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Tomlinson pipped by champ
UK long jump record-holder Chris Tomlinson finished a morale-boosting second to reigning world champion Dwight Phillips at the IAAF Grand Prix meeting in Seville last night.
The 22-year-old Teessider registered 8.05metres into a stiff head wind. Phillips' winning distance of 8.23m was the first time in five competitions the American has been below 8.40m.
Tomlinson's coach Peter Stanley was pleased with his charge's effort.
"It was a who's who of present-day long jumping out there, so Chris' performance has to be good news," he said.
"We have to be pretty pleased with this. He has worked diligently on his style over the past 18 months and is getting tidier and more effective."
Chris Lambert of Belgrave Harriers was third in the 200m in 20.74seconds, a hundredth inside the Olympic `B' standard though he will need the `A' mark of 20.59 to make a serious bid for a place in Athens. The race finished in an American one-two for Shawn Crawford (20.33) and Bernard Williams (20.66).
* Commonwealth triple jump silver medallist Phillips Idowu is targeting a place on the British team for the Spar European Cup final after making a successful return from injury.
"Please select me," was the message Idowu sent to the selectors after finishing third in last night's Turin IAAF Grand Prix, where he bettered the Olympic qualifying standard for the second time in less than a week.
The 25-year-old, who was a finalist at the Sydney Games, cleared 16.95metres in only his second competition in the space of 21 months following a knee operation to finish behind world champion Christian Olsson and Romania's Marian Oprea.
He said: "It was a good meet. I was pleased with what I did considering it was the first time I've jumped against those guys in so long. My coach [John Herbert] was with me and helped me sort my run-up out."
Idowu insisted the technical problems he encountered on his return to competition in Hungary last weekend would soon be resolved, adding: "It was rubbish in Hungary but it was perfect in Turin.
"I was hopping and stepping the furthest of all the guys. But my problem was that my step was landing on the long jump take-off board, which was killing my final phase.
"I'm quite surprised it's coming together so quickly. It usually takes me five meets to get to the stage I'm already at."
Idowu, confident he will be in the GB side, said: "I'm taking next week off to concentrate on preparing for the European Cup.
"I know I am ready for those guys now."
The squad for the annual competition in Poland on June 19-20 will be announced tomorrow.
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North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
English synthpop Depeche Mode are coming to the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, previously the Sleep Train Amphitheatre, in Chula Vista, on Friday 6th October for their Global Spirit Tour.
Founded in 1980, Depche Mode are one of the most enduring and successful bands to have emerged during the 80s. The band have been highly influential in the electronic dance music scene, especially synthpop, techno and trance, in part due to their innovative work, recording techniques and use of sampling. Their most successful album is arguably 1990’s Violator, which reached the #2 position in the UK, #7 in the US, and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.
The Global Spirit tour is unsupport of their latest album, titled Spirit, and is their first release since 2013’s Delta Machine. Excitement for the album is high and a ticket pre-sale has already taken place so tickets are in short supply. If you want to see Depeche Mode at the Mattress Firm Amphitheatre, previously the Sleep Train Amphitheatre, in Chula Vista, buy your tickets now whilst some are still available.
North Island Credit Union
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Kader Khan (1937 – 31 December 2018): A master at writing dialogue as well as delivering it
The silver-tongued writer and actor died on the last day of 2018 in Canada after a prolonged illness.
Mumbai - 01 Jan 2019 19:50 IST
Sonal Pandya
Celebrated actor and dialogue writer Kader Khan died yesterday in a Toronto hospital where he was undergoing treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy. Khan was 81 years old and had been in hospital for nearly 17 weeks.
The prolific actor and writer appeared in over 300 films, writing dialogues for about a third of them. The well-educated and well-read Khan graduated from Ismail Yusuf College in Jogeshwari, then a distant suburb of Bombay, and was a devoted professor of civil engineering at the MH Saboo Siddik College of Engineering in Mazgaon, Mumbai, before he found fame in Hindi cinema in the 1970s.
Kader Khan with Rajesh Khanna
Incidentally, it was a play of his, called Local Train, that changed the course of his life. He was persuaded by many around him to enter the play in a competition and he ended up winning a slew of awards, including best writer, best actor and best director.
Filmmaker Narinder Bedi was a judge in the competition and asked the professor if he would write dialogues for his upcoming film, Jawani Diwani (1972), starring Randhir Kapoor and Jaya Bachchan (then Bhaduri). Khan himself once said he wrote the dialogues for the superhit film in three hours.
More opportunities arrived with films like Khel Khel Mein (1975) and Rafoo Chakkar (1975), but it was a meeting with Manmohan Desai that brought him to the big league. The filmmaker asked Kader Khan to write an ending for Roti (1974) that would bring the house down and the writer delivered.
When Kader Khan read out the scenes to him, Manmohan Desai was so impressed that he reportedly gifted him a black and white Toshiba television set (television was still only just making its way in India at the time) and a gold bracelet on the spot. Khan had received Rs21,000 for writing Khel Khel Mein (1975). Desai beat that by a mile, giving him a salary of Rs1,21,000.
From giving tuitions free to becoming a dialogue and screenwriter earning over a lakh per movie, Kader Khan had come a long way. By 1973, the writer with the modulated voice had also begun to do small parts.
He played a lawyer in Yash Chopra's Daag (1973) along with Rajesh Khanna and Rakhee. In his nearly four-decade career, he worked with all the top heroes of the time, often giving them their best lines; some of them even had trouble reciting them all.
He acted with Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda when their popularity was at its zenith, with comedians like Asrani and Johnny Lever, and played father to actresses like Sridevi and Tabu. He was a cunning villain, sympathetic uncle or simply the buffoon. Honestly, the man could do it all.
Kader Khan won the Best Dialogue trophy at the Filmfare awards twice, for Meri Aawaz Suno (1981) and Angaar (1992). He wrote for blockbuster hits Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978), Mr Natwarlal (1979), Yaarana (1981), Lawaaris (1982) and Coolie (1983).
In the 1990s, it seemed as if Kader Khan was in every other film. He was nominated for Filmfare's Best Comedian nine times and won it once for Baap Numbri Beta Dus Numbri (1990).
Despite a productive screenwriting career, Kader Khan came to be known more for his acting roles in films like Coolie No 1 (1995), Saajan Chale Sasural (1996) and Dulhe Raja (1998) with Govinda. Their combination was a tour de force, guaranteeing laughs among the audiences and hits at the box office. Eventually, however, their brand of comedy faded as a new era of cinema was ushered in with the turn of the millennium.
While Khan continued to act occasionally in films like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) and Ungli (2014), it was never the same as his dominance in the 1980s and 1990s. Eventually, the actor-writer moved away to Canada to be with his son.
In a video interview, Kader Khan recalled an early scene from Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar (1978) with child artiste Mayur Raj Verma where he gives the young boy some solid advice on how to deal with death and grief and move on. In a way, he was teaching us all how to cope.
People in this story
Kader Khan
Actor, Dialogue Writer, Dialogue Director
Manmohan Desai
Director, Producer, Story Writer
Narinder Bedi
Screenwriter, Director, Story Writer
Movies in this story
Jawani Diwani
Amar Akbar Anthony
Muqaddar Ka Sikandar
Dulhe Raja
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RuPaul’s Drag Race is inventing a whole new internet subculture and language
Arts & Culture Series: Expert Comment
By Carolina Are, PhD Candidate and a Visiting Lecturer at City, University of London.
First published Thursday, 24th October, 2019 • by City Press Office (General enquiries)
Try typing “Yas queen!” or “Shade” or “Don’t F*** It Up” into a search engine and see what comes up. Most likely, you’ll get a GIF which originated from RuPaul’s Drag Race. First broadcast in the early 2000s as a niche talent show on relatively unknown US cable channel Logo TV, Drag Race is now big business and has moved to a far more visible new home on MTV’s VH1.
A UK version debuted on BBC Three in October – and with Canadian and Australian editions in the works, Drag Race has become a cultural juggernaut that is influencing our everyday language and internet behaviour. We should all take notice.
Created by RuPaul Charles – the self-styled “Supermodel of the World”, Drag Race is a loud and proud LGBTQ+ show that subverts the usual trope of typically American talent shows such as Project Runway or America’s Next Top Model, by choosing drag queens as its contestants. On the show, drag queens fight for the crown of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” by competing in singing, dancing, lipsyncing and acting as well as various comedy challenges … and sewing.
Winning – or even just participating in – Drag Race can be life-changing for drag queens. Aside from the crown, America’s Next Drag Superstar wins US$100,000 and travels the world for a year representing the show.
But in the past few years, it has become clear that Drag Race has done way more than entertaining its ever-growing army of fans. It has helped open the door of drag, LGBTQ+ and black queer culture for a mainstream audience – introducing the conventions, habits, rituals and attitudes of these subcultures to the mainstream public.
Caroline Are explains the subculture that has been spawned by the success of RuPaul's Drag Race
Drag Race and internet culture
Through Drag Race, the language of drag is not just gaining recognition by a wider public – it is being turned into a new art form through memes, GIFs and content that floods millions of people’s social media feeds.
Drag Race is manna from heaven for content creators and for niche fandoms – groups of die-hard fans that veer away from traditional, mainstream entertainment. In 2018, the show did a crossover episode with America’s Next Top Model. RuPaul’s appearance on Jeopardy, and season nine winner Sasha Velour’s obsession with Riverdale, have left fans begging for new crossovers. Fan blogs have called for Drag Race/American Horror Story or Disney/Drag Race mash-ups.
One of the most famous Drag Race crossovers, however, is Fire WERK With Me, a Facebook group with more than 10,000 members and write-ups in PAPER Magazine. The group blends Drag Race and Twin Peaks by juxtaposing both shows’ characters and quotes through memes, gifs and videos made and posted exclusively by fans, who need to be added and accepted onto the group by moderators.
These tend to contain language and humour that only members of that subculture would be able to understand. The group has been acknowledged by RuPaul in interviews and, recently, by a variety of social media posts.
Shady talk
On Drag Race, language stops being just subcultural “lingo” and is a vehicle for speading and popularising drag slang, which is heavily used, explained and commented on during the show and subsequently adopted by pop culture.
The show’s language borrows from the 1991 New York drag scene documentary Paris Is Burning, depicting the origins and meanings behind culture. Words such as “shade”, in particular, have now become mainstream, used in songs and writing by people outside the black or LGBTQIA+ community.
Originally explained in Paris Is Burning by drag queen Dorian Corey – “Shade is, I don’t tell you you’re ugly, but I don’t have to tell you, because you know you’re ugly. And that’s shade,” - shade is now the ultimate witty, sharp critique adopted across the board.
For American academic Nicholas de Villiers, drag lingo has an educational value, bringing drag into the wider debate to discuss gender, identity and sexuality, opening the discourse to non-LGBTQ+ audiences. And Drag Race makes a point of making words up, to then sum them up or explain them at the end of the season.
These words are often RuPaul’s, but they are also coined by contestants and other judges, like Shangela’s “Halleloo” salute or “No T No Shade” – the inevitable prequel to saying something shady, but true, because there’s no T (truth) without a bit of shade.
Mainstreaming drag
The impact of Drag Race is being felt all over entertainment, so much so that show alumnae such as Willam and Shangela sashayed their way into parts in films such as A Star Is Born.
Others, such as Milk and Violet Chachki, have become runway models for the likes of Marc Jacobs and Jean Paul Gaultier. Comedy queen Bianca Del Rio has sold out Wembley shows, while Shae Coulee, Miss Vanjie or Mayhem Miller have starred in pop videos for major artists including Iggy Azalea.
Drag Race is influencing the way we speak and the content we create, to the extent that it is now becoming the subject of academic papers and studies. And the success of the show demonstrates that today’s viewers don’t just want to sit and watch. They want to evaluate, critique and engage in their own content creation based on the show that creates its own new, newsworthy subcultures and then bleeds on into the mainstream.
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Why Do Married Men Earn More?
Daniel Bukszpan | @DanielBukszpan
Published 9:45 AM ET Mon, 12 Nov 2012 CNBC.com
Paul D. Van Hoy II | age fotostock | Getty Images
"Getting a Job: Is There a Motherhood Penalty?"
That was the title of a 2007 Cornell University study published in the American Journal of Sociology that examined gaps in wages between different types of workers. It found that mothers receive the lowest wage of any group, including childless women and males with or without children.
The goal of the study was to highlight income disparities among women but what it also found was that married men are the highest-paid employees, far outpacing women and unmarried men.
U.S. Census Bureau data bear this out. Full-time median income for married men ages 18-64 years old in 2011 was $55,958, as compared to $40,489 for married women, $34,634 for single men and $32,593 for single women, according to the Current Population Survey 2012 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
This disparity is explained, in part, by the gender wage gap. Women earn 77 cents to every dollar earned by men, regardless of marital status, Census Bureau stats show. But other factors may be in play.
"Part of it is likely due to unconscious biases," Sarah Jane Glynn, a policy analyst for the Center for American Progress, said in an email. "We live in a culture that continues to buy into this notion that men should be the breadwinners, in spite of the fact that nearly two-thirds of mothers are breadwinners or co-breadwinners for their families."
Glynn also believes that, for men, the correlation between marital status and salary may be getting interpreted in reverse. In other words, it may not be that married men are being rewarded with higher incomes; it may be that men are putting off marriage until they start earning more money.
"There is reason to believe that men who already have higher incomes are more likely to get married in the first place," she said. "Economics play a huge role in couples' decisions whether to marry or not, and men who are earning less may postpone marriage until they are bringing home a bigger paycheck."
Glynn also speculated that married men may draw larger salaries because some single men simply don't become desirable marriage material until they become big earners. "Women may choose not to marry men who aren't making much money," Glynn said. If this is the case, then men looking to tie the knot have a good reason to pursue a high salary.
While the gender wage gap remains wide, it's narrowed considerably since the 1980s, and it's conceivable that it could continue to do so until it ultimately disappears. Until that time, people should expect to see married men continue to receive higher pay than their female counterparts.
What's more, men are also more likely to be found in management positions — and they even have the highest incidence of supervisors willing to look the other way when they are late to work, according to the Cornell survey.
Though, it's hard to justify that big paycheck if you're always late!
Daniel BukszpanSpecial to CNBC.com
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Explore Centennial Parklands – with almost 31 million visitors a year, it's one of Australia's most popular and historic public parklands. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Centennial Park Moore Park Queens Park Things to see and do
Safeguarding the health and safety of our visitors and staff is core to what we do at the Botanic Gardens and Centennial Parklands. Our Botanic Gardens and Parklands continue to remain open to the public at this time, unless advised otherwise. Find out more.
Find your way around Centennial Parklands quickly and easily on your smartphone or tablet with our new, interactive map.
Centennial Parklands' opening and closing hours vary according to the season and New South Wales' daylight savings times.
Read about getting to Centennial Parklands, parking, our hours, and accessibility.
Discover the stories of the people, places and plants that are integral to the history of Sydney's largest urban green space.
Discover fascinating facts about the flora, fauna, geology and landform of the 360-hectare green space that comprises Sydney's Centennial Parklands.
Scientific studies have shown that playing and exercising in green spaces offers greater benefits than similar activity undertaken indoors.
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Downey Brand LLP
CEQA Chronicles
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Home > General > White House Council on Environmental Quality Issues Final Guidance on Consideration of Climate Change in NEPA Review
White House Council on Environmental Quality Issues Final Guidance on Consideration of Climate Change in NEPA Review
By Darrin D. Gambelin on August 17, 2016 Posted in General, Impact Analysis
Guest author Darrin Gambelin, a Downey Brand associate, contributes today’s post.
On August 1, The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) issued its Final Guidance for Federal Departments and Agencies on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews (Guidance), which provides federal agencies with a framework for analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change in connection with environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This is a significant step in the developing law of climate impact analysis, as state and federal agencies alike continue to struggle to measure, analyze, and mitigate for localized, incremental contributions to this global problem.
The Guidance advises federal agencies to examine both the effects of the proposed project on climate change and the effects of climate change on the project. The guidance does not apply retroactively to projects with a completed NEPA review, but CEQ encourages agencies to adopt these procedures for projects currently under review. As guidance, the policies within are not binding, but in practice agencies generally defer to CEQ; so, applicants can expect federal agencies to apply the new policies to projects moving forward.
In determining the effects of the proposed project on climate change, the Guidance recommends that agencies quantify both direct and “reasonably foreseeable” indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For example, when permitting a fossil fuel extraction project, the review must consider not only emissions directly associated with the coal mine or natural gas well, but all emissions associated with transportation and eventual combustion of the fuels. The Guidance states that GHG emissions should be considered for all project alternatives, including no action, as well as any GHG emissions from proposed mitigation approaches. CEQ notes that tools for quantifying GHG emissions are widely available. Many of these tools are compiled in a 2012 report by CEQ titled Guidance for Accounting and Reporting GHG Emissions.
The Guidance goes on to recommend that the amount of estimated GHG emissions be used as a proxy for the proposed project’s impact on climate change. It encourages agencies to use existing studies and government reports, such as a 2014 report by the Department of Energy titled Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Perspective on Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas, to correlate GHG emissions with quantifiable effects on climate change. As with the Appendix G Guideline under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), agencies may use a qualitative approach to estimate impacts where a project’s GHG emissions are difficult to quantify.
While the impact of any individual project on global climate change is negligible, the Guidance states that agencies must consider the climate effect of every project, even those that result in small increases in GHG emissions. CEQ reasons that nearly all projects will have some effect on climate change when the cumulative effects of GHG emissions are considered.
As under California law, agencies are afforded discretion on the impact thresholds and level of review required. The previous draft version of this Guidance set a threshold of 25,000 tons/year for triggering a detailed, quantitative, review of emissions. The final Guidance instead instructs agencies to use the “rule of reason” inherent in NEPA to determine if project emissions are significant and require detailed review. Thus, the Guidance creates additional uncertainty as to the appropriate thresholds to apply.
The Guidance makes passing reference to the performance of cost benefit analyses and the use of the social cost of carbon in considering the impacts of GHG emissions, but makes it clear that NEPA does not require an in-depth review of the monetization of costs and benefits. Instead, CEQ recommends including a cost benefit analysis as a reference or appendix to the NEPA document.
Where mitigation of climate effects should be considered, the Guidance provides several categories of potential mitigation projects, including energy efficiency, carbon sequestration (forestry), sustainable land management practices, and capturing or beneficially using methane. Conspicuously absent from the list of possible mitigations discussed in the Guidance is any reliance on existing (or future) cap-and-trade programs, local climate action plans, or sustainable communities strategies. In California, the cap-and-trade program, imposed on certain stationary sources and sources of energy, has been considered as alternative mitigation even for non-regulated industries. Similarly, local climate action plans and sustainable communities strategies are becoming more prevalent, and represent California’s approaches to achieving specific state and regional emissions reduction targets.
In addition to examining the effects of the proposed project on climate change, NEPA review must also consider how the impacts of climate change may affect the project. The Guidance advises that this review should include the effects of higher sea levels, more serious storms, and how the project would affect climate change preparedness or resilience. This is a departure from California law, which under the recent California Supreme Court decision in California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District, does not mandate that agencies consider the impacts of the surrounding environment on the project (the so-called, CEQA-in-reverse). This difference aside, and given the lack of settled approach to climate analysis under state law, federal agency implementation of the CEQ Guidance may serve as a reference point for state agencies and courts in scrutinizing climate analysis under state law.
Tags: Climate Change, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), NEPA
Brenda C. Bass
Hina Gupta
Natalie C. Kirkish
Meghan A. Quinn
Christopher I. Rendall-Jackson
Welcome to our CEQA blog. Our goal is to provide you with timely information and analysis concerning key developments in environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. Whenever there is an important change in CEQA practice – whether as a result of an appellate court decision, new legislation, or revisions to the Guidelines – we’ll keep you updated.
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First Appellate District Approves Responsible Agency’s Imposition of Mitigation Not Considered in the EIR
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You are here: Home / International / French Government Sued for Inadequate Climate Action
March 14, 2019 Filed Under: International, Liability Litigation
Four environmental organizations filed suit against the French government for failing to live up to its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement and other national and international agreements.
The suit, which was filed in the Administrative Court of Paris on Thursday, alleges that France has violated its duty by failing to taking action to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius.
The organizations—Oxfam, Greenpeace, Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme and Notre Affair à Tous—also say the French government has repeatedly postponed implementing policies to curb emissions, as required by its national climate policy, and has failed to respect international commitments.
The organizations are asking the French government to fully implement its policies and to abide by its climate agreements. They are also asking for compensation for harm done to their members and the environment.
“The state is not living up to commitments it has made itself, especially in the context of the Paris agreement of 2015,” said Cecile Duflot, a former minister and current Executive Director of Oxfam France.
“The state is a litigant like any other, our goal is for it to be condemned to act,” she told France Inter radio.
France, like countries around the world, is already feeling the impacts of climate change, including intense heat waves and increased rainfall events.
According to the Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index, France is the most vulnerable of all Europe countries to climate change and the 18th most affected in the world.
Plaintiff organization Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme was founded by Nicolas Hulot, a former environment minister who resigned last year due to what he considered France’s failure to implement climate and other environmental policies. The organization has gathered more than 2 million signatures in a petition supporting the litigation.
The litigation was denounced by French President Emmanuel Macron, who is currently in Nairobi for the One Planet Summit, a gathering of high-level officials, CEO’s and young people working to put forward initiatives designed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“The solution is in all of us. On this issue, it is not the People vs. The Government. This nonsense should stop,” Macron said. “We all must act—governments must act, major enterprises must act, investors must act, citizens must act—all together.”
The plaintiffs say Macron and the French government are all talk, but little action. They also say putting the onus on individual citizens is a distraction from the government’s failure to adequately regulate carbon emitters.
“We are not reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this country, but they’re going up by 6 percent more than it should be between 2015 and 2018,” said Paul Mougeolle, an attorney for Notre Affair à Tous.
He said for the suit to succeed, the plaintiffs must convince the court that the state has a duty to combat climate change.
“That’s not just a legal argument but it will also have practical effects, because if you recognize it, you must comply with the latest science,” he said. The organizations will have to show that while France’s greenhouse gas emissions are relatively low—just 1.2 percent of total global emissions— they are still causing major harm to the climate.
The organizations sent a letter of formal notice to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and 12 members of the government in December describing climate impacts that France is already experiencing and explaining how the government’s failure to take action endangers the welfare of French citizens. They urged the government to adopt specific climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Francois de Rugy, the French minister of ecological and solidarity transition, responded in February, saying the government is already taking action. He said also said French citizens must change their behavior.
“We waited a long time for a response from the government but it has announced no new far-reaching measures,” said Marie Pochon, a spokeswoman for Notre Affaire A Tous.
Increasingly, citizens across the globe are asking courts to force governments to take more immediate and urgent action to reduce carbon emissions.
Three families in Germany filed suit last October to compel the government to comply with emission reduction targets. The European Union is facing a suit by 10 families who filed suit last June, alleging the EU’s current climate targets aren’t enough to protect their rights to life, health, occupation and property. A British court recently rejected an appeal by the nonprofit climate justice group Plan B to force the government to strengthen its climate targets. Twenty-one young plaintiffs in the landmark constitutional climate lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, hope to force the U.S. government to implement a science-based plan to protect the climate for future generations.
Mougeolle said the new case differs from other suits because there are no individual plaintiffs, only non-governmental organizations, which in France have the right to demand an end to the ecological harms.
“We are demanding not only repair of the ecological damage, but also the prevention of future harm,” said Mougeolle.
The suit is anticipated to take about two years to work its way through the court. If the claims are rejected, the organizations will be allowed to appeal to a higher court.
Filed Under: International, Liability Litigation
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[…] Government Sued For Inadequate Climate Action. Climate Liability News has an explainer: “Four environmental organizations filed suit against the French government […]
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[…] Government Sued For Inadequate Climate Action. Climate Liability News has an explainer: "Four environmental organizations filed suit against the French government […]
Severe Flooding Omaha to Southern Wisconsin – 50s Possible Late Next Week | Model Airplanes says:
[…] Government Sued For Inadequate Climate Action. Climate Liability News has an explainer: “Four environmental organizations filed suit against the French government for […]
L'Affaire du Siècle : Revue de Presse - Notre affaire à tous says:
[…] Four environmental organizations filed suit against the French government for failing to live up to its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement and other national and international agreements. Lire la suite > […]
L'Affaire du siècle : revue de presse dépôt du recours - mars 2019 - Notre affaire à tous says:
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Will Rapid Warming Increase Flood Risk? 60 Degrees Possible by Saturday says:
efforts to hold governments accountable grow as climate impacts worsen says:
[…] are currently pending in Germany, France, Ireland, Switzerland, the European Union, Canada, and the U.S. Citizens in these countries have […]
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Taiwan's Chunghwa Builds the "Digital Rainforest"
Thursday, August 25, 2011 Service Providers, Taiwan
Taiwan's Chunghwa Telecom reported Q2 2011 revenue of NT$54.42 billions, up 9.6% year-over-year, of which 41.1% was from the mobile business, 11.5% was from the internet business, 36.3% was from the domestic fixed business, 7.1% was from the international fixed business, and the remainder was from other services. Total operating costs and expenses increased by 12.3% to NT$39.01 billion and net income totaled NT$13.30 billion, representing a 2.8% increase.
Dr. Shyue-Ching Lu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Chunghwa Telecom, said "Our desire to build on this top-line growth and leverage our reputation for innovative offerings and premium customer service led to the launch of our "Digital Rainforest" initiative during the second quarter. This initiative builds on the significant traction we have already gained from our inroads into the digital business ecosystem, and represents a cohesive strategy for integrating and reinvigorating our activities within this space. Key elements of "Digital Rainforest" include a cloud computing initiative called hicloud PaaS, a cutting edge broadband service, integrated service platforms, and domestic and international collaboration on reducing carbon emissions to promote sustainability. We are also implementing our new channel strategy by transforming our service centers to convey our new image as we embrace the cloud computing era. I am confident that this "Digital Rainforest" initiative will provide additional momentum to our growth going forward."
Some highlights for the quarter:
Total revenue for the mobile business amounted to NT$22.35 billion for the second quarter 2011, representing a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, mainly due to growth in mobile VAS revenue and handset sales relating to smartphone promotions, which offset the decline in mobile voice revenue. The decline in mobile voice revenue resulted primarily from the shift in pricing right for fixed to mobile calls from mobile to fixed operators.
Chunghwa's Internet business revenue increased by 3.4% year-over-year to NT$6.25 billion in the second quarter of 2011, mainly attributable to growth in the number of broadband subscribers and the migration of ADSL subscribers to fiber solutions.
For the second quarter of 2011, domestic fixed revenue totaled NT$19.78 billion, representing an increase of 14.1% year-over-year. Local revenues increased by 33.6% year-over-year, mainly due to the shift in pricing right for fixed to mobile calls. The 13.9% decline in Domestic Long Distance ("DLD") revenues was due to mobile and Voice over Internet Protocol ("VOIP") substitution, as well as reflecting the mandated tariff reduction.
Broadband access revenue, including ADSL and Fiber to the x (FTTx), increased by 3% year-over-year to NT$5.14 billion. Although ADSL access revenue decreased as more ADSL subscribers migrated to fiber solutions and because of the mandated tariff reduction, the decrease was fully offset by growth in FTTx access revenue.
International fixed line revenue increased by 3.9% to NT$3.86 billion, primarily due to growth in international long distance service and international leased line revenue.
Other revenue grew by 369.3%, primarily due to the increase in construction revenue from the company's property development subsidiary.
CAPEX for Q2 amounted to NT$5.54 billion, a 7.6% year-over-year increase. Of the NT$5.54 billion CAPEX figure, 57.1% was used for the domestic fixed communications business, 21.0% was for the mobile business, 14.3% was for the Internet business, 5.9% was for the international fixed communications business, and the remainder was for other uses.
As of June 30, FTTx subscribers had reached 2.2 million, accounting for 49.7% of total broadband users. This year, the Company is continuing to execute on its strategy to encourage FTTx migration. On June 22, the Company further reduced its broadband service tariffs, especially for speeds of 20Mbps and 50Mbps to stimulate the momentum of migration and subscription. The initiative has been very well received.
HiNet broadband subscribers totaled 3.63 million at the end of June 2011, a year-over-year rise of 2.2%.
As of June 30, 2011, Chunghwa had 9.86 million mobile subscribers, an increase of 4.4% compared to 9.45 million at the end of June 2010.
As of June 30, 2011, the company had 1.15 million mobile internet subscribers, demonstrating strong growth momentum compared to 809 thousand subscribers as of December 2010. As a result, the Company has set a new year-end mobile internet subscriber target of1.4 million.
Chunghwa Telecom now has 17,000 WiFi APs providing 3G offload. The company expects to have 21,000 APs by year end.
Smartphones now represent 40% of handset sales in Taiwan by CHT, up from 25% last year.
Mobile VAS revenue for the second quarter of 2011 rose 42% year-over-year to NT$3.77 billion, with mobile Internet revenue increasing 87.2% year-over-year, making it the largest contributor to VAS revenue.
As of August 26, 2011, Chunghwa's Multimedia-on-demand (MOD) subscriber number reached over 930,000. http://www.cht.com.tw/CHTFinalE/Web/AboutUS.php?CatID=274
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Home Data Privacy
How Global Data Privacy Laws Are Changing the CDO Role
Shedding Light on One of the C-Suite’s Newest Functions
by Stephen Cavey
in Data Privacy, Featured
How have recent data privacy regulations impacted the role of Chief Data Officer for organizations? Ground Labs’ Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist Stephen Cavey looks at the how the role has changed to fit today’s data standards.
Data regulation is the new reality, requiring an ever-increasing depth of knowledge in compliance, law, security and privacy. Failure to adhere to the various, evolving regulations by an organization not only has financial implications such as fines, loss of market share and even stock value, but also can destroy the trust a company was built on. Added to this, privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) have continued to evolve with more industries across various regions enacting new rules and regulations.
As regulations are no longer impacting just one state, one country or one industry, the responsibility and scope of a Chief Data Officer (CDO) is dramatically different from what it once used to entail. When the CDO role originated more than 15 years ago, it would have been reasonable to apply a simple data-handling policy across the broader organization, regardless of its location in the world – an approach which would likely yield significant consequences in today’s regulatory environment.
Much like compliance regulations, the CDO role has significantly evolved both in scope and responsibility. Let’s explore:
Today’s Chief Data Officer
Historically, CDOs were primarily concerned with determining the types of data an organization will capture, retain and exploit, as well as how it will be utilized. Today’s CDO faces a broad landscape of data to control, surrounded by numerous metaphorical landmines represented by data privacy regulation and, depending on the country and region, penalties that may be levied at both a federal and state level.
The CDO must not only be internally aware of data-handling activities, but also become externally aware of data-centric laws in each market the organization both operates in and collects data from – all while being a trusted advisor to the business. The latter is even more critical, as a common misconception occurs when organizations only acknowledge and maintain awareness of laws where they have a presence – not necessarily awareness of every law for all data sources collected.
The CDO in most instances is the single point of responsibility for ensuring an organization fully understands the sources of its data, how it’s handled, why it’s handled and what boundaries and limitations exist. Without this holistic view and central point of control, a business may struggle to maintain adequate control of the existing and new data being collected, as well as its broader implications.
Heightened Focus on Security
Data privacy is no longer just a concern for legal, compliance or security teams; it should be one of the biggest concerns for all departments within a commercial organization, including the board. As organizations continue to comply with the many data and privacy regulations, the responsibility to coordinate with both the board and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) falls on the CDO’s plate. These relationships are critical to every CDO’s success, as the CDO will often encounter scenarios overlapping the fields of data security and legal compliance.
One of the responsibilities of the CISO is to provide full monitoring and continuous awareness of personal and sensitive data across the business from a security perspective. By working together with the CDO, the CISO can have a better understanding of where all of an organization’s data lives and can gain key insights into how to prioritize data management and mitigate risk.
As technology and data security practices have evolved, more organizations have deployed capabilities to find and monitor all forms of personal data across the entire company. At this time, the CISO and CDO must work together to ensure that all of the PII within the company is secure and compliant on an ongoing basis, no matter where it is stored.
Repercussions of Noncompliance
Keeping data safe from breaches, fraud and attacks and ensuring compliance with all international data privacy regulations are some of the most important roles the CDO is tasked with. As the ever-changing rules and bylaws for each regulation continue to evolve, it’s critical that the CDO pays close attention to how each regulation differs, along with the heavy cost of being noncompliant.
Unlike its European counterpart, the GDPR, which imposes fines based on the degrees of violation, the CCPA allows individuals to pursue legal action against companies for their infractions. Noncompliant companies could be on the hook for up to $2,500 per individual violation of a data breach — an amount that can quickly get out of hand.
While in the past it has been common for data to be stolen from an organization due to the data being unknown and stored or processed outside of the organization’s security controls, with the recent data privacy laws, there is no room for costly oversight or lack of data awareness. These common challenges can quickly turn into potential data breaches and/or heavy civil and regulatory liabilities.
To add to the mix, today’s data is more than just employee information and customer lists; it can also include data from a variety of next-generation technology, such as biometric and facial data. With 90 percent of data breaches caused by human error, the CDO can reduce the chance of significant damage by a breach by educating themselves and employees on the different types of data and where they may be storing this information.
Need for Increased Monitoring
Privacy regulations like the GDPR and CCPA have increased transparency and given consumers the ability to opt-out of data-sharing policies, but as the regulations grow in scale and complexity, CDOs are exploring ways to meet these requirements without hindering business success.
Because an organization must now accept the responsibility of storing sensitive data as a cost of doing business, it’s important for the CDO to confirm that all collected data is being continually monitored to ensure it isn’t stored or transmitted to locations outside of the organization’s security controls. This is similar to having locks on all entry points in an office to prevent access, but also deploying motion sensors and camera surveillance on all sensitive areas to verify that the physical access controls are preventing unauthorized access.
All too often, sensitive data files within an organization can either be over-shared or inadvertently copied from a secure encrypted location to an unsecured location (e.g., the My Documents folder on a Windows desktop). This can result in potentially large quantities of highly sensitive personal data ending up across a number of unknown and insecure locations.
We all know that data security and risk mitigation is an integral part of modern business. Ensuring that your data is kept secure is important, but recent data security regulation means that securing data to a high standard is now mandatory, not just good practice.
A major, ongoing challenge will be determining what information falls under the new regulations and how to find that information within the organization. Therefore, CDOs must look at compliance as a journey. This means establishing the proper people, processes and technology to support regulations, with the understanding that compliance isn’t achieved overnight. With the right steps in place, and under the CDO’s leadership, the compliance journey can become both achievable and repeatable so that it can be relied upon for the long term.
By establishing complete and ongoing visibility of all regulated data, an effective CDO can make a significant impact to the organizational process, company balance sheet, company reputation and risk mitigation effort. Most importantly, the CDO serves a crucial role in avoiding regulatory penalties and ultimately, avoiding a costly data breach.
Tags: CCPA/California Consumer Privacy Actdata breachGDPRmonitoring
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Stephen Cavey
Stephen Cavey is Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Ground Labs, where he leads a global team empowering its customers to discover, identify and secure sensitive data across their organizations. He leads its worldwide product development, sales and marketing and business operations and was instrumental in extending Ground Labs’ presence with enterprise customers. Stephen has deep security domain expertise with a focus on electronic payments and data security compliance. He is a frequent speaker at industry events on topics related to data security, risk mitigation and cybersecurity trends and futures. He started Ground Labs after holding leadership positions at Paycorp Holdings, a provider of integrated electronic payments solutions; he also held engineering roles with Webpay, a payment services provider later acquired by Fidelity, and Webtel, an early Australian ISP.
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Costain Receives Reward From Total Lindsey Oil Refinery
Costain’s team of Industrial and Civil operatives on Lindsey Oil Refinery reached the milestone of 3 years without an injury requiring more than basic first aid. This is a significant achievement, with over 500,000 man hours having been worked in the period, and is a credit to the Costain personnel working on the refinery.
To mark the occasion Total presented Costain with a cheque for £500 towards the *150 Challenge, to be matched by Costain. Ian Lovell, the refinery’s Engineering Manager, commented that Costain’s standards and safety performance were amongst the best on the refinery. The award is an addition to the RoSPA Gold Award gained by the team earlier this year.
Costain carries out a number of industrial cleaning roles, undertakes civil and building repairs and supports the Operations function within Total Lindsey Oil Refinery. During a three month turnaround earlier this year, Costain staff numbers on the site rose from the standard 55 to over 170.
* The 150 Challenge commemorates Costain’s 150th anniversary and involves raising £1million in 2015 for the Costain Charitable Foundation’s four chosen charities – the British Heart Foundation, Macmillan Cancer Support, youth charity The Prince’s Trust and Samaritans.
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Once Upon a Time, George Jones Sang a Disney Song
Disney is not just a remarkable company trying to bring out the kids inside us or to make us cry like the little brat versions of ourselves, it’s also a company that knows how to generate more cash and appeal even to its unlikely audience. In 1996, Disney tapped the biggest country artists of that era and that includes a country legend, George Jones along with others such as Tanya Tucker, Alison Krauss, Collin Raye and Faith Hill.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Toy Story
It seemed like a work of destiny when George Jones landed to sing ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me,’ a song that is written for a Disney/Pixar movie, Toy Story. We definitely picture George Jones as Woody, the cowboy toy who schooled everyone how genuine friendship works.
The song was written by Randy Newman in the first film of three franchises of Toy Story. It was nominated for two award-giving bodies for the Best Original Song category, one for the Academy Awards and another Golden Globes but ultimately lost both categories to Disney’s Pocahontas.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me, George Jones
There’s no much story as to how George Jones was assigned to sing this timeless song that plays every time Toy Story film opens. It was actually a duet with Kathy Mattea, another great country songstress that complimented George Jones voice.
The ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ singer definitely gave enough justice to countrify the said song by using his Southern twang together with the ruggedness of his tone.
What can we say? George Jones definitely owned this song with Kathy Mattea!
Listen to their version below:
[like_button]
You’ve Got a Friend in Me
When the road looks rough ahead
And you’re miles and miles
From your nice warm bed
You just remember what your old pal said
Boy, you’ve got a friend in me
Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me
You’ve got troubles, and I’ve got ’em too
There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you
We stick together and can see it through
‘Cause you’ve got a friend in me
Some other folks might be
A little bit smarter than I am
George Jones, Kathy Mattea, you've got a friend in me
“The Window Up Above” by Mickey Gilley, the Version that became No. 1
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18 Years Ago Aaron Tippin’s Released His No. 1 Song “Kiss This”
Kris Kristofferson Sings “Why Me Lord” Emotionally
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North Carolina panel says small amounts of pot should be decriminalized
Gary D. Robertson
RALEIGH, N.C. — A task force that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper created to address and eliminate racial disparities in North Carolina's criminal justice and court systems recommended on Wednesday that legislators decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana.
A majority of the panel of judges and attorneys, law enforcement officers, elected officials and civil rights advocates backed proposals to replace misdemeanor possession counts of holding up to 1.5 ounces of pot with civil offenses similar to traffic infractions. Current laws make possession of more than 0.5 ounces punishable by up to 45 days in jail and $200 in fines, according to a task force news release.
White and Black residents in North Carolina use marijuana at the same rate, but a disproportionate percentage of those convicted are not white, the release said, raising questions of bias. More than 10,400 such possession convictions occurred in 2019. Changes would require General Assembly approval. The Republican-controlled legislature has been very cautious about liberalizing drug laws.
"I'd just as soon nobody smoke marijuana ... but the fact is a lot of people do use it," Attorney General Josh Stein, a co-chairman of the panel, said during the group's virtual deliberations. By decriminalizing it, Stein added, "we're not saying we think this is a good thing that people should do. But we're just trying to address the racial inequity in our criminal justice system."
A majority also agreed to recommend a study be completed to examine whether the possession, cultivation and sale of marijuana should be made legal. Law enforcement agencies also should make it a low priority to investigate marijuana possession and felony drug possession for trace amounts, except at locations that serve alcohol, members said.
Task force members also agreed that their final report, due to Cooper by Dec. 15, should recommend that lawmakers prohibit capital punishment for people 21 or younger or those with "serious mental illness" at the time the murder was committed. North Carolina hasn't executed a death-row prisoner since 2006, the result of a de facto moratorium.
The task force, which is also led by Associate Justice Anita Earls, was created by Cooper in June following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis police custody and the resulting demonstrations nationwide. The task force also supports more robust police department standards involving the use of force by law enforcement officers and more transparency in officer misconduct. The panel will vote on the complete report Dec. 8.
A separate state House committee examining law enforcement and justice reforms met Wednesday. Its final report is also expected in mid-December.
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Campus Sexual Assault:|Who Should Be the Judge and Jury?
May 20, 2016 MATTHEW RENDA
SAN JOSE, Calif. (CN) — It’s an unfortunately familiar and complicated story, fraught with the personal, the political and the historical.
The controversy over the new era of Title IX enforcement regarding sexual assaults on college campuses is playing out at universities across the nation and increasingly spilling over into the courtroom, only serving to fan the flames of an already strident debate about how to best address the problem.
A spate of lawsuits filed by individuals claiming schools mishandled investigations and judiciary hearings related to campus sexual assault call into question whether universities or colleges should adjudicate sexual assault allegations or whether the issue is best left to the criminal justice system
One of the more recent lawsuits was filed April 12 in Santa Cruz Superior Court, and stems from alleged sexual misconduct that occurred in September 2014. The case involves University of California-Santa Cruz student Zackery Ramos-Taylor, a member of the university’s cross-country team, and an unnamed female member of the team.
In the suit, Ramos-Taylor claims the university suspended him without due process and that he should be reinstated in school and allowed to graduate on schedule.
The unnamed woman accused Ramos-Taylor of sexually assaulting her the morning after a party the two attended. For his part, Ramos-Taylor says the interaction was not only consensual, but initiated by the woman — an assertion Ramos-Taylor claims in his lawsuit was corroborated by numerous witnesses.
The university said the young woman was intoxicated and was too incapacitated to give consent. However, officials later based Ramos-Taylor’s suspension on the fact that after the two had sex during the night, he woke up in the morning and while trying to reinitiate sex, digitally penetrated the woman without her consent.
In his lawsuit, Ramos-Taylor not only denies he assaulted the woman, but says he was treated unfairly at the university disciplinary hearing and asks the court to stay the suspension so he can resume his classes. Ramos-Taylor’s attorney, Andrew Jaecki did not return a phone call requesting comment.
Ramos-Taylor’s lawsuit just one of many threading their way through state and federal courts around the nation.
“This is a developing area of law and it is constantly evolving,” Samantha Harris, director of policy for the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, said in an interview.
Approximately 100 students sued. Some of them have won and others survive motions to dismiss — after which the universities typically settle.
“Even though some of these plaintiffs are succeeding, it is still an uphill battle,” Harris said, but noted that a decision by a Massachusetts federal judge advancing a student’s contract claims against Brandeis University is altering the legal landscape.
In the 89-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Dennis Saylor said the unnamed plaintiff, who was suspended for having “numerous, non-consensual sexual interactions” with his boyfriend over the course of a two-year period, was not treated fairly by the university’s judicial process.
“(The plaintiff) was required to defend himself in what was essentially an inquisitorial proceeding that plausibly failed to provide him with a fair and reasonable opportunity to be informed of the charges and to present an adequate defense,” Saylor wrote. “He was ultimately found ‘responsible,’ and received a penalty that may permanently scar his life and career. Under the circumstances, the complaint plausibly alleges that the procedures employed by Brandeis did not provide him with the ‘basic fairness’ to which he was entitled.
Saylor’s decision may empower a growing chorus of voices who say universities lack the ability to fairly and impartially adjudicate sexual assault incidents on campus, an issue innately rife with legal and ethical convolution.
“Even for law enforcement and criminal courts, investigating and adjudicating sexual assault cases often means grappling with the profound complexity inherent to these cases, and the difficulties that can arise are significant,” Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California system, wrote in a 2015 essay for Yale Law & Policy Review.
In that essay, Napolitano delineated some of the limitations campuses face in adjudicating sexual assault, including lack of subpoena power, restrictive jurisdiction over off-campus incidents, limited investigative authority and limited sanctions.
These limitations have legal experts like Aya Gruber, a law professor at the University of Colorado School of Law, concerned that recent federally mandated policies demanding that colleges address the problem of sexual assault have swung the pendulum too far in the other direction.
“When you have Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama saying the criminal justice system is failing at punishing rapists and that schools need to step up, this puts enormous pressure on the schools to find in favor of the complainants,” Gruber said in an interview. “And the schools are ill-equipped to make these findings. This issue has outpaced the institutional competency.”
Gruber’s reference to Obama and Biden relates to a 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter that the U.S. Department of Education sent to universities outlining how colleges must take immediate steps to investigate sexual violence and bring about effective remedies to stop the violence. The department also said universities must do so in order to comply with Title IX, a 1972 law that explicitly prohibits gender discrimination in the education system.
Institutions that fail to comply with Title IX and the prescriptive guidelines set forth in 2011 risk losing indispensible federal funding.
Thus, the attempts to install more robust quasi-judicial procedures under the auspice of the feds’ new marching orders means the impartiality and fairness necessary to the proper administration of justice are compromised, Gruber said.
During a debate sponsored by Intelligence Squared in September 2015, Yale Law Professor Jeb Rubenfeld said the result of this policy is that “colleges conduct rape trials when they’re incompetent to do it.”
Beyond the limitations that Napolitano describes, Rubenfeld also said colleges lack the forensic ability to administer rape kits, or perform toxicology tests in the case of date-rape drugging. The judicial panels are sometimes comprised of people with no aptitude for adjudication, or of professors and/or students who know either the victim or the accused.
“These conflicts hurt victims and accused alike,” Rubenfeld said. “In some cases, colleges have a huge incentive to sweep rape cases under the rug, to cover them up.”
But Rubenfeld and other critics say these quasi-judicial proceedings often lead to the suspension or expulsion of individuals who have committed no crime, or brand and stigmatize them as rapists without going through the more robust and impartial process that our criminal justice system imparts to the accused.
Apart from the Ramos-Taylor case and the Brandeis University case, other lawsuits are mounting, with students asking for university judiciary panel decisions to be overturned.
One case involved a student at the University of Southern California who was suspended by the university over an alleged sexual assault of a woman during group sex. The incident began as consensual but turned violent, according to the victim.
The university found that the student in question violated the university’s sexual misconduct policy because he refused to intervene and stop the incident, and later left the woman alone with the offenders.
The student successfully appealed the decision to the California Court of Appeals, with a three-judge panel of the Second Appellate District finding that the university failed to give the student a fair hearing.
In another similar case in Southern California, a judge agreed that a student’s due-process rights had been violated after being suspended by the University of California-San Diego for allegedly assaulting a female student. The university presumed the student’s guilt ahead of time while failing to allow him access to the witnesses and evidence, the judge ruled.
A student at Middlebury College in Vermont also had his expulsion halted by a federal judge, who ruled the student would likely to prevail on the merits, and the case was eventually settled out of court. And a Tennessee state court judge ruled that a wrestler at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga should not have been expelled from the university, finding inadequate proof of sexual assault.
Harris, from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, said that while many of the cases focus on due process or breach of contract, another emerging sector deals with the fundamental fairness of the university enforcement process in what she deems “reverse Title IX claims,” where men claim they are being discriminated against on the basis of their gender.
Again, no precedent has been established and attorneys and judges are staking new legal territory, largely as a result of the new federal policy brought about by the 2011 “Dear Colleague” letter, Harris said.
Nevertheless, these cases and others filed and pending have emboldened critics of the newly empowered Title IX panels at universities. Last July, three Republican members of the House of Representatives introduced the Safe Campus Act, which sought to prohibit colleges from conducting rape investigations and require victims to report the crimes to police as means of seeking justice on campus. The bill is still pending.
Michelle Anderson, a law professor with City University of New York, said this is a bridge too far.
During the same September debate where Rubenfeld argued that sexual assault is the exclusive province of criminal courts, Anderson said the Safe Campus Act was “Orwellian.”
“All of this assumes criminal courts are effective arbiters of sexual assault cases,” Anderson said in an interview. “In fact, 80 or 90 percent of victims of sexual assault on campus never report to the police. Also, there is an established history of criminal justice system failing to take the reports seriously enough.”
Proponents of the Title IX enforcement also note that the burden-of-proof requirements in the criminal justice system have made adjudication of sexual assault traditionally burdensome for victims.
These requirements, with the onerous and often protracted process of court battles, means there is a gap between sexual assault incidents and the criminal justice system’s response that must be bridged.
Anderson further notes that the recent lawsuits and handful of victories against colleges that have failed to offer an appropriate judicial process proves the system works.
“I don’t think filing of suits is indicative of a failure,” Anderson said. “Suits on both sides of such a controversial issue are somewhat to be expected. I also think campuses are working out how to equitably and promptly respond to this problem.”
Gruber, the Colorado law professor, concedes that Title IX has a role to play in ensuring equal education and a safe environment where both men and women can pursue their studies without fear of sexual harassment or violence.
“Student-on-student conduct needs to be dealt with,” she said, noting that behavior like sexual harassment that may not rise to the level of criminal conduct should still be given shrift by universities interested in providing an equal and fair education. “But you have to be careful. This isn’t a civil rights lawsuit against some firm. These are students and they are young.”
In many instances, the young women who bring complaints to university officials don’t want harsh punishments brought against the accused, Gruber said. The victims should be consulted and if they just want to be able to simply change dorms inconspicuously, they shouldn’t be forced to participate in a punitive system.
“This has been portrayed as a pro-victim regime. But I’m not sure, given the surrounding culture of it all, that it will end up being all that good for victims,” she said.
Gruber isn’t saying that abandoning the current Title IX format altogether is the answer, but she does argue we “need to reconceptualize precisely what we want colleges to do.”
While UC chief Napolitano concedes limitations to the university adjudication process, she asserts there is a role for colleges.
“Universities and colleges, by virtue of their education and research missions and expertise, are well positioned to undertake the necessary education and research, and prevention and response actions, that leadership in this area will require,” she wrote.
Many of the experts interviewed from this story advocated for a balanced approach, with colleges assuming a careful role that incorporates some of the impartiality and due process of the criminal justice system and the courts providing recourse to those that feel failed by that system.
For instance, CUNY law professor Anderson maintains that the criminal justice system must prosecute rapists, but advocates a role for colleges to supplement those prosecutions.
“Schools have work to do to protect students who make allegations and the students against whom the allegations have been made,” she said. “But by and large, they are very much trying to do the right thing.”
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Alaska & Rhode Island Seek Ocean Trash Cleanup →
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Cineast Movie Previews: ‘Are You Here,’ ‘Expedition…’ ‘Love Is Strange,’ ‘One I Love’
By Cineast Posted on August 22, 2014
Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler and Zach Galifianakis in "Are You Here."
This week, Cineast officers previews of the new movies Are You Here, Expedition to the End of the World, Love Is Strange and The One I Love.
Owen Wilson and Zach Galifianakis play an odd couple in Are You Here, a buddy movie from Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner. Making his feature-film directorial debut, Weiner has chosen actors usually associated with broad comedy to portray the twists and turns of friendship—especially friendship that is tested by mental instability. Besides Wilson and Galifianakis, the film features Amy Poehler, also playing against type, as Galifianakis’s embittered sister. Naturally, there are still a lot of laughs here, but don’t get the idea that this is Starsky and Hutch II or The Hangover IV. Look for legendary film director Peter Bogdanovich making a cameo appearance as a judge.
Expedition to the End of the World
Climb aboard a three-masted schooner with a group of weather-beaten Danes for a trip to one of the last unexplored regions of the world. Expedition to the End of the World follows along as this group of scientists and artists chart and evaluate a portion of Greenland that is experiencing a rapid melting of its ice cover. In fact, the “end of the world” mentioned in the title could refer to the remote region that the expedition is exploring, or it could be implying that Greenland’s melting is a more ominous sign of the earth’s changing climate than we care to admit. In Danish and English with English subtitles.
Love Is Strange
In Love Is Strange, John Lithgow and Alfred Molina play Ben and George, a long-term committed gay couple living in New York City who decide to finally get married. In what must regrettably be called a believable twist, George loses his job soon after the wedding (he had been a music teacher at a Catholic school) and the two are forced, for financial reasons, to relinquish their apartment. What follows is an undesired separation—after 40 years of cohabitation—as the two shack up with relatives while trying to find a new place to live. Also starring Marisa Tomei.
Mark Duplass and Elizabeth Moss star in The One I Love as a husband and wife on the verge of a split. A marriage counselor, played with an air of mystery by Ted Danson, seems to have an answer. Saying that he has succeeded in “refreshing” many marriages, he sends the couple to a strange and supernatural retreat, a house with strange, magical powers. The husband, who had imagined a weekend of horseback riding with breaks for wine and sex, is not pleased. The wife, on the other hand, likes it so much that she wants to stay. This difference of opinion would appear to be the opposite of what couples therapy is supposed to accomplish, but maybe that
was the point?
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Hamptons Doc Fest Has Your Ticket to 35 Films…Here They Are
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Tim Wilson, Editor in Chief, Dark Reading
After HP Acquisition, ArcSight Lays Groundwork For Future At User Conference
HP exec says "a new approach is needed" for security
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. -- ArcSight Protect '10 Conference -- Barely two weeks after Hewlett-Packard announced its intention to acquire ArcSight, the two companies appeared on stage here together before ArcSight users and talked about the future of security information and event management (SIEM).
In a surprise appearance at the annual ArcSight user conference on Monday, Bill Veghte, executive vice president for HP's Software and Solutions, Enterprise Business unit, said a "new approach is needed" for IT security, and HP's acquisition of ArcSight will make the combined company "better able to deliver on that approach."
Security "visibility" is a key element in HP's new approach, Veghte said. "You can't secure it if you can't see it," he said. The combination of HP's IT operations technology with ArcSight's SIEM technology will help companies correlate security information faster and remediate their security problems sooner, he said.
Because the merger between HP and ArcSight is not expected to be complete until the end of the year, executives from the two companies could not comment on their specific plans for integrating their respective technologies. But in an interview, ArcSight CEO Tom Reilly discussed his perspective on the future of SIEM.
"I believe that SIEM will move from being a point product to becoming a platform that every company will standardize in the near future," Reilly said. "IT operations and SIEM will interoperate more closely, but that doesn't mean you need to get them all from one vendor. The technologies of each will be a stand-alone decision.
The integration of SIEM and IT operations will speed the remediation process, Reilly said. "Once we've identified a threat, our job is over," he said. "What we need to do is hand that information over for remediation, through better integration."
At the conference, ArcSight introduced two new products, the Logger 5.0 log analysis tool and enhancements to its Enterprise Threat and Risk Management (ETRM) tool. Reilly said the new tools are part of ArcSight's new approach to SIEM.
"What we need to realize is that the old perimeter defense approach doesn't work anymore," he said. "You have to assume you've been breached, and then be able to respond." Log analysis helps identify the source of an attack or breach, while ETRM helps companies understand the potential risks associated with a compromise, he said.
But users say SIEM tools don't always provide the visibility they need. For example, most SIEM tools don't provide information about data traveling through third-party networks and systems, such as service providers and cloud environments, noted Blair Linville, vice president of enterprise technology at Harrah's Entertainment. "That's the worst blind spot for SIEM tools right now," he said.
Reilly agreed, but noted that many ArcSight customers are extending their environments to gain visibility into partners' networks. "We're seeing more and more customers doing it," he said.
Tim Wilson is Editor in Chief and co-founder of Dark Reading.com, UBM Tech's online community for information security professionals. He is responsible for managing the site, assigning and editing content, and writing breaking news stories. Wilson has been recognized as one ... View Full Bio
Research Report: Evaluating Your Organization's Cybersecurity Readiness
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SECURE YOUR SPOT NOW
WHAT MAKES DASH MIXTAPE SO POWERFUL?
Dash Mixtape, started by legendary producer and DJ Clinton Sparks, is the hottest Hip-Hop/Rap station on the planet, available on Dash Radio which has over 12 million listeners.
We are the premiere destination for new Hip-Hop, breaking new music and emerging artists 24/7, commercial free.
Now, we’ve opened up our Rotation Schedule to new and emerging artists like you through Radio Play on our station.
Just look at all the rapper’s reactions below.
WHY DASH MIXTAPE?
Clinton Sparks is a Grammy Nominated, Multi Platinum DJ/Producer from Boston, MA.
Sparks has written and produced hit songs for multi-platinum recording artists such as Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rick Ross, Diddy, Pitbull, Ludacris, Big Sean and Akon . In 2012, Clinton was nominated for a Grammy for his production work on Lady Gaga’s Born This Way. That year, he also won a BMI songwriting award for Pitbull’s “Shut It Down” and has since won several ASCAP Awards.
Clinton has created critically acclaimed mixtapes with artist from Eminem and Kanye West to Busta Rhymes and The Clipse (Pusha-T and Malice) who’s “We Got It For Cheap” mixtape series was named one of Rolling Stones magazines top 50 albums of that year.
He was Diddy’s tour DJ for 5 years, Helped launch Eminem’s Shade 45 channel and played an intricate role in the branding of Ciroc.
As a recording artist who was signed to both Interscope Records and Republic Records, Clinton has collaborated on tracks with Snoop Dogg, Macklemore, 2 Chainz, T.I., Ty Dolla Sign and many more. Clinton’s debut album was released featuring Joe Budden, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Diddy and more.
Clinton Sparks' Superstar Shout outs
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Go Diamond Level You’ll Get 28 Radio Plays on Dash Mixtape.
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Teixeira, Abreu face former teams in ALCS
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Mike Fitzpatrick, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oct. 19, 2009 Updated: Nov. 10, 2009 3:15 p.m.
NEW YORK -- Mark Teixeira and Bobby Abreu have plenty in common. Smooth swings, sharp eyes, opposite-field power.
And something else now, too.
As the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels prepare to meet for the American League pennant, both sluggers can easily recall what life was like in the other dugout.
"That team over there, just like us, expects to win every game they play," said Teixeira, who left Los Angeles last offseason for a free-agent contract with the Yankees. "They're so professional. They do everything right. They're meticulous."
And better than ever, perhaps, with Abreu in the lineup.
"It's going to be something. Very interesting," said Abreu, who spent 2� seasons in New York. "I was there, and it gives you a lot of emotions, but right now I represent the Angels."
After going coast to coast last winter, Teixeira and Abreu enjoyed similar success this season -- albeit for disparate dollars.
Several teams offered big-money deals to Teixeira, who signed with New York for $180 million over eight years. Abreu, despite a durable track record of steady production with the Phillies and Yankees, had to wait and wait just to land a job.
Seeking a multiyear deal, he filed for free agency following a solid season with New York. But the economic downturn and a crowded free-agent class left the 35-year-old outfielder with few attractive suitors.
Right before spring training, Abreu joined the Angels on a $5 million, one-year contract that's turned into quite a bargain. He earned an additional $1 million in performance bonuses for reaching 650 plate appearances.
"I was shocked that Bobby Abreu was available -- and I was shocked that we got him for $5 million, too," Angels teammate Torii Hunter said. "It was a blessing. I can tell you that, man. We're thankful to have him over here. I was excited in spring training because I know what he can do."
What Abreu did was hit .293 with 15 homers, 103 RBIs, 94 walks and 30 stolen bases. He also batted .354 with runners in scoring position and reached 100 RBIs and 30 steals for the fifth time.
In a first-round playoff sweep of Boston, Abreu went 5 for 9 (.556) with two doubles, four walks and four runs scored. That performance improved his postseason average to .357, and he's one of many dangerous Angels batters.
Teixeira is a big reason the Yankees feel confident, too.
The switch-hitting first baseman has been everything New York could have hoped for -- on offense and defense. He batted .292 and led the AL with 122 RBIs, tying Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena for the home run crown with 39.
Then, in a division series sweep of Minnesota, Teixeira hit a game-winning homer in the 11th inning of Game 2.
"He never puts his head down," teammate Robinson Cano said before the Yankees worked out Wednesday. "That's a guy that you want to follow."
Only months before he could become a free agent, Teixeira was traded from Atlanta to Los Angeles in July 2008. He helped lead the Angels to an AL West title, but they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Boston.
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Now, he's on the cusp of his first trip to the World Series. But first, New York has to get past a longtime nemesis.
The Angels are 73-63 against the Yankees since 1996, when New York began a run of four championships in five years. That makes Los Angeles the only AL club to have a winning record against the Yankees during that span, according to STATS LLC.
The Angels also eliminated the Yankees from the postseason twice, winning division series matchups in 2002 and 2005.
Teixeira's not sure why that is.
"I was only there for two months. That's not very long at all," he said. "I don't know, I think maybe they just thought they had the Yankees' number. It wasn't because of anything. We didn't have a meeting and said, hey, we have their signs, we have this, we have that, you know? They just expected to win."
The Yankees acquired Abreu in a July 2006 trade with Philadelphia and he certainly provided the production they were looking for. He finished both full seasons in New York with at least 100 RBIs, 100 runs and 22 stolen bases.
But the Yankees never made it past the first round of the playoffs during his tenure and fans grew impatient with his shaky defense -- he often appeared to shy away from the outfield fence.
Still, Abreu doesn't expect a cold reception in New York.
"I think it's going to be all right," he said. "I didn't do (anything) wrong over there. I think the fans still like me."
AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum and AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Anaheim, Calif., contributed to this report.
Jeff Jacobs Columnist
Bidding a relieved farewell to the worst sport in history
He gloats when he wins, cries when he loses. He’s everything coaches and parents tell children not to be when they compete.
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Preserving the past
Shopping in the past: the war eras
29 November, 2020 - 3 min read
When talking about shopping during war time, rationing is normally the first thing that comes to mind. Rationing dictated the way we shopped in World War II, but was also in practice by the end of World War I, having started in early 1918. From 1915, prices for basic goods such as food had sky rocketed. There were often shortages and cases of stock piling with no controls over purchasing, which led to the Food Control Committee (FCC) and ration cards. Ration cards were tied to a particular retailer and could only be transferred to another shop once they had run out of stock or if the FCC felt the shop had too many customers.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the need for shopping sprees came and went in waves, changing with the social and economic circumstances of the times. For some, the Roaring Twenties presented a time to celebrate and shop. The war had ended and the world was changing, with social norms starting to be redefined and demand for a whole new style for the home, wardrobe and social engagements, with plentiful trips to fashionable stores. For others hit harder by the aftermath of World War I and later the Great Depression, shopping remained a painful necessity with prices high and money scarce. After the Depression in the 1930s, shops saw a rise in the sale of branded products and confectionery shops, like Abraham's Sweet Shop at Milestones Museum, became increasingly popular as disposable income started to rise. This rise, however, was short lived as the country would soon be thrown back into war and see the return of even stricter rationing.
Abraham's Sweet Shop in Milestones Museum
With all resources in manufacturing and production design once again turned to supporting the war effort, shopping was just for basic needs, with shopkeepers working under strict laws. Customer service became very personal and shopping was local to home. Under the famous motto "make-do-and-mend", wartime Britain was recycling and not buying new. Mass production of certain goods such as clothing was refined during the World War II under the Utility Scheme. Manufacturers were only given material if they produced a percentage of utility stock and only the companies that achieved the high standards set by the scheme remained in business. For clothing in particular, this set the tone for better production methods as well as well-made, longer-lasting clothes and goods for sale after the war ended.
Church Street, Basingstoke (1950s)
Access to stock was in many cases harder after World War II than during it and rationing remained in place for many years. Although fashions, the variety of products on offer and the recreational pastime of shopping were changing across the sea in America, in the UK the way we shopped remained very much the same. But with the 1960s looming, change was on the way...
Hannah Miles
Events Manager for Milestones Museum and Basing House, who loves planning weddings and all things pretty and pink.
Read all post by Hannah Miles
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for a free account
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Dan Parris Pro
SpeakUpProductions
speakupproductions.com
whatmattersfilm.com
Public bio
Dan Parris is an award-winning filmmaker with over 10 years of production experience. He is the owner of Speak Up Productions, a St. Louis based film production company, and the director of the feature length documentaries When the Saints and the award-winning film What Matters?. He is currently in production on his third feature length documentary in partnership with the St. Louis Scholarship Foundation. His projects have given him the opportunity to speak to thousands about the issue of extreme poverty and the ability young people have to make a difference. Dan graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Film Production from Biola University in Los Angeles. In 2012, Dan was awarded Biola University's Distinguished Young Alumni of the Year Award for his work in film production and in helping challenge the next generation to fight extreme poverty.
The D-Word is © 1999-2021 The D-Word. All rights reserved. • • Platform built by Peter Gerard with designs from Doug Fitzsimmons
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Daikin Europe N.V. Wins 2017 Factory of the Future Award
We are proud to announce Daikin Europe N.V. (DENV) is the winner of the 2017 Factory of the Future Award. Among 265 participating companies, (65 percent of which are SMEs), DENV was one of five companies recognised for their substantial growth and commitment to delivering world-class production. The Factory of the Future award is presented by Made Different, a joint organisation that serves to promote the future of manufacturing in Belgium.
What exactly defines a Factory of the Future? According to Made Different, a Factory of the Future embodies Industry 4.0: a vision based on seven criteria to measure the success of a manufacturing company in the 21st century. These seven criteria range from a factory’s ability to incorporate world-class technologies to developing smart and sustainable production with a focus on technology. Moreover this vision also upholds a human-centric approach, viewing employees as a significant asset for the future development of a company.
As the regional headquarters for multinational Daikin Industries, Ltd., DENV’s production site in Ostend, Belgium is responsible for the development, digital connection, testing, production and commercialisation of climate solutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
With the recent expansion of its Daikin Research & Development (R&D) Centre, DENV began implementing a “Factory Reform Plan,” based on Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement. Since starting the “Factory Reform Plan,” DENV achieved 30 percent more productivity on the production line and in the press department, 30 percent reduced inventory, and a faster production plan. By focusing on change as the key to success, DENV strengthened its position as an innovation and development hub for Daikin Global.
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UK PM Johnson dares opposition to call confidence vote
LONDON Europe
In this handout photo provided by the House of Commons, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks in Parliament in London, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019. (AP Photo)
An unrepentant Prime Minister Boris Johnson brushed off cries of "Resign!" and dared the political opposition to try to topple him Wednesday at a raucous session of Parliament, a day after Britain's high court ruled he acted illegally in suspending the body ahead of the Brexit deadline.
Johnson emphatically defended his effort to withdraw Britain from the European Union by the Oct. 31, with or without an agreement with the EU.
"I say it is time to get Brexit done," he declared, accusing his opponents of trying to frustrate the will of the people, who voted for Brexit in 2016.
In an extremely unusual move, Johnson said the government would welcome a no-confidence motion from any of the opposition parties — a step that could bring down his government and lead to a new election.
"Will they have the courage to act or will they refuse to take responsibility yet again and do nothing but delay?" Johnson said as he taunted lawmakers. "This Parliament must either stand aside and let this government get Brexit done or bring a vote of no-confidence and finally face the day of reckoning with the voters."
Johnson wants to hold an election in hope of breaking the stalemate over Brexit that has left Britain's departure in limbo. But earlier this month lawmakers rejected a call for a snap poll, and it seemed unlikely they would take the bait.
The leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, refused to rise to the challenge. Corbyn said Johnson should secure a delay to Britain's EU exit — "then let's have an election."
Corbyn said Johnson "should have done the honorable thing and resigned" after the Supreme Court ruled that his attempt to suspend Parliament for five weeks was unlawful because it thwarted debate over Brexit. Johnson has said he won't quit.
Johnson is on a collision course with Parliament over his determination to pull Britain out of the EU with or without a withdrawal agreement. Parliament has passed a law requiring him to seek a Brexit extension if there is no deal, but Johnson has said he won't do that under any circumstances.
Johnson accuses his opponents of being scared of the public and has begun to position himself as the champion of the people facing a recalcitrant establishment bent on frustrating the 2016 vote to leave the EU.
The offer comes after a day of heated exchanges in the House of Commons as lawmakers vented their pent-up anger over Johnson's failed attempt to suspend Parliament and warning that democracy itself is under threat from the government.
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WSU medical school hopes to salvage partnership deal with Henry Ford
Sarah Rahal
Detroit — Wayne State University hopes to restart talks with Henry Ford Health System to expand their medical education partnership after a tentative deal collapsed this weekend.
WSU said in a statement Sunday that it received clarified intentions from the Board of Governors and hoped to resume negotiations with Henry Ford one day after a bipartisan bloc of the university’s governing board told The Detroit News the plan was “dead in the water.”
“Based on this clarification, we believe we have a path forward, and intend to resume negotiations immediately,” Wayne State said in its statement. “We remain optimistic of continuing progress toward a significant expansion of our partnership with Henry Ford.”
At issue is the future of medical education in Detroit and at WSU, which has maintained a prickly partnership with the Detroit Medical Center while working to make Henry Ford its primary partner. Presently, WSU’s medical students train in both health systems and become a key source of new physicians who begin their residencies in Detroit.
The fallout has reached further, however, stressing the relationship between WSU President M. Roy Wilson and at least some members of the board who narrowly approved his contract extension last month.
On Saturday, Dr. Michael Busuito, a Republican member of the WSU governing board, said he and three Democratic members felt the proposed deal with Henry Ford would cede the constitutional control the board has over the Wayne State University School of Medicine to a limited liability company, or LLC, that would have been formed by the new partnership.
“Some of my colleagues and I were not comfortable ceding authority over a public asset to a private LLC,” Busuito wrote. “We were also uncomfortable with a private LLC Board usurping the (board’s) constitutional authority.
“For these reasons, the Leapfrog deal is dead in the water,” he said. “However, I and other colleagues value our relationship with Henry Ford and we have a strong desire to move forward with expanding our affiliation in a meaningful way, using an alternative structure.”
In September, the Henry Ford system and university signed a letter of intent to expand their partnership, the first step in making Henry Ford the primary WSU affiliate for medical science education. Details of the alliance were expected to be released in early 2019.
On Friday, however, faculty union officials said negotiations have been problematic, and cited missteps that it said were necessary to acknowledge for the university to retain its high-research institution status. Wilson responded that the union’s message was riddled with inaccuracies.
Charlie Parrish, WSU’s faculty union president, sent the letter to bargaining unit members saying the proposed operating agreement between the university and health system included creation of a limited liability entity named the “Henry Ford Health Sciences Center at Wayne State University.”
Parrish stated the LLC would transfer authority from the board of governors to a private board to control functions of the WSU School of Medicine, which university faculty and some governors opposed.
“The administration has recently sent a letter signed by 12 School of Medicine Administrators to the Board of Governors that endorses proposals contained in the letter of intent (except for the LLC),” Parrish wrote.
The joint Health Sciences Center would have a separate operating and governance structure under the LLC, including a president, board, budget and governing committee, officials said in September.
Wilson and dean of the School of Medicine Jack Sobel responded in a letter Saturday to governors stating Parrish’s letter included false statements, including the suggestion that the LLC would be given “authority to control” functions at the School of Medicine.
“In fact, the (letter of intent) clearly states: ‘WSU will retain the authority for management of the undergraduate medical education, nursing education and other health sciences education enterprises and implementation of related educational initiatives; HFHS will retain the authority for management of the HFHS graduate medical educational enterprise and implementation of related educational initiatives; and WSU will retain the authority for management of the WSU graduate medical educational enterprise and implementation of related educational initiatives,’” Wilson wrote.
Parrish said negotiations between university administration and Henry Ford Health System have been conducted over months primarily by Vice President of Health Affairs David Hefner, who is no longer at the university.
“Few beyond President M. Roy Wilson and Mr. Hefner had knowledge of what was being negotiated until a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) between the HFHS and the University was provided to the Board of Governors in December 2018,” Parrish wrote. “When the LOI was given to the WSU Board of Governors, there was a strong reaction by members of the board concerned with the possible usurpation of their constitutional authority.”
Wilson contended that communication with the university community was freely shared.
“During the process, there were many meetings where information was shared widely and transparently, including key concepts and provisions of the (letter of intent),” Wilson wrote.
Despite Wilson’s letter, the four WSU Board of Governors say the LLC would unconstitutionally hand over the School of Medicine to a private entity.
The four board members — Democrats Sandra Hughes-O’Brien, Dana Thompson, and Dr. Anil Kumar and the Republican, Busuito — joined to share their opinion on the letter of intent and LLC. While they don’t represent a majority of the board, the four-person contingent is enough to block it’s passage through the eight-member board.
“As statewide elected officials we are charged with supervising the university’s assets on behalf of the people. In moving forward, we must work within the parameters that will uphold the constitutional authority over public assets,” Busuito said on behalf of the members, who do not represent the entire WSU Board of Governors.
Busuito said they are waiting to hear back from Henry Ford officials on pursuing alternative methods.
Henry Ford did not respond to requests for comment this weekend.
The non-binding agreement between the Henry Ford Health System and the university marked the university’s first steps in designating Henry Ford the primary institutional affiliate for the university’s medical, nursing and pharmacy, and health sciences schools. When it was first introduced, officials said the partnership would integrate the organizations’ education, research and patient care resources to enhance the curriculum for aspiring medical professionals and provide innovations in health care.
The agreement would extend the institutions’ partnership. More than 100 Wayne State medical students currently do clinical rotations at Henry Ford Hospital, and Henry Ford’s Bone and Joint Center sits inside Wayne State’s Integrated Biosciences Center.
Wilson also faced criticism from three of the board of governors in December when his contract was up for extension, which was approved 5-3.
Board chair O’Brien and governors Thompson and Busuito voted against the extension. Thompson said she voted against because of issues with the WSU medical school, particularly the uncertainty surrounding ties with the Detroit Medical Center, and the hiring of consultants who “are getting paid millions of dollars but have yielded questionable results.”
The WSU Physicians Group, a medical group formed by doctors affiliated with the School of Medicine, and the DMC agreed this fall to extend their partnership, under which the group’s doctors provide medical services to seven hospitals and other facilities.
DMC officials said Sunday they have remained in partnership with WSU even as they search for a new primary health care partner.
“The decision by WSU leadership to find a new primary healthcare partner is one that we have respected during this process ... even as we have been planning for a future without WSU,” DMC said in a statement.
“WSU’s negotiations with Henry Ford Health System left the physicians of WSUPG uncertain about their future, and many physicians have left, impacting access to care within our community and the development of new programs. Additionally, WSU leadership has deeply damaged its relationship with University Pediatricians.”
WSU officials rebutted the DMC statement, saying it’s both “unfortunate and inaccurate.”
“Wayne State and the University Physicians Group (UPG) have been working closely together throughout the process of developing the best possible solution for the respective institutions and the community we all serve,” WSU said in a statement Sunday. “The reason UPG is in a weakened and uncertain state today is due to actions directly attributable to Tenet/DMC. Of course, we welcome the continued efforts and collaboration of all parties involved to find the best possible solution for the health of our patients, medical education and research.”
Wilson concluded the letter saying, “Professor Parrish’s letter (references) the ‘heavy responsibility’ borne by the Administration. This is true, and it is a responsibility we accept willingly, with every intention of ensuring the best possible future for our School of Medicine, our health sciences and the university itself. Unfortunately, Professor Parrish’s letter was not helpful in this regard.”
srahal@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @SarahRahal_
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DHR Home > Historic Registers > Augusta County
007-0015 Folly
This compact Classical Revival plantation residence, set off by its outbuildings, old-fashioned gardens, and rural setting, is the center of an ensemble uniquely Virginian. The house was begun in 1818 for Joseph Smith, a planter who served in the House of Delegates and was a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1850-51. Although the one-story, porticoed format echoes Thomas Jefferson’s designs, no documentation suggests that Jefferson was directly involved. Smith, however, likely would have been acquainted with Jefferson’s works and could have been inspired to imitation. The house survives unchanged except for the removal of one of its three porticoes for a west wing. Folly’s serpentine garden wall is the state’s only early 19th-century example of this unusual form. Its prototype, Jefferson’s walls at the University of Virginia, have been rebuilt. Folly remains in the ownership of Smith’s descendants.
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Family legacy drives Bradley Chubb's relentless drive on and off the field
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. —** In the southern foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the northwestern reaches of Georgia, you can find a small chapel that has gained plenty of renown in recent years as Bradley Chubb and second cousin Nick Chubb emerged as college football stars.
The Chubb Methodist Episcopal Church, which was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, of course shares their surname. It stands as a historic reminder of Chubbtown, a community founded in 1864 by Henry Chubb and his brothers, all freed black men.
In the embers of slavery in America, they started a small town in the vision of making a world they wanted to see.
Bradley Chubb arrives at UCHealth Training Center
Bradley Chubb, who the Broncos selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, arrived at UCHealth Training Center on Friday for a tour his new home. (Photos: Gabriel Christus)
Over 15 decades later, the descendants of the Chubb brothers have branched out to other parts of the state and the country, but the spirit that led to the founding of Chubbtown remains in every Chubb, including the newest Bronco.
"[It] was just a lot of hard work, and that's where I feel our hard work and background comes from," Bradley said.
"It means the world to me," said Bradley, when asked about what being a Chubb means. "I feel like growing up, my dad would make sure that he held us to a higher standard than everybody else around us, and I feel like that helped not only me, but my brother as well, to be great men. Being a Chubb is something different, and I've got to have a higher expectation for myself and for future generations to come, as well."
Bradley's parents, Aaron and Stacey, and his brother, Brandon, joined him on his trip to Denver and for his welcome tour at UCHealth Training Center, offering support as he took the next step on a path he'd dreamed of for years. When he got the call from John Elway, it was emotional for them, too.
"It was just a moment of joy and a moment of just relief for him and himself so he can start his journey," Aaron said.
"It's not even comparable, because you raise your kids to grow up to be strong men. And just for them to see the opportunity to get to the point where they can do what they want to do and to be able to know their dreams will come true, it's just a relief and a proud moment as a parent."
Raising Bradley to be strong wasn't just about being physically strong, but also cultivating a relentless drive. Ultimately that mental integrity was tough enough to help convince President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway that Bradley was their man.
"I think what you'll really like about Bradley is not only his ability on the field, but also how he goes about playing the game," Elway said. "That is really what we're excited about, because I think it's contagious and he'll really rub off on the other guys we have on this football team."
It wasn't just Bradley's speed and skill that made him the fifth-overall pick; it was also his tenaciousness.
"I would describe myself as relentless," Bradley said. "That motor came from just always wanting to make plays. I always want to be around the ball. It's just something that I was raised with. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to do it 100 percent. That's my mindset every time I step on the field, and I feel like I bring that to the pass-rush game as well."
It's not hard to see how a relentless spirit could be passed down through generations in a family that survived the devastation that slavery wreaked and then built their own town in Georgia during the Civil War.
But the Chubbs are instilled with more than just determination. They also have a compassion for humanity that they have passed down.
"I was raised — and my wife, as well — we were raised to treat people how you want to be treated," Aaron said. "Treat people with respect and dignity, and in the process, reaching back and helping people less fortunate than you. And that's just one thing we try to instill in our kids, to be of service to other people. You've got people looking up to you and you've got a lot of people that's … not as fortunate as you are, so just being able to help a common man or common woman, just help them out. Just be good in that type of way."
Already, Bradley is part of a charitable foundation he runs with Brandon. The Chubb Foundation's mission is "to use sports as a platform to activate human potential." In 2017, the foundation sponsored five children to see a college football game at Georgia Tech, and in 2018 it will kick off the first annual Chubb Foundation Football Camp at the new home of the Atlanta Falcons, Mercedes Benz Stadium.
By bringing Bradley Chubb to Denver, it seems clear that the legacy of the Chubb family will make more than just the Broncos better.
From jail to the NFL: How McTelvin Agim's grandmother inspired him to build a better life
"If I wouldn't have gone to juvie, I would have kept progressing to doing things that I shouldn't have been doing and I probably wouldn't be here right now," Agim said.
From the marching band to the NFL: Netane Muti's unconventional route to the pros
"Marching band was the reason I find out about football," Netane Muti said. "I would watch them play and it made me more interested in the game."
'Stealing' screens and gigabit speed: How the Broncos ensured a nearly flawless virtual draft process
Through extensive preparation and nearly immaculate execution, the Broncos' technology departments ensured the team's virtual draft went off without a hitch.
An inside look from Director of Player Personnel Matt Russell at how the Broncos scouted, ranked and selected wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
As Jeudy pieced together a season in which he caught 77 passes, 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns, the Broncos tracked the dynamic receiver.
'It's either adapt or die in the NFL': Peter King impressed by the Broncos' changes on offense
Reflecting on the Broncos' offensive overhaul and their 2020 draft class, NBC Sports' Peter King says the Broncos are adapting to compete with the NFL's high-octane offenses.
Sacco Sez: How John Elway's draft focus on offense looks both to his past and to the Broncos' future
Broncos Team Historian Jim Saccomano reflects on President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway's emphasis on helping the offense during the 2020 NFL Draft.
Where the Broncos' roster stands after the 2020 NFL Draft
The Broncos added plenty of key pieces during the 2020 NFL Draft, so where does the team stand now?
2020 NFL Draft grades: Broncos earn high marks from league analysts
By adding some serious talent on offense and making savvy moves on Day 2 and Day 3, the Broncos earned praise from numerous analysts for their 2020 draft class.
'We had to get some talent': John Elway details Broncos' commitment to building offense around Drew Lock
Following the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft, John Elway and Vic Fangio spoke to the media about a wide range of subjects that included Denver's offense, the team's offseason program, San Francisco's trade for Trent Williams and the Broncos' cornerback depth.
A brief look at Denver's Day 3 picks and what they bring to the Broncos
From Albert Okwuegbunam to Derrek Tuszka, get to know the Broncos' five Day 3 selections.
Broncos select OLB Derrek Tuszka with 254th-overall pick
The Broncos added the North Dakota State product with their final pick in the draft.
Broncos select WR Tyrie Cleveland with 252nd-overall pick
The Broncos added the Florida receiver near the end of the seventh round.
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Skin Cancer Symposium
Symposium for Inflammatory Skin Disease
San Diego Dermatology Symposium
Dermatology Refresher Symposium
Jashin J. Wu, M.D., F.A.A.D.
Through the 7-year Honors Program in Medical Education, Jashin J. Wu, M.D., earned a BA in biological sciences from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and an MD from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. Dr. Wu completed dermatology residency at the University of California, Irvine, California, where he was chief resident.
Dr. Wu is Founder and CEO of the Dermatology Research and Education Foundation and Founder and Course Director of the Symposium for Inflammatory Skin Disease and the San Diego Dermatology Symposium. Dr. Wu is a past Medical Board member of the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) and a Councilor for the International Psoriasis Council. He serves on the American Academy of Dermatology/NPF psoriasis guidelines committee, which published updated 6 psoriasis guidelines in 2019-2020. He is editor or co-editor for 7 books which include Therapy for Severe Psoriasis, 1st edition, 2016; Clinical Cases in Psoriasis, 1st edition; Mild-To-Moderate Psoriasis, 3rd edition, 2014; Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis, 4th edition, 2014. He is associate editor for the 4th edition of Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy published in March 2020. He has written over 350 Pubmed articles, of which over 225 are about psoriasis, as well as 67 book chapters. His articles have been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, JAMA Dermatology, British Journal of Dermatology, JEADV, and most dermatology journals. Dr. Wu is chair of the Learning Resource Committee of the AAD. He is Past President of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Dermatological Society, Board Member of the California Society of Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery (CalDerm), and Board Member of the Pacific Dermatology Association. Dr. Wu has given over 150 CME lectures at medical conferences and dermatology departments/divisions in 11 countries.
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Pic Stop
Using picture library stock doesn’t automatically lead to bland pages of work and nature shots, as Mark Wilson discovered through three recent projects
By System Administrator March 15, 1996 12:00 am January 29, 2015 9:50 pm
Justus Oehler, a partner with Pentagram, shares the same despairing view of photo library pictures that many other designers frequently voice. “I only use stock images when there is no other way around it and when there isn’t a very good budget,” he claims. Another reason for this exasperated tone when discussing library images is that, according to Oehler, “every other designer in London also has access to the pictures and the images themselves often look like murals”. Design Week readers may remember the alpine valley and sky scene which Coronation Street’s Hilda Ogden used to have on her living room wall to visualise Oehler’s point.
However, Oehler has found that his long-running book jacket projects for Faber & Faber are the perfect medium to make the most of stock images. “Library images are ideal for this type of design job because the designer has a limited budget, and as there are so many topics (Oehler designs approximately 400 book covers a year), it makes sense to use a specific existing image as opposed to commissioning one,” he says. “The interesting part is how designers choose to colourise the picture, crop it or incorporate it into a collage. Libraries are also useful as a source of fine art paintings and illustrations. But the key to finding the perfect picture is to find one that doesn’t look like a classic photo library image,” he explains.
Another photo library issue which irks Oehler is the way the libraries want their images back so soon after dispatching them to the design company. “I can understand why they want to keep tabs on their photographs, but the strict deadlines do tend to take the fun out of the selection process as you’re in constant fear of not getting them back in time and getting penalised,” he says. His favourite libraries are Magnum because “you always know what you will get and that it will be of a high standard,” and AKG because “they have everything”.
When Trickett & Webb partner Brian Webb was asked to design a brochure for the ISTD paper Monadnock that not only appealed to designers but branded the paper and pushed its American heritage, he turned to photo libraries for help. “There was no way that we could afford to send a photographer off to the US to capture images of retro Americana, so we raided library archives to find suitable pictures,” he explains. “The secret of using library photographs is not to forget the design idea. The problem with library images is that so many designers work around the picture rather than finding a picture to support the idea. It’s so easy to manipulate a photo library image on computer to achieve your idea that stock images are now of more use to designers than ever before,” he says.
Following this theory, Webb created a design which featured die-cuts and photographs galore to accentuate the quality of the paper and the corporate colours of the manufacturer. Webb’s design incorporated a series of die-cut playing cards which could be snapped out and kept by the recipient. This act, according to Webb, allowed for the designer to become involved with design and the paper on a more tactile level and to have a functional keepsake.
“Over the past five years photo libraries have increased the quality of their images and their presence. We now have enough catalogues to build a small house,” says Webb. “However, they are not as cheap as they used to be, and we have frequently seen images that we commissioned appearing in library catalogues before we have had the chance to actually use the original photograph,” he adds.
The budget issue was the driving force behind Lippa Pearce’s decision to use stock photography in its work for GE Information Services. However, design director Domenic Lippa adds as a caveat: “The use of photo library pictures requires a bit of lateral thinking. By cropping one-dimensional images in a certain way or using them to add credence to a piece of copy, the effect can have just as much impact as using commissioned photography. It’s a question of how the images are used, so that the client can, in a way, have a degree of ownership over the picture.”
Lippa Pearce initially approached GE Information Services with an audit it had undertaken, to produce a design and corporate identity strategy for the software and consultancy company. According to Pearce, the client’s main competitors tend to rely on banal pictures of people at work and lots of computer workstations. Lippa Pearce wanted to promote the company not only as a market leader, but position it as an intellectual company, whose printed material demanded more cerebral involvement from the reader to work out the associations between the company, the copy and the images in the brochure.
By using an unusually cropped picture of a globe on the inside front cover, Lippa was able to use GE’s corporate colours in a more powerful way. A colleague at Lippa Pearce wrote the copy, which Lippa used to full effect in relation to the images. For example, “a picture of a bear biting into a salmon illustrated the line in the copy which talks about satisfying demand just in time,” Lippa explains.
Lippa says all the images have been manipulated in some way. “We retouched a lot and added textures to give the pictures more personality. The key is to change them so significantly that you wouldn’t really compare them to the original picture. This gives us more artistic licence and responsibility as designers.”
Magnum Photos was in an unusual position for a photo library in the production of Our Working People – a book produced for the cigarette company Philip Morris to use as a lobbying instrument against the proposed European government ban on tobacco advertising. Instead of supplying images from its archives, Magnum chose the design group Black Sun to work with it on the project and chose five of its own photographers to shoot the images.
Magnum’s commercial director Liz Grogan was approached by BST:BDDP, the London agency of Philip Morris, to design the large-format book with them in three months. This was unfeasible so Magnum commissioned Black Sun.
Magnum photographers Martin Parr, Elliott Erwitt, Ian Berry, Ferdinando Scianna and Harry Gruyaert were dispatched to Europe for a week to capture reportage style pictures of Philip Morris employees and tobacco growers. The idea behind the book was to put a human face to the company and show that if the ban on tobacco advertising came into effect, these ordinary people would lose their jobs.
Five thousand copies of the book in five different languages were produced within the deadline and sent to trade unionists, heads of state and MPs. As Grogan says: “When it comes to photo libraries, there is no longer a conventional route.
14 March 1996 Projects
Licence rush sparks logo work
Top crisp hits the headlines
Northcross keeps Scottish prize
Simple switch expected to be precisely that
Vibrant Lopex plans growth
Groups with own niche swell on buoyant profit
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Post-Shutdown Tensions in Washington
Washington Insider -- Tuesday
Here's a quick monitor of Washington farm and trade policy issues from DTN's well-placed observer.
WTO Grants China Request for Panel on US Tariffs
U.S. Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, retaliation over U.S. Section 232 metals duties and continued disagreements over Appellate Body appointments highlighted a Jan. 28 meeting of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).
China's second request for a dispute panel to rule on U.S. Section 301 duties imposed on Chinese imports was granted. The issue gets at the heart of the ongoing U.S.-China trade war as the U.S. Section 301 report faulting Chinese practices on intellectual property and technology transfer kicked off the now heated dispute between the two nations.
The U.S. "unilateral determination" under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 to collect "25% additional duties on approximately $34 billion of Chinese imports" and "10% additional duties on approximately $200 billion of Chinese imports" is "a blatant breach" of its WTO obligations, China said. The U.S. move "is posing a systemic challenge to the multilateral trading system," it added.
China stressed the "urgency" of addressing the dispute, saying the U.S. actions continue "to damage China's legitimate economic and trade interests." China rejected U.S. allegations it routinely flaunts international trade rules. "China's action Monday by resorting this dispute to the WTO dispute settlement system reaffirms our strong support to the rules-based international trading system and is helping to strengthen the viability of the system," China remarked.
The U.S. slammed China's move and alleged "China intends to do, and is doing, great damage to the international trading system" through its use of "grossly unfair and trade-distorting forced technology transfer policies and practices and through this unfounded" dispute panel request. "China seeks to use the WTO dispute settlement system as a shield for a broad range" of its policies and practices "not covered by WTO rules," and in doing so "is threatening the overall viability of the WTO system," the U.S. said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. dismissed China's argument that the U.S. tariffs were "unilateral" and "WTO-inconsistent," noting China responded in kind with "discriminatory duties on over $100 billion in U.S. exports." China's actions and self-contradictory arguments suggest it "is not serious about addressing the legitimate concerns of its trading partners over Chinese technology transfer practices that no one could describe or defend as fair," the U.S. concluded.
EU to Request Consultation With US at WTO on the Spanish Olives' Case
The European Commission has announced that it will send a request for consultation with the U.S. Jan. 29 to try to settle the dispute about the tariffs imposed on Spanish black olives, the EU trade chief has said.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström announced Monday that the EU is finally ready to initiate a consultation request process within the World Trade Organization with the United States.
"The duties imposed by the United States on ripe olives from Spain are unjustified, unwarranted and go against the rules of the World Trade Organization," she said in a tweet Monday.
In June last year, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the need for tariffs ranging from 7.52% to 27.02% to counteract Spanish olive prices, after it found that EU subsidies allow the fruits to be sold on the U.S. market for 16.88% to 25.5% below their production value.
The U.S. feels Spanish black table olives have been exported to the U.S. at dumping prices and that the product receives European and Spanish subsidies that give it an unfair advantage over similar products by American competitors.
The U.S. tariffs followed a Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission investigation, launched after Californian olive enterprises filed a petition asking for an assessment of Spanish olive imports.
Washington Insider: Post-Shutdown Tensions in Washington
Well, the tensions in Washington are not really over, it seems. Administration officials are describing their determination to construct their wall, come what may, while the media are busy describing efforts to prevent future shutdowns. For example, The Hill said this week that as the federal government kicks back into gear after a 35-day partial shutdown, Congress is turning to its next deadline: "Preventing another funding lapse."
The continuing resolution signed by President Trump funds roughly a quarter of the government through Feb. 15, giving Congress 19 days to reach a deal on the months-long border wall fight.
A bipartisan conference committee, which includes appropriations committee members from both chambers, is slated to get to work on hashing out a plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Sen. Richard Shelby, R., Ala., the Senate Appropriations chairman and a member of the conference committee, told the press, "The Democrats have stated that once the government was reopened, they would be willing to negotiate in good faith on significant investments in border security, including a physical barrier. I hope that this continuing resolution will provide us the time to work out our differences in a fair and thoughtful manner and reach a bipartisan consensus on border security."
However, the president warned Congress even as he signed the temporary funding authorization that the government could shut back down "should they fail to strike a deal that includes ample funding for his signature campaign issue." Other officials took a similar stance.
In addition, President Trump appeared skeptical that Congress would be able to reach a deal, telling The Wall Street Journal that another partial shutdown is "certainly an option." The president has requested $5.7 billion for the wall, an amount that can't clear House Democrats or get 60 votes in the Senate. Democrats have previously indicated they could support funding for fencing, but not a concrete wall.
Lawmakers are hoping the conference committee will be able to come up with a deal to fund roughly a quarter of the government through the end of the 2019 fiscal year, taking another shutdown off the table until October.
The best agreement that we can get is an agreement on border security that funds federal spending through the end of the fiscal year. "We cannot have the threat of a government shutdown hanging over our people and our economy," Sen. Susan Collins, R., Maine, told CBS.
Senators have floated taking up legislation that would prevent future shutdowns by automatically creating a continuing resolution, though there are competing proposals on the idea.
President Trump said he also "hasn't ruled out the possibility of circumventing Congress by using a mechanism such as declaring a national emergency in order to build the wall," The Hill said.
Declaring a national emergency to construct the wall would spark fierce backlash from Congress, including Republicans who have publicly warned Trump against taking the dramatic step, The Hill said.
There also is still some uncertainty about timing for the State of the Union address. It was initially scheduled for Tuesday evening. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D., Calif., was asked Friday if the joint session would continue as "planned," and responded that "the State of the Union is not planned now."
"What I said to the president is, when the government is open, we will discuss a mutually agreeable date and I'll look forward to doing that and welcoming the president to the House of Representatives when we mutually agree on that date," she continued.
Trump initially indicated that he wanted to go forward with the Jan. 29 speech. But after Pelosi said the House would not pass the joint resolution required to green light the speech, he said he looks forward to addressing Congress "in the near future."
Pelosi has given no hints about when she is considering rescheduling the speech, but press speculation now is focusing on Feb. 5, The Hill said.
So, we will have to see what happens next. While the idea of an extension of the border barrier fight seems quite unpopular, the administration still seems deeply dug in. It is possible that the bipartisan conference committee will come up with some new ideas that will convince the President to support a new approach. At the same time, there remains significant potential for another confrontation involving additional restrictions on the government -- a fight producers should watch closely as it proceeds, Washington Insider believes.
Want to keep up with events in Washington and elsewhere throughout the day? See DTN Top Stories, our frequently updated summary of news developments of interest to producers. You can find DTN Top Stories in DTN Ag News, which is on the Main Menu on classic DTN products and on the News and Analysis Menu of DTN's Professional and Producer products. DTN Top Stories is also on the home page and news home page of online.dtn.com. Subscribers of MyDTN.com should check out the US Ag Policy, US Farm Bill and DTN Ag News sections on their News Homepage.
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Fort Hood Soldier's Body Found Near Base; 3rd Death in Month
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- U.S. Army officials on Tuesday said that the body of a Fort Hood solider was found near the Texas army base, marking the third time in a month that a Fort Hood soldier's body has been discovered.
Pvt. Mejhor Morta, 26, was found unresponsive July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, according to Fort Hood officials. Stillhouse Hollow Lake is a reservoir located in Bell County and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Fort Worth District.
“The Black Knight family is truly heartbroken by the tragic loss of Private Mejhor Morta,” said Lt. Col. Neil Armstrong, commander of 1st Brigade 5th Cavalry. Regiment. “I would like to send my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.”
Morta, of Pensacola, Florida, entered the Army in September 2019 as a Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic. Since May 2020, he had been assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, according to a statement from Fort Hood. Morta's awards and decorations include the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
The incident is being investigated by the Bell County Sheriff's Department, who did not immediately respond to a request from the Associated Press seeking comment.
Officials have not said whether the death is considered suspicious.
On June 21, officials had discovered skeletal remains in a field in Killeen, just over 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Stillhouse Hollow Lake, which were subsequently identified as 24-year-old missing Fort Hood soldier Gregory Morales. U.S. Army officials have said they suspect foul play in his death.
Then on July 1, U.S. Army officials found more human remains, which were later identified as 20-year-old missing Fort Hood soldier Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, near the Leon River in Bell County, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Fort Hood.
There is no indication that the deaths of Morales and Guillen are connected. Members of Congress joined advocates for women Tuesday to continue the call for changes in the way the military handles sexual abuse and harassment following the death of Guillen, whom investigators believe was killed and dismembered by someone stationed at the same base in Fort Hood.
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De Montfort University e-theses
Sport policy in Lebanon, 1975 to 2004
Nassif theses.pdf (1.666Mb)
Nassif, Nadim
Lebanon is a unique country. Its small size, numerous communities, geographical context, history of conflicts and foreign invasions contributes in making this research a unique study in the field of humanities and social sciences. The study of such a case gets even more complex when it comes to the evaluation of the position of sport in this society; especially since the Lebanese Government has never considered sport and the betterment of sport among its priorities. Lebanese sport reflects all the different parameters of the Lebanese scene: economic difficulties, administrative problems, religious and political tension. The situation of sport in this country is rendered even more complicated by the fact that the budget granted to sport is relatively very small; a fact that is not only detailed but is proven to have direct effects on the low position that Lebanon has in the different international sport rankings. Academically, research on this field is also still very limited and the very few works done in this domain are more descriptive than analytic. The aims of this thesis, new in its kind, is, first, to do an analysis on the sport policy administered in Lebanon from 1975 to 2004, and, then, after defining its different characteristics, propose a plan for development.
PhD [1356]
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POP Club at home!
Friend of the Market
JUNE - OCTOBER
NEW HOURS
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Dorey Farmers Market, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization) has partnered with the County of Henrico Rec & Parks to establish the Dorey Park Farmers Market. Located adjacent to the Dairy Barn at Dorey Park, the Market's mission is to provide Henrico citizens with easy access to fresh and nutritious local produce, and other high quality products produced by local farms and small businesses. We encourage and support local growers, farmers and other producers as well as promote environmental stewardship and agriculture education through community outreach efforts. We believe that these principles will ultimately build a greater community.
HOW CAN YOU BECOME A VENDOR AT DPFM?
We accept SNAP benefits.
Sign up for our upcoming weekly e-mail newsletter! Get the latest on upcoming events, vendor spotlights, children's programs, sponsor information and seasonal recipes.
What do you want to see at the market?
Please tell us your thoughts on how we can accomplish our mission to make Dorey Park Farmers Market successful for our community, our farmers and vendors, and our customers. Click below to share your vision for the market.
Brief History of Dorey Park
Dorey Park was purchased in 1979 by the County of Henrico from Belle Ferguson Dorey, widow of dairy farmer Fred Orwin Dorey. Fred and Belle married in 1923 and together they raised six children on the Dorey homestead site, a 400-acre property consisting of a farmhouse, dairy barn, bunkhouse, tenant farmer house, chicken house, springhouse, silos and a small barn. Mr. Dorey worked the dairy farm until 1966.
The County opened Dorey Park in 1984. The Division of Recreation and Parks renovated the dairy barn and opened it to the public in 1992 as the Dorey Recreation Center. Click below to learn more about the history of Dorey Park and other historic sites in our community.
Click here to learn more about upcoming events at the market!
A partnership between the County of Henrico and Dorey Farmers Market, Inc.
Dorey Farmers Market, Inc. is a not-for-profit company and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
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Doubling up: Some NBA teams to stay longer in road cities
FILE – Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, rear, and Anthony Davis (3) celebrate after the Lakers defeated the Miami Heat 106-93 in Game 6 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., in this Oct. 11, 2020, file photo. Anthony Davis is finalizing a five-year contract worth up to $190 million to return to the Los Angeles Lakers. Davis’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, confirmed the terms of Davis’ pending free agent deal to The Associated Press on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020. One day after LeBron James agreed to a two-year, $85 million contract extension with the Lakers through 2022-23, Davis committed to the Lakers through the 2024-25 season. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Some NBA teams are going to have longer-than-usual road trips to certain cities this season.
The league released the schedule for the first half of its truncated 72-game season on Friday. The schedule includes something that hardly ever would have been the case in recent years — teams taking a trip someplace and playing two games there before moving on to another city or heading back home.
It’s by design, with the NBA doing so to limit the amount of actual travel this season as teams look for any edge in the quest to stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. Teams still play half of their games on the road, of course. But the mileage that teams save by playing twice in one place adds up quickly — examples included the Los Angeles Lakers playing twice at San Antonio in a three-day span on Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, and Toronto playing both of its road games for the season at Indiana on a back-to-back dates, Jan. 24 and 25.
The dreaded stretches of four games in five nights remain out of the schedule; the NBA did away with those in recent years to try to not overtax players and their bodies. Teams will take an average 7.5 road trips in the first half, which represents a 22% drop over the first 36 games of a usual schedule — and one-game trips have been cut nearly in half, down 44%.
As the NBA previously announced, opening night is Dec. 22 with two games: Golden State at Brooklyn and then the Los Angeles Clippers visiting the Los Angeles Lakers in the arena they share, a game where the Lakers are expected to display their new championship banner but without any fans in the building that night.
The other 26 teams all open the next day, including the Toronto Raptors, at their temporary home in Tampa, Florida for the first time when they host New Orleans. There are no games on Dec. 24, as is customary, and then the Christmas quintupleheader the following day.
The season will begin amid a spike in coronavirus cases around the country. The NBA had 48 players, almost 9%, test positive between Nov. 24 and Nov. 30 as teams returned to their home markets to prepare for the start of training camps.
Teams all got the first 37 or 38 games of their schedule Friday, those dates going through March 4. The league is expected to release the remainder of the schedule in February, with the regular season expected to go until mid-May.
The second half — which will include any games from the first half that get postponed and can be reasonably rescheduled — will be followed by the play-in tournament from May 18 through May 21. The playoffs start May 22.
Some other things to know about the schedule:
There are 10 games this year on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including the traditional home games for Atlanta and Memphis.
The lineup for Jan. 18: Orlando at New York, Cleveland at Washington, Minnesota at Atlanta, Detroit at Miami, San Antonio at Portland, Phoenix at Memphis, Milwaukee at Brooklyn, Dallas vs. Toronto in Tampa, Houston at Chicago and Golden State at the Los Angeles Lakers.
There are five games scheduled for Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 7 — all tipping off between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Eastern, meaning they should all be done long before kickoff of the NFL title game in Tampa. The Raptors aren’t playing at their temporary Tampa home that day.
FINALS REMATCH
Miami plays the Lakers in an NBA Finals rematch in Los Angeles on Feb. 20; the Lakers won’t play at Miami until the second half of the season.
RODEO TRIP
In a season that will seem different in many ways, one thing remains a constant: The Spurs’ rodeo road trip will continue for a 19th consecutive year.
The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo — scheduled for Feb. 11 through Feb. 28 — will not be held inside AT&T Center, the Spurs’ home building, and is moving to the adjacent Freeman Coliseum. But because the rodeo and other events use much of the parking around the arena, San Antonio asked to go back on the road over that stretch.
San Antonio has posted a losing record in only four of the 18 rodeo trips — three of those coming in the last three seasons. All-time, the Spurs are 93-54 on rodeo trips.
GRAMMY TIME
The Grammys are scheduled for Jan. 31 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, meaning the Clippers and Lakers also have some long trips awaiting them. The Clippers have a six-game trip from Jan. 26 through Feb. 3; the Lakers have a seven-game trip from Jan. 21 through Feb. 1.
The Lakers don’t have a trip to Washington scheduled in the season’s first half, so it remains unknown if they will visit the White House and be the first NBA champion to go there during President-elect Joe Biden’s administration that’ll begin Jan. 20.
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A Land Remembered
By Patrick Smith
Read by George Guidall
Patrick Smith Recorded Books, Inc.
In this best-selling novel, Patrick D. Smith tels the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family who battle the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirt-poor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons. The story opens in 1858, when Tobias MacIvey arrives in the Florida wilderness to start a new life, and ends in 1968 with Solomon MacIvey, who realizes that the land has been exploited far beyond human need. Between is a sweeping story rich in Florida history. A best-selling novel of Florida historical fiction, A Land Remembered was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received the state's highest literary award from the Florida Historical Society, the 1986 Tebeau Prize for the Most Outstanding Florida Historical novel.
Author Bio: Patrick Smith
Patrick D. Smith (1927–2014) was an American author. His work was nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize and five times for the Nobel Prize for Literature. He was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1999.
Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
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Use of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines is morally acceptable, say bishops
Home / Diocese of Scranton News / 2020 News / Use of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines is morally acceptable, say bishops
The word “COVID-19” is reflected in a vaccine drop that dangles from a syringe needle in this illustration photo Nov. 9, 2020. (CNS photo/Dado Ruvic, Reuters)
WASHINGTON (CNS) — While confusion has arisen in recent days in the media over “the moral permissibility” of using the COVID-19 vaccines just announced by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna, it is not “immoral to be vaccinated with them,” the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ doctrine and pro-life committees said Nov. 23.
Bishop Kevin J. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, and Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kansas, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, addressed the issue in a memo to their brother bishops.
A copy of the memo was obtained by Catholic News Service Nov. 24.
“Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in fetal tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development or production,” the two prelates said. “They are not completely free from any connection to abortion, however, as both Pfizer and Moderna made use of a tainted cell line for one of the confirmatory lab tests of their products.
“There is thus a connection, but it is relatively remote,” they continued. “Some are asserting that if a vaccine is connected in any way with tainted cell lines, then it is immoral to be vaccinated with them. This is an inaccurate portrayal of Catholic moral teaching.”
Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann cited three Vatican documents that “treat the question of tainted vaccines”: the 2005 study by the Pontifical Academy for Life, “Moral Reflections on Vaccines Prepared from Cells Derived From Aborted Human Fetuses”; paragraphs nos. 34-35 in the 2008 “Instruction on Certain Bioethical Questions” (“Dignitatis Personae”) by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; and the 2017 “Note on Italian Vaccine Issue,” by the Pontifical Academy for Life.
“These documents all point to the immorality of using tissue taken from an aborted child for creating cell lines,” they explained. “They also make distinctions in terms of the moral responsibility of the various actors involved, from those involved in designing and producing a vaccine to those receiving the vaccine.
“Most importantly,” they added, “they all make it clear that, at the level of the recipient, it is morally permissible to accept vaccination when there are no alternatives and there is a serious risk to health.”
In a Nov. 21 statement, the president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, Mercy Sister Mary Haddad said CHA ethicists, “in collaboration with other Catholic bioethicists,” used the guidelines released by the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life in 2005 and 2017 on the origin of vaccines and “find nothing morally prohibitive with the vaccines developed by Pfizer and BioNTech (Pfizer’s German partner) and Moderna.”
She also said CHA “believes it is essential that any approved COVID-19 vaccine be distributed in a coordinated and equitable manner,” because COVID-19 “has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, low-income communities, persons with preexisting health conditions, and racial and ethnic minorities.”
CHA encouraged Catholic health organizations “to distribute the vaccines developed by these companies.”
Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann did not point to any specific media outlets claiming the moral unsuitability of the vaccines. However, after Pfizer and Moderna announced their vaccines, at least two Catholic bishops warned against using them, saying they are morally tainted.
On Nov. 11, Pfizer and BioNTech announced that results of a large ongoing study show its vaccine is 95% effective; the vaccine is already being manufactured and has been since October. Five days later, Moderna said preliminary data from its phase three trial shows its coronavirus vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19.
Pfizer and Moderna are applying to the U.S. Food and Drug administration for emergency approval of the vaccines, which would quickly pave the way for distribution of the vaccines. The FDA is to meet Dec. 10.
On Nov. 16, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, tweeted the Moderna vaccine “is not morally produced. Unborn children died in abortions and their bodies were used as ‘laboratory specimens.’ I urge all who believe in the sanctity of life to reject a vaccine which has been produced immorally.”
In a Nov. 18 video posted on his diocesan website and subsequent interviews with local media, Bishop Joseph V. Brennan of Fresno, California, weighed in on the vaccines, saying: “We all want health for ourselves and for others. We want to promote that also … but never at the expense of the life of another.”
In May, the Trump administration launched Operation Warp Speed, the moniker of its initiative to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to Americans as quickly as possible. The program has funded the manufacturing of six promising vaccine candidates, two of which are the ones announced by Moderna and Pfizer.
As soon as the FDA approves their vaccines for distribution, Operation Warp Speed hopes to distribute 300 million doses around the country by January. Because Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines involve two shots per person, this would be enough to immunize 150 million Americans.
Other COVID-19 vaccines on the horizon include one being developed by AstraZeneca with Oxford University.
Like Bishop Rhoades and Archbishop Naumann, John Brehany, director of institutional relations at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, said a recent interview on the “Current News” show on NET TV, the cable channel of the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, said the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines were not themselves produced using cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue.
He expressed “great respect for Bishop Strickland,” calling him “a bold courageous witness to the faith,” who is saying “some true things about issues that go back decades in pharmaceutical research and development,” in the production of vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and other diseases.
But in the case of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, Brehany emphasized, any connection to aborted fetus cell lines is extremely remote.
For Dr. Robert Tiballi, an infectious disease specialist in Chicago and a member of the Catholic Medical Association, this indirect use raises an ethical issue for Catholics.
“The fetal cell lines were not directly used in the Moderna vaccine, but they were indirectly used several steps away from the actual development of the vaccine,” he told “Currents News” in a separate interview.
Any such cell lines were derived from tissue samples taken from fetuses aborted in the 1960s and 1970s and have been grown in laboratories all over the world since then.
In its 2005 study, the Pontifical Academy for Life said Catholics have a responsibility to push for the creation of morally just, alternative vaccines, but it also said they should not sacrifice the common good of public health because there is no substitute.
“Catholics can have confidence if there is a great need and there are no alternatives, they are not forbidden from using these new vaccines,” Brehany told “Current News,” but he added: “There is much the church calls us to do in seeking out alternatives and advocating for alternatives.”
Catholics “need to provide the urgency and advocacy” to get pharmaceutical companies to understand there are alternatives to using fetal cell lines to develop vaccines, “so they can see the need for this,” he added, echoing the Pontifical Academy for Life.
A case in point is the decision by Sanofi Pasteur to no longer use an aborted fetal cell line in producing its polio vaccines, a move recently approved by the FDA.
Sanofi is one of the companies currently developing a COVID-19 vaccine by utilizing “cell lines not connected to unethical procedures and methods.” Inovio Pharmaceuticals and the John Paul II Medical Research Institute are other such companies.
Categories2020 News, Catholic News Service, Diocese of Scranton News, News
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#EatMoreArt
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A Very Merry Same Sex Mary Christmas Spectacular
What happens when over fifty Las Vegas artists, musicians, and actors come together for a special one-night-only performance? Oh, only the best Christmas Eve-Eve Ever!
On Friday, December 23rd, Same Sex Mary (SSM) is showcasing their latest full-length production, “A Very Merry Same Sex Mary Christmas Spectacular,” at The Bunkhouse Saloon in Downtown Las Vegas. This holiday-themed dark comedy will be thought provoking, engaging, and most importantly, entertaining. By mixing elements of a live rock-n-roll performance together with theatrical interludes, the audience is given the immersive opportunity to share in an unparalleled festive experience.
Organizing SSM’s Technical and Creative Team is Cirque du Soleil veteran Aaron Guidry. He has performed over 6,000 shows across the country, internationally, and most recently on Broadway.
Award-winning playwright Bryan Todd (Valley Theatre Awards 2016 - Best Director, Best Play "The Nether") and Artistic Director Michael Duffy (Cirque du Soleil) will be guiding the narrative of this one-of-a-kind Las Vegas Christmas story. The cast features over 50 local artists, musicians, actors, and performers. By bringing together a cross section of talent from all throughout the valley, SSM intends to raise the expectation for quality-produced theater.
SSM’s most recent large-scale show was produced at Fremont Country Club and drew over 300 guests. It garnered critical acclaim and was highly revered by attendees. Las Vegas Weekly called it "a feast for the senses" and Desert Companion Magazine wrote, “It is a rare and meaningful occurrence when the show of the year comes from a local act, but Boulder City psyche-rockers Same Sex Mary achieved just that with an ambitious spectacle.”
The Bunkhouse is the perfect venue to feature this modern Christmas tale. Not only does this location provide a quintessential gathering for the Downtown Vegas Arts Scene, but also the space itself, including the outdoor courtyard, offers an atmosphere integrated seamlessly into the story. Additionally, SSM is partnering with local food bank Three Square who will be on-location the night of the show accepting charitable donations. SSM is committed to using the performance as a vehicle to heighten awareness for those in need during this special time of year.
#BeMerryMary
Friday, December 23, 2016, Doors at 9PM, $10 The Bunkhouse Saloon, 124 S. 11th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/223113228118472/
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Vegas City Opera Announces “Unconventional” 11th Season
No Intermission: Opera Las Vegas Continues to Strike a Chord in the Community Despite Pandemic
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Bagehot
Charles Clarke, the home secretary, has had a difficult week. Tony Blair is to blame
BritainMar 5th 2005 edition
THEY marched their troops to the top of the hill, flags flying, drums beating to defeat the government's deeply flawed anti-terror bill. But with a famous victory in sight, Tory generals promptly marched them down again.
Tony Blair has rejected the Tories' suggested compromise—adding a “sunset clause” to the bill, which would mean the legislation would self-combust in eight months' time. But despite the huffing and puffing on both sides, there is huge pressure to do a deal. A compromise that gives the government a range of “control orders” and allows it to put suspected terrorists under house arrest remains likely when the House of Lords sends this highly contentious bill back to the House of Commons next week.
For all their recent trumpeting of civil liberties, the Tories now fear being on the “wrong” side of the argument. The media's fury at the bill and the government's disarray in the House of Commons on March 1st, when its majority fell to 14 votes, counted less in the Tories' calculations than a YouGov opinion poll in that morning's Daily Telegraph. Twice as many Tory supporters (64% to 32%) favoured restricting the civil liberties of suspected terrorists, even when there wasn't enough evidence to convict them, as opposed the policy. As a senior Tory put it: “This is the worst example imaginable of legislation in haste, but if there was some Madrid-style terrorist outrage during the election, it could reflect very badly on us.”
That, of course, is precisely what ministers fear too. Although there may be electoral advantage in appearing tougher on terrorism than their opposition counterparts, neither the home secretary, Charles Clarke, nor Tony Blair can have enjoyed the kind of criticism, much of it from their own side, they have been on the receiving end of this week. Civil liberties may be a minority sport in Britain, but it's a minority that includes most Labour activists (if not voters). Nor does it look good for a government with a working majority of 165 to come so close to defeat when a general election is looming. The rebellion was especially uncomfortable because the scepticism of dissident Labour MPs brought back unpleasant memories of other trust-related issues.
The determination of Mr Clarke and Mr Blair to press ahead with legislation that they know a lot of reasonable and intelligent people loathe reflects their certainty that if there is a big terrorist attack, many of the same people will not hesitate to blame them for not having done enough to prevent it. Modern British political culture castigates government for its over-bearing, interfering ways, yet holds it accountable whenever anything goes seriously wrong.
To that extent, ministers deserve some sympathy for having bowed to the fears of the security advisers who constantly bend their ears with prophecies of doom. But they don't for the way they have gone about changing the law since the end of last year when the Law Lords said that the government could no longer keep foreign terrorists in prison indefinitely without trial. With a brand new home secretary, a Home Office already suffering from acute legislative drafting fatigue and an election around the corner, the dangers of Number 10 rushing to meet the deadline of March 14th (when the existing detention powers expire) should have been obvious.
After all, just eight months ago, Mr Blair received a withering dressing-down over his style of government from Lord Butler, a former cabinet secretary, who reported on the uses and misuses of intelligence before the war with Iraq. Lord Butler's central critique was that Mr Blair's government failed to understand the value of process in making judgments and reaching decisions, and that was why his government had failed to assess the threat from Iraq correctly.
Sir Michael Quinlan, a former permanent secretary, observed a few days after Lord Butler reported: “Mr Blair has sought to bring to his prime ministership a strong focus on delivery...This salutary concern can, however, slide into a sense that outcome is the only true reality and that process is flummery...Process is care and thoroughness; it is consultation, involvement and co-ownership.”
It is doubtful, for instance, whether there has been even the most cursory discussion within the government on the issue which caused so much trouble in the Commons—the important question of precisely when judges should be involved in orders restricting innocent people's liberties. The cabinet, without Mr Clarke in attendance, was given an “update” last week, but there was little in the way of debate. Mr Blair's impatience with process also contributed to the bad feeling in the Commons. Important concessions on the role of the judiciary were made too late for MPs to know exactly what they were voting for, and their political benefit was thus lost.
There he goes again
Mr Blair himself lent further weight to the impression that he has failed to learn Lord Butler's lessons when he told BBC Radio 4's “Woman's Hour”: “There are several hundred of them in this country who we believe are engaged in plotting or trying to commit terrorist acts.” According to security chiefs, Mr Blair should have said that there are several hundred people who are watched because they might at some time get up to mischief.
It's a pity that Mr Blair feels he must exaggerate to convince people the threat from terrorism is real and serious when only fools doubt it. It's worse that he persists in dealing with difficult issues in such a careless, slipshod and confrontational way. Most people understand that laws with the power to change fundamentally the relationship between the state and the individual should not be made by crude political horse-trading taking place against an arbitrary time limit during the run-up to an election. It is odd that the prime minister does not.
This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline "Out of order"
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The Power of Academic Parent-Teacher Teams
By Anne OBrien
This time of year, many people are reflecting on what is truly important in life and all they have to be grateful for. The most common item of the top of these lists: family.
Many successful individuals can point to family as a factor in that success -- perhaps because of their unwavering belief in our abilities, perhaps because they pushed us beyond what we thought we were capable of, perhaps for their financial contributions to our education. But the overarching feeling is, because of their support.
For those of us fortunate enough to be born into families that knew how to best support us, particularly in our academic endeavors, this support almost goes without saying. But in some families, parents who would like to help their children succeed don't know how best to do so. As educators, we can help families develop the skills needed to support their children in school and beyond. One model for doing so: Academic Parent-Teacher Teams (APTT).
Academic Parent-Teacher Teams
In the mid-2000s, Dr. Maria C. Paredes was Director of Community Education in Phoenix's Creighton Elementary School District and a doctoral student at Arizona State University. Responsible for creating family engagement opportunities, she set up parent workshops, hired parent liaisons and more. One major accomplishment: Repurposing the district's parent-teacher conferences, which she found "mostly ineffective, lack[ing] strategy, ... void of relevant academic substance, and ... without accountability for parents and teachers."
As her doctoral action research project, she developed the APTT model, in which teachers coach parents to become engaged, knowledgeable members of the academic team. In other words, teachers help build parental capacity, developing parental understanding of their children's grade-level learning goals and how to help them meet or exceed standards.
APTT has two main components. The first is three classroom team meetings each year. The "classroom team" consists of the classroom teacher and all the parents in the class. In these group meetings, the teacher reviews and explains class-level academic data, in addition to providing parents with individual data about their own child's performance and helping parents set 60-day SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-Bound) academic goals for their children. She or he also models and provides materials for activities that parents can do with their children at home, giving parents time to practice these activities with each other in a small group setting. In addition, parents can share tips among themselves. (See what these look like in action -- the video is long but worth it to get a sense of the type of material covered as well as the level of comfort that parents have with teachers.)
The model also includes one thirty-minute in-depth individual conference between the teacher, a student and his or her family each year. At these meetings, they review performance data, create an action plan for continuous improvement, discuss how to support student learning at home, and develop stronger relationships. Additional individual conferences are scheduled as needed.
This model appears very promising. Student achievement in both math and reading is up for students whose families have access to APTT compared to students whose families do not. The program also seems to increase student engagement, confidence and attendance, as well as improve parent-teacher communication and parent self-efficacy for supporting student learning at home. Some principals report that the model promotes a sense of community within the school that decreases discipline problems among students and that parents are more comfortable reaching out to other families to resolve conflicts. As Paredes says, "Strangers have become partners in purpose."
Perhaps one of the best ways to assess the perceived impact of the program is to look at teacher participation. The program started with just nine participating teachers in the Creighton School District. The next year, 79 teachers joined the program. In the third year, 187 participated. Now in year four, about 218 classrooms in Creighton are participating. And the model (which Paredes has copyrighted) has spread across the nation -- it is now reaching about 28,000 students in five states and the District of Columbia.
According to Paredes, one of the greatest challenges implementing this (or any model of family engagement) is some educators' mindset about families. As she says, "We often doubt families' capacity to help their children, and we often have mistaken perceptions of their ability to commit to higher expectations and standards for learning," particularly for the families of disadvantaged and minority children.
This season, as we reflect on the support we've received from our own families, we should remember that all individuals desire the opportunity to provide that support to their children. And we should take advantage of our position as educators to help them do so. While not every school or teacher can participate in something like APTT, we can all take steps to build the capacity of families to help their children succeed.
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Home News Europa Nostra launches wide consultation on the impact of COVID-19 on the heritage world
Europa Nostra launches wide consultation on the impact of COVID-19 on the heritage world
March 31, 2020 | Posted in Policy
Europa Nostra, fully aware of and deeply concerned about the massive negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural heritage world, has launched on 26 March a wide-reaching consultation on this topic among its large pan-European network of members. The objective of the consultation is to collect information and insights that will be used by Europa Nostra as a basis for its advocacy efforts towards the European Union, Member States and other relevant international, European and national bodies.
The wide-ranging impacts of COVID-19 on the heritage sector both at the present time and in the long-run are still uncertain. However, the first effects of the pandemic and of the measures to contain it are already taking a considerable toll on the heritage world, as demonstrated by the immediate reactions of heritage stakeholders from all across Europe. Indeed, the past weeks have seen the multiplication of initiatives, surveys and tools initiated by heritage actors in Europe and beyond as an attempt to capture the crisis’ impact on the sector, many of which have been endorsed, supported and disseminated by Europa Nostra.
The specific impacts already identified by Europa Nostra and other heritage stakeholders include implications for heritage professionals and the security of their jobs; risks related to the security of heritage sites and their contents; financial implications due to loss of revenues as well as sudden changes in the way heritage professionals ensure proper communication with their audiences and keep their networks alive. Europa Nostra is fully committed to preparing and widely disseminating a comprehensive overview of all these implications.
Against this background, Europa Nostra has launched a consultation, first among its large membership composed by over 350 member and associate organisations and over 1000 Individual Members in 42 countries in Europe and 5 countries outside the continent. Europa Nostra is also consulting with its wide range of European and International partners, including the members of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3, of which Europa Nostra is a founding member and coordinator.
The objective of this wide consultation is to get a better and more complete understanding of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cultural heritage world, the reactions it has triggered on the ground and on the specific needs of the heritage sector to overcome this far-reaching crisis. The information collected will be used as a basis for Europa Nostra’s advocacy action, conducted jointly with our members and partners, to ensure that cultural heritage is duly included in the EU’s immediate response to the COVID-19 crisis as well as in the long-term recovery plans. Indeed, Europa Nostra and our members are fully convinced of the immense potential of culture and cultural heritage for Europe’s socioeconomic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Europa Nostra has already communicated important information and initial observations on the specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the heritage sector to the European Commision, via the Commission Expert Group on Cultural Heritage of which Europa Nostra is a member. Likewise, Europa Nostra will discuss the matter during a dedicated European Heritage Alliance 3.3. meeting on 6 April 2020, with the objective of sharing information and concerns, reinforcing each others’ actions and discussing possibilities for joint action.
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Are You Debate Ready? Test Yourself on Who Said What
Judy Gerstel | August 6th, 2015
It promises to be a wild night tonight, with the four Canadian party leaders and ten Republican candidates in overlapping live televised debates.
The Maclean’s National Leaders debate begins at 8pm EDT.
The Republican debate sponsored by Fox News starts at 9 p.m EDT.
While the candidates are doing some last minute preparation today, you can prepare by choosing the correct speaker of the following quotes, all of which were said by one of the 14 candidates debating tonight.
We’re making it easier by giving you only three choices — okay, four — instead of all 14.
(Answers follow.)
1. “We are a democracy only in theory. In practice, we’re an elected dictatorship.”
a. Donald Trump
b. Elizabeth May
c. Senator Ted Cruz
2. “It’s when ordinary people rise above the expectations and seize the opportunity that milestones truly are reached.”
a. Thomas Mulcair
b. Justin Trudeau
c. Mike Huckabee
3. “You have to legalize drugs …You have to take the profit away…What I’d like to do maybe by bringing it up is cause enough controversy that you get into a dialogue on the issue of drugs so people will start to realize that this is the only answer; there is no other answer.”
a. Elizabeth May
b. Donald Trump
c. Justin Trudeau
4.”Look, I cannot control insults that others will choose to hurl. What I can control is that I have not and will not reciprocate.”
a. Justin Trudeau
c. Ted Cruz
5. ““The only [candidate] that’s going to give real support to Israel is me.”
a. Dr. Ben Carson
b. Steven Harper
c. Donald Trump
6. “We are going to stand up strongly and defend, every step of the way, our supply-management system.”
a. Jeb Bush
b. Thomas Mulcair
c. Steven Harper
7. “The easy part is to talk about problems. But you need to propose something. You need to put something on the table. What is it that you are going to do? We don’t know.”
a. Steven Harper
8.” It is our future in which we will find our greatness.”
9. “Well, I’ve always believed that we have to be a lot tougher with undocumented refugee claimants. Whether the best thing is to send them right out of the country or simply detain them until we get full information, we can look at either but, no this is a problem that does need to be fixed…”
a. Scott Walker
10. “And what’s the one sure thing that a 20-year-old student has in common with a 60-year-old senior? We’re all getting older…”
a. Ted Cruz
c. Elizabeth May
Click through for answers!
1)b
2)c
8)d — Pierre Trudeau
10)b
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Intelligence, Policy, and the War in Iraq
By Paul R. Pillar
A DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIP
The most serious problem with U.S. intelligence today is that its relationship with the policymaking process is broken and badly needs repair. In the wake of the Iraq war, it has become clear that official intelligence analysis was not relied on in making even the most significant national security decisions, that intelligence was misused publicly to justify decisions already made, that damaging ill will developed between policymakers and intelligence officers, and that the intelligence community's own work was politicized. As the national intelligence officer responsible for the Middle East from 2000 to 2005, I witnessed all of these disturbing developments.
Public discussion of prewar intelligence on Iraq has focused on the errors made in assessing Saddam Hussein's unconventional weapons programs. A commission chaired by Judge Laurence Silberman and former Senator Charles Robb usefully documented the intelligence community's mistakes in a solid and comprehensive report released in March 2005. Corrections were indeed in order, and the intelligence community has begun to make them.
At the same time, an acrimonious and highly partisan debate broke out over whether the Bush administration manipulated and misused intelligence in making its case for war. The administration defended itself by pointing out that it was not alone in its view that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and active weapons programs, however mistaken that view may have been.
In this regard, the Bush administration was quite right: its perception of Saddam's weapons capacities was shared by the Clinton administration, congressional Democrats, and most other Western governments and intelligence services. But in making this defense, the White House also inadvertently pointed out the real problem: intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs did not drive its decision to go to war. A view broadly held in the United States and even more so overseas was that deterrence of Iraq was working, that Saddam was being kept "in his box," and that the best way to deal with the weapons problem was through an aggressive inspections program to supplement the sanctions already in place. That the administration arrived at so different a policy solution indicates that its decision to topple Saddam was driven by other factors -- namely, the desire to shake up the sclerotic power structures of the Middle East and hasten the spread of more liberal politics and economics in the region.
If the entire body of official intelligence analysis on Iraq had a policy implication, it was to avoid war -- or, if war was going to be launched, to prepare for a messy aftermath. What is most remarkable about prewar U.S. intelligence on Iraq is not that it got things wrong and thereby misled policymakers; it is that it played so small a role in one of the most important U.S. policy decisions in recent decades.
A MODEL UPENDED
The proper relationship between intelligence gathering and policymaking sharply separates the two functions. The intelligence community collects information, evaluates its credibility, and combines it with other information to help make sense of situations abroad that could affect U.S. interests. Intelligence officers decide which topics should get their limited collection and analytic resources according to both their own judgments and the concerns of policymakers. Policymakers thus influence which topics intelligence agencies address but not the conclusions that they reach. The intelligence community, meanwhile, limits its judgments to what is happening or what might happen overseas, avoiding policy judgments about what the United States should do in response.
In practice, this distinction is often blurred, especially because analytic projections may have policy implications even if they are not explicitly stated. But the distinction is still important. National security abounds with problems that are clearer than the solutions to them; the case of Iraq is hardly a unique example of how similar perceptions of a threat can lead people to recommend very different policy responses. Accordingly, it is critical that the intelligence community not advocate policy, especially not openly. If it does, it loses the most important basis for its credibility and its claims to objectivity. When intelligence analysts critique one another's work, they use the phrase "policy prescriptive" as a pejorative, and rightly so.
The Bush administration's use of intelligence on Iraq did not just blur this distinction; it turned the entire model upside down. The administration used intelligence not to inform decision-making, but to justify a decision already made. It went to war without requesting -- and evidently without being influenced by -- any strategic-level intelligence assessments on any aspect of Iraq. (The military made extensive use of intelligence in its war planning, although much of it was of a more tactical nature.) Congress, not the administration, asked for the now-infamous October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iraq's unconventional weapons programs, although few members of Congress actually read it. (According to several congressional aides responsible for safeguarding the classified material, no more than six senators and only a handful of House members got beyond the five-page executive summary.) As the national intelligence officer for the Middle East, I was in charge of coordinating all of the intelligence community's assessments regarding Iraq; the first request I received from any administration policymaker for any such assessment was not until a year into the war.
Official intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs was flawed, but even with its flaws, it was not what led to the war. On the issue that mattered most, the intelligence community judged that Iraq probably was several years away from developing a nuclear weapon. The October 2002 NIE also judged that Saddam was unlikely to use WMD against the United States unless his regime was placed in mortal danger.
Before the war, on its own initiative, the intelligence community considered the principal challenges that any postinvasion authority in Iraq would be likely to face. It presented a picture of a political culture that would not provide fertile ground for democracy and foretold a long, difficult, and turbulent transition. It projected that a Marshall Plan-type effort would be required to restore the Iraqi economy, despite Iraq's abundant oil resources. It forecast that in a deeply divided Iraqi society, with Sunnis resentful over the loss of their dominant position and Shiites seeking power commensurate with their majority status, there was a significant chance that the groups would engage in violent conflict unless an occupying power prevented it. And it anticipated that a foreign occupying force would itself be the target of resentment and attacks -- including by guerrilla warfare -- unless it established security and put Iraq on the road to prosperity in the first few weeks or months after the fall of Saddam.
In addition, the intelligence community offered its assessment of the likely regional repercussions of ousting Saddam. It argued that any value Iraq might have as a democratic exemplar would be minimal and would depend on the stability of a new Iraqi government and the extent to which democracy in Iraq was seen as developing from within rather than being imposed by an outside power. More likely, war and occupation would boost political Islam and increase sympathy for terrorists' objectives -- and Iraq would become a magnet for extremists from elsewhere in the Middle East.
STANDARD DEVIATIONS
The Bush administration deviated from the professional standard not only in using policy to drive intelligence, but also in aggressively using intelligence to win public support for its decision to go to war. This meant selectively adducing data -- "cherry-picking" -- rather than using the intelligence community's own analytic judgments. In fact, key portions of the administration's case explicitly rejected those judgments. In an August 2002 speech, for example, Vice President Dick Cheney observed that "intelligence is an uncertain business" and noted how intelligence analysts had underestimated how close Iraq had been to developing a nuclear weapon before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. His conclusion -- at odds with that of the intelligence community -- was that "many of us are convinced that Saddam will acquire nuclear weapons fairly soon."
In the upside-down relationship between intelligence and policy that prevailed in the case of Iraq, the administration selected pieces of raw intelligence to use in its public case for war, leaving the intelligence community to register varying degrees of private protest when such use started to go beyond what analysts deemed credible or reasonable. The best-known example was the assertion by President George W. Bush in his 2003 State of the Union address that Iraq was purchasing uranium ore in Africa. U.S. intelligence analysts had questioned the credibility of the report making this claim, had kept it out of their own unclassified products, and had advised the White House not to use it publicly. But the administration put the claim into the speech anyway, referring to it as information from British sources in order to make the point without explicitly vouching for the intelligence.
The reexamination of prewar public statements is a necessary part of understanding the process that led to the Iraq war. But a narrow focus on rhetorical details tends to overlook more fundamental problems in the intelligence-policy relationship. Any time policymakers, rather than intelligence agencies, take the lead in selecting which bits of raw intelligence to present, there is -- regardless of the issue -- a bias. The resulting public statements ostensibly reflect intelligence, but they do not reflect intelligence analysis, which is an essential part of determining what the pieces of raw reporting mean. The policymaker acts with an eye not to what is indicative of a larger pattern or underlying truth, but to what supports his case.
Another problem is that on Iraq, the intelligence community was pulled over the line into policy advocacy -- not so much by what it said as by its conspicuous role in the administration's public case for war. This was especially true when the intelligence community was made highly visible (with the director of central intelligence literally in the camera frame) in an intelligence-laden presentation by Secretary of State Colin Powell to the UN Security Council a month before the war began. It was also true in the fall of 2002, when, at the administration's behest, the intelligence community published a white paper on Iraq's WMD programs -- but without including any of the community's judgments about the likelihood of those weapons' being used.
But the greatest discrepancy between the administration's public statements and the intelligence community's judgments concerned not WMD (there was indeed a broad consensus that such programs existed), but the relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda. The enormous attention devoted to this subject did not reflect any judgment by intelligence officials that there was or was likely to be anything like the "alliance" the administration said existed. The reason the connection got so much attention was that the administration wanted to hitch the Iraq expedition to the "war on terror" and the threat the American public feared most, thereby capitalizing on the country's militant post-9/11 mood.
The issue of possible ties between Saddam and al Qaeda was especially prone to the selective use of raw intelligence to make a public case for war. In the shadowy world of international terrorism, almost anyone can be "linked" to almost anyone else if enough effort is made to find evidence of casual contacts, the mentioning of names in the same breath, or indications of common travels or experiences. Even the most minimal and circumstantial data can be adduced as evidence of a "relationship," ignoring the important question of whether a given regime actually supports a given terrorist group and the fact that relationships can be competitive or distrustful rather than cooperative.
The intelligence community never offered any analysis that supported the notion of an alliance between Saddam and al Qaeda. Yet it was drawn into a public effort to support that notion. To be fair, Secretary Powell's presentation at the UN never explicitly asserted that there was a cooperative relationship between Saddam and al Qaeda. But the presentation was clearly meant to create the impression that one existed. To the extent that the intelligence community was a party to such efforts, it crossed the line into policy advocacy -- and did so in a way that fostered public misconceptions contrary to the intelligence community's own judgments.
VARIETIES OF POLITICIZATION
In its report on prewar intelligence concerning Iraqi WMD, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said it found no evidence that analysts had altered or shaped their judgments in response to political pressure. The Silberman-Robb commission reached the same conclusion, although it conceded that analysts worked in an "environment" affected by "intense" policymaker interest. But the method of investigation used by the panels -- essentially, asking analysts whether their arms had been twisted -- would have caught only the crudest attempts at politicization. Such attempts are rare and, when they do occur (as with former Undersecretary of State John Bolton's attempts to get the intelligence community to sign on to his judgments about Cuba and Syria), are almost always unsuccessful. Moreover, it is unlikely that analysts would ever acknowledge that their own judgments have been politicized, since that would be far more damning than admitting more mundane types of analytic error.
The actual politicization of intelligence occurs subtly and can take many forms. Context is all-important. Well before March 2003, intelligence analysts and their managers knew that the United States was heading for war with Iraq. It was clear that the Bush administration would frown on or ignore analysis that called into question a decision to go to war and welcome analysis that supported such a decision. Intelligence analysts -- for whom attention, especially favorable attention, from policymakers is a measure of success -- felt a strong wind consistently blowing in one direction. The desire to bend with such a wind is natural and strong, even if unconscious.
On the issue of Iraqi WMD, dozens of analysts throughout the intelligence community were making many judgments on many different issues based on fragmentary and ambiguous evidence. The differences between sound intelligence analysis (bearing in mind the gaps in information) and the flawed analysis that actually was produced had to do mainly with matters of caveat, nuance, and word choice. The opportunities for bias were numerous. It may not be possible to point to one key instance of such bending or to measure the cumulative effect of such pressure. But the effect was probably significant.
A clearer form of politicization is the inconsistent review of analysis: reports that conform to policy preferences have an easier time making it through the gauntlet of coordination and approval than ones that do not. (Every piece of intelligence analysis reflects not only the judgments of the analysts most directly involved in writing it, but also the concurrence of those who cover related topics and the review, editing, and remanding of it by several levels of supervisors, from branch chiefs to senior executives.) The Silberman-Robb commission noted such inconsistencies in the Iraq case but chalked it up to bad management. The commission failed to address exactly why managers were inconsistent: they wanted to avoid the unpleasantness of laying unwelcome analysis on a policymaker's desk.
Another form of politicization with a similar cause is the sugarcoating of what otherwise would be an unpalatable message. Even the mostly prescient analysis about the problems likely to be encountered in postwar Iraq included some observations that served as sugar, added in the hope that policymakers would not throw the report directly into the burn bag, but damaging the clarity of the analysis in the process.
But the principal way that the intelligence community's work on Iraq was politicized concerned the specific questions to which the community devoted its energies. As any competent pollster can attest, how a question is framed helps determine the answer. In the case of Iraq, there was also the matter of sheer quantity of output -- not just what the intelligence community said, but how many times it said it. On any given subject, the intelligence community faces what is in effect a field of rocks, and it lacks the resources to turn over every one to see what threats to national security may lurk underneath. In an unpoliticized environment, intelligence officers decide which rocks to turn over based on past patterns and their own judgments. But when policymakers repeatedly urge the intelligence community to turn over only certain rocks, the process becomes biased. The community responds by concentrating its resources on those rocks, eventually producing a body of reporting and analysis that, thanks to quantity and emphasis, leaves the impression that what lies under those same rocks is a bigger part of the problem than it really is.
That is what happened when the Bush administration repeatedly called on the intelligence community to uncover more material that would contribute to the case for war. The Bush team approached the community again and again and pushed it to look harder at the supposed Saddam-al Qaeda relationship -- calling on analysts not only to turn over additional Iraqi rocks, but also to turn over ones already examined and to scratch the dirt to see if there might be something there after all. The result was an intelligence output that -- because the question being investigated was never put in context -- obscured rather than enhanced understanding of al Qaeda's actual sources of strength and support.
This process represented a radical departure from the textbook model of the relationship between intelligence and policy, in which an intelligence service responds to policymaker interest in certain subjects (such as "security threats from Iraq" or "al Qaeda's supporters") and explores them in whatever direction the evidence leads. The process did not involve intelligence work designed to find dangers not yet discovered or to inform decisions not yet made. Instead, it involved research to find evidence in support of a specific line of argument -- that Saddam was cooperating with al Qaeda -- which in turn was being used to justify a specific policy decision.
One possible consequence of such politicization is policymaker self-deception. A policymaker can easily forget that he is hearing so much about a particular angle in briefings because he and his fellow policymakers have urged the intelligence community to focus on it. A more certain consequence is the skewed application of the intelligence community's resources. Feeding the administration's voracious appetite for material on the Saddam-al Qaeda link consumed an enormous amount of time and attention at multiple levels, from rank-and-file counterterrorism analysts to the most senior intelligence officials. It is fair to ask how much other counterterrorism work was left undone as a result.
The issue became even more time-consuming as the conflict between intelligence officials and policymakers escalated into a battle, with the intelligence community struggling to maintain its objectivity even as policymakers pressed the Saddam-al Qaeda connection. The administration's rejection of the intelligence community's judgments became especially clear with the formation of a special Pentagon unit, the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group. The unit, which reported to Undersecretary of Defense Douglas Feith, was dedicated to finding every possible link between Saddam and al Qaeda, and its briefings accused the intelligence community of faulty analysis for failing to see the supposed alliance.
For the most part, the intelligence community's own substantive judgments do not appear to have been compromised. (A possible important exception was the construing of an ambiguous, and ultimately recanted, statement from a detainee as indicating that Saddam's Iraq provided jihadists with chemical or biological training.) But although the charge of faulty analysis was never directly conveyed to the intelligence community itself, enough of the charges leaked out to create a public perception of rancor between the administration and the intelligence community, which in turn encouraged some administration supporters to charge intelligence officers (including me) with trying to sabotage the president's policies. This poisonous atmosphere reinforced the disinclination within the intelligence community to challenge the consensus view about Iraqi WMD programs; any such challenge would have served merely to reaffirm the presumptions of the accusers.
PARTIAL REPAIRS
Although the Iraq war has provided a particularly stark illustration of the problems in the intelligence-policy relationship, such problems are not confined to this one issue or this specific administration. Four decades ago, the misuse of intelligence about an ambiguous encounter in the Gulf of Tonkin figured prominently in the Johnson administration's justification for escalating the military effort in Vietnam. Over a century ago, the possible misinterpretation of an explosion on a U.S. warship in Havana harbor helped set off the chain of events that led to a war of choice against Spain. The Iraq case needs further examination and reflection on its own. But public discussion of how to foster a better relationship between intelligence officials and policymakers and how to ensure better use of intelligence on future issues is also necessary.
Intelligence affects the nation's interests through its effect on policy. No matter how much the process of intelligence gathering itself is fixed, the changes will do no good if the role of intelligence in the policymaking process is not also addressed. Unfortunately, there is no single clear fix to the sort of problem that arose in the case of Iraq. The current ill will may not be reparable, and the perception of the intelligence community on the part of some policymakers -- that Langley is enemy territory -- is unlikely to change. But a few steps, based on the recognition that the intelligence-policy relationship is indeed broken, could reduce the likelihood that such a breakdown will recur.
On this point, the United States should emulate the United Kingdom, where discussion of this issue has been more forthright, by declaring once and for all that its intelligence services should not be part of public advocacy of policies still under debate. In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Tony Blair accepted a commission of inquiry's conclusions that intelligence and policy had been improperly commingled in such exercises as the publication of the "dodgy dossier," the British counterpart to the United States' Iraqi WMD white paper, and that in the future there should be a clear delineation between intelligence and policy. An American declaration should take the form of a congressional resolution and be seconded by a statement from the White House. Although it would not have legal force, such a statement would discourage future administrations from attempting to pull the intelligence community into policy advocacy. It would also give some leverage to intelligence officers in resisting any such future attempts.
A more effective way of identifying and exposing improprieties in the relationship is also needed. The CIA has a "politicization ombudsman," but his informally defined functions mostly involve serving as a sympathetic ear for analysts disturbed by evidence of politicization and then summarizing what he hears for senior agency officials. The intelligence oversight committees in Congress have an important role, but the heightened partisanship that has bedeviled so much other work on Capitol Hill has had an especially inhibiting effect in this area. A promised effort by the Senate Intelligence Committee to examine the Bush administration's use of intelligence on Iraq got stuck in the partisan mud. The House committee has not even attempted to address the subject.
The legislative branch is the appropriate place for monitoring the intelligence-policy relationship. But the oversight should be conducted by a nonpartisan office modeled on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Such an office would have a staff, smaller than that of the GAO or the CBO, of officers experienced in intelligence and with the necessary clearances and access to examine questions about both the politicization of classified intelligence work and the public use of intelligence. As with the GAO, this office could conduct inquiries at the request of members of Congress. It would make its results public as much as possible, consistent with security requirements, and it would avoid duplicating the many other functions of intelligence oversight, which would remain the responsibility of the House and Senate intelligence committees.
Beyond these steps, there is the more difficult issue of what place the intelligence community should occupy within the executive branch. The reorganization that created the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) is barely a year old, and yet another reorganization at this time would compound the disruption. But the flaws in the narrowly conceived and hastily considered reorganization legislation of December 2004 -- such as ambiguities in the DNI's authority -- will make it necessary to reopen the issues it addressed. Any new legislation should also tackle something the 2004 legislation did not: the problem of having the leaders of the intelligence community, which is supposed to produce objective and unvarnished analysis, serve at the pleasure of the president.
The organizational issue is also difficult because of a dilemma that intelligence officers have long discussed and debated among themselves: that although distance from policymakers may be needed for objectivity, closeness is needed for influence. For most of the past quarter century, intelligence officials have striven for greater closeness, in a perpetual quest for policymakers' ears. The lesson of the Iraq episode, however, is that the supposed dilemma has been incorrectly conceived. Closeness in this case did not buy influence, even on momentous issues of war and peace; it bought only the disadvantages of politicization.
The intelligence community should be repositioned to reflect the fact that influence and relevance flow not just from face time in the Oval Office, but also from credibility with Congress and, most of all, with the American public. The community needs to remain in the executive branch but be given greater independence and a greater ability to communicate with those other constituencies (fettered only by security considerations, rather than by policy agendas). An appropriate model is the Federal Reserve, which is structured as a quasi-autonomous body overseen by a board of governors with long fixed terms.
These measures would reduce both the politicization of the intelligence community's own work and the public misuse of intelligence by policymakers. It would not directly affect how much attention policymakers give to intelligence, which they would continue to be entitled to ignore. But the greater likelihood of being called to public account for discrepancies between a case for a certain policy and an intelligence judgment would have the indirect effect of forcing policymakers to pay more attention to those judgments in the first place.
These changes alone will not fix the intelligence-policy relationship. But if Congress and the American people are serious about "fixing intelligence," they should not just do what is easy and politically convenient. At stake are the soundness of U.S. foreign-policy making and the right of Americans to know the basis for decisions taken in the name of their security.
PAUL R. PILLAR is on the faculty of the Security Studies Program at Georgetown
University. Concluding a long career in the Central Intelligence Agency, he served as National
Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia from 2000 to 2005.
More By Paul R. Pillar
Iraq Intelligence U.S. Foreign Policy GW Bush Administration
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Virginia man calls cops after being fouled in basketball game, witnesses say
By fox5dc.com staff
STERLING, Va. - A friendly pickup game at an LA Fitness in Virginia took a hard turn after a player called sheriff’s deputies for being fouled.
"Today for the first time in my life...I experienced someone call the police because they got fouled hard in basketball,” reads a viral tweet with a picture of deputies with the two players.
The incident occurred Monday night at the LA Fitness in Dulles Town Center. The man who shared the photo didn’t want to use his name, but told FOX 5 the man who called the police also happens to be a regular and has played basketball in the facility many times.
He said the man who called authorities was being blocked by an opposing player, the man wearing the tattoo sleeves, which resulted in him falling to the floor.
“No punches were thrown. Nothing,” the witness said. “It wasn’t malicious. No hits to the face or anything like that.”
According to the witness, the man who fell was extremely upset and told the other player he was calling the police.
"I thought he was joking," the witness said. "I thought he was being extra."
But after making his way to the front desk, the other players knew he was serious.
FOX 5 obtained the call to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, which was made by a front desk worker at the gym. She told the dispatcher the gym member was assaulted on the basketball court.
Another witness posted video on Twitter that shows him asking one of the deputies if he’s ever responded to a basketball foul.
“This is my first basketball foul,” said the deputy, who says he thought he was responding to a fight.
Gym management confirmed that the incident occurred and the police were called. FOX 5 reached out to see if there was footage of the incident, but the gym said the basketball courts do not have surveillance footage.
The sheriff’s office said neither man wanted to file a formal report. Perhaps most bizarre about the incident was that after deputies left, the two men returned to finish the game.
“Everyone kept playing. That’s what’s so bizarre about the whole situation -- like why did it have to be that serious?” said the witness.
He said he doesn’t think there was some bigger issue behind what happened.
“You could tell it was strictly basketball," he said. "There were no racial undertones or anything like that."
FOX 5 reached out to the man who called sheriff’s deputies by email, but we have not heard back as of Tuesday night.
Illinois state lawmakers pass controversial police reform bill
Man pistol-whipped, shot by 2 women in Chatham
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Friend of murder victim's brother helps police capture suspect
A murder suspect was captured late Friday night after an intense, nine-hour manhunt in Hunt County, northeast of Dallas.
30-year-old Tyrone Williams is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Nicole Gonzalez and her mother, 51-year-old Vicki Gonzalez.
Police found the victims dead in a home just outside the city limits of Commerce, Texas, Friday afternoon. A newborn baby and an 18-month-old child were found unharmed.
"To watch the officers carry the babies out, one in the arms and one in the carrier," said neighbor Patty Wilson, "It was very sad."
Chris Miles said he spotted Williams walking along railroad tracks and called police.
"He looks me dead in my eyes, and when I saw him, I thought that's who it was." Miles said he grew up with Nicole's brother. "They're an awesome family. They're great people. Nothing out of the ordinary from good people. Good hearts."
Tyrone Williams is being held for Capital Murder but, as of Saturday, Hunt County officials said he had not been arraigned.
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Marissa Mitchell
Marissa Mitchell is an Emmy-nominated and award-winning journalist.
Most recently, she worked as an anchor/reporter at our sister station, FOX 5 Atlanta. Mitchell reported during the day and co-anchored the station’s “News Edge at 11” on weeknights.
Prior to that, she spent a few months solo anchoring “Good Day Atlanta” on weekends. Within her first year of anchoring in her hometown of Atlanta, Mitchell was nominated for “Best Anchor” by the Regional Southeast EMMY Chapter.
Away from the anchor desk, Mitchell covered several major events, including Hurricane Irma, Super Bowl LIII week and multiple days of protests in Atlanta and Charlotte, North Carolina following high-profile, officer-involved shootings in 2016. Mitchell also field-anchored the inauguration of Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp who faced a contentious race against Democrat Stacey Abrams that gained national attention.
Mitchell was also no stranger to the city’s red carpet scene, most notably, chatting with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios. She has interviewed several newsmakers throughout her career from media mogul Oprah Winfrey and screen legend Clint Eastwood to actress Halle Berry and world-renowned wellness guru Deepak Chopra. Her story with celebrity tributes to the late “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin earned her a “Salute to Excellence Award” from the National Association of Black Journalists.
Prior to Atlanta, Mitchell worked as an anchor/reporter in Birmingham, Alabama at WBMA-TV. During her tenure at WBMA, she was part of the station’s launch team for its “Focus @ 4” program. She also served as an anchor for its “Midday News.” Mitchell covered city hall and often broke exclusive reports regarding government funding. She helped lead the station’s coverage of the 50th Anniversary of the “Selma to Montgomery March” which was attended by Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush as well as the late U.S. congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis.
Mitchell’s television career began in Chattanooga, Tennessee as a multimedia journalist for WTVC-TV. There, she reported breaking news, including the deadly April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak across the Southeast. Mitchell also worked as a writer for Rolling Out and Crossroads News.
She earned her master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism in Evanston, Illinois where she received a full-tuition scholarship from the McCormick Foundation. She was also a Knight Foundation and Carnegie Corporation News 21 Fellow. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism from Emory University in Atlanta where she also received a full-tuition scholarship. Mitchell was one of six graduates in her class named to the school's Hall of Fame for her dedication to Emory and the surrounding community.
Mitchell is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the National Association of Black Journalists. She also mentors many budding journalists and speaks at various schools, churches and conferences. Mitchell has received numerous honors for her community involvement with youth and women. She's a sought-after motivational speaker.
Mitchell has been known for what she's done professionally. But her love for journalism didn't start in adulthood. Since the age of nine, she wanted to become a journalist. As a teenager, Mitchell co-hosted the morning announcements television show at Dunwoody High School where fellow Atlanta native and host Ryan Seacrest graduated and had the same role.
In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, travel, dance and go to concerts and festivals.
Mitchell has many relatives and friends in the DMV. She's looking forward to meeting more people and making the area her home.
Tweets by fox5dc
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Bush-bashing Fresno State professor returns to Twitter, calls on 'white editors' to resign
By Bradford Betz, | Fox News
Fresno State addresses professor's Barbara Bush comments
College holds community forum to discuss professor Randa Jarrar's controversial remarks. Campusreform.org correspondent Bernadette Tasy weighs in on 'Fox & Friends First.'
The infamous California university professor who relished in the death of former first lady Barbara Bush is back at it again.
Randa Jarrar, an English professor at California State University, Fresno (aka Fresno State), tweeted this week that “white editors” must resign from positions of power, the Fresno Bee reported, citing CampusReform.org.
“We don’t have to wait for them to f--- up,” Jarrar allegedly wrote. “The fact that they hold these positions is f--- up enough.”
Jarrar’s Twitter account is set to private, but the tweet was captured in a screenshot by Campus Reform.
The tenured professor seemed to be reacting to a 14-line poem written by a “white male” published in the far-left magazine the Nation, the Washington Times reported.
Amid criticism, the poetry editors of the Nation dubbed the poem “ableist” and apologized for “the pain” they caused to “affected” communities.
In April, Jarrar drew public backlash for calling Barbara Bush an “amazing racist” who raised a “war criminal” – a reference to her son, President George W. Bush -- only an hour after the news of the former first lady's death was made public.
“[E]ither you are against these pieces of s--- and their genocidal ways or you’re part of the problem,” Jarrar said in a follow-up tweet. “I’m happy the witch is dead. can’t wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million iraqis have.”
Jarrar merely gloated in the face of near-universal backlash -- which included threats by Fresno State donors to no longer support the university -- and boasted of her $100,000 annual salary.
“I work as a tenured professor,” she said. “I make 100K a year doing that. I will never be fired. I will always have people wanting to hear what I have to say.”
She also bashed farmers as being "f---ing stupid" supporters of President Donald Trump.
According to the Bee, Jarrar is scheduled to resume teaching at the university in the fall. In April, Fresno State's president decided that Jarrar's views were protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Bradford Betz is an editor for Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @bradford_betz.
Here’s how much debt the average American has — and how to pay it off
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Read about the latest newsworthy developments with the franchise or business opportunity you have selected. Use the link below to navigate back to the brochure for your selection.
BrightStar CEO Charting Course for 2019 Growth, Technology Investment
Please click here for more information on BrightStar Care
After reporting a total of 26 territory expansions in 2018, BrightStar Care plans to add even more locations in 2019, with openings slated in Minnesota, Washington and Pennsylvania, among other states.
The Chicago-based at-home care company will continue to leverage technology, build upon existing markets and use new talent to make it happen, BrightStar Care CEO Shelly Sun told Home Health Care News.
“We’re looking at about 30 territory expansions [in 2019], and that’ll be a similar number of brand new franchisees as we had in 2018 and a slightly larger number of locations that have been under development agreements that get slowly brought to their potential,” she said.
Of the 26 offices BrightStar added in 2018, 14 were new locations previously unowned, while 12 were in markets that weren’t being penetrated to their full potential, Sun said.
In 2019 and beyond, both of those areas will remain growth targets for the large franchise-based at-home care provider, which has more than 300 locations and system-wide sales of more than $400 million.
“We really had a strategy in 2018 that will also take us into 2019, [focusing] not just on markets we have not previously been in, but those markets where we’ve had development agreements that haven’t been fulfilled,” Sun said.
In Q4 2018, Pete First joined BrightStar’s executive team as the new vice president of franchise development, who now reports directly to the CEO as a result of the internal restructuring. Consequently, Sun is now more involved in franchise growth than in years past.
“We expect that to pay dividends as we give [First] an opportunity to optimize processes, lead generation and the selection process,” Sun said. “I believe it will continue to accelerate our growth, as it did in the fourth quarter of 2018, going into 2019 and 2020.”
BrightStar offers non-medical and medical services, a subset Sun says will grow in the future, especially as an increasing number of states move to increase the minimum wage.
“We are an industry unlike any other where it’s one-to-one labor to customer, so it’s difficult to use productivity as a way to offset increasing labor cost and not have to pass that on dollar-to-dollar to consumers,” Sun said. “That’s a challenge we continue to be proactively working on, shifting our business mix to increase staffing, increase skilled care, so our franchisees [aren’t as] dependent on personal care and companion care.”
One way BrightStar hopes to tackle the staffing crunch is with proprietary technology initiatives, using it as a way to substitute caregiver visits and grow service offerings.
The company has spent $4 to $5 million on technology investments in each of the past three years, and plans to spend $4 to $6 million in each of the next 2 years, Sun said.
”We’re investing millions of dollars in technology to allow our franchisees to be able to scale substantially into skilled care and into staffing,” she said. “We’re doing some pilots right now in 2019 with technology integrated solutions, and we’ll be expanding that going forward.”
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John-Paul Flintoff
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We won't go
Three British bankers, and Enron
In the morning of June 28 2002, David Bermingham was in bed at home in Oxfordshire. It was 6.45am, and he was feeding a bottle of milk to his three-month-old son, Archie. He was also watching the BBC breakfast news – from which he learned that the US Justice Department intended to prosecute him for fraud. He went looking for his wife in the bathroom. “I walked in with Archie and said, ‘Emma, I have to go to London,’” he recalls. “She said, ‘Why?’ And I said, ‘Come and watch the news.’”
That same day, Giles Darby was staying with friends in Wiltshire. “Somebody phoned and said we should watch the news – because I was on it.” He too was being sought by the American prosecutors. He went into a daze, he says. “As far as we knew we might be on a plane to the US the very next day. I spent the day going round winding up my affairs – as much as that’s possible in such a short period.”
Some time afterwards, Gary Mulgrew, a friend and former colleague of Bermingham and Darby, was chatting to a neighbour in Brighton. The neighbour told Mulgrew about a conversation she’d had with Mulgrew’s eight-year-old son. The boy had said that some Americans were coming after his dad. But it was all right, the boy assured her, because he kept a spear under his bed with which to protect his father. After hearing that, Mulgrew went inside his house and climbed the stairs to his son’s room. He got down on his knees and looked under the bed, where he did indeed find a small spear. At this point, Mulgrew choked up.
Bermingham, Mulgrew and Darby – all aged 42 – worked at NatWest’s investment banking division in the late 1990s. They were very different from one another. A former colleague once said of them that Mulgrew, the team leader, was the type who would say “kick the door down”. Darby, his energetic deputy, would kick it till it broke. And Bermingham, the technical wiz, would offer the key to the door.
Bermingham, who has tidy features and silvery hair, is the quietest of the three. But get him started on his legal case and his eyes sparkle as he throws out arguments and detailed research. He attended a private school for Catholic boys and afterwards studied law. Sponsored through university by the army, he took a commission in the artillery after graduating and served for five years; he still retains something of the upright military bearing. At 27, having reached the rank of captain, he decided he must either leave at once or stay for the rest of his working life. “I really wanted to run my own business,” he recalls, “but I didn’t know how. So I looked for companies that would provide a good business training.” He joined the graduate scheme at NatWest.
Moving to London, he soon found himself hard up: in the army he’d paid little tax and enjoyed free accommodation. “I was in debt fairly frequently. Not big debt, but I couldn’t go out. I had to sell the car.” He also initially found the workplace culture alienating. “I couldn’t cope with the fact that so many people reported sick on Mondays and Fridays. In the army there was a sick parade in the medical centre at 6am. If you were suffering from a hangover that just wasn’t good enough.”
But the money gradually improved and he found himself absorbed in work that he enjoyed: creating “products” (innovative financing mechanisms, taking advantage of discrepancies between tax regimes) to sell to corporate clients. “It was right up my street. The learning curve was almost vertical. There were some very talented people in the department and I soaked it up like a sponge.”
The regular working day was from 8am to 7pm, but like many others in the City, he routinely stayed up all night. “It’s amazing how many deals get signed at 4am.” He grew to like the people he worked with. “It was like a village within the City. A number of banks do this work and everyone knew each other. It attracted people with a particular mindset – lateral thinkers with a warped sense of humour. A fun bunch, gregarious.”
But Bermingham found NatWest’s management oppressively hierarchical. “There were an awful lot of people above us, adding nothing and getting paid for our efforts.” In 1993 he left to run a group at another bank. Five years later, in November 1998, he was invited back by Darby, who’d left NatWest around the same time as Bermingham but rejoined in 1997. “Giles rang and said, ‘You’d love it here. It’s changed… ’”
NatWest had overhauled its investment banking division, merging it with an American bond boutique, Greenwich Capital. The management structure was flattened. In charge of the 250-strong worldwide group was Mulgrew, who’d known Darby since they first worked together in the late 1980s. They were close friends, each man godfather to one of the other’s children.
Darby joined NatWest aged 18 to work as a cashier at the bank’s high-street branch in sleepy Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and gradually worked his way into investment banking in the City. Married with five daughters, Darby has white hair but retains the chunky body of an active rugby player – Mulgrew, less flattering, describes him as having “a round head on a round body”. A natural salesman, Darby can build a rapport with practically anybody; in conversation, he calls everybody “mate”.
Mulgrew, darker-haired and taller than the others, has the kind of squishy nose you might find on a boxer. He’s the third son in a Catholic family from Glasgow. Their father left home when Mulgrew was three, and for four years after that, their mother finding it hard to bring them up alone, they lived in a children’s home. (“But we were all right because we did have a mother,” he says.) He next saw his father when he was 11. “He was quite a successful businessman, living in England. So I grew up with this strange contrast between Glasgow poverty and those holidays with my dad and his Lamborghini.” Mulgrew studied business at Strathclyde University, paying his way by working as, among other things, a nightclub bouncer. He joined NatWest immediately after. He worked for a while in Japan and travelled extensively putting together deals in emerging markets. Then NatWest sponsored him through an MBA and sent him to work in New York. In the late 1990s Mulgrew was centrally involved in setting up Greenwich NatWest, as the most senior figure on the NatWest side. Like anybody else working at that level at such a bank, Mulgrew was earning about £1m a year.
When Bermingham rejoined the other two at NatWest, in 1998, the market was booming. There were plenty of deals, not least in the energy sector. One company that kept the bank busy was Enron, the US energy conglomerate. “I had never heard of them before,” Bermingham recalls. “Many are the nights I wake up wishing I never did.”
Mulgrew’s team first worked with Enron and with its chief financial officer, Andrew Fastow, on the company’s takeover of Wessex Water. “People forget now how lauded Enron was,” Mulgrew says. “It was seen as cutting edge. Banks would work with them for the intellectual property – because a lot of the structures they came up with themselves. They were at the forefront of the market.” Enron’s most favoured banks, including NatWest, could each expect to bring in fees of about $20m a year. “Fastow is an extremely intelligent guy,” says Mulgrew. “He really stood out. But he could be really aggressive. Not usually to me but perhaps to Giles – and I’d have encouraged that.” (Mulgrew and Darby have the kind of friendship that allows deliberately undermining each other in public.)
Early in 2000, NatWest was fighting takeover attempts from both the Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland. The future of the investment banking division looked uncertain. Both Scottish banks indicated that they would sell all or part of the division. “It was a nightmare,” Mulgrew remembers. “Investment banks are all about the people who work in them, and the only way to keep people is to keep them happy.”
How do you do that? “When you get caught up in the City merry-go-round,” Darby explains, “you focus on one thing only – the annual bonus. Everyone is jostling to be on the deal team because the more deals you have worked on the more you can say you have contributed to the bonus pot.” But clients, put off by the takeover battle, were not bringing in new work. So, to enlarge the pool of funds available for paying bonuses to staff who might otherwise leave, Mulgrew set about selling off assets. He also decided that his own future lay elsewhere – as did Bermingham and Darby.
What happened next is complicated – and open to a variety of interpretations – but essentially it went like this: Fastow phoned Mulgrew at the end of February, offering $1m for NatWest’s stake in an off-shore tax vehicle known as SwapSUB that had been set up in partnership with Enron some time before. (Another investment bank, Credit Suisse First Boston, had a stake in SwapSUB too, the same size as NatWest’s). Mulgrew told Fastow that, because of the takeover bid, NatWest would need the money by the end of March. Then he told his bosses about the offer, and with their permission sold NatWest’s stake for $1m – to another offshore vehicle, controlled by Fastow, called Southampton.
Some days later, Southampton paid $10m to CSFB for its identical stake in SwapSUB. A month later, on the day after Bermingham left NatWest, he bought for himself and on behalf of Darby and Mulgrew a share in Southampton for $251,993. Then – all three having by now left the bank – Southampton sold SwapSUB, its only asset, to Enron. The three men’s share of the proceeds was $7.3m.
That’s quite a return. To an outsider, one interpretation of this was that Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew may have defrauded their former employer – by persuading it to accept too little for its asset, then making a huge profit on the same asset themselves. That’s certainly what American prosecutors believe. (The three men deny it, saying that Fastow offered them the private investment only after NatWest had agreed to sell.)
In the months after the three men left NatWest, Enron continued to close deals with an assortment of banks – including RBS, which by this time had taken over NatWest. Those deals have subsequently been criticised and have led to civil litigation. Neal Batson, the independent examiner appointed by the US Federal Bankruptcy Court to look into Enron’s collapse, would put it like this, some months later, in Appendix E of his lengthy report: “RBS and Enron worked together on [three so-called ETOL transactions, relating to Enron Teesside Operations Ltd, a subsidiary of Enron Europe]… in which RBS received verbal assurances of repayment that were at odds with the requirements of the applicable accounting rules.”
But none of Enron’s deals – not the ETOL transactions nor the earlier one involving Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew – came under Batson’s forensic scrutiny until after December 2001, when Enron filed for bankruptcy. Bermingham, in London, read Enron’s filing on Bloomberg: the company had restated its accounts with the Securities and Exchange Commission, announced that a number of deals had been accounted for incorrectly, and that several employees had been sacked. The company’s statement did not mention SwapSUB or Southampton by name, but one of the sacked executives, Ben Glisan, was an investor in Southampton. Bermingham says his instant reaction was “Jesus Christ!”. He phoned Mulgrew, then in Toronto, and told him to look at Bloomberg too.
By this time, having closed their deal with Fastow and deposited the proceeds in their personal accounts – with NatWest, as it happens, in two cases – Mulgrew, Bermingham and Darby had joined Royal Bank of Canada in London. Bermingham and Mulgrew went separately to see the compliance department (Darby was travelling). “We said, ‘Look, this looks like fraud. What do we do?’” remembers Bermingham.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission had launched an accounting investigation – not, at that stage, a criminal one – and when Mulgrew returned to London a week later, the three went to the SEC’s British counterpart, the Financial Services Authority, believing they could help. Mulgrew remembers meeting a team whose cards identified them as “enforcer”. The man in charge had a card that read “chief enforcer” and his card was additionally embossed. (These details amused Mulgrew at the time. They don’t any more.) The conversation, which was taped, lasted several hours. “We went through the whole thing,” says Bermingham. “We gave them everything, including a transaction description that I had written as an aide-memoire. They said, ‘It’s fantastic that you have come in. We’ll speak to the SEC and if they want to get in touch with you they will.’ And they said they [the FSA] would do their own investigation.”
That seemed to be the end of that. For Mulgrew, it was bad enough. “We’d been involved in a dodgy deal. I was paid a lot of money to be better than that. I thought it was the end of my career.” He resigned from Royal Bank of Canada, soon afterwards describing himself on the Friends Reunited website as “an unemployed house-husband”. The others resigned too. Darby bought into an engineering business in Wiltshire. Bermingham decided to try his hand at film finance. These new occupations gave the men some perspective from which to see the work they had previously been doing. Darby, looking back on the “feverish, bonus-led culture” at NatWest, says he has discussed it many times with his wife, and reached this conclusion about investment banking: “It does not make you a nicer person. You get absorbed by greed. You fail to see the important things in life – your family and friends and your health. The desire to get the next cheque is all-embracing. Looking back, I can see that I lived on adrenalin and excitement. But I was hardly ever at home, hardly ever saw the kids. I’m certainly not proud of that, and my wife certainly wasn’t ecstatic. Now, I can look back and think, ‘Thank heavens it’s all changed.’”
But that sense of relief was brief, because the FSA soon afterwards asked for the men’s permission to forward the information they had supplied to the SEC. They agreed, and that same information later comprised the bulk of evidence against them in the American indictment of wire fraud (sending faxes and e-mails across US borders in a scheme to defraud), alongside copies of e-mails supplied to the US authorities by RBS and a statement from an Enron executive. The indictment does make a persuasive case against them. The e-mails in which the men discussed enriching themselves are particularly unedifying. In one, Bermingham writes about the private investment to the other two: “I will be the first to be delighted if [Fastow] has found a way to lock it [$40m] in and steal a large portion himself… We should be able to appeal to his greed.”
“It’s a masterpiece,” Bermingham concedes. “The way it’s presented, anyone reading it will think, ‘These guys are guilty.’ Even I thought I was guilty when I read it,” he adds. Mulgrew, in a separate conversation, says exactly the same.
Since the case has come to light, the question of the Enron Three’s guilt or innocence has been, to a large extent, beside the point. What is most interesting about the case is that here are three Britons who are alleged to have committed a crime in Britain in which the victim (NatWest, now RBS) is British, but who face being sent for trial in Texas under an extradition treaty agreed between the US and the UK as part of the “global war on terror”.
The practice of extradition is relatively old, though the term itself did not appear in English legal treaties until 1843. For a long time, the Old Testament was deemed to forbid it: “You shall not give up to his master the servant who has fled [from his master] to you” (Deuteronomy). But as long ago as 1174 the kings of England and Scotland agreed to exchange criminals who fled one country to the other. Five hundred years later, after the Restoration of the monarchy, Charles II persuaded Denmark to surrender various men involved in the execution of his father, Charles I – but failed to secure agreement from Switzerland.
The first treaty covering such exchange between Great Britain and the United States of America was signed in 1792. Since then, there have been a number of other agreements, each of them throwing up awkward issues that threatened good diplomatic relations. In the 1820s, for example, after slavery had been abolished in Britain, the House of Lords decided it would be wrong to return runaway slaves to the US. And the US has never freely handed over people suspected of terrorist activities in Ireland.
The latest treaty covering extradition between Britain and the US was negotiated in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The result was an agreement that allowed the US to request individuals for extradition without even supplying prima facie evidence against them. The contrary does not apply: British authorities must still supply a case against American citizens, nor will Britain send Americans to the International Criminal Court, which the US does not recognise. As the treaty was going through parliament in 2003 to be enshrined as law, a few MPs spoke against it, but without effect. After it was passed, Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “The home secretary seems to make a habit of ignoring parliament when it suits him. [This] legislation should be properly debated, not slipped through in the pre-Christmas rush.”
As it happens, the US has still not ratified the treaty in the Senate – not least because American civil liberties groups fiercely oppose taking decisions from the courts and handing them to government. But the British parliament has enshrined as law a treaty that not only seems less advantageous to Britain than to the US but also compares unfavourably with similar treaties between the US and other European countries.
Bermingham has drawn up a table of bilateral treaties between the US and 119 other countries. (“That’s how pathetic I am,” he smiles.) He gives me a copy. “Not a single country has more onerous provisions on its citizens than the UK, with respect to the US,” he says. France, for instance, will not hand over its own nationals to the US but undertakes to try them at home where appropriate. Thus Roman Polanski, the film director charged with statutory rape in the US, remains in France because he enjoys French nationality.
To understand why the Enron Three were charged in the US it may help to consider the timing. After Enron went bust, the Department of Justice launched a criminal investigation in January 2002, appointing a group of prosecutors to form a specialised Enron task force in Washington. Practically every Enron executive and external adviser potentially involved in the investigation pleaded the Fifth Amendment: they were saying nothing. Consequently the task force had made little progress when, nearly six months later, an even greater corporate failure occurred: on June 26 the biggest bankruptcy in US history saw WorldCom go bust, amid accusations of massive fraud. This did not look good. Shares on Wall Street fell substantially, contributing to the growing post-bubble gloom enveloping the US economy. The following day, at a meeting of the Group of Eight, US president George W. Bush said the seeming proliferation of corporate crimes was putting the economy at risk. To Bush’s embarrassment, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin was likewise moved to express concern. This considerably raised the pressure on the Enron task force to get some convictions. The day after, the task force announced charges against Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew.
Each man separately engaged an American attorney (joint representation is prohibited, to avoid potential conflicts of interest). Without ever meeting their clients face to face, the attorneys went to see the task force, then reported back. As Mulgrew remembers it, the task force told them, “We are not talking unless your clients plead guilty and co-operate.”
The attraction of plea-bargaining, from the point of view of the accused, is that it ensures a limit on the sentence. The alternative is horrific. Federal sentencing guidelines could result in these men serving up to 35 years inside, with no parole. Judges award additional time in jail to defendants who plead innocent and give testimony in their own defence, because this is regarded as perjury. To avoid this eventuality, many defendants prefer not to say anything at all. The courts in Washington state have ruled that these sentencing guidelines are unconstitutional, and no longer use them. (The matter is going for review to the US Supreme Court.) But Texas still uses federal sentencing guidelines, so Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew, if convicted, could be into their 70s by the time they come out.
As Mark Spragg, the lawyer representing all three men in the UK, argues, the US Department of Justice indicted his clients and sought their extradition as much as anything to intimidate them into giving much needed evidence about Enron executives. “If you bully people and frighten them enough,” he says, “they wet themselves. It’s a form of torture. In Britain we do not recognise the idea of putting pressure on people in this way.”
It must have crossed the minds of the three men to take up the task force’s offer: to plea-bargain and to give evidence against each other and against Enron executives such as Fastow, against the former president, chief executive and chief operating officer Jeffrey Skilling and even against the chairman, Ken Lay. “We were given the opportunity,” says Mulgrew. “We were offered a deal. And I know now that [Fastow] has done a lot of bad stuff.” (Fastow, like Glisan, has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.) “But I liked him and I genuinely feel sorry for him – though that’s not going to make me popular. I would not want to stand up in court and perjure myself. I have never met Lay – and Skilling only a couple of times. My attorney encouraged me to take this seriously. I said it would take 10 seconds. The answer was no.”
It is easy to understand why the Enron task force charged the men, but why didn’t the British authorities take action? Could it be, simply, that the British authorities do not wish to upset their American counterparts? According to this line of thought, just as Tony Blair is George Bush’s poodle, so the FSA must be considered poodle to the SEC, and the Serious Fraud Office trots daintily at the heels of the Department of Justice.
But does that stand scrutiny? On August 16, the US government went to court in London to begin proceedings on the extradition to the US of Abu Hamza, formerly imam at Finsbury Park mosque. The US hoped to try him on terrorist charges. But 11 days later Hamza, a British citizen, was arrested by British police on suspicion of terrorism offences. The British case takes precedence over the extradition proceedings – which suggests that the British authorities are prepared to frustrate their American counterparts occasionally.
Or does it? Could it be that the British arrested Hamza precisely in order to save American embarrassment in the extradition proceedings? Shortly beforehand, the American attorney-general, John Ashcroft, had made the mistake of mentioning that Hamza could face the death penalty, which Britain does not recognise and would in itself constitute a reason for blocking Hamza’s extradition.
Thus, paradoxically, the type of individual who occupied the minds of British parliamentarians who consented to the new extradition law – an alleged terrorist – has been kept from American justice, while three former investment bankers are being rushed through the new fast-track extradition procedures. More executives could follow. Alun Jones QC, the barrister representing Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew, is aware of four other men, senior figures in industry and the City, who have sought legal advice relating to potential extradition requests for conduct in the UK.
Mulgrew believes that just about anybody working in the City could be targeted by American prosecutors eager to make their names. “If you send an e-mail [on what turns out to be a contentious matter] from London to Edinburgh via a [US-based] Cisco server… you’re fucked. All it needs is an aggressive prosecutor. They don’t even need any prima facie evidence.” Anybody in Britain who feels a chill upon reading that sentence must hope that Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew succeed in providing a strong precedent against extradition under the new treaty.
So why, given the nature of the charges – and the fact that so much of the evidence came from the FSA – does the FSA not pursue them itself? Why does the British taxpayer fund all those enforcers if they do not actually enforce? And can it really be sensible for the FSA to throw off responsibility for people who came voluntarily to provide help? Does it suppose anybody else will risk doing that in future? The answer, according to director of enforcement Andrew Proctor, is that the FSA is restricted by statute to investigating and prosecuting a narrow range of offences, which can be characterised as having more to do with financial services regulation than fraud. It is, in addition, permitted to help overseas regulators – and that is exactly what it did after the three men came in to provide information.
What about the Serious Fraud Office? Immediately before the three men’s extradition hearing in London at the end of September, the SFO’s director, Robert Wardle, sent a letter to the Crown Prosecution Service affirming that he did not intend to investigate their case. “The other participants in the alleged conspiracy [including Fastow] are to be dealt with in, and are available to give evidence in, the United States,” he wrote. That letter persuaded the judge to allow the extradition: “Of course these defendants could have been tried here,” Judge Nicholas Evans said in his judgment, “but it would seem they are not going to be.” He observed that there was “a good and proper basis for prosecuting them in the US. The US wants to prosecute them in the US. The process of extradition is necessary in a democratic society and proportionate.”
One of the consequences is that it will be harder for the men to mount a defence: from a Texan jail, they will be able only to request certain documents from NatWest rather than subpoena the lot (as they could if they were tried in Britain). “Even if I’m found innocent in Texas,” Mulgrew concludes, “I’d be ruined. How would I fund the case? To get witnesses there from England, I’d have to pay their tickets. Some of them don’t know me. Are they going to come over? No chance. And I would not be able to subpoena them. And the ones who did come, I would have to buy them open airline tickets because you don’t know when they would be called… I’d be better off walking into a police station in England and saying I’m guilty. I would do two years in an open prison [in the UK].”
Equally surprising is the RBS’s failure to start proceedings against the three former employees. Lawyers representing Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew have written asking the bank to launch such proceedings if it sees grounds, or else to make clear that it regards them as blameless. “We’ve begged Fred Goodwin [the bank’s chief executive],” says Bermingham. “‘For God’s sake get off the fence!’” In reply, they received a somewhat non-commital letter from RBS’s lawyers: “Our client continues to reserve all rights which it may have against your clients.”
Does RBS feel that the men did not defraud it after all? The Batson report shows that CSFB, before securing $10m for its own, identical stake in SwapSUB, valued it at just less than $3m. So perhaps RBS considers the $1m paid by Southampton to be satisfactory. But that can’t be right: because the bank could save its former employees a lot of trouble by saying so and it has not done so.
For the bank, the extradition case is an embarrassment. Batson was outspoken in his criticism of the ETOL deals that RBS transacted after the departure of Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew. In his conclusion he wrote that the evidence he had seen was “sufficient… to conclude that RBS aided and abetted Enron officers in breaching their fiduciary duties”. Based on the evidence in Batson’s report, a group of Enron shareholders has already started a civil action against RBS (and others), accusing the bank of helping Enron executives to falsify financial statements.
When I asked RBS for further comment, a spokesman would say only this: “Serious allegations of criminal conduct have been made against these three ex-NatWest bankers. We are not yet aware of all the facts and evidence. Accordingly we have pursued the appropriate course, namely to reserve our rights against the three, to monitor the criminal proceedings closely and to determine what action, if any, would be appropriate in light of the final outcome.”
On November 26, lawyers representing Bermingham, Darby and Mulgrew submitted papers to the home secretary, David Blunkett, containing an array of reasons why the extradition should not be allowed. The home secretary is likely to make a decision in February, on a case that will set an important precedent.
Meanwhile others have got involved, conscious that the case has wider repercussions for all British citizens. One is Liberty, an independent organisation based in south London, which works to promote human rights and protect civil liberties through test-case lit
igation and lobbying. While the extradition bill was going through parliament, Liberty had argued strenuously that the fast-track procedures offered insufficient protection. In response, home office minister John Denham promised that judges would be obliged to consider whether extradition complied with the European Convention on Human Rights. If a case could be brought in the UK, Liberty believes, extradition would interfere with the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8). And the case of the Enron Three offered a chance to set a precedent on this matter. If the home secretary declines to intervene on the men’s behalf, Liberty intends to join them in pursuing the matter in higher courts.
Mulgrew, who went to see Liberty, did not expect the organisation to be particularly interested in his case. “We understand that we are not sympathetic to the mainstream. We are three ex-City bankers. There is a view that there is no smoke without fire, you don’t make as much money as we did without doing something bad.” In fact, Liberty welcomed him. After all, cases involving people from ethnic minorities can be even harder to promote in the mainstream media. To put that another way, three rich bankers may not appeal to everybody, but they’re probably less loathed than Abu Hamza.
Senior members of parliament have rallied around the men. Like Liberty, most MPs avoid taking a view on the alleged fraud – they have no idea whether the three are guilty – but they do not believe they should be extradited. Bermingham’s MP, Boris Johnson, has put down a motion calling for the government to defer all extraditions until the US ratifies the treaty, and to require prima facie evidence from the US authorities in each case.
Friends have established a website, www.friendsextradited.org, which sets out the issues and invites comments from supporters. One, from Darby’s nephew, reads: “Please help him and the other two because I couldn’t stand seeing anything bad happen to him so please anyone, everyone please help!!!” Another supporter is an American who has lived in the UK for five years and knows Bermingham’s wife. Shannon Stegeman says she was wary at first, because by instinct she wanted to defend her own country. “But seeing the way the case has evolved, I’ve been disgusted. If an American was waiting to be extradited to the UK, there would be so much outrage – it just wouldn’t happen. If the two countries have such a wonderful relationship as we hear, this is a terrible example of that. It’s just so one-sided.”
It is possible that none of these developments will save the three, who remain in a state of great uncertainty. Mulgrew has sought assurances that nobody will come to his house early in the morning to arrest him, but no assurances were given. “So I had to tell my son that there might be some people coming to the house. And I’ve had a suit packed and ready for months.”
Meanwhile, the men get on with everyday life. Darby continues to manage his engineering firm. “It’s doing all right,” he says. “Not great, but it ain’t losing money.” Mulgrew runs a construction business in Brighton. Bermingham still works in film, as a consultant to producers whose names he asks me not to publish: “They’ve been incredibly good to me, when other people would have dropped me.” One significant hardship, he adds, has been staying away from friends and former colleagues who might conceivably be needed as defence witnesses.
Whatever the three men have done, they say, turned out to be wrong. Not just investing in Southampton, but also speaking voluntarily to the FSA about it. “Every American lawyer I have spoken to,” says Mulgrew, “has said we were fucking insane to give that evidence… I had to laugh when I heard [an Enron executive] talking about how he smashed up his computer and shredded all his documents.”
Throughout their ordeal, the three have stuck by each other. Each has come under pressure to plea-bargain and provide evidence against the other two. So far, none has done that. It is impossible to say whether extradition will drive them apart, but Darby says that’s unlikely. “I don’t see how one of us can get off. Either we all did this, or we didn’t. The allegation is that we undersold this. It’s impossible to see how one of us can say, ‘Those two did it, and I didn’t.’” The other men, likewise, insist they will stick together. “It’s not about trusting the other guys not to turn on me,” says Mulgrew. “It’s the principle. I wouldn’t perjure myself against anyone. I wouldn’t do it to Fastow. And I wouldn’t do it to you.”
5801 words. First published 18 December 04. © FT Magazine
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Field Spaniel Breed History
by Carole Kaye © 2007 All Rights Reserved
Field Spaniels were one of the first breeds to be shown and registered in America. Their show careers trace back to well before the AKC was founded in 1884, and even before the American Spaniel Club was founded in 1881. They have been recorded in some of our country’s earliest stud books. Black Field Spaniel Champion Benedict was an American Champion by 1883, before there even was an AKC! The first Field Spaniel registered in America was “Dash,” whelped in 1879, and imported by Mr. A. H. Moore. How did they originate?
Spaniels have been documented for many centuries, particularly in Europe and the UK. The breeds and categories of today have evolved from earlier distinctions. The smallest of the spaniels were known as ‘comforters’ and were the foundations of today’s “toy” varieties. The larger, working spaniels were classified as either “land” spaniels or as “water” spaniels. The land spaniels specialized in seeking and flushing small game including hare and game birds, at first being used with falcons or with the net, and later being used as gun dogs when the gun became utilized for hunting.
In the UK and the USA, the smaller of these land spaniels became known as “cocker spaniels” because of their unique specialty of working the woodcock birds. Larger flushing spaniels were commonly referred to as “field spaniels” or “springers” because of the way they would ‘spring’ or flush out the game. As dog shows emerged in the second half of the 19th century, there was an evolution of spaniel “breeds” as distinguished from one another by “Breed Standards” (written descriptons) that were established by the kennel clubs and expert writers of the day.
The Field Spaniel had developed into a distinct breed primarily out of a combination of larger black cocker spaniels (most notably those that date back to the early 1800’s from Mr. Footman’s kennels) that were interbred with other regional strains, particularly those larger and longer Sussex strains. It has been alleged that in FS early development, Irish Water Spaniels (giving the top knot and refined head), Norfolk or English Springer Spaniels, and even the Basset Hound (influencing color, short crooked legs, long body length and haw) were cross bred with these early Field Spaniels. At that time, Cockers and Field Spaniels were frequently interbred, and the resultant pups were exhibited in whichever classification they most resembled, usually a categorization done by weight and color. As the varieties of land spaniels became distinct breeds, the breed known as Field Spaniels were the larger springers (over 28 pounds) that were generally black, liver or roan in color.
When the dog show phenomenon took off in the late 1800’s and the various strains of spaniels became more carefully defined by the ‘breed standards,’ the whims and fancies of the breeders and the judges of the day greatly influenced the evolution of the spaniel family. With a few exceptions among breeders who still hunted over their dogs, spaniels were no longer being selectively bred primarily for their usefulness as working dogs in the field. They were instead being bred according to the fancy notions of what would win prizes in the dog shows. The handsome Field Spaniel became immensely popular.
By 1900 the “Field Spaniel” breed had passed its peak of popularity amongst the spaniel fanciers, both in the US and abroad. In the 1890’s, the breed had become excessively long and low because that was what was whimsically thought to be superior and was winning in the show rings. Then the press began to ridicule them for their extremes, causing them to be less desirable. The Field Spaniel was left with only a few dedicated breeders, and their numbers diminished significantly while other breeds (including the Cocker and the English Springer Spaniel) gained popularity. The remaining Field Spaniel breeders did what they could to reestablish the breed’s appearance, or “type”, to be higher up on leg and of a more moderate length, while preserving the very distinguishing head of the Field Spaniel. Even though they were successful in reestablishing the quality of the breed, their efforts unfortunately did not win back the popularity for the breed partly because other breeds had by then captured the public’s fancy, and because of the advent of the World Wars.
Throughout the 1900’s, the Field Spaniel had some ups and downs, but these were mostly downs until a rally began in the late 1960’s. Luckily there were a few dedicated breeders in England that had saved the breed from extinction. In America, registrations of the breed had slowed enormously through the teens and only a few were registered from the late 1920’s thru 1941. There weren’t any in the AKC studbooks from 1942 until Dick Squier and Carl Tuttle brought in their imports in 1967 and started the revival of the breed in America. They can be seen in the photo below taken at the ASC Flushing Show in 1968.
All of today’s Field Spaniels can be traced back in lineage to 4 dogs from the 50’s-60’s era: Elmbury Morwenna of Rhiwlas (liver bitch in the photo below,) Columbina of Teffont (black bitch,) Ronayne Regal and Gormac Teal, (black dog littermates.) This foundation stock produced 2 famous litters (the A and the J), both credited to Mrs. A. M. Jones MBE of “Mittina” prefix in England. Partial credit for retention of hunting ability is given to an Interbred registered outcross to a successful field dog, the tri-color English Springer Spaniel British Ch Whaddon Chase Duke, which was a few generations behind the famous Mittina litters.
We can all be grateful to that handful of breeders who salvaged the breed throughout the 1900’s. Without them we wouldn’t have these wonderful dogs that we have today! The breed’s popularity picked up as the 20th century advanced, and the Field Spaniel Society of America was formed to promote and protect the breed and became the AKC’s parent club for the breed in 1978. Today, the breed is increasingly gaining recognition as a handsome and versatile dog of sound health, good disposition, willing temperament, with good hunting drive and scenting ability, and as we embark into the 21st century, Field Spaniels are especially prized as favorites in the home, where they are well-loved, great family companions.
AKC’s 2017 Outstanding Sportsmanship Winner
2016 FSSA’s Service Dog Winner
Kylie’s Pictorial Guide to Grooming for Field Spaniels
Judging the Field Spaniel
The Field Spaniel – From the Breeders Eye
Fun Times at Eukanuba National Championship
Our responsibility is to preserve and protect the Field Spaniel. To provide guidance & education of judges, breeders and the public. To conduct sanctioned & licensed specialty shows under the AKC rules.
AKC Outstanding Sportsmanship
FSSA's Service Dog of the Year
Junior Handlers
Copyright 2012 - 2020 Field Spaniel Society of America | All Rights Reserved | Designed by Blue Ridge Graphics
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Fastmatch, GTX and Hotspot Mark Declines in July, Still Seasonally Strong
The major ECNs in the FX trading industry that are reporting volumes on a daily basis marked declines in July.
Victor Golovtchenko | Execution ( Institutional FX ) | Sunday, 31/07/2016 | 06:31 GMT+2 2016-07-31T04:31:05+00:00 2016-08-02T09:53:56+00:00
Photo: Finance Magnates
Major ECNs in the foreign exchange trading industry have marked some declines in month-on-month figures. While the first full summer month has been much slower than the explosive June, when the Brexit vote triggered some unprecedented GBP moves, the numbers for July are quite solid considering the seasonality of the markets.
Pockets of volatility have impacted trading volumes on certain days with the most notable spikes related to the ECBs and the Bank of Japan’s rates decisions and to the disappointing GDP growth figures in the US which were announced on the final trading day of the month.
Just like Finance Magnates predicted in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, this summer is different in terms of trading volumes in the industry and that is primarily related to the unlocking of volatility at the end of June. Looking towards the month of August, the key factors that are going to affect trading volumes are the Fed’s outlook for interest rates and the prospective slowdown in the UK.
Fastmatch
Fastmatch trading volumes have declined 24.6 per cent on a nominal basis to a total of $270 billion during the month of July. While the decline is material, the figure is still a whopping 46 per cent higher than in July 2015.
Looking at the average daily volumes (ADV) metric, Fastmatch reports $12.9 billion per day, which is lower by 20 per cent when compared to June and higher by over 60 per cent when compared to the same month last year.
Fastmatch has continued delivering strong metrics in light of its recent effort to expand its teams globally with some key changes in the offering and key hires in recent months boosting the trading venue’s appeal.
FXSpotStream
FXSpotStream has released its latest set of trading volumes to the public with figures for the month of July remaining solid. The company has reported that total trading volumes amounted to $412.6 billion which is lower only by 9.6 per cent when compared to last month’s figures which were greatly impacted by the Brexit vote.
The foreign exchange ECN (Electronic Communications Network) trading venue has marked Average Daily Volumes (ADV) at $19.6 billion, a figure that is higher by 39.6 per cent when compared to a year ago and lower than last month by merely 5.3 per cent. The only company that has registered such impressive year-on-year growth amongst major ECNs is Fastmatch.
Considering the impact of the 4th of July holidays on these figures, which usually lead to a couple of days with slower trading activity, the performance of FXSpotStream in July has been quite solid. The metrics have continued to be impacted by pockets of volatility which has been the theme since the beginning of the year.
GAIN GTX
GAIN Capital’s GTX trading volumes have declined more modestly when compared to the month of June with the venue’s ECN+SEF tally coming in at $173.6 billion. Including the swap dealer facility of GAIN Capital’s GTX, the figures are coming in at $223.3 billion.
The numbers are lower by 18 and 16 per cent when compared to last month with the ECN+SEF volumes being higher by 11 per cent when compared to a year ago. The total number that includes the swap dealer (SD) facility is lower year-on-year by 4 per cent, due to a decline of 35 per cent in the SD total.
The ADV numbers for the GTX ECN+SEF facilities in July are $8.3 billion, which is lower by 14 per cent when compared to the previous month and higher by 21 per cent when compared to last year. The addition of the swap dealer facility rounds total trading volumes to $10.6 billion daily, which is lower by 12 per cent when compared to June and higher by 5 per cent when compared to the same month in 2015.
The foreign exchange trading venue operated by BATS Global Markets has reported that its July trading volumes declined by 13 per cent when compared to June to a total of $551 billion. The number was higher than a year ago by 2 per cent.
Looking at the ADVs, the figure for July totaled $26.2 billion, which is higher by 11 per cent when compared to a year ago and lower by 9 per cent when compared to June. The decline in the metrics of Hotspot is the lower amongst the venues that have already reported their numbers for the month of July.
An Active Post-Brexit Summer
We are seeing trading volumes across the board broadly higher than in the same period a year ago. The notable difference for July trading volumes is that the totals are higher when compared to the months leading to June. Only January and February, which are typically very active, have netted higher volumes for major ECNs.
The prospects for August are for a repeat of the higher year-on-year performance, with some weight possible from the Chinese market once again. Money market rates in China in recent days have raised some eyebrows with volatility across local markets becoming jittery. Overall, the industry is probably looking at a decent month of August considering the pockets of uncertainty that are expected to increase trading activity.
Tags: fastmatch / Gain Gtx / gtx / Hotspot
FX Volumes at PrimeXM Take a Step Back in December 2020
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FitnessRX for Men > News > Gerard Dente
The Mind Behind the Muscle Is Back
by J.A. Giresi
Monday. 21 May 2018
Gerard Dente and Steve Jobs have much in common. Both were founders of corporations that made them stand out as solid names in their chosen industries. For Jobs, it was Apple. For Dente, it was Maximum Human Performance—better known as MHP, and MuscleMeds.
Both Dente and Jobs were innovators in their fields. Jobs created the Mac. Dente created DARK MATTER™. And, both were forced out of the companies that they nurtured, loved and respected; only to find themselves once again back in the driver’s seat as the CEO and major shareholder of the company. Once more they were running their business on their terms with the solid foundations that made them movers and shakers in their chosen profession.
Gerard Dente’s story is one that starts with a love of training and bodybuilding from the age of 13 when he was growing up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey next to Montclair in Essex County. Gerard would train at his best friend’s garage and continued throughout high school to weigh an impressive 235 pounds and be able to bench press 400 pounds! That’s quite a feat for any high school student! Gerard also started taking a serious look at bodybuilding while playing football in high school.
At the age of 18, in 1986, Dente won the NPC New Jersey Championships by placing as Teen Overall Winner. A year later he won the NPC Teen Nationals, placing first in the heavyweight division and being named Overall Winner. Although Dente had been an all-state football player and played defensive tackle for his high school, it was then Dente decided to concentrate full time on his bodybuilding career over the next 10 years in the NPC.
Gerard Dente graced the covers of Muscular Development in June 1995, January 1996 and April 2001. In 1988, he won the NPC Collegiate Nationals while attending Montclair State College. In the NPC USA Championships in 1995, Dente placed third in the heavyweight division and ended his career after placing fourth in the NPC North Americans.
“With his muscularity, classic shape and symmetry, Gerard was always in great condition when he competed,” Steve Blechman, owner, CEO and editor-in-chief of Muscular Development recalled. “Many wondered why he didn’t place higher and turn pro.”
After 10 years of trying to achieve his pro bodybuilding dream, Gerard Dente decided to end his bodybuilding career. He decided to go on a new path for himself and would investigate another career, supplements— and what a career it was!
In 1997, Maximum Human Performance, or MHP, was formed— with its aim of producing science-based, nutritional supplements for the bodybuilding and fitness community. The great Victor Martinez was the face of the brand for the company. Adding to help solidify the brands were the addition of ambassadors for the companies such as Hall-of-Famer Kai Greene (MuscleMeds 2007), former UFC Champion Fabrício Werdum (MHP) and Brian Shaw, four-time World’s Strongest Man champion (MHP). Having come from a bodybuilding background, Dente could relate to his athletes— which would help to foster good relations between himself and MHP/MuscleMeds.
Over the years, the top sellers were SECRETAGOGUE-ONE™, the first sports HGH supplement sold in GNC and Vitamin Shoppe in 1998 that is still on the market. TRAC® (1999) was the first product to introduce nitric oxide to sports nutrition. It is a patented, time-release arginine creatine supplement. T-BOMB® is another MHP hit and one of the supplement industry’s longest-running testosterone formulas, now sold in its third generation as T-BOMB® 3XTREME, which is clinically tested and proven to boost testosterone without increasing estrogen.
TracExtremePunch
As MHP began to soar, Dente decided to form MuscleMeds in 2007— with its first product being ARIMATEST. MHP’s DARK MATTER™ would soon follow suit in 2008. DARK MATTER™ was a top-selling post-workout, clinically tested amino acid complex shown to increase protein synthesis 360 percent. Other successful products included POWER PAK pudding®— the number one high-protein pudding (2001) and CARNIVOR™ (2009), the number one-selling beef protein isolate.
In 2010, after running the company for almost 13 years, as it continued to grow, private equity firms had approached Gerard about buying the business. In 2010, Gerard sold 60 percent of his shares in MHP to a private equity firm; Dente would retain 40 percent ownership of the company and still retain the title of President and CEO. Gerard had thought that would be a way of gaining security for himself and his family but after the transition, Dente watched as the new ownership slowly changed. In 2015, the private equity firm decided to go forward with a “new vision for the brand.” Dente was forced out toward the end of 2015 as President and CEO.
From 2015 through 2017, the new vision of the private equity firm included changing the familiar blue and yellow logo, cutting all of the athletes, discontinuing top sellers and turning over longtime key personnel— the company was dismantled. “It was just too painful to watch,” recalled Dente. “When you see something that you worked extremely hard to build, there’s an extreme amount of sentimental value that goes with it.”
In December 2017, Gerard bought out the private equity firm and once again became MHP/MuscleMeds President and CEO. Dente’s first action was to change the company’s logo back to its original branding. “This was the brand people knew and trusted! I wanted it back!” he told me.
Gerard also decided to bring back the supplements that gave the companies their proven track record of success. He started with DARK MATTER™, MHP’s post-workout formula, alongside its current lineup that includes the top selling UP YOUR MASS®, the ultimate mass-building weight gainer— bringing back a customer favorite, with a new edge.
“We have also brought Victor Martinez back to MHP and signed Larry Wheels aka ‘The World’s Strongest Bodybuilder’ to join Classic Physique Star Chris Bumstead, and Nathan De asha (MuscleMeds), a rising star in the IFBB Pro League” – who is on this month’s cover of May 2018 Muscular Development. “We’re already making great strides,” Dente continues. “We will be launching some very innovative products and have already rebuilt an amazing staff determined to build MHP back.”
MHP is planning the launch of HYPER CRUSH, anticipated for June 2018, a new pre-workout formula that promises “an unstoppable pre-workout rush.” Judging from what Dente and Team MHP have accomplished already, it is clear to see that the man behind the muscle is back— and will do whatever it takes to make his company a titan once again.
mhpstrong.com
J.A. Giresi
J.A. Giresi is a contributing editor for FitnessRx and Muscular Development. She is a native Long Islander and the author of the novels The Turn of the Dime, Billy's Cascade and Potholes: A Tale of Murder, Road Rage & Romance. She is also a founding partner and CEO of Double J IT Consulting Services. For more information, visit jagiresi.com Twitter: @jwgiresi
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Eye For Film >> Movies >> Mr Nobody (2009) Film Review
Reviewed by: Robert Munro
Read Robert Munro's DVD Review
Mr. Nobody is Belgian auteur aco Van Dormael’s third feature film of the last 20 years. Prolific, he ain’t. However, when the end result is a film as magical and beguiling as this one, such sluggish activity can be forgiven.
In one of the most baffling, yet beautifully shot, opening 15 minutes of any film we are introduced to Nemo Nobody in a variety of different guises: as a boy, an 118 year old man, a 34-year-old man living in three different realities with three different families, and on Mars as a creation in a novel of one of the three 15-year-old versions of Nemo. And that’s just the first 15 minutes. You will need patience and concentration in abundance, but you’ll be more than well rewarded.
Jared Leto plays the aforementioned Nobody as the 34 year old and, using some eerily convincing prosthetics and make up, the 118 year old version of himself. The year is 2092 and Mr Nobody is the last mortal alive on earth - that is, he’s the last person alive who will die. In a future drawn from the same inkwell as Philip K Dick’s dystopian visions, mortality is no longer an issue as people are able to infinitely replenish their healthy cells.
Nemo is the star of a reality show, which involves watching an old man with crippling memory loss slowly die – yes, reality TV can get worse. His psychiatrist, complete with odd tattoos covering his face, tries to extract Nemo’s past memories without success – no one in this future society knows who Nemo is, as he doesn’t exist on any public records. As Nemo’s life is about to be decided by the public through a poll on the reality show – let him continue to slowly die, or get rid of him now – a journalism student sneaks into Nemo’s room and begins earnestly questioning him about his past.
This is where Dormael’s film really begins to fizzle with an abundance of ideas, most of which are beautifully realised. Before he is born, Nemo appears as a young boy in what seems to be heaven. The film works from the perspective that children are born as fully realised individuals, with complete knowledge of the events they are about to enter into. This memory is wiped by the angels as they send the kids to their prospective parents by gently pressing their finger onto the lips of the young in a gesture of silence, which also leaves that little indent above our top lip. However, the angels pass Nemo by and he enters our world full of this knowledge.
The film curiously toys with big ideas around fate and determinism, with the same irony and lightness of touch – yet with the same underlying melancholy – as Paul Thomas Anderson's peerless Magnolia. Nemo’s dialogue serves to emphasise the point, with lines such as: “As long as you don’t choose anything, everything is possible”, and, “Most of the time nothing happened. Like a French movie”. While the film’s themes prod and poke the viewer towards something approaching profundity, the visual design lulls you into a sense of wonder.
Dormael, and cinematographer Christophe Beaucarne, manipulate the image into the same pointedly appealing and winkingly ironic visual palette of a Wes Anderson film. Shots are seamlessly welded together through a changing of space and time. For example, we begin a shot in Nemo’s 15-year-old bedroom in the reality in which he lives with his mother in Canada. The camera glides from his bedroom, out through the window revealing the picturesque house he lives in. The camera continues back further – the pretty house is now a postcard on a table in England - to another version of 15-year-old Nemo’s world where he chose to live with his father instead. All of this seemingly in one luxurious shot. This is the magic of cinema.
The question of which version of Nemo’s reality is true, if any, is one that may infuriate viewers. Is the whole thing the deliberately misremembered past of gnarly old Nemo, one final finger up to the futuristic society that has no place for him? Is it all the imaginings of the 15-year-old Nemo, who writes science fiction from the safety of his bedroom? Are we really experiencing an objective vision of reality, one in which the decisions we make (or not as the case may be) do not lead us down a single path, but instead splinter off into other worlds? Who knows. And you know what? Who cares.
Beneath the interesting intricacies of Dormael’s worlds, and Nemo’s ability to manipulate time and space, exist real characters, with real emotions. This is not a shiny film about big bang theory or string theory, but a film about our inability to really make the most of the time that we do have.
And this is what separates Dormael’s film from the aforementioned Wes of Anderson. Beyond the visual eccentricities and smirking smarts there is not only an intellectual yearning but, more importantly, there’s real heart. Once we are thrust into the various different realities that are home to 15-year-old Nemo, we forget everything else and become wrapped up in the story of a vulnerable and lonely teenage boy, fighting with his first experiences of love. The part is excellently played by Toby Regbo, who not only nails the surly nature of teenage adolescence, but also manages to bring subtly different performances in the three different realities.
He is most successfully paired up with Juno Temple as Nemo’s true love, Anna – they are brought together by their parents’ relationship, but soon form one of their own. There are also terrific performances from the adult cast. Jared Leto is as good as he always is in the lead role, making you wish he’d act more regularly. There’s admirable support from Diane Kruger and, particularly, Sarah Polley as two of Nemo’s three wives - Linh Dan Pham has a much smaller role in the vision of Nemo's life in which he leaves nothing to chance, as opposed to everything.
Having never received a theatrical release in the UK or the US – and what a sad indictment of the prevailing conservativism in the film industry that is – and with a budget approaching a whopping $60 million, it seems likely that Dormael will again disappear into the wilderness, hoping someone will fund another of his grand visions some time soon. Mr. Nobody, however, will surely find a deserving audience now that it has finally surfaced on DVD. For fans of cinema that provokes thought and delight in equal measure – there’s more than a touch of Charlie Kaufman at play here – this will prove to be a pleasure. Just don’t try and figure it all out, simply let it play.
Reviewed on: 15 Sep 2011
A tale that spans different time zones of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Director: Jaco Van Dormael
Writer: Jaco Van Dormael
Starring: Jared Leto, Sarah Polley, Diane Kruger, Linh Dan Pham, Rhys Ifans, Natasha Little, Toby Regbo, Juno Temple, Clare Stone, Thomas Byrne
Synecdoche, New York
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F5 Opens New Bellevue Office to Support R&D for Cloud, Virtualization, and Web Services
Company plans to aggressively hire engineering talent across Puget Sound locations
SEATTLE—F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced the opening of its new Bellevue, Wash., location with positions available immediately for up to 50 software engineers. Employees at the new office will support the company’s growing slate of cloud, virtualization, and web services technologies.
“F5 is joining a thriving group of technology powerhouses in the region’s Eastside corridor,” said Karl Triebes, EVP of Product Development and CTO at F5. “This location will grow our ranks of talented engineers and further strengthen F5’s position in Washington’s competitive talent market.”
Prospective employees can learn more about F5 career opportunities and company benefits at www.f5.com/about/careers/us-openings.
F5 Facts
Since the beginning of 2012, F5 has added over 600 employees, representing more than a 23 percent increase to its global employee base.
F5 has been ranked the #1 place to work in KING-TV/Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington Awards for 2010, 2011, and 2012, and has been recognized repeatedly by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of Washington’s Best Workplaces.
The company has over 3,100 employees in more than 35 countries worldwide. Headquartered in Seattle, F5 also has primary hubs in Spokane, Wash.; San Jose, Calif.; Lowell, Mass.; Chertsey, U.K.; Singapore; Tokyo; and Tel Aviv, Israel.
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February 5 Proclaimed “F5 Day” in Seattle
Seattle-based F5 Networks recognized for continued growth, innovation, and commitment to the community
SEATTLE – F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), the global leader in Application Delivery Networking, today welcomed Mayor Mike McGinn to its Seattle headquarters, where he proclaimed that February 5, 2013, is “F5 Day” in Seattle. This distinction follows the recent In Good Company recognition from the city, commending F5 for its technology innovation, continued growth as an employer in the region, and commitment to the community.
“I congratulate F5 on its success as a technology company and its role as one of the leading high-tech employers in the region,” said McGinn. “F5 has a great, positive impact in our city’s community and beyond.”
Founded in Seattle in 1996, F5 employs more than 3,125 people worldwide, with nearly 1,200 based in Washington. F5 continues to be recognized as one of the region’s premier employers. In fiscal year 2012, F5 recorded revenue of $1.38 billion.
“We are proud of our Seattle heritage and the positive impact F5 has had on the region,” said John McAdam, President and CEO of F5. “As we celebrate F5 Day today, my thanks go out to our employees and partners around the globe for their hard work and dedication. It’s an exciting time at F5 and we look forward to continued success both locally and worldwide.”
Local Involvement: F5 Connects
Through the company’s employee-directed charitable giving program, F5 Connects, F5 employees support organizations within their local communities. In Seattle, F5 has partnered with many organizations, including the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics, and Swedish Medical Center.
“Partnering with F5 has allowed us to provide much needed support to children’s charities in the Seattle area,” said Detlef Schrempf, Founder and President of the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, and former NBA All-Star with the Seattle SuperSonics. “F5 is a great example of an organization making a positive impact in our community. We congratulate them on F5 Day in Seattle.”
“F5’s participation in Washington’s FIRST program is inspiring the next generation of science and technology innovators,” said Michael Campbell, Regional Director of Washington FIRST. “As longtime supporters of FIRST, F5’s mentor teams have touched the lives of many future engineers and technologists, encouraging them to explore the worlds of science and technology.”
“F5 has been remarkably generous and proactive with our programs for kids and infants, helping us inaugurate and fund our annual holiday event for children and their families who have received care at our facilities,” said Dan Dixon, VP of External Affairs at Swedish Health Services. “F5 is the best kind of business; they illustrate how to do well by doing good. We are a better community with their presence.”
F5 and its executives have also been honored with recent leadership and corporate awards, including:
John McAdam received Seattle Business magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012, a silver in the Best in Biz Awards for 2012 Executive of the Year and a 100 percent employee approval rating for 2012 on Glassdoor.com.
Jeff Christianson, EVP and General Counsel at F5, won the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 2012 award for Corporate Counsel of the Year at a Large Company and Seattle Business magazine’s 2013 Executive Excellence Award for General Counsels.
John Matthews, VP of Information Technology and CIO at F5, was named Puget Sound Business Journal’s Best CIO of a Public Company in 2012.
F5 has been ranked the #1 place to work in KING-TV/Evening Magazine’s Best of Western Washington Awards in 2010, 2011, and 2012.
F5 is actively hiring. Please visit F5’s careers page for information on employment opportunities.
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The Surinder Singh immigration route: how does it ...
EU Settlement Scheme course now available FREE to members
31st August 2018 By Colin Yeo
Hubs / EU Free Movement / The Surinder Singh immigration ...
The Surinder Singh immigration route: how does it work?
Case of O and B v The Netherlands
UK government’s interpretation of Surinder Singh
Who is a family member of a British citizen?
Is the British citizen a “qualified person” in the UK?
Genuine residence and centre of life test
Length of residence
Principal residence
Degree of integration
Circumvention of UK immigration rules
Consequences of refusal
The “Surinder Singh route” has become well known to British citizens seeking to be reunited with their family members. The toughening up of UK immigration rules in July 2012 – particularly the introduction of the minimum income rule with its labyrinthine documentary requirements, and the awful elderly dependent relative rules – has resulted in an ever increasing number of split families. The Children’s Commissioner has described affected families with children as “Skype Families”.
An old Court of Justice of the European Union case called Surinder Singh provides a potential means to rely on family-friendly EU free movement laws rather than the harsh UK Immigration Rules. There are other relevant cases and laws to consider, though: primarily a newer case called C‑456/12 O and B v The Netherlands and the UK’s own interpretation of this case law as set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016.
Essentially, the principle established by the Surinder Singh case is that the right in European Union law for a person to move from one EU member state to another must include a right to return, otherwise a person would be deterred from moving in the first place. If you are exercising your right to return to your home member state you are therefore doing so under European Union law. Therefore… it is European Union law and not the domestic rules of your own member state that also applies to any family members. In the judgment itself inC-370/90 Surinder Singh the court held that free movement laws:
require a Member State to grant leave to enter and reside in its territory to the spouse, of whatever nationality, of a national of that State who has gone, with that spouse, to another Member State in order to work there as an employed person as envisaged by Article 48 of the Treaty and returns to establish himself or herself as envisaged by Article 52 of the Treaty in the State of which he or she is a national. A spouse must enjoy at least the same rights as would be granted to him or her under Community law if his or her spouse entered and resided in another Member State.
There is a very good summary of the background and facts to Surinder Singh over at the Kent EU Rights Clinic. It is now slightly out of date, though, as there have been developments since then.
The most important change since Surinder Singh itself is the case of C‑456/12 O and B v The Netherlands, handed down by the Court of Justice of the European Union in March 2014. Without much mentioning Surinder Singh, the judgment completely re-writes the legal basis of the earlier case and sets out important and binding new guidance.
The actual conclusion is as follows:
Article 21(1) TFEU must be interpreted as meaning that where a Union citizen has created or strengthened a family life with a third‑country national during genuine residence, pursuant to and in conformity with the conditions set out in Article 7(1) and (2) and Article 16(1) and (2) of Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States amending Regulation (EEC) No 1612/68 and repealing Directives 64/221/EEC, 68/360/EEC, 72/194/EEC, 73/148/EEC, 75/34/EEC, 75/35/EEC, 90/364/EEC, 90/365/EEC and 93/96/EEC, in a Member State other than that of which he is a national, the provisions of that directive apply by analogy where that Union citizen returns, with the family member in question, to his Member State of origin. Therefore, the conditions for granting a derived right of residence to a third‑country national who is a family member of that Union citizen, in the latter’s Member State of origin, should not, in principle, be more strict than those provided for by that directive for the grant of a derived right of residence to a third‑country national who is a family member of a Union citizen who has exercised his right of freedom of movement by becoming established in a Member State other than the Member State of which he is a national.
To help you unpick this, the reference to TFEU is to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and concerns the fundamental right of free movement around the EU by citizens of the EU. The references to Directive 2004/38/EC can be traced in the text of the Directive. Article 7 is entitled “Right of residence for more than three months” and confers a right of residence on EU citizens who are exercising their treaty rights to work, be self employed, self sufficient or study. Article 16 concerns the right of permanent residence, acquired after 5 years of lawful residence.
The following important points emerge:
1. A genuine residence period of at least three months is required (para 54)
2. Weekend visits and holidays do not count as residence for this purpose (para 59)
3. Any citizen of the Union can potentially benefit from this right, not just workers and the self employed (references to Article 7 of Citizens Directive 2004/38, e.g. para 56, and to Article 21 of the TFEU, e.g. para 54)
4. During the period of residence family life must have been “created or strengthened” (para 51)
5. Abuse is impermissible (para 58)
Regarding abuse, the judgment states that:
the scope of Union law cannot be extended to cover abuses… Proof of such an abuse requires, first, a combination of objective circumstances in which, despite formal observance of the conditions laid down by the European Union rules, the purpose of those rules has not been achieved, and, secondly, a subjective element consisting in the intention to obtain an advantage from the European Union rules by artificially creating the conditions laid down for obtaining it.
The topic of abuse is dealt with in more detail in my full ebook (see bottom of post). EU law states that the intention behind exercise of treaty rights is irrelevant (see C-109/01 Akrich) and abuse requires the accuser to prove both that the rules for a right are not really met and that there was a deliberate intention artificially to make it appear as if the rules were satisfied (C‑110/99 Emsland‑Stärke).
ILPA members will also want to take a look at the helpful note by the ever-excellent Elspeth Guild, and at her earlier note also available here (ILPA members only).
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The UK government’s current official interpretation of the effect of Surinder Singh is set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 at regulation 9. This interpretation was updated for outstanding and new Surinder Singh cases with effect from 25 November 2016; the old interpretation was set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 and is only of historic interest now.
The short version is that the new regulations provide that a residence card will be issued to a direct family member of a British citizen where:
the British citizen exercised free movement rights as a worker, self-employed person, self-sufficient person or student in an EEA host country immediately before returning to the UK, or had acquired the right of permanent residence in the EEA host country, and
the British citizen would satisfy the conditions for being a qualified person if they were an EEA national, and
the family member and British citizen resided together in the other EEA member State and that residence was genuine, and
the purpose of the residence in the EEA host country was not as a means to circumvent any UK immigration law applying to non-EEA nationals (e.g. the Immigration Rules)
On 24 July 2018 the regulations were beefed up to incorporate two additional requirements:
that the family member of the British citizen was a family member during all or part of their joint residence in the EEA State, and
that genuine family life was created or strengthened during their joint residence in the EEA State.
Neither of these extra requirements appear to actually add very much to the existing “genuineness” test. As has already been mentioned on this blog, if all of the existing requirements are met, it seems hard to envision a situation where the extra requirements would not be.
You can read the full text by clicking the drop down below. But be warned that the person drafting this seems to have a degree level qualification in Advanced Obfuscation.
Family members of British citizens
9.—(1) If the conditions in paragraph (2) are satisfied, these Regulations apply to a person who is the family member (“F”) of a British citizen (“BC”) as though the BC were an EEA national.
(2) The conditions are that—
(a) BC—
(i) is residing in an EEA State as a worker, self-employed person, self-sufficient person or a student, or so resided immediately before returning to the United Kingdom; or
(ii) has acquired the right of permanent residence in an EEA State;
(b) F and BC resided together in the EEA State;
(c) F and BC’s residence in the EEA State was genuine.
(d) F was a family member of BC during all or part of their joint residence in the EEA State; and
(e) genuine family life was created or strengthened during their joint residence in the EEA State.
(3) Factors relevant to whether residence in the EEA State is or was genuine include—
(a) whether the centre of BC’s life transferred to the EEA State;
(b) the length of F and BC’s joint residence in the EEA State;
(c) the nature and quality of the F and BC’s accommodation in the EEA State, and whether it is or was BC’s principal residence;
(d) the degree of F and BC’s integration in the EEA State;
(e) whether F’s first lawful residence in the EU with BC was in the EEA State.
(4) This regulation does not apply—
(a) where the purpose of the residence in the EEA State was as a means for circumventing any immigration laws applying to non-EEA nationals to which F would otherwise be subject (such as any applicable requirement under the 1971 Act to have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom); or
(b) to a person who is only eligible to be treated as a family member as a result of regulation 7(3) (extended family members treated as family members).
(5) Where these Regulations apply to F, BC is to be treated as holding a valid passport issued by an EEA State for the purposes of the application of these Regulations to F.
(6) In paragraph (2)(a)(ii), BC is only to be treated as having acquired the right of permanent residence in the EEA State if such residence would have led to the acquisition of that right under regulation 15, had it taken place in the United Kingdom.
(7) For the purposes of determining whether, when treating the BC as an EEA national under these Regulations in accordance with paragraph (1), BC would be a qualified person—
(a) any requirement to have comprehensive sickness insurance cover in the United Kingdom still applies, save that it does not require the cover to extend to BC;
(b) in assessing whether BC can continue to be treated as a worker under regulation 6(2)(b) or (c), BC is not required to satisfy condition A;
(c) in assessing whether BC can be treated as a jobseeker as defined in regulation 6(1), BC is not required to satisfy conditions A and, where it would otherwise be relevant, condition C.
The Home Office view is that if the British citizen in question “genuinely” resided with the relevant family member in another member state as a worker, self employed person, self sufficient person or student then the British citizen will be treated by the UK government as an EU citizen and can rely on the family reunion rules that apply to EU citizens. According to the case of O and B, whether residence is genuine depends simply on whether the terms of Article 7(1) and (2) and Article 16(1) and (2) of Directive 2004/38. The UK position is that much more is needed; according to the 2016 regulations, factors to be considered in assessing whether residence is genuine include:
(a) whether the centre of the British citizen’s life transferred to the EEA State;
(b) the length of the family member and British citizen’s joint residence in the EEA State;
(c) the nature and quality of the family member and British citizen’s accommodation in the EEA State, and whether it is or was the British citizen’s principal residence;
(d) the degree of family member and British citizen’s integration in the EEA State;
(e) whether the family member’s first lawful residence in the EU with British citizen was in the EEA State
You will search in vain for any reference to these factors in Surinder Singh or O and B v Netherlands; they are all unilaterally invented by the UK.
In particular, the ‘centre of life’ test first introduced on 1 January 2014 has no place in a lawful assessment of a Surinder Singh case. The test originates in the Advocate General Opinion that proceeded final judgment in O and B v Netherlands. Basically the UK government jumped the gun and rushed to adopt a test that was ultimately not adopted by the final judgment of the court.
The UK’s official position, expressed through Home Office Presenting Officers at court, is that the centre of life test is compliant with O and B v Netherlands. That is clearly wrong and the UK will eventually have to amend the regulations again, but that might not happen before Brexit. In the meantime, applications which fail under the regulations will need to be appealed and immigration tribunal judges will have to apply O and B v The Netherlands directly.
What do we mean when we use the term “family member”? European Union law and the regulations recognise two broad categories of family relationship: direct “family members” and “extended family members” (commonly shortened to EFMs).
Direct family members are defined within the regulations as the spouse or civil partner of the British citizen, along with the direct descendants (under 21 or over 21 and dependent), and dependent direct relatives in the ascending line. The relatives can be that of the British citizen, or their spouse/ civil partner.
The definition of an EFM at regulation 8 provides for a much broader category of relationship to the qualified person. This includes those who are in a “durable relationship”, a relative who is dependent or a member of their “household”, or a relative requiring care on serious health grounds. Note that the 2016 regulations restricted EFMs to solely relations of the qualified person, rather than (as is still the case for family members) of either party to the relationship.
In contrast to direct family members the definition of an EFM is quite complex, and there can be a significant evidential burden on a person seeking to be recognised as such. It is not difficult to evidence a marriage or a birth, but showing that someone is a relative and a member of your household or dependent can be more demanding. In most cases the Home Office will not accept a durable relationship as qualifying someone as an EFM unless there is evidence of two years’ cohabitation (though it is possible to argue shorter periods can also qualify if supported by strong evidence of the relationship’s durability).
Until the case of C-89/17 Banger, handed down by the Fourth Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union in July 2018, British citizens seeking to rely on the Surinder Singh route could only apply for their direct family members to join them in the UK. EFMs were excluded from the ambit of Surinder Singh.
In Banger, in a similar vein to the court’s decision in O and B, the judgment was based upon Article 21(1) concerning the fundamental right of free movement around the EU. The broad principle is that an EU national should not be discouraged from exercising these rights on the basis that they might not be able to be accompanied by their family. The court in Banger considered that it was not consistent with EU law to limit the benefit of the Surinder Singh route purely to “family members” as restrictively defined.
Banger was concerned with a couple in a durable relationship, but the judgment can be taken to include any EFM. The ratio in Banger was primarily that the conditions of granting residence to these applicants should be no more restrictive than the equivalent EFM of an EU national relocating to another member state.
For EFMs, under the regulations and legitimately under EU law, the Home Office is permitted to refuse residence documentation, but only after an extensive examination of the personal circumstances of the applicant and with written reasons in most cases. This is in contrast to the situation for family members, where there is less discretion to refuse. So while Banger is an extremely important case which significantly extends the benefit of Surinder Singh to a wider group of relationships, it is important to recognise that there is a more demanding evidential requirement for EFMs.
Neither the regulations nor the Home Office’s own published guidance has been amended to take account of Banger, so applicants may face difficulties in making their case. It may be necessary to appeal any refusal on this point and ask tribunal judges to ignore the regulations and apply the decision in Banger directly.
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One new feature of the regulations as of 25 November 2016 is the requirement at regulation 9(1) and 9(7) is that the British citizen sponsor must in effect be a “qualified person” in the UK. This means being a worker, self employed person, being self sufficient or being a student. There are certain exceptions to the normal requirements for being a qualified person built in at regulation 9(7), such as comprehensive sickness insurance not being required by the British citizen.
The regulations are effectively retrospective and will affect those who have already entered the UK under the Surinder Singh route. The current Home Office guidance (see pages 28-29) directs caseworkers to accept that a British citizen will have been a qualified person up until 25 November 2016 so long as the residence card was issued prior to that date. If this is right, it would mean that a non-EEA national who entered the UK under Surinder Singh and was issued a residence card will automatically have lost his or her right of residence in the UK if the British citizen sponsor ceased being a qualified person at any time after 25 November 2016.
This is particularly problematic given that the regulations did not previously impose this requirement, and the requirement appears very much at odds with the case of Eind. This may well be a point that is litigated once the effects of the changes start to bite.
On a pragmatic basis, it will be far, far easier if an applicant can satisfy the centre of life test requirements
On a pragmatic basis, it will be far, far easier if an applicant can satisfy the “genuine residence” and “centre of life” test requirements: it is the difference between an application being granted by the Home Office and having to appeal to an immigration judge, at some inconvenience, stress and expense.
The part of the regulations referring to ‘centre of life’ were amended into the regulations as of 1 January 2014 and then amended again on 25 November 2016. Some initial guidance was published for Home Office officials on 1 January 2014 and amended guidance was published for the latest changes: Free movement rights: family members of British citizens.
This latest guidance boldly asserts that the UK regulations are complaint with EU case law. Whether this is true will be for the UK courts and if necessary ultimately the Court of Justice of the European Union to decide. If there is time before Brexit occurs, anyway. Notably, though, the guidance does not assert compliance with the case of C-109/01 Akrich, an important Surinder Singh type case I return to below.
Length of residence is something that is relevant in EU law. O and B v Netherlands establishes that at least three months of residence as a worker, self employed person, self sufficient person or student is required. There is nothing in the case explicitly to suggest a longer period is necessary.
On length of joint residence the Home Office guidance instructs officials only to take account of a period for which there is documentary evidence. The guidance does not establish a set period of time as a minimum requirement but goes on to say that generally “the longer the period of joint residence while the British citizen was a qualified person, the more likely it is that the residence was genuine.” The guidance also states that applications must not be refused solely because of a short period of residence if the other evidence points to the residence being genuine.
There is nothing at all in O and B v Netherlands to suggest that “principal residence” is a requirement for establishing a right of return in EU law. Even where an EU citizen does maintain a place of residence in one Member State and works in another, that EU citizen is protected by free movement laws and is referred to as a “frontier worker” (because typically they cross a land border between home and work).
“Principal residence” is defined in the guidance as “the place and country where the British citizen’s life is primarily based.” Nothin more is said about this, but past refusals have pointed to a British citizen leaving his or her children in school in the UK while relocating, for example.
The “nature and quality” of accommodation must be considered, with the guidance suggesting that a mortgaged home or long term rented accommodation is more likely to indicate genuine residence than living at a hotel or a bed and breakfast or short stays with friends.
Experience suggests that monthly rolling tenancies are taken by Home Office officials as indicators of non genuine residence irrespective of whether these are prevalent in the rental market in question.
There is nothing at all in O and B v Netherlands to suggest that degree of integration into the host Member State is a relevant consideration. Indeed, arguments that this was relevant were rejected by the court.
Nevertheless, the Home Office guidance attaches great weight to this consideration and most refusals of Surinder Singh cases seem to be on this basis.
The guidance sets out relevant considerations for officials and says that “[t]he more of these factors present in a case, the more likely it is the British citizen’s residence in the EEA host country was genuine”:
if the family includes any children, were they born or did they live in the EEA host country and if so, did they attend school there and were they otherwise involved in the local community?
are there any other family members resident in the EEA host country and were they working or studying there or otherwise involved in the local community?
how did the family member spend their time in the EEA host country – is there evidence they worked, volunteered, studied or contributed to the community in any other ways?
have they immersed themselves into the life and culture of the EEA host country, for example:
have they bought property there?
do they speak the language?
are they involved with the local community?
do they own a vehicle that is taxed and insured there?
have they registered with the local health service, a general practitioner (GP), a dentist etc?
Not to put too fine a point on it, this should be none of the business of the UK Home Office and is utterly unjustified intrusion into the life of an applicant. However, refusing to submit this evidence is highly likely to lead to a refusal, so standing on principle is likely to be stressful, time consuming and expensive.
In EU law, the motive for making use of free movement rights is irrelevant. If the substance of the rules has been complied with, that is an end of it. Marriages of convenience form an exception because they are based on an outright fraud.
Nevertheless, the UK has introduced in effect a “primary purpose” rule for Surinder Singh cases. The UK rules state that Surinder Singh does not apply:
where the purpose of the residence in the EEA State was as a means for circumventing any immigration laws applying to non-EEA nationals to which F would otherwise be subject (such as any applicable requirement under the 1971 Act to have leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom)
The guidance elaborates on this by setting out potential indicators as to whether a person might be seeking to circumvent the UK rules:
the family member’s immigration history – including previous applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK and whether they previously resided lawfully in the UK with the British citizen
if the family has never made such an application, the reason the family member did not to apply to join the British citizen in the UK before the British citizen moved to the EEA host country
the timing and reason for the British citizen moving to the EEA host country
the timing and reason for the family member moving to the EEA host country
the timing and reason for the family unit returning to the UK
Some other considerations are redacted from the guidance as being not for publication.
The guidance goes on to state that none of these factors are supposed to be determinative and in particular an application is not to be refused solely because of a previous refusal or poor immigration history. Examples are given of cases that do not and do look like circumvention:
For example, a non-EEA national obtains a visa to live and work in Ireland, and meets a British citizen at their place of employment. After two years, they begin living together and a further year later, they marry. In this example, family life was created and strengthened when the non-EEA national was already lawfully resident in the EU, independently of the British citizen’s status. The British citizen’s residence in Ireland was genuine, meeting their future spouse was incidental, and the non-EEA national could not have applied to join the British citizen in the UK before the British citizen moved to Ireland.
Contrast this with a non-EEA national who marries a British citizen while living in the UK unlawfully, then makes an application for leave to remain as the spouse of a British citizen. This application is refused under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules due to immigration status and because the minimum income threshold and English language requirements are not met, and they do not qualify for leave outside the rules because there are no exceptional circumstances relating to family or private life. The couple decides to move to Ireland together, the British citizen finds temporary work and they return to the UK after six months. In this scenario the British citizen is technically exercising free movement rights in the EEA host country, but the purpose of the residence in Ireland is likely to be in order that the family member can reside in the UK under EU law instead of the Immigration Rules.
This circumvention test is clearly and directly contrary to the case of C-109/01 Akrich. In Akrich, a British citizen and her non EEA husband had moved to Ireland in order then to return and seemingly to circumvent UK immigration rules. The UK government argued that the couple therefore could not benefit from Surinder Singh. The court disagreed and held:
Where the marriage between a national of a Member State and a national of a non-Member State is genuine, the fact that the spouses installed themselves in another Member State in order, on their return to the Member State of which the former is a national, to obtain the benefit of rights conferred by Community law is not relevant to an assessment of their legal situation by the competent authorities of the latter State.
The court could not be clearer: the motivation for making use of free movement rights is irrelevant, even where a person has done so specifically to make use of such rights.
From 1 February 2017 it is necessary to use the forms provided by the Home Office. Prior to this it was possible to apply without using the forms, for example by writing a covering letter and attaching the necessary evidence. For those who had applied without using a form, the Home Office policy states as follows:
When deciding the application, you will need sufficient evidence to consider:
whether the residence in the other EEA host country was genuine
whether the purpose of that residence was to avoid any UK immigration law applying to non-EEA nationals (for example the Immigration Rules)
If you have insufficient evidence, perhaps because it has been submitted without, or on an old version of, the application form, you should write to the applicant for the additional evidence using the template provided.
In general, applicants should be given 10 working days to submit the requested additional evidence. The deadline can be extended if the applicant provides a good reason why more time is needed. This will normally be where the requested evidence cannot be provided within 10 working days for reasons that are beyond the applicant’s control.
If the time limit to submit the requested evidence passes without response from the applicant, a decision should be taken on the evidence that is available, including any information already recorded on Home Office files or systems. You may draw any factual inferences about a person’s entitlement to a right to reside if, without good reason, a person fails to provide the additional information requested.
Where the applicant has applied using an application form which does request the information listed above, you should make a decision based on the information provided without writing out for additional information.
The Home Office guidance also tells us one of three things will happen if insufficient evidence of meeting the genuine residence or circumvention tests is submitted:
The Home Office will write to the applicant asking for further evidence; or
The case will be referred to a senior caseworker to consider inviting the applicant to a “credibility interview”; or
The application will be refused.
Applicants asked for further information in writing will usually be given 10 working days to respond and the deadline can be extended if good reason is given. Failure to respond at all will lead to inferences being drawn and the application may be refused outright or a credibility interview may be considered.
eBook Surinder Singh: EU free movement for British citizens
Comprehensive examination of law, policy and practice around the "Surinder Singh route" including hints and tips on avoiding problems. Foreword by Sonel Mehta of BritCits.
Credibility interviews are only supposed to be conducted where any additional information considered necessary cannot be obtained by writing to the applicant or, having tried a written request, there is still not enough information. A decision to conduct a credibility interview has to be approved by a senior caseworker. The interviews themselves are conducted by the permanent migration interviewing team and areas of questioning are suggested by the caseworker to them.
A subject access request ought to reveal what areas of questioning were proposed.
Where a person fails to attend a credibility interview or fails to provide the information requested, the guidance instructs officials they may “draw any factual inferences about a person’s entitlement to a right to reside”. Failing to attend is not sufficient in itself to justify a refusal. Other grounds will be needed but the Home Office will usually find them readily enough.
In practice these will be usually be the grounds which prompted the request for additional information or attendance at interview.
EU law applications for non EEA nationals are usually retrospective in effect; it is only when the application is decided that the applicant finds out whether they have been residing in accordance with EU law or not. If their application is refused (and ignoring the possibility of a legal challenge) then it may transpire the person has been living in the UK unlawfully all along.
The Home Office guidance (page 25) states that:
The applicant will be liable to removal under section 10 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, on the basis that they require leave to enter or remain in the UK but do not have it.
If and when removal is enforced, the applicant will be subject to a bar on entering the UK under the Immigration Rules for 10 years. This is in accordance with paragraph 320(7B) of the rules.
320(7B) is the general ground for refusal under the Immigration Rules which prevents those who have previously breached the UK’s immigration laws from re-entering. See here for more detail about re-entry bans.
This blog post was originally published in March 2014 and has been updated to address changes in the law since then. It is correct as of the new date of publication. Thanks to Darren Stevenson of McGill & Co for his assistance with the revision.
Colin Yeo
Immigration and asylum barrister, blogger, writer and consultant at Garden Court Chambers in London and founder and editor of the Free Movement immigration law website.
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Solo Trombone
Isobel Daws
Brass playing is in Isobel’s DNA with her family’s background firmly rooted in music within The Salvation Army.
Isobel began to play the cornet at the age of 3 under the joint direction of her father, David Daws and the late Maisie Ringham Wiggins MBE.
Isobel moved onto the trombone in September 2008 and within six months she successfully auditioned and gained a scholarship to study trombone and piano at The Purcell School of Music. After 8 years at the Purcell she moved to Chetham’s School to study A Levels. Whilst based in Manchester Isobel was a member of one of the world’s oldest Brass Bands, The Fairey Band.
Now back in London she is currently studying with Matt Gee at the Royal Academy of Music and has returned to her position of solo trombone with Friary Brass Band.
Isobel was one of the five finalists in the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year 2014 Brass Category Final. In 2018 she was once again in the Brass Category Final where she went on to be crowned the winner. In 2017 Isobel was the winner of the BBC Young Brass Award playing live on Radio 2, as the winner she was the featured soloist at the British Open Brass Band Contest, accompanied by Cory, the World’s No 1 ranked band.
Isobel is alumni of the Junior Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The National Children’s and Youth Brass Bands of Great Britain as well as The National Children’s and Youth Orchestras of Great Britain.
2nd Trombone
Adam started playing at the ripe old age of 8 at Heathcote C of E school, where Adam (being Adam) chose the biggest instrument they had, and so trombone it had to be. With the only Brass Band in the Scouting movement just around the corner, Adam joined his first band, First Ash Vale Scout Band, and when forcibly ejected from the Scouts Adam, at the age of 16, started his relationship with Friary.
At his first Friary rehearsal, at the beginning of 1984, Adam was put on Bass Trombone because he was limited to being able to read Bass Clef only. Since then Adam has been a regular Friary member, with the exception of a one year hiatus when he played for rival band, Alder Valley. After much persuasion (from Alder Valley members!), Adam returned to the band he knew best.
Adam claims that his most embarrassing moment was at Crawley contest when he came in two bars early - everyone in the audience knew it was him! ...or maybe it was when he painted his case bright yellow with Blitz in black on the side ready for a tour of Germany… or maybe it was sleeping under the band bus after a heavy night of drinking… or maybe it was getting up on stage during a contest and telling bad jokes while the audience waited for the results … or maybe it was…the list could go on!
Ian started playing trombone at school. He progressed through the NYBBGB and joined the army at 18. After a spell as a bandsman in 2nd Batallion RGJ, Ian completed the Bandmaster's course at Kneller Hall. His final appointment was as Senior Bandmaster at KH.
As well as playing trombone for Friary, Ian also conducts 2nd Section Band, LGB (Lewes, Glynde and Beddingham Brass). In real life, Ian is a Training Manager for Southern (the train people).
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1698 Birth of Benjamin Wing in Dartmouth, Mass. - Post 414 for Treasure Chest Thursday
It's Treasure Chest Thursday - a chance to look in my digital image files to see what treasures I can find for my family history and genealogy musings.
The treasure today is the 1698 birth record of Benjamin Wing in the Dartmouth, Massachusetts vital records:
The birth record for Benjamin Wing is:
The transcription of this record is:
"Wing, Benjamin of Matthew and Elizabeth Ricketson 1 Feb 1698"
The source citation for this record is:
Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com), "Dartmouth, Births, Marriages, Deaths," page 187 (image 97 of 2331), Benjamin Wing entry.
Benjamin Wing (1698-1782) was the son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Mott) (Ricketson) Wing of Dartmouth, Massachusetts. He married (1) Content Tucker (1695-1738) of Dartmouth, Mass., the daughter of Abraham Tucker and Hannah Mott, in 1722 in Dartmouth.
Benjamin and Content (Tucker) Wing are my 6th great-grandparents. I am descended from their daughter, Abigail Wing (1734-1806), who married Jonathan White (1732-1804) in 1756 and resided in Dartmouth and Westport, Massachusetts.
This record for the marriage is a Derivative Source record, because it was copied from an earlier town and/or church record books. I did not find an earlier Dartmouth town record book in the Ancestry.com record collection.
The URL for this post is: https://www.geneamusings.com/2018/05/1698-birth-of-benjamin-wing-in.html
Labels: My genealogy research, New England, Richmond/White Research, Town Records, Treasure Chest Thursday, Wing Family
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U.S. Border Patrol’s Use of Excessive Force Continues to Go Unpunished
Promised change has been slow to come to the allegedly dysfunctional federal law enforcement agency.
Dana Driskill
US- Mexico border separating Tijuana and San Diego. Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Many people, including the President, say that the U.S. immigration system is broken. Last year, the Obama administration promised to crack down on Border Patrol agents who use excessive force; however, “no shooting cases have been resolved, no agents have been disciplined, a review panel has yet to issue recommendations, and the top two jobs in internal affairs are vacant,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
Despite criticism from Congress and advocacy groups, as well as complaints by families affected, the United States’ largest federal law enforcement force has been unable to make significant reform, highlighting the extreme difficulty of the task at hand. Border Patrol critics maintain that in the last five years the agency has illegally shot and killed more than 20 people on the Southwest border and none of the agents have undergone criminal prosecution or disciplinary action.
Gil Kerlikowske, the commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, told the Los Angeles Times that he was currently reviewing 14 shooting cases for possible violations of agency rules on use of force.
“I’m not sure we will reach a level of satisfaction with the public on every one of those cases,” Kerlikowske said. “But we will be much more thorough, much more accountable, and we will be much more transparent … going forward.”
Kerlikowske, upon seeing how frequently fatal shootings were occurring and the lack of accountability, created new limitations for agents to fire their weapons and stressed the importance of seeking alternatives to shooting. Despite these changes in department protocol, lethal shootings still occurred in 2014. The Los Angeles Times reports that in May a border agent shot and killed a U.S. citizen who was allegedly smuggling marijuana, and in October, a different agent shot and killed a Mexican man following an altercation near Tucson.
One of the most disturbing incidents of agent misconduct occurred in March 2014, when Border Patrol agent Esteban Manzanares kidnapped three Honduran women who surrendered to him, raped them, and attempted to kill them before turning his gun to himself. Politico published a an investigative report of this crime and the internal Border Patrol culture that facilitated it titled “The Green Monster,” referring to the agency’s green uniforms, in November 2014.
In fact, between 2005 and 2012, nearly one CBP officer was arrested for misconduct every single day—part of a pattern that Ronald Hosko, former assistant director of the FBI’s criminal investigation division, calls “shocking.”
During Obama’s first term, the sheer number of allegations was so glaring that, according to two CBP officials, DHS under Secretary Janet Napolitano ordered Customs and Border Protection to change its definition of corruption to downplay to Congress the breadth of the problem.
The Los Angeles Times reports that Kerlikowske created an internal affairs panel to review allegations of excessive force back in September, but it took three months for the panel to meet and there have been no public recommendations for changes in procedure: training, rules, or discipline.
And justice for the families of those gunned down by Border Patrol looks unlikely, as well.
“We are concerned that there isn’t a sense of urgency at revisiting the cases that weren't properly investigated,” Chris Rickerd, a border security expert for the American Civil Liberties Union, told the Los Angeles Times.
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Great Yarmouth Mercury > News
Family celebrate sporting success
Published: 5:15 PM January 29, 2009 Updated: 8:22 PM October 10, 2020
Liz Coates BRINGING “a world event to the centre of nowhere,” is proudly acknowledged by the Potter family as this year's World Indoor Bowls Championship reached its dramatic climax at the weekend.
BRINGING “a world event to the centre of nowhere,” is proudly acknowledged by the Potter family as this year's World Indoor Bowls Championship reached its dramatic climax at the weekend.
The Potter family, and their team of 408 staff, are celebrating the success of this prestigious event - the 11th time that the Hopton on Sea Potters Leisure Resort resort has sponsored and hosted it.
In the International Arena, the players have all left and the famous blue playing surface is being pulled up after three weeks of sporting action, including the World Mixed Pairs Matchplay competition, World Open Pairs and Ladies World Matchplay, as well as the World Open Singles.
Brian Potter is chairman of Potters Leisure Resort, and the man responsible for bringing world bowls to East Anglia back in 1999.
He said: “Yet again, we received enormous support this year with tens of thousands of visitors filling the International Arena. It is wonderful to see so many local people at the matches but we can always make space for a few more.”
In the past 11 years, the Potter family has invested more than �3.5m on hosting and sponsoring the Potters Holidays World Indoor Bowls Championship, without the initial investment in creating the International Arena itself. The success of the event contributes to the resort's growth and significant contribution to the regional economy, including the provision of year round employment for hundreds of local people.
“It is so satisfying to bring a world event to the centre of nowhere,” continued Mr Potter. “It gives me and my family enormous pleasure to be able to invest not just in our resort but bowls itself. We're committed to the sport of bowls not just for the duration of the competition but for the entire season.
“Whilst cricket has Lords and tennis has Wimbledon, very few other sports have a 'home' that is known to players the world over. Whether you play bowls in Israel, New Zealand, Wales or Australia, the chances are that your ultimate goal is to reach the final of the World Open Singles at Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea.”
To find out more about the range of short breaks available at Potters Leisure Resort and future sporting events, visit www.pottersholidays.com.
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Michael Jolley Pre-Salford City Press Conference
Michael Jolley says he may make some changes to Grimsby Town's starting 11 ahead of Tuesday's clash with Salford City
Sign in to iFollow Mariners
Grimsby Town manager Michael Jolley says he may make a couple of changes to keep his side fresh in Tuesday’s Sky Bet League Two clash with Salford City at Moor Lane (7.45pm).
The Mariners take on Graham Alexander’s men – who are currently 19th-place on eight points after eight matches – with the aim of recording their fourth league win of the season on Tuesday.
And Jolley has revealed he may make a couple of changes to the starting 11 which drew 2-2 with Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park to ensure he keeps his side fresh.
Speaking on iFollow Mariners, he said: “We’ve got a lot of games so it’s definitely something that’s in our thoughts.
“But also we want to retain the continuity of the selection.
“The team’s performances, by and large, have been solid and fairly consistent so we don’t want to make wholesale changes.
“But we’re also conscious that we need to keep our energy levels high.
“And a number of the players have played nearly all of the games.”
And Jolley said he’s been pleased with the mental resolve of his side, who have come from behind to pick up nine points in five league games so far this season.
He said: “We’ve done the analysis today. There were some aspects of the game that we definitely need to improve on.
“It’s important that we took something from the game, even in a game where we weren’t quite at our best.
“But we did bring something home so that’s definitely a positive. In the past, in that situation, we wouldn’t have been able to do that so it’s definitely progress for us.
“Last year we were getting criticised because the second-half score-lines were much worse than the first-half score-lines.
“We were one of the best teams for first-half performance and one of the worst teams for second-half performances, and this year it’s changed around completely.
“I think I’d probably rather it was this way around because it shows that we’re fit and mentally resilient.
“And we’re coming through towards the end of games, which is a good thing.
“But, of course, you’d much rather be winning 5-0 at half time if that was possible.”
Matt Green may be available for the game, following missing Saturday’s match through illness, and Ahkeem Rose is edging closer to full fitness.
Salford City vs Grimsby Town on 17 Sep 19
Matt Green
Michael Jolley
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YG, Mozzy, Freddie Gibbs, Mary J. Blige & More — What Black Lives Matters L.A. Protesters Are Listening To
Posted On : June 11, 2020 Published By : Drew Koi
Los Angeles, CA – Amid the third consecutive week of nationwide protests combating systemic racism, police brutality, and demanding justice for George Floyd, Los Angeles native YG utilized his platform to organize a protest with Black Lives Matter on Sunday (June 8), which ended up bringing out thousands of people to Hollywood.
Though the Stay Dangerous rapper had to respond to criticism for shooting a music video during the demonstration, the march proved he can mobilize the masses off the strength of his musical influence. As hundreds packed into the intersection of Highland Avenue on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for YG’s performance “FTP” it became extremely evident how much the power of music fuels the protesters pushing for change during social unrest.
#FUCKTHEPOLICE
A post shared by @ yg on Jun 7, 2020 at 6:43pm PDT
GroovyTracks caught up with attendees of the event to gauge which artists are current mainstays on their playlists as they continue to fight for social justice. The results are an inclusive list that incorporates Hip Hop, R&B, and even informational audio.
The voices of strong black women like Mary J. Blige and Kelly Rowland are resonating with young black men and we’re here for it.
Kenny (New Orleans, LA): I’m from Louisiana. I’ve been listening to a lot of old black music like Mary J. Blige. Like the song I’ve been playing so much in my car is “No More Drama.” Yo, that song is dope and it really means like, we really tired of this stuff. Like, no more pain, no more drama none of that. Even though she meant the song for a dude, but coming from my thoughts, you know, I’m getting tired of dealing with this. I’m from Louisiana, one of the most racist states in America, so this shit is crazy. I’ve been playing that song back to back.
But who I really think needs to do something, and it would really make the world realize like, it’s some stuff going on, is Beyoncé. Like that woman has so much power, she needs to say something — like I know she has been donating but donating doesn’t really mean anything if you aren’t out for the cause.
Shawn (Indianapolis, IN): I’ve been listening to a variety of artists also. I’ve recently been listening to Mary J. Blige “Take Me As I Am” and the reason I’ve been listening to that is that, even though she was referring to herself as far as like what she went through on her come-up, I just actually relate that song to us because all we’ve just been doing is trying to have people take us as we are. Especially because of the fact that a lot of the stuff people rely on us for as far as our culture, sports, and everything, but they don’t accept us as black people. So I have been listening to a lot of that.
I’ve also been listening to Kelly Rowland “Diamonds.” In regards of that song, she was talking about treating a dude like a diamond and I relate that to us because everything we brought to this country as far as our culture, they treat that like diamonds but don’t treat the creators as diamonds and I feel like that relates to what’s going on today.
YG Fires Back At Anyone Criticizing His ‘FTP’ Video Shoot At L.A. Protest
West Coast meets East Coast when Cola Boyy intersects with X-Clan and Public Enemy.
Irvin (Oxnard, CA): I’ve been listening to a lot of local artists like Cola Boyy. He puts out a lot of political music but it is very friendly and fun and has a really radical message behind it. One of his popular songs is called “All Power to the People.”
Robert (Los Angeles, CA): — Music-wise, I’ve always been interested in the social justice stuff. So anything from like old school folk like Pete Seeger to shit like dead prez has always been a staple to listen to — X-Clan, Public Enemy, all the old school stuff is making a resurgence on my playlist.
Many are finding parallels between the activism of Malcolm X and the rhetoric of 2Pac.
Khadesha (Portland, OR): I’ve been listening to a lot of 2pac and Nipsey Hussle because they have always been for the culture and the things that we are going through now are some of the things that they always spoke on. So they just keep me motivated and keep me going and keep me inspired to fight for my people.
Najalah (Los Angeles, CA): I’ve been listening to a lot 2pac and Nipsey Hussle and also a lot of Malcolm X because his standpoints on a lot of things are in correlation with what I believe in, too. Also, my name is in relation to Malcolm X because he and my father were friends, yes my dad is that old. So my dad used to study under him and a lot of the ideologies and beliefs they believed in are kind of instilled in me. And I believe their approach to things is going to be more beneficial to what we are trying to fight for.
Although peace is another way to get your means met, I think at this point it’s time to make more of a stand and a point for what you need by any means necessary.
Just as Nipsey Hussle is a favorite with attendees from Southern California while Bay Area Protesters confide in Mozzy.
Dezcjon (West Los Angeles, CA): Shoot bruh, I been out in the streets painting the last few days so it’s been like energy music like To Pimp a Butterfly, that’s been in rotation — Victory Lap. I went back to the Jeezy that dropped when we had during the last recession, [The Recession] the one with “Crazy World” on it. Been heavy off the Slauson Boy 2, that’s been my main go-to’s and No Pressure.
Ello: (Stockton, CA): I’m out here to support the movement and the protests for all the injustice and police brutality. I’m basically representing my family — my little brother was killed in the penitentiary by correctional officers. So basically just representing, being peaceful, showing love, all that, feel me. I’ve been playing a lot of Mozzy because I don’t know, I am just happy for the young man. He’s from Sacramento, not too far from where I’m from, and he’s doing a lot of good things for himself and the community. Also been listening to a lot of E-40, a lot of Bay Area, a lot of L.A. music.
The visceral spiritual messages of classic black musicians like Marvin Gaye and Sam Cooke are influencing yet another generation of listeners.
Clairene (Ontario, CA): I’ve been listening to Marvin Gaye, Prince and Beyoncé, a lot of black artists. Their black excellence has inspired me to be more and to show the world that I can do just as good as anyone else can. I’ve also been listening to my other black peers and listen to other people’s struggles on other social media like TikTok, Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube all of that.
Salim (Prince George County, D.C.): What I’ve been listening to is really going back and try to re-trace my roots and listening to people like W.E.B. Du Bois — listening to Angela Davis, listening to Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party. I’ve really just been trying to wrap my head around this from an educational standpoint, a political standpoint and an economic standpoint and just kind of understand what are some of the decisive actions we can take as a people to remain progressive and move forward and make sure that we don’t lose this moment in time right now. As far as music I have been listening to, I’ve been going back to Earth Wind & Fire, you know, Sam Cooke “A Change Is Gonna Come” those are the songs that have really been resonating with me because I feel like they are appropriate right now. And we do need artists to keep stepping up right now because we do know that a lot of social change.
The real rap fans are out here, per usual, rocking with the new releases — of which Freddie Gibbs’ Alfredo and YG’s new single ‘FTP’ are the most popular.
Richie (Washington, D.C.): Recently I’ve been listening to the new Freddie Gibbs album Alfredo. That’s just been on repeat for me this past week, it just felt right. That hook on “Scottie Beam” — honestly it just couldn’t have dropped at a better time.
Alyssa (Los Angeles, CA): I have been listening to a lot of YG — so much fucking YG. I’ve been listening to “Fuck The Police” the new one and of course “FDT” obviously and then, you know, “Left, Right” because you have to. I love YG so this is just another reason to listen to him more.
We round the list out with none other than Kendrick Lamar, with Kehlani and informational podcasts in tow.
Becca (Chesapeake, Virginia): I think for protests we’ve been listening to a lot of Kehlani’s album It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, of course, Kendrick Lamar, and we just watched the New Edition documentary so getting back into the old stuff too. But I think, right now Kendrick’s “Alright” is the best hype song — and YG’s new song. When he was performing it we were going nuts.
Brittany (Baltimore, MD): Honestly, the past couple of days I’ve been listening to a lot of social justice podcasts. Recently I’ve been listening to the Criminal Junkie podcast highlighting LGBTQ lives because it is also pride month. So they’ve been doing special episodes on black mental health and black LGBTQ health and different crimes that have happened against the. One of the stories I was just listening to was about Mitrice Richardson, she was a young woman who was going through a psychotic break and instead of being taken to a hospital, she was taken to jail and ended up losing her life after being released from jail. So I’ve just been trying to immerse myself in more stories of us losing our lives to the police.
Posted in: PopTagged : happy,hea,hip hop,love,party,pop,rap,rock
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Location: A�t Mechkouk
(31.2084°N, 8.8528°W)
Daily predictions for brighter satellites Home
Month October 2020 November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 February 2021 March 2021 April 2021 Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Morning
Minimum brightness: 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 exclude Starlink passes
Satellite Brightness Start Highest point End
(mag) Time Altitude Azimuth Time Altitude Azimuth Time Altitude Azimuth
BREEZE-M DEB (TANK) 3.9 18:11:32 10° NNW 18:14:19 37° NE 18:22:10 10° ESE
SL-16 R/B 3.0 18:11:52 10° NNW 18:17:26 59° WSW 18:23:00 10° S
Cosmos 1300 3.4 18:19:07 10° NNE 18:22:33 31° E 18:25:58 10° SE
ERBS 3.2 18:21:07 10° NW 18:24:17 53° SW 18:27:28 10° SSE
ISS -2.5 18:22:26 10° S 18:25:18 27° SE 18:28:12 10° ENE
Cosmos 1689 Rocket 3.7 18:23:42 10° NE 18:25:37 16° E 18:27:31 10° SE
DELTA 2 R/B (1) 4.2 18:23:06 10° WNW 18:28:21 41° NNE 18:33:35 10° E
Cosmos 1943 3.7 18:26:03 10° N 18:31:13 36° ENE 18:36:20 10° SE
Hubble Space Telescope 2.6 18:32:17 10° SSW 18:35:29 22° SSE 18:38:41 10° ESE
Cosmos 1726 Rocket 4.3 18:32:03 10° NNE 18:35:55 31° E 18:39:48 10° SE
Okean-O 3.9 18:33:14 10° ESE 18:36:27 20° ENE 18:39:39 10° NNE
USA 267 3.5 18:30:51 10° NE 18:37:16 57° SE 18:43:39 10° SSW
Aureole 2 Rocket 3.5 18:37:42 10° SSE 18:39:49 19° E 18:41:09 14° ENE
Cosmos 2279 Rocket 4.1 18:34:15 10° N 18:40:22 53° E 18:46:25 10° SSE
Okean O Rocket 2.5 18:40:15 10° S 18:44:36 53° W 18:48:57 10° NNW
X-37B 0.7 18:42:33 10° SW 18:45:41 60° SE 18:47:55 17° ENE
CZ-2C R/B 4.0 18:43:14 10° NE 18:47:13 20° E 18:51:13 10° SE
COSMO-SKYMED 1 2.9 18:44:34 10° N 18:48:54 70° WNW 18:53:11 10° SSW
Cosmos 1634 Rocket 4.3 18:43:54 10° N 18:50:08 75° W 18:56:23 10° S
ERS-2 2.0 18:49:10 10° NNE 18:52:48 86° ESE 18:56:25 10° SSW
CZ-4B R/B 2.9 18:50:16 10° N 18:53:24 37° WNW 18:56:28 10° SW
CZ-2D R/B 3.1 18:55:24 10° SSE 18:59:15 77° ENE 19:03:06 10° N
Cosmos 1844 Rocket 2.9 18:56:38 10° S 19:02:06 52° ESE 19:07:13 12° NNE
TELKOM 3 4.5 19:00:01 10° WSW 19:02:09 30° NW 19:03:22 19° NNE
Cosmos 1777 Rocket 4.5 19:01:12 10° SSW 19:06:22 63° WNW 19:11:36 10° N
IRS-1C Rocket 4.0 19:03:59 10° SSE 19:09:13 77° ENE 19:14:29 10° N
TIMED 4.4 19:05:04 10° NNW 19:09:26 84° ENE 19:13:48 10° SSE
PSLV R/B 4.1 19:05:26 10° N 19:09:39 80° WNW 19:13:51 10° SSW
Cosmos 1092 Rocket 4.4 19:05:05 10° SSE 19:10:42 37° E 19:16:18 10° NNE
YAOGAN 1 2.6 19:12:18 10° SSE 19:16:31 56° ENE 19:20:45 10° N
COSMOS 2455 3.3 19:11:05 10° SW 19:17:01 62° WNW 19:23:00 10° NNE
Cosmos 1892 Rocket 4.4 19:13:21 10° SSW 19:17:36 50° W 19:21:49 10° N
Cosmos 1603 3.9 19:13:40 10° NNW 19:19:22 73° WSW 19:25:04 10° SSE
CZ-2C R/B 3.4 19:20:44 10° S 19:25:44 68° W 19:31:04 10° NNW
CSL-04 Rocket 3.9 19:21:25 10° SE 19:26:24 42° ENE 19:31:29 10° N
CZ-4 R/B 1.4 19:23:28 10° S 19:27:38 84° WSW 19:31:46 10° NNW
Nadezhda 4 Rocket 4.1 19:24:53 10° S 19:31:10 81° W 19:37:26 10° N
ATLAS 3B R/B 3.3 19:25:18 10° NW 19:32:18 64° WSW 19:39:32 10° SSE
Cosmos 1703 3.8 19:30:10 10° S 19:33:03 41° SE 19:33:03 41° SE
SWIFT 4.3 19:31:39 10° SW 19:34:37 18° S 19:35:48 16° SSE
Abrixas rocket 4.4 19:40:12 10° NW 19:40:47 15° NW 19:40:47 15° NW
BREEZE-M DEB (TANK) 2.9 19:39:58 10° WNW 19:43:03 67° SW 19:47:21 18° SE
SJ 16-02 1.7 19:39:10 10° SSW 19:43:32 62° WNW 19:45:49 27° N
H-2A R/B 2.0 19:41:41 10° S 19:46:35 75° WSW 19:51:34 10° NNW
Cosmos 2058 Rocket 3.9 19:45:59 10° NNW 19:50:21 53° W 19:54:44 10° S
Meteor 2-10 Rocket 4.0 19:45:01 10° NNW 19:50:26 63° W 19:55:36 10° S
Cosmos 990 Rocket 3.8 19:45:25 10° S 19:50:35 66° ESE 19:50:47 65° E
IUS-9 SRM-1 3.9 19:51:28 10° WSW 19:52:38 21° SSW 19:52:38 21° SSW
ISS -1.3 19:59:24 10° W 20:01:22 20° NW 20:01:22 20° NW
Helios 1A Rocket 3.9 19:58:08 10° S 20:02:05 46° W 20:06:05 10° NNW
Cosmos 2026 Rocket 3.8 20:02:54 10° S 20:08:57 89° W 20:10:59 45° N
Cosmos 1898 Rocket 3.7 20:04:12 10° SSW 20:08:38 64° S 20:08:38 64° S
ARGOS 3.4 20:04:46 10° S 20:10:04 66° WSW 20:15:24 10° NNW
Cosmos 2098 Rocket 4.0 20:03:48 10° S 20:10:07 74° E 20:11:22 60° NE
Centaur D-1AR AC-48 3.3 20:01:27 10° WSW 20:10:13 33° S 20:10:56 32° S
Mugunghwa Rocket 4.3 20:05:14 10° WSW 20:12:31 61° S 20:13:23 57° SSE
DELTA 2 R/B (1) 3.6 20:09:31 10° WNW 20:14:38 73° W 20:14:38 73° W
Hubble Space Telescope 2.6 20:12:19 10° WSW 20:14:32 28° SW 20:14:32 28° SW
USA 267 4.4 20:17:12 25° N 20:19:59 35° NW 20:25:44 10° W
CZ-2C R/B 3.8 20:24:38 24° NNW 20:27:33 42° WNW 20:32:46 10° SW
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Boeing lends support to The Prince’s entrepreneur program
By The Edmonton Sun
Dec. 3, 2014, Ottawa - Boeing has announced its support of The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur, a national program through The Prince’s Charities Canada, that provides transitioning Canadian Forces personnel with the education, financing and mentoring needed to start their own businesses.
The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur is a made-in-Canada program that combines two of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’s lifelong interests of encouraging entrepreneurship and support for the Canadian Armed Forces. Training opportunities include seven-day business boot camps and one-day ‘Introduction to Entrepreneurship’ workshops happening across Canada. Boeing’s commitment to the program will cover the full costs of the intensive week-long business boot camp for five veterans and underscores the importance of enabling the successful career transition of veterans into the workforce, a key area with which Boeing partners with community organizations around the world
“Boeing is proud to join The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur in support of our Canadian Armed Forces as they re-enter the civilian world and embark on their next careers,” said Jim Barnes, Boeing business development director, Canada. “Helping these men and women develop the skills needed to start their own business aligns closely with Boeing’s focus on creating positive, lasting change in communities, and is one small way to say ‘thank you’ to those who have served Canada and have given so much.”
The Prince’s Operation Entrepreneur program also has an economic impact in communities. “Since going to a seven-day boot camp, I have been able to increase my revenue by five-hundred percent and am looking to hire more employees in my community,” said recent boot camp graduate Leendert Bolle.
“We are immensely grateful that Boeing has made this contribution today. There have been many powerful success stories over the last three years and 74 businesses have been started as a result of the program. His Royal Highness is committed to supporting the military community, for whom he serves as Colonel-in-Chief to seven different regiments. This program is a way of recognizing the invaluable service that the Canadian Armed Forces deliver by helping them start the next stage of their careers,” said Amanda Sherrington, President and CEO, Prince’s Charities Canada.
Kohler named Bell’s executive VP, Customer Service and Support
Airbus Helicopters names Barille VP Corporate Communications
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Trump, Saudi Crown Prince to Discuss Iran, Proxy Wars and Peace Process on Tuesday
The two leaders will talk about 'Iran's agression' in the Middle East and how to curb it
Amir Tibon
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U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House in Washington, March 14, 2017.Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP
WASHINGTON – A senior American official said on Monday that the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will be a "tremendous opportunity to make progress on a range of issues" that are important to both countries. The senior official spoke to reporters in Washington ahead of the crown prince's arrival to the White House on Tuesday.
According to the official, among the topics the two leaders will discuss are "Iran's aggression" in the Middle East and the support Russia lends to Tehran. Saudi Arabia is engaged in proxy wars against Iran in Syria and Yemen. The senior official said that Trump and the crown prince will also talk about "Russia's role in supporting the atrocities of the Assad regime in Syria." The official said that they will look for ways to "make Russia pay a price."
Another matter that will come up, the senior official added, is the Trump administration's plan for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "We'll discuss the peace efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, and the situation in Gaza," said the official, adding that the American side will "thank the Saudis for their participation in the Gaza conference" which took place at the White House last week.
Saudi Arabia has expressed support for the peace efforts led by Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law.
Trump will also discuss the crisis between Saudi Arabia and Qatar with Salman and "emphasize the importance of a unified Gulf Cooperation Council," said the official, referring to an umbrella organization of six countries in the Persian Gulf. This, the official explained, is important in order to "create a bulwark" against Iran, and ensure economic prosperity in the region.
On this issue, just like on Syria, Yemen and the peace process, it's not clear what is the actual American policy behind the broad statements.
The two leaders will also discuss Saudi Arabia's nuclear ambitions, an issue that has created some tension recently between Israel and the United States, according to news reports.
Nuclear power, Qatar crisis: Saudi crown prince lands in D.C. and this is his wishlist
Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia: Top three stunning admissions from the top U.S. general in the Middle East
Despite Palestinian boycott, White House touts Israeli, Arab presence at Gaza conference
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Trump during his own D.C. visit two weeks ago not to assist Saudi Arabia with its nuclear capabilities. He fears this could ultimately allow the kingdom to enrich the uranium required to produce nuclear weapons. However, Trump refused, reportedly saying that if the United States won’t assist Saudi Arabia in its nuclear ambitions, other countries will.
Iran - U.S.
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Why Is Drama Serial 'Dulhan' Trending on YouTube
We look at why the latest drama serial, 'Dulhan' is trending on TV and the web, occupying leading spots!
Omair Alavi Updated 13 Oct, 2020 05:59pm
When was the last time you saw a drama that didn’t revolve around the typical Saas Bahu issues, featured a vengeful character or someone on a suicidal mission on our TV? With HUM TV’s new drama Dulhan, we get a new kind of drama serial that is more Netflix or Zee 5 worthy than most of the stuff currently on air. Why? Because it’s a drama about youngsters, written by a youngster and directed by one as well. The ‘keep the audience connected’ feel is there from the word go, with twists and turns to make the plot all the more suitable for both binge-watching and weekly viewing. So far, only three episodes have made it to the screens but the amount of stuff that has happened is equivalent to ten episodes of the usual run-of-the-mill dramas we skip daily.
A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on Mar 22, 2015 at 11:21am PDT
The versatile Sami Khan at his very best
This might not be the first time Sami Khan has played a bad guy in a play, but yes, this is the first time where he has gone from good to evil in no time. Until the final few scenes of the second episode, Sami Khan’s Mikaal was the perfect guy to marry. He was courteous, caring, loving, and understanding all at the same time, but as soon as he burned the one thing binding him to the Dulhan, the audience lost it. In the third episode, a different, careless, and a more animated Sami Khan appeared in front of the audience who is not a student anymore but hasn’t settled in the new life, he has the presence of mind to make a bet but hasn’t matured enough to realize its consequences. The one person he is scared of is his fiancée (Mashal Khan) who is also the sister of Shahmeer (Faizan Khawaja), the guy who lost the bet to Mikaal. Will his mother (Shaheen Khan) find out why the two cousins were fighting, how Shahmeer’s car came into their house before he did, and why Mikaal is so terrified of her niece, that’s something we will have to wait for.
Underrated Faizan Khawaja raises the bar, again!
Faizan Khawaja is one of the most underrated actors of this generation; not only has he studied acting and filmmaking from abroad, but he has also been around for some time delivering good performances in both TV and films. He usually plays either the very good guy or the very bad one, but here he gets to play both, a confused Shahmeer who wants to avenge Amal (Sumbul Iqbal) for the slap she delivered, and also show her that money can have benefits. His vengeful side is what makes the audience hate him, but he is also not encouraged by his family and friends. They know he is a loser who lives on his dad’s money and that is why they make fun of him, making him lose patience every now and then. His chemistry with Sami Khan is interesting as not only Mikaal and Shahmeer are best friends, they are first-cousins with Mikaal being engaged to Shahmeer’s sister. That’s why he decides to help him, but will Mikaal return his car now that the girl is out of the equation, that’s the million-dollar question!
Sumbul Iqbal leads the girl squad
Usually in our dramas, the leading lady is someone who is either too rich, too poor, or looks like someone who is born in the wrong environment. In Dulhan, we have a mixture of all four in Sumbul Iqbal who lives with her father and stepmother, has young step-siblings to look out for, studies in a university, and works in a boutique to support her family, and would have had a good life had she been born elsewhere. Her character is that of a typical girl who finds love in unusual places, but for a change, realizes that she was part of a wager between two friends, and ran away from the place to save her honor. How she will comeback from the humiliation she has suffered is what makes the drama more interesting.
Then there is Laiba Khan who impressed all with her acting in Tarap as the younger sister who rebels against her strict elder brother. Here, she plays Amal’s stepsister who realizes that the way her mother is treating her is not right. Finally, there is Sonia Nazir, another underrated actress who should not be doing supporting roles, since she has all that it takes to graduate to the main league. She and Faizan Khawaja released a dance video a couple of years back that went viral, because a) they set the screen on fire, and b) they shared crackling chemistry. Why she is still playing the heroine’s friend on TV is still a mystery and it’s about time that some director notices her and gives her the kind of role she deserves.
Life exists outside the Saas Bahu universe
There is more to life than just Saas-Bahu sagas and the sooner we understand that, the better. With Nida Mumtaz playing a Cinderella-style stepmother who wants everything for her own kids, the drama breaks out from the regular TV stuff. She is amongst the three antagonists of the story but at times she does show glimpses of being a good person, like in the first episode or when she finally realized what had happened to Sumbul Iqbal’s Amal. Then there is Mirza sahib, the father played by Mohammad Ahmed who dies in the third episode from a shock that was his own creation. He gave away his daughter to someone he barely knew, got her nikahfied, and left her alone without once realizing that no relative or friend was part of the ceremony and it could be something fishy. The scene where he suffers a heart attack has been brilliantly done and ranks as one of the best, amongst all his recent death scenes.
A drama for the youth, by the youth!
And finally, we have a young writer Adeel Razzaq teaming up with a young director Adeel Siddiqui to give something that is targeted at the youngster. While many adults felt that the second episode gave the wrong message to the youth, the third one rectified it as the guy losing the bet also lost the girl he thought he had won. Not only was the gap between a stepmother and stepdaughter highlighted, but the conscience of the younger sister was also stirred when she saw her mother doing something that she shouldn’t have done. With just three episodes, Dulhan has given us so much, let’s hope that the play continues to rise and break records with the coming episodes, instead of going down the drain from top position. With fresh blood as writer/director, it can emerge as one of those plays that gave rise to a team – the two Adeels – who can go up from here with their hard work and dedication.
How ‘Bharaas’ Succeeds at Keeping Us Involved
'Qayamat' Review: Why We Can't Wait for the Next Episode
5 Things We Want to Know About Dur-e-Fishan’s Zoya from 'Bharas'
Mashal Khan on Playing Aleena Ali in 'Lifafa Daayan'
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Mr. Lafferty
Daniel Lafferty
Director of Music & Voice, PHMG
Daniel Lafferty is Director of Music and Voice at PHMG, the world's largest audio branding agency with more than 32,000 clients in 39 countries.
Mr. Lafferty has been with the company since 2010, helping businesses across the globe to harness the full potential of audio branding.
Drawing on his extensive background in music, psychoacoustics and the influence of sound on human behaviour, Mr. Lafferty leads finely-tuned bespoke music and voice workshops with organizations, enabling them to understand and explore all of the elements of their brand to create a unique Brand-Sound-Track™ - the exclusive piece of music that encapsulates their company's identity.
Mr. Lafferty looks after the creative talent at PHMG, providing strategic and artistic direction to composers, producers, engineers, voiceover artists and copywriters, to ensure the seamless implementation of a client's new audio branding service.
By developing relationships with world-leading composers and voice artists, he continues to develop and enhance the roster of creative talent at PHMG.
Over the last five years, Mr. Lafferty has been fundraising for PHMG's charitable arm, the PHMG Foundation, helping to raise almost $370,000 for almost 70 different organizations around the world. He most recently climbed Snowdon and also took part in an unusual charity challenge banning him from using the lifts at PHMG's twelfth-floor Manchester office - a distance equal to 7 times the Empire State Building.
Please visit http://www.phmg.com for more information.
Mr. Lafferty can be contacted at +44 01618772253 or daniel.lafferty@phmg.com
Sound and Vision: How Audio is Becoming the New Visual for Hoteliers
By Daniel Lafferty, Director of Music & Voice, PHMG
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Leadership Greater Hartford Honors Former Dean Worth Loomis
November 16th, 2016 @ 3:24pm
Former Hartford Seminary Dean Worth Loomis was one of three people who received the 2016 Polaris Award from Leadership Greater Hartford at an event on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts.
Worth Loomis, longtime President of Dexter Corporation, a paper manufacturer based in Windsor Locks, was one of the original “Bishops” of Hartford who came up with the idea for Leadership Greater Hartford in the 1970s. The organization was built to “lower the barriers of race, age, education and economics in ways that would convince all residents of Greater Hartford that they lived in a fair and just community.”
After retiring from Dexter, Worth became president of Rensselaer at Hartford, then known as the Hartford Graduate Center. In 1994, he joined the faculty at Hartford Seminary and became dean in 199. He was deeply committed to its interfaith mission.
Worth’s wife, Louise Loomis, accepted the award on his behalf and poses in this picture, left, with Prof. Miriam Therese Winter, who counts Worth and Lou Loomis as close friends.
In her remarks, she focused on her husband’s time at Hartford Seminary, describing his efforts to keep a corporate roundtable focused on attending to the community as well as to stockholders.
Also honored at the event were Julie Daly Meehan, Vice President of Investor Engagement & Retention at MetroHartford Alliance, and Tracey Nyaniba Kitto, an economics student at Central Connecticut State University.
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Homepage > Katalog > Physik > Sonstiges
Emulation of Bursting Neurons in Neuromorphic Hardware based on Phase-Change Materials
Physik - Sonstiges
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2. A Biological Background
2.1. The Neuron
2.1.1. Morphology of a Neuron
2.1.2. Ion channels
2.1.3. The Membrane Potential
2.1.4. The Action Potential
2.1.5. Propagation of the Action Potential
2.2. The Synapse
2.2.1. Synaptic Transmission at Chemical Synapses
2.2.2. Synaptic Integration
2.2.3. Synaptic Plasticity
2.2.4. Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity (STDP)
2.3. An Overall View
3. Experimental Emulations
3.1. Modeling STP and LTP in a CMOS Spiking Neural Network Chip
3.2. Implementation of STDP based on Phase-Change Material Synapses
3.2.1. Phase-Change Materials
3.2.2. A Phase-Change Cross-Point Structure emulating STDP
3.3. Phase-Change Materials for Artificial Neural Networks
4. Bursting Neurons
4.1. Physiological Mechanisms of Bursting
4.2. Bursts as a Unit of Neuronal Information
4.3. Bursting for Selective Communication
4.4. Modeling Neuronal Bursting Activity
4.4.1. The Integrate-and-Fire Model
4.4.2. The Resonate-and-Fire Model
4.4.3. The Quadratic Integrate-and-Fire model
4.4.4. The Simple Model of Choice
5. A PCM Bursting Neuron
5.1. Voltage-Controlled Relaxation Oscillation in a PCM Device
5.2. The Analogy to Hippocampal Pyramidal Bursting Neurons
5.3. Simulation of a PCM Bursting Neuron
6. An Outlook on the Future
A. Quantification of the Membrane Potential
B. Vocabulary
In the history of computing hardware, Moore’s law, named after Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore, describes a long-term trend, whereby the number of transistors that can be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles approximately every two years1. Because the number of transistors is crucial for computing performance, significant performance gains could be achieved simply through complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistor downscaling. Although Moore’s law, which was mentioned for the first time in 1965, turned out to persist for almost five decades, the nano era poses significant problems to the concept of downscaling2. Upon approaching the size of atoms, quantum effects, such as quantum tunneling, pose fundamental barriers to the trend. Furthermore, the conventional computing paradigm based on the Von-Neumann architecture and binary logic becomes increasingly inefficient considering the growing complexity of todays computational tasks. Hence, new computational paradigms and alternative information processing architectures must be explored to extend the capabilities of future information technology beyond digital logic. A fantastic example for such an alternative information processing architecture is the human brain. The brain provides superior computational features such as ultrahigh density of processing units, low energy consumption per computational event, ultrahigh parallelism in computational execution, extremely flexible plasticity of connections between processing units and fault-tolerant computing provided by a huge number of computational entities. Compared to today’s programmable computers, biological systems are six to nine orders of magnitude more efficient in complex environments3. For instance: simulating five seconds of brain activity takes IBM’s state-of-the-art supercomputer Blue Gene a hundred times as long, i.e. 500 s, during which it consumes 1.4 MW of power, whereas the power dissipation in the human central nervous system is of the order of 10 W [4, 5]. Thus, it is not only extremely interesting but in terms of computational progress also highly desirable to understand how information is processed in the human brain. The conceptual idea developed within the framework of this thesis tries to contribute to this intention. In contrast to most recent research dealing with the simulation and emulation of specific connections between nerve cells [5-12], the work of this thesis focuses on investigating, on a purely conceptional basis, the issue of a possible future emulation of an artificial nerve cell based on the inherent physics of phase-change materials.
After this introduction, chapter two provides the reader with the necessary biological background and gives insight into some physiological key processes and functional principles of the nervous system. At some points in this chapter, detailed explanations of selected mechanisms are deliberately left out in order to keep the reader focussed on the central theme of this thesis. Chapter three presents the reader with a selection of recent examples of current research dealing with the emulation of biological functionality. Chapter four describes a specific behaviour of nerve cells which is thought to play an important role in the process of neural information processing and chapter five documents a conceptual idea to emulate this behaviour in an artificial nerve cell based on a phase-change material. Finally, chapter six concludes this thesis and gives an outlook on some future ideas that could be investigated to complement the work of this thesis. Furthermore, keywords that are mentioned for the first time in the text are typed in italic and can be looked up in the vocabulary in appendix B which provides the reader, who might not be deeply familiar with the technical terminology, with the possibility to quickly refresh key definitions which are repeatedly used throughout the whole text. The author hopes to inspire every reader who comes in touch with this field of science for the first time and wishes him to find as much pleasure and excitement in reading this thesis as the author had working on it and writing it down.
CHAPTER 2 A Biological Background
The Human brain is vastly superior to the brain of other animals in its ability to exploit the physical environment in which the controlled organism has to operate. The remarkable com- plexity of the environment that humans created for themselves since the beginning of their existence depends on the connection of highly sophisticated arrays of sensory receptors to an extremely flexible neural machine - a brain - which provides the possibility to discriminate an enormous variety of events in the environment. The brain organizes the continuous stream of information from these receptors into perceptions which are partly stored in memory for future references. These perceptions are then organized into appropriate behavioral responses. All of this is accomplished by the brain using nerve cells that are connected to each other via synapses. Even though the nervous system has two classes of cells, nerve cells (neurons) and glial cells (glia), which outnumber neurons by a factor of 10 - 50, within the framework of this thesis only structural and functional properties of neurons are dealt with because neurons are the main signaling units of the nervous system.13
The Neuron is the basic processing unit of the brain. The human brain contains an extraordi- nary number of these morphologically simple units (of the order of 1011 neurons), each of which has about 103 connections to other units. Although classifiable into at least a thousand different types, all neurons share the same basic architecture. Different ways in which neu- rons with basically similar properties are connected to each other can, nevertheless, lead to quite different characteristics of the resulting entities. The basis for the complexity of human behaviour is formed by the fact that numerous neurons constitute precise anatomical and functional entities rather than by the specialization of individual neurons.
In order to appreciate how information in the nervous system is processed it is necessary to begin with with the structural and functional properties of neurons and then to deal with the mechanisms that are responsible for the generation and processing of signals. 13
A typical neuron has four morphologically defined regions, as illustrated in Figure 2.1: (1) the cell body (soma), (2) the dendrites, (3) the axon and (4) several presynaptic terminals. Each region plays a distinct role in the generation of signals and communication between neurons. The soma is the center of metabolism of the neuron and has usually two types of extensions: a) several short dendrites and b) one long, tubular axon. Through extensive branching, the dendrites form a dendritic tree which functions as the main apparatus for receiving incoming signals from other neurons. In contrast, the axon functions as the main conducting unit that carries signals away from the soma to other neurons. The axon conveys electrical signals in form of action potentials (see section 2.1.4) that are initiated at the axon hillock, a specialized trigger region at the origin of the axon. The axon itself is partly insulated by myelin sheathes that are interrupted at regular intervals by the nodes of Ranvier, which enables the fast transport of APs (see section 2.1.5). Near its end, the axon splits in a tree-like fashion into several terminals that form communication sites with other neurons, called synapses (see section 2.2). Presynaptic terminals end mostly at the dendrites of a postsynaptic neuron, however, they may also end at the soma or even at the beginning or the end of the axon of the receiving neuron.
Every neuron’s intracellular space is separated from the extracellular space by the cell membrane whose membrane potential is determined by ion concentrations inside and outside the cell. Changes of the membrane potential can be generated by individual sensory cells in response to smallest stimuli: photoreceptors in the eye respond to a single photon of light; olfactory neurons detect a single molecule of odorant; and hair cells in the inner ear respond to tiny movements of atomic dimensions. Neuronal signaling in the brain depends on the ability of neurons to respond to such small stimuli by producing rapid changes in the electrical potential difference across their cell membranes. These rapid changes are mediated by ion channels, therefore ion channels are important for signaling in the nervous system.13
Ion channels owe their functional importance to three basic properties: (1) they conduct ions, (2) they recognize and select specific ions, (3) they open and close in response to specific electrical, mechanical or chemical signals. Ion channels conduct ions across the cell
illustration not visible in this excerpt
Figure 2.1.: A typical neuron ’ s morphology. The cell body (soma) is responsible for metabolism processes of the neuron and contains the nucleus, the store- house of genetic information. It has two types of extensions: (1) several dendrites and (2) the axon. The axon is the signal transmitting element (or the output element) of the neuron and can vary greatly in length. Some can extend up to three meters in the body. Most axons have a relatively thin diameter of about 0.2-20 μ m compared to the diameter of the so- ma (about 50 μ m or more). Many axons are partly insulated by myelin sheathes that are interrupted at regular intervals by the nodes of Ran- vier which allows the fast transport of APs (see section 2.1.5 ). Once the signal travelled through the axon it reaches the axon terminals which can connect to other neurons. Such connections, called synapses, most- ly appear at the dendrites, the input elements of the neuron and can occur up to a thousand times at a single neuron. [ 13 ] [modified from http://insidethemind.synthasite.com ]
membrane between the intracellular and extracellular space at extremely rapid rates: up to 108 ions may pass through a single channel per second. Despite the ability to provide high conductance rates, ion channels also provide sophisticated selective mechanisms, i.e. each type of ion channel allows only one or a few types of ions to pass. For instance: the resting potential - the membrane potential of a neuron which is at rest, i.e. the neuron shows no activity - is largely determined by ion channels that are selectively permeable to K+ -cations. These K+ -channels are typically 100-fold more permeable to K+ -cations than to Na+ -cations. During depolarization (see section 2.1.3), however, Na+ -channels that are 10-20-fold more permeable to Na+ -cations than to K+ -cations are responsible for the value of the membrane potential. The exact understanding of the underlying mechanisms for the selectivity of ion channels is not mandatory for the concept of this thesis, thus, further explanations are left out but can be found elsewhere, e.g. in13.
The activation or deactivation of many ion channels can be caused by different stimuli, as illustrated in Figure 2.2: (1) voltage-gated channels are regulated by changes in voltage, i.e. by changes of the potential across the channel which is determined by the neuron’s membrane potential, (2) ligand-gated channels are regulated by chemical transmitters, i.e. opening and closing of the channel depends on whether a specific ligand binds at the channel’s receptor or not and (3) mechanically gated channels are regulated by pressure or stretch. In general, ion channels can enter one of three states under the influence of the above regulating mechanisms: (1) closed and can be activated (resting state), (2) open (active state) and (3) closed and can not be activated (refractory state). The most important task of voltage-gated channels is the generation of APs because the generation and transmission of APs are the basis for encoding neural information in the nervous system. In order to understand how an AP is generated, it is necessary to begin with a brief dealing of a neuron’s membrane potential.13
Figure 2.2.: Several types of stimuli control the opening and closing of ion channels. A) Ligand-gated channels open upon binding of a ligand to the channel ’ s receptor.
B) Voltage-gated channels open and close upon changes in the cell mem- brane potential. The change of the potential causes a conformational change by acting on a component of the channel that has a net charge.
C) Stretch/Pressure-gated channels are activated by stretch or pressure which mechanically forces gating of the channel through the cytoskeleton. [modified from [ 13 ]]
Figure 2.3.: The ionic permeability of the cell membrane is provided by integrated ion channels. These ion channels provide a pathway for hydrated ions to cross the membrane, i.e. ions flow according to their concentration gradient from the extracellular space to the intracellular space and vice versa. [modified from [ 13 ]]
The electrical signals representing the flow of information in the nervous system are produced by temporary changes in the current flow into and out of the cell, driving the membrane potential - the electrical potential across the cell membrane - away from its resting value. This current flow is controlled by ion channels integrated in the cell membrane, as illustrated in Figure 2.3, whereas these ion channels can be one of two types: (1) resting channels and (2) gated channels. Resting channels are usually opened and are not significantly influenced by extrinsic factors, i.e. their operational state is not altered by changing e.g. the potential across the membrane. These channels are primarily important in maintaining the resting potential of the neuron, i.e. the electrical potential across the membrane in the absence of signaling. The current that is carried by ion fluxes through resting channels is called leakage current and the conductivity of the population of resting channels, which is determined by the amount of ions passing through, is called leakage conductance. On the contrary, most gated channels are at rest when the neuron is at rest, i.e. gated channels are closed when the membrane potential is at its resting potential value. In the resting state, the separation of charges across a neuron’s cell membrane consists of a thin cloud of ions spread over the inner and outer surface of the cell membrane. An excess of positive ions on the outside and negative ions on the inside of the cell membrane is maintained because its lipid bilayer blocks diffusion processes of the ions (see Figure 2.4). The resulting charge separation gives rise to different electrical potentials inside and outside the cell defining the membrane potential Vm:
where V in and V out are the electrical potentials inside and outside the cell, respectively. Since by convention the potential outside the cell is defined as zero, the resting potential V r is equal to V in and usually ranges from -60 mV to -70 mV which can be calculated with the Goldman equation (see appendix A).
Figure 2.4.: The membrane potential results from a charge separation across the cell membrane. The resting potential is characterized by an excess of positive and negative charges outside and inside the cell, respectively. [modified from [ 13 ]]
In order to change the resting potential, electric current carried by both, positive cations (Na+ and K+ ) and negative anions (Cl- and A- - organic anions, mostly amino acids and pro- teins), has to flow into and out of the cell which causes a perturbation of the charge separation and thus, changes the resting potential. A reduction of charge separation leading to a less neg- ative membrane potential is called depolarization. An increase in charge separation leading to a more negative membrane potential is called hyperpolarization. In case of perturbation, the membrane potential recovers to its resting potential value thanks to a specific distribution of several resting channels integrated in the cell membrane accompanied by the activity of ion pumps that balance the passive flux of ions. The resting channels are either permeable only to potassium (resting channels in glial cells) or permeable to potassium as well as to sodium and chloride (resting channels in nerve cells). The ion pumps prevent the dissipation of ionic gradients by moving ions against their net electrochemical gradient. In order to do so, ion pumps need to generate energy which is achieved through hydrolysis of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate, a multifunctional nucleoside triphosphate used as a coenzyme to transport chemical energy within cells for metabolism) molecules. Thus, the resting potential is not an equilibrium, but rather a steady state: the continuous passive influx of Na+ and efflux of K+ through resting channels is exactly counterbalanced by the ion pumps. An exception poses the distribution of chloride ions whose movement tends toward equilibrium across the membrane so that there is no net Cl--flux at rest. The exact understanding of the under- lying mechanisms for the maintenance of the resting potential, especially the mechanism of ATP hydrolysis which is responsible for the energy extraction of the ion pumps, is not mandatory for the concept of this thesis, thus, further explanations are left out but can be found elsewhere, e.g. in13. When the resting potential is sufficiently perturbed, an action potential is generated, i.e. the balance of ion fluxes that maintains the resting potential is abolished.13
Depolarization of a neuron’s membrane mostly occurs at the dendrites which transport the input signals to the soma (see section 2.1.5). The soma acts as an integrator, spatially and tem- porally adding up all single input signals from all dendrites. When the membrane potential is depolarized past the threshold potential, i.e. the membrane potential rises past a critical value which leads to the activation of voltage-gated ion channels, the balance of ion fluxes in the resting state changes. Voltage-gated Na+ -channels open rapidly in an all-or-nothing fashion resulting in an increased membrane permeability to Na+ -ions. The Na+ -influx exceeds the K+ - efflux which leads to a net influx of positive charge causing further depolarization resulting in the activation of additional Na+ -channels which increase the Na+ -permeability even more and so fourth. This regenerative, positive feedback cycle develops explosively, driving the membrane potential toward the Na+ - equilibrium potential, i.e. toward the equilibrium which would adjust incase of permanently opened voltage-gated Na+ -channels, of about +55 mV, which can be calculated with the Nernst equation (see appendix A). After the generation of such an action potential (AP), two processes lead to repolarization of the membrane potential, i.e. the AP is terminated and the resting potential will be restored: (1) the voltage-gated Na channels gradually close, reducing the Na+ -influx and (2) voltage-gated K+ -channels that were opened during the late stage of depolarization increase the K+ -efflux. The existence of a threshold potential is based on the fact that small depolarizations do not only lead to an increase of Na+ -influx but also to an increase of K+ -efflux which resists the depolarization action of the Na+ -influx up to a certain point. It is important to note that the increase in K+ -permeability during depolarization is much slower compared to the explosive increase in Na+ -permeability because of the slower rate of opening of K+ -channels compared to Na+ - channels. After the AP peak is reached, the delayed K+ -efflux combined with the decreasing Na+ -influx leads to a net efflux of positive charge which continues until the resting potential is restored.
Figure 2.5.: The change of the membrane potential during the generation of an AP can be divided into five phases: (1) the neuron is at rest, i.e. shows no activity. The resting potential is maintained by the balance of ion fluxes provided by several resting channels and ion pumps; (2) subthreshold stimuli depolarize the membrane and may add up to one single stimulus until the threshold voltage is reached. If no superthreshold stimulus is applied, the resting potential is restored; (3) the membrane potential rises past its threshold value triggering a regenerative, positive feedback cycle of inward Na + -flux generating the actual AP; (4) the closing of Na + -channels and delayed opening of voltage-gated K + -channels drive the membrane potential back to its resting value; (5) the delayed closing of K + -channels lead to hyperpolarization after which the resting potential is restored. Note that each AP is followed by a period of refractoriness during which the neuron is insensitive to stimuli and can not be excited. [modified from [ 14 ]]
In most neurons, the AP is followed by the after potential, a transient hyperpolarization driving the membrane potential toward the K+ -equilibrium potential of about -75 mV. The after potential occurs because the K+ -channels, which opened during the later phase of the AP, need a few milliseconds to close and are still opened even though the membrane potential has already reached its resting value. Simultaneously, the AP is also followed by a brief period of refractoriness (refractory period), i.e. a period during which it is impossible or exceedingly difficult to excite the neuron, that can be divided into two phases: (1) the absolute refractory period immediately follows the AP. During this period the neuron is not at all excitable no matter how great the applied stimulating current is. (2) the relative refractory period directly follows the absolute refractory period. During this period it is again possible to excite the neuron but the stimuli must be stronger than those usually required to trigger the neuron, i.e. to rise the membrane potential past the threshold value. Both periods of refractoriness are the result of the residual inactivation of Na+ -channels and increased opening of K+ -channels. It takes a few milliseconds for the voltage-gated Na+ -channels that are responsible for the generation of APs to be closed during which they are insensitive to opening signals, thus, lead- ing to the period of refractoriness. Figure 2.5 illustrates how the membrane potential changes during the generation of an AP which is a so called all-or-nothing event, i.e. the underlying mechanisms for the generation are always the same, thus, every AP of a particular neuron looks the same. A neuron’s sole ability to generate APs is not enough to process information in the nervous system. For communication purposes, the neuron has to transport the AP through its axon to the axon terminals, where it can be transmitted to other neurons.13
In order to communicate with other neurons, a neuron has to transport its informational content, i.e. an AP, to its output apparatus, the axon terminals. Every neuron has three relatively constant, passive electrical properties that affect the electrical signaling: (1) the resting membrane resistance r m (units of Ω · cm) represents the resistance of ion channels for ions passing through a channel from the extracellular space to the intracellular space and vice versa. The current that is carried by ions passing a channel, i.e. the electrical current passing the resting membrane resistance, is called ionic membrane current; (2) the membrane capacitance cm (units of farads) represents the capacitive characteristic of a neuron’s cell membrane to separate charges inside and outside the cell (see Figure 2.4). The current that is carried by ions that change the net charge stored on the membrane is called capacitive membrane current; (3) the intracellular axial resistance ra (units of Ω/cm) represents the resistance for a current that flows along the axon and the dendrites. In electric signaling along dendrites and axons, the non spherical geometry of both compartments causes a subthreshold voltage signal to decrease in amplitude with distance from its site of initiation.
Figure 2.6.: Equivalent electrical circuit representing a neuronal extension, e.g. a neuron ’ s axon. The extension is divided into unit lengths with an own membrane resistance r m and a membrane capacitance c m . The single circuits are connected by resistors r a , representing the axial resistance of the cytoplasm and a short circuit with negligible resistance representing the extracellular fluid. [modified from [ 13 ]]
The propagation of electrical signals along dendrites and axons can be best understood with the help of an equivalent electrical circuit (see Figure 2.6) that shows how the geometry of the compartments influence the distribution of current flow. If ions flow from the extracellular fluid into the cytoplasm through ion channels, i.e. if a current is injected into the cell and flows through the electrical circuit, which represents a unit length, the current flows out of the cell through several parallel pathways across successive cylinders along the length of the extension. The total resistance r tot for each of these pathways is made of all resistive components in series that the current has to go through on its way into the cell, through the cytoplasm and out of the cell again, i.e.
where x is the number of segments along the pathway in the cytoplasm. (Here, for reasons of simplicity, it is assumed that the duration of the current injection is large compared to the time the membrane potential needs to change, i.e. [illustration not visible in this excerpt], so that the capacitive current is zero). Because the resistance of the pathways with a greater distance from the site of current injection is bigger, the current [illustration not visible in this excerpt] decreases along the extension and with it the membrane potential [illustration not visible in this excerpt]. Thus, the change of the membrane potential Δ V (x) depends on the distance from the site of current injection x:
where λ is the membrane length constant and Δ V 0 is the change in membrane potential produced by the current flow at the injection site, i.e. at x = 0. The membrane length constant
Figure 2.7.: The change in membrane potential in a passive neuronal extension decays with distance. The distance at which Δ Vm has decayed to 37 % if its initial value is defined by the membrane length constant λ . [modified from [ 13 ]]
is determined by the resistances of the cell,
and defines the distance after which the change in membrane potential has decayed to 1/ e, i.e. 37% of its initial value (see Figure 2.7). This means that the better the insulation of the membrane, i.e. the greater r m, and the better the conducting properties of the cytoplasm, i.e. the lower r a, the greater the length constant of the extension. The resistances of the cell depend on the cells geometry, more precisely on its diameter, leading to transformed expressions for r a and r m:
where ρ (in units of Ω · cm) is the specific resistance of a 1 cm3 cube of cytoplasm and a is the radius of the extension and
where r m (in units of Ω · cm2) is the specific resistance of a unit area of membrane, which leads to an expression for the membrane length constant in terms of the intrinsic (size invariant) properties r m and ρ:
Thus, thicker axons and dendrites have longer length constants than thinner cell extensions and hence, carry electrical signals over longer distances. With the properties of a cell extension
Figure 2.8.: APs in myelinated fibers are periodically refreshed at the nodes of Ranvier. Capacitive and ionic membrane current densities are much higher at the nodes of Ranvier than in the internodal regions which is represented by the thickness of the arrows. Because of the much higher membrane capac- itance at the nonmyelinated nodes, the AP slows down as it approaches each node and thus, appears to jump from node to node. [modified from [ 13 ]] and their influence on electrical signaling as discussed above, the propagation of an AP through the axon can be understood.
If the membrane at any point of an axon has been depolarized beyond threshold, an AP is generated at this point. The local change in membrane potential spreads down the axon causing the adjacent region to be depolarized past the threshold which leads to the generation of another AP at that adjacent point. The depolarization spreads along the whole axon by local-circuit current resulting from the potential difference between the active and inactive regions of the membrane. This current has a great spread in cells with longer length constants leading to a more rapid propagation of APs, whereas there are two ways of increasing the conduction velocity of APs through the axon: (1) an increase in the axons diameter increases the length constant (note the dependence of λ on a) and (2) myelination of the axon, i.e. wrapping of insulating glial cells around the axon, increases the thickness of the axonal membrane and hence, decreases its capacitance. Since the time it takes for a depolarization to spread along the axons is determined by [illustration not visible in this excerpt], partly insulating the axon, i.e. decreasing its membrane capacitance, results in a more rapid propagation of APs. A neuron triggered at the nonmyelinated axon hillock will generate an AP at this point which discharges the capacitance of the myelinated axon ahead of it. The AP is prevented from dying out by the nodes of Ranvier which interrupt the insulation of the axon every 1-2 mm by bare patches of the axon membrane, about2+ μ m in length. At these nodes, the AP is refreshed because of the richness of voltage-gated Na+ -channels that generate an intense depolarizing Na+ -inward current in response to the passive spread of depolarization. Figure 2.8 illustrates the propagation of an AP down the axon. Note that the propagation speed of an AP is much faster in the myelinated areas due to the low membrane capacitance. The AP basically jumps from node to node which is called saltatory conduction.
In summary, myelination is not only extremely important in terms of conduction speed but it is also favorable from a metabolic standpoint: Because ion channels are integrated only in nonmyelinated parts of the membrane, ionic membrane currents flow only at the nodes in myelinated fibers which means that less energy must be expended by ion pumps in restoring the ion concentration gradients (see section 2.1.3). After an AP travelled through the axon, it reaches the axon terminals which form communication sites with other neurons. The point at which one neuron communicates with another is called a synapse which is a fundamental element for information processing in the nervous system.13
Synapses are the connections between the basic units of the nervous systems, the neurons. Synaptic transmission - the transmission of signals from one neuron to another - is the fundamental basis for communication in the nervous system. The human brain contains about 1011 neurons, each of which forms about a thousand synaptic connections with other neurons and receives up to a hundred thousand connections, as e.g. the Purkinje cell in in the cerebellum, thus, about 1014 or more connections are formed in the human brain. There are more neurons and synapses in one single brain than the several billion stars in our galaxy, fortunately, however, only a few basic mechanisms underlie synaptic transmission at these many connections. A typical synapse consists of a presynaptic axon apposed to a postsynaptic neuron via an axon terminal. Based on the structure of the apposition, synapses can be divided into either electrical synapses, i.e. the transmission of signals is of electrical nature, or chemical synapses, i.e. that the transmission of signals is of chemical nature. At elec- trical synapses the presynaptic terminal is not completely separated from the postsynaptic neuron so that the current generated by a presynaptic action potential (PSAP) flows directly into the postsynaptic neuron through specialized channels called gap-junction channels which physically connect the pre- and postsynaptic cytoplasms. In contrast, at chemical synapses the two neurons are physically separated by the synaptic cleft. The transmission of signals is provided by the release of neurotransmitters upon the arrival of PSAPs at the presynaptic terminals. These transmitters diffuse into the synaptic cleft and bind to postsy- naptic receptors, evoking a postsynaptic signal. Several steps that are involved in chemical transmission are the reason for a synaptic delay compared to electrical transmission. Both forms of synaptic transmission can have either inhibitory or excitatory effect on the postsy- naptic cell, i.e. that both forms can either facilitate or impede the generation of a postsynaptic AP. Moreover, the strength of both forms can be either enhanced or diminished which is called synaptic plasticity and is crucial to memory and other higher brain functions. Table 2.1 summarizes the properties of electrical and chemical synapses. In the following section, the focus lies on chemical synaptic transmission because, although slower in transmission speed, chemical synapses provide the possibility to amplify signals, unlike electrical synapses, therefore, chemical synaptic transmission is thought to be crucial for emergent phenomena such as memory and learning.13
Table 2.1.: Properties of electrical and chemical synapses. [taken from [ 13 ]]
Synaptic transmission at chemical synapses involves several steps, as illustrated in Figure 2.9, starting with the arrival of an AP at the presynaptic terminal. During discharge of a PSAP, voltage-gated Ca2+ -channels integrated in the active zone of the presynaptic terminal’s cell
Chapter 2: A Biological Background
membrane are opened facilitating a Ca2+ -inward current. The resulting rise in intracellular Ca2+ -concentration causes synaptic vesicles to fuse with the presynaptic cell membrane which causes neurotransmitters stored inside the vesicles to be released into the synaptic cleft, a process called exocytosis. The neurotransmitter molecules diffuse across the synaptic cleft until they reach their receptors integrated in the postsynaptic cell membrane. Upon arrival at their receptors, the binding of transmitter molecules causes ligand-gated Na+ -channels to be opened facilitating a postsynaptic inward Na+ -current which depolarizes the postsy- naptic membrane, thereby generating a postsynaptic potential (PSP). After binding to their receptors, the transmitter molecules must be removed from the synaptic cleft in order to ter- minate synaptic transmission. In case of no transmitter removal, the synapse would become refractory, i.e. no new presynaptic signals would be transmitted due to receptor desensiti- zation resulting from continuous exposure to transmitter molecules. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying the removal of neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft is not mandatory for the concept of this thesis, thus, further explanations are left out but can be found elsewhere, e.g. in13. The several steps of chemical synaptic transmission are responsible for the synaptic delay which does not occur at electrical synapses. However, the lack of speed at chemical synapses compared to electrical synapses is compensated by the highly important property of amplification: A single synaptic vesicle contains several thousand molecules of neuro- transmitter, although typically only two molecules of transmitter are required to open a postsynaptic ion channel. Consequently, just a single synaptic vesicle can open thousands of ion channels in the postsynaptic cell. In this way even weak electrical currents generated by small presynaptic nerve terminals of chemical synapses can have much greater impact on the postsynaptic neuron as it would be the case at electrical synapses. After exocytosis, the presynaptic terminal membrane is slightly enlarged, precisely about the size of all vesicle membranes that fused with the terminal membrane, and the number of vesicles inside the cell is decreased. In order to prevent this trend, synaptic vesicle membranes added to the terminal membrane are recycled generating new synaptic vesicles. This recycling process is called endocytosis and has not yet been completely understood13. Figure 2.10 illustrates the cycling of synaptic vesicles at nerve terminals which involves several distinct steps: (1) free vesicles must be targeted to the active zone and then (2) dock at the active zone after which they (3) become primed in order to undergo exocytosis, i.e. (4) they fuse with the terminal membrane and release the contained neurotransmitter. (5) At last, the fused vesicles’ membranes are taken up to the endosome in the interior of the cell by endocytosis where they are regenerated completing the recycling process. A variety of proteins are involved in the recycling process but the exact understanding of the underlying mechanisms for the processes of exocytosis and endocytosis is not mandatory for the concepts of this thesis, thus, further explanations are left out but can be found elsewhere, e.g. in13.
Figure 2.9.: Chemical synaptic transmission involves several steps: An AP arriving at the presynaptic terminal causes voltage-gated Ca2+ -channels at the active zone to be opened which facilitates a Ca2+ -influx. The increased concentration in Ca2+ -ions inside the cell leads to the process of exocytosis: synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters fuse with cell membrane at the active zone causing the transmitter molecules to be released into the synaptic cleft. The transmitter molecules diffuse across the cleft and bind to specific receptors on the postsynaptic cell membrane causing ligand- gated ion channels to open (or close), thereby changing the postsynaptic membrane potential. [modified from [ 13 ]]
Figure 2.10.: The cycling of synaptic vesicles at nerve terminals involves several dis- tinct steps: Free vesicles are in a first step targeted to the active zone then dock at this active zone in a second step. The docked vesicles become primed in the third step so they can undergo exocytosis. In response to a rise in Ca2+ -concentration the vesicles can fuse with the terminal mem- brane in the fourth step to release the neurotransmitter. After transmitter release, in the fifth step the fused vesicle membrane is taken up into the interior of the cell by endocytosis. The endocytosed vesicles fuse with the endosome (an internal membrane compartment) which regenerates the vesicles completing the recycling process. [modified from [ 13 ]]
Postsynaptic neurons usually receive input from about a thousand synaptic connections, all of which can affect the neuron in a different way or with different efficacy. The neuron has to process all this input simultaneously in order to produce a subsequent reaction, i.e. the neuron has to decide if an AP is generated or not.13
The synaptic input of neurons in the brain, i.e. the postsynaptic currents (PSPs) evoked by PSAPs that facilitate synaptic transmission, can affect the postsynaptic neuron in two ways: (1) synaptic input can be excitatory, i.e. an excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) is generated in the postsynaptic cell. This current is typically carried by Na+ -ions flowing inside the cell through ligand-gated ion channels that are opened after binding neurotransmitter molecules at their specific receptors. This inward current depolarizes the postsynaptic membrane in the subthreshold regime generating an excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP); (2) synaptic input can be inhibitory, i.e. an inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) is generated in the postsynaptic cell. This current is typically carried by Cl--ions flowing inside the cell through ligand-gated ion channels. This inward current hyperpolarizes the postsynaptic membrane generating an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP). Consequently, the effect of a synaptic potential is not determined by the type of transmitter released from the presynaptic neuron but rather by the type of ion channels in the postsynaptic neuron gated by these transmitters. Nevertheless, some transmitters act predominantly on receptors that are of one or the other type. For instance: in the vertebrate brain, glutamate (glutamic acid, C5H9NO4) as a neurotransmitter typically acts on receptors that produce excitation, whereas GABA (γ -Aminobutyric acid, C4H9NO2) and glycine (NH2CO2COOH) typically act on receptors that produce inhibition, however, an exception is found in the vertebrate retina and many others can be found in invertebrates13.
Figure 2.11.: Synaptic contact can occur at the soma, the dendrites or the axon of postsynaptic neurons. The names of the various kinds of synapses iden- tify the docking regions of the presynaptic terminal at the postsynaptic neuron. Note that axodendritic synapses can either dock at the main shaft of the dendrite or at a specialized input zone, the spine. [modified from [ 13 ]]
Interestingly, a synapses morphology seems to be correlated to its functionality: two common morphological types of synaptic connections can be found in the brain, Gray type I and type II synapses (named after E.G. Gray). Type I synapses are often glutamatergic, i.e. the presynaptic terminal releases glutamate as neurotransmitter, and therefore excitatory, whereas type II synapses are often GABA-ergic, i.e. the presynaptic terminal releases GABA as neurotransmitter, and therefore inhibitory. Furthermore, excitatory and inhibitory synapses have favored docking sites at postsynaptic cells: Gray type I synapses, often excitatory, prefer- ably form communication sites at postsynaptic somas or dendrites, either at the dendritic shaft itself or at a dendritic spine, a fine specialized input zone of the dendrite, whereas Gray type II synapses, often inhibitory, preferably form communication sites at the postsynaptic neuron’s axon. Therefore axosomatic synapses and axodendritic synapses are often excitatory, whereas axoaxonic synapses are often inhibitory. Figure 2.11 and Figure 2.12 illustrate the mor- phological difference between Gray type I and type II synapses which are also summarized in Table 2.2 and their preferred docking sites at a postsynaptic neuron. A neuron receives synaptic input from about a thousand connections, each of which may be different from the other in terms of whether the input is excitatory or inhibitory, in terms of input strength and in terms of input frequency. In order to decide whether a postsynaptic AP is generated in response to the various competing inputs from all synaptic connections, the inputs are inte- grated by the postsynaptic neuron which is called neuronal integration, a decision-making process which the neurophysiologist and noble laureate Charles Sherrington regarded as the brain’s most fundamental operation. Neuronal integration involves the summation of synaptic potentials that passively spread to the trigger zone, the axon hillock, whereas this summation is spatial as well as temporal. Spatial summation is the integrative process of summing up synaptic inputs at different communication sites of the postsynaptic neuron, whereas temporal summation is the integrative process of summing up consecutive synaptic potentials at the same communication site. If the integrative processes of both, temporal and spatial summation result in a superthreshold depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron, an AP would be generated. A remarkable feature of synapses is their ability to undergo functional and structural changes depending on their history in a neural network. This ability is called synaptic plasticity and is crucial to memory, learning and other higher brain functions. 13
Figure 2.12.: The two most common morphologic types of synapses in the brain are Gray type I and type II. Type I synapses are usually glutamatergic and therefore excitatory whereas type II synapses are usually GABA-ergic and therefore inhibitory. Both types have differences in width of the synaptic cleft, total area of the active zone, prominence of presynaptic densities, shape of vesicles, and presence of a dense basement membrane. Type I synapses commonly contact dendritic spines and sometimes the den- dritic shaft, whereas type II synapses commonly contact the postsynaptic soma. [modified from [ 13 ]]
Table 2.2.: Summary of the morphological differences between Gray type I and type II synapses.
“What fires together, wires together.” - attributed to C.J. Shatz15.
In 1949, the psychologist Donald Olding Hebb introduced the Hebbian theory which explains the adaption of neurons in the brain during the process of learning16. The theory states that an increase in synaptic weight, i.e. an increase in synaptic efficacy in response to PSAPs, arises from repeated and persistent stimulation of the postsynaptic neuron through a presy- naptic neuron. Hebb’s theory is often summarized as “What fires together, wires together” and attempts to explain associative learning, an ability of the nervous system to adjust the connection strength of neural pathways, or more precisely the mechanisms by which simul- taneous activation of neurons leads to a pronounced increase of synaptic strength between those neurons. This method of learning, named after its originator Donald O. Hebb, is called Hebbian learning. Synapses that are affected by Hebbian learning undergo functional and structural changes, called synaptic plasticity, which can be temporary or permanent. A tem- porary change in synaptic efficacy lasting a few seconds or less is categorized as short-term plasticity (STP). Short-term synaptic enhancement is often differentiated into three categories depending on their timescales: (1) short-term facilitation (STF), also called pulsed pair facili- tation (PPF) usually lasts for tens of milliseconds while (2) short-term augmentation (STA) acts on the timescale of seconds and (3) short-term potentiation (STP - not to be confused with short-term plasticity) which has a time course of tens of seconds up to several minutes 17. Each form of temporary enhancement of synaptic strength is an exclusively presynap- tic mechanism and results from an increased probability to release vesicles in response to a PSAP as a consequence of an increased Ca2+ -concentration in the presynaptic terminal. Consequently, the synaptic connection will be strengthened for a short time because of either an increase in size of the readily releasable pool of vesicles that contain neurotransmitter molecules or because of an increase in the amount of neurotransmitter molecules stored in the vesicles released in response to an AP. The type of synaptic enhancement present at a given synapse depends on its input: a single AP leads to facilitation, whereas a short train of consecutive APs generally causes augmentation while longer trains lead to potentiation 18,19. The inset in Figure 2.13 illustrates how paired pulse facilitation affects the PSCs in a way that two consecutive APs separated by a time Δ t evoke PSCs with the second response larger than the first, while the amplitude of facilitation depends on the temporal structure of synaptic input. The opposed effect to STF is short-term depression (STD) which decreases the amplitude of PSCs and occurs due to a decrease in the probability to release vesicles in response to a PSAP as a consequence of a decreased Ca2+ -concentration in the presynaptic terminal20.
Complementary to STP, synaptic plasticity lasting several minutes or longer is catego- rized as long-term plasticity (LTP), an exclusively postsynaptic mechanisms which is found to require the binding of glutamate and glycine for the activation of the specific receptors responsible for LTP, so called NMDA receptors21. Similar to STP, LTP is differentiated into long-term potentiation (LTP - not to be confused with long-term plasticity), and long-term depression (LTD). Although oppositional in their effects on synaptic transmission, both LTP as well as LTD are induced by a rise in the intracellular Ca2+ -concentration Ca 2+ + i inthe postsynaptic neuron. The brief activation of an excitatory pathway can produce LTD only at a minimum level of postsynaptic depolarization caused by a rise in postsynaptic Ca 2+ + i.LTP on the other hand requires much stronger postsynaptic depolarization and consequently a much higher postsynaptic Ca 2+ + i,hence,itispossibletofirstinduceLTDandthenLTPat the same synapse22. The amplitude of Ca2+ -surge is critical for the induction of LTD and LTP rather than the source of Ca2+ since the activation of voltage-gated Ca2+ -channels and ligand-gated Ca2+ -channels as well as the release from intracellular stores have been shown to contribute to the induction of both LTD and LTP. Figure 2.14 illustrates the dependence of whether LTD or LTP is induced on the postsynaptic membrane potential Vm. Note that there are two ranges of Vm within which synapses do not undergo any long-term modifications. A moderate rise in Ca 2+ + i leadstoapredominantactivationofphosphatases,whileastronger depolarization favorably leads to the activation of kinases, which has the opposing effect to the activation of phosphatases24.
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Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (1. Physikalisches Institut (IA))
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Phase-Change Materials Bursting Emulation Synapse
Richard Meyes (Autor), 2012, Emulation of Bursting Neurons in Neuromorphic Hardware based on Phase-Change Materials, München, Page::Imprint:: GRINVerlagOHG, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/230392
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Home>News> Jay-Z Talks On President Obama Supporting Gay Marriage & U.S. Economy
Jay-Z Talks On President Obama Supporting Gay Marriage & U.S. Economy
Jay-Z talks to CNN during the Made in America press conference about some current issues in the U.S.
While at the Made in America press conference in Philadelphia, Jay-Z talked to CNN about President Obama's outspoken support of gay marriage, and he gave his support on President Obama's stance also. He also spoke on "successful America" and the U.S. economy.Â
On gay marriage, Hov says, "I've always thought it as something that's holding the country back. You know, what people do in their own homes is their business, and you choose to love whoever you love, that's their business, it's no different than discriminating against blacks. It's discrimination, plain and simple."
He continued, "I think it's the right thing to do, so whether it cost him votes or not, again, it's really not about votes, it's about people. So whether it cost him votes or not, I think it's the right thing to do, as a human being."
Watch both video clips below, in the first he speaks on gay marriage and in the second he speaks on the economy.
Underrated Audio: May 7- May 13
BTS Photos: Video Shoot For Chris Brown's "Don't Wake Me Up"
NEWS Jay-Z Talks On President Obama Supporting Gay Marriage & U.S. Economy
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O’Rourke’s claim that he doesn’t take PAC money only half true
US & World // Texas Legislature
By Fauzeya Rahman, Staff Writer Aug. 5, 2017 Updated: Aug. 5, 2017 6:15 p.m.
O’Rourke’s claim that he doesn’t take PAC money...
1of4Congressman Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, speaks to approximately 400 supporters during a speech at The Well, a restaurant and bar near UTSA. O'Rouke has annoucned he is running for Ted Cruz' senate seat.Photo: Robin Jerstad, Freelance / San Antonio Express News
2of4U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, speaks at Tycoon Flats in San Antonio March 11, 2017. O’Rourke is seeking the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Ted Cruz.Photo: Billy Calzada /San Antonio Express-News
4of4U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D) talks with Midlanders at Grub Burger on March 18, 2017. James Durbin/Reporter-TelegramPhoto: James Durbin / James Durbin
“I’m one of two members of Congress out of 535 that takes no corporate cash, no political action committee money.”
— Beto O'Rourke on March 31, 2017 in a U.S. Senate campaign kickoff event in Dallas
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, the punk rocker turned Democratic politician from El Paso, vowed to go against “politics as usual” in Washington while spreading the word about his quest to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in the 2018 elections.
O’Rourke, addressing Dallas supporters at a March 2017 campaign kickoff event, provided some detail as to what that means to him. Toward the end of his remarks, he asked for personal campaign donations, adding to cheers and applause: “I’m one of two members of Congress out of 535 that takes no corporate cash, no political action committee money. I don’t want you worried that when I’m taking a vote, making a decision, writing a bill, looking at an amendment, that I’m listening to anyone but you, the people that I want to serve and that I want to represent.”
Nobody seeking federal office can legally accept direct corporate or union donations, the Federal Election Commission notes.
Yet political action committees — open to anyone’s contributions or founded and run by individuals working for corporations or affiliated with labor unions, membership organizations or trade associations — routinely fuel campaigns. In the 2016 elections, PACs gave $472.7 million to congressional candidates, according to the campaign finance tracking website OpenSecrets.org run by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. According to the site, PAC donations accounted for 35 percent of campaign funds for House Democrats, 39 percent for House Republicans, 15 percent for Senate Democrats and 27 percent for Senate Republicans.
O’Rourke amends
We inquired into the basis of O’Rourke’s claim to near-uniqueness for not taking PAC money.
By email, O’Rourke replied that he’d revise what he says going forward. “What I should have said," O’Rourke said, "is that there are only two members of Congress who do not take PAC money and who also do not have a leadership PAC (which gives PAC contributions to other members), myself and Ro Khanna,” a California Democrat.
In a March 2017 press release, Khanna said he and O’Rourke had introduced legislation barring members of Congress and aspirants from accepting PAC donations. That release grouped Khanna and O’Rourke among six House members who didn’t accept PAC donations in the run-up to the 2016 elections. That count was based, the release said, on a December 2016 breakdown of candidate finance filings posted by Colorado-based CleanSlateNow, which focuses on changing how campaigns are funded.
O’Rourke’s reply to us included a different count attributed to information on the OpenSecrets site. O’Rourke wrote: “There are four members of Congress (based on the Open Secrets website) who did not take PAC money in the last cycle (either to their Congressional campaign or to their leadership PAC if they had one) — myself, Ro Khanna, John Sarbanes and Francis Rooney. Both Sarbanes and Rooney have PACs themselves that make PAC contributions to other candidates.”
Reviewing web posts and records
Information on the OpenSecrets site indicates that into May 2017, Cruz had raised more than $1.9 million from PACs with the contributions accounting for 2 percent of more than $117 million he’d raised starting from his 2012 election to the Senate.
The comparable entry for O’Rourke doesn’t show a zero for his PAC donations. It indicates instead $297,969 in PAC contributions to O’Rourke campaigns, amounting to 5 percent of O’Rourke’s $6.3 million in contributions since 2011, the year before his initial election to the House.
We asked O’Rourke’s campaign about the tallied PAC contributions.
A senior adviser, David Wysong, said by phone that O’Rourke accepted such donations through his first couple of House elections but stopped doing so before seeking his third term in 2016. By email, Wysong provided a document he described as a February 2015 form letter from O’Rourke to possible PAC contributors after which, Wysong said, O’Rourke accepted no PAC donations.
From O’Rourke’s letter: “Starting with this election cycle, I plan to no longer accept PAC contributions. I’ve made this decision in an effort to focus more of my campaign efforts on bringing new, smaller and local donors into the campaign.” Wysong also emailed an example of O’Rourke turning back such such aid — an October 2016 letter from O’Rourke’s campaign manager, Brianna Carmen, returning a donation from the Treasury Employees PAC.
Wysong noted, too, that according to an FEC summary page about O’Rourke’s Senate finance report filed in July 2017, the candidate raised more than $2 million from April through June 2017, none of that from PACs.
With help from the center’s research director, Sarah Bryner, we confirmed from the OpenSecrets site and FEC filings that O’Rourke did not bank any PAC contributions as he sought re-election in 2016 or in the first months of his Senate bid.
But this proved a slog to confirm because PAC names repeatedly appear in O’Rourke’s contribution reports. His July 2017 filing with the FEC separately shows $14,580 in contributions from other candidate committees.
How unique?
Our first focus was on gauging the accuracy of O’Rourke’s claim to being one of two members not accepting PAC aid.
After identifying each current senator and House member on the U.S. Congress website, we checked the OpenSecrets site for PAC contributions to each member; the site provides a summary page for each member showing her or his contributions by cycle and over the years. Candidate contributions are further broken down by categories including individual contributions, PAC contributions and self-financing.
From OpenSecrets posts, we identified five House members who did not get PAC contributions before the 2016 elections: O’Rourke; Khanna; Sarbanes, D-Md.; Jared Polis, D-Colo; Rooney, R-Fla--with Polis, Khanna and Rooney also fielding no PAC aid in their House careers.
A conflict we didn’t settle: CleanSlateNow previously identified Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tenn., as not getting PAC help in his 2016 re-election bid. In contrast, OpenSecrets’ summary page for Roe indicates he got $6,000 in PAC donations before that election.
Next, we eyeballed FEC-posted information, focusing on campaign filings by House members’ principal campaign committees for 2015-16.
These records confirmed Khanna did not get PAC contributions that cycle. Otherwise, the records showed, Rooney received a $10,296 PAC contribution from Rooney Victory on Dec. 30, 2016; Sarbanes received donations from the VoteSANE PAC; and Polis logged contributions attributed to JStreetPAC, AmeriPAC and ActBlue. Similarly, our FEC search suggested that O’Rourke’s campaign in 2015-16 received $110,721 attributed to PACs (including ActBlue, JStreetPAC and the New Democrat Coalition PAC). Of this total, $74,400 in contributions were designated for the 2018 Democratic primary.
So, candidates including O'Rourke took PAC aid?
Not so, we found, in that the donations were almost uniformly made by individuals whose personal contribution were routed through supportive “conduit” PACs — a phrase we hadn’t heard before. It looked to us like the donation to Rooney came from a committee devoted to his candidacy.
On the FEC site, the respective 2016 donations marked as “PAC” to Sarbanes, O’Rourke and Polis were each accompanied by a column describing the donations as a “conduit total,” with a note stating the donation was “earmarked through this organization.”
We sought more information about ActBlue, the largest aggregator of individual contributions among the PACs linked to O’Rourke. The group says on its web site that it offers tools to help Democratic candidates but it’s not a traditional PAC that rounds up donations and obscures specific donors. ActBlue says it “acts as a conduit federally and in most states, which means we provide the infrastructure for campaigns and organizations to fundraise online, but we don’t fundraise on behalf of anyone. Unlike groups that spend large sums of cash from undisclosed sources, ActBlue offers grassroots donors a way to give fully disclosed donations to the candidates and causes they choose,” the group says.
In July 2017, when we looked afresh at the OpenSecrets summary page for O’Rourke in 2017-18, it showed $29,160 in PAC contributions to O’Rourke’s Senate campaign. A few days later, the chart indicated $43,740 in PAC donations.
Red flags? Negative, Bryner told us, saying the charts summarizing O’Rourke’s Senate contributions were erroneous and would be rectified.
Significantly, Bryner also showed us how to query an FEC site that provides detailed files about all candidates, parties and other political committees. From the site, we fetched a July 23, 2017, commission list itemizing more than 45,000 PAC contributions to congressional candidates in the 2017-18 election cycle. That list showed no PAC contributions to O’Rourke.
Experts concur
We asked campaign finance experts to guide us to documentation distinguishing donations through conduit PACs from traditional PAC contributions.
Judith Ingram, press officer at the FEC, showed us that in quarterly filings, ActBlue donations present an individual name as a line item below each listing of ActBlue as a donor, along with a text field that explains the individual donation is part of a conduit total. Ingram further confirmed that the JStreet PAC contributions reported by O’Rourke were made by individual donors employing the PAC as a conduit.
Stephen Spaulding, chief of strategy at the nonpartisan watchdog group Common Cause, echoed Ingram’s comments — that groups such as ActBlue act as intermediaries by processing payments that “can be attributed to an actual donor, a human being.” If a donation was a traditional PAC contribution, Spaulding explained, the listed contributor would be the PAC alone, and there wouldn’t be a specific individual’s name linked to it.
O’Rourke said: ‘I’m one of two members of Congress out of 535 that takes no corporate cash, no political action committee money.”
Unsaid: no candidate can take corporate cash; that’s illegal. Otherwise, we found, O’Rourke was one of at least five (not two) House incumbents to keep no PAC contributions in the run-up to the 2016 elections. He also hasn’t accepted PAC aid into 2017 though he drew on about $297,000 in PAC donations in his House bids of 2012 and 2014 — actions not recapped in his Dallas call for contributions.
We rate this claim HALF TRUE — The statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details or takes things out of context.
Go to Politifact.com/Texas/ for more on the six Politifact ratings and other fact checks.
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Our Penny gets another ring
12 October 2009 9:32:01 PM AEDT
Congratulations to Melbourne girl Penny Taylor on winning her second WNBA championship ring. Penny came off the bench to score 14 points in the Phoenix Mercury’s tight 94 to 86 win in game 5 against the Indiana Fever. The victory takes Australia’s tally to four WNBA titles. Taylor, who also added four rebounds and five assists, moves past Lauren Jackson and Indiana’s Tully Bevilacqua, winners of one title each. One thing is for sure, with players like these, the Opals will be tough to beat at next year’s FIBA World Championships.
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Compare Qatar to other countries
Show the size of Qatar compared to Iran Hide the map
If Qatar were your home instead of Iran you would...
make 8 times more money
The GDP per capita in Qatar is $102,100 while in Iran it is $12,800
live 7.49 years longer
The life expectancy at birth in Qatar is 78.38 while in Iran it is 70.89.
Qatar has an unemployment rate of 0.40% while Iran has 10.30%
be 83.54% less likely to die in infancy
The number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in Qatar is 6.42 while in Iran it is 39.00.
consume 4.2 times more oil
Iran consumes 0.8862 gallons of oil per day per capita while Qatar consumes 3.7506
spend 4.1 times more money on health care
Per capita public and private health expenditures combined in Qatar are $2,028.80 USD while Iran spends $490.20 USD
The per capita consumption of electricity in Iran is 2,471kWh while in Qatar it is 9,660kWh
53 in every 100,000 people are currently imprisoned in Qatar compared to 290 in Iran
be 68.75% more likely to be murdered
8.10 in every 100,000 people are murdered annually in Qatar compared to 4.80 in Iran
be 50% less likely to have HIV/AIDS
The percentage of adults living with HIV/AIDS in Qatar is 0.10% while in Iran it is 0.20%. 100 people in Qatar and 4,600 people in Iran die from AIDS each year.
have 45.42% fewer babies
The annual number of births per 1,000 people in Qatar is 9.95 while in Iran it is 18.23.
More Information about Qatar
With its 2,123,160 people, Qatar is the 144th largest country in the world by population. It is the 164th largest country in the world by area with 11,586 square kilometers.
Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the Amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew the father in a bloodless coup in 1995. In short order, HAMAD oversaw the creation of the pan-Arab satellite news network Al-Jazeera and Qatar's pursuit of a leadership role in mediating regional conflicts. In the 2000s, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As of 2007, oil and natural gas revenues had enabled Qatar to attain the highest per capita income in the world. Qatar has not experienced domestic unrest or violence like that seen in other Near Eastern and North African countries in 2010-11, due in part to its immense wealth. Since the outbreak of regional unrest, however, Doha has prided itself on its support for many of these popular revolutions, particularly in Libya and Syria. In mid-2013, HAMAD transferred power to his 33 year-old son, TAMIM bin Hamad - a peaceful abdication rare in the history of Arab Gulf states. TAMIM has prioritized improving the domestic welfare of Qataris, including establishing advanced healthcare and education systems and expanding the country's infrastructure in anticipation of Doha's hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
Languages spoken: Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language
Reading about Qatar
Check out the recommended reading list below for great sources of information on Qatar
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(Denis Van den Weghe)
The rise and fall of Viktor Anatolyevich Bout
Viktor Anatolyevich Bout is without any doubt the biggest political prisoner of today. For the readers among you that have never heard about Mr. Bout before, I will give you a little introduction in this article. Viktor Bout was born in Dushanbe (the capital of Tajikistan) during the Soviet Union. He served in the USSR Military and probably even under the GRU (a worldwide Russian secret intelligence service). Before the collapse of the Soviet Union he was stationed in Angola. He is known to speak at least six languages fluently - Russian, Portuguese, Uzbek, English, French and Swahili. In many stories he is referred to as ‘The Merchant of Death’. Little was known about this man, whose life was portrayed in Nicolas Cage's 2005 Hollywood blockbuster 'The Lord of War', but due to the investigation of several intelligence agencies, NGO’s and private persons there are some facts that are certain. I will base this text on the true facts and will leave things in the middle when not sure.
After the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, chaos broke out in all its former states and in a lot of allied communist countries. Around that time, some clever persons with the right connections tried to bend the ruling chaos towards their pocket, to eventually benefit from it. With the idea in their head of ‘stick to what you know’, some made fortunes. Viktor Bout was one of them. His line of business happened to be the Military and more specific, the African continent. Because of the communist ideology, entrepreneurship was never promoted in the USSR and business was something new to each of its members. No predefined rules, business-ethics and history in this matter naturally created an atmosphere of ‘business is business’, whatever the actual traded good was. Trading guns was the same as trading bananas.
So in his mid-twenties, full of energy, ideas and intellectual capacity, young Viktor had the right kind of network and background and lived during the right period to eventually emerge as the biggest and brightest merchant of arms and military materiel that history has ever seen. Getting his weapons and planes from all remote and abandoned military bases across the former USSR, he funnelled them to Africa mostly but also to Afghanistan. In Afghanistan he is known to have delivered goods to both sides of the pre-‘Operation Enduring Freedom’ era. He did similar things in Africa and in many cases the ‘customers’ knew about it but Viktor was their only reliable delivery man, so with their arms tied behind their back, they ignored that fact and kept on doing business with him.
Mr. Bout had a reputation on delivering his goods on time, whatever the circumstances his planes and pilots may have to manoeuvre in. For anyone familiar with heated conflicts, this is quite an achievement. Delivering was hard not only because of the physical circumstances but also because of the UN-enforced weapon-embargoes on some countries. Falsifications of end-user-certificates and other documents where however easily made and, as it seems, where only theoretic barriers put up by bureaucrats behind their desk. Operations ran trough several transit-airports worldwide. He used them to refill for gas and meanwhile to help to erase the trail behind the provenance of the goods he cargoed. Those airports are known to have been in Bulgaria, South Africa, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates, Sierra Leone, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Through a myriad of front-companies with on-paper directors from all over the world he succeeded for a long time to get his name out of the picture. Various investigators sometimes travelled half the world to interrogate people and mainly find fake addresses, moved offices, inexistent directors or just to try to catch up and follow the trail that his shifting operations left. At any time, Viktor Bout owned a fleet of about 60 heavy cargo planes, which had tail number and registration shifted constantly. Over the years, many people involved in the investigations around him thought that some high-placed persons (mainly in the US and Russia) were keeping their hands above his head so that he could handle his business without inconvenience.
This was their belief because Mr. Bout was one of the big reasons that wars could still be fought on a continent like Africa. He was the means that kept them going. Basically, it would have been easy to bring an end to all this by arresting just one man, the mastermind behind the scenes. But the many agencies from various governments never got to the point of even getting close to him. They lacked resources, manpower and the proper authorisations to conduct their work. In fact, Viktor Bout was on many occasions an ally of the United States, funnelling weapons to embargoed countries and bringing chaos in those areas. This way, nobody could point fingers towards the United States of America and still, ‘things got done’.
This assumption gets all the more acceptable when you take into account that during the first years of the occupied-Iraq, the same American Government that was supposedly trying to catch ‘The Merchant of Death’ relied on companies owned by Viktor Bout to make deliveries of goods all-over Iraq. Only his fleet of cargo-airplanes and only his, mostly Russian, pilots dared to get mixed-up in the roughness of a battlefield. The US denies now that it knew at the time that it was dealing with Bout’s companies. How can they not have known? Every accredited company dealing with the US in Iraq gets overloaded with requested documents, company history and all of this goes trough several levels and needs approvals of high-ranked military personnel, and this over and over again during many shipments and years of deliveries. They were not single flights, but hundreds, worth many millions of dollars and there was nobody who knew? He almost got away with all of it: te Afghan dealings, the rebels and dictators in Africa that he supplied, etc.
Until recently (March 2008), after a several months long operation, he was caught in Thailand because the CIA set him up. Mr. Bout thought he was dealing with high-level leaders of the Colombian FARC but in fact, they were undercover agents pretending to be rebels. This arrest was quite surprising and came at a time where dealings around his persona appeared to be calm. Before his arrest, Viktor Bout lived his last couple of years as a free man in Moscow, the capital of the mighty Russian Federation. International attempts to extradite him failed because the Russian Government didn’t acknowledge his wrongdoings and therefore let him lead his public life openly. The Russians may have supported him indirectly too by unofficially approving his dealings with corrupt Generals of the Military who sold their guns, helicopters, plane and ammunition to him.
After the weapon race of the Cold War, the Military had too much of them stored anyway and it was ageing. A man like Mr. Bout could help them get rid of some of this military build-up and they would then be able to inject this new capital into the economy or into their pockets, who knows what happened. It was the Russian era known as ‘The Crazy Nineties’. After using Viktor Bout as a tool, the US decided that they had enough of him and that it was time to take him in. This is quite surprising, given their past ‘relation’ with the man. He is being accused for terrorism, a word that is often used nowadays even though his dealings cannot really be named as such.
Osama bin Ladin can be called a terrorist, no doubt, but I think it is a dangerous thing to broaden the meaning of the word and apply it on Viktor Bout. For the moment Mr. Bout is therefore the biggest political prisoner in custody and is awaiting his extradition to the US in a Thai cell. Mr. Bout is a hot topic in international courts nowadays. Even the Court in The Hague would like to judge him in the trial around former Liberian President Charles Taylor where he would be accused of conspiracy. All this taxpayers’ money needed to catch him and trial him, while he was long time ‘supported’ in a way could be well-used for other purposes. After all, he is just a man with great intellect and a hell lot of planes who does business ‘creatively’.
Meer teksten van Denis Van den Weghe op www.lvsv.be.
Meer teksten van Vincent De Roeck op www.libertarian.be.
posted by Vincent De Roeck @ 12:02 9 comments
At 1/11/08 13:52, Anoniem said...
Against the 'creative' business of Mr.Bout the no less 'creative' intervention of the CIA. Among gangsters it is often difficult tot draw the line between creativity and criminality.
Frans V.
At 1/11/08 15:13, David Vandenberghe said...
What's exactly the point of this article?
I wouldn't label Viktor Bout as a political prisoner. He got caught doing things he shouldn't have done, that's the end of that.
@ Brigant
The point Denis and Vincent are trying to make here, is the following: there is nothing wrong with trading guns, so the arrest of Bout is unjustified. Libertarians tend to believe that the trade of ALL goods and services should be legal. Only crimes committed with these goods and services should be punished. The murderer or dictator is to be blamed, not the provider of the guns.
I'd like to argue this is a bit. I've been doing a lot of research over Viktor Bout. I've read everything from Richard Chichakli's case (look it up if you don't know) to why he's being charged. First, I will agree (I'm an US Citizen by the way) that the US has no right to broaden the meaning of Terrorist to encompass Viktor Bout as well. What's next? If a gun-store owner sells a pistol to a gangster, with no prior knowledge, is he considered a terrorist?
Some actually will argue that he broke UN Embargoes, and that is why he's being sent to prison for life or something along those lines. The truth of the matter is, there is no official criminal charge for breaking embargoes. Not even what they have already done (Freezing all his assets). I personally, honestly, hope that Viktor Bout never gets sent to America. The political and criminal cases in my home country (I'm still living here) are becoming completely unstable. As a non-US citizen Viktor Bout can be held in Guantanamo Bay (with the real terrorists) for his entire life, with no trial. According to how America has set up the law system now, only US Citizens on US soil are allowed to the Bill of Rights and the writ of Habeas Corpus.
Did he break embargoes in my opinion? Yes. But that's not a criminal offense, just a, so to say, no-no by global standards. Should he be punished? I don't know in all honesty. He did what the United States does on a minature scale. US citizens (soldiers) are killing hundreds daily, at least he's not killing. He might be giving those who want to the ability to do so, but let's face it, they'd do it regardless.
Our goal shouldn't be penalizing him, but stabilizing those regions instead of placing embargoes and pushing it all under the rug like it doesn't exist. Because the sad truth in the US, 95% of the people I know and I met, don't even know what Sierra Leone is nor the fact that it's a war-zone with people dying daily.
If you want to stabilise some area's you have to take out illicite arms traffickers. It's not only embargo's that he's broken, probably broke customs regulations as well.
An article full of unsubstantiated hearsay and conspiratorial speculation on IFF, why not?
At least, the commentary illustrates, as if that was still needed, the folly of much of Western immigration policies. 'Ashengrad' is certainly not a friend of America. Yet, America apparently granted him its citizenship. At the same time, he still talks about his "my home country (I am still living here)". With that kind of mentality, I am not surprised that conditions in his home country "are becoming completely unstable".
Why western countries, particularly America, continue to grant citizenship to many people with chips-on-their-shouders who manifestly dislike their 'adopted country', and who confuse free speech with irresponsible speech, is a mystery. Or is it? No, it isn't really. It is a direct result of the decline of moral virtues, like self-discipline, courage, loyalty....and a couple more.
Marc H. Just checked up and wanted to say this, I was born here. I was a naturally born citizen of the US, and believe me, it has great benefits. Yes I understand that. I understand that the US has been a great power (even if often other countries had ill feelings of it) in the world for a long time, and I understand that you have some major ill feelings for what I said. The thing is, 1) free speech is a right every citizen of the world deserves. What I'm doing is merely speaking out on what I believe is an important topic.
Don't let my name fool you, the only reason I have that name is because it's due to a game I use to play a lot, called Civilization 3. But that's completely irrelevant.
I was born in the US, I've lived through some of what have been the most chaotic times in the United States (fortunate enough to miss the threat of Nuclear Proliferation though, as I'm still under 18 years old) and I grew up loving my country. But the thing is, part of loving your country is the ability to speak out against it. The reason why the court systems exist, why politics are a back and forth battle, and why judges and protests all happen to exist is because, leaving the country to run your best self-interest is the worst idea. As citizens of the world, and as citizens of our own respective home countries, we must be willing to speak out against it and criticize it's actions, otherwise it will never come into light.
And loving your country and loving your politicians are two completely different conflicting ideas.
Sierra Leone is no longer a warzone to my knowledge.
Bout was caught selling gear to the FARC. FARC is linked to drugs export, which depart from Colombia directly to Mexico or take the scenic route over Venezuela. That's enough for me to put him in jail since the FARC is a terrorist organization and he's willing to furnish them weaponry. That's a no-no.
@ Ashengrad
OK, you claim to be "a naturally born citizen of the US". So, you are not an immigrant, but you are a product of a rotten education system. I base that judgment on two factors. First, your opinion that you "have lived through some of the most chaotic times in the United States" clearly illustrates that you have a very poor grasp of history. And, second, your earlier comment about "killings" proves (at least to me) that you have no clue about how to make proper moral judgments, or (if you will) how to approach moral dilemmas and to show humility (as opposed to 'fundamentalist' certainty, which comes in infinite variety).
But, since you say that you are less than 18 years old, I will not press either of these two points. I certainly agree with you that "citizens of the world" SHOULD have "free speech". I can assure you that most of them do NOT have it. You have it as an American, and I know of no one in America who is in jail for "free speech". By contrast, I know of many people in Europe who are in jail SIMPLY for "speech" (not deeds or actions), and I know of many laws in Europe who arbitrarily criminalise 'speech'. As to how the rest of the world deals with 'speech', let's not even go there...you will find out as you grow up a bit further.
Finally, indeed loving your country and loving your politicians are two different ideas. They are not necessarily "conflicting" ideas. And, if you truly love your country, you must at least start with a presumption of 'love' and respect for (almost all) your country's politicians, since they are part and parcel of your country's culture and political system. Most of them are people who 'stick their necks out' and perform a necessary role.
You are very young, and have still a high mountain to climb. I hope that eventually you will learn to distinguish (and discriminate!) between silly and serious 'speech', between informed speech and stupid speech, and ultimately between responsible speech and irresponsible speech. I hope that you will make it...eventually.
In nood kent men zijn vrienden
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Problematische procreatie (vpmc)
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You are here: Home / News / Video: Lecture at UC Berkeley School of Information: Christian Marc Schmidt on “Designing for Knowledge: Beyond Data Visualization”
Video: Lecture at UC Berkeley School of Information: Christian Marc Schmidt on “Designing for Knowledge: Beyond Data Visualization”
Filed by Gary Price on April 2, 2016
Here’s a video recording of a Dean’s Lecture recorded at the UC Berkeley School of Information on March 30, 2016.
Overview and Bio From the YouTube Blurb and News and Events Page:
In this talk, Christian Marc Schmidt will focus on the changing role of design and how it is shifting from solving problems to creating knowledge. Christian will present a brief historical overview of how design has responded to technology and how it is now responding the explosion of data through the new interfaces that can help people make sense of the growing amount of information they create and consume. In the second half of the talk, Christian will concentrate on several relevant case studies of recent work by Schema, the research and design firm he founded based in Seattle, emphasizing Schema’s approach to collaboration with other disciplines from science to the arts.
Christian Marc Schmidt is principal and founder of Schema, a creative design and technology studio based in Seattle. Schema focuses on the intersection of interaction design and data visualization. Clients range from corporations such as Bloomberg and Microsoft, to startups such as Actively Learn and institutions such as the University of Washington. Christian’s experience spans the fields of information design, interaction design, and media installation.
Prior to founding Schema in 2012, Christian was a senior designer at Microsoft, an associate partner at Pentagram, and an interaction designer at IDEO. At Pentagram, Christian was lead designer for the One Laptop per Child interface designed for children in developing countries. His work on this project is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Christian holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design in New York and an MFA from the Yale University School of Art. His work has received recognition from organizations such as D&AD, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the Society for Environmental Graphic Design, Communication Arts, Print Magazine, and the Industrial Designers Society of America. Among other publications Christian’s writing has appeared in ARCADE Magazine, Net Works—Case Studies in Web Art and Web Design, and the Parsons Journal for Information Mapping. Christian has taught in the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University, the Visual Communication Design program at the University of Washington and Cornish College of the Arts.
View More Dean’s Lectures
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Twin Cities Retailers Hang Tough After Rocky Q3 Results
MINNEAPOLIS-Retailers stick with expansion plans despite tough selling climate. What this might mean if the economy skids is a question.
By Jim McCartney | November 14, 2000 at 01:01 AM
MINNEAPOLIS-Despite worries over retail sales and a rough third quarter for many retailers, two local chain stores say they are sticking with aggressive expansion plans this year and next.
Kohl Corp., a chain of moderate-priced suburban department stores, said it plans to enter the Atlanta market with 15 stores next year. The Menomonee Falls, WI-based retailer opened 22 new stores during the third quarter, bringing itscount to 320. It had 257 stores at the end of its fiscal third quarter a year earlier. The company also said it plans to open 55 to 60 stores in fiscal 2001. Kohl’s offers moderately priced lines from brands such as VF Corp.’s Lee, Levi Strauss & Co.’s Levis and Nike Inc.’s Nike. Kohl’s proved an exception this week, as it reported sharply higher earnings and sales compared to last year.
Meanwhile, Wilson The Leather Experts said that it opened 27 new stores during the third quarter, and plans to open an additional 19 by the end of December. The new stores will run the total to 70 new stores opened this year, a net increase of 55 units after 15 store closings, according to the Brooklyn Park, MN-based leather products retailer. Wilson officials called it “our most aggressive store expansion in several years.” Wilson officials vow to “to continue our expansion strategy” of achieving at least a 20% a year increases in sales and earnings. Wilson officials called El Portal, a leather goods chain it recently bought, a “strong growth vehicle.”
Wilsons Leather has 571 retail stores in 44 states, Canada and England, including 470 mall stores, 72 outlet stores, and 29 airport locations. The company, which regularly supplements its permanent mall stores with temporary holiday stores–it expects to have up to 240 holiday stores this year. Wilson’s quarter reflected the fate of other retailers, including Target, which saw earnings go down. Wilson, in fact, reported a third quarter net loss of $2.4 million, topping the loss of $2.1 million a year ago.
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Third Dallas real estate developer charged with bribing city council members
Another Dallas real estate developer has been charged with bribing city officials.
A federal grand jury indicted Sherman Roberts, the president of City Wide Community Development Corporation, on one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of bribery concerning a local government receiving federal benefits on Wednesday. Mr. Roberts is scheduled to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renee Toliver Friday morning.
In return for cash payments and the promise of future payments after her city council tenure ended, Council Member A voted to authorize more than $1.9 million in City of Dallas funding for Mr. Robert's Serenity Place project, recommended that the project receive a 9 percent low income housing tax credit from the Texas Department of Housing, and demanded that developers with competing projects withdraw their applications for funding in order to increase Mr. Robert's chances.
"Right now, you and me are making money" from the real estate dealings, Mr. Roberts allegedly told Council Member A, who was then serving as a leader of Dallas' Housing Committee, in spring 2015.
Together, the pair then approached Council Member B for his help with another one of Mr. Robert's developments.
In return for a $600 cash payment plus the promise of a $60,000 lump sum payment and a $2,000 monthly stipend, Council Member B agreed to stop the City of Dallas from issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Mr. Robert's Patriot's Crossing project and to cast votes in favor of the project on the City Council.
Mr. Roberts is the third real estate developer charged with bribery in the past two years. Devin Hall, the developer behind the Grand Park Place apartment project, pleaded guilty in August 2020. Ruel Hamilton, the AmeriSouth Realty Group executive who backed the Royal Crest housing project, is slated for trial in February 2021.
An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. Like all defendants, Mr. Roberts is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
IRS – Criminal Investigation's Dallas Field Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marcus Busch and Andrew Wirmani are prosecuting the case.
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The Story of the Bodmer Papyri
The Story of the Bodmer Papyri:
From the First Monastery's Library in Upper Egypt to Geneva and Dublin
By James M. Robinson
An exercise in bibliographical history, tracing the provenance of the Bodmer Papyri, one of the key collections of manuscripts relating to the New Testament.
The Bodmer Papyri consist of some thirty-five books, in Coptic and in Greek, as well as various fragments, pagan and Christian, and have proved an invaluable resource for the study and interpretation of the New Testament.
James Robinson scrupulously traces the story of the Bodmer Papyri from the history of their discovery, their acquisition by various institutions and individuals, current locations and study. He examines the form of the cache of manuscripts which consist not only of papyri but also of codex and scrolls, most of which are located at the celebrated Bibliothèque Bodmer near Geneva. However a large number are at the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin, a circumstance to which the second chapter is devoted, and a few are widely dispersed in Mississippi, Cologne, and Barcelona. In Egypt the manuscripts are known as the Dishna papers, since that is the name of the large town where they were sold. Robinson reveals that the manuscripts are the last remnants of the library of the Pachomian monastic order of Egypt, the result of his commission by the United Nations Educational and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to track down the location of the Nag Hammadi Codices discovery.
Robinsons' sweeping work will fascinate bibliophiles and any individual seeking a physical history of the treasure trove of the Bodmer Papyri.
1. The Bodmer Papyri
2. Bodmer Papyri in the Chester Beatty Library
3. Mississippi, Cologne, Barcelona
4. The Dishna Papers
5. The Pachomian Library
Appendix 1: The Pachomian Monastic Library at the Chester Beatty Library and the Bibliothèque Bodmer
Appendix 2: List of Papyrus Bodmer Publications
Collectors, Dealers, Scholars, and Institutes
Glossary of Technical Terms
Index of Names
Introduction (PDF, 92 KB)
Extract from Chapter 1: The Bodmer Papyri (PDF, 190 KB)
James M. Robinson is Professor of Religion Emeritus at Claremont Graduate University, where he was founder and Director of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity. As permanent secretary of UNESCO's International Committee for the Nag Hammadi Codices, he edited The Coptic Gnostic Library, reprinted in five volumes (2000); among his many other publications is Language, Hermeneutic, and History.
Only James M. Robinson – based largely on first-hand experience – could recall, review, and evaluate the intricate details of the discovery and collection of the Dishna papers, which became part of the 'Bodmer Papyri'. In a detective-like fashion, he traces the complex history of this sizable collection, utilizing conversations, letters, and reports from native discoverers, Egyptian antiquities dealers, collectors of manuscripts, museum curators and conservators, as well as papyrologists, Coptologists, and editors of Greek, Latin, and Coptic texts. This history can never again be retrieved, and Robinson's account will serve all future generations. Eldon Jay Epp, author of Perspectives on New Testament Textual Criticism
To this huge advance in our knowledge of Christian-Coptic 'Gnosticism' [Robinson] has now added the story of his involvement with the puzzles posed by the Greek and Coptic Bodmer Papyri (BP) and their contribution to other parts of early Christian literature and history ... No one is better qualified to unravel them. Robinson has written a very readable and detailed account. J. Lionel North, in Journal of Theological Studies, Vol 64, No 2
There are two main aims to the book. The first is to produce evidence that manuscripts from a number of other collections, including the Chester Beatty Library, are part of the same find as nearly all the Bodmer papyri. The second is to argue that this find was made in the neighbourhood of Dishna and that it represents the library of a Pachomian monastery. David Parker, University of Birmingham, in Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Vol 65, No 1
... this book is an important contribution to understanding one of the most significant manuscript discoveries of the twentieth century. ... The volume will be of particular interest to New Testament textual critics and those interested in early Christian Coptic history. Paul Foster, University of Edinburgh, in The Expository Times, Vol 125, No 3
This volume is the dense and detailed magnum opus of Robinson's research into the provenance and history of early Christian papyri from Upper Egypt. ... The book is comprehensively researched and Robinson's career of academic heavy lifting is obvious. He illustrates clear first-hand knowledge of the manuscripts, a familiarity with relevant secondary sources, has accessed numerous unpublished letters, and has conducted his own interviews on the ground. The care and totality with which the history of these discoveries has been documented in this volume is impressive. This volume is the culmination of a lifetime of research. Garrick V. Allen, in Reviews in Religion & Theology, Vol 21, Issue 3
Other Titles bBy the Same Author
The Manichaean Codices of Medinet Madi
Twelve Miles From a Lemon (HB)
By Norman Taylor and Alan Hankinson (editors)
John Venn and the Clapham Sect (PB)
By Michael M. Hennell
Truth and Reality (PB)
By Douglas Dales
Letters of Ascent (PB)
By Michael C. Voigts
Traces of the Trinity (PB)
By Andrew Robinson
Crossing Thresholds (PB)
By Timothy Carson, Rosy Fairhurst, Nigel Rooms and Lisa Withrow
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Karl Ting Shows Off His Body in the Third Season of “Sammy on the Go”
By melodyc on November 22, 2019 in NEWS
On November 21, Karl Ting (丁子朗), Mayanne Mak (麥美恩), and Sammy Leung (森美) attended the press conference for the latter’s travel program, Sammy on the Go <森美旅行團>. The third season will broadcast next week, and this time, the trio explored both Tokyo and Hakone in Japan. Like the previous season, 22-year-old Karl, who is a “secretly buff boy,” flexed his muscles on the show, and visited the hot springs with Sammy.
Although Karl was willing to give viewers some eye candy, he chose to wear underwear to the hot springs. “Fortunately, it wasn’t as embarrassing as last time,” he expressed. “The crew is the same as last season’s so everyone is close. Since we have already seen each other’s bodies, we can just take off our clothes, it’s nothing special.”
Still, he ended up accidentally exposing himself when he tried on sumo wrestling outfits with Sammy. Karl didn’t realize he flashed everyone until the director reminded him to be wary of a “big situation.”
“The material of the piece of cloth is very hard. Usually, a sumo wrestler can fill out the outfit, but I am too thin, so it was too loose on me. The piece of cloth kept moving around,” Karl explained.
He also pointed out that he had to spread his legs to get into the sumo-wrestling stance at the beginning of the shoot. “This pose will definitely reveal [your privates], so it needs to be tighter,” he said.
Since the show requires him to show off his fit body, he worked out before filming the program. Even so, he said he feels ashamed because he’s not as buff as last time.
Karl expressed he needs to eat more eggs to build more muscles. “I am too thin, I hope to be a bit bigger,” the young actor said. “I don’t think I have a selling point. For a newcomer, it is a blessing that people want to watch me take off my clothes. It’s great that the audience doesn’t think I’m ugly.”
He also addressed reports that his parents asked him to return to Canada to study. Karl explained they were initially worried about him, but fortunately, his development in Hong Kong has been good for the past two years, so his parents are beginning to feel relieved.
Source: Topick
This article is written by MelodyC for JayneStars.com.
TAGS: Karl Ting, Mayanne Mak, Sammy Leung, Sammy on the
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1 comment to Karl Ting Shows Off His Body in the Third Season of “Sammy on the Go”
m0m0 says:
They look adorable in sumo pants. Samy has a really nicely toned body from head to toe.
Login or Register before you can reply to m0m0
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Yes, You Can Say No to Your Editor(s)
The Writing Life, Tippery / February 9, 2017 February 9, 2017
So there’s been much hand-wringing lately in internet writing circles about getting experts in a particular lived experience to read your novel looking for ways you may have gotten said lived experience wrong. When we’re talking about someone checking your science fiction novel for math and physics mistakes, we call this an “expert” reader, but for lived experience, the term “sensitivity reader” is being bandied about, and receiving a lot of eye-rolling and generating a lot of (w) writer tears. No one did this when I said I had a doctor friend look over all the guts and gore in my God’s War series. Weirdly enough!
Listen. I’m going to tell you a secret, which you should already know if you’re a pro writer, but is especially useful for new writers to hear. Nobody tells you what to write in this business. They may say, “Hey, I’d like to see a space opera from you,” or “Hey, you know, the gay guy dies here and that’s not a great trope. Sure you want to do that?” but no one will make you change anything. I mean, if you really can’t come to an agreement, you can publish that shit up on Amazon tomorrow, easy peasy. I know writers who actually argue with their copyeditors in the manuscript comments, and this always makes me roll my eyes. Why are you arguing? You’re the author. It will say in your contract, if you and your agent are diligent, that no changes can me made to the manuscript which you don’t approve of. That’s a pretty standard clause that has been in all of my contracts. Now, if you’re like, “I totally want to load a bunch of typos in this book!” you could also, even, do that for stylistic reasons! I know, it’s amazing. One of the reasons I prefer writing novels to writing ad copy (tho the ad copy pays way better) is that I’m in charge of the novel writing. Nearly any other type of writing you do is subject to a million other people’s opinions. Everyone has to have their 2 cents. Screenwriters are often at the very bottom of the H-wood hierarchy. In ad writing, there are times I’ll see the copy exactly once – in my first draft – and by the time I see the final it’s been touched by so many different folks that it’s barely recognizable. Novel writing isn’t like that. You will get suggestions from editors, but it’s only that – suggestions. If you want to write cliched, shitty characters that make people upset because they perpetrate the sorts of dangerous stereotypes that can get them killed, you go right ahead! You own that. Have fun. Sleep well.
But don’t fucking complain when you get called out on it like you’re a clueless fuck when a bunch of people offered to help you.
There are times when I’ve chosen not to take editorial suggestions. I had an editor want to cut a consensual sex scene, and, in fact, a whole chapter that was my favorite chapter in the book. I just ignored those comments. My agent once told me “Empire Ascendant” was not a great title for the second book in my Worldbreaker Saga, and we should do something related to “Mirror” for all three books. I didn’t listen, and I regretted it as soon as the book came out, because no one can spell “Ascendant” and she was right: there were way too many other books with “Empire” in the title. But I made that choice and I owned it. Most recently, my editor for The Stars Are Legion suggested that I tone down some of the gore during a scene with a recycler monster in the belly of the world. I giggled and just deleted the comment. And lo: yes, I’ve had multiple people already who are like, “HOLY SHIT THAT IS GORY WTF IS THIS?” And I giggle similarly. He was right that it’s super gory, but that’s the way I wanted it. My agent and I sit down and plot out books all the time. Most of the time I take her suggestions. Sometimes I don’t! Because I’m the author, I write the worlds! Ultimately, I’m the one who is responsible for those words. I will get the praise and the heat. It’s like being the director of a big budget movie. Everything that’s brilliant and everything that’s fucked up will be attributed to you, so you better fight for what you want.
I have been called out for all sorts of problematic shit in my books, like this. I’ve had readers point out that I’m not doing a whole lot with gender in The Stars are Legion. That’s a fair thing to point out! While I had Plans, I ran up against a deadline wall, and I chose to kick the book out the door to keep the publication date instead of going back in to do more world building layering That was my choice, and I have to live with it.
Nobody can make you do anything in this business, really. I mean, the worst I’ve ever heard is an author yanking back his book because his editor was like, “This is not publishable” and yeah, you have to really have turned in shit to have that happen, or your editor has to be unhinged (which happens!) and even then, you usually get to keep some of the advance and… post it on Amazon! The only time I ever felt compelled to make any changes was when I was doing legal review for Geek Feminist Revolution with a lawyer who was like, “If we phrase it this way, we’re less likely to get sued for libel,” which sounded super reasonable to me! But even then: these were phrased, always, as suggestions.
The truth is you are never going to write the Perfect Book that will be Universally Loved by All. What you can do is work with experts and editors to get as close to writing the book you want to write as possible. That’s it. If your editor recommends a “sensitivity reader” you can be like, “HELL NO FUCK THAT I WILL WRITE THE UGLIEST RACIST TROPES I WANT” and they’ll be like… uhhhhh OK? Because hey, if you want to die on that hill, you go for it. And yes, sure, an early reader may be like, “Hey! I told this writer there were problems and they didn’t listen!” and share that with the world, the same way you shared your book with the world! That could also happen! And you know what? That isn’t censorship either. That’s people saying true things on the internet. Which happens rarely enough these days that we should just celebrate any sort of truth telling at all.
So, hey, is your book offensive? If you don’t care, don’t ask. But if you want to write a book that is as true to life as you can make it, why wouldn’t you call on experts to help you make it that way? This sounds like a gift to me, not a curse.
But maybe that’s just because I’m dedicated to being the very best writer I can be, writing the clearest and most deliberate prose possible. If I’m going to write something awful, I want to have done so deliberately, and I will own it (I have written awful things! I own them, for better or worse).
What are you trying to achieve?
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Fauci Reveals He Has Received Death Threats And His Daughters Have Been Harassed
By Rob Stein • Aug 5, 2020
Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies last week in a House subcommittee hearing on the coronavirus. In an online forum Wednesday hosted by Harvard University, he shared that he has received death threats.
Erin Scott / Pool via AP
Dr. Anthony Fauci said Wednesday that he has received death threats and his daughters have been harassed as a result of his high-profile statements about the coronavirus pandemic.
"Getting death threats for me and my family and harassing my daughters to the point where I have to get security is just, I mean, it's amazing," Fauci said.
Fauci, who plays a key role on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, didn't reveal any more details about the threats and harassment. But he said he and his wife, and his three daughters, who live in three separate cities, are weathering the stress.
"I wish that they did not have to go through that," Fauci said. He made his comments Wednesday during an online forum sponsored by Harvard University that CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta moderated.
Fauci has led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984 and has advised six presidents on matters of public health. In recent months, he has sometimes made statements that have contradicted President Trump.
"I wouldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams that people who object to things that are pure public health principles are so set against it, and don't like what you and I say, namely in the word of science, that they actually threaten you. I mean, that to me is just strange," Fauci said.
Fauci called the threats and harassment "unseemly things that crises bring out in the world," adding that "it brings out the best of people and the worst of people."
Fauci is not alone in receiving threats for work in the public health response to the pandemic. Local health officials around the country have reported getting threatening comments online.
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World Cup Winners and Losers
The US squared off against Germany today and the team’s World Cup life was on the line. And while the US lost the game, they also… won? The complicated rules of the tournament mean that a game going on at the same time had just as much of an effect on the US as the loss to Germany. And the upshot? The US will move on to the group of 16.
Matthew Futterman - Wall Street Journal - @MattFutterman
Andrew Walsh, Christian Bordal, Matt Holzman, Jolie Myers, Anna Scott
World Cup Prospects, Runaway Production and a Drone Forever War
The US squared off against Germany today and the team’s World Cup life was on the line. And while the US lost the game, they also… won? The complicated rules of the...
Runaway Production
For the first time ever, more TV pilots were filmed in New York than Los Angeles. Meanwhile, California is mulling over new incentives in an attempt to keep productions...
Who is Karl Ove Knaussgard?
The literary darling of the summer is a dark and brooding author from Norway. Karl Ove Knaussgard has written an opus about his life that readers have found excruciatingly...
The Internet’s Own Boy
The name Aaron Swartz may not ring a bell for most. But for the developer community, Swartz was a hero. He created the prototype for Wikipedia and helped create RSS feeds....
Drone Wars Report
A group of former military officials and intelligence officers put out a chilling report today on how the use of drones affect modern warfare. The bipartisan panel found...
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When it comes to women's underwear,Vanity Fair has so many styles and fits available that it may be difficult to find out where to begin. Our briefs are the most comfortable and classic ladies panties to select—fun options like bikini cut panties and hipster panties complete any women’s underwear drawer.
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Kinlet Parish Council Statement of Internal Control
Kinlet Parish Council (the Council) is a local authority funded by public money and is responsible for ensuring its business is conducted in accordance with the law and proper standards and that public money is safeguarded, properly accounted for, used economically, efficiently and effectively.
In meeting this responsibility assurance is required that there is a sound system of internal control and that the Council’s accountability framework is ‘risk’ based; proportionate to that risk and to the amounts of public money involved and to the stakeholders’ need for assurance.
The Purpose of the System of Internal Control.
The system of internal control is designed to ensure that risks are managed to a reasonable and acceptable level forming part of an ongoing process designed to identify and prioritise the risks to the authority’s policies, aims and objectives and to evaluate and manage those risks accordingly.
The Internal Control Environment
The Council:
appoints a Chairman to be responsible for the smooth running of meetings and for ensuring that all Council decisions are lawful with the clerk’s advice.
reviews its obligations and objectives and approves budgets for the following year at its January meeting. This meeting also approves the level of precept for the following financial year.
meets 12 times each year and monitors progress against its aims and objectives.
The Council Clerk to the Council/Responsible Financial Officer:
is appointed by the Council to act as the Council’s advisor and administrator
is the Council’s Responsible Financial Officer and is responsible for administering the council’s finances
is responsible for the day to day compliance with laws and regulations that the Council is subject to and for managing risks
ensures that the council’s procedures, control system and policies are adhered to.
a Staffing Committee has been formed which meets annually with the Clerk.
Payroll Controls:
the clerk has a contract of employment with clear terms and conditions.
Salary paid to agree with that approved by the Council.
PAYE is being properly operated by the Council as an employer and monthly submission are made to HMRC under Real Time.
are reported to the Council for approval
are made by cheque and signed by any three authorised signatories (who also sign the relevant invoice and the counterfoil.)
is banked in the Council’s name in a timely manner and reported to the Council
Risk Assessments (Risk Management):
assessments are carried out in respect of actions, systems and controls are regularly reviewed.
The Internal Audit:
is carried out by an independent Internal Auditor who reports to the Council on the adequacy of its records, procedures, systems, internal controls, regulations and risk management reviews.
Standing Orders:
the Council has adopted the Model Standing Orders as recommended by N.A.L.C.
Financial Orders:
the Council has adopted and reviews updates as necessary each year.
V.A.T.
V.A.T. payments are identified, recorded and reclaimed.
Petty Cash:
all petty cash expenditure is recorded, supported by receipts and reimbursed at regular intervals.
Asset Register:
the Council maintains a register of all material assets owned or in its care. The Clerk to update as and when necessary and to be approved annually.
The Council’s insurance provision is reviewed annually both in relation to its schedule of cover and also its value for money.
Each members must sign Acceptance of the Code and complete a Register of Interest form. Members to consider every items on the agenda and ensure that any interest is declared at the beginning of the meeting or before the matter is discussed.
an item ‘Declarations of Interest’ will be placed on every agenda.
Paragraph 12 (2) of the revised Model Code of Conduct has been adopted.
Reviewed April 2018
Reviewed July 2020
Review April 2021
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Elton John celebrates 29 years of sobriety
Updated: 4:15 PM CDT Jul 31, 2019
By Christina Maxouris, CNN
Elton John already has a list of accomplishments to be proud of. On Monday, he hit another major milestone.The Grammy winner celebrated 29 years of being sober by looking back at a time he said he was a "broken man.""I finally summoned up the courage to say 3 words that would change my life: 'I need help,'" he said, speaking of the day he decided to get sober in 1990."Thank you to all the selfless people who have helped me on my journey through sobriety," he said on Instagram. The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 15.1 million adults in the United States had alcohol use disorder, including 9.8 million men and 5.3 million women.And according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 88,000 people die across the country from alcohol-related causes each year. It's the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., the institute says. "I am eternally grateful," the musician said in his post.Last month, "Diamonds," a compilation of John's greatest hits reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200, making it the artist's 20th top 10 album on the list.John became the 10th musician to achieve the distinction.In May, the film "Rocketman," which depicts John's rise to fame and stars British actor Taron Egerton, debuted at the U.S. box office.John, who was a producer for the movie, said it took nearly two decades to get it done because many producers didn't want the version which offered an honest portrayal of the artist's sex and cocaine-fueled days.
Elton John already has a list of accomplishments to be proud of. On Monday, he hit another major milestone.
The Grammy winner celebrated 29 years of being sober by looking back at a time he said he was a "broken man."
"I finally summoned up the courage to say 3 words that would change my life: 'I need help,'" he said, speaking of the day he decided to get sober in 1990.
"Thank you to all the selfless people who have helped me on my journey through sobriety," he said on Instagram.
A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn)
The 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that 15.1 million adults in the United States had alcohol use disorder, including 9.8 million men and 5.3 million women.
And according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 88,000 people die across the country from alcohol-related causes each year. It's the third leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., the institute says.
"I am eternally grateful," the musician said in his post.
Last month, "Diamonds," a compilation of John's greatest hits reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200, making it the artist's 20th top 10 album on the list.
John became the 10th musician to achieve the distinction.
In May, the film "Rocketman," which depicts John's rise to fame and stars British actor Taron Egerton, debuted at the U.S. box office.
John, who was a producer for the movie, said it took nearly two decades to get it done because many producers didn't want the version which offered an honest portrayal of the artist's sex and cocaine-fueled days.
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Coronavirus is making some people rethink where they want to live
Updated: 10:38 AM PDT May 4, 2020
By Catherine E. Shoichet and Athena Jones, CNN
I've been inside for 48 days Now, with three little boys. Lifelong New Yorker Chloe Davis never imagined leaving her beloved city until now. Challenge for me as a parent and and for the kids themselves. Davis and her husband were already used to working from home, but weeks spent cramped inside their rented two bedroom apartment, homeschooling their three young sons and caring for four rescue pets have changed her calculation. In a way, our life has changed the least of all our friends because we're so used to being at home together. But also it's scary, and you don't know what's to come down the pipeline financially. Her family is now looking to leave the density of New York City, where the Corona virus has confined them indoors for the space available in the suburbs. They hope to move to a less expensive home with a yard in Connecticut or Westchester. Davis acknowledges they are fortunate to have the means to even consider such a move, but even for them, it has been challenging to find an affordable match. The problem is, is that they're very few rentals in these places, so it once again goes back to, you know, the class issue of who can run out and buy a house right away vs Who can rent the Davises are not alone in their desire to flee a crowded city. Alison Bernstein, whose company, Suburban Jungle helps city dwellers relocate to the suburbs, says she's now fielding three times the call she was this time last year from families in search of greener pastures, fewer crowns, more space and a better quality of life. You're no end in sight. So if somebody said, Hey, this is six weeks and you're gonna be fine, it'll be a different animal. But these people are like what happens for the second wave? After years of growth, New York City's population had already begun to slowly decline in 2017. It's not just a New York thing. It's a kind of softening of growth and monk cities all over the country. Chicago and Los Angeles saw similar trends as the economy picked up in the suburbs and elsewhere. But some Fear Cove in 19 could supercharge the trend here. Already, budget officials estimate the city could shed nearly half a 1,000,000 jobs by early 2021 due to the Cove in 19 crisis, leading to nearly $10 billion in lost tax revenue, which could force steep cuts to basic services like schools, transit, law enforcement and trash collection, as well as things like parks and museums making the city less attractive, much as it did during the steep population declines of the 19 seventies. As a quality of life goes down in New York, you know it will spiral, more people won't want to come here. Uh, New Yorkers will likely we've on. So you know, it's absolutely important for the city to hold on to its population and keep that exodus from happening. Still, there is reason for hope. New York has been counted out before and after 9 11 And after the great recession, New York came back stronger than ever, and Jen's ears could lead the way. Once the economy comes back just a little bit, cities, we're gonna be very attractive to Jen's ears, just like cities were attractive millennials back when the great recession was at its peak. Athena Jones, CNN New York
A moving truck came to Rebecca Stevens-Walter's New York apartment this week.But she wasn't there to help pack boxes or supervise the crew.In mid-March, the 39-year-old pastor flew to New Mexico with her husband and two kids. They left so suddenly they barely had time to prepare for the trip."We fled," she said. "Our apartment looked like the rapture had come. ... And we definitely had the conversation, 'What if we don't go back?'"The streets of the city she loves — and many major cities across the U.S. — are hauntingly empty as the pandemic leaves most of the country on lockdown.It's a chilling sign of the times, and one that brings to mind a big question: After the pandemic passes, will some people choose to leave big-city life behind?That trend was already starting to emerge in some parts of the country, even before coronavirus hit.Now the pandemic is changing the way we talk about life in big cities. And some experts say it could change who opts to live in them.Stevens-Walter said her family does plan to return to New York. But others who recently left the city told CNN they aren't so sure."It's hard to think about living in New York when we don't have our existence and our careers there," said Ashley Arcement, a dancer, singer and actor who headed to a friend's house in Florida with her boyfriend, a pianist, after Broadway shut down in March."Before this," Arcement said, "we weren't the kind of people who wanted to live outside the city and commute in. ... Now it's like, will it ever be the same?"New York's governor says density is to blameWith Broadway shut down, restaurants open only for takeout and many people working from home — if they still have a job — these days the city that never sleeps is looking downright dormant.But that wasn't the case a few months ago, when coronavirus started to spread through America's largest and densest city.New York quickly became the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, spurring stay-at-home orders from officials to keep contagion at bay.While the number of new coronavirus cases reported daily in New York has started decreasing, the death toll continues to climb. More than 12,000 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the city so far. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't minced words when he describes the reasons he sees for the rapid spread of the virus."Why New York? Why are we seeing this level of infection? Well, why cities across the country?" Cuomo said at a news briefing last month."It's very simple," the governor said. "It's about density. It's about the number of people in a small geographic location allowing that virus to spread. ... Dense environments are its feeding grounds."He sees sprawl as a saving graceOn the other side of the country, Joel Kotkin said the situation that's unfolding is notably different.In a recent opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times, Kotkin credited that city's sprawling development with slowing the spread of coronavirus. The headline: "Angelenos like their single-family sprawl. The coronavirus proves them right."The executive director of the Houston-based Urban Reform Institute, Kotkin argues that cities were already in trouble. And in the age of social distancing, he said, dense cities particularly have a lot going against them."How do you open up an office with expensive real estate if people have to be six feet apart? How are you going to have a city dependent on subways if you're going to have any social distancing at all?" he told CNN. "People will continue to move more into the periphery and into smaller cities, where basically you can get around without getting on (public) transit." Epidemics have made people move beforeEpidemics historically have played a big role in shaping where and how people live in New York and other cities, said David Rosner, co-director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia University.After a cholera epidemic hit the city in the 19th century, for example, people began to move from lower Manhattan to other neighborhoods — if they could afford to."You start seeing the suburban communities kind of segregate according to class and movement of people," he said. "You start seeing the marketing of land based upon the experience with disease. ... You start seeing land actually being advertised as healthful or unhealthful."It's a pattern that Rosner sees emerging again."Travel and movement away from disease centers is also a reflection of that kind of social prejudice. Somehow we still believe that being in the country must be safer," he said. "It's more a reflection of our attitudes towards the urban environment and fear of our neighbors. That's a sad reality of this epidemic."This economist says 'density isn't destiny'Joe Cortright said people who think it's safer in a rural hamlet are subscribing to the "old 'teeming tenements' theory of public health" — and he said it's just not true. As the director of The City Observatory, a think tank focused on data-driven analysis, he's been crunching the numbers for weeks as the pandemic spread.And Cortright said they reveal an important distinction: "Density," he argued, "isn't destiny." Translation: There are plenty of densely populated cities around the world that haven't seen coronavirus cases climb as much as New York's has. Cortright points to Tokyo, Taipei, and Seoul, and to Vancouver, one of the densest large cities in North America.Also, he said, there are suburban and rural areas that have been particularly hard hit."Some people think, 'Can I flee to avoid this problem? Then when you look around you, it's a pandemic. There's no place you can go where you are free from it," he said."I think that's one of the lessons here: With information and smart policy, there's no reason why cities are inherently going to be hit harder."'Gen Z' will play a key role in what happens nextBut even before coronavirus hit, there were already signs more people in the U.S. were moving to the suburbs.After years of growth, New York City's population had started to slowly decline in 2017.Chicago and Los Angeles also saw their populations dip in recent years as the economy picked up in the suburbs and elsewhere. Other big cities have seen growth virtually stagnate."It's not just a New York thing," said William Frey, a demographer and senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. "It's a kind of softening of growth among cities all over the country."But even so, Frey said it's too soon to push the panic button on cities.New York rebounded after 9/11 and after the 1918 flu pandemic, too."People have always come back to cities during some of the biggest disasters we've had in our history. ... When we look ahead in the next year or two, I'm not so concerned that we're going to see decline in city populations long-term," he said.If the recent past is any indication, Frey said in fact, more people may end up moving into cities post-pandemic.Immediately after the Great Recession, millennials flocked into cities and spurred a period of growth and revitalization. And in the aftermath of this unfolding economic crisis, Frey said Generation Z could take a similar tack.Members of that generation, born from 1997 to 2012, have strong urban roots and are likely to be drawn to cities, Frey said."If they follow in the footsteps of millennials during a similarly dim period, they could help invigorate city growth — especially if opportunities dry up elsewhere," Frey wrote in a recent analysis on the Brookings website.How working remotely could reshape the marketAlison Bernstein said she's already seeing a shift in the other direction.She's fielding three times the calls she was at this time last year from families in search of greener pastures — fewer crowds, more space and a better quality of life.Bernstein's company, Suburban Jungle, helps city-dwellers relocate to the suburbs. And the pandemic, she said, has pushed even more people to consider making the move."People are scared, and it's not something that is going to be swept under the rug," she said. "And I think people are going to really re-evaluate the quality of life that they're looking for. So I think we're going to see a big migration into lifestyle-rich cities like Nashville, Austin, South Florida."What's more, she said, another pre-pandemic trend is intensifying: the rise in working remotely.That could play an even bigger role in reshaping the housing market going forward, said Skylar Olsen, senior principal economist at Zillow.Already, millennials were increasingly turning to suburbs, smaller cities and places on the periphery because they'd largely been priced out of buying in big cities."If we can provide another option like remote work, then people can make new, different decisions," she said. "Your job and your home used to be tied together in a way that we're all learning they might not have to be."Moms' groups are raising questions about movingLifelong New Yorker Chloé Jo Davis never imagined leaving her beloved city — until now.Davis and her husband were already used to working from home, but weeks spent cramped inside their rented two-bedroom apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side — homeschooling their three young sons and caring for four rescue pets — have changed her calculation."I feel like I've been through a monsoon every day," she said."If here we are in New York City, and the reasons we're here, the reasons we're willing to sacrifice all the basic sort of life benefits that a lot of people have...is for the art, the culture, the diversity, the neighborhood camaraderie," she said. "And now, without that, what do we have? We're stacked in boxes."Davis says her family is now looking to leave the density of New York City for the space of the suburbs. Already, she says, prices for rentals outside the city are soaring as demand grows. But she knows they are lucky to have the means to even consider such a move.A number of moms' groups she's part of on Facebook lead her to believe that many New York mothers are in a similar position. The same three questions, she says, keep popping up:Who knows a good mover that does social distancing moves?Which 'burb do you like better?Does anybody want to take over the lease for my two-bedroom?So many friends and neighbors have left the city, at least temporarily."It seems to be just a mass exodus," she said.But speaking to CNN on the phone from her in-laws' house in New Mexico, Stevens-Walter said she also knows plenty of people who can't leave the city, and many who are determined to keep living there — herself included."I'm deeply homesick for New York. We live there for a reason, for many reasons," she said.As artists and musicians, she and her husband feel inspired there. And she says the city makes her multi-racial, multi-ethnic family feel welcome."New York provides a safety for us that we really can't get anywhere else," she said.For these reasons and so many more, New York will always be home. But she's been bracing herself for a new reality.She knows the city she returns to will be very different from the city she left.
A moving truck came to Rebecca Stevens-Walter's New York apartment this week.
But she wasn't there to help pack boxes or supervise the crew.
In mid-March, the 39-year-old pastor flew to New Mexico with her husband and two kids. They left so suddenly they barely had time to prepare for the trip.
"We fled," she said. "Our apartment looked like the rapture had come. ... And we definitely had the conversation, 'What if we don't go back?'"
The streets of the city she loves — and many major cities across the U.S. — are hauntingly empty as the pandemic leaves most of the country on lockdown.
It's a chilling sign of the times, and one that brings to mind a big question: After the pandemic passes, will some people choose to leave big-city life behind?
That trend was already starting to emerge in some parts of the country, even before coronavirus hit.
Now the pandemic is changing the way we talk about life in big cities. And some experts say it could change who opts to live in them.
Stevens-Walter said her family does plan to return to New York. But others who recently left the city told CNN they aren't so sure.
"It's hard to think about living in New York when we don't have our existence and our careers there," said Ashley Arcement, a dancer, singer and actor who headed to a friend's house in Florida with her boyfriend, a pianist, after Broadway shut down in March.
"Before this," Arcement said, "we weren't the kind of people who wanted to live outside the city and commute in. ... Now it's like, will it ever be the same?"
New York's governor says density is to blame
With Broadway shut down, restaurants open only for takeout and many people working from home — if they still have a job — these days the city that never sleeps is looking downright dormant.
But that wasn't the case a few months ago, when coronavirus started to spread through America's largest and densest city.
New York quickly became the epicenter of the country's coronavirus outbreak, spurring stay-at-home orders from officials to keep contagion at bay.
While the number of new coronavirus cases reported daily in New York has started decreasing, the death toll continues to climb. More than 12,000 coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the city so far.
New York nixes Democratic presidential primary due to virus concerns
One of Australia's biggest cities is so quiet that kangaroos are jumping through downtown
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't minced words when he describes the reasons he sees for the rapid spread of the virus.
"Why New York? Why are we seeing this level of infection? Well, why cities across the country?" Cuomo said at a news briefing last month.
"It's very simple," the governor said. "It's about density. It's about the number of people in a small geographic location allowing that virus to spread. ... Dense environments are its feeding grounds."
He sees sprawl as a saving grace
On the other side of the country, Joel Kotkin said the situation that's unfolding is notably different.
In a recent opinion piece published in the Los Angeles Times, Kotkin credited that city's sprawling development with slowing the spread of coronavirus. The headline: "Angelenos like their single-family sprawl. The coronavirus proves them right."
The executive director of the Houston-based Urban Reform Institute, Kotkin argues that cities were already in trouble. And in the age of social distancing, he said, dense cities particularly have a lot going against them.
"How do you open up an office with expensive real estate if people have to be six feet apart? How are you going to have a city dependent on subways if you're going to have any social distancing at all?" he told CNN. "People will continue to move more into the periphery and into smaller cities, where basically you can get around without getting on (public) transit."
Epidemics have made people move before
Epidemics historically have played a big role in shaping where and how people live in New York and other cities, said David Rosner, co-director of the Center for the History and Ethics of Public Health at Columbia University.
After a cholera epidemic hit the city in the 19th century, for example, people began to move from lower Manhattan to other neighborhoods — if they could afford to.
"You start seeing the suburban communities kind of segregate according to class and movement of people," he said. "You start seeing the marketing of land based upon the experience with disease. ... You start seeing land actually being advertised as healthful or unhealthful."
It's a pattern that Rosner sees emerging again.
"Travel and movement away from disease centers is also a reflection of that kind of social prejudice. Somehow we still believe that being in the country must be safer," he said. "It's more a reflection of our attitudes towards the urban environment and fear of our neighbors. That's a sad reality of this epidemic."
This economist says 'density isn't destiny'
Joe Cortright said people who think it's safer in a rural hamlet are subscribing to the "old 'teeming tenements' theory of public health" — and he said it's just not true.
As the director of The City Observatory, a think tank focused on data-driven analysis, he's been crunching the numbers for weeks as the pandemic spread.
And Cortright said they reveal an important distinction: "Density," he argued, "isn't destiny." Translation: There are plenty of densely populated cities around the world that haven't seen coronavirus cases climb as much as New York's has. Cortright points to Tokyo, Taipei, and Seoul, and to Vancouver, one of the densest large cities in North America.
Teen pilot flies medical supplies to rural hospitals
Rural hospitals are facing financial ruin and furloughing staff during the coronavirus crisis
Also, he said, there are suburban and rural areas that have been particularly hard hit.
"Some people think, 'Can I flee to avoid this problem? Then when you look around you, it's a pandemic. There's no place you can go where you are free from it," he said.
"I think that's one of the lessons here: With information and smart policy, there's no reason why cities are inherently going to be hit harder."
'Gen Z' will play a key role in what happens next
But even before coronavirus hit, there were already signs more people in the U.S. were moving to the suburbs.
After years of growth, New York City's population had started to slowly decline in 2017.
Chicago and Los Angeles also saw their populations dip in recent years as the economy picked up in the suburbs and elsewhere. Other big cities have seen growth virtually stagnate.
"It's not just a New York thing," said William Frey, a demographer and senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. "It's a kind of softening of growth among cities all over the country."
But even so, Frey said it's too soon to push the panic button on cities.
New York rebounded after 9/11 and after the 1918 flu pandemic, too.
"People have always come back to cities during some of the biggest disasters we've had in our history. ... When we look ahead in the next year or two, I'm not so concerned that we're going to see decline in city populations long-term," he said.
If the recent past is any indication, Frey said in fact, more people may end up moving into cities post-pandemic.
Immediately after the Great Recession, millennials flocked into cities and spurred a period of growth and revitalization. And in the aftermath of this unfolding economic crisis, Frey said Generation Z could take a similar tack.
Members of that generation, born from 1997 to 2012, have strong urban roots and are likely to be drawn to cities, Frey said.
"If they follow in the footsteps of millennials during a similarly dim period, they could help invigorate city growth — especially if opportunities dry up elsewhere," Frey wrote in a recent analysis on the Brookings website.
How working remotely could reshape the market
Alison Bernstein said she's already seeing a shift in the other direction.
She's fielding three times the calls she was at this time last year from families in search of greener pastures — fewer crowds, more space and a better quality of life.
Bernstein's company, Suburban Jungle, helps city-dwellers relocate to the suburbs. And the pandemic, she said, has pushed even more people to consider making the move.
"People are scared, and it's not something that is going to be swept under the rug," she said. "And I think people are going to really re-evaluate the quality of life that they're looking for. So I think we're going to see a big migration into lifestyle-rich cities like Nashville, Austin, South Florida."
What's more, she said, another pre-pandemic trend is intensifying: the rise in working remotely.
That could play an even bigger role in reshaping the housing market going forward, said Skylar Olsen, senior principal economist at Zillow.
Already, millennials were increasingly turning to suburbs, smaller cities and places on the periphery because they'd largely been priced out of buying in big cities.
"If we can provide another option like remote work, then people can make new, different decisions," she said. "Your job and your home used to be tied together in a way that we're all learning they might not have to be."
Moms' groups are raising questions about moving
Lifelong New Yorker Chloé Jo Davis never imagined leaving her beloved city — until now.
Davis and her husband were already used to working from home, but weeks spent cramped inside their rented two-bedroom apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side — homeschooling their three young sons and caring for four rescue pets — have changed her calculation.
"I feel like I've been through a monsoon every day," she said.
Teachers open their hearts after schools close their doors
High school students teach virtual sessions to elementary, middle school students
"If here we are in New York City, and the reasons we're here, the reasons we're willing to sacrifice all the basic sort of life benefits that a lot of people have...is for the art, the culture, the diversity, the neighborhood camaraderie," she said. "And now, without that, what do we have? We're stacked in boxes."
Davis says her family is now looking to leave the density of New York City for the space of the suburbs. Already, she says, prices for rentals outside the city are soaring as demand grows. But she knows they are lucky to have the means to even consider such a move.
A number of moms' groups she's part of on Facebook lead her to believe that many New York mothers are in a similar position. The same three questions, she says, keep popping up:
Who knows a good mover that does social distancing moves?
Which 'burb do you like better?
Does anybody want to take over the lease for my two-bedroom?
So many friends and neighbors have left the city, at least temporarily.
"It seems to be just a mass exodus," she said.
But speaking to CNN on the phone from her in-laws' house in New Mexico, Stevens-Walter said she also knows plenty of people who can't leave the city, and many who are determined to keep living there — herself included.
"I'm deeply homesick for New York. We live there for a reason, for many reasons," she said.
As artists and musicians, she and her husband feel inspired there. And she says the city makes her multi-racial, multi-ethnic family feel welcome.
"New York provides a safety for us that we really can't get anywhere else," she said.
For these reasons and so many more, New York will always be home. But she's been bracing herself for a new reality.
She knows the city she returns to will be very different from the city she left.
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Ohio man indicted for traveling to Missouri to meet 12-year-old child for sex
An Ohio man was indicted by a federal grand jury for traveling to Missouri in an attempt to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a 12-year-old child.
Timothy M. Zukoski, 34, of Southington, Ohio, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. The indictment replaces a criminal complaint that was filed against Zukoski on Nov. 27, 2020.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, Zukoski began communicating through Instagram on Oct. 21, 2020, with a person he believed to be 12 years old. In reality, the Instagram account had been set up by a Kansas City area woman for her daughter. The woman communicated with Zukoski under the identity of her daughter, the affidavit says, before contacting the FBI. An FBI undercover employee then began communicating with Zukoski through the Instagram account, assuming the identity of the 12-year-old girl. Zukoski began making arrangements to travel to the Kansas City area so that he could meet the child victim for sex.
Zukoski allegedly made plans with the FBI undercover employee to stay in Kansas City while the child victim’s mother was purportedly out of town over Thanksgiving weekend. Zukoski also suggested the affidavit says, that the child victim could come live with him. When Zukoski arrived in Kansas City on Nov. 27, 2020, he was arrested. Investigators found numerous images of child pornography on his cell phone.
The indictment charges Zukoski with one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity, one count of traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct, and one count of possessing child pornography.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine A. Connelly. It was investigated by the FBI and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.
12, 12 years, 2, 2 years, 20, 27, 3, 34, 4, 7, AC, ACC, account, ACE, across, ACT, activity, ad, ag, again, against, age, AL, all, allege, alleged, AP, Area, arrangement, arrest, arrested, art, ass, assist, ate, attempt, attorney, auto, Bee, before, being, c, case, cat, CC, cell phone, charge, charged, charges, child, Child porn, CIT, city, co, come, complaint, conduct, contact, cord, Cover, cross, CTE, cut, DAV, department, draft, Ed, employ, employee, end, EPA, er, Era, ex, FEDERAL, file, filed, for, found, gains, gate, gator, GED, gem, girl, Grand jury, her, him, ICE, ID, identity, ill, illicit, images, indicted, indictment, Instagram, invest, investigate, investigated, investigator, investigators, IS, IT, Kansas, Kansas City, Ken, king, KS, LA, LED, leg, lie, line, live, Ma, made, man, meet, men, Minor, Miss, Missour, Missouri, Mo, MU, no, NSA, old, on, one, other, OU, out, over, own, PA, person, phone, plan, plans, police, police department, porn, possess, possessing, pro, RA, rave, return, returned, rig, RN, rose, S, SEC, set, sex, sexual, sexual activity, sexual conduct, sing, son, sour, south, state, support, Ted, thanksgiving, that, THE, The K, this, three, through, to, torn, town, travel, U.S., U.S. attorney, under, undercover, UNI, up, US, UT, vest, victim, week, weekend, with, woman, year, year-old, years
Missouri mail carrier indicted for stealing mail and checks
Owner of hospice companies sentenced to 20-years in prison for $150 million health care fraud and money laundering scheme
Home News State News Ohio man indicted for traveling to Missouri to meet 12-year-old child for sex
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New Mexico dust storms getting more respect
By Laura Paskus
New Mexico In Depth
If you were in New Mexico this week, chances are good you felt the wrath of the state’s spring winds.
In Albuquerque, the Sandia Mountains disappeared behind clouds of dust, pollen, and tumbleweeds, as city officials alerted people to stay inside and avoid breathing the dust. And in southern New Mexico, officials also worried about how dust storms might reduce visibility for drivers trying to traverse roads near Lordsburg.
Looking over the past decade, Kerry Jones, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Albuquerque points out that there was a significant jump in the number of dust storms occurring during years of extreme and exceptional drought. “Therefore, one could infer that with worsening drought comes more dust,” he says, with a note of caution: “But it’s complicated.”
Dust storms are getting more respect these days. That’s in part, says Dave Novlan, a meteorologist with the El Paso Weather Forecast Office in Santa Teresa because as the region’s population has increased, the weather affects more people. “Climate and weather in general are getting to be a bigger issue because of their impact to society,” he says.
At the very least, when desert winds blow, they’re irritating. If a lot of dust is kicked up, storms can have serious health impacts, says Novlan, especially on people who already have respiratory problems, and because the winds can carry pathogens. Those pathogens include the fungus Coccidioides, which can cause valley fever when it’s inhaled by people and animals.
Then there are the dangerous road conditions. Two years ago, brown-out conditions on Interstate 10 near Lordsburg caused an eight-vehicle crash that killed seven people.
“Dust storms are starting to get the respect they never got before because, with the increase in population, they’re affecting people so much more,” says Novlan.
Right now, dust season is going strong in southern New Mexico and west Texas — and his office has issued High Wind Warnings for El Paso and southern New Mexico.
Novlan points out that while these late winter and early spring storms are dangerous, forecasters often anticipate them and can issue warnings. Then, the Department of Transportation closes roads or warn drivers.
It’s more difficult to predict summer thunderstorms that produce heavy, local winds.
“You’ll see a huge thunderstorm off in the distance, and it could be a potentially big problem,” he says. “There’s this huge outflow across the desert, and there you are. Those are the most deadly ones.” In situations like that, he recommends drivers turn around or pull off the road as soon as it’s obvious that blowing dust is coming your way — and before poor visibility makes it more difficult or impossible to drive.
It’s those thunderstorm outflows that usually cause haboobs — giant dust storms thousands of feet tall that have swept over cities like Phoenix in recent years.
Like many New Mexicans, Novlan was hoping that the positive predictions for El Niño would bear out through this winter and spring.
“That little boy has been delinquent,” he says. “It is really interesting because it’s the complete opposite from what people were expecting from the El Niño signature.”
In some places, the snowmelt running from the mountains into rivers is already starting to peak. That’s bad news, he says: “You don’t want it to be early and run off fast. You want a good amount, and you want it to stay around a while.” In mid-March, the U.S. Drought Monitor declared “abnormally dry” conditions for about 40 percent of the state — up from only 26 percent at the turn of the year. Within the next couple of weeks, Novlan anticipates that those drought conditions will expand or intensify in New Mexico.
To read monthly weather digests out of Santa Teresa, visit www.srh.noaa.gov/epz/?n=monthlyweatherhighlights, and to visit the Albuquerque NWS page at www.srh.noaa.gov/abq/.
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Our Author Family
Stephen Martino
Steve Martino concludes his fast-paced and politically-relevant Alex Pella novel series with The Final Reality. Steve, a member of the International Thriller Writers, writes action-political thrillers to reveal and discuss pressing topics that affect our word today. His titles The New Reality and The Hidden Reality are often compared to substantive novels such as the Sigma Series by James Rollins and the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.
By trade, Steve is a board-certified neurologist and an avid educator, instructing both medical students and residents along with high school students, EMS squads, and physicians throughout his homestate, New Jersey. His dedication to the field of medicine has been recognized both nationally and locally. When not working, Steve can be found with his wife and his kids at soccer games, dance recitals, and Boy Scouts.
The Final Reality
GOLD MEDAL - Adult Fiction - Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Florida Authors & Publishers Association, President's Book Awards
In the high-octane conclusion of the Alex Pella novels, the brilliant doctor and inventor finds himself racing against the unstoppable ambition of Jules Windsor who now leads The New Reality. When Jules begins to uncover the powerful, long-forgotten technology behind the world’s massive megalithic structures, he sets into motion the same cascade of events that once destroyed the ancient civilization that built them. As the planet heads toward an apocalyptical upheaval not seen since biblical times, Alex and his team know they must stop Jules—and The New Reality—once and for all.
The Hidden Reality
This action-packed novel brilliantly weaves together ancient Greece with a disturbing future, carrying with it a warning for us all.
With The New Reality now in control of the world’s nations, the brilliant doctor and inventor Alex Pella finds himself caught in a deadly power struggle between the tyrant who rules and the one who would. As he sets out on a mission to unravel the New World Order, he must also face the hidden truths about his own genetic heritage, truths that are slowly destroying him. When he receives an ambiguous message sent from a man long since dead, Alex learns that the only way to win his battle against The New Reality is to defeat a long-forgotten enemy nearly 2,500 years old.
Light Messages Publishing
Torchflame Books
5216 Tahoe Drive
Durham, NC 27713 (919) 886-5498
books@lightmessages.com
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Cebit sees big drop in visitor numbers
By Martyn Williams
Europe’s largest IT fair saw an almost 20 percent drop in visitors this year but those that did turn up to the six day event in Hanover were on average a higher quality of attendee than in the past, organizers said late Sunday.
Cebit ran from Tuesday to Sunday and attracted more than 400,000 visitors, Deutsche Messe said in a statement. In total 4,300 companies from 69 countries exhibited though the vast fairgrounds in Hanover hawking products as diverse as cell-phone voice scramblers, enterprise management software, computer motherboards and solar energy systems.
The show got off to a strong start in the local media spotlight thanks to the visit of California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was there to prototype IT ventures from his state. California was the partner state of Cebit this year.
But later in the week there were none of the big announcements typical of Cebit in the past. In part that’s due to the lack of big-name electronics companies, many of which have decamped to the IFA trade show in Berlin, and cell phone makers, which announced their new products at the recent Mobile World Congress event, but it may also be a sign of the current economic times or product cycles. Even Intel, a long-time Cebit exhibitor, had little new to show this year.
Early on the first day of Cebit 2009, there’s plenty of room to move through the aisles of Hall 2, dedicated to server technologies, business storage and virtualization. (Image: Peter Sayer, IDG News Service)
The drop comes as little surprise considering the current state of the global economy. Many companies have cut back or eliminated travel budgets and Cebit itself saw around 1,000 mostly Asian exhibitors cancel during the last three months of 2008 after economic problems hit.
In terms of geographical mix the number of international attendees held roughly firm at about 20 percent with the drop in Asian visitors made up for by those from the Americas and Middle East, Deutsche Messe said.
Cebit 2010 will run from March 2 to 6, which is one day shorter than this year’s fair. The event will end on Saturday so that exhibitors have a chance to get back home before the new work week begins—a request made to organizers by many at the show, they said.
With the drop Deutsche Messe now needs to convince exhibitors and visitors that it isn’t a sign the event is no longer worth attending — a problem it faced at the midway point when it typically discloses visitor numbers for the first few days of the event.
This year the company broke with tradition and declined to provide any visitor numbers. The organizers feared headlines about weak attendance would cause some to cancel their trips to the fair and thus push numbers down further, they said.
What organizers have seized on to is that companies might be sending fewer staff to Cebit but those that attend are a higher quality. The event is seeing more senior-level staff than in previous years, said Deutsche Messe. But the organizer didn’t provide any data to quantify that claim.
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/ 301690 mohamed salah premier league player of the season
NEXT ARTICLE Read the latest LFC transfer rumours
Salah named Premier League Player of the Season
David Lynch @DavidLynchLFC
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been named EA Sports Premier League Player of the Season.
The 25-year-old has scored 31 goals in 35 appearances in the competition during his maiden campaign at Anfield, figures that see him lead the race for the Golden Boot ahead of Sunday's season finale.
And, after beating fellow nominees David de Gea (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling (both Manchester City) in an online vote, Salah has now been recognised as the Premier League's star man for 2017-18.
Upon collecting the award at Melwood, the Egyptian said: "I'm very happy, it's an honour to win this award.
"It was always in my mind to come back to the Premier League to show the people that say I didn't succeed here the first time."
Salah went on to pay tribute to manager Jürgen Klopp, who he believes has played a key part in his emergence as one of Europe's premier goalscorers this season.
He added: "Before everything, we are friends, I like him a lot.
"He has helped me a lot to do what I'm doing now, on the field and off it, I have to thank him for everything he has done this year.
"But [there are] still two games, we have to think about that.
"I really, really respect him a lot and I'm sure we are going to do something special for the club this year."
Salah becomes the third Liverpool player to secure the prize, after fellow forwards Michael Owen and Luis Suarez.
Liverpool v Man United: TV channels and live coverage details
Quiz: Name Liverpool's 22 PL scorers v Manchester United at Anfield
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LKDSB Celebrates Staff and Volunteers on Oct. 5
The Lambton Kent District School Board celebrates those who dedicate their time to support student success during Staff and Volunteer Appreciation Day, held on Oct. 5.
“We greatly appreciate the daily dedication of our staff and volunteers who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to promoting student achievement,” said Chair Elizabeth Hudie. “On behalf of the Board, I express our sincerest thanks.”
“LKDSB staff and volunteers work diligently every day to create caring learning environments for our students,” said Director Jim Costello. “We appreciate the connection between our schools and the community members who work collaboratively to support student success and well-being.”
At the 44th Session of the International Conference on Education, the United Nations agency declared Oct. 5 as World Teachers’ Day. The LKDSB acknowledges the contributions of all employees and volunteers who support student achievement.
For additional information contact:
Elizabeth Hudie, Chair of the Board, 519-542-0939
Jim Costello, Director of Education, 519-336-1500, Ext 31297
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“Broken. From the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I don’t have words,” tweeted Grande.
Previous terrorist attacks on music and entertainment venues, such as the Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan Theater in Paris and the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, affected an adult crowd. The Grande attack in Manchester was different.
MORE: Jersey gal: Pulse was a safe place before shooting
“My kids like her music and other pop stars of today,” said Michael Ferentino of Toms River, a musician and dad to two girls, ages 7 and 9. “It makes me sick to think I could have easily been there with them if that was our home city.”
It hasn’t been easy explaining the Grande attacks to kids, New Jersey parents said.
“My husband was upset that I told the girls what happened, but I told him that they have to be aware of everything going on around them,” said Laura Schneider from Hamilton Square. “It is so different from when we were kids. I feel sad that my kids will never know how to live without fear.”
The scope of the attack is registering with kids, including Schneider’s 7-year old daughter, Allison.
“Allison just told me that it was horrible that someone would hurt people while they were only trying to have a good time listening to fun music,” Schneider said.
Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com
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Anthony Smith, who survived the Oct. 24, 2014 shooting inside his Stevens Avenue apartment, alleges in the 17-page lawsuit that police overreacted when they barged into his apartment after an hour-long standoff with more than a dozen officers.
The lawsuit charges that the officers knew they were dealing with an emotionally disturbed person but botched the incident because they were not properly trained.
"They go into these apartments kind of like cowboys, and they shoot first and ask questions later," said civil rights attorney Randolph McLaughlin, Smith's lawyer. "So, we're going to ask questions."
“The question is not what he did, but is why were the police there in the first place and why didn’t they use other methods or other techniques to render aid to him? He was not a criminal," McLaughlin said. "They were not responding to a crime in progress.”
Officials at the Mount Vernon Police Association, the union representing the officers, said they had not received a copy of the lawsuit and therefore would not comment. Attorneys for the union could not be reached on Tuesday.
Officials at Mount Vernon City Hall did not return calls for comment.
Police said after the incident that the officers opened fire after Smith lunged at them with a knife and a pair of scissors in his hands.
Joseph Garafola, an attorney who represented the officers at the time of the shooting, said Tuesday that he was no longer involved in the case and declined to comment. But he had defended the officers' actions during an interview with the Journal News days after the incident.
"They tried everything under the sun to bring this guy in," Garafola said after the incident. "Nonlethal force should have been enough, but it didn't work."
The lawsuit, filed last week, names former Mount Vernon Mayor Ernie Davis, police Sgt. Michael Marcucilli, Officer Timothy Briley, and other unnamed officers as defendants. It is the third federal lawsuit filed since 2012 against Lower Hudson Valley police officers over confrontations with disturbed residents.
Newman Ferrara, McLaughlin's law firm, represents the plaintiffs in all three, which include the 2013 shooting death of Samuel Cruz by New Rochelle police and the Nov. 19, 2011 death of Kenneth Chamberlain, who was killed after a one-hour standoff by police in his White Plains apartment.
“In each of the cases the story is always the same," McLaughlin said. "Mr. Smith, at the time of the incident, when the police arrived at his residence, was in his apartment behind a closed door. The question becomes why did they open his door, why did they force their way in? We can’t ask the question what did he do, if he did anything once they were in his apartment with guns drawn? Any reasonable person would defend themselves when they see guns drawn.”
In the Mount Vernon case, McLaughlin said police had been to Smith's apartment on prior occasions to transport him to the hospital for psychiatric treatment. The day of the shooting, he said Smith was in his home alone when police arrived. The officers used a stun gun and pepper spray to try to subdue Smith.
McLaughlin said that, despite police claims that Smith attacked them, the Westchester District Attorney has not filed charges against his client.
McLaughlin also questioned whether Marcucilli, the Mount Vernon police sergeant involved in the shooting, should have been on patrol at the time. The Journal News reported shortly after the shooting that Marcucilli had cost taxpayers more than $930,000 in payouts for excessive force lawsuits against the city. That included a 2009 incident during which a 12-year-old was allegedly beaten by Mount Vernon police at A.B. Davis Middle School.
Marcucilli as kept on desk duty for more than four years after that incident but was returned to patrol by former Mayor Ernie Davis in 2013.
Twitter: @jfitzgibbon
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One train hauling oil can have up to 100 cars, and as many as 30 oil trains pass through Rockland each week on the way to refineries. That's twice the number from just six months ago as demand continues to grow for the volatile crude oil drawn from the Bakken region in North Dakota.
A 100-car oil train can carry 3 million gallons of crude oil, and because so many more are on the rails, the number of derailments and accidents is rising.
The oil trains, which do not travel on a set schedule, roll through four of Rockland's five towns on CSX Railroad's River Line. Fully loaded trains run north to south, less than a mile from Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, Lake DeForest reservoir in Clarkstown, Palisades Center in West Nyack and Dominican College in Blauvelt, not to mention dozens of neighborhoods, scores of schools and day care centers and right past key highways like the Thruway.
Given her proximity to the tracks, Quinones said a derailed train would "land in my living room."
"We're all realists," Quinones said recently in her backyard, where she sometimes lounges in her swimming pool and tends to her cucumbers. "They got to get something somewhere. It's got to go on the freight train but they got to take extra measures even if it costs them more money."
The oil trains are hard to miss, and the safety issues surrounding them, particularly their tank cars, have become harder to ignore. There have been a number of fiery explosions and accidents since 2013 that have caused officials at all levels to look closer at the dangers of shipping oil by rail.
Just over a year ago, 47 people died when an unattended oil train derailed and exploded in Lac-Megantic, Quebec. Rockland had a close call in December when an oil train transporting 99 empty tank cars from Philadelphia to North Dakota hit a truck stuck on the crossing in West Nyack, sending the truck's driver to the hospital.
Planning for worst
Even as federal transportation officials are proposing more stringent requirements for tank cars to make them safer, Rockland's first responders are planning for nightmare scenarios and how to evacuate thousands of people quickly in a catastrophe or have them stay where they are.
"Our job is to really plan for the worst," said Chris Jensen, Rockland County's hazardous materials coordinator.
Rockland emergency officials are finishing the evacuation map for residents and businesses within a mile of the River Line. It covers a mile on either side of the rail line, broken into half-mile sections, from Bear Mountain to the New Jersey border.
Gordon Wren Jr., director of the county's Office of Fire and Emergency Services, said the map "allows us to make the decisions quicker, faster."
"Do you evacuate or not? If so, how far?" Wren said.
The map identifies schools, day care centers, nursing homes and senior housing, among other landmarks.
"(A police officer) can look at that and say, 'Let's get the people out of here,' " said Dan Greeley, assistant director of the county Office of Fire and Emergency Services. "It happens instantaneously."
The U.S. Department of Transportation acknowledged in its proposed rule that an another accident isn't a question of if, but when.
"Absent this proposed rule, we predict about 15 mainline derailments for 2015, falling to a prediction of about 5 mainline derailments annually by 2034," the department's proposal stated. Reviews and lawsuits mean it could be years before the rule is implemented and enforced.
In 2008, just 9,500 carloads of crude oil moved by rail. Last year, the figure exceeded 400,000, the Association of American Railroads said.
Rail industry officials note that 99.9 percent of all hazardous rail shipments reach their destinations safely and that only rail has afforded the nation the flexibility to move large volumes of oil so quickly and freely, letting the United States wean itself off foreign oil.
Susan Christopherson, chair of Cornell University's city and regional planning department, said though pipelines are safer, oil shippers from western Canada and the Bakken shale region prefer trains because they provide flexibility from different points of origin to refineries nationwide. The problem, she said, is the Federal Railroad Administration has "little capacity" to regulate the rail industry or monitor rail infrastructure safety.
"Costs for emergency preparedness have to be absorbed by state and local government," Christopherson wrote in an email. "There is little or no compensation for these costs, which can be significant."
Under Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state has become increasingly proactive, carrying out inspection blitzes of rail yards and leveling fines.
'Witches' brew'
The River Line, part of CSX's rail network, runs from outside Albany. In February, the railroad told The Journal News that two oil trains used the line daily, or 14 a week. By June, the railroad fixed the number of trains hauling 1 million gallons or more of Bakken crude at 15 to 30, or up to four each day, according to documents it had to file with the state.
CSX spokesman Gary Sease said there have been incremental increases in crude oil volume over the past several weeks with likely more to come. The railroad recently completed double-tracking work in north Rockland to increase capacity on the track.
"It is a result of market conditions and can fluctuate," Sease wrote in an email. "We see customers investing in additional crude oil terminals over the next couple of years."
Bakken crude oil is just the latest dangerous substance to travel the line, Jensen said. Toxic substances such as chlorine, ethanol, propane and vinyl chloride have moved on the former West Shore line for decades.
"It's a witches' brew of stuff," Jensen said.
But one big difference is the amount of Bakken crude that passes through Rockland and, for that matter, 16 other counties in New York. Aside from CSX, Canadian Pacific Railway hauls Bakken crude from the Midwest to Albany, with an average of one train a day with a million-plus gallons.
In May, CSX began a first responders training program by bringing specialized equipment and experts to communities to teach them about incidents involving crude oil. More than 1,000 people have been trained, he said.
That's a good start but more needs to be done, said Jerry DeLuca, executive director and CEO of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs.
"You don't fight an oil fire with water. We need to have foam and a lot of it," said DeLuca, whose group represents more than 11,000 career and volunteer fire chiefs. "It's not something we utilize every day, so you have to be trained."
Twitter: @ksaeed1
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2015 Illusion Production Update
With our official announcement of our 2015 The Magic of Jack Daniels - The Journey - An interactive experience illusion show that was made public last month, the 28th of August a lot has happened so far.
For the past 3 years we have been secretly working on this show.
From day one we knew it should be called "The Journey" as its all about taking the audience into my journey. A journey that had began when I was 14 years of age till present. So being our first proper scale production in over 13 years there was no questions about what to call the show. That was the easy part.
Then came the very difficult choice of deciding what illusions to add into the show.
We have a total of 10 illusions in this show with each illusion costing anywhere from $2,000.00 to well over $6,000.00. Its a crazy total when you think about this: Each illusion although there will be many smaller pieces of illusions magic show in between throughout the show, but each grand illusion after spending so much time, money and energy will only be on stage for no longer then 3 minutes.
The illusions had to fit the theme of the show. We didn't want to add just any illusion. Everything was thought of very carefully. Were the illusions going to suit our style of magic? Had they been seen by the public? Was it going to be easy to transport? Would we be able to pay for it and most importantly was it going to fit on the stage magician hire and in storage. Some of the many questions that had been asked over and over again.
After almost a year of just deciding what illusions we would like to be in the show we finally came to an agreement and placed an order for the building to begin. Each illusion taking well over 4 months to complete and in most cases coming from overseas. Even though we built 2 of the smaller illusions ourselves to save costs, most of the big and new ones where professionally built. All but 2 illusions are still waiting on completion. One of them has taken no joke 3 years to build and still not finished yet. I wish I was exaggerating about the time frame of this one illusion but unfortunately that's the reality of it. When it arrives from the states this will be the last illusion to complete the series of illusions. This is what people dont understand about this line of work. Yes it does take that much time and money just for one illusion. Its not something you order and receive in a months time. There is so much to think about. The size of each illusion, the design, the art work on it, how to transport it, mock ups etc etc etc...
With the illusions out of the way, next came the music for the show. Mind you we already had a list of possible music to use when we were deciding on what illusions to buy. This made things much easier as in most cases we already had the music ready and waiting for the illusion. Normally in some cases you would buy a magic effect or grand illusion and then you start to search for music. Since we were working off a brand new slate, it was much easier for us to have some idea of the music we would like and the final decision on what illusions to add came very easily. All we are doing now is editing the music slightly to fit the choreography of each illusion. This method has saved us a lot of time down the track as almost everything that you normally would do when talking about grand illusions we had already done during the building processes. Now that the illusions (all but 2) are here we can rehears without waiting.
So we have the illusions, we have the music our next step was to choreograph. Once again most of this was thought of during the time of music searching. Music is a very powerful tool especially in my line of work. It can help tell a story, it can move you, its magic! My strongest side other then performing is my ear to music. I know what I'm going for and I know how I can use that to really touch and move my audience. I am a story teller after all...
The choreography for the show is still happening as we speak. I wrote out the style, the look, the feel I'm going for and now with the help of our head assistant, dancer and part choreographer April Twigger (more on her in later blogs ;) )
Together we are creating something incredible for you all!
The next step for the moment is costuming. Once again this has take so much time and energy. At this stage the show has about 8 costume changes mostly for our dancer with me having only 2-3 changes...
Just like the illusions and music the costume has to fit in with what you are doing. Again this opens up so many questions as you see so many that you would love to add into the show/illusion but then you try and visualize everything in your mind. Is it going to be easy for the girl to get in and out of? Will it create a hazard while she is going in or out of an illusion? Does it fit the style of the illusion, the music...
The list goes on and on. You have to see in your mind EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING before it even happens.
This is what I love about my job! People look at it differently though as its not your usual 9-5 job, however most of the people in my industry or any entertainment industry for that matter work harder and longer then your everyday person. Most people come home after they finish work and that's it for them. They may get a few late night emails etc.
Us on the other hand, we are working while you are sleeping, we are working while we are watching a movie, we are working while we are traveling to a destination, we are working while we are out with family... The mind never stops. NEVER STOPS!
And I LOVE IT! As the saying goes "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it"
With 11 months to go and lots of rehearsals under way we hope you enjoy THE JOURNEY!
Below pic: Our production folder. Yes EVERY page is full! All this for a 1.5hr illusion show. Not including the script...
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freeing yourself from expectations and PLAYING with the magic of the universe - with Alea Lovely
I had sooo many “holy shit my mind is blown” moments in this week’s episode with Alea Lovely. Alea helps people discover and move past their blocks through empathetic energy healing, mediumship, channeling, writing and mentorship. She has such a beautiful, UNIQUE perspective on spirituality and self-growth and our conversation went SO deep...seriously it expanded my mind to places it’s never been before. This episode is going to rock your mind & world (in the best way possible).
✧ What it was like for Alea to connect with spiritual entities as a young child
✧ How patriarchy has colonized religion and robbed us of our feminine ability to use our intuition to interpret what spirit is saying
✧ How to let go of resistance and allow yourself to be guided by the universe
✧ Why we don’t actually know what will make us happiest
✧ How to let go of expectations and instead PLAY with the magic of the universe
✧ What it means to be an empath and how to tell if you are one
✧ How to protect your energy if you are an empath
✧ Why being authentic attracts the exact opportunities you need to grow
Alea Lovely helps people discover and move past their blocks through empathetic energy healing, mediumship, channeling, writing and mentorship.
Alea's Links:
Welcome to the magnetically used podcast. My name is Madison cernik. And I'm a master mindset coach and food freedom expert. You're in the right place. If you want to manifest a life that means you jump out of bed excited I have every morning, reprogram your mind for success and happiness, feel your best and become magnetic to everything you desire. For me, killing my relationship with food was my gateway into mindset, spiritual and personal development. And now I am obsessed. And I realized the same thing became true for so many of the women. I've coached through my course the subtle art of food freedom, and doing the inner work around food became about so much more than food for all of us. So that's what this podcast is really about that expansion, expanding that inner work to all areas of our life so that we can become the most magnetic confident versions of ourselves and achieve our biggest dreams. If you're like me, and you're obsessed with personal development, then you are going to love this podcast. So let's freakin do this. Welcome back to the magnetical UI podcast. I have la lovely here who I am so excited to interview I've been listening to her podcast for a few months. And she is just a magical human being and has so much wisdom to share and just channels some beautiful, beautiful messages and teachings and she ultimately helps people discover and move past their blocks through empathetic energy healing, mediumship channeling writing and mentorship. And I know you guys are going to love her. And I'm so excited to have here. So welcome to the show. So happy to have you.
Thank you. I'm really excited to be here. I feel honored that you've been listening to my show. Thank you
I love it. I love podcasts. I am like always on the hunt for ones that resume in yours definitely does. So thank you, man to be. But anyway, so I want to give you a chance to tell us more about your journey and your story and kind of like how what led you on this path to where you are today.
Thank you. That is a incredibly loaded question. Of course. For most people, it was like a nice my whole like 38 minutes. Um, yeah, so I grew up highly religious family. Super Christian, we like to say soup, Chris, in the Senate. And, um, and and from an early age was able to connect and or communicate with spiritual entities of some sort. So very sensitive child, my father also has this gift. But it's not like does not like to talk about it under really use it, my grandmother as well. So it's kind of like something that's been, you know, passed through the family. But growing up, there wasn't a lot of space for me to be that person. So growing up very religious, a lot of the things that I was seeing did not align with what our beliefs told us existed, and what couldn't exist. And so if I was seeing these people who had passed away, who were kind of trying to get a hold of me in some kind of way, then, you know, it didn't align with the fact that they should be in heaven or hell, so it must have been the devil or something. And it made very scary it made connecting to my intuition, very scary. So at some point, maybe around the age of 10, I shut it down, shut down my ability to see because I was able to see people here and things and you know, like stuff moving in the house or whatever. And so I'm never really paid much attention to it until my grandfather died when I was 16. And when he died, he came to me in a dream that my father also had. And we have the same dream where my grandfather was contacting this both. And in my dream and goosebumps. My dream, my grandfather said, you know, go and tell your father that I said that. Yachty said, Hi, because my dad used to call him Yachty, not daddy. And tell him Yachty said, Hi, and just, you know, don't forget when you wake up or whatever. And so when I got up, I was like, it was weird. And I went to see my dad, and I was like, Hey, Dad, like I had a dream about Grandpa, and he leapt out of bed. And he was like, What did he say? And before I could say it, he said daddy said hi. And I was like, yeah, and he was like, That is crazy. Leah, he said to me, I'm going to tell your oldest because she's the most open to tell you that I said hi. So you will know that it wasn't a dream and then actually came to visit you.
Oh my gosh, so that was crazy to me. And it scared me a lot because I was like, ah, like I don't want to play with this energy because the Devil You Know, and until then I got a little bit older and I moved out of Kansas City where I'm from and moved to London to be with my then my now ex wife, my ex husband, then boyfriend. And we moved there and just had this like massive awakening at this point, like just kind of like really kind of binding all of my foundational truths. And coming to a place where I didn't know myself anymore. I didn't understand what it meant to be a person who was not a Christian. And what did it mean to be someone who was not, you know, essentially, like, my whole worldview just completely flipped upside down. And so that was a pretty rough tumultuous a few years where I just didn't understand myself, the relationship I was in was pretty toxic. And it was just difficult for me to do and have behaviors where I chose myself. So through the process of my now ex marriage, there was loads and loads of lows and things that happened as catalysts were my ex husband was what I would consider a narcissist. Obviously, that takes lots of psychological evaluation or whatever, but had a lot of the typical traits and a lot of mental and emotional abuse that I underwent. And at some point, had to get to a place where I was like, I need to choose myself, I need to understand and figure out what it is what direction I'm trying to go. And so when we made this big move to New York, there was a time and place where I started meeting people that were a lot like me, and people that were like, and it was like, Oh, it's Yeah, if you're different, it's fine. You know, like, in fact, it was better if you were different, the more different the better. And I started to find my people. And I started to find like that, okay, when I go out into the city, I felt more alive than I did when I was at home with my partner, and then recognizing what the word empath meant. And I read like ran over some article and it was like, you might be an empath if, because I thought at this point, I was having debilitating anxiety. I was having a lot of breakdowns, a lot of depression. And I was like, I just don't understand why I freak out when I go to the grocery store. Why is it so difficult for me to be on the train? Like, you know, why do I have this this difficulty with crowded places? I'm a social person, what does this you know, mean? And so coming across that was like, like a second massive awakening where it was like, Oh, I'm sensitive. Oh, yeah, I forgot. I used to see ghosts. When I was a kid. Like, it just all kind of started rushing back towards me. So upon my realization of that, and we started to really hone in and take back myself, the relationship that we we had fostered had completely disintegrated. And I left, I said, Okay, I'm done. I don't want to be in this anymore. This is not this is not good for me. And, yeah, and kind of move forward in that. And so then, like the universe does gave me these people who were mentors who opened kind of the gate to this way of thinking and redeveloping my worldview and not just my worldview, like myself view and rebuilding from there. So New York completely changed the game for me while I was there, and then I started meeting people who were other people were psychics and other people were mediums and other people who were into like, weird shit. And it was just so cool to be able to be actually get to be myself. And in that all of my gifts came rushing back, except my ability to see as far as like, I still see things here and there, but not to the clarity. I used to see them and still have dream prophecy still have like lots of other stuff. But anyway, had that process and then ended up having all these kind of essentially, what rug pool moments where like, you make all these plans, you're going to do this thing or whatever. And the rug kept getting pulled from underneath me, where the universe was really trying hard to direct me into a different direction. And I was so resistant to it. I was like, No, I'm this photographer, I'm going to be a Vogue person, I'm going to bla bla bla. And universe is like, Nah, like, you're not going to be a photographer anymore. And you're not going to go live in Paris or any other place that you think you're going to live, you're gonna come back to Kansas City. And I'm like, Fuck, no, like, that's where I'm from. That's where all of my trauma is. That's where people told me I couldn't be this. This is where I learned about racism. This is like, No, I don't want to go back to this place where I've experienced all this stuff. And it forced me to come back to my roots where I still had so much pain. And in that process of unveiling all the pain I tried to leave again COVID hit and I had to come back again. So I was in Bali for a couple months. And then I was getting ready to do this world tour and like travel the world and universe was like nah, again, we are God tells you to do this stuff. So anyway, through that process, I'm at the love of my life. I have like all this, you know, this new path and direction that's really taken hold since last year, as a as a part of the universe being like, here we go. We just want to you keep asking for this thing. We keep trying to go this way. We're just going to put you over here. And so yeah, so that's kind of what led me to today and being you know, this podcast hosts where I started the podcast. Spiritual shit, hoping to find a space to make what I what everyone else thought was weird, normal. Like if there could be a mainstream place where we could talk about all this stuff, and people would at least look at it and be able to make their own decision about it without guffawing. First, there's so much stigma around spiritual things. I was like, I just want to create my community. And if it helps for people, I'm good. I had no idea was going to have the response that it did, but apparently University. So as kind of like drawing in my community and my people and getting weirdly like, I'm not someone who like wants to be famous. But like having this kind of platform to be able to speak to people and help people, delineating the purpose that I knew I heard of a NASA vision three years ago, where they were like, you're going to use your voice. This is how you're going to help other people heal. This is how you're going to awaken people. And I was like, I don't understand what that even means. Now, you said earlier, you like podcasts? I don't. I don't listen to podcasts. I don't listen to my own podcast. Like, I'm not someone who will sit and listen to talking for a long time just because it's a lot of like energy for me. And so I was like, What do I know like about starting a podcast? Like I don't know anything. So I didn't even start listening to podcasts. When I started one. I was just like, Alright, let's see where this goes. And and here we are.
So cool. I love that. And I this story about the dream with your grandpa is so so interesting. And I actually had a friend Come on the podcast recently who had she had like a near death experience and her like grandma came into her dream and it was really, really cool. So I think that's so fascinating. Speaking of dreams, so not not that this has come up. I'm like, Okay, I have to ask you. So I had this dream. The other night, I was like sleep fast asleep. And I like see this like woman and there's no clarity in my mind's now what she looks like, but she's like, standing at the corner of my bed, like covering of my bed while I'm sleeping. And like, it felt so real. And I was saying like, is that you? Is that you? Like I knew who it was?
Mm hmm. And then I woke up? Well, I don't I thought that I was awake the whole time. Because I genuinely thought there was like, I seen a ghost. And I like started running around, I turn on all the lights I like look at my closet. I'm like this was felt so real. So do you have any like thoughts on like that because I know you talk about dream interpretation. So I thought of Yeah.
Now I'm not a dream interpreter. However, I do know I've had 1000 dreams like that. Like, I've definitely had people standing over my bed. I've had them where I knew for sure I was not asleep. Like there was no like, the time where I went to bed or anything like that. Your recognition of them in some kind of way either represents a part of you that you're not like opening up to yourself, like a part of your subconscious that you're not recognizing, or actually someone who's trying to visit you. Someone who's probably close by I know I've had an experience. So many of those were people standing over my bed. And I've in fact asked them not to do that. Because it's scary. Like, don't worry, when I'm sleeping. I'm not even asked my ancestors to protect my household I started to put sell and I and my window seals to keep negative energy out like just to raise the vibration in cases anything scary. So I do know that it's coming from a higher vibrational plane, not necessarily what I would call earthbound spirits. You can also there's so many factors like where's your what's the house you live in? What are the items, what you brought into your house? Like? Did you cleanse them first, like there can be loads and loads of energy interference. We have an episode where we talk about spaces and haunted houses and the kind of idea that someone doesn't have to die in your house in order to visit you at some point because that's kind of a common misconception. So it's possible that it was a dream and it's a part of you that you're recognizing it's possible that it was an ancestor that you are familiar with and you were recognizing at the time, but couldn't come to record question record recollection, recollection there we go into this this life because what happens to when we dream, we go into the astral plane. And that is where we remove that veil. It's kind of like, you know, dying alive, essentially. Like we are able to transcend that veil that keeps us from remembering a lot of that stuff. This is why when we have these visceral dreams of the stuff that happens, it's like, Why can I remember that thing? When I was in it? I was so yeah, but I can't remember once we cross the path and the barrier. So this is why during full moons, like people have more of these like visceral dreams that they can remember. It's why during the time of Halloween, there's so much of this like hulu's you know kind of stuff because the veil is thinner. It's also why 3am seems to be the time when a lot of that visitation happens because they're saying that veils with the astral realm is thinner than.
Wow, okay, that is so fascinating. I'm so glad I asked. Okay, so Bring it back to your story. So I know you mentioned how like you kind of were questioning like, how do I go about nothing in Christian? And when that's kind of like the identity that I grew up with? Would you? Would you identify with a particular religion now? And like? Do would you want to speak more about like, what what it means to you the difference between religion and spirituality? I love this question.
So first, I want to say that there is, I don't want anybody who has a particular religion, first of all the things that I'm saying, You can't have your religion, there's something wrong with your religion, or whatever. But I will say that in our current society, and the way that patriarchy has kind of went around the world and colonized religion, essentially for for more of the masculine energy, it's robbed us kind of deeply of our feminine, where we draw intuition, and where we draw in a lot of our own ability to kind of interpret what Spirit is saying. So we lean to other people to tell us what our spirituality is. And so for me, religion is I saw a meme that said, legend is like a fishbowl inside of the ocean. And religion is one perspective and one lens of what spirituality is, and you're more than entitled to hold that lens. But spirituality gives you access to so much more without having such a definitive barrier against what else could be beneficial for you. And so for us, so good, there was such a process in kind of ripping away some of the walls and barriers that kept me from being able to glean in my own understanding of the way that the universe works. Now, granite, I believe in reincarnation, and loads of world religions believe in reincarnation. And in my Christian faith, it didn't, it didn't like that was not something that was okay to believe in. And I recently had a discussion with my mom, and I hope you don't catch fire with this. Because I know this can be quite quite controversial. But the conversation is all welcome here. Okay, good.
The conversation I had with my mom was that I was trying to, and this was recent. So I had I hadn't been a Christian for like 10 years. But she was trying to tell me that she wanted her and my dad wanted to buy a new house. And so she took my dad in the house to see like, because someone had killed themselves on the house. So to see where, where it happened, what happened or whatever, because my dad can Intuit those things. So he figured it out, found out they called the realtor found out that was true, verified everything. And I got miffed, because I was like, that is not fair. I get the side I every time I talk about energy, if I do energy cards, if I talk to my grandma, if I tell my mom, I talk to my grandma, you know, like I always kind of get the like, that's the you know, taboo. I was like, but it was okay for you when you needed to buy a house like, okay, not. So we got a discussion, because then she tried to tell me, no, but you're trying to access things through tarot cards, and this and that. This is not how you can access God. And I was like, if God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. All these things, and God can be accessed through any direction or any way. You're just limiting. Like, you're saying, This is the only way that he can do it. But if he quote unquote, he, she. Yeah, right.
I love that. You said that?
Why can't he reach me? She reached me this way, you know? And so then we got into this kind of like debacle, because I was like, you know, Mom, like, you're really scared of all these other attributes, but I'm not. So is it possible that the highest power in the universe gave me these gifts and didn't give you these gifts? Because you're scared of them? Or maybe he did give you those gifts, but you don't want to use them? Like, who are you to tell me that I'm, I'm not I'm not connecting right? or whatever, because it's not through your lens. So then we got into it about Bible what the Bible says or whatever. And I know quite a bit about the Bible, because I read the Bible three times. And I went to Bible school. And I've been a devout Christian for, you know, good 25 years of my life. So we went into that, and she was like, what I said to her was, I said, Okay, first of all, is there possibility, a possibility, just one possibility that there is a single typo in the Bible? Very simple question. And she said, No, there's not. And I said, Tell me why? Because first of all, it's been translated like a billion times and like, I'm sure, even with my ex husband, he was from Poland, he would ask me sometimes and say, is there a word for this? And I'm like, and we kind of go back and forth and say, like the there would be something very significant lost in translation, translation between one word and higher context.
And so that was where the breakdown for me started to happen, because I was like, this is this was written in Greek this was written in Aramaic. This was written in Hebrew, and it's been translated into English and which English is missing like this English is very simple language, it's missing a lot of synchronicities of things. So for instance, in the Anunnaki, where they talk about the fallen, the fallen angels or whatever, even the Bible where they talk about like Lucifer was a fallen angel. But that word fallen could also be reinterpreted as the one who came down. So someone who incarnated in earth rather than someone who fell from heaven. Does that make sense? So in that very specific delineation and language connotation, completely change, like the animal homology of the entire context is completely changed. So I asked her is there, do you think that there's possible there's one type? Well, she said, No, God would not allow for there to be misinterpretation of his word, in order for us to make sure that everybody had an opportunity to access Christianity. And I said, Well, there's a problem there, because the Bible is not accessible to certain other religions. And those other religions of those people are going to hell, which we already know that she's, there's this whole like, idea build, they'll get to know the world, but they have the chance to share. So if you're born in another country, or you just so well, like, what kind of God is that, that the Americans or Western people got it but like, everybody else didn't get it? Like, if your God let it be available to everyone, right? And then I said, and this, to me, was the most potent point for myself. I said, if we don't live multiple lives, if we don't come back, you're over and over and over ticket and I say, You're right. But if reincarnation does not exist, then at most, we get maybe 80 to 90 years on this earth to grasp an entire concept. That is hinges our eternity, our entire eternity on. So if we don't get a chance to go, Oh, I messed up that first life. Let me try it again. Whatever, you don't have an opportunity to do that, then where are we before we come here? Okay. Where are we spending time before we come here? We're in the ether with God, right? And if we've spent aeons with him before he created our soul or winning creator, so who knows, energy cannot be created or destroyed even according to even to the Bible. So if we're hanging out with him for eons, and then he's like, Alright, go to Earth, then that would mean that like, Okay, this broken system of like, my son had to come down and die for you guys, in order for people to be able to be saved, you would have an opportunity to just stop sending souls here. Like, why continue to create more souls for a broken system? why not create a whole new world where you can have this this caveat, you know, like that, you'd have to do that. That doesn't make sense to me that, in fact, that seems tyrannical? That seems insane. That seems like, okay, you want to keep bringing people here to worship you in the event that they can catch a concept or not? And then they're damned to hell? Yeah, like, you don't want to worship a God like that, that for me that that breaks me to think that that would be that. And if that was the case, then it would be the most gracious thing to do is to abort a baby. It would be most gracious thing to do to kill a child before they were at the age of, I call it like, age of acknowledgment or something where it's like, the child is not accountable for being saved before certain age or something like that. Which I was like, that's stupid to like, also, what about the aliens? Do they get to get saved? Like, do they go to heaven? Or hell, like did the same? Because Because people you know, Jesus died for the earth like did that does that apply to other planetary extraterrestrial anyway? The whole thing, sorry. Like, just beyond me, I said, it doesn't make any sense. It can't make sense if we don't at least get another chance to figure it out. And like this idea behind karma and whether or not you do good or not, or whatever, that resonates with me a little bit more, but not quite. And so with this fight that we had, essentially end up becoming a fight. I don't want to fight but, um, it I didn't want to take that away from her. Because that was something that for her, that was her whole thing her love life with Jesus, you know, and I was like, if this is what Jesus was teaching, this is not something I want to be a part of. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make logical sense to me, and also doesn't make loving sense to me. And my mom was like, Well, Jesus, or God is also a jealous God. And I'm like, then he's not God. Because if he's perfect, and all the ways in which we view God, then he is probably just an alien. Who is playing this game with earth as a giant experiment.
Yes, so Gosh.
Anyway, sorry, that long tangent just to say that for me, there, there are aspects in which I believe humans have gotten parts of it right. You know, I do believe Jesus was a real person into archetype of some sort. But I do think that humans are flawed in the sense like we history repeats itself. You can look at Atlantis, you look at Rome, you can look at now, like empires in which men and women, but mostly men get together and decide what they want for the futures of other people in order to retain power. And when I learned about the Council of Nicea, where the Roman Catholic Church got together and decided which books would go in the Bible and which wouldn't, and then they burn the rest of it. was like, What is the point? What is in the burn books? The books and I was like, if you can take stuff out, then you can put stuff in. And that was the end of my Christianity.
Oh my gosh, wow. Okay, everything you just said, like blew my mind but also resonates with me so much because I never resonated with religion ever. I always was questioning everything kind of like you have like, Well, why does that have to be that way? Like, it's why is it separating us into this good versus bad. It's like, I feel like that's just such a human tendency to bucket things and good versus bad. And it's like, there is no such thing as good or bad. Except for our interpretation of good or bad which we've created. And to think that our, this, you know, being that we idolize is also like bucketing people into those good bad categories. I'm like, that doesn't see me divine. Good.
Yeah, it doesn't feel good. It doesn't feel accepting, it doesn't feel loving. And it's like, if the person we're idolizing isn't accepting of all people, then that just doesn't resonate with me. So I mean, if you created or sheeple that, you know, it's like, Okay, if you're the Creator, create people that you like, don't create, like, I mean, the whole this whole aspect of freewill is like, it's kind of bullshit. Because I mean, yes, free will, should exist. But the idea that this in the Christian, I can only speak to that that tradition, because I've studied it the most. But in that tradition, if free will is actually a thing, then telling someone that they're going to go to hell, or believe in this thing is not free will. It's caught believe this, or you have consequence. That's not freewill. That's like, do you want to go to jail? Or will you just we go and follow and go to this church, like, I'm gonna go church. So like, it doesn't really present a true choice. And without true choice, there is no free will. So it's bullshit.
Amen to that. Oh, my gosh, I love that so much. Thank you so much for openly sharing all of that, because I think a lot of people are unwilling to share such like, yeah, just different thoughts on topics like that. So I so appreciate that. Okay, so I know that you mentioned in your story, you had all those big rug pull moments, which I'm gonna start taking that phrase, I love it. And like, basically, the universe was kind of like, nudging you in this direction, and you're resisting. So like, in those moments, where, you know, we kind of know, the nudge, keeps coming, keeps coming, we keep resisting and pushing, and we kind of feel like we're like out this war with ourselves with the universe, like, how do we, instead of like pushing against kind of, like, get in flow with and like, let go of that resistance? Does that make sense?
Yeah, it's a wonderful question. Um, so to give some background on what she's talking about the rug pull moment, I had decided that I was going to move to Paris, when I was living in New York at some point, and I was like, I'm gonna move to Paris, I'm gonna do this. Eight months of preparation. My lease was almost up. And my landlords were saying, like, you got to sign another lease or not, or you got to go. And I was like, I don't have my visa yet. I just need to make sure I got approved for my visa before I can let go of my apartment. And they were like, no, like, you have to decide now. So I call the visa office, and they're like, Oh, don't worry, you'll get it, you have all your requirements, you're like you'll be so I let go of my apartment and faith. And when maybe three days later, after I sold everything, I got rid of everything and moved out. I got the visa back. And it said I didn't get it. And so I was not only now homeless, but I had nowhere to go. And I already had a plane ticket booked for some work that I was going to do in Paris while I was there. So I went ahead and went, but it was so sad because I was like, I'm not gonna live here. This was supposed to be the trip that I was supposed to move here, whatever, which meant that I had to move back to Kansas City, because like, this is where family was I crashed with some friends for a while. And it broke my heart because I was like, I'll never move back to Kansas City, you know, had a lot of like, anxious because this is where I experienced the most racism. This is where I experienced the most rejection. This is where experiencing the most, you know, people judging my spirituality and in other things, and also that, that connection with family about that, you know, and how that was I'm close with my most of my family, but there was just a lot of areas in which I didn't feel like I could be mean. And so I'm sitting there, and I was talking to my guide, I have a guide that I call Karen, before that Karen stuff started ever was art coloring of that, but, um, she she's a spirit guide. And so she asked me and she was like, you know, if you could move to Paris, and you didn't get you know, the man or a child or you know, whatever, in the next four years, would you still thought it was a good decision? And I was like, that's weird, because I hadn't thought of any of that like that at all. I was moving to Paris for my career and it was gonna be fun and I'm gonna learn French and you know, whatever. But I confronted that and I was like, she says, Why did you really want to move there? And I was like, because I want to learn this and this all the stuff I just told you. And she was like, Don't fuck with me, tell me the truth. And I said, I think it would be easier for me to find love. And I didn't even know that I wasn't aware of that. I didn't know that that was hiding the subconscious that I was running somewhere else to find love. Because here in this country, I'm a size 12 I'm a black woman, like I was having such a hard time on the apps, like men always using me or treating me like I was not not a priority. And I would see my beautiful thin white friends getting taken to concerts, and you know, bought breakfast, and I was getting like, Hey, can we fucking get your nuber you know, just like stuff like that. And I was like this, this, this dichotomy of this treatment just feels so rough, you know. But when I was in France, it was felt so different people were super romantic, or whatever, they big guys in a different way. It's the same shit. But like, anyway, I knew that impression that like, okay, that's where I need to be where people will appreciate me and where I will be loved. Anyway, so Karen got with me about that. And I ended up moving back in with some of my friends for a few months until I can get my own apartment. And like, my, I'd was like, this is your year to rest. You know, you're in New York for two years, busted it, you got divorced, you had all this stuff happen, you had years and years of trauma, like this is your year depressed. And I was so mad because I was like, I had this thing I want and I was gonna do it. And universe was like, Nah, like, we want you to rest, we need you to rest because we have a completely different direction for you to head like you wanted you wanted this, you know, and it's so funny, because sometimes the things that we want, are not what we expect. It's kind of weird. Like sometimes, when random wife says beautiful quote, I'll butcher it. But basically, it's like, you don't know what will make you happy. Because to experience highly higher level of happiness, like you hadn't experienced it before. So you're always only creating an ideal of the past of what you thought would make you happy before. So if you really want to be happy, you've got to be present. And you've got to be without expectation, because the universe will bring you something new, that you won't be able to map out, you won't be able to really plan out, you'll think that you're trying to achieve this thing, universe will be like a pivot. And you'll think that that's, you know, like them taking the rug from underneath you, it'll hurt because you already had this trajectory of the direction you were going. But when you're in this place of surrender, the malleable pneus of the like, the guiding is a whole lot easier. I'll tell you that. So I took this year for us. And then I got back into my masculine. I'm like, What am I gonna do next? And they were like, We told you bitch to rest. So haha.
We're October I was getting it. And I was like, I want to go somewhere. I want to do something. And instead of moving to one country, I said, Why don't I move to like, eight, you know, and do this, like, remote gear. That's what it was came across my thing. And I was like, Okay, I'm gonna do this remote your thing now or whatever. So I decided I was going to Bali because Bali was not on the register. But I wanted to go to Bali, went to Bali for two months, and then went to France for a job in the COVID hit had come back. So remote year got cancelled. And I was back in the city. And I was like, This is the repeat of last year except with a pandemic, that's 2020 and go to hell. Like I was so mad because I was like, I've experienced this now two or three times. And so I said, All right, all right. You know what? You win hands up white flag. I'm done. Like deciding what I think I'm done kidding myself and thinking I know what's best for my life. I said, Okay, hands up. And when I did that, in the previous years, that was always met with an attitude of defeat, always. It was always like, fine universe, you're just trying to punish me and I never get what I want. And instead, this time it was I was just so tired, and so beat down. And I knew it wasn't personal, because everybody was experiencing all this, you know, stuff around COVID. And I was like, Okay, what will you have for me? What do you have for me? What do you want from me? and beautifully. A couple months later, I met my soulmate, like this person who like is like, I mean, literally, our birthdays are a day apart. We're just energy match. Like, we're very similar and like, he's not perfect. I'm not perfect, but like we're perfect together. And the situation Kansas City in Kansas City, where I kept saying, I will never meet anybody here, you know, like, never be loved and appreciated.
Exactly. And it's kind of funny, because you've kind of like your pile in your face. Like all the things you said couldn't happen and the universe is like here, hold my beer. You know? It's like Shut up, sit down. Let me do my work. Okay, you know, and I was just getting in the way and so I've so many other things have happened since then. My trip to Bali. When I came back. I was pissed because I was like, I literally just moved out. Have this apartment building and I'm in now, two months prior, and then had to come back, go get a lease move everything that I just moved out back in. And I was like, this is just, you know, like, just so butthurt about having to do that same thing all over again. And, um, you know, now we're looking for a house, you know. So it's just like, it's so crazy how quickly things change. But these rug pull moments, you know, are, I believe, essentially the universe saying, like, Hey, you asked for something, we're trying to give you that thing. It just doesn't look how you think it's going to look, the direction may be different than what you anticipated. Mind you, the universe knows a lot more than you do. So when you let go of those expectations, you're in for an easier ride. Like I just said, Okay, here, I'm gonna plug in the GPS universe, you take the wheel, I'm gonna fall asleep in the passenger seat, like, let us know what's going on. When we get there. You know, obviously, action is needed. But when in that way, you're not resisting and pulling the wheel in all these different directions and causing these car accidents and these detours and getting lost and you know, whatever, you just surrender to what's happening, and let it be what it is. But it's so difficult for us to let go of control because that will require a level of vulnerability that is really hard to come by, when we're trying to protect ourselves from what we don't want.
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And like, you're busy over there obsessed with x. And like, here, I am, like, ready to take you to three levels higher of happiness, or whatever it is. So I love that. And the way Yeah, the way that your words came out, just like it really hit and spoke to me. So thank you for that. And speaking of the expectations, like how, how do you go about like letting those go and getting into that surrender and, and even the feminine energy of surrender, and flow and letting yourself be be guided to the next steps?
Well, first, you know, I feel like most of my surrender recently is come from the universe's hitting me like, you know, get all the way. Um, recently I've kind of stepped into, like, you know, whatever supposed to be will be. And what's meant for me won't miss me. I say that all the time. what's meant for me won't miss thing. And so, in this process, for instance, we're looking for a house and today, I prayed. And I said there's this one house that we're kind of really like but we're we're you know, kind of teetering or whatever. And like maybe there'll be a bidding war or whatever. And instead of getting attached to what I think I want, or what I think is available, because that's another thing we have to talk about lack and scarcity. Because a lot of times the reason why we're holding on to something is because we don't think we will get anything better. So we were like This is the expectation I have to be with this guy, even though he's not the best guy for you, you don't think anything else will come through. So you're holding on to something that's not that great for you. And I prayed today and I said, Okay, if this is not the house, we're meant to have let someone buy it today, let someone else have a contract on it, let something fall through, like make it very clear to me that this is not the place. And I won't be attached to what I think I want. Because what I think I want could actually wouldn't what I want what the universe knows I want, there could be something so much better, but I just can't see it yet. And I've abandoned you know what I said earlier, that idea, I think I can am I kidding myself if I think I know what's best for my life. But more than that, like, universe has eyes that that I don't have. And sometimes I think that the universe holds something in front of us that looks close, but not quite to see if we are willing to trust that it will provide what it is that we exactly need. And so I've done that before I've settled for the decoy. And, you know, it's it's a lot of suffering. And it's like, oh, this is not quite it, and you try to force it make it work. And it's like, I'm just tired of doing that. So my getting into B has been as a result of me been just tired of having to fight and fight anymore. I don't want to so if it's not for me, I'm not gonna get attached to it. So, you know, just to give you an example, with houses, like I'm not a huge example, but for me right now is like, okay, like, what's supposed to be ours will be ours. And when it's supposed to be ours, it will be hours, when I get into fear of like, okay, but I want to have it by this time, time is a big one, right? your city and time we operate within this time, not realizing that space and time are almost the same thing. Like they kind of operate within each other. And it's like the way we can manifest and like how we can operate and bend those things to our advantage or disadvantage. We just have to let go of the way that we think everything is in this linear construction. x equals y. No, it doesn't. Yeah.
Oh my gosh, that's been coming up for me so much and huge. It's huge. Especially with manifestation. Like, we think things are the straightforward kind of like, okay, not the equation. Yes, there's a very masculine way to look at it. Yeah. But when you're in your feminine, it's like, I don't need to abide by these rules of like, what everyone? Okay, just giving the house example, like, the market, okay. Like, oh, the market is really tight. And you know, like, you got to put an offer down really quick or whatever. And it's like, No, I don't like what's meant for me will be mine. So like, when the right house, it'll come to me, I don't need to worry about like, like, what you think the market is doing right now. Like, I know, the power of the universe, like, I don't need to abide by your linear construction and your rules of your, you know, your material things, I can manifest this. And with that belief, I've been able to let go of so many things that weren't for me, and manifest what was perfect for them. And it's, it's just been kind of an interesting process that, like, there's just so many shifts that happen when you start playing with the magnetic pneus of the universe, and that playing with that magic would rather play with the magic, then try to look at something and say, Okay, this x equals why here's the box here. This is what I see in front of me, this is what's real. And it's like, no, I play with, beyond what I can see, the universe does things that I cannot explain. I see ghosts and shit, you know what I mean? So it's like, why can't I have what I want? Like, yeah, if that's what's meant for me, you know, and sometimes we want things that are not good for us. And there needs to be a distinguishing because sometimes people think manifesting, man, whatever you want, but sometimes the things you want are good for you. Sometimes the things you want are out of place of lack, some things that you want are a distraction towards your actual purpose. And the universe trend, do you favor by saying, like, that's not good for you fighting for those things that are not good for you? Who knows, I could have gotten to Paris. And it could have been a really bad situation for me. And I don't know that that like I do understand that like as a result of that, quote, unquote, rug pool, I was saved in some kind of way. Like this, this new path would not have been even close to my path if I had been there.
Oh, this is so great. I love that you brought up the kind of like the x equals y thing and it's like, I forget the exact number, but it's like our, you know, we can only perceive like point 000 1% of the bits of information coming into our reality at any point in time. And it's like, well, that in and of itself helps me surrender because I'm like, Well, shit, I can't see anything anyways, I might as well just like, not even worry about it. Like, there's so much going on beyond our perception that like, isn't in our conscious control. So it's like we might as well just like let it go and play and feel good. And like it's everything's gonna be okay. The universe is always doing us a favor and That's a belief that I've adopted that's really helped me like I used to get so worked up when, you know, a potential client would reach out, and then they would change their mind or they would disappear. And I'd be like, Oh my god, like, why did they not sign up? and and you know, now it's just like, no, like, the universe is doing me a favor. It's making space for the people who are more aligned. Like maybe that person was a total mismatch for my energy. Like, you know, let me ask you something we don't know. Go ahead. Have you ever fought for one of those clients before? And then regretted it? Yes, yeah. I, I had a terrible experience one time where, yeah, this this woman who in my heart, I knew really was not a match for my coaching. But I thought, you know, it's like, through so much conditioning and Society of how things are supposed to be and it's like, you have to overcome their objections, like, Fuck that shit. Like, if they want to work with you, they'll work with you. Yeah, but anyway, so this was like, probably like, last year when I was really in the like, got a push and overcome all their objections and all this stuff. And this woman signed up for coaching. And five minutes after she paid, she emailed me and was like, Oh, my gosh, like I after, right after I did this, I started crying. Like, I just don't think I can do this. Like she was so stressed about the investment she had just made. And clearly, it was not an alignment for either of us. And I was like, wow, like, I'm so sorry. Like, of course, we you can have a refund. I'm like, so sorry, if you felt pressured any way? And it's like, of course, of course, that was tough. And because it's like, you make the you push, when the universe was either you favor, the universe is doing you a favor. And it's like that could have been someone who maybe cried after every coaching call, like that wouldn't be fun. Or maybe not. Or maybe they just weren't in alignment for my coaching, or I wasn't in alignment for them. And like, we have to let that be okay. Because it can like, yeah, the universe is doing us a favor and bringing us the opportunities and experiences that are meant for us. And it's like, yeah, it could be anything maybe like, you know, it's like, it's like, at that point in his life, I was so focused on like, I need clients. It's like, what if it's something entirely different that the universe has in store for me? So? Yeah, I love that you asked that question.
Yeah, there's interesting, I had a client one time who, and this is when I'm still doing photography, but when I used to do video, and I sold this on them on this huge package, where I think it was like, eight grand or something where they paid, you know, for video photo, or whatever, actually, in reality was actually pretty cheap for what it is that they were paying for. But at the time, I was like, Yes, like, we can buy a new car, finally, blah, blah. Anyway, I worked more for that money than I charged them for. Because like, they were so out of alignment with what it was bringing forward and we sold them as package. And I had hesitation because I was like, I feel like they're gonna be super picky. And it's going to be this, it's going to be that or whatever. But we needed needed the money. And like, and I let that make my decision and push that and I regretted it, I end up having to work with him for a year after that, fixing stuff and going back and forth, or, you know, whatever, it was horrible. I mean, my first marriage, my only marriage, but like, you know, pushing that like, you know, pursuing someone over and over and over and to the point where it was just like, you know, I need to have this, this is what I want. I did all the work. And then I've been I was in this relationship that was so terrible for me. And also a lesson like, that was something that grew me very quickly and got me to a place where this university wanted this. So we're just going to give you this as a lesson, not to punish you, but to grow you out of what it is that you were you were so committed to before. And, you know, I don't think the universe punishes us. I think that there's like things that we fight for sometimes that we're just like, okay, and even when hardship comes up, like the catalysts that come into our life that are for our own expansion, we sign up, I believe, we sign up for things before we get here. You know, abusive relationships, parents like being born in a war torn country, like all those things. In my philosophy, as it stands, you know, you take it this or leave it, but I believe that we come in with certain karma and certain growth that we've desired. And when I say karma, I don't mean punishment, because people most likely interpret that is that you were born in a war torn country because you did something bad and why not at all? I do believe that there are things that we signed up for to say this is Oh, this will expand me. Like our growth opportunities. I see karma in that way too many ways of how it's like these are the areas of your life that and through healing them, you will experience the most like exponential growth. Right.
Cool. I love that. Okay, so let's see what else I wanted to get into too. Let's talk about being an empath because I know you mentioned that before what what does being an empath mean to you? How can we find out if we are one too?
Okay, so being an empath, I think, first, as a definition, my personal definition is someone who is clairsentience. So someone who's able to feel the emotions and feelings and even sometimes pain of other people physical pain. My feeling of being an empath was first, like, at first, it seemed like a curse, because it was just like, I feel super sensitive. And I felt like this was always kind of like, a problem to other people, I would know things that I couldn't explain why I knew them why someone was upset, where they were upset, where they are, their ailments might have been, where they were carrying their pain. And I would, you know, kind of lean, lean into that and found that people were very spiky about that response, like, you know, like, what do you what do you do and asking me questions about this kind of stuff, or whatever. It's also what made people very close to me, making people feel like they were closer to me than I actually was close to them. Because I would ask them questions that would make them feel so understood and so loved and, you know, open up a part of themselves that they were, you know, maybe not feeling as comfortable with being vulnerable to other people with strangers will come up to me out of the blue, like, I used to do this kind of test when I lived in New York, when I was really playing with my empathic pneus. And I was like, like a moth to flame, like, people would just come to me and sit down and start talking to me about stuff. And they're just a community story. There was a one time I was sitting at a bar by myself, kind of playing with this idea or whatever, like I just asked, Who needs to be healed? Is there anybody that I need to talk to? Is my presence going to help anyone here today? And so I sat there, and there's this guy who comes up, sits next to me starts, you know, brushing off saying this thing, or this thing or that thing. And then this other guy that comes up and says, Who is his friend or something? And you can just tell like, I mean, and I say this, from my own empathic understanding, but you could just tell this guy was dripping with pain, like, with like, he was this boisterous? Oh, yeah. Like, I'll buy drinks for you, and all this and that, and whatever. And I'm, like, I can see right through all your stuff, you have a terrible relationship with your father, you've been abused really badly. And he, like I got the sense that he was in some kind of war incident or something like that. He had an accident, that wasn't what tipped me off, there was just something else that was like, ooh, you you've you've experienced actual very, say actual trauma. I don't mean like actual travel. But like things that seemed horrifying to those of us who've never had to grow up in a country where you have bombs going through your house or anything like that. So I was watching him kind of voiced around and be the hot guy who this that and the other and him talking, you know, off the cuff. And he wouldn't, at some point wouldn't stop talking. Like, just would just talk and talk and talk and talk with no awareness around him. And I just, I'm going to stop you. And he was like, you know, kind of like, excuse me. And I said, I understand that you've been really hurt badly by your father. And I understand that you've had some some some crazy things that have happened to your life in war and, and other you know, whatever. You've got some post traumatic stress disorder, you know, stuff. Like I didn't say that, but like, kind of like close to that. And I said, and I can see that you're hurting, you're trying to compensate right now. You want everybody to see how great you are. And you and like, and this is not something by just a caveat, I don't go out and read people like this usually. But he was being so obnoxious, and so rude, and so loud, or whatever. I was like, let me just stop you here. Okay.
And I just kind of gave him this like, outline of what had been going on in his life. And his, his buddy, who was next to him was like, Whoa, do she's like one of those like clairvoyant people or whatever, let's go. And he run, run. He was he was like, how do you know that? Like, how you can't know that? He was like, Yes, my father was super abusive. And when I was 10, we had a, I don't know what they're called, like a grenade thrown through our window, and you know, blah, blah, blah. And my dad protected himself over protecting me. And like, just started to kind of list out some of the things that I was saying, and and I was like, you don't, you don't have to live in this pain anymore. Like, you don't have to be this way. You don't have to show up and try to show people who you are in this kind of way to compensate for what how much you're hurting inside. And I mean, he was like, Can you help me? And I was like, No, I can't. But I like I think that like, you should definitely seek therapy if you haven't already been seeking therapy, whatever. Anyway, this sounds really arrogant, like, but like, there was this moment of this empathic pneus at the very beginning, we're still discovering this parts of my gifts. Maybe that wasn't the best thing for him, you know. But in this moment, I was able, I felt so clearly what he was struggling with. And when I spoke to it, he had a very visceral reaction of like, Oh my gosh, she sees me someone sees me. And now that I'm a little bit more mature, I wouldn't no way in hell or something like that again now or whatever I was like very, that was very arrogant. But it is the that process of being able to feel someone else's feelings to that level of depth. And at the time, I didn't have any boundaries. So I was letting myself get just taken by the swimming's of other people's pain and what they've been going through. And maybe that's not how you feel empathic ness for me, for very specific reasons. I don't know why I feel people's pain, I feel what they're not saying, I feel what they're hiding, I feel where they've, you know, like not been seen for a long time. Like that is how I feel empathic ness. And so it's all the nuances in what they're not saying. So, for instance, with my boyfriend, like he's also an empath, there was a we were sitting in the living room, and I was on my phone or something, and he was passing through to go clean up the dining room. And so he passed through, and then maybe like, five minutes later, he goes, babe. And then the moment I was thinking about, like, how are we going to pay for this thing? And how are we going to bla bla bla, we're trying to figure out how to bring our lives together. And I was feeling frustrated about it about how this was going to work out against render, and he destroyed her neighbor's render. So he heard that he felt it, he was like, I can feel you cooking up a thought, are you okay? Like, do you need it? I was like, I haven't even formed a complete thought yet. Like, let me sit with that for a little bit. And then I'll come and talk to you. But that ability to be able to Intuit that that shift in energy with someone else. And so what I think it is, and this is just my own proposed idea, but is that you have the sensors, and for empaths, they have more mirror neuron sensors in their brain, then the average person, and with those, those mirror neuron sensors is like we're able to pick up on very subtle, not not just energy shifts, but also visual shifts. So like the way you move your eyebrows, the way you blink, the way you nodded your head, you know, like those little things, or whatever, I can tell when someone starts to get uncomfortable, I'm talking too long. That doesn't mean I'll stop talking, but they're gonna kind of see in those subtleties and pick up on the subtleties doesn't necessarily have to mean that it's psychic as much as it's like, I am picking up more information on this vibration, and where people and what people are feeling.
Yeah, no, it does. And I definitely would identify myself as an empath, and have had to really learn how to like protect my own energy, because it's so easy to kind of be like, pulled on this roller coaster of like, feeling everyone else's emotions. And I don't know about you, but I noticed myself I like really big events with a lot of people. It's like, I have to like almost like catch my breath of like, holy shit. There's a lot of like energy rushing in. So how do you like protect your energy as an empath, and not always be like constantly absorbing because it can be so exhausting, as I'm sure you've experienced.
One is putting up conscious barriers. I don't do this very often, because I was forget. But at the beginning, when I especially when I lived in New York, I was very good about before I went outside shrouding myself with light. And essentially I would visualize I was boxing myself in a mirror. So like everything, when people would look at me, they would they would see themselves and so that their energy would be reflected back to them. So it was almost like I was invisible. And so when I went up when I go out in the city, instead of having people because when I'm not invisible people come up to me all the time and ask me questions and talk to me. And you know, whatever. Strangers all the time, I will be standing anywhere. People ask me for directions. People ask me for help. I was at the airport and this lady we had COVID was happening, mind you, and she's like, would you put my water bottle in my bag? And I'm like, I would you want to like take your backpack off and put it in yourself. You know, like, just the weirdest thing people will kind of come to you and see you. But when I would do that exercise, people wouldn't see me. Wow, people kind of like you know, shroud. Um, another thing is I wear mobile device. And like for me is the highest vibrational crystal I've ever worked with. And I work with crystals pretty avidly like crystals are my jam in the mold of my vibration, it's a space rock. It's from a meteor.
And if you're on like a necklace. Yeah, I have a bunch of them that I work with. It actually helps with my channeling and oh my gosh, I love that. Where do we get that?
There is a company called multibyte family calm. Okay, O LD a vi T Mobile dot family. If you use the code spiritual shit, you get 15% off so that's nice. Oh yeah. But I this this this particular stone came to me someone gave it to me someone was like, I just met you or whatever. I feel like you should have this you know, whatever. And I was so crazy because I've worked with crystals for like, seven years and I never heard of this one. It's supposed to accelerate your purpose and all this stuff, all that stuff that I told you about to happen was as a result of me getting this multibyte and all this stuff kind of like kicking into gear. So it's a very powerful stone. If you're not ready for your whole life, just like turn upside down, like, I wouldn't recommend getting it, but it was just like, it is such a high vibration, for a lot of people makes it feel dizzy. They get like hot flashes, when they first start working with it does have a lot of energy, but because it resonates at such a high vibration, it's difficult for me to engage with bullshit anymore. Like boundary wise, it really boundaries, my area. So like people, people will have visceral reactions to me if their vibration does not align with mine. And in a in a not positive way. My sister, I have a sister who's, you know, something else, and a lot of stuff going on, but she cannot stand to be in my energy just doesn't align she's very negative person she wants about things that are bad all the time. That's not who I am. And at first, I used to try to combat her with like, you should think about this positively and whatever. And I'm like, Okay, stop doing that. That's annoying anyway, but there is now just a silent like, we just don't really, you know, kind of interact with each other because the energies don't align. And it's kind of like that whole thing where people talking about like attracts like, like attracts like. So if you're trying to boundary yourself, put yourself in a vibration of what you'd like to attract. Because if you're like, obviously you can't avoid you know, going into the subway or going to the grocery store or whatever with people that don't necessarily resonate with you. But you will have less crossing with them for sure. Do you notice like during COVID, especially like the people who have kind of woken up, if you will, I hate saying it like that, because it makes it sound like those people are more elevated and they're not but people who have had the opportunity to unveil themselves. Notice that there's been such a difference in the people that they've encountered, you've noticed that there's certain friends you don't see anymore. Yeah, or that you don't follow away all the way completely. Especially during this time. I feel like this was a giant awakening for a lot of people. People who are best friends are suddenly not the best friend anymore, things are coming out about them. Like that doesn't align with me, I can't talk. I'm there when you go to the grocery store now, like the grocery store is very different than when you went to the grocery store before. However, what I noticed was, is that even as I like when I'm in a super high vibrational state, the grocery store is really empty. When I go and versus one day's that, like there was one day I was super pissed about a bunch of stuff that was going on. I had to wait at the DMV for an hour. And then found out that like I like that they had to make an appointment beforehand, outside. Before I could come and had to be a same day appointment, who's got time to come up here twice. And then I waited an hour. And and then they wouldn't see me and I was probably mad. So went to the grocery store to go pick up groceries after that was 1000 people in that grocery store. I was like, how is this possible? Now, if you were if this is the first time you listen to anything like this, like there's something I believe in called timelines, and different timelines, and how we are creating new realities and the structural, I guess timelines will be the best word for it. And so we are experiencing things in our own version of reality, and in a very quantum kind of way. So the way I experienced the world is very different than the way you experience the world. We are in this holographic holographic matrix. The CIA just released a report that they found that out in the 70s. So this is a very real, practical thing that we're living in is holographic universe where we're creating our own realities. So yes, that law of attraction thing that people were talking about where when you stub your toe in the morning, and now you're late to work and now you this or whatever your vibration is creating the reality of your the energy that you experience throughout the day. And so when you're we were talking about earlier about being in surrender, that creates a very different vibration for how things come and ease to your life versus resistance when you're kind of an expectant kind of behavior. As impacts the people that we come in contact with. With a higher low vibration will be a reflection in a mirror to what it is we're exerting ourselves. So it's not just like, oh, you're this impasse swimming through the world as a sensitive and like, you can't help the people that you come in contact with, you're also radiating out a vibration that tells you what circulates in your vibrational field. Things in lower vibrational fields cannot resonate in higher vibrational fields and vice versa. So you'll find that those things start to fall away. Things that don't resonate with your vibration anymore. Do not align with your reality anymore. You don't see them anymore.
Yeah, no, I love I love thinking about it as like a holographic universe because from a quantum physics standpoint, which like it's literally proven through science for the analytical people like me, who wants some designs in logic, it's, it's really wild when you think about how big our internal energy and thoughts and beliefs create the projection of our experience of our reality. And it's literally just a projection of what's going on on the inside. And yeah, it's really wild when you think about it, but I think it's cool But that adds up to another timeline. Because it's like, nothing is real. It's just a projection of essentially our current vibration.
Right. And I, I love that idea. Nothing is real. Because in quote unquote reality, you know, we watch right now like the election is going on right? Mm hmm. There's some very different realities going on, we can look at other people and go How the hell yeah, like that. Like, for them, it is incredibly real. Yes, it's real. It's what we think about our opinion, but someone is living a very different reality where they cannot fathom the other side, which we find to be our truth. Yeah. And so to live in such a polarizing dichotomy means that there, there is no reality here. It's just our own perspective of what our own projection is, for myself, like, I want to live in a space of harmony. And and, you know, equanimity and equality, and, and not have, you know, this constant tension. And then there are these other people who are living this life less political, who are like, you know, it should just be good for me. Yeah, like, I don't want things to be better for other people. And I live in fear constantly, someone's going to take my piece of the pie.
Yeah. And in that perspective here, see when you really. Yes, it does.
But when you know that you are a child of the universe, and that this is just a hologram. Like you don't take these things personal anymore. You just kind of like, say, okay, like the universe is available to me, it's abundant to me, like life is meant to be abundant in this way. And when I don't have in scarcity, I don't need to be afraid. So I don't need to treat people like they're going to take something from me, I can just be and relax the fuck out. So?
Uh, yes, I love that. And yeah, it's I feel like, there's so many, you know, differing opinions that have come to the surface, especially so much more this year. And I I got really like, appreciate your perspective on how like, yeah, it's like, nothing is real. And my I have a family member who is very, very, very strong political, and social beliefs do not align with me and my little sister. And for my little sister, it's been really hard, because she's just like, how could someone believe this? Like, it's so messed up? And I see that unfold on so many ways on this on the same, you know, and I'm like, well, they feel as real as we feel that that is so messed up. They feel that it is so real. It is so true for them it is so they grew up with that belief system, they were raised in that way. They had different experiences that shaped them in that way. And we will, I will never see the exact perspective they see. And they will never see the exact perspective. I see. And so I think like so much healing comes when we can kind of open up to seeing things from another angle and allowing other perspectives and having understanding for different perspectives, even though sometimes it's very difficult. Right, right. Because I still think they're wrong. But yeah, yeah.
You can say, okay, like, yeah, like this. This is what your reality is. You're right, and understand you . Cool, yeah. But you're in fear. And you're in scarcity. So I get that. I understand that. I don't agree with it. But like, I can still have love for you. Yeah, maybe your friends. You know, yeah. This is not a vibration. I want to hang around. But I can still have love for you to hold that personally.
Yeah, yeah. It's like having that compassion understanding. But that doesn't mean enabling or agreement. It's really compassion understanding frees you exactly it's for yourself, it frees yourself and if you're an empath, you're sensitive to that energy Anyway, you don't need to be hold that stuff. It is it is detrimental to your vibration, and what you got to go. Let it go. Let it go. Yes, love that. Okay, so this has been great. Thank you. Is there anything else on your heart that's coming up that you want to share that we didn't cover?
Let's see what the guides have to say.
The first thing that's coming up is authenticity. like letting yourself just be you surrender to who you are. Stop trying to be someone else. The version of someone else you think it's about especially in spirituality. You trying to get to a place where you know where you think we are At or where you think someone else is at or whatever, look inside, like what resonates with you what feels good to you. And be authentic to that first. Because as you do that you will discover parts of yourself that will attract the mentors that you need will attract the information that you need the perspective that you need to help you grow in the direction you're meant to go. And let go of the expectations of how you think you're supposed to be, or how you think here's what's going to make you happy. And let yourself let that come in, lean into that Yin energy. And let the I believe that again, energy is actually the strongest energy, not the, like, feminine energy they call feminine energy is the receiving energy. And if life is meant to be abundant, you want things to come in. And when we're in the do energy all the time, and we're push and force and make and do like that, that seems to be more value to society, but it's not the stronger option. It's kind of like one of my friends said to me one time she goes, man cannot seduce me. She just said it out of the blue. And I was like, What the fuck does that mean? She's like, a man cannot seduce me, in my feminine energy, I can pull things to me. And I can change people's minds, I can magnetize things in my way. I can manipulate like not I mean, we're not trying to do that. But you know, I mean, like, there's so much power in in being that we don't acknowledge. And we don't let come in when when we're introspective. When we let stuff come inward, instead of having to push outward all the time in our society values, the other energy, the push, the force, the move. And in that we feel like we're not enough, we're not doing enough, we're not productive enough. We're not successful enough. And we forget that we can actually relax. let ourselves be authentic to us feel what feels good to us, and let something even greater come in.
Oh, that was incredible. And so interesting that that's what came up because what you just said was a perfect summary of all of the like epiphanies and areas that I've been really focusing on growing. And this year, and especially authenticity has really been coming up for me is something I want to continue stepping more and more into and letting go of the idea of who I'm supposed to be and how I'm supposed to do things. And just even with my business, like, I feel like, you know, when I started it, I was obsessed with, oh, this person did this strategy. And they made a million dollars, like, Yeah, do what they did. And it's like, no, like, if you be yourself and do what feels good for you and allow yourself to receive, like, everything you want, and more and better will come to you and I agree that energy, that feminine energy of being in that receptive state is so much more powerful. And it's like that's, that's what being magnetic is like that energy literally makes you a magnet and you can allow things to come to you rather than you have to go get a cake, I guess doo doo doo doo. It's like, let's like, chill. And then it will it will come to us. Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Thank you so much. This was amazing. Where can we find you hang out with you? What do you have going on right now that you want to share with you can hang out with me on my podcast, spiritual shit on all major platforms. And then you can find me on my website, my Instagram, Patreon, Twitter at the lovelyalea
Amazing. Thank you. And yeah, for those of you listening, thank you so much for being here. If this episode resonated with you, please screenshot it and tag us both on Instagram. We'd love to hear about your breakthroughs and what came through for you. And yeah, if you haven't left a review yet, it would mean the world to me if you would hit subscribe and leave review I would so appreciate you. But thank you so much, Allah for being here. This was wonderful.
Thank you so much. It was my pleasure.
I'm so grateful for you listening today. If this resonated with you, it would mean the world to me if you'd hit subscribe and then leave a review on iTunes and everybody is invited to the after party, which takes place every day on Instagram, I medically you so come hang out with us there. And if you're really fired up about mindset, spiritual and personal development, head to magnetically your.com to check out all the fun stuff I have going on there like my coaching, and my courses, free workshops, all the good stuff and I will see you on the next episode.
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Birth Injury Case Alleging Erb's Palsy Dismissed for Failure to Meet Statute of Limitations
The Seventh Circuit United States Court of Appeals recently released an opinion in which it affirmed the dismissal of a case filed by the mother of an alleged birth injury victim who claims her daughter was born with an arm injury and developed Erb’s Palsy as a result of medical negligence surrounding the care leading up to the child’s birth. The appellate court agreed that the plaintiff’s initial filing of a lawsuit against the defendant in state court was not made soon enough, and that her lawsuit is now forbidden by the two-year statute of limitations that controls the woman’s ability to sue over the claim.
After Several Prenatal Appointments, Medical Providers Failed to Notice and Account for the Abnormally Large Fetus
At the time the plaintiff in the case of Blanche v. The United States arrived at the defendant hospital, suffering from abdominal pain and suspecting she was going into labor, she had previously gone to an affiliated health center for a total of 12 prenatal visits throughout her pregnancy. Upon her arrival at the hospital, labor was induced. Although the child suffered from macrosomia and was unusually large, a natural delivery was attempted. According to the court’s opinion, the baby became stuck during the labor, and additional maneuvers were required to complete the delivery. The baby was born more than 24 hours after the plaintiff arrived at the hospital.
The Newborn Suffered from a Shoulder Injury, Later Developing Erb’s Palsy
After her child was born, the plaintiff did not see her child until she was in the intensive care unit with her arm in a splint, being treated for a shoulder or arm injury. The doctor who delivered the child at some point apologized to the plaintiff for how the delivery occurred, and she eventually returned home with the child’s arm in a splint. According to the case that was later filed, the child allegedly developed brachial plexus palsy, or Erb’s Palsy, from the difficult birth.
Erb’s Palsy occurs when the upper nerves in the brachial plexus, which connect the neck and shoulders to the arms and hands, become stretched or damaged during a difficult delivery. Such a diagnosis can lead to permanent loss of feeling and mobility in the hands, fingers, and arms.
The Plaintiff Files a Birth Injury Lawsuit, But It’s Too Late
Over two years after the child was born, the plaintiff contacted an attorney to sue the defendant for negligently allowing her child’s birth injury to occur. The plaintiff claimed that she did not initially know that the injuries suffered by her child during labor would be permanent, and she did not previously intend to seek compensation for the injuries until she realized the seriousness of the injuries. Since the defendant was being sued in its capacity as a federal provider of health care under the United States Health Service, the procedures for suing the federal government are outlined in the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Federal Tort Claims Act has a two-year statute of limitations that forbids any lawsuit from being filed after two years from the date that the claim accrued or the plaintiff should have known so. Since the plaintiff’s claim was filed after this deadline, her suit was dismissed, and she was forced to appeal
Appellate Court Agrees That the Statute of Limitations Applies
On appeal, the plaintiff argued that she did not know that the injuries to the child were as serious or permanent as they were until she filed the suit, and that the statute of limitations should not apply until she had such knowledge. Applying the standard that controls both federal and Maryland birth injury cases, the court found that the plaintiff should have known that she may have had a birth injury claim after she had a difficult and delayed birth of a child weighing over 11 pounds, who was taken directly to the intensive care unit after delivery and returned home in an arm splint. Based on these findings, the appellate court ruled that the plaintiff knew or should have known of her right to a claim against the defendant at a time near the birth of the child, and the over two-year wait before filing the birth injury lawsuit could not be excused. As a result of this ruling, the plaintiff and her permanently disabled child will not receive compensation for the birth injury.
Are You a Victim of Medical Malpractice?
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a birth injury, consult a skilled and qualified Maryland birth injury attorney as soon as you feel that something may have gone wrong. The experienced Maryland and Washington, D.C. birth injury and medical malpractice attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman & Offutt have decades of experience handling complex birth injury and malpractice cases, and we know how to vigorously pursue compensation for our clients, whether it is against a private hospital or a government-funded program. We will take your claim seriously and fight for the damages that you deserve. We focus our practice on birth injuries and medical malpractice, and we represent victims nationwide. Contact the Maryland and Washington, D.C. birth injury attorneys at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman & Offutt today. Call us at (410) 567-0800 or contact us through our website to schedule a risk-free consultation.
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Perceptions of racial unfairness drives opposition to federal spending
To Moon and back: AAD leads 30 years of plankton surveys in Southern Ocean 14 January 2021
Government launches new headspace centre in Batemans Bay
Data hiding: Using stealth to preserve content quality
Local school publishes favourite lockdown recipes
Staying safe around water
Gracemere’s paradise to get even better
Ms Leanne Cunnold appointed CEO of Remote Operations and Space Technology Consortium, AROSE
New apprentices join Parks and Gardens team
Are you fire ready?
January 15, 2020 11:52 pm AEDTDate Time
Skeletal Remains Found in Ridgefield May Be Revolutionary War Soldiers
Elic Weitzel, a doctoral student in anthropology, shows a cannonball from the American Revolution still lodged in a wall of the Keeler Tavern in Ridgefield, Connecticut. The tavern was fired upon in the Battle of Ridgefield. (Photo by Mike Enright/UConn)
A trip to Ridgefield, nestled along the New York border, is a journey back in time, with its picture-perfect array of historic buildings, homes, and greens. And no historic event is more important to this Fairfield County town than the Battle of Ridgefield during the American Revolution in April of 1777.
The events of that battle are still evident here in town, sometimes quite literally, as with the British cannonball lodged into a corner post of the Keeler Tavern Museum on Main Street. And recently, a team of researchers from UConn assisted in a discovery that could have direct ties to that battle: the discovery of human skeletal remains that might have belonged to participants in the conflict.
Discovered when a construction company was digging into the dirt floor of a home here that dates back to the 1790s, the remains were excavated by a team that includes two UConn doctoral students and adjunct professor of anthropology Nick Bellantoni, who serves as Connecticut state archeologist and who retired from a full-time faculty position at UConn in 2014. Now, the remains will be studied and examined to try and determine whether they were casualties of the Revolutionary battle, and possibly whether they were American or British.
A historical marker for the Battle of Ridgefield along Main Street. (UConn Photo/Mike Enright)
“Fortunately, the contractor recognized these are human and called the Ridgefield police,” says Bellantoni. “They secured the site and contacted the State Medical Examiner. The first concern in a case like this is whether this deals with a modern criminal investigation. When the medical examiners and forensic anthropologists determined these were older bones, I was contacted as the State Archeologist.”
After the discovery of the first skeleton, another was discovered about 15 feet away, and now a total of four have been found.
“The first thing we ask about human remains is if they can be left alone, but that is difficult in this case because of the construction activity,” said Bellantoni. “They would have been crushed. So, our immediate procedure was to do field excavations and have them removed in a professional and respectful way.”
Bellantoni brought UConn anthropology graduate students Megan Willison and Elic Weitzel into the effort to excavate the remains. This work is a very slow and deliberate process, which required a great deal of patience and care.
“Once we got the entire individual exposed, we photographed them and drew maps,” says Weitzel. “We took measurements of them while they were still in the ground and then very slowly began to uncover each bone using wooden and bamboo tools. Metal tools are too sharp, because they will scratch bone. After all this time, bone can be pretty degraded and weathered. We would slowly move the sediment away from the bones before removing them.”
Bellantoni compares the process to a dentist removing tartar from the teeth of a patient.
“These excavations were very difficult, one of the hardest digs I have ever had,” says Bellantoni. “These bones were laid in a very compact loam soil with pockets of clay. We needed to remove the soil in a way that was going to ensure as full a recovery as possible.
“The UConn students were just terrific. It was painstaking and took us over month, but we could not do it any quicker.”
Now that the bones have been fully removed from the ground, a multidisciplinary group of scientists from all over the country, including some at UConn, will attempt to find out as much about them as possible. A diagnostic image that produced a 3-D image will be taken of each bone.
“We would like to figure out who these people were and what their life histories were,” says Bellantoni. “We might even be lucky enough to get to the point to be able to identify some of them in terms of actual family names.”
Another help in the identification process will be the examination of about 30 clothing buttons that were discovered with the bones.
Taking place mostly on April 27, 1777, the Battle of Ridgefield involved a force of about 700 soldiers of the Continental Army and local militias fighting British troops returning from a successful raid on a patriot supply depot in Danbury. Most of the fighting occurred at a barricade in the center of town erected by American troops under the command of Gen. Benedict Arnold, who distinguished himself with his bravery during the battle. Ironically, Arnold would also be a participant in another famous Revolutionary War engagement in Connecticut, the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781 – as the leader of British forces.
During the excavation process in Ridgefield, there was always respect for the people whose bones were discovered, the researchers emphasize.
“You want to keep things as intact as possible to preserve their integrity,” says Willison.
“These are people who died and, in this case, seemingly during the Battle of Ridgefield, so we were always thinking about who they were, where they were coming from and what they were doing,” says Weitzel.
The full scientific study of the bones will take approximately one year, and it is not known exactly how much can be found out about them.
“When I got there, I knew these could be soldiers, either British or American,” says Bellantoni. “As we kept working, we really became aware of the historical significance going on. We still aren’t 100 percent sure, but with the burials being haphazard, there were no coffins, and the discovery of buttons that appear to have come from uniforms, we have a good hypothesis. These were bodies of robust young men, the bones aren’t from women and children like you would see in a family burial ground.”
As in all cases when human remains are excavated in Connecticut, there will be a reburial following the scientific investigation.
Bellantoni said that family members would be contacted if possible and if it is determined that they died in battle, the reburials would include full military honors.
“This was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Willison. “I hadn’t had any experience excavating skeleton remains before and it was wonderful opportunity to be part of it because of the history.”
Tags:america, american, Arnold, British, Connecticut, Fairfield, Human, import, military, New York, police, Professor, research, study, university, University of Connecticut, York
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Final Salinas regional soccer complex deal…
Final Salinas regional soccer complex deal signed, fundraising efforts to ramp up
By Jim Johnson | jjohnson@montereyherald.com | Monterey Herald
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2018 at 12:00 a.m. | UPDATED: September 11, 2018 at 12:00 a.m.
Salinas >> A decade in the works, a Salinas regional soccer complex proposal is finally ready for a capital fundraising effort.
Last week, the Board of Supervisors approved a final agreement between the county and the city of Salinas for the Constitution Boulevard soccer complex site, clearing the way for the nonprofit Regional Sports Authority to begin raising money for the project.
The deal calls for the county to lease the site across from Natividad Medical Center to the city for $1 a year for up to 90 years in exchange for the county’s 99-year lease from the city of a West Alisal Street lot currently used for a temporary homeless shelter. It also calls for the fields to remain “accessible and affordable to the community,” and that the county and city both have representation on a future governing board. The soccer complex site would be subleased to the sports authority, which would oversee the facility’s construction and operations.
The authority, led by President Warren Wayland, has promised to cover the estimated $5 million cost of the first phase of the project, which calls for adding nine to 10 soccer fields at the 42-acre county-owned site adjacent to an existing 26-acre soccer field site. The organization, which helped spearhead similar fundraising efforts for the Rabobank Stadium in Salinas, is also charged with raising an additional $12 million to $15 million for a second phase of the project aimed at adding a 2,000-seat artificial turf stadium.
Supervisor Luis Alejo, who has backed the long-stalled project since taking office last year, and Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter celebrated the critical milestone for the project they called a major community benefit in the effort to keep kids active and engaged, especially with the spectre of gang violence.
“These soccer fields are something that our community and families can really rally behind and raise needed funding for,” Alejo said. “There is currently a shortage of parks and soccer fields in Salinas and I don’t think our children and youth should have to struggle just to find a place to play a great game of soccer. These future soccer fields will keep our youth busy after school, ensure they are exercising, facilitate mentorship through their coaches and bring families out to support their children.
“With the gun violence that continues taking the lives of our local youth and with these new soccer fields, we can soon proclaim that nothing stops a bullet like a game of soccer.”
Gunter called the complex a “huge asset for the community” and praised the completion of the long-delayed agreement.
“Finally, we’re headed in the right direction,” he said. “This is a great time.”
The complex is expected to be a regional draw and be able to host soccer tournaments for participants from across the state and even the Western U.S., providing an economic boost to the area.
Proposed in 2008, the complex project was the subject of a five-year agreement between the county and city in 2010, and a lease agreement was poised for approval in 2014 before the county backed off and asked for more details. A lawsuit involving environmental impact issues was also resolved.
Meanwhile, Alejo and county staff are in talks with Gunter and other city officials regarding a potential BMX bike track and skate park on county-owned land at nearby 855 East Laurel Drive known as the Laurel Yard, as well as a sidewalk headed east along Laurel Drive. City staff is currently conducting a recreational needs survey expected to be complete by May or June.
Gunter said there is potential for the proposed recreational amenities and noted the area’s proximity to Carr Lake and the Big Sur Land Trust’s parkland, open space and wetlands restoration project. But he said the soccer complex will get first priority.
Jim Johnson can be reached at 831-726-4348.
Jim Johnson | Reporter
Jim Johnson covers Monterey County government and water issues for the Monterey Herald.
jjohnson@montereyherald.com
Follow Jim Johnson @JimJohnson_MCH
Former Monterey Herald writer fondly remembered
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Movie review: October Baby
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Run Time: 1 hour 47 minutes, Rated PG-13
Starring: Rachel Hendrix, Jason Burkey, John Schneider, Jasmine Guy
Directed by Andrew & Jon Erwin (feature film debut)
In October Baby, a college freshman has her entire world up-ended when hearing some startling news from the only parents that she’s ever known. Hannah’s epilepsy, asthma, and entire slew of medical difficulties are due to the fact that she was adopted, after surviving a failed abortion attempt by her birth-mother.
At best, October Baby is a deeply religious, pro-life coming-of-age story. At worst, it is a right-wing propaganda film detailing the evils of abortion. It acts as a vehicle for a thinly-veiled Christian message of faith and forgiveness that may only appeal to those who already have found religion, or share in the anti-abortion belief. But politics aside, October Baby is laborious, heavy-handed and schmaltzy filmmaking. In this particular case, hate the messenger, not the message. Or if hating isn’t your thing, feel free to forgive.
It is appalling that this film earned a PG-13 rating – surely for the mere fact that abortion is one of the film’s topics- as it is by far one of the most cleanly unrealistic and wholesome teenage movies I’ve seen in quite some time, if not ever. When Hannah goes on a road trip with her friends to get away, a college-age couple sleeps in separate rooms. When Hannah even begins to have a sexual thought about her long-time friend Jason, she has to stop and run out of the room…for fear of what? And I know that Christians swear, but you won’t find even a simple “gosh darn” in this one.
The musical score and soundtrack doesn’t help things by bashing you over the head, orchestrating every emotion. Each shot is slick and clean, with barely a ruffle of the camera. For getting more and more used to movies that shake the hand-held camera to create a raw sense of realism, this film creates the opposite. It is as pure as its Christian inhabitants.
The news of Hannah’s origin sends her on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. In the end, she is able to find solace by following the teachings of the Bible, where the truth shall set you free, and one must forgive thy neighbor.
An entire road-trip sequence featuring a duo of un-funny nerds seems like a different – and worse- movie altogether. It is shoe-horned into this dramatic film for no real reason other than to give left-wingers another reason to make fun of the stiff and dorky right.
Once again, there is nothing wrong with delivering such a strong religious message, and in many ways October Babyis a courageous voice in what is a sea of left-wing Hollywood liberals used to thumbing their noses at movies such as this. The movie itself is just not done very well. To use another worn-out clichéd phrase, October Baby is preaching to the choir. It may have been a much more effective film if it had attempted to spread its word outside of those that needed not convincing.
By far the best part of the film is the performance of Hannah, played by the bright up-and-coming talent, Rachel Hendrix. Some of her scenes were over-acted, and may have been more appropriate for a TV movie, but she has star power and possesses an on-camera charisma that kept me watching until the end. In a lesser actor’s hands, I may have pulled the plug on October Baby much earlier.
See October Baby to fortify your beliefs on abortion and on God, but don’t go in expecting a drama dealing with real life issues, even though the film claims to confront them.
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Public Health & Policy > FDA General
FDA Panel: Thumbs Down for Cangrelor
by Charles Bankhead, Senior Editor, MedPage Today February 12, 2014
This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today and:
WASHINGTON -- An FDA advisory committee recommended against approval of the antiplatelet agent cangrelor for indications related to percutaneous coronary intervention and interrupted antiplatelet therapy.
The Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee (CRDAC) voted 2-7 against cangrelor for prevention of thrombotic events associated with coronary stenting and 0-9 for use of the drug in patients whose existing antiplatelet therapy is interrupted for surgery.
In the background information provided in advance of the CRDAC meeting, the FDA's Thomas Marciniak, MD, found data from supporting clinical trials unconvincing and recommended against approval for both indications until flaws in the trials had been corrected to the FDA's satisfaction.
In contrast, the FDA's Fred Senatore, MD, PhD, found merit in the Medicines Company's bid for approval of cangrelor to prevent thrombotic events and voted in favor of approval but was not satisfied with supporting information for the bridge indication and called on the company to address questions about the data in more detail.
Committee member Stuart Rich, MD, of the University of Chicago, offered a broad-brush summary of concerns about the PCI indication.
"Against the background of two failed trials and with all of the issues at almost every aspect of the trials, starting from design, oversight, DSMB (data/safety monitoring board), how they counted efficacy, how they counted safety -- it just left me with more uncertainty (and) I couldn't defend the risk/benefit," said Rich.
On the other hand, Milton Packer, MD, expressed some conflicted sentiment.
"I really wanted to vote Yes," said Packer, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "The concept behind this drug was so intuitively appealing. The concept of an antiplatelet drug and the minute you turn it on, it works, and the minute you turn it off, it stops. To the extent that you want to inhibit platelets, that sounds really cool.
"The problem that I have is that if that were the basis for approving drugs, then we would always approve drugs based on surrogates. We would approve drugs on the basis of what we think they ought to do."
The company did a good job of relieving some of his discomfort, Packer added, but so much discomfort remained about trial design, methods, and definitions that he could not recommend approval.
The company also sought approval of cangrelor for patients who were at increased risk of thrombotic events when existing antiplatelet therapy was interrupted for surgery. Committee members were unanimous in their belief that the evidence did not support a favorable recommendation, citing many of the same concerns that led to the negative recommendation for the PCI indication.
Cangrelor is a member of the P2Y12 inhibitor class of antiplatelet agents, which also includes clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), and ticagrelor (Brilinta).
From the American Heart Association:
International Stroke Conference 2014:
Charles Bankhead is senior editor for oncology and also covers urology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. He joined MedPage Today in 2007. Follow
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"Moderate" Muslims Versus American-Muslims [incl. Ingrid Mattson]
by Supna Zaidi
Muslim World Today
https://www.meforum.org/campus-watch/14572/moderate-muslims-versus-american-muslims-incl
With the inclusion of Ingrid Mattson, President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), in the national prayer service obscure - need to indicate part of presidential inauguration this week, it seems it is again time to re-evaluate America's desire to forge alliances with "moderate" Muslims.
Various news sources report need link that Mattson's invitation raised criticism due to ISNA's alleged connections to terrorism. It is a fact that ISNA is a listed un-indicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorist financing case and one of a number of "individuals/entities who are and/or were members of the US Muslim Brotherhood."
Yet, defenders of Ingrid Mattson, like Mark Pelavin, director of inter-religious affairs for the Union for Reform Judaism has called Mattson "a really important voice denouncing terrorism."
In a Fox News article, Palavin states, "Clearly, Dr. Mattson has been welcome throughout the government," he said. "I haven't found anyone anywhere who's found anything Dr. Mattson has said that's anything other than clearly denouncing terrorism in quite explicit Islamic terms."
By definition terrorism simply refers to the use of violence to achieve a political end. It includes no evaluation, let alone criticism of the political end desired. This is the real issue both the media and individuals like Pelavin have overlooked.
Islamist organizations like ISNA, are described as such not because they explicitly defend terrorism, recruit or fundraise for jihadis (though ISNA has allegedly done the latter), but because they prescribe to the same ideology that jihadis do - Islamism. The "war on terror" is an ideological conflict that the anti-western Islamist movement has initiated by positioning itself as a totalitarian system that does not want to co-exist with capitalism.
Today, the Islamist movement is an internally conflicted movement, where one side seeks to further the violence initiated by men like Osama bin Laden. While non-violent Islamists prefer to work legally through existing social and political institutions, civic engagement and lobbying to further the Islamist cause. This is in line with the teachings of the Muslim Student Association as well. ISNA was founded in 1981 by the Muslim Student's Association of the U.S. and Canada. The MSA is a Muslim Brotherhood creation meant to recruit Muslim youth to Islamism. As one past member stated:
"We are told America's foreign policy is based on racist neo-imperialism; we are taught that national security is a foul epithet to be reviled; we are told the Jews and Israel are to blame for the hatred against us". Moreover, ISNA co-founder and convicted terrorist Sami Al-Arian acknowledges that he was a Muslim Brotherhood member in 1981.
It is shocking that the U.S. government continues to embrace ISNA despite a 1991 memorandum made available through discovery in the first HLF case that lists ISNA among a list of Islamist organizations supporting the Muslim Brotherhood's agenda in the US. (see a copy of the memorandum here. The English translation starts on page 15), whose motto remains: It's remains: "Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope."
If that isn't enough, consider terrorist expert Steven Emerson's commentary on ISNA:
"a radical group hiding under a false veneer of moderation"; "convenes annual conferences where Islamist militants have been given a platform to incite violence and promote hatred" (for instance, al Qaeda supporter and PLO official Yusuf Al-Qaradawi was invited to speak at an ISNA conference); has held fundraisers for terrorists (after Hamas leader Mousa Marzook was arrested and eventually deported in 1997, ISNA raised money for his defense); has condemned the U.S. government's post-9/11 seizure of Hamas' and Palestinian Islamic Jihad's financial assets; and publishes a bi-monthly magazine, Islamic Horizons, that "often champions militant Islamist doctrine."
ISNA has learned to tone down the violent rhetoric and Mattson's rise in the Islamist ranks might be intentional effort to add sophistication to its backwards ideology. As a female, white convert to Islam, ISNA looks almost progressive. Mattson became Vice-President of ISNA in 2001. The year of her initial participation with ISNA or other Islamist organizations is unknown.
Mattson's likely affinity towards Islamism is very likely considering the history of ISNA and some of her own statements. Like all Islamists, Mattson blames the West for the problems in the Muslim world today. Note her response to the following question during an interview with CNN: link needed
"CHAT PARTICIPANT: At what point in history, if known, did the Islamic nation turn from a philosophical and educated state comparable to the Greeks to the now third world state it is in?
MATTSON: Well, the decline began with the colonization of the Muslim world by European powers. One of the first things the colonialists did was to dismantle the institutions of what we could call civil society. The Muslim world has until now not recovered from that dismemberment of its society".
And like other Islamists, Mattson prefers that Muslims live under Islamic law. She states in her work, "Stopping Oppression: An Islamic Obligation:"
"Before colonialism, authority was acquired by religious leaders in a much more subtle process, and religious leaders who advocated extreme hostility or aggression against the state were usually marginalized. After all, most Muslims did not want to be led into revolution, they simply wanted their lives to be better. In general, the most successful religious leaders were those who, in addition to serving the spiritual needs of the community, were able to moderate how state power was exercised on ordinary people, and in some sense, acted as intermediaries between the people and state." (emphasis added)
In the same article Mattson paints a picture of men like Osama bin Laden as charismatic revolutionaries who win the support of the oppressed masses. She argues that because oppressed masses have no one else to turn to, charismatic leaders like bin Laden become popular regardless of how unfounded their violent interpretations of Islam are. Again it is only the strategy of Islamists that Mattson objects to, not their grievances against the West or their end goal of changing US foreign policy to favor Islamist interests abroad.
In 2005, ISNA chose not to participate in the May 14 "Free Muslims March Against Terror," an event that supported the end to terrorism. ISNA has been accused of supporting Hamas and was investigated by US law enforcement for possible terrorist connections. Its tax records were requested in December 2003 by the Senate Finance Committee. U.S. Senators Charles Grassley and Max Baucus of the Senate Committee on Finance listed ISNA as one of 25 American Muslim organizations that "finance terrorism and perpetuate violence."
There is no reason either Ingrid Mattson, or ISNA should have been the representative face of Islam at the national prayer service inaugurating President Obama's first days in office. As the President of ISNA in the United States and Canada, Mattson is responsible for the activities and statements of the organization. Under her watch, ISNA Canada invited a terrorist with Jamaat Islami connections to speak at their conference in 2008, and has featured Tariq Ramadan as a speaker, an Islamist who has been refused entry into the US.
Her presence challenges today's definition of what the elusive, yet desired "moderate" Muslim should look like. American-Muslims who do not politicize their faith, respect individuals of all other faiths or not faith at all are the real Americans. Muslims who defend the secular principles that unite American men and women on an equal footing are the individuals US. agencies should seek out. They do exist. Consider: Zuhdi Jasser, Stephen Schwartz, and Sheikh Kabbani.
Otherwise, we will continue to lose in this war on terror by relying on Americans whose loyalties lie elsewhere.
(Supna Zaidi is editor-in-chief of Muslim World Today and asst director of Islamist Watch at the Middle East Forum)
Related Topics: Hartford Seminary | Supna Zaidi receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free mef mailing list
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