWS-PRESS FILE PHOTO “Right now, people are hurting throughout the country and in my district,” Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, said as he discussed a bipartisan stimulus package. “We need to get this done.” U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal is praising a stimulus package that the House is expected to vote on next week. If passed by Congress and signed into law, the bill would mean quick help for small businesses including stores and restaurants, unemployed individuals and others in need during the pandemic, Rep. Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, told the News-Press Wednesday. “I think it would be pretty immediate,” he said by phone from Washington, D.C. “Right now, people are hurting throughout the country and in my district,” Rep. Carbajal added. “We need to get this done.” The $908 billion Bipartisan Emergency COVID Relief Act of 2020 would extend all pandemic unemployment insurance benefits by 16 weeks, beyond their expiration on Dec. 31. And it would expand federal supplemental unemployment insurance benefits by $300 per week for 16 weeks, from the end of December into April. The act also provides $300 billion for the Small Business Administration and would allow the hardest-hit small businesses to receive a second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan. Eligibility would be limited to small businesses with 300 or fewer employees who have sustained a 30 percent revenue loss in any quarter of 2020. The act also simplifies the loan forgiveness process for borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less. The act also contains an “agreement in principle” to provide $160 billion to state, local and tribal governments. But at this point, the act does not include stimulus checks that would go to taxpayers. Rep. Carbajal said he hopes the bill is revised to include those checks. The bill is based on a proposal by the House’s bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, of which Rep. Carbajal is a member. “We came to the realization that the leadership on both sides were having trouble getting to a number,” the congressman told the News-Press. He said the $908 billion was a good compromise between Democrats who wanted more and Republicans who wanted less. “I think we hit a sweet spot by coming short of a trillion dollars. “At this point, we seem to have bipartisan support,” said Rep. Carbajal, who expects there are enough votes for the bill to pass in the House and Senate, provided Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell brings the bill to the floor. Rep. Carbajal said the bill could go up for a vote in the House as early as Monday, but would have to be voted on no later than Dec. 18. The congressman said the bill emulates the CARES Act that Congress passed in a bipartisan fashion earlier this year. He noted the new proposal will help both retail outlets and restaurants as well as workers, families, health care providers and others providing critical services. “This is a shot in the arm,” Rep. Carbajal said. “We need to come together and make sure we’re successful in getting this done now.” In addition to unemployment benefits, the act covers everything from emergency family and medical leave to rental assistance, forbearance of student loans, rental insurance, eviction forbearance and moratorium on foreclosures. “This funding is basically a down payment on additional assistance that very likely will be needed again in the upcoming year,” Rep. Carbajal said. In addition to helping unemployed individuals and small businesses, the act provides money for COVID-19 testing, tracing, and vaccine development and distribution. Rep. Carbajal, meanwhile, said he supports efforts to separate Santa Barbara, Ventura and San Luis Obispo counties from the Southern California Region used in ICU statistics for COVID-19. Rep. Carbajal this fall tested positive for COVID-19. He said he is recovering well but is still dealing with symptoms. “I get fatigued easily and unexpectedly during the day, and I feel like I need to take a nap. Eight o’clock in the evening feels like 1 o’clock at night.” email: dmason@newspress.com Solvang says no 8 days of giving	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2064
__label__wiki	0.668318	0.668318	Forget The Top Forties Thousands of years ago, the sages created a top ten song list of the important songs recited in the Tanach (Bible). Straight from the Midrashic collection of the Mechilta of Rabbi Ishmael Shirata 1:5, here is the Rabbis’ top ten: 1: “Passover Rock” – According to the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 30:29) the Israelites sang a song on the night of the first Passover in Egypt. 2: “Song of the Sea” (Shirat Ha’yam) – The song of Moses and the Children of Israel after experiencing the miracle of the splitting of the sea (Exodus 15). 3: “Spring Up, Oh Well”- The song of the Israelites at the well in the Wilderness (Numbers 21:17). 4: “The Deuteronomy Review” – The words of Moses to the Israelites recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy are referred to as a song in Deuteronomy 31:30. 5: “Stop Oh Sun and Moon” – The sages considered Joshua’s words to God after conquering the Amorites as a song (Joshua 10:12). 6: “The Duet of Deborah and Barak” – Judges 5:1 reports that upon their victory over the Canaanite General Sisera, the prophetess and the general sang in praise of God. 7: “David’s Song” – While King David came to be known for a great many songs (most of the Book of Psalms), his song in Samuel II 22:1, which praises God for delivering him from the hands of his enemies, is singled out. 8: “A song at the Dedication of the House of David” – Printed in the Book of Psalms (Chapter 30), King Solomon recited this song upon the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem. 9: “Give Thanks to the Lord, for His Mercy Endures for Ever” – King Jehoshaphat commanded the people of Judah to sing this song as preparation for battle against the army of Ammon and Moab (Chronicles II 20:21). 10: “A New Song” – This is the unsung song that the Jews will recite in the time of the final redemption as predicted in both Isaiah 42:10 and Psalms 149:1. *Names created by Jewish Treats. Copyright © 2010 National Jewish Outreach Program. All rights reserved. Make sure that the lives of those who died as Jewish heroes are never forgotten. Fulfill the promise of "Never Forget" by talking about the Holocaust, whether from a… Support efforts to include the Farhud as part of Holocaust history. Shabbat Delight	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2067
__label__wiki	0.718656	0.718656	Home Musicians Logic Net Worth, Life, Family and More Logic is an American rapper and a producer who has a net worth of $14 million. At the very start of his career, Logic started with the name ‘Psychological‘ and released an unofficial mix tape. His 1st official mix tape, ‘Young, Broke and Infamous‘ was released in 2010. Here in this article, You’ll come to know about Logic Net Worth, Songs, Height, Age, Achievements, family and much more. He then went onto releasing his 2nd album in the next year which was ‘Young Sinatra‘. His 3rd was released the next year, the ‘Undeniable’. Logic has a huge following on social medias. He is also the member of ‘RattPack‘ with his friends. He is currently signed for Def Jam Recordings and Visionary Music Group. Logic’s debut album, ‘Under Pressure‘, was released in October 2014. The album immediately turned out to famous among people with the song reaching #2 on both the US Rap and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts and #4 on the Billboard 200. His album which ‘The Incredible True Story’ came out in November 2015 and reached #1 on both the US Rap and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts and #3 on the Billboard 200. The most famous song of his career is the ‘Sucker Pain‘ which featured worldwide recognized singers like Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa. Two years back in March, he released the mixtape “Bobby Tarantino II”. Later he claimed that he signed a $30 million record deal. Just after filing for divorce with his wife, Logic spent $3.57 million to buy a house in Calabasas, California. Net Worth of Other Popular Celebrities: Meek Mill Net Worth Deadmau5 Net Worth Adele Net Worth Young Thug Net Worth 1 Family and Life 2 Professions Family and Life Sir Robert Bryson Hall II was born on January 22, 1990 and is professionally known as ‘Logic’. He is an American rapper, singer and producer who grew up in Rockville, Maryland, United States of America. His father suffered from cocaine addiction and her mother from alcoholism. Despite not being able to connect to his father early in his childhood, both did not grow apart completely. Logic has even admitted that he knows how to make ‘crake cocaine’ due to the fact that his siblings and father were involved in the distributing it to the people of the same block. He is a singer, rapper and a song producer. Previous articleDave Chappelle Net Worth, Life, Family and More Next articleJake Paul Net Worth, Life, Family and More Nick Cannon Net Worth, Life, Family and More Mark Cuban Net Worth, Family, Height, Age and More	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2068
__label__wiki	0.951444	0.951444	New pneumonia vaccine protects against over 70 strains of the disease By Rich Haridy New pneumonia vaccine protects... Scientists from the University at Buffalo and New York University's Langone Medical Center have developed a new vaccine that targets pneumococcal disease decade3d/Depositphotos The image, above, shows how the new vaccine under development works. The circles represent strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes pneumonia. The left side of the image shows the immune system attacking bacteria before it colonizes the body. The middle section shows forms of S. pneumoniae not covered by current immunizations settling in the body. The right portion shows the new vaccine attacking those bacteria only after they become problematic Jones et al., Sci. Adv. 2017;3: e1701797 A new vaccine targeting dozens of new strains of pneumonia could potentially save "hundreds of thousands of lives" according to researchers. Early studies show the new vaccine effectively protects against a variety of bacteria that causes pneumococcal disease including pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. Since the introduction in the early 2000s of vaccines targeting the most deadly forms of pneumonia, the World Health Organization has estimated global deaths of children from the disease have been cut in half. Alongside better nutrition and access to antibiotics, a vaccine against the 23 most deadly pneumonia-causing bacteria has been held as responsible for the millions of lives saved. Now a team of scientists from the University at Buffalo and New York University's Langone Medical Center has developed a new vaccine that targets another 50 strains of a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae, the primary bacteria responsible for pneumococcal disease. "We've made tremendous progress fighting the spread of pneumonia, especially among children. But if we're ever going to rid ourselves of the disease, we need to create smarter and more cost-effective vaccines," says Blaine Pfeifer the study's co-lead author. Less than ten percent of current cases of pneumococcal disease in children in the United States are not covered by current vaccines, but researchers are concerned that these less common bacterial strains could become more prominent. As well as stimulating an immune response to 72 of the 90 known strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, the new vaccine is engineered in a way that makes it cheaper and faster to produce. "Traditional vaccines completely remove bacteria from the body," says Charles H. Jones, the study's other co-lead author. "But we now know that bacteria — and in a larger sense, the microbiome — are beneficial to maintaining good health. What's really exciting is that we now have the ability — with the vaccine we're developing — to watch over bacteria and attack it only if it breaks away from the colony to cause an illness. That's important because if we leave the harmless bacteria in place, it prevents other harmful bacteria from filling that space." The new vaccine still has a way to go before it reaches the general public but scientists suggest it could offer "comprehensive coverage" against a disease that strikes millions of people worldwide every year. The new research was published in the journal Science Advances. Source: University at Buffalo MedicalVaccinesPneumonia Rich Haridy With interests in film, new media, and the new wave of psychedelic science, Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade and was Chair of the Australian Film Critics Association from 2013-2015. Since joining New Atlas Rich’s interests have broadened to encompass the era-defining effects of new technology on culture and life in the 21st century. Robert in Vancouver October 25, 2017 11:57 AM Good thing that real scientists such as the ones who created this new vaccine never say "The science is settled".	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2069
__label__wiki	0.922098	0.922098	‘Hometown kid’ says his passion is learning new and better ways to serve AAPS families Clague Principal Ché Carter is the 2016 Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association Region Honors for Region 2, January 6, 2017 AAPS News Editor Features, High School News, Latest news, Staff in the Spotlight Story and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor When Clague Middle School Principal Ché Carter was a junior at Huron High School back in 1992, a teacher suggested that he belonged on stage. In fact, she said he would make a great Wiz in an upcoming production of “The Wiz.” Though Carter had never even considered such a thing, he agreed, with one caveat: He would absolutely not under any circumstances sing. And so when the curtain rose on that production, the charismatic Ché Carter was indeed the Wiz. He was the Wiz who rapped. “I liked to do things my way,” says Carter, 42, sitting in his office at Clague, where he was a student 30 years ago. “And sometimes that got you into trouble. Especially in high school.” Carter, 42, was recently named the 2016 Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association Region Honors for Region 2, which is based on teaching/administrative experience, participation in professional and civic organizations, and advancing the profession through service. Few in Ann Arbor Public Schools were surprised. In fact, when LeeAnn Dickinson-Kelley first met Carter, he was graduating from Eastern Michigan University with his teaching certificate as EMU’s Most Distinguished Young Educator of the Year. Carter is a big believer that students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. “A few minutes into the conversation, I knew I had to recruit him as an Ann Arbor Public School teacher,” recalls Dickinson-Kelley, assistant superintendent for Instruction & Student Support Services. “Some people become leaders because of opportunity, some because of hard work, some are just naturally born to take on the mantle of leading and changing the world from the inside out. Ché Carter is all three. He is one of the most remarkable educators I’ve had the privilege of knowing during my career.” Lifelong Ann Arborite Ché Carter was born and raised in Ann Arbor, the middle of three brothers who are still best friends to this day. The family lived in the Arrowwood Hills co-op about a mile’s walk from Northside Elementary. Carter’s mother Lucindia Shelton was a teacher’s assistant in AAPS for all the years her sons were in school. She would go on to graduate from Eastern Michigan Unversity a year before Ché graduated from EMU, and retired two years ago from AAPS as a special education teacher. “She was always giving, putting others first,” says Carter. “Now all three sons are the same way.” Carter’s father, Leroy Sr., was a member of the Black Panthers who named Ché (pronounced “Chay”) for Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara, and his youngest son Cinque Joseph for the West African who led a revolt on a Spanish slave ship. “We were always taught to be very strong and courageous; to stand up for what we believe in; to have lots of integrity and be men of character,” says Carter, noting that his father taught self-pride, not a dislike for other races. Though his father made sure there was plenty of literature about successful African Americans in the home, the same could not be said for the collection at school, Carter says. “If you don’t see yourself reflected in all these things around you, then how do you aspire to be something more?” he asks. “It’s hard to understand other people if you don’t know about yourself. If you know about yourself, you can pretty much stand strong and represent yourself in a way that shows appreciation for other cultures as well.” Carter’s maternal grandfather, Woodrow Shelton, was an AAPS custodian who signed the first maintenance contract in the district. Carter says this is where he got his work ethic. His parents separated when he was five. To this day, Leroy Carter, a field service representative for Michigan American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 25, is his son’s “moral compass.” Carter’s move to Clague Middle School in the seventh grade was eye-opening because the school was a melting pot for the Northside kids who were predominantly black, and other feeder schools which were mostly white. Co-principal Gary Court, who is now principal of Angell Elementary, recalls that Carter had exceptional interpersonal skills. “Ché was perceptive about others,” says Court, “and had keen insights and good intuition about relating and getting along with both classmates and adults.” About that time, rap was introduced to the music scene and Carter took to it naturally. “Rap was a way for the powerless to have a voice,” he says. “It was really about reporting what we saw every day. But there’s also the sense of the struggle – trying to get out of your situation, your poverty, your deprivation. The spoken word was powerful.” While he had no trouble being accepted by his peers, he got in trouble a lot because he was quick to speak his mind in class. “That’s your defense mechanism to say, `Hey guess what? You may smash me with your teacher power. But I’m going to take it back by making you mad and taking your class in another direction. So I’m going to say something funny.’” Hence, he spent his share of time in the detention room—space that is now his office. Ché Carter won a spot in the class superlatives section of the yearbook when he was a student at the school he now leads. Once Carter got to Huron, he joined fellow students that included his older brother, LeRoy, who was captain of the varsity football team, as well as an uncle and cousin. Happy to be one of “the Carter boys, ” he enjoyed football, track and field, and rapping as the Whiz. But he had an attitude. Sometimes he didn’t feel like going to class. And when he did, he was prone to speaking his mind—especially when he thought something wasn’t true or fair, or when he felt the need to stick up for someone. “There was a lack of engagement,” he says. “There was nothing there that made me feel connected at the time. I felt like the teachers were only trying to help the kids who already got it, or the kids whose parents were already involved in the school. It felt like the Arrowwood kids were a second thought. Kids know. Kids know when they’re not valued. Kids know when you’re watching them a certain type of way. “ Some teachers back then didn’t value the talents and gifts African American students brought to the classroom, he says. “So if I’m outspoken, instead of writing me up for speaking out of turn, why don’t you give me an opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the classroom?” he says. “You give me an assignment and tell me to read this page, and I give a perspective of my own. If a teacher devalues that perspective, you just made me look small in front of my peers. But professionals are supposed to validate the discussion. When the world constantly reminds you over and over again that you’re different, you tend to want to push back. So the only power you have as a student is to take the class off track.” In 1991, Carter was sent to Roberto Clemente Center, where the alternative school’s weekly rap sessions made a huge impression—even if he did more listening than talking. When Principal Joe Dulin told him he’d end up in prison if he continued disrespecting authority, Carter assured him he was wrong. Then came the night his brother was injured in a drive-by shooting. “When you see something like that, you automatically want revenge,” he says. But during the rap session following the shooting, Dulin told Carter he was proud of him for coming to school on that difficult day. “A lot of people who talked to me that day reminded me of all the opportunities that were ahead of me if I just did not get into that street life,” he recalls. “Roberto for me was about putting my priorities in place and applying myself.” So he returned to Huron for his senior year and got on the honor roll. After graduating in 1992, Carter considered going into the Air Force until he learned his asthma would prevent that. So he enrolled at Washtenaw Community College with a plan to major in mortuary science. “My thought was: People need somebody who can be good to people in their worst times,” he says, noting that a counselor talked him out of it by insisting he had a lot more to give to the living. In any case, he was more focused on the music business and his hope to make it as rap artist. He went to Atlanta with fellow artist and friend Fernando Payne, created a production company, and ended up getting signed to a label with songwriter Barrett Strong. “School was the backup plan,” he says. “Two classes here, two classes there. Working as a custodian at Huron at the time. Working for the city of Ann Arbor’s canoe livery. I worked at U-M in MRI as a tech assistant.” When he got a job in before and after school childcare at several AAPS elementary schools, Carter realized how much he enjoyed working with kids. And in 1995, while attending the Million Man March in Washington, he experienced a “moment of awakening.” “The charge was to go back to your community and do something powerful,” he says. “When I got back to Ann Arbor, I said, `OK, I gotta take care of business.’ I started taking more classes and more classes. The whole idea was that it would pay off at some point.” Focused less on the music industry and more on a career in education, Carter enrolled in classes at Eastern Michigan University in 2000 and was encouraged when a teacher told him there were kids out there who needed him and were waiting for him. Meanwhile, he was taking 20 credits, working 40 hours a week at U-M, and 20 hours on the weekend for the city of Ann Arbor. And in 2002, he welcomed a daughter, Avani. “You ask me how I did it? I just know it couldn’t be done again. But I did it.” A return to AAPS Carter loved student teaching in Willow Run. But his heart was in his hometown, and when he heard about an AAPS job fair, he waited in line for three hours to apply. “Because I had such an interesting time in the district—with highs and lows and missed opportunities—the best way to fix something is to be in a position to have an eagle eye on the operations and then figure out how you can help people have a better experience in the school system,” he says. “So I got into it for all kids, but I definitely know there’s a group that seems to constantly come in last in all of our data. My philosophy was, `I can help them change. But I’m going to need the community to change how they feel about this other community.’” He taught first and second grade for four years at Bryant Elementary. Dickinson-Kelley says she closely followed his early teaching career and knew he was destined for even more. “His innate leadership,” she says, “unwavering commitment to issues of equity, deep care for children, his understanding of effective instructional practice and remarkable manner with adult colleagues are the qualities we seek for building leadership.” One of the best things he’s done at AAPS, Carter says, is to work with struggling students during the summer, teaming with staff from across the district. “I can say confidently that we have some of the best people – not just educators – but best people working with our kids,” he says, referring to the summer staff. “It almost spoils you because you get together with these teachers every day and they call each other on the phone constantly trying to figure out: How can we change what we’re doing to better educate the kids we serve?” Burns Park Elementary Principal Chuck Hatt recalls that in one of Carter’s first assignments as an administrator for AAPS, he served as principal of the district’s elementary Summer Learning Institute. That summer, veteran teacher Elnora Sipp was on staff to work with second graders. In fact, she had been Carter’s teacher years before. “When greeting and working with Ms. Sipp throughout the summer,” Hatt recalls, “Che was always the deferential former student and equal partner in working for our most vulnerable students. He was able to be both as he knows from personal experience how committed educators make an everyday difference in lives of children and he has committed himself to nothing less in his own professional life and in the work of the teams that he leads.” Hatt remains a huge fan. “Mr. Carter is the embodiment of our mission for excellence and equity in service to the children of Ann Arbor, their families, and the institutions that support them,” he says. Carter knew that as a teacher he could create an environment of respect where every student values the other students’ perspectives and what they bring to the table, but as a principal, he could do more for more students. So he became an assistant principal at Forsythe Middle School for two years before becoming principal at Pattengill Elementary. Four years later, he was tapped to lead Clague. “All kids want to be heard” Since Carter has been at Clague, the school has moved to a new grading system based on standards, so that letter grades now have a better-defined meaning. “I can say it’s really changed the way kids look at learning in middle school,” he says. “They know what an A means. They know what a B means. Why? Because every activity is aligned to a particular standard they have to meet so many standards, and that hopefully transcends into some of the data we get.” Clague has always been a high-functioning community as far as academics, he says. “But to me, there’s so much more than academics in the development of young people,” he says. “And so yes, we’re still proudly trying to lead the way in academics. And we’re in the process right now of trying to be identified as a Schools to Watch program, a national program very similar to Blue Ribbon but for middle school.” “All kids have the same needs,” he says. “They want to be heard. They want to be supported … They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. And that’s been a cornerstone to my leadership style. You’re going to know I care about you. I’m going to demonstrate that in everything I do.” He says teachers these days are more aware of the importance of shared respect, and choose their words more carefully. “I think the biggest difference now is that kids feel entitled to the same level of respect as adults,” he says. “So we’re constantly teaching that respect is earned. That’s why you have a lot of programs now like PBIS—Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports—where you teach the expectation that you want and you reinforce that in every zone in your school. So at least you have a common vocabulary around the norms of this environment.” Clague parent Shanti Suresh says the thing she finds most impressive about Carter is that he is so fully engaged in all aspects of the school. “His emails are very sincere and heartfelt,” she said. “I take the time to read every one of them, and I can tell he cares about the kids because the emails have so much depth and information in them. “ She said Clague kids are fond of him, as well. “He comes up with new ways to connect with them and get his message across,” she said. “He is doing wonderful work with the Clague kids, teachers and parents.” Clague’s African-American population is just under 12 percent. “I have a very diverse population, and cultural competency is key,” he says. “One of the things I pride myself on is that I can go into any environment and be successful and raise the bar based on me being culturally competent and understanding the nuances coming from a sub-group or sub-culture, and understanding how important it is to honor other people’s cultures and what they bring to the table, and what they bring to America. Just because they come from another country doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have American values.” Goal for Clague: a caring, cooperative community Carter’s administrative assistant, Laura Hannaford, says Carter has created a joyful environment at Clague that radiates throughout the building. “Every morning we do announcements,” she says, “and he reads: `Do your best to make Clague a caring and cooperative community. Be respectful, responsible, safe, and caring.’ He asks that of everyone, and he does that every time I see him interact with someone, whether it’s a parent or a student.” She says the kids know he cares by the attention he gives them. “It goes to being with the kids when they’re having fun as well as in-class learning,” she says. “He’s in the lunchroom all the time with them. He sits down, he talks to them. He knows what they’re doing on the weekends. He goes to some of their games, their sporting events, their music events. He’s just part of their lives for all of it. And people respond to that.” Carter tries to be the mentor for young people that the late GM engineer Dr. Frederick Mccuiston was for him when he was a boy and young teen. Because some parents don’t feel comfortable coming into the school, Carter goes to them when necessary. Recently a mother felt her child was not being treated fairly by a teacher. So Carter went to the home, where he would not be seen as the one with authority, and resolved the issue at her kitchen table. “I need to look away from policy at times and look at the needs of people,” he says. “And by doing that, people let their defenses down long enough and tell you what the real need is.” An Arab American parent was at school before break to pick up his sick child. Carter could tell there was more on his mind, so he gave the father a few times he could come back and talk. The father was en route to his car when Carter decided to arrange his schedule and talk to him right then. He’ll always be glad he did because the father was worried about his son and “Islam phobia.” “At the end of the day, every parent wants their kid to feel safe, and we know that there’s so much going on in the world, we can’t guarantee safety,” he says. “We can guarantee a response. We can be prepared. But we can’t guarantee safety. That’s not a luxury we have. We never did.” He says he could tell the father felt relieved to know his concerns were heard and honored. “My job is to show students how they can maintain their identity in this environment and still be who they are,” Carter says. “My job is to help teachers understand that it’s a difference perspective, not a deficit perspective because you don’t understand the context in which some kids operate from. Knowing their music, knowing the things that make them excited. Why should we look at that as less? Why are the non-dominant cultural references usually looked upon as a deficit? So my job is to show kids how you can favorably assimilate and stay who you are. But you assimilate like everyone else does so you can be in the game. But you can’t be in the game if you don’t know how to assimilate.” The hardest part about being principal, Carter says, is the fact that it’s all-consuming, which is why he’s sometimes awake at 3 a.m. reflecting on how he can better support a teacher or a student. Lately, he’s especially concerned about the mental health of young people. On the flip side, he loves seeing the look on kids faces when they feel included; the comfort in their eyes when they engage as a leader; the appreciation from parents who’ve watched their children excel in ways they didn’t know they could; and the appreciation of a teacher who has just learned a new tool. “We’re highly skilled professionals, but guess what?” he asks. “We have to keep retooling. We have to keep changing. It’s not like any other field out there. We have the opportunity every day to make an impact and change someone’s life. We touch the future every day. And every day I get to reinvent myself and be somebody different for another child.” Adults should never underestimate their impact on a child, he says. “And please don’t judge a child by how they act in middle school,” he says. “Because if you judged me by the way I acted in middle school, you wouldn’t say I’d be this principal trying to change the world one person at a time. “ “Servant-leader” feels called to serve Ann Arbor families He and his wife, Angelique, a former dental assistant who is now a fulltime homemaker, have two children, Ashon, 9, who attends Carpenter, and Avani, now a freshman at Community High. A move may be in store for the Carters. After all, he’s coming to that four-year timeline when he gets restful to move on. “I’d like to lead an international school,” he says. “I’m curious what that would look like outside of the United States.” He pictures moving out of the country for three to five years before moving back to AAPS, possibly someday as superintendent. In the meantime, he knows there are still several principals and teachers in the district who remember him when he was a stubborn student who put up walls when they tried to get to know him; who sometimes made bad choices. He hopes they feel proud of him now. “Hopefully they look at me and it inspires them to know that there’s hope for every kid,” he says. “Looking at me, you wouldn’t have said, `Hey, I’ll see you pretty soon. You’ll be a principal.’” Carter sees himself as a “servant-leader” called to serve Ann Arbor families. “I’m a hometown kid,” he says, “and now I’m just looking at one thing: How can I best serve more people?” Dawn Anderson, retired teacher AAPS says: I first met Ché during our Summer Learning Institute when he was still a teacher. I was impressed with him from the start. He was so hard working, so dedicated, and so obviously motivated to do the best he could for our students. He is an outstanding educator, and a wonderful person. I am so proud to have worked with him, and so glad he is leading Clague School. Nate Powell says: Theresa Bassett says: Proud of you then! Proud of you now! This award could not have been given to a more deserving individual. Congratulations.! When I asked Ché, “Why do you want to leave the classroom?” He did not give me the pat answer one would have expected, “I want to make more money.” He said that he wanted to get in a position where he “could help more students succeed and in a position where he could influence educational policy to make that happen.” It seems that he is well on his way to accomplishing both. This award could not have been given to a more deserving individual. Congratulations! When I asked Ché, “Why do you want to leave the classroom?” He did not give me the pat answer one would have expected, “I want to make more money.” He said that he wanted to get in a position where he “could help more students succeed and influence educational policy to make that happen.” It seems that he is well on his way to accomplishing both. Dan Preston says: He was a great guy during my years of playing football with him! Doing good things oldschool! Susan Baughn says: We miss him at Forsythe! Leslie Dubin says: Our daughter has been so blessed to have had Mr. Carter as her principal in elementary and middle school. He exudes absolute dedication to his students and their families. AAPS is lucky to have such a wonderful educator and leader, as are we! Aafrika Poole says: Thank you and congratulations on your well-deserved distinguished honor Principal Carter, for seeing Donald D3 Poole as a 7th grade student that happens to be disabled and special. He is learning and included in your village of student body. Ms. Marcia Boik is Donald’s teacher reflective of your continued Leadership. The best of luck to you and your family’s future journey. Aafrika Mom Polly Salvato says: Mr. Carter would come to many of the baseball games that his students were playing in when he was at Pattengill. This made a huge impact on the kids because he took time out of his personal schedule to support them. My son is now a senior and still remembers Mr. Carter with fondness. Richard and Suzanne John says: Four out of five of our Ann Arbor grandchildren have had the privilege of attending the Clague Middle School, so ably led by Che Carter. The fifth will enter sixth grade next fall, and we feel confident that he will benefit enormously from the experience too, as it is such a loving and caring place. Sincerly, the Baker Lexington, MA grandparents. Margaret Weiss says: Congratulations, Che Carter! Clague MS and the AAPS are so lucky to have you! This is a well-deserved honor. Janis Huff says: Che, Mary (Davidson) and I are so proud of you! Negar Nazemzadeh says: Last year, Ramadan overlapped with the last days of school, and I told Mr. Carter that I would be fasting those days. He let me skip Gym, so that I wouldn’t get thirsty throughout the day, and go to Orchestra instead. He also let me not got to the lunch room, so I wouldn’t be watching people eat when I can’t eat myself, and he let me go sit in the blue house and read a book instead. So overall, he let me have the easiest days of Ramadan, even better than when I’m at home and everyone is fasting, by taking it easy, and being busy at the same time, so I wouldn’t even think about being thirsty or hungry. Thank you, Mr. Carter. Evelyn Collins says: I directed Che’ Carter in the production of The Wiz at Huron High School and can recall how stellar he was in the audition. His energy was infectious, but he did not want to sing. I was curious if he could rap, and rap he did. He made it cool for other boys to perform in musical productions. Always a leader. Glad to see he became one in education. Bravo!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2071
__label__wiki	0.923272	0.923272	Eric Beerbohm appointed director of Graduate Fellowships New director of I Tatti Courtesy of the Edmond J. Safra Graduate Fellowships in Ethics Edmond J. Safra Foundation Center for Ethics recently announced the appointment of Eric Beerbohm as director of the Edmond J. Safra Graduate Fellowships in Ethics. Beerbohm, an assistant professor of government and social studies at the University, is a faculty fellow in ethics at the center for the 2009-10 academic year. In his new role, Beerbohm will work closely with Lawrence Lessig, director of the center and professor of law at Harvard Law School. Beerbohm’s philosophical and teaching interests include democratic theory, theories of distributive justice, and the morality of public policy. His book manuscript, “In Our Name: The Ethics of Representative Democracy,” examines the moral responsibilities of citizens and lawmakers for political injustice. He has also written on the implications of moral uncertainty for political decisionmaking and the necessary demand of deliberative democracy. During his fellowship, he is working on a relational approach to distributive justice. “Eric Beerbohm is an extraordinary academic,” said Lessig, “who will inspire our graduate fellows to think more clearly and critically about ethical issues. His research will greatly enhance the scope of our scholarship. I am very pleased to have Eric on board.” To ensure that teaching and research in ethics would continue into the future, Dennis F. Thompson, the founding director of the center, established the graduate fellowships program in 1990, with the purpose of “training younger scholars who are prepared to dedicate their careers to the study of practical ethics in a wide variety of subjects.” With support from the American Express Foundation, Lily Safra, and Eugene P. Beard, the graduate fellowships program flourished under the direction of Arthur Applbaum, professor of ethics and public policy at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), who stepped down from the role in 2009. Frances Kamm, Lucius Littauer Professor of Philosophy and Public Policy at HKS and professor of philosophy in the Department of Philosophy, is serving as acting director of the program for 2009-10. To date, Graduate Fellowships in Ethics have been awarded to more than 100 Harvard graduate and professional students. Beerbohm is a recipient of the Marshall Scholarship and the Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences. He received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2007, B.Phil. in philosophy from Oxford University, and B.A. in political science and the program in ethics in society from Stanford University. Lino Pertile, the Carl A. Pescosolido Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, has been named the new director of the Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies at Villa I Tatti. File Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2072
__label__cc	0.683417	0.316583	Colorado River vs Colorado lawsuit dismissed December 4, 2017 / KGNU / Uncategorized A federal court this afternoon dismissed the lawsuit Colorado River versus the state of Colorado. The state’s Attorney General’s office had threatened Jason Flores Williams, the attorney in the suit, with sanctions that could have ranged from censure to disbarment unless he withdrew the suit, saying that the suit had no legal basis. The suit hinged on asserting the Rights of Nature, a relatively new concept in Colorado courts. Friday was the deadline given to Flores Williams to withdraw the suit. While protestors gathered outside a Denver courthouse, the attorney general’s office filed another motion for the courts to dismiss the case. Over the weekend Flores Williams withdrew the suit and the court dismissed the case on Monday afternoon. Flores Williams says today that while the lawsuit has been dismissed, the movement around the rights of nature that has emerged as a result of the suit will live on. “The Rights of Nature is a movement of the people, that’s what it’s about and that’s what happened here. So there has been some loss, the court…it was dismissed, but the victory begun by Deep Green Resistance is to launch a movement on the streets.” colorado riverwater	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2073
__label__wiki	0.795003	0.795003	Home Series The Resident season 4: episode 2, Nic reveals a secret to Conrad... The Resident season 4: episode 2, Nic reveals a secret to Conrad in the promo video After watching the Season Premiere of season 4 of The Resident, it’s time to discover the promo video of episode 2 entitled “Mina’s Kangaroo Court”. Last night, the Season Premiere of season 4 of The Resident made its comeback on Fox and it touched on the theme of the coronavirus. Thus, the series was able to pay a fine tribute to all the nursing staff who find themselves on the front line to fight the virus. In addition, this first episode was marked by the long-awaited marriage of Nic and Conrad. This couple are so endearing that they deserved their “happy-ending” after everything he’s been through. The ceremony went wonderfully without any unforeseen events or setbacks, which feels good. In any case, it is possible that an event will disrupt their happiness as the promo video of episode 2 of season 4 of The Resident. What’s his secret? – Credit (s): Fox When Cain’s elective surgery patient returns with complications, Mina and Raptor will wonder how to handle the situation in this episode 2 of season 4 of The Resident. Conrad and Devon will treat a local congresswoman who has information that could prevent her from receiving proper treatment, causing Devon to open up to her grief. After losing numerous colleagues to the virus, Bell will become worried about who would be there for him in a time of crisis and finds himself exploiting his own past to reunite with his former stepson, an elite plastic surgeon, the Dr Jake Wong. Moreover, as the video reveals, Nic is going to reveal a secret to Conrad. What is he? Could he put the couple in danger? While waiting to find out on January 19, find out if Nic and Conrad could be expecting a child in season 4 of The Resident. Credit: Fox Fernsehsendung The Mandalorian season 2: those things that make no sense in the series Game of Thrones: Why are northern born bastards called Snow? Sex and The City: Can The Series Work Without Samantha?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2074
__label__wiki	0.65018	0.65018	Home USA Politics We Have Entered a Very Dangerous Era for Jews in the USA We Have Entered a Very Dangerous Era for Jews in the USA Nurit Greenger Wed May 15, 2019 Here are two cases for discussion, that show why a very dangerous era for Jews is already here. The first case shows a quiet, peaceful face to Congress and a completely different, virulent hateful visage to a receptive audience. The second case shows a terrible concocted story delivered to Congress receiving a free pass from a media commentator. The enablers in both cases are of the American left. First Case Imam Omar Suleiman, founder, and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, in Texas, was invited by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas-District 30) to speak in Congress. Rep. Johnson, a former registered nurse, has a history of animus for Israel, for which, in 2012, she received a 3+ mark from the Arab American Institute. On Thursday, May 9th, 2019, in Congress, Suleiman delivered peaceful blather. The following quotation is how differently he speaks to his congregants: “How befitting that the 3rd Intifada starts on the 27th night of Ramadan as worshippers are denied prayer in Masjid Al Aqsa. God willing, on this blessed night, as the 3rd Intifada begins, the beginning of the end of Zionism is here. May Allah help us overcome this monster, protect the innocent of the world, and accept the murdered as martyrs. amen.” The man is a virulent racist, and only Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY-District 1) took him on. Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, whose father was a great friend of Zionism and Israel, stood behind him looking reverential, as she always does with all those Jew haters she admires. i.e., Rep. Ocasio Cortez, Rep. Tlaib and Rep. Omar, all who are a behavioral copy of Imam Omar Suleiman and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson. The number of anti-Semite band of brothers and sisters in Congress is growing fast. But, this is not an isolated incident. Increasing numbers of militant Moslems are elected to Congress, and all share the Imam’s Koran-driven agenda. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib is just the tip of the sword. Reps. Tlaib [R] and Omar Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin, meaning, the writing is on the wall, interpreted by Daniel to say that God had weighed Belshazzar and his kingdom, had found them wanting and would destroy them. Belshazzar was the eldest son of Nabonidus, the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and regent for his father during the latter’s prolonged absence from the city. Belshazzar he never assumed the titles or ritual functions of kingship. He may have been killed when Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 BCE. Second Case Rep. Rashida Tlaib and Juan Williams FoxNews commentator and a member of The Five program, lie! Rashida Tlaib should be expelled from Congress for being so un-American, and Juan Williams should be well educated on the subject before he appears on The Five FoxNews screen again. Enough of the lies! Williams defends Tlaib’s concocted story that her ancestors gave Jews safe haven in the land of Israel after they arrived there after they survived the Holocaust. That is far from the truth. And Nancy Pelosi continues looking reverential with the anti-Semitic congress environment she so pathetically leads. Juan Williams, a member of FoxNews ‘The Five‘ Program, is an annoying identity politics stickler. For him, facts never matter; being a member of the Democrat Party, wrong or right, is what matters. It is only his distorted ideology that matters. Shameless Juan Williams, who sells his progressive agenda, right or wrong, is someone who does not know, or he pretends he does not know, facts about the history of Israel. He has the gall to ignore the fact that the Arabs hate Jews. That they cooperated with Hitler in Europe during the Holocaust and their leader was sitting at Hitler’s side demanding he kills the Jews, and he helped set the ‘Final Solution’ for the extermination of all Jews. The Arabs demanded a guarantee from the Nazis to come to Palestine to murder the Jews who lived there. The Nazis almost did; only that the Allies defeated them in the Battle of El Alamein, which marked the culmination of the North African Campaign of the Second World War that took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. Erwin Rommel was a German general and military theorist, popularly known as the Desert Fox. He served as field marshal in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II and commanded the Battle of El Alamein. Rommel hoped to win the battle and arrive in the Land of Israel, then British Mandate-Palestine-the Land of Israel and kill all the Jews living there. He failed. Juan Williams needs to do some serious learning about how the Mufti of Jerusalem who formed a pact with Hitler; how the Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, recruited Muslims from Bosnia and Bulgaria to the SS troops ranks and how this Islamic leader helped Hitler to train this brigade. More so, Juan needs to stop distorting history and the truth as he often does, annoyingly, on FoxNews. The Arabs did not give up their land to give haven to the Jews, as Tlaib claims; that is a lie. Juan echoes her myth. Territorial Integrity Only the Jews have had territorial integrity in the land for three millennia. The Jews inhabited the area 3000 years ago, long before the advent of Islam. It was also before the Arabs, who were nomads in Arabia, even knew there was such a land, the One, and Two Jewish Commonwealth. The Arabs arrived in the land of Israel ONLY when the first Jews arrived there, at the end of the 19th century, as they ran away from the Pogroms in Russia and created a new economy out of nothing. The Arabs arrived to get a job, for economic reasons. The Jews offered the opportunity, and the Arabs took it. The now imaginable ‘Palestine’ was not Palestine before World War One. The land of Israel was re-granted to the Jews by the Balfour Declaration and the League of Nations. The Arabs had no claim to the land, but they managed well to manipulate world opinion into the lie that Tlaib flogs and Williams has bought, and Nancy Pelosi rides on it. Never, ever before and also under the British Mandate rule not one square inch of the land belonged to the Arabs. From time immemorial the only people who have had ownership of the land were the Jews. During the British Mandate in the land, the Arabs murdered Jews whenever and wherever they could and in most cases, the British looked the other way. The Arabs living there did not provide safe haven for the Jews, as Tlaib claims. It was an unsafe environment and caused the Jews to develop a hugely distrustful sentiment towards them. After the Holocaust the Arabs never provided the Jews with anything besides more wars – eight wars – terror, murder and death and political warfare; they have been using any possible method to undermine the Jews and their homeland. The Arabs channeled nothing positive. Not then, not now. The Jews who managed to survive the Nazi concentration camps, harsh Nazi labor camps and all other murderous and anti-Semitic methods used against them during WWII, who immigrated to Israel, joined their brothers and sisters in the Jewish settlement in the Land. Instead of finding a haven, they were forced to deal with Arab riots, massacres, terrorists, wars and death that has been going on for the past 100-PLUS years, way before Israel was announced a member of the world’s nations and till today. Dangerous Era For Jews Juan Williams should not shoot off his mouth without preparation, shoot his mouth with the lies the Arabs provide and he repeats. But it can be that his identity politics ideology is much stronger than the truth. To use his idol Hilary Clinton’s term, he is deplorable. Here is Rep. Tlaib and Juan Williams’s first lesson: Jews NEVER abandoned the land of Israel. Jews have had a continuous presence there since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70BCE and the expulsion of most Jews from the area. Israel is The Greatest Miracle of All Time and not because of Tlaib and her like. During the 2006 second Lebanon War, Nurit Greenger, referenced then as the “Accidental Reporter” felt compelled to become an activist. Being an ‘out-of-the-box thinker, Nurit is a passionately committed advocate for Jews, Israel, the United States, and the Free World in general. From Southern California, Nurit serves as a “one-woman Hasbarah army” for Israel who believes that if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. Get notification of new stories by Nurit Greenger, in your Email. The Same King’s Men, the Biden Courtyard Anyone Can Hack US Elections and FBI, DOJ Don’t Seem to Care Republicans and Democrats May Be Involved In Election Fraud Eroding the Foundations of the American Constitutional Republic President Trump’s Third Supreme Court Nominee Confirmed by the Senate Joe Biden Linked to Hunter Biden Dealings With Ukrainian Burisma Exec by Evidence Leninism in Contemporary America Opus Going Full Circle: What a Vote for Biden Means Sparks of Political Sanity and Hope in Los Angeles, California at Rescue America Rally Latest Politics News from PR Newswire USA Categories	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2075
__label__wiki	0.80398	0.80398	Home World Europe UK – Junior Doctors’ Strike Ends, But Threat To Patients’ Safety Remains UK – Junior Doctors’ Strike Ends, But Threat To Patients’ Safety Remains Melissa Thompson Mon May 23, 2016 An embattled disagreement between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government has come to an abrupt, less than ideal end, as a new baseline for junior doctors’ contracts working under NHS was announced 19 May. In an effort to shut down the threats of widespread strikes taking place for another six months throughout the NHS among junior doctors uncomfortable with demanding workloads and what they deem inconsistent pay for hours worked, new terms were agreed upon – but not without resenting opposition. The news comes after a nine-month debate surrounding the pay and required work hours of junior doctors, especially those who regularly work during off hours, such as late evenings and weekends. Junior Doctors’ Strike Since the debate’s vocal start, the BMA vehemently fought for junior doctors’ rights, but threw in the towel as the Government was unwilling to budge on its position. The end result cannot easily be defined as a long-term win for the union or for the Government, although some progress has been made. The agreement made among the BMA and the Government clearly highlights that the Government held steady in its position that the need for longer hours at NHS facilities trumped the overarching desire of junior doctors to be paid a premium for those extended work hours. Despite numerous walkouts and cancelled operations over the course of late 2015 and bleeding into 2016, the Government opted for a small change in junior doctors’ contracts – a far cry from the sweeping positive changes called for by the BMA and its underserved members. The Updated Contract Terms One of the underlying purposes of the updated terms for junior doctors within NHS is to ensure the fidelity of the health system remains intact. In order to satisfy the seven day NHS, or one that provides health advice and service to patients on an extended schedule, the Government desires to maintain more doctors on staff during off hours, reducing a reliance on agency workers. To this end, the updated contract terms for NHS junior doctors include the following provisions: Working hours: Daytime hours worked on Saturdays and Sundays will be paid at the normal rate, while shifts that begin at or after 8pm and last more than eight hours will be paid at an enhanced rate of 37% for all hours worked. This percentage is less than the 50% currently paid for late/weekend hours worked. Pay: Junior doctors will receive a percentage of annual salary for working more than six weekends throughout the year, ranging from 3% up to 10%. Basic pay rates across the board will increase between 10% and 11% – a decrease from the initially proposed 13%. Other considerations: The Government plans to aim new terms at reducing discrimination against those who take leave specifically to care for others, such as new parents. The majority of the new contract terms will be implemented in August of this year, if approved by the nearly 40,000 junior doctors’ involved in the BMA’s ballot taking place June. Full implementation is expected to take place between October 2016 through August 2017. The Concern Over Patients’ Safety A long-hours standard is already in place within NHS facilities, especially among junior doctors who represent the most substantial portion of the workforce within health agencies. The new contract terms were argued so passionately in an effort to not only compensate junior doctors for their hard work and often strenuous workload, but to also ensure the safety of patients being treated. However, the Government’s priority has long been to enhance the hours made available to those patients, and some would argue, without much consideration given to the junior doctors who actually deliver patient care. The struggle of implementing the seven day NHS plan in a safe and beneficial way comes down to the newly agreed upon contracts. The proposed terms do not explicitly provide safeguards against working extended hours which naturally lead to overt exhaustion – a need that should be taken seriously for those providing patient care. According to a number of leading figures at medical royal colleges, the terms and conditions of the new contract have the potential to deter recruitment and reduce overall doctor morale, both which have a direct impact on the quality of patient care. It is difficult to argue that the combination of extended hours and less pay for hours worked is a move in the right direction for quality medical care for patients throughout NHS. The NHS Litigation Bill The growing need for quality patient care is witnesses explicitly in the total outlay from NHS trusts for medical mistakes – a startling £4.5 billion over the past five years. While this leads one to conclude that patients are consistently let down by medical negligence, the expense also poses questions about the high cost of litigation. The Government points the finger at excessive charges by lawyers in the field for the quadrupled legal bill of the NHS, but the issue can also be correlated to the difficulty of working with the NHS on medical error or negligence claims. According to a representative from Patient Claim Line, a team of medical solicitors in the UK, the way in which the NHS operates has a direct impact on the total financial output for medical error claims. The agency is known for lagging in response times as it relates to the investigation and assessment of potential claims, ultimately causing the total cost of legal assistance to rise substantially. It is not a stretch to believe that claims could take several years to process through the system, making it nothing short of challenging to determine the true size of the problem. The new junior doctors’ contract terms pose a viable threat to the safety of the doctors providing care, patients needing that care, and the sustainability of the NHS as a whole. In an independent report recently released, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt stated that preventable harm has the potential to cost the NHS nearly £2.5bn per year, attributing the £1.3bn spent by the NHSLA on litigation costs as part of the problem. With these costs representing one of the more shocking expenses associated with poor care received by patients, it makes little sense that the new contract terms would be more in favour of the seven day NHS than protecting the needs of junior doctors. As the new contracts are imposed over the course of the next year, it is highly likely that the number of medical mistakes – and the litigation bill – will rise. Melissa Thompson writes about a wide range of topics, revealing interesting things we didn’t know before. She is a freelance USA Today producer, and a Technorati contributor. Is Belfast’s Oldest Pub One of the Reasons Why Belfast is Growing as an International Business Tourism Hub? Memorial As Survivors Return To Auschwitz Death Camp 75 Years After Its Liberation Studies Show that 80% of UK Homeowners will Struggle with Debt After Christmas Uniting the World for a Global Awakening in Evangelism – 177 Countries Participate in Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Conference Understanding Swedish Business Culture Why It’s Worth Looking for Jobs Outside of London The outage, Service Breakdowns and Internet Speed Delay in the UK–What’s changed in 2019? Premier League TV Audiences Are Still On The Rise UK Couple Hires Robot Wedding Photographer Europe News from PR Newswire	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2076
__label__wiki	0.715095	0.715095	DeMar DeRozan working on three-point shot this summer Last season, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan made his living in the midrange. Only 8.9 percent of his shots came from three (and he shot just 28.9 percent on them, although that jumped to 34 percent after the All-Star break). Instead, 56.6 percent of DeRozan’s shots came between 10 feet out and the arc, and he shot just below 38 percent on those. While the league-wide pushback on midrange jumpers can get taken too far, if you’re going to take them you better make them. Nobody complains about Dirk Nowitzki’s midrange shots — more than 60 percent of his shots are from 10 feet to the three-point line, but he hits nearly 48 percent of them. DeRozan is dynamic when he can attack the rim, but if there are obstacles in his way he too easily settles for a midrange jumper he does not hit. This year, DeRozan going to try to become a more reliable threat from three to open things up. New Raptor DeMarre Carroll has been watching DeRozan and talked about stretching out his shot to the Toronto Sun. “(NBA three-point leader) Kyle Korver told me the three-point shot is just more repetition. The more you shoot it, the better you’ll get at it. I feel like if DeMar will keep working on it, it will eventually come,” Carroll said… “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of other things he worked on in his game and he’s a dominant offensive player (already),” Carroll said. “So I think if he adds that three-point to his game it’ll take us over the top.” The Raptors have overhauled their roster to become more defensive minded — that’s why Carroll was their top free agent target. They wanted a quality wing defender, and they got one of the best. With this new roster look for even more threes — the Raptors were ninth in the NBA in three-pointers attempted last season and made a respectable 35.2 percent of them (12th in the NBA). If, as expected, Toronto starts Kyle Lowry, DeRozan, Carroll, and Patrick Patterson around Jonas Valanciunas, that’s potentially four three-point shooters on the floor around a big who demands a double in the post. Throw in a quicker pace (the Raptors were bottom 10) and the chance to get a few more threes in transition, and the Raptors could be bombs away from deep this season. Which will be a good thing, especially if DeRozan knocks them down. The Raptors needed to make changes, their unimpressive first-round playoff exit (and the second half of last season) made that clear. But transitions are rarely smooth, and there are going to be some bumps early on for the Raptors as their focus shifts. Especially if those threes don’t fall for a stretch.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2078
__label__wiki	0.821428	0.821428	DOWNLOAD/CONTACT oklahoma johnny blue the rock reviewer matheson kamin writes: "oklahoma johnny blue writes song after song that is upbeat and very energetic. as each song plays out, you get a very real sense of the playing ability of the songwriter as well as his ability to write songs that are fun to listen to". WHAT ABOUT NOW? is the seventh and latest ALBUM released by oklahoma johnny blue. oklahoma johnny blue is the stage name used by johnny potts. johnny wrote songs on music row in nashville some years ago and had chart records, won an ASCAP award, and wrote with some of the top songwriters in music city. in other words, he knows his way around a song. johnny has been quoted as saying "he is workin' on a groove". the ojb sound is sort of a garage rock blues country soul groove. check out the pure oklahoma johnny blue sound............... WHAT ABOUT NOW? features johnny on electric guitar, bass, and vocals, with various drummers. all songs were written, performed, and recorded by oklahoma johnny blue. recording was done at beanhound sound studio in nashville. nothin' is nothin' 3:13 everybody runnin' 2:28 the trip 2:28 big dreams 2:49 no separation(reprise) 3:34 some people crazy 2:13 goin' back to tulsa 2:20	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2082
__label__wiki	0.689197	0.689197	After Paris, it’s “all hands on deck” for climate finance After reaching a historic climate deal in Paris in December, the huge task of implementing and financing the shift to a low carbon economy begins in earnest (image: COP Paris/ Arnaud Bouissou) 11 Feb by Sangjung Ha Thomas Hale and Pete Ogden 0 Comments The December 2015 UN climate summit in Paris marked a historic step forward in international efforts to combat climate change, producing a new climate agreement that includes national commitments by 189 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While these commitments will need to be fulfilled and then ratcheted up in the years to come, they demonstrate the power of what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon described as an “all hands on deck” approach to the climate challenge. This tectonic shift in the mitigation framework, away from the Kyoto Protocol model, has been rightly celebrated as the most constructive path forward. But observers have largely missed the beginnings of a similar change in the realm of climate finance – a change that could grow to be equally significant. Over the last several years, developing countries have been ramping up their investments in low carbon infrastructure, both domestically and in other developing countries. China has been at the centre of this growth of so-called South-South Climate Finance (SSCF), which represents a major opportunity. Negotiations over climate finance in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) traditionally revolved around the level of financial support developing countries will receive. While such support is crucial, and developed countries must absolutely meet the goal of mobilising US$100 billion of climate finance per year by 2020, the climate challenge requires the world to mobilise not billions but trillions of dollars. In a world in which developing countries now constitute half of global GDP, the climate finance challenge, like the mitigation challenge, can ultimately only be met through an “all hands on deck” approach. The Paris Agreement recognises this new reality. While it reaffirms that “developed country Parties should continue to take the lead in mobilising climate finance,” it is also explicit that they act “as part of a global effort” (art. 9 paragraph 3). Moreover, “Other parties are encouraged to provide or continue to provide such support voluntarily” (art. 9 paragraph 2). To realise the full potential of this important dimension of the Paris agreement, therefore, countries must now redouble efforts to track and expand the role of SSCF so as to more effectively align it with ‘traditional’ climate finance that flows from developed to developing countries. Fortunately, developing countries, and China in particular, which announced US$3.1 billion in bilateral climate finance on the eve of COP21, are already beginning to show leadership on this front. This year, China can use its presidency of the G20 and its leadership role in new international financial institutions such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank (‘BRICS Bank’) to make a decisive step forward by mainstreaming low carbon financing into the colossal new financial institutions taking shape in Asia. Indeed, this task is perhaps the largest priority for climate diplomacy in 2016. China leading on South-South Climate Finance While there are no official or systematic global efforts to track SSCF, in a recent article in the journal Global Policy entitled “Climate Finance in and between Developing Countries: An Opportunity to Build on”, we map the current landscape drawing on the best available public reports. The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) estimates that SSCF reached US$10 billion in 2013. That constituted as much as 30% of the total climate finance that flowed from developed to developing countries in the same period (US$34 billion). According to Climatescope 2015, investments in clean energy in 2014 in the 55 developing countries for which data were available reached US$126 billion, and more than half (US$79 billion) were South-south investments emanating from non-OECD countries. This SSCF takes three major forms: developing countries’ contributions to established multilateral climate funds; bilateral initiatives; and new Southern-led international organisations such as the BRICS bank and the AIIB. See also: Can China make the AIIB and BRICS the greenest banks in town? The first category is relatively small, with developing country contributions to multilateral climate funds making up only a few percentage points of the total funds used for climate finance at institutions like the Global Environment Facility, the World Bank and regional development banks, or the newly created Green Climate Fund. Bilateral arrangements figure more prominently at present, with China leading the way. In September 2014, China announced at the UN Climate Summit in New York that it would establish a South-South Climate Fund. Encouragingly, China is linking its SSCF directly to the UNFCCC process, signing an MoU with the UN regarding the goals and use of the fund. China’s willingness to link its own climate finance to the UN process shows how the traditional “firewall” in the UNFCCC between developed and developing countries need not impede a constructive evolution of the climate finance agenda. Then, during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington DC in September 2015, China announced that it would be providing US$3.1 billion to help developing countries combat climate change, which is a large increase over its original pledge to deliver US$80 million over the course of three years through its South-South Climate Fund. As impressive as this announcement is, the third category of SSCF may prove to be the most significant. As developing countries come to play a larger role in the global economy, they are not only seeking to have greater influence in existing international financial institutions but establishing their own. The BRICS Bank and the AIIB are particularly significant. The AIIB already has commitments to join from 57 countries, including 20 non-Asian countries. The authorised capital of AIIB will be US$100 billion and the initial subscribed capital is expected to be around US$50 billion. See also: Does anyone know anything about the new BRICS bank? No specific information is yet available about climate finance in either the AIIB or BRICS Bank, but the establishment agreements clearly state their commitment to sustainable development projects. AIIB has released a consultation draft of its Environmental and Social Framework, but this does not provide clarity on its overall approach to factoring climate finance – or climate implications more broadly – into its decision-making. With vast balance sheets, these new institutions can lead to a fundamental revolution in SSCF by directing substantial funds and mainstreaming climate in infrastructure investments. But to do so, they will need to actively pursue projects that are consistent with broader climate objectives. Green Finance and the G20 The Chinese government has an enormous opportunity in 2016 to help ensure that the new financial institutions it is driving will work in concert with other countries and other international financial institutions to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, not hinder them. On this front, there are some promising indications that China is exploring innovative financing tools designed to drive clean investment. The People’s Bank of China and the Bank of England are co-chairing the Green Finance Study Group, an international committee supported by UNEP with the aim of unlocking new sources of green finance. The Chinese government has also issued new guidelines for green bonds, and on 25 January 2016 two Chinese banks announced plans to issue an astounding US$15 billion worth of green bonds. But not all elements of China’s financial system are moving in the same direction. A recent study in Nature: Climate Change (“Developing country finance in a post-2020 global climate agreement”) found that three-quarters of all power plants in Asia that are financed, operated, or built by Chinese companies burn coal. Such support puts China at odds with most advanced economies’ export credit agencies and with the World Bank and other major development banks. It also gives an excuse to countries like Germany or Japan, which continue to finance the construction of coal plants in developing countries, to continue exporting high-carbon infrastructure. This “anti-climate finance” hinders the efforts of China and the global community to move forward effectively together post-Paris. China’s presidency of the G20 this year provides an opportunity to bring coherence to this agenda. China and its G20 partners should work to ensure that all development banks and similar funds – old and new –begin meeting at regular intervals with the express purpose of coordinating climate finance strategies, and to seek ways to collectively and progressively eliminate the climate-destroying investments in their portfolios. Many of these conversations have already begun. Seven multilateral development banks (MDBs) have been publishing joint annual climate finance report since 2012. And just before COP21, major multilateral banks and international development financial institutions announced a set of Voluntary Principles for the Mainstreaming of Climate Action within Financial Institutions. New international financial institutions should be engaged early to ensure timely and effective coordination on climate finance. The ultimate goal of climate finance is to make all finance climate-safe and climate-resilient. Only by mainstreaming green growth across the economy will the world achieve this task. SSCF marks an important step in this process – it broadens the actors involved in financing and bridges the infrastructure needs with clean development. To advance this goal, concerted efforts from old and new international and regional development financial institutions, public and private domestic financial institutions, can lead a broader transition to climate-safe financing. And China has a critical role to play in making it a reality. The article Climate Finance in and between Developing Countries: An Emerging Opportunity to Build On is openly accessible on the Global Policy website until the end of March. China pledges US$ 3.1billion of climate finance at US Summit 2020: A new beginning for Latin America Green Climate Fund does too little, but it’s not too late AIIB, climate finance, COP21, emissions, G20, Paris, south-south, UNFCCC, Xi Jinping	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2083
__label__wiki	0.875875	0.875875	The University of Sydney - OMIA - Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals Sydney School of Veterinary Science Landmarks, Reviews, Maps Citing OMIA You are here: OMIA / Search / OMIA 001073 / chicken OMIA 001073-9031 : Wingless in Gallus gallus Mendelian trait/disorder: yes Mode of inheritance: Autosomal Recessive Lethal Considered a defect: yes Key variant known: no History: Waters and Bywaters (1943) reported a wingless mutation in the White Leghorn breed in the USA. By 1956, this mutation had been lost (Zwilling, 1956). Fortunately, as also reported by Zwilling (1956), "Recently a wingless mutation was found in one of our flocks at Storrs. This seems to be very much like the original mutation." This second mutation became known as wingless-2, and is documented in a separate OMIA entry: OMIA 001547-9031. Inheritance: Waters and Bywaters (1943) reported pedigree and other evidence that enabled them to conclude that "The wingless abnormality is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive." Clinical features: As reported by Waters and Bywaters (1943), "The wingless chicks were either completely devoid of both wings or had vestigial wing appendages on one or both sides . . . . In addition to the wingless condition, the lungs, air sacs, and kidneys were partially or completely absent . . . . The rear appendages showed numerous deviations from normal. The down plumage of all wingless embryos was abnormal. The abnormal embryos were apparently equal in size to their normal sibs. The defect may be observed as early as the fourth day of incubation. Many of the embryos are still alive at the end of the 21st dav of incubation." As summarised by Zwilling (1956): "A study of the early embryonic stages of homozygotes (Zwilling, ’49) revealed that the wing buds were relatively normal during the early part of the third day of development but that there was a loss of an ectodermal ridge from the distal edge of the limb bud during the latter part of the third day and during the fourth day. At the end of the 4th day there was no trace of the apical ectodermal ridge in the wing buds of homozygotes." Note: the references are listed in reverse chronological order (from the most recent year to the earliest year), and alphabetically by first author within a year. 1956 Zwilling, E. : Interaction between limb bud ectoderm and mesoderm in the chick embryo. IV. experiments with a wingless mutant Journal of Experimental Zoology 132:241-251, 1956. The role of epithelial components in the developmental origin of the wingless syndrome of chick embryos. J Exp Zool 111:175-87, 1949. Pubmed reference: 18148603. DOI: 10.1002/jez.1401110203. 1943 Waters, N.F., Bywaters, J.H. : Lethal embryonic wing mutation in the domestic fowl Journal of Heredity 34:213-217, 1943. Created by Frank Nicholas on 06 Sep 2005 Changed by Frank Nicholas on 24 Sep 2019 © 2021 The University of Sydney. Last updated: 16 Jan 2021 Authorised by: Dean, Sydney School of Veterinary Science.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2084
__label__wiki	0.594403	0.594403	Free live chat horny girls Adrianne palicki dating alan tudyk Nigerian black men dating club Ps2 dating game Who is greg kinnear dating Home » Who is greg kinnear dating In 2005, he starred in the black comedy The Matador with Pierce Brosnan and voiced Phineas T. Kinnear co-starred with Steve Carell in the Oscar-winning comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine in 2006, and with Mark Wahlberg in Invincible, based on the true story of a bartender who tries out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team. Kinnear often alternated roles, often playing good guys like a righteous principal in The Gift or a gay painter in As Good as It Gets, to bad guys such as a sleazy college professor in Loser, a womanizer in Someone Like You as well as Sabrina and an egotistical soap opera star in Nurse Betty. Kinnear starred in Auto Focus about the life and murder of actor Bob Crane in 2002. In 2003, he starred in the comedy Stuck On You, with Matt Damon as a conjoined twin who pursues his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor in spite of his joined brother's desire for a different kind of life. It focuses on the complicated relationships between a successful novelist, played by Kinnear, his ex-wife (Connelly), their college daughter (Collins), and teenage son (Wolff). Novelist and part-time teacher Bill Borgens has been floundering since his wife Erica left him for a younger man two years ago. In 1991, Kinnear became the first host of Talk Soup, which he hosted until 1995, when he left the show for the NBC late-night talk show Later with Greg Kinnear (1994). After his film debut, Blankman, Kinnear won the part of David Larrabee in Sydney Pollack's 1995 remake of Billy Wilder's 1954 classic Sabrina. In 2010, he starred as the estranged father of Miley Cyrus' character in The Last Song. In 2011, Kinnear starred in the miniseries The Kennedys playing the lead role as John F. It was originally planned to air on the History Channel; however, it was announced in January 2011 that the miniseries had been pulled from that network. And then he got his first diplomatic assignment, to the American Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1975, no less, which was the year that the war broke out. When we first got there it was great, and then it just gradually ... psychology gold digger dating » adult dating fife Date Ladyboys is mainly focused on Asian Ladyboys / Transgenders.... » who is kristen steward dating Regardless of ethnicity, age or sexual preference, you will find the type of adult chat rooms that turns you on the most.... » is zac efron and vanessa hudgens still dating The best part of these chat rooms are that they are 100% FREE with no sign up or registration required.... » Free private sex chat no memberships “It is incredible how many times both people wait for the other to make the first move or demonstrate interest first,” Anderson says.... dating sites for ukrainians definition of e dating executive search dating cupid dating online teen young Worcester sex chat Date ladyboy uk dating tricks tips Adult dating greece opc-opel.ru © 2009 - 2016 opc-opel.ru, Inc. All Rights Reserved. \| sitemap	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2087
__label__wiki	0.954576	0.954576	Senate passes back to work bill, putting end to rotating postal strikes Nov 27, 2018 7:30am EST Mail service will resume all across the country at noon Tuesday after the Senate passed legislation ordering an end to five weeks of rotating strikes by postal workers. Royal assent was granted late Monday shortly after senators approved Bill C-89 by a vote of 53-25. Four senators abstained. The government had deemed passage of the bill to be urgent due to the economic impact of continued mail disruptions during the busy holiday season. It rushed the bill through the House of Commons last week. But senators, after holding a special sitting Saturday to debate the bill, insisted on taking a little more time to reflect on the constitutionality of stripping postal workers of their right to strike. They held another special sitting Monday and only put the bill to a vote after more than five hours of additional debate. "I thought the extra time we took was valuable and was a demonstration of how the Senate should be reviewing government bills," said Sen. Yuen Pau Woo, leader of the independent senators' group. Sen. Peter Harder, the government's representative in the Senate, urged senators earlier Monday not to delay any further. "I'm gratified that after two days of intense debate the Senate did what, in my view, is the right thing and passed this legislation," he said after the vote. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers issue a statement declaring that it is "exploring all options to fight the back-to-work legislation." "Postal workers are rightly dismayed and outraged," said CUPW national president Mike Palecek. "This law violates our right to free collective bargaining under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms." Some senators – independents, Liberal independents and even some Conservatives – agreed with that assessment and voted against the bill. But the majority either disagreed or concluded that it's up to the courts, not senators, to rule on constitutionality. An amendment by independent Sen. Murray Sinclair, who proposed delaying implementation of the back-to-work order for at least seven days after royal assent, was rejected. Earlier Monday, Labour Minister Patty Hajdu said that the special mediator had concluded his work and the two sides were no longer negotiating. Negotiations have been underway for nearly a year, but the dispute escalated more recently when CUPW members launched rotating strikes Oct. 22. Those walkouts have led to backlogs of mail and parcel deliveries at the Crown corporation's main sorting plants in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Picket lines were up Monday in parts of British Columbia, including Vancouver, Richmond and Surrey, and in parts of Ontario, including Hamilton, Ajax, North York, Pickering and London. Workers also walked off the job in Halifax and Dartmouth, N.S. During debate, Harder told senators that failure to speedily pass Bill C-89 would have severe consequences for those who rely on stable mail delivery service, including the elderly, residents in rural and remote areas and, most especially, retailers who use Canada Post to deliver online purchases. "It is the government's strong view that if it does not act now to protect the public interest, it will have acted too late," he told the Senate, arguing that postal disruptions are "not merely inconvenient." "The strikes come at a critical period for retailers," Harder said. "Unlike other kinds of e-commerce transactions ... lost holiday sales are unlikely to be deferred to a later date. They represent real and actual lost business for these companies." Canada Post said Monday that the backlog of mail and parcels is "severe" and expected to "worsen significantly" once online orders from Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are processed. In a statement, the post office said it is experiencing delivery delays across the country and that's expected to continue throughout the holiday season and into January. The union wants better pay and job security, guaranteed hours for its 8,000 rural and suburban carriers, and equality for those workers with the corporation's 42,000 urban employees. CUPW also wants Canada Post to adopt rules that it says would cut down on workplace injuries – an issue the union has said is now at a "crisis" level. Under the new legislation, the union said postal workers will be forced to go back to work under the old collective agreement, which it asserted would result in at least 315 disabling injuries and thousands of hours of forced, unpaid overtime. The previous Conservative government forced an end to a lockout of postal workers during a 2011 dispute by enacting back-to-work legislation, which was later declared by a court to be unconstitutional. But the Liberal government argues Bill C-89 is different, in that it does not impose immediate outcomes affecting postal contracts. Whereas the 2011 bill imposed a settlement that favoured Canada Post, the current legislation would give a mediator-arbitrator appointed by the government 90 days to try and reach contract settlements. Failing that, a settlement could be imposed either through a decision from the arbitrator or by choosing from one of the final proposals put forward by Canada Post or CUPW. In drafting the bill, Harder said the government has taken into account court rulings and is confident that its limitations on the right to strike would be upheld as a reasonably justifiable infringement of charter rights in a free and democratic society. Independent Sen. Marc Gold, a former constitutional law professor, said he's inclined to agree with the government. But another independent, Sen. Andre Pratte, said the bill makes "a fair, negotiated agreement impossible by depriving workers of the lone source of their bargaining power, their right to strike." "Because the right to strike is a fundamental right ... I am convinced that more time should be allowed for negotiations to come to a fruitful conclusions," he said. While not all Conservative senators supported the bill, several of their colleagues slammed the Liberal government for failing to put an end to the strikes sooner. "This government was so concerned with appearances, not wanting to look like previous governments, wanting instead "to wag their finger and lift their chin in righteous indignation, that they sat on their hands until it was almost too late. And it still might be too late," Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos told the upper house. Fellow Conservative Sen. Don Plett said "the government sat on its hands until the 11th hour and then in a panicked rush suddenly decided something needed to be done."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2089
__label__cc	0.704177	0.295823	Paper On Global Warming Controversy Global Warming ControversyThe global warming controversy is a long-running dispute about human effects - past, present and future - on climate. The starting point is whether there has been significant global warming caused by industrial emissions of carbon dioxide. But this alone would be a scientific argument confined to the scientific press. The point that leads to major controversy - because it could have significant economic impacts - is whether action (usually, restrictions on the use of fossil fuels to reduce CO2 emmissions) should be taken now or in the near future.The science of global warming is spread over several articles:The basic science is covered in greenhouse effectRec ...view middle of the document... Optionally, supporters may go on to point out that there is a good chance that the future changes may be undesirable, and that planning to avoid or mitigate them would be a good idea.Participation in the IPCC process does not imply endorsement of it. However, only 2 of the 120 contributing authors to the IPCC TAR are known to have voiced any complaintOpponents' positionThere are many reasons for opposition to the global warming beliefs, and these major positions are independent of each other. Some items in this list may contradict others.IPCC reports do not reflect the science or reality.Using "consensus" as evidence is an appeal to the majority argument rather than scientific discussion.Earth's climate has been both colder and warmer than today, and these changes are adequately explained by mechanisms that do not involve human greenhouse gas emissions.There is no significant global warming relative to the expected natural trends.A small amount of global warming would be benign or even beneficial.There is a distinct correlation between GDP growth and greenhouse gas emissions. A cutback in emissions would lead to a decrease in the rate of GDP growthClimate science can not make definitive predictions yet, since the computer models used to make these predictions are still evolving and do not yet take into account recently discovered feedback mechanisms.Global warming studies have errors or have not been reproduced.Members of this faction give more weight to data such as paleoclimatic studies, temperature measurements made from weather balloons, and satellites which they claim show less warming than surface land and sea records."Opponents" tend to define themselves in terms of opposition to the IPCC position. They generally believe that climate science is not yet able to provide us with solid answers to all the major questions about the global climate.Scope of the controversyThe controversy occurs almost entirely within the press and political arenas. In the scientific press and amongst climate researchers, there is little "controversy" about global warming, only a desire to investigate a scientific problem and determine its consequences. As Kevin E. Trenberth writes:In 1995 the IPCC assessment concluded that "the balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on global climate". Since then the evidence has become much stronger ... Thus the headline in IPCC (2001) is "There is ... America still struggles with injustice - Santa Ana College - Essay 541 words - 3 pages , global warming has been a subject of political controversy. However, nowadays with the scientific knowledge has grown, the scientists doubt that global warming is the reality and its consequence if the climate change. The climate on the Earths has continuously changed since the Earth was formed. The Earth rotates around the sun which changes the intensity of sunlight and also the area where receive sunlight. 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In his opinion, he has no respect for someone who relies voodoo science to declare that a woman’s body can distinguish a “legitimate” rape, but then declares — when 99 percent of all climate scientists conclude that climate change poses a danger to the sanctity of all life on the planet — that global warming is just a hoax. Pro-life can only mean respect for the sanctity of life. Overall Friedman believes that 1357 words - 6 pages Rebecca Hastie 11256694 How much of a threat does the robotics revolution represent for human employment in New Zealand in the next 30 years? In order to understand the threats that robotics may pose to human employment in the future, it is important to examine the ways in which robots and computerization are already influencing different employment industries today, and how they have changed our labor practices in the past. 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Paper On Supernatural Elements In Macbeth Essay On Root Beer	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2090
__label__cc	0.594754	0.405246	« The Party’s Over- review A Very Peculiar Practice- Series One review » Beat Girl – review The 60s retrospectives continue with BEAT GIRL from 1960 (aka Wild for Kicks in the USA). This was said to be the first all-British film with a full-length soundtrack LP, by John Barry with Adam Faith and Shirley Anne Field. The star is Gillian Hills as the truculent sultry teenager in the world of coffee bars and strip clubs in Soho … a surprisingly edgy place in 1960. It’s an early Swinging Sixties London film in effect with a cameo from Oliver Reed. Adam Faith was a major pop star at the time.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2095
__label__wiki	0.877347	0.877347	MEDIA RELEASE: Green light for £42m Paisley Museum project as planning permission granted Plans to turn Paisley Museum into a world-class destination expected to bring huge volumes of new life and footfall to the town centre have taken a step forward – after planning permission was granted. The Category A-listed Victorian building is being transformed into a leading European museum telling the unique stories of a town known around the world for the Pattern which carries its name. Members of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Board today gave the green light to planning permission for an extension and external alterations plus listed building consent – meaning work can start next year. The reimagined museum is expected to draw audiences of 125,000 people a year – almost four times current numbers – from Scotland, the UK and abroad when it reopens in 2022. The designs produced by AL_A – led by Stirling Prize winner Amanda Levete – include: – a fully-accessible entrance courtyard and dramatic red glazed entrance hall, creating a dynamic and inviting presence on the High Street and a contemporary face for the museum; – a new wing to the west of the existing building providing step-free access through the museum to the Coats Observatory (the oldest public observatory in Scotland); – an attractive outdoor garden, creating a new public space for the town, and opening up previously-hidden views of the observatory while reconnecting it and the museum to the town’s High Street; – internal renovations to improve accessibility and circulation and extend the museum into the space formerly occupied by Paisley Central Library, allowing the museum to more than double the number of objects on display to 1,200; – an interactive weaving studio keeping alive the town’s traditional textile skills; In their response to the consultation, Historic Environment Scotland welcomed the proposal, which they described as ‘very positive, well justified’, and said the plans ‘sensitively respond to the building and the requirement to provide step-free access’. The Paisley Museum Reimagined scheme is the flagship project within Renfrewshire Council’s £100m investment in cultural venues and outdoor spaces – designed to use the town’s internationally-significant cultural and heritage story to change its future. Cllr Marie McGurk, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Communities, Housing and Planning Board, said: “The Paisley Museum Reimagined project is at the heart of our bold plans to transform Paisley town centre in the years ahead – we are delighted it was able to pass this important milestone today. “The designs which have been produced blend the old and the new – they will create a 21st-century visitor experience while preserving a key part of our fantastic architectural legacy, and ensure this much-loved building can stay at the heart of life in the area for generations to come. “Paisley’s name is already known around the world – and when the museum reopens in 2022 it will allow us to invite the world to come back to Paisley, providing new opportunities, life and footfall for the town centre and wider Renfrewshire area.” The project is expected to create a £79m boost for the local economy over 30 years, with 138 jobs supported during construction, and 48.5 jobs per year through revenue and visitor spending. It already includes Round One funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, with funding confirmed from the Scottish Government, and their Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. Paisley Museum Reimagined Ltd has been set up as a new fundraising company to oversee the project’s fundraising strategy and capital appeal. The project is being co-designed in partnership with the community – the project team have already worked with hundreds of local people and groups to capture and help tell their stories. Paisley Museum was opened in 1871, designed by renowned Glasgow architect Sir John Honeyman. The building was gifted to the town by Sir Peter Coats of the Coats family, whose Paisley-based thread-making empire stretched around the world. Renfrewshire’s collections are among the best in Scotland and include the world’s largest collection of Paisley shawls and pattern books, artwork from the world-renowned Glasgow Boys, one of Scotland’s best collections of studio ceramics, and a unique offering of mediaeval manuscripts dating back to before the Reformation. Paisley’s collections remain available to the public while the work is happening – at Paisley: The Secret Collection, the only publicly-accessible museum store on a UK high street. The museum transformation is the flagship project within Renfrewshire Council’s £100m investment in venues and outdoor spaces aimed at using Paisley’s unique and internationally-significant cultural and heritage story to transform the area’s future. Other current investments in Paisley include turning the town’s Victorian Town Hall into a landmark entertainment venue to preserve its place at the heart of life in the town, a new learning and cultural hub offering library services in a formerly-vacant retail unit on the town’s High St, and an extension and upgrade to the town’s Arts Centre, for which designs have just been released. Paisley Museum Reimagined A world-class visitor destination showcasing internationally-significant collections and telling the inspirational stories of Paisley Pattern, heritage and people.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2098
__label__cc	0.664193	0.335807	A PIONEERING AMBITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT In the face of the greatest challenge humanity has ever known, the world’s largest event assumes its responsibilities. The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will blaze a new trail as they will be both spectacular and sustainable. By encouraging energy conservation, innovation and creativity, Paris 2024 has developed new ways of working and brought about a new era in the organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In organising the first ever carbon neutral Games, Paris 2024 is striving first and foremost to set an example and follow the objectives identified in the Paris Agreement. As the Games give us an opportunity to think bigger and see further, we want to contribute to stepping up the pace of the environmental transition in sport, the regions and major events. Placing sustainability at the heart of the Paris 2024 project The world of sport is assuming its responsibilities for the environmental and social challenges we are facing. It identifies the impact it has in order to minimise it as well as encourage and support people and organisations to change the way the conduct themselves. For many years, each edition of the Games has sought to shoulder its responsibility in terms of the economy, society and the environment. This commitment was formalised in the IOC’s Olympic Agenda 2020. Building on this momentum, Paris 2024 made setting an example in terms of environmental stewardship a major part of its bid and now its strategy. It is through this focus, inspiring us to strive for excellence, that we assess each stage of the project as it develops.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2100
__label__cc	0.510008	0.489992	You are here: Platypus /What Is Socialism?: International social democracy (New York) What Is Socialism?: International social democracy (New York) http://ia802908.us.archive.org/31/items/WhatIsSocialism_201809/WHAT%20IS%20SOCIALISM.mp3 Held on September 8, 2018 at New York University. Moderated by Wentai Xiao. - A.M. Gittlitz, contributor to the New Inquiry and co-host of the Antifada Podcast - John Garvey, Editor of Insurgent Notes - Richard Wolin, Professor of History at the CUNY Graduate Center The term ‘socialism’ appears to be enjoying a resurgence of public interest - both favorably where it is self-prescribed and pejoratively where it is meant to degrade the respectability of public figures. From early 2016 at the height of Bernie Sanders's campaign for the Democratic Party nomination to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s victory over Joe Crowley in June, the term ‘socialism’ appears to be gaining some level of purchase and a whole lot of press. In many instances, ‘socialism’ is commingled with terms as varied as ‘social democratic’, ‘communist’, ‘marxist’, ‘anarchist’, etc. As such, we view this is as an opportune moment to ask, “what is socialism after all?” What do public figures mean when they identify as socialists or any one of its varied strains? What do their opponents think it means? What does it mean and what can it mean? And perhaps, most important of all, what did it mean in the past?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2104
__label__wiki	0.823242	0.823242	Becky Cloonan Confessions of a Comics Shop Junkie No. 79 David Allen Jones February 28, 2012 Hey, remember when I used to do these things once a week? Neither do I. Anyway, here we go again with Confessions of a Comics Shop Junkie, in which I… Books, Comics Reviews Confessions of a Comics Shop Junkie, No. 4: “Footnotes in Gaza,” “Daytripper,” and More In his latest column, Johnny Bacardi takes a look at the latest from Joe Sacco, as well as DC/Vertigo’s Daytripper…and more! Confessions of a Comics Shop Junkie, No. 3: “Invincible Iron Man,” “Valentine,” and More David Allen Jones February 9, 2010 In which I continue to take a look at select bound-and-published sequential narratives of recent vintage, some of which may still be on sale in a comics shop, book store…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2115
__label__wiki	0.58361	0.58361	Patrick Morell - Cinematography ANCIENT CITIES (Palmyra/ Syria, Petra/ Jordan, Sarnath/ India, Varanasi/ India, Ellora Caves/ India) Palmyra (Syria) Standard Definition 720p. Reel duration: 11’51” The ancient Semitic city of Palmyra was situated along the Silk Road. A vibrant trade brought wealth and supported the building of monumental projects. The stone columns that have remained till our time offer hints of its former glory. However, as recently as 2015, many architectural treasures were decimated by radical Jihadists. Terrorists groups destroyed the Temple of Baalshamin, the Temple of Bel, the Lion of Al-lāt, and other statues. (featured in this reel before the destruction). Sound track by the “Taj Mahal Traveller” music. Music rights clearances apply here. Petra (Jordan) Reel duration: 7’21” Petra, also called “the Pink City” (because of the colors of its buildings, carved directly into the limestone rocks) was first established around the 6th century B.C by a nomadic tribe called the Nabateans Arabs. After the Romans took over, Petra was left to the local Bedouins. It was rediscovered by the 19th century Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Bockkard. The Nabateans were expert hydraulic engineers. This is an excerpt from “Petra, the Pink City” shot in 2004. To note the interiors of one of the temples, at the end of the reel, with its alphabet, hieroglyphs and frescos, which remind me of some modern abstract works of art. Music score by Kitaro (“Spirit of Water”). Music Rights clearances apply here. Sarnath, India. Sarnath is a town located 13 kilometers northeast of Varanasi near the confluence of the Ganges and the Gomati rivers in Uttar Pradesh, India. The deer park in Sarnath is where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma and where the Buddhist Sangha came into existence through the enlightenment of Kondanna. Also featured in this reel, Singhpur, a village approximately one km away from the site, and was the birthplace of Shreyansanath, the Eleventh Tirthankara of Jainism. It is an important pilgrimage site. Varanasi, India. Varanasi is “Older than Legend” said Mark Twain. Indeed, it is one of the most magical cities in the world that I have travelled to. The reel starts at sunrise, at the Ghats of death (where they burn the corpses for those who can afford it (wood) and slowly as the sun emerges, we are thrown into an atmosphere reminiscent of paintings of the Middle Ages rich of colors and golden vibrancies. A unique vision of the Hindu world which stays forever in the mind. This is an excerpt from “Varanasi, City of Lights” which was shot in 2001 during my first travels in India. Ellora caves, India. The only HD reel in this category. Ellora is one of the largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the state of Maharashtra in India. The site presents monuments and artwork of Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism from the 600-1000 CE periods. The site features over 100 caves, of which 34 caves are open to public. This selected footage is mostly an exploration of the Kalaisha Temple, the largest monolithic rock excavation in the world: a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Shiva. The temple was planned and begun under the reign of King Dandidurga (735-757 A.D). The work went on during the reign of Krishna (757-773 A.D). This temple isolated from the surrounding rock was excavated from top to bottom and scooped out from outside to inside. It is said that ten generations worked on it and that it took more than 200 years for its completion. Also featured in this reel is the Temple ( 2 shots at end) dedicated to the Lord Buddha. Related Reels India. 2016 Cuba. 2015 Kolkata (Calcutta, India) Mumbai (Bombay, India) Travel by Train (India) Travel by Train (Tibet) info@patrickmorell.com Golden Rabbit Films Copyright 2019 Patrick Morell \| Designed by Star Stream Technology	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2117
__label__cc	0.728666	0.271334	To successfully adapt operations to a post-COVID world, many FIs are focusing on two main areas: Workforce and technology. “The pandemic itself didn’t present any real ‘aha’ moments, but it elevated considerations that were on the back burner and brought them to the forefront of leaders’ thinking,” said Gladys Rodriguez, PRI Consultant/Project Manager. In the past, FIs sometimes had a limited remote workforce, but security was always a concern that restrained banks from making more use of work-from-home arrangements. However, the pandemic demonstrated that FI employees can work from home successfully with the use of firewalls and critical security procedures. FIs learned that they can send their employees home to work as a contingency plan, avoiding the need to move the entire workforce to a new location. They also learned that employees can be just as or even more productive working remotely, and it opened the door to discussions about needing less real estate dedicated to expensive office space. In a post-COVID world, these workforce considerations are likely to continue. While many customers were natural users of technology before the pandemic, the crisis accelerated the use of digital solutions. While this was a transformation for customer-facing products, a more manual, less seamless process often happens in the back office to support the digital customer. Changes are coming to these processes in the post-pandemic world. “FIs will be focused on presenting a customer-centric process in the future, including in the back office,” Rodriguez said. “Customers, even digital ones, don’t like to be passed around multiple times for an answer to a question or resolution to an issue. It’s important to use the first point of contact to service and complete the process whenever possible.” If a process cannot be completed at the first point of contact, banks and credit unions should target streamlining and making solutions more intuitive, reducing the amount of time and resources needed to review processes. By focusing on workforce and technology considerations, leaders can take the lessons learned during the pandemic and apply them to achieve future successes in a post-COVID world. Update Your Digital Strategy Now to Enhance Customer, Employee Experience	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2123
__label__wiki	0.942526	0.942526	Steve Russell & Rosa DeLauro Compare the voting records of Steve Russell and Rosa DeLauro in 2017-18. Steve Russell Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) Represented Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District. This was his 2nd term in the House. Rosa DeLauro Represented Connecticut's 3rd Congressional District. This was her 14th term in the House. Steve Russell and Rosa DeLauro are from different parties and disagreed on 67 percent of votes in the 115th Congress (2017-18). But they didn't always disagree. Out of 1058 votes in the 115th Congress, they agreed on 349 votes, including 10 major votes. June 27, 2018 — Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 June 21, 2018 — Securing America’s Future Act of 2018 On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amdt to the House Amdt to the Senate Amdt Feb. 9, 2018 — The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 July 14, 2017 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 June 13, 2017 — Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act Dec. 21, 2018 — Federal Personal Property Management Act Sept. 26, 2018 — Empowering Financial Institutions to Fight Human Trafficking Act Sept. 26, 2018 — Recognizing that allowing illegal immigrants the right to vote devalues the franchise and diminishes the voting power of the United States citizens July 26, 2018 — National Defense Authorization Act FY 2019 July 12, 2018 — Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 July 12, 2018 — Reclamation Title Transfer and Non-Federal Infrastructure Incentivization Act June 28, 2018 — Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes June 20, 2018 — Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act June 20, 2018 — Individuals in Medicaid Deserve Care that is Appropriate and Responsible in its Execution Act June 8, 2018 — Takano of California Part B Amendment No. 16 On Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment June 6, 2018 — Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act of 2018 June 6, 2018 — Water Resources Development Act of 2018 May 24, 2018 — National Defense Authorization Act FY 2019 May 23, 2018 — Gabbard of Hawaii Amendment No. 3 May 23, 2018 — Nolan of Minnesota Amendment No. 2 April 27, 2018 — Duncan of Tennessee Part A Amendment No. 114 April 26, 2018 — Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act April 26, 2018 — Denham of California Part A Amendment No. 79 March 22, 2018 — Strengthening Local Transportation Security Capabilities Act of 2018 March 22, 2018 — Strengthening Aviation Security Act of 2018 March 20, 2018 — Alleviating Stress Test Burdens to Help Investors Act On Motion to Table Jan. 19, 2018 — Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, of high misdemeanors Passed by a margin of 7 votes. Nov. 14, 2017 — National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 Nov. 7, 2017 — Risk-Based Credit Examination Act Oct. 10, 2017 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 25 New Chardon Street Lobby in Boston, Massachusetts, as the “John Fitzgerald Kennedy Post Office” Oct. 10, 2017 — To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4514 Williamson Trail in Liberty, Pennsylvania, as the “Staff Sergeant Ryan Scott Ostrom Post Office” Oct. 4, 2017 — Grijalva of Arizona Substitute Amendment No. 1 July 27, 2017 — Cartwright of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 43 July 27, 2017 — Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania Part B Amendment No. 12 July 26, 2017 — Norcross of New Jersey Amendment No. 39 July 26, 2017 — Castor of Florida Amendment No. 38 July 26, 2017 — Takano of California Amendment No. 7 July 20, 2017 — DHS Authorization Act July 17, 2017 — Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to a enter into a compact relating to the establishment of the Washington Metrorail Satefy Commission July 17, 2017 — Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland, and the District of Columbia to amend the Washington Area Transit Regulation Compact July 17, 2017 — Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center July 14, 2017 — Franks of Arizona Amendment No. 13 July 13, 2017 — Polis of Colorado Part B Amendment No. 4 June 28, 2017 — Protecting Access to Care Act June 28, 2017 — Barr of Kentucky Amendment No. 5 June 28, 2017 — Hudson of North Carolina Amendment No. 4 June 23, 2017 — Accelerating Individuals into the Workforce Act May 22, 2017 — Strengthening Children’s Safety Act of 2017 April 4, 2017 — Encouraging Employee Ownership Act March 21, 2017 — Transparency in Technological Acquisitions Act of 2017 March 20, 2017 — DHS Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017 March 20, 2017 — DHS Multiyear Acquisition Strategy Act of 2017 March 20, 2017 — Reducing DHS Acquisition Cost Growth Act March 10, 2017 — Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act March 10, 2017 — Conyers of Michigan Part A Amendment No. 3 March 10, 2017 — Jackson Lee of Texas Part A Amendment No. 2 March 10, 2017 — Soto of Florida Part A Amendment No. 1 March 9, 2017 — Innocent Party Protection Act March 9, 2017 — Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act March 9, 2017 — Espaillat of New York Part B Amendment No. 8 March 9, 2017 — Jackson Lee of Texas Part B Amendment No. 7 March 9, 2017 — Conyers of Michigan Part B Amendment No. 6 March 9, 2017 — Johnson of Georgia Part B Amendment No. 5 March 9, 2017 — Soto of Florida Part B Amendment No. 4 March 9, 2017 — Deutch of Florida Part B Amendment No. 3 March 8, 2017 — Making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2124
__label__cc	0.592339	0.407661	Safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms Neurosurgery. 1997 Dec;41(6):1235-45; discussion 1245-6. doi: 10.1097/00006123-199712000-00002. J Raymond 1 , D Roy 1 Centre Hospitalier, l'Université de Montréal, Quebec, Canada. Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms with Guglielmi detachable coils. Methods: From August 1992 until December 1995, 75 patients were referred for endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms. There were 49 women and 26 men, with a mean age of 55 years. Patients were classified according to the Hunt and Hess grading system. There were 18 Grade I patients (24%), 13 Grade II patients (17%), 30 Grade III patients (40%), 11 Grade IV patients (15%), and 3 Grade V patients (4%). Fifty patients (66%) were treated within 48 hours, and 64 (85%) were treated within 1 week of hemorrhage. The most frequently treated aneurysms were located at the basilar bifurcation (32%), anterior communicating artery (16%), posterior communicating artery (15%), and ophthalmic segment of the carotid artery (11%). Most of the aneurysms were smaller than 15 mm (77%). Fifty-six percent of the aneurysms had small (4 mm) necks, and 44% had wide (> 4 mm) necks. Clinical follow-up was performed at 6 months, and results were classified according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). Control angiograms were performed immediately, at 6 months, and yearly thereafter. Results: Immediate angiographic results were considered to be satisfactory in 58 patients (77%) (complete obliteration, 40%; residual neck and dog ear, 37%). Technical failures occurred in 5 patients (7%), and 12 patients experienced some residual opacification of their aneurysms (16%). The procedure-related mortality and morbidity rate was 8%. At 6 months, the outcomes were as follows: GOS score of 1, 50 patients (66.7%); GOS score of 2, 4 patients (5.3%); GOS score of 3, 4 patients (5.3%); and GOS score of 5, 17 patients (22.7%). The main causes of death and disability at 6 months were the direct effect of the initial hemorrhage (9%), delayed ischemia (6.7%), subsequent bleeding (4%), intraprocedural rupture (4%), open surgical complications (3%), and unrelated deaths (4%). Six-month angiographic follow-up data were available for 50 patients (67%). The morphological results were considered to be satisfactory in 44 of these 50 patients (88%) (complete occlusion, 46%; residual neck or dog ear, 42%). Conclusion: Endovascular treatment of acutely ruptured aneurysms was attempted without clinically significant complication in 92% of the patients. The morphological results were unsatisfactory in 23% of the patients. Complete obliteration of the sac, with or without residual neck, is essential to prevent subsequent bleeding, which occurred in 5% of the patients. The overall outcome at 6 months was similar to that of surgical series, despite a selected group of patients with negative prognostic factors. Acute Disease Aneurysm, Ruptured / diagnostic imaging Aneurysm, Ruptured / physiopathology Aneurysm, Ruptured / therapy* Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology Embolization, Therapeutic* Intracranial Aneurysm / diagnostic imaging Intracranial Aneurysm / physiopathology Intracranial Aneurysm / therapy*	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2125
__label__wiki	0.601576	0.601576	1233 open access dissertations and theses found for: dep(Cell Biology) » Refine Search 1 - 30 of 1233 displayed. Next > Off-Target Based Drug Repurposing Using Systems Pharmacology by Kuenzi, Brent M., Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2018: 182 pages; 10826474. Regulation of Natural Killer Cells: SHIP-1, 2B4, and Immunomodulation by Lenalidomide by Fortenbery, Nicole Renee, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2012: 160 pages; 3505835. The biogeochemistry of submerged coastal karst features in West Central Florida by Garman, Keith Michael, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2010: 205 pages; 3432866. Sigma factor N (sigma('N)): A Novel Regulator of Extreme Acid Resistance in Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7 by Fay, Pamela A., M.S. University of South Florida. 2012: 81 pages; 1515626. Investigation into the Mechanism of Salicylate-Associated Genotypic Antibiotic Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by Helal, Nada S., M.S. University of South Florida. 2012: 83 pages; 1515568. The Biocomplexity of Benthic Communities Associated with a Shallow-water Hydrothermal System in Papua New Guinea by Karlen, David J., Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2010: 220 pages; 3432660. In Situ Studies of Limestone Dissolution in a Coastal Submarine Spring by Schweers, Rachel Marie, M.S. University of South Florida. 2015: 49 pages; 1605125. Sigma Factor N: A Novel Regulator of Acid Resistance and Locus of Enterocyte Effacement in Escherichia coli O157:H7 by Mitra, Avishek, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2014: 192 pages; 3617860. A Novel Cytokine Response Modulatory Function of MEK Inhibitors Mediates Therapeutic Efficacy by Xie, Mengyu, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2019: 116 pages; 27548291. Mechanistic and Translational Studies on Skeletal Malignancies by McGuire, Jeremy, Ph.D. University of South Florida. 2020: 168 pages; 28023857. Exploring the Role of Intracellular Aminopeptidases in Staphylococcus aureus Pathogenesis by Marking, Devon N., M.S. University of South Florida. 2015: 161 pages; 1586089. A Role for Interferon Stimulated Gene 12a (ISG12a) in Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Antiviral Responses by Sudini, Kuladeep Reddy, Ph.D. The University of Toledo. 2012: 164 pages; 10631318. In vivo function of Otopetrin 1 in the vestibular sensory epithelium by Kim, Euysoo, Ph.D. Washington University in St. Louis. 2009: 163 pages; 3369212. The growth phase and DNA damage regulation of IraD, a stabilizer of RpoS in Escherichia coli by Ferrazzoli, Alexander E., Ph.D. Brandeis University. 2014: 170 pages; 3622229. RNA Splicing Regulation in Drosophila melanogaster by Brooks, Angela Norie, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley. 2011: 118 pages; 3473874. Functional analysis of ESAT-6 and EspB, two virulence proteins secreted by the ESX-1 system in Mycobacterium marinum by Smith, Jennifer Ann, Ph.D. University of Maryland, College Park. 2010: 151 pages; 3443596. Regulators of Meiotic Recombination and Checkpoint Control in C. elegans by Ye, Alice, Ph.D. University of California, Santa Cruz. 2014: 109 pages; 3630780. AKAP200 Promotes Notch Stability by Protecting it from Cbl/Lysosome-mediated Degradation in Drosophila by Bala, Neeta, Ph.D. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. 2017: 153 pages; 10637108. Genomic Alterations in Bladder Cancer Modulate Response to Therapy by Ramirez, Ricardo, Ph.D. Weill Medical College of Cornell University. 2017: 134 pages; 10252704. The Role of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Gcn4 Target Gene Transcription by Howard, Gregory C., Ph.D. Vanderbilt University. 2016: 118 pages; 13835074. Linked Programs of Epithelial Morphogenesis and Cell Fate in the Pancreatic Endocrine Progenitor Niche by Bankaitis, Eric Daniel, Ph.D. Vanderbilt University. 2016: 207 pages; 13834936. Focal adhesion kinase signaling regulates highly productive transduction of adeno-associated virus through integrin-mediated endocytosis by Kaminsky, Paul Michael, Ph.D. The University of Iowa. 2013: 198 pages; 3566662. Tissue interactions & molecular pathways in specification of the ectomesenchyme from cranial neural crest by Das, Ankita, Ph.D. University of Southern California. 2012: 131 pages; 3513745. Transcriptional Regulation of the Developing Neural Crest in Xenopus by Medina Ruiz, Sofia, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley. 2015: 135 pages; 10186646. Ubiquilin mediated small molecule inhibition of mTORC1 signaling by Coffey, Rory T., Ph.D. Brandeis University. 2015: 134 pages; 3723489. Molecular Characterization of AR Antagonist Resistance During Treatment of Prostate Cancer by Hertzog, Jennifer R., Ph.D. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. 2021: 114 pages; 28156175. A Comparative Taxonomic and Diversity Study of Litter-Associated Fungi in Northwest Arkansas Forests by Al Aanbagi, Rajaa Abdulrazzaq Abbas, Ph.D. University of Arkansas. 2020: 232 pages; 27955482. Tuning of the Anionic Membrane Lipids PI(4,5)P2 and Phosphatidylserine Establishes Polarized Morphologies and Regulates Cell Migration by Beshay, Mariam, Ph.D. University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. 2019: 100 pages; 22617179. Antibody-Based Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Zaire ebolavirus and Burkholderia pseudomallei by DeMers, Haley L., Ph.D. University of Nevada, Reno. 2018: 135 pages; 10817463. 3' UTR sequences and syntax: Investigating cis-element density and interactions, and the role of 3' UTR length in gene regulation by Kristjansdottir, Katla, Ph.D. Cornell University. 2017: 141 pages; 10168352. 1 - 30 of 1233 displayed.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2128
__label__wiki	0.785605	0.785605	Trayvon Martin’s Mom on Verdict: “I Couldn’t Believe It” Trayvon Martin’s parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, spoke to CBS This Morning today in their first interview since George Zimmerman was found not guilty of murdering their 17-year-old son. Fulton said she was “stunned” that Zimmerman was acquitted. “I was in a bit of shock,” she said. “I thought surely he would be found guilty of second-degree murder—manslaughter at the least. But I just knew that they would see that this was a teenager trying to get home. This was no burglar.” Fulton stressed that her son was just a child when he was killed. “Instead of placing the blame on the teenager we need to place the blame on the responsible adult,” she said. As for whether or not civil action might be taken against Zimmerman, Martin and Fulton’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, said they are exploring all options and are also hoping for federal charges. “We’re asking the Justice Department, can a private citizen with a gun profile and follow our children home?” he said. Michael Dunn Was Just Sentenced to Life Without Parole For Murdering Jordan Davis Images of Protest: Rallying for Trayvon Martin Across the US Zimmerman Has Been Found Not Guilty. Now What? Trayvon Martin’s Death Extends Sanford’s Sordid Legacy	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2131
__label__wiki	0.936683	0.936683	Sergio Sergio Castillo Sam Ficken Tony Robbins Matt Bryant Les Brown Sports Coronavirus Infectious diseases Diseases and conditions Health Lung disease Athlete contracts Sports transactions Sports business Athlete injuries Athlete health CFL football Professional football Football 2019-2020 Coronavirus pandemic Athlete compensation NFL football New York Jets Atlanta Falcons Miami Dolphins Road to NFL for Jets' Castillo began with one repeated dream By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. - Nov. 26, 2020 02:32 PM EST FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2020, file photo, New York Jets kicker Sergio Castillo (6) celebrates kicking a 55-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo. Castillo had the same dream a few times every year since he was in the sixth grade. The Jets kicker would be on the field at a stadium when he’d look into the stands and see his mother and future girlfriend in the stands cheering him on. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) NEW YORK (AP) — Sergio Castillo had the same dream a few times every year since sixth grade. The New York Jets kicker is on the field at a stadium when he looks into the stands and sees his mother and future girlfriend in the stands cheering him on. Castillo never told anyone about his repeated visions until he wrote two letters while flying to Kansas City for his second NFL game to play the Chiefs on Nov. 1. One was to his mother, Maria Guadalupe Cáceres, and the other to his fiancée, Adriana Cavazos-Loya, who’s expecting the couple’s first child in January. “The thing is, my lady was also pregnant in that dream,” Castillo said in a telephone interview. “I was like, what are the chances of that? When I wrote to them, my second dream was coming true. The first one is the NFL and the second one is that dream and they were going to watch me play in Kansas City. They were like, how come you never told us that? I told them I wanted to save it for a special moment when it actually happened.” And, there he was — on his 30th birthday, to boot — kicking three field goals as his dream played out in front of his mother and fiancée. “It’s just crazy,” Castillo said, “how God works in His mysterious ways.” Castillo made his NFL debut the week before against Buffalo, filling in for the injured Sam Ficken. As he walked off the field after his first kick, a 29-yard field goal, he could barely control his emotions. “I teared up a bit because I started reminiscing about the six years it took me to get here, you know?” Castillo said. Castillo's long, winding NFL journey began in tiny La Joya, Texas, where he was raised by “my four strong women” — his mother, grandmother and two aunts. The first-generation Mexican American went from the soccer and football fields in the Rio Grande Valley to Division II West Texas A&M, the only school to offer him a scholarship. But, he nearly walked away. “I had never been around white people,” he said. “I had never been around Black people. It was just a culture shock. I guess it was the first time I faced a little bit of discrimination, racism. And I told my mom, I’m dropping out, I’m quitting.” Castillo got a stern talking-to from one of his childhood coaches — and then from his mother. “She was like, ’If you come home, you will not have a home,’” he recalled. “She said, ‘You said you were going to play ball. Now be a man and finish what you said what you were going to do.’” Castillo, one of few Mexican Americans to play in the NFL, has been working on that ever since. “When I signed that letter of intent to play football in college, I was not just signing for me,” he said. “Yes, I’m living my dream, but I wanted to pave the way for the future generations, the future Mexican Americans that want to pursue this dream. I couldn’t just quit then and there, you know? “It reminded me of why I was doing it.” He went undrafted in 2014 out of West Texas A&M, but got a look from the Atlanta Falcons — who already had Matt Bryant. Unable to beat out the veteran, Castillo was cut during training camp. So, he headed to San Antonio at the urging of a former coach and worked at Southside High School as a teacher’s aide and assistant coach. He took the same bus to work every day: the No. 522 route that picked him up at 4:22 a.m. at the corner of Babcock and Wurzbach for the 1-hour, 24-minute commute. It was during those rides that his driver — Mr. Fulton — encouraged him to set up a “vision board” to focus his goals. Castillo’s vision board includes a picture of a cross in the middle. In the four corners are: a picture of two wedding rings and a cartoon with several people at a table that he titled “Castillo Family Reunion” to represent the family he hopes to have; a picture of himself and Bryant; the words “Principal Castillo” for his post-football aspirations; and inspirational quotes from the likes of Eric Thomas, Gary Vaynerchuk, Les Brown and Tony Robbins. “Every day when I woke up and the last thing I saw before I went to bed was that vision board," Castillo said. "It reminded me of where I was going to go so I kept feeding my mind.” He used it for motivation throughout his various stops in the CFL, XFL and Alliance of American Football. He needed it all eight times he was cut. Castillo used it again while recovering from a torn ACL in 2017 that nearly derailed his career. When the CFL canceled its season in August because of the coronavirus pandemic, Castillo was faced with a tough decision: stick with his contract with the BC Lions with some salary and health benefits, or opt out and try to pursue the NFL again. Castillo was certain his fiancée would tell him to stay put, especially with a baby on the way. Instead, Cavazos-Loya surprised him. “She said: ‘You’re going to chase this dream,’” Castillo recalled. ”‘When I met you 4 1/2 years ago, you said you were going to make it to the NFL. This is your chance.’ “That gave me the whole confidence in the world to pursue this.” Castillo worked out for the Jets earlier this season and his ability to kick field goals and punt impressed special teams coordinator Brant Boyer. Signed to the practice squad in October, Castillo was promoted to the active roster 10 days later when Ficken injured his groin. He went 6 for 7 on field goals — with the only miss a block — and 4 for 4 on extra points in three games. Ficken returned last Sunday, but missed two extra points and was placed on injured reserve. So, Castillo's NFL dream continues Sunday against Miami. “It’s still a little surreal that I’m here,” Castillo said. “People have asked me how I’m feeling. I’m just very grateful for the opportunity. The path that it took me to get here, six years, I wouldn’t want to change anything about it.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2132
__label__wiki	0.587428	0.587428	20th May – Prelims Booster Border Infrastructure Government has accepted and implemented three important recommendations of Committee of Experts (CoE) under the Chairmanship of Lt General D B Shekatkar (Retd) relating to border infrastructure. These were related to speeding up road construction, leading to socio-economic development in the border areas. Which recommendations are accepted? On the matter related to creating border infrastructure, the Government has implemented recommendation of CoE to outsource road construction work beyond optimal capacity of Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It has been made mandatory to adopt Engineering Procurement Contract (EPC) mode for execution of all works costing more than Rs 100 crore. The other recommendation relating to introduction of modern construction plants, equipment and machinery has been implemented by delegating enhanced procurement powers from Rs 7.5 crore to Rs 100 crore to BRO, for domestic and foreign procurements. Border Roads has recently inducted Hot-Mix Plant 20/30 TPH for speedier laying of roads, remote operated hydraulic Rock Drills DC-400 R for hard rock cutting, a range of F-90 series of self-propelled snow-cutters/blowers for speedier snow clearance. New Technology like blasting technology for precision blasting, use of Geo-Textiles for soil stabilisation, cementitious base for pavements, plastic coated aggregates for surfacing, is also being used to enhance the pace of construction. With the empowerment of field officers through enhanced delegation of financial and administrative powers, there has been significant improvement in faster financial closure of works. The land acquisition and all statutory clearances like forest and environmental clearance are also made part of approval of Detailed Project Report (DPR). Further, with the adoption of EPC mode of execution, it is mandatory to award work only when 90 per cent of the statutory clearances have been obtained, implementing the recommendation of CoE regarding obtaining prior clearances before the commencement of the project. What is EPC model of project execution? Under this model the entire project is funded by the government. The EPC entails the contractor build the project by designing, installing and procuring necessary labour and land to construct the infrastructure, either directly or by subcontracting. Under EPC model the contractor is legally responsible to complete the project under some fixed predetermined timeline and may also involve scope for penalty in case of time overrun. In EPC as all the clearances, land acquisition and regulatory norms have to be completed by the government itself and the private players do not have to get itself involved in these time taking procedures. About Shekatkar Committee – The military reforms committee – under Lt General (retd.) DB Shekatkar – was set up by then Raksha Mantri Manohar Parrikar in 2015. The committee was established with a mandate for Enhancing Combat Capability and Rebalancing Defence Expenditure. Shekatkar Committee had made recommendations on enhancing the combat potential of India’s three armed forces, rationalising the defence budget etc. A major recommendation of the committee is that the defence budget should be 2.5% to 3% of the GDP. Other recommendations – Closure of Military Farms and Army Postal Establishments in peace locations. Enhancement in standards for recruitment of clerical staff and drivers in the Army. Improving the efficiency of the National Cadet Corps. Recommended a roll-on defence budget to have enough capital expenditure available for modernisation as against the present practice of surrendering unspent capital budget at the end of each financial year. World Health Assembly Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare participated in the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA) through Video Conference recently. About World Health Assembly – The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world’s highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states. The members of the World Health Assembly generally meet every year in May in Geneva, the location of WHO Headquarters. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organisation, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. Initiatives for education sector Union Finance Minister has recently announced an immediate set of initiatives to compensate the loss of education during the COVID-19 crisis for students. A comprehensive initiative called PM e-VIDYA will be launched which unifies all efforts related to digital/online/on-air education. This will enable multi-mode access to education, and includes: DIKSHA (one nation-one digital platform) which will now become the nation’s digital infrastructure for providing quality e-content in school education for all the states/UTs; TV (one class-one channel) where one dedicated channel per grade for each of the classes 1 to 12 will provide access to quality educational material: SWAYAM online courses in MOOCS format for school and higher education; IITPAL for IITJEE/NEET preparation; Air through Community radio and CBSE Shiksha Vani podcast; and study material for the differently abled developed on Digitally Accessible Information System (DAISY) and in sign language on NIOS website/ YouTube. In this time of global pandemic, it is vital that we provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional wellbeing. The Manodarpan initiative is being launched to provide such support through a website, a toll-free helpline, national directory of counsellors, interactive chat platform, etc. This initiative will benefit all school going children in the country, along with their parents, teachers and the community of stakeholders in school education. Government is expanding e-learning in higher education – by liberalising open, distance and online education regulatory framework. Top 100 universities will start online courses. Also, online component in conventional Universities and ODL programmes will also be raised from present 20% to 40%. This will provide enhanced learning opportunities to nearly 7 crore students across different colleges and Universities. There is a need to promote critical thinking, creative and communication skills, along with experiential and joyful learning for the students focussing on learning outcomes. The curriculum must be rooted in the Indian ethos and integrated with global skill requirements. Therefore, it has been decided to prepare a new National Curriculum and Pedagogical Framework for school education, teacher education and early childhood stage to prepare students and future teachers as per global benchmarks. A National Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Mission will be launched, for ensuring that every child in the country necessarily attains foundational literacy and numeracy in Grade 3 by 202 For this, teacher capacity building, a robust curricular framework, engaging learning material – both online and offline, learning outcomes and their measurement indices, assessment techniques, tracking of learning progress, etc. will be designed to take it forward in a systematic fashion. This mission will cover the learning needs of nearly 4 crore children in the age group of 3 to 11 years. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will set up the second squadron of indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas soon, said Air Chief Marshal confirming that the ‘high-priority’ deal for 83 LCA-MK1A jets is expected to be signed in three months. About LCA Tejas – LCA Tejas was designed and developed by India’s HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited). It replaced the ageing Mig 21 fighter planes. It was in 2003 that the Light Combat Aircraft programme was named ‘Tejas’ (meaning radiance in Sanskrit) by the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is the second supersonic fighter jet that was developed by HAL (the first one being HAL HF-24 Marut). LCA Tejas is a single-engine multirole light combat aircraft. It is the lightest and smallest multirole supersonic fighter aircraft in its class. It is designed to carry a range of air-to-air, air-to-surface, precision-guided and standoff weaponry. Tejas has a single engine, compound Delta wing and has a tailless design. Aksai Chin Chinese media has accused India of building “illegal” defence facilities in the Galwan Valley region of the disputed Aksai Chin area, which is controlled by Beijing but claimed by New Delhi. About Galwan Valley – It is an area from where the Galwan River flows from the disputed Aksai Chin region in southern Hotan County, Hota Prefecture, Xinjiang of China to Ladakh of India. The Galwan river originates in the area of Samzungling on the eastern side of the Karakoram range and flows west to join the Shyok river. It is one of the upstream tributaries of the Indus river. The river is named after Ghulam Rasool Galwan, a Ladakhi explorer from Leh, who first explored the course of the river. The Galwan river is to the west of China’s 1956 claim line in Aksai Chin. However, in 1960 China advanced its claim line to the west of the river along the mountain ridge adjoining the Shyok river valley.Meanwhile, India continued to claim the entire Aksai Chin plateau. About Aksai Chin – Aksai Chin is a huge desert of Salt Flat located at the altitude of about 5,000 meters above sea level. Its area is about 37,244 square kilometres. This large area of the North Eastern part of the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been under Chinese occupation since 1950s. China has administratively made it a part of the Kargilic district of Xinjiang Province. In the 1950s the Chinese built a military road through this region in order to connect Tibet with Xinjiang. India objected this new development which led to border clashes between the two countries in 1962. At the conclusion of the war, China retained control of about 38,000 square km of territory in Aksai Chin. The area remained a point of contention between the two countries till now. Aksai Chin constitutes 15 percent of the total area of Jammu and Kashmir, which is illegally occupied by China. India says that entire Jammu and Kashmir including Aksai Chin is an integral part of India while China has always claimed that Aksai Chin is Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (Xinjiang Uyghur). India says China has occupied 38,000 sq. km of its territory in Aksai Chin, while China claims 90,000 sq. km in Arunachal Pradesh.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2135
__label__wiki	0.747323	0.747323	Missionary builds flying car, FAA certifies it Editor's Note: CNN Correspondent Kate Bolduan and Belief Blog Co-Editor Eric Marrapodi bring us this story from Dunnellon, Florida. Sparks are flying as we walk into the airplane hanger. Steve Saint is sharpening a machete on an electric grinder. He comes over to introduce himself wielding the knife he extols as both a tool and a weapon. But we've come to talk about something else he is working on, a flying car. Saint heads i-tec, the Indigenous People's Technology and Education Center. He is working with the Waodani tribe at the edge of the Amazon in Ecuador to help them solve a transportation riddle plaguing hard to reach regions all over the world: What do you do when the road ends? His solution, build a flying car. So he and his team did. See video of the flying car in action here. While we were getting the tour of the workshop, officials with the Federal Aviation Administration were in the back office with i-tec's engineers going over the final paperwork for the Maverick. By the end of the day, Saint held in his hand the FAA certification for special airworthiness for a light sport aircraft, the first such certification for a flying car. (A vehicle called The Transition is similar, but it's not a flying car. It's a roadworthy plane, meaning it's a plane that can also be driven on the road with its wings folded. Read about The Transition here.) Saint is one part Christian missionary, one part pilot, one part inventor. He grew up living in Ecuador. He tells us that his family moved there after the Waodani Indians speared his father to death. His dad, Nate Saint, a pilot, was part of a group of Christian missionaries trying to make contact with the tribe. They did, and according to the younger Saint, paid the ultimate price. Saint's family didn't give up trying to make contact with the tribe. "I was just a little boy when my dad was killed, but I knew that my dad really cared enough about those people that he was willing to risk his life so that they wouldn't be killed by the oil company and the government," he said. Eventually his aunt Rachel was able to make contact again and live with the tribe. "The only sense I could make of that was my dad thought these people were really special people, and my aunt wanted to live with them, mom was praying for them. By the time I met them I was convinced these were the most special people in the world. And then one of the warriors, actually a man by the name of Minkai, he adopted me, and started treating me like on of his boys, because he realized having speared my father I didn't have anyone to teach me how to live, so he taught me the skills I needed, you know, blow gunning and making spears." Eventually Saint went away to school, built a career in the United States, and married a girl from Minnesota. In 1994 his aunt Rachel died. The family honored Rachel's request to be buried in Ecuador. The tribe told Saint it was time for him to return. Saint and his family agreed and went back to live in the jungle. The tribe asked Saint to teach them to fend for themselves rather than have to depend on outside aid to survive. Out of that grew the small Florida based non-profit that today is i-tec. "What we're doing here at I-Tec is we're reinventing the technology so it fits the people so that they don't have to become like us," Saint said. "And it's taken a while. I retired from business 16 years ago, and people don't pay you to do this, and my wife Ginny and I just decided, 'hey let's do this.'" The Maverick flying car is just one piece of the puzzle for I-Tec. "We've been working on this particular project for six years," Saint said. "But it's just one, the bigger thing that we do is developing health care technology and tools and training systems so that we can train people that live out in the jungle areas, that don't have any formal education, and don't have access to doctors or nurses or midwives, or optometrists, or dentists, teaching them how to take care of these needs for their own people. That's really what we're doing." Scattered around the shop are some of the innovations. They developed portable dentistry equipment that can be carried on your back through the jungle. They also created a hand bike designed to help the handicapped conquer difficult terrain in areas where a wheelchair won't work. But the pièce de résistance is by far the Maverick. I-tec experimented with several different versions of the powered parachute to take the car from the road to the air. To switch from drive-mode to fly-mode, the operator has to deploy a mast and parachute. The chute is tucked away on the roof for the car and the mast is underneath the chassis when the car is in drive mode. The mast locks into place, the parachute is attached, and it is raised to over 25 feet. All the driver has to do then is switch the motor from drive to fly, pull back 100 yards, and take off. When they sat down at the drawing board, Saint and his team had two goals for the vehicle in addition to flying: It had to be rugged enough to drive in the jungle and cheap enough that non-profits like his could afford one. The Maverick is rugged. Saint took us for a spin around the airport where i-tec is based. It rides like a car on the road and bounces like a dune buggy off road. Its structure is chromoly-steel tubing and the black skin of the vehicle is canvas. That, in combination with the fact the car propulsion and air propulsion use the same engine in the rear of the vehicle, makes the Maverick extremely light. It is half the weight of a Smart Car. "The Maverick is not only a practical flying car but it's also a beefy car," says Logan Ward from Popular Mechanics. "They put a Subaru engine in this thing with 250 horsepower. It goes 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds.We were really impressed they gave it that sort of on-road performance." Popular Mechanics gave the Maverick one of its 'Breakthrough Awards' in 2009 after Ward wrote a piece about the prototype. "This thing is poised to hit the market. They have plans to sell it, to manufacture it. They have a price tag. This is becoming a reality where so many flying cars have just been pie in the sky toys for billionaires," Ward told CNN. I-tec hopes the Maverick will go into production soon now that they have secured FAA certification for flight and road certification as a kit vehicle (the Maverick has a Florida license plate that reads "FLY CAR"). Saint says if they can manufacture about 100 per year, a job they will send out to a manufacturer, they think the price will be around $80,000 for each Maverick. Saint wants to get the price down and believes the commercial market is the best way to reduce the cost. "The commercial market will get the quantities up to get the cost down. Plus we're a non-profit company so we don't live to make a profit, but if the commercial market is successful we'll use that for more research and development and to make these available to people in frontier markets - people who don't have the resources to buy it at a commercial rate," he said. Saint thinks there are hundreds of commercial applications for the Maverick. ."You can take it on really rugged terrain. So with this one, you can fly over, find somebody that needs to be rescued, and you can land and drive to them," he said. "Border patrol, pipeline monitoring, out on the gulf, BP with the big oil slick. You could take off from the back of the fishing trawler. Get the fishing trawler going 20 miles an hour, and you could take off in about 20 feet, and then you could go out, what you can't see from the surface you can see from 1000 or 2000 feet. You see a huge expanse. Ranching and extreme sports - there's just all kinds of uses. I'm sure we'll be surprised by the uses people put this to." Eric Marrapodi - CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor Filed under: Christianity • Culture & Science • Florida • Missionaries • United States Next entry »Dog who says grace live on CNN this morning « Previous entryVatican condemns Tariq Aziz death sentence Zoo Animal Decorations - 50% Off! I just like the helpful information you provide to your articles. I'll bookmark your weblog and test once more right here regularly. I am slightly certain I will learn many new stuff proper here! Good luck for the next! August 1, 2012 at 2:21 pm \| Pharmc818 Very nice site! August 1, 2012 at 11:50 am \| Hello! addbbge interesting addbbge site! I'm really like it! Very, very addbbge good! « Previous 1 2 3 4 5	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2138
__label__wiki	0.955377	0.955377	Study: It’s easier to be a ‘none’ in Canada than in the US In Canada, there is 'less of a social stigma' attached to leaving one's religion, says one of the authors of a forthcoming book on the differences between American and Canadian nones. Map courtesy of Creative Commons John Longhurst (RNS) — Nearly a quarter of Canadians today say they have no religious affiliation — about the same as in the U.S. But a forthcoming book by two Canadian researchers says that it is easier to be a “none” in Canada. “It’s more normal in Canada to say you have no religion,” said Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, a professor of sociology at the University of Waterloo and author, with Joel Thiessen, professor of sociology at Ambrose University, of “None of the Above: Having No Religion in Canada and the U.S.” “In Canada, there is a more accepting social environment for leaving religion. There’s less of a social stigma,” added Thiessen. The two researchers decided to study nones in Canada when they found most of the information about the rapidly expanding group of religiously unaffiliated came from the U.S. “We wanted to see what was similar, what was different,” said Wilkins-Laflamme. The big difference, they found, is that the decline in religious affiliation started earlier in Canada. Just 4% of Canadians said they had no religion in 1971. The number spiked to 12% in 1991 and 17% in 2001. The nones’ rise began later in the U.S., from 5% in 1972 to 8% in 1990 before jumping to 14% in 2000. Photo by Ali Tawfiq/Unsplash/Creative Commons As the notion of being nonaffiliated caught hold more quickly in Canada, it seemed more normal sooner, the researchers said. At the same time, evangelicalism continues to have a much stronger influence in the U.S. than it does in Canada. This, along with a stronger sense of Christian nationhood in the U.S., makes it harder for some Americans to “come out” as having no religion, the researchers say, noting that in parts of the U.S. “a fervent stigma exists toward those in the religious none community.” With religion playing a less important role in Canadian public life, Canadians don’t view their country as a “Christian nation.” That also makes it increasingly easier for Canadians to say they don’t belong to any religious group. If anything, the researchers say, “rather than stigmatizing religious none identification, there is a sense among some that the stigma is reserved in part for those who are overly religious.” The researchers also said that Canada’s official policy of multiculturalism makes it easier for Canadians to be nonreligious. “Canadians are exposed to lots of worldviews,” says Wilkins-Laflamme. “They grow up realizing their view is one among many.” Wilkins-Laflamme and Thiessen said that the lack of religion in so many Canadian homes makes a return to religion by Canadian nones unlikely. “As the religious none population has grown in recent decades, it is more common for children to be born into families with parents who say they have no religion,” they say. In contrast to previous generations, where nominally religious parents may have exposed their children to some religious beliefs and rituals, religious nones today “are raising their children without any formal exposure to religious beliefs or behaviors in the home, at school and in the community.” There is “nothing, socially speaking, that would compel younger generations to turn to religion,” Thiessen noted. “None of the Above: Having No Religion in Canada and the U.S.” will be published by early 2020. Trump-supporting Christian leaders and their Sunday messages At the Capitol, evangelicals’ ‘Thou art the man’ moment Evangelicals must denounce the Christian nationalism in Capitol riots Evangelicals had ’24-karat-gold’ man in Mike Pence. Loyalty may tarnish that legacy. Hillsong Dallas pastors, who helped start NYC location with Carl Lentz, resign	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2139
__label__wiki	0.705496	0.705496	Home FOOD & DRINK Food News & Trends The Seal of Freedom The Seal of Freedom The Independent Craft Brewer Seal, helping consumers distinguish between small-scale breweries and Big Beer, celebrates one year by Eileen Mellon The Independent Craft Brewer Seal can be found on bottles, cans and cases of beer. (Photo courtesy of Brewers Association) Beer drinkers, take a closer look the next time you reach for a cold one: Chances are there may be a new feature on your bottle or can. In one year of existence, the Independent Craft Brewer Seal has been adopted by more than 3,500 breweries across the country. The symbol was created by the Brewers Association, a national nonprofit trade association for small, independent American brewers, to aid consumers in distinguishing between craft breweries and the large-scale corporate brewers that have begun attempting to acquire them. Stone Brewing, with headquarters in California and an East Coast location in Richmond, adopted the seal shortly after it was created. Senior Innovation Brewing Manager Jeremy Moynier believes the symbol is a subtle way to educate consumers on what they're buying. “People are more and more interested in where things come from; like that farm-to-table connection, it’s the same thing with craft beer,” says Moynier. The seal features an upside-down bottle, an ode to how the U.S. craft beer movement has turned the beer world upside down, and includes the words “Brewers Association Certified Independent Craft.” According to the Brewers Association, in 2011 only 1,989 craft breweries existed nationwide; today there are more than 6,400. The association also reported that, as of 2017, 83 percent of U.S. adults 21 years or older live within 10 miles of a brewery. The overall beer market in the U.S. brought in $111.4 billion last year, and craft beer made up $26 billion of that total. Big Beer has taken notice. In 2008 Budweiser made an attempt to break into the market and appeal to craft beer enthusiasts by introducing Budweiser American Ale, but the product was discontinued by 2011. For the world's largest brewing company, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), which owns Budweiser, the focus has shifted to staying afloat in the beer game as craft beer consumption continues to grow, rather than expanding beer production. In 2016 Devil’s Backbone, one of the first craft breweries on the scene in Virginia's Nelson County, was purchased by AB InBev. The deal drew attention from beer drinkers nationwide and raised questions from the U.S. Department of Justice as to whether it would hinder competition. Today, AB InBev has purchased all or a portion of more than a dozen breweries that were formerly independent craft and has a unit of production called The High End, dedicated specifically to craft and imported beer. AB InBev is not alone in its quest to acquire independent breweries. In September 2015 Heineken, the second-largest beer company in the world, purchased 50 percent of California's Lagunitas Brewing. Last year, Lagunitas sold the remaining 50 percent, giving Heineken full control. Julie Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association, predicts the trend of acquisitions will continue, but says part of the appeal of small craft breweries is their connection to their product and the people drinking it. “There’s a huge cultural community tied to craft beer, and it’s not just the people brewing, but those who go the breweries,” says Herz. “Who is and isn’t a craft brewer is a big topic of conversation.” Herz has been home brewing for 30 years and believes the ethos of craft beer is embodied by its brewers being involved in the entire brewing process. The Brewers Association formed the Take Craft Back campaign as large beer companies were purchasing more and more small craft breweries, and on June 27, 2017, launched the Independent Craft Brewer Seal because they felt consumers were being misled. “Big brewers have not been placing their brew company name on brands they’ve acquired, so you can’t tell when you’re holding the beer [that it isn't produced by an independent craft brewer],” says Herz. “Research will show a lot of confusion in the marketplace on who is no longer independently owned. … The seal provides transparency and a reliable certified mark, and the beer lover no longer has to have confusion.” The Brewers Association defines craft beer as small, independent and traditional. To apply to display the seal, a craft brewery must produce under 6 million barrels annually, and only 25 percent of the brewery may be owned or controlled by an entity other than the brewer. To offer a sense of scale, one barrel of beer is equivalent to 55 six-packs. Producing under 6 million barrels of beer a year means producing fewer than 330 million six-packs. According to the Brewers Association, Virginia is home to five large breweries: Anheuser-Busch Inc. – Williamsburg, Ballast Point Brewing Company, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Outpost Production Facility, and MillerCoors Brewing Co. – Shenandoah Facility. There are 202 craft breweries in the state that have adopted the seal, and the number is growing. “The most positive aspect is, when you put the seal as a craft brewer on your packaging, you are showcasing front and center you’re a part of something larger than just your own brewery. You’re showcasing that you're part of a movement in beer that allows small and independent producers to have traction to grow and thrive," says Herz. Moynier believes some small breweries find acquisition by large beer companies appealing because they’ve hit a financial wall or are seeking bigger and broader distribution. However, for others, including Stone, it’s about being in control. “We started this [brewery] and wanted to be something different and not be a mass-marketed machine,” says Moynier. “I think if you’re looking for something unique, that seal helps you find it.” The Brewers Association Stone Brewing Independent Craft Brewer Seal craft beer Julie Herz Devils Backbone Brewing Co. Virginia beer Jeremy Moynier From food trucks to white-tablecloth destinations, craft cocktails to craft beer, farm to table to fork, we serve up the latest in Richmond dining and drinking. Feedback? Suggestions? They are always appreciated. Contact Food Editor Eileen Mellon at eileenm [at] richmag [dot] com. Find info and get ideas on where to eat around Richmond. Feature All Where All	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2145
__label__wiki	0.914573	0.914573	You are at:Home»News»Africa News»UN to Ethiopian warring parties: Protect civilians, uphold human rights Ethiopian refugees crossing into Sudan (File photo: WFP) UN to Ethiopian warring parties: Protect civilians, uphold human rights By Froilan Malit on November 25, 2020 Africa News, News The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet has called on parties involved in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region to give “clear and unambiguous orders” to their forces to protect and not target civilians. In a statement on Tuesday, Ms. Bachelet warned that ahead of what it is feared will be a major battle for the regional capital, Mekelle, “such rhetoric will lead to further violations of international humanitarian law”. The UN human rights chief’s statement was made in response to reports that TPLF fighters were stationing themselves among the civilian population. The UN Human Rights Chief is deeply concerned that rhetoric on both sides “is dangerously provocative and risks placing already vulnerable and frightened civilians in grave danger”. Reports of a heavy build up of tanks and artillery around Mekelle, following the Ethiopian Government’s 72-hour ultimatum to the forces loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to surrender. The deadline will be reached in a matter of hours. “Such rhetoric suggests possible breaches of the cardinal principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in the conduct of hostilities that are designed to ensure the civilian population is protected,” Ms. Bachelet said. However, this does not give the Ethiopian Government “carte blanche to respond with the use of artillery in densely populated areas” as it seeks to take control of the region, she added, stressing that under international law, parties to a conflict should take all possible measures to protect civilians. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement he was deeply concerned over the unfolding situation in the Tigray region, and urged the leaders of Ethiopia to do everything possible to protect civilians. He also calls for the free and safe movement of people searching for safety and assistance, regardless of their ethnic identity, across both national and international borders. The Secretary-General said in his statement that he was giving “the full support of the United Nations to the initiative of the Chairperson of the African Union, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, to facilitate peaceful solutions. He urges all parties to seize this opportunity to de-escalate tensions.” Amid the conflict, Ethiopian refugees continue to stream into Sudan, with the number surpassing 40,000 since the crisis began, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported, adding that humanitarian needs are outpacing the response capacity. “[We] have been able to deliver and distribute life-saving aid, including food, to more people. But the humanitarian response continues to face logistical challenges and remains overstretched. There is not enough shelter capacity to meet the growing needs”, Babar Baloch, UNHCR spokesperson, told journalists at a media briefing in Geneva. Mr. Baloch also voiced concern over the situation of civilians, including displaced persons and aid workers in the Tigray region. He reiterated the call on all parties to enable the free and safe movement of affected people in search of safety and assistance, including across international and within national borders, regardless of their ethnic background. (Source: UN News)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2146
__label__cc	0.744365	0.255635	PIMCO RESEARCH CHAIR Presentation of the Partner PIMCO is a global investment management firm with a singular focus on preserving and enhancing investors’ assets. We manage investments for institutions, financial advisors and individuals. The institutions we serve include corporations, central banks, universities, endowments and foundations, and public and private pension and retirement plans. We also serve advisors and individuals set on personal financial goals, from preparing for retirement to funding higher education. For more than four decades, our mission has been grounded in a holistic investment process designed to apply rigorous top-down and bottom-up analysis of inputs to identify investment opportunities and risks. Since our founding in Newport Beach, California, in 1971, we have grown into a team of about 2,200 dedicated professionals, with offices in 11 countries and trading operations in North America, Europe and Asia. We have an established reputation of innovation, and we continue to evolve as a provider of investment solutions across all asset classes. Presentation of the Partnership The purpose of this chair is to conduct research work in the areas of cross-sectional and timeseries analysis of risk premia in fixed-income markets. More specifically, the topics will cover the broad areas of estimation of volatility risk premia embedded in interest rate derivatives products, relative valuation of volatility products such as swaptions and other interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives instruments, as well as affine term-structure modelling under both the physical and risk neutral measures, with special attention devoted to topics such as the estimation of risk premia, the effects of very low interest rates on the extraction of expectations and risk premia, and the value of convexity. Professor R. Rebonato will conduct research work in the areas work in the areas of cross-sectional and time-series analysis of risk premia in fixed-income markets. The topics covered the broad areas of: Relative valuation of volatility products, such as swaptions and other interest rate and foreign exchange derivatives instruments, with special attention to the consistency of volatility estimation implied by the different instruments, and the pricing inconsistency (and hence trading opportunities) potentially presented in the volatility markets; Estimation of volatility risk premia embedded in interest rate derivatives products ; Pricing and relative valuation of new instruments as needed Affine term-structure modelling under both the physical and risk neutral measures, with special attention devoted to topics such as the estimation of risk premia, the effects of very low interest rates on the extraction of expectations and risk premia, the value of convexity;	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2147
__label__wiki	0.802532	0.802532	Category Archives: United States Maryland, My Maryland — thoughts on Maryland Day The Maryland Flag proudly flying over my abode. The State of Maryland is 380 years old today. On March 25, 1634 two small ships, The Ark and The Dove, carrying 140 English settlers landed on St. Clement’s Island in the Potomac River. They’d left Cowes on the English Isle of Wight four months earlier with a charter from King Charles I to settle a new colony in North America (the third English colony in North America.) English: Postage stamps and postal history of the United States\|History of the United States government\|American Revolution\|Maryland (Photo credit: Wikipedia) It was a rough journey. Three days out of port they hit a severe storm and the two ships were separated. The Ark, the larger ship assumed the Dove was lost and … continued its journey, following the European coast south to the Fortunate (now Canary) Islands. From the Canaries, the Ark sailed due west across the Atlantic, touching land at the island of Barbadoes in the West Indies on January 3, 1633/4. There, the ship’s weary travelers stayed three weeks replenishing provisions, and there the Dove reappeared, having weathered the Atlantic voyage alone. At other Caribbean isles they also landed, and then sailed north. They reached Virginia on February 27th, gathered more supplies, and navigated Chesapeake Bay north to the mouth of the Potomac by March 3rd. [maryland.gov] After negotiating with the Native American Conoy tribe the settlers finally landed on Blackistone Island (they renamed it St. Clement’s Island.) Father Andrew White, a Jesuit priest, said Mass, and the group celebrated a day of thanksgiving. Leonard Calvert, younger brother of Lord Baltimore who had received the Charter from the King, and first governor of the colony erected a large cross. English: View of Commemorative Cross from Blackistone Lighthouse, September 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) [This cross is in roughly the same location as Calvert’s Cross, but it, obviously, isn’t the same one that was planted in 1643] Two days later, on March 27, 1634 the sailed about six miles up the river and established their first permanent settlement on a buff overlooking the St. Mary’s River. The location had been a Yaocomico village, but the Indians “were more than willing to turn their home over to the Englishmen.” [Maryland.gov “Maryland: At the Beginning”] When half the Yaocomicos left the English took over their bark huts as temporary dwellings. A “pallizado” (fort) was constructed and the colonist sowed the fields the Indians had already cleared. The countryside and river proved bountiful with game and fish. Relations between the Yaocomicos and the settlers was amicable and fair. the natives supplied the English with corn and fish and were ready to teach them how to make corn bread and hominy, show them what herbs and roots could be used for medicine and dyes and cooperate in other ways. The English, for their part, paid the Indians for their land and supplies and the leaders wrote of the natives with respect. [Ibid] St. Mary’s City became the capitol of the new colony, and the first Maryland legislative assembly took place the following winter (1634-35). A Court House and Jesuit Church were erected. St. Mary’s City became a National Historic Landmark in 1969. Since then Archeological Digs have uncovered 800 acres of the colonial town and major buildings, like the State House, have been rebuilt. Maryland Day was created in 1903 to commemorate the landing on St. Clement’s Island. It became a legal holiday in 1916 in the state. More facts about Maryland: Nickname: Old Line State Flower: Black-eyed Susan Tree: White Oak Bird: Baltimore Oriole Sport: Jousting Fish: Rockfish Dog: Chesapeake Bay Retriever Boat: Skipjack Population: 5,828,289 (as of 2011) [Info from Maryland.gov] Largest City: Baltimore Downtown Baltimore City from the Harbor. Capital: Annapolis — Maryland’s capital moved up the Chesapeake Bay in 1694. Downtown Annapolis. The State House tower is center. [All images were taken by me, unless otherwise noted] Maryland Day celebrations abound Maryland Indian Tribes The Original Thirteen Colonies of Northern America! Get to know your Colony!!! 2 Comments \| tags: Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, Maryland Day \| posted in American History, History, Maryland, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States Theodore Roosevelt 10.27.13 Thought of the Day President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front. Deutsch: Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), Präsident der Vereinigten Staaten von 1901 bis 1909, Friedensnobelpreisträger des Jahres 1906. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was born on this day in New York City, New York, USA in 1858. Today is the 155th Anniversary of his birth. He was the second of four children born to Martha “Mittie” and Theodore “Thee” Roosevelt, Sr. The wealthy family lived in a fashionable brownstone in the Gramercy neighborhood of New York. Young Teddy or “Teedie” was a sickly boy. He had severe asthma and had to sleep propped up on pillows. He was… homeschooled due to his illnesses and asthma. This gave him the opportunity to nurse his passion for animal life, but by his teens, with the encouragement of his father, whom he revered, Theodore developed a rigorous physical routine that included weightlifting and boxing. [Biography.com] He was always fascinated by animals. Once, when he was 7, he saw a dead seal at the market. He managed to get the seal’s head and it became the founding exhibit in the “Roosevelt Museum of Natural History”, an institution the boy started with two of his cousins. He took to taxidermy and collected other specimens for the museum. Teedie collected everything within his reach and range of vision, and begged friends and family to bring him any specimens they found. He even paid other children to collect specimens for him. Yet he generously shared his collection. In 1871, he donated several specimens to another fledgling museum — the American Museum of Natural History, which had been co-founded by his father. [PBS.org] He was a good student especially in geography, history, biology, French and German. But he did not do as well in Latin, Greek and math. Roosevelt entered Harvard in 1876. He studied natural history. His father died when Teddy was a sophomore. While the tragedy broke his heart, it also spurred him on to work harder than ever before, both physically and academically. After graduating magna cum laude in 1880, he enrolled at Columbia Law School and got married to Alice Hathaway Lee of Massachusetts. [Biography.com] He dropped out of Columbia the following year when he had the chance to run for the New York State Assembly. He won the election… becoming the youngest to serve in that position. Not long after, Roosevelt was speeding through various public service positions, including captain of the National Guard and minority leader of the New York Assembly. [Ibid] His meteoric rise to fame came to a halt on Valentine’s Day 1884. Both Roosevelt’s wife and his beloved mother died on the same day in his house. His wife died of undiagnosed Bright’s disease (kidney failure), his mother or Typhoid Fever. Roosevelt escaped the city and headed west. He worked for two years as a cowboy and rancher in the Dakota Territory before returning to New York. NYPD Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt in 1895 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) In 1886 he ran for unsuccessfully for mayor of New York. He married again, this time to Edith Kermit Carow (a life long friend.) Roosevelt soon resumed his career trajectory, first as a civil service commissioner, then as a New York City police commissioner and U.S. Navy assistant secretary under President William McKinley…in the Spanish-American War… He organized a volunteer cavalry known as the Rough Riders, which he led in a bold charge up San Juan Hill in the Battle of San Juan Heights, in 1898. A war hero, and nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor, Roosevelt was elected governor of New York in 1898.. [Ibid] He ran with President McKinley on the Republican ticket during the 1900 national elections. They won and McKinley began his second term in the White House. But then an anarchist shot McKinley on September 6, 1901 at the Pan-American Exposition. Although McKinley seemed to recover for a while he eventually died of his injuries and Theodore Roosevelt became the 26th, and youngest, President of the United States of America. As President, Roosevelt held the ideal that the Government should be the great arbiter of the conflicting economic forces in the Nation, especially between capital and labor, guaranteeing justice to each and dispensing favors to none… Roosevelt emerged spectacularly as a “trust buster” by forcing the dissolution of a great railroad combination in the Northwest. Other antitrust suits under the Sherman Act followed….Roosevelt steered the United States more actively into world politics. He liked to quote a favorite proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick. . . . ” [WhiteHouse.gov] Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States of America. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Highlights of Teddy Roosevelt’s presidency include: Completed the Panama Canal Won the Nobel Peace Prize for mediating the Russo-Japanese War. Established (or added to) National Forest and parks for public use. Other conservation projects He left the White House in 1909 when his friend and former Secretary of War William Howard Taft became President. Roosevelt went on Safari in Africa for two years. When he returned to the States he was unhappy with the job Taft was doing and he decided to run again for office. Since Taft had the Republican ticket, Roosevelt started his own party, the Bull Moose Party. While delivering a speech on the campaign trail, Roosevelt was shot in the chest in an assassination attempt by John Nepomuk Schrank. Shockingly, he continued his speech for 90 minutes before seeing a doctor, later chalking up the incident to the hazards of the business. Roosevelt lost to Woodrow Wilson in the 1912 election, in a rather close popular vote. [Biography.com] Roosevelt retired from politics again. He traveled to South America. He wrote books (25). And when the US entered World War I he volunteered to head a “division for service in France” [Ibid] (Wilson declined.) Roosevelt died in his sleep on January 6, 1919, at his Long Island estate, Sagamore Hill. Happy Birthday Theodore Roosevelt! (atreegrowsinbklyn.wordpress.com) Teddy Roosevelt and the Conservation of Environmental Resources (2greenenergy.com) Theodore Roosevelt and Conservation (tr1twenty2.wordpress.com) 2 Comments \| tags: Theodore Roosevelt \| posted in American History, History, postaday, President, Theodore Roosevelt, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States Dwight Eisenhower 10.16.13 Thought of the Day Here’s another blog I was working on for Monday that I didn’t get finished in time to post. (Sorry Ike)… “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” — Dwight Eisenhower Dwight David Eisenhower was on October 14 in Denison, Texas, USA in 1890. Monday was the 113 anniversary of his birth. He was the third of seven sons born to Ida and David Eisenhower. Times were tough and David, who went to college for engineering, cleaned railway cars to support his growing family.The Eisenhowers moved to Abilene, Kansas when Dwight was a year and half. Dwight enjoyed his childhood in Abilene and considered it his home town. He played both football and baseball for Abilene High School before he graduated in 1909. He worked at his family’s Bell Springs Creamery and as a fireman. In 1911 He earned an … appointment at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where attendance was free of charge. Once again he was a star on the football field, until a series of knee injuries forced him to stop playing. In 1915, Eisenhower proudly graduated from West Point at the top of his class, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. [Biography.com] While he was stationed in Texas he met Mamie Doud. The two married six months later. During World War One Eisenhower was in charge of Camp Colt in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. By 1920, he was promoted to major, after having volunteered for the Tanks Corps, in the War Department’s first transcontinental motor convoy, the previous year. [Ibid] In 1926 he graduated first in his class from Command and General Staff School in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He worked as the chief military aid to General Douglas MacArthur before becoming chief of staff for the Third Army. By 1942 he was a Major General. In his early Army career, he excelled in staff assignments, serving under Generals John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and Walter Krueger. After Pearl Harbor, General George C. Marshall called him to Washington for a war plans assignment. He commanded the Allied Forces landing in North Africa in November 1942; on D-Day, 1944, he was Supreme Commander of the troops invading France. [WhiteHouse.gov] General Eisenhower speaks with members of the 101st Airborne Division on the evening of 5 June 1944 (Photo credit: Wikipedia) After V-E day Ike was made military governor of the U.S. Occupied Zone. In 1947 He became president of Columbia University. In 1951 he left that post to become Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1952 Eisenhower ran for President of the United States on the Republican ticket. He won the election with 442 electoral votes over Adlai Stevenson’s meager 89 and became the 34th POTUS. Dwight D. Eisenhower photo portrait. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Highlights of his presidency include: Reduced Cold War tension with the USSR Orchestrated an armistice that halted the Korean War Started America’s manned Space Exploration Eisenhower Doctrine — a 1957 policy that extended the Truman Doctrine to the countries of the Middle East. Eisenhower promised military or economic aid to any nation in the area that needed help in resisting communist aggression. Worked toward ending segregation. Desegregated the Armed Forces. Difficulties: First advisors sent into Vietnam. U-2 Spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union The Eisenhowers retired to a farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1961. Eisenhower died at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC on March 28, 1969, he was 78 years old. Funeral services for Dwight David Eisenhower (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Leave a comment \| tags: Dwight D. Eisenhower, United States \| posted in American History, Dwight D. Eisenhower, History, postaday, Thought of the Day, United States, US President Jimmy Carter 10.1.13 Thought of the Day English: James Earl “Jimmy” Carter (Photo credit: Wikipedia) “America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, it is the other way around. Human rights invented America.” — Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter, Jr. was born on this day in Plains, Georgia, USA in 1924. He is 89 years old. He was the oldest of four children born to James Earl Carter, Sr and Bessie Lillian Gordyn Carter. He was the first future president to be born in a hospital. English: Jimmy Carter, future United States President, with his dog Bozo in 1937, around age 13. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Jimmy was a good student and avid reader. After graduating Plains High School Carter attended Georgia Southwestern College and Georgia Tech before entering the United States Naval Academy. He graduated 59th out of 820 in 1946. He served for seven years in the Navy’s Atlantic and Pacific submarine fleet. After his father’s death he resigned his commission and returned to Georgia. In 1962 he entered state politics, and eight years later he was elected Governor of Georgia. Among the new young southern governors, he attracted attention by emphasizing ecology, efficiency in government, and the removal of racial barriers. [Whitehouse.gov] In 1974 he ran for President of the United States against Gerald Ford. “Carter won by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford.” [Ibid] He was the 39th President. English: President Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter meet at the Walnut Street Theater in Philadelphia to debate domestic policy during the first of the three Ford-Carter Debates. Français : Gerald Ford et Jimmy Carter à Philadelphie lors du premier des trois débats politiques entre les deux hommes durant la campagne présidentielle(23-09-1976). (Photo credit: Wikipedia) He entered the White House the country was in an economic crisis. One of his first acts at President was to sign the “Chrysler Corporation Loan Guarantee Act of 1979” which bailed out the car maker. By the end of his administration, he could claim an increase of nearly eight million jobs and a decrease in the budget deficit, measured in percentage of the gross national product. Unfortunately, inflation and interest rates were at near record highs, and efforts to reduce them caused a short recession. [Ibid] Domestically the Carter administration struggled with the 1970’s Energy Crisis. “He dealt with the energy shortage by establishing a national energy policy and by decontrolling domestic petroleum prices to stimulate production.” [Ibid] Other Domestic issues during the Carter presidency included: Deregulation of the trucking and airline industries Expansion of the National Park System Promotion of the hiring of minorities and women in government jobs He also worked to improve the environment. President Jimmy Carter welcomes Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at the White House, Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Internationally Carter… Held the Camp David Talks (which brought about the Camp David Agreement between Egypt and Israel in 1978. ratified the Panama Canal Treaties Continued to establish ties with China Completed SALT II nuclear negotiations with the USSR However, his time in the White House will always be remembered under the black cloud of… Long lines at the gas pumps during the Energy Crisis The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and especially, the Hostage Crisis in Iran His bid for a second term was unsuccessful. Ronald Regan swept the election taking 489 electoral votes to Carters 49. Carter carried only six states. The day Regan took office Iran released the hostages. Carter returned to Georgia to find that his finances — which had been held in a blind trust while he was President — had been mismanaged by the trustees. He was over a million dollars in dept. Despite that set back Carter established the Carter Center at Emory University, wrote books (he’s written 27 book so far), and worked to help Habitat for Humanity. Actively guided by President Carter, the nonpartisan and nonprofit Center addresses national and international issues of public policy. Carter Center staff and associates join with President Carter in efforts to resolve conflict, promote democracy, protect human rights, and prevent disease and other afflictions. Through the Global 2000 programs, the Center has advanced health and agriculture in the developing world. It has spearheaded the international effort to eradicate Guinea worm disease, which is poised to be the second human disease in history to be eradicated. [CarterCenter.org] Carter and the Center have “engaged in conflict meditation” [Ibid] though out the world. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” [Ibid] He is the only former President to receive the Prize (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Barack Obama have won it during their time in office.) He still lives in Plains, Georgia with his wife Rosalyn. Every year they volunteer for a week with Habitat for Humanity to build or restore homes for the needy. Carter at a book signing in Phoenix, Arizona (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Jimmy Carter (commuteresources101.wordpress.com) Five things you may not know about Jimmy Carter (oup.com) Leave a comment \| tags: CarterCenter, Jimmy Carter \| posted in Jimmy Carter, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States Charles Kuralt 9.10.13 Thought of the Day “Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything.” — Charles Kuralt “The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.” — Charles Kuralt “It does no harm just once in a while to acknowledge that the whole country isn’t in flames, that there are people in the country besides politicians, entertainers, and criminals.” — Charles Kuralt “We always take credit for the good and attribute the bad to fortune.” — Charles Kuralt Charles Kuralt (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Charles Bishop Kuralt was born on this day in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA, in 1934. It is the 79th anniversary of his birth. He was the oldest of three children born to Wallace and Ina Kuralt. His early childhood was “on his maternal grandparents’ tobacco farm in Onslow County.” [UNC.edu] Charlie Kuralt was one of those kids who always seemed to be telling a story. He sold his first — a yarn about how a dog got loose on a baseball field — when he was just a pup himself. When he was 11 his father got a job as Director of Public Welfare in Mecklenburg County and the family moved to Charlotte. He attended Alexander Graham Junior High and Central High School. where he wrote for the school paper and broadcast local sports. He graduated from Central in 1951 and entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall. He was a History major and edited the school newspaper and worked for WUNC (UNC’s radio station). After graduating from UNC he worked for The Charlotte News. He won the Ernie Plye Memorial Award for the work he did on his “People” column for that newspaper. In May 1957, Kuralt accepted an offer from CBS to join the New York radio staff as a writer for Douglas Edwards with the news. In 1958, he sought and received a job on the CBS Television News assignment desk. A year later he was named CBS News’ Chief Latin American Correspondent, based in Rio de Janeiro. In 1963, he was appointed CBS News’ Chief West Coast Correspondent and held that post until 1964, when he transferred to the CBS News headquarters in New York City. [Ibid] His work at CBS news took him literally all over the world. from Africa to the Arctic to Europe to Asia. But it was in 1967 that Kuralt became a household name when he started the “One the Road” series as part of the “CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.” 1972 FMC 2900R Motorhome, Used by Charles Kuralt for CBS “On The Road” Television Show (Photo credit: The Henry Ford) The series carried Kuralt more than a half million miles on repeated visits to all 50 states. The series brought viewers sights of an America they did not see every day, of molasses farmers and sharecroppers to brickmakers and 104-year-old distance runners. In addition to carrying him across America, the series also resulted in such prestigious broadcasting honors as Peabody Awards and Emmys. The material he gained from his travels provided the background for a number of books, including “Dateline America,” based on a radio show of the same name,”On the Road with Charles Kuralt” and his autobiographical “A Life on The Road.” [Ibid] Cover of On the Road with Charles Kuralt In 1980 he left the Road for his swivel chair on CBS’ “Sunday Morning.” He anchored that show until his retirement in 1994. Kuralt died from complications of Lupis on the Fourth of July, 1997. Old Chapel HIll Cemetery (Photo credit: jeffreylcohen) Leave a comment \| tags: CBS News, Charles Kuralt \| posted in Charles Kuralt, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States Benjamin Harrison 8.20.13 Thought of the Day “I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.” — Benjamin Harrison Portrait of the 23rd U.S. president Benjamin Harrison. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Benjamin Harrison was born on this day in North Bend, Ohio in 1833. Today is the 180th anniversary of his birth. Benjamin was the second of eight children born to John and Elizabeth Harrison at their farm near Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to school in a one-room schoolhouse as a child. For college he attended Farmer’s College in Cincinnati. He went on to study law at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He married Caroline Lavinia Scott on October 20, 1853. The moved to Indianapolis, Indiana the following year and he began to practice law. When the Civil War broke out he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 70th Indiana Infantry. Eventually he earned the rank of brigadier general. Colonel Benjamin Harrison (Photo credit: Wikipedia) With his strong political pedigree — which includes a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Harrison V and his grandfather, the ninth President of the United States, William Henry Harrison he seemed destined to enter the political arena. He ran for Governor of Indiana in 1872 & 1876. The Democrats defeated him for Governor of Indiana in 1876 by unfairly stigmatizing him as “Kid Gloves” Harrison. In the 1880’s he served in the United States Senate, where he championed Indians. homesteaders, and Civil War veterans. [Whitehouse.gov] He was in the Senate from 1881 to 1887. In 1888 he ran against Grover Cleveland for US President. Harrison won all the Northern states except Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri. English: This image is based off this image from Wikipedia, which in turn is based off this image from the Commons. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Cleveland took all the Southern states. Cleveland actually had 100,000 more popular votes, but Harrison won the Electoral College 233 to 168. U.S. President Benjamin Harrison. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Highlights of the Harrison Administration include: The first Pan American Congress (1899) The Dependent and Disability Pension Act Naval expansion The McKinley Tariff The Sherman Antitrust Act He was the first President to have his voice captured on a recording when Giuseppe Bettini used a wax phonograph cylinder to record this 36 second clip… When Harrison entered office there was a significant treasury surplus. He chose to spend it on internal improvements and on pensions to Civil War veterans, their wives and children. Harrison, his Republican House and Senate were dubbed “the Billion-Dollar Congress” English: Harrison portrayed as wasting the surplus gained under Cleveland (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Long before the end of the Harrison Administration, the Treasury surplus had evaporated, and prosperity seemed about to disappear as well. Congressional elections in 1890 went stingingly against the Republicans, and party leaders decided to abandon President Harrison although he had cooperated with Congress on party legislation. Nevertheless, his party renominated him in 1892, but he was defeated by Cleveland. [Whitehouse.gov] Republicans in the West peeled off to join the Populist Party (whose candidate, James Weaver, ran on a platform that included an 8-hour work day, better pensions for veterans and free silver.) To make matters worse for Harrison his beloved Caroline was loosing her long fought battle against tuberculosis. Harrison’s decision to stay at the ailing Caroline’s side — and not go on the campaign trail — probably didn’t help his campaign bid. Caroline died a mere two weeks before election day. Cleveland won the election soundly. Benjamin Harrison, former President of the United States. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Harrison travelled the country after his defeat, enjoying his role as “dignified elder statesman” [Ibid]. In 1896 at age 62 he married Caroline’s former secretary (and niece) the 37-year-old widow Mrs. Mary Scott Lord Dimmick. It was a bit of a family scandal since his adult children, Russel and Mamie were both older than his new wife. Mary bore Harrison another child, Elizabeth in 1897. He caught influenza in February of 1901. It worsened to pneumonia and he passed away in March, 1901. Pres. Benjamin Harrison turns 180! (indyhomeschool.com) Private tour inside President Benjamin Harrison’s Indy home (fox59.com) Leave a comment \| posted in American History, Benjamin Harrison, History, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States Barack Obama 8.4.13 Thought of the Day “In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?” — Barack Obama The official presidential portrait of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. [Image courtesy: Whitehouse.gov] Barack H. Obama was born on this day in 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He is 52 years old today. He is the only son of Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham. His mother, who grew up in Kansas, was attending the University of Hawaii when she met Obama, Sr, an exchange student from Kenya. When the baby was still an infant, Obama, Sr. moved to Harvard to pursue his Ph.D.. The couple divorced in 1964 and Obama, Sr. moved back to Kenya. Dunham then married Lolo Soetoro, a student from Indonesia. A year later, the family moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where Barack’s half-sister, Maya Soetoro Ng, was born. Several incidents in Indonesia left Dunham afraid for her son’s safety and education so, at the age of 10, Barack was sent back to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents. His mother and sister later joined them. [Biography.com] Obama grew very close to his maternal grandparents. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton’s army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank. [Whitehouse.gov] Stanley Armour Dunham, Ann Dunham, Maya Soetoro and Barack Obama, mid 1970s (l to r) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) He attended the prestigious Punahou Academy, graduating in 1979 with academic honors. He went on to study at Occidental College in Los Angeles before transferring to Columbia University in New York. He graduate in 1983 with a degree in political science. After working in the business sector for two years, Obama moved to Chicago in 1985. There, he worked on the South Side as a community organizer for low-income residents in the Roseland and the Altgeld Gardens communities. [Biography.com] He entered Harvard Law School in 1988 eventually becoming the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. He also met his former wife Michelle Robinson while his was at Harvard. He graduated magna cum laude, in 1991 and went back to Chicago to “help lead a voter registration drive, teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and remain active in his community.” [Whitehouse.gov] His work in the community lead him to public office. He was an Illinois State Senator from 1997-2004 and was an US Senator for that state from 2005-2008. Barack Obama’s 2009 presidential inauguration in Washington, DC. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) He was elected President of the United States on November 4, 2009, having won 365 electoral votes and 52% of the popular vote. He was reelected on November 6, 2012, with 332 365 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote. English: Cropped version of File:Official portrait of Barack Obama.jpg. The image was cropped at a 3:4 portrait ratio, it was slightly sharpened and the contrast and colors were auto-adjusted in photoshop. This crop, in contrast to the original image, centers the image on Obama’s face and also removes the flag that takes away the focus from the portrait subject. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 3 Comments \| tags: Obama, President Obama \| posted in American History, Barack Obama, History, postaday, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States July Creative Challenge, day 31: RELAX — St. Michaels [I’m taking this challenge seriously. First I’m RELAXing a bit on this last day of the July Creative Challenges by recycling and revising an article I did for AtHomeInMaryland.com an online travel magazine that has sadly gone away. Since the article is all about RELAXing and having fun in St. Michaels I thought it fit the challenge pretty well… Here goes…] Take a walk on the relaxing streets of St. Michaels. St. Michaels is a place of history, water, crabs, but above all St. Michael’s is a place to relax. Finding a home on the river… The little sea fairing town was built around St. Michaels Episcopal Church which was established in 1677. It was a trading post for farmers and trappers. James Braddock, an English land agent purchased 20 acres in 1778. An early real estate developer, Braddock carved 58 plots out of the land and arranged them around a town green. Along with the houses he included churches, a market and schools. Since the town is on the water fishing and shipbuilding became natural industries. By 1812 a half-dozen firms were building schooners to sail the Chesapeake. It became the “Town That Fooled the British” in the War of 1812. The English fleet was barreling its way up the Chesapeake Bay headed to Baltimore. St. Michaels, with its shipping industry was a clear target for destruction. But in the wee hours of August 10, 1813 as the fleet approached the town’s residents hoisted lanterns into ship’s rigging and high into the tree tops, and the British cannons overshot the town. Only one house took a direct hit. A cannonball crashed through the roof, frightening, but not harming the inhabitants as it rolled down the stairs. That house still stands on Mulberry Street, it is aptly named the “Cannonball House.” Over the next 150 years St. Michaels became one of the major seafood processing centers on the Bay. By 1930 a single processing plant was shipping more than a million pounds of crab meat annually, and 12,000 gallons of oysters a week! But, by the mid 20th century the seemingly boundless harvest of seafood began quickly, to dry up and St. Michaels long history as the “seafood basket” of the Chesapeake was coming to an end. With the establishment of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in 1965 the city turned full-time to tourism as a way of life. St. Michaels beautiful colonial and Victorian homes refashioned themselves as bed and breakfasts, feed stores and tack shops were converted to boutiques and restaurants, and skipjack captains turned from dredging crustaceans to hosting sunset cruises. Interior of one of the boat barns at the Maritime Museum Lots to see and do around town… The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum offers 12 buildings and sits on 18 acres at old Naval Point in St. Michaels Harbor. The Hooper Strait Lighthouse is the iconic center piece of the museum. Built in 1879 the hexagonal lighthouse guarded the wicked shoals near Deals Island. It was accessible only by rowboat then, and the keepers spent months alone on the water tending the 4th level Fresnel lense and keeping weather and vessel records at the “screw pile” lighthouse. But by 1954 the lighthouse was fully automated and the Coast Guard began dismantling the old style lighthouses.. The Hooper Straight house was on the list for demo! Luckily the fledgling Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum was able to purchase it for $1,000 and barge is North to St. Michaels. Today it sits safely on the tip of Naval Point, one of four screw pile designed lighthouses left on the Bay. Visitors can climb into the lighthouse and take a self paced tour of the interior, including the keeper’s quarters and the light, and get a birds eye view of the harbor from the catwalk. The Museum offers a Lighthouse Overnight program for small groups of kids 8-12. At the “Oystering on the Chesapeake” building visitors board the E.C. Collier and listen in as her long time crew brings in the harvest. Dozens of hands-on, kid friendly displays take you through the history and conflicts of the oystering industry and lets you see how Maryland’s favorite mollusk went from the Bay’s bottom to a restaurant’s table top. At the museum’s boat yard you can watch as skipjacks and crab dredgers are restored to new life. If you are itching to get out on the water you can take a tour on the Mister Jim. If you want a more hands on approach, the Museum’s Apprentice For A Day program is a unique opportunity to help build traditional wooden skiffs. The museum is open daily year-round (except Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s day). Canon at St. Mary’s Square St. Mary’s Square lies just to the south of St. Michaels Harbor. See cannons, one of which defended the city in during the War of 1812, and the Mechanic’s Bell that ruled the shipbuilder’s day by ringing at 7am, noon and 5 pm. St. Mary’s Square Museum host historic exhibits centered on the town of St. Michaels. The Museum is open weekends from May to October, Guided walking tours are available at the corner of Chestnut street and St. Mary’s Square on Saturdays beginning at 10:30 am. The tours alternate between “Young Frederick Douglas in St. Michaels” and “Historic St. Michaels Waterfront”. Reservations are required for a docent tour, call 410-745-0530. A Self-Guided walking tour map is also available at the St. Mary’s Museum. Get out on the water! Go down to St. Michaels’ dock or drive over to nearby Tilghman Island for some water action. Get up close and personal with some wild life, including osprey and bald eagles, with Peake Paddle Tours. Tours range from freshwater streams, to tidal rivers, to salt marshes all over the Eastern Shore, and skill levels start at beginner. Chesapeake Lights offers a variety of Lighthouse tours on the Bay. Captain Mike Richards sales the motorized M/V Sharps Island out of Tilghman Island. A 10 hour, 10 lighthouse tour is scheduled for July 24th. The skipjack Rebecca T. Ruark, a National Historic Landmark, also sales out of Tilghman’s. Captain Wade Murphy, Jr. is a 5th generation Chesapeake Bay waterman, and along with a beautiful ride you’ll get a history and science lesson on the Bay. The beautiful canoe-sterned ketch the Lady Patty is berthed in front of the Bay Hundred Restaurant in Tilghman Island and sets sail three times a day for 2 hour cruises including a romantic Champagne Sunset Cruise at 6:30. The Salina II, a vintage catboat hosts private sailing lessons and 2 hr cruises for six. You can also take a Wine or Beer Tasting cruise or even an Overnight Excursion on the Selina II which docks at St. Michaels. Sailing on the Bay. We took a twi-light cruise on the Rebecca T. Ruark which I found both educational and relaxing. This shot if of another vessel as the sun set to the left. There are over 25 Bed and Breakfast establishments in the St. Michaels area, so there’s plenty of variety in cost, location and luxury. Dr. Dodson’s House at 200 Cherry Street began life as a tavern and the town’s first post office in 1799. Fredrick Douglas visited the house after the Civil War to meet with his former master, Captain Thomas Auld. Much of the house still maintains a historic flavor with original fireplaces, woodwork and glass. The house, which is on the St. Mary’s Square Museum walking tour, remains one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in town. It was brought to new life as a Bed and Breakfast after a bit of modernization (read: Air Conditioning and WiFi). The full breakfast is an “Event” from the eggs benedict, to the fresh tomato tarts, to the banana pecan waffles. You won’t leave the table hungry. For Victorian charm try the Cherry Street Inn. This 1880’s house built by a steamboat captain has been lovingly maintained. The Inn is an easy walk to the harbor, The Chesapeake Maritime Museum and the shops and eateries on Main Street (Talbot Street). Five Gables Inn and Spa offers a number of packages for the ultimate escape to the Bay. The signature Spa and Sail package includes two nights at one of their charming Main Street locations, two massages at the on site Aveda Spa, crab dinner for two at the Crab Claw Restaurant, and a two-hour cruise on the Rebecca T. Ruark. Other packages range from a one night champagne and chocolate get away to a four night “Learn to Sail” program that includes three private sailing lessons followed by massages. Five Gables is in the heart of St. Michaels, it is nestled among the Main Street Antique shops and is an easy walk to the harbor and the Maritime Museum. The Five Gables offers 12 rooms and 8 suites and an extended continental breakfast. The iconic Hooper Light House at St. Michaels. Side Bar — Bicentennial Celebration August 10th, 2013— The town will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of St. Michael’s on August 10th. According to the website Eye On Annapolis.net the town will host: re-enactments, boat rides, cannon firings, a Talbot Street parade, horse-drawn carriage rides, an Art show If you stay an extra day you can enjoy the 4 th Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day and Crab Feast. St. Michael’s, Maryland (biondinaadventure.wordpress.com) CBMM Offers $5 Admission For Bicentennial (eyeonannapolis.net) The Viewpoint of a Famed Writer (allthingsfulfilling.com) Top 5 Weekend Getaways in Maryland, Part Iv (academyfordadvantage.com) St.Michaels To Host Battle Of St. Michaels Bicentennial In August (eyeonannapolis.net) Leave a comment \| tags: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Saint Michaels Maryland, War of 1812 \| posted in 1812, American History, History, July Challenge, Maryland, postaday, Sailling, Thought of the Day, United States July Creative Challenge Day 4: PRIDE Well, it’s the Fourth of July and here in America that elicits a lot of PRIDE in our Founding Fathers. So for today’s challenge I did a word collage based on the Declaration of Independence and the original signers. My Declaration word collage. The Declaration is an amazing document and it is worth a trip to the National Archives in Washington DC to see it in person (along with the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 1217 Magna Carta. I’d also strongly suggest a trip to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA where the Declaration was debated and adopted. Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Like the Bible and the Constitution people read the Declaration in different ways, often to fit their specific needs. Indeed, when Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Livingston and Sherman put their heads together to come up with the document they had their disagreements, and before the Second Continental Congress finally adopted it copious compromises had to be accommodated. Alas, certain races and sexes had been edited out of the “all men” altogether (not that women were ever really in the mix to begin with.) Yet, despite it’s flaws and the flaws of the men who signed it, the Declaration remains one of the best treatises on the rights of individual man and of independent states ever written. I encourage you to read it in its entirety. Here’s a full transcript of the Declaration. Or to listen to it HERE from NPR. The Assembly Room inside Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted. For more information on the signers I suggest delving into the profiles posted on The Society of The Descendants of the Signers of the declaration of Independence. Click HERE to read about John Penn from North Carolina (who I picked at random). John Penn was instrumental in organizing the North Carolina delegates to vote for Independence. He: He served in the Continental Congress for six years He signed the Declaration of Independence He signed the Articles of Confederation He signed the Halifax Resolves (the North Carolina Constitution) He was virtual dictator of North Carolina at what arguably was the turning point of the American Revolution in 1781-1782 [DSDI1776.com] John Penn (Continental Congress) (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 3 Comments \| tags: American Revolution, Continental Congress, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, United States Declaration of Independence \| posted in American History, History, July Challenge, postaday, Thought of the Day, United States, Writing	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2148
__label__wiki	0.874214	0.874214	Across the Country, Essential Workers Are on Strike for Black Lives Written by <a href="index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=55158"><span class="small">Bryce Covert, Vox</span></a> Excerpt: "Racial injustice and Covid-19 have collided for many essential workers. Today they're on strike." Workers in a Miami McDonald's before the Covid-19 pandemic. (photo: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group/Getty Images) By Bryce Covert, Vox Racial injustice and Covid-19 have collided for many essential workers. Today they’re on strike. efore she got sick with Covid-19, Deatric Edie typically left her house at 5:30 in the morning every day and wouldn’t get home until 1:30 or 2 in the morning, long after her family was asleep. She has worked in fast food her whole life to support her four children and now a grandchild, and even after the pandemic hit she worked several jobs: one at McDonald’s, another at Papa John’s, and a third at Wendy’s. She’s a shift leader at McDonald’s but still makes just $9 an hour, even though she says some of her peers make $11. “Working three jobs, it’s not enough to cover rent, water, and food,” she said. “I still have to find another way to make those ends meet.” Sometimes that means there’s no food in the house. “I would go without eating to make sure my kids eat,” she said. That was before the pandemic. Now things are even more difficult. She said McDonald’s didn’t provide her with protective equipment or force customers to wear masks. Edie has diabetes and high blood pressure, putting her at higher risk of complications from the coronavirus, but she had to keep working to make sure her family had enough money to pay the rent and buy food. Then one of her coworkers recently got sick. A few days ago she felt very ill herself, struggling to breathe. She tested positive for Covid-19. That means she’s now out of work, at home isolating from her family. She’s not getting paid leave from any of her jobs. “I’m very scared right now,” she said. “My lights can go off, I can’t pay rent.” In response to a request for comment, a McDonald’s representative said in a statement, “McDonald’s enhanced over 50 processes in restaurants. McDonald’s and our franchisees distributed an ample supply of PPE [personal protective equipment] with no supply breaks, including gloves and over 100 million masks, in addition to installing protective barriers in restaurants. We are confident the vast majority of employees are covered with sick pay if they are impacted by COVID-19.” Being home sick with Covid-19 won’t keep Edie from participating in the Strike for Black Lives, though, which she plans to do over FaceTime. On Monday, July 20, tens of thousands of workers from a variety of different lines of work in more than 25 cities will go on strike to demand that the corporations they work for and the government that’s supposed to work for them confront systemic racism. Fast food workers like Edie will be joined by an enormous swath of the workforce: other low-wage workers like airport employees, ride-hail drivers, nursing home caregivers, and domestic workers alongside middle-class teachers and nurses and even high-paid Google engineers. Those who can’t strike the whole day will walk off the job for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time a white police officer kept his knee on Black Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s neck before he died. It’s a massive action that will bring together major unions as well as grassroots organizers. The Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and American Federation of Teachers will join forces with the Fight for 15, United Farm Workers, and the National Domestic Workers Alliance. Social justice organizations, such as the Movement for Black Lives, Poor People’s Campaign, and youth climate organizers will also participate. It represents a unique partnership: Labor unions don’t always act in concert, let alone partner with grassroots and social justice groups. But demand for putting together such an action came from the bottom: workers who have been activated by the toll of the pandemic and the massive uprisings against racial injustice and police violence across the country. They see these things as inextricable. “Across the country, people are gaining a new understanding that it is impossible to win economic justice without racial justice. That health care for all, fair immigration policies, and bold action on climate change all require racial justice,” said Mary Kay Henry, president of SEIU. “This is a unique and hopeful moment in our movement’s history, because in organizing this strike with our partners, we found broad acceptance and acclamation that now is the time to take large-scale action to demand that corporations and government do more to dismantle structural racism and protect Black lives. We are all clear that until Black communities can thrive, none of us can.” Edie says on top of low pay, as a Black woman she’s also had to deal with racism. She sees her ordeal reflected in the struggles of the other workers who will go on strike. “We … are in the same boat,” Edie said. “Because we all are essential workers and we all are fighting for the same things.” Trece Andrews works on the front lines caring for elderly nursing home residents in Detroit, Michigan. Despite her tenure spanning two decades at the same facility, Andrews makes just over $15 an hour. She notes she’s among the luckier ones at her facility; those who work in housekeeping, dietary services, or laundry make more like $10 an hour. “It’s poverty wages we make here,” she said. She makes so little, in fact, that the nursing home isn’t her only job. She’s also started a caregiving business on the side with three clients. As a single mother, she has to forgo health care for her daughter because it would cost so much to add her. She pays out of pocket for her shots and annual physicals. Andrews is now caring for the elderly in the middle of a pandemic that preys on the vulnerable. Nursing homes have been linked to a third of Michigan’s Covid-19 deaths. At first, she said, her facility didn’t give out the proper personal protective equipment, but only distributed it when workers specifically asked for it. Only recently did the facility hand out everything they needed, like masks, gowns, and gloves. And yet there’s a Covid-19 unit at her facility, and some of her coworkers have gotten sick. “Anxiety been high for a lot of us,” she said. “People just scared to come to work.” Her family is also vulnerable. She cares for her father, who has cancer. Her doctor advised her not to go to work, so she took about a month off. But she doesn’t get paid leave, so she eventually went back. “I came on back because you got to have something, money, to survive,” she said. “I just try to distance myself and wear my mask … and protect myself the best I can. But it’s still scary.” Andrews and her coworkers will be walking off the job on Monday to push for change. “We just want to let people know that we are essential workers, too,” she said. “We been put on the backburner.” They’re demanding better pay, benefits, staffing levels, and safety guidelines. She sees their fight connected to the larger movement for racial justice. “A lot of my co-workers are Black and brown people,” she said. She herself is Black. “That’s why to us, we relate it to racism. Because we are the ones doing this hard work, but we’re not getting recognized properly.” Jerome Gage is also a Black worker on the front lines. He’s been a full-time driver for Lyft in Los Angeles for two years. At first he thought he would be able to earn a basic, steady income while fitting in work as he went back to school. And in the beginning he was paid a proportion of his fares. But then the ride-hailing companies changed their systems, and he now gets paid a flat rate per mile. He found himself having to work at specific times to take advantage of peak hours; if he didn’t, there would be times when he made less than minimum wage. “It’s an incredibly depressing experience sitting at 3, 4 am because I have a bill due Monday I have to pay, hoping to make a couple more bucks in the middle of the night,” he said. That’s why he got involved in the fight in his state of California not just to pass AB5, a law passed in September that classifies many gig workers as employees, but to continue to fight to protect it as tech companies have lobbied against it. Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash have bankrolled a November ballot measure that would exempt them from the law. The pandemic has made things more urgent. Demand for rides all but halted as the pandemic hit, which meant Gage went weeks without work. And yet he still hasn’t gotten unemployment benefits despite applying for the benefits Congress extended to nontraditional workers like him. Then there’s safety. Lyft was “incredibly slow to react to the need for PPE for drivers,” he said. “It was an incredibly scary situation.” In July, he said, he got his first packet from Lyft in the mail with protective equipment in it. “They’ve really been negligent in their effort to make a safe, sanitized driving environment.” And yet, he noted, people who are wary of taking public transportation are turning to Uber and Lyft. The services, he said, “are key to help flatten the curve.” On Monday, he plans to cover his car in signs and join a caravan that will begin at a McDonald’s and then travel to the Los Angeles Unified School District and the University of Southern California to demand they both stop using police on campus. He noted that a lot of his fellow gig workers are people of color. “These two things are totally related,” he said. He won’t take any rides while he’s out protesting, and he hopes other drivers, even if they don’t join the caravan, will also turn off the app in solidarity. “I think that will send a significant signal to Lyft and Uber,” he said, “that we have the ability to organize.” Striking workers are making a series of demands: first, that corporations make “an unequivocal” declaration that Black lives matter, but also that they raise wages, allow workers to form unions, offer child care support, and provide health care and sick leave. They also want politicians at every level to “use their executive, legislative, and regulatory powers to begin to rewrite the rules and reimagine our economy and democracy so that communities of every race can thrive.” The movement already has some wins under its belt. When I spoke several days ago to Patricia Parks-Lee, an employee at Loretto Hospital in Illinois, she and her coworkers were planning to time a strike over unfair labor practices with Monday’s action. They had accused management of failing to bargain in good faith over a new contract since December. Parks-Lee makes $19.50 an hour, and many others among the predominantly Black workforce make less than $15. To get by, Parks-Lee usually works at least one other job at a different hospital as a certified nursing assistant. She said she and her coworkers weren’t just striking for better pay, but for “dignity and respect.” But on July 17, before they had to walk off the job, Loretto reached an agreement with workers. Their union, SEIU, said it included “life-changing” wins, such as bringing all workers to at least $15 an hour and raises for others, improved staffing, greater scheduling stability, and immigration protections. The hospital was short-staffed and under-resourced long before the pandemic. Employees bring clothes in from home for the patients who come in without undergarments or wearing soiled clothing. Then, Parks-Lee said, the hospital rationed personal protective equipment like hand sanitizer and gloves. “If you respect who I am and respect my job, why would you limit my ability to do it by counting out the number of gloves?” she said. In response to a request for comment, Mark A. Walker, director of community relations at Loretto, called the allegation that workers were not given proper PPE “blatantly not true and unfounded.” Parks-Lee, who is Black, is a crisis worker in the emergency room at Loretto. That means she is often helping community members most in distress — women fleeing domestic violence, people going without food or shelter. “Whatever the crisis situation presents itself, we try to assist,” she said. Racial injustice impacts not just her and her coworkers, but her patients, too. They are “Black, brown,” lacking in “financial stability,” she said. And yet other hospitals often refuse to accept them and send them on to Loretto instead. “Nobody wants them. But we welcome them,” she said. That’s the throughline bringing all of these varied workers together: outrage over racial injustice, which impacts pay, benefits, and how Black and brown Americans are treated both inside and outside of work. “It’s not surprising that we’re in this together,” Gage said. “We may have different careers, but we’re all going through the same issues.” Andrews says seeing so many different workers come together is “awesome.” “That’s going to show unity,” she said. “It’s going to show that we tired, we’re not playing anymore. We want to be heard.”	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2151
__label__wiki	0.752676	0.752676	Gov. Tambuwal urges parents to uphold moral discipline of children Home Passage Chancellor Arthur Nwankwo goes home in glory Chancellor Arthur Nwankwo goes home in glory By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu THE inimitable Chancellor of the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU), Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo, was interred in his home in Ajalli, Anambra State, on Thursday, December 10, in this year of our lord. He passed away at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu in the afternoon of Saturday, February 1, 2020. The COVID-19 outbreak put his interment on hold until now. In his cherished lifetime, Arthur Nwankwo spoke truth to power with unconquerable courage. His clarity of vision was nonpareil. He had an endearing common touch, mixing with the mighty and the lowly with consummate ease. An author, publisher, polemicist, columnist, administrator, socialist, politician, intellectual, activist etc, Arthur Nwankwo was indeed a remarkable legend. He was to all around him “a strategic source’’, according to the eminent journalist Uche Ezechukwu. He knew the roots of the who’s who in the vast terrain of Nigerian cleavages and could give precise information on literally every mover and shaker anytime, anywhere. As a history maker per excellence, Arthur Nwankwo through his trailblazing publishing company, Fourth Dimension Publishers, Enugu, published the vast majority of books on the Nigeria-Biafra war. It can even be argued that without the intervention of Arthur Nwankwo, a procrastinating Chinua Achebe would not have published The Trouble with Nigeria. Achebe’s words in his Preface to the little masterpiece are here: “To Arthur Nwankwo, publisher, who asked for this book years ago, listed it in his catalogue, then waited patiently, only occasionally prodding delicately; to Mamman Vatsa whose kind but soldierly poem on my fiftieth birthday bluntly reminded me of the unredeemed promise of a certain publisher’s list…” Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka penned in his memoirs, You Must Set Forth At Dawn, that Arthur Nwankwo was the personage who fainted amid the mammoth crowd that came to Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, to welcome home the renowned playwright from self-exile after the death of General Sani Abacha. Well, Arthur denied that he ever fainted, stressing that the fainting episode was just a figment of Soyinka’s vast imagination! Controversy sits on the head of Arthur Nwankwo like an eagle feather. He had a spine-chilling encounter with General Olusegun Obasanjo which made him to write the book Before I Die. His missile-like book, How Jim Nwobodo Rules Anambra State, elicited end-of-the-world-like battles. He eventually released a book on the concomitant sedition charge, his imprisonment and acquittal. It was through Arthur Nwankwo’s court case that sedition was thrown out of the Nigerian statute books. Arthur Nwankwo was an astute believer in the power of the written word, and he was as prolific as they come. Starting out with his 1972 title, Nigeria: The Challenge of Biafra, Arthur Nwankwo wrote well over 50 books on politics, the economy, literature etc. Born on August 19, 1942 in Ajalli, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Arthur Nwankwo was educated at Eastern Mennonite College, Harrisonburg, Virginia, USA, and Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He began his working life at Gulf Oil Headquarters, Pittsburgh. With the start of the war in his native Nigeria he was involved in the Propaganda Directorate of Biafra and served as the editor of the Biafra Newsletter. When the war ended in 1970 he took the option of rebuilding his beloved Igbo land by serving as an insider in the refinement of minds through publishing, first as a co-founder of Nwamife Publishers, Enugu, and then Fourth Dimension. He joined efforts with his compatriots such as Chinua Achebe, Mokwugwo Okoye, Flora Nwapa, Cyprian Ekwensi, Obi Egbuna etc. to unleash the literary ferment east of the Niger that helped to heal the wounds of the devastating war. He was quite close to Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. A stay in Arthur Nwankwo’s New Heaven home in Enugu was almost always an intellectual party. Meeting and arguing with Chief Chuba Okadigbo, for instance, was always enlightening, especially with the dogged politician dismissing all your arguments as being “sophomoric’’! It was in Arthur Nwankwo’s house that he introduced me to Okadigbo’s former wife, Prof Miriam Ikejiani, and her then army officer beau, Henry Clark, with these words: “We are taking Anambra beauty to the Ijaw people via JP Clark’s younger brother’’. One day I was having a discussion with Arthur Nwankwo when Orji Uzor Kalu, before he became Abia State Governor, came to be with us only for the publisher to say: “Orji, go to Danic Hotel and enjoy because you will not understand the intellectual disputation we are having here!’’ When Arthur Nwankwo set up his Outlook Newspapers in Enugu he hired me as a consultant. He never hid his views about Nigeria, as can be seen in these words: “I have always maintained that Nigeria’s only safety valve lies in a roundtable discussion to fashion out a framework for the continued existence of Nigeria as a corporate entity. “The best we have got close to the Republican Constitution of 1963 was the outcome of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference and the last one convoked by former President Jonathan. “What Buhari owes Nigeria is the political will to implement the recommendations of those constitutional conferences. Any other way leads to doom and self-destruction!’’ A Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) that fought Abacha to the death, his membership of political parties such as Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) clearly showcased his broadmindedness and radical bent. The Chancellor of the Eastern Mandate Union (EMU), he was indeed the strongman of war as his traditional title, Ikeogu of Ajalli, proclaimed. Unforgettable – that’s the last word for Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo. – Dec. 11, 2020 @ 17:19\| GMT \| Previous articleNigerian born international model launches online dating App Next articleThe #EndSARS Protest: An “Uprising” to Where…Any Lessons Learnt?	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2153
__label__cc	0.674852	0.325148	Home Business Countdown begins for 2020 ITREALMS e-waste dialogue Countdown begins for 2020 ITREALMS e-waste dialogue COUNTDOWN has commenced for the 2020 ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue slated for Thursday, December 17, by 9 am at the prestigious Welcome Center Hotels, along international airport road, Lagos. The dialogue had earlier received backing from the stakeholders in the digital space, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Association of Licensed Telecom Operations of Nigeria (ALTON) and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) to name a few. The theme for 2020 Electronic Waste (e-Waste) dialogue, according to the Editor-in-chief of ITREALMS Media, Mr. Remmy Nweke, is “e-Waste in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities.” Nweke who doubles as the Lead Consulting Strategist of ITREALMS Media inc, said high level experts have been assembled from the nation’s telecom, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), its counterpart at the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Ministry of Environment and Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) among others are gearing up for the event this year. He also urged intending participants to come and learn for free how to preserve and dispose of their used electrical and electronics as well as the opportunities therein. Further, he noted that 2020 ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue has backings of notable stakeholders including but not limited to telecom regulator, the NCC, industry umbrella body of telecom operators, ALTON and regulators of the environment. Equally, he said that contemporary issues of interest have been mapped out for dissection by relevant stakeholders. ITREALMS Media, he said, resolved to host the 2020 e-Waste dialogue with assemblage of experts to analyze Nigeria’s affliction with concerns to the waste associated with the electrical and electronic equipment coming originating from the likes of mobile phones, computers, TV-sets, and fridges to name but a few. The burden, he said is estimated at 1.1 million tonnes of e-waste annually arising from both local and imported Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) which should worry any average stakeholder in a developing economy like Nigeria, among others. As said by him, ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue aligns with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) organized “Internet Waste Dialogue,” in commemoration of the International eWaste Day (IeWD), held annually. Nweke urged industry stakeholders to leverage ITREALMS e-Waste Dialogue by participating actively he disclosed it would be held face-to-face in compliance with COVID-19 protocol, where as there are plans to concurrently host the event virtually here. – Dec. 16, 2020 @ 16:40 GMT / Previous articleSilas Nwoha is new editor-in-chief of NAN Next articleUnending Boko Haram insurgency and failed propaganda	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2154
__label__cc	0.588515	0.411485	Conclusion of Module 3 Doping : Sports, Organizations and Sciences Лозаннский университет The objective of this course is to encourage a critical understanding of doping. To achieve this goal, this course will rely on a multidisciplinary approach that allow you to see how different disciplines get into a single object, in different perspectives and in often complementary ways. This approach will also allow us to appreciate the complexity of a subject like doping. Doping in sports is a complex practice whose definition and identification is the result of socially and historically constructed norms. This course offers to shed light on the processes that led to the use and prohibition of doping substances. Performance enhancement or physical transformation are two aspects of doping which are seen as problematic, yet even as we speak companies are making fortunes selling body improvement and other forms of “human enhancement” to us. These apparent contradictions will be analysed to show that beyond sanitary questions, doping raises many social, scientific and legal issues. In efforts to control doping, governments and sports authorities have put into place institutions responsible for defining what falls into the category of doping, but also what prevention, repressions and research methods to put into effect. This course will also explore biological control measures such as the biological passport, key legal dimensions, organisations that produce performance, as well as the sociological dimensions of doping. Besides the Professors of University of Lausanne, the best experts of doping are involved in this course: experts from an Anti-doping Laboratory (LAD- Lausanne-Switzerland), from the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), from the UEFA (soccer), and from the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). Teaser: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20Q3eR_g7rU Main Learning Outcomes At the end of the course the participants will be able to : 1. Identify the “cultural” dimension of doping, that is as a historical practice linked to the transformation of social norms, 2. Go from a binary way of thinking - for or against doping - to an understanding of the complexity of this phenomenon which is biological, psychological and sociological, all at the same time, 3. Recognize the institutions, the actors and the practices of the fight against doping, 4. Explain how the social and organisational context influences individuals decisions and how this influence can be reduced by effective prevention measures, 5. Identify how the fight against doping is led and how testing is carried out. I loved this course. It fed my existing knowledge on doping in sport and has since influenced my behaviour as a coach. The course was very interesting and an eye opener as to what doping really is. I have learnt a lot. Module 3 - Organizations and doping: prevention and repression Module 3 will help you understand the role of sports organisations in the fight against doping through two examples: the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). This module will also explore the role of organisations in charge of fighting against doping, by presenting two major actors: the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) whose activities are also linked to doping. These organisations will be presented through four interviews with: Frédéric Donzé, the director of the European branch of the WADA ; Marc Vouillamoz, Head of UEFA's antidoping unit ; Matthieu Reeb, the Secretary general of the CAS; Olivier Aubel, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Sport Studies the the University of Lausanne, who will present the new measures put into place by the UCI to prevent doping in cycling. 1-The role of the World Anti-Doping Agency25:39 2-The UEFA's doping policies16:41 3- The role of the CAS17:35 4- Doping prevention policies in cycling27:59 Conclusion of Module 33:09 Fabien Ohl Professor of Sociology of Sports / Professeur en Sociologie du Sport Выбор языкаАлбанскийАнглийскийКазахскийЛитовскийМонгольскийНемецкийНепальскийРумынскийСловацкийТамильскийТурецкийШведскийЯпонский [MUSIC] The four intervention presented in the module have shown that, first, even if efforts against doping come up against obstacles, measures are in place and they have an effect on sports organizations. First, even if efforts against doping come up against obstacles, measures are in place and they have an effect on sports organizations. Second, the WADA has coordinated doping prevention and the putting into place of a clear legal framework. Their work in terms of prevention, repression and research has facilitated the fight against doping, all the while calling attention to some of its limits. Third, that international federations play an important role in the fight against doping. They namely play an active role in organizing testing and informing athletes. As powerful as they are, international federations are not independent. They have to collaborate with national federations and clubs to encourage them to put into place efficient prevention measures. As in many other legal domains, the facts behind doping can be put into question. Proof contested and incriminated persons must have the right to appeal. So CAS plays an important role here because it is an independent authority specialize in sports. So CAS offers flexible, fast, and relatively cheap procedures, especially when it comes to doping, so as to avoid blocking an athlete's career unnecessarily and unjustly. Finally, with the UCI's case, presented by Olivier Aubel, we can also see that federations collaborate with scientists to come up with innovative prevention solutions. The fight against doping is therefore made up of constantly evolving measures that involve many organizations and supports institutions. When it comes to fighting against doping, one of sports organization's main actions is to have adequate means of doping substance detections and analysis by using bio-analytical and forensic methods. The last module of the course will cover the major approaches that are at the center of doping control policies. Let's go discover them now. [MUSIC]	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2155
__label__wiki	0.614872	0.614872	Croatia: 43MW Wind park Danilo, project development case study 5. December 2014. / SEE Energy News Croatia got its biggest wind farm “Danilo” near Sibenik, with 19 generators, with installed capacity of 43 megawatts. Wind turbine generators were put into operation during the summer and it is expected to produce 100 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. The investor is a company “RP Global Projects”, part of the holding “RP Global”, which is in Croatia decided to invest in 2001 when the state passed a package of energy legislation and thereby created favourable conditions for attracting investors. Croatia is the first country in the region that will produce electricity from wind. Serbia, Republika Srpska and Bosnia and Herzegovina cannot still count on kilowatts of wind. -Project is designed in a way that meets the most stringent environmental criteria, and the most modern technology is used on it – said director of the company RP “Global” Croatia, Bojan Rescec during commissioning of the wind farm, in June of this year. Rescec explained that it took a lot of perseverance and struggle with bureaucracy in order to put the wind farm into operation. Analysis, studies, elaborates and “expert basis with the aim of the project optimizing” lasted for the entire eight years. As he says, the success is the result of years of investment, effort and a lot of enthusiasm – It is a long process – from Preliminary analysis of connection options (PAMP) and issuing Preliminary energy consent at the location permit stage, pre-agreement on accession, Study of optimal technical solutions of connection (EOTRP) in phase of construction, the agreement on connection, until internal review of HOPS and final issuing of connection approval (EES) and the agreement on the network use, after which the infrastructure is permanently surrender to the ownership and management of the HOPS. The electricity purchase is contracted with HROTE (Operator) by Agreement on the electricity purchase for 14 years. HOPS, Croatian operator for transfer is the contractual partner in the part of the network connection. Each investor is required to build the network connection and thus to ensure the placement of the produced energy. RP “Global”, an investor in wind farm “Danilo”, is an independent power producer and it is active in France, Poland, Portugal, Chile, Peru and Georgia, and the headquarters of the company in Vienna. Croatia insufficiently encourages the energy sector According to a study recently published by the European Commission, Croatia is a country in the EU which invests at least in the energy sector. The most developed countries also are the countries that invest most in energy. From 2008 to 2012, Croatia has subsidized the energy sector with only 30MEUR. Study crashes prejudices that Europe invests most in renewable energy. According to the report from the European Commission, the most was invested in energy consummation, in the form of various tax incentives and subsidies. Considering the energy sources, the most incentives are given to the solar power plant, then the wind power plants, coal, biomass, nuclear power plants, gas, and finally, to the hydro power plants. Croatia has only recently become a member of the EU and as such it is quite behind when it comes to investing in renewable energy. Experts in Croatia emphasize that the key mistake that Croatia is not timely strengthen its industrial base which would follow the development of RES sector and acquired reference at home, because this way mainly promotes the use of foreign technologies and products. It seems to be still the most invested in fossil fuels, no matter how such information is not transparent.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2158
__label__wiki	0.561235	0.561235	Goodwin Agency A novelist, a dramatist and a poet, Serge Lamothe carried on several trades before devoting himself to writing. A holder of a master’s degree in literature, he published to this day four novels: La Longue Portée (1998), La Tierce Personne (2000), L’Ange au berceau (2002) and Les Baldwin (2004). He’s also published poems and short stories in literary journals. His play, Le Prince de Miguasha was granted the Yves-Theriault Award by; Radio-Canada in 2003. His adaptation for the stage of Kafka’s Le Procès novel (The Trial) was produced by Le Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, in Montreal, and directed by filmmaker François Girard (The Red Violin). His fourth book Les Baldwin is currently being translated for publication next Fall as The Baldwins by Talonbooks in Vancouver. (Kafka's Trial - theatrical adaptation) The dark Trial of Josef K. is brought to life in an authentic dramatization of Le Procès. Matt Radz The Gazette, Montreal, November 6, 2004. (The Baldwins) The Baldwins are among us ! Serge Lamothe pens a book that is both surprising and exhilarating! Benny Vigneault Le Soleil, Quebec City, May 2, 2004 Delightfully disconcerting, this book can be savoured thanks to a magnificent writing that reveals a stunning imagination. (…) A tone that undeniably recalls the genius of Kafka. (…) After his remarkable trilogy (The Long Range, The Third Person and The Angel in the Cradle), Serge Lamothe embarks on the exploration of a dreamlike and zany world that is inexplicably believable. One simply has to let go of standard reading formats and surrender to the bliss of the imaginary. Are you ready for the Baldwin experience? Stéphane Despatie Voir Montreal, April 22, 2004. In this novel, Serge Lamothe sets the foundations of an ambitious and innovative writing project, laden with surprises! Antoine Tanguay Le Soleil, Quebec City, March 14th 2004. Getting to know the Baldwins is like slipping into the inscrutable maze of the human soul. (…) Serge Lamothe’s novel falls under the sign of utter creative freedom and is filled with word and language play, evocative imagery and poetic moods. When at the end “a black lake comes ablaze and reddens the night sky”, it recalls the unforgettable sentence that opens Hubert Aquin’s Prochain épisode. A similar sequence of emotions, abrupt disorientations and tugs at the heart can be found in The Baldwins. Suzanne Giguère Le Devoir, Montreal, April 10th 2004. It is the subtlety of the writing and the irony of the language that are so enchanting in this collection of short texts, in which echoes of the poetry of Cosmicomics, one of Italo Calvino’ s masterpieces, or the biting humour of Boris Vian in The Ants can at times be found. Georges Desmeules J’ai lu, Quebec City, April 2004. In his fourth novel, Serge Lamothe makes us happily dive into a ludic universe that is not unlike Monty Python’s. And even though this book is composed of many short texts, each portraying a Baldwin in his own twisted and well-crafted world, it can still be read in one sitting, with much pleasure and a sly smile upon one’s lips. François Lemay Ici Montreal, April 1, 2004. In this novel, Serge Lamothe sets the foundations of an ambitious and innovative writing project, laden with surprises. The author of La longue portée (The Long Range) reveals here a new facet of his colourful imagination, filled with characters who, even if they are at times kooky or unnerving, are always fascinating! Le Soleil, march 14, 2004. Due in good part to Serge Lamothe’s narrative virtuosity, L’Ange au berceau (The Angel in the Cradle) does more than satisfy the great expectations raised by his two preceding novels. This is an ambitious narrative collage that draws from all forms and styles of novel writing (…), this kaleidoscopic book is nothing short of a ‘tour de force’ and irrefutable proof, if it was at all needed, that Serge Lamothe is now one of the front runners of contemporary literature. Le Libraire, Summer 2002. L’Ange au berceau (The Angel in the Cradle) presents the last instalment of a work that has been carefully, patiently created and organized, with the power and breadth of great literary works. The sentences, the images, and the ideas they convey touch us in a subtle way, and require a certain span of time to be fully felt. Whether experienced on a small or a large scale, the sense of tragedy often does its work long after the initial shock! Le Soleil, September 15, 2002 There are novels that are infused with intelligence; reading them allows us to come closer to the mysteries of the world and of the self. (…) What a pleasure to read an authentic novel brimming with a humour that is both brilliant and refined, and where playfulness balances the acuity of a scrutinizing eye! André Brochu Lettres québécoises, Spring 2003. Serge Lamothe shows himself to be a young novelist in full possession of his talent who dares every audacity, including the least widespread and most appreciated one: stylistic sobriety. We can thus see this pseudo whodunit as a kind of one-way mirror behind which hides (but barely!) a true writer, and a darned talented one at that! La Presse, April 2, 2000. Serge Lamothe’s writing is entrancing (…); we are charmed by the incantatory tone of certain passages, by the poetry of the language and by the evocative power of the images. If this author’s strength, since La longue portée (The Long Range) 1998, resides in rare but spectacular plot twists (…), it especially rests in his ability to make his characters transparent, along with their misery, their power and their humanity. To accomplish this, sobriety and simplicity are an author’s best allies. Pascale Navarro Voir Montréal, April 6, 2000. This is a spectacular first novel from an author whose upcoming works should be carefully watched! Ici Montréal, November 5, 1998. In this line of work, it is very rare to emerge from reading a first novel with the certainty that one is dealing with an extremely talented writer. This is nevertheless what just happened to me. I have no intention of erring on the side of prudence: Serge Lamothe, if he holds on to his inspiration and discipline over the years, will lay the foundations of a potentially major literary work. Voir Québec, December 3, 1998. Click here if you don't see a menu bar to the left of this window.. Designed and realized by Sophie Voillot	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2160
__label__cc	0.620716	0.379284	Our Products >> Kansas Ormus The salt used in this process was handpicked by me in from the Strataca mine. I used the pink colored pieces displayed in the picture. Strataca, also known as Kansas Underground Salt Museum, is located in Hutchinson, Kansas, United States. It is built within one of the world’s largest deposits of rock salt and provides the opportunity to go 650 feet (198 meters) beneath the Earth’s surface. It is a unique destination attraction for exploring an environs carved from salt deposits formed 275 million years ago by the Permian Sea. The museum is located in the Hutchinson Salt Company mine which began operation in 1923 as Carey Salt Company. There are 14 other salt mines in the United States, but none of them are accessible to tourists. Early in the Permian Period what is now Kansas was under a narrow, shallow sea that teemed with life. As time progressed the sea level receded and shrunk until the sea became a restricted embayment. The southern end of this embayment, New Mexico and Texas, contained massive reefs and lagoons that were home to over 250 species of invertebrates, fish, and sharks. Today these reefs comprise the steep El Capitan promontory in the Guadalupe Mountains of Texas and New Mexico and area especially rich in fossils of the Permian Period. To the North, however, the embayment began to dry out. This area of the embayment, similar to today’s Dead Sea, was far too salty to harbor any life but a few strains of bacteria. The water became so saline that salt precipitated out of the water onto the sea floor, forming the salt beds. Kansas Ormus Locally collected Ormus minerals made with gourmet Dead Sea Salt, Kansas Strataca salt, and harmonically structured water. Ormus is the final result of a natural & ancient alchemical process beginning with Dead Sea salt and Kansas Strataca salt and ending with isolated noble metals including osmium, iridium, platinum, gold, rhodium, silver, and palladium in a monoatomic form. Abundant research on this substance indicates it is superconductive and capable of carrying and transmitting 'light' or electromagnetic energy. Ormus is considered extremely important for full spectrum body building These statements have not been evaluated by FDA and are not intended to prevent, cure or treat disease.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2166
__label__wiki	0.628888	0.628888	Schoenhouse & Manter A Team to Trust Most California Renters Want to Own a Home Eighty percent of California renters aspire to homeownership. A lack of money and insufficient knowledge of the home-financing process may be preventing more renters from making the jump to ownership. California accounts for six of the nation’s 10 most expensive rental markets as of December, led by San Francisco at No. 1. Even with limited affordability conditions, homeownership is still a cornerstone of the California dream, with 80 percent of renters in the state aspiring to purchase real estate. That’s yet another key finding from the California Association of Realtors’ 2018 State of the California Consumer survey, in which four of five Golden State renters said that they want to own a home at some point in the future. Nearly half would be spurred to purchase real estate if their job situation improved, while 40 percent said that getting married or starting a family would prompt a buy. Half of state renters told CAR that homeownership is very or extremely important to them. About 20 percent of Californians surveyed say that owning a home is a smart long-term investment, and a near-equal number think that purchasing real estate will give them more freedom than renting. “It’s encouraging that the majority of renters still believe buying a home is more than just a shelter over their heads,” CAR President Jared Martin said in a statement. “While they may not be there yet, many renters are motivated to become homeowners as they recognize the many benefits.” Factors preventing more renters from buying a piece of Golden State real estate include a lack of finances and low affordability. According to CAR’s latest Housing Affordability Index, only 27 percent of state households could afford the median-priced $588,530 single-family home in the third quarter. Some renters may also be reluctant to enter the housing market due to limited financial knowledge or misinformation. About 40 percent are unfamiliar with credit-rating and loan details, while the same amount incorrectly believe that they need more than a 20 percent down payment to become homeowners. While Californians who do successfully buy a home will likely pay a pretty penny for it, they will also escape sky-high rental costs. CAR says that California renters spend an average of $1,300 per month on housing, which represents 45 percent of the average income. And in the state’s largest coastal cities, where jobs are plentiful, renters can expect to shell out a lot more. Zumper’s December 2018 Rent Report puts the current cost of a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco at $3,560, the highest in the U.S. Five other California cities — San Jose, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego, and Santa Ana — rank among America’s 10 most expensive rental markets, with monthly costs ranging from $2,480 to $1,880. (Photo: iStock/jacoblund) 3515 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette, CA 94549 Lisa:925 788 4521 Miles:925 788 0723 © 2021 All Rights Reserved.Schoenhouse and Manter Partners	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2168
__label__cc	0.739792	0.260208	Riding the (Crowded) Rails lborkowski \| August 11, 2010 When I visited Shanghai a few years ago, one of my favorite moments was riding the maglev train from the airport to a Metro station on the outskirts of the city. As I recall, its speed got up to around 250 mph - a counter in each car displayed the speed, and the numbers changed in a blur as the train accelerated out of the station. I thought about how wonderful it would be to have such a high-speed train between DC and New York or LA and San Francisco, but feared it couldn't happen in the US. Flights and long drives are not only major sources of greenhouse gases, they're also growing sources… Gleanings - mind & brain, law and war, media, bad trains ddobbs \| March 19, 2010 Cordyceps in glass, by glass artist Wesley Fleming -- a strange depiction of a rather horrid business. For more, do go to the source, the lovely Myrmecos Blog, which is all about bugs. Now, the best of the week's gleanings. I'm going to categorize them from here out, and at least try to keep them from being from completely all over everywhere about everything.Mind, brain, and body (including those gene things) While reading Wolpert's review of Greenberg's book about depression (he didn't much like it), I found that the Guardian has a particularly rich trove of writings and resources on…	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2169
__label__wiki	0.791539	0.791539	SubTopic All Subtopics IT Compliance Advisor New U.S. sanctions target foreign hackers; Facebook battles EU over privacy Francesca Sales IT Compliance Advisor is the blog companion to SearchCompliance.com, which examines strategic issues that are important to IT professionals who manage governance, risk management and compliance infrastructure and operations. 'Gen V' attacks: The next cybersecurity problem? SheHacks hackathon at BU promotes female tech advancement Being Cyber Essentials certified will help prep for GDPR Huge bank fines could have been avoided with ... – ComputerWeekly.com HSBC adopts fintech to fight money laundering – ComputerWeekly.com HSBC completes UK fraud defences – ComputerWeekly.com In Financial Services, IT Modernization Is Key to Digital Transformation Success –Dell Technologies VMware How MongoDB Provides Strategic Advantage in Financial Services –MongoDB, Inc. Automate Data Security –Red Hat Following the recent streak of high-profile cyberattacks on U.S. companies, the Obama administration last week unveiled a program that would impose sanctions on individuals or groups overseas that are potential sources of cyberthreats. Also in the news: Facebook’s privacy practices face growing scrutiny in Europe; banks shed high-risk customers to avoid penalties; and more. U.S. sanctions program aims at foreign cyberattackers President Barack Obama last week issued an executive order that deems destructive cyberattacks a “national emergency” and allows the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze the assets and bar the financial transactions of individuals and groups that engage in such activities. The sanctions target entities outside the United States who threaten its national security, foreign policy and economy through malicious cyberactivities, according to the executive order. The program grants the administration use of the same penalties it applies on other threats, such as the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, Reuters reported. According to a report from Reuters, security and legal experts consider the move a promising step in light of the persistent string of attacks on U.S. computer networks. However, expert Mark Rasch, former Justice Department trial attorney, said that the breadth of power the program gives the executive branch could result in a “compliance nightmare for companies.” Additionally, security experts cited the difficulty of identifying hackers responsible for these attacks. Facebook faces mounting heat from the EU over privacy Facebook is facing mounting probes into its privacy practices from various European authorities, reported The Wall Street Journal. In recent weeks, data privacy regulators from France, Italy and Spain have joined a group of regulators from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands that is investigating the social networking giant’s data handling practices. The group is looking into how Facebook is integrating data from its various services, including Instagram and WhatsApp, to target advertising, as well as how the company is tracking users’ browsing habits through its “like” button. Typically, Facebook’s privacy compliance in Europe falls under the purview of the data protection authority in Ireland, where the company’s European headquarters is located. However, in advance of impending changes to the EU’s data protection regulations, European regulators from other countries have increasingly been taking on big U.S. technology companies in addition to Facebook, including Amazon, Apple and Google, according to WSJ. Some of the regulators launching the probes say that the “right to be forgotten” ruling, made by the European Court of Justice (the top court in the EU) last year, is a precedent that justifies their right to investigate Facebook. Others, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office in the U.K., which hasn’t joined the effort, says it recognizes the role of the Irish data protection regulator over Facebook’s privacy compliance in Europe. Regulators tell banks to rein in widespread closures of risky accounts Banks are closing down the accounts of high-risk customers in response to a record number of penalties imposed by U.S. regulators in recent years regarding inadequate risk controls, according to The Wall Street Journal‘s Risk & Compliance blog. Moreover, some U.S. authorities have previously urged banks to stop transacting with certain customers. Now, regulators are growing concerned that the entire lines of business these banks are cutting off are turning to less regulated or underground institutions, particularly in the areas of money-transfer services and foreign-correspondent banking. Officials ranging from Comptroller of the Currency Tom Curry to Adam Szubin, the U.S. Treasury Department’s acting undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, are now advising banks to be more discerning in their decisions to leave or not take on a customer relationship because it is considered at high risk for money laundering. It’s doubtful that regulators’ shift in tone will prompt these banks to immediately reverse their decision regarding whole categories of high-risk customers, some experts told WSJ. One reason is the vagueness of recent guidelines around risk controls; another reason, according to Rich Riese, senior vice president of the American Bankers Association’s Center for Regulatory Compliance, is that banks are unlikely to take back the high-risk customers they’ve recently shed. U.S. Justice Department deems HSBC slow on compliance changes British multinational bank HSBC, which in 2012 was charged with laundering money on behalf of Mexican cartels and transferring money for nations blacklisted by the U.S., such as Iran and Sudan, has been slow in meeting the requirements of its $1.9 billion deferred-prosecution agreement (DPA), according to a court filing made by federal prosecutors as part of a quarterly update on the bank’s progress. In the filing, which summarizes the findings of Michael Cherkasky, the independent monitor who has been following HSBC’s progress for over a year, the U.S. Justice Department commends HSBC’s progress in areas such as risk assessment and compliance monitoring and testing; however, it also highlighted two areas in which the bank has been “too slow” with its progress and must do more: its corporate culture and its compliance technology. According to the filing, the bank’s overhaul was initially met with resistance, pointing to pushback from the managers at HSBC’s U.S. unit for global banking and markets, which resulted in an internal audit report that the filing said was “more favorable to the business than it would otherwise have been,” The New York Times reported. The filing also docks the bank’s technology systems as needing further improvement, saying it continues to “suffer from fragmentation and lack of connectivity.” These weaknesses, the filing said, could sacrifice the quality of customer data collected and analyzed by the bank. They also inhibit auditors’ view into customers’ banking history to look into potentially suspicious activity, the filing said.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2174
__label__cc	0.621529	0.378471	Broken Brain with Dhru Purohit Behind The Scenes: Max Lugavere on Building a Personal Brand and Turning Your Passion into a Business Is there something that you’re dreaming about—that you would love to share with the world, but maybe you’re afraid to give a voice to it because you’re not sure how it will turn out, what others will think, or how you can make money doing something that you truly love? On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host, Dhru, talks to Max Lugavere, a filmmaker, health and science journalist, and the author of the New York Times best-selling book Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life. He is also the host of the #1 iTunes health podcast The Genius Life. Lugavere appears regularly on the Dr. Oz Show, The Rachael Ray Show, and The Doctors. He has contributed to Medscape, Vice, Fast Company, CNN, and the Daily Beast, has been featured on NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and in The Wall Street Journal. He is a sought-after speaker and has given talks at South by Southwest, TEDx, the New York Academy of Sciences, the Biohacker Summit in Stockholm, Sweden, and many others. In this episode, Dhru and Max talk about the steps it takes to build your career in the wellness space, and how to put out content that is true to you. They also talk about the lessons he learned from putting out award winning documentaries, New York Times best-selling books, and a #1 ranked health podcast. In this episode, we dive into: -Max’s background story (4:30) -What inspired Max to create a documentary on the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases (14:10) -How to move through imposter syndrome (27:34) -How to find your voice (34:08) -How Max funded his first documentary (41:43) -How to financially support yourself when you are first starting out on your entrepreneurship journey (52:40) -How Max’s documentary ended up on the Dr. Oz show (1:09:02) -How to write a book proposal (1:26:04) -The process of writing a book (1:29:38) -How to pitch a podcast (1:37:45) -How to make a living in the field you are passionate about (1:46:10) For more on Max Lugavere, be sure to follow him on Instagram @maxlugavere, on Facebook @maxlugavere, on Twitter @maxlugavere, and on YouTube @maxlugavere. Check out his podcast, The Genius Life, here, and check out his website https://www.maxlugavere.com. You can order his book, Genius Foods, right here. His new book, The Genius Life: Heal Your Mind, Strengthen Your Body, and Become Extraordinary, will be released March 2020. #186: 5 Simple (But Powerful) Reminders for 2021 Welcome to The Big Idea of the Week!On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host, Dhru Purohit shares 5 powerful quotes to help you set the right intention for 2021 or build on the intention that you’ve already set:1)“The news, unfortunately, is designed to be the lowest common denominator of the human experience.” - Michael Bernard Beckwith2)“What others think of you is none of your business.” - Bryon Katie3)“Everything is always the way it is, until one day it’s not.” - Dhru Purohit4)“The greatest act of courage is to be and to own all of who you are — without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth of who you are.” - Debbie Ford5)“If you get the inside right, the outside will fall into place." - Eckhart TolleBonus quotes: “And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” - Paulo Coelho“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” ― Robin S. Sharma.For more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here. Discover The Secrets to Aging in Reverse We often think of aging as synonymous with decline. We believe that having memory loss, becoming slow and less agile, experiencing joint pain and stiffness, increasing diseases, and need for medications are all viewed as ‘normal’ as we age. The truth is, becoming overweight, sick, and slow are NOT inevitable.We need to reframe how we view aging. The current theory that aging is just a slow and painful decline until we die is outdated and archaic. Currently, our healthspans do not equal our lifespans. Your healthspan is how well you live, your lifespan is how long you live. So while it’s true that human bodies cannot live forever, there are proven scientific methods to extend our healthspan, and that’s really what matters.On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, we are sharing episode 1 from our upcoming 8-part docu-series, the Longevity Roadmap, hosted by Dr. Mark Hyman.In the Longevity Roadmap, you’ll learn all about the prevalent diseases of aging that decrease healthspan, how the conventional approach to these conditions is backwards, how to identify and treat the root cause of aging using the Functional Medicine approach, and more importantly, how to improve your healthspan to live a long, vibrant life.In Episode 1, we'll dive into an overview of longevity and the difference between healthspan and lifespan. We'll discuss the 7 systems of Functional Medicine and how imbalances in each system can lead to disease.We’ll also cover:The issue with the disease-focused approach.How the 7 main organ systems are responsible for the majority of chronic disease.Practical steps you can take today to improve your healthspan.This 8-part docu-series, explores the Functional Medicine approach to heart disease, cancer, balancing hormones, and brain health, how to eat for longevity, and innovative therapies that have been shown to increase healthspan. Join Dr. Hyman and other experts and doctors at The UltraWellness Center to learn how to create optimal health and Become Young at Any Age.You can watch the Longevity Roadmap docu-series for free, between January 13th and 20th—click here to sign-up: https://longevityfilm.com/. #185: Build Your Brain and Burn Fat with Shawn Stevenson Food is complicated. It's a key controller of our state of health or disease. It's a social centerpiece for the most important moments of our lives. It's the building blocks that creates our brain, enabling us to have thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It's the very stuff that makes up our bodies and what we see looking back at us in the mirror. Food isn't just food—it's the thing that makes us who we are. So why does figuring out what to eat feel so overwhelming?On today’s Broken Brain Podcast, our host Dhru talks to Shawn Stevenson, the author of the international bestselling book Sleep Smarter and creator of The Model Health Show, one of the top health podcasts in the world. A graduate of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, Shawn studied business, biology, and nutritional science, and went on to found Advanced Integrative Health Alliance, a company that provides wellness services for individuals and organizations worldwide. Shawn has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, The New York Times, Muscle & Fitness, ESPN, and many other major media outlets. He is also an in-demand keynote speaker for numerous organizations, universities, and conferences. In this episode, Dhru and Shawn dive deep into the topic of fat and why body fat is not really the culprit it’s been made out to be, how our bodies actually “burn” body-fat, and the key hormones, enzymes, and nutrients involved in this process. They talk about the surprising way that our gut bacteria controls our body weight, and the research on how food affects our relationships. They also discuss how we have an epidemic of food insecurity and health disparities in our world today, the startling data around food inequality, and what we can actually do to help fix it. In this episode, we dive into: -What fat really is and why it’s so important to our survival (6:14) -How your microbiome determines your body composition (18:10) -How the misconstrued science of calories has contributed to growing diet struggles (27:13)-How our psychology impacts what food does to us (37:36)-How stress impacts our metabolic health (51:16)-Fat loss and the importance of diversity of our gut microbiome (52:53) -How nutrition affects our relationships, conflict resolution, and even aggressive behavior (1:14:47)-How Shawn overcame degenerative disc disease (1:22:41) -How our social structures determine our food choices (1:33:38) -The most powerful agent of change (1:47:37) For more on Shawn Stevenson you can follow him on Instagram @ShawnModel, on Facebook @TheModelHealthShow, on Twitter @ShawnModel, on YouTube @TheShawnModel, and through his website https://themodelhealthshow.com//. Get his book, Eat Smarter: Use the Power of Food to Reboot Your Metabolism, Upgrade Your Brain, and Transform Your Life at https://eatsmarterbook.com/.Also mentioned in this episode:-NASA’s experiment on gravity - https://youtu.be/9-YNaN-5mncFor more on Dhru Purohit, be sure to follow him on Instagram @dhrupurohit, on Facebook @dhruxpurohit, on Twitter @dhrupurohit, and on YouTube @dhrupurohit. You can also text Dhru at (302) 200-5643 or click here https://my.community.com/dhrupurohit.Interested in joining Dhru’s Broken Brain Podcast Facebook Community? Submit your request to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2819627591487473/.This episode of Broken Brain is brought to you by Bioptimizers.My new favorite magnesium is from a company called Bioptimizers—their Magnesium Breakthrough formula contains 7 different forms which all have different functions in the body. There is truly nothing like it on the market. Right now you can try Bioptimizers Magnesium Breakthrough for 10% off, just go to www.bioptimizers.com/brain and use the code BRAIN10 at checkout. Copyright Dhru Purohit	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2175
__label__cc	0.577296	0.422704	Seven Months in Tel Aviv Notes about life and politics in Israel About Allen Katzoff, the Author Contact Allen Katzoff Home Demolitions: A Challenge to Israel’s Moral Credibility Allen Katzoff Home demolitions, Israel, Jerusalem, West Bank Anata, Area C 1 Comment “I still remember the day the Israelis destroyed our house. It was the last day of Ramadan…. Suddenly we heard some noise outside, and when my father looked out from the window, he saw the Israeli tanks in front of our building. I started crying and shouting. I knew they came to kill us….” Young Palestinian boy before his home was demolished Of all the policies of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, home demolitions are one of the most disturbing. Since the year 2000, almost four thousand Palestinian homes, farm structures and other buildings were wrecked. These were “administrative demolitions,” having nothing to do with security or war. Last year, over one-thousand men, women and children were made homeless when their homes were destroyed along with most of their belongings. These demolitions occur without prior notice. There is just a knock on the door, sometimes even in the middle of the night as happened in the village of Anata last winter. The soldiers and bulldozers are outside, and the residents are ordered to evacuate immediately. Sometimes they are given a few minutes to grab whatever belongings they can. Sometimes they are prevented from doing so. Whatever is left behind is destroyed, buried under the rubble. West Bank Palestinian house before it was demolished. See below for after demolition. The result is a total loss of the most important asset the family has. Most of these families are poor to begin with. The demolition completes their impoverishment, leading to a psychological trauma with lasting physical and mental health impacts. And to add insult to injury, they often are fined tens of thousands of shekels to pay for the cost of the demolition. West Bank house pictured above after it was destroyed. This destruction occurs because Palestinians have constructed or renovated their homes, farms, and businesses without obtaining building permits. The catch-22 they face is that it is almost impossible for them to obtain building permits. Some readers may find this information troubling. Which brings up the question of why I am writing about this material at all. My hope is that readers will forward this information on so as to inform as many others as possible about these practices. This is how pressure can be brought to bear on American and Israeli government and community leaders to take action to change these practices. Background on Demolitions The West Bank is divided into three areas. Area A: 18% of the West Bank land. Under the complete control of the Palestinian Authority. Area B: 21% of the land. Under joint Israeli-Palestinian control. Israel and the Palestinian Authority jointly control the security and law enforcement in this area while the Palestinian Authority controls certain administrative functions. Area C: 61% of the land. Under the complete control of Israel. In addition there is East Jerusalem, the eastern half of the city that was conquered by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. This, along with 28 nearby Palestinian villages, was annexed into the Jerusalem municipality immediately after the war, becoming part of Israel. Palestinian administered Areas A and B are divided among 200 separate communities, the vast majority of which are less than one square mile in size. All of these areas are separated by Israeli controlled Area C land. Thus the parts of the West Bank controlled by the Palestinian Authority are fragmented, discontinuous enclaves that inhibit effective governance and economic development. The map looks like Swiss cheese. Most of the vacant land near communities that would normally be used for the natural expansion of villages is designated as Area C, unavailable to the Palestinian residents living right next to it. Map of the West Bank showing Palestinian administered Areas A & B (beige color) and Israeli controlled Area C (Brown color). Notice how Palestinian controlled areas are isolated, discontinuous enclaves. Israeli policies prohibit Palestinians from building in Area C. New construction must conform to the master development plans that are produced by Israeli authorities. Unfortunately, Palestinian communities have been left out of the master plans so Palestinian construction is permitted in just 1% of Area C. In East Jerusalem, the situation is slightly better. Palestinians are allowed to build on 13% of the land. However, that land is already densely populated with little room for new construction. Plus, although technically they are allowed to apply for a building permit, bureaucratic procedures are onerous, expensive, and entail lengthy delays (sometimes years). 94% of building permit applications in Area C and East Jerusalem have been rejected in recent years. The result is that housing becomes overcrowded and unlivable as families grow, businesses cannot expand, and Palestinian villages cannot legally build even essential infrastructure to meet their communities’ basic needs. Demolitions occur because Palestinians build or renovate existing structures without building permits. Even major repairs, such as replacing an old leaky roof, requires a building permit. For individual Palestinians, the choice they face is to give up their homes and move to Area A, or to build and take the chance they will avoid demolition. Most choose the latter because they don’t want to leave their homes within a close-knit community of social and family ties. Ruins of West Bank house demolished in 2012. In addition to Palestinians, 510,000 Jewish Israelis live beyond the Green Line, the former Israeli border before the 1967 Six-Day War. Of these, about 200,000 live in large and rapidly expanding Jewish neighborhoods that ring the outskirts of East Jerusalem, creating a barrier between Palestinian neighborhoods and the rest of the West Bank. See a previous blog post to visualize this better. The remaining 310,000 Jewish settlers live in Area C in 250 Jewish settlements, of which about 100 were illegally built according to Israeli law. Large numbers of additional illegal housing units each year are constructed without building permits on Palestinian claimed land. Despite their being illegal, the government connects them to the electric grid and water system, builds access roads, provides army protection, and residents enjoy all the benefits of Israeli citizenship. The neighboring Palestinians in Area C have few of these benefits and are governed under a separate military and judicial system. Home Demolitions in Area C This year through April 17, the United Nations reported 209 structures were destroyed – 25 were demolished just last week – making 418 people homeless (click here to download the latest weekly report of demolitions, plus political-related violence and injuries, in the West Bank). Here is a recent example of a home demolition described in the April 16th edition of Haaretz. “On Monday, March 26, 2012, darkness fell on Khabis Sawaftah’s family. While the family members were busy with their morning tasks, two bulldozers, 12 vehicles from the Civil Administration, Border Police personnel and about 40 additional soldiers descended upon them, ordering them out of their home. Khabis, his wife and their five children stood 20 meters away, with the soldiers standing between them and their house. The family watched Civil Administration personnel dump their belongings – sacks of lentils and rice, blankets and mattresses, schoolbooks and clothing – all tossed around as if they were garbage.” It took 40 minutes to demolish Khabis’s home. He is a poor farm worker tending groves of date palms. After the demolition, the Red Cross provided his family with a small plastic tent. Other than that, they were left on their own. The Jewish reporter who wrote this story described Khabis’s 13 year-old son looking at her with intense hatred since she belonged to the people who destroyed his life. The pace of demolitions is rapidly increasing. In 2009, 275 structures were demolished, including 116 homes. In 2011, the number doubled to 622 structures demolished, including 222 homes. Human rights organizations allege that home demolitions are just one piece of a larger strategy to force all Palestinians out of Area C to the isolated, urban cantonments in Area A controlled by the Palestinian Authority or to leave the West Bank entirely. This would make room for the uninhibited expansion of Jewish settlements where construction continues at a rapid pace. In many cases, home demolitions occur within sight of construction in Jewish settlements – Click here to see a video of an example. The Aftermath of Demolitions Thousands of Palestinian homes are issued demolition orders. However, it can take years, even decades, before they are actually demolished. This leads to a life of prolonged stress and uncertainty, culminating in a traumatic event when the army and bulldozers show up without advance notice. Demolitions lead to prolonged homelessness or moving away. Those with large enough social networks often break up their families by dispersing members among far-flung relatives and friends for long periods. This leads to psychological and physical health issues for the children and parents, affects school performance, and destroys the family’s integrity. The devastating financial loss of the physical home and their belongings can never be recovered. “There was no opportunity to remove our furniture,” recalled Ahmad, “and we had 15 minutes to get our important papers. It was so difficult – we had no recourse, no court [of appeal], no choice but to see our home demolished. That night we slept in the street, since the soldiers turned the place into a closed military area. [Afterwards], we stayed with family and the neighbors – by god, we spread ourselves between aunts and uncles. The family was dispersed, and this deeply affected us.” “One of the most difficult things [to experience] is to be in a house, then to be on the pavement. How can this be true? There is no clothing, no money…There is no money to buy anything.” Click the links below to watch two short videos about demolitions. Punitive Demolitions A widespread perception is that houses are demolished because terrorist suspects or wanted persons were living there. The objective is to create a deterrent. In fact, after 1,500 homes were destroyed for this reason since 1983, the army stopped these demolitions in 2005 because they concluded the strategy was ineffective. Besides destroying the lives of thousands of people, without trial and without proving culpability (many families did not realize someone living with them was involved with terrorism or that the person was wanted for other non-violent opposition activities), these demolitions also were a form of collective punishment which is prohibited by international law. A Concluding Narrative Since it is the human element that makes the policy of home demolitions so unsettling, I will end with a narrative about Manal, a pregnant woman with five children who was renting an apartment in East Jerusalem near her parents. Her story includes many typical characteristics of demolitions. “It was November 2008,” recalls Manal. “I was six months pregnant with my youngest child. On that morning I was having breakfast at my parent’s house and my daughters…were at school. I received a phone call at about 10:00 a.m. from one of my neighbors saying: ‘Come home! They’re about to demolish your house.’ I didn’t believe her but left my mother’s house and ran back to my house. On the way back, I saw many police and soldiers around the house. There were perhaps five jeeps and about 30 police and soldiers standing around the house. The owner of the house [the landlord] was arguing with them, saying that he was waiting for the [court] paper to stop the demolition. But then, after about an hour of waiting, two bulldozers that were there started to demolish the house….” “Everything that I owned was in the house, my clothes and the girl’s clothes, school books, kitchen things, and most importantly, medical records and equipment for my daughter, Hayat (13), who suffers from a heart condition. I begged the soldiers to allow them to let me take my personal possessions out of the house. I said I don’t care about the house, that I only wanted my things,” remembers Manal. “They refused to let me into the house, but they sent some men in who took out a few things – a couple of couch beds, a refrigerator and the TV, which were the first things they would have seen when they walked in. They just threw them out of the house – breaking the legs on the couch beds. I couldn’t do anything about it. – I had a severe headache and felt like I couldn’t walk.” “It took about an hour-and-a-half for the Israelis and their bulldozers to destroy the house. The whole house collapsed on top of our things so we couldn’t get anything else out…. My daughters found out that their home had been demolished on their way home from school….” …The family had to move back in with Manal’s parents. “It was very crowded,” she says, “and my husband didn‘t want to come and visit us there because there was no space. Me and my daughters slept in one room, the living room. It was very difficult. My children’s school performance suffered – they couldn’t study because there was no space and too much noise with so many people. The only person working in the house was my brother who supported us all,” says Manal. This column was previously published on The Times of Israel. Remembrance and Healing Allen Katzoff Combatants for Peace, Israel Yom Hazikaron 2 Comments At eight o’clock last night, shortly before my wife and I left our apartment, the sirens sounded for a full minute, marking the start of Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day), the day when Israelis remember those who have died in their many wars. As we headed down Geula Street toward the beach, passing by the low apartment houses lining the road and then went north on the seaside promenade, the moon was just a sliver seen through a hazy night. We walked into the slight breeze, a touch of cool in the damp air, the sea invisible except for the small white caps of the Mediterranean waves. In about thirty minutes we reached the old Tel Aviv port area, now renovated into a tourist mecca of shops and cafes, but tonight all was closed, deserted, locked up tight like the rest of the city. A few lone souls and couples strolled the boardwalk, trying to avoid the spray right along the seawall. But as we approached Hanger 11, I heard faint noises at first, the echoes of people shouting. Then I saw the flags as we got closer, draping the small crowd ahead. There were about 30 demonstrators standing behind police barricades, waving clusters of large blue and white Israeli flags while yelling amplified slogans through loudspeakers. The line of armed police in front of them provided a zone of safety to walk by. One older man, sitting on the side holding a folded flag, asked me as we walked by “Are you a leftist?” using the term as an insult. A hundred feet ahead a steady stream of people were walking through rows of crowd control metal barriers before being stopped by darkly dressed security personnel with tiny badges pinned to their chests. Unsure where to go, or even if this was the right place, we followed the others to the hangar’s entrance and through the doors. And then I stood there astonished. Before me in the cavernous space were over a thousand people, filling the long rows of chairs, listening to the speakers who were small figures up on the distant stage and projected onto two large screens. This Yom Hazikaron gathering was organized by Combatants for Peace, an association of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants who have laid down their weapons and pledged to work non-violently together to end the occupation. They gather in small groups every month, to talk and plan protests, rejecting the desire for revenge, just working for freedom and to stop the bloodshed. I have now gone many times to the West Bank with various human rights NGOs, including with Combatants. I am used to the half-empty buses, the small numbers. I had expected last night to see a hundred people, maybe a few hundred at most. But before me were throngs, young and old, listening silently to the stories and songs and prayers and hopes for peace on this day of memory. By the hugs and knowing looks between those standing with us in the back, I could sense that everyone knew someone who had died in the wars and the violence. This was personal remembrance. I could go on describing how there were both Palestinian and Israeli speakers, how the music was moving, and how the stories of loss told from the stage made one want to cry. But I think what I can do that is most appropriate on this Yom Hazikaron is to reprint the story of one of the members of Combatants for Peace. (You can read two previous narrative I posted here and here.) Although the story below is not of a former fighter, it reflects the attitudes of the former soldiers and militants in the organization – recognizing that hatred and violence will just lead to more of the same and that people on both sides of this conflict share a common humanity. Perhaps these are the most important lessons that can be taken from this day of remembering. My name is Yunes Asfoor. I don’t know how to begin my story because it is somewhat different from those of my friends [in Combatants for Peace]. After I got married, god blessed me with children. I had a son called Habib-Allah who suffered from a serious disease (leukemia). I took him for treatment in many hospitals – in the West Bank, in Jordan and in Israel — where I saw people in the same situation as Habib. While Habib was being treated in Israeli hospitals I noticed that in times of difficulty and crisis people join together against the disease. There were religious Jews there and other Israelis who would say, “May God cure your son.” What they said was heart-felt because they felt the same thing I did, their children were in similar situations. I used to say to them “May god cure your children and their disease” because I too felt what they felt, as I was dealing with Habib’s situation. I also noticed that the kids used to play with each other, nobody felt the difference of religion because they were little kids. The doctors and nurses didn’t discriminate between the Muslim, Christian and Jewish children, there was the same treatment for everyone. Today we are working together with “Combatants for Peace” to prove that everybody deserves to live in peace and justice in this country. We work together so that our children can have a better future. I say, instead of spending so much on weapons and wars, we should take care of people: spend on medicine, hospitals, education, combating illiteracy, protecting the environment. There are enough natural dangers, we don’t need to create man made ones. Whenever I see a sick child suffering pain, I feel as if it is my own child, Habib Allah, whether the child is Christian, Jewish or whatever. Based on this feeling, I work to find a better future for all the people of the world so that they can live in peace. That is why I am active in Combatants for Peace. News Roundup: Illegal Settlements, Criticism of Israel, and a Personal Essay Allen Katzoff Israel Albert Vorspan, Beth Miller, Illegal settlements, Peter Beinart, The Crisis of Zionism Leave a comment There have been tons of articles this past week that are worth reading. I have highlighted a few below that I felt deserved special attention. 1 – Evacuating illegal settlements: Israeli newspapers have been filled with articles and commentary about impending court ordered deadlines to evacuate settlements in the West Bank that have been built on privately owned Palestinian land. Cabinet ministers are squabbling with each other, the government is scrambling for ways to delay the evacuations, and a bill has been introduced in the Knesset that would require just slightly more than a majority vote to overrule Supreme Court rulings. This would enable the government to ignore court mandates to evacuate illegal settlements. Yesterday the government ordered the army to construct emergency housing on a nearby hill for the settlers of Migron, an illegal settlement that must be evacuated by August 1st. This order is in contravention to existing laws – in other words, replacing one illegal settlement with another one. Even the Military Prosecutor’s Office objected. The government has also appointed committees to devise ways to legalize after-the-fact the approximately 100 illegal settlements in the West Bank and to avoid executing court-ordered evacuations. Haaretz had two recent editorials that do a good job summing up what is at stake here. See “Anarchists” and “Badge of Shame.” In contrast, coming soon on this blog is an investigative report on the demolition of thousands of Palestinian homes and businesses, which is the way that the government deals with what it considers illegal Palestinian construction. 2 – Criticism of Israel: This past Sunday I read a wonderful profile of 88 year-old Albert Vorspan, the founder of the Commission on Social Action in the Reform movement. Vorspan, an early proponent of the civil rights and the Vietnam antiwar movements, helped make social justice a cornerstone of the activities in Reform temples. But in 1988, after he published an article criticizing the Israeli response to the first intifada and the Jewish organizations that supported it, he encountered a deluge of virulent criticism. As Vorspan said, “I was shocked by the fierceness and the vehemence of the response…I said there was no way to end the intifada and violence without a political settlement.” The article concludes with his final comment: “I’m angry that the Jewish community, instead of facing issues like guns and torture and economic injustice, wraps itself in the Israeli flag and takes out full-page ads. Everybody is a defender of the faith, and the faith is Israel.” This brings to mind Peter Beinart’s new book, “The Crisis of Zionism” (a must read!) which also has shared the same fate as Vorspan’s article. A column in The Forward caught my attention because, by quoting critical reviews of the book, it illustrates one of Beinart’s main points about how the organized Jewish community does not tolerate criticism of Israel. As the article points out: One of Beinart’s key goals is to question the narrow parameters that communal leaders attempt to impose, with some success, on American Jewish discussion of Israel. The trouble is, those narrow parameters also preclude questioning the narrow parameters. Pushback was inevitable. But that doesn’t explain the attacks’ venomous, ad hominem intensity. For that we must look to the general mood of panicked rage sweeping some segments of Israeli and American Jewry: the McCarthyite attacks in Israel on human rights organizations and the New Israel Fund, the attempts to keep J-Street speakers out of synagogues and to defund or shut down Israeli film festivals screening the wrong Israeli films. The legal threats against campus Arab student groups. The hounding of M.J. Rosenberg. It’s hard to remember such a dark mood of repression since the days of the enemies’ lists circulating in the community in the early 1980s. 3 – A short personal essay: And finally, from last week, here’s an eloquent column by Beth Miller, a young Jewish woman who is working for a human rights organization in the West Bank. Her piece offers a small, personal window into Palestinian life. News Roundup: Saudi Arabia, Hebron, and a Bike Ride Allen Katzoff Israel, West Bank, West Bank violence Breaking the Silence, Hebron 3 Comments This weekend I came across three news items that I want to share. 1 – The first is an Op-Ed column from Haaretz that explores the possibility that the Saudi government is reaching out to Israel. The Arab Spring has created a confluence of common interests between Saudi Arabia and Israel that the author believes has created a tantalizing opportunity for diplomatic progress. This possibility resembles past transformative diplomatic initiatives such as Nixon and Kissinger’s opening to China when a confluence of events made that realignment possible. The question is whether the current Israeli government, given the ideology of its coalition partners, has the strategic vision to capitalize on this opening. 2 – The second item is a feature story about a reporter’s day trip to Hebron during Passover. It offers a glimpse into what has happened to that city as the Jewish settlement there has expanded – and the resulting violence that is perpetrated against the remaining Palestinian residents. My experience is that the attitudes that are portrayed by the reporter are becoming the norm on the West Bank: skyrocketing settler violence – settlers can act with impunity with little risk of consequences – versus an evolving strategy of non-violent resistance on the part of many Palestinians. Last week I met several Palestinians in Gush Etzion outside Jerusalem whose attitudes would better be described as resignation: that resistance is futile and one just has to accept the violence and injustice. The mainstream media has not caught up with this change in the West Bank, where the occasional Palestinian violence still makes headlines but today’s widespread settler violence is mostly ignored. Hebron street with metal grate covering it. Notice the debris thrown down by the settlers above. 3 – This past Saturday, 250 left-wing activists staged a non-violent protest bike ride through the Jordan Valley in the West Bank. A group of Israeli soldiers was waiting for them and their officer apparently led an attack. An article in The Times of Israel features a short video where you will see the IDF officer brutally hitting an activist with his rifle without any provocation. Haaretz has an article that describes the incident in greater detail – the officer alleges he was attacked first and injured – but the embedded video in that article has a technical flaw and is not clear. Unfortunately, this case of an officer allegedly acting with inappropriate violence is not an isolated case as is made evident in this column from this morning’s newspaper. This incident reminds me of a tour of the West Bank I went on several years ago with Breaking the Silence, an organization of former IDF soldiers whose goal is to “expose the Israeli public to the reality of everyday life in the Occupied Territories.” The tour was led by a former soldier who said he was volunteering his time as an act of tshuva (repentance) for the gratuitous violence and abuse that he and his comrades had done to the Palestinians while they served in the area around Hebron. He described how his army unit was emulating the violent behavior towards the local Palestinian residents that the senior officers in the area set as an example. A Former Member of the Shin Bet: His Story Allen Katzoff Civil Rights, Combatants for Peace, Israel, West Bank Bassam Aramin, Roni Segoly, Shin Bet 2 Comments From Roni Segoly, former member of the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security agency): “Controlling by force doesn’t just harm the occupied nation but the occupier as well. The violence penetrates back to us…and all the values that we were educated on are trampled over in the occupied territories. We need to free ourselves from the occupation maybe even more than the Palestinians need to free themselves. We cannot be the ‘only enlightened democracy in the Middle East’ when people of a village that is only 10 minutes from where I live are prevented minimal human rights by my own country, just because of their origin.” This is the second in a series highlighting the personal stories of members of Combatants for Peace, an organization of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants who are committed to non-violence and ending the occupation. Two weeks ago I posted the story of Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian who was one of the co-founders of the organization. His moving story exemplifies the experience of living under Israeli rule. Today I am highlighting the story of Roni Segoly, an Israeli who spent much of his career with the police and the Shin Bet in the occupied territories. He describes how his worldview, the belief in the “absolute justice” of the Israeli occupation, began to crumble when he had the insight that the Palestinians were simply demonstrating for their freedom – and how their striving resembled his heroes in the Jewish underground who had fought the British during the mandate period. It was as if the scales fell from his eyes and he viewed the world through different glasses. Slowly Roni came to this conclusion: “You cannot rule another nation for a long period of time and there is no way to lead a humanitarian occupation. There is no way to be evil to others without letting this evil penetrate into our lives. Here is his story. My name is Roni and in August 2007 I joined the organization Combatants for Peace. Since then I have been an active member and this is My Personal Story. I grew up in Jerusalem in the 70s, the years of the feeling of euphoria after the Six-Day War. I was a youngster and like most of the youth my age, I joined a youth movement. The movement I joined is called Beitar, the movement of the Herut party, which later became the Likud party. I was a right-wing teen and participated in rallies, which supported the building of settlements, which had just started popping up on the hills of the West Bank, while the government shut its eyes. During that time, my belief was based on the fact that we had just freed holy lands. By chance there was a group of people living there who claimed that they were a nation. A different solution had to be found for them in the Middle East, there are 22 other Arab countries to where they can go, the absolute justice was with us. In 1975 I joined the IDF and served in an outpost in the Gaza strip. During my service, the Likud party came into power for the first time, and the feeling of my friends and I was that if we were stubborn enough, the Palestinians would give up and leave or accept our authority. We believed that there was no other way. After I finished my army service I started working for the police in the Department for Minorities in Jerusalem. For the first time I actually had to deal with Palestinians. I learned their language and customs and I remember how we used to play cat and mouse with the citizens of East Jerusalem. They would try and demonstrate their nationalism in any way possible. They would paint their cars with their flags’ colors and we would fight against any sign of nationalism with persistence and aggressiveness. Needless to say, raising of a Palestinian flag was a serious crime. In 1983 I left the police forces, and joined the Israeli secret service (Shabak), where I served until 1994 in the occupied territories in different positions where their main aim was fighting terror. If I look back on where I was then and where I am today, obviously it was a long process. I didn’t wake up one morning with a new political understanding. It was a process that started years ago, in its midst I found myself dealing with large cracks forming in the belief of the righteousness of my way, of my country, and the gap widened until I couldn’t carry on wavering on both side. I chose a way that seemed more natural to me, one that promotes peace and equality. The best way to describe the way in which change happened in me is to refer to a few points of reference in my past. During the end of the 80s’ the first uprising (‘Intifada’) broke out. This was truly a national uprising and it even took the Palestinian organizations time to figure out what was happening, to come to sense with it and to control the masses. During the first weeks the real heroes were the masses. In many places on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip the masses marched fearlessly towards the IDF. For the first time I encountered youngsters and adults that picked their heads up, their eyes were sparkling and they were filled with pride and persistence, they believed that they were creating their country, that nothing could stop them. And as for myself, I who was working in the secret service, met not with terrorists (for those people it was obvious who is good and who is bad) but with a nation that was rebelling. Suddenly I caught myself, I who in my childhood had dreamed of the Jewish underground heroes, dreamed of their fight against the British occupation, they were prepared to sacrifice themselves to be freed from being an occupied nation, and suddenly I was on the other side of this equation, and this was the first fracture that started crumbling my belief. My duty was not an easy one even if I still believed we were defending our country, and still there was a gap between the fact that you had to be evil to someone during your job, and then come home to peace and quiet, have a bath and hug your wife and kids. This gap is very difficult to deal with, but when you start doubting what you are actually doing, it becomes completely unbearable. The second point I would like to address is the house where I grew up. I was born in Baqa neighborhood in Jerusalem (this is the Arab name of the neighborhood that is used until today). I grew up in an Arab house, which to me meant a house with high ceilings, nice tiled floors and thick walls. The fact that in the past Arabs lived there didn’t occur to me at all. In 1967 right after the Six-Day War, when I was 10, a few Arabs knocked on our door, and they told us in broken English that they used to live in the house once, and they asked to see it. That was an embarrassing and strange situation, what do we do? And what do they want? I mean this house is obviously ours. Anyways we let them in, they looked around and left, and we haven’t heard from them since. I presume we weren’t very kind to them. This moment has been engraved in my memory ever since. In 2006 I went with my mother to Romania to see where my roots were. In other words, where she ran away from after the Second World War. We went to the tiny remote village where she was born. It was a deserted village in the northern part of the country and we looked for the house she used to live in. Today, obviously Romanians inhabit it since there are almost no Jews left in the area. We didn’t find the house, so we knocked on the door of a neighboring house. Someone opened and asked what we wanted? We explained and they were very unfriendly. Then I suddenly realized, this is an identical story to the one that happened in my childhood, with the original residents of the house I grew up in. Both people, Palestinian and Israeli, are connected to each other through history, and our stories are so similar that it’s nearly impossible to understand. We, children of refugees from Europe, fulfilled our dream of a Jewish state by making another nation into refugees. We, who have been a driven minority for our entire history, are ruling another nation today. The fact that our only way of ruling them is oppressing them, on the one hand and preventing them any ability for nationalism or equality on the other. How come we have changed our skin and in what manner are we managing to justify it to ourselves? This story doesn’t have good guys or bad ones, just stories that intertwine with each other. The third point of my story concerns the time I lived abroad. During the years 2000-2007 when I lived abroad, it enabled me to get a different perspective on the life in the Middle East. I found out that there are more nations that have fought one another in this world but have found peaceful ways to live together and look forward to a better future. In 2007, at a time close to my return, I saw a video clip of an opening of a sewage pipe near the settlement Efrat. In order to do so they had to uproot an olive grove of a neighboring Arab village. The inhabitants of the village appealed to the supreme court of justice but lost the case. The video showed the picture of the exact moment that the trucks entered the grove. I saw in this video two scenarios that in my opinion closed the picture of the transformation I had been going through during the last few years. The first was a picture of the Palestinian farmers standing helpless and crying, but what caught my heart was the fact that on their side were young Israelis that were hugging them and crying together with them. I didn’t know this type of solidarity. A second picture that was engraved in my head was of the soldiers that were guarding the bulldozers, walking beside them with clubs in their hands, feeling like kings. My son was supposed to go into the army the following year and the thought of it shocked me. It took me a while until I was able to tell this story. It took me time until I was able to explain to myself what was happening here. I am sure in the justice of our way, I know that I belong to a minority here in Israel, but we are determined. You cannot rule another nation for a long period of time and there is no way to lead a humanitarian occupation. There is no way to be evil to others without letting this evil penetrate into our lives. I feel that we are the true bearers of the spirit of Judaism, which means that one needs to acknowledge the right of another even if they aren’t Jewish. The Israeli policy in the occupied territories has been established and based on controlling, stealing and politically oppressing another nation. The magic word for it is “security” but all these aren’t phrases of Judaism and what my country signifies at the moment towards the Palestinian people and to a big part of the world is the ugliest side of humanity. I am not sure how most of the citizens in this country ignore the situation, and this includes some of my friends and family. How could they be more worried about the starving animals in the zoo in Gaza during the war, than the hundreds of children that were killed by us during the war? We are carrying with us the slogans of laws and security for nothing and on the West Bank, we signify the exact opposite to Judaism and Zionism. As I understand this reality, neither side (Israeli or Palestinian) will give up; we won’t go back to Europe and they won’t leave the area. We don’t have the ability to control another nation which is half of our size, it is just not possible. Not by force, not by financial repression, and not in any other manner. And there is no way that one can hold a democratic government when under its occupation you have millions of people that don’t have equal rights. The same way that in South Africa you couldn’t have a democratic government while there was apartheid. Controlling by force doesn’t just harm the occupied nation but the occupier as well. The violence penetrates back to us as our economy can’t strive forever, and all the values that we were educated on are trampled over in the occupied territories. We need to free ourselves from the occupation maybe even more than the Palestinians need to free themselves. We cannot be the “only enlightened democracy in the Middle East”, when people of a village that is only 10 minutes from where I live are prevented minimal human rights by my own country, just because of their origin. Assessments of different struggles in the world always show that it ends in negotiation and some compromise. Dezmand Tutu said “ A man is a man when he approves of others as human beings” and old Hillel said “What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn” . Sometimes people say that I have a gentle soul (we call it ‘Yefe Nefesh’ in Hebrew), even though this statement has become a derogatory statement to say that leftists are ‘Arab lovers’. I am actually proud of this term, exactly in the same manner that I see myself as an Israeli patriot. Jewish Power and Victimhood: Peter Beinart’s “The Crisis of Zionism” Allen Katzoff Democracy, Israel Peter Beinart, The Crisis of Zionism 1 Comment Peter Beinart’s new book, The Crisis of Zionism, is undoubtedly the most controversial, and most important, Jewish book of the year. The Times of Israel just featured on their website a review I wrote that I think you will find interesting. I highly recommend this superbly written book – what Beinart writes about is of the utmost importance to anyone who cares about Israel. I began my review with this quote from an interview with Peter Beinart in Haaretz Magazine on March 23, 2012: If Israel does not survive as a Jewish democratic state, I want to be able to tell my children that I did what little I’m capable of. I’m a writer, so what I can do is to try to sound an alarm. I just want to be able to say that to them. His book certainly sounds the alarm in a highly informative and compelling manner. To read the review, click here: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/a-review-of-peter-beinarts-the-crisis-of-zionism/ Because I think Beinart’s book is so important, I encourage you to share this post via email, Facebook or Twitter to those who might be interested. Hope: Former IDF soldiers and Palestinian militants Allen Katzoff Combatants for Peace, Israel, West Bank Abir Aramin, Bassam Aramin, Combatants for Peace 1 Comment Last Friday I found myself sitting in a large room with 30 former IDF soldiers and Palestinian militants. As I looked around the room, I could imagine many of them holding guns and trying to kill each other in the past. Some just looked the part; they had the bearing, the aura, of former fighters. Yet there they were, sitting next to each other, talking, laughing, bridging cultures and ideology and hatred – and all the killing and suffering – to try to find a way to stop the fighting. This was a gathering of Combatants for Peace, an organization composed of former fighters from both sides, who have committed to laying down their arms and working towards peace. We were sitting in the local Council Building in the Palestinian village of Shufa near Tulkarm in the West Bank. The village’s access road to Tulkarm, the nearest commercial center, had been blocked by the army since 2002 and Combatants for Peace was there to help the villagers demonstrate against the barrier. The army unexpectedly had cleared the road the previous day, probably to avoid an embarrassing incident, so the gathering turned into a celebratory occasion. Perhaps the best way to convey the atmosphere in that room is to tell some of the stories of these former fighters. The Combatants for Peace website has a series of individual narratives that I hope to publish as stand alone posts in the future. More than anything I write, these narratives illustrate how hatred is engendered in both cultures, but they also show a path to overcome even our deepest animosities. The narrative posted below is from Bassam Aramin, who became involved in the Palestinian struggle as a boy growing up in Hebron. At 17, he was caught attacking Israeli troops and spent seven years in prison. In 2005, he co-founded Combatants for Peace. Since then, Bassam has not once picked up a weapon, even after his 10 year-old daughter was killed by an Israeli soldier while on her way home from school after having just purchased a candy bar. Neither the soldier nor his officers were brought to justice. His story is especially relevant for the Passover season, when Jews celebrate their freedom from oppression. Bassam describes how and why he chose to fight for his people’s freedom when he was younger, a perspective that too few Jewish people understand. The chasm between how Palestinians view their fight, and how Jews view it, is huge. Hopefully, Bassam’s narrative, and how he evolved to a non-violent struggle for his people’s freedom, can help bridge this gap. Click this link to read Bassam’s story (scroll down on the page): http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/hope-former-idf-soldiers-and-palestinian-militants/ Enter your email address in the box below to receive notices of new posts -- then click on the black button just below that. You will receive an email asking you to confirm the subscription. You must click on the "Confirm Subscription" button in that message to activate it. Follow @AllenKatzoff Receive posts via RSS Feed Receive new posts on Facebook automatically Become my friend at my Facebook page Administrative Detention Good People Fund Home demolitions Israeli history Jewish settler violence Separation Wall Silwan West Bank violence Israel Blogs Bernard Avishai Miscellaneous Blogs & Websites Joan Leegant, author	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2176
__label__cc	0.728193	0.271807	CalEPA accepting applications for Environmental Justice Grants January 24, 2020 / Kern Sol News The California Environmental Protection Agency is accepting applications for the Environmental Justice Small Grants Program, which seeks to build community resilience to climate change impacts. Nearly $1 million will be available to eligible community-based nonprofit groups and federally recognized tribal governments to support environmental justice-related projects across California, according to a news release. The maximum grant amount is $50,000, and the grant term is 12 months. “Communities that face persistent environmental stress are especially vulnerable to climate-related changes and impacts,” said Secretary for Environmental Protection Jared Blumenfeld. “Our EJ Small Grants Program is focused this year on building resilience to climate change and other pollution-related impacts through community-led solutions.” CalEPA will prioritize projects that increase participation in environmental decision making at the state and local level; promote community resilience; and contribute to the following objectives: Improving access to safe and clean water Mitigating, responding, and adapting to climate change impacts through developing and implementing community led solutions Promoting pollution preventing and resource conservation Reducing exposure to toxic pesticides and other chemicals Building community capacity and strengthening collaborations with schools and local government to address cumulative pollution burdens and to uplift community knowledge Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020. The winner will be announced in June. Those interested in applying can find an application package here. Applications can also be requested by writing to: California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of the Secretary, Attn: Malinda Dumisani, EJ Small Grants Program, P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812 – 2815; by emailing Malinda.Dumisani@calepa.ca.gov; or by calling (916) 445-9480.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2181
__label__cc	0.552935	0.447065	More Than Half of White Women Plan to Vote for an Accused Sexual Predator (Again) Molly Osberg In the weeks since eight women have come forward with stories of Roy Moore’s habitual predation involving very young girls, the prospective senator has been creeping back into favor with all sorts of equivocating groups: the RNC, conservative evangelical pastors, presidents who have bragged about assaulting women on tape. And according to one of the first major polls to come out of Alabama since the allegations were made public, Moore is also quite popular with the crucial white-lady bloc. This week, a Washington Post-Schar School poll of “likely voters” in Alabama found that Moore and Democrat Doug Jones were separated by a mere three points, with Jones slightly taking the lead. The tightness of the race in such a Republican-dominated state has been ascribed to the Moore allegations, with a quarter of voters claiming the candidates’ “moral conduct” is the most important factor when it comes to casting their vote. Women are more likely to find the Moore allegations “credible”; fewer than 1 in 6 Republican-leaning voters say they believe the multiple reports of misconduct. The Quiet Racism Behind the White Female Trump Voter Most of the polls turned out to be wrong. Voters did not punish Donald Trump for breaking with 40… When the data is divided alone the lines of race and gender, the poll suggests that 57 percent of white women would vote for Roy Moore, compared with 39 percent of women overall. Some of them staged a rally recently under the name Women for Roy Moore, holding signs outside the statehouse that reading “Moore Has Stood 4 God” and comparing him to the Founding Fathers. “I do not recognize the Roy Moore that these ladies are describing,” a Tea Party-affiliated activist told the New York Post. “He’s been tried and convicted by the mainstream media.” Perhaps these women—who, as in the 2016 presidential election, will be crucial to a Republican win—have been swayed by Moore’s campaign to discredit the women who laboriously and at great personal risk provided extensive documentation of their teenaged relationships with the prospective senator, at the time in his thirties. Perhaps they don’t know that false accusations are rare. It could also be that they are so disquieted by consensual relationships between same-sex adults that pedophilia on the job seems like a better habit. Or maybe Roy Moore really is like Jesus. It is also possible that white female voters, more than half of whom turned up in the polls to elect Donald Trump, have some fundamental blindness to the ways in which preserving the power of people who use their seats to routinely harass, intimidate, and abuse women is a bad idea, one that allows vile and violent men to wield immense influence over our daily lives and ensures that no matter how many women come forward, they will never be believed. Maybe electing candidates who embody Moore’s brand of toxic, xenophobic Christianity is more about supremacy that the increasingly quaint notion of what makes a politician “unfit for office.” Really, who can say? Molly Osberg is a Senior Reporter with G/O Media.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2186
__label__wiki	0.501373	0.501373	Sometimes funny. Often serious. Always bullshit Posted on January 1, 2021 January 5, 2021 by Dan It’s rare that you get to watch a player develop so brazenly before your eyes. The 2020 season was a story of obstacles. Pandemics, bus rides, rule changes, bush fires, me eating too much, bubbles, Peter V’Landys chewing administrative structures of the game to bits while the media polity applauded. It wasn’t an easy year to football, and that doesn’t even mention the outside world. Semi Valemei made his first grade debut in round 10 against the Roosters, thrust on at half time as a replacement for an injured Michael Oldfield. It may have not been chaos, but it was certainly the continuation of a year that made life freaking difficult. It was an almost cruel introduction to the highest level for the young Fijian. Forget the path that had brought him to Canberra in the first place, here he was, at the highest level, facing down the vaunted left-side attack of the two-time premiership winning team. To his left was Jordan Rapana, who hadn’t played centre in a very long time. None of this was ideal. There was nowhere to hide, and here he was like a new foal, all legs and trepidation. He and his partner-in-crime (for that evening) managed to hold on, but as we noted in our game review, it wasn’t entirely convincing. Up to that point it was hard to know what to think about the naming of Valemei in the squad. Unless you were a keen observer of the 20s competition, you hadn’t seen him play. Sure there were highlights packages (there always are), but they never really give you much of an insight for wingers other than that they often score tries. Even those who would find every opportunity to watch Mounties had been stripped of seeing the boys play by the pandemic, alongside Valemei’s ability to develop in the second-tier competition like any other young player. There would be no quiet development beyond the spotlight of the NRL. All warts would be seen. Valemei dropped a hit up early, as if to remind the world that this was his first crack. But it was his only error for the rest of the game, as he and Rapana managed to hold fast as the Raiders stole a famous victory. Valemei was mostly seen but not heard in that outing, but it was enough to earn himself a regular starting role of the rest of the season. He swung around to the left wing, situated as the power outside the grace of Jarrod Croker and grift of Smelly Whitehead. A week later he scored his first try, a moment as unlikely as his unique rise to prominence. It remained a bumpy ride. He had plenty of ‘development opportunities, and we got to see him solving these problems week to week. At first he struggled under the high ball, and within weeks he had a solution. His defensive positioning was found out on occasion, but over time he became as reliable as any on the backline to make a hit. Of course this wasn’t perfectly linear. Progress under the high ball evaporated in the preliminary final under the towering pressure of Melbourne’s stars. His defensive positioning improved every week until it disapeared against the Dragons, before he made several critical reads against the Warriors (and one stunning pick-up-and-go to turn the game in the Raiders favour) and beyond. This was a part of development. It’s not linear. Lessons are learned and re-learned. Solutions that work for most teams suddenly become tested against the elite teams of the competition. When Valemei struggled defensively in the preliminary final against the Storm, part of the reason the skills he’d developed hadn’t had the repetitions required against a test like this. He failed, like the rest of the Raiders did on that frustrating ambush in October. In the meantime though he displayed some of the skills that made his countrymen Noa Nadruku a hit at the Raiders. Plenty of pace, but more importantly a surprising amount of power. He seem to share Jack Wighton’s titanium bones. In that Warriors win he showed his ability to outpace the line, as well as the power he possessed to smash through it. He was handy in yardage, averaging a smidge under 100 metres a game, utilising legs that powered through defenders like sledgehammers. Recognition of this success was demonstrated when he was announced as the Milk’s rookie of the year and in the Fijian train on squad. It’s been such a whirlwind ride for the young man as he’s gone from anonymous to NRL regular. Along the way we’ve got to watch that progress in a way that we haven’t before, and unlikely will again. There was simply no other option for him but to continue to develop in front of our eyes. Curiously this led some to write off Semi, not recognising that what he achieved in 2020 was as unusual as it was prodigious. His errors, which would have happened behind relatively closed doors, have instead been stark; his attempts to remedy them obvious. So used are we to more “finished” products that we’ve ignored his rapid progress and unique achievements. The future is bright if not clear for Valemei. He’s in hot competition for a starting spot with more experienced campaigners like Jordan Rapana and mercurial talents like Bailey Simonsson and Harley Smith-Shields. Compounding this is the fact that if the Raiders don’t find an adequate solution to their lack of access to the New South Wales Cup, this phenomenon of young players having to learning and improve with eager eyes watching will continue. Valemei will be used to it. He’s been developing in plain sight all along. Do us a solid and like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or share this on social media. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not. Posted in Dan, NRL, raiders, rugby leagueTagged canberra, green machine, NRL, Raiders, Rugby League 21 Bold Predictions for 2021 The Tevita Pangai All Stars: Part III Follow the Sportress on Twitter	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2188
__label__wiki	0.777838	0.777838	The Events In The Final Year Of Freddie Mercury’s Life via Queen Official/YouTube Freddie Mercury passed away on November 24, 1991 at 45 years old. And the world was never the same. For years, there have been rumors that the iconic frontman was already battling some serious health issues but he neither confirmed nor denied anything until prior to his death. In the last year of his life, Freddie was a social recluse. While he used to throw lavish parties for his friends, this time, he rarely showed up in public as his health continued to deteriorate. Even so, he still worked. From filming a music video to recording music, there was no stopping him from doing what he loved most. He didn’t perform live in 1991 but he also didn’t rest. When he revealed to his bandmates what he was going through, he told them according to Brian May: “I don’t want it to be known. I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to get on and work until I fucking well drop. I’d like you to support me in this.” Throughout his ordeal, however, one person stayed close to his side – Mary Austin. She used to be in a relationship with him but even after calling it quits, they remained close friends. She became his caretaker even though she was married, had a child, and was pregnant. Freddie actually spent his last Christmas in December 1990 with Mary Austin and her family. And so it came as no surprise that after he passed away, he left her his home and roughly half of his fortune. Queen released their fourteenth studio album “Innuendo” on February 5, 1991 and it was the last LP in Freddie’s lifetime. On May 30, 1991, Queen filmed the music video for “These Are the Days of Our Lives” which would end up becoming Freddie’s final MV. The black and white version somehow concealed just how pale he looked. He was a shadow of his former energetic self which made it more heartbreaking. The single was also released in the US on Freddie’s 45th birthday – making the track much more special to Queen and fans alike. The behind-the-scenes footage, however, showed a different side to Freddie – how despite being in pain and looking frail, he still continued to work. For his last birthday, close friend and confidante Dave Clark revealed: “On his last birthday, he just invited 30 of his closest friends and there was 30 different courses, done by his personal chef, Joe Fanelli, and 30 different types of wine to go with each course. Never boring.” A day before his death, Freddie released a statement that read: “Following enormous conjecture in the press, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have Aids. I felt it correct to keep this information private in order to protect the privacy of those around me. “However, the time has now come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth, and I hope everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease.” Freddie’s longterm partner Jim Hutton didn’t believe that Freddie wrote it. Hutton said, “He couldn’t have done. He wasn’t capable. His manager, Jim Beach, released it. I don’t think he would have wanted it. He wanted his private life kept private.” On November 24, 1991, the whole world mourned the loss of Freddie Mercury.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2189
__label__wiki	0.564707	0.564707	Lionel Shriver and the Right to Write About Anyone You Want Ann-Marie Cahill Oct 1, 2019 Lionel Shriver swore she would never to return to Australia, following the critical response to her infamous speech on “cultural appropriation” at the Brisbane Writer’s Festival in 2016. Yet there she was, arguing the same issues again, this time as a panellist on ABC Australia’s Q&A (Monday 2 September 2019). The Q&A panel was a collaboration of three other groups: the Melbourne Writers Festival, Antidote at the Sydney Opera House, and the Centre for Independent Studies. As a live-broadcast television show, with questions from a large and diverse audience, Q&A is often a great indicator for the hot topics in the community. Previously, I wrote about Roxane Gay’s attendance in March 2019. For that broadcast, Gay brought the class and dignity we have come to expect of her – and which was sorely missing from others on the panel at the time. Every other week, the usual Q&A panel consists of a few politicians, who dominate the conversation with plenty of spin and hyperbole. This week, the panel was filled with writers – fiction and academic – providing the opportunity for some deep thinking on current affairs. The one that really caught my attention (and many others, following the discussion on Twitter): ‘Whether writers have the authority to represent perspectives that are not theirs.’ Shriver’s fellow panellists included: Steve Coll (the Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism in New York); Benjamin Law (writer and social media campaigner); DeRay Mckesson (Black Lives Matter and civil rights activist); and Ruby Hamad (journalist and author of White Tears/Brown Scars). The question regarding writers’ authority to represent was one question amongst many; however, its relevance dominated the conversation. Shriver’s views in 2016 on ‘cultural appropriation as a passing fad’ received widespread criticism, including from Book Riot. And rightfully so. Her views were seen as giving all writers a carte blanche to write whatever they want about whoever they like. There was no discussion about responsibility for the promotion of hate, or responsibility for sustaining historic inaccuracies and stereotypes. Shriver’s views have not changed over the last three-years; if anything, she doubled-down on her opinion of ‘fascistic’ identity politics. “[T]o say that you are not allowed to project yourself into the minds of characters who have a different race or gender or sexual preference than your own is… it’s not only limiting for the author… it means that the fiction is going to be very narrow.” —Lionel Shriver on Q&A, 2 September 2019. Category ID: 471 Watching her recent participation on Q&A, Shriver presented the view that there was no need for ‘own voices’; if a writer of a minority had a good enough story to tell about their experiences, then their writing would be good enough to be published. For people like Shriver, it is very easy to say ‘authors of colour write their own stories, but people simply aren’t reading them.’ It’s easy to say because it lacks any effort from the person saying it. It’s easy, simplistic, and it’s wrong. I know this because I did this. And I was wrong. Working with Book Riot has really opened my eyes. Recently, I fell into the old habit and took comfort in my long list of classic sci-fi writers. I made the horrible assumption they were my favourite classics because they were the best. I have since reread them and some of them are really bad. I’m amazed at how bad. Especially when I am pointed to AOC in the same genre who are so much better. However, it can take a little more homework to find them. Why? Because there has been an extraordinary bias throughout publishing history – and yes, the bias has been to the advantage of conservative white males. As I said, I have learned so much from the team at Book Riot, a team of writers who work so hard to remind us of our responsibility to right the balance and look for a more diverse range of authors and characters. The truth of the matter is, Shriver is partly right – fiction writers should be allowed some freedoms to be creative with their stories and be encouraged to include diversity in their characters. We need to have diversity in our writing to broaden the great sense of empathy one gains from reading fiction. And in a very broad, generalised sense, the majority of the panel agreed. HOWEVER, in saying that, writers should also carry the responsibility to be honest with their portrayals. There needs to be some responsibility to consider the history of racist tropes and the dominance of white privilege in the publishing industry. As Priya Sridhar said in her 2016 response to Shriver: “Not everyone who writes well knows how to act decently.” And if they are appropriating a culture for their own creative purpose, then step up and support the #ownvoice movement to publish their stories too. Where I felt Shriver’s argument took a particularly bad turn was when she tried to justify the story around her character of colour. Full disclosure: I have not read the book she was discussing, however, after hearing her description I have no urge to read it now. Shriver described a ‘black woman lead around by her family using a leash’. She defended the scene as being the family’s management of a deranged woman who would run away at the first opportunity, and without realising the danger. Shriver was describing this treatment as being how the story told itself; there was no indication of contextual empathy or acknowledgement of this being a bad portrayal. She defended her writing as being her right to write. And she defended it directly to a woman of colour (fellow panellist Ruby Hamad). We have a similar situation currently before the courts in Australia. A football player used Twitter as a platform for his extremely offensive homophobic commentary. He later claimed he was allowed to because he was expressing the views of his religious belief. No, you were only expressing your views on homosexuality and then using religion as a defence because you knew you were doing the wrong thing. He knew he was being homophobic but he was afraid. Afraid of the people who would tell him he was homophobic. And so he hid behind a faux-defence of religious beliefs. His employer saw through this ploy and sacked him, tearing up his multi-million dollar contract. The loss of money was so upsetting for the football player, it is now before the Courts debating the defence of religious beliefs. The Australian Federal Government has stepped in, claiming the need for fresh legislation to protect us all from religious persecution – but not from homophobes. Unfortunately, just like Lionel Shriver, the politicians have completely missed the point. It is not the dogma behind why you did it that concerns the average empathetic human being. It is what you said that starts this whole debate. The footballer is homophobic. Shriver is racist. Own up to it. Take responsibility. And if that title still feels icky on your shoulders (and it bloody well should), then take a step back and think about what you can do to make it better. Start with more diversity in published writers. Stop your patronising mantra of “It’s okay, we can write your story better for you.” No, your story will be different, not better. For example, do not write a racially insensitive scene and then hide behind the excuse of “the story needed that scene to make a point”. It is absolutely fine if you want to write about characters of diverse races and cultures. But please, show your professionalism and do some research first. You want to share stories? Then try listening to those who have lived those lives; not just talking to them about what you see. As Mckesson so eloquently explained on the same night to the panel: “I don’t want to hear you write about a gay black man as an intellectual basis; I want to read about someone who has lived it.” It is not that we can’t aptly empathise with cultures other than our own; it is that the majority of writers don’t allow for voices from those cultures to speak up first. And that is our responsibility to change. We're giving away a $250 gift card to Barnes and Noble! 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__label__wiki	0.826017	0.826017	Justia › US Law › US Case Law › US Supreme Court › Volume 425 › Francis v. Henderson Francis v. Henderson, 425 U.S. 536 (1976) Francis v. Henderson Argued December 9-10, 1975 Decided May 3, 1976 Six years after his conviction for felony murder from which he took no appeal, petitioner sought collateral relief from the state court on the ground, inter alia, that Negroes had been excluded from the grand jury that indicted him. Relief was denied on the ground that petitioner's failure to raise the claim before trial constituted a waiver of that claim under state law. Petitioner then sought habeas corpus in the District Court, which granted relief. The Court of Appeals reversed, relying on Davis v. United States, 411 U. S. 233, which held that a federal prisoner who had failed to timely challenge the allegedly unconstitutional composition of the grand jury that indicted him could not, after his conviction, attack the grand jury's composition in an action for federal collateral relief. Held: The Court of Appeals correctly held that the Davis rule, which requires not only a showing of "cause" for the defendant's failure to challenge the composition of the grand jury before trial, but also a showing of actual prejudice, applies with equal force when a federal court is asked in a habeas corpus proceeding to overturn a state court conviction because of an allegedly unconstitutional grand jury indictment. The Louisiana time limitation was designed to serve the same important purposes of sound judicial administration as were stressed in Davis, supra at 411 U. S. 241, and considerations of comity and federalism require that those purposes be accorded no less recognition when a federal court is asked to overturn a state conviction than when it is asked to overturn a federal conviction because of an allegedly unconstitutional grand jury indictment. Pp. 425 U. S. 538-542. 496 F.2d 896, affirmed. STEWART, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which BURGER, C.J., and WHITE, BLACKMUN, POWELL, and REHNQUIST, JJ., joined. BRENNAN, J., filed a dissenting opinion, post, p. 425 U. S. 542. MARSHALL, J., took no part in the decision of the case. STEVENS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT MR. JUSTICE STEWART delivered the opinion of the Court. In Davis v. United States, 411 U. S. 233, the Court held that a federal prisoner who had failed to make a timely challenge to the allegedly unconstitutional composition of the grand jury that indicted him could not, after his conviction, attack the grand jury's composition in an action for collateral relief under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. The question in this case is whether a state prisoner who failed to make a timely challenge to the composition of the grand jury that indicted him could after his conviction bring that challenge in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. The petitioner, Abraham Francis, was brought to trial in a Louisiana court in 1965 upon an indictment for felony murder. He was represented by counsel provided by the State. The Louisiana law then in force clearly required that any objection by a defendant to the composition of the grand jury that had indicted him had to be made in advance of his trial. Otherwise, the law provided, "all such objections shall be considered as waived and shall not afterwards be urged or heard." [Footnote 1] No such objection in any form was made by or on behalf of Francis. At the ensuing trial, the jury found Francis guilty, and he was sentenced to life imprisonment. He did not appeal the conviction, but, in 1971, he sought collateral relief from a state court on the ground, inter alia, that Negroes had been excluded from the grand jury that had indicted him. The court held that Francis had waived this claim when he failed to raise it before trial as required by state law, and it accordingly denied relief. Francis thereafter sought a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The District Court granted the writ on the ground that Negroes had been impermissibly excluded from the grand jury that had returned the indictment. [Footnote 2] The Court of Appeals reversed the judgment, holding that, in the light of this Court's decision in the Davis case, "the Louisiana waiver provision must be given effect by the federal district courts unless there is a showing of actual prejudice." 496 F.2d 896, 89. Accordingly, the appellate court remanded the case to the District Court. We granted certiorari in order to consider a recurring and unresolved question of federal law. 421 U.S. 946. [Footnote 3] There can be no question of a federal district court's power to entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in a case such as this. 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254. The issue, as in the Davis case, goes rather to the appropriate exercise of that power. This Court has long recognized that, in some circumstances, considerations of comity and concerns for the orderly administration of criminal justice require a federal court to forgo the exercise of its habeas corpus power. See Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391, 372 U. S. 425-426. The question to be decided is whether the circumstances of this case are such as to invoke the application of those considerations and concerns. In Davis, supra, the petitioner was indicted by a federal grand jury upon a charge of attempted bank robbery. Federal Rule Crim.Proc. 12 provides that a defendant in a federal criminal case who wants to challenge the constitutional validity of the grand jury that indicted him must do so by motion before trial; otherwise he is deemed to have waived such a challenge, except for "cause shown." [Footnote 4] Davis made no such motion. Almost three years after his trial and conviction, Davis brought a proceeding under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to set aside his conviction upon the ground of unconstitutional discrimination in the composition of the grand jury that had returned the indictment against him. In holding that § 2255 relief should under these circumstances be denied, the Court said: "We think it inconceivable that Congress, having in the criminal proceeding foreclosed the raising of a claim such as this after the commencement of trial in the absence of a showing of 'cause' for relief from waiver, nonetheless intended to perversely negate the Rule's purpose by permitting an entirely different but much more liberal requirement of waiver in federal habeas proceedings. We believe that the necessary effect of the congressional adoption of Rule 12(b)(2) is to provide that a claim once waived pursuant to that Rule may not later be resurrected, either in the criminal proceedings or in federal habeas, in the absence of the showing of 'cause' which that Rule requires. We therefore hold that the waiver standard expressed in Rule 12(b)(2) governs an untimely claim of grand jury discrimination not only during the criminal proceeding, but also later on collateral review." 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 242. See also Shotwell Mfg. Co. v. United States, 371 U. S. 341, 371 U. S. 361-364. As the Court in Davis pointed out, a time requirement such as that contained in Rule 12 serves interests far more significant than mere judicial convenience: "The waiver provisions of Rule 12(b)(2) are operative only with respect to claims of defects in the institution of criminal proceedings. If its time limits are followed, inquiry into an alleged defect may be concluded and, if necessary, cured before the court, the witnesses, and the parties have gone to the burden and expense of a trial. If defendants were allowed to flout its time limitations, on the other hand, there would be little incentive to comply with its terms when a successful attack might simply result in a new indictment prior to trial. Strong tactical considerations would militate in favor of delaying the raising of the claim in hopes of an acquittal, with the thought that, if those hopes did not materialize, the claim could be used to upset an otherwise valid conviction at a time when reprosecution might well be difficult." 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 241. The Louisiana time limitation applicable in the present case was obviously designed to serve precisely these same important purposes, as the Court specifically recognized more than 20 years ago in a case involving this very Louisiana law, Michel v. Louisiana, 350 U. S. 91. There, the Court said: "It is beyond question that, under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, Louisiana may attach reasonable time limitations to the assertion of federal constitutional rights. More particularly, the State may require prompt assertion of the right to challenge discriminatory practices in the make-up of a grand jury." Id. at 350 U. S. 97 (footnote omitted) . "Not only may the prompt determination of such preliminary matters avoid the necessity of a second trial, but a long delay in its determination, such as here, makes it extremely difficult in this class of case for the State to overcome the prima facie claim which may be established by a defendant. Material witnesses and grand jurors may die or leave the jurisdiction, and memories as to intent or specific practices relating to the selection of a particular grand jury may lose their sharpness. Furthermore, a successful attack on a grand jury that sat several years earlier may affect other convictions based on indictments returned by the same grand jury." Id. at 350 U. S. 98 n. 5. If, as Davis held, the federal courts must give effect to these important and legitimate concerns in § 2255 proceedings, then surely considerations of comity and federalism require that they give no less effect to the same clear interests when asked to overturn state criminal convictions. Those considerations require that recognition be given "to the legitimate interests of both State and National Governments, and . . . [that] the National Government, anxious though it may be to vindicate and protect federal rights and federal interests, always [endeavor] to do so in ways that will not unduly interfere with the legitimate activities of the States." Younger v. Harris, 401 U. S. 37, 401 U. S. 44. "Plainly the interest in finality is the same with regard to both federal and state prisoners. . . . There is no reason to . . give greater preclusive effect to procedural defaults by federal defendants than to similar defaults by state defendants. To hold otherwise would reflect an anomalous and erroneous view of federal-state relations." Kaufman v. United States, 394 U. S. 217, 394 U. S. 228. We conclude, therefore, that the Court of Appeals was correct in holding that the rule of Davis v. United States applies with equal force when a federal court is asked in a habeas corpus proceeding to overturn a state court conviction because of an allegedly unconstitutional grand jury indictment. [Footnote 5] In a collateral attack upon a conviction that rule requires, contrary to the petitioner's assertion, not only a showing of "cause" for the defendant's failure to challenge the composition of the grand jury before trial, but also a showing of actual prejudice. [Footnote 6] Accordingly, the judgment is affirmed. MR. JUSTICE MARSHALL took no part in the decision of this case. MR. JUSTICE STEVENS took no part in the consideration or decision of this case. At the time of Francis' trial Art. 202 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure (1928) required that all objections to a grand jury must be raised before the expiration of the third judicial day following the end of the grand jury's term or before trial, whichever was earlier. State v. Wilson, 204 La. 24, 14 So. 2d 873; State v. Chianelli, 226 La. 552, 76 So. 2d 727. See Michel v. Louisiana, 350 U. S. 91. Louisiana now requires such objections to be made three judicial days prior to trial (or at any time prior to trial if permission of the court is obtained). La.Code Crim.Proc.Ann. Art. 535(b)(3) (1967) While Negroes did serve on that grand jury, the District Court held that the practice the State followed at that time of excluding daily wage earners from grand jury service operated to exclude a disproportionate number of Negroes. This question has been explicitly left open in previous cases. See Davis v. United States, 411 U. S. 233, 411 U. S. 242-243; Parker v. North Carolina, 397 U. S. 790, 397 U. S. 798. Before December 1, 1975, this requirement was embodied in paragraph (b)(2) of Rule 12. It is now contained in paragraphs (b)(2) and (f) of that Rule. In a case where the state courts have declined to impose a waiver but have considered the merits of the prisoner's claim, different considerations would, of course, be applicable. See Lefkowitz v. Newsome, 420 U. S. 283. See Davis v. United States, 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 244-245. "The presumption of prejudice which supports the existence of the right is not inconsistent with a holding that actual prejudice must be shown in order to obtain relief from a statutorily provided waiver for failure to assert it in a timely manner." Id. at 411 U. S. 245. MR JUSTICE BRENNAN, dissenting. I dissent. Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391 (1963), was a decision attentive to this Court's solemn constitutional duty to preserve intact the sanctity of the Great Writ of habeas corpus and to ensure that "federal constitutional rights of personal liberty shall not be denied without the fullest opportunity for plenary federal judicial review," id. at 372 U. S. 424. The unjustified restriction imposed today on federal habeas jurisdiction betrays that promise. We should call to mind what was said in Fay. Fay established the principle which was reaffirmed in Henry v. Mississippi, 379 U. S. 443, 379 U. S. 452 (1965), and only last Term in Lefkowitz v. Newsome, 420 U. S. 283, 420 U. S. 290 n. 6 (1975), that "even when state procedural grounds are adequate to bar direct review of a conviction in this Court, federal habeas corpus relief is nonetheless available to litigate the defendant's constitutional claims unless there has been a deliberate bypass of the state procedures." Ibid. (emphasis supplied); 372 U.S. at 372 U. S. 428-434, 372 U. S. 438-439. See also, e.g., Camp v. Arkansas, 404 U. S. 69 (1971). Fay acknowledged that "orderly criminal procedure is a desideratum, and of course there must be sanctions for the flouting of such procedure. But that state interest 'competes . . . against an ideal . . . [the] ideal of fair procedure.'" 372 U.S. at 372 U. S. 431 (citation omitted). Fay rejected the legitimacy of a "state interest in an airtight system of forfeitures," id. at 372 U. S. 432, explicitly addressed the extent to which considerations of federalism should bar federal habeas corpus review, and determined that "deliberate bypass" was the equivalent of the "knowing and intelligent" waiver standard of Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458 (1938): "We fully grant . . . that the exigencies of federalism warrant a limitation whereby the federal judge has the discretion to deny relief to one who has deliberately sought to subvert or evade the orderly adjudication of his federal defenses in the state courts. Surely no stricter rule is a realistic necessity. . . . [I]f, because of inadvertence or neglect, he runs afoul of a state procedural requirement, and thereby forfeits his state remedies, appellate and collateral, as well as direct review thereof in this Court, those consequences should be sufficient to vindicate the State's valid interest in orderly procedure. Whatever residuum of state interest there may be under such circumstances is manifestly insufficient in the face of the federal policy, drawn from the ancient principles of the writ of habeas corpus, embodied both in the Federal Constitution and in the habeas corpus provisions of the Judicial Code, and consistently upheld by this Court, of affording an effective remedy for restraints contrary to the Constitution." "Although we hold that the jurisdiction of the federal courts on habeas corpus is not affected by procedural defaults incurred by the applicant during the state court proceedings, we recognize a limited discretion in the federal judge to deny relief to an applicant under certain circumstances. . . . Narrowly circumscribed, in conformity to the historical role of the writ of habeas corpus as an effective and imperative remedy for detentions contrary to fundamental law, the principle is unexceptionable. We therefore hold that the federal habeas judge may, in his discretion, deny relief to an applicant who has deliberately bypassed the orderly procedure of the state courts, and in so doing has forfeited his state court remedies." "But we wish to make very clear that this grant of discretion is not to be interpreted as a permission to introduce legal fictions into federal habeas corpus. The classic definition of waiver enunciated in Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458, 304 U. S. 464 -- 'an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right or privilege' -- furnishes the controlling standard. If a habeas applicant, after consultation with competent counsel or otherwise, understandingly and knowingly forewent the privilege of seeking to vindicate his federal claims in the state courts, whether for strategic, tactical, or any other reasons that can fairly be described as the deliberate bypassing of state procedures, then it is open to the federal court on habeas to deny him all relief if the state courts refused to entertain his federal claims on the merits -- though, of course, only after the federal court has satisfied itself, by holding a hearing or by some other means, of the facts bearing upon the applicant's default. Cf. Price v. Johnston, 334 U. S. 266, 334 U. S. 291. At all events, we wish it clearly understood that the standard here put forth depends on the considered choice of the petitioner. . . . A choice made by counsel not participated in by the petitioner does not automatically bar relief. Nor does a state court's finding of waiver bar independent determination of the question by the federal courts on habeas, for waiver affecting federal rights is a federal question." 312 U.S. at 312 U. S. 433-434, 425 U. S. 438-439 (emphasis supplied). Despite Fay's unqualified holding that a state procedural default can bar federal habeas relief sought by a state prisoner who was denied fundamental constitutional rights only if the petitioner deliberately bypassed orderly state procedures, the Court now rejects that "deliberate bypass" standard in the context of a constitutional challenge to the composition of a grand jury. [Footnote 2/1] Since the Court neither addresses the applicability of Fay to this situation nor makes any effort to distinguish the failure to challenge the composition of a grand jury within the time limits specified by a State's procedural rules from such other situations involving fundamental rights as the failure to take a timely appeal, the failure to challenge in a timely manner the introduction of unconstitutionally seized evidence, or the failure to object to a prosecutor's comments on a defendant's failure to testify at trial, cf., e.g., Fay; Kaufman v. United States, 394 U. S. 217 (1969); Camp v. Arkansas, supra, this holding portends one of two inevitable consequences -- either the overruling of Fay or the denigration of the right to a constitutionally composed grand jury. If this case were an isolated instance of infidelity to the teaching of Fay, it might be seen as a simple aberration. But it is particularly distressing in light of decisions such as Estelle v. Williams, ante p. 425 U. S. 501, where the Court also exposes its hostility toward and makes substantial inroads into the precedential force of Fay without directly confronting its underlying premises, its continuing validity, or the possibility of distinguishing the failure to raise different constitutional rights in a timely manner in the state courts. Such "oversights" are especially ironical in light of the Court's recent admonition that "[o]ur institutional duty is to follow until changed the law as it now is, not as some members of the Court might wish it to be." Hudgens v. NLRB, 424 U. S. 507, 424 U. S. 518 (1976). If the Court believes that Fay is no longer good law, and if the Court has the "institutional duty" to develop and explicate the law in a reasoned and consistent manner, then it has the duty to face squarely our prior cases interpreting the federal habeas statutes and honestly state the reasons, if any, for its altered perceptions of federal habeas jurisdiction. I, for one, do not relish the prospect of being informed several Terms from now that the Court overruled Fay this Term, cf., e.g., Hudgens v. NLRB, supra, when the Court never comes to grips with the constitutional and statutory principles and policy considerations underpinning that case. I adhere to the holding of Fay and our other precedents establishing that, absent a deliberate bypass of state procedures, a procedural default cannot justify the withholding of habeas relief from a state prisoner who was convicted in derogation of his constitutional rights; if the Court no longer shares that view, it is evident that it has an "institutional duty" to say so forthrightly and to explain why some other standard is to be applied in cases arising under 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241, 2254. Today's opinion is notably deficient in that respect. After properly conceding that "[t]here can be no question of a federal district court's power to entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus in a case such as this," ante at 425 U. S. 538, the Court notes that Davis v. United States, 411 U. S. 233 (1973), sustained Fed.Rule Crim.Proc. 12(b)(2), which requires a showing of "cause" before a federal defendant may interject an untimely challenge to the constitutional validity of the composition of the grand jury that indicted him. Ante at 425 U. S. 539-540. The Court then asserts that "considerations of comity and federalism require that [the federal courts] give no less effect to the same clear interests [deemed sufficient to sustain Rule 12(b)(2) as a limitation on collateral proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2255]," ante at 425 U. S. 541, and that "the rule of Davis v. United States applies with equal force when a federal court is asked in a habeas corpus proceeding to overturn a state court conviction because of an allegedly unconstitutional grand jury indictment." Ante at 425 U. S. 542. Finally, the Court concludes that applying the Davis rule with "equal force" means that petitioner must show not only "cause" for the untimely challenge, but also "actual prejudice" resulting from the failure to comply with the procedural rule. Ibid. The defects in this analysis are glaring. As my Brother MARSHALL pointed out in dissent in Davis, see 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 245-257, there was no justifiable basis for the Court's holding there. I still concur in the reasoning of that dissent, and therefore I will not repeat those arguments here. But more fundamentally for purposes of this case, it must be emphasized that the decision in Davis was at least based on the notion that Congress intended that the availability of collateral relief for federal prisoners under § 2255 would be governed by the same rules it had determined would govern the availability of relief during the criminal proceeding itself. See 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 241-243. [Footnote 2/2] I fail to comprehend how "considerations of comity and federalism" -- vague concepts that are given no content by the Court -- grant this Court the power to circumscribe the scope of congressionally intended relief for state prisoners under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Such considerations, in our federal system in which the federal courts are the ultimate arbiters of federal constitutional rights, at most justify the postponement, not the abnegation, of federal jurisdiction. Fay interpreted § 2254 in light of such factors as the limitations on this Court's certiorari jurisdiction, the policy that federal rights not be denied "without the fullest opportunity for plenary federal judicial review," the concern that States are often not sufficiently sensitive to the need to protect those rights, and the historical significance and role of the Great Writ, see 372 U.S. at 372 U. S. 399-435, and concluded that the discretionary power of federal courts to deny habeas relief to state petitioners deprived of constitutional rights is confined to the narrow category of situations in which they can be said to have waived the right to have their claims adjudicated by the knowing, intelligent, and deliberate bypassing of orderly state procedures. Id. at 372 U. S. 438-439. "Surely no stricter rule is a realistic necessity." Id. at 372 U. S. 433. Yet the Court, invoking "comity and federalism," would now essentially preclude federal habeas relief for state defendants deprived of their constitutional rights, so long as the State requires that they assert those rights within a certain time period; this absolute and automatic "waiver" of the underlying constitutional claim would apparently take effect whether or not the defendant knew of his rights, whether or not the "untimely" challenge was nevertheless made at a time when no legitimate state interest would be upset by an adjudication of the claim on the merits, and whether or not mere inadvertence or actual incompetence of counsel accounted for the untimely challenge. It is difficult to conceive of a more pervasive repudiation of federal judicial responsibility to safeguard and preserve those precious rights to fair criminal process enshrined in the Federal Constitution. No support for such a proposition may be gleaned from such cases cited by the Court as Younger v. Harris, 401 U. S. 37 (1971). Ante at 425 U. S. 541-542. That case, which applied a strictly cabined concept of "comity and federalism" that recognized that salutary considerations dictate that federal courts in some situations defer, as an initial matter, to state adjudication of federal claims (a concern which is reflected in the habeas statutes in the requirement that state defendants exhaust available state remedies before seeking federal habeas relief), is simply inapposite as support for a holding that state action denying an accused fundamental rights can be immunized from review by the unintentional failure to comply with a state procedural rule. It is, unfortunately, but yet another example of the Court's current trend loosing the principle of "comity and federalism" from its original moorings and converting a doctrine of timing of federal adjudication of constitutional claims into a doctrine essentially precluding such adjudication. See, e.g., Rizzo v. Goode, 423 U. S. 362 (1976); Estelle v. Williams, ante p. 425 U. S. 501. The increasingly talismanic use of the phrase "comity and federalism" -- itself essentially devoid of content other than in the Younger sense of determining the timing of federal review -- has ominous portent; it has the look of an excuse being fashioned by the Court for stripping federal courts of the jurisdiction properly conferred by Congress. Moreover, even if the Court were to carve out an exception to Fay for waiver of the right to challenge the composition of grand juries on the ground that the rule of Davis v. United States should apply "with equal force" to proceedings under § 2254 as to those under § 2255, there is no basis for the Court's inexplicable conclusion that petitioner must show not only "cause" for the untimeliness of the challenge, but also "actual prejudice." Ante at 425 U. S. 542. [Footnote 2/3] This ipse dixit, baldly asserted by the Court in its penultimate sentence without the slightest veneer of reasoning to shield the obvious fiat by which it has reached its result, hardly qualifies as, judicial craftsmanship. It is, beyond peradventure, a sad disservice to the Court's obligation to elaborate on its rationales for arriving at a particular rule of law. Indeed, the Court's apparent overruling of Fay at least for constitutional challenges to the composition of grand juries [Footnote 2/4] and its unexplained imposition of an "actual prejudice" requirement on petitioner are particularly egregious in light of certain salient facts in this case, facts which the Court studiously avoids noting. Petitioner, then a 17-year-old black youth, was indicted by the Orleans Parish grand jury on a charge of felony murder. That charge as brought when, during the course of a robbery of a white couple perpetrated by several black males, one of the alleged robbers was killed. This was apparently the first time that anyone could recall such a novel charge, under which the State sought the death penalty for the three indicted confederates of the deceased being brought in Orleans Parish. Two months later, the State appointed uncompensated counsel for petitioner. During the period before trial, petitioner's counsel, who was in failing health and who had not practiced criminal law for several years, took essentially no action with respect to petitioner's defense. Not until the day before trial did counsel file any motions in this capital case, and it was only then that he filed such elementary motions as an application for a bill of particulars, a motion to quash the indictment on vagueness grounds, and a discovery motion seeking production of copies of the confessions petitioner had allegedly made to the police while he was still unrepresented. No challenge was made to the composition of the grand jury that had indicted petitioner, and petitioner was informed neither of the fact that such a challenge was possible nor of the fact that his counsel had not made such a challenge. On the day of petitioner's one-day trial, his motion to exclude the statements made to the police was denied without hearing. Petitioner was convicted of felony murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, while his two older accomplices, who, after plea bargaining, had pled guilty, each received 8-year prison terms. [Footnote 2/5] Although petitioner did not appeal his conviction, he pursued state collateral relief on the ground, inter alia, that he was unconstitutionally indicted because blacks had been disproportionately excluded from the grand jury that had indicted him. The state trial judge denied relief on the ground that petitioner had been represented by competent counsel, that counsel had considered but rejected the idea of challenging the grand jury array, and that the time limit for making such a challenge (under the Louisiana statute which held that any challenges not asserted in a timely fashion were automatically waived) had expired. After the Louisiana Supreme Court denied petitioner's combined petition for certiorari and writ of habeas corpus, he petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. That court granted the writ on the ground that the Orleans Parish grand jury, which had been chosen by the Orleans Parish Jury Commission intentionally and systematically to exclude daily wage earners, was unconstitutionally constituted in that it excluded a disproportionate number of blacks and was not an impartial jury representing a cross-section of the community. The court, relying on Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391 (1963), and Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458 (1938), noted that, although petitioner could not now raise his grand jury challenge in the state courts, there was no similar bar to federal habeas relief because petitioner had not intentionally relinquished or abandoned his constitutional rights or deliberately bypassed the state procedure for raising those rights. In response to the State's contention that this collateral challenge to the grand jury's composition was precluded by the then recent decision in Davis v. United States, supra, the District Court held that, assuming arguendo that mere failure to raise an issue could constitute a waiver, there was sufficient "cause" shown -- the standard upheld in sustaining Rule 12(b)(2) in Davis -- to justify relief in light of the course of conduct of petitioner's counsel. [Footnote 2/6] Given these facts, the Court's unexplained imposition of an "actual prejudice" requirement for collateral relief from the state procedural default looms even more oppressive. The District Court has found that the grand jury that indicted petitioner was unconstitutionally composed, and that petitioner neither knowingly and intelligently waived his right to a proper grand jury indictment nor deliberately bypassed the state procedures for adjudicating his federal allegations, thus meeting Fay's prerequisites for habeas relief. Moreover, the District Court found that petitioner has shown sufficient "cause" for relief under the Davis test for relief from a procedural "waiver." This Court, recognizing that petitioner has overcome the hurdles of showing an unconstitutionally composed grand jury and "cause" for failure to protest that fact within the time dictated by state law, nevertheless erects the further hurdle of "actual prejudice" in petitioner's path; at a minimum, the Court owes petitioner some explanation for this additional burden. Moreover, the Court, in addition to failing to supply any justifications for this requirement, fails to supply any content to it. One suspects that a habeas petitioner will never be able to demonstrate "actual" prejudice, if the Court intends by that to mean he must prove, by some standard, that he would not, in fact, have been indicted for a particular crime had the grand jury met constitutional standards. The Fifth Circuit's hypothetical for "actual prejudice" was a situation in which petitioner's coparticipants were white, and the unconstitutionally composed grand jury failed to indict them. Of course, such a clear situation will seldom eventuate, and it is difficult to see how petitioner, whose coparticipants were also black, could ever show such "actual prejudice." It would seem that, at a minimum, if the Court were to impose any "prejudice" requirement, it should require the State, once the racial bias of the grand jury is shown, to demonstrate that the constitutional deprivation was harmless error in that petitioner would have, beyond any reasonable doubt, been indicted for the same offense by a constitutionally composed grand jury. Such a test would at least allow the clearly justifiable relief sought in this case. For a constitutionally constituted grand jury was of the utmost importance to petitioner. The facts concerning the crime were essentially undisputed, and the pivotal decision in this case was invocation of the felony murder doctrine in an extremely rare factual context laden with racial overtones. If there was any case in which a constitutionally composed grand jury could perform its "historic function" of determining whether petitioner should be so peculiarly indicted for this particular crime, see, e.g., United States v. Calandra, 414 U. S. 338, 414 U. S. 342-344 (1974), and especially of determining whether the interests of society would best be served by prosecuting, for reasons of his specific conduct, a "terrified" youth of 17 for a crime carrying the sanction of capital punishment, this was such a case. It is simply incomprehensible that this Court would suggest that habeas relief for deprivation of federally secured rights under these circumstances is inappropriate because of principles of "comity and federalism." I would reverse the Court of Appeals and remand with direction to reinstate the order of the District Court dated September 20, 1973, modified however to postpone execution of the writ and release of the petitioner to afford the State a specified time from the date of the entry of the reinstated order within which to indict and try the petitioner. [Footnote 2/1] Although the Fifth Amendment's provision for presentment or indictment by grand jury has not been extended against the States, Hurtado v California, 110 U. S. 516, 110 U. S. 538 (1884), a properly constituted grand jury is a fundamental constitutional right when the State proceeds by grand jury indictment. "For over 90 years, it has been established that a criminal conviction of a Negro cannot stand under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment if it is based on an indictment of a grand jury from which Negroes were excluded by reason of their race. Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U. S. 303 (1880); Neal v. Delaware, 103 U. S. 370 (1881). Although a defendant has no right to demand that members of his race be included on the grand jury that indicts him, Virginia v. Rives, 100 U. S. 313 (1880), he is entitled to require that the State not deliberately and systematically deny to members of his race the right to participate as jurors in the administration of justice. Ex parte Virginia, 100 U. S. 339 (1880); Gibson v. Mississippi, 162 U. S. 565 (1896) Cf. Hernandez v. Texas, 347 U. S. 475 (1954); Alexander v. Louisiana, 405 U. S. 625, 405 U. S. 628-629 (1972). See also, e.g., Peters v. Kiff, 407 U. S. 493 (1972); Sims v. Georgia, 389 U. S. 404 (1967); Whitus v. Georgia, 385 U. S. 545 (1967); Arnold v. North Carolina, 376 U. S. 773 (1964); Eubanks v. Louisiana, 356 U. S. 584 (1958); Smith v. Texas, 311 U. S. 128 (1940)." Moreover, the Court has never fully addressed the constitutional dimensions of the waiver problem, and certainly failed to do so in Davis. "[W]aiver affecting federal rights is a federal question." Fay v. Noia, 372 U. S. 391, 372 U. S. 439 (1963). If, as a matter of constitutional law, a substantive constitutional right (for example, the right to counsel or the right to a speedy trial) may not be lost unless it has been knowingly and intelligently waived by the defendant, see, e.g., Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458, 304 U. S. 464 (1938); Barker v. Wingo, 407 U. S. 514, 407 U. S. 525-529 (1972); Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U. S. 218, 412 U. S. 235-246, 412 U. S. 276-277 (1973), it is difficult to fathom how the existence vel non of a state procedural rule that a claim to that right must be asserted at a particular time can in any way dilute that constitutional waiver standard. For example, if a State passed a rule that any defendant must claim indigency upon arrest or be deemed to have waived his right to appointed counsel, I do not see how we could legitimately conclude that the substantive right was waived unless the defendant knew he had the right to appointed counsel and knowingly and intelligently failed to assert it. Similarly, even if we were to hold that a defendant may be bound by certain actions of his counsel, it would seem that counsel must be shown to have knowingly and intelligently acted on his client's behalf. Cf. Henry v. Mississippi, 379 U. S. 443 (1965). This symmetry between waiver of the substantive right in the absence of a procedural rule and forfeiture of that right by failure to assert it in compliance with a State's procedural rule was preserved in Fay, which adopted the analogue of the Johnson v. Zerbst "knowing and intelligent waiver" standard -- the deliberate bypass standard -- as the appropriate standard for measuring procedural defaults. See 372 U.S. at 372 U. S. 439. See also 425 U.S. 536fn2/4\|>n. 4, infra. Furthermore, I am puzzled by the Court's statement that "considerations of comity and federalism require" that the rule of Davis be applicable to federal habeas petitions brought by state prisoners. E.g., ante at 425 U. S. 541 (emphasis supplied). It is one thing to say that, for whatever unarticulated reason underlies today's decision, federal courts, as a discretionary matter, should not remedy certain unconstitutionally obtained convictions rendered by state courts. However, since I do not understand that today's is a constitutional decision, if Congress were legislatively to overrule it and require habeas relief in these circumstances, plainly the Court could not refuse to enforce the congressional mandate on the basis of its own notions of "comity and federalism." Davis v. United States does not support this holding. See ante at 425 U. S. 542 n. 6. Davis, in analyzing Rule 12(b)(2), affirmed the District Court ruling that no "cause" for relief had been shown in light of the facts, inter alia, that the same method of grand jury selection had been employed for a number of years, that there were no racial overtones to the case, that the challenge was made three years after petitioner's conviction, and that the Government's case was strong. 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 235-236, 411 U. S. 243-244. These factors, which were used in evaluating the existence of "cause," clearly are not all related to "prejudice." True, Davis also noted that the District Court had taken absence of prejudice into account in denying relief, and held that this was permissible. Id. at 411 U. S. 244. But plainly the existence of prejudice was deemed simply to be one means of demonstrating "cause" for relief. The Court thus addressed petitioner's contention that Peters v. Kiff, 407 U. S. 493 (1972), which held that prejudice is presumed in cases where racial discrimination is alleged in grand jury composition, mandated that sufficient prejudice was therefore demonstrated to establish "cause." The Court, in that context, made the statement quoted by the Court today, and concluded that, although the unconstitutional composition of the grand jury alone would not justify relief, "actual prejudice" would be deemed sufficient to establish "cause" within the meaning of Rule 12(b)(2). However, it was clear that, in the absence of prejudice other factors could also establish "cause." Thus, Davis simply provides no support for the Court's implication in n 6 that only "actual prejudice" justifies relief from a procedural default. Certainly the Court cannot be suggesting that the flexible "cause shown" standard of Rule 12(b)(2) is now to be similarly contracted when federal judges exercise their discretion during the course of a trial or during collateral proceedings. Today's decision may be read to stop short of overruling Fay across the board only if the Court is holding that the attachment of the consequence of "waiver" to the failure to make timely objections required by state law depends upon the constitutional right involved. That would, of course, comport with the Court's unfortunate trend of diluting the standards by which waiver of constitutional rights might be accomplished. See, e.g., Schneckloth v. Bustamonte, 412 U. S. 218 (1973). Many of the quotations in the Court's opinion would appear to indicate that the Court conceives of the State's interest in securing waivers of the right to a constitutionally composed grand jury as somehow different from its interest in securing the waiver of other constitutional rights. Perhaps there is some notion of "harmless error" underlying that belief. Whatever it is, the Court should articulate any perceived bases for such a differentiation. I cannot believe that the Court would allow States, merely by passing numerous procedural rules requiring objections at particular times, to eviscerate the "knowing and intelligent waiver" doctrine of Johnson v. Zerbst, 304 U. S. 458 (1938), with respect to such rights as the right to counsel and the right to a jury trial and a fair and impartial jury, or the requirement that the State prove every element of a crime by proof beyond a reasonable doubt. It may be, however, that the Court is rejecting Fay's principle that waiver of constitutional rights must ordinarily be made personally by the defendant. See Estelle v. Williams, ante p. 425 U. S. 513 (POWELL, J., concurring). But here again, the Court should address that issue and inform us what "trial-type" rights, if any, may be waived for an accused by his lawyer. Moreover, if the Court is embarking on a program of diluting Fay standards to bind the accused by waivers by counsel, some concrete content should be given the Sixth Amendment guarantee of effective assistance of counsel and some explanation made of what actually constitutes action "within the range of competence demanded of attorneys in criminal cases." McMann v. Richardson, 397 U. S. 759, 397 U. S. 771 (1970); Tollett v. Henderson, 411 U. S. 258, 411 U. S. 266 (1973); see Davis, 411 U.S. at 411 U. S. 234 n. 1. Indeed, if defendants' constitutional rights are to be controlled by counsel's conduct, a more exacting scrutiny of counsel's conduct over the full course of the criminal process should be made. Although there is some indication in the record that state law prohibited a guilty plea by a minor to a charge of manslaughter, see App. 29, it appears, in any event, that the State was unwilling to plea bargain with petitioner, see ibid.: "Q. Was there ally reason why this man didn't plead guilty to manslaughter, Francis?" "A. Sure, there is a reason; the State was out to put him in the electric chair." The Court of Appeals vacated the relief even though it agreed that "cause" had been shown sufficient to satisfy the Davis test for collateral review of federal convictions in "that Francis had been represented by a civil lawyer, unskilled in the intricacies of criminal practice, who had, by his inexperience, allowed the time for challenging the indictment to pass without objecting to the grand jury's composition." 496 F.2d 896, 897-898 (CA5 1974). The Court of Appeals held, in an opinion also devoid of analysis, that a State might base a finding of waiver of a federal constitutional claim on failure to object within the time prescribed by a state procedural rule, without more, and that a federal habeas court must give effect to that state requirement "absent a showing of actual prejudice by the habeas petitioner." Id. at 897. Oral Argument - December 09, 1975 (Part 1) Opinion Announcement - May 03, 1976	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2195
__label__cc	0.649359	0.350641	BitcoinTaxes Examines Cryptocurrency Taxation What Crypto Investors need to know about ICOs and STOs BitcoinTaxes Examines: Cryptocurrency Taxation https://dyk972he7tjqu.cloudfront.net/crypto-investing-ico-sto.mp3 Most cryptocurrency investors have some experience with ICOs. Even still, there are a lot of complexities involved in investing in and trading with ICOs. Marc Boiron has a vast amount of experience with ICOs, from both the investor and issuer point of view and joins us today to share his unique perspective on ICOs, STOs, and where he sees the future of both going. Be sure to tune in, or check out the summary below! Salvatore Vescio Marc Boiron Guest Contact Information marc.boiron@fisherbroyles.com FisherBroyles The BitcoinTaxes Podcast The Cryptocurrency Informer BitcoinTaxes CryptoCPA There are a lot of complexities involved in investing in and trading ICOs. Marc Boiron, our guest today, has a vast amount of experience with ICOs, from both the investor and issuer point of view. Marc joins us to share his unique perspective on ICOs, STOs, and where he sees the future of both going. Marc’s practice has been focused entirely on the crypto and blockchain space since 2017 – his experience and knowledge is uniquely multi-faceted. [00:40] Marc: I got interested in Bitcoin in 2015, on a more technical level than anything else. It’s all I wanted to talk about and think about. Since the second quarter of 2017 my entire practice has been in the blockchain and crypto space, doing work with individuals or businesses. There’s the work on ICOs and STOs. There’s work on crypto funds. There’s work that I’ll do on just generally using cryptocurrencies in an ecosystem outside of the context of an ICO. I’ll do some work on exchanges. Lastly, I work on mining farms – contract work or working with partners on leases and real estate related issues. Really kind of broadly across the spectrum. ICOs & STOs may seem similar, but there are some important distinctions to understand. [2:26] Marc: Generally speaking, I think of an ICO as anything where a cryptocurrency or utility token, that is not a security, is being sold. That’s different from an STO where you can think of it as anything that is a security that is being sold. That might be a utility token that happens to be a security anyway, or that can be something that is intentionally a security in terms of equity. In between the two, where it’s very convoluted, is where you’ve got instruments like a SAFT (Simple Agreement for Future Tokens) that converts into a token that is intended to not be a security. I usually throw those in the ICO category, where it’s kind of a private ICO, but in the end you have a token that is not a security. Often people think of an ICO as a public sale to a broad number of people. I think of an ICO also to include a private sale where a company is going to a few investors, or a large number of of private investors, usually high net-worth individuals, and selling oftentimes, and almost exclusively now, a SAFT. Generally, both the ICO issuer and the ICO investor are going to be taxed based on the cost basis to develop or acquire the coin and the coin’s fair-market value. [04:40] Marc: Generally speaking an ICO is going to be taxed. I think of it like you’re selling a product. The IRS has said that utility tokens, specifically Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, are property. The general view has been that utility tokens will be treated in the same way. You’re selling property, which means that it is like selling a widget – a company will sell a widget and get taxed on the value of that widget, the fair market value or the price at which that token specifically is sold. Most of the time there’s very little cost that went into developing that token. There’s essentially a zero basis being the cost, and a fair market value being the price of what it was sold for. The tax is going to be the difference between the two. For individuals, if we talk about a token that’s actually been purchased – you know what your cost is at that time. If you’ve purchased it for $1, your basis is going to be $1 – at least at the time of that purchase. When you go ahead and sell it for $2, then you have a $1 gain. Understanding the taxation of ICOs and airdrops requires knowledge of the regulatory framework underlying them. [8:00] Marc: Most people know that a security is a defined term in the Securities Act. One of the terms that is included in the definition of securities is an investment contract – which depends on whether it meets certain factors in the Howey Test. Those factors are whether there’s been an investment of money in a common enterprise, with an expectation of profit, based predominantly on the efforts of others. When you look at that in the context of a traditional ICO, I think it’s pretty clear there’s an investment of money – something is being given to the company in exchange for those tokens. In a common enterprise, everyone who’s contributing to that ICO is in the same pool and their risks, in terms of profit or loss are going to be pooled together. There’s going to be an expectation of profit – that’s how almost all ICOs are sold. And, it’s going to be from the efforts of the issuer who is actually selling them. When you take an airdrop, the question becomes, is there an investment of money? The factor that we usually take for granted as present in an ICO, might not exist in an airdrop. If you look at a true airdrop, where there is no whitelisting, and you’re not giving your name and email address – one where you just happened to get a new token in your wallet. The investor doesn’t give anything up whatsoever. So there’s a really good argument that there hasn’t been any investment of money. Now the problem with that is the SEC very likely going to disagree with you. In addition, there’s no affirmative support for that argument. There’s nothing against it, but there’s nothing actually affirmatively saying that’s okay. Fair launch projects may be the answer to these regulatory hurdles. [14:14] Marc: I put GRIN in the category of a fair launch project because when the network was launched, nobody had any allocation of tokens. Nobody had any benefit that others didn’t. Everybody had an equal shot at it and there’s no central party that is going to go ahead and manage GRIN itself. For that reason there’s a really good argument that that “efforts of others” prong of the Howey Test is not satisfied, because there is no central party that is providing the entrepreneurial or managerial efforts. The argument would be that a fair launch project like GRIN, and the tokens that are received by miners in the network, that there’s really no security there. I think that’s a pretty good argument. The SEC has been strict on ICOs, for good reason – but the regulatory framework behind ICOs can still be difficult to interpret. [16:45] Marc: We have kind of come full circle to a point where now the SEC is saying, yes, we can have something that is not a security. When does that happen? That is extremely unclear – under the “sufficiently decentralized” test, when are you sufficiently decentralized? I get this question all the time and it’s frankly impossible to know when you’re considered to be sufficiently decentralized. Frankly, what does the term decentralized really even mean? You know, a lot of people say “oh, we are decentralized”, which is true at a technical level, but not at from a managerial perspective. You’re not – you’ve got a central system that is marketing all of this. That’s kind of, I think, an interesting development in terms of how you’re actually going to try to analyze this. Essentially, what hasn’t been answered at all, is how do you get to a point where you are sufficiently decentralized but comply with securities laws? With regulations that are confusing and somewhat subjective, are ICOs going to decrease in popularity amongst issuers and investors? [29:35] Marc: Most successful ICOs now are raising one or two million dollars. It’s a very tiny market. That being said, I expect it to continue when it comes to any kind of protocol – anything that truly, absolutely needs a token. I see protocols continuing to grow and token sales related to protocols continuing to grow. I see everything else shifting more towards STOs and internal tokens. Internal tokens are nothing more than reward points. Something that people think is more efficient to have on the blockchain. They will not be listed on exchanges. Federal laws are complicated enough, but things get even more dicey when you factor in any state laws regarding securities. [34:04] Marc: Instead of using the Howey Test for determining what is a security, around a dozen states use something called the Risk Capital Test. Essentially that test pretty much looks at are you putting the capital of somebody at risk? I think there are quite a few situations in which you might have a security under state law, that is not a security under federal law. Most STOs are being sold the traditional way securities are sold – representing equity in a company. [37:42] Marc: With a STO, you’re going to go out and actually sell a security. That security could technically be a utility token, but what we’re seeing is that there’s not really much interest in a utility token being sold as a security. Frankly, there’d be a lot of issues with its use. Most of them are being sold the way traditional securities were sold, representing equity in a company. Oftentimes these are startups, some of them are companies that hold real estate, and it’s intended to represent ownership in that real estate. Same thing with art. We’re starting to see more discussions around debt. So essentially what you’ll have is a company that’s going to follow traditional securities laws. The implications relative to ICOs are that most STO investments are all traditional, in that their value is going to be tied to an underlying asset or the performance of an underlying asset – maybe the future cash flow of a property or a company. Unlike an ICO where there’s lots of different models as to how a token might be valued, and how its value might grow. It’s generally up to the investor to understand if they are investing in an ICO or STO, and the implications that surround each type of investment. [43:40] Marc: It’s definitely on the investor. The investor needs to always be diligent and figure that out. If they are diligent, and they can’t tell the difference, then there’s probably some kind of liability there for the issuer – it should be very obvious. For issuers, if you’re selling a utility token that is not a security, then you shouldn’t need to have the same level of disclosures as you would with a security token. If you want to reach out to Marc, or view some of his detailed and insightful presentations on these topics, you can simply Google “Marc Boiron”. [50:35] Marc: Yeah, I mean you can Google my name (Marc Boiron). It’s unique enough that it pops up! I’m on Linkedin or on Twitter @boironattorney. If you enjoyed our podcast, be sure to check back frequently for more great discussions about a range of topics in the crypto space. If you have any questions for Marc Boiron he can be reached via the Fisher Broyles website, or via email at marc.boiron@fisherbroyles.com. If you would like to request a topic for an interview, or have any questions related to this podcast, be sure to reach out to us at podcast@bitcoin.tax. New Episodes Weekly Every Friday Email Us: Podcast@Bitcoin.Tax Google Play Music \| iTunes Stay Connected to Get The Latest Podcast Alerts Great! We'll keep you up-to-date with The BitcoinTaxes Podcast! This website is provided for informational purposes only. The website does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice, and is not intended to be used by anyone for the purpose of financial advice, legal advice, tax avoidance, promoting, marketing or recommending to any other party any matter addressed herein. For financial or legal advice please consult your own professional.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2196
__label__wiki	0.849534	0.849534	Zlatan Ibrahimovic backs Andres Iniesta to win 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or ahead of Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi Updated: 21st December 2012, 11:34 am Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes Lionel Messi should miss out on the FIFA Ballon d'Or despite his outstanding 2012. Messi is favourite to win football's most prestigious individual prize for a fourth straight year, having netted an incredible 90 times for Barcelona and Argentina in 2012. But Ibrahimovic insists his former Nou Camp team-mate should be overlooked due to his failure to win a major trophy – the Copa del Rey aside – for club and country. And the PSG striker claims Andres Iniesta, who helped Spain to Euro 2012 glory, would be the more deserving winner. “Messi, individually, is the best in the world,” said Ibrahimovic. "The way he is playing is amazing. People who say opposite either don’t know football or they don’t know what they are talking about. “At the same time, Iniesta won the European Championship. Should he win the Ballon d'Or because he won the European Championship? I don’t know. Cristiano [Ronaldo] won the competition [La Liga], is that enough to win the Ballon d'Or. I don’t know? “People say you have to win the championships to win it but the ones who won the championships are not even nominated. I don’t know how they calculate this thing and what you have to do to win it. “The favourite for sure is Messi because he is a big name, he has had a fantastic year, and every game he is scoring so many goals. But I voted for Iniesta to win it because he won the European Championship and he made a big jump for Barcelona. "Messi doesn't score these goals by himself, he has people around him who are amazing. One of these amazing guys is Iniesta. He has been on top for many years but always Messi has won it, so let Iniesta win it now."	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2198
__label__cc	0.676367	0.323633	Everton star insists he is not looking to leave Diniyar Bilyaletdinov Diniyar Bilyaletdinov has denied reports he is unsettled at Everton and ready to quit the club. The 25-year-old, who moved to Goodison Park from Lokomotiv Moscow for £9million in 2009, was quoted last week as saying he was missing his home town club. He told a newspaper: “I still miss Moscow a lot. I spent 95 per cent of my life there so I got used to it. Home is home after all, and sometimes I feel a need to visit it.” But Bilyaletdinov insists the quotes have been taken out of context and has assured Everton supporters he won’t be going anywhere any time soon. "It was a mistranslation, I am happy here, I was talking about a holiday," he insisted.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2199
__label__cc	0.702225	0.297775	My TANDIS Jump to a point in the index: (Choose year) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 (Choose month) January February March April May June July August September October November December 2020 From insights to action: Gender equality in the wake of COVID-19 Azcona, Ginette ; Bhatt, Antra ; Encarnacion, Jessamyn ; Plazaola-Castaño, Juncal ; Seck, Papa ; Staab, Silke ; Turquet, Laura ; United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) OSCE websites Copyright © 2006-2021 OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights TANDIS (http://tandis.odihr.pl) is an online repository maintained by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and provides public access to information about tolerance and non-discrimination issues. It is part of ODIHR's Tolerance and Non-Discrimination programme. The information collected on TANDIS is selected according to ODIHR's mandate to collect information from OSCE Participating States and partner organizations. The website therefore reflects the information that has been collected from these sources and submitted to ODIHR. ODIHR encourages Participating States and partner organizations to submit information that may contribute to the system. TANDIS provides links to relevant external websites, which do not imply responsibility for or approval of external content by the OSCE. Please note that the content and privacy standards of these sites may be different from those of the OSCE. TANDIS also provides references and links to external documents and publications. The opinions expressed in these documents and publications are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the OSCE or ODIHR. ODIHR cannot guarantee that there are no errors on this website. It will however, do its utmost, where appropriate, to correct those that are drawn to its attention. Find out how to do so in the Contact section. ODIHR is committed to safeguarding the privacy of the users of this website, while aiming to provide a personalized and valuable service. The following types of information are collected on TANDIS users: browsing patterns, website preferences and user location. This information is only used in aggregate forms, such as statistical reports on the number of monthly visits, typical user paths, etc. These reports are used: to monitor the use of the website; to identify audience profiles; and to support strategic planning. Personal information is collected only with the explicit consent of users that sign-up via subscription forms. The OSCE/ODIHR does not disclose any personal information to any outside parties. When you send a message through the feedback form on TANDIS, the communication and the personal information they contain (e.g., your email address, and other information - if you write it in the comment field) may be retained in order to process and respond to your comment. The OSCE-ODIHR will not share, distribute, rent or sell the personal information of any user to any third-party. Content on the all ODIHR websites is subject to copyright. ODIHR must be credited as source when using content from its websites. Materials made available, but not produced by ODIHR, are subject to the copyright of the rights holder. OSCE/ODIHR OSCE/ODIHR Hate Crime Reporting website LegislatiOnline	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2200
__label__wiki	0.632281	0.632281	No Anti-Dumping Duty can be collected on Acrylonitrile Butadiene beyond validity period \| Custom Duty - Circulars- Notifications/Circulars CA Bimal Jain In exercise of the power conferred under Section 9A of the Customs Tariff Act, 1975 (the Customs Tariff Act), the Central Government vide Notification No.100/2005-Customs dated November 29, 2005 (Notification No. 100) hadlevied Anti-Dumping Duty on Acrylonitrile Butadiene for a period of five years from the date of its initial imposition and provided that the said levy can be further extended to one year if the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (the DGAD) initiate the sunset review in the matter of levy of Anti-Dumping Duty before the expiry of aforesaid five years. However, reportedly Anti-Dumping Duty was being demanded and levied under Notification No. 100 by various Customs Authorities on Acrylonitrile Butadiene at the time of its clearance despite the fact that the DGAD had not initiated sunset review in the matter of levy of Anti-Dumping Dutyon Acrylonitrile Butadiene before the expiry of Notification No. 100, interms of Section 9A(5) of the Customs Tariff Act which reads as under: “Provided further that where a review initiated before the expiry of the aforesaid period of five years has not come to conclusion before such expiry, the anti-dumping duty may continue to remain in force pending the outcome of such a review for a further period not exceeding one year.” Now, the Central Government vide Circular No. 05/2015-Customs dated January 28, 2015, has clarified that since the sunset review has not been initiated by the DGAD in respect of extension of imposition of Anti-Dumping Duty on Acrylonitrile Butadiene, hence Anti- Dumping Duty cannot be levied and collected on the same after the lapse of five years from the date of its imposition. Circular No. 05/2015-Customs F.No.354/104/2014-TRU Dated- 28th January, 2015 Subject: Collection of anti-dumping duty beyond the validity period – Regarding. I am directed to refer to the Board’s Circular No.28/2011-Customs, dated 8th July 2011 on the above subject and to state as under. 2. Circular No.28/2011-Customs, dated 8th July 2011 was issued in the context of a representation received in March, 2011 that anti-dumping duty was being demanded and levied under notification No.100/2005-Customs dated 29th November, 2005 by various Customs authorities on Acrylonitrile Butadiene at the time of its clearance, despite the fact that Directorate General of Anti Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) had not initiated sunset review in the matter of levy of anti dumping duty on Acrylonitrile Butadiene, before the expiry of the said notification on 8th June, 2010. It was also represented that in the absence of any initiation of a sunset review, the anti-dumping duty lapses at the expiry of 5 years from the date of its initial imposition. 3. Since in the said case, the DGAD had not initiated any sunset review, the levy under notification (No.100/2005-Customs) could not have been extended (for one year) in terms of the 2nd Proviso to Section 9A (5) of the Customs Tariff Act, which reads as under: 4. However, reportedly field formations were still collecting anti-dumping duty. It was in this context that the Circular No.28/2011- Customs dated 8th July 2011 was issued so as to clarify that in such cases, definitive/final anti-dumping duty can be collected only for a period of five years from the date of its imposition. 5. In view of the above, Para 3 of the Circular No.28/2011-Customs, dated 8th July 2011 is substituted as under: “3. From a plain reading of this provision it is evident that definitive/final anti-dumping duty can be collected only for a period of five years from the date of its imposition. Generally by virtue of sub-section (2) of section 9A of the Customs tariff Act, 1975, the anti-dumping duty levied in pursuance of final findings of the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping and Allied Duties (DGAD) is effective for a period of five years from the date of imposition of provisional duty except in cases where the DGAD initiates a review before expiry of such five year period. In cases where the DGAD has not initiated any sunset review before the expiry of aforesaid five years, no anti-dumping duty can be collected beyond the period of five years from the date of its imposition.”. (Malay Samir) Technical Officer (TRU) Tags: Custom Duty Notifications More Under Custom Duty Transhipment of Import & Export Cargo via Sri Lanka & Bangladesh-Waiver of bank guarantee Notifications No. 06/2021-Customs (N.T./CAA/DRI), Dated:14.01.2021 Notification No. 05/2021-Customs (N.T./CAA/DRI) Dated: 14.01.2021 CBIC introduces flagship Liberalised AEO Package for MSMEs Notice: It seems you have Javascript disabled in your Browser. In order to submit a comment to this post, please write this code along with your comment: d722b3e2f88e84f6689527f60be64066	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2201
__label__cc	0.557822	0.442178	Medical Marijuana Update by psmith, July 20, 2016, 03:37pm, (Issue #936) Marijuana Industry State & Local Executive Branches Some senators take a tiny first step on medical marijuana, a California pot-growing county approves a massive medical marijuana farm, Montanans will have the chance to reinstate their medical marijuana system in November, and more. Last Friday, a CBD research bill was filed in the Senate. Four members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Tom Tillis (R-NC), filed the Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (S. 3269). The bill would require the attorney general to determine whether CBD should be considered a separate substance from marijuana and whether it should be rescheduled or removed from the Controlled Substances Act. Last Friday, Humboldt County approved a massive medical marijuana farm. The Emerald Triangle pot-growing county has approved its first medical marijuana grows under new regulations adopted this year. One is a quarter-acre mixed-light farm in Carlotta and the other is a seven-acre outdoor grow and processing center in Honeydew. Last Wednesday, a medical marijuana initiative qualified for the ballot. An initiative aimed at reestablishing the state's medical marijuana system has qualified for the November ballot, state officials said. The I-182 initiative would reverse restrictions imposed by the legislature in 2011 and, after lengthy court challenges, set to go into effect on August 31. Voters had approved the state's medical marijuana system in 2004. Last Wednesday, the governor signed a bill allowing medical marijuana for PTSD. Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) signed into law a bill that will allow medical marijuana to be recommended for the treatment of PTSD symptoms. [For extensive information about the medical marijuana debate, presented in a neutral format, visit MedicalMarijuana.ProCon.org.] Previous: Chronicle AM: New England Pot Polls, First FL MedMJ Dispensary Set to Open, More... (7/20/16) Next: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2204
__label__wiki	0.986657	0.986657	View Obituary San Francisco Chronicle Obituaries George Buffington George W. Buffington George W. Buffington died peacefully on Aug. 7, 2014, three weeks shy of his 89th birthday. He was a gracious, funny, bear of a man whose life was anchored in his love of language - its sounds, its history, its power. George was born in Hudson, New York in 1925, the youngest of three boys. At 17 he won a scholarship to Columbia University. Halfway through, World War II and the draft interrupted. He was assigned to the Army Language School in Michigan, then to Fort Snelling Minnesota where he was commissioned two weeks after the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. He'd been scheduled for the first troop drop on southern Japan. At 19 and fluent in Japanese, George was sent to a broken, destroyed Tokyo, and then to Korea where he screened and censored mail for evidence of war criminals escaping from the Soviet north. In 1947 George, now a War Department Civilian, was sent back to Tokyo to translate during the Major War Crimes Trials of high-level government and military officials. Japanese remained the core of his life for the next fifty years. He returned to Columbia University in 1948 to finish a B.A. in Japanese, and in 1951 received a Masters from Yale in Indic and Far Eastern Languages. He then moved to San Francisco where he eventually established his own business as a Japanese translation consultant to US and international law firms. George enjoyed spending every moment away from work trekking the trails of Mt. Tamalpais, and would often say that he lived on Mt. Tam but slept in San Francisco. In 2010 George moved into The Redwoods in Mill Valley where a new and unexpected chapter of life blossomed. He was known for his strong opinions and sensitive heart, became the big baritone in the Rock of Ages chorus, and forged many lasting friendships all while residing in his sunny apartment where from his deck, he could see Mt. Tam. George was predeceased by his parents Fred and Belle Buffington, his brothers Fred Jr. and Jack, and his nephew Burrell. George is survived by his nieces Anne Mickle (George) and Barbara Buffington, nephew Dean (Patricia), great nephews Brent and Kurtis (Krystina), and great-great nephew Jakob Buffington.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2207
__label__cc	0.629385	0.370615	We arrived in Monrovia at night. I hate getting to cities after dark, especially when we aren’t entirely sure where we are supposed to be going, but when you’re hitchhiking there are things you cannot always control and the time you arrive at your destination is often one of them. We were getting lift from a lorry driver and we were stuck in traffic. It was getting late and we were trying to get in contact with our Couchsurfing host, Samuel, but so far he was not responding. Eventually we decided we’d make more headway by walking and hoping to score a taxi downtown, where we had earlier been told to meet Samuel. After managing to find a cab, the driver asked where we were going. “Benson Street,” we said. He was apprehensive. It didn’t make sense because we were cruising past illuminated storefronts, hotels, bars and restaurants, which was way more posh than anything we had seen in our last month in Guinea. But when we arrived on Benson Street, with its completely dark streets, packed with people and littered with garbage, I understood his concern. With still no word from Samuel, we initially thought we’d find a bar to pop into, have a beer, and wait for him to get back to us. However, to stop on the streets in Africa is to draw attention to yourself. Usually the attention you receive is innocent curiosity at your presence or a desire to sell you something or even a genuine desire to help. When you show up in a sketchy part of a new city, at nighttime, with all of your shit, these are probably not the kinds of attention you will attract. Plus we are white and in the beginning stages of the global coronavirus pandemic (aka White Person Plague) hitting Africa. So we abandoned our plan of finding a bar and instead settled on posting up on a well lit street and trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible. It wasn’t long before we were spotted by a stocky and staggering man with a glass eye and a stutter that did not seem like a natural speech impediment. I thought he was drunk but he presented us with a tattered and faded ID card that read DEA Agent. “What are you doing here?” he demanded to know. “We are waiting on a friend,” we responded. “Where did you come from?” “The border from Guinea a few hours ago.” “AND YOU DID NOT GO THROUGH THE QUARANTINE??” At this point, Liberia had no confirmed or reported cases of coronavirus so quarantine was not required of people entering the country. We had come through a land border after 5 months in Africa and had been examined by numerous healthcare professionals upon our arrival. The likelihood that we were infected was as slim as it was for the local. But we were white, we had all of our bags with us and were obviously tourists. Monrovia at dusk. There is beauty in the chaos here. The DEA man was not letting up and people began to notice. One man stepped in to see what was going on. He quickly saw we were being unfairly harassed by this man. “Leave these people alone, they have done nothing wrong. You are not a doctor, you have no authority to tell them what to do. They were already cleared at the border, they are not a threat,” one man continued to tell the DEA man, which at one point resulted in a fight that almost came to blows. “You have no right to tell me what to do!” the DEA man shouted. “You want to hit me?! Come on then, hit me! Come on, do it!” the other man replied, pushing the DEA man to instigate the fight. After this a crowd of dozens of people gathered around us to see what the commotion was about. West Africans love drama and gossip and any time something is going down that seems likely to generate either one of these things, they flock to the scene. People aren’t quiet bystanders either. Before we knew it we had at least 10 people yelling advice or questions at us and though the crowd was not hostile, it was a unnerving. The DEA man continued his rant as to why we should be immediately placed in quarantine. The crowd was not convinced and people began to tire of the man’s insults and angry energy. We were still sitting on the bench we had procured when we were simply trying to avoid making a scene. People were surrounding us, trying to ask us questions about whether we had been tested, where we came from, why this guy was bothering us, what we should do. Everyone at once wanted to pitch in not so much to help but just to have their opinion heard. One guy ultimately lent us his phone to get in contact with Samuel. Eventually Samuel showed up to meet us. He was brought into the drama and the DEA man began to chastise him about agreeing to host us. The man was relentless and we began to think that it was more about his desire not to lose face in front of the crowd than it was for his concern of the safety of others. After all, if we did have the virus, allowing a large group to form around us in close proximity to one another was a sure fire way to get everyone infected. Samuel was not phased, however, and he ended up talking to a guy in the crowd who ended up bringing a car around. With one look, I knew we were about to dash and we grabbed our things and ran towards the car, shoving ourselves in as quickly as possible. The DEA man grabbed the door and began to force his way into the car. All of a sudden, we saw a wave of hands grab the man by the shoulders and pull him off the car and back into the crowd. We slammed the door and drove down side streets to escape the scene. Welcome to Monrovia. The DEA man was freaked the fuck out. And even though he was being a prick, we understood why. People line up outside a bank in Monrovia to withdraw money Liberia arguably suffered most during the 2013-2016 Ebola epidemic. The official death toll for the country is just shy of 5,000 with as many as 70% of the cases being unreported. For three years Liberia was gripped in a panic. Their healthcare system was weak to begin with and was crippled by the amount of treatment needed in such a short period of time. DEA man was a survivor, not only of the epidemic but we realized later, potentially of the disease itself. Symptoms of what is described as “post-Ebola syndrome” include joint and muscle pain and spasms, neurological disorders such as memory loss and anxiety, and vision problems that sometimes result in blindness. He checked all of the boxes and with the level of intensity he was demonstrating in his fear of our presence, it wouldn’t surprise me if this guy had beaten Ebola and was now faced with the potential of going through yet another spread of a highly infectious disease. Even though the death toll and the symptoms of coronavirus are much less than Ebola, you wouldn’t know it from being in Liberia. Most Liberians, it seems, still get their information from the radio. The programs are often led by a pastor and take the same tone as a heated sermon. A leftover hand washing bucket from the Ebola epidemic “YOU MUST STOP SHAKING HANDS! YOU MUST REPENT FOR YOUR SINS! MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THIS WICKED DISEASE CALLED THE CORONAVIRUS IS MUCH WORSE THAN EBOLA!”, we heard on the radio during one taxi ride. In the days that followed, Liberia recorded it’s first case. Overnight, the waters turned and the mood shifted. Hand sanitizer and isopropyl alcohol became hot sellers in the kiosks of street vendors. Buckets with soapy water appeared outside of every building in town. People, with no authority on healthcare related matters, began preaching in public spaces about how the country had been punished for the people’s sins. Repent was the answer to the spread of the disease. On a bus ride into town one day we heard a lady proselytizing, “Repent for your sins and this virus will not touch your house!” While Gabe and I expected to see eye rolls or blank stares of people tuning out the relentless diatribe as people do in the West, we were shocked to hear a chorus of “Amen!” Each day every bank we passed had a line of people outside wrapping around the buildings of people flocking to pull out their money. We were trying to sort out our next visas and went to one bank to pull out money from the ATM. A man in a full plastic face shield approached the crowd of waiting bank-goers and began a 15 minute spiel of how eating apples and not drinking hot beverages out of plastic would prevent coronavirus and cancer. We noticed that we were getting a different reaction from people as well. When we arrived, it was nothing but smiles and high-fives. Now, it was scowls and suspicious looks. While people always ask where we are from, these days we knew the question was being asked for different reasons. It was accompanied by “Why did you come here?” and “What is the virus like in your country?” We knew that if cases in Liberia continued to emerge, it could be seriously problematic for us. We were already targets for sneers and questioning. Coronavirus was seen as a European disease, aka a white skin disease. It was as if people thought that because we were white, we were more likely to contract the virus and were intentionally coming to their country to spread it to the locals. People were beginning to avoid us. They would cross the street to not walk next to us. Taxi drivers didn’t want to give us rides. One day we were waiting for a bus to leave downtown with our Liberian friend. A man called her over to tell her not to stand next to us because we had the virus. She told him we were her friends and we were all together. He immediately pushed her away and though people around laughed at him, we knew there was a darker, more serious layer to his warning. In a matter of days we had become social pariahs and we knew it was likely to continue. Rumors were afoot of imminent border closures. We didn’t want to leave Liberia. There was still so much we wanted to see and more places we wanted to explore. However, after a few days of deteriorating public opinion towards travelers of the white variety, we decided to leave and head for Ghana so we could ride this thing out in a more developed country. If the borders closed before we got there, at least we could make it to Cote D’Ivoire, which was infinitely more developed than Liberia. Gabe gets his temperature taken at the DHL office in Monrovia Never did we contemplate getting a flight home. We had been in Africa for 5 months but were feeling like we were just starting to get into actual Africa. People criticized our decision but at the end of the day our reasoning was this: we can get to a place that is developed, maybe not to Western standards, but we were already seeing Western healthcare systems creak under the increasing pressure of rising cases; flights home were becoming non-existent and getting home meant boarding a flight with who knows who, entering the epi-center of the disease, and going back to the homes of our parents who were in an at-risk age group; we are from two different countries and would have to split up for an indefinite amount of time. Even though it is perceived as the poor, downtrodden continent, riding this thing out in Africa was actually the more logical choice. The number of recorded cases was still low. We were not at-risk for having already contracted the virus. The other point might be a bit difficult for people who have never been here to understand but it is this: Africans know their healthcare systems are weak; they know that the cannot support the treatment of a widespread infection; therefore, the best way to combat the disease is to prevent it from spreading in the first place. African countries were quick on the quarantine procedures and they were quick to close their borders. Cote D’Ivoire had fewer than 20 suspected cases when they closed their land and air borders. Currently, the continent as a whole still only has 2046 reported cases but 16 countries have completely closed their borders. Most others have strict quarantine regulations in place, have banned travelers from specific countries with a high number of cases or have implemented some form of lockdown within the countries themselves. Many have a combination of efforts in place to curb the spread of the disease. While a big problem was still the issue of cases going unreported, we knew we could ride this out in Cote D’Ivoire or Ghana. We just had to get there. ← Hitchhiking Guinea: Part Two Operation: Get To Ghana → Category: Africa, Travel Tags: cities, coronavirus, coronavirus pandemic, couchsurfing, Covid-19, hitchhiking, liberia, locals, Travel, west africa, west africa travel 2 Comments on “Coronavirus Comes To West Africa” foxy37 Look after yourselves, guys! Big hug! Sean Neylon Amazing adventures and eye opening experiences. Just go for it. Love reading your blog. Well written, draws me intensely into your journeys. Be Out of your comfort zone but not too too far. Believe in your instincts and feel your freedom. Warmly jealous.😜😘🤸🏿‍♂️🙏 ‘Uncle Sean’ Neylon (A swiss fellow nomad)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2213
__label__wiki	0.927432	0.927432	Cook County prosecutor fights to keep a new mom out of jail SA Kim Foxx Larry Hannan Aug 15, 2017 In a highly unusual move, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office recently became embroiled in a fight to keep a new mother from being locked up. Karen Padilla Garcia, 26, went into labor after she was detained in the Cook County Jail following a probation violation last month. Garcia was taken to Stroger Hospital where she gave birth to a baby girl. Due to Garcia’s circumstances as a new mother, Foxx’s office arranged for Garcia to be granted bond so she could go directly home from the hospital with her child. But the prosecution’s efforts to help Garcia return home, rather than jail, did not rest well with Judge Nicholas Ford, who had originally ordered Garcia detained after she violated her probation. Ford held a hearing after Garcia got out to determine if she should be locked up again. Garcia had originally pleaded guilty to stealing cash from the register of a restaurant where she worked. Placed on probation, Garcia was subsequently jailed after she missed court dates and meetings with her probation officer, failed to reimburse the restaurant for the money she had stolen, and picked up traffic tickets even though she didn’t have a license. Prosecutors were adamant that Garcia, who had no history of violence, did not belong in jail. “You cannot incarcerate people for — it’s not a debtor’s prison we’re running here, your honor,” said First Assistant State’s Attorney Eric Sussman during what was reported to be an increasingly heated exchange with Ford. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, Ford at one point threatened to hold Sussman in contempt of court for interrupting. He ultimately let Garcia go on her own recognizance, but not before repeatedly chastising her for violating various terms of her probation. After the fact, Ford received heavy criticism for locking Garcia up in the first place. ABC7 also reported that Ford may have violated the law when he jailed Garcia and set her next hearing for 60 days in the future, even though Garcia was over seven months pregnant. Legal experts told the tv station that Ford was supposed to hold a bond hearing within 14 days. There was also no prosecutor or public defender in court when Garcia was initially detained. While the affirmative role that Foxx’s office played in seeking Garcia’s release may have seemed unusual, it also may be a sign of things to come. In June, Foxx announced that her office would be recommending that people charged with misdemeanors and low-level felonies who do not have a history of “violent crime” or pose a risk to public safety be released pre-trial. Both Foxx and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart have criticized the use of money bail and supported efforts to get rid of it. Bail reform is gaining traction around the country. The District of Columbia and states like Kentucky and New Jersey have moved away from cash bail and states like California are now considering legislation that would bring about similar reforms. Larry Krasner, the Democratic nominee for district attorney in Philadelphia, has vowed to end cash bail if he’s elected. Sen Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) have also co-sponsored the Pretrial Integrity and Safety Act, which would “encourage states to reform or replace the bail system.” Prosecutors Bail Reform Chicago Criminal Justice Reform Prosecutor	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2214
__label__wiki	0.767421	0.767421	Bethesda Academy (Bethesda Home For Boys) This historic school traces its roots back to an orphanage established by George Whitefield in 1740. Whitefield was a supporter of Calvinism and was the most popular preacher of the Evangelical Revival movement. Today, the institution is known as Bethesda Academy, after changing its name from Bethesda Home For Boys in April 2011. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Burrough's Hall, which houses the William H. Ford Sr. Museum and Visitors Center on the first floor. Whitefield Chapel that stands on property. A postcard that reflects a past time at the orphanage. Whitefield built the first home two years after he established the orphanage. The institution faced many obstacles, including famine, war, fires, and financial uncertainty. He originally named the institution the "House of Mercy," a name that reflects the ideas and language of his era. Whitefield conceived the orphanage as a wholesome environment but also encouraged discipline and piety. He organized courses around trades, but also hoped the institution would grow and include university curriculum. Whitefield didn't agree with the colonial founders of Georgia, who outlawed slavery in the 18th century. When slavery became legal, Whitefield decided to purchase slaves to work on the 500-acre orphanage, which became a plantation as well as a school and home for boys. Like many elite schools and universities, profits generated from slavery helped finance the orphanage. Another structure on the property is the Whitefield Chapel, which serves as a chapel for wedding ceremonies. On the first floor of Burrough's Hall is the William H. Ford Sr. Museum and Visitors Center, which is dedicated to Bethesda's rich history. There is also a gift store and farm stand on premise. They both offer items that are grown and housed on the farm such as goat's milk, soaps and produce. "History." Bethesda Academy. Accessed September 29, 2015. http://www.bethesdaacademy.org/about-us/history. "History of Bethesda Boys Home." N-Georgia. Accessed September 29, 2015. http://www.n-georgia.com/savannah-bethesda-boys-home.html. - http://blog.savannahgetaways.net/news/2009/04/free-sports-camp-at-bethesda-boys-home-on-may-2nd.html. - http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/diap_duke0332. - http://www.theknot.com/wedding/Dyr-Schubert/view/9124236804662304/40933070. http://www.bethesdaacademy.org 9520 Ferguson Ave History of Public and Higher Education Created by Heidi Oberlin on September 21st 2015, 1:58:50 pm. Last updated by Ben M on October 11th 2017, 11:18:35 am.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2218
__label__wiki	0.732813	0.732813	Online auction to help with family’s adoption costs By Rebecca Leftwich Jan. 12, 2021 - 6:09 PM Photo courtesy Carswell family The Carswells are raising funds to adopt an infant. Pictured are front, Leland Carswell; back, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Lara and Robert Carswell. One of the biggest barriers to adoption is the cost, and a local moms group is helping a Newnan family grow by raising money in support of its attempt to adopt. Newnan native Lara Carswell and her husband, Robert, are growing their family through infant adoption. The Southside Moms of Multiples Club will host an online silent auction from Jan. 21-24 to help the couple raise the necessary funds. Carswell, a local attorney, said she and Robert – who works in engineering research at Georgia Tech – have always dreamed of a large family. “Infertility has made achieving that dream more challenging,” Carswell said. Before looking into traditional infant adoption, the Carswells grew their family through embryo adoption. About 600,000 embryos created for in-vitro fertilization are currently in storage in the U.S., according to Carswell. “When going through IVF, parents often create more embryos than the number of children they want,” she said. “Once they finish having kids, the other embryos remain frozen in storage. Many couples donate them to other families, or place the embryos for ‘adoption.’” After two successful embryo adoptions resulting in their son, Leland, and twin daughters Charlotte and Elizabeth, the couple said they still felt the pull towards traditional adoption. Carswell said the biggest hesitation was the cost of adoption, with the national average for infant adoption topping $40,000. In 2019, after attending the RACE for Orphans, the Carswells said their then-7-year-old son asked them when he could have a baby brother or sister. He told his parents the family could adopt one of the many orphans in the world. Carswell said Leland’s open heart and encouragement led the family to begin planning and saving for adoption. But as for many adoptive parents, the Carswells’ journey has not been an easy one. “(We) were matched with an expectant mom who intended to place her child for adoption, but later changed her mind and decided to parent,” Carswell said. A “failed adoption” is not only emotionally draining but can take a financial toll as well. Most of the up-front costs – in this case, $13,000 for the Carswells – is unrecoverable, and they do not carry over once the family is matched with a new expectant mom. Despite the ups and downs, the family says their faith in God gives them strength and confidence that the right baby will join their family at the right time. Fundraising has helped keep them motivated and busy through the challenges of the adoption process, they say, and their efforts so far have included selling T-shirts and homemade casseroles. The Southside Moms of Multiples Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports families of multiples. Bidding for the online auction supporting the Carswell family’s adoption efforts will open at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21 at https://smm.betterworld.org/auctions/carswell-adoption-SMOMC . Auction items include tickets to the World of Coca-Cola; tickets to the Tellus Science Museum; tickets to Zoo Atlanta; two-night getaway in Chattanooga, Tennessee, including a whiskey distillery tour and bottle of whiskey; family membership to the High Museum of Art; autographed photo of Guz Malzahn; gift cards to Fogo de Chao, Publix, Sam’s Club, Palmer’s, Gillyweed and Rock Salt Milk Bar; and season tickets to the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra. The auction closes at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 24. For more information, visit the Carswells’ Adoption Journey page on Facebook.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2221
__label__wiki	0.515153	0.515153	Dangerous Travel and Family Separation: The Plight of R... What’s Happening in Sudan? Climate Change Threatens Peace and Compounds Hunger Say... Israel Plans to Annex West Bank Posted by Aisha Mohamed \| Jun 29, 2020 \| NEWS \| 0 \| On July 1st, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will move forward with plans to annex large parts of the West Bank including the Jordan Valley and many illegal Israeli settlements, applying Israeli sovereignty to over 30 percent of the area. However, the majority Palestinian residents will not be afforded citizenship or any equal rights. Annexation refers to the process in which a nation unilaterally seizes territory that does not belong to them, incorporating it within its own borders. The move has been condemned by the international community with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stating that the plan will have a disastrous impact on the rights of Palestinians. Despite the West Bank being occupied by Israel since the 1967 Six Day War, it is largely inhabited by Palestinians which make up over 2 million inhabitants compared to roughly 430,000 Israeli’s that reside in settlements created during the occupation. Israel’s creeping authority has strengthened over the decades, but the anticipated annexation will be a bold move against international law. “Annexation would be not only against international law but it would be a major factor to destabilise the region,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Associated Press. Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group, has said that the annexation plans are a “declaration of war”. READ MORE: Nakba: A Day of Mourning for Palestinians The plan to annex parts of the West Bank was revealed earlier this year, in line with US President Donald Trump’s controversial ‘peace plan’. If implemented, the plans will see Palestinian people losing more of the little land afforded to them. It’ll also make finding education and healthcare services more difficult. Unfortunately, this annexation isn’t anything new to the people of Palestine. Throughout the years, Palestine has been carved up in favour of anyone other than the Palestinian people. The international community must stand together to do more than just condemn Israel and take action if they ever hope to see a two-state solution come to fruition. Aisha Mohamed Journalist at Truly Belong Aisha Mohamed is a young journalist, particularly focusing on culture and entertainment. With experience in both communications and PR, Aisha also works as a digital artist in her free time. Her work has been featured in the likes of CNN Africa, Buzzfeed, VH1 and more. As a magazine focused on sustainability and the environment, Aisha is committed to writing about environmental challenges across the globe, especially in countries that may not have had extensive exposure. She is also dedicated to highlighting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the long process to achieving them. Latest posts by Aisha Mohamed (see all) President of Mali Steps Down After Mutinous Coup - 19th August 2020 Devastating Explosion Rocks Port of Beirut - 5th August 2020 Nearly All Polar Bear Populations Heading to Extinction by 2100 - 21st July 2020 PreviousTanzanian Miner Becomes Instant Millionaire after Discovering Rare Gem NextKoalas Face Extinction in New South Wales by 2050 Aisha Mohamed is a young journalist, particularly focusing on culture and entertainment. With experience in both communications and PR, Aisha also works as a digital artist in her free time. Her work has been featured in the likes of CNN Africa, Buzzfeed, VH1 and more. As a magazine focused on sustainability and the environment, Aisha is committed to writing about environmental challenges across the globe, especially in countries that may not have had extensive exposure. She is also dedicated to highlighting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the long process to achieving them. Social Media Empowered Protesters, Now it’s Suppressing Them Not for Sale – Nigerian Women Urged to Stay Away From UK People are Risking Their Lives to Come to the UK, Here’s Why 5 Headlines You May Have Missed Over the Weekend Britain Set to Release the First Approved COVID-19 Vaccine in Coming Weeks World AIDS Day: Global Solidarity, Shared Responsibility 11 Most Cinematic Couples to Ever Grace the Silver Screen Iconic Brands That Have Prospered for Over 100 Years Diwali Lights Continue to Burn Bright in 2020 Latest from Belong Dec 6, 2020 \| CORONAVIRUS Nov 18, 2020 \| CULTURE	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2222
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__label__wiki	0.8795	0.8795	Bronx lacrosse team’s new equipment from SidelineSwap is a morale booster Cardinal Hayes High School gets help from company backed by hoops legend David Robinson The Cardinal Hayes High School lacrosse team faced Cardinal Spellman High School (not pictured) at Randall’s Island on April 3, 2017. Cardinal Hayes recently received a donation of lacrosse sticks from the online sports gear marketplace SidelineSwap. Courtesy of Brittany Johnson The lacrosse team at Timothy Heckman’s Bronx, New York, high school is no longer short of equipment. SidelineSwap, an online sports gear marketplace, recently donated 29 new custom-dyed lacrosse sticks to Cardinal Hayes High School, where Heckman is an earth science teacher and head lacrosse coach. “They reached out to myself and my assistant coach, primarily, and were just in communication about how they have a program where they identify schools that are maybe underfunded or may have a diverse student population that don’t have access to equipment,” Heckman said. The mission of SidelineSwap, which was founded in 2012 by former college athletes, is to make sports more affordable. Former NBA player David Robinson’s company Admiral Capital is one of SidelineSwap’s investors. The company raised more than $8.9 million in a Series A financing round. “We interact with a lot of people who are looking for good deals on sports equipment,” said SidelineSwap CEO Brendan Candon. “In the case of Cardinal Hayes, we talked to the coaches and we saw that there was an opportunity where we could probably step up and help a growing program with their equipment needs and hopefully have a big impact with the kids.” The donation means a lot for Cardinal Hayes, Heckman said. “We would split the tryouts up because we just didn’t have enough equipment to go around for 60, 70, 80-plus kids that were trying out at the same time,” he said. “This equipment helps put a dent in that. It helps us with our numbers and not having to make kids borrow and share on specific days.” The donation also allows students to have their own equipment during the season. “Lacrosse can be a very expensive sport,” Heckman said. “The upkeep, the lacrosse sticks and the mesh and all that can be very expensive. Donations like what SidelineSwap gave us, and any of the equipment that we have in our equipment lockers, that’s used season-round and even offseason when kids want to get some extra reps in.” Candon said his business is designed to help make sports more affordable. “The average family who shops on SidelineSwap saves 40 percent off the retail price, and so we get to see that impact every day,” he said. “But we know that even 40 percent-plus off isn’t enough in some cases, and so when we get an opportunity to identify a program where we can step in and be especially helpful, it means a lot to us.” The equipment has the school’s colors and flag, which is a morale booster for the students. “It would attract a whole bunch of positive attention for the program and also for the kids. They go, ‘Sideline Swap is actually donating equipment for us. That’s so cool,’ ” Heckman said. Cardinal Hayes has one of the few lacrosse programs in the Bronx, and Heckman says the sport’s potential is largely untapped in the area. “I feel like lacrosse in the Bronx in general or urban communities as a whole, it’s not really viewed as a popular sport. It’s almost an outlier sport,” he said. “It’s got offensive and defensive components of basketball. It’s got a little bit of contact like football has. You have your teamwork like soccer with passing and scoring, shooting. You have moving like ice hockey and substitutions like ice hockey. “We are entering our 10th year as a program at this school. We are slowly but surely nudging our way to the forefront. It’s a big morale booster for the kids to be recognized.” This Story Tagged: Lacrosse High School Sports New York Bronx	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2231
__label__cc	0.536142	0.463858	HindiMarathiUrdu TermsPrivacyAbout Us ©The Wire \| 2018 Number of Tourists in Kashmir Down by 86% in August-December 2019: RTI Official data on tourist arrivals contradict the Modi government’s narrative of normalcy. Shikarawalas sit idle around their association’s office near Srinagar’s Dal Lake in early November. Photo: Muzamil Bhat/People’s Archive of Rural India Muzamil Bhat and Chitrangada Choudhury Srinagar/New Delhi: Data provided to The Wire under the Right to Information Act by the Kashmir Tourism Department shows the scale of the blow to the tourism sector in the Valley since August 2019, when the government read down Article 370 and imposed a lockdown on the erstwhile state. The month-wise figures provided for the period of August to December 2019 contradict the Modi government’s narrative that things are ‘normal’ in the region, with his minister even lying to parliament on the issue. On August 2, 2019, via an official order, the government had cited “terror threats” to suspend the Amarnath Yatra and ask all tourists to leave the Kashmir Valley. As per the information released by the department under RTI, the number of tourist arrivals in August 2019 was 10,130. By way of comparison, the corresponding figure for arrivals in 2018 was 85,534, and in 2017 was 1,64,395. Tourist arrivals fell further in September to a mere 4,562. The government’s order of August 2, 2019 suspending the Amarnath pilgrimage, and asking tourists to leave Kashmir. The government kept the above order in place until October 9, 2019. The information released by the department show the figures for October 2019 at 9,327. Tourism barely revived through November and December, with the arrival figures for these months at 12,086 and 6,954, respectively. The cumulative figures for the August to December 2019 period stand at 43,059. This is a fall of 86% vis-à-vis the same period in 2018 (3,16,424 arrivals) and a fall of 93% vis-à-vis 2017 (6,11,354 arrivals), as per the data released. Also read: RTI Reveals Union Minister Lied to Parliament about Hit to Tourism in J&K These official figures bear out what Sheikh Ashiq, the president of the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry told The Wire earlier this month when he estimated a 90% decline in tourism and livelihoods linked to it. The KCCI has put the losses to J&K’s economy since August at over Rs 15,000 crore. While numerous journalistic and fact-finding reports have also outlined how the government’s moves have devastated tourism, and the wider economy, the government has steadfastly refused to acknowledge any economic hurt. In fact, as The Wire reported days ago, Union minister for tourism Prahlad Singh Patel went as far as to lie to the parliament in November on the hit to tourism in the Valley. He claimed that there was no data for this, concealing information provided to his ministry by officials in the Jammu and Kashmir administration about a 71% decline in tourism revenue. In the Valley, the losses translate into vanishing earnings, job losses and salary cuts. Khursid Ahmed, an employee of a travel agency in Srinagar, said he has been working on half pay since August. Ahmed estimated that their agency had suffered losses of Rs 20 lakh in the past months. He added, “I am just glad I have not been laid off in the past months like so many others in this industry.” Ramneek Kaur, who runs a hotel in Pahalgam said “2019 has been the worst year in recent times”. She said in September-October, things turned desperate and she had to lay off service staff because of poor business. “With so much political turmoil, and restrictions on the internet, not many tourists will risk coming here,” she said. Also read: Kashmir: Wilting Crops, Closed Markets Push ‘Vegetable Boatmen’ Towards Bleak Future The government has announced the opening of internet services at 2G speeds in the region, but has restricted access to a ‘whitelist’ of 300 websites. People in the Valley report internet to be intermittent. The government continues to restrict all social media and messaging platforms other than the Mukesh Ambani-owned JioChat. Kaur worried about what the year would bring, saying, “I know of people who are selling their properties, and are defaulting on loans. We are all stuck, and even if we want to make any investment or business plans for 2020, there is so much uncertainty.” Muzamil Bhat is a Srinagar-based photographer and Chitrangada Choudhury is an Odisha-based multimedia journalist and researcher.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2232
__label__wiki	0.592919	0.592919	Join the Fight with Texas Values Action Home > News > 2020 > August Kamala Harris: A Major Threat To Faith, Family & Freedom by Texas Values Action Topic: Elections , Life , Religious Liberty Earlier this week, Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden confirmed what seemed likely all along: Senator Kamala Harris would be tapped as his running mate. Sen. Harris, one of the most radically liberal members of the U.S. Senate hails from background of antagonism toward social conservatives. She is known for aggressively questioning Justice Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings in 2018 and being one of the leaders of the smear campaign against him. How extreme is she? To get a sense of where on the ideological spectrum she lands, take a look at some of her positions on important issues impacting faith, family, and freedom: To begin with, Harris has consistently been an advocate for late-term abortion, which is something the majority of Americans oppose. Some reports show she even supports abortion up to the moment of birth. During her days as California Attorney General, Harris even authorized a raid on the house of David Daleiden, head of a pro-life investigative group, after he exposed Planned Parenthood officials who were negotiating to sell baby body parts. She has also repeatedly called for the repeal of the Hyde Amendment which gives protection to taxpayers so that they will not be compelled to help fund abortions. She also has a 100% voting record with Planned Parenthood and NARAL Pro-Choice America. She is a co-sponsor of one of the most radical and aggressive pro-abortion bills on the federal level, the Women’s Health Protection Act. This bill would have invalidated any state law the prohibits abortion after a baby is viable, and purports to override many other types of state pro-life protections. Position on LGBT Agenda Harris is known from her days as California’s Attorney General for her staunch advocacy of LGBTQ causes. As attorney general, she opposed Prop. 8, California’s law confirming that marriage as between a man and woman. When running as a candidate for the presidency, Harris advocated for forcing taxpayers to subsidize so-called “sex-change” surgeries through her Medicare plan. As a U.S. Senator, she also called for overturning President Trump’s ban on transgender individuals in the military. Position on Religious Freedom Harris has proved to be foe of religious freedom. Her desire to limit the religious freedom of citizens seems to be driven by, and intertwined with, her support for LGBTQ issues. As a senator, she introduced legislation to diminish the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)called the “Do No Harm Act.” This legislation would have prevented the RFRA from being used to protect individuals with religious convictions against LGBTQ issues. It’s important to know that Texas has a state version of RFRA. As a presidential candidate, Harris said she would immediately sign the so-called Equality Act, a bill that would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes under federal civil rights law. This is the federal version of #BanTheBible bills pushed by several liberal Texas state legislators in the last legislative session that Texas Values Action led the effort to defeat. All of the radical positions taken by Sen. Harris stand in stark contrast to the actions of President Trump’s administration in boldly supporting life and religious freedom. Our national allies at FRC Action have compiled an extensive list of the Trump/Pence accomplishments which include the following: Proposing a new regulation that clarifies that discrimination on the basis of sex in the Affordable Care Act was to be interpreted under the plain meaning of the word and does not include “gender identity” or “termination of pregnancy” as set forth by a 2016 Obama rule. Becoming the first sitting president to give remarks in person at the 2020 annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. stating that every child is a sacred gift from God and reiterated his effort to defend the sanctity of every human life. Had the Department of Labor issue guidance implementing the administration’s Religious Liberty Executive Order and the DOJ religious liberty guidance. On January 16, 2020 the Departments of Education and Justice issued guidance on constitutionally protected prayer and religious expression in public elementary and secondary schools. On January 22, 2020 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at HHS approved a family planning waiver for Texas to implement a state-run Medicaid program that excludes abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. As you can see, the battle lines are clearly drawn. One side is a staunch defender of religious liberty and pre-born children with a proven track record. The other believes in murdering babies up until birth and has used power and influence to force radical LGBTQ issues on bible-believing Christian conservatives more than once. Who do you want to be in national leadership for the next 4 years? Tags: 2020 Elections, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Mike Pence Texas Conservative Grassroots Leaders Address Speaker of Texas House Selection Election Victories: Texas Voters Send A Pro-Life & Pro-Religious Freedom Message Texas Values Action Opposes Rep. Dade Phelan’s Speaker Candidacy Texas Values Action Releases Endorsements & Voter Guide for November General Election Big Runoff Victories For Pro-Life, Pro-Family Candidates Set Stage for November © 2021 Texas Values Action 900 Congress, Ste L115 Austin, TX 78707, 512-478-2220, TexasValuesAction@txvalues.org Texas Values Action is the new 501(c)(4) advocacy and legislative action arm of Texas Values.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2236
__label__wiki	0.647183	0.647183	Shop the Gallery Larry Poncho Brown Marcus Glenn Paul Goodnight Abe Ilo Joyce Jeffrey Priscilla Phifer Larry Pierce Marcel Stewart Rose Summers Figurative/Abstract $45 to $1500 $5000 - $10,000 Collectables $10,000+ Shop the Artists Home/Paul Goodnight / Figurative Moulin Rouge Brotha The Sound of Sweet Strawberry Chocolate Between my Red Coat & Dog Saxafied The Drummers Cream on my Coffee Joyful Movement Artist Paul Goodnight was born in Chicago on December 31, 1946. At a young age, his mother took him to New London, Connecticut, and later to Boston, where a foster family raised him. After finishing high school, Goodnight was drafted into the Army, and served two years in Vietnam. The experience changed him and upon his return, he was unable to speak because of the horrors he witnessed there. Soon after, Goodnight began to paint, reverting to the means of expression he had employed as a child. Finding release in his art, Goodnight regained his voice and enrolled in the Vesper George School of Art, taking English classes at a nearby community college to help him along the way. In 1976, he earned his B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Art. Goodnight continued to create, and in 1984 one of his works was displayed on an episode of The Cosby Show. Since then, his works have been featured in such programs as Seinfeld, ER and Living Single. Goodnight then began traveling the world, studying the art of the Caribbean, Africa, Russia and Asia, as well as working under contemporary masters such as Alan Crite and John Biggers. In 1991, Goodnight founded Color Circle Art Publishing, which is dedicated to the perpetuation of the art and imagery of the African diaspora. His works adorn the homes of such notables as Maya Angelou, Wesley Snipes and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as the halls of the Smithsonian Institute. In 1996, Goodnight was commissioned to create a piece for the 1996 Olympic Games, and in 1998, he designed the World Cup poster. He was awarded the U.S. Sports Academy Artist of the Year Award in 1997. Goodnight's biggest inspiration is his daughter, Aziza. Archival Pigment Print - 175 lb. Rag Paper BY: Paul Goodnight Medium - Archival Pigment Print - 175 lb. Rag Paper 16250 Northland Drive info@umojafinearts.com © 2021 Umoja Fine Arts	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2240
__label__wiki	0.607991	0.607991	RG Lindsay One of the First VSF Students What follows is an extract from “The Leafy Tree - My Family”, by Daryl Lindsay. It concerns Reginald Graham Lindsay, one of the first six students enrolled at the VSF. Reginald Graham, the fifth son, two years my senior, was a well set-up, handsome boy with dark hair and large blue eyes. A good athlete, he played a sound game of tennis and rode, but he liked best the tougher sports of football and boxing. We went to the state school together. He was no mean scholar and, unlike me, took his schooling seriously. He taught me to box in the kitchen at night, and, being a stone heavier, would belt the daylights out of me with a smiling face. Although we had our private rows at home, he would knock the head off any boy who laid a hand on me at school; then kick me in the pants for being a young fool. Creswick had two state schools, the south and the north. For years there had been a continuous feud between the boys who had pitched battles with hard cow dung for ammunition and when this ran out, anything that came to hand, mostly ending up with a few hand-to-hand fights. Reg was generally in one of them, coming home with black eyes and ears half torn off. With his good looks, Reg was the idol of the small girls in the town and he was twitted about his amours with the ladies by a tactless master at the grammar school. This was more than a hot-blooded boy could take and he let the master have it in no uncertain terms, including references to his drinking habits and sneaking out the back door of pubs. It was a ding-dong go with the gloves off, my brother fighting a rearguard action with a few well-directed books as he left. An enraged master called to see my father that night. After hearing the story, which I think he rather enjoyed, he had some words with Reg who stood his ground and said: 'I won't go back, Dad.' Father returned to the surgery and was heard to say: 'Sorry old chap but he says he won't go back' and that was the end of it. About that time the School of Forestry was established at Sawpit Gully and Reg, then about eighteen, was one of the first six students enrolled. After a few years at the school, he was sent to various parts of the State to superintend reafforestation areas. He later returned to the school. As I had left home for Queensland in 1909, I saw little of Reg until I returned to Victoria as overseer on Ercildoune in 1912. Ercildoune was twenty miles from Creswick and I often used to drive or ride across for week-ends. Reg would sometimes meet me half way at Ascot where a mutual friend owned a couple of jumpers which I schooled for him. I got a bad fall one Sunday over a three-railed fence and rather groggy, insisted on being legged up again to put the horse over another fence so that he would not lose his nerve or I mine. Reg got me home and to bed minus a set of my false teeth. Like Pearl, Reg did not share the family interest in art or literature. Essentially an outdoor type, completely natural with a robust sense of humour, he was popular with everybody from old Alex Peacock to a stable boy, and was quite unconscious of his good looks and the charm he exercised over all who knew him. No wonder the girls all fell for him. In 1914 he enlisted as a gunner in the artillery and the last time I saw him was after we had dinner together in Melbourne. He was in uniform and, as he got into a hansom cab, he waved me a cheerful goodbye, saying: 'I'll see you in France.' I followed him some months later but, although I was in France in 1915 and 1916, we never had the luck to run across each other. He was killed by shellfire on the Somme in 1917 (see below) while, as I was told by one of his battery, dashing out of a dugout to rescue a bottle of rum. It was all thoroughly in character. From the Creswick Advertiser, 30 January 1917 (via Trove): Gunner Reginald Graham Lindsay, killed in action, was a son of Mrs Lindsay of Cambridge St Creswick, and of the late Dr RC Lindsay. He enlisted in July, 1915, became attached to the artillery and sailed for Egypt on the 2nd January of the following year. After being three weeks in Egypt he was one of the men picked to fill gaps in the Anzacs' Army and sent to France, shortly afterwards going into action. He fought for nine months on the guns on the Somme without a spell, and lost his life on the 31st December, 1916, being killed in action. The late Gunner Lindsay was 28 years of age. He was educated at the local State school, and later at the Creswick Grammar School. For a number of years he was in the State Forestry Department, being one of the first five students at the School of Forestry who were gazetted as officers in the Department. As a boy and when he reached manhood he was greatly esteemed and respected for his many sterling qualities, and his death is greatly regretted by old and young. He was a fine sport, and had been a prominent playing member of the Creswick Football Club and the Creswick Basketball Club. The bereaved mother and relatives have the deep sympathy of a very wide circle of friends in their sad and sudden bereavement. Reginald Lindsay	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2248
__label__wiki	0.673373	0.673373	VideoRay Pro 4 Quickly Proves Its Worth With California Sheriff’s Office It didn't take long for a VideoRay Pro 4 to prove itself to the Yolo County Sheriff's Office in California. Since acquiring it in July 2019, the department has deployed the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to identify dozens of sunken vessels and participate in several search missions for drowning victims. The latest assignment came on December 9, when the Pro 4 was dispatched to search for a 61-year-old fisherman who fell into the water from a steep embankment at Lake Berryessa, a popular recreational spot and the largest lake in Napa County. Within two hours of the accident, Yolo's ROV team was on the scene to assist in locating the victim. Once dropped in the water, it only took the submersible 30 minutes to find the fisherman in 10 to 15 feet of water, according to Lieutenant Matthew Davis from the sheriff's office. A manipulator arm on the Pro 4 was used to help retrieve the victim, Davis noted. He pointed out that this was the Pro 4's fifth search for a drowning victim this year, and the fourth time it was used to help recover a victim. "Our ROV has been an asset to our agency, a number of surrounding agencies, and the public," Davis said. "To date it has performed flawlessly with no mechanical issues and little to no maintenance. Our ROV has proven itself to be a valuable asset and has assisted in providing closure to five families." The Pro 4 was purchased with a grant from the Sacramento Regional Sanitation District. Its primary purpose is to serve as a multi-agency tool for inspecting derelict vessels, sunken vessels, and sunken debris for water clarity hazards within the Sacramento River and Delta region, according to Davis. "Our ROV serves a secondary role as a search and recovery tool for multiple agencies along the Sacramento River and Sacramento Delta," Davis said. "The Pro 4 is also a regional and statewide search and recovery asset for the California Office of Emergency Services." A VideoRay Pro 4 owned by the Yolo County Sheriff's Office in California approaches an improvised target during a training exercise. Every VideoRay ROV Picture Tells A Story. What’s Y... Happy Holidays From VideoRay!	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2250
__label__wiki	0.616943	0.616943	Ten Museums in Washington, D.C. You Can Visit For Free Penelope, The Getaway Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States, is a popular tourist destination for many reasons. Many people travel there to view historical monuments, visit some of our centers of government, and to learn more about how America came into being. While there are plenty of ways to learn about our nation's history in D.C., it is also home to some of the country's best museums. And, even better, many of these museums are absolutely free to enter. 01Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum If you're ready for a change of pace from the memorials and monuments, take a stroll down the Smithsonian National Mall to the National Air and Space Museum. This museum houses the largest collection aviation memorabilia in the world, including the 1903 Wright Flyer and Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. Spaceflight enthusiasts can check out historical objects like astronaut spacesuits as well as a piece of genuine moon rock brought back during the Apollo 17 mission. This free museum is located on Independence Avenue at 6th Street SW and is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except during the spring and summer when it stays open until 7:30 p.m. 02United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Though this site can be difficult to visit, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum helps to educate travelers about this tragic period in history. The museum serves to memorialize those who suffered and to help ensure that the events of the holocaust will never happen again. These stories are told through film, photography, artifacts, personal stories, and special exhibitions. This free museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but note that timed passes are required from March through August in order to view the museum's permanent collection. 03National Gallery of Art Pgiam / Getty Images Inspire your budding artist without spending a dime at Washington D.C.'s National Gallery of Art. This free museum boasts a broad-ranging collection with examples from everything from ancient to modern art, including masterworks by Picasso, Gaugin, Monet, and da Vinci, as well as the world-famous sculpture garden. The museum, located on Constitution Avenue NW between 3rd and 9th Streets NW, is open every day of the year except Christmas and New Year's Day. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. 04Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Let your imagination run wild at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, the most popular natural history museum in the world. This huge museum is home to more than 140 million items representing every aspect of the natural world. Marvel at gems like the famed Hope Diamond, ponder ancient fossils and even get hands-on in the museum's education center. This free museum, conveniently located on the National Mall, is open every day except for December 25 from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended hours to 7:30 p.m. in the spring and summer. 05Smithsonian Institution Information Center in the Castle AndreyKrav / Getty Images Even though your visit to Washington, D.C. takes you to the heart of the country who rejected rule by the monarchy, you can still include a visit to a castle on your itinerary. The Smithsonian Institution Information Center in the Castle, also simply called the Smithsonian Castle, is a beautiful landmark that also serves as the perfect first stop to help you organize your trip to other free Smithsonian institutions in the city. Visitors will find a coffee bar, comfortable seating, and interactive maps with information about the city's 17 Smithsonian Institution locations. 06U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing SKLA / Getty Images Instead of spending money, learn about how it's made at the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. View millions of dollars being printed at this location that also produces treasury securities, military commissions, award certificates, ID cards, and even invitations. To get the most out of your visit, try a guided tour of the Bureau. Tours are offered daily from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are free, but you will need a ticket if you visit from March through November. Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first serve basis from a booth at Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, which opens at 8 a.m. each weekday. 07National Archives Museum Willard / Getty Images No visit to Washington D.C. is complete without a stop at the National Archives Museum. Why is this free museum such an important place to visit? It houses three of the most important documents in U.S. history: the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It is even home to one of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta, one of the documents that greatly influenced America's founding fathers. Located at Constitution Avenue NW, between 7th and 9th Streets, the museum is open every day of the year (except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 08The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Pay a visit to one of the Smithsonian's newest locations at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This free museum is unique, the only one of its kind exclusively meant to document and display various aspects of African American art, culture, and life. This large facility hosts more than 3,500 artifacts as well as exhibits including Musical Crossroads, Slavery and Freedom, and A Changing America. and Located on the National Mall, this free museum is open every day but Christmas from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 09U.S. Botanic Garden dkfielding / Getty Images Need a break from the fast pace of your Washington, D.C. trip? Take time to smell the roses - and thousands of other plants - at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Visitors to this free, kid-friendly "living plant" museum can enjoy a paradise of plant life including an entire room dedicated to orchids, a gorgeous Conservatory, and the breathtaking Bartholdi Park. Visit the Conservatory and National Garden daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Bartholdi Park every day from dawn to dusk. 10Smithsonian National Museum of American History What makes America unique? Come up with your own answer after visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, the home of over three million artifacts that try to tell the story of what our country is all about. Visitors will see historical objects including the Star-Spangled Banner, a hat worn by Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination, and other national artifacts. However, this free museum also includes treasures like Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, a collection of American cars, and sheet music written by Duke Ellington. You can visit every day of the year except Christmas day from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2252
__label__cc	0.523538	0.476462	Alisa Weilerstein’s Newest Album: Shostakovich Cello Concertos July 31, 2017 October 14, 2016 by Timothy Judd 9Share on Facebook It’s always fascinating to consider musical lineage. Great musicians pass along ideas about a given piece to their students based on what they were taught. Eventually, the line runs back to the performer who premiered the music and worked directly with the composer. We get a sense of this lineage with Alisa Weilerstein’s new recording of Dmitri Shostakovich’s two Cello Concertos. Shostakovich wrote both concertos for Mstislav Rostropovich, with whom Weilerstein studied. She talks about her association with Rostropovich here. The First Concerto, written in 1959, opens with a hellish, sardonic Allegretto, which Shostakovich described as a “jocular march.” The opening motive is derived from the famous “DSCH” motive which translates Shostakovich’s initials into corresponding pitches in German musical notation: D, E-flat, C, B natural (In German notation Es is E-flat and H is B). This sly musical signature is imprinted on many of Shostakovich’s works. Here, it’s repeated obsessively, like a troubling thought you can’t quite get out of your mind. The second movement (Moderato) is filled with a haunting sense of lonely isolation which gradually becomes increasingly anguished and then recedes into these chilling final bars. Here is the entire movement: In the third movement the orchestra falls silent and we’re left with the solitude of a solo cello cadenza. The Allegro con moto which rounds out the First Concerto contains a mocking quote of the traditional Georgian melody, Suliko. This was Stalin’s favorite song and it found its way into Rayok, Shostakovich’s musical satire of the Soviet system. Stylistically, the Second Cello Concerto, written in the spring of 1966, marks the beginning of Shostakovich’s “late period.” The opening Largo was originally conceived as the opening movement of a symphony. The Odessa street song, Bubliki, kupitye, bubliki (Buy My Bread Rolls) emerges in grotesque form in the second movement, Allegretto. A variation of this theme returns in the final movement. As with the obsessive repetition of the “DSCH” motive in the First Concerto, this folk song can be heard as a persistent voice which can’t be silenced. Pablo Heras-Casado and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra accompany Weilerstein on this disk. Shostakovich: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, Alisa Weilerstein, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pablo Heras-Casado iTunes Alisa Weilerstein’s complete discography iTunes A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa. The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States. A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals. In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program. View all posts by Timothy Judd \| Website Categories Concerto, The Listeners' Club, Twentieth Century Tags Dmitri Shostakovich Post navigation Brahms’ “Tiny” Second Piano Concerto Dvorak’s Seventh Symphony: Defiantly Czech	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2255
__label__wiki	0.921685	0.921685	This article is about the British national museum organisation. For other uses, see Imperial War Museum (disambiguation). 1917; 104 years ago (1917) (branches opened 1976, 1978, 1984 and 2002) IWM London: Lambeth Road, London IWM Duxford: Duxford, Cambridgeshire HMS Belfast: The Queen's Walk, London Churchill War Rooms: Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London IWM North: The Quays, Trafford Wharf Road, Manchester Collection size 10,700,000 items or collections of items.[2] All branches: 2,667,926 IWM London: 1,073,936[1] IWM Duxford: 401,287 HMS Belfast: 327,206 Churchill War Rooms: 620,933 IWM North: 244,564 Diane Lees Prince Edward, Duke of Kent Chairman: Sir Francis Richards www.iwm.org.uk Imperial War Museums (IWM) is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. Founded as the Imperial War Museum in 1917, the museum was intended to record the civil and military war effort and sacrifice of Britain and its Empire during the First World War. The museum's remit has since expanded to include all conflicts in which British or Commonwealth forces have been involved since 1914. As of 2012, the museum aims "to provide for, and to encourage, the study and understanding of the history of modern war and 'wartime experience'."[3] Originally housed in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham Hill, the museum opened to the public in 1920. In 1924, the museum moved to space in the Imperial Institute in South Kensington, and finally in 1936, the museum acquired a permanent home that was previously the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Southwark. The outbreak of the Second World War saw the museum expand both its collections and its terms of reference, but in the post-war period, the museum entered a period of decline. The 1960s saw the museum redevelop its Southwark building, now referred to as Imperial War Museum London, which serves as the organisation's corporate headquarters. During the 1970s, the museum began to expand onto other sites. The first, in 1976, was a historic airfield in Cambridgeshire now referred to as IWM Duxford. In 1978, the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Belfast became a branch of the museum, having previously been preserved for the nation by a private trust. In 1984, the Cabinet War Rooms, an underground wartime command centre, was opened to the public. From the 1980s onwards, the museum's Bethlem building underwent a series of multimillion-pound redevelopments, completed in 2000. Finally, 2002 saw the opening of IWM North in Trafford, Greater Manchester, the fifth branch of the museum and the first in the north of England. In 2011, the museum rebranded itself as IWM, standing for "Imperial War Museums". The museum's collections include archives of personal and official documents, photographs, film and video material, and oral history recordings, an extensive library, a large art collection, and examples of military vehicles and aircraft, equipment, and other artefacts. The museum is funded by government grants, charitable donations, and revenue generation through commercial activity such as retailing, licensing, and publishing. General admission is free to IWM London (although specific exhibitions require the purchase of a ticket) and IWM North, but an admission fee is levied at the other branches. The museum is an exempt charity under the Charities Act 1993 and a non-departmental public body under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. As of January 2012, the Chairman of the Trustees is Sir Francis Richards. Since October 2008, the museum's director general has been Diane Lees.[4] Establishment: 1917–1924 Sir Alfred Mond, photographed between 1910 and 1920. On 27 February 1917 Sir Alfred Mond, a Liberal MP and First Commissioner of Works, wrote to the Prime Minister David Lloyd George to propose the establishment of a National War Museum. This proposal was accepted by the War Cabinet on 5 March 1917 and the decision announced in The Times on 26 March. A committee was established, chaired by Mond, to oversee the collection of material to be exhibited in the new museum.[5][6] This National War Museum Committee set about collecting material to illustrate Britain's war effort by dividing into subcommittees examining such subjects as the Army, the Navy, the production of munitions, and women's war work.[7] There was an early appreciation of the need for exhibits to reflect personal experience in order to prevent the collections becoming dead relics. Sir Martin Conway, the museum's first director general, said that exhibits must 'be vitalised by contributions expressive of the action, the experiences, the valour and the endurance of individuals'.[8] The museum's first curator and secretary was Charles ffoulkes, who had previously been curator of the Royal Armouries at the Tower of London.[9] In July 1917 Mond made a visit to the Western Front in order to study how best to organise the museum's growing collection. While in France he met French government ministers, and Field Marshal Haig, who reportedly took great interest in his work.[10] In December 1917 the name was changed to the Imperial War Museum after a resolution from the India and Dominions Committee of the museum.[11] The museum was opened by King George V at the Crystal Palace on 9 June 1920. During the opening ceremony, Sir Alfred Mond addressed the King on behalf of the committee, saying that 'it was hoped to make the museum so complete that every one who took part in the war, however obscurely, would find therein an example or illustration of the sacrifice he or she made' and that the museum 'was not a monument of military glory, but a record of toil and sacrifice'.[12] Shortly afterwards the Imperial War Museum Act 1920 was passed and established a Board of Trustees to oversee the governance of the museum. To reflect the museum's Imperial remit the board included appointees of the governments of India, South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.[13] While the Act was being debated, some Parliamentarians felt that the museum would perpetuate an undesirable war spirit and Commander Joseph Kenworthy MP said that he would 'refuse to vote a penny of public money to commemorate such suicidal madness of civilisation as that which was shown in the late War'.[14] On the August Bank Holiday 1920, the first public holiday since the museum's opening, 94,179 visitors were received,[15] and by November 1921, 2,290,719 had visited the museum.[16] Relocation 1924–1936 In 1924 the museum moved to the Imperial Institute building (demolished in the 1950s and 1960s to make way for Imperial College) in South Kensington. While this location was more central and in a prestigious area for museums, the accommodation itself proved cramped and inadequate[17] and in 1936 a new permanent location was found south of the River Thames in Southwark. The Imperial Institute, South Kensington, where the museum was located from 1924 to 1936 The building, designed by James Lewis[18] was the former Bethlem Royal Hospital which had been vacated following the hospital's relocation to Beckenham in Kent. The site was owned by Lord Rothermere, who had originally intended to demolish the building entirely in order to provide a public park in what was a severely overcrowded area of London. Eventually the central portion of the hospital building was retained while its two extensive wings were removed and the resulting space named Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, after Lord Rothermere's mother. Sir Martin Conway described the building as '...a fine building, really quite noble building, with a great portico, a distinguishing dome, and two great wings added to it for the accommodation of lunatics no longer required. This particular building can be made to contain our collection admirably, and we shall preserve from destruction quite a fine building which otherwise will disappear'.[19] The 'distinguishing dome' was added by Sydney Smirke in 1846 and housed the hospital's chapel.[20] The museum was reopened by the Duke of York (later King George VI) in its new accommodation on 7 July 1936. Second World War and after: 1939–1966 With the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, the museum began to collect material documenting the conflict.[21] In November 1939, during the so-called 'Phoney War', the museum appeared in the opening sequence of the GPO Film Unit production The First Days, in which children are seen playing on some of the museum's German artillery pieces captured during the First World War.[22] With the evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk in May/June 1940, however, the British Army's shortage of equipment saw eighteen of the museum's artillery pieces return to military service.[23] The museum's trench clubs were used by the Home Guard, while other items such as sights and optical instruments were returned to the Ministry of Supply. The museum refused, however, to return some historic items such as a naval gun from HMS Lance (which had fired Britain's first shot of the First World War) or a gun served by Victoria Cross-winning boy seaman Jack Cornwell.[23] The museum initially remained open but was closed for the duration of the war in September 1940 with the onset of the Blitz. On 31 January 1941 the museum was struck by a Luftwaffe bomb which fell on the naval gallery. A number of ship models were damaged by the blast and a Short Seaplane, which had flown at the Battle of Jutland, was destroyed.[24] While closed to the public the museum's building was used for a variety of purposes connected to the war effort, such as a repair garage for government motor vehicles, a centre for Air Raid Precautions civil defence lectures and a fire fighting training school.[25] In October 1945 the museum mounted a temporary exhibition, the first since the end of the war in August, which showcased technologies developed by the Petroleum Warfare Department. These included the submarine fuel pipeline PLUTO, the fog dispersal method FIDO, and flame weapons such as the Churchill Crocodile and Wasp Universal Carrier.[26] However, due to bomb damage to both the building and exhibits, the museum was obliged to reopen its galleries piecemeal. The museum reopened a portion of its galleries in November 1946.[24][27] A third of the galleries were opened in 1948 and a further wing opened in 1949.[28][29] In 1953, with Commonwealth forces engaged in Korea and Malaya the museum began its current policy of collecting material from all modern conflicts in which British or Commonwealth forces were involved.[24] However, despite this expansion of remit, the early postwar period was a period of decline for the museum. Dr Noble Frankland, the museum's director from 1960 to 1982, described the museum's galleries in 1955 as appearing 'dingy and neglected [and in a] dismal state of decay' the museum's 'numerous stunning exhibits' notwithstanding.[30] Redevelopment and expansion: 1966–2012 15-inch guns outside the museum; the nearer gun from HMS Ramillies, the other from HMS Resolution. 15-inch guns, closeup and front view In 1966 the museum's Southwark building was extended to provide collections storage and other facilities, the first major expansion since the museum had moved to the site. The development also included a purpose-built cinema.[31] In 1967 the museum acquired a pair of 15-inch naval guns. One had been mounted on the Royal Navy's HMS Ramillies and the other on both HMS Resolution and HMS Roberts. Both had been fired in action during the Second World War. They went on permanent display outside the museum in May 1968.[32] The acquisition of these guns, representative of the dreadnought era of British battleships, led the museum to seek to acquire a 6-inch triple turret that would be representative of a number of classes of British cruisers.[33] This would eventually lead to the preservation of the Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Belfast, which became a branch of the museum in 1978.[34] Later in 1968 on 13 October the museum was attacked by an arsonist, Timothy John Daly, who claimed he was acting in protest against the exhibition of militarism to children. He caused damage valued at approximately £200,000, not counting the loss of irreplaceable books and documents. On his conviction in 1969 he was sentenced to four years in prison.[35][36] V-1 flying bomb on display In 1969 RAF Duxford, a Royal Air Force fighter airfield in Cambridgeshire was declared surplus to requirements by the Ministry of Defence. Needing further space, the museum duly requested permission to use part of the site as temporary storage. The entire site was later transferred to the museum in February 1976 and Duxford, now referred to as Imperial War Museum Duxford became the museum's first branch.[37] Also during the 1970s the government raised the possibility of the museum taking over the historic Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall. The museum was reluctant due to its new commitments related to Duxford and HMS Belfast, but agreed in 1982.[38] By 1983 the museum was again looking to redevelop the Southwark site and approached engineering firm Arup to plan a phased programme of works that would expand the building's exhibition space, provide appropriate environmental controls to protect collections, and improve facilities for visitors. The following year, in April 1984, the Cabinet War Rooms were opened to the public as a branch of the museum. The first phase of the works to the Southwark building started in 1986 and were completed in 1989, during which time the museum was closed to the public. The work included the conversion of what was previously the hospital's courtyard into a centrepiece Large Exhibits Gallery. This gallery featured a strengthened ground floor (to support the weight of very heavy exhibits), a first floor mezzanine and second storey viewing balcony. Into this space were placed tanks, artillery pieces, vehicles, ordnance and aircraft from the First World War to the Falklands War.[39] For some years the museum was marketed as "The new Imperial War Museum".[40] This atrium, with its concentration of military hardware, has been described as "the biggest boys' bedroom in London".[41] This first phase cost £16.7 million (of which £12 million was provided by the government) and the museum was reopened by The Queen on 29 June 1989.[42] The atrium in August 2009. Ground floor exhibits include: "Devil" a Mark V tank; "Ole Bill" an LGOC B-type bus, V-2 and Polaris missiles, 800 mm shell from Schwerer Gustav, and (sand-coloured, extreme right) a Grant tank used by Bernard Montgomery. Suspended aircraft include a Sopwith Camel, Heinkel He 162 and (partially obscured) Supermarine Spitfire number R/6915, which flew in the Battle of Britain and shot down three aircraft. [43] In September 1992 the museum was the target of a Provisional Irish Republican Army attack against London tourist attractions. Two incendiary devices were found in a basement gallery, but were extinguished by staff before the arrival of the fire brigade, and caused only minor damage.[44][45] The second stage of the redevelopment of the Southwark building, during which the museum remained open to the public, was completed in 1994.[39] During the 1990s, while these works were going on, the museum was also seeking to open a branch in the north of England. 71 sites were offered for consideration by 36 local councils and in January 1999 the then Culture Secretary Chris Smith formally launched a project to construct a new branch of the museum, Imperial War Museum North, in Trafford, Greater Manchester.[46] The following year, 2000, the final phase of the Southwark redevelopment was completed. The development included the installation of the museum's Holocaust Exhibition which was opened by the Queen on 6 June 2000. This was the first permanent exhibition dedicated to the Holocaust in a UK museum; its development had taken five years at a cost of £5 million.[47] Two years later, in July 2002, Imperial War Museum North was opened. Between 2004 and 2010 the museum was a partner in a national learning project entitled "Their Past Your Future" (TPYF), part of the Big Lottery Fund's Veterans Reunited programme to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.[48] A partnership between the IWM, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, and Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh museum authorities, phase one included a touring exhibition seen by more than two million people,[49] overseas educational visits[50] and further activities run by local authorities. A second phase took a wider 20th century historical remit; it comprised a learning programme using overseas visits and social media, and a professional development scheme for educators.[51] A digital archive of the project,[52] online exhibitions and learning resources were also produced.[53] In October 2011 the museum rebranded itself as Imperial War Museums, the initials IWM forming the basis of a new corporate logo.[54] In September 2011 the museum secured funding from NESTA, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Arts Council England to develop "social interpretation" systems to allow visitors to comment on, collect, and share museum objects via social media.[55] These systems were incorporated in "A Family in Wartime", an exhibition at IWM London depicting British family life during the Second World War, which opened in April 2012.[56] First World War centenary: 2014 In August 2009 the museum announced the creation of the Imperial War Museum Foundation. Chaired by Jonathon Harmsworth the foundation was charged with raising funds to support the redevelopment of Imperial War Museum London's permanent galleries.[57] In December 2010 plans were announced to redevelop IWM London's First World War gallery in time for the conflict's centenary in 2014,[58] and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge became the foundation's patron.[59] In a speech at IWM London on 11 October 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron announced an additional £5 million of government funding to support the museum's redevelopment, as part of funding arrangements to facilitate national centenary commemorations.[60] The £40 million redevelopment, designed by Foster and Partners, provides new gallery spaces dedicated to the history of the First World War, a new central hall, easier navigation and improved visitor facilities, access and circulation.[61][62] In preparation for building work, a number of galleries were closed during September 2012,[63] and by December 2012 over sixty large objects had been removed from the IWM London atrium for conservation at Duxford.[64] To allow building work to go ahead, IWM London closed to the public on 2 January 2013. The museum partially reopened on 29 July 2013.[65] IWM London was formally reopened on 17 July 2014 by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.[citation needed] The new atrium, July 2014. The exhibits include a Supermarine Spitfire, a V-1 flying bomb, a V-2 rocket, a Harrier Jump Jet, and Jeremy Deller's Baghdad, 5 March 2007, the wreckage of a car destroyed by a bomb during the Iraq War. From the 1970s onwards the Imperial War Museum began to expand onto other sites. The first branch, Imperial War Museum Duxford opened to the public on a regular basis in June 1976.[66] HMS Belfast became a branch of the museum in 1978.[67] The Cabinet War Rooms opened in 1984,[68] and Imperial War Museum North in 2002.[69] Imperial War Museum London Supermarine Spitfire MK.IA on display Bottom view of the Supermarine Spitfire T-34-85 tank on display A view of Bethlem Royal Hospital in 1828 The museum has occupied the former Bethlem Royal Hospital on Lambeth Road since 1936. The hospital building was designed by the hospital surveyor, James Lewis, from plans submitted by John Gandy and other architects, and construction completed in October 1814. The hospital consisted of a range of buildings 580 feet long with a basement and three storeys, parallel to Lambeth Road, with a central entrance under a portico.[70] The building was substantially altered in 1835 by architect Sydney Smirke. In order to provide more space, he added blocks at either end of the frontage, and galleried wings on either side of the central portion. He also added a small single-storey lodge, still in existence, at the Lambeth Road gate. Later, between 1844 and 1846, the central cupola was replaced with a copper-clad dome in order to expand the chapel beneath. The building also featured a theatre in a building to the rear of the site.[70] The building remained substantially unchanged until vacated by the hospital in 1930. After the freehold was purchased by Lord Rothermere, the wings were demolished to leave the original central portion (with the dome now appearing disproportionately tall) and Smirke's later wings. When the museum moved into the building in 1936 the ground floor of the central portion was occupied by the principal art gallery, with the east wing housing the Naval gallery and the west wing the Army gallery. The Air Force gallery was housed in the former theatre. The first floor comprised further art galleries (including rooms dedicated to Sir William Orpen and Sir John Lavery), a gallery on women's war work, and exhibits relating to transport and signals. The first floor also housed the museum's photograph collection. The second floor housed the museum's library in its west wing, and in the east wing the map collection and stored pictures and drawings.[71] This division of exhibits by service, and by civil or military activity, persisted until a wide-ranging redisplay of the galleries from the 1960s onwards. In September 1972 the building received Grade II listed building status.[72] The original hospital building is now largely occupied by corporate offices. The 1966 extension houses the library, art store, and document archives while the 1980s redevelopments created exhibition space over five floors. The first stage created 8,000 m2 of gallery space of which 4,600 m2 was new, and the second provided a further 1,600 m2.[39] The final phase, the Southwest Infill, was partly funded by a £12.6 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund[73] and provided 5,860m2 of gallery space and educational facilities over six floors.[74] Before the 2013–14 redevelopment, the basement was occupied by permanent galleries on the First and Second World Wars, and of conflicts after 1945. The ground floor comprised the atrium, cinema, temporary exhibition spaces, and visitor facilities. The first floor included the atrium mezzanine, education facilities, and a permanent gallery, Secret War, exploring special forces, espionage and covert operations. The second floor included the atrium viewing balcony, two art galleries, a temporary exhibition area and the permanent Crimes against Humanity exhibition. The third floor housed the permanent Holocaust Exhibition, and the fourth floor, a vaulted roof space, accommodated the Lord Ashcroft Gallery. Opened in November 2010 the gallery exhibits the museum's Victoria Cross (VC) and George Cross collection, alongside the private VC collection amassed by Michael Ashcroft, 241 medals in total.[39][75][76] In August 2019, the Museum announced plans to spend over £30m on a new set of galleries over two floors at its London site covering the Holocaust and its importance in World War II. The galleries are set to open in 2021 and will replace the existing permanent exhibition.[77] In 1989 the museum acquired the All Saints Annexe, a former hospital building in Austral Street off West Square. The 1867 building, which backs onto Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, was originally an orphanage opened by local philanthropist Charlotte Sharman, then later used as a hospital. It houses the museum's photographic, film and sound archives, and offices.[78][79] Imperial War Museum Duxford Main article: Imperial War Museum Duxford AirSpace at IWM Duxford. Imperial War Museum Duxford, near the village of Duxford in Cambridgeshire, is Britain's largest aviation museum.[80] Duxford houses the museum's large exhibits, including nearly 200 aircraft, military vehicles, artillery and minor naval vessels in seven main exhibitions buildings.[81] The site also provides storage space for the museum's collections of film, photographs, documents, books and artefacts. The site accommodates a number of British Army regimental museums, including those of the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Anglian Regiment. Based on the historic Duxford Aerodrome, the site was originally operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the First World War. During the Second World War Duxford played a prominent role during the Battle of Britain and was later used by United States Army Air Forces fighter units in support of the daylight bombing of Germany. Duxford remained an active RAF airfield until 1961. Many of Duxford's original buildings, such as hangars used during the Battle of Britain, are still in use. A number of these buildings are of architectural or historic significance and over thirty have listed building status.[82] The site also features a number of purpose-built exhibition buildings, such as the Stirling Prize-winning American Air Museum, designed by Sir Norman Foster. The site remains an active airfield and is used by a number of civilian flying companies, and hosts regular air shows. The site is operated in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council and the Duxford Aviation Society, a charity formed in 1975 to preserve civil aircraft and promote appreciation of British civil aviation history. HMS Belfast (1938) Main article: HMS Belfast (C35) HMS Belfast at her berth in the Pool of London HMS Belfast, a Town class cruiser, was launched in 1938 and served throughout the Second World War, participating in the December 1943 Battle of North Cape and firing some of the first shots of Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. She saw further combat in the Korean War. Expected to be disposed of as scrap after she was decommissioned in 1963, in 1967 efforts were initiated to preserve Belfast as a museum ship. A joint committee of the Imperial War Museum, the National Maritime Museum and the Ministry of Defence was established, and reported in June 1968 that preservation was practical. In 1971 the government decided against preservation, prompting the formation of the private HMS Belfast Trust to campaign for her to be saved for the nation. The Trust was successful in its efforts, and the government transferred the ship to the Trust in July 1971. Brought to London, she was moored on the River Thames near Tower Bridge in the Pool of London. Opened to the public in October 1971 Belfast became a branch of the Imperial War Museum on 1 March 1978, being acknowledged by the then Secretary of State for Education and Science, Shirley Williams, as "a unique demonstration of an important phase of our history and technology".[83] In service for 24 years HMS Belfast was in Frankland's opinion, capable of representing "a whole generation of [historical evidence]".[84] In 2017, the name of the exhibit was changed to "HMS Belfast 1938" to reflect that one of the Royal Navy's new Type 26 frigates had been given the name HMS Belfast.[85] Main article: Churchill War Rooms The Map Room of the Cabinet War Rooms The Cabinet War Rooms is an underground complex that served as a British government command centre throughout the Second World War. Located beneath the Treasury building in the Whitehall area of Westminster, the facilities became operational in 1939 and were in constant use until their abandonment in August 1945 after the surrender of Japan. Their historical value was recognised early on, and the public were able to visit by appointment. However, the practicalities of allowing public access to a site beneath a working government office meant that only 4,500 of 30–40,000 annual applicants to visit the War Rooms could be admitted.[38] The museum agreed to take over the administration of the site in 1982,[38] a development keenly supported by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, an admirer of Britain's wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Thatcher opened the War Rooms in April 1984. In 2003 a further suite of rooms, used as accommodation by Churchill, his wife and close associates, were added to the museum. The restoration of these rooms, which since the war had been stripped out and used for storage, cost £7.5 million.[86] In 2005 the War Rooms were rebranded as the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, with 850 m2 of the site redeveloped as a biographical museum exploring Churchill's life. The development of the Churchill Museum cost a further £6 million. The centrepiece is a 15m interactive table which enables visitors to access digitised material, particularly from the Churchill Archives Centre, via an "electronic filing cabinet".[87] The museum was renamed the Churchill War Rooms in 2010. Imperial War Museum North Main article: Imperial War Museum North Entrance of Imperial War Museum North in Manchester The Imperial War Museum North was opened in Trafford, Greater Manchester, in 2002. It was the first branch of the museum outside southeast England, and the first to be purpose-built as a museum. Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, Imperial War Museum North was his first building in Britain. Libeskind's building, overlooking the Manchester Ship Canal at Salford Quays, was based on the concept of a globe shattered by conflict into shards and reassembled. These shards, representing earth, air and water, give the building its shape.[88] Originally budgeted at £40 million, the museum was eventually completed for £28.5 million after anticipated funding was not forthcoming. The museum was funded by local, national and European development agencies, by private donations and by Peel Holdings, a local transport and property company which contributed £12.5 million.[89][90] The museum's first floor main gallery space houses the permanent exhibitions. These consist of a chronological display which runs around the gallery's 200m perimeter and six thematic displays in "silos" within the space. The walls of the gallery space are used as screens for the projection of an hourly audiovisual presentation, the Big Picture. The main gallery, described as cavernous and dramatic,[91][92] includes objects such as a Russian T-34 tank, a United States Marine Corps AV-8A Harrier jet, and a British 13-pounder field gun which fired the British Army's first shot of the First World War.[93] The museum also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions, mounted in a separate gallery.[94] See also: Category:Collection of the Imperial War Museum. The museum's collection includes this photograph of Montgomery in his tank along with the tank itself, his command caravans and staff car, [95] and his papers. [96] [97] The Imperial War Museum's original collections date back to the material amassed by the National War Museum Committee. The present departmental organisation came into being during the 1960s as part of Frankland's reorganisation of the museum. The 1970s saw oral history gain increasing prominence and in 1972 the museum created the Department of Sound Records (now the Sound Archive) to record interviews with individuals who had experienced the First World War. The museum maintains an online database of its collections.[98] The museum's documents archive seeks to collect and preserve the private papers of individuals who have experienced modern warfare. The archive's holdings range from the papers of senior British and Commonwealth army, navy and air officers, to the letters, diaries and memoirs of lower-ranked servicemen and of civilians. The collection includes the papers of Field Marshals Bernard Montgomery,[97] and Sir John French.[99] The archive also includes large collections of foreign documents, such as captured German Second World War documents previously held by the Cabinet Office Historical Section, Air Historical Branch and other British government bodies. The foreign collection also includes captured Japanese material transferred from the Cabinet Office. The collection also includes files on Victoria and George Cross recipients, and correspondence relating to the BBC documentary The Great War.[100] The documents collection also includes the UK National Inventory of War Memorials.[101] In 2012 the museum reported its documents collection to contain 24,800 collections of papers.[102] The museum's art collection includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, and works in film, photography and sound.[103] The collection originated during the First World War, when the museum acquired works that it had itself commissioned, as well as works commissioned by the Ministry of Information's British War Memorials Committee. As early as 1920 the art collection held over 3,000 works[104] and included pieces by John Singer Sargent, Wyndham Lewis, John Nash and Christopher Nevinson. Notable First World War works include Sargent's Gassed[105] and other works commissioned for an, unbuilt, Hall of Remembrance.[106] The collection expanded again after the Second World War, receiving thousands of works sponsored by the Ministry of Information's War Artists' Advisory Committee.[107] In 1972 the museum established the Artistic Records Committee (since renamed the Art Commissions Committee) to commission artists to cover contemporary conflicts.[108] Commissioned artists include Ken Howard, Linda Kitson, John Keane, Peter Howson, Steve McQueen (see Queen and Country) and Langlands & Bell, responding to conflicts in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.[109][110][111][112][113] The collection also includes over twenty thousand items of publicity material such as posters, postcards, and proclamations from both world wars, and more recent material such as posters issued by anti-war organisations such as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Stop the War Coalition.[103] The museum's collection is represented in digital resources such as the Visual Arts Data Service (VADS),[114] and Google Art Project.[115] In 2012 the museum reported the total size of its art collection as 84,980 items.[102] A still from The Battle of the Somme, preserved by the museum's film archive. The museum's Film and Video Archive is one of the oldest film archives in the world.[116][117][118] The archive preserves a range of historically significant film and video material, including the official British film record of the First World War. Notable among the archive's First World War holdings is The Battle of the Somme, a pioneering 1916 documentary film (which was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2005), and Der Magische Gürtel, a German 1917 propaganda film about the submarine U-35.[119] The archive's Second World War holdings include unedited film shot by British military cameramen, which document combat actions such as the British landings on D-Day in June 1944,[120] and the liberation of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945.[121] The archive also holds government information films and propaganda features such as Target for Tonight and Desert Victory. The archive's post-Second World War collections include material from the Korean War, Cold War material, the former film library of NATO, and material produced by the United Nations UNTV service in Bosnia. As an official repository under the 1958 Public Records Act, the archive continues to receive material from the Ministry of Defence. The archive also seeks to acquire amateur film taken by both service personnel and civilian cameramen.[122] Material from the collection was used in the production of TV documentary series such as The Great War and The World at War. In 2012 the museum reported the size of its film archive as being in excess of 23,000 hours of film, video and digital footage.[102] IWM participated in the national digitising project Unlocking Film Heritage. The museum's Photograph Archive preserves photographs by official, amateur and professional photographers. The collection includes the official British photographic record of the two world wars; the First World War collection includes the work of photographers such as Ernest Brooks and John Warwick Brooke.[123][124] The archive also holds 150,000 British aerial photographs from the First World War,[125] the largest collection of its kind.[126] The Second World War collection includes the work of photographers such as Bill Brandt, Cecil Beaton[127] and Bert Hardy.[128] Like the Film Archive, the Photograph Archive is an official repository under the 1958 Public Records Act, and as such continues to receive material from the Ministry of Defence. In 2012 the museum reported the size of its photographic holdings as approximately 11 million images in 17,263 collections.[102] The museum's exhibits collection includes a wide range of objects, organised into numerous smaller collections such as uniforms, badges, insignia and flags (including a Canadian Red Ensign carried at Vimy Ridge in 1917,[129] a Union flag from the 1942 British surrender of Singapore,[130] and another found among the wreckage of the World Trade Center following the September 11 attacks), as well a piece of the towers;[131] personal mementoes, souvenirs and miscellanea such as trench art;[132][133] orders, medals and decorations (including collections of Victoria and George Crosses); military equipment; firearms and ammunition, ordnance, edged weapons, clubs (such as trench clubs)[134] and other weapons, and vehicles, aircraft and ships. The museum holds the national collection of modern firearms.[102] The firearms collection includes a rifle used by T. E. Lawrence,[135] and an automatic pistol owned by Winston Churchill.[136] The ordnance collection includes artillery pieces that participated in notable battles, such as the Néry gun, a field gun that was used during the 1914 action at Néry,[137] and equipment captured from enemy forces. The museum's vehicles collection includes Ole Bill, a bus used by British forces in the First World War,[138] and a number of vehicles used by Field Marshal Montgomery during the Second World War.[139] The museum's aircraft collection includes aircraft that are notable for their rarity, such as the only complete and original Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 in existence and one of only two surviving TSR-2 strike aircraft,[140][141] and aircraft associated with particular actions, such as a Supermarine Spitfire flown during the Battle of Britain. The museum's naval collection includes HM Coastal Motor Boat 4 and a midget submarine HMS XE8.[142][143] In 2012 the museum reported its exhibits collection to contain 155,000 objects and a further 357 vehicles and aircraft.[102] The museum's library is a national reference collection on modern conflict, and holds works on all aspects of warfare, including regimental or unit histories (such as 789 rare German unit histories from the First World War),[144] technical manuals, biographical material and works on war's social, cultural, economic, political and military aspects. The library also holds printed ephemera such as the Imperial War Museum Stamp Collection,[145] leaflets and ration books, printed proclamations, newspapers, trench magazines (such the Wipers Times) and trench maps.[144] In 2012 the museum reported its library collection to contain over 80,000 items of historic importance (such as maps, proclamations and rare books) and a further 254,000 items of reference material.[102] The museum's Sound Archive holds 33,000 sound recordings, including a large collection of oral history recordings of witnesses to conflicts since 1914.[146] The museum's sound collection originated in 1972 with the creation of the Department of Sound Records and the instigation of an oral history recording programme. The sound collection opened to the public in July 1977.[147] The collection also includes recordings made by the BBC during the Second World War, actuality sound effects, broadcasts, speeches and poetry. As part of the museum's First World War centenary programme, the museum is producing Voices of the First World War, a podcast series drawing upon the museum's oral history recordings.[148] In 2012 the museum reported the size of its sound collection as 37,000 hours.[102] The IWM has an online database, listing the various items which make up the IWM Collections. In some cases, there are images of the item, or contemporary photos, which can be shared and reused under a Creative Commons Licence. The War Memorials Register is a database of known war memorials in the United Kingdom. Information material used in composition, the condition of the memorial, its address and coordinates with a satellite map plot are recorded for each of the memorials. There are over 70,000 memorials on the register.[149] Whilst many memorials are commemorated to those who died in the First World War,[150] the scope of the project is all conflicts. In 2014, IWM and online genealogy service provider Findmypast entered into a collaboration to launch the "Lives of the First World War" platform.[citation needed] During the centenary period, anyone could sign up for an account. Those who paid for a subscription had the ability to add records from Findmypast's collections.[151] A number of sources (War Office medal index cards, Canadian Expeditionary Force attestations, Royal Navy service records etc.) had been used as seeding documents to create individual entries in the database. Each person's profile in the database could have been further built up, so as to document when that person was born, when they died, family members etc. If a person needed to be added, or a duplicate existed that needed to be merged, such activity was requested via a support forum manned by IWM volunteers. A user with a subscription had the ability to group person profiles together into a "Community". This could be a grouping based around a ship's crew, a unit in the army, or the names of men and women buried in a given war cemetery.[152] The goal had been to encourage crowdsourcing to build up as many details as possible in the database, and to tap into the popularity of online genealogy as a pastime. One selling point of the platform had been that the data captured thus would be used in a "permanent digital memorial[153] [that] will be saved for future generations."[154] The IWM had declared that the data from the platform will become part of its archive when the platform ceased to be interactive in 2019, 'and will be free to access online for research.'[155] Size of collection Imperial War Museum holds around a half of petabyte of digitised data (as of 2017). This is held in Duxford (Cambridgeshire) on two SpectraLogic T950 tape libraries, with the distance of 500m between. One is LTO-5 (Linear Tape-Open) tape library, second is IBM TS1150.[156] The Imperial War Museum is an executive non-departmental public body under the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, from which it receives financial support in the form of a grant-in-aid. The governance of the museum is the responsibility of a Board of Trustees, originally established by the Imperial War Museum Act 1920,[13] later amended by the Imperial War Museum Act 1955[157] and the Museums and Galleries Act 1992 and other relevant legislation. The board comprises a president (currently Prince Edward, Duke of Kent) who is appointed by the sovereign, and fourteen members appointed in varying proportions by the Prime Minister, and the Foreign, Defence, and Culture Secretaries. Seven further members are Commonwealth High Commissioners appointed ex officio by their respective governments. As of January 2012 the Chairman of the Trustees is Sir Francis Richards and his deputy is Lieutenant-General Sir John Kiszely.[158][159][160] Past chairmen have included Admiral Sir Deric Holland-Martin (1967–77),[161] Admiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon Willis[162] and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy (trustee 1971–78, Chairman 1978–89). During the Second World War Grandy had commanded RAF Duxford, and was chairman during the planning of Duxford's American Air Museum, which opened in 1997.[163][164] The museum's director-general is answerable to the trustees and acts as accounting officer. Since 1917 the museum has had six directors. The first was Sir Martin Conway, a noted art historian, mountaineer and explorer. He was knighted in 1895 for his efforts to map the Karakoram mountain range of the Himalayas, and was Slade Professor of Fine Arts at the University of Cambridge from 1901 to 1904. Conway held the post of director until his death in 1937, when he was succeeded by Leslie Bradley. Bradley had served in the First World War in the Middlesex Regiment before being invalided out in 1917. He later became acquainted with Charles ffoulkes, who invited him to join the museum where he was initially engaged in assembling the museum's poster collection.[165] Bradley retired in 1960 and was succeeded by Dr Noble Frankland. Frankland had served as a navigator in RAF Bomber Command, winning a Distinguished Flying Cross. While a Cabinet Office official historian he co-authored a controversial official history of the RAF strategic air campaign against Germany. Frankland retired in 1982 and was succeeded by Dr Alan Borg who had previously been at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts. In 1995 Borg moved to the Victoria and Albert Museum and was succeeded by Sir Robert Crawford, who had originally been recruited by Frankland as a research assistant in 1968. Upon Crawford's retirement in 2008 he was succeeded by Diane Lees, previously director of the V&A Museum of Childhood. She was noted in the media as the first woman appointed to lead a British national museum.[166] ^ "ALVA - Association of Leading Visitor Attractions". www.alva.org.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2020. ^ Whitmore, Mark (letter to Frankie Roberto) (12 May 2008) WhatDoTheyKnow.com Total number of objects in the Imperial War Museum's collection. Retrieved 28 October 2009. ^ Imperial War Museums. "About us". iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 28 August 2012. ^ "Imperial War Museum London". Museums - The World Museums Network. ^ Kavanagh, Gaynor (January 1988). "Museum as Memorial: The origins of the Imperial War Museum". Journal of Contemporary History. 23 (1): 77–97 [81]. doi:10.1177/002200948802300105. ISSN 0022-0094. JSTOR 260869. S2CID 159747045. ^ 'National War Museum. The Collection of Relics And Souvenirs', The Times, 26 March 1917 Issue 41436, page 5 column C ^ Kavanagh 1988 p.82 ^ James Mann, 'ffoulkes, Charles John (1868–1947)’, rev. William Reid, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Oct 2006 accessed 22 June 2009 ^ 'The War Museum. Sir Alfred Mond's visit to the front', The Times, 24 July 1917, Issue 41538, page 3 column C ^ Kavanagh, Gaynor (1994). Museums and the First World War. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 137. ISBN 0-7185-1713-X. Retrieved 30 January 2012. ^ 'The Greatest War Memorial. Opening by the King. Human Interest at the Crystal Palace'. The Times, 10 June 1920, Issue 42433, page 11 column D ^ a b Office of Public Sector Information Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database: Imperial War Museum Act 1920 (c.16). Retrieved 14 April 2010. ^ Hansard, 12 April 1920 Imperial War Museum Bill HC Deb 12 April 1920 vol 127 cc1465-9 Hansard 1803–2005 Accessed 22 March 2009. ^ Their Past Your Future. "Learning Resources for Teaching History – Key Stages 3 and 4 – The Imperial War Museum" (PDF). Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 18 March 2011. ^ 'Public And Crystal Palace. Full Benefit Later', The Times, 15 November 1921, Issue 42878, page 5 column D ^ 'The Imperial War Museum: Lack of Accommodation',The Times 25 August 1933 Issue 46532, page 13 column E ^ Peter Leach, 'Lewis, James (1750/51–1820)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 Accessed 12 March 2009 ^ Conway was addressing the House of Lords and his words recorded in Hansard. Quoted in Cooke, Steven; Jenkins, Lloyd (December 2001). "Discourses of Regeneration in Early Twentieth-Century Britain: From Bedlam to the Imperial War Museum". Area. Blackwell Publishing for The Royal Geographical Society. 33 (4): 382–390 [387]. doi:10.1111/1475-4762.00044. ISSN 0004-0894. JSTOR 20004179. ^ Imperial War Museum London (guidebook), (London: Imperial War Museum, 2009) pp. 5 ISBN 978-1-904897-95-8 ^ 'Imperial War Museum: Collection of war relics', The Times 14 May 1940 Issue 48615, page 4 column F ^ Alberto Cavalcanti (director)/GPO Film Unit (November 1939). "the FIRST DAYS". Imperial War Museum Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 12 October 2012. ^ a b Charman, Terry (2008). A Museum of Man's Greatest Lunatic Folly: The Imperial War Museum and its Commemoration of the Great War 1917–2008 in A Part of History: Aspects of the British Experience of the First World War. London: Continuum. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-8264-9813-7. ^ a b c Imperial War Museum London (guidebook), (London: Imperial War Museum, 2009) pp. 2 ISBN 978-1-904897-95-8 ^ Imperial War Museum. "Reopening of the Imperial War Museum, London after the Second World War 1946 (D 29420, caption)". archive.iwm.org.uk. Retrieved 1 April 2013. ^ 'Petroleum Warfare Exhibition: Secrets of Crocodile And Wasp', The Times, 5 October 1945, Issue 50265, page 7 column D ^ 'Imperial War Museum: Memorial and Record of Deeds in Two World Wars', The Times 31 January 1953 Issue 52534, page 7 column E ^ 'New Exhibits in War Museum Galleries Reopened',The Times, 31 August 1948, Issue 51164, page 6 column E ^ 'Relics of Two World Wars Museum Wing Reopened', The Times, 23 February 1949, Issue 51313, page 6 column E ^ Frankland, Noble (1998) History at War: The Campaigns of an Historian (London: Giles de la Mare) p. 160 ISBN 978-1-900357-10-4 ^ 'Cinema For War Films Opens', The Times, 2 November 1966, Issue 56778, page 16 column B ^ Imperial War Museum. "Naval guns, 15-inch". archive.iwm.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2012. ^ Wingate, John (2004). In Trust for the Nation: HMS Belfast 1939–1972. London: Imperial War Museum. p. 101. ISBN 1-901623-72-6. ^ Wingate 2004, p.101–102 ^ Marshall, Rita 'War museum damaged by arson', The Times 14 October 1968, Issue no. 57381, p. 1 ^ 'Museum fire youth gets four years', The Times, 23 January 1969, Issue 57466, page 3 column G ^ Frankland, Noble (1999). History at War. London: Giles de la Mare. pp. 205–208. ISBN 978-1-900357-10-4. ^ a b c Holmes, Richard (2009) Churchill’s Bunker: The Secret Headquarters at the Heart of Britain’s Victory (London: Profile Books Ltd) p. 193 ISBN 978-1-84668-225-4 ^ a b c d Pearce, David; Penton, Annelise (2002). "The Imperial War Museum, London – Stage 3" (PDF). The Arup Journal. Arup. 37 (2): 42–47. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2012. ^ The new Imperial War Museum (guidebook, 1992), London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 0-901627-50X ^ Karpf, Anne (2 June 2000) The Guardian Bearing Witness. 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E 18980, Montgomery's Grant tank, office caravan, bedroom caravan, map caravan and staff car. Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 28 January 2012. ^ The National Archives (2012). "Montgomery, Bernard Law (1887–1976) 1st Viscount Montgomery, Field Marshal". National Register of Archives: Person details: Archive details. Retrieved 26 January 2012. ^ a b 'Montgomery documents',The Times 8 July 1982, Issue 61280, page 2 column A ^ For an overview of the museum's collections, see Bardgett, Suzanne 'Imperial War Museum and the history of war' at 'Making History' maintained by the Institute of Historical Research accessed 17 December 2008 ^ Imperial War Museum (2012). "Private Papers of Field Marshal Sir John French". Imperial War Museum Collections Search. Retrieved 25 February 2012. ^ Richards, Anthony (2004). "Archive Report: The Department of Documents at the Imperial War Museum". Contemporary British History. Routledge. 18 (2): 103–112. doi:10.1080/1361946042000227751. 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"The Moving Image: Subject or Object?" (PDF). Journal of Film Preservation. Fédération Internationale des Archives du Film – FIAF. 66: 25. ISSN 1609-2694. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 December 2010. ^ For the early history of the Imperial War Museum film archive, see Smither, Roger; Walsh, David (2000). "Unknown Pioneer: Edward Foxen Cooper and the Imperial War Museum Film Archive 1919–1934". Film History. Indiana University Press. 12 (2): 187–203. ISSN 0892-2160. JSTOR 3815371. ^ Der Magische Gürtel (film) (2000 restoration ed.). Europa Film Treasures. Archived from the original on 30 November 2009. ^ Haggith, Toby (2002). "D-Day Filming: For Real. A Comparison of 'Truth' and 'Reality' in "Saving Private Ryan" and Combat Film by the British Army's Film and Photographic Unit". Film History. Indiana University Press. 14 (3/4): 332–353. doi:10.2979/fil.2002.14.3-4.332. JSTOR 3815436. ^ Caven, Hannah (2001). "Horror in Our Time: Images of the concentration camps in the British media, 1945". Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television. Routledge. 21 (3): 205–253. doi:10.1080/01439680120069399. S2CID 191470786. ^ "Imperial War Museum Film Archive". Moving History: A guide to UK film and television archive in the public sector. Arts and Humanities Research Board. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2012. ^ "Collection search for "e brooks"". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2012. ^ "Collection search for "j w brooke"". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2012. ^ Hudson, Alex (2 November 2012). "Flower beds that meant death for German WWI soldiers". BBC News. Retrieved 8 September 2012. ^ "The National Collection of Aerial Photography: Links". aerial.rcahms.gov.uk. Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Retrieved 8 September 2012. ^ 'Beaton's record of war revived', The Times, 7 October 1981, Issue 61049, page 7 column C ^ "Collection search for "bert hardy"". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 28 August 2012. ^ "Flag, Red Ensign, Canadian". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Archived from the original on 23 May 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2012. ^ "Flag, National, British, Union flag". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 25 August 2012. ^ "Union flag". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 25 August 2012. ^ "Trench Art". Collections in Context. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 26 August 2012. ^ "Collections Search for "trench art"". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 26 August 2012. ^ "Collections Search for "trench club"". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 26 August 2012. ^ "Rifle, Short, Magazine, Lee Enfield, .303-inch, Mk 3". Collection Search. Imperial War Museum. 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Retrieved 9 January 2018. ^ "Knowledge Base – Help and Support for Lives of the First World War". support.livesofthefirstworldwar.org. Retrieved 9 January 2018. ^ "Lives of the First World War". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 29 June 2019. ^ "How long will the site be available for?". support.livesofthefirstworldwar.org. Archived from the original on 18 August 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2018. IWM has made a commitment that Lives of the First World War will be an interactive platform available to the public throughout the four years of the centenary, and that the permanent digital memorial will be saved for future generations. ^ "How long will the site be available for?". support.livesofthefirstworldwar.org. Retrieved 31 March 2017. From early 2019 the memorial will become part of IWM’s archive, and will be free to access [online] for research. ^ https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450413621/IWM-digitises-vast-collection-in-SpectraLogic-tape-archive ^ Office of Public Sector Information Revised Statute from The UK Statute Law Database: Imperial War Museum Act 1955 (c.14). Retrieved 14 April 2010. ^ Imperial War Museum (2012) Current Trustees. Retrieved 6 January 2012 ^ Imperial War Museum (2012) Our Trustees: Trustee Profiles. Retrieved 6 January 2012. ^ Imperial War Museum (September 2006) Imperial War Museum Corporate Governance Code. Retrieved 14 April 2010. ^ Perowne, B C. "Martin, Sir Douglas Eric Holland- (1906–1977)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 July 2010. ^ Brock, P W. "Sir Algernon Usborne Willis (1889–1976)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 July 2010. ^ Probert, Henry A. "Grandy, Sir John (1913–2004)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 15 July 2010. ^ Barrass, M B (2001–2008). "Marshal of the RAF Sir John Grandy (32078)". Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation. Retrieved 15 July 2010. ^ 'Mr L. R. Bradley: Former Director of Imperial War Museum' (obituary) The Times 30 January 1968 p. 8 ^ Heal, Sharon (January 2008) 'New chief at IWM revealed' Museums Journal 108/1 p. 8 Media related to Imperial War Museum at Wikimedia Commons This page is based on the Wikipedia article Imperial War Museum; it is used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA). You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the CC-BY-SA.	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2261
__label__wiki	0.50818	0.50818	Posted inPolitics and Movements: International, Politics and Movements: US, Real News Daily Reports Trump “Tweets his Ignorance” about Puerto Rico by Sharmini Peries April 4, 2019 September 23, 2020 San Juan, Puerto Rico Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz calls out Trump’s false statements about how much aid has reached Puerto Rico, and says that he uses the peoples suffering to pitch them against each other SHARMINI PERIES: It’s The Real News Network. I’m Sharmini Peries, coming to you from Baltimore. President Trump once again attacked politicians in Puerto Rico Tuesday, tweeting “Puerto Rico got $91 billion for the hurricane, more money than has ever been gotten for a hurricane before. And all their local politicians do is complain and ask for more money. The politicians are grossly incompetent,” he wrote. “They spend the money foolishly or corruptly, and only take from the USA,” he said. Trump also singled out San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz when he tweeted “The crazed and incompetent mayor of San Juan had done such a poor job of bringing the island back to health. $91 billion to Puerto Rico and now the Dems want to give them more, taking dollars away from our farmers and so many others. Disgraceful!” he wrote. Well, Mayor Carmen Cruz had a very respectful response to the president. CARMEN YULIN CRUZ [CLIP]: First of all, Mr. President, 3,000 Puerto Ricans died on your watch. They died because your government was inefficient, ineffective, and unable to do its job. Secondly, again, you should fire whoever told you $91 billion were given to Puerto Rico. As you just mentioned, the Washington Post says between 11—our estimate is between $11-13 billion. There are still 30,000 people with rooftops that are not good enough. If a tropical storm comes, we have to take all of those people out of harm’s way. We have $600 million that the president is holding hostage because his vanity is much higher than his humanity is. $600 million to feed 1.3 million Puerto Rican people. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Julia Velasquez have put forth a plan just to feed people. So what kind of a man is he that he looks the other way when people need to be fed? SHARMINI PERIES: Well, she joins us today, right here on The Real News Network, the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz, with us. She joins us from Puerto Rico. Carmen Yulin Cruz, Mayor, I welcome you to The Real News. CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: Thank you so much. SHARMINI PERIES: Mayor, you are in a Twitter war with the president, and all of this because the Senate failed to pass bills that would have provided additional aid to Puerto Rico on Monday. Then the Senate could not muster enough votes, which is 60 votes, in a procedural motion to approve $600 million for food stamps, because the Democrats said this was not enough to address the issues faced by Puerto Ricans. Now, $600 million seems like a lot to people. Why is it not adequate to address what the Puerto Rican people are facing at the moment? CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: Well, first of all, the president continues to tweet his hate and his ignorance out to everybody. No, Mr. President, $91 billion have not been sent to Puerto Rico. And he makes it sound as if it is a prize. You have two terrible hurricanes that devastated your island, and you have gotten—that’s the way he said it—$91 billion. Not only does he lie, but he has the amount completely wrong. According to the Washington Post, it’s about $11 billion. Now, what we’re talking about is money that has been promised to Puerto Rico but has not been delivered to Puerto Rico. A lot of—much to do about not so much. Number 2, this is classical Donald Trump. He tries to pin people against one another. This is what we’re talking about: 1.3 million Puerto Ricans out of 3.2 million Puerto Ricans that live in Puerto Rico are under the poverty level and require food stamps in order to put food on the table and not starve. That is exactly what we’re talking about. Now, the president continues to be ignorant about what the Puerto Rican people need, and continues to say that it’s too much money. Not only that, he seems not to even trust his own government. For example, FEMA money that has come to Puerto Rico as a reimbursement is money that is audited by FEMA. So FEMA doesn’t give you anything that they don’t think should be eligible for reimbursement. So this $600 million is money that is needed; 85% of the Puerto Rican population is in dire need of this assistance. Now, out of this, plenty of them are children. Plenty of them are elderly, and plenty of them are handicapped people. And I want to correct myself. It’s 45% of the Puerto Rican population. Now, the president does two things that are horrendous. One is he uses people’s suffering to hold them hostage. We will all remember a couple of weeks ago when he said “I want the money for the wall,” he didn’t get the money for the wall, and he left out of work 800,000 federal employees. If he doesn’t get what he wants he throws a little temper tantrum and he tries to put people down. And the other thing is that assistance, things that people need to breathe, to be alive, to survive, should never be weaponized and should never be used as a carrot, so to speak. But that’s what the president does best, tries to put people at odds with fake news that comes out of his mouth, and with totally ignorant comments that really are shameful to the presidency and to himself. SHARMINI PERIES: All right, let’s talk about that $91 billion he claims that Puerto Rico received. And there’s been various studies proving and showing that that is not the case. Give us some details in terms of how this committed or allocated money never arrived in Puerto Rico. CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: Well, one of the things that is very important is FEMA keeps changing the rules of engagement. For any other situation where there’s a climate change-related catastrophe or any type of devastation, FEMA initially would give 50% of the money that you certify, just through a letter. And they would give 50% before. Well, remember, there was Irma, then there was Maria. And FEMA somewhere in the middle changed the rule and said, you know what? That’s only going to be for Irma. For Maria we’re going to give you 50% up to $1 million. Now, they continue also to change the systems, the systems where you have to input the data. And now, this is recovery money, right, the money that comes from picking up debris or vegetative material. This is what they call Category A and B. We’re getting close to the second year anniversary of Irma and Maria, and still that part has not been given completely to the Puerto Rican municipalities. We haven’t even begun from Category C through G, which are the categories which allows you to clean up any debris that’s in the water systems, or, for example, bridges, roads, or any facility. In the case of the municipality of San Juan, there are 487 facilities that need to be looked at by FEMA in order for them to certify the damage and then give the money in order to go ahead and fix them. At the rate they’re going—and hopefully, I had a conversation with some FEMA people this afternoon, and they’re going to amp up what they’re doing. But at the rate they’re going till today, it’s going to take them 5 years and 10 months to review those 487, of which they have only reviewed so far 57. That’s only for the municipality of San Juan. You can imagine how much further back this system is going to take all over Puerto Rico. Now, all of this money that we’re talking about, that he’s talking about, this is what it would take for Puerto Rico to come out of every difficult situation that happened during both hurricanes and as a result of both hurricanes. But he just doesn’t know what’s going on in his own administration, and his lack of leadership is really forcing him to lie in order to save face. SHARMINI PERIES: Now, Trump also singled out San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz when he tweeted “The crazed and incompetent mayor of San Juan has done such a poor job of bringing the island back to health; $91 billion to Puerto Rico, and now the Dems want to give them more, taking dollars away from our farmers and so many others. Disgraceful!” he wrote. CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: Well, on our part we don’t want to defend ourselves at the cost of somebody else. And let me tell you, a couple of weeks ago, the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico said, “Mr. President, I support the wall. And I’ve done so publicly. But don’t take the money for Puerto Rico. Take everybody else’s money, but not the money for Puerto Rico.” That’s totally ludicrous. That’s not the way to ensure that a dignified path going forward amongst all people. This is not about shared citizenship. This is about a shared humanity. There are people in a reservation in Pine Ridge right now that are clamoring for the same thing that I was clamoring for the people of Puerto Rico in September, October, November of 2017. But this is classic Donald Trump. Donald Trump likes to pit people against each other. And I repeat, the suffering of people should never be weaponized. The suffering of people and the need that people have in California, in Pine Ridge, in the Midwest, should never be weaponized. And the president just—there is money to go around. But the president has to understand that his role is not to be the divider in chief. It is to be the commander in chief. His role is not to pin people against each other. His role is to unite people through the thread of common humanity. But he doesn’t get it. He cannot get it done. So what he does is he attacks, he insults, he tweets his hate away. And it just, frankly, shows how embarrassing it must be for him to have to resort to such low tactics of pitting people against one another. SHARMINI PERIES: It’s very clear that President Trump doesn’t even realize that you were hit by Maria and Irma, because he keeps making reference to ‘a’ hurricane in Puerto Rico. Mayor, if you had a plan to address all the issues that people are facing in Puerto Rico, and had that $91 billion that you should have received, what would be your plan of action? CARMEN YULIN CRUZ: Well, there needs to be a complete overhaul of our electrical system. And that’s another program altogether. The current local Puerto Rican government is selling the Puerto Rico electrical power authority, which will give the private sector something like a monopoly in Puerto Rico for everybody. So they may or may not decide that it’s good for X or Y community or neighborhood to receive electricity just because it would be not profitable. That’s number one. Number two, all of our health systems, our hospitals, our diagnostic clinics, all of them, need to have solar generation systems. Because climate change is real, despite what the president continues to say. And this will bring stronger and faster hurricanes coming altogether. This is going to be a powerful situation that we have to deal with. And number three is the infrastructure, the bridges and the roads, which frankly make it very difficult for people and very unsafe for people to deal with. SHARMINI PERIES: And that was the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulin Cruz. I thank you so much for joining us today. SHARMINI PERIES: And thank you for joining us here on The Real News Network. Sharmini Peries Sharmini Peries was a co-founder of TRNN, where she harnessed the power and expertise of civil society institutions. Previously, Sharmini was Economic and Trade Adviser to President Hugo Chavez at Miraflores and for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Venezuela. Prior to that she served as the executive director of the following institutions: The Commission on Systemic Racism in the Criminal Justice System, The International Freedom of Expression Exchange, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants. She also managed the Human Rights Code Review Task Force in Ontario, Canada. She holds a M.A. in Economics from York University in Toronto, Canada. Her Ph.D. studies in Social and Political Thought at York University remain incomplete (ABD). More by Sharmini Peries	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2262
__label__wiki	0.779953	0.779953	'Hero' student Kendrick Castillo remembered by his parents after he died saving students' lives May 09, 2019 by HOLA! USA Kendrick Castillo spent his final moments on earth saving his classmates lives. The18-year-old senior died on Tuesday, May 7, after he lunged towards another student who opened fire in the classroom at the STEM School Highlands Ranch in Colorado. Kendrick’s parents John and Maria Castillo tearfully remembered their son – who will forever be known as a hero to their community and the world. “I know that because of that he did, others are alive and I thank God for that,” Kendrick’s father John told CNN. 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo died saving the lives of his classmates "I love him. And he’s a hero and he always will be. He just loved people that much.” The star student and robotics club member didn’t think twice about springing into action to keep his classmates out of danger, according to student who witnessed the incident. John and Maria learned about their son’s death when they arrived at the hospital, after they didn’t see him exit the series of yellow busses filled with students from the school. According to John, he and his wife were surrounded by friends and family – and students who came up to them and shared their son’s sacrifice. A post shared by Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) on May 8, 2019 at 11:26am PDT “I refused to be a victim,” John said. “Kendrick refused to be a victim. The other students refused to be a victim.” The proud 18-year-old – who was their only child – was an advocate for patriotism and dreamed of carrying the legacy left behind by his grandfather who served in the Marines. “He loved patriotism,” John noted. “We are Hispanic by nature but we love America to the core.” Hero student Kendrick Castillo’s parents say they’re not surprised he died trying to stop the Colorado school shooter. “I know that because of what he did, others are alive, and I thank God for that. I love him. And he's a hero and he always will be.” https://t.co/PIqe5YiwdN pic.twitter.com/A3Hz4pX7nE — CNN (@CNN) May 9, 2019 As the Castillo family mourn the loss of their son, they want to pass on this message to other families. “I want the world to know that he was a gift,” Kendrick’s father said. “If I had one thing to say. If you have children, nothing is more important than your kids.” Kendrick's heroic act is going further than his community. Celebrities such as Demi Lovato and Scooter Braun took to social media to mourn the high school student who put his life on the line for others. Kendrick Castillo Holiday gifts by A-Rod, Chris Hemsworth and more that'll make your man feel like a star Camila Mendes’ top holiday picks are perfect for the home-décor obsessed Drink up: this Latinx party game is looking to make sure your next event is lit Sustainable gift ideas to get your loved ones or yourself Google lets users play traditional Mexican Lotería game with latest interactive doodle Sofia Vergara threw the most epic glitter party for Thanksgiving: Video	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2265
__label__wiki	0.546009	0.546009	Matthew Krueger In Memoriam of the handball community members who have passed away. Online obituary notices and pictures can be emailed to U.S. Handball This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Keith Blackburn, Gilbert, Ariz. - A HANDBALL STORY. Oct. 13, 1941 - Jan. 3, 2021 Keith Blackburn passed away Sunday, January 3, 2021 at his home in Gilbert, Arizona, finally conceding a hard-fought match to Lewy Body dementia. He was 79 years old. Keith was born in Aldershot, England on October 13, 1941 and came to the U.S. with his mother Winifred “Wyn” when he was a child of four years. He is survived by his wife Geralyn; his son Kevin and wife Pam and their sons, Tyler and Tanner; his son Scott (writing in memoriam); and his brother Chester “Chet.” And of course, many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Wyn, his brother George, and the partner and friend with whom he built and operated U.S. Industrial Fasteners, Inc. for almost 40 years, Sam Vancel. Keith grew up in Long Beach, California. He attended UC Riverside where he played basketball and football and, most importantly, met Geralyn Jarvis who would later become his wife and partner through life. He then went to UCLA, where he achieved Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Business Administration and became a CPA soon thereafter. Keith’s mother had only an elementary education so she was determined her sons would go to college and finish degrees—my grandmother was a force to reckon with and Dad carried her strength and love with him. At UCLA, Keith discovered the geometric puzzle he would work on for almost 60 years…the four walls of Handball. He also met his life-long friend and frequent doubles partner through those decades, Donny Civerolo. Dementia stopped Keith from playing handball competitively in the last two years of his life—even then he would sometimes go to the local racquet club and throw a handball around the court to experience the “feel.” There were many tournaments in many places, wins and losses, and my brother Kevin and I found our opportunities to get there and watch Dad play. It was the fight he loved, the challenge, the competition…and we loved watching him. Nephews and nieces were sometimes there as well. Mom was ever-present cheering him on. Geralyn and Keith were married on December 19, 1964 and celebrated their 56th anniversary together as 2020 closed. They were happily married and best friends for every one of those years. Together they traveled the world, they golfed, and they made life-long friendships with some amazing people (some of you). Geralyn taught school and Keith built a company while they raised two successful sons (USIF, Inc. continues to grow – Kevin leads the company and is building on Dad’s legacy today). Mom attended almost every handball tournament Dad played, and my brother and I spent our early childhood running around the YMCAs and racquet clubs where Dad competed, and we learned. One of my earliest and strongest memories of the man and the example my father became in both his sons’ lives is peeking over the back wall of a handball court on tip toes—Dad was losing a match badly. He slammed his hand on the wall so hard I flinched, and he yelled angrily at himself, “C’mon, move!!” My mother echoed quietly, “C’mon Keifers,” then looked down at me and said, “Your father never gives up.” …And he never did. (Due to COVID-19, no memorial service is planned. We are remembering Keith with stories, messages, and photos at: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/yD26SNAi. Please stop by.)	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2266
__label__wiki	0.598919	0.598919	(Derived from a course paper for a Historical Institutionalism class taught by Jim Mahoney at Northwestern University) One of the central stories within United States history is that of the development of its racial regime. From slavery till today we have seen fairly large changes in the racial regime that reflect changes in how the nation, specifically its white settler populations, understood various racialized peoples in relation to itself. In sociology the predominant group dynamic is that of anti-Black racism. Produced out of the institution of chattel slavery, many of the broader developments within the racial order can be tied at least partly to Black-White relations. In this paper I will propose an investigation of the larger transitions in the US racial order and its perception of Black people which is the transition from the slavery based conception of Blackness as property to the modern conception of Blackness as pathogen. This proposal will use historical institutionalism based logic of critical junctures to conduct the analysis. For the sake of clarity, I want to first define how I am theorizing race and racial domination/racism. For this paper I will use a composite conception of race as defined by Racial Formation Theory (Omi and Winant 2014) as well as the concept of Race as a “Trace of History” (Wolfe 2015). Racial Formation Theory is defined by an understanding of race as a social construct, more specifically, the result of social conflict that references “different types of human bodies.” The emphasis of the theory is on understanding how race changes over time via different social conflicts in which the state and various social groups/actors engage in (conscious or unconscious) “racial projects” which have the intent of redefining racial categories and hierarchies. Whereas Omi and Winat’s theory is one of racial change, Patrick Wolfe’s definition of race is based on relationality and legacy. Wolfe argued that “For every articulation [of unequal social relations] – relations of slavery, of indenture, of dispossession, of compradorship, of (inter) mediation, of commercial exchange – a corresponding racial category could be nominated.” He went further to argued that “race registers the state of colonial hostilities.” For Wolfe, race represents both the structural relationship between oppressor and oppressed, and similar to Omi and Winat, changes based on the resistance of the oppressed to that relationship. Drawing from both frameworks, I will understand race as a register of the structural relationships of oppression which then changes through the implementation of racial projects by various actors. The structural relationship that this paper will seek to explain is the transition from slavery-based conceptions of Blackness as property to our more modern conception of Blackness as a pathogen and agent of social decay. In order to understand better this transition in the history of race I will adapt the concept of the critical juncture to propose a study that can explain the change from one race concept to the other. Cappacoa and Keleman define critical junctures as “institutional development characterized by relatively long periods of path-dependent institutional stability and reproduction that are punctuated occasionally by brief phases of institutional flux…during which more dramatic change is possible” (2007). Hillel David Soifer argues that we can further break down a critical juncture into two parts; the permissive conditions and the productive conditions (2012). Permissive conditions represent changes in society or an institution that allows individual or collective agency to take over. More generally they are the conditions of instability that allow for changes in the developmental trajectory of institutions through the actions of some actor(s). Productive conditions are those events or conditions that actually change the trajectory of institutions or society in general. Soifer argues that critical junctures exist as long as the permissive conditions, the window of opportunity, stays open. He also identifies critical ascendants that exist as the preexisting conditions that structure the space within which the critical juncture will take place. This framework has the advantage of allowing us to consider what events or actions have had the most decisive impact on facilitating social change without losing sight of the social context that allowed for that action to be decisive in the first place. Below I will consider the case of the structural changes in anti-black racism using the framework of critical junctures with the key point of change being the passage of the National Housing Act and it’s racist policy of redlining. I argue that the passage of the FHA accelerated the already increasing trend of racial residential segregation in the United States and consequently produced conditions within which modern blackness became solidified around the (social) pathogen concept. Antecedent Conditions- Racial Slavery and Blackness as Property The main “trace of history” that defines racial blackness in the United States is the institution of chattel slavery. As white settlers engaged in the genocide of Turtle Island’s (North America) indigenous population, the necessity for labor became critical. Without the ability to import enough British subjects from elsewhere in the empire, the burgeoning African slave trade, pioneered by the Portuguese, became attractive to American settlers. For a time, the newly imported African slaves were treated similarly to the indentured servants that were British subjects (Baptist 2014). As time went on the labor regime in the American colonies was marked by instability (Parent and Culture 2003). Riots, rebellions, and miscegenation between British indenture servants and African slaves threatened the stability of settler colonial governance. One example of this was the case of Elizabeth Key, a woman of mixed ancestry whose father was a British subject, sued the colonial government to be considered a free person versus Negro in 1658. She won her suit primarily because ancestry, and thereby citizenship rights was passed down through the father (Banks 2005). Soon after, in 1662, Virginia and a number of other colonies passed laws that stated that one’s subject status (British subject, slave, foreigner) is to be considered through the mother’s blood line versus the father (Kolchin 1993). Known as Partus Sequitur Ventrem, this legal doctrine solidified the grounds on which African slaves and their descendants would be enslaved in perpetuity as well as the concept of the “one-drop rule” which considered anybody with any African ancestry as a Negro and slave (Pascoe 2009). Through the American Revolution, Civil War and even into Jim Crow, the conception of blackness as property held itself as the dominant framework through which people of African descent were understood. The structural consequences of this racial structure in terms of social relations can be seen in various social structures that came to define the Antebellum period. Because any child a slave woman had would also be a slave, slave breeding became a profitable, and after the abolition of slave imports in 1808, necessary industry in the US (Smithers 2013). In addition, because of their status as property, slaves were also included debt payments, repossessions, liens, and other transactions that slave owners had with early American banks and insurance companies (Baptist 2014; Williams 2015). After the abolition of slavery, the southern economy, which was dependent on coerced African labor instituted Black Codes whose intent was to maintain the racial hierarchy even in the absence of legal chattel slavery (Blackmon 2012). These codes made it illegal for Blacks to refuse work, provided legal grounds for the exploitative sharecropping industry, and banned Blacks from owning any property which would free them from economic dependence on whites. These laws were enforced by newly created police departments which were expanded in order to enforce this intermediate racial order. With the rise of Jim Crow and modern urbanizing America the interests of whites became less of wanting to exploit the bodies of Black people and more of managing a population who they did not associate with civilized living. This broad change in interest of the white population coupled with societal shock of the Great Depression will provide the permissive conditions that allows for American society’s conception of Blackness to change. Permissive Conditions- Rising Urban Segregation and The Great Depression Jim Crow laws defined the changing logic of white supremacy as it relates to Black people. The growing ethos was one of segregation and maintaining racial boundaries in both public and private life (Hoelscher 2003). Much of the logic of segregation was based on the earlier logics of Partus Sequitur Ventrem, here converted into the one-drop rule of racial ancestry and anti-miscegenation (interracial marriage/relationship) laws. The hyper-potency of “black blood” and the denigrated status of those with it combined to create a racial logic that sought to preserve white purity from the evil of “black blood.” This system of separation was not absolute due to the continued necessity of Black labor on plantations via sharecropping, and in newly built factories in northern cities. In both situations there was a necessity for Black workers to at least share a workplace with white workers and managers, but increasingly that didn’t expand to the communities where all these people lived. Urban segregation in the early 1900s did not exist in the way we understand it today. Many Black people who worked in factories and in the homes of white families had to live relatively close to their workplace due to the lack of mass transit in most cities at the time (Gotham 2000). This proximity led to a segregation pattern where majority Black cul-de-sacs were surrounded by majority white neighborhoods. Even with these conditions, the trend started to shift to one where Black people were being excluded from spaces in the city through the actions of both individual citizens and local governments who began associating Black presence with unstable or bad communities. This anti-black sentiment as it relates to city life is best seen in the existence of sundown towns. Sundown towns as defined by James Loewen were neighborhoods, communities, or whole towns that had laws or customs in place that excluded Blacks and other minorities from being within them after dark (2005). In the early days of suburbanization sundown towns served as a way of protecting communities from the negative influences of Black families and individuals. The fact that these measures only applied at night reflect my above point of the continuing necessity of Black labor in many of the homes of these white families. Although there was a rise in segregationist sentiment and stature during the pre-WW2 era, the xenophobia driving it never rose to the level that we will see in the latter half of the century. There needed to be another large scale change in the landscape of American history and society that would allow the trickle of segregation to become a flood. That large scale change came in the form of the chaos caused by the Great Depression. With the increasingly desperate economic and social conditions for the nation’s workers, FDR and the Democratic Party gained a mandate to take drastic measures to save the nation from economic destitution. The forms that one of these measure took became the basis on which the trickle of segregation became a flood. Productive Condition- The Federal Housing Administration and Redlining In 1934 the National Housing Act became law and part of its provisions created the Federal Housing Administration. The FHA’s purpose was to facilitate changes in the mortgage market that will both stabilize it for both homeowners and banks, as well as create a new lending system that will allow more Americans to own homes. To this end, the FHA in partnership with various banks began making available government backed loans that both refinanced existing mortgages to keep people in their homes as well as allow people to buy new homes. The hope was that this would stabilize the market and even facilitate the growth of the housing the market by providing an incentive to create new housing, often in the suburbs. The key decision within the implementation of this policy that matters for this project is how the FHA and its partners decided to rate communities and create guidelines for lending. When asked to provide assessments and guidelines for what neighborhood would be good investments or not by banks, the FHA began assessing individual communities across the nation to determine their creditworthiness. However, one of the key elements of the FHA’s assessments was the racial makeup of the communities in question (Jackson 1987). Neighborhood were rated on a scale from best to worse: Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red. Blue neighborhoods were the best investments with the Red being the worse. Where race mattered was that assessors often labeled a neighborhood Red if it had even one Black family present. This practice eventually came to be known as redlining. Although Irish, Jews, and other less prestigious white populations were also deemed a negative influence on neighborhood, it was the presence of Blackness that was seen as the hyper-potent catalyst of neighborhood decay. Adding to the explicit racist logics used by assessors, the FHA also openly advocated that in order to protect housing values that residents should use restrictive covenants to prevent minorities from buying homes in their neighborhood. This last decision signified a new logic of anti-Black racism that made what was mostly an informal system of racial exclusion into a government funded economic logic that made anti-Black racism part of the economic structure of the housing market. This association will solidify the white logic of Black people as a pathogen through their impact on housing values and by extension community values. Outcome- Persistent Urban Segregation and Blackness as Pathogen Once the FHA began engaging in redlining, it took already existing social logics of exclusion of Black people and turned it into an economic logic. This unintended consequence meant that immediately Black families would not be refinanced because they lived in a majority Black community and they would not be afforded loans to move to other places, especially newly built suburbs, because they would drive down the value of the new neighborhood. This began the process by which Black families became concentrated in central cities. Blockbusting, which was realtors buying white family homes at low prices and selling them to Black families at inflated prices, and white flight to the suburbs helped further racial residential segregation by pushing whites into newer, wealthier, suburban communities (Gotham 2002). Because of the decline in population of central cities due to the flight of their white residents, as well lack of investment in what was saw as “already declining” Black communities, a large gap in lived experiences and resource access opened between these communities. Media began talking about “The Ghetto” and “The Hood” as mostly Black, crime ridden, improvised communities that lacked cohesiveness and safety. The Moynihan Report, published in 1965, reflected this sentiment by arguing that there is a “ghetto culture” within poor Black communities that prevent them from moving up out of poverty. This logic within sociology became the “Culture of Poverty” thesis which emphasized the differences in social practices of poor and middle class communities and argued that these differences accounted for much of the immobility that poor communities experienced (Coward, Feagin, and Jr. 1974). Blackness within these discourses and in broader social understandings became seen as a kind of public health crisis that needed to be contained and sometimes eradicated. The first goal of now affluent suburban communities in this vein was to make sure that the ills of the inner city didn’t make it to their community, further facilitating segregation, even after the FHA ended its redlining policies. The longer legacy of this new understanding of Blackness can be seen in the rise of the War on Drugs, Hip Hop Music, and the current Black Live Matter movement. In all of these cases we see a recognition of the instability of spaces where Blackness is present. For the police, this meant treating urban communities like occupied territories or quarantine zones, increasing surveillance in hope of destroying the drug trade. For Hip Hop and Rap music the sense of isolation from mainstream White society is ever present. The veneration of the hood as home in the music is recognition of the social position of Blackness within American society. Black Live Matter has recently taken on the conceptions of Blackness and the ghetto that makes Black people victims of police brutality. All of these institutions, cultures, and social movements would not be possible without the changes in the racial and economic structure that took place during the Great Depression. Concluding Reflections on the Critical Juncture Framework for This Paper Many of the discussions around critical junctures are based on choice and agency. In the case of the FHA and redlining, there doesn’t seem to be a strong “other choice” that they could have made considering the extensive nature of racism in American society. Perhaps the counterfactual here is the FHA not existing at all versus the racist policies they implemented. Without the FHA, segregation would have likely continued but not nearly at the rapid pace that redlining enabled. Related, one of the unusual things about this study is that the productive condition, the creation of the FHA, is not changing the trajectory of American racism in a qualitative way, but instead accelerating an already existing process, which is the permissive condition. I wonder if I am violating some kind of casual logic by making the critical juncture about the “rate of change” in a social process that happens to have a qualitative component (conceptions of Blackness). Banks, Taunya Lovell. 2005. “Dangerous Woman: Elizabeth Key’s Freedom Suit.” SSRN Electronic Journal 799–838. Baptist, E. E. 2014. The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism. Basic Books, a member of the Perseus Books Group. Blackmon, D. A. 2012. Slavery by Another Name: The Re-Enslavement of Black Americans from the Civil War to World War Two. Icon Books Limited. Retrieved Capoccia, Giovanni and R. Daniel Kelemen. 2007. “The Study of Critical Junctures: Theory, Narrative, and Counterfactuals in Historical Institutionalism.” World Politics 59(03):341–69. Coward, Barbara E., Joe R. Feagin, and J. Allen Williams, Jr. 1974. “The Culture of Poverty Debate: Some Additional Data.” Social Problems 21:621–34. Gotham, Kevin Fox. 2000. “Urban Space, Restrictive Covenants and the Origins of Racial Residential Segregation in a US City, 1900–50.” International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 24(September):616–33. Gotham, Kevin Fox. 2002. “Beyond Invasion and Succession: School Segregation, Real Estate Blockbusting, and the Political Economy of Neighborhood.” City & Community 1(March):83–111. Hoelscher, Steven. 2003. “Making Place, Making Race: Performances of Whiteness in the Jim Crow South.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers 93(3):657–86. Jackson, Kenneth T. 1987. Crabgrass Frontier: The Suburbanization of the United States. Oxford University Press. Kolchin, Peter. 1993. American Slavery, 1619-1877. Hill and Wang. Loewen, James W. 2005. Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. The New Press. Omi, Michael and Howard Winant. 2014. Racial Formation in the United States. Routledge. Parent, A. S. and O. I. E. A. H. Culture. 2003. Foul Means: The Formation of a Slave Society in Virginia, 1660-1740. University of North Carolina Press. Pascoe, P. 2009. What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America. Oxford University Press Smithers, G. D. 2013. Slave Breeding: Sex, Violence, and Memory in African American History. University Press of Florida. Soifer, Hillel David. 2012. “The Causal Logic of Critical Junctures.” Comparative Political Studies 45(12):1572–97. Williams, Eric. 1961. Capitalism and Slavery. Wolfe, P. 2015. Traces of History: Elementary Structures of Race. Verso Books. Next Understanding Eurocentrism as a Structural Problem of Undone Science Tushabe wa Tushabe says: good artilce, thanks very much for sharing your brilliance with us The Creation of Blackness as Pathogen – "Curiously Enough…" says: […] The Transition from Blackness as Property to Blackness as Pathogen in the United States […]	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2270
__label__wiki	0.732503	0.732503	Cells Flock to heal Wounds Leave a Comment / Cancer / By Bradford S. Weeks, MD Dr. Weeks’ Comment: When tissue is injured, it sends out an SOS message (interleukin 8) appealing to mesenchymal stem cells to come and repair it. The mechanism by which these cells ‘flock” to the rescue is one more example of how we are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made”. (by the way, my dear departed friend Dr. Paul Brand’s book by the same title is well worth reading!) So now we use our understanding of this cellular chemotaxis (movement) to understand how to inhibit the dangerous movement of cancer cells: metastasis. Cells ‘Flock’ to Heal Wounds: Researchers Analyze Physics of Epithelial Cell Cooperation Jan. 24, 2013 ”” Like flocks of birds, cells coordinate their motions as they race to cover and ultimately heal wounds to the skin. How that happens is a little less of a mystery today. Researchers once thought only the cells at the edge of a growing patch of wounded skin were actively moving while dividing cells passively filled in the middle. But that’s only part of the picture. Rice University physicist Herbert Levine and his colleagues have discovered that the process works much more efficiently if highly activated cells in every part of the patch exert force as they pull their neighbors along. There’s a need to understand how cells cooperate to protect the site of a wound in the hours and days after injury, said Levine, who has introduced the first iteration of a computer model to analyze the two-dimensional physics of epithelial sheets. He hopes it will give new insight into a process with long-term implications not only for healing but also for understanding cancer, a prime motivator in his research since joining Rice under a grant from the Cancer Research and Prevention Institute of Texas. A paper on the research by Levine, based at Rice University’s BioScience Research Collaborative, and colleagues at the University of California at San Diego and in Germany and France appears January 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. Levine and his colleagues create computer models of processes seen by experimentalists to flesh out the rules that govern biological systems. “Here, we’re combining experimental observations from single cells with general notions from the physics literature to create an integrated way of thinking about this multicellular system,” he said. The new models were prompted by a recent Harvard study showing “that even in the middle of a sheet, cells were dynamically creating heads and tails and were actively moving rather than being passively carried along,” Levine said. “This data convinced us that we needed a different way to start to think about the problem.” The body marshals an astounding array of forces to heal wounds, Levine said. Many have to do with cell biology, the internal and external signals that tell a cell when to move, when to stop, when to split and when to die. His team’s intent was to focus first on the cell’s physical interactions with its neighbors and study what happened if all those complicating factors are eliminated from the simulations. “We try to unravel what is physics and what is biology,” Levine said. “We want to know which parts of the phenomenon don’t require sophisticated signaling networks.” In the physics approach to cell motility, he said, “the first thing to do is see how far we can get if we assume that all the cells are following the same rules. Then the only thing that’s creating the dynamics of the system is that they’re interacting with each other. This is the type of problem that physicists have studied before, usually in nonbiological contexts.” In the Harvard experiment, he said, “They had taken a millimeter-sized tissue that was spreading and showed it wasn’t just cells on the end that were pulling on the tissue while the others were spectators.” But that work didn’t explain how cells in the center of the tissue knew the direction of the edge. Levine’s team looked to the skies for inspiration. “Birds look around and decide which way all their neighbors are flying,” Levine said. “The idea that they would move as independent birds but also coordinate is where the idea of flocking came from. This way of thinking hadn’t been applied to epithelial tissue motility in wound healing.” What cells “see” are their sticky neighbors, which pull and tug them as they move on lamellipodia, thin sheets that serve as “feet” powered by actin filaments that act something like the treads on a tank. The overlapping lamellipodia of adjacent cells influence each other. “The cells have to figure out which way to go based on competing tendencies: their own tendency to push on the ground and propel themselves forward, and the tendency of their neighbors to try to pull them in various directions,” Levine said. “Our basic notion is that as time goes on, these tendencies become correlated as the cell ‘tries’ to accommodate its conflicting inputs.” The Harvard experimentalists saw that loosely packed cells in the middle of a growing colony tend to swirl in a disorganized manner, and the simulations confirmed this. These swirls are analogous to what is seen in other examples of flocking. But when a wound is introduced, the swirls disappear and cells begin to match direction and velocity and pull toward a common goal. The ones on the edge immediately know which way to go, and everyone else learns from their example. Surprisingly, Levine said, “stickier” cells tend to push forward unevenly, with finger-like protrusions at the leading edge, much like what experimentalists often see. The simulation model has a long way to go, Levine said. “It’s rough around the edges. Biologists who read this will immediately say, ‘You’ve left out all sorts of interesting things we know are happening.’ “Yes, there will be experiments for which this approach will not be sufficient,” he said. “It will teach us that in those cases, biology has to exert a more specific role in creating the structures and the motion.” Levine hopes to match the models to current work by experimentalists on motility in cells related to the metastatic spread of breast cancer. “We’re a long way from saying anything about this problem,” he said. “But that’s my overall agenda — to push my research to where it can make contact with the cancer community.” Co-authors of the new paper are postdoctoral researcher Markus Basan and senior scientist Wouter-Jan Rappel of the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, University of California at San Diego; Jens Elgeti, a member of the scientific staff at the Institute of Complex Systems, JÃ¼lich, Germany; and Edouard Hannezo, a graduate student at the Curie Institute, Paris. Levine is the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor in Bioengineering at Rice and co-director of the Rice-based Center for Theoretical Biological Physics. The National Science Foundation and its Center for Theoretical Biological Physics supported the research. M. Basan, J. Elgeti, E. Hannezo, W.-J. Rappel, H. Levine.Inaugural Article: Alignment of cellular motility forces with tissue flow as a mechanism for efficient wound healing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1219937110	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2272
__label__wiki	0.576157	0.576157	Think first – then act. Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Bradford S. Weeks, MD Dr. Weeks’ Comment: I am on record as pining for the days when “M.D.” after a name merited respect and conferred deference as regards matters of clinical science. Last year in a lecture live streamed to over 500,000 viewers I called a spade a spade. “M.D.” has come to mean “Marketing Director” for Big pHARMa. Thankfully, patients are becoming increasingly educated and empowered so the harm done by MDs is less than were the patients too trusting. Cynical you say? Read on: The Manipulation of Science Government secrecy is a shady area to explore, because how much does the government really know? If corporations dictate governmental policy and influence major decisions, is it really government secrecy that we’re talking about, or corporate secrecy? When we think of science, we think of logic, deductive reasoning, and truth. But what science is turning into is information that has been manipulated and distorted for the sake of corporate interests. Scientists today are muzzled, paid off, threatened, and in many cases, completely misled, resulting in an abundance of fraudulent research. “The medical profession is being bought by the pharmaceutical industry, not only in terms of the practice of medicine, but also in terms of teaching and research. The academic institutions of this country are allowing themselves to be the paid agents of the pharmaceutical industry. I think it’s disgraceful.” – (source)(source) Arnold Seymour Relman (1923-2014), Harvard Professor of Medicine and Former Editor-in-Chief of the New England Medical Journal “The case against science is straightforward: much of the scientific literature, perhaps half, may simply be untrue. Afflicted by studies with small sample sizes, tiny effects, invalid exploratory analyses, and flagrant conflicts of interest, together with an obsession for pursuing fashionable trends of dubious imporance, science has taken a turn towards darkness.” – (source) Dr. Richard Horton, current Editor-in-Chief of The Lancet “It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine.” – (source) Dr. Marcia Angell, a physician and long time Editor-in-Chief of The New England Medical Journal The list goes on and on. In 2005, for example, Dr. John P.A. Ioannidis, currently a professor in disease prevention at Stanford University, published the most widely accessed article in the history of the Public Library of Science (PLoS), entitled Why Most Published Research Findings Are False. In the report, he stated: “There is increasing concern that most current published research findings are false.” It’s not only in the medical field, think about all of the suppressed science in the black budget world. We are talking about all subjects, from engineering to physics. Scientists working for the Canadian government are starting to raise their voices, accusing the federal government of “muzzling” them and their findings on various issues, particularly when it comes to climate change. Apparently, the union representing this group of researchers will be taking “the unusual step of demanding Ottawa enshrine scientific independence in their collective agreement.” (source) You can read more about that here. Source https://www.lewrockwell.com/2017/11/no_author/5-recent-conspiracy-theories-that-are-no-longer-a-conspiracy/	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2273
__label__wiki	0.603051	0.603051	Anti-semitism and anti-Muslim racism in Europe: WL 3/49 Download as a pdf or read online. Anti-semitism and anti-Muslim racism in Europe, WL 3/49 Yves Coleman of Ni parties, ni frontières (France) Click here to download as pdf Afghanistan: expect anything except peace Joe Biden will take over as president from Donald Trump on 20 January with the USA in the midst of its second or maybe third attempt to extricate itself from Afghanistan. After the 11 September 2001 Al Qaeda attack on the World Trade Centre in New York, the USA sent troops and support to help Northern Alliance warlords in Afghanistan to drive out the Taliban, which then controlled most of the country and provided a reserve base for Al Qaeda. The Northern Alliance won quickly. The Taliban abandoned the capital city, Kabul, which they had ruled since 1996, before Northern Alliance troops even... Macron's sledgehammer and the nut 24 Nov 2020 \| Yves Coleman CFCM has proposed, and Macron has accepted, the idea of a national register of imams run by CFCM, but how will that work given that most mosques do not recognise CFCM? Murdered by fascists The French socialist group Lutte Ouvrière has responded to the murder on 16 October of school teacher Samuel Paty, targeted because he let students view the famous “Mohammed cartoons” in a lesson on freedom of expression. “An 18-year-old fanatic, influenced by the fascists of the Muslim world (called Islamists), has killed a school teacher who had displayed the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Because of those lowlifes who want to impose their moral order on us, Muslims will be singled out. Dividing us is their ultimate goal. These types feed on each other. Other fascists have been seen attacking... Stand and be counted 19 Oct 2020 \| This article by the Algerian socialist-feminist Marieme Helie Lucas, responding to the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist assailant on 16 October, was first published on the Feminist Dissent website. We republish it, with the author's permission, to promote discussion. Assassinations by decapitation or by the sword – which are highly symbolic of all Muslim extreme-right organisations (Al Qaeda, the Taliban, GIA, al-Shabab, Daesh, Boko Haram, etc.) – are not a new phenomenon in France. Several cases have already happened in recent years. It points at the will of the... Afghanistan and the US pledge to get out On 29 February, the USA signed a deal with the Taliban to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan within 14 months. The US has been at war in Afghanistan with the Taliban, an Islamist movement based in the lawless north-west of Pakistan, for over 18 years. In December 2019, the Afghan women’s right activist and secularist Malalai Joya, on a visit to Italy, declared that in 18 years of what she called “NATO occupation… things have just gotten worse” in Afghanistan. The longer the troops have stayed, the worse the prospects when they withdraw have become. Solidarity has long supported withdrawal... We're still for a united Europe The socialist left should vocally oppose the Tories’ Brexit plans. It should argue for a united Europe, and for the UK to rejoin the EU. It should fight for the broad labour movement, including the Labour Party, to argue and campaign for this too. Almost all the Labour-leader candidates say that we have no choice but to “move on” while the Tories “get Brexit done”. Even Emily Thornberry, the most vocally anti-Brexit candidate, says only that Labour should have been more anti-Brexit. That is wrong. Actual, really-existing Brexit involves a range of attacks on the interests of the working class... Other motions not passed - AWL conference 2019 Angela Driver, David Pendletone, Simon Nelson, Luke Hardy Motions on left antisemitism, the Hijab in schools, and social security and Labour's policy, were all submitted to AWL conference 2019. The conference decided that the first of these motions - on left antisemitism - should not be voted on, after a debate; the second, on the Hijab in schools, fell; the third - on social security - were not voted on, as decided before any debate. Again on the hijab in primary schools David Pendletone See here for wider debate in Solidarity on the ban of the hijab in schools. I want to respond to Ben Tausz’s contribution to the debate on whether to ban the hijab in primary schools (Solidarity 527). He quotes me as saying “I do not think that you need to have a solution (of how a ban might be enforced) to support a ban”. The problem is, I didn’t say that. I said that I didn’t think you had to have an agreed solution to what the consequence of breaking the ban might be. What, Ben, should the consequence be for those who resist our programme for renationalisation? What should the consequence...	cc/2021-04/en_head_0044.json.gz/line2290

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