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Friday, 16 March 2012 15:06 administrator
Literacy and Learning
Dorothy Williams
inchapter, Dorothy Williams explores important new understandings and ideas about information literacy and other literacies of relevance to learning in higher education. Arguing that the information process and the learning process are closely intertwined, she identifies information literacy as a meta-competency that in the networked environment encompasses other literacies such as media literacy, digital literacy and e-literacy. She notes the increasing emphasis, in emerging definitions of information literacy, not only on information sources and searching but also on higher-order capabilities relating to information use in knowledge creation and sharing, and she suggests that there are implications here for the design of information literacy programmes. At the same time she suggests a need to develop new pedagogical approaches — in particular, approaches that engage closely with learners' personal experiences and conceptions of information seeking and use in specific contexts, and encourage critical reflection on differing approaches and perspectives. This in turn suggests a redefinition of the librarian's role as information literacy educator, with a shift away from direct instruction towards a key role in facilitating the dialogical interactions between learner and tutor, and among learners, that are at the heart of constructivist and relational conceptions of learning and teaching.
The ability to find, critically evaluate and use information meaningfully in response to need has long been recognized as central to learning and decision-making. The library and information profession has consistently argued for its significance in relation to a wide range of learning theorie: and educational concepts in the English-speaking world over many year: — independent learning, resource-based learning, problem-based learning and critical thinking, to name but a few. It is argued that schools, college: and universities need to ensure learners develop confidence ir information handling to equip them to make decisions and cope with change throughout life, as active critical citizens, life-long learners and evidence-based practitioners.
By the last decade of the 20th century the term 'information literacy', initially coined in the 1970s (Carbo, 1997), had become widely used in the library and information profession to denote the ability to search for, evaluate and use information. Yet it could be said that there have been as many attempts to define the precise nature of information literacy as there have been learning theories. Indeed it is often difficult to distinguish between what might be seen as a description of the information process and as a description of the learning process. In recent years, not only have there been fresh attempts to examine the nature of information literacy, but we have also seen recognition of other literacies considered relevant to learning in a modern information age, with concepts such as media literacy, digital literacy and e-literacy.
Ongoing attempts to define the nature of the knowledge and skills needed to learn effectively through information can be interpreted in a number of ways. It may be simply a sign of healthy questioning and debate to ensure that the concept of information literacy stays current and information literacy programmes remain relevant in the light of changing technologies. On the other hand it might be seen as a mark of uncertainty, confusion and possibly lack of confidence in the notion that there is a distinctive information literacy that can somehow be separated from other literacies or from the overall learning and decision-making processes. Do the traditional descriptions of information literacy remain relevant to modern learning environments? What do today's learners think about information literacy? What messages do research findings hold for those trying to provide effective support for learners?
This chapter will examine the nature of information and other literacies in a changing educational environment; the growing critique of traditional conceptions of information literacy; and the implications of
new perspectives for educational practice.
Information and other literacies
The evolution of information literacy from a library skills, user education or bibliographic instruction background has been well documented elsewhere (e.g. Eisenberg et al., 2004; Rader, 1999, 2000). In terms of its relevance to a modern and changing learning environment, it is interesting to reflect on this heritage, which may be seen as both a weakness and a strength. For example, information literacy inherits the criticism of being concerned, at least in part, with bibliographic processes which some might argue are not relevant to modern e-learning environments. However, it also means that information literacy has emerged from a tradition and debate which focuses on the process of finding and using information in any environment, rather than placing emphasis on the use of particular media.
Thus information literacy is usually defined in relation to the active process of finding and using information in relation to need or purpose: 'To be information literate, a person needs to be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information' (American Library Association, 1989). Doyle (1994) takes this definition further, expressing information literacy as a set of more specific attributes; an information-literate person:
• recognizes the need for information
• recognizes that accurate and complete information is the basis for intelligent decision making
• identifies potential sources of information
• develops successful search strategies
• accesses sources of information, including computer-based and other
• evaluates information
• organizes information for practical application
• integrates new information into an existing body of knowledge
• uses information in critical thinking and problem-solving.
Models and standards developed over the years — such as the Big6 Skills Information problem-solving model (Eisenberg and Berkowitz, 2001), Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Standards for Higher Education (ACRL, 2000), and the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework (Bundy, 2004) — all clearly signal that information literacy transcends any particular medium or format, and is equally applicable to print, electronic and people-based information sources. Information literacy programmes should, in theory, reflect the more transferable elements of information process and information content rather than the technology itself. Thus, modern descriptions of information literacy appear to be as relevant to learning in 21st-century networked online learning environments as to traditional print-based environments. Indeed, Shapiro and Hughes (1996) go further in arguing that information literacy is of such fundamental importance in a modern society that it should be conceived of more broadly, as
a new liberal art that extends from knowing how to use computers and access information to critical reflection on the nature of information itself, its technical infrastructure, and its social, cultural and even philosophical context and impact — as essential to the mental framework of the educated information-age citizen as the trivium of basic liberal arts (grammar, logic and rhetoric) was to the educated person in medieval society.
(Shapiro and Hughes, 1996)
There have been many attempts to define and characterize information literacy over the years. Nevertheless, it should be of some reassurance to practitioners that there has been a remarkable consistency between the various frameworks that have emerged across different sectors. The elements of identifying and defining need, locating and selecting sources, selecting and extracting information, organizing and synthesizing information, presenting and communicating information, and evaluating the process and outcome, are reflected to a greater or lesser extent in models reflecting research in schools over the last 25 years — for example Marland's nine questions (1981), Irving's information skills model (1985), Kuhlthau's information seeking (1993), and the American Association of School Librarians' (AASL) information literacy standards for student learning (1998). Eisenberg et al. demonstrate this clearly in their comparative breakdown of the key elements of some of these models (Eisenberg et al., 2004, 40—1). The same information process elements are reflected in higher education (HE) models such as the ACRL's standards for the information-literate student (ACRL, 2000), the recently revised Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework (Bundy, 2004), and the Seven Pillars Model (Society of College, National and University Libraries, 1999) which identifies the skills areas as: :, ,
• the ability to recognize a need for information
• the ability to distinguish ways in which the information 'gap' may be addressed
• the ability to construct strategies for locating information
• the ability to locate and access information
• the ability to compare and evaluate information obtained from different sources
• the ability to organize, apply and communicate information to others in ways appropriate to the situation
• the ability to synthesize and build upon existing information, contributing to the creation of new knowledge.
While maintaining this element of consistency, the concept of information literacy has evolved to take account of the emerging social challenges and opportunities of ICT and, in particular, the internet. Thus the need for ethical and responsible use of information is enshrined in more recent definitions of information literacy such as that ofWebber and Johnston (2004): 'the adoption of appropriate information behaviour to obtain, through whatever channel or medium, information well fitted to information needs, together with critical awareness of the importance of
•wise and ethical use of information in society'. One of the six standards in the new Australian and New Zealand information literacy framework
mafrukhi - Literacy and Learning |2012-04-23 07:52:42
mafrukhi |2012-04-23 07:54:14
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Common Leaders' Day >
CLD Information
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Student CHOGM Registration
Join the event team
Commonwealth Campaign
PR: CYNZ congratulates New Zealand's 2016 Queen's Young Leaders
2016 Queen's Young Leader, Brad Olsen, and CYNZ Executive Director and Queen's Young Leader Advisory Panel member, Aaron Hape.
COMMONWEALTH YOUTH NEW ZEALAND
Commonwealth Youth New Zealand Executive Director Aaron Hape today extended the organisation's congratulations to Brad Olsen and Valentino Wichman on being named as Queen's Young Leaders award winners for New Zealand and the Cook Islands respectively in the 2016 round of awards.
Brad, 18, is an advocate for young people. He spent four years on the Whangarei District Council Youth Advisory Group, where he offered advice on policies which affect young people, and is a Youth Ambassador for UNICEF NZ, providing views around children's rights. He has also volunteered with Commonwealth Youth New Zealand, to raise awareness of the Commonwealth. At the age of 17, Brad helped to set up a free healthcare clinic for young people in Whangarei. He also works with the National Youth Advisory Group, advising government departments and NGOs about issues ranging from mental health to education.
Valentino, 28, supports LGBTQI rights in the Cook Islands and is Secretary of the Te Tiara Association. After helping to draft the Cook Islands Youth Policy, she wants to spend the year as a Queen’s Young Leader working with policy makers to bring LGBQTI legislation into line with that of New Zealand and to develop support services for the LGBQTI community in the Cook Islands. In addition Valentino plays a key role in other community groups, including The Cook Islands Prostate Foundation and the Rotaract Club of Rarotonga, which offers young people aged 18 to 30 the chance to make a difference in their neighbourhood.
"I am absolutely thrilled to see the amazing work Brad and Valentino undertake has been rightly recognised by the Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty The Queen," said Mr Hape, who is also a member of the panel that selects Queen's Young Leader award winners.
"Their dedication in taking a lead in their communities and using their skills to transform lives should serve as an inspiration to young people around the Commonwealth, as it did for me when I read their stories."
Winners of this prestigious Award will receive a unique package of training, mentoring and networking, including a one-week residential programme in the United Kingdom during which they will be conferred with their Award by The Queen. With this support, Award winners will be expected to continue and develop the amazing work they are already doing in their communities.
New Zealand's first winner of a Queen's Young Leader award was Tabby Besley. Tabby founded InsideOUT, which aims to make schools more inclusive places for young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
© 2018 Commonwealth Youth New Zealand
info@commonwealthyouth.org.nz
PO Box 10741, Wellington 6143, New Zealand
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Bedford Park Society Install New Information Sign
Giving important historical and architectural details about the first 'garden suburb'
A new sign which gives detailed information about Bedford Park, the first 'garden suburb', has been erected for the benefit of both local people and visitors to Chiswick. The information sign, which has been organised by the Bedford Park Society, is located by St Michael and All Angel's Church and a formal ' handover' will take place later this month.
The sign has been customised in Bedford Park green, with a map of the conservation area , plus notes on the architecture and history and how the Bedford Park Society continues to protect the neighbourhood.
Picture courtesy of David Budworth
Local residents are being invited to attend the formal hand-over of the new information sign at a ceremony which will be held on the triangle of land in front of St Michael and All Angels church hall at 11.00am on June 21st.
The Society’s president, Nigel Woolner and deputy chairman Peter Murray, who jointly masterminded the project, plus Cecilia Powell, daughter of one of the donors, will ask Cllr Steve Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, to accept responsibility for the care and upkeep of the sign. It is hoped that a representative from Ealing Council leader will also attend as the Bedford Park conservation area is split between the two boroughs and the new sign is close to the border between them.
The Society has paid the £12,000 cost of purchase and installation. Funding came from a bequest from its late vice-president and former chairman Leonard Darke, Cecilia Powell's father, and from the trust set up by Tom Greeves, the Society’s late co-founder. Sadly, Tom's widow, Eleanor, is too frail to attend.
The elegant, modern design in metal and enamel, was created by Legible London for historic sites all round the capital. It has been customised in Bedford Park green, with a map of the first garden suburb, plus notes on the architecture and history and how the Society continues to protect the neighbourhood.
Local architect John Scott helped with the design, and it was manufactured by Woodhouse, who make all the Legible London signs.
Peter Murray, commented: “The new sign is located in the heart of the conservation area, by a path used by many local residents and visitors. We hope it will give them all a better understanding of how special and important Bedford Park is.”
The Society's web-site is www.bedfordpark.org.uk
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Posts Tagged ‘Velocity Girl’
More Stars Than There Are In Heaven
Review of Yo La Tengo's Popular Songs
FacebookThere’s a good run of albums, there’s career consistency and then there’s Yo La Tengo. The New Jersey outfit has been turning out full-length gems for almost a quarter-century now, and while some are held in higher regard than others, their consistently high standard has been nothing short of astonishing. And this isn’t a case of a band finding a style they excel in and working on variations of that theme, at least not unless you consider “restless creativity and experimentation in the realms of pop music” to be a single theme. So in sitting down with their twelfth proper album Popular Songs, you would have an excuse to not be surprised by what they have to offer, but none to not be delighted.
2006’s I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass was a welcome dose of energy for those afraid that the two preceding records were finding the band settling into a comfortable, somnambulant zone, bringing back not only the band’s noisier side but also their genre-hopping aesthetic. It wasn’t as many individually sublime moments as their previous highwater mark I Can Hear The Heart Beating As One, but as a collection it was a more than worthy addition to their discography. If this was as good as Yo La Tengo could be 20 years in, then we should consider ourselves lucky. But if Ass was the luck equivalent of finding a $20 bill in the street Popular Songs is like winning the lottery.
Okay, that’s probably overstating it but Songs has a certain something that you didn’t even realize Ass lacked. It’s hard to articulate exactly what that is, but it’s the ineffable quality that distinguishes a classic Yo La record from just a great one. I’ll put it down as a sense of fun. Ass had the sense of the band exploring terrain that they hadn’t visited in a while (and tinged with the sense of looking for a way to stay interested) and that sense of curiosity yielded its own rewards, but now it sounds like they’re comfortable again and are having fun with it. Everything that makes Yo La Tengo wonderful is present in abundance – the quiet, extended meditations (“The Fireside”), the skronky garage pop (“Nothing To Hide”), the gentle folk of “When It’s Dark”, the jazzy grooves (“Periodically Double Or Triple”) – and all points in between. For most bands, it’s probably too much to expect them to turn in one of the best albums of their career after the 20-year mark. Once again Yo La Tengo have defied expectations.
Spinner talks to the band about the secret of their longevity as well as the secrets of their songwriting. Paste also has a feature peice and also gets Ira Kaplan to offer up a recommended listening list.
Yo La Tengo are at the Opera House in Toronto on October 3.
MP3: Yo La Tengo – “Here To Fall”
MP3: Yo La Tengo – “Periodically Double Or Triple”
Video: Yo La Tengo – “When It’s Dark”
Video: Yo La Tengo – “Nothing To Hide”
Video: Yo La Tengo – “Avalon Or Someone Very Similar”
Video: Yo La Tengo – “Periodically Double Or Triple”
Video: Yo La Tengo – “Here To Fall”
MySpace: Yo La Tengo
DCist salutes Velocity Girl’s wonderful Simpatico! record, talking to most of the band about the making of the album. I loved that record. Must put it back into rotation this weekend.
Video: Velocity Girl – “Sorry Again”
Video: Velocity Girl – “I Can’t Stop Smiling”
Decider talks to The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart.
Wye Oak have released a new video from their excellent second album The Knot.
Video: Wye Oak – “Sight, Flight”
Billboard talks to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Robert Been about the live CD/DVD set – creatively titled Live – due out November 10. Their new studio album is targeted for a Spring 2010 release.
The upcoming tour that pairs like-it-loud Asobi Seksu with like-it-low Loney Dear and Anna Ternheim was a bit of a head-scratcher until it was announced that Asobi would be releasing an acoustic album entitled Rewolf November 10, recasting old songs originally done loud in a quieter setting. The Village Voice confirms that the band is taking this setup live, so expect to see them as you’ve never seen them before when they play the Horseshoe on October 14 – no bad thing if you’ve already seen them many times before.
The Flaming Lips’ continues to talk smack about Arcade Fire to The Independent. Embryonic is due out October 13.
The Times Daily checks in with Patterson Hood of Drive-By Truckers. They just released a rarities and b-sides comp entitled The Fine Print last week and will have a new studio album out in February.
Under The Radar mind-melds with Telekinesis.
New Grizzly Bear video.
Video: Grizzly Bear – “While You Wait For The Others”
The endlessly prolific The Fiery Furnaces, whose latest album at the time of this writing is I’m Going Away but may well be something new by the time you read this, will be at the El Mocambo on November 7, tickets $20.
MP3: The Fiery Furnaces – “The End Is Near”
Obviously not ones for verbosity, San Francisco’s buzzy, fuzzy poppy Girls have set a September 22 release date for their debut album Album and Fall touring bring them to the El Mocambo on November 10.
MP3: Girls – “Lust For Life”
Video: Girls – “Lust For Life”
The Quietus talks to Warren Ellis about the second Grinderman album, which should be out sometime next year.
Doves have rolled out a new video from Kingdom Of Rust
Video: Doves – “Winter Hill”
Little Boots recorded a Black Cab Session in Austin during SxSW in March. So THAT’S what the Tenori-On does! And technically, Austin cabs are not uniformly black but that’s neither here nor there. Little Boots plays Wrongbar on Monday night.
Video: Little Boots – “Stuck On Repeat” (live on Black Cab Sessions)
BeatRoute talks to Arctic Monkeys. They’re at the Kool Haus on September 29.
Shanghaiist chats with Handsome Furs.
Blare grabbed an interview with Jay Ferguson of Sloan a couple weeks back at V Fest, where he revealed there were plans to release a new digital EP this Fall and that he’s done with making CDs. Not albums, just CDs. The band also just announced they’ll be playing a free show outside the Air Canada Centre next Wednesday night, September 16, before the Leafs-Bruins pre-season game. This may well be the highlight of the season for Leafs fans.
And speaking of free public shows, that Neil Young performance that was supposed to happen at Yonge-Dundas Square on Monday is off. You can stop lining up now. Why? The Toronto Star, who reported the event in the first place, got a hold of Young and he says he had no idea he was supposed to perform in the first place and was never going to be in town. Hmm. The Jonathan Demme concert film Neil Young Trunk Show is still coming to the Film Festival though, so you can try an line up for that.
Trailer: Neil Young Trunk Show
Pitchfork invites an array of indie-rock luminaries to make “best of” lists for the century so far.
Tags: Arctic Monkeys, Asobi Seksu, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Doves, Drive-By Truckers, Fiery Furnaces, Flaming Lips, Girls, Grinderman, Grizzly Bear, Handsome Furs, Little Boots, Neil Young, Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, Sloan, Telekinesis, Velocity Girl, Wye Oak, Yo La Tengo
Posted in General | 3 Comments »
Fa La La La La La La La La
A Christmas mix
I Can Has Cheezburger?One thing I don’t understand is how all the songs and celebrations about how great Winter is are all tied to Christmas, and as such are over and done with just FOUR DAYS into the season. Leaving those of us in the northern climes, at least, with another three months of utter meteorological desolation and no pop cultural respite. What, I ask you, is up with that?
I’m on holiday for the next week and a half as of this afternoon – my first “Christmas vacation” in many, many years. I’m quite excited. I have big plans. I’m cleaning the apartment. Exciting. And so I’ll leave you with a hodge-podge of Christmas tunes I’ve collected over the years… most of which I’ve posted in years past, but hey – it’s only once a year and I don’t really make a habit of actively seeking out Christmas songs anyway. To be honest, they kinda bug me. Bah, humbug.
Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate, happy statutory holiday to those of you who don’t.
MP3: Neil Halstead – “The Man In The Santa Suit”
MP3: Raveonettes – “Come On Santa”
MP3: Jenn Grant – “O Holy Night”
MP3: Richard Hawley – “Silent Night”
MP3: Cocteau Twins – “Winter Wonderland”
MP3: George & Antony – “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”
MP3: Asobi Seksu – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight)
MP3: Velocity Girl – “Merry X-Mas, I Love You”
MP3: Ivy – “Christmas Time Is Here”
Tags: Antony Hegarty, Asobi Seksu, Boy George, Cocteau Twins, Ivy, Jenn Crant, Neil Halstead, Richard Hawley, Velocity Girl
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Francis "Bud" Mansfield
Born: Fri., Oct. 14, 1927
Died: Wed., Apr. 7, 2010
Francis M. - Bud- Mansfield - On Wednesday, April 7, 2010 our amazingly wonderful father, husband, brother, grandpa and great grandfather said good-bye and passed away peacefully after 82 years of a full and joyous life. Bud was born in Sault Ste. Marie on October 14,1927 to Elmer and Isabelle Mansfield. In December 1948, he married his lovely and fiercely devoted spouse and partner of 62 years, Mary Aldrich. Mary and Bud have eight children, Susan (Paul) Suilivan, Nancy (John) Swart, Barbara (Todd Yaple) Mansfield, Joan (Joe) Claxton, Jeffrey (Carolyn) Mansfield, Judy (Randy) Turner, Michael (Leisa) Mansfield, and Patrick Mansfield. Bud and Mary also have 18 grandchildren ranging in age from 35 to 8. They are Jennifer, Brian, Jeffrey and Caitlin Sullivan, Kate Kempfert, Marty and Molly Yaple, Charlie, Jeffrey, and Annie Claxton, Seth, Luke, Matthew, and Michael Mansfield, Rachel Mender and Andy Castagne, and Emma and Basil Mansfield. In addition, Bud had the joy of welcoming two great grandchildren into the family, Meghan and Brady Sullivan. Bud attended school in Sault, Michigan and was a member of the original class at Sault Branch of Michigan College of Mining and Technology (now LSSU). He was employed for many years in the automobile business, and ended his working career when he retired as the Executive Director of the Sault Area Chamber of Commerce at age 73. Bud''s history of service to his community is long. He was involved for many years with the Sault Board of Education, actively participated in Many roles at Nativity, St. Mary''s and St. Joseph Parishes, a founder and Board member of the Chippewa County Community Foundation, a developer of the Sault Convention and Tourist Bureau, a founder and Board member of the River of History Museum, recipient of many service awards from the city of Sault Ste. Marie, LSSU, VFW, and both the Sault, Michigan and Sault, Ontario Chambers of Commerce. Bud was an active Rotarian and past recipient of the Rotarian of the Year Award, a founder of the Algonquin Ski Trails, and a member of the International Bridge Authority. In addition, Bud authored "The Ashumn Street Philosopher" a bi-weekly column for The Evening News, for many years. Bud enjoyed sunshine, the outdoors, long drives with Mary, good food , boating and reading, watching the freighters on the St. Mary''s River, his dialysis family, and all sports, especially football. He cherished time spent with family, and never tired of visiting and playing with his grandchildren. Although the list of accomplishments is long, Bud''s real contribution to all of us was his kindness, integrity, humility, and loyalty to family and faith above all else, his amazing positive and loving spirit, and his strength in the face of so many physical challenges. There are truly no words to describe the sorrow and loss we feel in his passing. But we also thank God for his life, and we rest peacefully in the knowledge that he is now in the palm of his loving Fathers hand. Surviving Bud and mourning his loss are his wife, Mary, his children and their families, his brother, Wayne (Charlotte), of Sault Ste. Marie, and sister, Barbara (Donald) Smalter of Lawrence, Kansas. A celebration of Bud''s life will begin on Sunday evening, April 11, with visitation at Clark Bailey Newhouse Funeral Home from 4-8pm. A memorial Mass will be offered at 11am Monday, April 12, at St. Joseph Church, followed by a luncheon at in the church hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the War Memorial Hospital Dialysis Unit. Cards of condolence may be sent to Mary and the Family at 300 West Pier Place, #37OD, Sault Ste. Marie. We sincerely thank Bud''s large community of friends far all of your support and love over the years. He loved all of you as much or more than you loved him.
Jim and Diane Curtis
Posted Fri April 09, 2010
Diane and I send our condolences to the Mansfield family. We have you in our thoughts and prayers. When I was in Soo High I would stop by and look at new cars,and Bud was always so nice and pleasent to me. My Dad (Bob) always said to stop and say Hi to Bud for him, too. Sincerley, Jim & Diane
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Speakers Profile - The Leading Men
The only way you can see the stars of Australia's musical theatre is to go to a musical right? Wrong!
Book "The Leading Men" for your next corporate, charity, wedding or private event and your audience will be thrilled and entertained by some of the biggest names in Australian musical theatre! A powerhouse of talent, these 4 charming, charismatic and Award winning performers all played 'leading roles' in Australia's most loved musicals.
If you've been to a musical in Australia in the past 10 years, chances are you've seen one, if not all of them.
The show features one Broadway showstopper after another from the world's most popular musicals including Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Beauty & the Beast, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Guys 'n Dolls, Spamalot, A Chorus Line, Singing in the Rain, Wicked and Hairspray.
Sophistication all the way from their white tuxedo jackets to the red roses on their lapels, the boys have been compared to suave European opera act 'Il Divo". In keeping with that style, one of the highlights of the show is a medley of hits celebrating Australia from "I still call Australia Home" and "Waltzing Matilda" to ACDC's "Long way to the top if you want to Rock and Roll!" and "Working Class Man" by Jimmy Barnes - all in Italian!
Finalists in the "Entertainer of the Year" category at the prestigious "Australian Event Awards" 2011, The Leading Men have performed hundreds of shows for royalty, heads of state and celebrities from all industries and left them all wanting more!
The show can be further enhanced with the inclusion of an elegant, beautiful and equally vocally talented "Leading Lady".
"Brilliant concept....amazing show and as good as anything I've seen in the UK"
Sir Michael Parkinson
"Worth every cent"!
Andrew O'Riordan, Bridges Finance
"They make intelligent, funny, entertaining magic that only seasoned performers pull out of their hats"
Emma Nicholson, Lumley Insurance
"Leading Men" in every sense -- classy, polished, professional and a spectacular way to start our evening"
Belinda Simpson, Raine & Horne
"Australia's best-loved rock songs in Italian -- now that's inspired!"
Marc Christowski, MD Empire Touring
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Home » Missionary » What Every Future Missionary and Their Parents Need to Know by Ed J. Pinegar
What Every Future Missionary and Their Parents Need to Know by Ed J. Pinegar
This entry was posted in Missionary Personal Improvement on May 9, 2016 by Jim Younkin
What Every Future Missionary and Their Parents Need to Know
by Ed J. Pinegar
Be prepared to serve Him.
The Lord has called His laborers to the vineyard for this last great harvest. Youth today are blessed with more opportunities and resources for missionary work than ever before, but there are also many more distractions. This clear and captivating guide helps lay the foundation for future missionaries and their families.
Learn within how to
Be willing and capable of full-time service
Prepare to go through the temple
Live in a new culture, from the MTC to the mission field
Develop relationships and skills
Return and adapt to post-mission life
From deciding to serve to maintaining the vision after the mission, this book assists future missionaries and parents in preparing to hasten the work.
Ed J. Pinegar received a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University (BYU) and a degree in dentistry from the University of Southern California. He is married to Patricia P. Pinegar, a former general president of the LDS Church’s Primary organization, and they are the parents of eight children.
Pinegar has served in the LDS Church as a bishop (twice), the first president of the BYU 20th Stake from 1999 to 2004, a stake patriarch, on the general board of the church’s Young Men organization, as president of the England London South Mission, and as president of the Provo Missionary Training Center (1988–1991). He has also been director of the Orem Institute of Religion, a religion professor at BYU, and a seminary teacher.
Pinegar and his wife also served as a missionaries in the New York Rochester Mission. From 2009 to 2012, Pinegar served as president of the Manti Utah Temple.
Becoming the Bold Missionary
Missionary Questions of the Soul
10 Questions to Answer After Serving a Mission
Missionary Possible
← Book of Mormon Made Easier Boxed Set by David J. Ridges
The Sacred Gift of Childbirth: Making Empowered Choices for You and Your Baby by Marie Bigelow →
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Chemistry News
Scientists Trace 'Poisoning' in Chemical Reactions to the Atomic Scale (Nov. 24, 2016) - Researchers have revealed new atomic-scale details about pesky deposits that can stop or slow chemical reactions vital to fuel production and other p...read more
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Exotic, gigantic molecules fit inside each other like Russian nesting dolls
University of Chicago scientists have experimentally observed for the first time a phenomenon in ultracold, three-atom molecules predicted by Russian theoretical physicsist Vitaly Efimov in 1970.
In this quantum phenomenon, called geometric scaling, the triatomic molecules fit inside one another like an infinitely large set of Russian nesting dolls.
"This is a new rule in chemistry that molecular sizes can follow a geometric series, like 1, 2, 4, 8…," said Cheng Chin, professor in physics at UChicago. "In our case, we find three molecular states in this sequence where one molecular state is always 4.88 times larger than the previous one."
Chin and four members of his research group published their findings Dec. 9, 2014, in Physical Review Letters.
"Quantum theory makes the existence of these gigantic molecules inevitiable, provided proper -- and quite challenging -- conditions are created," said Efimov, now at the University of Washington.
The UChicago team observed three molecules in the series, consisting of one lithim atom and two cesium atoms in a vacuum chamber at the ultracold temperature of approximately 200 nanokelvin, a tiny fraction of a degree above absolute zero (minus 459.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Infinitely large molecules
Given an infinitely large universe, the number of increasingly larger molecules in this cesium-lithium system also would extend to infinity. This remarkable idea stems from the exotic nature of quantum mechanics, which conforms confirms to different laws of physics than those that govern the universe on a macroscopic scale.
"These are certainly exotic molecules," said Shih-Kuang Tung, the postdoctoral scholar, now at Northwestern University, who led the project. Only under strict conditions could Tung and his colleagues see the geometric scaling in their Efimov molecules. It appears that neither two-atom nor four-atom molecules can achieve the Efimov state. "There's a special case for three atoms," Chin said.
Efimov's reaction to the research was twofold. "First, I am amazed by the predictive power of the quantum theory," he said. "Second, I am amazed by the skill of the experimentalists who managed to create those challenging conditions."
The finding is important because it shows that Efimov molecules, like other complex phenomena in nature, follow a simple mathematical rule. One other example in nature that displays geometric scaling are snowflakes, rooted in the microscopic physics of their hexagonal crystal structure.
A team at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, which included Chin, experimentally observed the first Efimov molecular state in 2006 in molecules consisting of three cesium atoms. In this Efimov state, three cesium atoms become entangled at temperatures slightly above absolute zero. They form a Borromean ring of three interlocking circles. Any two of them, however, will not interlock.
Chin switched his interest to lithium-cesium molecules in 2010 because observing geometrical scaling in the cesium system presented severe experimental difficulties.
Scaling factor
"The difficulty is that based on what we understand of Efimov's theory, the scaling factor is predicted to be 22.7 for the cesium system, which is a very large number," explained Chin, who also is a member of UChicago's James Franck and Enrico Fermi institutes. Scaling at such a large value demands an extremely low temperature, challenging to reach experimentally.
But the scaling factor of the lithium-cesium triatomic molecule was predicted to be more managable of 4.8. Indeed, after setting up their experiment, "We were able to see three of them at a more accessible temperature of 200 nano-Kelvin," Chin said. "Their sizes are measured to be 17, 86 and 415 nano-meters, respectively. They closely follow a geometric progression with the predicted scaling factor."
But even the lithium-cesium system presented a difficulty: the significantly differing masses of the two elements, which was critical for observing multiple Efimov states. Lithium is one of the lightest elements on the periodic table, while cesium is quite heavy. "One is really massive compared to the other," Tung said.
He compared working both elements into an ultracold experiment to dangling a monkey and an elephant from springs. They would hang at different levels, but they still needed to interact.
In the experiment, the UChicago physicists lowered the temperatures of the lithium and ceisum atoms separately, then brought them together to form the triatomic, Efimov molecules.
"It's a very complicated experiment," Tung said, one requiring an ultracold experimental tool called Feshbach resonance. Carried out in a magnetic field, Feshbach resonance allowed researchers to bind and control the interactions between the cesium and lithium atoms.
Cold atoms are subject to manipulation via Feshbach resonance, which allows the observation of geometric scaling. "Feshbach resonance is a really important tool for us," Tung said. He and his associates learned how to wield the tool effectively in the past three years.
"We needed to tune the Feshbach resonances very carefully in order to generate these Efimov molecules," Tung said.
The efforts culminated in experimental success. Efimov said the results made him feel like the parent of a successful child. "The parent is proud of the child's achievement, and he is also pround that in a sense he is part of the child's success."
Funding: National Science Foundation and the Army Research Office.
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The Emerald Ash Borer: Is Chester County too late to save its ash trees?
05/12/2015 12:30PM ● By Richard Gaw
For the past 15 years, Chris Miller has served as the manager for The Davey Tree Expert Company in King of Prussia. As an arborist, he has treated and preserved trees of nearly every variety, and has brought back trees that have been on the brink of death and restored them to full health, from the Main Line to Chester County and beyond.
One recent morning, Miller spoke on a cell phone from the Valley Forge National Park. The tone of his voice was layered with both matter-of-fact realities and the timbre of fair warning, reflecting the serious nature of the topic being discussed.
He spoke about the forecasted local arrival of the emerald ash borer [EAB], a half-inch-long beetle whose outer shell is a rich, metallic green. Since it first came to the United States in 2001-- on a shipment of ash wood from China to Detroit -- the EAB has been responsible for killing more than 40 million ash trees in 21 states and two Canadian provinces.
The adult EAB typically emerges between April and July, depositing eggs in bark crevices. The eggs hatch and the larvae bore into the tree to feed just below the bark surface. The larval feeding results in the tree being girdled, preventing the movement of nutrients and water between the roots and the tree crown. The infestation usually kills ash trees in three to four years after being attacked.
Despite efforts to control the population, the EAB invasion has continued eastward. The invasive insect was first found in Pennsylvania in 2007, and in the last eight years, it has infected ash trees in 56 of 67 counties. Chester and Lancaster counties are two of the remaining seven counties in Pennsylvania where EAB has not yet been detected, but it could just be a matter of time, Miller warned.
"My guess is that it is here and we have not yet realized it is here," he said. "I suspect that it will be discovered this year. Based on the life cycle of the insect and research, we've seen its ability to spread everywhere and not be stopped."
Miller then delivered the blow that many in our area are fearing the most.
"There is no way to avoid it," he said. "If we have the same conversation a year from now, we would see severe damage in all five counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan region. If you have an ash tree on your residential property and it is untreated, the tree will die. There is no doubt in my mind. And it's not just trees in backyards. That means all of the trees in the forest will succumb to the insect."
"If you don’t have it already, it is coming and it will kill 99 percent of your ash trees," said Dr. Donald Eggen, forest health manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). "If you have a lot of ash trees and do absolutely nothing, that is the most costly because they will all die at once -- especially if you have big trees, as they are expensive to take down.
"You never know when the infestation is going to happen. We don’t have a good survey tool for detecting low populations," he said. "It can be percolating and then it appears and it’s here. They also start up high in the trees and by the time they get down to the bottom it’s too late."
Grant Jones, integrated pest management supervisor at Longwood Gardens, suggests that the sheer, enveloping spread of the EAB reminds him of the Dutch Elm Disease and gypsy moth infestation that swept through the eastern portion of the country years ago.
"But I think this is worse," he said. "Before I came to Longwood, I lived in Milwaukee and Chicago, where ash trees are a very large percentage of the tree population. The EAB had a huge impact there, not only environmentally, but economically. For a municipality to treat, remove and replant its ash tree population would be very expensive."
All hope is not lost, experts say.
Methods to contain the rapid spread of EAB have been under way for several years. Although some systemic insecticides are beginning to show promise for the protection of high-value ash trees, sustainable management methods are also being used. One of the long-term strategies being used is through biological control that involves research in China to find, isolate, and identify the pest's natural enemies, ranging from parasites to predators to pathogens. In the U.S., permits for release of highly host-specific natural enemies or "biocontrol agents" may be granted, but they're environmentally risky, Miller said.
"At this point, with the knowledge I have on control measures, if you're going with biological alone, you'll lose everything you have," he said. "But without chemical control, we'll lose all of our residential ash population. There are ash trees that are still alive because people have taken the measures to protect them."
One such chemical solution Miller discussed is made with the active ingredient known as Imidacloprid, which can be mixed with water and drenched around the base of the ash tree. It has the same active ingredient used in flea and tick protection, and very low toxicity.
Research has shown that the soil drench using Imadacloprid provides excellent protection for smaller ash trees in the first year following treatment, but that larger ash trees may require two years of treatment before they are fully protected.
The product is available at most local hardware and garden stores, and should be applied in May or early June, every year.
While there are several products that can be applied by weekend arborists, the severity of the potential damage that is likely to happen to local ash trees demands the attention of a professional, local experts say.
"There are DIY products to protect ash trees, and yes, the homeowner may get some control with the product, but as a homeowner, that's your only weapon to control EAB," Miller said.
"If your tree is 30 percent infested, a home remedy -- or the application of a store-bought product -- will not save the tree. Professional arborists have been educated in the science and symptoms of the EAB, and what we look for is the percentage of infestation."
Jones recommended that homeowners get their ash trees evaluated by professionals, who can help walk the homeowner through the process of what he or she can do to help save the ash trees on their property.
"The earlier you do it, the more choices you have," Jones said. "The longer you wait, the less options you have. It may cost more to take the tree out, as opposed to treating it quickly."
One local town has begun to see hope through the trees. West Chester, in partnership with the DCNR, West Chester University, and borough officials, recently served as a test site for the "Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan for Pennsylvania Communities" – a program that has now expanded to ten communities statewide.
Eggen, WCU graduate student Kendra McMillin, along with WCU professor Gerard Hertel, DCNR forest entomologist Houping Liu, and West Chester Borough urban forester Denise Dunn-Kesterson, worked to implement the ash tree assessment and prevention program to protect ash trees in borough parks. In 2013, the borough initiated the plan as a pilot program, in which ash trees in its three most heavily wooded parks – Hoopes, Marshall Square and Everhart – were evaluated, monitored and treated based on their prognosis. About 100 high-value ash trees in good health were treated with an injectable systematic insecticide to ward off the borer.
As a result of its success, the West Chester program was awarded federal grant funding to continue its monitoring and prevention efforts.
McMillin said West Chester was ideally suited to be the program’s first site due to its comprehensive and up-to-date tree inventory.
"West Chester was really way ahead of the game in that sense, because the tree inventory is a huge part of it. We had the knowledge of what trees we have and where they are," she said. "For instance, we have a significant amount of mature ash trees in Hoopes Park. Can you imagine if those trees were infected and started coming down in three years?"
Both Eggen and McMillin also emphasized that studies have shown that monitoring, treatment and prevention programs are far more cost effective than the financial burden of paying for the removal of so many dead trees. Part of the reason is that while ash is a hardwood, a borer infection results in the ash tree and its branches becoming increasingly fragile, making it unsafe for an arborist to climb them during removal.
The goal is to save as many trees as possible and to prevent any potentially hazardous or dangerous situations, they said. Though the systemic insecticide injection is highly effective against the borer, once a tree is more than 30 percent in decline, it is beyond saving.
"For 26 consecutive years, West Chester has received the Tree City USA Award for its commitment to maintaining the health, beauty and diversity of trees throughout our parks, neighborhoods and the downtown," Sen. Andy Dinniman said during a recent Arbor Day celebration at Hoopes Park. "I want to thank all the staff and volunteers for their ongoing efforts in safeguarding our trees and preventing invasive species like the emerald ash borer from jeopardizing our rich natural heritage."
To find a licensed arborist in your area, visit www.treesaregood.org.
To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@chestercounty.com.
Slug: emerald ash borer
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Home / Opinion / Op-Ed Contributors
'Indo-Pacific' an 'America First' ploy
By Cui Shoufeng | China Daily | Updated: 2017-11-15 07:44
Editors' note: Just before and during his maiden trip to Asia as US president, Donald Trump reiterated the importance of promoting a free and open "Indo-Pacific region", a term rarely used by his predecessors. Three experts share their views on Trump's "subtle shift" in language with China Daily's Cui Shoufeng. Excerpts follow:
Controversial regional body under close watch
Zhang Zhixin, head of American Political Studies at the Institute of American Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations
The change in Washington's rhetoric－from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific－carries mixed signals for the region. In his remarks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Da Nang, Vietnam, Trump again mentioned Indo-Pacific. It is "an honor to be here in Vietnam－in the very heart of Indo-Pacific", he said.
India, US, Japan and Australia held their first officials' meeting on the sidelines of ASEAN summit on Sunday.
The quadrilateral "alliance", which the United States, India, Japan and Australia plan to build to strengthen their "Indo-Pacific ties", however, would not affect the economic interdependence of Asian economies nor would it serve the purpose of containing China, if there is one. In fact, with more countries joining the Beijing-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, it seems an unwise move to miss the reciprocal nature of President Xi Jinping's vision and exclude China from regional economic governance.
Among the four likely partners in the "quad", Japan has been the most enthusiastic about forging a quasi Indo-Pacific alliance, probably to accelerate its pursuit of wider geopolitical influence and build a full-fledged military. India, too, wants to reinforce its dominance in South Asia and believes it is a good idea to get closer to the US and Japan. And neither Japan nor India has shown any interest in the Belt and Road projects.
But Australia, which enjoys decent economic ties with China, may be less keen to push forward the new grouping.
Trump's call for "free and reciprocal trade" suggests the "America First" policy remains high on his agenda. Whether and how Trump will elaborate on his "Indo-Pacific" vision should be watched closely.
Move may have little impact on projects
Lin Minwang, a researcher at the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai, and a senior research fellow at Pangoal Institution
India has long been open to the idea of an Indo-Pacific region, for obvious reasons. Being just an observer in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, its geopolitical focus has always been the Indian Ocean, and an Indo-Pacific alliance could enhance its role as a regional power.
Rex Tillerson's speech during his trip to India last month offers a glimpse into Washington's "Indo-Pacific" policy, as he called for India to play a bigger role in Asia's new and developing security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region, which also includes Japan and Australia. He also wanted the US and India to use their economic prowess to facilitate connectivity and growth in the Indo-Pacific region.
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has paid unparalleled attention to US-India relations while taking a tougher stance against Pakistan. It has also endorsed India's "Act East policy", designed to deepen economic and strategic relations with Southeast Asian nations, and may include it in the Indo-Pacific arrangements.
But despite being a known advocate of the Indo-Pacific vision, India may refrain from going too far because such a quasi quadrilateral military alliance would have unwanted implications for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and could force Pakistan to take counter measures.
US policy: Buy our arms to build an alliance
Chen Yang, a PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Sociology of Toyo University, Japan
Despite Trump's blunt complaint against decades of "massive trade deficits" with Japan, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may still find some relief in the fact that Washington is on board for the Indo-Pacific alliance that Tokyo has long envisioned.
While the US looks set to "include" the Indo-Pacific in its traditional Asia-Pacific strategy, Japan's role in regional affairs may expand and its participation in military drills in the Indian Ocean gain more "legitimacy".
Tokyo could also be emboldened to compete with the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, the sea route of the Belt and Road Initiative, which Japan and India have refused to join, and keep challenging Beijing over the South China Sea issue.
Besides, the Abe administration also feels the urge to capitalize on the US' interest in building an Indo-Pacific security framework, as China still matters a lot more to the US than Japan when it comes to international and regional affairs. That's why Abe has extended full support for the likely shift in the US' Asia-Pacific policy.
But the highlighting of the term "Indo-Pacific" by US officials before and during Trump's trip to Asia does not mean the Trump administration, which focuses more on the domestic economy and bilateral trade deals, will carry it through. Rather than using the bulk of its diplomatic resources in the Indo-Pacific region, Washington is more likely to urge Canberra, New Delhi and Tokyo to do more and persuade them to buy more weapons from the US as a "display of unity".
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daniel kokotajlo
The life story...
Coming from a background in fine arts, Daniel is a self-taught director and writer from Manchester.
His debut feature film APOSTASY, which he wrote and directed, had its world premiere at Toronto Film Festival in 2017 and also screened at San Sebastian and London Film Festival. He won the IWC Filmmaker Bursary Award 2017.
He was selected by Screen International as one of their Stars of Tomorrow in 2015 and he is the only director to be selected twice for the iFeatures development programme.
He was selected for iFeatures2 to write-direct his feature film, THE PREFECT. This project was also selected for development by the Biennale Cinema College 2013 and recently became a semi-finalist for The Academy’s Nicholl Fellowships Award 2014.
Dan also participated in the EIFF Talent Lab 2013, Screen Yorkshire’s Triangle scheme 2013, Creative England’s Talent Centre 2014 and Film London’s Micro-Market 2014.
Dan’s short films have screened at multiple major festivals. His short film, MYRA, was long-listed for a 2012 BAFTA.
KOKOTAJLO 2019
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Accomplishing the mission }Corps Values
About Corps Constructors
Corps Team
Commmitment
Corps Constructor’s management team provides uncompromising commitment to customers and employs integrity in all aspects of the job – from the relationship it forms with its customers and with its team of employees, and even beyond to its bond with subcontractors and suppliers. Providing clients with reliable solutions to complex (or even simple) building projects requires professional leaders who are driven to an uncommon duty to exceed the expected.
Corps Constructors meets that standard, offering skilled professionals with strong leadership abilities:
John Ryan Nader
A graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management, John Ryan served his country as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. During this service, he showed dedication and commitment to excellence! As an Infantryman, John Ryan was selected as Forward Observer, facilitating and directing the Battalion’s indirect fire assets. As the team leader, he was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom during the initial phase of that operation. Upon successful completion of that mission, he was promoted to Platoon Sergeant for the largest infantry platoon within the Battalion. John Ryan honorably completed his service to the Marine Corps in 2004 and returned to LSU to complete his construction management degree and utilizes the skills learned in the military, as well as from his classroom and job experience, to benefit clients daily.
While working on his degree, John Ryan expanded his knowledge with on-the-job experience as a construction intern at Buquet & LeBlanc. Upon graduation, John Ryan was asked to join the firm as an assistant project manager, and he successfully managed some of the past decade’s Keynote Projects in the area: the Hilton Hotel, downtown Baton Rouge; and, Staybridge Suites Hotel, near the LSU Campus. Always aspiring to lead his own business, John Ryan established Corps Constructors in 2010 and has continued to build relationships throughout the South Louisiana business community, helping his company become one of the area’s most respected businesses.
Early on, John Ryan understood that surrounding himself with successful, driven leaders was principal to taking Corps Constructors to an even higher level. He has further built his team with proven, effective team members, who share his work ethic, standards, and commitment. John Ryan has one daughter, Alyssa Brooke (5) .
Don Flowers
General Superintendent
Providing a vast history of effective leadership, Don is also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served as a Sergeant for over nine years, including service in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. After completing his military service, Don independently managed many large scale projects and personnel within foreign countries – from Nigeria to Afghanistan and Iraq. Don’s ability to oversee operations and manage logistical requirements through the most challenging of projects makes him a unique and valuable asset. He provides rare and invaluable experience and benefits the project team leaders at Corps Constructors – and its clients, too! Don has two children, Miranda (19), and Landon (16)
Andy Aime
With some of the most versed exposure in the industry and on the team, Andy provides veteran leadership through multiple divisions within the Corps Community. With an extensive background in project based building construction, and as a fully vested Carpenter Journeyman, Andy has successfully led hundreds of millions of dollars of some of the most well known projects in the South Louisiana region. As a Superintendent on the Staybridge Suites Hotel Project, Andy led over 55 different Subcontracting firms and up to 45 direct employee’s, totaling over 350 on-site personnel, all collaborating under his direction and supervision. In addition to his comprehensive building experience, Andy has most recently led some of Baton Rouge’s most significant Heavy Highway and concrete construction projects, including the widening of Interstate I-10, and the Wards Creek Multi-Use Pathway projects which span between Bluebonnet Blvd and Siegen Lane. Andy’s versatilitiy and seasoned experience has helped Corps Constructors achieve a much greater self performing capability to our customers. Andy is married to the former Mrs. Dawn Sparks, and they have three children, David Lee, Kasandra, and Michael
Brandy Phelps
Brandy provides the highest level of Construction Accounting experience and expertise to the Corps Constructors Team. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University , Brandy has achieved over 15 years of valuable experience in the field from some of the most respected accounting firms operating within the Southeast region of the Country. During that period, Brandy began to specialize in Construction Accounting, concentrating in the most critical areas of high volume construction operations. Brandy specializes in Job Costing, Accounts Payable/Receivable, Payroll, Auditing, Purchase Orders, Trade Team Member Agreements, and the preparation & presentation of Construction specific Financial Statements. Brandy works closely with Corps Constructors Administrative & Operational key leaders, as well as our skilled work force, ensuring and maintaining the successful day to day operational requirements of the company. Additionally, Brandy’s relationship with Corps Constructors Bonding team is critical to the Company’s growth and stability, and her strict attention to detail is valued by all Corps Employee’s, Supporting Firms, and Trade Team members. Brandy has one son, Jewel (10).
11063 Cloverland Avenue Baton Rouge, LA 70809
© Copyright 2019 Corps Constructors. All Rights Reserved.
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M. M. Davis Shipyard During the Great War
by Robert J. Hurry, 2018, 13 pp.,
Click here to download (710 KB)
A century ago, the world was embroiled in a conflict called the Great War or World War. A Calvert County, Maryland, business that grew to meet the wartime demand was Solomons’ own M. M. Davis & Son shipyard. On the eve of America’s involvement in the war, the business acquired land to expand its shipyard, restructured its finances, enlarged its workforce, and enhanced its shipbuilding capabilities. The shipyard was prepared to do its part in the war effort.
The Ark of Hungerford Creek,
by Richard J. Dodds, 2017, 12 pp., photographs, paperback. $10.00
This booklet follows the story of this most unusual vessel from its beginnings as a lifeboat on the German transatlantic ocean liner Kronprinzessin Cecilie in 1906, to its current resting place on the grounds of the Calvert Marine Museum. Mr. Dodds tells the story this lifeboat and its ship, from being an ocean liner to a troopship in World War I to eventually finding its way to the Patuxent River. It is here the lifeboat and the ship, renamed Mount Vernon, parted company – the ship to be scrapped, and the lifeboat to begin its new career as a land-based chapel known as The Ark.
The Happy Solution: A Short History of the Dewey Floating Dry Dock,
by Merle T. Cole, 1988, 36 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. $1.00
Built in Baltimore in 1905, the Dewey dry dock was towed to Solomons in June of that year where it remained for six months before departing for its final destination in the Philippines. While anchored off Solomons, the Dewey dry dock underwent a number of tests to evaluate its sturdiness and reliability as a cradle for ships in need of repair and maintenance. Approximately 500 feet long, the steel dry dock was constructed to support the weight of such cruisers and battleships as the USS Colorado and the USS Iowa. The Dewey dry dock's ultimate purpose in the Pacific was to provide a local repair station for naval vessels, rather than having them return to the United States.
Skeletal Anatomy of Alligator and Comparison with Thecachampsa,
by George F. Klein, 2016, 75 pp. Annotated photographic atlas.
During the Miocene epoch, large predatory crocodilians lived in a warmer southern Maryland. Their fossilized remains are now found along Calvert Cliffs. By providing a detailed annotated photographic atlas of the skeleton of the living Alligator, this work will help identify the fossilized bony remains of Thecachampsa - the marine crocodilian that shared its habitat with the likes of megalodon.
Click here to download publication. (35 MB PDF)
Purchase a hard copy of this book. Only $14.99 (USPS shipping included).
Thrills and Spills: The Golden Era of Powerboat Racing in Southern Maryland
, by Robert J. Hurry and Richard J. Dodds with contributing author C.R. "Buddy" Parks, 2013, 157 pp., photographs, maps, paperback. (ISBN 978-0-941647-21-2) $25.95
Not too long ago, powerboat racing was one of the largest and most popular spectator sports in Southern Maryland. Today, the golden era of powerboat racing in Southern Maryland is largely a memory. We aim to preserve this important legacy for future generations with this book and our new exhibit - Thrills and Spills.
Boats for Work, Boats for Pleasure: The Last Era of Wooden Boatbuilding in Southern Maryland
, by Richard J. Dodds and Robert J. Hurry, 2009, 129 pp., photographs, maps, and drawings, paperback. (ISBN 978–0-941647-20-5) $19.95
This publication presents a retrospective look at a way of life that has almost disappeared – the building of wooden boats for the work of watermen and for the pleasure of those who enjoy boating. The craftsmen introduced here represent the last generation of builders of wooden boats from the three Southern Maryland counties of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s. There are photographs of both the builders and the boats, with drawings of plans of some of their efforts.
Islands in a River: Solomons and Broomes Island, Maryland
, compiled by Richard J. Dodds, 2008, 230 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. (ISBN 978-0-941647-18-2) $15.95
Solomons and Broomes Island, two waterside communities on the Patuxent River originating during the heyday of the oyster industry, became the most important watermen’s communities in Calvert County in the nineteenth century. Over time, they have been transformed by a growing population, a spreading network of roads, and a decline in the productivity of the river. This work highlights the families who developed Solomons and Broomes Island, and the schools, stores, and churches that sprung up to serve the needs of the residents. It traces the rich tapestry of the region’s seafood, boatbuilding, and recreational-fishing industries, becoming a permanent record of a vanishing maritime past.
Miocene Shark Teeth from Around the Chesapeake Bay
. Full color, wall mount poster (24” by 36”), prepared by the Paleontology Department.
This poster features life restorations of extinct sharks, their fossilized teeth, as well as descriptive vignettes. Collectors of shark teeth will find this guide very useful. $13.99
Working the Water: The Commercial Fisheries of Maryland’s Patuxent River
, edited by Paula J. Johnson, 1988, 218 pp., numerous photographs, paperback. Published jointly with The University Press of Virginia. (ISBN 0-8139-1156-7) $14.95
This work focuses on Maryland’s Patuxent River, which once boasted some of the most productive commercial fisheries in the Chesapeake region. In recent years these fisheries have declined, and as the character of the area changes, the river’s rich maritime heritage is in danger of being forgotten. Included in the book are three interpretive essays, a descriptive catalog of artifacts from the museum’s vast collection of fisheries gear, and over 200 illustrations. It celebrates the history and traditions of the river’s fishing industries.
Sirenians & Sirens: Sea Cows and Mermaids
, by Stephen Godfrey, 2002, 30 pp., color photo-graphs and illustrations, maps, booklet. (ISBN 0-941647-15-3) $6.95
Although this small booklet was prepared as a guide to an exhibit in the museum in 2002 and 2003, it has a wealth of information about these interesting mammals, both living and as fossils, relating them to their mythological counterparts, the mermaids. The author also describes the current concerns for the endangered future of sea cows.
Fossils of Calvert Cliffs, by Wallace L. Ashby, third edition, 1995, 19 pp., illustrations and map by Mary A. Parrish, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-11-0) $7.95
This is a popular guide to the fossils found along the Chesapeake Bay shore in Calvert County, one of the most important natural history resources of our region. Mr. Ashby has studied these fossils for many years, and he provides information about the geologic history of the cliffs as well as details of the fossils to be found there. The illustrations are particularly useful for fossil buffs.
I Remember -- Recollections of “Pepper” Langley: Growing up in Solomons,as related to Melvin A. Conant, 1990 (reprinted 1998), 115 pp., photographs, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-14-5) $9.95
James LeRoy “Pepper” Langley spent most of his life in Solomons, working and watching the changes that have taken place since the years of World War I. In the 1980s he narrated his memories to maritime historian Mel Conant who selected and organized them into the story of “Pepper”’s life and accomplishments. There are photographs of family, as well as lists of the carvings, ship models, and lettering that mark this remarkable career.
Cradle of Invasion: A History of the U. S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, Solomons, Maryland, 1942-1945
, by Merle T. Cole, 1984 (reprinted 1994), 37 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-03-X) $4.95
The Amphibious Training Base on 100 acres on the Dowell peninsula across Back Creek from Solomons was the most extensive involvement of the United States Navy in Calvert County during World War II. The navy set up the training facility in 1942, and during the next three years 70,000 officers and enlisted men were trained there, with a most significant impact on the surrounding community. Mr. Cole traces the history of the navy’s efforts to find a location for amphibious training; the selection of Solomons as a base; the problems of establishing this base within a short period of time; the training activities and facilities there and at the adjacent areas of Cove and Drum Points; and the close of the base in 1945. Developed from archival sources, there are a number of official navy photographs, two area maps, and many bibliographical notes.
The Patuxent “Ghost Fleet” 1927-1941
, by Merle T. Cole, 1986 (reprinted 2009), 70 pp., photographs, paperback. (ISBN 978-0-941647-19-9) $19.95
This is a little-known story of how four former passenger liners, once the pride of the German Merchant Marine, came to spend much of the period between World Wars I and II laid up in a quiet backwater of Maryland’s Patuxent River. Interned in the United States during World War I, the stately ships saw limited service with the U.S. Shipping Board until the postwar economic slump caused them to be mothballed, awaiting better times. The ships became an almost permanent feature of the local landscape, an attraction in their own right over the next fifteen years, until darkening war clouds led to their removal, either for scrap or government use.
“Solomons Mines”: A History of the U. S. Naval Mine Warfare Test Station, Solomons, Maryland, 1942-1947
, by Merle T. Cole, 1987 (reprinted 1998), 46 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-08-0) $6.95
The U. S. Naval Mine Warfare Test Station was one of two significant naval installations established on the Calvert County side of the Patuxent River near Solomons during World War II. Its purpose was to provide a test site for experimental minesweeping and mine countermeasures in a location relatively isolated, with deep water, and with conditions allowing for the investigation of harbor defenses. The author has examined official records to create a history of the station and its organization, further documented with photographs. Some personal interviews have also been incorporated into this detailed history. Mr. Cole also describes the later use of the site under different naval agencies up to the early 1980s.
Tankers in the Patuxent: The Esso Fleet Lay-Up Site in the 1930s
Throughout the 1930s, during the height of the Great Depression, a significant portion of the world’s largest tanker fleet lay idle in the Patuxent River near Solomons, Maryland. The ships of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey were a familiar sight until 1941, when the last tanker departed, and the United States geared-up for World War II. Click here to download a copy. (5.25 MB PDF file)
Early Chesapeake Single-Log Canoes:
A Brief History and Introduction to Building Techniques.
By Alexander Lavish and George Surgent of the Patuxent Small Craft Guild.
Out of print. Click here to download a copy. (3.16 MB PDF file)
Bjorn Again:
One Family and Three Generations of Boatbuilding Tradition
By Richard J. Dodds. Click here to download a copy. (677 KB PDF file)
The First Aerial Photograph of Solomons?
By Merle T. Cole. Click here to download a copy. (867 KB PDF file)
Fishlighters: The Story of the Vanished Commercial Fishery at Flag Ponds, Chesapeake Bay, Calvert County, Maryland
, by Harry C. Knott, 2002, 110 pp., photographs, illustrations, and map, paperback. Issued by the Battle Creek Nature Education Society, Port Republic, Maryland, in cooperation with the Calvert Marine Museum. $8.95
Pound netting, a form of fish trapping practiced long before the Europeans arrived in North America, was introduced to the commercial fisheries of the Chesapeake Bay late in the nineteenth century. During the first half of the twentieth century it flourished along the shores of Calvert County. Flag Ponds, near the town of St. Leonard, was particularly active for fishermen who established a camp from which to operate. (The area is now a county park.) Mr. Knott researched the history of the many men and women who worked at this camp, learning much about their methods and their lives. These recollections form the real substance of this book.
Chesapeake Bay Sailing Craft
, by Marion V. Brewington, 1966 (reprinted 1986), 14 pp., drawings, booklet. Issued jointly with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. $1.25
Working sailing craft were a common sight on the bay at the end of the nineteenth century when well over three thousand could be found. Most of these types have since declined or disappeared. Mr. Brewington, long interested in the maritime history of the bay, provides brief descriptions of the nine most common types, illustrated by drawings by Maryland maritime artist Louis Feuchter.
Marshnotes: An Introduction to the Salt Marsh
, by Jeffrey Rothenberg, 1987, 16 pp., illustrations and maps, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-07-2)$1.00
Planned as a publication to help interpret the marsh boardwalk that is part of the boat basin of the museum, the information and illustrations have applicability to a broader range of marshes in Southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay. The excellent illustrations by W. Scott Rawlins and Susan LeVan enhance the value of this brief guide.
The Othello Affair: The Pursuit of French Pirates on Patuxent River, Maryland
, August 1807, by Donald G. Shomette, 1985, 37 pp., illustrations and a map, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-04-8) $1.00
This small booklet by a CMM research associate is an account of the pursuit of pirates that took place in the Patuxent River area in 1807 when the 280-ton Boston merchant ship Othello was assaulted by a small pilot schooner, General Massena, flying French colors. Mr. Shomette explores the political implications of this assault and the reactions of the American public. Some of the details are reminiscent of the wonderful sea tales of popular author Patrick O’Brian.
Calvert Marine Museum, Solomons, Maryland
, prepared by the museum staff, 2002, 24 pp., color photographs, illustrations, booklet. (ISBN 0-941647-16-1) $2.00
This is an illustrated guide to the museum, its history, its exhibits, and its activities. It serves as an overview for those visiting the museum, as well as an introduction to those planning a visit.
Out of Print Publications
“It Ain’t Like It Was Then”: The Seafood Packing Industry of Southern Maryland
, by Richard J. Dodds and Robert J. Hurry, 2006, 95 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-17-X) Out of print.
For 150 years, the seafood packing industry of Southern Maryland has defined the area’s waterfronts and fueled the economy. The bounty of seafood from the Chesapeake Bay spurred an abundance of oyster-shucking, crab-picking, and clam-shucking houses, but fewer than a half dozen survive today. The transformation of the bay is almost complete and the region now relies heavily on outside imports of the seafood that was once so plentiful. This text highlights those individuals and businesses in the counties of Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s whose stories form part of the rich and colorful history of seafood packing in southern Maryland.
Solomons Island and Vicinity: An Illustrated History and Walking Tou
r, compiled by Richard J. Dodds, 1995, 83 pp., photographs and maps, paperback. (ISBN 0-941647-12-9) Out of print.
This guide is intended to aid visitors to Solomons in appreciating the history of this interesting area and in identifying some ninety-four sites on the island, in Avondale, and other nearby locations. It is based on considerable research over a twelve-year period, as well as on interviews of long-time residents. The photographs and maps aid visitors as they tour Solomons.
Bugeye Times
Chestory Virtual Archive
CMM Annual Reports
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[Video] Ach Zamar - Where Can We Go
Who is Ach Zamar?
Popularly known as Ach Zamar, is a mixed spectrum of a singer, songwriter, and astute producer is enthusiastic about transforming lives through good music. Over the years, the self-taught musician and multi-instrumentalist, has lived up to the hype, representing his name, ‘Zamar’ meaning, “Make music in praise of the most high.”
Born to music, Zamar has had a flair for music from a tender age. He wrote his first song at the age of twelve. Surprisingly, the musical genius even had an affinity for music even as a toddler as he started playing instruments at age three. As he grew, he upped his game by becoming deeply rooted in his craft. Zamar’s musicality is evident in his ability to create thought-provoking, reflective, and meaningful music.
Driven to create peerless music, he has thoughtfully used music as a means to advocate for the black community. Having witnessed firsthand, the gruesome nature of the world, Zamar is moved to create an awareness through soul-piercing music. In these dark moments where little hope is being offered by the government and relevant authorities, His latest single, “Where Can We Go” is an inspirational, soulful, and refreshing track which is directed to the Hebrew Israelites to help them find their way back home. “Where can we go” hints on the black Hebrew Israelites in the bible who were trying to find their way back home and was produced by YAHKAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP INC., a unique music label and film production company that is passionately empowering people with what they create and truly making one feel motivated to go after what he or she loves. Ach Zamar’s music is full of life, hope, and energy.
Ach Zamar has tremendously contributed to the music industry, not living his passion for helping people behind. Personally, he is hyper-creative, ingenious, and ornamented with a self-motivated personality. The world can expect more good music from Ach Zamar.
Connect w/ Ach Zamar:
http://www.yeginc1.com
https://twitter.com/yeginc1
https://www.instagram.com/yahkalentertanimentgroupinc
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuNqcVtKorfR9NarOT-2Z5Q
websites: achzamar.com achamar.world
Labels: AchZamar, Video, WhereCanWeGo
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Innovative Percussion Inc.
Elio Piedra
Elio Piedra began his career at the age of 10 at the Arts Conservatory Raul Sanchez in Cuba, specializing in percussion studies. From the age of 11 he got involved in the Jazz world and the fusion between Jazz, Rumba and Afro Cuban rhythms. He received musical influence from Hector Alonso, Benicio Lezcano, and Sergio M. Cardoso, whom created a strong classical base that prepared him for the future. At the age of 12 he began to participate in the most important music festivals in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba, as well as in the national music festivals. When he was 15 years old he began his music studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Cuba, where he toured with the symphonic orchestra around the country. At the same time, he began to perform with the popular salsa group “El Cumbre”, with which he became a well recognized drummer. When performing with “El Cumbre” he had the opportunity to perform with important musicians such as “Aguaje”, who was the director of the group “Buena Vista Social Club”, Magno Bisoli, who is a well-recognized Brazilian musician, among other guests from Belgium and Argentina.
He participated in the longest Rumba festival in the world at the age of 17, in which he performed as a timbales player. He also performed at the “Rancho Club Show” in Consolacion del Sur, Cuba, and accompanied many recognized singers (as drummer), such as Maria Antonia Loriga “La Mora”, Marielena Lazo. Participated in the very important musical project “Internos La Musica” sponsored and directed by Luis Angel Sanches, who is the bass player for Pablo Milanes. Performed with the group “Sonora”, directed by Lazaro Reyes, as well as with the popular salsa group “Prisma” by Ricardo Perez, who is a recognized Jazz guitar player who lives in Germany. Furthermore, at the age of 17 performed as a guest in the “Fiesta del tambor” (known as Havana Drums Festival), a percussion festival. During his last year at the conservatory he performed in the “Jojazz”, which is the international Jazz festival sponsored by Chucho Valdez, from which he was selected to play with the famous musician Bobby Carcaces, as well as to record television programs and interviews. From the previous performance it was created a group called “Primera Mano”, with which he recorded an album called “Fantasia”. This group focused on the fusion between the Latin Jazz and popular salsa rhythms. With “Primera Mano” he had the opportunity to collaborate with the famous Adel Gonzales, congas player for “Buena Vista Social Club” and Irakere; he also had the opportunity to play with “El Macri”, the singer of AfroCuban All Stars, among other important musicians. He interacted with the “Bamboleo” orchestra, and the group “Klimax en la Capital” in Havana, Cuba. When he was 19 years old he recorded a music video with a pop group directed by Yoyo Ibarra. This music video was nominated for the “Premios Lucas” festival in Havana, Cuba.
Elio arrived in the United States with 20 years old and almost immediately performed with Marielena Lazo at a concert in Solares Garden, Miami. In this concert he performed with recognized musicians, including Pancho Cepedes’ band, Manolin”El Medico de la Salsa” ‘s musicians, and directed by the pianist Arronte. He decided to continue his career in the city of Gainesville, FL, where he is immediately asked to play with the Latin band, “Tropix”, in which he has performed Latin styles such as salsa, meringue, bachata, son, and Latin jazz. In Gainesville, he has performed with recognized musicians such as Gosia, Ali Che Ree, Karl Wainsmantel, Ekendra Das, Marty Liquori (famous Jazz musician), sax player Bem Champion, Vic Donnel, Geoffrey Perry, and Scott Wilson. The above mentioned musicians all belong to the recognized “Friends of Jazz” institution. Moreover, Elio Piedra has performed in several restaurants with his own musical project called “Ondulando”, in which he performs with the recognized singer Laura Porras (performed in the television channels Univision, Telemundo, and across the city of Miami). With “Ondulando” he has performed and developed as a singer, congas and bongos player, pianist, and drummer. “Ondulando” has performed at Sabore Restaurant, Emiliano’s Cafe, Jazz Club Leonardo’s 706, and has been invited to present Master classes at Guitar Center (where he began working in 2014), where he has developed as a drums’ instructor. He has also participated as a drummer in important events at the University of Florida, such as a performance at the UF President’s house. Furthermore, he performed for the major of the city of Jacksonville with Tropix, and played at the blues’ club “Dirty’s Bar”, played at “the Jam” club with Calvin Bond, Antonio Lincon and Scott Wilson. He recorded several drums’ performance DVDs, one of which he recorded with the Former Backstreet Boys drummer, current Trace Lawrence drummer, and Pearl Artist, Tom Hurst. In the DVDs he presented his knowledge of different percussion
styles.
Elio currently remains a drums instructor at Guitar Center, as well as a private piano, percussion, and drums instructor. He continues to play with Tropix, Geoffrey Perry, among others. He remains playing in the world of Jazz, and performed with the famous Jazz piano player “Chuchito” Valdes at the Historic Thomas Center. Chuchito Valdes is the third generation prodigy of Cuban piano dynasty headed by his grandfather, the legendary Bebo Valdes ad his famed father Chucho Valdes. Since 2007, Chuchito Valdes has received a total of 7 Grammy;s and Latin Grammy’s nominations. He performed at the “Friends of Jazz” music festival and continues to present Master classes at Guitar Center and at Ancient Rhythms Drums Shop. Furthermore, he performed at the opening of “Ancient Rhythms”, a drums endorsement, at Atlantic Nightspot (show of drummers). Elio Piedra has been touring in the North Florida area, including playing with his Jazz Trio at Santa Fe College, and Guitar Center. He will be collaborating with the famous congas player Gumbi Ortiz, Pete “El Conde” Rodrigues (jazz trumpet player), and Mayito Rivera from the famous Cuban orchestra “Los Van Van” and Chuchito Valdes Latin Jazz Grammy Awards. Elio Piedra is currently teaching drums and playing for the dance classes at Santa Fe College, which has been ranked as the best College in the U.S. He recently recorded a music record with Niho Mossas, a singer from Houston, Texas. He continues with an ample curriculum and prestige, surrounded by good music, producers, musicians, and music figures from every branch of the arts, whom do not cease to contact him. Elio has been invited to participate in the Namm Show 2015 in Los Angeles, California. He has also been invited to record at the official Soultone Cymbals studio. Played with Alex Acuna, Innovative Percussion, Gon Bops, Evans,and Sabian artist,and with Calixto Oviedo,Tycoon Percussion and Soultone Cymbals artist at Namm Show 2015 in Anaheim Los Angeles California.Elio recorded at Soultone Cymbals Studios in Los Angeles California Promo Video…
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'A'isha during the life of the Prophet (S.A.W.)
If we examine her life with her husband, the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.), we will find lots of sins and [acts of] disobedience, for she used to frequently conspire with Hafsa against the Apostle until they compelled him to declare as unlawful for himself what Allah had permitted for him, as reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. They also argued with him, as has been established in all theSahihs and books of tafsir, and even Allah has mentioned the two incidents in His glorious Qur'an.
Envy so controlled her heart and her mind that she conducted herself in the presence of the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) without respect or manners. On one occasion, she said to the Prophet (P), when he mentioned Khadija in her presence:
"How can Khadija be compared with me! She was a red cheeked old woman and Allah has given you [someone] better than her". The Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) became very angry at this until his hair stood. And, on another occasion, one of the mothers of the believers sent to the Prophet a dish (he was in her house) that he really loved. She destroyed the dish, together with the food in it. On another occasion, she said to the Prophet(P): "You are the one who claims to be Allah's Prophet". Another time, she became angry with him and said: "Be just!" Her father, who was present, struck her so hard that blood flowed. Her envy reached a point whereby she lied to Asma' bint al-Nu'man, when she had come as a bride to the Prophet (S.A.W.). She said to her: "The Prophet (S.A.W.) loves a woman, who, when he approaches her, says to him: "I seek refuge in Allah from you". Her underlying aim was to have the Prophet (S.A.W.) divorce this innocent, naive woman, and who the Prophet (S.A.W.) did divorce due to these words. Her evil conduct in the presence of the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) reached a point that while he was praying, she would spread her feet towards his direction of prostration. When he prostrated and pinched them, she retracted them. When he stood up for the rest of the prayer, she would spread her feet out again.
On one occasion, she plotted with Hafsa against the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.), causing him to isolate himself from his wives for a period of one complete month, and to sleep on a rough straw mat.When the words of Allah: "Take back those of them that you please, and leave aside those whom you please.." were revealed, she said to the Prophet unabashedly: "I only see Allah as [one] who hurries to [satisfy] your desires". If 'A'isha got angry - which she did quite often - she would avoid [uttering] the name of the Prophet (S.A.W.). She would not mention the name of Muhammad, but would say: "By the Lord of Abraham".
'A'isha often used to offend the Prophet (S.A.W.) and caused him distress, but the Prophet (P) was compassionate and kind, his character lofty, his patience deep, therefore he frequently said to her: "Your Satan has confused you, O 'A'isha". Quite often, he used to be sorry because of Allah's threat to her and Hafsa, the daughter of 'Umar. On many occasions the Qur'an came down regarding her! Allah said to her and to Hafsa: "You two turn in repentance to Allah, your hearts are so inclined", i.e., she had departed and deviated from the truth. His words: "If you support each other against him, Allah is his protector, as well as Gabriel and the righteous believers, after this, the angels too are his supporters" are a clear threat from the Lord of Power to her and to Hafsa, who used to frequently help her and act according to her commands. Allah also said to both of them: "Perhaps if he divorces you, his Lord will give him wives who are better than you, who submit and believe." This verse was revealed concerning 'A'isha and Hafsa as testified by 'Umar b. al-Khattab and reported by al-Bukhari. The verse, in itself, indicates that there were believing women among the Muslims who were better than 'A'isha.
Once, when the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) wanted to propose to Sharraf, the sister of Dihya al-Kalbi, he asked 'A'isha to go and look at her. When she returned, her heart was filled with envy, and the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) asked her: "What have you seen O 'A'isha?" She responded: "I did not see anyone worthy". The Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) said to her: "You have certainly seen someone worthy. You have seen her and your saliva soured in your mouth". She said: "O Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.), no secret is unknown to you. Who is able to hide anything from you?"
All of the plots which 'A'isha instigated against the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) were most frequently with the complicity of Hafsa, the daughter of 'Umar. The strange thing is that we find there was mutual understanding and complete harmony between the two women, 'A'isha and Hafsa, like the harmony and mutual understanding between their two fathers, Abu Bakr and 'Umar. The difference was that, with the women, 'A'isha was always the instigator and stronger one and would undertake things and would tug Hafsa, the daughter of 'Umar, behind her in everything. Whereas her father, Abu Bakr, was weaker [when compared] to 'Umar, who was the instigator and stronger party and would undertake things. We have observed from the previous discussion that even in [the matter of] the Caliphate, Ibn al-Khattab was the actual ruler. Some historians have reported that when 'A'isha decided to leave for Basra to rise against Imam 'Ali in what has become known as the "battle of the Camel", she sent a message to the wives of the Prophet (S.A.W.), the mothers of the believers, asking them to go with her. None of them responded except Hafsa bint 'Umar, who prepared herself and decided to leave with her. Her brother, 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar, however, stopped and rebuked her, and she cancelled her trip. Allah, the most Glorious had warned 'A'isha and Hafsa jointly in His words: "If you two support each other against him, Allah is his protector, as well as Gabriel and the righteous believers, and after that the angels too are his supporters". Allah also said: "You two turn in repentance to Allah, if your hearts are indeed so inclined". Allah provided for both of them a significant parable in Sura al-Tahrim (66), to teach both of them and the rest of the Muslims who believe that the mother of the believers will enter heaven without any reckoning or punishment, simply because she is the wife of the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.). Most Certainly not! For Allah has informed His servants, male and female, that mere spousal relationship will neither harm nor benefit [a person], even if the husband is the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.). What benefits or harms [a person], in the eyes of Allah, are an individual's deeds. Allah said: "Allah has set forth an example to the disbelievers, the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were both married to two servants from among our righteous servants. They were deceitful to their husbands. And they profited nothing before Allah due to that. Instead they were told: 'Enter the Fire with those who enter'" (66:10).
Allah cited an example for the believers, the wife of Pharaoh when she said: "O my Lord, build for me a house in paradise, and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds; and save me from the people who do wrong". And Mary, the daughter of Imran who guarded her chastity and We breathed Our spirit into her. She testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His scriptures and she was one of the devout [servants]" (66:11-12).
By this it becomes clear to all that spousal relationship and companionship, even though they both have a lot of merits, do not, in themselves, prevent the punishment of Allah unless they are accompanied by righteous deeds. If they are not, punishment is, in fact, increased. Allah's justice dictates that he does not punish the distant one who does not hear the revelation like [he punishes] the close one in whose house the Qur'an was revealed. A man who knows the truth and yet opposes it is like an ignorant person who does not know the truth.
Now, O reader, we will cite a few narrations in some detail so that you may know the personality of this woman who played the greatest role in distancing 'Ali from the Caliphate, and summoned all strength and resources to rise up in arms against him.
It should be further known that the verse of the removal of filth and purification is as remote from her as the sky is from the earth, and that most of the ahl al-sunna are the victims of lies and forgery for they follow the Umayyads without realising it.
source : http://www.islamicecenter.com/e-library/logic_islamic_rules/logic_islamic_rules_makarem_subhani_03.html
Salman Farsi as the Governor of Madayan
Appointment of a Successor by the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.)
The Distinguished Position of Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.)
Ahl al-Bayt (A.S.), the Secure Sanctuary of Humanity
Decide Wages before Hiring
The Life of the Commander of the Faithful Ali Ibn Abu Talib
Arba'een, Rendezvous of the Martyrs
The Holy Imams’ affection for fellow creatures
Patience and Humility of the Holy Imams (A.S.)
Knowledge Of Ahl ul-Bayt (A.S.)
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Spring 2019's Hottest Hairstyles: An Interview with Legendary Hairdresser Eugene Souleiman
At NYFW, hairstyles help tell a story and lead a brand’s vision. In some cases, the hair trends are more likely than the clothes to appear on the streets, but Wella Professionals Global Creative Director of Care & Styling and legendary hairdresser Eugene Souleiman proves that fortune favors the bold.
Souleiman, who describes himself as a “pressure player” thrives on the energetic, sometimes chaotic, backstage scene.
“Hairdressers have to make quick decisions, and just make it all work,” he says of the NYFW environment. “You could spend 45 minutes building a hairstyle and a makeup artist puts their hand on top of a model’s head and ruins it. What are you going to do? You have to be totally flexible.”
One change Souleiman is excited to see is the evolution of beauty during NYFW. “Back in the days of minimalism, people really wanted every girl to have the exact kind of look, like every girl was the same, literally the same. There wasn’t one hair out of place,” he explains. Now thanks to multicultural casting and the expanding vision of beauty, several hairstyles are seen across a show. He says this season’s wearable NYFW hairstyles to be not exactly clean (think second or third day hair) with punches of color and textured microbraids.
How do you think hairstyles at NYFW have evolved over the past few years?
"I think people's idea of beauty has kind of changed drastically, like really very very drastically. And I think the world is a smaller place, things are more accessible for us now. There's a real mix of people from different places in NYFW now, and I love that. I think that's really what's quite inspiring. Now you've got girls from Brazil, girls from Africa, girls from Asia, you know, you've got mixes of races. It's like one big pop up salon backstage in a funny kind of way, because you're used to working with so many different people, different hair types."
It seems that more attention is paid to all the different models now, rather than as a collective whole.
"You’re able to work in a more playful way, it's like less pressurized. It’s really about understanding the individual. And I think even though you work with the concept of a show and an idea, we have a more bespoke kind of take on what we're doing, like making one style work for this girl, but this other girl's got curly hair, so you’re working with more empathy, I think."
What’s your favorite part of NYFW?
"I enjoy that excitement, and I enjoy the excitement of not knowing what's going to happen, you know. When you go into a house you never really know what their idea is."
What styles do you think are going to be big this season?
"I think it's sort of safe to say that women are the new men right now, and there's this very strong beauty going on with women. There's a lot of really strong viewpoints about the new feminism. And I think there's a really big need for that. So I think once you tap into that zeitgeist, it's really quite clear where we should be going with wearable hair at the moment. Women don't have a lot of time to do their hair. And the thing is, why not enjoy yourself for what you are, and your hair for what you are. And I think that's really where we are. I think there's a sense of honesty now, and I think people are more realistic. Like, "You know what? I can't do that to my hair." When someone comes to terms and likes who they are, and they're not trying to torture themselves or fit into a particular mold which has been shattered, right?"
What are the strong hairstyles women can adopt into their routines post-NYFW?
"I'm very much into hair that feels like there's some movement – not total tortured movement, but movement that feels kind of effortless and more fluid. There's some life in it, and a sense of freedom. But, it's still being stylized. Natural, windswept hair that's maybe pulled back off the face. But not pulled back off the face like it would have been done in the '90s where it would be like, product and schlack. I’m talking about hair that feels like you can actually touch it, you can get your hands in your hair and there's a sensuality to it, but strength too."
Are there any bolder looks you think will be trending?
"I'm also into hair that feels slightly Victorian, like just kind of thrown up and curly and a bit tumbly. It’s quite an interesting sort of dichotomy because I think when people talk about feminism they talk about women emulating men and being masculine. And I don't think that's the case now, because I think women are beginning to own their femininity, not go back in time and slick their hair back and be really severe. Trying too hard is so not cool."
With NYFW in particular, designers tend to work in extremes, do you think that will be the case this year too?
"Yes, there’s this modern and lifestyle oriented, very full, 2-day old feeling hair and texture. And the other direction is the complete opposite – fantasy, beauty and dreams and creating something that is not touchable. People are either into that or the other. There are fashion shows where people say “Oh, I’d wear that!” and then there are other shows where people are like “What the…” But within that polarity, there’s diversity. There’s a lot of room to be creative."
Some of the hairstyles you created for Spring 2019 shows, like Thom Browne, Dion Lee, and Jeremy Scott, are all wildly different (see images below). What was your vision for each?
"For Thom Browne, I wanted complete lunacy. I called it fallen unicorn hair and we teased the hair and then hit it with a straightening iron. Jeremy Scott had a rawness to it; I want to bring the perm back. I love this hair because it’s almost like a feather cut, a very early 70s vibe, with beautiful fresh color. For Dion Lee, we did micro, almost invisible braids, pulled back away from the face. It’s a very modern look."
By Kaitlin Clark
Eugene Souleiman for Thom Browne
Eugene Souleiman for Jeremy Scott
Eugene Souleiman for Dion Lee
Eugene Souleiman
Iridescence by Josh Goldsworthy 15 February 2019
This collection is inspired by a lustrous rainbow like play of color caused by the refraction of light waves, as seen on an oil slick, soap bubble, or fish scales, that change and morph as the angle of view changes.
COTY Professional Beauty announces Beauty Envision Awards Finalists 15 February 2019
COTY Professional Beauty announced the finalists for the first North American Beauty Envision Awards, a competition for salon pros who are ready to influence the very definition of beauty with the art they create. Finalists will compete live on July 21st, 2019 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
All About Color! Up Close and Personal with Iconic Colorist Sonya Dove 15 February 2019
Wella Global Top Stylist and Ulta Pro team member @sonyadove is one of the most respected color artists/educators in the world. Estetica had the pleasure of getting together with Sonya, and we’re thrilled to share our exclusive interview with you!
#CurlyMania – 25 Top Curly Looks for the Summer! 15 February 2019
From the over-blown styles of the outrageous Eighties through to more sophisticated Afro-inspired uber-textures, next summer will give free rein to all options, provided that curls are the main protagonists – even if they are grown naturally!
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Faith-Friendly Film Reviews »Noah Review
leaning away from a biblically orthodox worldview
Riding into theaters on a wave of controversy, the highly anticipated nationwide release of NOAH on Friday, March 28, finally answers the question raised by media outlets since last fall about how well the film will resonate with faith-based audiences. Unfortunately for Paramount Pictures, which spent an estimated $125 million producing the project, NOAH misses the boat with Faith Driven Consumers by straying far enough from the biblical account to render the story only vaguely recognizable. Even non-believers will come away from NOAH scratching their heads wondering why acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler, Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan) chose to portray God’s righteous man Noah as a homicidal maniac hell bent on killing his own family members.
Starring Russell Crowe (Gladiator, Man of Steel, Les Misérables) as Noah, Jennifer Connelly (Blood Diamond, A Beautiful Mind) as Noah’s wife, Anthony Hopkins (Thor, Silence of the Lambs) as Methuselah and Emma Watson (Harry Potter) as Shem’s wife, NOAH theoretically has the high-caliber star power to deliver. However, the story’s dark descent into a tale of Noah’s derangement – coupled with a fanciful and unbiblical treatment of the Nephilim – turns what could have been a satisfying epic about sin, judgment and salvation into a strange combination of MAD MAX, TRANSFORMERS and WATER WORLD.
While the dominant biblical theme of God’s decision in Genesis 6 – 9 to destroy the world because of mankind’s overarching wickedness and sin is clearly presented in NOAH, the messianic message of the ark as a safe vessel through which God’s righteous ones will be delivered from the coming judgment is lost. Instead, the ark is a place of punishment for God’s remnant – until the final scene when Noah comes to his senses and relents from killing some of his own family members. Similarly, Aronofsky’s Noah departs from the biblical account in claiming that he wasn’t chosen by God because he was righteous, but simply because he’d carry out the job of eliminating all humans from Earth so that the animals might be saved and allowed to start over free from human corruption.
Oddly, biblical themes not found in the Genesis account are present in NOAH, including a barren womb miraculously opened not by God, but by Methuselah, who is depicted as a magical wizard with supernatural powers dispensing godly wisdom from his guru mountaintop cave. And whereas the Bible indicates that Noah obediently “walks with God” and has explicit and detailed communication with Him about the fact that his family will be saved, Aronofsky’s Noah seems distant from God – confused about the fate of his family and hearing from Him only in dreams and mystical states.
NOAH offers a several characters and situations that are not found in the biblical account. While the Bible clearly indicates that eight humans are saved in the flood – Noah, his wife, their three sons and three daughters-in law – in NOAH two of the sons do not have wives and Shem’s wife bears twin daughters, who function as God’s “provision” for Ham and Japeth. Similarly, the villain Tubal-cain breaks onto the ark and stows away for the duration of the flood and tries to tempt Ham into joining him to kill Noah before he himself is killed. Ironically, Tubal-cain seems to have a clearer understanding of how humans bear God’s image and are called to have dominion over the Earth than Noah does. Positively, the wives of both Noah and Shem are largely respectful and unified with their husbands, despite Noah’s increasingly irrational leadership.
In a movie that takes significant liberty with the biblical text, NOAH manages to get a few details correct. The flood is clearly depicted as universal, there’s a dove with an olive branch, and the wonder of the animals approaching the ark in pairs coming out of the woods is one of the few emotionally stirring scenes in the entire 138-minute movie. Here, however, the distinction God made between seven clean and two unclean animals is not made. In other ways, Aronofsky gets things right to a point, but then inexplicably diverges from the text. For example, he hints at an altar of worship after the flood, but turns it into a mystical birthright bestowal instead of an explicit covenant. There’s a rainbow, but no promise from God to never again destroy the Earth again with water. And Noah’s retelling of the six days of creation to his family while on the ark starts off strong, but then gets muddled in commentary about human depravity.
While in popular culture the story of Noah has become a sanitized tale for young children to learn about the animals going onto the ark two-by-two, the biblical account is much more sobering and centers on the ugly reality of sin and wickedness, the apocalyptic destruction of humanity by a heartbroken and grieved God, and ultimately Noah’s post-flood drunkenness. Here, NOAH gets it right and earns its PG-13 rating – meaning it is theoretically suitable viewing for teens and up with parental guidance. Indeed, some adolescents will relate well to the Transformers-like depiction of the Nephilim and the younger casting for Noah’s sons and daughter-in-law. However, parents are cautioned to fully consider the broader question of exposing their teens to a version of the Noah account that differs significantly from the biblical narrative.
Faith Driven Consumers looking for a feel-good, big-budget, action-oriented movie that tracks closely with a biblical theme will be disappointed in NOAH. While the outlines of the Genesis account are there and some major biblical themes are taken seriously, the deviation from Scripture is too great to make up for the high production levels, Academy Award-winning cast and impressive special effects. Even movie-goers who aren’t particularly faith-oriented will find NOAH unsatisfying due to its slow pacing and uninteresting and unlikeable protagonist. Ironically, the most interesting and sympathetic characters in the film are Noah’s daughter-in-law, Ham and Tubal-cain. In the end, given Aronofsky’s focus on Noah’s dark, inner conflict, perhaps the film should have titled “The Last Temptation of Noah.”
Faith Driven Consumer posted about Noah Review on Faith Driven Consumer's Facebook page 2014-03-28 07:52:43 -0400
@FaithConsumer Faith-friendly Film Review: @NoahMovie
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Cannes 2013 Diaries Day 4: Ryan Gosling & Grigris
It was nearly half-way through Cannes and my festival was going seemingly well, with screening invitations galore and plenty of sunshine. Today on my hit list: Only God Forgives by Nicolas Winding Refn, and Grigris by Mahamat Saleh-Haroun.
Drive exploded on the Croisette two years ago, bringing to a wider attention the work of the Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn. It was cool, it was stylish and Ryan Gosling delivered a memorable and iconic performance. Beyond the critical acclaim, it also generated a sort of fandom that is more usually reserved to comic book adaptations. I had been a big fan of the director's previous film, Valhalla Rising, and while I enjoyed Drive a lot at the time, its impact evaporated fairly quickly after its viewing. Unlike many, while I am all for style over substance, as much as I admired the film, it lacked a certain connection, and it ended up slipping below my top 10 of 2011 when I drew my list.
Only God Forgives was actually out in France on the same day of its Cannes release, a very common phenomenon, as often local distributors want to take advantage of the festival's hype machine. The festival means a lot in France, but while it is still the second most covered event in the world after the Olympic games, I could not see that happen in any other countries. In fact, I have found the cover of the festival in the UK to be even more dire than usual.
On the basis of a simultaneous release, I had naively assumed that scoring an invitation might be easy, but I was wrong, and it took me a lot of time and effort to succeed. But then again, seeing the film in the Theatre Lumiere as opposed to some small and rubbish local cinema, and most possibly dubbed in French explains why so many were dead set on seeing it there. I had decided against an early rise and the 830am press/industry screening, trying my luck for the afternoon industry one instead, and early echoes of the first screening were not good.
In some ways, I found this backlash to be wholly predictable. In search of cheap traffic, many film sites/twitterers love nothing more than bashing those than themselves had praised only a few years ago. Besides, what I was reading about it being too radical and empty made me think I might actually enjoy it a lot, and I did wonder how many of those Drive fanboys/Only God Forgives haters had actually seen his previous films, as this new film seemed more in line with those.
As I was getting a little frustrated and almost worried outside the Palais as time was beginning to run out, I got chatting to this really nice gay old couple, themselves on the hunt for invitations, and we had a good laugh at those non-cinephiles chasing after invitation for the evening galas, all dressed up, simply to mingle with the stars on the red carpet and not caring about what they would be seeing in the slightest.
But I finally got lucky, got an invitation and joined the (very long) queue. As we were all waiting, the old couple came back to find me, as they had been given a spare invitation for the Grigris screening later on, and told me I should have it as I was a "true cinephile!". The generosity and kindness of strangers in Cannes will never fail to surprise me!
So Only God Forgives... The film turned out to be the major shock of the festival for me, instantly finding its way on a joint top position of my favourite films of the year alongside Upstream Color. Rest assured there is not the single ounce of attention-seeking contrarianism in me, it is a wholly honest opinion.
My bugbear with all the negative reactions was that there was no story, which could not be further from the truth, there is a strong narrative, verging on the Greek tragedy, with its themes of family vengeance, redemption, divine justice and an Oedipus like conflict. But it is just not told in the more traditional way, offering instead an involving and extraordinary sensory experience, with its breathtaking cinematography, all in neon lights and vivid colours, (a wonderful depiction of the already very photogenic Bangkok, being in its streets at nights or various karaoke bars), and the unusual soundscape with its intense and hypnotic electronic score, punctuated by naff local pop songs. I am a major fan of big Asian cities at night, which I find to be among the most atmospheric in the world, and the Danish director takes full advantage of the film's location.
Ryan Gosling here is more than a naff 80's jacket wearer, he is just as intense as ever, but very vulnerable too, struggling with a terrible internal conflict between family ties and morals, being mentally castrated by his terrifying drug kingpin of a mother, played by Kristin Scott-Thomas. I have to admit I am not fond of the gimmick of having respectable actresses play against type, but here the British actress is in another league completely, she is mesmerising and unrecognisable with her American accent and bleached blonde hair, launching herself into foul-mouthed tirades and terrorising everybody else on screen solely with her presence.
Just like with Valhalla Rising, Nicolas Winding Refn uses very little dialogue, opting instead for a more stylised and radical approach to storytelling. I have a feeling that once some have got over their Drive 2 disappointment, this will be properly reassessed. It will be interesting to see how the UK audience reacts to it when it's out in August.
And then it was time for Grigris. You know those annoying "Oscar 2014 potentials" articles that cropped up the minute the 2013 ceremony was over? Well some, based on nothing else than hot air and column inches to fill, had this film as one of the serious contenders for the Palme d'Or, for whatever reason, or simply because the director had won the Jury Prize in Cannes a few years ago. But it was not to be, it truly was not.
Walking up the read carpet for Grigris
It had a 4pm slot, which is reserved for the smaller films of the selection. It means that it still gets the red carpet treatment, with the cast and crew all glammed up and attending, but with a more relaxed dress code than the evening gala screenings, but which is still exciting to attend, with all the photographers lining up the red carpet as you walk up the steps. And once inside, we got treated to some footage of lead actor Souleymane Démé throwing some serious shapes on the red carpet as he was about to get in.
Yet I have to admit I did what so many do in Cannes, shamelessly... I walked out after 30 minutes! There is no excuse, and I was welcoming the opportunity to see a film from Chad and something completely different, but I just could not get into it. Grigris is about a disabled dancer who gets stuck with the wrong crowd in an attempt to help fund his sick adopted father's treatment, and is all very admirable, but the slow pace and lack of emotional involvement meant I had to leave.
Later that day, as we met up with both familiar film bloggers from London in an Irish pub, and invited more of our Twitter acquaintances from abroad to join us (I just love the way Cannes truly becomes the capital of cinema!), the night got messier and messier, and I shall spare you all the details... Let's just say the glamour of Cannes completely eluded us!
This Is The End Review
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For Love's Sake: West Side Story Meets Takeshi's C...
Top 10 Best Actresses
The Terracotta Film Festival 2013 - A Presentation...
Summer in February - Edwardian love triangle in Co...
Cannes 2013 Diaries Day 3: The Dolce Vita, The Can...
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Ode to a vicious psychopath
The Steelers released everyone's favorite psychopathic linebacker. It wasn't unexpected. Harrison's play has fallen off the last two years, partially due to his age, partially due to a very clear, though not unwarranted, declaration by the the league that it doesn't approve of the violence with which Harrison plays the game. Officials routinely looked the other way when offensive linemen held him. When he did break through the protection, the punishment he doled out often resulted in fines.
He was a bad, bad dude. But he was our bad dude.
This team is in need of a pretty extensive rebuild, both in the linebacking corps and the secondary. To keep Harrison around for another year for the more than $6.5 million he was due doesn't make much sense for a team looking to rebuild its defense. Between his age and the league constantly out to paint him as the face of the product it's trying disingenuously to distance itself from, I don't think the Steelers will miss Harrison too much. I'm sure we'll touch on this more as the draft nears and we see which linebackers the team carries into the season, but for now, let's just celebrate the man.
Before Harrison became the flesh-devouring monster we've all come to know and love, I put together a primer on Harrison and why you should love him. I e-mailed it around a little, mainly to engage a particular girl in a football conversation, but never posted it. Here now, to serve as a look back on the great years of havoc and bloodshed, is an updated version of the James Harrison primer from September 3, 2008:
Some information on the Steelers' James Harrison, and why you should love him:
Harrison is known as the Steelers' team gym rat. When asked about his weight-lifting abilities on a recent airing of the Hines Ward Show on Pittsburgh local station KDKA, he replied that can bench 465 pounds and squat 700 pounds.
Harrison gained some attention and popularity when he bodyslammed a Cleveland Browns fan in a 41-0 Pittsburgh win. The fan charged the field, Harrison grabbed the intoxicated fan as he approached his teammates and took the man to the ground. Harrison restrained the fan until authorities took him away.
They call him "Silverback," because, as a Mr. Clark Haggans once said: "They're big, strong gorillas from the Congo, the silverback gorilla. They spend their days swinging on trees and breaking stuff. All the other apes and everyone in the jungle are afraid of him."
This from a 2006 piece by Jim Wexell about one of the Steelers' other players, Joey Porter, being named the NFL's most feared defensive player:
I mumble something to Porter about the award, something about wanting to get Harrison's thoughts, something about a bullseye on his jersey, never really asking him outright if he thinks he deserves his new moniker. I just don't want to eat a Peezy sandwich today, thank you very much.
"I don't understand your question," Porter said. "If you want Silverback's thoughts, go ask him."
Okay. If you say so.
Harrison dresses in the near corner of the locker room and he's in his chair. He's seated, but bending over and untying his shoes. Practice had just ended and that's when the locker room heats up. Most reporters ask their questions before practice. The players are more pensive then. But after practice the pads are coming off, the kickers are throwing balls around, the players are happy, loud.
Um, James, I'm doing something on Joey's cover about being the most feared man in the NFL.
"WHAT ABOUT IT?"
Yes, that's an all-caps scream. He wanted to make sure I heard him because he wasn't going to sit up until he completed his task.
James, I'm wondering what some of the other linebackers think.
"I AIN'T SEEN IT!"
Well, what do you think about him being named the most feared man in the NFL?
"I LIKE IT!"
Um, I thought you might receive some consideration for that.
"IF THEY CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME, THEN GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY I PLAY WITH! I LOVE IT!"
Let's call it a day on that happy note then. Thank you.
And this? This is the probably the best. From a November 27, 2005 profile of Harrison by the Tribune-Review's Joe Bendel:
"I don't trust you," Harrison told a reporter during a recent one-on-one interview. "Why? Because you're a reporter. Everything in the newspaper, half of it is B.S."
"I trust my teammates ... to a certain extent," he said, matter of factly.
"I need them, that's true," he said. "I trust my teammates to do everything they need to do on the field. But I'm saying outside of football, do I trust anybody? No."
What about his mother, Mildred, who has seven biological children (James included) and 15 overall?
"No," said Harrison...
As his siblings got older and moved out, James was left on his own with his parents. He soon developed a core of 5-6 friends and made it a point to keep an eye on everyone in the neighborhood.
In one instance, he was forced to confront the local bully, who finally pushed James to his boiling point. Moments later, the bully was out cold.
"I hit him with a brick," Harrison said. "My momma told me to pick up the nearest thing to you and hit him with it, so I did. I didn't have to worry about him no more. I never saw him again."
Harrison went from a brick to a BB gun his senior of high school, which got him into major trouble. As Harrison tells it, he shot the gun at some teammates in the locker room at Coventry High, where he was one of a handful of black students. Harrison claims he was just being playful, but a teammate brought assault charges against him, and Harrison faced six months in prison. The charge was later reduced, and he was forced to pay a $100 fine.
From a 12.19.08 piece on the Steelers' defense by ESPN.com's Dave Fleming:
They rapped for the cameras. They flexed. They posed. Smith said he had been working on his Zoolander Blue Steel look all day. And when the players found out the shoot was intended for a possible cover (I'll never tell), half of them jumped down and started doing push-ups to bulk up for the newsstand.
"Smile," the photog yelled to Harrison.
"I don't smile," the 'backer replied.
"What do you think of the super spread that Texas Tech runs?" I asked him a few minutes later during a break.
"Texas Tech? Who's that?" he asked.
Come on, man. Be cool.
"Seriously, I don't watch football when I go home, man," Harrison insisted. "I don't watch ESPN or none of that -- I watch cartoons."
This last one is especially sweet.
Posted by Matt at 12:54 PM
Labels: all caps fury, football, guys we got rid of, James Harrison is a vicious psychopath, Steelers
Your baseball optimism is misguided
While you were sleeping, the Pens traded for Jarom...
Rushdie, failure, etc.
Commentary on commentary? SO META!
It's too early for this shit
An early lead for mixed sports metaphor of the yea...
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4/7/13 Richmond
with Adrenaline Mob
The Executioner
From the Ashes of My Sins' debut album.
About Ashes
“From the Ashes of My Sins” is a melodic hard rock group from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. “Ashes” was founded in 2006 by drummer David Clark and singer/keyboardist Crystal Holton. The line-up and style was further refined in 2008 by the additions of the infamous Rob Short on bass and Justin Scrivener on guitar and mandolin.
Each of the musicians involved in the project brings their own distinct style shaped from diverse musical influences. These varied musical backgrounds allow “Ashes” to blend elements of metal, punk, and progressive into a sound which runs the musical spectrum from energetic to haunting. When Crystal’s lyrical works and vocals are added to the mix, the final result is a unique musical experience which translates equally well through both recordings and live performances.
“From the Ashes of My Sins” just completed their first CD, “Sanctuary”, which is available on iTunes and other major download outlets. They regularly perform live at local venues, and have shared the stage with groups such as “Eluveitie”, “Epica”, and “Living Colour”.
Don't push this... no, seriously...
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Home Earthquakes News
Earthquake: 5.6 Quake Rattles Northern California
Earthquakes, News 11:56 AM
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck several kilometres from the small community of Petrolia, located over 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the city of San Francisco.
A 5.6-magnitude tremor was registered in Humboldt County in northern California late Saturday, the US Geological Survey reported, adding that the estimated depth of the earthquake was 9.4 km (5.8 miles).
At the moment, there is no official information about damage or casualties in the region.
The quake was centered 17 miles from Scotia, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was 23 miles from Fortuna, 36 miles from Eureka and 40 miles from Bayside.
The news comes after earlier this month about 400 earthquakes of 4.0-magnitude or less rocked the southern part of the state in what scholars described as "swarms" of seismic activity.
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Cheap Argentina vs. Mexico Tickets at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas: Ticket Down Slashes Ticket Prices on Mexico vs. Argentina Tickets for International Friendly Match in Dallas @ AT&T Stadium
“Ticket Down is a reputable provider of authentic tickets for the exciting soccer match next week between Argentina and Mexico in Dallas – add promo code SOCCER for extra savings.”
Ticket Down announces that they have rolled back ticket prices across the board for the international friendly match featuring soccer powerhouses, Mexico and Argentina, at the state-of-the-art AT&T Stadium in Dallas. This well-known secondary ticket provider is offering their customer appreciation promo code SOCCER for added savings.
Ticket Down is a reputable source of authentic tickets for the friendly international soccer match featuring Argentina vs. Mexico on Tuesday, September 8th. AT&T Stadium is one of the premiere sporting venues in the United States and even though it has only been open since 2009 this popular destination has already hosted many memorable events. From the NBA All Star weekend festivities to collegiate football championship games to WrestleMania 32 (in 2016), the venue has seen the greatest stars across sports compete there. It is the home of the Dallas Cowboys from the National Football League and has also been used numerous times for international soccer matches. On September 8th this venue will feature a match between two of the world’s best, Argentina and Mexico.
As of the latest FIFA/Coca Cola world rankings, Argentina is ranked as the top team in the world ahead of powerhouse teams like Belgium, Germany, Colombia, and Brazil. The Mexican national soccer team isn’t ranked in the top 10, but was ranked as 26th best team in the latest rankings, 14 spots better than the last update.
Argentina has had a remarkable 2015 year after their second place finish at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Through their first nine matches of the year, they are unbeaten including wins against Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. This team features some of the best players in the world including Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano, and Carlos Tevez.
The Mexican squad has had a busy 2015 competing in both the 2015 Copa America and 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup tournaments. To date, they have already competed in 17 matches and are riding an eight match unbeaten streak with wins against Costa Rica and Panama. The Mexican squad is one that is filled with a blend of youth and experience. With players like Rafael Marquez, Francisco Javier Rodriguez, and Andres Guardado lacing up their cleats for this nation, they can certainly give Argentina a fight at AT&T Stadium.
About TicketDown.com:
Ticket Down delivers tickets to sold out concerts and events worldwide when no one else can, and they do so at discounted prices. This popular ticket site also has discounted tickets for Mexico vs. Argentina at AT&T Stadium. Diehard soccer fans are encouraged to add promo code SOCCER for added savings.
Check out our discount codes online for all upcoming events. Ticket Down has low overheads which allow this well-known ticket site to keep prices competitive.
Note: Ticket Down is not associated with any international soccer teams or venues mentioned in this release. The names that are used in this release are purely for descriptive purposes. We are not affiliated with nor do we endorse any sports teams or venues in this release.
Company Name: JP Media
Contact Person: Ticket Down
Email: contact@ticketdown.com
Website: www.ticketdown.com
CategoriesArts & Entertainment, Business, Media & Communications, News & Current Affairs, Sports
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Chinese Global Engagements Abroad: Changing Social, Economic, And Political Configurations
French Centre for Research on Contemporary China (CEFC) ;
The School of Humanities and Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology &
Institute for Emerging Market Studies (IEMS), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macao
National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO, Paris);
The French Research Institute on East Asia (IFRAE);
Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia (IRASEC)
Asean-China-Norms
Argument:
There has been significant expansion and globalization of Chinese capital, people, and ideas since the early 2000s. The Chinese government’s “going out” (zou chuqu) policy and more recent Belt and Road Initiative reflect a domestic context of capital over-accumulation, an attempt to ensure adequate supply of raw materials and energy, as well as interest in fostering the global competitiveness of its enterprises. In the process, China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased globally, particularly in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. This has resulted in China becoming the most important source of FDI in the world with 158.29 billion US$ annually in 2017. Flows of capital, people, and ideas from China have not only increased, but also greatly diversified over the last two decades to reach fields as diverse as energy, trade, transport, media, education, finance, and so on. If China’s global imprint has been most prominent in the economic or geo-economic fields, the country’s increasing presence also has important social, cultural and political aspects. Hence, this conference will discuss how Chinese global engagements shape new political, economic, and social configurations.
In addition to shedding light on the transformations of the Chinese state’s expansion and globalization strategy, this conference will also explore how Chinese entrepreneurs, engineers, journalists, diplomats, NGO delegates, etc. interact with the general public, and with business and political elites in the hosting societies.
Moving beyond the assessment of the possible benefits and harms of the increasingly global reach of Chinese capital and aiming at avoiding the too often homogenized and ethnicized depiction of Chinese presence abroad (Nyiri 2012; Tan and Grillot 2016; Lee 2017), this conference aims at gathering contributions that will engage empirically and theoretically with the complexities of the entanglements between an increasingly diverse Chinese presence abroad (from petty entrepreneurs, state corporations managers, engineers, NGO practitioners, to unskilled laborers) and local actors. In this sense, the conference also seeks to expand our understanding of the evolving features of global capitalism in its quest for and in the production of “new frontiers”, and consider how they produce new assemblages of sovereignty, governmentality, and political economies (Mezzadra and Neilson 2013).
The main purpose of the 4th edition of this Conference is to provide a forum for PhD and postdoctoral researchers to engage with each other’s work and foster a better understanding of economic and socio-political processes at work in contemporary China, as well as internationally, given China’s increasing importance as a global actor.
The Conference will be an occasion to facilitate exchanges on common research subjects, compare perspectives and methodologies, and promote interdisciplinary dialogue. By providing a space for debate and reflection, the Conference intends to contribute to the emergence of more diverse theoretical approaches of global China and contemporary capitalism, both in their domestic and international dimensions.
The participants will present their research in thematic panels. Each speaker will deliver a paper in English, followed by a discussion with an invited discussant. The best contributors will be invited to submit their papers for a special issue of a peer-reviewed academic journal, as well as shorter versions of their articles aimed at a general audience for a special issue of the Made in China Journal to be published in 2020.
Contributions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following questions and topics:
The connection between the transformations of domestic economic development strategies and accumulation regimes on the one hand, and the expansion and globalization of China’s reach, on the other. In particular, what are the economic and political goals of the expansion of Chinese capital beyond “accumulation for accumulation’s sake”? (Lee 2017: 7);
How China’s increasingly global reach and the expansion of Chinese capital has been received and represented at the levels of political and business elites, as well as ordinary citizens;
How various flows and networks of migrants articulate with and rework the local political economies and the relationship between formal and informal labor and migration regimes and how this can be related to networks of accumulation, as well as to contentious politics;
The changing politics and industry of migration: roles of brokers, migration infrastructures, trade unions, etc.;
How these flows alter the relationship between different generations of (im)migrants, the politics of ethnicity and identity, and the relationship with the Chinese state; what roles do the various Chinese associations and networks play in these economic, political, and cultural processes?
The transformation of the Chinese state’s representation of international Chinese migrants and how this resonates with changing economic development paradigms and strategies in foreign policy.
The full programme of the conference will be available in 25 June 2019
Site web de référence
7/F, Council Chamber (Lift 13 - 15), Academic Building, HKUST
ICAS 11 Online Programme and Itinerary Planner
The Nether
EATS Conference 2020: The 17th EATS Annual Conference
ICAS 11 / 7e Congrès Asie
Leiden | T
7e Congrès Asie / ICAS11
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The Civil War Flags Message Board
Re: 12th Ga Artillery Battalion
In Response To: Re: 12th Ga Artillery Battalion ()
The 18th Ga. Bn. was captured as part of Crutchfield's Brigade, G.W.C. Lee's Division, Ewell's Corps, at Sayler's Creek. Included here is Major Basinger's report of the fight. The 12th Ga. Bn. was part of Brig. Clement Evans's Brigade, Gordon's Division, 2nd Corps.
Crutchfield's Artillery Brigade
Report of its Operations
April 3 - 6, 1865, when it was captured with Lee's Division at Sailor's Creek
Southern Historical Society Papers, published in 1897 an excerpt of Volume 25 pages 38�44
This, printed the original manuscript, was recently supplied by General G. W. Custis Lee, late President Washington and Lee University:
SAVANNAH, March 3, 1866. Major�General G. W. C. Lee, Commanding Lee's Division, Ewell's Corps, Army Northern Virginia.
GENERAL: In compliance with your request that I would communicate in an official form such information as I may possess of the operations of Crutchfield's Brigade, from the evacuation of the lines on the north of the James river to the capture of the Division at Sailors' Creek, on the 6th April, 1865, I have the honor to report as follows:
The Brigade consisted of the 10th, 18th, 19th and 20th Virginia Battalions of artillery, the Chaffin's Bluff garrison composed of five unattached Virginia companies of artillery, temporarily organized as a battalion, and the 18th Georgia battalion.
These battalions were organized in pairs, and commanded as follows: the Chaffin's Bluff battalion and the 18th Georgia by Major W. H. Gibbes; the 18th and 19th Virginia by Lieutenant-Colonel Howard; the 10th and 20th Virginia by Lieutenant-Colonel Atkinson.
I need not recapitulate the circumstances of the march; nor enlarge on the starving condition of the troops, further than to say that from the commencement of the movement to the moment of our falling into the hands of the enemy, the only stores issued were, one pound of meal and one-third of a pound of bacon. these were issued on the afternoon of the 4th, and so far as I was informed, only to this brigade; the Brigade Commissary having, fortunately, that small supply on hand.
We saw or heard no signs of the enemy until the 5th, when reports of small arms at some distance indicated their approach. Having passed Amelia Court House several miles, several companies, from the Chaffin's Bluff Battalion, and from the battalion under Colonel Atkinson's command, were deployed as skirmishers on the left of the line of march, and continued to march in that order and position, parallel to the column, during all that day and night. But there was no appearance of an enemy until about 10 o'clock that night, when we were fired upon by what was supposed to be a small advanced party of the enemy's cavalry.
About 10 or 11 o'clock on the morning of the 6th the enemy being discovered in close proximity, the brigade was formed in line of battle faced to the left. I presumed to cover the passage of the trains. But the enemy contented himself with shelling the trains and the road by which the troops passed. But no one was hurt.
After crossing Sailor's Creek, and while halted near the crest of the hill beyond it, the enemy was discovered advancing in heavy force towards our left and rear. His artillery came up rapidly and took position on the summit of the hill we had recently passed over, on the other side of the creek, near the houses of Hillsmans' farm., and not more than 350 and 400 yards from us, as I have ascertained by a subsequent careful examination of the ground.
The division immediately formed line, facing to the rear, about one-third of the distance down the hill, Crutchfield's Brigade on the right. But before the line was formed, and while the greater part of the troops were yet moving to their position, the enemy opened fire with case, shells, and canister.
The 18th Georgia was on the extreme right of the brigade; next stood the Chaffin's Bluff troops, Major Robert Stiles. In consequence of the transfer of Major Gibbes on the day previous, to Hardaway's Battalion of Artillery, the command of these two battalion had devolved on myself. The conformation of the ground was such that I could see distinctly only these two battalions after getting into position. Consequently, whatever I have to state further relates to them alone.
The different battalions moved up successively from right to left. No sooner were the colors of the 18th Georgia and Chaffin's Bluff troops established, than the enemy directed his fire upon those commands with great rapidity and accuracy. But both battalions dressed up to their colors with as much steadiness and formality as if on parade. I observed particularly the Chaffin's Bluff companies, as I was told they had never before been engaged. There was something surprising in their perfect steadiness and order. By this time many casualties having occurred, and the enemy's fire becoming remarkably accurate and severe, the troops were directed to lie down in their places. But notwithstanding this precaution, many of Major Stiles' command were killed and wounded. The 18th Georgia suffered not at all, as they lay in a slight depression of the ground. I do not think I had a man hurt by artillery during the engagement.
Covered by his artillery the enemy moved up his infantry in three lines of battle, preceded by skirmishers. As soon as our own skirmishers had retired, they were received with a general discharge from our whole line, which speedily threw their first line into confusion, killing and wounding considerable numbers.
Unable to face our fire, that line fell back in disorder, which, as I was afterwards told, they communicated to their second line. Such was the eagerness of Major Stiles' men, that upon perceiving the enemy's hesitation, they sprang up from their recumbent attitude and rushed upon them, fixing bayonets as they advanced; and it was with difficulty that Major Stiles and I could check them and restore the line. I was also afterwards informed, by other officers of the brigade that the enemy's second line was broken in a similar manner by our fire, and that his third line was met by ours in a general advance with the bayonet, and driven back beyond the creek, when the flag of truce appeared announcing the surrender of the whole corps by General Ewell.
I communicate information received from others of what did not fall under my own observation, for the sake of the corroboration it may give to statements from other quarters. After the restoration of our line, broken, as just state, by the precipitate charge of Major Stiles' command, my attention was confined to what took place on our extreme right, and I saw no more of the general engagement. [ missing text] adequate to praise them as they deserve. But while I have an opportunity to speak, the living must not lose, through my silence, their claim to the gratitude of their country, nor the dead that honorable mention which belongs to the soldier who falls in a righteous cause.
I have before stated that my battalion was on the extreme right of the brigade. Its right rested on the road by which we had marched after crossing the creek. On the other side of the road was a dense pine thicket, which concealed all beyond from view. Perhaps you will recollect passing the command early in the engagement, and telling me I might feel secure about my flank, as Kershaw's Division was beyond the thicket; as I understood matters, with his extreme left covering our flank, his line being at right angles to ours.
After re-establishing Major Stiles' Battalion, I passed up to our right. I had scarcely got there, when I perceived a large body of the enemy advancing through the thicket diagonally upon our flank, and already with in about forty yards. They could not have been seen at a greater distance, so close were the trees. I had but eighty-five men, but I could not leave the spot, nor was there a moment to spare. I changed front instantly (receiving, as the movement was made, a volley which proved fatal to several), and took position in a wide and shallow gully at the road-side. Perceiving that the superior numbers of the enemy would enable him to destroy us by his fire, I ordered bayonets fixed and attacked.
Through the extraordinary gallantry of the men, the attack was entirely successful. Many of the enemy were killed with the bayonet, and the rest were driven off in disorder, after a desperate struggle, distinguished by many acts of individual heroism. Lieutenant G. M. Turner, though previously wounded on the skirmish line, joined in the charge, and was shot down in the act of saving the life of a comrade. Lieutenant W. D. Grant took a regimental flag from the hands of its bearer, and was prostrated by mortal wounds immediately after delivering it to me. Sergeant George James is reported to have taken another, and fell shortly after. Captain G. C. Rice was over powered by an officer of the enemy of greatly superior size and strength, in Confederate uniform, and was shot by him on the ground, after he had surrendered. Lieutenant W. H. King revenged him and was himself killed on the instant. Sergeant C. B. Postal, [ missing text ] F. Tupper, pursuing too far, fell mortally wounded on the bank of the creek, about 300 yards from our position.
I hope I did not commit an error in taking this course. The safety of the brigade was at stake. If my brave fellows had flinched or given way, the enemy would have thrown himself on our flank, and the general loss must have been much greater than it was.
I had scarcely reassembled the remnant of the battalion in its original position, with but one officer unwounded besides myself, when you passed by and reassured me as to my apprehensions of further molestation from that quarter by the information that other troops had been sent to guard that approach. They probably never reached their destination; for in a very few minutes another but smaller body of the enemy came on over the same ground. Supposing them to be some of our own troops giving way, I took my men out to rally them and discovered that they were enemies only when within a few paces. I attempted, as our only recourse, to repeat the attack which has just terminated so well; but over powered by superior numbers, though fighting to the last, all the rest of the command were killed, wounded or taken. Sergeants R. Millen and S. Morton stood to the last before their colors, keeping at bay a party of about fifty men, and were the last to fall.
Seeing then but one officer and the non-commissioned staff remaining, I displayed my handkerchief in token of surrender. As I did so, the enemy, hitherto sheltering themselves behind the trees, rushed into the road, and fired upon my wounded who lay in the gully before mentioned. It was with the greatest difficulty they could be induced to cease from this barbarity I mention this closing incident as one more of the numerous atrocities which indicated the relentless spirit in which the war was waged against us.
The loss in the 18th Georgia Battalion was thirty killed, including those who subsequently died of their wounds, and twenty-two wounded; in all sixty-one per cent. of the number engaged.
Major Stiles conjectured the loss in his command to have been about 100 killed and wounded. I do not know of any attempt to estimate the loss in the rest of the brigade.
Having subsequently re-visited the field and passed some days in its immediate vicinity, I was informed by one of the neighboring residents that the troops encountered by my battalion were Hamblin's Brigade of the 6th Corps, consisting of three regiments, of which one-half were ordered forward at each time.
The information was obtained from General Hamblin himself, who further admitted that he suffered very severely and lost six colors. As I heard of but two regimental flags, I presume the others were markers' flags. Indeed, one of my men told me that he saw Lieutenant King, whose death is above-mentioned, with tow markers' flags shortly before he fell. It seems scarcely possible that this battalion could have contended successfully with even a single regiment unless reduced to its own feeble dimensions. It can be explained, however, by the fact that they were thrown into some disorder by the closeness of the thicket through which they advanced, and being thus caught in detail by a sudden attack had no opportunity to recover themselves.
I have thus, General, given an account, perhaps too detailed, of the fortunes of the brigade from the evacuation to its capture, in what fell under my own observation. If anything is omitted which was stated in my former communication in unofficial form, I beg you will make the necessary correction and additions. I have been more minute than would have been necessary or, perhaps, even proper, under other circumstances. But I feel with our that since they have lost all else, we ought to save for our brave soldiers all the honors they so hardly won. All their toils and sufferings and dangers have been apparently in vain; but they fought in a just cause, and if they did not achieve success they at least deserved it. I await with impatience the day when the world will do justice to our countrymen.
I have the honor to remain, General,
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. S. BASINGER,
Major, Com'd'g 18th Georgia Battalion.
12th Ga Artillery Battalion
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Yemen: Famine Threatens Half of the Country
By: Reuters, alarabiya
Nearly half of Yemen’s 22 provinces on the verge of famine as result of the war there and more than 13 million people need food aid, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) says.
Aid groups have blamed curbs imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on access to Houthi-controlled ports for the crisis and also accuse Houthis of preventing supplies from reaching some areas, including the city of Taiz in the southwest.
“From a food security perspective, 10 of Yemen’s 22 provinces are classified as emergency, which is one step before famine,” Adham Musallam, deputy director of the WFP office in the capital Sanaa, said as the agency launched a food voucher program to help the most needy.
Fighting over the past year has displaced about 2.3 million people and left more than half of Yemen’s 26 million population in need of food aid, Musallam said.
“This means that we must not wait until the situation reaches famine but must act now to provide humanitarian aid directly,” Musallam said.
The Houthis took over Sanaa in September 2014, ousting President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, then seized his temporary headquarters in the southern port city of Aden.
The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in March 2015 to try to restore Hadi to power and roll back Houthi gains. More than 6,200 people have been killed in the conflict, half of them civilians.
To counter the food crisis, the WFP has launched a program of emergency food vouchers to provide up to one million people with basic needs eventually.
In Sanaa, which is still under Houthi control, hundreds of people queued for hours to register for the vouchers. Under the program a family of six receives wheat grain, pulses, vegetable oil, salt and sugar provided by the WFP through a local supplier.
But one Sanaa resident expressed concern that the aid might not be sustained.
“We would like to have rations provided for the entire month, not just for a week or five days,” he told Reuters TV.
Many Yemenis have sought refuge in Sanaa after air strikes by the Saudi-led coalition destroyed their homes, especially in northern Yemen, where the Houthis, a Zaydi Shi’ite group, come from.
• Advocacy
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International Journal of Reciprocal Symmetry and Theoretical Physics
Home > Vol 1, No 2 (2014) > Mohajan
Open Access Subscription Access
Gravitational Collapse of a Massive Star and Black Hole Formation
Haradhan Kumar Mohajan
1 Premier University, Chittagong, Bangladesh
This paper discusses the final fate of a gravitationally collapse of a massive star and the black hole formation. If the mass of a star exceeds Chandrasekhar limit then it must undergo gravitational collapse. This happens when the star has exhausted its nuclear fuel. As a result a space-time singularity is formed. It is conjectured that singularities must be hidden behind the black hole region which is called the cosmic censorship hypothesis. It has not been possible, to obtain a proof despite many attempts to establish the validity of cosmic censorship and it remains an open problem. An attempt has been taken here to describe causes of black hole formation and nature of singularities therein with easier mathematical calculations.
Black Hole, Chandrasekhar Limit, Gravitational Collapse, Singularity.
Arnett, W.D. and Bowers, R.L. (1977), A Microscopic Interpretation of Neutron Star St ructure, The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series: 33: 415–436.
Boyer, R.H. and Lindquist, R.W. (1967), Maximal Analytic Extension of Kerr Met ric, Journal of Mathematical Physics, 8(2): 265–281.
Chandrasekhar, S. (1983), Mathematical Theory of Black Holes, Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Hawking, S.W. and Ellis, G.F.R. (1973), The Large Scale Structure of Space-time, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Joshi, P.S. (1996), Global Aspects in Gravitation and Cosmology, 2nd ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford.
Joshi P.S. (2013), Spacetime Singularities, arXiv:1311.0449v1 [gr-qc] 3 Nov 2013.
Kruskal, M.D. (1960), Maximal Extension of Schwarzschild Met ric, Physical Review, 119(5): 1743–1745.
Lipschutz, S. (1965), Theory and Problems of General Topology, Schaum’s Outline Series, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Singapore.
Mohajan, H.K. (2013a), Singularity Theorems in General Relativity, M. Phil. Dissertation, Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany.
Mohajan, H.K. (2013b), Friedmann, Robertson-Walker (FRW) Models in Cosmology, Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques, 1(3): 158–164.
Mohajan, H.K. (2013c), Schwarzschild Geomet ry of Exact Solution of Einstein Equation in Cosmology, Journal of Environmental Treatment Techniques, 1(2): 69–75.
Mohajan, H.K. (2014a), General Upper Limit of the Age of the Univers e, ARPN Journal of Science and Technology, 4(1): 4–12.
Mohajan, H.K. (2014b), Upper Limit of the Age of the Universe with Cosmological Constant, International Journal of Reciprocal Symmetry and Theoretical Physics, 1(1): 43–68.
Stephani, H.; Kramer, D.; MacCallum, M.; Hoens elaers, C.; Hertl, E. (2003), Exact Solutions to Einstein' s Field Equations (2nd ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Szekeres, G. (1960), On the Singularities of a Riemannian Manifold, Publicationes Mathematicae, Debrecen, 7: 285–301.
Abstract Views: 92
PDF Views: 37
Abstract Views: 92 | PDF Views: 37
Premier University, Chittagong, Bangladesh
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singer, songwriter and producer
Jerry David DeCicca is a songwriter, record-maker, and producer that lives in Bulverde, Texas with his partner, his dog, 3 cats, and 5 toads. He has released 3 solo albums and produced records for legendary artists like Larry Jon Wilson, Ed Askew, Chris Gantry, Will Beeley and assisted in many other musical projects. His former band, The Black Swans, released records and toured between 2004-2011. He is currently prepping his next album, writing a novel, and doing yard work. He owns and operates a vocational rehabilitation agency that serves the Hill Country and surrounding areas.
Please see Gigs page and Discography page for all the good stuff. You can sign up for his rare-as-hens-teeth Snoozeletter at the bottom of this page.
"If you somehow think that you like the band Spiritualized but not the Bob Dylan album Nashville Skyline then Jerry David DeCicca is on the scene to prove you wrong." --Tyler Mahan Coe, Cocaine & Rhinestones podcast
“… a thing of gentle and radian wonder, a psycho-geographical diary of the Texas Hill Country that he now calls home. In many ways, Time The Teacher feels ageless, its defining characteristics being soft piano, muted horns and gospel harmonies, all moving along with the same unhurried serenity as DeCicca’s voice.” Uncut - Americana Album of The Month (MARCH, 2018)
"DeCicca has learned some significant lessons from his tenure on this Earth.” Stereogum
“...a remarkable feat of empathy, so tender and calm, and always a quietly good cheer.” The FADER
"DeCicca is a careful, precise songwriter, but the songs don't necessarily sound written. Instead, they seem like they occurred to him naturally and ineluctably. " -- Pitchfork
"DeCicca's songs have always been steeped in the kinds of subjective truth that we find in history, movies, literature, and music. He uses allusion, metaphor, and history to weave his own hybrid mythology…” All Music
“...there is a delightful delicacy of touch in his compositions and vocal delivery that deserves attention.” The Line Of Best Fit
“… engages with the big, timeless subjects we expect to find in poetry—love, place and the ghosts of place, loss, memory—but it’s also full of the delicious particulars of a particular life...” —Maggie Smith, author of Good Bones
Buy Records, CDs, downloads, Merch
JDD Snoozeletter - Get tour updates, musings:
(You'll receive an email — please confirm your subscription.)
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Opening Film (1) Global Panorama (8)
For Mania (6) Cine Symphony (10)
Filmmakers: Music Lovers (6) Musician’s Choice (5)
Family Zone (5) Closing Film (1)
USA | 1978 | 117min | 35mm | COLOR | Documentary | Musical
This is a documentary on the actual thanksgiving concert ‘The Last Waltz’held on November 26th, 1976 by ‘The Band’. They were the leaders of their times since their debut album titled < Music From Big Pink> in 68. The film also contains passion-filled performances by guest singers such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, and Ringo Starr. The restored version of the film has been screened at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Born 1942 in New York to Italian-American parents. Well known as a film fanatic and collector since his younger days, Scorsese went to New York University Graduate School and firmly established himself as a notable director in American film with works including < Mean Streets>(1973) and < Taxi Driver>(1976).
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History in Kent => General History => Topic started by: HERB COLLECTOR on April 05, 2019, 15:21:35
Title: Eagles Over Kent.
Post by: HERB COLLECTOR on April 05, 2019, 15:21:35
An Eagle in the Farm Yards in Kent.
A Grove Ferry (Kent) correspondent telegraphs this morning that great excitment has been caused among the farmers in that locality by the appearance there of a large eagle. The bird has already done some damage among the flocks of the farmers, and has even entered the farmyards, and, in some cases, has torn pieces of flesh out of the backs of sheep. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to capture the bird.
The South Wales Echo, Friday, November 6, 1885.
The Kentish Eagle Shot.
A telegram from Dover states that the eagle which has lately created some havoc among the flocks of the Kentish farmers at Grove Ferry, was shot this morning.
The South Wales Echo, Friday, November 13, 1885.
Another Eagle in Kent.
Another eagle has been seen in East Kent. It was first observed on Thursday near Ashford, and yesterday it was hovering over Eastwell Park, the seat of the Duke of Edinburgh. It is said to be a golden eagle, and is a huge bird. Several attempts have been made by the gamekeepers to bring it down, but the visitor is too crafty for them, and keeps out of gun shot.
South Wales Echo, Saturday, November 21, 1885.
The Kentish Eagle.
The eagle which had been seen in the vicinity of Ashford, Kent, was shot in the duck of Edinburgh's domain there on Monday. The bird, which will be preserved for his Royal Highness, is a male, and is thought to be the mate of the one which was shot at Grove Ferry. It is a perfect specimen of the white-tailed eagle.
The South Wales Echo, Wednesday, December 2, 1885.
A Golden Eagle Shot
A fine specimen of the golden eagle was shot a few days ago in Eastwell Park, Kent, the seat of Mr. H. A. Campbell. The bird is a large one, and measures eight feet across from wing to wing. Another eagle of the same description is hovering over the park, and efforts are being made to effect its capture.
The Western Mail, Tuesday, December 17, 1889.
An Eagle in Kent.
A large eagle which has been seen for some days in the neighbourhood of Eastwell Park, Kent, was shot by a keeper on Thursday morning.
The Western Mail, Saturday, April 16, 1892.
White-tailed Eagle Shot.
A fine female specimen of the white-tailed eagle was shot by a gamekeeper at Wadhurst on Friday. It is the first known specimen shot in Kent.
The Evening Express, Saturday, January 6, 1894.
An Ashford correspondent telegraphs that a grand specimen of the golden eagle was shot in the woods near Challock, Kent, on Thursday, by a keeper. The bird, which is of a great size, had been in the neighbourhood for several days. This is the second golden eagle shot in Kent during the present month.
The Wester Mail, Saturday, December 28, 1895.
Golden Eagle in Kent.
A fine specimen of the golden eagle has been captured at Mersham, Kent. The bird had been hovering about the district for some days, and had created great hovoc in the game preserves and poultry in the neighbourhood.
The South Wales Daily News, Monday, September13, 1897.
A possible sighting of an eagle in Kent Aug 2014.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/golden-eagle-kent-watch-moment-4129872 (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/golden-eagle-kent-watch-moment-4129872)
Title: Re: Eagles Over Kent.
Post by: AlanH on April 06, 2019, 10:21:19
We often get large birds of prey over our place and even had one sit drinking out of the bird bath once. I love watching big birds soaring in the skiy. But we're in Perth WA not dear old Kent.
AlanH.
Post by: Sentinel S4 on April 07, 2019, 09:43:05
I too saw the Golden Eagle in 2014/15. I saw her near Stockbury sitting on a fence post next to the M2. From asking around I found out that she was quite well known to a local land owner. I always knew that these are big animals but I never realised just how big. They are massive, about 2'6" when perched on the top of the post!
S4.
Post by: pr1uk on April 07, 2019, 10:04:39
Quote from: Sentinel S4 on April 07, 2019, 09:43:05
Would love to see one live, you were lucky that day
Post by: smiffy on April 07, 2019, 14:06:10
Does anyone remember Goldie the golden eagle escaping London Zoo in the 1960's? It was a big story for twelve days as every attempt to capture him ended in failure, until his keeper managed to entice him down with a dead rabbit. He escaped yet again some time later but on that occasion it was only for four days.
Post by: MartinR on April 07, 2019, 16:03:28
IIRC "Blue Peter" covered it extensively.
Post by: Lutonman on April 08, 2019, 10:29:28
Certainly remember the story although details a bit foggy now.
Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation. Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Kent.
Home to one of the UK's largest bird of prey centres, currently we have a collection of approximately 100 raptors.
This includes over 50 species, many of which are now breeding at the centre or can be seen flying in our daily demonstrations.
http://www.eagleheights.co.uk/about/eagleheights (http://www.eagleheights.co.uk/about/eagleheights)
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When the boss is away...
WHEN the boss is away his Deputy comes out to play.
With the Prime Minister in Spain representing Britain at the Memorial Service for the victims of the Madrid bombing, John Prescott deputised for Tony Blair at weekly questions.
As is traditional Michael Howard also made way for his deputy, Michael Ancram. This contest was a return to traditional class politics.
When Michael Howard became Tory leader he taunted Tony Blair for his affluent background saying “this grammar school boy will take no lessons from that public school boy on the importance of children from less privileged backgrounds gaining access to university.”
Of course Mr Howard’s children go to Eton, and Mr Blair’s to state schools.
No such reverse class warfare existed this week, even if John Prescott once claimed to be middle class.
Michael Ancram is in fact the Earl of Ancram, son and heir of the 12th Marquis of Lothian; although Labour backbenchers find him strangely reminiscent of Dad’s Army’s Captain Mainwaring.
John Prescott was born in Prestatyn, the son of a railway signalman.
He has often been taunted in the Commons by upper class Tories who snap their fingers and demand a gin and tonic from him, because he used to be a waiter.
This snobbery was on view when one Tory MP asked him if he would back the Plain English campaign.
His answer that the Tory might have correct grammar but his political thinking was all wrong, was as effective a retort as his thumping of the mullet-headed yob who egged him during the last General Election.
There is a lot to be said for a man who rises from humble roots to become Deputy Prime Minister; and even if we don’t always understand what he says, we always know exactly what he means.
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‘Positive action’ needed for retail and hospitality
HomeNews desk ‘Positive action’ needed for retail and hospitality
Businesses in retail and hospitality risk being left behind by the Government's Industrial Strategy, according to a report by the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) committee.
The committee said that while the Industrial Strategy has focused on support for high-tech sectors, it has not done enough for sectors like retail and hospitality.
It argued that structural issues have been the main cause of difficulties in these sectors, with net closures cumulatively totalling more than 3,000 in the past two years.
In the last year alone, the likes of House of Fraser and HMV have entered administration, Jamie's Italian and Prezzo have closed branches to cut costs, while pubs called last orders for the final time at a rate of 18 a week.
The report called for the Government to publish an action plan on how it will work with retail and hospitality sectors to boost their productivity.
Rachel Reeves, chair of the BEIS committee, said the Government should be "much clearer about the criteria for sector deals and engage more actively and decisively to make these happen".
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said:
"We are in the midst of an unprecedented transformation, yet many businesses are being held back by public policy costs, not least the spiralling business rates, which will rise once again in April.
"We welcome the call by the committee for Government to take positive action to support the reinvention of the [retail] industry."
Companies House - forms you need to know about
How to increase your profit
7 steps to successful business transition
71% of SMEs plan to increase sales
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Kartik Aaryan has become the recent youth crush with his smashing hits like Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Luka Chuppi, Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety and has several movies lined for himself. Some of the films that he is being signed for are Love Aaj Kal 2 and Pati Patni Aur Woh. Rumors are that Kartik is […]
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also popularly known as the Oscars are one of the most prestigious awards in the world. This body appreciates and honors the works in the films industries across the globe. Last year, Shah Rukh Khan, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Naseeruddin Shah, Ali Fazal and Aditya Chopra were […]
Arjun Patiala‘s trailer and first song “Main Deewana Tera” received immense appreciation and love from the audience. The second song from Arjun Patiala features Diljit Dosanjh opposite the sizzling Sunny Leone in a party number that would get your feet tapping. The song “Habibi VS Decent Munda” has been choreographed by Vijan Ganguly. The talented […]
On account of late Field Marshall Sam Manekshaw’s death anniversary on June 27 , Vicky Kaushal put out a picture of him dressed as the Marshall and announced that he would be playing the great man in an upcoming film. Unfortunately, the uniform Vicky was wearing had the rank details completely wrong. Consequently, Vicky was […]
Netflix’s Mrs. Serial Killer To Star Jacqueline Fernandez, Mohit Raina and Manoj Bajpayee Netflix is a boon currently and to increase the quality and entertainment quotient of its content even further, Netflix is bringing on board some extremely talented actors from Bollywood to produce shows that would be enjoyed by the viewers globally. Mohit Raina […]
Zaira Wasim marked her debut in Bollywood with Aamir Khan‘s Dangal and is currently working in The Sky Is Pink starring Farhan Akhtar and Priyanka Chopra. Zaira Wasim gained appreciation for her work in Dangal and for her lead role in Secret Superstar. It was shocking for her fans and followers to see Zaira‘s post […]
Ishaan Khatter Back In The Race With Not One But Two Upcoming Films
Ishaan khatter was loved and appreciated by his fans and followers for his terrific acting in ‘Beyond The Clouds‘ in 2017 and ‘Dhadak‘ in 2018. The actor opted out of 2 films recently and is being very choosy of the films that he would like to be a part of. However, he is back in […]
Vijay Ratnakar Gutte’s Vayusena Starring Emraan Hashmi As IAF Officer
After playing the role of a cop in Gangster, Emraan Hashmi is all set to play the role of an IAF officer in his upcoming film. The actor has been on a career high lately with films like Chehre and Vayusena on his plate. He has also signed a Gangster drama with Sanjay Gupta. Director […]
Varun Dhawan And Sara Ali Khan Starrer Coolie No1 To Go On Floors On 5th August
The father-son duo, David Dhawan and Varun Dhawan have given hit films together like Main Tera Hero and Judwaa 2. The duo are now ready for their next starring Sara Ali Khan which is a remake of Coolie No 1. Paresh Rawal was previously brought on board to play the role of Kader Khan but […]
Kaneez On Comicstaan 2 : Having Two More Female Judges And Clicking Pics In The Vanity Before The Shoot
When asked about the Comicstaan season one and how the second season would be different from the first one Kaneez Surka said, “The first season was really fun, we had a great time shooting the show, it was a new concept. We didn’t know how audience would take it, but luckily they accepted the show. […]
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Perry County to consider sales tax for ambulance service
The Perry County Area Chamber of Commerce is polling its membership about a proposal that's coming before that county's Quorum Court. Chamber board chair-elect Michael Roetzel contacted members Friday regarding the county's need for additional ambulance services and a proposal to increase the sales tax to pay for the service. Roetzel's email said, "after extensive review, it does not seem affordable for a private company to keep two ambulances staffed and on call, yet that second ambulance is
Morrilton City Council to discuss Hardison resolution
The Morrilton City Council will be asked to approve a resolution requesting the recognition of Dr. T.W. Hardison in the replacement of Hardison Hall at Petit Jean State Park when the group meets for its regular monthly session on Monday. The Conway County Quorum Court has already passed a similar resolution to be sent to the Arkansas State Parks Department in the hope that the new Visitor Center at Petit Jean will be named in honor of Dr. Hardison. Council members will also be voting on a
Stell to release new EP
Conway County native Matt Stell - now a breakout country music performer with a song rising up the charts - will have a new EP of music out later this month. The Tennessean newspaper reported Friday that Stell's seven-song EP "Everywhere But On" will be available next Friday, May 24th. His single, "Prayed For You" will be included in the EP. Stell has built a relationship with Barry Weiss' RECORDS label and Sony Music Nashville. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut last month, with about 150
F&M Bank completes acquisition of Integrity First Bank
The Farmers and Merchants Bankshares, Incorporated, the holding company for Farmers and Merchants Bank, headquartered in Stuttgart, has completed its acquisition of Mountain Home Bancshares, Incorporated and its subsidiary, Integrity First Bank. Integrity First Bank locations in Mountain Home, Pocahontas, Jonesboro, Gassville, Flippin, Bentonville and Lakeview will be rebranded as Farmers and Merchants Bank in the fall of 2019. The Integrity First Bank branch in Fayetteville will do business
Maintenance work coming on Toad Suck bridge
Expect some possible delays if you're traveling along Highway 60 across Toad Suck Lock and Dam over the next six weeks. One lane of the bridge that crosses the Lock and Dam will be closed daily from 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. beginning Tuesday through the end of June, weather permitting, to perform maintenance on the bridge. The Army Corps of Engineers says both lanes will be open over the Memorial Weekend holiday, May 24-27. The Corps says law enforcement and emergency services are aware of the
MHS softball teams advances to state semi-finals
A two-strike squeeze bunt by junior Shelby Tindall in the top of the seventh inning brought home senior Gracie Ferrell with the lone run of the game as the Morrilton High School softball team knocked off top-ranked Valley View, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round of the Class 4A State Tournament at Southside High School in Batesville on Friday. Ferrell opened the inning with a bloop double, the team's first hit off Valley View pitcher Katie Dreiling, who had allowed a total of 12 runs in 27 games
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Indian cricket losing sponsors
According to a GroupM ESP study in 2014, as reported by the Economic Times, cricket sponsorship has declined as sports such as football, tennis, hockey, and kabaddi have gained popularity. GroupM ESP is the entertainment, sports and content arm of media agency GroupM.
The report mentions that although the sports industry grew at a good rate of 10 per cent, value of ground sponsorship of cricket fell to Rs 464.7 crore in 2014 by from Rs 508.3 crore in 2013. The team sponsorship value - also declined from Rs 389.2 crore in 2013 to Rs 347.8 crore in 2014.
The 10 per cent growth - from Rs 4,372.5 crore in 2013 to Rs 4,809.69 crore in 2014 - in the sports industry is due to new tournaments in different sports such as the Indian Super League (football), International Premier Tennis League, Hockey India League, Pro Kabaddi League, and World Kabaddi League.
The report quoted Vinit Karnik, national director of sports and live events at GroupM ESP, saying the decline in numbers for cricket is mainly due to India hosting fewer international games. "But it is a fact that there was a price correction in the payouts to BCCI from title rights holders in 2014," added Karnik.
The Indian cricket team's sponsorship price fell also from Rs 3.33 crore per match in 2013 to Rs 2 crore per match in 2014. Also, only two companies were involved in bidding in 2014, as compared to 10 in 2013.
Other sports, however, have shown immense growth. Football increased by 227 per cent year-on-year in the value of team sponsorship from Rs 26.5 crore in 2013 to Rs 60.3 crore in 2014, primarily due to the emergence of the Indian Super League. Additionally, sports like kabaddi and tennis also witnessed incredible increase of 1,064 per cent in team sponsorship to Rs 74.5 crore in 2014 from merely Rs 7 crore in 2013.
Overall, other sports accounted for under than 30 per cent of the team sponsorship in 2014, increasing from 10 per cent in 2013.
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Center for the Advancement of Sport
Sports Law Concentration
UB Law Sports & Entertainment Forum
Lorenzo Alexander of the Buffalo Bills and the National Football League Players Association was a panelist for a discussion on "Freedom of Expression: The First Amendment and Athletics."
Students tour Coca-Cola Field in downtown Buffalo and speak with the General Manager of the Buffalo Bisons.
Social and Networking Events
Law students and alumni join Dean Aviva Abramovsky and UB Athletic Director Mark Alnutt at a UB Bulls tailgate party.
Our new Center for the Advancement of Sport - a major interdisciplinary initiative – provides students with opportunities to get a foothold in the sports industry through experiential learning including externships at local and even national athletic organizations.
Drawing on some of UB’s greatest strengths: the work of faculty in law, education, social work, management, engineering and computer science as well as UB’s Department of Athletics, the Center focuses on educational programming, collaborative research and policy initiatives.
Upcoming projects include:
Best Practices in Injury Prevention and Treatment
Richard M. Tobe ’74, director of special intergovernmental projects for New York State, will co-teach Sports Law in Action, with the Center’s director, Helen “Nellie” Drew. Working from research in the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health, students will research and analyze data about best practices and draft a policy proposal requiring New York State high schools to have an athletic trainer present for interscholastic athletic events. Course collaborators include Dr. David P. Hostler III, a clinical professor of emergency medicine; and Dr. Leslie J. Bisson, clinical professor of orthopedics.
Additional cross-disciplinary programming is in development.
Helen "Nellie" Drew, Director, Center for the Advancement of Sport
Gerry Meehan, Special Counsel, Center for the Advancement of Sport (former general manager and senior vice president of the Buffalo Sabres)
Joe Schaefer, Associate, Phillips Lytle LLP
Jonathan Dandes, President, Rich Baseball Operations
Jonathan Coyles, Vice President of Drug, Health and Safety Programs, Major League Baseball
hdrew@buffalo.edu
03/14/2019 - The Associated Press interviewed Helen "Nellie" Drew, professor of practice in sports law and director of the Center for the Advancement of Sport, in an article on college coaches accused of accepting bribes to accept wealthy students.
03/27/2019- The Buffalo News quoted Nellie Drew in an article that reported on the idea of a domed, open-air or one with a retractable roof.
Follow the Buffalo Sports and Entertainment Law Society (BSEL) on Facebook and Twitter.
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WWII vet, founding Legion post member, dies at 98
Bob Wieboldt was lifelong Merrick resident
Posted Wednesday, December 5, 2018 12:00 am
Wieboldt and his son, Eric, in 2013.
Scott Brinton/Herald Life
Bob Wieboldt with his mother, Emma, at their Kenny Avenue home in Merrick during World War II.
Courtesy Weiboldt family
By Erik Hawkins
After the death of his father, a World War II veteran, Eric Wieboldt said he hoped the community would remembers Bob Wieboldt’s decency and “stick-to-itness” — what his father called “real Americana” — as the character of the country changes.
Eric, 61, said that beyond his father’s distinguished war service, he devoted himself to bettering his community for decades, without paying much mind to political correctness or — when he suffered a fall, then contracted pneumonia weeks ago — his own health.
“He was pretty cantankerous, generally, but there were tender moments he’d talk about,” Eric said on Tuesday. “He was as stubborn as they came.”
Bob, who died on Nov. 26 at age 98, grew up in Merrick, which had no high school at the time. Thus, he often walked to school — on at least one occasion through two feet of snow — before being drafted into the Army Air Corps in 1942.
He became a gunnery instructor, and, near the war’s end, was set to head to a “hot spot” in the Pacific, Eric said, when two people in his barracks, in Texas, contracted polio, and the whole barracks was quarantined.
“So they didn’t go,” Eric said. “Then, Harry [Truman] dropped the egg” — the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war.
In the early 1950s, Bob and other veterans began to meet in local restaurants. Their informal group eventually became the Merrick American Legion Post 1282, on Merrick Road, where Bob served as commander several times.
The Herald has reported previously on Bob’s decades of service to wounded veterans through the Legion (bit.ly/2SwGRpf). This week, Eric recalled how his father carried the grit, decency and determination of the “Greatest Generation” through the rest of his life.
One of the crowning achievements of Bob’s golden years was the restoration of the St. John of Jerusalem Chapel in Levittown. The Wieboldts had purchased a family plot in the cemetery around the 1856 building; Bob’s late wife, Muriel, is buried there.
The chapel fell into disrepair, and both Wieboldts stepped up to help in their own way. Eric put his company, Wieboldt Roofs and More, to work on renovating the interior, for half of the other companies’ estimates. Bob lobbied, in his gruff, inimitable style, Eric said, for tens of thousands in grant money, and even put his own money into re-roofing the chapel.
“My father, at 91, started kicking ass,” Eric said. “He really did. He went up and down the neighborhoods. He called Albany so many times about this one grant that was being rescinded that he was almost talking to Andrew Cuomo . . . He didn’t go through the channels. He didn’t know about being ‘P.C.,’ but he did it with charm and determination and stick-to-itness, and that’s what got it done.”
Eric called the chapel restoration his business’s “crowning jewel.” Bob will be buried in the family plot there in the spring.
Eric said — without a hint of sentimentality — that the stubbornness and self-sufficiency that defined his father’s life also probably contributed to his death.
The family has owned a small cabana in Point Lookout for generations. Bob continued to drive there from Levittown often, even at 98. “He was so stubborn he wouldn’t use a walking stick,” Eric said. “He was a little wobbly but still walking well, driving well — especially compared to some of these morons you see on the road. ‘Slow and easy,’ he used to say.”
Columbus Day weekend, after arriving at the cabana, Bob caught his foot on the edge of some concrete outside the home and fell, breaking vertebrae. Eric and others had urged him to use a wheelchair, but Bob wouldn’t budge.
George Burns wasn’t joking, Eric said, when he said that the key to a long life was not to fall. “When old people fall, they can’t move,” he said. “I was so angry at him. I said, ‘You son of a bitch, with your stubbornness, you just did yourself in.’”
Bob died, in a little over a month, of pneumonia, which he came down with while rehabilitating at Sunrise of East Meadow.
The father and son has “some of the best, most rewarding conversations” in Bob’s final days, in the hospital, while he could barely speak, Eric said. “By eye contact, and what he would write — he had amazing handwriting. We had some rough patches over the years, but I always knew he had my back.”
Bob’s life was full of incident and hard-fought victories. His son said, however, that more than mourning his father, he was mourning the character of a generation.
“It’s so important to recognize these people, and for someone to hold on to this decency,” he said. “Where are these guys? Who’s coming next? Who are gonna come back and for communities like that? To lose that . . . I’m one of the last in line to remember this stuff.”
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 14, at the Bellmore Presbyterian Church, from 4 to 8 p.m. The American Legion will hold a ceremony at 7 p.m. that day. Post members should start assembling at the church by 6:30 p.m.
UPDATE: NCPD arrests Massapequa man in connection with murder of Merokean Evan Grabelsky
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GameDay Central
Recruits Only
Signing Classes
Tigers in the NFL
Ebert Van Buren, at his 2015 LSU Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
LSU Athletics Creative Services
LSU Hall of Fame FB Player, Ebert Van Buren, Dies
LSUsports.net (@LSUsports)
LSU Sports Interactive
BATON ROUGE – LSU Athletics Hall of Fame member and two-way football star in the years after World War II, Ebert Van Buren, passed away on Friday in Monroe at the age of 94 at the Northeast Louisiana War Veterans Home.
Van Buren’s late brother Steve, is a member of the LSU and NFL Halls of Fame. Ebert Van Buren was a 2015 inductee into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Ebert Van Buren never played high school football, but that didn’t matter to former LSU football head coach Bernie Moore. Coach Moore found Van Buren playing on the Metairie playgrounds and recruited him to LSU in 1947.
From pickup games on the playground to college football, it was an adjustment for Van Buren in conditioning and in learning the game.
“I remember an incident when we were at practice with Bernie Moore as coach,” Van Buren recalled. “He told me to go out in the flat and catch a pass. I ran over the goal line. Of course, that was a mistake. I got back in the huddle and Coach said, ‘I told you to go in the flat.’ I said, ‘Coach I don’t even know where that is.’”
It didn’t take long for Van Buren to catch on to the game. He earned three letters as he played on both sides of the ball as a fullback and linebacker. He helped lead the 1949 Tigers to a Sugar Bowl berth, as the squad posted wins over three different conference champions en route to the bowl invitation. One of the highlights of the season was a 34-0 victory over Texas A&M, as Van Buren rushed for 121 yards in the rout.
Van Buren said one of the best moments of his career was his selection as LSU team captain for the 1950 season.
“That meant a lot to me,” Van Buren explained. “I started off not knowing anything. The players who came to LSU were high school stars, and I was elected captain of the team over them.”
At the end of the 1950 season Van Buren was invited to play in the Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. After his impressive career in college football, he was the No. 1 draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1951. Ebert Van Buren played for the Eagles for three years and was selected for the NFL Pro Bowl team in 1952.
Following his NFL career, Van Buren returned to LSU to earn his master’s in psychology in 1961. He began a private practice in which he specialized in working with children with autism and special needs. He also served as the Disability Determination spokesperson for the state of Louisiana, and he worked as a psychologist for the Winn Correction Center.
He practiced for over 60 years and assisting his young patients that couldn’t afford expenses toward their school athletics.
Van Buren also worked for eight years as Ouachita Parish Coroner and he served as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1972 to 1980. On top of his private practice and military service, he earned his certification as a scuba diving instructor and taught at UL-Monroe, the YMCA and Louisiana College for 41 years, emphasizing the need for ocean and reef conservation.
Ebert was born on the island of Tela, Honduras in 1924. He moved from Utila to New Orleans at age 8 to continue with his education until joining the service in 1943. He served in the U.S Army 96th Infantry Division in the Pacific during WWII from 1943 until 1945 was in the Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan campaigns where he was wounded in intense heavy combat on "Hacksaw Ridge" in Okinawa on his 29th day in that campaign.
He received the Purple Heart, two Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the Good Conduct Medal. He was the only survivor in his unit in Okinawa when the war ended. He later served as Lt. Commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve in the 1970's and was attached to Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.'s command assisting with contributions toward the improvement of enlisted personnel life and racial tensions in the Navy.
Ebert Van Buren is survived by his daughters Karen Oliver, and husband Robert of Monroe; Sharen Haddad and husband Jon of Houston; Joan Van Buren of Monroe; Vanessa Clark and husband James of West Monroe; and, one son, Ebert H. Van Buren, Jr. He will be interred in a private ceremony at Mulhearn Memorial Park Mausoleum.
Burrow Named to O'Brien Watch List
Worsham: Media Days Takeaways
Burrow, Edwards-Helaire Named to Maxwell Watch List
College Football Live at SEC Media Day - Ed Orgeron Interview
SEC Media Day - Ed Orgeron on Podium
2019 Football Spring Game - Highlights
Apr. 6
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Moon Maiden Books
Chasing Demons
ME Layton
13 Streaks
a Halloween 'free read' Micro Story
by Mary Layton
There were 13 streaks on the door. Rusty brown coloured streaks. At the highest part, the streaks started vaguely hand-shaped, five finger shaped daubs above a palm shape that extended downwards to the bottom of the door. As if someone had reached and fallen with a bloody hand thirteen times. What happened after the thirteenth time was a mystery. There was no one in the shed, the door had been locked from the inside, and no one in the tiny rural mountain town had been reported missing since 1932.
In 1932, the parents of the town bully, Robby Anson, had reported their 13 year old son missing. He had never been seen or heard from again, and although the case remained unsolved, Robby's parents blamed his disappearance on the main victim of Robby's bullying, a quiet, bookish boy from his school named Peter Tenant. No one else would believe Peter could have had anything to do with the disappearance, if anything, Peter did his best to avoid Robby. Peter spent as much time as possible in the local library, a place where Robby would never be caught dead, reading books on folklore and legends and ghosts. Peter said Robby probably got taken by the Snallygaster. Everyone knew the Snallygaster would take away bad children and drain their blood. People just shook their heads and said that it must be the odd, shy boy's way of dealing with the disappearance of his classmate.
When the new owners of the long abandoned property discovered the locked shed, they had the local locksmith open it. While old, it was still structurally sound, and the new owners thought they might make use of it. Once they discovered the streaks, the police were called and an investigation begun into the source of the streaks. Forensic tests on the rusty stains revealed that it was indeed blood, and a DNA comparison with the great-grandson of Robby's younger brother proved to be a close enough match for the blood to be confidently classified as that of the missing youth. There were no other clues as to what happened to Robby Anson in that shed, or where his body might have wound up. The only other thing remarked upon in the police report was what looked like a faded seven-pointed star shakily drawn in blood on the floor of the shed near the door.
© Mary Layton. All rights reserved.
May not be reproduced without express permission from the author.
All the images used on this site are the property of Moon Maiden Books and/or are used with permission.
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"I Boast No More" - Sandra McCracken
For a variety of reasons, I have quite a fascination with church hymns. Growing up in a Baptist church, every song we sang on Sunday mornings came from a hymnal. It was like this well into my teen years, even when praise and worship music was becoming more modern and popular. Sure we eventually incorporated new songs into our services, but at least two or three selections every Sunday were still from the hymnal. At the time they seemed kind of dusty and archaic to me because I liked some loud bass and some pounding drums and I wanted to use distortion pedals on my guitar. But thankfully those old songs got rooted deep into my soul and I eventually learned to love the depth and purity I found in the lyrics. I love collecting old hymnals and I get a lot of inspiration from reading them. Those hymn writers didn’t pull any punches and their up and downs, their joys and trials, were hard earned and authentic. When you find out some of the stories behind their songs and learn about the lives most of the hymn writers had it makes their words even more powerful. Even if you may not subscribe to the same faith or views, you wouldn’t be able to deny that these people turned their struggles into something beautiful by tapping into something real and revolutionary.
Today there are a lot of songwriters who are continuing in this tradition by updating the music for old hymns and also writing their own. I have to admit that musically I enjoy these much better than the solo piano versions I grew up on. The most important part is still the lyrics though. That’s where the weight of the hymns are at. One of the modern hymn writers who seems to always nail this idea is Sandra McCracken. She is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter and in addition to her other great folksy, relational, love and life songs, she reworks old hymns and creates new ones. In between her other records, she released an entire album of hymns in 2005 called The Builder and the Architect and it contains both originals and renovations. The fact that it’s hard to tell which ones are hers and which ones were written in the 1700’s is just a testament to how well she can write and how great the instrumentation is. I’ve seen Sandra in concert quite a few times and whether she is performing in a college chapel service or a downtown bar she is able to bring a freshness and a reverence to any moment in any venue. Sandra just finished recording a new hymns album, In Feast Or Fallow, which will be released sometime in the next month or so. You can download a free 3-song sampler of the new album from NoiseTrade here.
For an example of the hymns side of her artistry, here’s her updated version of Isaac Watts’ “I Boast No More” from The Builder and the Architect. She is joined on it by roots music legend Buddy Miller on vocals and guitar. You know with THAT seal of approval she’s got to be doing something right!
"I Boast No More" - Sandra McCracken (The Builder and the Architect)
Labels: Buddy Miller, Sandra McCracken
"Fat Albert Theme" - Dig
"Hey Porter" - Johnny Cash
"Say I Won't (Recognize)" - The Gaslight Anthem
"Purple Rain" - Prince
"All I Want Is You" - U2
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Victorious Narendra Modi faces a $1.4 Trillion roadblock
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party made big promises in its election manifesto, among them 100 trillion rupees ($1.4 trillion) of investments in infrastructure by 2024.
Published: 24th May 2019 11:59 AM | Last Updated: 24th May 2019 12:01 PM | A+A A-
Indian PM Narendra Modi (FIle Photo | PTI)
By Bloomberg
Don’t get your hopes up that India’s infrastructure will start to look like China’s after Narendra Modi’s historic victory.
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party made big promises in its election manifesto, among them 100 trillion rupees ($1.4 trillion) of investments in infrastructure by 2024 that would double the length of highways by 2022 and lead to a similar increase in the number of large commercial airports.
Despite the impressive show Modi and his party put up in the lower-house elections, they don’t have a majority in the upper house of India’s parliament. Numbers move more slowly in the Rajya Sabha, with a third of members retiring every two years. That means that passing legislation such as a land-acquisition bill, which is crucial to speed up infrastructure development, will remain a tough ask until at least 2020.
Access to land, which is expensive and difficult to acquire, remains the single biggest issue for why road and other construction projects stall in India, 1 according to capital expenditure surveys and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. The upper house previously rejected a land acquisition bill.
Modi’s decisiveness may have won over voters, but he doesn't have a track record of boosting confidence among Indian companies. They aren’t going to start spending until they see signs that the government is making progress on cutting through the perennial regulatory hurdles surrounding land. During Modi’s first term, private companies slowed their spending on plants and machinery to a 9.2% rate of annual expansion, and employment growth fell to 1.3%. A decade ago, spending was growing at 19.5% and employment at 10.5%, according to data from the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy, or CMIE.
The value of stalled projects has risen to almost 3 trillion rupees since June 2018, even if a flurry was completed just prior to the election. Fewer are being revived. New investment proposals in the last fiscal year were the lowest in 14 years, after rising when Modi first came to power. Meanwhile, the private sector’s role in new investment proposals fell to 47% between 2014 and 2016, from 62% between 2006 and 2011, according to Mahesh Vyas of the CMIE. Even the amounts committed by mostly indebted government-backed companies have fallen during Modi’s term, from already paltry levels.
Shares of construction and transport companies such as Larsen & Toubro Ltd., Dilip Buildcon Ltd. and Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone Ltd. have risen sharply this year on hopes of a “New India.” The reality for infrastructure companies is that Old India will be around for a while longer.
Biranchi Acharya
I think he will find a way. With AIDMK in NDA now hopefully by monsoon session NDA will get the majority in the upper house
1 month ago reply
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Home States Kerala
Pining Woman Ends Life
Published: 05th January 2016 04:46 AM | Last Updated: 05th January 2016 04:46 AM | A+A A-
By Express News Service
THRISSUR: After sending a text message to the sister of her recently departed lover, a 21-year-old woman jumped to her death from the top of a four-storey building at Pazhayanadakkavu here on Monday. The deceased was identified as Aiswarya, son of Rajan of Madakkathara. According to police, the woman had been in a relationship with a man from Angamaly, Rahul, who passed away in an accident a few months ago.
“In the morning, Aiswarya sent a text message to the sister of her departed lover (Rahul), which noted that she was going to join her brother. By all indications, Rahul was a stunt racing enthusiast. They were very close and we also discovered newspaper cuttings related to the death of the boy, with her photos pasted below them from her possession,” said Thrissur East SI. The incident occurred at 9 am on Monday. Aiswarya jumped from the building of the institution where she was doing her third year diploma course.
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Home About NFDA Governance & Structure NFDA Bylaws
NFDA Bylaws
Download the complete document of the NFDA Bylaws here.
Approved November 3, 1994
Amended October 8, 1997
Amended November 3, 1999
Amended October 9, 2001 (to take effect January 1, 2003)
Amended October 22, 2002 (to take effect January 1, 2004)
Amended October 19, 2004
Constitution and Bylaws Amended October 20, 2015 (Restated as Bylaws)
Amended September 1, 2017
Amended August 15, 2018
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the National Funeral Directors Association of the United States, Inc. (NFDA).
Article II: Definitions
For the purpose of these Bylaws, the terms listed below shall be defined as follows:
shall have the meaning set forth in Article XIII.
shall have the meaning set forth in Section G of Article V.
At Large Representative
shall have the meaning set forth in Subsection B(2) of Article X.
Choice Membership Option
shall have the meaning set forth in Section A of Article VII.
Dues Schedule
shall mean the schedule of NFDA dues to be established for Firm Members, Individual Members who are not affiliated with a Firm Member, Foreign Associations, Foreign Members, Retired Members and Student members pursuant to Section B of Article XII.
shall mean any corporation, limited liability company, limited or general partnership, sole proprietorship, or other legal entity that operates one or more Funeral Home Facilities.
Firm Member
shall have the meaning set forth in Section C of the Article V.
Foreign Association
shall have the meaning set forth in Section B of Article V.
Foreign Member
Funeral Home Facility
shall mean a physical facility in a fixed location where the profession of funeral directing is carried out.
shall have the meaning set forth in Section D of Article V.
shall mean the annual meeting of NFDA held for the leadership and members of NFDA and State Associations or any meeting in substitution thereof.
shall mean any of the six categories of Members set forth in Article V.
NFDA
shall mean the National Funeral Directors Association of the United States, Inc.
Policy Board Representative
shall have the meaning set forth in Subsection B(2) of Article IX.
shall mean an individual who, to the extent required by State law, possesses all necessary licenses to engage in the profession of funeral directing and/or embalming.
shall have the meaning set forth in Section E of Article V.
Robert's Rules of Order
shall mean the most recently revised edition of Robert’s Rule of Order. “State” shall mean one of the States of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, or any recognized territorial possession of the United States of America.
shall have the meaning set forth in Section A of Article V.
Term or Year
as used herein with respect to the term or length of office shall refer to the specified time period for which such office is held and not strictly a 12 month period of time.
shall mean periodic meetings scheduled by the Board of Directors and open to all NFDA Members to discuss funeral service issues.
Article III: Statement of Identity
NFDA is a professional association of funeral home businesses, funeral directors and embalmers organized as a corporation under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. NFDA shall not be utilized as a labor organization or similar association organized pursuant to Section 501(c)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Article IV: Non-Discrimination Policy
NFDA shall not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin or physical disability. All State Associations shall abide by this non-discrimination policy in the conduct of their membership affairs and business.
Article V: Members and Categories
Each of the following shall be a member of NFDA:
An association of Firms and/or Practitioners organized in a particular State and which has entered into the State Association Affiliation Agreement (which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and made part of these Bylaws) shall be recognized as a Member of NFDA and classified as the “State Association” for that particular State. Only one State Association may hold a state association membership for a particular State at any given time.
Foreign Association and Members
An association of Firms and/or Practitioners doing business in areas other than a State and which has obtained a membership charter by the majority vote of the Board of Directors shall be recognized as a Member of NFDA and classified as a “Foreign Association.” If a Firm or Practitioner does business in an area other than a State, the Firm or Practitioner may become a Foreign Member of NFDA by making written application to NFDA and paying the applicable NFDA dues. Foreign Members may not serve as Officers of NFDA nor as members of the Policy Board or the Board of Directors.
Firm Members
Any Firm located in a State may become a Firm Member of NFDA by making written application to NFDA and agreeing, as a condition of membership, to comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Professional Conduct. Each Firm Member shall designate to NFDA an Individual Member who owns or is employed by the Firm Member as the primary contact for that Firm Member.
Any Practitioner who owns or is employed by a Firm Member shall be recognized as an Individual Member of NFDA. Individual Members shall comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Professional Conduct as a condition of membership. Firm Members shall list all such Practitioners on their membership applications and renewals in order to qualify them for Individual Membership. Any Practitioner who does not own nor is employed by a Firm Member may become an Individual Member of NFDA by making written application to NFDA and agreeing, as a condition of membership, to comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Professional Conduct. Individual Members are the only members of NFDA that are entitled to serve as Officers of NFDA or as members of the Policy Board or the Board of Directors.
A former Practitioner who has retired from active employment may become a Retired Member of NFDA by making written application to NFDA and agreeing, as a condition of membership, to comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Professional Conduct. A Retired Member shall be entitled to only those membership privileges of NFDA that are made available to Retired Members by the Board of Directors. A Retired Member may not serve as an Officer of NFDA nor as a member of the Policy Board or the Board of Directors.
Student Members
A student who is enrolled in a school of mortuary science that is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education, a student who is enrolled in a school of mortuary science in an area other than a State which is duly accredited as required by that jurisdiction, or a funeral director/embalmer intern or apprentice who, to the extent required by state law, is duly registered and in good standing as an intern or apprentice, may become a Student Member of NFDA by making written application to NFDA and agreeing, as a condition of membership, to comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Professional Conduct. A Student Member shall be entitled to only those membership privileges of NFDA that are made available to Student Members by the Board of Directors. A Student Member may not serve as an Officer of NFDA nor as a member of the Policy Board or the Board of Directors.
Any business or individual not otherwise eligible for membership in NFDA who is a business partner of NFDA by virtue of having been a sponsor, advertiser or exhibitor with NFDA for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to applying for Associate Membership may apply to become an Associate Member by making written application to NFDA. If the panel of designated members of the Board of Directors, after conducting its due diligence, determines in its sole discretion that the applicant has been and continues to be a business partner of NFDA, it may grant the applicant the privilege of becoming an Associate Member. Associate Members shall agree as a condition of Associate Membership to comply with the NFDA Bylaws and Code of Business Conduct. In order to renew Associate Membership, the Associate Member must continue to be a sponsor, advertiser or exhibitor with NFDA for the two years immediately prior to renewal. An Associate Member shall be entitled only to those membership benefits of NFDA that are made available to Associate Members by the Board of Directors. An Associate Member may not vote in any NFDA election nor serve as an Officer or as a member of the Policy Board, or the Board of Directors. The privilege of Associate Membership may be revoked at any time by the majority vote of the Board of Directors if the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, deems such revocation to be in the best interest of the funeral profession or NFDA. In the event of revocation, the former Associate Member shall be entitled to a pro-rata refund of its current membership dues.
Article VI: Partnership Membership
State Association Requirements
Unless a State Association has elected the Choice Membership Option pursuant to Article VII, it shall comply with all of the following requirements as a condition to its membership in NFDA:
If the State Association recognizes Practitioners as members of such State Association, each Practitioner that is a member of the State Association must also be an Individual or Retired Member of NFDA.
If the State Association recognizes Firms as members, each Firm that is a member of the State Association must also be a Firm Member of NFDA.
NFDA Requirements
In those States where the State Association recognizes Firms as its members, NFDA shall not accept a Firm owning Funeral Home Facilities in that State as a Firm Member unless such Firm is also a member of such State Association. In those States where the State Association recognizes Practitioners as its members, NFDA shall not accept a Practitioner engaged in funeral directing or embalming in that State as an Individual Member unless such Practitioner is also a member of such State Association. Notwithstanding the above, NFDA may accept into membership a Firm or Practitioner that is not a member of a State Association in the following two cases:
The Firm seeking membership owns one or more Funeral Home Facilities in a State where the State Association has elected the Choice Membership Option; or
The Practitioner seeking membership is engaged in funeral directing or embalming in a State where the State Association has elected the Choice Membership Option.
Article VII: Choice Membership Option
Adoption of Choice Membership Option
Any State Association may, subject to the restrictions and conditions set forth in this Article VII, adopt the Choice Membership Option. If the State Association adopts the Choice Membership Option, it is not required to comply with the partnership membership requirements found in Section A of Article VI. The Choice Membership Option shall become effective on January 1 of the year following the year in which the Choice Membership Option was adopted by the State Association; provided, however, that the State Association shall provide written notice to NFDA that it has adopted the Choice Membership Option on or before July 1 of the year preceding the year in which the Choice Membership Option will go into effect.
Withdrawal of Choice Membership Option
Any State Association that has adopted the Choice Membership Option may withdraw that Option, but only upon the following terms and conditions:
The State Association has had the Choice Membership Option in place for a minimum duration of three (3) years; and
The withdrawal of the Choice Membership Option by the State Association is approved by the majority vote of the Board of Directors.
Grandfathering of NFDA Members
Any Firm Member or Individual Member of NFDA that was not a member of the State Association at such time as the State Association withdrew its Choice Membership Option is not required to become a member of the State Association in order to retain its, his or her Firm or Individual Membership in NFDA.
Article VIII: Officers
Establishment of Offices
The Officers of NFDA shall be the President, President-elect, Treasurer and Secretary. No person may be elected as an Officer nor continue to serve as an Officer unless such person is and continues to be throughout his or her entire term of office an Individual Member of NFDA. No two offices may be held at the same time by any one person.
Every Officer, except the President, shall be elected each year by Firm and Individual Members to serve for one (1) year or until his or her successor is elected and installed. Unless completing an unexpired term, the Officers may not succeed themselves. The Officers shall assume office following their installation at the Annual Convention at which they were elected. The President-elect shall, after completing his or her term, automatically succeed to the office of the President.
Any Individual Member seeking election to an NFDA office may submit an officer candidate application to the Leadership Development Committee. In order to be considered a declared candidate for an office, the Individual Member must file an officer candidate application with the Leadership Development Committee before the deadline set by that Committee in of the year in which he or she is seeking election.
The Leadership Development Committee shall review the officer candidate applications it receives and interview the officer candidates. On or before March 1, the Leadership Development Committee shall issue a list of those candidates it finds qualified for each office.
Any Individual Member who has completed the candidate application and interview process with the Leadership Development Committee and who was not on the list of qualified candidates issued by the Leadership Development Committee for the particular office he or she is seeking, will be added to the ballot if he or she submits to the NFDA Secretary prior to April 1 a petition signed by a minimum of 250 Individual Members nominating the Individual Member as a candidate.
In the event that no candidate is found to be qualified by the Leadership Development Committee for a particular office or if a candidate who was found to be qualified withdraws from running for the office so that there is no qualified candidate running for a particular office, the Leadership Development Committee may extend its own deadlines set forth in this Section C in order to solicit, interview and evaluate one or more candidates for that office.
From the list of qualified candidates issued by the Leadership Development Committee and any candidates nominated by the petition process, the Firm and Individual Members shall elect each of the Officers, except the President. The ballots issued to the Firm and Individual Members shall identify whether each candidate was found qualified by the Leadership Development Committee or was nominated by the petition process.
Ballots and candidate information shall be provided to all Firm and Individual Members at least thirty (fourteen (14) days prior to the close of voting. Voting shall be conducted by mail, by electronic means, or by any combination thereof, all as determined by the Board of Directors. Each Firm Member shall receive two (2) votes for each election which must be cast by the primary contact for the Firm Member listed in NFDA’s current membership records. Each Individual Member shall receive one (1) vote for each election. A primary contact for a Firm Member shall also be provided a vote as an Individual Member in addition to the two (2) votes he or she may cast on behalf of the Firm Member.
Each election shall be determined by a plurality vote.
In the event that only one candidate is nominated for a particular office, that candidate may be elected by acclamation.
Duties of Officers
President. The duties of the President shall be as follows:
To serve as the chief elected officer of NFDA and to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors;
To execute all lawful orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors; and
To perform all other duties and to exercise the general powers of management that are customarily vested in the office of the President.
President-elect. The duties of the President-elect shall be as follows:
To assist the President in the performance of his or her duties:
To preside at all meetings of the Policy Board and to preside at those meetings of the Board of Directors when the President is absent; and
In the event the office of President becomes vacant, to become President of NFDA and perform all duties of the President.
Treasurer. The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:
To have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds, securities, deeds and other assets belonging to NFDA, and to hold the same subject to the direction of the Board of Directors;
To oversee the correct accounting of NFDA's business and related transactions, including accounting of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, investments, gains and losses;
To oversee the proper accounting of the transactions and financial condition of NFDA to the Board of Directors; and
To perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Secretary. The duties of the Secretary shall be as follows:
To see that all notices of the time and place of meetings of the Policy Board and Board of Directors are given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws;
To oversee the preparation and maintenance of the minutes of the meetings of the Policy Board and Board of Directors;
To see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and all other documents and records required by law are properly kept and filed by NFDA staff;
To oversee the receipt and processing of all applications for membership in NFDA;
To perform all duties regarding the receipt, dissemination or publication of amendments, resolutions and other official business of NFDA as required by the Bylaws; and
To perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
Removal and Resignation
Any Officer who is absent for two (2) or more meetings during his or her term of office may be removed from the Board of Directors and from his or her office by the affirmative vote of at least six (6) members of the Board of Directors. Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President or Secretary of NFDA. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein.
If an office becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the following shall occur:
If the vacancy is in the office of Treasurer or Secretary, the Board of Directors may elect a successor who shall hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term.
If the vacancy is in the office of the President-elect, the Board of Directors may elect a successor who shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term, but who shall not automatically succeed to the office of President at the end of the term. Rather, there shall be an election for the office of President in accordance with Section C of Article VIII of the NFDA Bylaws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the vacancy in the office of President-elect is created because the President-elect has succeeded to a vacancy in the office of the President in accordance with subsection 3 below, then the election for the President would not take place.
If the vacancy is in the office of the President, the President-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of the President to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term as well as his or her regular one-term as President thereafter. The Board of Directors may elect a successor to the office of President-elect who shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term, but who shall not automatically succeed to the office of President.
If the vacancy is in the office of the Immediate Past President, the vacancy shall be filled by the most recent Immediate Past President who is willing to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Article IX: Policy Board
Establishment of the Policy Board
There shall be a Policy Board of NFDA. The primary responsibilities of the Policy Board are as follows:
To identify, deliberate and recommend action on funeral service issues;
To recommend issues to be discussed at NFDA Town Hall Meetings;
To elect the four (4) At-large Representatives to serve on the Board of Directors;
To serve as the primary information conduit among NFDA, its State Associations and its Members; and
To adopt and amend from time-to-time the Code of Professional Conduct that will be binding upon all Firm Members, Individual Members, Retired Members, and Student Members as a condition of membership in NFDA.
Composition of the Policy Board
The Policy Board shall be composed of the following members:
The members of the Board of Directors; and
Individual Members designated by each State Association ("Policy Board Representative”). The State Association shall designate to NFDA in writing the name of the member of such State Association who shall serve as the Policy Board Representative for that State; provided, however, that each Policy Board Representative must at the time of such person’s appointment to the Policy Board and at all times during his or her tenure thereon be an Individual Member of NFDA and, as of January 1, 2017, be a voting or non-voting member of the State Association’s board of directors or its equivalent governing board. If there is no operational State Association to designate a Policy Board Representative, the Board of Directors shall make that designation.
Term of Policy Board Representative
The term of each Policy Board Representative shall be for three (3) years. All terms shall commence at the conclusion of the Annual Convention and terminate at the conclusion of the Annual Convention held three (3) years later. Unless completing an unexpired term, a Policy Board Representative shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive three-year terms. A Policy Board Representative who has served two (2) consecutive three-year terms may not be appointed to fill an unexpired term resulting from a vacancy until at least one (1) year has lapsed between the end of the individual’s last three-year term and the date the vacancy is filled.
Each Policy Board Representative shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters coming before the Policy Board. Members of the Board of Directors shall not have voting privileges on matters coming before the Policy Board, except that the Presiding Officer may cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote by the Policy Board Representatives.
Exclusion of Ineligible Policy Board Representative
This Policy Board may vote to exclude any individual designated by a State Association as its Policy Board Representative if the Policy Board determines by majority vote that such individual does not meet the eligibility requirements of this Article IX.
The Policy Board shall have a minimum of two (2) regular meetings per year, with one of those two (2) meetings to take place in conjunction with the Leadership Conference. In addition, the Board of Directors may schedule special meetings of the Policy Board. The Board of Directors shall set the time and place of regular and special meetings and the Secretary shall provide Policy Board Representatives written notice of the meeting not less than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting. Meetings may be held in person or by electronic media provided that participants may contemporaneously communicate with each other. The Policy Board may take a vote on any questions by mail, by electronic means, or by any combination thereof.
Article X: Board of Directors
Establishment of the Board of Directors
There shall be a Board of Directors of NFDA. The primary responsibilities of the Board of Directors are as follows:
To initiate and develop NFDA’s internal and external policies and strategies;
To oversee the operation of the programs and resources of NFDA;
To develop and authorize the annual budget of NFDA;
To approve or disapprove any application by an association of Firms or Practitioners for admission into NFDA Membership;
To appoint NFDA committees, task forces, work groups and their members;
To adopt and amend from time-to-time the enforcement procedures governing the investigation and resolution of complaints before the Professional Conduct Committee;
To review any appeals from the decisions of the Professional Conduct Committee and to affirm, overturn, or modify these decisions;
To develop and adopt all modifications to, and restatements of, the Mission Statement of NFDA;
To revoke by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote the state association charter of any State Association that does not, in the determination of the Board of Directors, represent the Members of a particular State, and to revoke or suspend the membership of Members for violations of the Code of Professional Conduct; and
To assume such other responsibilities as may be delegated to it by the Bylaws of NFDA.
Composition of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the following nine (9) members:
The President, President-elect, Treasurer, Secretary and Immediate Past President of NFDA; and
Four (4) At-Large Representatives, each of whom are elected by the majority vote of the Policy Board. The election of the At-large Representatives shall take place at the Policy Board meeting held in conjunction with the Leadership Conference. All At-large Representatives must, at the time of such person’s election to the Board of Directors and at all times during his or her term thereon, be an Individual Member of NFDA. During an At-large Representative’s term on the Board of Directors, such At-large Representative may not serve as a Policy Board Representative nor as an Officer of NFDA.
Term of the At-large Representative
The term of each At-large Representative shall be for two (2) years commencing at the conclusion of the Annual Convention and terminating at the conclusion of the second proceeding Annual Convention. The terms of the four (4) At-large Representatives shall be staggered so that each year two (2) At-large Representatives are elected. Unless completing an unexpired term, no At-large Representative shall serve consecutive terms on the Board of Directors. In order for an At-large Representative to be nominated for an officer position during the first year of the two-year term, the At-large Representative must submit an officer candidate application to the Leadership Development Committee prior to the deadline set by Committee in the year in which the election will be held. The term of any such At-large Representative who has submitted an officer candidate application shall automatically terminate at the conclusion of that year's Annual Convention.
Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the President or upon written request signed by at least four (4) members of the Board of Directors and delivered to the Secretary.
The President shall set the time and place of a meeting of the Board of Directors provided, however, that if the meeting is requested by at least four (4) members of the Board of Directors, the President shall set the date of the meeting within fifteen (15) days from the date the Secretary receives the request for such meeting.
Members of the Board of Directors shall be notified of a meeting, although no specified form of notice is required. The presence of a member of the Board of Directors at a meeting automatically waives any notice requirements. It shall be presumed that all members of the Board of Directors received notice hereunder unless a member who is absent from a meeting subsequently raises an objection to that meeting on the grounds of lack of notice.
All meetings shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
The Board of Directors may take a vote on a question by mail or by electronic means if all members of the Board of Directors agree on such balloting. An action taken by such form of balloting requires a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the Board of Directors to be enacted. Any such action must be reported at the next meeting of the Board of Directors and the minutes of such meeting must be duly ratified by the Board of Directors at such meeting.
Election of At-large Representatives
Each year two (2) At-large Representatives shall be elected in accordance with the following terms and conditions:
Any Individual Member seeking election to an At-large Representative position shall submit an At-large Representative candidate application to the Leadership Development Committee. In order to be considered a declared candidate for an At-large Representative position, the Individual Member must file an At-large Representative candidate application with the Leadership Development Committee before the deadline set by that Committee in of the year in which he or she is seeking election.
The Leadership Development Committee shall review the At-large Representative candidate applications and interview the At-large Representative candidates. On or before March 1, the Leadership Development Committee shall issue a list of those candidates it finds qualified for the At-large Representative positions.
Any Individual Member who has completed the At-large Representative candidate application process with the Leadership Development Committee and who was not listed on the list of qualified candidates issued by the Leadership Development Committee for an At-large Representative position will be added to the ballot if he or she submits to the NFDA Secretary prior to April 1 a petition signed by a minimum of 30% of the current Policy Board Members.
In the event that there are not a sufficient number of candidates found qualified by the Leadership Development Committee for the open At-large Representative positions to be filled, the Leadership Development Committee may extend its own deadlines and the deadlines set forth in this Section E in order to solicit, interview and evaluate one or more candidates for the open At-large Representative position.
There shall be a separate election taken for each At-large Representative position to be filled. The Policy Board shall vote by secret ballot from the list of qualified candidates issued by the Leadership Development Committee and any candidates nominated by the petition process. The ballots issued to Policy Board Members shall identify whether each candidate was found qualified by the Leadership Development Committee or was nominated by the petition process. Any unsuccessful candidate in an election may be nominated and run in a succeeding election. Whenever there are more than two candidates and no candidate receives a majority of all votes cast, another vote shall be taken, but the following candidates shall be eliminated from the ballot: (1) the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes; and (2) if at least two candidates each received twenty-five (25%) percent or more of the votes cast, all candidates who received less than twenty-five (25%) percent of the votes cast. In the event of two successive tie votes in any election, the determination of which candidate who is involved in the tie shall be elected or eliminated will be determined by drawing lots, with the method of drawing lots to be determined by the President. In the event that more than two candidates are involved in the tie votes, the method of drawing lots shall be used only to eliminate one candidate and a subsequent vote shall be taken among those candidates not eliminated.
Any At-large Representatives who is absent from two or more meetings during either the first year of his or her two-year term or during the second year of such term may be removed from the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of at least six (6) members of the Board of Directors. Any At-large Representative may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President or Secretary of NFDA. Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or at any later date specified therein.
If an At-large Representative position becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the Policy Board may elect a successor At-large Representative at its next meeting to fill the unexpired term. Prior to the meeting at which a successor is to be elected, the Board of Directors may appoint a former At-large Representative to fill the vacant At-large Representative position until the Policy Board elects a successor to fill the unexpired term. In the event the resignation of an At-large Representative will take effect at a date later than the date upon which it is officially received, the Policy Board may elect a successor At-large Representative prior to the effective date of the resignation. Any such successor At-large Representative shall automatically succeed to the position of At-large Representative on the date the resignation becomes effective.
XI: Committees
NFDA shall have an Advocacy Committee, the composition and purposes of which are as follows:
Composition: The Advocacy Committee shall be comprised of the President, President-elect, Treasurer and at least ten (10) NFDA Individual Members.
Purposes: The purposes of the Advocacy Committee are as follows:
To monitor and review all legislative and regulatory actions of the government which impact in any respect funeral consumers, funeral service and/or NFDA Members.
To recommend to the Board of Directors positions and appropriate actions for NFDA to pursue on legislative and regulatory issues for the betterment of funeral consumers, funeral service and/or NFDA Members.
To coordinate funding for and contributions by the NFDA Political Action Committee.
To monitor and implement strategic action plans for the Advocacy Program of NFDA.
Leadership Development Committee
NFDA shall have a Leadership Development Committee, the composition and purposes of which are as follows:
Composition: The Leadership Development Committee shall be comprised of the outgoing Immediate Past President whose term on the Board of Directors just ended, and six (6) Individual members comprised of former Policy Board Representatives, former members of the Board of Directors (f/k/a Executive Board), NFDA Past Presidents or Individual Members with an understanding of the mission, vision, and values of NFDA. Current members of the Board of Directors or the Policy Board may not serve on the Leadership Development Committee. The term of the Committee members, except for the outgoing Immediate Past President who shall serve a one-year term as the Chairperson, shall be for two (2) years starting at the conclusion of the Annual Convention and terminating at the conclusion of the Annual Convention two (2) years later. The terms shall be staggered so that three (3) new Individual Members are appointed as Committee members each year. Unless serving out an unexpired term no committee member shall serve consecutive terms. In the event the outgoing Immediate Past President is unwilling or unable to serve on the Leadership Development Committee, the position shall be filled by the most recent Immediate Past President who is not on the Board of Directors and who is willing to serve on the Leadership Development Committee.
Purposes: The purposes of the Leadership Development Committee are as follows:
To identify and cultivate future leaders in cooperation with all other leadership groups at NFDA;
To review candidate application forms and to interview candidates to determine and present a slate of qualified candidates for election by Firm and Individual Members and the Policy Board as applicable;
To recommend to the Board of Directors the adoption of campaign and elections rules and guidelines; and
To monitor candidate compliance with campaign and election rules and guidelines and to report any infractions to the Board of Directors.
Professional Conduct Committee
NFDA shall have a Professional Conduct Committee, the composition and purposes of which are as follows:
Composition: The Professional Conduct Committee shall consist of at least six (6) NFDA Individual Members, none of which shall be a member of the Board of Directors.
Purposes: The purposes of the Professional Conduct Committee shall be as follows:
To investigate complaints against Firm Members, Individual Members, Retired Members and Student Members that allege violations of the NFDA Bylaws or the Code of Professional Conduct.
To resolve the complaints referred to in subsection (a) above in accordance with the enforcement procedures adopted by NFDA.
To impose disciplinary measures against Members who are found in violation of the NFDA Bylaws or Code of Professional Conduct including, but not limited to, permanent or conditional termination of membership, suspension of membership, termination or suspension of specific membership benefits, probation with or without conditions, public or private reprimand, or such other measures as are appropriate.
To recommend to the Policy Board any appropriate modifications to the Code of Professional Conduct and to recommend to the Board of Directors any appropriate modifications to the enforcement procedures governing the Professional Conduct Committee.
Except as provided in this Article XI, the Board of Directors shall appoint the members of each NFDA Committee. Each member of a Committee shall be appointed to a one (1) year term, except for members of the Leadership Development Committee who, other than the Chairperson, shall serve two-year terms. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chairperson for each Committee who shall serve a one (1) year term. The Board of Directors may also remove any Committee member or Chairperson with or without cause by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the Board of Directors.
Task Forces and Work Groups
From time-to-time, the Board of Directors may select Individual Members and others to serve on task forces and work groups formed to address specific projects for NFDA. The composition, tenure, and responsibilities of each such task force or work group will be established by the Board of Directors.
XII: Dues
NFDA Annual Dues
Dues to NFDA shall be paid on an annual basis by the Firm Members, Individual Members who are not affiliated with a Firm Member, Foreign Associations, Foreign Members, Retired Members, Student Members, and Associate Members in accordance with this Article XII.
The Board of Directors shall establish dues for Firm Members, Individual Members not affiliated with a Firm Member, Foreign Associations, Foreign Members, Retired Members, Student Members, and Associate Members on an annual basis and shall publish a Dues Schedule each year. The Board of Directors may impose late penalties for those members who are delinquent in the payment of dues.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Firm Members, Individual Members, Foreign Associations, Foreign Members, Retired Members, Student Members, and Associate Members who fail to pay dues by the payment date (or any late penalty payment date established by the Board of Directors) shall be automatically suspended from membership in NFDA. Such suspended members may be expelled by the majority vote of the Board of Directors. Suspended members who have not been expelled by the Board of Directors may be reinstated to membership by the Board of Directors upon full payment of any delinquent dues, late penalties and reinstatement fees required by the Board of Directors.
Collection and Payment of NFDA Dues
In States where the State Association has adopted the Choice Membership Option or in States where NFDA and the State Association have agreed that NFDA should collect its own dues, NFDA shall collect its dues directly from NFDA Members in that State. In all other States, the State Association shall collect Firm dues from NFDA Members in that State on a calendar year basis while NFDA shall collect its dues from Individual Members not affiliated with a Firm Member, Retired Members, Student Members, and Associate Members in that state. NFDA dues for a particular year shall be paid to NFDA by each such State Association on or before March 1st of that year; provided, however, that for good cause and at the written request of a State Association, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, vote to extend the payment deadline for a particular State Association. All payments of NFDA dues by State Associations shall be accompanied by the Annual Membership Report as required by Section E below of the Bylaws. Any member not listed on the Annual Membership Report or whose dues have not been paid to NFDA on or before the payment deadline shall have all other benefits of membership suspended.
Annual Membership Report
NFDA shall provide each State Association that has not selected the Choice Membership status with Annual Membership Report forms which NFDA may modify from time to time. Each State Association shall forward to the NFDA Secretary the completed Annual Membership Report on or before March 1st of each year, listing its members for the calendar year.
Article XIII: Annual Convention
NFDA shall hold its Annual Convention each year at the time and place selected by the Board of Directors.
Article XIV: Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of Firm Members and Individual Members voting by mail, by electronic means, or by any combination thereof, as may be determined by the Board of Directors. Each Firm Member shall have two votes which must be cast by the primary contact for the Firm Member listed in NFDA’s current membership records. Each Individual Member shall have one vote. A primary contact for a Firm Member shall also be provided a vote as an Individual Member in addition to the two (2) votes he or she may cast on behalf of the Firm Member. Any proposed amendments and ballots shall be submitted to Firm and Individual Members at least thirty (30) days prior to the close of voting. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors, the Policy Board, or upon a petition signed by hand and/or by electronic means by Firm and Individual Members holding at least two (2) percent of the voting authority of the total Membership with Firm Members having two (2) votes and Individual Members having one (1) vote.
Exhibit A to NFDA Bylaws
State Association Affiliation Agreement
This State Association Affiliation Agreement, which is effective as of January 1, 2018, sets forth the respective obligations of NFDA and the State Association. Capitalized terms appearing in this agreement are used herein with the same meanings as found in the NFDA Bylaws.
I. Membership Obligations of State Funeral Directors Association to the National Funeral Directors Association
As a condition of receiving and continuing to maintain a State Association membership in the National Funeral Directors Association, the undersigned State Association agree to undertake the following duties and obligations:
To comply with and uphold those requirements of NFDA's Bylaws that apply to State Association Members.
To carry out its governance roles in NFDA by appointing its representative to the NFDA Policy Board.
To notify the NFDA Board of Directors before entering into a merger or consolidation with an association comprised primarily of non-Practitioners (individuals who are not funeral directors) and/or non-Firms (businesses that are not funeral homes).
To have no state membership with a national association in the funeral service profession other than NFDA.
To support NFDA's mission.
To promote membership in NFDA and the availability of NFDA services to State Association members.
II. Membership Obligations of the National Funeral Directors Association to State Funeral Directors Associations
As a condition of accepting the State Association into membership and recognizing it as an affiliated State Association, NFDA agrees to undertake the following duties and obligations:
To recognize the State Association as the only NFDA state association member in that State.
To serve as a clearinghouse for data and developments pertaining to funeral service and to share relevant information with the State Association.
To provide the State Association with the resources and expertise needed to address professional issues at the state level and to support the effective and efficient operation of the State Association.
To prepare and provide the State Association with model laws and guidelines developed for use in the states.
To provide an influential voice at the federal level representing the interest of NFDA membership as a whole.
To offer revenue-sharing educational and other programs to State Associations.
To promote membership in the State Association and the availability of State Association services to NFDA members in the State.
Download the State Association Affiliation Agreement here.
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– a cross-section of nearly all of Germany’s
natural heritage. According to the Federation for
Environment and Nature Conservation Germany
(the organization that coordinates the various
entities involved in managing the Grünes Band), a
total of 146 habitat types have been identified.
It is the forests of the Green Belt that I have found most interesting – the fate of the swaths that were clearcut for the border, but also the adjacent landscapes. So I have been exploring the Harz National Park, north-central Germany’s largest forest national park, which straddles a 70- mile stretch of the former border and serves as one of the core ecological reserves of the Green Belt. With their rugged topography and thick forests, the Harz Mountains have long captured the German imagination, aided by cultural luminaries such as the famous poet Goethe. The mountains also symbolize the German division: during the Cold War, their highest peak, the Brocken (most of which was on East German territory), was studded with Soviet listening devices.
To help me understand what I was seeing, on a visit last October I met up with Dr. Friedhart Knolle, a geologist by training, all-around naturalist by passion, and press officer for the Harz National Park. Knolle grew up in Goslar, a town about 10 miles west of the former border. In the car en route to our first stop, he described himself as a “child of the border, a child of the division [of Germany].” His father, an avid naturalist, had known the Harz region without the border from the time before World War II and still had friends and colleagues in the East. When 24-hour visas were made available to West Germans in the early 1970s (as a source of hard currency for East Germany), he took his son along and introduced him to people and places across the border.
Apparently their visits to some sites, especially mines and caves, aroused the suspicion of the Stasi (the East German Secret Police). Knolle told me that after the reunification of Germany, he had been able to unearth the voluminous file the Stasi had compiled about his activities on these visits.
For our first stop that day, Knolle took me to a former border crossing on the northeastern side of the Park. Where he remembers the barren no-man’s land of the border from 26 years ago, we could now see a thriving young forest of mixed hardwoods, exactly the same age as the reunited Germany. Pioneer forests like this have grown up in about 10 percent of the Green Belt’s area, which is now about 25 percent forested.
Knolle pointed out that in areas that were
forested before the division, the installation of the
border had overwhelmingly destructive effects. By
contrast, in agricultural areas, where the border
strip served as a refuge for rare and threatened
species that were being crowded out by agricul-
ture and development elsewhere in the country.
The fragmented patches of forest found throughout the Green Belt today continue to play the same role, contributing to the protection of rare plants and biodiversity. This is especially true of the higher reaches of the Harz Mountains, where upland meadows harbor some rare plant species that require more light than dense forest cover would allow for.
Overall, open and edge habitat types are given special weight in the management guidelines for the Green Belt. This is a direct reflection of the predominantly open nature of the former border strip, which served as a refuge for so many plant and animal species typically found in open habitats. In some places, this means that forest patches dominated by spruce and fir are to be “redeveloped” to more natural open plant communities like heath, or, if this is not possible, to site-typical mixed forest types.
There are many different shades of “green”
within the Green Belt, and its landscape puzzle is a
bewildering mix of natural and cultural pieces. It is
certainly no footpath in the wilderness in the sense
of old-growth forests showing few signs of human
presence. To be sure, the Harz National Park is
managed for the protection of natural processes,
Top: One of many markers that memorialize those killed while attempting to cross the border. Above: The Grünes
Band was protected over the decades from encroachment by agriculture and development. Today, it represents
Germany’s longest, skinniest nature preserve.
K LA U S LE ID O R F
and thus for wilderness. But only a small part of the Green Belt is in the National Park, and the Harz Region had already seen centuries of profound human use long before the border. Its native forests had largely been destroyed by silver, copper, lead, and zinc mining from the Bronze Age until the
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« WBBL QTR FINAL DAY AT WILDCATS ARENA.
Shaw opts to leave Wildcats.
Nottingham Wildcats can confirm that Hannah Shaw has chosen to leave her hometown club to pursue an opportunity elsewhere in the WBBL.
The centre, who has already broken into the Great Britain senior team this year and is also in contention for next year’s Commonwealth Games, has been a key part of the Wildcats attaining success and silverware in recent times.
“It’s difficult to express how disappointed we are, because Hannah is choosing to leave a club where she has deep roots,” said Wildcats’ representative, Chris Prior.
“She is not only a key figure in terms of the WBBL team, but also the club itself – as a trustee and coach of the U16 junior team. But, after being away on international duty, she came back and told us of her decision.”
Meanwhile Wildcats are bidding to reach the 2018 WBBL Cup Final after making the Semi-Finals of the competition with a Quarter-Finals success over the weekend against Sevenoaks. They will now face East Midlands rivals Leicester Riders in the last four.
Courtesy of the WBBL.
Tags: Basketball, Basketball England, british basketball, Nottingham, nottingham basketball, Nottingham Wildcats, nottingham wildcats arena, nottinghamshire basketball, WBBL, Wildcats Arena, women's british basketball league
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HIDESHOW NAVIGATION
PA12: Haire Announces Intentions for GOP Seat
Written by John Cole, Managing Editor
Dr. Davis Haire, Wyoming County GOP Chair and Optometrist, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the special election in the 12th House District.
Rep. Tom Marino (R-Lycoming) announced he was resigning from Congress last month to take a job in the private sector, but told the Daily Item a couple of weeks ago that health issues prompted his resignation.
In a press release announcing his bid, Haire touted his record in the private sector, while emphasizing the need for the newly elected Congressional representative to be a “strong, reliable partner” to President Donald Trump.
“As someone who has spent four decades in the private sector, I am running because I want to help preserve our country’s promise for the next generation,” Haire said in a statement. “To do so, we need a Congressman from this district who will be a strong, reliable partner of the President and can help change the culture of Washington, D.C.”
Haire was recognized by former Gov. Tom Corbett as a leader in his field and was appointed to the State Board of Optometry, where he served as a board member and a term as Vice Chairman. He took a brief break from this board, but was reappointed by Gov. Tom Wolf. He uses his experience on this board plus he decades in the private sector in the field as a benefit to handling what he describes as “today’s healthcare crisis.”
Haire was a candidate in the GOP primary for the 117th House District in 2014, but was bested by Karen Boback, who would win the seat in the general election and still represents the district that covers parts of Luzerne, Lackawanna, and Wyoming County.
His press release included a number of endorsements from a host of Wyoming County officials such as state Rep. Karen Boback, County Commissioner Tom Henry, and more.
“I am proud to receive the endorsement of several local elected officials, who share my vision to support the President, promote economic growth, and change the culture of Washington,” Haire said in a release.
The GOP friendly 12th District voted for President Trump by over a 35 point margin in 2016, while Marino was the first Pennsylvania Congressman to endorse his candidacy in the GOP primary. Trump selected Marino to be the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, but was never confirmed, in part due to a Washington Post/60 Minutes report detailing his role pushing a bill that “undermined” the DEA.
It’s expected to be a crowded field on the GOP side for the open seat. In addition to Haire, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports state Reps. Fred Keller (R-Snyder) Jeff Wheeland (R-Lycoming, Union), former Marino primary challenger and Bradford County Commissioner Doug McLinko, Iraq War veteran and businesswoman Stacy Garrity, Lock Haven University professor Jessica Bowman-Hosley, among others are interested in the GOP nomination.
The Lewistown Sentinel reports that on Tuesday evening, a number of potential candidates addressed a meeting of the Mifflin County Republican Committee, which also included the following possible candidates: Pat Miller, of Centre County, Chris Hoffman, of Juniata County, Malcolm Derk, of Snyder County, Joseph Moralez, of Northumberland County, Joe Peters, of Wyoming County, Robert Noerr, of Clarion County, Maria Montero, of Lycoming County, and Kevin Ferrera, of Clinton County in addition to a number of the candidates named above.
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party officially nominated Marc Friedenberg as their candidate. Friedenberg, an assistant teaching professor at Penn State, where he teaches cybersecurity and cyber-law courses, was the Democratic candidate in November against Marino.
The Republican Party will select their nominee for the seat this Saturday in Williamsport.
The special election date is set for May 21, the same day as the Pennsylvania primary.
February 28th, 2019 | Posted in Congress, Front Page Stories, Top Stories | 2 Comments
2 thoughts on “PA12: Haire Announces Intentions for GOP Seat”
Mike Healey says:
As long as they’re from PA, they can run for whatever House seat they want. Rep Dan Meuser was infamous for this last year.
Taylor Lightman says:
Why does someone from Clarion County running for PA12? Typo?
Reader Poll: Who Should Be The Next PAGOP Chair?
Lawrence Tabas (58%)
Ted Christian (32%)
Bernie Comfort (6%)
Lou Barletta (3%)
Someone Else (2%)
Gordon Denlinger (1%)
Total Voters: 10,857
Copyright 2012 PoliticsPA
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CRIMES AT CORNERS
13 Jan - 19 Jan, 2018
Salaar Laghari
"He’s Mr Raza,” said Rehan, identifying the person from the picture, “He’s the producer of the show.”
Maria was stunned. “Why would he murder someone from his own team? Plus, Yasir was the star of the show?” she asked.
“I know, that’s what I’m confused about,” replied Rehan.
“No, Rehan,” said Maria after a short pause, “He’s not the killer. He can’t be.”
“Well, he obviously killed Inspector Affan.”
“This is getting too complicated,” said Maria, tensed.
Suddenly, Rehan’s face lit up, he had an idea. “I think I can find out,” he replied after a short pause.
“Find out what?” enquired Maria.
“I’m in touch with one of the team members. I’ll arrange a meeting and ask him a few questions about Mr Raza and Professor Yasir. That way, I’ll know whether they were on friendly terms or not,” answered Rehan.
“Oh. Well, that’s one way to find out,” said Maria.
Rehan reached for his cell phone and searched for a contact number.
“But Rehan,” said Maria anxiously, “What if he is not the killer? The police officer who was investigating Yasir’s murder is also dead. How would we ever find the real culprit?”
“I don’t know,” said Rehan worriedly. He knew Maria could be right.
Rehan dialled Jahanzeb Wasay’s number on his cell phone. The call was answered immediately, “Hello?”
“Hello Jahanzeb, it’s me, Rehan. Can we meet tomorrow?”
“Sure, is everything ok?” asked Jahanzeb.
“Yes, I just wanted to ask a few questions about my cousin.”
“Oh. Sure, you can come any time after two.”
“Ok. I’ll be there,” said Rehan.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the same city, Kevin Rollins was exiting the studio of Crimes at Corners. He came here looking for answers and that’s exactly what he had found. So this is it, he wondered. This is how Professor Yasir died. What a tragic death, he thought as he walked towards his bike. I’m surprised by how the media doesn’t have a clue. But for how long? It’s only a matter of time. Sooner or later, everyone will find out.
The next afternoon, Rehan was travelling by bus. Once he reached the bus stop, he walked towards the agreed upon location. It was a small restaurant next to the studio of Crimes at Corners. He was to meet Jahanzeb, the video editor of the show.
Several minutes later, Rehan and Jahanzeb were seated inside the restaurant. Rehan initiated the conversation, “Can you tell me about my cousin’s relationship with his colleagues. I mean, did he get along with everybody?”
“He was fine, quite sarcastic though,” replied Jahanzeb. “But, I’d like to tell you about a strange incident that happened a few weeks back.”
“What happened?” asked Rehan impatiently.
“He came to work and was acting really strange. Perhaps, he was still befuddled after the mesmerism incident. He was constantly confusing people with each other,” said Jahanzeb.
“Really? That’s strange,” replied Rehan.
“Other than that, he also had trouble figuring out right from left and vice versa.”
“What does that mean?” inquired Rehan, worriedly.
“Like, if there were two guys standing in front of him and he wanted to speak to the one on the left, he’d address the person on his right side.”
“Oh God, that’s so unreal!” said Rehan, surprised.
“I know,” answered Jahanzeb.
“But what I want to know is…” said Rehan, coming back to the point, “Did he have a bad relationship with any of his seniors?”
“Well, I do know something but you’ll have to keep it a secret.”
“Ok, fine,” agreed Rehan immediately.
“He had a hostile relationship with the producer of our show, Mr Raza. The two could never get along. In fact, Mr Raza had plans of removing Yasir and replacing him with another host. They had a big argument about this,” said Jahanzeb.
“Why did Mr Raza want a new host?” asked Rehan.
“Because Yasir had asked for a salary raise.”
“Why didn’t Mr Raza simply accept his demands?” inquired Rehan.
“Because he personally didn’t like Yasir and was adamant about firing him from the job. But Yasir stood firm; he threatened to sue the producer.”
“I see,” said Rehan. Everything was beginning to fall into place now.
“I always stayed away from office politics,” said Jahanzeb.
“Well, thanks for meeting me here,” said Rehan as he stood up to leave.
“What? Are you leaving already?” Jahanzeb asked.
“Yup, you were quite helpful. You answered all my questions. Thanks again,” said Rehan after shaking Jahanzeb’s hand. Rehan walked outside the restaurant and searched for a cab. While waiting, he dialled Maria’s number. She immediately answered his call. “Hey Maria, guess what? Mr Raza really is the killer after all.”
“Really, how do you know for sure?” asked Maria.
“I just found a motive,” answered Rehan.
“Oh. So, what is it?”
“Whatever it is, it is enough to justify Mr Raza as the murderer.”
“Ok, where are you now?” asked Maria.
“I’m coming home,” said Rehan. On his way in the cab, Rehan remembered the billboard he saw the other day and wondered, some people plan their own death. I think I should watch that movie someday.
Kevin Rollins walked on the streets, pulling back his long hair. He was feeling guilty and wanted to clear his conscience. Crimes at Corners, he wondered, has finally come to an end. He asked himself, An intended murder, can it be a coincidence?
He was the only one who had the answers to Rehan’s questions regarding Professor Yasir’s murder.
At Maria’s house, she and Rehan were seated at the dining table. He said, “The whole point is – Mr Raza wanted to get rid of Yasir. He wanted him out of the show. But Yasir was clever and tried to blackmail the producer. That’s why Mr Raza wasn’t able to fire him.”
“Then what?” asked Maria, failing to draw a conclusion.
“So, in order to make it easier, he planned to kill Yasir. Now that Yasir’s dead, they can hire a new host. Get it?” explained Rehan.
“I see, that’s quite understandable,” she commented. “But what do we do now? We have no evidence. This is only a motive.”
“I’m going to personally meet Mr Raza, or call him myself. And if he appears guilty, I will take extreme measures.”
“What kind of extreme measures?” she asked.
Rehan remained silent for a few minutes and left the room without answering. Maria felt awkward and frightened about his intentions.
Later that night, Rehan was unable to sleep. He felt uneasy about the murder case so he got up and picked up his cell phone. He dialled Mr Raza’s number and thought about calling him anonymously. After several rings, the call was answered by him, “Hello?”
“Mr Raza, I know the truth about you,” said Rehan, altering his voice.
“Who am I speaking to?” enquired Mr Raza.
“I know you killed Yasir Javed,” accused Rehan.
“Excuse me?” he asked, confused. “I did not kill him. Who is this?”
“Oh. You didn’t?” asked Rehan incredulously.
“No! Who are you and who’s spreading such rumours?!” he yelled.
“But you killed Inspector Affan, didn’t you?” said Rehan convincingly.
Mr Raza grew silent.
“Tell me, did you…” Rehan continued, “Or did you not kill the police inspector?”
“Look, listen to me.”
“I know you killed him. That’s what the head constable told me,” lied Rehan, trying to put pressure on him.
“Alright f-fine,” stammered Mr Raza with fear, “I did k-kill Affan. But whoever told you about me killing Yasir is definitely lying.”
“Oh, really?” asked Rehan, defiantly.
“Yes, I had my…”
Rehan disconnected the call before Mr Raza could complete his sentence. He left the room and rushed towards the table where Maria’s cell phone was kept. He picked it up and quickly switched on the voice recorder while running back to his room. He called Mr Raza again and put the call on loud speaker. “Yes?” he answered.
“Yeah. So, you were telling me why you killed Inspector Affan,” continued Rehan.
“First tell me who you are!” demanded Mr Raza.
“Answer my question,” said Rehan calmly, “If you want to save yourself from any real trouble.”
“Yes, I killed him. I did it because he was suspecting me. He thought I killed Yasir but I didn’t. So, the head constable suggested that I kill the inspector. But I don’t understand why he backed out.”
Rehan was convinced that Mr Raza was speaking the truth and he hadn’t killed Yasir after all. He disconnected the call and thought, Oh man… now what do I do? He still didn’t know who Yasir’s murderer was. What if he’s lying? considered Rehan. Frustrated and annoyed, Rehan stood up and kept everything aside. He began to pace aimlessly around the room, trying to find some clarity. Suddenly, his cell phone rang, it was Mr Raza. Rehan ignored his call.
I just want to get over with all of this, wished Rehan. Why can’t I stop thinking about the murder? He asked himself. Rehan was obsessed and he wanted to overcome this obsession. We were so close to finding out who the real killer was and now we’re back to square one, he thought hopelessly.
A few minutes later, Rehan stood on a footpath downstairs. He stared at the street lights and wondered, I just want to run away from all this… but at the same time, I need to know the answers behind this mystery.
Rehan started running, gradually increasing his speed until he was panting. He imagined that he was running away from his problems. He wanted to feel better and was in search for an escape but running didn’t help. Why is life so stressful? Why doesn’t my mind let me have some rest? He wondered. These questions constantly troubled his mind as he eventually stopped to take a deep breath.
Maria woke up the next morning to find that Rehan wasn’t in his room. Surprised, she called out his name. When he didn’t answer, she grew worried. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. She ran to answer it, hoping it would be Rehan. It was him. “Where have you been?” she asked furiously.
“I just wanted to spend some time alone,” he answered, depressed.
“Alone?” she asked.
He entered the house and walked towards the kitchen. She closed the door and followed him.
“What’s going on with you, Rehan?” she asked worriedly.
“I have made a decision. I will no longer be a part of Yasir’s investigation.”
“Why is that?” she enquired.
“It’s too much to handle,” he replied.
“What’s too much?” she asked, confused.
“It’s too complicated and puzzling. I want to rest. I have put enough pressure on my mind but we still haven’t been able to find any answers.”
“But wait, what about the call you were about to make to Mr Raza?” remembered Maria.
“I called him last night.”
“You did?” she asked, clearly surprised. “Well, what did you say to him?”
“After speaking to him, I’m confident that he didn’t kill my cousin. Although, he did kill Inspector Affan,” replied Rehan.
“How can you be so sure?” she asked.
“Please, let it be. I don’t want to think about the investigation anymore,” pleaded Rehan.
“Ok. But there’s one more episode you need to know about,” she said.
“I’m sure that won’t solve anything. I’ll only get more confused,” replied Rehan.
Maria didn’t say anything and simply looked at him.
“I came to this city to look for a job,” continued Rehan, “And that’s exactly what I’m going to do now. I’m putting Yasir’s murder behind me,” replied Rehan.
“Whatever you think is best,” said Maria.
Rehan poured himself a glass of water and took a big sip. Maria still wasn’t convinced. “Can I ask you what Mr Raza said on the phone last night?” she asked.
“He said he had killed Inspector Affan but refused to take any responsibility for Yasir’s murder.”
“Did he tell you why?” asked Maria curiously.
“Yes…” said Rehan, “He said it was because Inspector Affan kept suspecting him.”
“Suspecting him? Of what?” she asked.
“Of murdering Yasir,” he said.
Maria grew impatient. “So, he murdered Affan?” she asked.
“That’s what I know,” replied Rehan.
“I can’t believe he killed someone over such a petty reason!” she said.
“Well, the head constable was the one who suggested the idea,” replied Rehan.
“Oh God!” she said, “You know what, you are absolutely right. We should give up this matter and leave it to the police.”
“Yeah,” agreed Rehan, still shaken.
“Although, I don’t think the police will do anything now. We should simply move on and leave all of this behind us,” she suggested.
“Ok,” agreed Rehan.
Suddenly, Rehan’s cell phone rang. He took it out from his pocket and looked at the caller ID, “It’s an unknown number.”
“Go on, answer it” encouraged Maria.
“Hello?” answered Rehan in a firm voice.
“Mr Rehan…” the caller spoke, “You don’t know me but I do. I know you are looking for your cousin’s murderer. Don’t worry about it. I know who he is and I have evidence. Meet me if you want to find out. I’ll text you the location.”
“Who are you?” asked Rehan.
The call disconnected.
“Who was it?” asked Maria curiously.
“I don’t know, but he knows me and Yasir’s murderer. He wants to meet me.”
Rehan received a text message from the same number. It read, “I am Kevin Rollins.”
Kalu Bhangi
DON’T KILL ME
PUBLICITY STUNTS
THE DAY IDIED
Serial killer on the loose!
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MHEA Statute
The MHEA committee
Legalising Home Education
What is Home Education?
Deschooling
DIfferent learning styles
Homeschool Co-ops & Academic Classes
Times of Malta 23/05/2016
Dak li jghodd 28/02/2017
TVM 05/03/2017
Statute for the Malta Home Educators Association
(A Voluntary, Non-Profit Making Organisation)
The name of the Organisation shall be “Malta Home Educators Association” -MHEA
Address: PO BOx 5 Malta International Airport Luqa LQA 4000
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ORGANISATION
The aim of Malta Home Educators Association is to support, encourage, advice, build connections, share resources and bring accountability to the parents/guardians who are or are intending to home educate their children.
4. The Organisation shall have the following objectives:
4.1 To provide support and information to new and seasoned home educators;
4.2 To educate the general public on home education (also known as homeschooling);
4.3 To seek and promote, on a national level, the participation of the Organisation;
4.4 To raise public and political awareness on the importance of different schooling options
4.5 To promote and present the interests of the Organisation’s members to the notice of local administration and authorities, international Organisations and other authorities;
4.6 To raise funds by means of subscription of members or otherwise for all the purposes and objectives of the Organisation in such amounts and in such manner as may be authorized by the Executive Committee;
4.7 To form part of any national/international organisation(s) whose aims are similar to that of the MHEA;
4.8 To do all that which is ancillary, incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.
5.1. The Organisation shall be autonomous and voluntary.
5.2. The Organisation shall be non-profit making and any excess of funds received or generated from its activities must always be reinvested in the same Organisation.
5.3. The accounts of the Organisation shall be reviewed or audited and published on a yearly basis.
5.4. Provided its autonomy is not affected, the Organisation may collaborate with other entities on a national, regional or international basis in order to further its aims.
5.5. The Organisation shall not have any political or trade union affiliation and it shall not indulge in party politics.
5.6. All prospective Members and Associate Members of the Organisation shall have access to the statute of Organisation upon demand. Prospective Members will be required to state that they are aware of the objectives of the Organisation.
STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP
6.1 All persons who are home educators or are interested in home education and over the age of eighteen (18) years are eligible to become Members of the Organisation with full voting rights.
6.2 The Affairs of the Organisation, in all matters not in these rules reserved for the Organisation in General Meeting, shall be managed by the Executive Committee of the Organisation. Provided that the Executive Committee shall have, as its primary function but not limited to, the management and allocation of the proceeds of all fund raising activities.
6.3 The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, General Secretary and Finance Secretary; who shall be elected every two years at a General Meeting of The Organisation. At the expiration of the two year period the Executive Committee shall go out of office, however Members of the Executive Committee are eligible for re-election.
6.4 A new member who wishes to form part of the Executive Committee should be a fully subscribed Member of the Organisation for at least six (6) months, otherwise said person can be co-opted and then becomes a full voting Member of the Executive Committee at such a date as the Executive Committee sees fit.
6.5 In order that a vote can be taken during a meeting of the Executive Committee, a minimum of three Members must be present and vote.
6.6 In the event of the resignation (or termination from post for other reasons) of an Executive Committee Member, the Executive Committee will co-opt other member/s to take his/her place. The other official Members of the Executive Committee will pass a vote as to who will be co-opted during a committee meeting. Any Member so appointed shall retain his office only until the next General Meeting, but he shall then be eligible for re-election.
6.7 Any Member not attending the Executive Committee meetings for three (3) consecutive times without a very valid reason will automatically have to step down. This will guarantee the continuity of the work of the Executive Committee.
6.8 The elected members of the Executive Committee will elect a Chairperson, a Secretary and a Treasurer from amongst them.
6.9 Should no person show an interest to contest the election, unless there is an objection, the Executive Committee will be re approved for the following term.
6.10 The Executive Committee shall be elected to office for a period of two years by secret ballot, electing those Members obtaining the highest number of votes. Or automatically as stated in article 6.9 above.
6.11 No person who is not a Member of the Organisation shall be eligible to hold office as a Member of the Executive Committee.
6.12 Nominations for the Executive Committee must be submitted on the appropriate official forms fourteen (14) days prior to the General Meeting. In the absence of prior nominations reaching the Executive Committee on the appropriate date, the outgoing Executive Committee may invite nominations from the floor on the day of the Annual General Meeting.
POWERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
7.1 The business of the Organisation shall be managed by the Executive Committee which may pay all such expenses, preliminary and incidental to the promotion, formation, establishment and registration of the Organisation as they deem fit.
7.2. Legal representation of the Organisation shall vest in the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
7.3. No regulation made by the Organisation in a General Meeting shall invalidate any prior act of the Executive Committee which would have been valid if such regulation had not been made.
7.4. The Members for the time being of the Executive Committee may act notwithstanding any vacancy in their constitution.
7.5 The Executive Committee is authorised to consult and seek the advice of any Associate Member of the Organisation with the aim of improving the welfare or condition of both its members and the Organisation itself.
7.6 The Executive Committee is authorised to appoint External Advisory Committees to support it in its role.
8.1 The Chairperson will preside at all Executive Committee meetings and General Meetings of the Organisation. The Chairperson shall undertake such functions in respect of the Organisation as the Executive Committee may determine from time to time.
8.2 The Executive Committee will also elect from among its members a Deputy Chairperson and may determine for what period he/she is to hold office. The Deputy Chairperson will preside on the Executive Committee with full powers in the absence of the Chairperson.
8.3. Provided that in the absence of both the Chairperson and the Deputy, and provided a quorum is available, the Executive Committee will have the power to appoint a substitute/s to conduct the meetings.
8.4 The Executive Committee may remove any Deputy Chairperson in which case he/she shall remain a Member of the Committee.
8.5 No remuneration (except by way of reimbursement of out of pocket expenses, if any) shall be paid to any member of the Executive Committee in respect of their office.
9.1 The Secretary shall be elected at the General Meeting. The Secretary will be responsible for all the secretarial and administrative work of the Executive Committee.
9.2 The Executive Committee may elect from among its members an Assistant Secretary to assist the Secretary as necessary. Any Secretary so appointed by the Executive Committee may also be removed by them, in which case however he/she shall remain a member of the Executive Committee.
9.3 The Secretary and his/her assistant shall undertake such functions in respect of the Organisation as the Executive Committee may determine from time to time.
10.1 The Treasurer shall be elected at the General Meeting. The Treasurer will be responsible for all the Financial and Accounting work of the Executive Committee.
10.2 The Executive Committee may elect from among its members an Assistant Treasurer to assist the Treasurer. Any Assistant Treasurer so appointed by the
Executive Committee may also be removed by them, in which case however he/she shall remain a member of the Executive Committee.
The Treasurer and his/her Assistant shall undertake such functions in respect of the Organisation as the Executive Committee determines from time to time.
No remuneration (except by way of reimbursement of out of pocket expenses, if any) shall be paid to the Treasurer or his /her assistant in respect of their office.
DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
11.0 The office of an Official Member of the Committee shall be vacated:
(a) If he/she ceases to be a member of the Organisation.
(b) If by notice in writing to the Organisation, he/she resigns his/her office.
(c) If he/she is removed from office by a resolution duly passed pursuant to Clause 12.1 of this Statute.
The Organisation may by a resolution taken at an Extraordinary General Meeting remove any Member of the Executive Committee before the expiration of his/her period of office if he/she is guilty of repetitive disruption of meetings, hinders the function of the Organisation or breaks the confidentiality and trust of other Members.
The Organisation may by the same or another resolution appoint another Member in his/her stead; but any person so appointed shall retain his/her office so long only as the Member in whose place he/she is appointed would have held the same if he/she had not been removed.
Article 13.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
13.1. Subject as hereinafter provided, the Executive Committee may meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit.
13.2. The quorum necessary for the transaction of the business of the Executive Committee shall be of five (5) persons; provided that if no quorum is present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned to another day within one week. If at such adjourned meeting no quorum is present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, provided three (3) members are present, the meeting shall proceed accordingly.
13.3 Matters decided at any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be decided by a simple majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes, the Chairperson of the meeting shall ask for a re-vote. In the event of an equality of votes on the revote, the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting vote.
13.4 On the request of the Chairperson or his/her Deputy the Secretary shall, at any time, summon a meeting of the Executive Committee by notice (stating the time and place of such meeting) served upon the several members of the Executive Committee giving a notice of at least five working days. Any accidental failure to give such notice to any member of the Committee entitled thereto shall not invalidate any of the proceedings of such meeting so long as a quorum is present there at.
13.5 A meeting of the Executive Committee at which a quorum is present shall be competent to exercise all the authorities, powers and discretion by or under the regulations of the Organisation for the time being vested in the Executive Committee generally.
13.6 The Executive Committee may delegate any of its powers to sub committees consisting of such member or members of the Executive Committee or of such other persons as it thinks fit, and any sub committee so formed shall, in the exercise of the powers so delegated, conform to any regulations imposed on it by the Executive Committee.
13.7 The Executive Committee shall cause proper minutes to be made of all appointments of officers made by the Executive Committee and of the proceedings of all meetings of the Organisation and of the Executive Committee and of sub committees of the Executive Committee.
13.8 All business transacted at such meetings, and any such minutes of any meeting, if purporting to be signed by the Chairperson and Secretary of such meeting, or by the Chairperson and Secretary of the next succeeding meeting, shall be sufficient evidence without any further proof of the facts therein stated.
SUBSCRIPTIONS, FINANCES AND ACCOUNTS
14.1. (a) Applications for membership shall not be considered unless accompanied by the subscription fee.
(b) The subscription fee shall be payable yearly in advance and shall fall due as determined by the Executive Committee;
(c) If the subscription falls due and a Member has not yet paid the previous year's subscription, he/she shall not be entitled to vote in the next General Meeting;
(d) Any Member who resigns or forfeits his membership shall on rejoining be liable to pay a readmission fee equivalent to one year's subscription.
14.2 The funds of the Organisation shall also be collected from voluntary contributions, donations or grants by Members, benefactors, the State, any other institution, and from fundraising activities.
14.3 The funds of the Organisation shall be deposited in bank accounts of a reputable local bank in the name of the Organisation and the authorised joint signatories for operating such accounts shall be the Chairperson, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The signature of the Treasurer and one other signature of the Chairperson or Secretary will suffice.
14.4. The Treasurer shall keep such proper books of accounts as will enable him/her to present at every General Meeting of the Organisation, or at any other time if required (on reasonable notice to him/her) by the Executive Committee, an accurate report and statement concerning the finances of the Organisation.
15.1 An Annual General Meeting of the Organisation shall be held in every year. Notice of the day and time of the Annual General Meeting shall be given to each member at least fifteen (15) working days before such day.
15.2 Other meetings of the Organisation may be summoned by the Executive Committee, and shall be so summoned immediately upon a request in writing signed by at least ten per cent of the Members.
15.3 At any meeting of the Organisation every member of the Organisation shall be entitled to be present, and every Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote upon every matter raised. In the case of equality of voting, the Chairperson of the meeting (who shall be the outgoing Chairperson of the Executive Committee) shall have a second or casting vote. The Secretary shall take minutes of the proceedings at all General Meetings of the Organisation.
15.4 The Secretary shall present the Annual Report of the Organisation to the Annual General Meeting.
15.5. The quorum for the Annual or any Meeting shall be ten per cent (10%) of the general membership. In the absence of such quorum, the Meeting shall be held, with the same agenda, thirty minutes later and all decisions taken shall be binding on the Organisation as a whole.
15.6. The auditors or reviewers of accounts shall be nominated and elected by the members attending and having a right to vote at General Meetings. No auditor or reviewer of accounts who has held office on the Executive Committee during the past twelve (12) months will be eligible for nomination. No auditor or reviewer of accounts shall run for office on the Executive Committee during the coming twelve (12) months.
CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
16.1 Every Member shall conform to the Organisation's Code of Ethics. Any Member or members alleged to have brought, or attempted to bring disrepute on the Organisation, shall be asked to appear before the Executive Committee and if, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, the case be found proven, the Member shall be deprived of his/her membership. If the said Member fails to appear before the Executive Committee without justification he/she shall be deprived of membership.
17.1 Each Member shall keep the Secretary informed of that Member's private address, email address, or of some other address at which communications may be addressed to him/her.
ALTERATION OF STATUTE
18.1 This Statute may be revoked, added to or altered by a vote of at least fifty one per cent of all the registered Members of the Organisation who are entitled to vote at a General Meeting of the Organisation of which notice has been duly given specifying the intention to propose the revocation, addition or alteration, together with full particulars thereof.
19.1 If at any time the Organisation shall pass in General Meeting by a majority comprising seventy five per cent (75%) of all the registered Members present and entitled to vote a resolution of its intention to dissolve, the Executive Committee shall take immediate steps to settle any debts, and dispose of the monies and property remaining as determined by the General Meeting; and thereupon the Organisation shall for all purposes be dissolved.
19.2 In the event of dissolution of the Organisation, any remaining funds and/or property shall be donated to a voluntary non-profit making organization or a charitable institution chosen by the outgoing Executive Committee.
Legalities
Committee Meetings
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A Sense Of Wonder premieres Thursday, April 15, 2010. Check Local Listings to see when it is airing on your local PBS station.
Rachel Carson has been called the patron saint of the modern environmental movement. A quiet biologist who shook the world with her revelations about America's use of pesticides in the years following World War II, Carson has been named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century. Of her book Silent Spring, Al Gore wrote, "Without this book, the environmental movement might have been long delayed or never developed at all."
The documentary-style film A Sense Of Wonder takes the form of two interviews with Rachel Carson during the last year of her life, as she battles cancer and her critics in the wake of publishing Silent Spring. Using the author's own writings as the basis for the film, writer and actress Kaiulani Lee provides an intimate glimpse of Carson as she is thrust into the role of controversial public figure.
The first interview takes place in Miss Carson's summer home as she is preparing to leave. Fighting breast cancer, she fears this may be her last visit to her beloved Maine coast. Outside the cottage, Carson's adopted son Roger explores the tidepools and patches of seaweed that remind Carson of her first books about the sea. She recounts her struggle to become a scientist, first at the prestigious Woods Hole Laboratory in Massachusetts and then with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and remembers the first time her employer suggested she submit a failed scientific paper to The Atlantic magazine.
The rocky coast of Maine provided inspiration for Carson's beliefs about the sense of wonder children gain from a relationship to nature.
As Carson reminisces about her writing career, we hear of her conviction that "a child's world is fresh, full of wonder;" the sounds of Roger playing in the surf provide a backdrop for Carson's musings about the changing human relationship to the natural world. As she packs boxes and pulls laundry in from the line, Carson describes the most recent change in her own life: her cancer, and her concern about finding the right family to raise her son Roger after she is gone. As the first interview comes to a close, Carson is quieted by her realization that she must return to Washington to face the uproar over her new book. As she puts it, quoting Abraham Lincoln, "remaining silent when they should protest makes cowards out of men."
Rachel Carson's love of the natural world compelled her to complete Silent Spring, the book that helped launch the modern environmental movement.
The second interview takes place two months later in her winter home outside Washington D.C., where her life is embroiled in the furor over Silent Spring. Miss Carson is simultaneously battling the chemical industry, the government, the press, and her ongoing illness. As she struggles to get her message to Congress, she recounts with humor and anger the attacks on her by the chemical industry, and recalls the arduous but triumphant process that resulted in Silent Spring. Just months after the publication of the book, Carson recounts, President Kennedy's Scientific Advisory Committee concluded that both government and industry had been negligent in assessing the risks posed by chemical pesticides — vindicating the findings in her book.
Within a decade of Rachel Carson's death, a new era of environmental protection had dawned. America gained a Clean Air Act, a Clean Water Act, a National Environmental Policy Act, and numerous other pieces of legislation designed to protect and preserve the natural world.
Watch interviews with contemporary environmental leaders reflecting on Rachel Carson's legacy and tour the author's Maine cottage with her adopted son Roger at http://www.asenseofwonderfilm.com/.
© 2010 Sense of Wonder Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Text by Ian Cheney. Photos courtesy of Haskell Wexler, ASC.
Browse Programs by Topic
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A Sense Of Wonder (DVD)
Own this DVD about environmentalist Rachel Carson's battle with cancer and critics in the wake of publishing Silent Spring.
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Copyright 1995 - 2019 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). All rights reserved.
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Toronto Jazz Festival
TO Jazz Preview: Interview with Eric Krasno of Soulive
Posted on June 24, 2011 by Mark in Concerts, interviews, Toronto Jazz Festival | Leave a comment
Toronto – Today marks the start of the Toronto Jazz Festival. For the next ten days, the city will be teeming with fantastic musicians playing venues large and small. You can check out some of the highlights of the line-up here.
In anticipation of the festival, I had a chance to chat with the guitarist of soul/jazz/funk outfit Soulive, Eric Krasno. We talked about their latest album, Rubber Soulive, and also dove into how new technologies like do-it-yourself studios, grassroots record labels, and the internets are changing the the face of music.
Mark: Soulive has been doing jazz, soul and funk for over a decade. This latest album, Rubber Soulive, is a funkified Beatles tribute.
Eric: It’s kind of a take on the Rubber Soul album that they did. In London [white guys playing soul music was called rubber soul]. We ended up calling it Rubber Soulive based on the Beatles album, but ended up taking other Beatles tunes as well.
MJ: What was the motivation behind this album?
EK: We had talked about doing a covers album. At first we were talking about doing a British Invasion thing, where it was different British groups, this was right around when they did the re-master of the Beatles stuff. Originally it was going to be an EP. The first session we just sat and listened to a bunch of tunes and talked about which ones would translate best into our instrumentation and our style, and then we just recorded them live in the studio pretty quickly and organically.
MJ: Over the last decade, you’ve worked with a number of different record labels. You were involved in Velour, a couple of years with Blue Note, and a brief stint with Stax. Now you’ve gone your own route with Royal Family. I’m curious about how the record label has influenced your sound and how you make music over the years.
EK: We’ve been pretty fortunate that labels didn’t really tell us what to do. The difference really is when you have a big budget. As we decided to do it on our own, we had to be a little bit more aware of what we’re spending. We have our own studios now, so we’re able to record a lot easier, but we’ve been fortunate in that we could pretty much record and hand in what we wanted to put out and they’d put it out. It’s a lot different if you’re a pop singer on a major label where you don’t have a lot of influence over what you do.
MJ: So what was the prime motivation then to break out with the Royal Family?
EK: We had [wanted to enter into a subsidiary deal with labels, but it didn’t pan out so we started our own]. Now we’re doing all of our other projects as well. We can put out live recordings every night. We actually offer our recording of our shows live at the show that night, so you can leave with a copy of the show that was just played.
Things like that we weren’t allowed to do on major labels: being able to put out as much music as we want, and put stuff out for free on the internet. For the number of albums we were selling, it made more sense to do it ourselves.
MJ: Things are moving very quickly in the music industry with technology and the movement online. It sounds like with the Royal Family you’ve got a little more freedom to embrace the change.
EK: Absolutely, that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.
MJ: How has the Soulive sound changed over the last decade?
EK: It has evolved in that we’ve got better as a group, as far as communicating and improvising, and [we’ve also] allowed other influences to seep in. It started out just organ, guitar, and drums, and now … our palette has expanded.
MJ: From a guitar point of view, what are some of your influences? I don’t want to load this question, but there are certainly some people that pop in my mind when I listen to you.
EK: I was a huge Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page fan; a big rock & roll fan as a kid. Stevie Ray Vaughan was a good one, and then later on I found Grant Green and Wes Montgomery. It’s a combination of all those things really.
MJ: I’m glad you said Grant Green, because that’s definitely what I had in my mind when I was listening to Rubber.
You seem to be doing a lot of studio work and live touring. Do you like the mix?
EK: I kind of need the mix. I’ve also produced a lot of records over the last ten years; everything from hip-hop, to pop, to African music. It’s nice because I can try all sorts of different things when I’m in the studio. But then after a while, I like to get out and play, and then when I’m out on the road, I get sick of the road too, so I definitely dig the balance.
MJ: So if you were heading to a deserted island and you had to pick one Beatles album, which one would you have to take?
EK: For me it’s Abbey Road, I have to say.
MJ: Nice.
Soulive plays this Monday (June 27th) at the Horseshoe Tavern at 9:30 and 11:30.
Soulive – Drive My Car – Rubber Soulive by royalfamily
TO Jazz Preview: 2011 Line-up Announced
Posted on April 11, 2011 by Mark in Concerts, Toronto Jazz Festival | 1 Comment
Toronto – The Toronto Jazz Festival rolled out its line-up last week. We’ll be providing more in-depth previews of all the great shows happening as it gets closer to the festival. For now, I’d like to provide some colour on the roster.
Aretha Franklin – I had a chance to catch Aretha for her last show in Toronto. While she may not have the pipes she used to, she still seems to be pushing herself. That she is the Queen of Soul is uncontested. While this won’t be like seeing her when she was in her prime, it’s still a good opportunity to mark this off your concert checklist.
Paco de Lucia – This is the show I am 2nd most excited about. Spanish flamenco music derives a lot of it’s technique from classical guitar music, which has a reputation for being rigid in its implementation. You have to sit just so, you have to hold the guitar just so, you have to use a footstool like so. It’s about as far away from the rebellious guitar rocker that you can be, while still being in the same instrument family.
“[Paco de Lucia] crossed his legs like a badass, which actually incensed traditionalists of the day”
Paco de Lucia threw those conventions out the window. He crossed his legs like a badass (see picture above), which actually incensed traditionalists of the day. He developed his own style of playing and is now considered one of the world’s virtuoso flamenco guitarists.
Branford Marsalis & Joey Calderazzo – Both of these guys have been on my top roster of favourite contemporary jazz musicians. They’ve been playing together in the Branford Marsalis Quartet for years now, and as a result, they can read each other’s minds. In the world of jazz, the duo format can be stunning. There are no safety nets; no one gets to “comp” (play straight-ahead chords or accompaniment). This allows for a focused interplay between the two musicians. You take two artists at the top of their game and it can be magic. This is my most anticipated show of the festival.
The Roots – This show will sell out quickly. Every single person who went to the show last year will want to go again and bring all of their friends. All of the people on the outside of the tent looking at the ridiculous party inside is now going to want in, sticker price be damned. It will be a crazy fun blend of rock, funk, and hip-hop. This was my favourite show of 2010, and remains my only five star review. ‘Nuff said.
The Toronto Jazz Festival runs this summer from June 24 – July 3. You can find the entire line-up here. Paco de Lucia image above is distributed under the Creative Commons license.
TO Jazz Review: Andy Milne & Dapp Theory, July 3, Trane Studio
Posted on July 7, 2010 by Mark in Concerts, Toronto Jazz Festival | Leave a comment
Toronto – The theme for my last weekend of the jazz festival was intimate clubs. I chose to spend Saturday evening at Trane Studio to check out Andy Milne & Dapp Theory. I had read their bio and was interested in what was described as a jazz hip-hop fusion. Indeed after the ridiculously amazing show The Roots put on, I was looking for just such an excuse to listen to more hip-hop. With this in mind, I was curious to see what Dapp Theory was all about. They’ve recently garnered some praise in Jazz Times with some lofty words about pioneering a “musical unified field theory”.
Do not have a wedding reception at a club where there is a live show about to happen, unless you are related to one of the musicians.
When I arrived at Trane Studio, I was a little surprised to find a woman in a bridal gown. At first I was under the impression that maybe Andy Milne’s cousin just got married and decided to have the reception at the show. That would have been wicked cool. I was disappointed to find out that the wedding reception and the show were completely unrelated. With the reception butting right up against the live show, it certainly made for an awkward standoff as concert goers waited for the wedding party to vacate the club. Let this be a lesson to our attentive readers: do not have a wedding reception at a club where there is a live show about to happen, unless you are related to one of the musicians.
I was definitely expecting hip-hop to be a prominent aspect of this show. In reality, the needle was pegged at “jazz” on my trusty jazz-to-hip-hop fusion-o-meter. This normally wouldn’t be much of a problem for me, because I like jazz. I just couldn’t identify with the jazz that Dapp Theory was playing. The hip-hop aspects were really more spoken word. On my other trusty instrument, my beatnik-to-hip hop fusion-o-meter, the needle was pretty forcefully pegged at beatnik. Not in a good way. The songs were long and the crowd seemed both stoic and alienated.
I’ll admit that it was entertaining to see some elderly ladies sitting completely still trying to absorb the crazy beatnik jazz going on. Five minutes of repetitive vocal vamp had them really reeling. They looked wide-eyed and perhaps a little scared. Unfortunately the novelty of crowd watching faded pretty quickly, and so I decided to copy Brian’s move from the night before at the very same club and abscond while the absconding was good.
TO Jazz Review: The Andrew Stew Art Project, July 2, The Rex
Posted on July 6, 2010 by Mark in Concerts, Toronto Jazz Festival | 2 Comments
Toronto – If there was one thing that was missing from the early part of my jazz festival experience this year, it was some time checking out some small clubs. This was certainly due to my own designs; there were so many great acts happening at the main stage at Nathan Phillips square that I had difficulty straying from the beaten path. But jazz is a music that works best in intimate venues. It was with this thought held firmly in mind that I embarked on the final weekend of the festival. The mission was clear: spend some quality time at the local clubs in the city.
Friday night found me at The Rex, one of the few institutions left in Toronto. This place is an integral part of the jazz community in the city. It balances great live music with a laid back vibe that welcomes music lovers of all stripes. The Andrew Stew Art Project consisted of the namesake of the band on bass, paired with some excellent Toronto musicians, and a bona fide steel pan player in Gareth Burgess. Tastefully done steel pan jazz is one of my very favourite things, so going to this show was a no-brainer for me. This show gets my top marks this year in my newly created Favourite Jazz Show At A Small Club category. The musicians were into it, the crowd was into it, and the vibes were positive. What more can you ask for?
At one point during the second set, a female vocalist was invited on stage for a few numbers. Unfortunately the result was a little lacklustre, as it was difficult for the crowd to maintain the momentum and sheer groove that accompanied the purely instrumental songs. It was a fun show at a great little club, and would easily earn 4.5 stars in my books if done again sans vocals.
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2010: THE YEAR I LIKED SOME STUFF
Now, of course, there is some stuff I haven't seen yet this year and that may very well wind up on the list. Friday Night Lights and most of Treme, both likely to yield results in the category of "Best Stuff I Liked" from 2010, but I'm not likely to see it until I get the DVDs next year. Might be a couple of movies like that to, but I doubt it.
The Social Network. Not only did it feature a virtual Holy Trinity for me in the form of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, David Fincher and Trent Reznor, but each of them stands an excellent chance of an Oscar nomination. Sorkin's script was masterful, not just for the usual Sorkin dialogue or characterizations, but for the way he synthesized the Rashomonesque multiple viewpoints of Facebook lawsuits and their participants into one linear narrative that still contains multiple viewpoints and thus a tricky level ambiguity that doesn't leave you unsatisfied. And Reznor's first film score (with Atticus Ross) was a very different beast a film scores go, but it hit all the right...umm...notes.
I also thought that The Losers was pretty damn awesome for the first two/thirds of it. So much so that I kinda wished that I'd written it, until the final third kicked in. It carried and transferred Andy Diggle's voice form the comic book so well. It blended serious action with both black and self-aware humor extremely well. The ending just sucked though, on pretty much every level. It was like somebody else came in and wrote that last 20-25 minutes or so.
Inception was good too. It's not that the end was a dream or not, it's that it didn't matter that it was a dream.
On to TV, where my favorite things of the year, all turned out to be British. It was the first season of the Steven Moffat-run Doctor Who, and everyone was primed to expect too much, including me, but overall, I was really very happy with the new show, and the new Doctor. I can probably do without Amy Pond, but she's okay, I guess. In fact, in was in two of the three episodes I didn't really care for that much that I saw the person I'd really like to see as companion. Nasreen, the middle-aged geo-scientist. The standouts though were--okay, I was going to nail it down to two or three, but it's hard. Matt Smith has an exemplary first episode, there were four River Song episodes, and Richard Curtis wrote a peculiar episode that will make you tear up. Overall, Moffat took his meta-structuring to a new level with his season long arc.
Then there was Sherlock. Double the Moffat, double the awesome. Well, not really double, as he produced it teamed with Mark Gatiss and of the three extra-long episodes, the second one dropped the ball and let it roll under the fridge. The fresh take on Holmes scored with modernisation and characterization while staying true to the Holmes mythos. My favorite scene has got to be the very simple, non-story-intrinsic scene where it's made clear that Sgt Donovan regards the OCD detective as a probably psychopath while Holmes also deduces that she's been screwing the married forensics guy. The DVD is well-worth looking at for the alternate pilot, a one-hour version of "A Study in Pink." The story was completely reshot, so there's different locations (some of significance) and a different handling of the crime's resolution.
Luther rounds out the trip of BBC awesomeness. I've written about it before here (go look), but it's a great look at a broken man who is still a fantastic detective. There's procedural elements, but it's a character driven six-ep series. Idris Elba gives a performance that will make you forget about Stringer Bell and Ruth Wilson puts a whole new face on evil.
American TV was not devoid of awesome. Eureka, for instance, a show I was content to ignore for several years found an intriguing way of shaking things up and subverting convention when several of it's cast went back in time, changed the future (their present) and they didn't change it back to normal. This left some characters in completely different versions of their lives. It was bold, logical for a TV series and even upset some people. People who, from their reactions, I say deserve to be upset.
This also turned out to be a great year for bottle episodes, those episodes of TV series designed to be contained entirely in standing sets, therefore saving quite a bit of money. Even better when they don't use any guest cast either. These restrictions usually result in increased creativity from the writers. In 2010, Leverage pulled off a fantastic con (the appropriately named "The Bottle Job") entirely in their bar set, McRory's. On Breaking Bad, Walter's obsessive and misplaced battle against potential meth contamination by a "Fly" aided and abetted by Jesse, was a great psychological examination of a guy coming apart. On Community, "Cooperative Calligraphy" locked the ensemble cast in the study room, casting accusations and fostering total mental breakdowns (but in a funny way) in a quest to find Annie's pen. If you watch carefully, you can see what happened to it right in the first minute.
AMC was busy ripping TV a new one. Breaking Bad, of course, rocked. This year of Mad Men might be my favorite with it's greater focus on the ad agency and not much Betty. I hate Betty. And not just in the way that Matt Weiner want me to hate his mom her. Rubicon was mostly too smart for the room, resulting in a conspiracy-laden single season, but it really shined when they figured out not to serialize the entire series and did single episode stories based around the think tank members not directly involved in or investigating the conspiracy. Dallas Robert's Miles was a breakout character as we watched him fail to connect with a translator and freak out by witnessing rendition first-hand. I'm gonna miss this show. Now, however we have The Walking Dead, zombies as catalyst for drama. It needs tightening up for damn sure, but it got off to a fantastic start.
On FX, Sons of Anarchy lived like it's subject matter MC, the way it fucking wants to, and the finale payoff was a thing to behold. Terriers lived it's short life, but it was a beautiful thing and it just got lost in the shuffle. The writing was spot on in this series the blended the best elements of The Rockford Files, Veronica Mars and the buddy cop genre into a perfect blend of seasonal arc and episodic storytelling. And Donal Logue should get a fucking Emmy for what he did here. A far cry from that sitcom I can't recall the name of. And I got to go to the premiere.
My thoughts on Lost, are here.
In comics, Rucka's Stumptown, also owing a great deal to The Rockford Files, brought the PI concept to comics, along with the character of Portland, OR. His Batwoman run in Detective was also pretty damn sweet.
Paul Cornell is in the midst of Knight & Squire, a comedic British take on Batman and Robin. Great fun.
OK, I'm tired of typing, so I'll finish by addressing music with just this:
The Social Network - Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
How to Destroy Angels - How to Destroy Angels
Maximum Balloon - Maximum Balloon (Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio)
Amanda Palmer Performs the Popular Hits of Radiohead on her Magical Ukulele - Amanda Palmer
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Guilford Property Values Top $40 Billion Mark for First Time
Posted by Scott D. Yost | Jan 26, 2017 | Archives, Guilford, News
After over a year of work by his staff, Guilford County Tax Director Ben Chavis unveiled the results of a new countywide property revaluation to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners at a work session on Thursday, Jan. 19. That revaluation, which was conducted for the first time since 2012, showed an increase in the value of the county’s property of 5.25 percent.
That number includes the rise the value due to the fresh assessment of the worth of previously existing property, as well as the increase provided by new houses and buildings added to the tax rolls in 2016. The new valuation of every piece of property in Guilford County, along with new construction in the county in 2016, puts the total price tag of land, houses, buildings and other structures in the county at over $40 billion for the first time.
Now, Guilford County property owners can look for their new values on notices the Tax Department will send out in mid February after tax staff conducts one last check on the numbers.
At the Jan. 19 work session, the commissioners listened with great interest because the value of the tax base is the source of most of the revenue the county gets every year. Chavis’ presentation also offered information on which parts of the county were prospering the most in terms of added homes and buildings, as well as increases in valuation.
Guilford County conducts a countywide revaluation of all property in its borders every five years. By law, all counties in the state must do so at least once every eight years. Before 2012, Guilford County conducted revaluations once every eight years; however, tax officials and the county commissioners decided that conducting the reviews more frequently would help keep recorded tax values better aligned with actual property values.
The new grand total of tax value for billable property in Guilford County is $40,824,230,026. That’s up from roughly $38.4 billion at the start of 2016, which means it’s an increase in billable property of about $2.4 billion. The rise in value found by the Tax Department was actually 6.36 percent; however, the tax officials adjusted that number downward to an increase of 5.25 percent due to, among other things, expectations that there will be some successful appeals by property owners who contest their new values.
Part of that 5.25 percent increase since last year is due to the revaluation of all property, while some of that increase is the addition of new homes and buildings in 2016. About $700 million of that $2.4 billion increase in property value is due to new construction in the county last year.
According to Assistant Guilford County Tax Assessor Alan Myrick, the latest reports show a difference between 2017 and 2016 of $602 million in new construction.
“We have been averaging in the range of $700-$800 million in new construction growth in the last two years,” Myrick wrote in an email. “I would estimate that we’ll be close to that range for this year as well.”
Myrick added that, at this point, that number must be taken “with a grain of salt” since not all of the 2016 construction in Guilford County has been accounted for yet – which is why in the end that number is likely to come in around the $700 million mark.
At the Jan. 19 work session, Chavis told the commissioners that the Tax Department broke the county down into 2,500 “appraisal neighborhoods” to calculate property values. In 2012, the department only broke the county into 400 neighborhoods, and the greater number used this year is meant to assure that the tax values arrived at are as fair as possible. When the department’s appraisers look at “comparable sales” to help calculate housing values, they should get a more accurate value by using a greater number of neighborhoods.
“Hopefully, it insures we do our business better,” Chavis said of the finer distinctions in the property assessments this year.
Chavis said that the revaluation will help make tax values match the actual sales values reflected in real estate trades. Those values tend to get out of line as years pass after revaluations, and one purpose of periodic countywide revaluation is to bring those tax values back in line with the actual price that a house or building would bring if it were sold.
“Coming out of a reappraisal, you try and get as close to 100 percent as possible without going over,” Chavis said, adding that valuing property at more than its anticipated market price wouldn’t be fair to taxpayers.
He said that, after the latest revaluation, the tax value on newly assessed property is now coming in at just under 100 percent of sales value, which is “right where you want to be.”
That way, he said, the taxpayer isn’t overtaxed and the county isn’t “leaving too much money on the table.”
Chavis said that, according to the numbers tracked by his department, Guilford County’s housing market bottomed out in 2011 but has been showing slow but steady growth since then.
“We’ve slowly recovered – not back were we were pre-recession – but we are getting there,” Chavis told the commissioners.
He said foreclosures in Guilford County peaked in 2010 at roughly 4,000, while in 2016 there were less than 1,500.
The tax director also reported that downtown Greensboro has seen good growth in value since the 2012 revaluation.
“The downtown area has done particularly well,” Chavis said.
He said there were three new hotels planned or underway for downtown Greensboro and that 11 new apartment complexes had been added in Guilford County since the previous revaluation, with three of those located in downtown Greensboro.
“It’s no surprise apartment properties have done tremendously well,” Chavis said. “They did well last time around and that trend is continuing with this appraisal.”
He also said the Aycock historic district near the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has done particularly well when it comes to property value increases.
In the revaluation, the City of Greensboro beat the county’s overall value increase: Greensboro had a 6.71 percent increase in total taxable real property value since the 2016 tax bills went out, while the City of High Point’s tax base increased 5.40 percent.
The biggest municipality gain was in Archdale’s property values, which showed a 19.05 percent increase in property values under the revaluation. Kernersville, which has only a small presence in Guilford County, saw the value of its property in this county go up 10.70 percent in value. Stokesdale came in third with a 9.35 percent increase. Gibsonville’s values grew 5 percent, and the lowest growth in property values was in Sedalia, which only saw 2.62 percent growth.
Chavis said the results are still being refined.
“We’re still tweaking these a little bit,” he told the commissioners. “We still have a review phase over the next two weeks.”
According to Chavis, the new value notices to property owners will go out on Friday, Feb. 17.
“We pray for snow that weekend,” he joked, apparently hoping a good snowfall will take taxpayers’ minds off of what in most cases will be higher property values which will mean a higher tax bill if the tax rate remains the same.
On Feb. 17, the day the new notices are sent out, the Tax Department is also launching a new website that allows property owners to plug in their addresses and see some of the department’s rationale for the valuation. The site will let allow them to search comparable sales in their area, and property owners not convinced of the valuation determined by the Tax Department will be able to file an appeal using an online form offered at the new site. Cases of property value disputes that can’t be solved by discussions with Tax Department staff can be appealed to the Guilford County Board of Equalization and Review – also known as the “E & R board.” If taxpayers aren’t happy with that outcome they can appeal to the state – though few people pursue that option.
Property owners have 30 days from the date the notices of new values are mailed to appeal their property values.
In the last countywide revaluation, about 2,500 people went before the Board of E&R, and an additional 7,500 went through an informal appeals process where their dispute was worked out before those cases got to the review board.
PreviousGuilford County Jails Losing Inmates, But Not In A Bad Way
NextState May Take Up HB2 Again
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Rotary Testimonials
5 Avenues of Service
Four Way Test
About Rotary - Rotary Testimonials
"In 1957, The Rotary Club of Patterson offered me a scholarship to cover the expenses for the American Field Service (AFS) Summer Exchange Student Program. I spent the summer of 1958 in a small village - Fabero del Bierzo, Spain - where no one spoke English. That summer of total immersion in a new culture was life-changing. That experience helped me develop a self confidence that has served me well ever since. It also made me realize what a wonderful thing the Rotarians had made possible for me. Upon my return I was asked by the Rotary Club to be the High School Representative to attend their weekly meetings and report the weekly high school news to the club. It gave me an opportunity to observe their fellowship, learn about the service projects they undertook and not least, enjoy the fun they shared. I made a vow that if ever had the opportunity to join Rotary, I would grab it. So, in 1970 when I was asked to join our Rotary Club of Davis, I readily accepted and I have been a devoted member since then."
Al Stehli
I was one of the 5 women who broke the gender barrier to join Rotary in 1987. It was not an easy decision for me as I had a few good customers of Wells Fargo Bank who told me they would always "love and respect" me as a banker, but would leave Rotary if women joined. Due to my husband's caution that if I refused to join with the other women, I would cause more publicity than if I went ahead with the opportunity to become part of a highly respected local and worldwide organization. I have never regretted that decision...no one left Rotary because of us and I made fabulous friends and business contacts over the years. For the first time, it was okay to have a great friend of the opposite sex without misunderstanding or perception...we were just ROTARIANS! It was an honor to become the first female president in our Davis Club in 1995. Having the opportunity to attend the international conference in Nice, France, was beyond awesome...everyone wearing their badges proudly, arms outstretched to meet one another, no one cared if there was a language barrier! I carried the ethical teachings of the 4 Way Test to my workplace and know it added value to my position of management. Thank you, Rotary, for enriching my life!
Jacque Bartholomew
"I joined Rotary in the 1990s, after having been away from Davis for a few years following graduate school here. Rotary has introduced me to people in Davis I otherwise would never have met, not just people in other lines of work, but people in other generations where membership has ranged in age from late 20s to 90s. Rotary has also helped the world seem smaller; through service projects in other parts of the world that Davis Rotary has supported, through news in the Rotarian magazine, through people I’ve met, and programs I’ve been to at the two international conventions I’ve attended"
Michael Peterson.
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World Russia Society Opinion Science Sport Hotspots and Incidents Business
Source AP ©
African swine fever spreads from Georgia to Armenia
A U.N. food agency said Wednesday that African swine fever, a contagious viral disease in pigs, is spreading from Georgia to Armenia.
The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said the virus has hit northern Armenia and the outskirts of the capital, Yerevan.
"The spread of the African swine fever virus to the Caucasus region poses a very serious animal health risk and could lead to a dramatic situation," FAO's Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement. "The EU, Russia, the Ukraine and other countries have a serious problem on their doorsteps that needs to be urgently addressed," he added.
In Georgia, 52 out of 65 districts are currently affected by the disease, with more than 68,000 pigs dead or culled, the agency said.
The disease, which causes fever and death in pigs, does not affect humans.
Killing infected animals or animals at risk and movement control are essential measures to contain the virus, the agency said. It said it is planning to provide training and equipment to Georgia and Armenia to help them increase surveillance.
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SCORDATO LAB @ CAL POLY POMONA
Publications
Liz's Google Scholar page
Safran, R.J., Levin, I.I., Fosdick, B.K., McDermott, M.T., Semenov, G.А., Hund, A.K., Scordato, E.S.C. and Turbek, S.P. (2019) Using Networks to Connect Individual-Level Reproductive Behavior to Population Patterns. Trends in Ecology & Evolution. PDF
Smith, C.C.R, Scordato, E.S.C., Taylor, S.A., Tittes, S., Vergara, D. (2018) Book Review: Molecular Population Genetics by Matthew Hahn. In Press, Molecular Ecology *all authors contributed equally
Scordato, E.S.C. (2018) Male competition drives song divergence along an ecological gradient in an avian ring species. Evolution. 72: 2360–2377 PDF
Smith, C.C.R, Flaxman, S.M., Scordato E.S.C., Kane, N.C., Hund, A.K., Sheta, B.M., Safran, R.J. Barn swallow demographic inference using approximate Bayesian computation and whole genome data shows signal for founder event during the Holocene. Molecular Ecology. 27: 4200-4212. PDF
Hund, A.K., Churchill, A., Faist, A., Havrilla, C., Love Stowell, S., McCreery, H., Ng, J., Pinzone, C., Scordato, E.S.C. (2018) Transforming Mentorship in STEM by Training Scientists to be Better Leaders. Ecology & Evolution. 8:9962-9974. PDF
Fitzpatrick, C.L., Mendelson, T.C., Rodriguez, R.L., Safran, R.J., Scordato, E.S.C., Servedio, M.R., Stern, C.A., Symes, L.B., and Kopp, M. (2018) Theory meets empiry: a citation network analysis. In Press, BioScience. 68:805-812. PDF
Liu, Y., Scordato, E.S.C., Safran, R.J., and Evans, M.R. Ventral plumage colour is under sexual selection in a Northeastern Chinese barn swallow (Hirundo rustica gutturalis) population. (2018) Journal of Ornithology 159:675-685. PDF
Tinghitella, R.M., Lackey, A.C.R., Martin, M.D., Dijkstra, P.D., Drury, J.P., Heathcote, R.J.P., Keagy, J., Scordato, E.S.C., Tyers, A.M. A major player need not be the only player in speciation: a response to comments on Tinghitella et al. (2018) Behavioral Ecology 29: 802:803 PDF
Wilkins M.R., Scordato E.S.C., Semenov, G., Karaardıç H., Shizuka, D., Rubtsov, A., Pap P., Shen S., Safran R.J. Patterns of Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Song Divergence at Continental and Global Scales. (2018), Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 123:824-849 PDF
Kopp, M.*, Servedio, M.S.*, Mendelson, T.C., Safran, R.J., Rodriguez, R.L., Scordato, E.S.C., Symes, L.B., Balakrishnan, C.N., Hauber, M.E., Zonana, D.M., van Doorn, S. Mechanisms of assortative mating in speciation: connecting theory and empirical research. (2018) The American Naturalist *co-first authors PDF
Tinghitella, R.M.,* Lackey, A.C.R., * Martin, M.,* Dijkstra, P.D., Drury, J.P., Heathcote, R., Keagy, J., Scordato, E.S.C., and Tyers. A.M. On the role of male competition in speciation: A review and research agenda. (2018) Behavioral Ecology. 29: 783-797. Invited Review *co-first authors PDF
Scordato, E.S.C., Wilkins, M.R., Semenov, G., Rubtsov, A.S., Kane, N.K, Safran, R.J. Genomic variation across two barn swallow hybrid zones reveals traits associated with divergence in sympatry and allopatry. (2017) Molecular Ecology PDF
Scordato, E.S.C. Geographic variation in male territory defense strategies in an avian ring species. (2017) Animal Behaviour, 126:153-162. PDF
Turbek, S.P., Scordato, E.S.C., Safran, R.J. The role of seasonal migration in reproductive isolation. In Press, Trends in Ecology and Evolution PDF
Semenov, G., Scordato, E.S.C., Khadayrov, D., Smith, C.C.R., Kane, N.C., Safran, R.J. Effects of assortative mate choice on the genomic and morphological structure of a contact zone between two bird subspecies. (2017) Molecular Ecology PDF
Scordato, E.S.C. and Safran R.J. Evolutionary genetics: small genomic regions make a big impact. (2016) Current Biology, 26: R1155–R1157. PDF
Safran, R.J., Scordato, E.S.C, Wilkins, M.R., Hubbard, J., Jenkins, B., Albrecht, T., Flaxman, S., Karaardic, H., Vortman, Y., Lotem, A., Nosil, P., Pap, P., Shen, S-F., Chan, S-F., Parchman, T., Kane, N. (2016) Genome-wide differentiation in closely related populations: the roles of selection and geographic isolation. Molecular Ecology. 16: 3865-3883. PDF
Toews, D. P. L, Campagna, L., Taylor, S. A., Balakrishnan, C. N., Baldassarre, D. T., Deane-Coe, P. E., Harvey, M. G., Hooper, D. M., Irwin, D. E., Judy, C. D., Mason, N.A., McCormack, J. E., McCracken, K. G., Oliveros, C. H., Safran, R. J., Scordato, E.S.C., Stryjewski, K. F., Tigano, A., Uy, J. A. C., and Winger. B. (2015) Genomic approaches to understanding the early stages of population divergence and speciation in birds. The Auk. 133:13-30. PDF
Scordato, E.S.C. and Safran, R.J. (2014) Sexual selection and speciation in the barn swallow. Avian Research 5: 8-21. PDF
Scordato, E.S.C., Symes, L.B., Mendelson, T.C., and Safran, R. J. (2014) The role of ecology in speciation by sexual selection: a systematic empirical review. Journal of Heredity. 105: 785-794. (invited submission to special issue on speciation) PDF
Scordato, E.S.C., and Kardish, M.R.* (2014) Prevalence and beta diversity in avian malaria: host species is a better predictor than geography. Journal of Animal Ecology. 83: 1387-1397. PDF
*Undergraduate co-author
Alcaide, M, Scordato, E.S.C., Price, T.D., and Irwin, D. E. (2014) Genomic divergence in a ring. Nature. 511: 83-85. PDF
Safran, R.J., Scordato, E.S.C., Mendelson, T.C., Symes, L.B., and Rodriguez, R.L. (2013) Contributions of natural and sexual selection in the evolution of premating reproductive isolation: a research agenda. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 28: 643-650. PDF
Safran, R., Flaxman, S., Kopp, M., Irwin, D., Evans, M.R., Funk, C.W., Gray, D.E., Hebets, E., Seddon, N., Scordato, E.S.C., Symes, L., Toews, D., and Uy, J.A.C. (2012) Metrics of phenotypic distance to estimate and compare trait differences among closely related populations. Current Zoology. PDF
Scordato, E.S.C., Bontrager, A.L, and Price, T.D. (2012) Cross-generational effects of climate change on the expression of a sexually selected trait. Current Biology. 22: 78-82. PDF
Faculty of 1000 selection - Dispatch
Starling, A., Charpentier, M.J.E., Fitzpatrick, C.L., Scordato, E.S., and Drea, C.M. (2009) Seasonality, sociality, and reproduction: Long-term stressors of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta). Hormones and Behavior. 57: 76-85. PDF
Drea, C.M. and Scordato, E.S. (2008) Olfactory communication in the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta): Form and function of multimodal signals. Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11. Ed. by Beynon, R.J., Hurst, J.L., Roberts, S.C, and Wyatt T. Springer: New York. PDF
Scordato, E.S., Dubay, G.R, and Drea, C.M. (2007) Chemical composition of scent marks in the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta): glandular differences, individual signatures, and seasonal variation. Chemical Senses. 32: 493-504. PDF
Scordato, E.S. and Drea, C.M. (2007) Scents and sensibility: information content of olfactory signals in the ringtailed lemur (Lemur catta). Animal Behaviour. 73: 301-314. PDF
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Sean Patrick O'Rourke
Professor of Rhetoric and American Studies and Director of the Center for Speaking and Listening
B.A. Humboldt State University; M.A. Humboldt State University; Ph.D. University of Oregon; J.D., University of Oregon
sporourk@sewanee.edu
Born near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sean has lived in Jamaica (W.I.), Ohio, and the west coast (California, Oregon, and Washington) prior to his now lengthy sojourn in the South (Tennessee and South Carolina). He taught rhetoric and chaired the department of Communication Studies at Furman University for many years.
O’Rourke teaches and writes in the areas of rhetoric and legal rights, the rhetoric of protest and dissent, and freedom of speech. His work has appeared in both academic and non-academic publications and reflects his abiding commitment not only to his scholarship but also to undergraduate liberal education, undergraduate research in the humanities, and civic engagement. O’Rourke’s efforts have been recognized by over a dozen awards for teaching, research, and service. The most recent of these are the Chiles-Harrill Award for Distinguished Service to the University, the Howard Hughes Institute’s Distinguished Mentorship Award, and the John I. Sisco Award for Excellence in Teaching. O’Rourke has held Lilly (2), Piper, Cothran, and Brown Foundation Fellowships.
RHET 101: Public Speaking
RHET 201: Introduction to Rhetoric
RHET 220: Teaching Speaking & Listening
RHET 311: U.S. Public Address I: 1620-1865
RHET 312: U.S. Public Address II: 1865-Present
RHET 401: Speakers’ Rights & Responsibilities
RHET 411: Rhetoric in the Age of Protest: 1948-1973
HOML 594: Rhetorical Pedagogy/Teaching Rhetoric
American Studies Major
American Studies Honors
American Studies Electives for the General Course in American Studies
Electives for the Track in Africana and African American Studies
Julie Berebitsky
Jessie Ball duPont Professor; Professor of History and Women's and Gender Studies
Nancy Mishoe Brennecke
Professor of Art History
Elizabeth Elkin Grammer
Assistant Professor of English
John Miller Grammer
Professor of English and Director of the School of Letters
Richard Allan O’Connor
Biehl Professor of International Studies, Chair of Anthropology
Celeste Ray
Professor of Environmental Arts and Humanities and Anthropology
Woody Register
Francis S. Houghteling Professor of American History
Houston Bryan Roberson (1958-2016)
Professor of History
John C. Willis
Jessie Ball duPont Professor of History
Courtney Thompson
Assistant Professor of American Studies and Women's and Gender Studies
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May Nothing Hold Us Back
September 29, 2012 by david
One hundred years ago, in a small province of China, a band of militia invaded and captured a group of 120 Christiansincluding 14-year old Anna Wangand gave them the ultimatum: “The government has banned the practice of Western religions, including Catholicism. If you renounce your religion, you will be set free; if you refuse, we will kill you.”
Anna’s stepmother renounced the faith and thus was able to live. But Anna refused, saying: “I believe in God. I am a Christian. I do not renounce God.” The following morning she was led to her execution.
When her time came, after witnessing the horrible executions of others before her, Anna was kneeling in prayer. One of the soldiers gave her the option again: “Give up your faith and you will live.”
At first Anna was silent, but at the soldier’s insistence, she cried out: “I am a Christian. I prefer to die rather than give up my faith.” The soldier then cut off her right arm, and asked her again, “Do you deny your religion?” Anna was silent. When he struck her again, she was heard to say: “The door of heaven is open” and she lowered her head. With that, the executioner decapitated her. At the innocent age of 14, Anna Wang was martyredkilled for her faith.
I share this true, historically factual account because, clearly, Anna’s life and deathher faithful witnessproved that she clung to nothing else, so that she might cling to eternal life.
This is a little girl for whom Moses hoped. In our first reading, the prayer of our father in faith holds that the Spirit of God does truly rest in us all…not just the seventy, but the other two Eldad and Medad, …and not just then, but even now! That One Spirit calls us all to the same destiny, to the same goal, to the same end: TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE!
For Anna, nothing distracted her from her goal of eternal life, not even the fear of being persecuted and killed. Nothing was stronger than her desire for her goal. She followed Jesus, speaking and acting in His name…and she reached her goal.
And yet, in our own day, distractions abound. Listen to James in our second reading and recognize yourself in his warning. “Let not wealth stand in your way.” And in Jesus’ own imagery, let nothing else (your eyes which can covet the goods of others, your hands which can steal the blessings from others, your feet which can walk in the way of evil)…let nothing of this life and this body stand in the way of reaching your goal.
What is that goal? What is the purpose of your life? To love God with all your being so as to dwell with Him now and forever.
In this eucharist, we share in the banquet Christ has prepared for all those who are His faithful people. By our own birth, God has blessed each of us with the Holy Spirit. That Spirit longs for…and guides us to…life lived for God, here and now…and forever in the life to come.
Anna Wang was put to the test in a unique way.
She lost nothing while gaining everything.
Today, we are being tested in our own unique way by the struggles and challenges life places before us.
Remember your goal.
Let nothing stand in your way.
Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom of God!
Filed Under: Fr. David's Blog
September 25, 2012 by alexp
New: Interact with the Mass…now!
To more fully utilize the technology of our website, we’re excited to announce a highly anticipated interactive section to help our parishioners learn more about the liturgy, and be able to do so in the comfort of their own surroundings, on their own time and at their own pace! Simply click on the icon to the right and, after entering your password, you’ll be able to enjoy an Interactive DVD loaded with applications and resources. And please, let us know what you think of this, and other tools, available on our website!
General Background on the Revised Missal
Full, conscious, and active participation
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium), the first document approved by the world’s Bishops gathered at the Second Vatican Council, serves as the blueprint for our liturgical renewal. It asserts that liturgy is a celebration of Christ’s paschal mystery. Our full, conscious and active participation in liturgy is vital since liturgy is the source and summit of our whole Christian life.
Why many vernacular languages (the languages people actually use) rather than one sacred language (Latin)?
After the Council, in the interests of enhancing the full participation of the entire assembly at worship, the Catholic Church authorized the use of the vernacular, the languages of the people for its liturgy. The results have been overwhelmingly positive. The vernacular has allowed the faithful to pray with greater understanding, to find deeper spiritual connections between the Tradition of the Church and their daily lives, and to formulate a voice and style of worship that fits the challenges and blessings of their day.
This “new” idea seemed to change centuries of liturgical tradition. But under the guidance of Popes John XXIII and Paul VI, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council actually restored an ancient practice of praying in the language of the people. To be sure, some in the Church and outside it lamented the loss of Latin from the liturgy, but the experience of Sunday worshipers in parish churches around the world has shown that the decision in favor of the vernacular was truly a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Why a new Missal now?
During his long pontificate, our late Holy Father, John Paul II, added many new saints to the Roman calendar. As a result, in the year 2000, he approved a third edition of the Roman Missal in Latin to include Mass texts for all these new saints. The Latin Missal is the source of the translations into all the vernacular languages.
A little later, the Vatican congregation that oversees the Liturgy, The Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, that had already been working on a revision of the guidelines for use in translating the liturgical books, issued a new guiding document, “Liturgiam Authenticam, On the Use of Vernacular Languages in the Publications of the Books of the Roman Liturgy.” After March 2001 all new translations of the Latin Roman Missal had to follow these revised guidelines for translation.
The English translation of the third edition of the Roman Missal reflects the new approach to translationthe technical name for which is “formal equivalence”so as to make the English more accurately resemble the Latin. The desire is to provide a more beautiful and more exacting language of prayer. The goal, for those who pray as members of the Body of Christ, is that the prayer be “to the greater Glory of God (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam)”.
It has taken several years to translate the Missal from the original Latin into English, and the date of its use varies among the English-speaking countries, but here in the United States, the first Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011, is the date set by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for everyone to use the new edition of the Missal at Mass.
What’s different in the new Missal?
The most noticeable change in this new Mass book is in the wording of the prayer texts. The new translation more closely corresponds to the original Latin, is richer in imagery, and more closely aligned with its sources in Scripture. It tries to expresses more authentically the scriptural roots of many of the texts we use at Mass. As you hear and pray these new texts, enter into a spirit of prayer and lift your hearts to God. This is a rich opportunity for us to renew our sense of mystery and awe, to deepen our Eucharistic spirituality and to learn more about the Mass. For it is at the Mass, that we, the Body of Christ, are nourished in word and sacrament to build the kingdom of God.
Within the lifetime of many of us, we have celebrated Mass from three different versions of the Missal. The translations are somewhat different, but the “new” Mass is still the same Mass! Each version of the Missal helps us celebrate better.
Change is always difficult for us. We are comfortable with the ways we have, and any change challenges us to let go of the familiar. Most changes are good; they help us grow, bring us new insight, and enable us to be creative and responsive in new ways. When the changes to the Mass (especially the prayer texts and people’s responses) are implemented in November 2011, it can be a positive experience of liturgical prayer, encounter with Christ, and lead to a deeper appreciation of the sacred.
Why is it important to resemble the original Latin?
The Latin texts are the fruit of many centuries of theological reflection and pastoral experience. They carefully nuance the faith of the Church. Many of them are beautiful and eloquent. To use a vernacular that adheres more closely to the Latin will give a clearer voice to the Church’s faith and unite us more closely to the universal church that relies on the same Latin text as its source. It is hoped that the new translation will mark an improvement over the one currently in use, and that it will assist future generations of worshipers to lift mind and heart to God in prayer.
Different kinds of language
Our current English translation has been criticized for being too informal or too “conversational.” Just as we have different ways of conversing depending upon whom we are with, i.e., family, friends, co-workers, dignitaries, so too, we should have a special language in conversing with God. The new translation is meant to provide another means of expressing our formal communal worship of God from our personal or private conversation with God… some would say, a more sacred language.
Liturgy and Scripture
As well as the issue of translation, another reason for some of the changes in wording is to make more apparent the references to the words of Scripture that often provide the foundation for the phrasing found in many of our liturgical texts. In the current English version, the relationship between many of our liturgical words and the words of the Bible is sometimes easy to miss. This change in translation will help us be more aware of how our liturgical texts are rooted in the Scriptures and this can help draw us more deeply into the meaning of the words we pray.
An example may help make this clear. Just before communion, the priest holds up the Host and says in our current wording: “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…” The scriptural episode that this wording echoes comes from the Gospel of John, where John the Baptist says of Jesus “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29). So when this gospel passage is read during the liturgy, we hear not “This is the lamb of God …” but “Behold, the Lamb of God …”. The new Mass translation will bring the more formal word “behold” into this communion invitation, so as to echo more directly the phrasing of Gospel text itself.
For the changes to responses & prayers said be the faithful at Mass, click here.
Filed Under: Parish Content
Video Explanation: Roman Missal III
Teen video breaks down coming changes in the language of the liturgy
Here’s a nice, simple and direct summary of what’s happening with the new English translation of the Roman Missal. There’s more to it than what this video offers, but it’s a good introduction, especially for teens, but everyone will be able to take something from it. The changes are set to take place Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent.
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Home High Life Entertainment Top 10 Most Beautiful Cutest Women of the World 2016 – 2017
Top 10 Most Beautiful Cutest Women of the World 2016 – 2017
Haris Aslam
Beauty is God gifted thing. Every woman is beautiful and attractive in this world. Real beauty does not need jewels or expensive cosmetics. Today we discuss top 10 beautiful cutest women of the world and this list is made by their beauty, popularity, hotness. Read about the 10 countries of most beautiful girls if you want to visit.
Many other beautiful women do not expose her beauty in front of media and world due to any reason. Every woman wishes she looks nice and stunning. Here are a list of top 10 most beautiful cutest women of the world 2016 – 2017. Many of them are actresses, model, and singer. You Can also read about the most prettiest women of all time in the world.
10. Shakira
You all know very well about this beautiful and amazing women. She was born in Barranquilla Colombia. A well-known Colombian pop singer who is popular for the hits ” Hips Don’t Lie ” and Whenever, Whenever. Shakira‘s father belongs to Lebanese and mother belongs to Colombia s she honors both Latino and Arabic Heritage in her music. She wrote her first song at a very young age and when she was 13 years she becomes a singer.
Shakira shows her talents by demonstrating Latin, Arabic and Rock and Roll influences. Her belly dance was very popular among the people. She got success and became a music superstar in the Spanish -Language markets. Her hip-shaking belly dance was just amazing. Shakira is also on the list of top 10 most beautiful women in the world 2016 at 10th place.
9. Pia Wurtzbach
One beauty queen also includes on this list named Pia Wurtzbach, professionally known as Pia Romero. She is an actress and model and also miss universe 2015. She was crowned Miss Universe 2015 at Binibining Pilipinas 2015 Pageant on 15 March 2015.
8. Kate Upton
Kate is an American English model and actress. She was born on 10 June 1992 and became famous in the sports illustrated swimsuit issue. Kate was the cover model in 2012 and 2013 issues.She includes in top 10 hottest curvy actresses in Hollywood. She is stunning women and one of the world’s ten most beautiful women of 2016.
7. Priyanka Chopra
The former Miss World Priyanka Chopra is breathtaking and well liked actress and singer as well. She is a highest paid actress in Bollywood and got 7-8 core for every film. A London-based weekly, Eastern Eye has been voted Priyanka the “Sexiest Asian Women.” She is one of the high profile celebrity of India and got many awards during her career like IIFA Awards, National Film Award, six screen award, Seven Star Guild Awards. She started starring as Alex Parrish on the ABC drama Quantico last year and becoming the first South Asian woman to headline an American network series. She is ranked on ninth in top 10 most beautiful women of the world 2016.
6. Taylor Swift
She is an American songwriter and singer .she is famous for her narrative songs about her personal experience. Taylor Swift achieved many awards including 16 American music awards, 8 Academy of Country Music Awards, 7 Grammy Awards, 34 Billboard Music Awards. She also possessed one Brit Award and 11 Country Music Association Awards. Her beauty is adorable and her beauty made her place in the list of top 10 most beautiful women of the world 2016.
5. Gal Gadot
An Israeli model and actress. She got the Miss Israel title in 2004 and went on to represent Miss Universe beauty procession. The Fast and Furious film series She play the role as a Gisele Yashar and much popular because of this role. She is a gorgeous lady and one of the beautiful women of the world.
4. Emma Watson
Emma Watson is a favorite actress of many people and liked in all over the world.She is 25-year-old young beautiful British model and also an activist. She was born in Pairs on 15 April 1990. Her leading role in the Harry Potter film series with the name of Hermione Granger reaches her on the top of her success.
3. Deepika Padukone
The highest-paid Bollywood actress, Deepika Padukone holds the third position in the list of 10 most beautiful women of 2016. She has been considered a sex symbol and style icon in India. She’s cited by her figure, smile, and eyes as her distinctive physical features, which makes her stand out of all the beauty queens of Bollywood and Hollywood too. She established her career in the film industry and got two Filmfare awards. Hollywood movie “xXx- The Return Of Xander Cage” in which she plays the lead female role opposite Vin Diesel. She is an active celebrity endorser for several brands and products, including Sony Cyber-shot, Nescafe, Vogue eyewear, Maybelline, and Pepsi.
2. Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is second of the world most beautiful women of 2016. She is multi-talented American women a fashion designer, dancer, singer, author, actress and producer of Hollywood movies industry. Jennifer Lopez runs a very successful business career including a production company, charitable foundation, various clothing brands, fragrance brand, accessories and TV shows also. She is stunning women and also very rich in the world.
1. Shailene Woodley
She is 23 years old actress of American film industry. She was born on November 15, 1991. Shailene got breakthrough success in The Descendants (2011). She is a charming woman and occupied the first position in top 10 most beautiful women in the world. People admit her beauty, and she deserves this place in beautiful women of the world.
List of Top 10 Most Beautiful Cutest Women 2016 – 2017
Women Name
I made this list according to world demand. Otherwise, from my personal point of view, a person is beautiful outside if she is beautiful inside and poise. These beautiful women are also top celebrities of the Hollywood and Bollywood.
Top 10 Most Beautiful Muslim Women in 2016-2017
Top 10 Hottest Female Wrestlers of 2017 –…
Most beautiful celebrities
world most cutest girl 2016
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Wills and trusts aren't just for celebrities. Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers encourages dialogue for young families.
DATELINE: BOSTON, MA…
We've all heard about estate planning gone bad. The late James Brown, “the godfather of soul,” left family members singing the blues by not updating his will to include a young son and a new wife; or the late Leona Hemsley whose “mission statement” for her multi-billion dollar trust literally left everything to the dogs.
Does this mean that wills and trusts are really meant to be just for the rich and famous? Nothing could be further from the truth according to Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. of Boston, which has sponsored interactive discussions with young families to help them learn more about current estate planning strategies.
Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers attorney Perry Ganz, who is himself a dad with young children, notes that having a child is usually the impetus for young families to start considering issues that had never before crossed their mind.
In addition to the needs of a new baby, young families ponder questions that often keep them up at night as well, such as:
? What happens if I die without a will?
? Who will be the guardian of my children?
? How can I protect my children’s inheritance?
? Who will make medical decisions for me if I can’t make my own?
? How do I minimize estate taxes?
? How much life insurance do I need?
“Having a solid estate plan addresses many of these questions,” explains Ganz. “It provides a roadmap to go forward if the unthinkable happens and a family’s life is altered by death or disability. Estate planning is particularly important for the owners of family businesses where continuity, succession, and liquidity issues become paramount.”
Fundamental components of estate planning for young families include the basics: designating guardians for children in a will, providing for distribution and asset management through a trust, investing in life insurance, and drafting a health care proxy.
“In addition, any asset that has a beneficiary, such as an insurance policy or IRA, should be reviewed to make certain that the disposition of this account is consistent with the remainder of the estate plan. Because these assets are governed by a beneficiary designation, they are often overlooked,” notes Ganz. “This includes a life insurance policy, a 401(k), or IRA.”
A word to the wise, don’t throw caution to the winds in the face of a divorce and re-marriage, or the birth of a new child, to avoid singing the blues, families need to update estate plans as their needs change.
About Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C.
Formed in 1991, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive legal services to its clients. Featuring a breadth and depth of experience and perspective usually found only at larger law firms, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers. P.C. offers sophisticated legal counsel to entrepreneurs, businesses, individuals, families, and institutions.
Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers’ areas of expertise include corporate law, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, bankruptcy, and municipal law.
To help clients make informed decisions and achieve their goals, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers P.C. develops creative customized solutions for its clients by emphasizing careful listening and considerate evaluation. Utilizing the expertise and collegiality of the firm’s fifty plus members, associates, and support staff has consistently resulted in the building of lasting relationships of trust and confidence.
The offices of Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Prudential Center, in Boston, MA 02199. For additional information, or to arrange for a consultation, please call 1-617-218-2000, e-mail info@tbhr-law.com, or visit www.tbhr-law.com.
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Home » Environment and Occupational Health » National Green Tribunal’s order in contempt of Supreme Court in Jindal’s Okhla waste power plant case
National Green Tribunal’s order in contempt of Supreme Court in Jindal’s Okhla waste power plant case
Written By Unknown on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 | 4:52 AM
ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA)
Shri Susheel Kumar
Additional Secretary
Hazardous Substances Management Division
Union Ministry of Environment & Forests
Subject-National Green Tribunal’s order in contempt of Supreme Court in Jindal’s Okhla waste power plant case
This is to draw your attention towards the disregard to the attached Supreme Court’s order dated May 15, 2007 by the Nation Green Tribunal (NGT) and the adverse observations the Delhi High Court in the matter of the unapproved Chinese boiler technology based waste based power plant in Okhla, Delhi in its order dated September 10, 2013. The NGT order is attached.
I submit that the NGT order is not only factually incorrect in terms of date and the directions but also in contempt of the Supreme Court’s order. Tribunal’s order is also incorrect with regard to what the fate of the submission by Additional Solicitor General, A S Chandiok in the Delhi High Court.
I submit that that contrary to what is mentioned in the Tribunal’s order, the fact is that in March 2009 that Sukhdev Vihar Residents filed the Writ Petition (Civil) which was initially dismissed on August 12, 2009 because of misrepresentation of facts about the Okhla Waste to Energy plant being one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Supreme Court of India. This misrepresentation was done by A S Chandiok, Additional Solicitor General (ASG).
I submit that on August 12, 2009, Delhi High Court had dismissed the petition of the Sukhdev Vihar residents. The order reads: “Learned Additional Solicitor General inform us that the project in question is one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Hon?ble Supreme Court and two similar projects at Vijayawada and Hyderabad as recommended by the Committee have started functioning. Learned Additional Solicitor General submits that so far as the present project is concerned, all the necessary permissions have been taken from the concerned authorities and the technicalities adopted for this project is similar to the projects at Vijayawada and Hyderabad. In our view, it is not possible for this Court to entertain the present writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition and application are dismissed.” Green Tribunal has failed to appreciate as to why was the petition was restored. It was restored because Additional Solicitor General’s factual misrepresentation was exposed by the residents. Why is the Green Tribunal quoting the August 12, 2009 order selectively?
I submit that the fact is residents filed fresh application in the High Court submitting replies accessed under Right to Information Act which showed that the plant in question was not one of the five projects based on Biomethanation Technology cleared by the Supreme Court. The RTI reply revealing fibbing by ASG is attached. The High Court found that it was misled by ASG in this regard which had made it to dismiss the petition. On December 18, 2009, ASG sought time to file his reply as Court's order. The Petition was restored by Justice A P Shah, the Chief Justice, Delhi High Court in an order dated January 15, 2010. The Court observed, “that the project in question” and “the location of the pilot project in Delhi was neither recommended by the Expert Committee nor approved by the Supreme Court.” The respondents, the Government was "granted one week's more time to file reply as a last chance" by the court in its order dated February 3, 2010. The ASG's reply was never filed.
In order to underline the inaccuracies, I am submitting the list of Dates of Hearing of the Case Status: [W.P.(C) 9901/2009] in Delhi Hight which was transferred to NGT. The list shows that there was no hearing on January 15, 2012 and there was no order passed on that day as mentioned in Tribunal’s order of September 10, 2013. The list is as under:
List of Dates of Hearing in Delhi High Court
Case No
W.P.(C) 9901/2009
W.P.(C) No. 9901/2009
Review Petition No. 448/2009 and CM No. 14214/2009 in W.P(C) 9901/2009
WP(C) No. 9901/2009
CM No.14215/2009 in WP(C) 9901/2009
RP 448/2009 in WP(C) 9901/2009
Crl. M.C. No. 2906/2009 and Crl.M.A. Nos.9844/2009, 9901/2009
W.P.(C) 9901/2009 and CM No. 8154/2009
CM No. 9901/2009 in FAO(OS) 425/2008
C.M. No. 9901/2009 in FAO(OS) 425/2008
Source: http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/dhc_case_status_oj_list.asp?pno=505091
Thus, Green Tribunal’s contention that “the Project in question was one of the pilot projects recommended by the Expert Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and two similar pilot projects at Vijaywada and Hyderabad, as recommended, have started functioning’ is incorrect. It is also factually incorrect to state that “in the Order dated 15th January, 2012, the High Court noticed that it was apparent that though technology for the project was approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the site of the MSW was neither approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India and to that extent the Order of 12th August, 2009 passed by the High Court was given.” It was and remains a case of justice delayed and justice denied because the project proponents now have created a fait accompli situation for the court.
I submit that so far NGT has heard the matter on eight occasions.
The hearing in the NGT on the Original Application No.: 22/2013(THC)
(Sukhdev Vihar Residents Welfare Association & Ors. Vs State of NCT of Delhi & Ors.)
is going the way Delhi High Court did. The High Court was misled. It appears that NGT is also being misled.
The details are as under:
SNo. Order Date Next Hearing Date Order of Tribunal
1. 10-09-2013 10-10-2013
3. 22-07-2013 --
I submit that in the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 9901 of 2009 in Delhi High Court (which was transferred to NGT on January 23, 2013), legal officials like Mr A S Chandiok Additional Solicitor General and Standing Counsel for the Delhi Government and for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Najmi Waziri has been misleading and misrepresenting facts about waste to energy plants in Andhra Pradesh by saying that Refuse Derived Fuel incineration technology was already in use at Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The fact is that there is no plant in Hyderabad. The plant that became functional as per legal officials stands defunct is in Shadnagar, Mahboobnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
I submit that NGT’s contention, “As is evident that the project technology was approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India but not the site, this plant has already been commissioned and is under operation undisputedly from the 2012, and it deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi” is untrue. It is not evident from the attached order that the technology was approved by the Supreme Court. It is also untrue that the “plant has already been commissioned and is under operation undisputedly from the 2012, and it deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi”. The plant’s operation has disputed from the outset. The case in the Delhi Court underlines it. The petitions submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forests and the letter of Jairam Ramesh, as Union Environment Minister to Delhi Chief Minister pointing out violation of environmental regulations underlines it. The 31 page report of Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) headed Technical Experts Evaluation Committee on the Timarpur-Okhla Waste to Energy Incinerator Plant of Prithivraj Jindal‟s JITF Urban Infrastructure Limited (Jindal Ecopolis) communicated on March 22, 2012 also underlines that the unapproved Chinese technology was disputed. The Committee was constituted by the Union Environment Minister. If it was not disputed why Asian Development Bank’s Asian Pacific Carbon Fund (APCF) dropped the Timarpur-Okhla incineration based waste to energy plant out of its portfolio?
I submit that NGT's contention that Jindal’s Okhla waste based power plant “deals with the entire municipal waste collected from the city of Delhi” is incorrect. Delhi’s waste generation per day is 22526.265 tons per day according to 2008 study of CPCB. The Jindal’s plant is meant only for 2050 tons of municipal waste.
I submit that NGT's contention, “We must notice that this plant admittedly has been granted environmental clearance by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). There is no challenge in the Writ Petition to the grant of environmental clearance and other incidental steps taken in finalization of the same in terms of the EIA Notification 2006” is also untrue.
I submit that NGT's observation “this plant admittedly has been granted environmental clearance” is untrue as well. The copy of the environmental clearance is attached. The environmental clearance was for Refuse Dervied Fuel (RDF) process which is a incineration technology not for the untested and unapproved Chinese incinerator technology which is being used by the Jindal’s waste based power plant. This is in complete violation all laws and environmental clearance of 2007 including its own project design document and environment impact assessment report. Chinese technology provider is from Hangzhou New Century Company Ltd of Hangzhou Boiler Group. It was revealed to the CPCB’s Experts Committee in September 2011.
I submit that Chairperson, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy wrote on on 14 June 2005 to the concerned Central Ministry currently headed by Shri Farooq Abdullah seeking review of its WTE programme. It supported a ban on economic incentives for such projects, saying: "We therefore direct that land filling of unsegregated wastes, incineration and recovery of energy from municipal waste shall henceforth not receive any Govt. sponsorship, encouragement or aid in any manner, except for completion of any projects that have already invested 30% of their capital cost on site." It is evident that the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy I distorting waste management beyond repair. The 15 May, 2007 order of Supreme Court "permit (s) Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to go ahead for the time being with 5 pilot projects chosen by them" but it is noteworthy that this refers specifically to bio-methanation technology.
I submit that in the light of the Supreme Court order, MNRE must be made to withdraw or modify its letter (No.10/3/2005-UICA) dated 25.07.2005 written to Chief Secretaries of State Governments Administrators of Union Territories Heads of State Nodal Agencies Municipal Corporations/ Urban Local Bodies on the subject of "Accelerated Programme on Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes- Sanction for the Year 2005-06" with copies to Ministry of Urban Affairs & Poverty Alleviation,Ministry of Environment & Forests, Development of Science & Technology Secretary, Planning Commission, IREDA and other Financial Institutions/Banks R&D Institutions, Consultants/Consultancy Organisations and Business/Industry Associations. This letter has been renewed at regular intervals but the violation of Court’s order continues with impunity.
I submit that the Supreme Court had, on May 6, 2005, prohibited the government to sanction any further subsidies to such plants. The order of the Supreme Court dated May 15, 2007 cited by the Green Tribunal is reproduced as verbatim. It reads: “Heard learned Solicitor General for Union of India and respective counsel for the parties. The matter relates to solid waste management by various Municipal Corporations. After hearing parties, this Court on 6th May, 2005, observed that till the position becomes clear as regards the viability of the projects for generation of energy from municipal waste (by the bio-methanation technology), the Government would not sanction any further subsidies to such projects. This Court also directed that the Central Government to constitute a Committee of Experts and include therein Non-Governmental Organisations as well, to inspect the functioning of the project at Lucknow and its record and file a report before this Court. Pursuant to the said order, a detailed report has been submitted by the Expert Committee on 2.1.2006. Chapter IX of the Report contains its recommendations and conclusions. The Committee is of the opinion that the choice of technology for treatment of MSW should be made on the basis of quantity and quality of waste and local conditions. The Committee has opined that operational problems of one plant (Lucknow) should not form the basis to judge the efficacy of the particular technology and therefore, petitioner's objection to providing support (subsidy) to waste to energy projects may not be justified. We extract below some of the relevant conclusions of the Committee:
“ ...For all the projects in future, the issues such as Project Development including characterization of wastes, sizing of projects, technology selection and project design, management model and operational issues including close co-ordination between Municipal Corporation and the promoters, financial appraisal and approval of project should be adequately addressed.”
“ In view of the problems of treatment and disposal of municipal wastes (solid and liquid) in our cities and towns, which are only likely to increase with the growth of population and urbanization, an integrated approach to waste processing and treatment will be necessary, as brought out in the MSW Rules, 2000. Therefore, instead of focusing on individual technologies, it would be desirable to take an integrated approach to the management and treatment of MSW, which would necessitate deployment of more than on technology in tandem.”
“The selection of technology for the solid waste management depends upon the quality of waste to be treated and the local conditions. Therefore, for the segregated waste, which is dedicated in nature, the selection of technology is relatively easier and its performance and success is beyond doubt. Therefore, it is desirable to have solid waste segregated at source, which is also required as per the MSW Rules, 2000.” The Committee has recommended that projects based on bio-methanation of MSW should be taken up only on segregated/uniform waste unless it is demonstrated that in Indian conditions, the waste segregation plant/process can separate waste suitable for bio-methanation. It has opined that there is a need to take up pilot projects that promote integrated systems for segregation/collection/transportation and processing and treatment of waste.
In view of the report of the Committee and having regard to the relevant facts, we modify the order passed by this Court earlier and permit Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) to go ahead for the time being with 5 pilot projects chosen by them, keeping in view the recommendations made by the Expert Committee and then take appropriate decision in the matter.”
I submit that this order of Supreme Court makes it amply clear that only biological treatment method like Biomethanation Technology should be adopted even for these 5 pilot projects. This order echoes what was stated in the ‘White Paper on Pollution in Delhi with an Action Plan’ prepared by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. The White Paper says, “The experience of the incineration plant at Timarpur, Delhi and the briquette plant at Bombay support the fact that thermal treatment of municipal solid waste is not feasible, in situations where the waste has a low calorific value. A critical analysis of biological treatment as an option was undertaken for processing of municipal solid waste in Delhi and it has been recommended that composting will be a viable option. Considering the large quantities of waste requiring to be processed, a mechanical composting plant will be needed.” It appears that the Tribunal has been misled in the way Delhi High Court was misled on August 12, 2009.
I submit that the Supreme Court was concerned only with projects that generate energy from municipal waste by bio-methanation and not non-conventional energy use generally. Even the Committee that was et up was set un in the wake of the failure of a Biomethanation plant in Lucknow. But MNRE misinterprets the ruling stating that the order is not restricted to only bio-methanation. But MNRE held that “for technologies like incineration we can use unsegregated waste”. The Court’s order cannot and should be allowed to be misinterpreted by the MNRE.
I submit that NGT may be advised to pay heed to the sad plight at waste to energy site in Gandhamguda village in Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh (wrongly mentioned as Hyderabad project) which had the same technology. While the RDF incinerator was in operation, the village was covered by a heavy shroud of dark smoke. Originally a pelletisation plant with a furnace, After the plant came up, local doctors started detecting case of problems not found before — skin rashes, asthma, respiratory problems and some cases of stillborns. In a statement, Gandhamguda Sarpanch D. Shakuntala had said: ‘‘Everyone in Peerancheru Gram Panchayat and its adjoining regions is now contaminated with harmful pollutants and symptoms are visible in the form of brain fever, vomiting, jaundice, asthma, miscariages, infertility.’’ Similar fate awaits residents of Delhi. For misplaced carbon revenue, it would not be appropriate to turn Delhi residents as guinea pigs.
I submit that NGT should take remedial measures and take cognizance of Delhi High Court’s order that led to an inquiry by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to conduct an inquiry into the failure of the Timarpur waste to energy plant that was based on incineration technology.
I submit that environmental, resident and labour groups demand that all governments to start eliminating all Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). This means stopping all existing POPs sources, including dioxins. To achieve this Okhla incinerator based power plant must be closed and investment made into other, safer methods of waste disposal. The transition is necessary in the face of issues such as the high cost of incineration, health effects of pollution in neighborhoods, and adverse climate change. Children suffer asthma rates three times the national average among other devastating health impacts.
I submit that the controversial Jindals’ power plant in Okhla is based on a hazardous technology that receives fiscal incentives from MNRE. Tribunal must take cognizance of MNRE has an incorrect policy of subsidizing hazardous technologies like proposed incinerators. But at present the NGT seems to be turning a blind eye Delhi government and central government’s design to mask today's waste problems and pass the toxic burden they release on to future generations.
On behalf of ToxicsWatch Alliance (TWA) has been campaigning against this hazardous plant and hazardous technologies since March 2005. I had managed to alert at least six municipal corporations namely, of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kanpur, Bhopal and Jaipur against the adverse consequences of Australian gasification technology of Energy Developments Limited. It may be noted that all these projects were stopped between 2001-2. It was an invitee before the Supreme Court's Committee on Waste to Energy. Its submissions were part of the Committee's report.
I wish request you to inform the NGT that the attached amended environmental clearances which were given to Jindal's plant in Okhla is invalid because the environmental clearance was admittedly for RDF technology not for the unapproved and untested technology which is currently being used by the plant. So far NGT has not paid attention to this important aspect.
I submit that as Union Minister of Environment & Forests Shri Jairam Ramesh visited the plant at Okhla on March 31, 2011 and noted in his letter to Chief Minister Delhi dated April 1, 2011 that the plant violated environmental regulations.
I submit that header on all the pages of the Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) report of the Okhla's waste to energy plant reads “Rapid EIA – Okhla Integrated Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility”. Therefore, it won’t be incorrect to say that this is not a comprehensive assessment of project activity and its likely impacts on health and environment. If “Full or Detailed EIA” is not mandatory for this kind of project activity (we are sure this won’t be true). Page no. 30 of REIA reads “Since this being a rapid EIA, only one season data was collected”.
If you read page no. 63/64 of the REIA, where the ecological environment has been described, it says “The proposed project is at the landfill site, near STP located in Okhla industrial area in the southern part of Delhi.” This description is factually and technically incorrect. Firstly, this patch of land where the waste to energy project is under construction is not at all a ‘landfill” site and was historically never been a landfill site. Moreover, because of the geography of this area, a landfill site can never be created here. Secondly, this is not part of Okhla Industrial Area at all. All this is done intentionally to give the impression that this is being located in the industrial area. I wish to take corrective measures as to how the reviewers, experts or officials at Union Ministry of Environment & Forests could ignore all these facts.
I submit that the claim made at page no. 102, where REIA report concludes that “….no likely adverse impact on people’s health is predicted” (i.e. during the operation phase) is totally incorrect.
I submit that the plant in question is setting a very bad precedent of environmental lawlessness in the national capital by violation every rule in the rule book. The most stark aspect is the location of the plant at a distance of 1.7 kilometers from the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and less than 50 meters from the residential colonies. UP Government has also raised objections in this regard in its attached 14 page long affidavit to NGT.
In view of the above I wish to request you to apprise NGT of the series of violations by the plant in question before the next date of hearing ob October 10, 2013 and set matters right in the national capital.
Gopal Krishna
Mb: 9818089660
E-mail: gopalkrishna1715@gmail.com
Web: www.toxicswatch.org
Labels: Environment and Occupational Health
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Orvieto, Italy is a city which sits on the flat summit of an almost vertical cliff face about 160 km south of Florence or 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hrs by train. It is one of the most dramatic locations in all of Europe. The defensive walls that have protected the town since ancient times are still standing and you will need to ride a funicular up to the town.
Annexed by Rome in 3 BC, this municipality governed the road that stretched from Florence to Rome. Orvieto was ruled as a Papal State until it was annexed into the newly unified Italy in 1860. Today it is a bustling tourist town that offers many landmarks, amazing ceramics and shopping, in addition to the awesome views that can't be found anywhere else in Italy.
Attractions like The Duomo, which was started in 1290 by the Pope, still offers a peek into the past of this Italian town. The facade of the Duomo, striped in narrow bands of white travertine and greenish-black basalt contains sculptures by Lorenzo Maitani and is considered one of the most important Gothic structures in Italy. Inside is the Chapel of San Brizio that contains the frescoed masterpiece, Last Judgment from 1449 by Luca Signorelli.
The Papal Palace in Orvieto was begun in 1263, which was the first outside of Rome. The stunning architecture is still available to marvel at today. The Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo is the plaza outside the Palace where town meetings were held, and it still maintains a palatial impression. The Albornoz Fortress, which is surrounded by a moat, is another landmark that dates back to the 13th century.
The Underground City of Orvieto is a series of caves and tunnels that are beneath the surface and are only open to guided tours. With the full array of historical and archeological finds that have been found here, there are galleries, quarries, cellars and unexpected passageways. Superimposed rooms with carved niches were meant for escape from the city in the event of siege.
Known for their highly prized white wine of the Orvieto district, the vineyards that are northeast of the city produce a major economic source and also make red wine from the grapes they grow. Known as the wine of the popes, these noble wines have an amazing aroma, softness, balance and sweetness that put them in a class of their own, due to the soil and climatic conditions of the area.
Orvieto is well known for the production of beautiful ceramics and bronze works since the ancient times when the city was inhabited by the Etruscans in 8-9 BC. The Etruscan ruins and museum house some of the archeological finds of the area.
The shopping in Orvieto offers some of Italy's most amazing creations in ceramics, bronze and alabaster. There are also festivals, such as Orvieto con Gusto, held in October that offers the tastes of their fine Italian cuisines and wine. The Procession of Corpus Domini is an annual festival that has over 400 costumed participants that dates back to 1264.
The overall feeling of this dramatically panoramic hilltop town is a historic glimpse into the past, the rich tastes of Italian food and wine, the arts, culture and shopping that has makes Orvieto a top tourist destination.
Getting to Orvieto from Florence:
By Train- Trains are readily available from Florence, fourteen to be exact, and the trip takes about 1 3/4 hours. Trains leave from Santa Maria Novella station in Florence.
Remember, when you get off the train you have to go across the street to get on the funicular to go up to the town. Buy a combination ticket that includes a bus ride at the top that leaves you right in front of the Duomo.
Want to know what's going on in Florence?
Sign up for our monthly newsletter "The Florentine", to find out about upcoming events, deals and happenings!
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Game Preview: Patriots at Dolphins
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (9-3) vs. MIAMI DOLPHINS (6-6)
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Hard Rock Stadium (64,767)
The New England Patriots secured the franchise’s 33rd winning season since 1970 after improving to 9-3 with a 24-10 win over Minnesota last week. Only Pittsburgh (35) has more winning seasons since the 1970 merger. The Patriots also earned their 18th straight winning season, the most since the 1970 merger, and the second-most all-time to the Dallas Cowboys (20).
For the second straight season, the Patriots will close out the regular season with the same four opponents at the same venues with games at Miami (Sunday) and at Pittsburgh (Dec. 16) followed by two consecutive home games against AFC East opponents with games against the Bills on Dec. 23 and the Jets on Dec. 30.
POSTSEASON PROWESS
If the New England Patriots defeat the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, they will clinch their 10th straight AFC East title and become the first franchise in NFL history to earn a playoff berth in 10 consecutive seasons. New England enters this week tied with the Dallas Cowboys (1975-83) and the Indianapolis Colts (2002- 10) as the only teams to play in the postseason for nine straight seasons.
The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins will square off for the second time in 2018. The Patriots beat Miami, 38-7, at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 30. The Patriots have swept the season series 10 times and will look for their 11th series sweep and their first since 2016 with a win this week in South Florida. The Patriots are 4-15 at Miami in the month of December.
Last season, the teams split the annual series with the Patriots taking a 35-17 win at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 26, 2017, and the Dolphins winning the rematch at Miami on Dec. 11, 2017, with a 27-20 victory on Monday Night Football.
The Patriots have had the upper hand at home against Miami, holding a 35-17 record in games played in New England in the regular season, including a 15-2 record at Gillette Stadium. But the Patriots are 16-37 alltime in Miami, including two postseason contests. Miami beat New England at Gillette Stadium for the first time in the final game of the 2005 season, when Patriots starting QB Tom Brady was pulled from action after the first quarter. Miami also beat the Patriots, 38-13, at Gillette Stadium, on Sept. 21, 2008, when Tom Brady was on injured reserve.
The Dolphins and Patriots met for the first time in 1966 and began playing twice a year during the 1967 regular season, except in 1982 during a players’ strike.
The two have played three times in the postseason with New England holding a 2-1 advantage.
Since Bill Belichick became Patriots head coach in 2000, New England is 24-13 (.649) against Miami.
Since 2000, the Patriots are 86-29 (.747) against AFC East opponents. New England is 24-13 against the Dolphins over that span, 27- 10 against the New York Jets and 32-5 against the Buffalo Bills. The Patriots were 3-1 against Indianapolis from 2000 through 2001 when they were in the AFC East.
The Patriots have not been swept in their season series with a divisional opponent since 2000, when they lost both games to Miami and also to the New York Jets.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
MIAMI 54, NEW ENGLAND 52
(Including New England 2, Miami 1 in Playoffs)
Record in New England, 36-17 (Incl. 1-0 in playoffs)
Record in Foxborough, 34-15 (1-0)
Record in Boston, 2-2
Record in Miami, 16-37 (Incl. 1-1 in playoffs)
Record at Dolphins / Pro Player / Joe Robbie/ Sun Life, 12-19
Record at Orange Bowl, 3-18 (1-1)
Record in Tampa*, 1-0
Season Sweeps, Patriots 10, Dolphins 13
Season Splits, 27 (Most recent 2017)
Bill Belichick vs. Miami, 24-16 (24-13 with New England)
*A Miami home game was played in Tampa in 1969.
Table Extended
Record 9-3 6-6
Divisional Standings 1st 2nd
Total Yards Gained 4,741 3,625
Total Ofense (Rank) 395.1 (7) 302.1 (29)
Rush Offense 121.7 (11) 102.7 (24)
Pass Offense 273.4 (9) 199.4 (28)
Points Per Game 27.6 (7) 20.3 (25)
Total Yards Allowed 4,430 4,793
Total Defense (Rank) 369.2 (22) 399.4 (29)
Rush Defense 106.7 (13) 144.7 (30)
Pass Defense 262.5 (24) 254.8 (21)
Points Allowed/Game 21.6 (9T) 25.0 (20)
Possession Avg. 30:26 28:12
Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost 16/111 31/247
Sacks Made/Yards 19/147 20/142
Total Touchdowns Scored 38 28
Penalties Against/Yards 65/529 79/718
Punts/Avg. 46/45.8 64/45.5
Turnover Differential +6 (10T) +8 (7T)
TOM BRADY VS. MIAMI
Tom Brady is scheduled to start at quarterback against Miami for the 32nd time in his career and has compiled a 22-10 record against the Dolphins. Brady is 79-19 in his career as a starter in the regular season against AFC East opponents, with 10 of the 19 losses coming to the Dolphins. One of those losses was in the final game of the 2005 season, when Brady was pulled after the first quarter.
IF THE PATRIOTS WIN…
The Patriots will clinch the 2018 AFC East title, extending their own NFL record to 10-straight division titles (2009-18). It will be the team’s 18th division title since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
The Patriots will qualify for the playoffs for the 26th time in the team’s 59-year history, with 20 of those playoff berths coming in Robert Kraft’s 25 seasons of ownership, compared to the team’s six playoff appearances in the team’s prior 34 years of existence.
The Patriots will earn their 15th division title since realignment in 2002, which is the most in the NFL during that span. Green Bay and Indianapolis are tied for second with nine division titles since 2002.
The Patriots will secure a playoff appearance for an NFL record 10th straight season (2009-18). They are currently tied with Dallas (1975-83) and Indianapolis (2002-10) for the most consecutive playoff berths in NFL history with nine. The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to have made the playoffs in each of the last nine seasons.
New England will earn its 10th win of the year, tying San Francisco (1983-98) for the most consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins with 16.
The Patriots will sweep Miami in division play for the 11th time in franchise history.
The Patriots own an NFL-best record of 84-23 (.787) in regular season division games and can improve that mark with a win against the Dolphins.
The Patriots will improve to 108-29 (.788) since 2001 on or after Thanksgiving (regular and postseason). That is the best record in the NFL during that time by more than 20 wins.
With one touchdown pass, Tom Brady will break a tie with Peyton Manning and take sole possession of first place in NFL history for most career touchdowns passes all-time (regular and postseason). Brady already owns the NFL record for most touchdown passes with one team.
With one touchdown pass, Brady will also break a tie with Brett Favre (508 touchdowns) and take sole possession of third place in NFL history for most regular-season touchdown passes. Peyton Manning is first with 539 touchdown passes and Drew Brees is second with 518.
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Game Preview: New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills
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Newporter Mat Franco blew Gronk’s mind with this magic trick!
Hey look, Tom Brady is on Dancing With The Stars!
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Hawthorne Playground
Small work
Philly Stake
Curatorial Work
9th Street Stock Exchange
Read-ing Market
Proposition Tent
Soil Kitchen
THERESA ROSE
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Edward W. Bok Technical High School
Stanton M. Hall Elementary School
Stanton M. Hall School is a regular public school located in North Philadelphia, PA with 393 enrolled students in primary, middle levels, providing services for grade levels PK-8. In 1993, Stanton had been the subject of an Academy Award-winning documentary, “I Am a Promise,” which demonstrated that despite the efforts of a dedicated, hardworking, and caring principal, the students were not learning to high standards. However in 2006, Stanton Elementary School won the Dispelling the Myth Award.
Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program 88%
Charles Carroll High School
Located in Port Richmond section of Philadelphia, Charles Carroll High is a neighborhood public school that serves 416 students grades 9-12. The school’s namesake, Charles Carroll (1737 -1832), was a Maryland planter and an early advocate of independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
The school hosts a peer mediation team, boasts several art contest winners, provides career and college workshops as well as maintains student/ teacher mentors.
Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program 96.8%
Joseph Leidy Elementary School
Located on the edge of West Fairmount Park, the former site of the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition (the first U.S. World’s Fair), Joseph Leidy Elementary School serves 310 students grades K-8. The mission of Joseph Leidy school is to provide all students with the educational skills and tools needed to be productive and engaged citizens. The school maintains high expectations with the belief that all students will reach their potential, as they understand the practices and conditions necessary to promote academic progress. The school is named after Joseph Leidy (1823- 1891) an American paleontologist who was a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College.
Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program 100%
PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL RE-OPENINGS
On March 7, 2013, twenty-three Philadelphia public schools closed their doors after a vote by the School Reform Commission. Philadelphia’s public school enrollment had declined 23 percent over the past decade due in large part to the growth of charter schools whose performance remains relatively the same as public schools. With a projected budget shortfall of $1.4 billion over the next five years if major restructuring did not occur, the schools’ doors, many of which serve the poorest communities in the city, were shuttered.
One year later, an emergency school reform commission was established. With a frank acceptance that neither privatization of the education system through charter school outsourcing was the appropriate answer nor the maintaining of the antiquated system of top down management and standardization, a series of proposals were drafted which highlighted the need for community control, local participation and an education based on the needs and backgrounds of each school.
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Property owner reclaiming land near cemetery, relatives of those buried concerned
1 year 1 week 6 days ago Tuesday, July 03 2018 Jul 3, 2018 July 03, 2018 7:07 PM July 03, 2018 in News
By: Earl Phelps
WEST FELICIANA PARISH - Some residents in West Feliciana are worried they could be blocked from a cemetery where loved ones are buried, as one land owner is attempting to take over the only road to the graveyard and make it his private property.
In the small West Feliciana Parish community of Tunica, Mary Ellen Daniel has many relatives buried in the Rogillio Cemetery.
"On the Sundays when I'm here, I like to stop by and visit the graves site of parents especially," Daniel told WBRZ.
Daniel's family friend Lin Sharpe also has a lot of relatives buried here.
"My great grandparents, my grand parents, parents, nieces, uncles," Lin said.
There's only one road leading to the cemetery, and the man who owns all of the surrounding land is requesting that the parish abandon the road, so that he can reclaim it as his private property.
"I'm sure he can go as far as place a gate somewhere along the road to limit the access to this area," Daniel said.
Residents are also concerned that the poorly maintained road will only get worse.
"It's open like this for 200-years and we don't see it closed off," Lin said.
But the owner of this property already considers this road as his private property, and he says he has no intentions of keeping anyone from visiting their loved ones buried in the cemetery.
92-year-old property owner Carlyle Rogillio says his descendants moved here when it was still Spanish territory.
"A few of them were born in the 1700's and buried here in the 1800's," Rogillio told News 2.
Rogillio claims he still owns the road and never gave the parish permission to take control of it. He has plans to build a gate, but only to keep those out who don't belong.
"The people who are causing problems: the trespassers, the lover's lane people who come up, leave their paraphernalia and their kleenex that you find here in the morning."
The West Feliciana Parish Council will consider taking action on that cemetery road when they meet on Monday.
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Advanced Planning Team
Contact/Login
What We Learned from the WannaCry Ransomware Attack
If you've checked the news in the past month, you've likely heard of the WannaCry ransomware attack, one of the most widespread cyber attacks to date. Security experts estimate that more than 200,000 users have been infected with this malware. Once infected, all information on the user's computer is encrypted (i.e., locked away) unless a ransom of $300–$600 is paid to the attackers in Bitcoin.
To make matters worse, there's no evidence that the attackers have ever held up their end of the deal. Generally, when a user pays, the encrypted information is not returned in its normal state. In other words, this global attack just leaves the information irrecoverable.
So you might be wondering: What could I possibly do to defend against WannaCry and similar attacks in the future? Let's review four valuable lessons that this recent event has taught us about protecting ourselves.
Lesson #1: Keep up with security news to raise awareness of current threats
Over Easter weekend, a notorious hacker group called the Shadow Brokers leaked confidential National Security Agency (NSA) hacking tools and techniques, including a number of critical Microsoft vulnerabilities. Just a few weeks later, WannaCry struck, taking advantage of one of those vulnerabilities.
If we had all read the news about the NSA leak, we would have been warned that our Microsoft software was wide open to an attack. But even if we had been able to follow these breadcrumbs, what could we have done? That's where Lesson #2 comes in.
Lesson #2: Don't delay your updates
When news of the NSA leak first broke in April, Microsoft immediately stated that it had released an appropriate security patch. In fact, it had released the patch in March—one month before the NSA leak. Sounds as if we should've been all set, right?
That would have been true had we all updated our machines on time. Unfortunately, when we're at our computers and an update box appears, we sometimes delay installation because we don't want to be interrupted. But system updates often include critical security patches that protect us from current cyber attacks. Delaying their installation only leaves us vulnerable for a longer period of time.
It turns out that all 200,000 victims of the WannaCry ransomware attack had unpatched systems. Though the attack struck in May, these users hadn't updated their Windows operating systems (and subsequently rebooted their computers) since before March, so the patch hadn't taken effect.
The next time you're prompted for an update, keep in mind that it might be the one thing that could protect you from attacks like WannaCry. If you have to delay installation, don't delay for too long.
Lesson #3: If you need that information, back it up
The single most important safeguard against ransomware is backups. If you back up all your important information—and your machine becomes infected with ransomware—you already have a duplicate of everything the attackers are holding for ransom. No need to even consider paying!
But backups are only effective if done right. When adopting a backup process, keep these three tips in mind:
Your backup should be stored separately from the system you're backing up. If you perform local backups on an external hard drive, leave it unplugged from your system when it isn't backing up. If you have a cloud provider, research the protections it has in place to defend against ransomware infections. (Cloud providers typically offer versioning, which allows you to roll back to an uninfected version of your files if the files are ever infected or corrupted.)
Regularly test your backups. Imagine believing that you're protected against ransomware—only to be attacked and find that you can't restore your backup properly. It's worth ensuring that the process works. Test a restore from time to time.
Secure your backup information as much as you would your original information. When backing up sensitive information, be sure that it's encrypted and password-protected. If it's a physical hard drive, keep it in a place where no one can easily take it.
Lesson #4: Honor among thieves isn't always a reality
Believe it or not, upon payment, a majority of ransomware attackers actually give users their information back. Unfortunately, in the case of the WannaCry variant, experts believe that the attackers do not give the information back—no matter what. So when confronted with WannaCry, we recommend doing as the evidence suggests—don't pay.
If you're hit with any other variant of ransomware, we can't tell you what to do. If you search for answers online, you'll see that some experts recommend never paying. But, ultimately, that decision is up to you. Always research the particular variant for possible alternative solutions, and keep in mind that no one but you can safely say what your information is worth.
Preventing disaster before it's too late
Many of us don't take action until we're part of a major database breach. Yet we should always be preparing for such threats. As we've seen with WannaCry, there were ways its victims could've prevented being affected.
There's no telling what major cyber attack will be in the news next. But if we take the time to find the lessons in the last attack—and apply them to our own lives—we'll be in a much better position to defend our information when the worst happens.
© 2017 Commonwealth Financial Network
This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the states of AL, AZ, CA, CO, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, MA, MD, MN, MO, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside these states due to various state regulations and registration requirements regarding investment products and services. Investments are not FDIC- or NCUA-insured, are not guaranteed by a bank/financial institution, and are subject to risks, including possible loss of the principal invested. The Financial Professionals of The Bridgeway Group are Registered Representatives and Investment Adviser Representatives with/and offer securities and advisory services through Commonwealth Financial Network®, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser.
The Bridgeway Group 301 E Colorado Boulevard | Suite 500 | Pasadena, CA 91101 | P626.460.0400 | F626.744.1242
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Home » Ireland 2016: Centenary Film Programme » The Plough And The Stars
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The Plough and the Stars
USA 1937. Dir: John Ford. 72 min. DCP
Hollywood heavyweight John Ford, proud of his Irish heritage, directed several “Irish” films. Two of them, The Informer and The Quiet Man, won Best Director Oscars. Made not long after The Informer, The Plough and the Stars adapts the Sean O’Casey play that caused a riot at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre in 1926. Barbara Stanwyck plays Nora Clitheroe, a fearful wife clashing with her husband Jack (Preston Foster) over his involvement in the 1916 Irish uprising. Ford wanted to import the entire cast of the original Dublin stage production; RKO studio, however, insisted on Stanwyck in the lead (and also fiddled with the film’s final cut). Many of the original Irish players do appear, including Barry Fitzgerald, here beginning his long Hollywood career. In 1965’s Young Cassidy — also screening in this series — Ford dramatized playwright O’Casey’s life and the controversy surrounding his 1926 play.
Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 6:30pm
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Published on USCatholic.org (http://www.uscatholic.org)
Home > Issues that matter: U.S. Catholic through the years
Issues that matter: U.S. Catholic through the years
By Father Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. | Print | Share
In 1961 Robert E. Burns, the executive editor of the Voice of St. Jude, told a group of editors at the Catholic Press Association Convention in Vancouver that "the Catholic press has suffered too long at the hands of well-meaning but untrained and unskilled practitioners."
He called for attractive layout, meeting the readers' needs, and "teaser titles" to pull the reader in.
The Voice of St. Jude--which two years later would morph into U.S. Catholic and thereby complete its transformation from a "devotional magazine"--was already on that track. And as the magazine has negotiated to adjust course for each new generation, the goal of reaching out to both practicing and disaffected Catholics--has held it steady.
Fifty years ago, at age 25, the Voice was 52 pages and cost 35 cents; its layout echoed that of Life and of Jubilee, a daring and beautiful journal founded in 1953 that emphasized photojournalism and intellectual challenge. In its last few years as the Voice and after it became U.S. Catholic, the magazine dealt with day-to-day itches and larger pains that vexed average Catholics: pornography, financial aid to Catholic schools, evolution, racial justice, the morality of nuclear war, and why girls, "out of respect for Our Lord," must wear hats.
A 1961 series of the Voice deals with professional men who may not be Catholics but are still "responsible" models for the readers: political cartoonist Bill Mauldin, Chicago Daily News foreign correspondent George Weller, and film director Stanley Kramer. Profiles introduce us to Romano Guardini, H. A. Reinhold, Karl Rahner, and Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.
Today American Catholics remember 1968 as a turning point in history: the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, the riots at the Democratic convention in Chicago, the escalation of the Vietnam War, and Pope Paul VI's birth control encyclical Humanae Vitae, which effectively alienated a great part of the generation. For U.S. Catholic 1967 and 1968 were strong years.
In December 1967 the magazine, in a blazing three-page editorial, became one of the first Catholic publications to declare: "The war in Vietnam is immoral."
In the same issue, Father Gerard S. Sloyan praises the new Dutch Catechism, which summarized the church's teaching at the end of Vatican II, as the "compendium of Catholic faith worthy of our time." It quotes scripture rather than Vatican documents and concludes that both the pope's and the council's silence on family planning is a sign that the Catechism's teaching that "people must remain free in the matter" had been accepted.
In June 1968 an exhaustive 14-page special report on the "current status on birth control" reaches the same conclusion. When in the following month Humanae Vitae contradicts them, the editors republish an interview with Karl Rahner from the German news magazine Der Spiegel, in which, with lots of circumlocutions and spins, Rahner still says the woman's conscience is to be respected.
A cultural revolution
The transition from the 1960s to the '70s was marked by a change in the cover design, from photographs to multicolored typographical displays shouting the hot topics of the month and "teaser" questions like "Pesticides: Who are we killing?" There are arguments for women priests, instructions on how to use the new rite of penance, and suggestions that we abolish the Mass obligation, Mother's Day, and Santa Claus.
Executive Editor Robert E. Burns, who signs his column R.E.B., laments that the American bishops behave like a men's club, allow a handful to dominate their meetings, and are afraid to lead. Then he publishes articles on the new generation of bishop leaders--Detroit's John Dearden, Chicago's Joseph Bernardin, and Newark's Peter Gerety, who at this writing is 98 and the last one of the group still making the rounds.
The 1973 profile of 45-year-old theologian Joseph Ratzinger offers few clues to the man who will emerge at the turn of the century, except his fear that some theologians have overstepped their bounds in criticizing the structures of the church and his feeling that the liturgy has become "too preoccupied with social involvement."
In contrast to the "company men" American bishops, Robert Johnson in 1978 profiles another model in "Third-World bishops: Blood, sweat, and fear," a tour of bishops who risk their lives to stand up for human rights in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Where church leaders were once in league with rich land owners and the military, they have been moved by both the mandates of Vatican II, the Latin American bishops' 1971 meeting in Medellín, Colombia, and the 1971 Synod of Bishops, which focused on justice as vital to evangelization.
Because two interviews with Father Eugene A. LaVerdiere, S.S.S. on scripture and Jesus' early life were so popular, the editors bring him back in April 1977 for "Christ Has Died, Christ Has Risen, So?" with a cover depicting just the arm of a cross with a big nail sticking in it. He tells us what we seldom hear in church, that the resurrection of Jesus is not a restoration to a former state of life but a transformation into a new way of being, which is unrelated to space and time. Some priest readers were upset and accused LaVerdiere of breaking with the church.
In the public mind, and deep in the consciousness of today's older generation of Catholics, a strict sexual moral code seems to have been the "brand" that distinguished Catholics from their fellow citizens; but as the impact of the sexual revolution swept through the culture, Catholic families needed help to apply their religious principles to daily life.
The editors take risks to help readers deal rationally with sexual morality, particularly homosexuality. Most daring is long-time U.S. Catholic columnist Father Henry Fehren's 1972 pastoral response to Pope Paul VI's teaching that every sexual act must be open to conception. "Homosexual love," he says, "can be as noble, beautiful, and holy as heterosexual love or the love of friends or between members of a family."
As the 1970s close, R.E.B. laments the failure of the biennial Synod of Bishops in Rome to come to grips with the reality of the birth control situation. Archbishop John Quinn of San Francisco bravely stood up at the beginning, told the assembly that "nearly 80 percent of Catholic women use contraceptives while only 29 percent of American priests are reported to believe that contraception is intrinsically immoral," but then the group clammed up. Its final statement blames birth control for euthanasia, abortion, divorce, and "almost everything but psoriasis and stopped-up drains in the home," says R.E.B.
One of U.S. Catholic's qualities during these turbulent years is its ability, based on its editorial policy of presenting all sides of an argument, to stay ahead of public opinion. It did this in three ways: It interviewed respected progressive theologians; in Sounding Board it could float a controversial idea on sex, abortion, liturgy, and so forth as "one opinion" and watch the feathers fly as readers responded; and it could stick its neck out in an editorial, but it did this rarely. At America and Commonweal, the editorial was the voice of the publication, but reading U.S. Catholic, we get a sense that the people of God are raising a collective voice.
Into the 1980s
U.S. Catholic covers not only issues but also culture. A series on American Catholics categorizes them as rural, conservatives, blacks, Hispanics, social justice advocates, and suburbanites. It notes the emergence of American Catholic novelists: Edwin O'Conner, J. F. Powers, Mary Gordon, and John Gregory Dunne.
Paging through the years I have chafed at the many captionless photos. But the magazine also has a track record of outstanding photo stories-especially by award-winning photographers Ed Lettau, Paul Conklin, and Martin Lueders.
In the October 1984 issue, for example, a full-page shot by Conklin for "Religious communities, putting their lives in order" works brilliantly. An elderly nun in a work apron at the end of a convent's Gothic corridor scrubs the marble floors with a long mop. There's a big bucket in the foreground, another at her feet, and a crucified Jesus hangs on the wall behind her.
Ordained in 1967, I began teaching at Fordham in 1969 and joined those fellow Jesuits who had stopped wearing the Roman collar in the classroom. I have worn it since only for special occasions like fundraisers and wakes. In a 1983 Sounding Board column Dan Herr and 63 percent of the readers say I'm wrong.
Tim Unsworth, in a January 1989 Sounding Board, proposes canceling the creed at Sunday Mass. The Nicene Creed has become like the Pledge of Allegiance, he says. It is a too-long booster shot, a bulwark against heresies long dead. Only 25 percent of the readers claimed to be aware of the meaning of the words when they recite it.
Providing a forum for ordinary Catholics to give their two cents in response to such Sounding Board articles has been one of the hallmarks of U.S. Catholic. For more than 40 years now, the magazine has used often provocative opinion pieces to poll its readers on everything from supporting Cesar Chavez' grape boycott to kids misbehaving at Mass and from building low-income housing in the suburbs to ordaining women. Sounding Boards are often fun.
But perhaps the more long-lasting impact comes from the interviews with theologians, including Joseph Martos on the sacraments, Richard McCormick on matters of life and death, and scripture scholar Raymond Brown on Jesus.
Martos teaches us that, except for baptism and the Eucharist, there is no evidence that Jesus instituted sacraments and that in the 16th century the Council of Trent decided that there were then and always had been seven.
Richard McCormick, S.J. suggests that since a fertilized ovum takes seven to nine days to implant, one need not treat it the same as an established pregnancy. Indeed at least half of the fertilized ova never implant. Therefore in "cases of urgency like rape and so on," the ovum can be disposed of "during the first eight days." But it wouldn't follow that there is "open season" on the ovum during that period, he says: One could still be against morning-after pills or IUDs, which prevent implantation, "because they're not just contraception-they're something more."
What is unique about Christianity? Ray Brown says: "I may be wrong, but I don't think that Jews are ever asked to love Moses, or Muslims asked to love Mohammed. But Jesus is not just someone to be believed in. He is personally present to the believer; I love him and he loves me.
Entering a new century
As U.S. Catholic moves into the 1990s it continues to hammer away at its basic dozen pastoral themes-nourishing spiritual lives, dull sermons, confession, gays and lesbians, passing the faith to younger believers, marriage and divorce, birth control, justice, death, judgment, heaven, and hell.
But it also zeroes in on the bigger issues that dominate the headlines: Sexual abuse reveals a rotten core in the clerical establishment; the first Afghanistan and Iraq wars again put the Christian conscience to the test; abortion grows as a political issue.
The magazine's tradition of the theological interview holds. Notre Dame theologian Catherine Mowry LaCugna says the Trinity, which wasn't taught till the fourth century, is key to our understanding God as personal. R. Scott Appleby explains how God is fully present in the communion wafer.
A 1993 cover on the sex abuse controversy depicts a white Roman collar against a black clerical suit and a lollipop-the bait for the victim child. And a striking 1999 cover on Generation X shows the priest's hand placing the host on the tongue of a young woman with a big silver stud protruding from her tongue.
Sex talk becomes bolder. A gay man argues against same-sex marriage. Because his and his partner's sexual relationship could never produce offspring, he says, their sex lives were ultimately empty, leaving "two naked guys, a bed, and four walls." A lesbian reader replies that she and her partner find God in their love-making.
Photo-essays feature the blackened, rugged hands of a coal miner in Wales, a street procession of Hispanic children in Chicago in their first communion garb, and the Bosnian refugee children of Vagoni, who live in abandoned train wagons. The hands of a groundskeeper folding palm leaves in India in Martin Lueders' September 1996 photo story featuring "The Work of Human Hands" in Asia is, by my count, the magazine's first full-color photograph, other than on the cover.
The new look
In May 1999 Executive Editor Tom McGrath introduces the magazine's new design-a "fresh approach" aimed at the younger generation-warns that "change can be jarring," and allows the reader to dissent.
Color is everywhere, including art masterpieces as focal points for meditation and Franklin McMahon's epic drawings of great events. My dissent: The continuing use of cartoon drawings sometimes gives the magazine a Disneyland feel, thus trivializing the mature content.
Yet the marriage of cute and deep pays off in the answer to the child's question, "Can God see me when I go to the bathroom?" The answer: Yes, but God sees you the way your mother sees you when she nursed you and changed your diapers.
In 2001 Heidi Schlumpf tells the stories of five women who want to be priests. In response, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith initiates an inquiry that ends with an agreement that U.S. Catholic reprint the 1994 letter of Pope John Paul II declaring that "the church has no authority to confer priestly ordination on women," because, says the pope, Jesus did not include women among his apostles nor did he ordain his mother.
Predictably, this inspired some dialogue. Two typical letters say: "We must always remind ourselves that Jesus could not satisfy the religious authorities of his day," and "I hope you were able to laugh when you received this communication from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."
The 9/11 trauma
On September 11, 2001 I stood on the roof of the St. Peter's College Jesuit residence and watched the World Trade Center on the other side of the Hudson River crumble in a volcano of smoke. A few weeks later a Frontline PBS documentary asked where God was when this happened. U.S. Catholic's first response is McGrath's November essay, "What do you do with such pain?" He warns that "vengeance becomes more real to some sufferers than the taste of a lover's kiss or the tender breath of a newborn baby."
In an interview with the editors, Lisa Sowle Cahill of Boston College and Father Michael Baxter, C.S.C. of Notre Dame compare the just war and pacifist traditions and raise questions about the morality of our invasion of Afghanistan.
In the June 2002 special issue on the sexual abuse crisis a heartbreaking article includes photos of the abusers posed with their victims, some of whom committed suicide later. A summary article in August 2007 reports that between 1950 and 2006 more than 5,500 priests have been credibly accused and that the final cost for the U.S. church will be $2 billion.
In March 2008 the editors interview eight persons-soldiers, mothers, a chaplain, and an Iraqi refugee-whose faith helped them through the Iraq War. Notre Dame theologian William Cavanaugh takes on torture, which, he says, nearly everyone admits is wrong, but no one can stop the government from doing it.
The October interviews with presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama hold few surprises, but the session with the Washington Post's E. J. Dionne puts the abortion issue in perspective.
Why has U.S. Catholic thrived for so long? Because it keeps its feet in the shifting culture, sometimes jogging to keep up, while keeping its head in the latest scholarship-never fearing where the search for truth might lead.
Last week I had dinner with a young married couple whom I told about U.S. Catholic and suggested they subscribe. It will, I hope, bring them closer to a church from which they have been alienated by rotten homilies and scandals. Above all, especially with the interviews and coverage of the worldwide suffering of the poor, it will convince them that being a Catholic is a rewarding intellectual adventure and a challenge that will test their generosity and love.
This article appeared in the August 2010 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 75, No. 8, pages 18-22).
Image: Tom Wright
Father Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. is the author of The American Jesuits: A History (NYU Press) and teaches at Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City.
See more posts by Father Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. [1]
Created: Saturday, July 17 2010 7:00 AM
Source URL: http://www.uscatholic.org/church/2010/07/issues-matter-us-catholic-through-years
[1] http://www.uscatholic.org/authors/father-raymond-schroth-sj
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1Thus David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar for burnt offerings for Israel.”a 2* David then ordered that the resident aliens in the land of Israel should be brought together, and he appointed them stonecutters to hew out stone blocks for building the house of God.b 3David also laid up large stores of iron to make nails for the doors of the gates, and clamps, together with so much bronze that it could not be weighed,c 4and cedar trees without number. The Sidonians and Tyrians brought great stores of cedar logs to David.d 5David said: “My son Solomon is young and inexperienced; but the house that is to be built for the LORD must be made so magnificent that it will be renowned and glorious in all lands. Therefore I will make preparations for it.” Thus before his death David laid up materials in abundance.e
Charge to Solomon. 6Then he summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7f David said to Solomon: “My son, it was my purpose to build a house myself for the name of the LORD, my God. 8But this word of the LORD came to me: You have shed much blood, and you have waged great wars. You may not build a house for my name, because you have shed too much blood upon the earth in my sight. 9However, a son will be born to you. He will be a peaceful man, and I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. For Solomon shall be his name, and in his time I will bestow peace* and tranquility on Israel.g 10It is he who shall build a house for my name; he shall be a son to me, and I will be a father to him,h and I will establish the throne of his kingship over Israel forever.
11“Now, my son, the LORD be with you, and may you succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has said you shall. 12But may the LORD give you prudence and discernment when he gives you command over Israel, so that you keep the law of the LORD, your God. 13Only then shall you succeed, if you are careful to observe the statutes and ordinances which the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and steadfast; do not fear or be dismayed.i 14See, with great effort I have laid up for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold,* a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron in such great quantities that they cannot be weighed. I have also laid up wood and stones, to which you must add.j 15Moreover, you have available workers, stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and experts in every craft, 16without number, skilled with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Set to work, therefore, and the LORD be with you!”
Charge to the Officials. 17David also commanded all of the officials of Israel to help his son Solomon: 18“Is not the LORD your God with you? Has he not given you rest on every side? Indeed, he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my power, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people.k 19Therefore, devote your hearts and souls to seeking the LORD your God. Proceed to build the sanctuary of the LORD God, that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and God’s sacred vessels may be brought into the house built for the name of the LORD.”l
* [22:2–4] According to 1 Kgs 5:15–32, Solomon himself made the material preparations for building the Temple, even though David had wished to do so (1 Kgs 5:17–19). The Chronicler, however, seeks to enhance David’s role in the building of the Temple.
* [22:9] The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, is reflected in the name Solomon, in Hebrew, Shelomo. The Chronicler draws a contrast here between Solomon, the “peaceful man,” and David, who “waged great wars” (v. 8). David was prevented from building the Temple, not only because his time was taken up in waging war (1 Kgs 5:17), but also because he shed much blood (1 Chr 22:8), thereby making himself, in the Chronicler’s view, ritually unfit for the task.
* [22:14] A hundred thousand talents of gold: about 3,775 tons of gold. A million talents of silver: about 37,750 tons of silver. These highly exaggerated figures are intended to stress the inestimable value of the Temple as the center of Israelite worship. More modest figures are given in 1 Kgs 9:14, 28; 10:10, 14.
a. [22:1] 1 Chr 21:18, 26, 28; 2 Chr 3:1.
b. [22:2] 1 Kgs 5:31–32; 9:20–21; 2 Chr 2:16–17.
c. [22:3] 1 Chr 18:8; 1 Kgs 7:47.
d. [22:4] Ezr 3:7; 2 Chr 2:9.
e. [22:5] 1 Chr 29:1.
f. [22:7–10] 1 Chr 17:1–14; 28:2–7; 2 Sm 7:1–16; 1 Kgs 5:17–19; 8:17–21.
g. [22:9] 2 Sm 12:24.
h. [22:10] Heb 1:5.
i. [22:13] 1 Chr 28:7, 20; Dt 31:6, 23; Jos 1:6–7, 9; 1 Kgs 2:2–3.
j. [22:14] 1 Chr 29:2–5.
k. [22:18] 1 Chr 23:25; Jos 21:44; 23:1; 2 Sm 7:1.
l. [22:19] 1 Kgs 8:6, 21; 2 Chr 5:7; 6:11.
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Tony Mendez February 22, 2017
When asked, “Where did my love of filmmaking come from?” It came from my older brother, Juan.
When I was eleven, I saw how much fun he was having in his TV production class.
When Juan received the TV production Student of the Year Award, I did whatever it took to be just like him.
Two years later, I was proud to take home that same award.
Fast forward to my first year of graduate school at the University of Miami,
I created a documentary in the impoverished pueblo of Santa de Maria Jesus, Guatemala.
After personally interviewing dozens of children with disabilities who faced constant discrimination
from neighbors and even family members, I had an epiphany about myself as a filmmaker
and I made a life-long commitment to use my skills to tell stories that need to be told.
That gave birth to my first serious film: A Través de Sus Ojos.
What is truly fantastic is that it became an effective fundraising tool
for the special needs children of Santa Maria de Jesus.
My latest film titled El Mar y Él, is a dedication to the legacy of my Cuban heritage.
It is set during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, when my parents were lucky enough to make the 90-mile journey
from Havana to Florida. My uncle Ricardo, in particular, had a very compelling story
about what he had to endure in order to escape, and this became the inspiration for the film.
On May of 2015, the University of Miami awarded El Mar y Él Best Thesis Film,
along with Best Producing, Directing, Editing and Best Male Actor.
Recently, HBO purchased the rights to broadcast El Mar y Él, where it continues to be a great success.
I currently live in Baltimore and have worked as a freelance producer/editor
for the Maryland Bar Association and the National Geographic Channel in Washington DC.
The unrest in Baltimore over the death of Freddie Gray definitely hit close to home,
where many of my friends and neighbors expressed their disappointment over how the media portrayed the events –
often focusing on a single story and ignoring the message of peace behind many of the protests.
But out of this came an idea...
The idea is to create a film festival titled the Say It Loud Film Festival: Transform the Narrative of Pop Culture.
I aim to inspire people around the world to express how they feel through a creative outlet because
I believe that everyone is inherently deserving of authorship of their own stories.
Now that I reflect on my past accomplishments and those that are yet to be fulfilled, two things are certainly clear.
First, I love filmmaking, and I want to continue being involved in this creative business for the rest of my life.
Second, I want to uphold my commitment to move, touch, and inspire people with stories that need to be told.
It’s my way of leaving the Earth a better place than I found it.
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Welcome to the Yale Club of San Francisco - David Gergen (YC '63), political analyst for CNN, speaks at the Commonwealth Club
David Gergen (YC '63), political analyst for CNN, speaks at the Commonwealth Club
The Commonwealth Club has offered YCSF discounted pricing on this event!
Wed, Jul 17 2013 - 6:00pm
David Gergen, Political Analyst, CNN; Professor and Director of the Center for Public Leadership, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
Noted political commentator Gergen has helped shape political history, serving in high-level positions during the Nixon, Ford, Reagan and Clinton administrations. Gergen is a professor of public service and director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, positions he has held for the past decade. In addition, he serves as a senior political analyst for CNN. His work as director of the Center for Public Leadership has enabled him to work closely with a rising generation of younger leaders, especially social entrepreneurs, military veterans and Young Global Leaders chosen by the World Economic Forum.
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:15 p.m. check-in, 6 p.m. program
Cost: General admission $25 non-members, $15 members, $10 students (with valid ID). Premium (seating in first rows) $40 non-members, $30 members. YCSF members receive the member price ($15 general seating, $30 premium seating) with code below.
http://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2013-07-17/david-gergen
YCSF code: YALESF (all caps, apply on the credit card payment page)
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LeAnn Rimes Teams With Stevie Nicks for Re-Imagined ‘Borrowed’ [LISTEN]
Liv Stecker
LeAnn Rimes has joined forces with Stevie Nicks to recreate "Borrowed," a track that Rimes initially recorded for her 2013 album Spitfire. The powerful duet is the latest release to come from Rimes' new album, Re-Imagined, which dropped on June 20 and focuses on taking new approaches to some of the biggest hits she netted over the course of her career.
A former Fleetwood Mac band member and solo rock icon, Nicks says that this particular collaboration is one that she's been long awaiting. Readers can press play above to hear the final result.
"I stopped in my tracks and sat down on the floor and started to cry," Nicks shares with Rolling Stone of hearing "Borrowed" for the first time. "I understood what she was singing about. I understood that the pain was real ... and I understood that it had happened to me. When the song ended, I called my assistant to tell her that one day, I would sing this song with LeAnn. It was our destiny."
For her part, Rimes adds that Nicks has long been a musical inspiration to her, and the process of recording the song together marked a career moment that she'll never forget.
"Stevie has been inspiring me as a songwriter and performer since I can remember ... To know that my music has seeped its way into her heart the way her music has into mine is magical," Rimes tells Rolling Stone. "Connecting with her, not only musically, but on a soul level – understanding what it's like to be a woman with passion, a pen and a desire to tell the most authentic, heartfelt truth through song, has been an experience that's forever left an imprint on my life."
"Borrowed" was written by Rimes along with Darrell Brown and Dan Wilson. Its release follows that of her re-imagining of her hit song "Blue," which shot her to fame at the age of 14, as well as "How Do I Live (Re-Imagined)."
Rimes released her 16th and latest studio album, Remnants, in 2017.
Learn LeAnn Rimes + More Country Stars' Real Name
NEXT: Top 5 LeAnn Rimes Songs
Source: LeAnn Rimes Teams With Stevie Nicks for Re-Imagined ‘Borrowed’ [LISTEN]
Filed Under: LeAnn Rimes
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TV Series News – Why Winterfell May Be Doomed In Game Of Thrones Season 8
Spoilers ahead for the Season 8 premiere of Game of Thrones on HBO. Seriously, if you haven’t caught the episode yet and don’t want to be spoiled, feel free to check out some of our spoiler-free articles about the series. Otherwise, proceed!
Game of Thrones has finally returned after a hiatus that seemed as long, dark, and full of speculation-based terrors as the Long Night is bound to be in Westeros. The premiere picked up after the Season 7 cliffhanger that saw the Night King break through The Wall with his army of the dead, Jon and Dany hook up, and Bran realize that Jon is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, making said hook-up an incestuous union. Oh, Game of Thrones. Now, the Season 8 premiere may have revealed that Winterfell is doomed.
Of course, on the surface, Winterfell looks like it never had a better chance at surviving the upcoming attack from the Night King, the White Walkers, and the army of the dead. Thanks to Daenerys, the forces of the North that congregated at Winterfell are fortified by the Unsullied, the Dothraki, and the little matter of those two dragons.
We’ve known for a while that the Winterfell battle is going to be huge in scale; the events of the premiere — while hardly apocalyptic taken on their own — indicate that the battle might not be able to go the way of the living in the end. Here’s why.
The Game Of Thrones Is Still Being Played
Okay, yes, the name of the show is Game of Thrones, and the entire series has been building to whoever winds up sitting (or not sitting) on the Iron Throne as much as it has to the confrontation with the White Walkers. Still, the whole point of Season 7 was that it was time to put the game of thrones on hold and focus on the army of ice zombies being led by creatures that can only be killed by certain weapons that aren’t exactly in wide circulation.
Unfortunately, pride of the people of Westeros may lead to all of them falling. Daenerys has never taken well to receiving less than the utmost respect, and the Northerners weren’t falling over themselves to swear allegiance. Most of them are loyal to Jon as King in the North or Sansa as Lady of Winterfell, and Sansa hasn’t been shy about disliking Dany’s presence in the North. The Northerners don’t want the dragon queen in the midst, and that’s pulling their focus.
It’s probably not going to help that Dany’s not exactly going the extra mile to befriend the Northerners. Instead, she took off on a dragon ride with Jon, worried about her dragons, and took care of her own affairs. Her actions are understandable given the way she’s accustomed to rule, but they’re not conducive to banding together with the stubborn Northerners. Especially since her dragons are eating the dwindling livestock that the Northerners were probably hoping to at themselves.
Throw in the fact that Sam spilled the beans of Jon’s true birth to Jon after learning that Dany veered dangerously into “Mad Queen Daenerys” territory by roasting his father and brother, and he’s already looking to put Jon on the throne rather than Dany. Jon’s urgent message of doom and gloom is being clouded by all the scheming in Winterfell, and a lot of people could die because of it. The preview for next week indicates that the squabbling will continue, very unhelpfully.
The Dead Are Fast-Approaching
The dead are very, very, very fast-approaching. The army that broke through The Wall in the Season 7 finale is on the move, and Game of Thrones‘ pacing issue from last season that had characters all but teleporting from place to place isn’t going to do the living any favors. The meeting between survivors of the Night’s Watch (including a very dolorous Edd) and Tormund and Beric’s group at Last Hearth revealed just how fast the dead and White Walkers were moving south, and poor young Lord Umber was killed and cruelly (although somewhat awesomely) posed to send a message.
The living have a chance of reaching Winterfell before the dead if they double up on the Night’s Watch horses, and the preview for the next episode proves that they have hours rather than days before the White Walkers’ army arrives at Winterfell.
Given how the people are squabbling amongst themselves — not helped by the arrival of Jaime Lannister, who Dany is understandably not thrilled to meet — and Jon may be struggling with the huge news he just received (along with the encouragement from best bud Sam to see if Dany will give up her claim to the throne for the people like Jon gave up his Northern crown), I have my doubts that they can be ready to fight any time soon, let alone in a matter of hours!
Honestly, Gendry is still forging weapons from the dragonglass! There’s just not time for the good guys to make a stand at Winterfell and win. Admittedly, I am kind of pleased that this makes my theories that the dragons torch Winterfell to destroy it and that the big battle will happen sooner than expected, but still. Just as it seemed the White Walkers would win in Season 7, it feels like they have to take Winterfell in Season 8.
There’s Not Enough Resources
Sansa raised the point in the first half of the Season 8 premiere that Winterfell isn’t packed with inexhaustible resources. There was enough food for the Northerners to last the winter, and I’m guessing they would have been tightening their belts as the weeks passed as it was. The arrival of Daenerys brought thousands of Unsullied and Dothraki, not to mention the dragons.
Dany clearly didn’t endear herself to Sansa with her response to Sansa’s question of what dragons even eat. Admittedly, Sansa’s tone was decidedly frosty, but telling the Lady of Winterfell that dragons eat “whatever they want” probably wasn’t the way to start winning Northern hearts. She’s clearly not on the same page as the Northerners.
When the Dothraki brought word that Drogon and Rhaegal had killed and eaten a bunch of the livestock, Dany was concerned that they weren’t eating enough. I’m guessing that the Northerners who are facing the prospect of starving if they’re not executed or massacred would probably prefer if the dragons found their own food rather than eating livestock.
The living may run short on resources other than food as well. Tyrion Lannister claimed that the Lannister army is marching North. While Sansa knows Cersei well enough that she’s well aware that the Lannister army isn’t coming, Tyrion has Dany’s ear rather than Sansa, and Dany has Jon’s.
If everybody advising Dany expected the Lannisters to arrive (presumably until Jaime drops the news that they’re not coming), then they might have been counting on help that won’t come. The Battle at Winterfell may not end like the Battle of the Bastards, with a third party charging in to save the day. At this point, my money is on Winterfell being doomed.
Tune in to HBO on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET for new episodes of Game of Thrones. As has been the case with recent seasons of the series, the episodes will run for various lengths, so be sure to count on at least an hour for each installment. If you’re not going to be in a constant state of Thrones chills for the next six weeks, there are plenty of other viewing options and streaming choices available now and in the not-too-distant future.
Source=”https://www.cinemablend.com/television/2470311/why-winterfell-may-be-doomed-in-game-of-thrones-season-8″
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GRANGER, ANTONIO
Efes Pilsen 32 Forward
Height: 2.01 Born: 6 June, 1976 Nationality: United States of America
Totals 20 18 684:30 314 61/111 51/126 39/51 24 57 81 31 24 25 8 5 46 53 298
Averages 20 18 34:13 15.7 55% 40.5% 76.5% 1.2 2.9 4 1.6 1.2 1.3 0.4 0.3 2.3 2.6 14.9
15 * at Pau-Orthez 32:45 25 3/6 5/9 4/5 1 6 7 1 1 2 3 27
16 * at Union Olimpija 18:30 4 0/2 1/3 1/3 3 3 1 2 1 -1
17 * vs Skipper Bologna 32:15 8 2/4 1/5 1/2 3 3 2 2 2 2 8
18 * vs Pau-Orthez 29:45 25 1/5 7/11 2/2 1 1 1 2 1 4 2 16
19 * at Skipper Bologna 36:00 18 2/4 4/9 2/2 1 1 2 1 1 3 16
20 vs Union Olimpija 37:30 10 5/9 0/5 3 5 8 1 1 3 2 8
6 Totals 186:45 90 13/30 18/42 10/14 5 19 24 4 4 5 2 2 11 13 74
Average 31:07 15 43.3% 42.9% 71.4% 0.8 3.2 4 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.3 1.8 2.2 12.3
1 * at Tau Ceramica 35:00 15 3/6 1/4 6/7 1 3 4 3 5 1 2 3 20
2 * vs Asvel Basket 36:15 16 8/10 0/2 2 2 4 2 1 1 1 2 21
3 * vs Benetton Basket 37:45 16 2/3 2/7 6/8 2 6 8 3 2 3 5 19
4 at Olympiacos 27:30 14 4/5 2/5 2 7 9 1 1 5 1 15
5 * vs Alba Berlin 35:30 21 6/9 3/8 4 2 6 2 1 3 1 3 1 18
6 * at Idea Slask 38:45 11 3/5 1/5 2/2 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 1 3 4 11
7 * vs Pamesa Valencia 36:15 23 3/8 5/7 2/4 3 1 4 2 1 1 4 2 16
8 * vs Tau Ceramica 38:00 14 4/6 1/5 3/4 3 1 1 2 2 10
9 * at Asvel Basket 40:00 13 3/6 2/7 1/2 3 3 1 2 1 1 4 8
10 * at Benetton Basket 40:00 18 2/6 4/6 2/2 4 4 2 2 2 1 2 5 22
11 * vs Olympiacos 38:45 12 2/3 2/7 2/2 1 1 2 1 2 1 4 1 5
12 * at Alba Berlin 35:45 20 4/7 3/7 3/4 2 3 5 1 1 1 1 1 4 22
13 * vs Idea Slask 37:15 28 4/5 6/11 2/2 3 3 6 3 3 3 3 34
14 * at Pamesa Valencia 21:00 3 0/2 1/3 1 1 1 2 2 1 3 3
14 Totals 497:45 224 48/81 33/84 29/37 19 38 57 27 20 20 6 3 35 40 224
Average 35:33 16 59.3% 39.3% 78.4% 1.4 2.7 4.09 1.9 1.4 1.4 0.4 0.2 2.5 2.9 16
Index rating 34 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. ASCO Slask Wroclaw 2/12/2004
Points 30 Benetton Treviso vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 3/15/2006
Offensive rebounds 5 Cibona Zagreb vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 3/26/2003
Defensive rebounds 7 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Benetton Treviso 2/22/2006
Total rebounds 11 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. CSKA Moscow 3/19/2003
Assists 4 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. ASVEL Villeurbanne 11/12/2003
Steals 5 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul 11/6/2003
Blocks 2 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan 12/22/2005
Minutes 40 Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos Athens 3/22/2006
Played high-school basketball at the Denby High School, Detroit.
Played college basketball at Boston College (1994-98).
Selected in the 1998 CBA Draft by the Fort Wayne Fury (#44).
Moved to Italy for the 1998-99 season, signed by Olimpia Basket Pistoia.
Released on November '99.
Immediately signed by Rimini Basket.
Signed for the 2000-01 season by Pallacanestro Biella, in the Italian A-2 League.
Moved to Spain for the 2001-02 season, signed by CSF Sevilla.
At the end of Spanish season, moved to Italy, signed by Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna.
Moved to Turkey for the 2002-03 season, signed by Efes Pilsen Istanbul.
Moved to Russia for the 2004-05 season, signed by CSKA Moscow.
Back to Turkey for the 2005-06 season, signed by Efes Pilsen Istanbul.
Named the 2005-06 Euroleague Week-18 MVP.
Won the 2002-03 and 2003-04 Turkish National Championship with Efes Pilsen Istanbul.
Won the 2004-05 Russian National Championship with CSKA Moscow.
Won the 2005 Russian National Cup with CSKA Moscow.
Won the 2006 and 2007 Turkish National Cup with Efes Pilsen Istanbul.
Led the 1996-97 Big East Conference in three-point field goal percentage (40.7%).
Led the 2003-04 Turkish League in 3pts. shooting percentage (55,0%).
Led the 2004-05 Euroleague in 3pts. shooting percentage (48,3%).
Played the 2001 Italian All-Star Game.
Played the 2002 Spanish All Star Game.
Named the 2001 Italian A2 League MVP.
2001-02 Kinder Bologna 2 10 5 2/2 100 2/4 50 0/2 0 3 0 0 0
2002-03 Efes Pilsen 20 229 11.4 44/88 50 40/92 43.5 21/35 60 77 17 25 4
2003-04 Efes Pilsen 20 314 15.7 61/111 55 51/126 40.5 39/51 76.5 81 24 31 8
2004-05 CSKA Moscow 23 235 10.2 41/91 45.1 44/91 48.4 21/32 65.6 73 16 6 4
2005-06 Efes Pilsen 22 300 13.6 51/105 48.6 52/120 43.3 42/51 82.4 83 16 12 5
2006-07 Efes Pilsen 7 57 8.1 5/9 55.6 15/32 46.9 2/3 66.7 13 1 2 0
Totals 94 1145 12.2 204/406 50.2 204/465 43.9 125/174 71.8 330 74 76 21
Averages 94 1145 12.2 204/406 50.2 204/465 43.9 125/174 71.8 3.5 0.8 0.8 0.2
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Starlink: Battle for Atlas is Fun to Play, but a Digital Edition May Be a Necessity
Starlink: Battle for Atlas first popped up on my radar at E3 2018, where Ubisoft showed that Star Fox would have a presence in the game. That caught my attention, and I made a point of watching the Nintendo Treehouse show off the game. Seeing it in action, it seemed like something I could enjoy, but I was a little concerned about the toys-to-life aspect. My younger brother was into Skylanders as a kid and I remember how expensive all the little figures were. These days, those Skylanders are at my house – my son plays with them as action figures and my brother wants nothing to do with them. I kept my eye on Starlink’s accessory prices to see whether or not I wanted to jump in – and once I saw the price tag on those little star ships, I said “no thank you” and put the game out of my mind.
Some time later, another blogger advised me to check out the difference between the physical and digital versions of the game. That advice led me to check out this article by IGN, which compares the prices of the digital version of the game against the cost of each of the components within it if purchased physically. The difference is night and day: buying the digital editions gets you more than twice the content of the starter set for a lower price, and for only $5 more than the starter set you get the entire Starlink package. Knowing that the digital edition would be a better deal put Starlink back on my watch list, but since $80 is still higher than standard new game price I decided to save that money for games I was more excited about that are coming in 2019.
What finally led me to scoop up this game was a massive sale on Ubisoft titles. At the time this article is posted, Ubisoft is having a Switch sale discounting their games for as much as 67% off until March 14th. When I saw the sale I had the idea to check in on how much Starlink was discounted; while it didn’t quite hit 67% off, the normally $80 deluxe edition now sat at a cool $40. With the game at half price and the recent announcement that more Star Fox content is on the way (including my favorite pilot, Peppy), I decided to finally scoop up the game and give it a try.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas tells the story of the crew of a starship called Equinox. Their captain, St. Grand, discovered an alien being that helped to greatly accelerate his scientific research, but that research has been targeted by an alien empire called the Forgotten Legion. They attack the Equinox, capture St. Grand and steal his research, and allow the ship to crash on a desert planet called Kirite. Playing as various pilots from the Equinox crew, you must get the starship back into space in order to pursue the Forgotten Legion to rescue St. Grand and recover his research. As far as how Star Fox gets involved, he and his fellow pilots see the initial attack on the Equinox and choose to help, hoping that pursuing the legion will help them to locate Star Wolf.
At this point in my experience with the game I have restored power to the Equinox’s flight engines and can now head up to space, but I have chosen to hang out on Kirite for a bit to solve some of the puzzles there. Being one planet into the storyline, I haven’t engaged in every one of the game’s mechanisms yet, so I’ll be focusing only on the parts of the game I’ve been able to play so far. So let’s dig into what it is like to explore a planet, complete with accomplishing missions, solving puzzles, exploration, and upgrading your ships and pilots.
I’ll start off by saying this: it has been said by some that playing one Ubisoft game is the same as playing any other, and Starlink definitely falls into that trap a little bit. There’s a possibility that the game becomes truly open world after the first planet, but currently it has that quasi-open “either do the main quest or ignore the main quest and do stuff out of order if you want to, I guess” feel to it. Once you land on Kirite, you can effectively go wherever you want to, but you may not be able to engage effectively with everything you find. You find collectibles in the environment like plants or ores to scavenge, complete quests to expand your view of the map to find more side quests, and earn points towards a total completion percentage of each planet as you clear locations. If you know you like that core gameplay loop, great – the key is to focus on what makes Starlink different from games like Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry. Fortunately, there are quite a few features that help it to feel unique.
When you’re on the surface of a planet, your ship skims along the ground. You can jump, hover, boost, and create shields in addition to firing both your left and right weapons. On the Switch, the Y button is your interact button, which you use for doing everything from talking to NPCs to picking up collectibles to scanning wildlife. The skimming controls feel pretty good – I actually enjoy having to fly across long distances because boosting through the environment and watching all the scenery fly by is pretty satisfying. The right stick controls your camera and the left stick controls the direction your ship moves in relation to that perspective. It took me some time to get used to that but once I did, it actually feels like moving while locked onto your target in other games I’ve played.
The planets are open environments that you can explore at will, with a minimap/radar showing you roughly what’s around while pressing ” – ” opens a more detailed star map, which shows the full globe. You can only see as much of the planet as is revealed by the observatories that you’ve unlocked and powered. Revealing more of the planet using these observatories allows you to see all of the significant locations nearby, from the minor ones like electrum veins for farming money to the major ones like rare wonders or spires that relate to side missions. Between all of that there are all kinds of little collectibles to discover. On Kirite, you can pluck the fruit from local plants, hit crystals with the appropriate elemental weapons to reveal what’s inside, or even yank the scales off of sandworms (though I haven’t quite figured out what to do with them once I’ve got ’em).
To explore Kirite is to engage in a number of subsystems or minigames. Many collectibles must be plucked, which is a minigame where you yank an object towards you by positioning your ship at just the right distance to charge up a meter. To learn about local wildlife, you have to scan them, which requires you to fly in a circle around the creature highlighting a series of icons to complete the scan. This can be tricky when the creature starts moving, requiring you to use boosts and some good camera control to make a full circle around the fauna. Some locations have full-blown puzzles to solve, requiring you to use specific weapons in order to charge meters on a spire or turn or move small nodes into the correct positions. These puzzles are fun little challenges, nothing complicated but still providing a nice alternative to flying around and shooting stuff.
Of course, shooting stuff is the meat and potatoes of Starlink, so it’s best we hit on that. All over the planet you’ll find forces belonging to the Forgotten Legion that have it out for you. These threats range in level of danger from the annoying but mostly harmless imps and the hives that spawn them to massive extractors protected by extensive laser defense systems. You have to dodge, shield, and shoot to keep your ship in one piece, and the weapons you choose for each battle are key elements of that. Each enemy type has a set of particular weapons they are vulnerable to. Imps, for example, need to be hit with close range weapons like the shockwave or the imploder, while cyclops are more vulnerable to the combination of fire and ice weapons. You are given incentive, then, to be swapping out weapons as you move from battle to battle.
This is where having the deluxe edition of the game has come in handy for me. I started the game with access to every single weapon available, which means that no matter what I am facing I can equip just the right combination of tools to take them out. It makes combat a lot easier as well as guaranteeing that I always have the right gear to solve elemental puzzles in the environment. Luckily, if you’re not wanting to spring for the full deluxe edition, the standard digital edition still has 12 of the game’s fifteen available weapons. Where you’re really going to struggle is if you are wanting to play Starlink using the physical attachments.
The starter set of Starlink for Switch only comes with three weapon types: one fire weapon, one ice weapon, and a non-elemental weapon. You also get the bonus of the Arwing, which can fire lasers with the wings when no weapon is equipped. But buying physical means you have a painfully limited selection of tools to help you through the game, and it costs more than the digital version of the game (especially right now during the sale). This is a tough call to have to make because some folks simply don’t like to have their games digitally. For that version of Starlink to be the Clear and Obvious Choice™ is a blow to those who want to have a cartridge for their game.
Having a limited selection of ships and weapons doesn’t just hurt your versatility, either – it hurts the maximum power that your pilots can achieve. Each of the pilots in the game has a skill tree that enhances their performance in combat and upgrades their ship. Skill points are generated by regularly using the same ship and weapons. You gain experience primarily from completing missions and killing enemies. The thing is, each weapon or ship has a limited number of skill points it can provide: ships give five and weapons give three. So a physical starter set for the Switch, with only two ships and three weapons, can only give a maximum on 19 skill points to your pilot. Now you do receive skill points from certain story events as well, but since Fox’s skill tree takes 30 points to fully upgrade, there would have to be eleven such story skill points for physical edition owners to be able to max out a pilot – and that requires them to get every possible skill point in the game (for them). So owners of a physical edition of the game may not be able to push any of their pilots to the maximum level, or if they can, it will take a much greater effort to do so.
Pilots aren’t the only upgrade-able piece of Starlink. Each ship and weapon in your arsenal can be modded using items you find during missions. These mods have effects of varying significance from small boosts to defense or speed to increasing damage to improving the amount of experience you earn. Fortunately there are lots of these mods lying around so it’s pretty easy to find enough of them to upgrade all of your different ships and weapons. The game also makes it easy for you to flip loadouts on the fly with three pre-saved options, so if you find that a particular weapon and its mods aren’t working for you, you can very quickly adjust to a different one.
There’s one last piece you can modify in Starlink, and that’s your crew’s starship Equinox. This is the most recent function I unlocked but it’s one I’ve been focusing on before leaving the planet of Kirite. There are lots of features that can be upgraded from Equinox, ranging from fast travel options to increasing your inventory capacity to improving your combat capabilities. This requires you to have your pilots at specific levels, and sometimes those pilots have to be ones in specific factions. Additionally, these upgrades require money and cores from completing spire missions. It’s an incentive to try out pilots you haven’t been using and to complete as many of the game’s missions as possible.
So far I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Starlink. The overall lack of buzz around this game, along with the issues concerning the pricing, gave me the initial impression that this game wouldn’t be good. However, the flight is fun, experimenting with different weapons is engaging, and the game has a good reward loop as far as giving you incentive to complete missions in order to upgrade your ships and weapons. If you’re someone who has been interested in Starlink but isn’t sure whether or not it’s going to be worth your while, I would currently recommend it based on my first impressions. However, that recommendation comes with the caveat that I purchased this game at half price and have the deluxe digital edition, which gives me all the tools I need to have the peak Starlink experience. If you’re attached to getting the physical version or are reading this after the sale ended when the game is full price again, I don’t know yet if my recommendation holds. I’m planning to do a review of the full experience later down the line, and of course lots of other outlets have already done their reviews if you want to check those out instead.
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Battle for Atlas, first impressions, Gaming, Humor, Nintendo Switch, Starlink, video games
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8 thoughts on “Starlink: Battle for Atlas is Fun to Play, but a Digital Edition May Be a Necessity”
Jett says:
If you’re looking for the most content complete version of Starlink, then digital is absolutely the way to go. Especially with it being on sale right now.
That said, I got my physical version at a deep discount…and I really wanted the Arwing toy. While it will ultimately collect dust with all my other Amiibo figures and other gaming trinkets, the thought of having a figure that symbolizes a big part of my childhood meant a lot to me.
Got an additional ship with a new gun as a Christmas present, so I had a total of four guns that I used to beat the game. Never felt too underpowered when fighting with a limited tool set, but the game definitely pushes you to use the guns you don’t get in the base set later on. Also, there are secret areas you can’t access at all without those guns.
Hope you continue to enjoy Starlink! I think it’s a good first step and I’d love to see Ubisoft get a shot at fleshing this out and making a full-on Star Fox game in this format.
Agreed! Honestly, I think Nintendo has struck gold with this setup where they share their first-party properties with folks from outside. Hyrule Warriors was pretty solid, Mario + Rabbids was excellent, this game has been fun so far – as long as they continue to strategically choose their partners, this could be a great way to breathe a new life into their platforms while also helping bolster third parties. I hope we keep seeing these experiments!
To be fair, they did mess this approach up before. Sega got F-Zero, and that franchise is now dead. GameCube version was way too hard! Also, Metroid: Other M. But with the right partners and better oversight, we get fresh new ideas with Nintendo franchises!
I didn’t know about Sega and F-Zero – I never even heard of those games until Smash, so I kind of missed that boat. And Other M – yikes! Another one I haven’t played but unlike F-Zero, I’ve definitely heard the horror stories.
Yeah, I very much went for the digital version. As much as I wanted the toys to display once I was done, the cost of getting enough content to get the most out of it was ridiculous!
For sure. I’d be into having the ships as well, but the practical side of me simply couldn’t push past the cost difference.
That being said, I do think that if you’re going to do toys-to-life, then this might be the way to do it. Skylanders and Disney Infinity made those toys mandatory, which meant that if you were interested in the game itself but didn’t care about accessories then you were just out of luck. Starlink allows the people who really want that physical accessory to buy it as a luxury feature, while those who just want to play the game can do so at regular game price.
Much like Jett, I really wanted the Airwing toy. Otherwise, I think digital is the way to go and the best move Ubisoft could make considering Toys to Life had already run its course by the time Starlink entered the fray.
For sure. I just mentioned this in another comment but I think this is a much better approach to toys-to-life, treating them like a luxury instead of an accessory. It makes the game more accessible for people who don’t want or can’t afford the toy part of the game.
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The Big Short – “Below the Line” Featurette (2015) – Paramount Pictures
7 janvier 2016 afflux adam, Adam McKay, Anchorman, Animation, Bale, Banks, based, best, big, blind, Book, Brad, Brad Pitt, brands, Brothers, campaign, Carell, CHRISTIAN, Christian Bale, COLLECTION, Company, dark, director, entertainment, facebook, film, films, Four, government, international, JEREMY, JOHN, Lewis, line, Linklater, Marisa Tomei, McKay, media, MICHAEL, movies, MTV, nickelodeon, official, online, pictures, Pitt, producer, question, Ryan, Saw, SHORT, Side, Some, STARS, step, Steve, Steve Carell, story, strong, TRUE, True Story, twitter, what, Where, youtube
When four outsiders saw what the big banks, media and government refused to, the global collapse of the economy, they had an idea: The Big Short. Their bold investment leads them into the dark underbelly of modern banking where they must question everyone and everything. Based on the true story and best-selling book by Michael Lewis (The Blind Side, Moneyball), and directed by Adam Mckay (Anchorman, Step Brothers) The Big Short stars Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt.
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt, Melissa Leo, Hamish Linklater, John Magaro, Rafe Spall, Jeremy Strong, Marisa Tomei and Finn Wittrock
Tickets: http://paramountshowtimes.com/us/the-big-short/?campaign=YouTube
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Official Website: http://thebigshortmovie.com
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Television, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount StudioGroup.
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Catalogues of surgical instruments in the museum of the RCOG
Reference code(s) : GB 1538 S50
Held at : Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/library-services/archives-and-heritage/archives/ ›
Full title : Catalogues of surgical instruments in the museum of the RCOG
Date(s) : 1913-1921
Level of description : Series of Special collections of private papers
Extent : 2 folders
Name of creator(s) : Doran | Alban Henry Griffith | 1849-1927 | surgeon
Administrative/Biographical history:
Alban Henry Griffith Doran (1849-1927), MRCS, FRCS, LSA received his medical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital, where he served as House Surgeon, House Physician and Assistant Demonstrator of Anatomy. He gave up teaching after a year to become, in 1873, Assistant in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. After his retirement from private practice in 1909 he devoted his energies largely to the compilation of the above catalogues.
Scope and content/abstract:
Photocopies of: A Descriptive Catalogue of the Obstetrical Forceps and Obstetrical Instruments in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 1913, and A Descriptive Catalogue of Gynaecological Instruments in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, compiled 1913-1921, by Alban Doran.
Access & Use
Language/scripts of material:
System of arrangement:
Conditions governing access:
Conditions governing reproduction:
Finding aids:
A general index to the files listed in the catalogue of the Archives of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is maintained in the College Archives; refer to the College Archivist.
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
The photocopies were donated to the College Library by Mr A.C Fraser in 1998 and passed to the College Archives in the same year.
Allied Materials
Publication note:
Description Notes
Archivist's note:
Sources: Biographical details of the individuals who have presented material to the College and/or comprise the subject of the records, have been compiled using information in administrative files and, where relevant, consulting Sir John Peel's book The Lives of the Fellows of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 1929-1969, Whitefriars Press Ltd, 1975. Compiled by Clare Cowling, Archivist, RCOG with information received from the archivist of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Rules or conventions:
National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997; ISAD(G), Second Edition, 2000.
Date(s) of descriptions:
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Grauforz
Grauforz is an expanding Mexican company specialised in buying, selling and distributing steel by-products on a global level. Their reach includes operations in five countries on different continents including North America, Asia & Europe.
Acero /America /Asia /Europe /Mexico /Architecture /Branding /Interior Design/ Signage
Their first contact with Anagrama, was made with the intention to formalize their brand communication and brand experience.
For the interiors, we developed a project where we applied steel and wooden elements. By using steel, we were able to be consistent with the products sold by the company. We were also able to communicate strength with a modern feel. Some elements like wood added a warm human touch making spaces feel more cozy. The interiors project was complemented with typographic interventions allowing the brand to be communicated to the inside of the company and staff with feelings of belonging, loyalty and formality.
By the end of the project, we can appreciate how Grauforz is able to position itself as a world-class company. — (A)
By using steel, we were able to be consistent with the products sold by the company.
Our analysis culminated in a re-branding process where we decided to conserve original colors and the brand's original concept. Their original logo consisted in an abstraction of the letters G & F. While looking for a way to correctly communicate their efforts to modernize the brand keeping it fresh and eternal at the same time, we chose a sans-serif typography.
Our focus on considering all contact points between the company and their clients culminated in a project where we intervened their logotype, stationery, corporative communications, website as well as interior architecture for their offices. Due to the fact that many of their clients are located in other countries, we also were in charge of the design and development of a web based tool for sales management and follow-up. For the interiors, we developed a project where we applied steel and wooden elements. By using steel, we were able to be consistent with the products sold by the company. We were also able to communicate strength with a modern feel. Some elements like wood added a warm human touch making spaces feel more cozy. The interiors project was complemented with typographic interventions allowing the brand to be communicated to the inside of the company and staff with feelings of belonging, loyalty and formality.
Maderista
Tierra de Maestros by Dobel
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Andrew Otis
Hicky’s Bengal Gazette: The Untold Story of India’s First Newspaper is available. Purchase it now on Amazon India!
Andrew Otis’s non-fiction book is set in 18th century Calcutta, the center of British strength in India. His story focuses on three main characters: the journalist, James Augustus Hicky, the missionary, Johann Zacharias Kiernander, and the Governor General, Warren Hastings.
In a time of great change in India, Hicky wrote to expose corruption in the East India Company and embezzlement in the Christian Church. But he faced the wrath of a Governor General eager to stamp down on dissent, and the divine retribution of a missionary eager to prove he had stolen nothing from his charity for orphaned children. Up against both the Church and State, Hicky fought valiantly for the freedom of the press.
Was Hicky able to bring the Governor General and Missionary to public justice? Or were they able to suppress his reporting for eternity?
Based on years of archival research, Andrew is telling this story in its entirety for the first time, using previously untouched primary sources from India, Germany and the UK. Not only is the story a microcosm of global affairs and colonialism, but it is a tangible reminder of the importance of freedom of expression through culture and time. Andrew hopes his book’s engaging content will foster cross-cultural communication between the past and the present, and between the diverse histories of India, the UK and the US.
Follow Andrew as he tells this thrilling story of adventure, courage, and a willingness to sacrifice everything for the freedom of the press.
You can read what the press has to say.
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Tag Archives: Anti-Fascist Action
Nicky Crane: The secret double life of a gay neo-Nazi
Posted on December 9, 2013 by jyoud Standard 1
Original BBC Magazine article here
He was the British extreme right’s most feared streetfighter. But almost right up to his death 20 years ago, Nicky Crane led a precarious dual existence – until it fell dramatically apart.
The skinhead gang marched in military formation down the High Street clutching iron bars, knives, staves, pickaxe handles and clubs. There were at least 100 of them. They had spent two days planning their attack. The date was 28 March 1980. Soon they reached their target – a queue of mostly black filmgoers outside the Odeon cinema in Woolwich, south-east London. Then the skinheads charged. Most of them belonged to an extreme far-right group called the British Movement (BM). This particular “unit” had already acquired a reputation for brutal racist violence thanks to its charismatic young local organiser. Many victims had learned to fear the sight of his 6ft 2in frame, which was adorned with Nazi tattoos. His name was Nicky Crane. But as he led the ambush, Crane was concealing a secret from his enemies and his fascist comrades alike. Crane knew he was gay, but hadn’t acted on it. Not yet.
Twelve years later, the same Nicky Crane sat in his Soho bedsit. His room looked out across London’s gay village – the bars and nightclubs where he worked as a doorman, where he drank and danced. Crane flicked through a scrapbook filled with photos and news clippings from his far-right past. For years he had managed to keep the two worlds entirely separate. But now he wasn’t going to pretend any more.
Nicola Vincenzo Crane was born on 21 May 1958 in a semi-detached house on a leafy street in Bexley, south-east London. One of 10 siblings, he grew up in nearby Crayford, Kent. As his name suggests, he had an unlikely background for a British nationalist and Aryan warrior. He was of Italian heritage through his mother Dorothy, whose maiden name was D’Ambrosio. His father worked as a structural draughtsman. But from an early age Crane found a surrogate family in the south-east London skinhead scene.
Its members had developed a reputation for violence, starting fights and disrupting gigs by bands such as Sham 69 and Bad Manners. In the late 1970s, gangs like Crane’s were widely feared.
“When you’ve come from a tough background, when you get that identity, it’s a powerful thing to have,” says Gavin Watson, a former skinhead who later got to know Crane. The south-east London skins also had close connections to the far right. Whereas the original skinheads in the late 1960s had borrowed the fashion of Caribbean immigrants and shared their love of ska and reggae music, a highly visible minority of skins during the movement’s revival in the late 1970s were attaching themselves to groups like the resurgent National Front (NF). In particular the openly neo-Nazi BM, under the leadership of Michael McLaughlin, was actively targeting young, disaffected working-class men from football terraces as well as the punk and skinhead scenes for recruitment. Crane was an enthusiastic convert to the ideology of National Socialism. “Adolf Hitler was my God,” he said in a 1992 television interview. “He was sort of like my Fuhrer, my leader. And everything I done was, like, for Adolf Hitler.” Within six months of joining the BM, Crane had been made the Kent organiser, responsible for signing up new members and organising attacks on political opponents and minority groups. He was also inducted into the Leader Guard, which served both as McLaughlin’s personal corps of bodyguards and as the party’s top fighters. Members wore black uniforms adorned with neo-Nazi symbols and were drilled at paramilitary-style armed training weekends in the countryside.
They were also required to have a Leader Guard tattoo. Each featured the letters L and G on either side of a Celtic cross, the British Movement’s answer to the swastika. Crane dutifully had his inked on to his flesh alongside various racist slogans. By now working as a binman and living in Plumstead, Crane quickly acquired a reputation, even among the ranks of the far right, for exceptionally brutal violence.
In May 1978, following a BM meeting, he took part in an assault on a black family at a bus stop in Bishopsgate, east London, using broken bottles and shouting racist slogans. An Old Bailey judge described Crane as “worse than an animal”. The following year he led a mob of 200 skinheads in an attack on Asians in nearby Brick Lane. Crane later told a newspaper how “we rampaged down the Lane turning over stalls, kicking and punching Pakistanis”. The Woolwich Odeon attack of 1980 was described by a prosecutor at the Old Bailey as a “serious, organised and premeditated riot”. After their intended victims fled inside, the skinheads drilled by Crane began smashing the cinema’s doors and windows, the court was told. A Pakistani man was knocked unconscious in the melee and the windows of a nearby pub were shattered with a pickaxe handle. In 1981 Crane was jailed for his part in an ambush on black youths at Woolwich Arsenal station. As the judge handed down a four-year sentence, an acolyte standing alongside Crane stiffened his arm into a Nazi salute and shouted “sieg heil” from the dock. Crane’s three jail terms failed to temper his violence. During one stretch, he launched an attack on several prison officers with a metal tray. A six-month sentence following a fracas on a London Tube train was served entirely at the top-security Isle of Wight prison – a sign of just how dangerous he was regarded by the authorities.
All this may have horrified most people, but it made Crane a hugely respected and admired figure across the far right. He was neither an orator nor a conversationalist. His vocabulary was sparse at best. But he managed to exude a powerful charisma. “I knew him, I liked him. He was friendly,” says Joseph Pearce, who was leader of the Young National Front during the early 1980s before turning his back on extremist politics. “He was not the most articulate of people. It would be yes or no. It was difficult to have anything but the most superficial conversation with him.” In the aftermath of a violent march through racially mixed Lewisham in 1977, much of the UK’s extreme right had concluded the path to power lay in controlling the streets and destabilising the multicultural society rather than through the ballot box.
At the same time, groups like the Anti-Nazi League (ANL) and, later, Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) were becoming more and more confrontational. “The opposition were very, very combative,” Pearce says. “Their strategy was to smash the nationalist movement. It was a necessity to have a street presence that had muscle. Someone like Nicky Crane was a powerful physical but also symbolic presence.” This was a description with which even Crane’s enemies concurred. “By appearance and reputation he was the epitome of right-wing idealism – fascist icon and poster boy,” writes Sean Birchall in his book Beating The Fascists, a history of AFA. Unbeknown to his comrades, however, a very different side to Nicky Crane was emerging.
It was a Thursday night at Heaven, a gay nightclub below London’s Charing Cross station. Underneath the venue’s arched roof stood a young man, up from Brighton for the evening. A garrulous character, he was universally known by his full title of John G Byrne. Since 1969, when he discovered reggae music as a 13-year-old, Byrne had been a skinhead. As he looked across the dancefloor, he caught sight of a man he’d never seen before. The stranger was tall, shaven-headed and tattooed. Byrne introduced himself. It was Nicky Crane, fresh out of prison. “He stood out quite a lot,” says Byrne. “A lot of people used to be quite keen on him because he was a very butch-looking geezer.” Years later, Crane said he hadn’t had sex with a man until after he turned 26 in 1984. But now he was becoming a regular at places like Heaven. “I just used to chat to him,” Byrne adds. “Nicky was quite a friendly person. He was quite quiet, really. He was the opposite of what he looked like.”
He appears to have thrown himself enthusiastically into the gay scene around this time. His imposing frame meant he easily found work as a doorman at gay venues through a security firm. But if the neo-Nazi world would have abhorred his sexuality, the vast majority of London’s gay scene would have been equally horrified to learn that he was a neo-Nazi. Among the leadership of the largely liberal-left gay rights movement that was growing in London during the 1980s, fascist symbolism was an obvious and outrageous taboo – a reminder of the persecution that lesbians and gay men had suffered. According to feminist scholar Sheila Jeffreys’ book The Lesbian Heresy, a commotion unfolded in 1984 when a group of gay skinheads turned up at a gay bar in London’s King’s Cross and began sieg heiling. She also records that a well-known far-right youth organiser was thrown out of the same pub after taking off his jacket to reveal swastika tattoos. A huge row erupted the following year at the London Lesbian and Gay Centre in King’s Cross when a gay skinhead night was held at the venue. It’s not clear whether Crane was present at any of these incidents. But it appears that, at least initially, he was able to deflect questions about his politics by presenting himself on the gay scene as a skinhead first and foremost. His friend Byrne, who describes himself as “sort of more a Labour person”, had no time for the far-right element that had infiltrated the skinhead movement. But Byrne was convinced at the time that Crane “wasn’t really a Nazi. It was all show”. The softly spoken Nicky he knew was too nice to be an extremist, Byrne believed. This wasn’t as fanciful as it might sound. By the mid-1980s, a gay skinhead scene was beginning to flourish in London, says Murray Healy, author of Gay Skins: Class, Masculinity and Queer Appropriation. Gay men had many different reasons for adopting the look, he says. Some had been skinheads before they came out. Others found that, in an era when all gay men were widely assumed to be camp and effeminate, “you were less likely to get picked on if you looked like a queer-basher”. There were also “fetish skins”, attracted to the “hyper-masculinity” of the subculture. Against this backdrop, even the swastikas and racist slogans inked on Crane’s body could be explained away, at least initially. During the 1980s, says Healy, “gay Nazis were assumed to be left-wing even if they had Nazi tattoos”. “People refused to read these tattoos politically. People thought it was part of the authenticity ritual. People thought he was just playing a part.” And indeed it wasn’t just gay skins who flirted with the iconography of fascism. While “redskins” and “Sharps” – an acronym for Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice – confronted those with links to the far right, many heterosexual skinheads who were apolitical also adopted fascist garb, says Byrne. “A lot of skinheads that weren’t right-wing used to wear Skrewdriver T-shirts,” Byrne adds. “It was about the fashion of being a skinhead.” But Crane wasn’t just playing with the imagery of Nazism. He was living it. His decision to start frequenting venues such as Heaven wasn’t the only thing that had changed since before his sentence. During the years 1981 to 1984, which he mostly spent incarcerated, his fame had grown far beyond the narrow confines of the far right.
In 1981, the journalist Garry Bushell helped put together a compilation album of tracks by bands from the burgeoning Oi! scene. Oi!, a cheerfully crude sub-genre of punk, was popular with skinheads. Its politics were fairly broad – while there were right-wingers within its ranks, some of its most prominent acts, including the Angelic Upstarts, were avowed socialists. Others, such as the 4-Skins, condemned political extremism of all kinds. That was to count for little after Bushell, desperate for a cover image after a photoshoot fell through, seized on a Christmas card which he says he believed showed a scene from the film The Wanderers. In fact, it was a picture of Crane.
It was only when the image was blown up to 12in cover size, Bushell says, that he noticed Crane’s Nazi tattoos. Faced with the choice of airbrushing out his markings or pulling the release, the writer chose the former option.
“It was a monumentally, cataclysmically stupid decision,” he says. The title of the compilation was Strength Thru Oi! – which Bushell says was intended as a pun on Strength Through Joy, the title of a recent EP by punk act The Skids, but which in turn was borrowed from a Nazi slogan. The Daily Mail seized upon the title and the connection with Crane, condemning the “highly controversial” record as “evil”. According to Bushell, who had only recently left the Socialist Workers Party and still regarded himself at the time as a left-winger, the story was a “tissue of lies”. But as a result of the coverage, the hitherto obscure Oi! scene became associated by many with the far right – to the chagrin of acts featured on the album, such as the socialist poet Gary Johnson. Crane’s musical background had hitherto extended to starting fights at ska and punk gigs, plus a short-lived stint singing in a punk band called The Afflicted. The notoriety, however, transformed him into a skinhead icon. The Strength Thru Oi! cover image – featuring a topless, muscle-bound Crane snarling and raising his boot – was widely reproduced in the wake of the row. T-shirts featuring the image were sold at The Last Resort, a clothes shop favoured by skinheads in London’s Whitechapel. They were a huge hit. Although the album was withdrawn from sale, reproductions of its cover adorned thousands of bedroom walls. “He was literally a poster boy,” says Watson, who at the time was a teenage skin in Buckinghamshire. “Even a 15-year-old was like, ‘That’s what a skinhead should look like.’ “He just fell into our living rooms. These little kids in High Wycombe – we didn’t know anything about the Nazi stuff.”
On the surface, the idea of a gay man embracing neo-Nazism might appear baffling and self-defeating. Just as Adolf Hitler’s regime had thrown gays and lesbians into death camps, the neo-Nazi movement remained staunchly homophobic.
Crane was becoming all too aware of the contradiction of being a gay neo-Nazi. “A lot of people that I did used to hang around with, they did sort of like hate us,” he said in 1992 – “us” meaning gay men.
“They’d go out queer-bashing. It’s something I never did myself. And I’d never let it happen in front of me, either.” He had, however, chosen fascism long before he had embraced his sexuality, and much of his social life and prestige was bound up with his status as a prominent neo-Nazi activist. To maintain his cover, Crane would often appear in public with a skinhead girl on his arm. “He often had a so-called girlfriend but they were never around for long,” says Pearce. “Nicky had no chemistry with girls.” Certainly, after coming out, Crane always described himself as gay rather than bisexual. Nonetheless, his relationships with women, coupled with rumours that he had fathered a son, allayed any initial suspicions his comrades might have had. So too did his propensity for racist violence.
On Sunday 10 June 1984, Greater London Council leader Ken Livingstone held a free open-air concert to protest against unemployment and government spending cuts. Thousands of Londoners turned out to watch acts like The Smiths and Billy Bragg. Most would have been attracted principally by the music and the summer weather. To Nicky Crane, however, anyone attending a left-wing-hosted event like this was a legitimate target. As The Redskins, a socialist skinhead band, played, Crane led an attack on the crowd. Around 100 fascists began setting about the audience closest to the main stage. “They were organised, they were used to violence, the audience wasn’t,” says Gary, an anti-fascist activist who was present that day and asked to be identified only by his first name.
The neo-Nazis were beaten back by a group of striking Yorkshire miners, invited to steward the event by Livingstone as a solidarity gesture, and members of the militant far-left group Red Action. Crane was not cowed, however, and after regrouping his forces, he charged a second stage at the other end of the park where the Hank Wangford Band were playing. This time, however, the anti-fascists were better prepared. Militants grabbed empty cider bottles to use as improvised weapons. As the anti-fascists fought back, Crane broke away from the main battle. “He was busy attacking the rest of the crowd, on his own, stripped to the waist,” says Gary. As Crane tried to make it over a barrier on to the stage, he was knocked over by a Red Action member. He escaped the furious crowd by using a female left-wing activist as a human shield, according to witnesses. As the violence subsided, anti-fascists confronted another skinhead in the crowd. His Harrington jacket was unzipped to reveal a slogan on his T-shirt. It read “Nicky Crane”, in tribute to the young man’s hero. Given the carnage Crane had just instigated, the left-wingers had little sympathy for his admirer. The skinhead was set upon and beaten. Crane was never prosecuted for his part in the riot. In the febrile atmosphere of the mid-1980s, however, violence was everywhere. As clashes between police and striking miners becoming increasingly bitter, football hooligans across the country were fighting it out with unprecedented ferocity. The formation of AFA in 1985 resulted in increasingly bloody stand-offs between anti-fascists and the far right. Several years later, Crane told the Sun newspaper about an attack on a Jewish Remembrance Day ceremony for which he also appears to have escaped arrest. “We hurled insults at them and started punching and kicking as they went by,” he admitted to the paper in 1992. On another occasion, Crane and his gang spotted a left-wing activist on a Tube train. “Me and a few mates beat him really badly,” he said. “Even though he wasn’t moving we all kept jumping on his head. “I think he survived. It must have been a miracle.” After the BM collapsed in 1983, Crane had become something of a free agent. He was a visible presence on demonstrations held by other far-right groups. These included the NF – now split into two warring factions – and the British National Party, formed in 1982 by John Tyndall, which had begun to attract a significant football hooligan following. Among the rank and file of each group, Crane remained a hero. “You could very easily drop him into the Weimar Republic in 1923 and, some language difficulties apart, he’d fit right in,” says Gary.
His closest affiliation, however, was with the neo-Nazi rock band Skrewdriver. Originally the group had been apolitical. In 1982, however, singer Ian Stuart Donaldson came out as a supporter of the National Front. With song titles like Europe Awake and Flying the Flag, the group gained a huge following among far-right skinheads. Opposition from anti-fascists meant gigs had to be forcefully stewarded. Donaldson appointed Crane as Skrewdriver’s head of security, and he became a trusted lieutenant. Reportedly, Crane wrote the lyrics for a Skrewdriver track called Justice and provided the cover art for the albums Hail The New Dawn and After The Fire. Archive footage of their concerts shows Donaldson barking neo-Nazi lyrics as he loomed above Crane who stood, arms folded, at the front of the stage. The T-shirt on his chest said “Skrewdriver security” in Gothic script. Crane wasn’t playing an instrument, but it was as though he was part of the performance. His status as a neo-Nazi icon had never been more secure. But for the first time, the twin strands of his double life were about to intersect.
The anti-fascist magazine Searchlight was, despite its political leanings, required reading for activists on the extreme right. Each month the publication would run gossip about the neo-Nazi scene, and fascists would furtively buy it to see whether they had earned a mention.
In April 1985 it ran a feature on Crane. It mentioned the GLC concert, the south London attacks and the jail sentences he had served. The magazine revealed it had received a Christmas card from him during his time on the Isle of Wight in which he proclaimed his continued allegiance to “the British Movement tradition” – that is, violence.
The Searchlight report ended its description of Crane with the line: “On Thursday nights he can be found at the Heaven disco in Charing Cross.” Even a neo-Nazi audience might have been aware that Heaven was at this point London’s premier gay club. Nicky Crane had been outed. And homosexuality was anathema to neo-Nazis. But the response of Crane’s comrades to the revelation was to ignore it. A number of factors allowed Crane to brush off the report, Pearce says. Firstly, homosexuality was indelibly associated with effeminacy by the far right, and Crane was the very opposite of effeminate. Secondly, no-one wanted to be seen to believe Searchlight above the word of a committed soldier for the Aryan cause. Thirdly, on the most basic level, everyone was afraid of being beaten up by Crane if they challenged him. “I remember it was just sort of furtive whispering,” adds Pearce. “I’m not aware that anyone confronted Nicky. People were happy for things to remain under the carpet.” Sightings at gay clubs were dismissed by Crane. Donaldson claimed Crane told him that he was obliged to take jobs at places like Heaven because the security firm he was employed by sent him there.
“I accepted him at face value, as he was a nationalist,” Donaldson told a fanzine years later.
For his part, Heaven’s then-owner, Jeremy Norman, says he does not recall Crane working on the door: “I would imagine that the door staff would have been supplied by a security contractor and that he would have been their employee but it is all a long time ago.” Rumours circulated that a prominent football hooligan and far-right activist had hurled a homophobic slur at Crane, who in response had inflicted a severe beating which the victim was lucky to survive. Word of this spread among the skinhead fraternity, too. “My mate had a shop in Soho,” recalls Watson. “People would come in to say, ‘Have you heard Nicky’s gay?’ He would say, he works around the corner, why don’t you go and ask him? Of course they never did.” Just as some in the gay community refused to believe that a gay man could be a neo-Nazi, others on the extreme right were unable to acknowledge that a neo-Nazi could be a gay man.
In 1987 Crane and Donaldson set up a group called Blood & Honour. It was a cross between a White Power music club and a political party. It staged concerts for Skrewdriver and other neo-Nazi bands with names like No Remorse and Brutal Attack. T-shirts, flags and records were sold by mail order through its magazine. The operation had an annual turnover of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Donaldson was its head, Crane his right-hand man and head of security. Around the same time, the latter’s organisational skills were being put to use elsewhere. Searchlight reported in October 1987 that “Crane, the right’s finest example of a clinical psychopath, is also engaged in building a ‘gay skins’ movement, which meets on Friday nights” at a pub in east London. Crane’s sexuality might by now have been obvious to any interested onlooker, but the neo-Nazi scene remained in denial. While his right-wing colleagues studiously ignored the report, AFA took an interest. Its activists put the pub under surveillance.
The anti-fascists didn’t care about Crane’s sexuality, but were concerned that the gatherings might have a political objective. “Here were gay skinheads wearing Nazi regalia,” says Gary. “We could never get to the bottom of it – whether it was purely a sexual fetish.”
The gay community had, by this stage, begun to take notice of Crane, too. He was confronted by anti-fascists attending a Pride rally in Kennington, south London, in 1986. The campaigner Peter Tatchell recalls a row erupting after it emerged Crane had been allowed to steward a gay rights march. The organisers had not been aware who Crane was or what his political affiliations were. But now they were, and Crane must have realised he would no longer be welcome in much of gay London. The gay skinhead night may simply have been an attempt to carve out a space for himself where he would not be challenged either for his sexuality or his politics. While his status in the far right was secure, he was being pushed to the fringes of the gay community. The double life he had been maintaining was beginning to erode.
The Bloody Sunday commemoration rally was held every January to mark the deaths of 14 unarmed protesters at the hands of the Parachute Regiment in Derry in 1972. For years the rally had been a target for the far right, whose sympathies in the Northern Ireland conflict mostly lay with the loyalists. So when Nicky Crane was spotted within the vicinity of the march in Kilburn, a traditionally Irish enclave of north-west London, in January 1990, it was assumed he had trouble in mind. Crane was confronted by anti-fascist activists who were stewarding the event and, after a brief exchange of blows, he managed to get away.
But when he was spotted in a black cab heading back into the area, marchers took it as read that he was about to spearhead an ambush on the march.
After the taxi became stuck in traffic at the top of Kilburn High Road it was quickly surrounded. Crane was pulled from the vehicle and found himself on the receiving end of the kind of violence he had long inflicted on others. After putting up fierce resistance, he was beaten unconscious. Three anti-fascists were jailed for a total of 11 years for their part in the incident. Unusually for a political street fighter who deplored the system, Crane testified at their trial. It was a hint that Crane was preparing to cut his ties with the extreme right. “I don’t think he’d have done it in his fascist days, put it that way,” says Gary. “You didn’t go to the police. Hard men don’t do that, they sort it out among themselves.” It was not the first indication that Crane was losing his enthusiasm for the Nazi cause. In May 1989 he had fled when anti-fascists turned up to a meeting point in London’s Hyde Park for a Blood & Honour gig. After the Bloody Sunday march, there is no record of Crane taking part in any further political activity. He had begun drifting away from the extreme right. Friends say he had begun spending an increasing amount of time in Thailand, where his past was not known and he could, for the first time since Strength Thru Oi! was released, be anonymous. Back in London, he appeared in a series of skinhead-themed amateur gay porn videos. The films did not achieve wide circulation but, to star in them in the first place, he must have been indifferent to whether or not he was exposed. Eventually he made a decision. It was time to end the double life once and for all.
The Channel 4 programme was called Out. It featured a series of documentaries about lesbian and gay life in the UK. The episode broadcast on 27 July 1992 was about the gay skinhead subculture. Its star attraction was Nicky Crane. First the programme showed recorded interviews with an unwitting Donaldson, who sounded baffled that such a thing as gay skinheads existed, and NF leader Patrick Harrington. And then the camera cut to Crane, in camouflage gear and Dr Martens boots, in his Soho bedsit.
Nicky Crane interviewed in 1992 for a Channel 4 documentary
He told the interviewer how he’d known he was gay back in his early BM days. He described how his worship of Hitler had given way to unease about the far right’s homophobia. He had started to feel like a hypocrite because the Nazi movement was so anti-gay, he said. “So I just, like, couldn’t stay in it.” Crane said he was “ashamed” of his political past and insisted he had changed. “The views I’ve got now is, I believe in individualism and I don’t care if anyone’s black, Jewish or anything,” he added. “I either like or dislike a person as an individual, not what their colour is or anything.” The revelation attracted considerable press attention. The Sun ran a story with the headline “NAZI NICK IS A PANZI”. Below it described the “Weird secret he kept from gay-bashers”. Crane reiterated that he had abandoned Nazi ideology. “It is all in the past,” he told the paper. “I’ve made a dramatic change in my life.” The reaction from his erstwhile comrades was one of horror and fury. Donaldson issued a blood-curdling death threat on stage at a Skrewdriver gig. “He’s dug his own grave as far as I’m concerned,” Donaldson told the Last Chance fanzine. “I was fooled the same as everybody else. Perhaps more than everybody else. I felt I was betrayed by him and I want nothing to do with him whatsoever.” But according to Pearce – who by this stage had made his own break with the NF – it was Crane’s disavowal of National Socialism, rather than the admission of his sexuality, that proved particularly painful for Donaldson. “I think that Ian would have been very shocked,” says Pearce. “He was deeply hurt. But it had more to do with the fact that he switched sides politically. “Nicky didn’t just come out as a homosexual, he became militantly opposed to what he previously believed in.” British Nazism had lost its street-fighting poster boy. For the first time in his adult life, however, Crane was able to be himself. Watson recalls catching a glimpse of Crane – by then working as a bicycle courier – shortly after he came out. “I saw him riding around Soho in Day-Glo Lycra shorts,” remembers Watson. “I thought, good for you.”
On 8 December 1993, Byrne took the train to London. He had arranged to meet his friend Nicky Crane at Berwick Street market, just a few yards from his Rupert Street bedsit. Byrne was looking forward to having “a good old chat” about skinheads they both knew. But Crane didn’t turn up. When Byrne got home, he found out why. Crane had died the day before. He was 35. The cause of death was given on his death certificate as bronchopneumonia, a fatal inflammation of the air passages to the lungs. He was a victim of the disease that had killed so many other young gay men of his generation. “He didn’t tell me about his problems with Aids,” says Byrne. “He didn’t talk much about it really. I thought it was a shame.” Word had got around that Crane was ill, however. Gary recalls his shock at seeing his one-time foe looking deeply emaciated, waiting on a platform at Baker Street Tube station. Crane’s stature was such, however, that even at this point fellow passengers were careful to keep their distance. Those who suffered as a result of his rampages may have breathed a sigh of relief that he was no longer able to terrorise them. But his death marked more than just the end of Nicky Crane. It also coincided with the passing of an era in which the extreme right hoped to win power by controlling the street with boots and fists. In 1993, Crane was dead, Donaldson died in a car crash and the British National Party (BNP) won its first council seat in Millwall, east London. The various factions of the NF had by now all but withered.
The following year, BNP strategist Tony Lecomber announced there would be “no more meetings, marches, punch-ups” – instead, the intention now was to win seats in town halls. The party would try to rebrand itself as respectable and peaceful – a strategy continued, with varying success, under the leadership of Nick Griffin. Streetfighters like Nicky Crane were supposedly consigned to the past.
The broader skinhead movement was changing, too. Watson, like many other former skins, had by the time of Crane’s death, abandoned boots and braces for the rave scene. His skinhead days already felt like a different age. “The skinhead stuff was washed away by rave and it’s, ‘Oh yes, Nicky’s out of the closet,'” Watson says. “It’s the story of that side of skinheads, isn’t it?” By contrast, the presence of skinheads in gay clubs and bars was no longer controversial. Shorn of its political associations, the look was by now, if anything, more popular in London’s Old Compton Street or Manchester’s Canal Street than on football terraces or far-right rallies. Two decades after Crane’s death, says Healy, the skinhead is “recognised as a gay man unambiguously in London and Manchester”. He adds: “If the Village People reformed today there would be a skinhead in the group.” He may be an extreme case, but Crane reflects an era in which people’s expectations of what a gay man looked and behaved like began to shift. “Everybody always knew gay people, but they just didn’t know it,” says Max Schaefer, whose 2010 novel Children of the Sun features a character fascinated by Crane. “The neo-Nazis were no different from everyone else.” It’s unlikely Crane reflected on his place at this intersection between all these late 20th Century subcultures. He was a man of action, not ideology – a doer who left the thinking to others, and this may be what led a confused, angry young man to fascism in the first place. As he lingered in St Mary’s hospital in Paddington, west London, waiting to die, a young man named Craig was at his side. Craig was “one of Nicky’s boyfriends”, says Byrne. According to Crane’s death certificate, Craig was with him at the end. Picture research by Susannah Stevens
No Retreat: Interview with Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey
Posted on September 5, 2013 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard 3
spikemagazine.com
[This article appears online at http://www.spikemagazine.com/1104noretreat.php%5D
Street Fighting Men
Ben Granger talks to Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey, authors of “No Retreat”, a punchy account of their days fighting neo-Nazis in North-West England.
Back in the late 70s Manchester was a stronghold of Britain’s premier far-right party, the National Front. As factories and communities went down they went up, recruiting at pubs and football matches, bolstered by a backdrop of fear, poverty, ignorance and desperation. They strutted through the town’s grey streets by day, cudgelling random blacks and gays in dark alleys at night. Kicking around and insulting lefty paper sellers was another hobby. That was until a few young working-class activists, centred initially round the Socialist Workers Party and the Anti-Nazi League, decided to fight back.
“The Squads” -as they became known- eschewed the standard British lefty tactics. They didn’t depend on banners, slogans and face-painting. Men who could handle themselves, they responded to the NF in kind; with boots and fists. “The fash” weren’t used to people fighting back and before long it was they who were on the defensive.
As the NF dissolved into the more openly Nazi British Movement and other warring factions, Anti-Fascist Action grew from the ashes of the Squads, shunned and denounced by the middle-class leadership of the SWP, they still booted the Nazis out of central Manchester and took the fight further out, to the further reaches of the north-west and the country beyond.
No Retreat is a memoir from two veterans of these struggles. While overlapping strongly, the first half is Squad member Tilzey’s story from the late 70s to mid 80s, detailing the collapse of the NF and the rise and fall of the psychopathic British Movement. AFA founder member Hann takes over from the 80s to the late 90s, recounting the fight against the new British National Party and their partners in thuggery Combat 18. It describes the movement’s very real successes, but also tells of the setbacks and the infighting endemic to groups of the left.
To say it doesn’t shy from the violent side of the struggle is an understatement. Fastpaced accounts of kickings and hammerings dominate the narrative. Dave jokes at one point that AFA considered seeking sponsorship from Lucozade for the use they made of their old style glass bottles “an ideal hand to hand or throwing weapon, and the police can’t arrest you for it as long as its still got som drink left in it.” Liberals and pacifists won’t be perusing this over their chiantis.
There’s a lot of knockabout humour too. At one point during a battle in London, Steve McFadden (Eastenders’ Phil Mitchell) is caught up in the scene; at another Dave and the AFA boys receive notice of a large gathering of Nazi boneheads in Manchester that turns out to be a scene for Robbie Coltrane’s “Cracker”.
It’s a lively, irreverent, thrills but no-frills account which at times reads like one of the numerous soccer-hoolie memoirs proliferating in the “True Crime” section at book-stores (and indeed its publisher Milo purveys many such books themselves). But amidst all the scrapping and joking is the constant and powerful message that fascism thrives when the workingclass is ignored and betrayed. The authors argue this betrayal has come not only from all the major parties, but from the middle-class leadership of far-left groups too, pursuing students with single issue politics rather than working people.
I met up with Dave Hann and Steve Tilzey for drinks on Deansgate in Manchester. The chain pub we meet in is corporate, with cosmetic concessions to local surroundings. By contrast, these two are the real deal. Older and broader now, they’re still imposing enough to intimidate the frailer sections of the master race. Steve is garrulous, warm, humorous and infectiously friendly, a quick-tongued and foul-mouthed Manc through and through. Dave is more soft-spoken and considered and wry, with a cosmopolitan accent reflecting his changes in location despite a longstanding base in Manchester. Both have retired from their street fighting roles, Steve works in local government, Dave is a plasterer. But their deep-seated resolve against the forces of fascism still burns bright.
What made you decide to release this book when you did?
ST: There were lots of people who did a lot of work for anti-fascism back in the previous decades, and their contributions haven’t been properly documented before. There was a fear they would be lost to history. Our book is a way of keeping the story alive.
You both got involved in far-left activist politics as very young working-class men in the 70’s and 80’s. Why is that less common these days, and why are groups like the SWP now largely middle-class?
ST: Basically, people like we were are less easy to control. Students are less bother, they do as they’re told.
DH: Getting out into work-places, where it counts, is a lot harder to do. It’s a lot easier to stick on campuses and bang on about single-issues. It just doesn’t achieve much. The most frequent response to your activities on the left and in the mainstream is that it’s “counterproductive” and that “you’re as bad as them”.
ST: Obviously, we get that all the time. It may seem simplistic to say that these are some seriously evil bastards and we’re the good guys…What I always say to these people is “what would you have done in the second world war”? That was a war against Nazis, and so was this. And it worked.
The book provides ammunition for your critics in detailing how you fought alongside questionable allies on the streets at times. Criminals with Irish backgrounds, Celtic football hooligans, Moss Side hard-men. And weren’t some people up for a fight with whoever?
ST: A lot of people you work with you won’t be in agreement with. I’ve stood next to many people in my time against the fascists. I’ve looked around and thought; these may not be people I’ve got much in common with, but we’ve all got one enemy. Anti-fascism is a broad church, and if people want to fight them it’s not up to us to turn them away because we disagree with them on certain issues.
DH: You’ve got to ask yourself, where do political activists come from? They don’t come fully formed into your ranks. Some people may just join in for an afternoon’s fighting sure, but its then you can try to persuade them. You should engage people like that, not ignore them.
It worked in ways other left-wing groups didn’t. We’ve had ex-NF members who’ve joined. We’ve had lots of football hooligans. Some of them just started out from the standpoint that they didn’t like way the NF and the BNP were bullying people around on the terraces. Then, when they talked to us, some got thinking about things in a more socialist-orientated way.
If someone got on to the coach with us with a copy of the News Of The World we’d welcome him. Other left groups would just be horrified and turn their noses up. We’d welcome him, and tell him why his paper was full of shit later. People are bombarded with right-wing propaganda throughout their lives. If someone’s got baggage, that’s fine, we weren’t gonna turn them away.
How do you feel that because of the violent nature of the book it’s often placed in the “true crime” section of bookshops?
ST: I’ve heard its been placed in the comedy sections at times myself. [laughs] I know people have labelled this book another soccer book. The book talks about violence but it details how it was. It wasn’t pleasant at times, we were scared, of being arrested, of being kicked in. But at the end of the day, when these people are in your town, you’ve got to take action. You’ve got an obligation.
The Squads and AFA weren’t just about generals running round, we were all equal with different qualities, good fighters, good communicators, spotters, good drivers even, they all had a part to play. When people say “its like a football book” I can understand that, but I think it comes over that it wasn’t the same, this wasn’t just a load of blokes saying “what a good row” after a punch up. If me and Dave had wanted to just be football hooligans then we would. It would have been a lot easier. And we didn’t.
DH: At then end of the day, we wanted people to read this book. AFA campaigned, we worked in communities, we did talks in schools, we did mass leafleting. We could have concentrated on all that and no-one would have read it. I challenge anybody to write a book like that and have it widely distributed. Yes there was a lot of violence, and yes the book talks about that. But you can walk down Manchester today with a banner of Lenin and no-one will touch you. That’s a result.
The ultimate vindication of the AFA strategy seems to be that very thing. Even now, with the BNP in a huge resurgence, there are seemingly no go areas for them: most of Manchester (as opposed to Greater Manchester), South Yorkshire, even a lot of East London. Prime, poor areas for BNP recruitment but they don’t seem to try it now. And these were the areas where AFA was most active…
DH: Absolutely. Where we were strongest they are weakest now. Basically, we took out a generation. These are people who thrive on ruling the streets, inspiring youngsters to look up to them. We took the role-models out for kids like that. Even today in Manchester, with the BNP riding high nationally, you don’t see them Manchester, yo don’t see paper sellers, you don’t see stickers. Not even graffiti.
But you certainly can’t be complacent even here. I’ve often likened fighting fascism to nailing jelly to the ceiling.
ST: So speaks a true dodgy plasterer..
DH: Yes, they always take the piss..But the point is you can never stop. And neither will they. There’s a line of argument that says fascism will always be there as long as capitalism is. It’s probably true. But do you wait for capitalism to dissolve when there’s a gang attacking an Asian shop? You have to do something at the time and that’s what we did.
As you detail in the book, there’s your own strongholds you’ve secured, but there’s other places like Burnley where you fought them off but now they’ve taken hold. As you said, you kicked them out, but there’s a vacuum in isolated working-class places like that which no-one filled and they came back. Would a change in the Labour government change things?
ST: No way.
DH: Not one iota. We were saying back in the 70’s Labour had lost it, lost touch with working people. How much worse is it now? They’ve got their heads completely up their arses and there’s no way back. They’re trying to copy the situation of the Republicans and the Democrats in the US.
Except now Labour are closer to the Republicans!
DH: Well, yeah….[laughs]
So do you see anyone as voicing a true working-class alternative?
DH: Well there are a few, there’s anarchist groups emerging which seem to have the right idea…
ST: People say, why would you hang around a bunch of revolutionary groups when it just ain’t gonna fucking happen? To be honest I go along a lot more with that view now. Let’s face it, the state is the biggest gang in town. It’s got the biggest mob. If it wanted to it could wipe out the left just like that like in Chile. I can’t really see the point in things like the SWP any more. You could say that’s me getting old, that’s me in the comfort zone now, with me season ticket for OT (Old Trafford). But you do still need to campaign on individual issues. There’s nothing to be gained from the SWP, there’s gonna be no great change…watch this fucker disagree with me…
DH: I do think society can change more but I agree you’ve got to campaign on people’s lives. If you can go to a housing estate and get the lifts working in a tower block, people remember who you are. Campaign on these issues, get things done, and when the fascists walk down your street they listen. Sometimes we were so busy fighting the fascists we didn’t spend too much time offering alternatives. You’ve got to do both. Take people’s hearts and minds away from them and offer them an alternative.
Over the last twenty to thirty years the left has moved further and further away from the working-class. If this doesn’t change it’s a historic mistake we’re going to live to regret. The book details the more subtle, undercover work that you did in particular Steve, at first for the Squads and later for [anti-fascist magazine] Searchlight. This included spying, secret photography, bugging meetings. You come over as being particularly enthusiastic about this line of work.
ST: Yes well it goes back to when I was young that, I’d always fancied myself as a bit of a James Bond.[laughs].No I’ve always liked codes, things like that.
In particular when I got involved with Searchlight I met people who really new their stuff with surveillance. As well as bugging meetings we did the bins of a lot of leading people on the far-right, John Tyndall, Martin Webster, Lady Birdwood. Some of that stuff made it into the book, some didn’t. I’ve still got a lot of shit on these people that’s not yet been made public.
What did you make of the recent BBC undercover documentary on the BNP?
ST: I thought it was well-done, it was a good mainstream documentary. Of course, it told us nothing we didn’t know about these people ourselves. We’ve bugged BNP meetings where the stuff they were saying puts that right in the shade.
One thing that comes over very strong in the book is that you’re Reds in both senses of the word. By your account Manchester United was always heavily anti-fascist in character, yet Manchester City was far more of a hotbed of NF support. Why is that?
ST: There really is no clear answer to that. Historically there was the old United-Catholic
City-Protestant thing, and I think there’s an element of that.
And yet City actually have more black fans than United too…
ST: I know; it’s weird. I do think a lot of it is just down to coincidence and can’t be explained. Groups of lads coming from certain areas, hanging around together, supporting the same team. Some just supported the same politics too, including far-right politics.
It’s not clear cut at all. I’ve certainly heard a fair amount of racist shite at United over the years, we just always managed to isolate them. We helped do that through fanzines we wrote for a while. It was honest, 90% football and 10% politics but it worked. At the same time, City has had its anti-Nazis who’ve given us support.
One more thing is that City has always been a big England supporting team and United hasn’t, once again because of Irish ancestry.
How do you feel about the whole issue of supporting the national team, and indeed patriotism in general?
ST: I want England to win. I’ve got Irish roots but I don’t do the plastic paddy thing like others. I was born in England, I want them to win, I’ll watch the football and I’ll cheer if they score.
Do you see the current popularity of the flag of St George as a good thing?
ST: Look at [Bolton boxer] Amir Khan. He seems to be really into it as are loads of other normal people at the moment and I think that’s good and positive.
DH: Anything that reclaims it from these morons is a good thing.
Do you think the blanket-rejection of all patriotism by much of the left has led to its lack of popularity amongst the working-class?
ST: Definitely. Just being anti-British is pointless and negative. Because of the BNP and NF fucking around with it I admit to thinking twice whenever I see the Union Flag or the Flag of St George, but I shouldn’t have to. The Irish get together, have a great time, celebrate their team –
DH: Yes but they don’t have a history of oppressing other people so its not quite the same.
ST: I know. It might sound naïve but I still think you can reclaim that. This country has got a lot of real proud history, Its union movement, the Tolpuddle martyrs, the fight for democracy. It ‘s not just about kings, queens and the empire. We shouldn’t let the rightwing hijack it.
It must be sickening to see the BNP’s current electoral success…
ST: It’s extremely scary the gains they’re making. They’re capitalising on Islam and the Iraq war. It’s ringing a lot of fucking bells in your Burnleys, your Blackburns. We’ve got difficult times ahead. The worse it gets in Iraq and the middle-east, they worse it’ll get here. Fair play to the anti-war movement, they need to be out there making the point this isn’t an issue the enemy should be winning on.
DH: The thing is, we kicked them out of certain zones, and we largely scared them off the streets altogether. But now they’re trying to follow Le Pen in going for full-on electoral respectability and doing well. The fact that they don’t have a such a big street presence has put anti-fascism into a state of flux.
ST: Except they still are on the streets. Not at day but at night, they’re going into pubs, stirring up trouble. They’re just not out on marches behind rows of police any more, and it makes it harder to deal with them.
[BNP Leader] Nick Griffin is modelling himself on Le Pen, in having a respectable electoral platform, but also in the sense of having a hardcore of activists still there ready to intimidate the enemy. The core of the BNP hasn’t changed at all. Combat 18 are often portrayed in the media as deadly organised Nazi terrorists, yet in your accounts of fighting them Dave you describe them as the exactly the same gangs of misfits and football hooligans you fought
under the different banners of the NF and BNP. Were they really no more of a threat?
DH: Well for a start the British Movement would have eaten them alive. They had a lot more capability to cause serious damage.
Yes C18 had dangerous psychos but they were also full of wind. They took credit for things they didn’t do.
But did they not send you a letter bomb at one point?
DH: The one really serious move C18 made was getting Scandinavian allies to send bombs to the AFA office, and to Sharon Davies for having a black husband. In general they attacked more right-wingers than left-wingers. C18 was a trap, a state-run set up.
DH: Charlie Sargent, one of the leaders, was in the pay of the state. He talked up a lot, attracting the most dangerous elements, but then just ended up attacking and killing Nazi rivals.
ST: Charlie’s inside for killing [C18 rival] Chris Castle. Now his brother Steve Sargent and Will Browning’s lot are at each other’s throats. To say C18 didn’t achieve much is an understatement, which makes you think doesn’t it? MI5 were interested in the links between British Nazis and Loyalist terrorists, who muck around a lot together. So C18 was set up by MI5 as a honey-trap for Loyalists that got out of hand. There’s a lot of mistrust and subterfuge amongst both the far-right and
their opposition. Steve, you’ve worked with Searchlight, but AFA members have denounced Searchlight for working with MI5 themselves.
ST: With these sorts of politics, there’s a lot of intrigue. I’ve said how I enjoyed doing the bins more than smacking heads together, but if we’re doing that, don’t think the state isn’t doing it, for fuck’s sake.
There has been a relationship between Searchlight and the secret services yes. At times people’s lives have been saved in foiling bombs, so I think it’s a pay-off that’s sometimes been justified. At times maybe it got too cosy, and I can understand why people see that. Some ex-AFA have asked Dave how he could even work with me on this book, y’know, as I’m “tainted” by the magazine…
DH: If you think Searchlight is a state-run organisation, fair enough, gather your own intelligence. I don’t have any truck with Searchlight myself. I think it’s been involved in underhand things. But I would say grow up and don’t blame it for everything that ever goes wrong. They are what they are, we are what we are, let’s just all do what we do.
What final message would you like this book to have?
DH: What’s been nice to see is as sales have fallen in this country, its started to sell elsewhere, all over the place, in France, the Czech republic, the US, Germany.
ST: We’re not setting ourselves up as the authorities on anti-fascism. We’re far from “the experts”. All we’ve done is been honest and tell it how it is. I was a bit neurotic about
when this came out, but after my kid being born its actually the proudest thing I’ve ever done. You know what… the best thing is there’s the sons of friends; young kids, and they read it and it gives them inspiration. They say it’s got energy to it.
DH: I know a Celtic fan who works on a building site, and he told me this book gave him the confidence to stand up to the racist dick-heads he works with. He said he reads a little
bit each day and that gives him a bit of fight to stand up for himself against them. Other people did this for longer than we did, and did more than we did. I welcome other books about the subject. I’d like everyone to tell their own stories and keep these things alive. There’s even talk of a film being made of it, which may or may not happen.
ST: Yeah there’s rumblings, a Ken Loach style thing. Phil Mitchell would obviously play Dave-
DH: Yeah and the guy who plays Curly Watts can be you Steve!
[For the record there are slight echoes, though Dave is slimmer than Mr MacFadden and Steve’s resemblance to Kevin Kennedy is of the nose only.] Steve, from your recounts of some of your NF opponents in the book you seem to know some of them. And when you were in Strangeways, [Steve and other Squad members received several months’ imprisonment for intimidation of an NF skinhead in what Steve considers was a possible MI5 set up] they put you in a cell with Kev Turner, an north eastern NF organiser. Did these experiences give you a grudging respect for some of them?
ST: When I was banged up with Kev Turner I said to him “I know what you’re in for, you know what I’m in for, and we both know why they’ve put us in together. Are we gonna go down that road?” We co-operated for the duration. He seemed alright for a time, and I thought, “Is he really that bad?” I thought they might be some hope for him. I thought I may get through to him. But basically he was a coward. He was a Geordie in with a bunch of Mancs and just kept his head down. He showed his true colours when he got out before me and sent me a postcard from Auschwitz. “Having a great time Steve!” He was a snake; not a pleasant feller.
As for the others, yeah, I know some of them, we’ve spoken. One of the people I mention in the book has done a complete sea-change now and hands out anti-racist leaflets. But people like Kev won’t change.
DH: A lot of fascists and Nazis are in it just for the row. Nine times out of ten these people will crack. I think you could convince 90% of fascists of the error of their ways, if you had enough time. Some, the hardcore, I don’t think you could ever change them short of killing them. Which by the way is a route we’ve never gone down. We value our liberty as much as anyone. Nick Griffin has described this book as a manual for violent action against nationalists. I think he’s shot himself in the foot saying that – Well he’s already shot himself in the eye! [laughter.] [Griffin has indeed got a glass eye due to a self inflicted gunshot wound during far-right survivalist manoeuvres]
ST: I wonder if he did that to follow Le Pen who’s also got one eye.
DH: And of course Hitler only had one ball!
ST: Singles all round lads…I think what Dave means is if we’ve inspired people we’ve done our job.
There are many who would still denounce Steve and Dave as a pair of thugs backing it up with political pretensions. That certainly isn’t the impression I went away with. The liberal argument of “don’t sink to their level” completely ignores the very real and appalling violence meted out by the far-right against completely innocent blacks, Asians and gays. If the police are slow to defend them, as has often been the case, taking direct action is not self-indulgent violence but an urgent necessity. To compare Steve and Dave to the vicious bullies they were up against; sadists, firebombers, desecrators of cemeteries, and murderers, seems the worst kind of prissy-minded pacifism.
Meeting Steve and Dave I was struck by their essential decency and normality; regular lads who took the decision to stand up to a great evil in the ways they knew how. At the same time there was something about their inquisitive nature, their background travelling that quite definitely puts them apart from the mass of the defeated and impressionable they have spent much of their lives trying to convert or confront.
As I left them I was invigorated by their spirit of defiance, yet despondent that a newer generation don’t seem to be taking their place with the same zeal. And even if they did, it wouldn’t be enough to shut down the more sophisticated BNP machine of today, a party that took 800,000 votes at the last European elections, dwarfing past totals. It would take a whole shift in the political discourse of the country into both a more leftward AND more working-class oriented direction for the BNP to go away, which ain’t happening anytime soon.
A sickeningly evil presence founded on the very worst political traditions of the twentieth century is growing in this country. No Retreat is a bold account of people who got off their arses and did something about it. Methods may need to change, but the same attitude is needed, now more than ever.
Interview with Dave Hann
Posted on September 2, 2013 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard Reply
Street Voice Interview
I had a phone call last summer from Dave Hann asking to interview me on my experiences in the anti-fascist movement in Brighton. It was for a book that he was in the process of writing. I was happy to see Dave and talk about my own experiences opposing the National Front and fascism in Brighton. I was active in Anti-Fascist Action from 1986 till about 1992 and was on its Executive for about three years, but to the best of my knowledge we hadn’t met before.
All I knew of Dave was from a book ‘No Retreat’ [Milo Books, 2003] that he co-wrote with Steve Tilzey. Dave had been Chief Steward in AFA’s Steward Group in AFA’s Northern Network and what I had read of his had impressed me, as well as filling in a number of gaping holes in my memory. The period after 1979 in Brighton had been one where the National Front, after ditching its electoral pretensions, had embarked on a policy of attacking left-wing groups and meetings, particular anything to do with Ireland and the Troops Out Movement.
In Brighton the Anti-Nazi League had been reformed in 1980 to meet the threat, but unlike its later reincarnations under the SWP’’ control, the ANL in Brighton had been dedicated to physically as well as politically defeating the NF on the streets. For some 3 years we battled it out in Brighton, opposing 3 NF demonstrations through the town, their regular paper-sale at the football ground and ensuring that they were unable to harry or attack socialist or left-wing meetings. Brighton had been the stopping off point for their international contacts, people such as the Italian Fascist Robert Fiore. 19A Madeira Place had been their base and their leader in Brighton a UDA member, Steve Brady. Brighton was also the home of the leadership of Britain’s fascists – from John Tyndall of the BNP (or the New National Front then) to people like the publisher for the international neo-Nazi scene Anthony Hancock to the deputy leader of the NF and the author of ‘Did 6 Million Really Die’ Richard Verall (Harwood).
Dave’s experiences in AFA tended to be from the mid-80’s onwards against the BNP and Combat 18, whereas the main threat in Brighton had occurred in the early 80’s. Dave was a member of the main group in AFA, Red Action, whose leaders had been expelled in the 1970’s from the SWP for ‘squaddism’. This was at a time of growing violence from the NF and British Movement when it was recognised that fascist terror couldn’t be allowed to go unopposed and that the Left had to get organised.
In No Retreat Dave describes the battle against the fascists in the North of England, where the rise of mass unemployment under Margaret Thatcher and the decline of traditional working class industries such as the mines and docks, and of strong and militant trade unionism, had left youth in particular prey to the simple racist message of the fascists. Despite considerable police harassment, which resulted in a number of anti-fascist militants being jailed, the AFA Steward Group that Dave led was directly responsibility for the BNP foresaking the marches, demonstrations and pickets, with the ensuing violence that resulted, in favour of the electoral strategy of today’s BNP.
Dave’s account of what happened is a riveting read although it begs almost as many questions as it answers. Questions such as how the anti-fascist movement needs to adapt to meet the new BNP tactics, whether or not the BNP is still a neo-Nazi party and the bigger question of building a socialist and left movement which can take on board the social and class issues that the fascists feed upon. At a time when we are poised for a new Conservative government, poised to make savage cuts, these are not idle questions. We have a New Labour Party that has been captured for neo-liberalism and trade unions who are a shadow of their previous selves coupled with the antics and self-indulgence of a myriad of far-left sects.
Equally pertinent are the lessons to be drawn from what happened to AFA. Although Dave only mentions it in passing, one of the key problems within AFA became Red Action itself. A number of anti-fascist militants told me that they had been physically threatened by a RA determined on taking over AFA. Even more disturbing was the arrest and conviction of a senior member of AFA and Red Action for having taken part in the bombing of Harrods. It is difficult to imagine a more fundamental political mistake. Most people in AFA were supporters of Irish Republicanism and wanted to see the troops withdraw from Ireland. It was inevitable, given the close links between the Loyalists and the fascists that Irish Republicanism and the anti-fascist movement in this country were natural allies. But that did not mean therefore that AFA should take up any particular position on Ireland, especially when it came to supporting the military war of the IRA. I know at first hand that comrades left AFA as a result of this.
Dave was ostracised and criticised by RA, but never openly. In his book he gives some details of this. Instead of debating any differences, they were dealt with in a factional and bureaucratic manner. RA had decided to wind up AFA and form an Independent Working Class Association which won 3 council seats in Oxford and gained a respectable level of support in Hackney and Islington elections but has now virtually disappeared off the radar. In the process the IWCA moved rapidly to the right and its first councillor and leader in Oxford supported the Iraq War!
Dave and I spent a pleasant afternoon discussing various issues, although I was mainly the one answering the questions. I had many questions of my own to ask but I decided to leave it to another day. It was therefore a great shock when I learnt that Dave had been suffering from cancer and barely 3 weeks later he suddenly died at the young age of 48. Dave really was one of the unsung heroes of the anti-fascist movement that took over mine and so many others peoples lives for years. Anti-fascism was a cause worth devoting a major part of one’s life to as we were determined to prevent a repetition of what had happened in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.
In Brighton Dave was active in community campaigns such as one to stop Tesco opening a superstore in London Road. He was also actively involved in football having spent much time on the terraces of Man Utd.
Dave leaves a partner, Louise, who has also been part of the anti-racist movement and an active socialist, for many years as well as three children, a son aged 14 and two girls aged 19 and 11 as well as a young woman, Jessica, with a previous partner. It is a testimony to Louise’s commitment that very shortly after Dave’s death she was on the streets of Saltdean helping organise the defence of the Deghayes family, a member of whom, Omar, had been freed after a big public campaign from Guantanamo prison. We wish them all well. Below is an interview that Dave Hann conducted with an indie music online publication called Street Voices.
Rest in Peace Comrade. You Deserve It. Tony Greenstein
Street Voice: First off how did you feel your first book ‘No Retreat’ went down?
Dave: I think its gone down really well. Its been nearly five years since the book was first published, and its still selling a few dozen copies every month. Funnily enough I was flicking through Mark E. Smith’s biography the other day in a bookshop, and No Retreat gets a favourable mention in it.
I think the most positive thing that has come out of it has been the letters and emails I get from anti-fascists in countries like Serbia, Poland and Russia, where the fascists are fairly rampant, saying how much the book has inspired them.
Street Voice: You obviously got a lot of criticism off both the far left and far right so how did you go about dealing with it?
Dave: I obviously expected criticism from the far-right. After all, a book detailing the cowardice, and lack of street-fighting prowess of the master race was hardly going to be a favourite bed-time read for your typical fascist. I’ve really enjoyed watching them whinge and moan about the book on Internet forums and discussion pages. The criticism from Red Action was also expected, because of the manner in which we parted company. The pure bitterness and bile of the criticism took me aback a bit, but in the end it just made me more determined to carry on writing. What was disappointing was the small number of so-called anti-fascists (London Class War mostly) who joined in the attack on me and Steve without ever taking the trouble to find out our side of the argument. I think anonymous slanders and personal abuse on Internet forums from people I’ve never met is cowardly, repellent and sinister. It says more about them than I ever could. These people would claim to be working towards building a fairer society, but if this behaviour is typical, then whatever they built would be little different from anything the BNP envisage.
Street Voice: It’s also fair to say there were some independent folk who thought you glamorised the violence so any opinion on this?
Dave: Funnily enough, Mensi complained that the violence in the book was understated!! In other words he felt it didn’t portray the real levels of violence that actually occurred. I think the violence of anti-fascists should be put into context however. Fascists in Britain have been responsible over the years for the murders of Black and Asian people, the stabbing and maiming of political opponents, and the fire-bombing and nail-bombing of left-wing bookshops, gay pubs, etc etc. On the other hand, anti-fascists rarely went out tooled-up, and if they did they were usually armed with a blunt instrument rather than a blade. I think you have to have been under attack by fascist gangs to understand why non-violence could never work under those circumstances.
Street Voice: You’re currently writing your second book which covers the history of Anti Fascism so can you give our readers any information about it?
Dave: The book is provisionally entitled, ‘A Cause Worth Fighting For,’ and it details the history of anti-fascism in Britain from the perspective of the people who were actually on the streets opposing the fascists. It goes right back to very first anti-fascists in the 1920’s, and finishes at the turn of the century with the demise of AFA. Its all based on oral interviews with people who took part in the various battles at Cable Street, Olympia, Balls Pond Road, Red Lion Square, Lewisham, Waterloo, etc etc. A lot of the stuff in the book is brand new research, and I’ve uncovered some really interesting stuff on obscure anti-fascist groups like the New World Fellowship, the Blue and White League, and the Yellow Star Movement. The book has been an absolute pleasure to write and research, and I’ve met some wonderful people whilst writing it.
Street Voice: Have you a publishing date for the book yet?
Dave: Not as yet. Its very nearly finished, and I’m hoping that it will hit the bookshelves some time next year
Street Voice: Being as you wrote ‘No Retreat’ with your mate Steve Tilzey I would have thought you two would have been up for doing another together? Is this something he didn’t want to do or did you
feel you wanted to write this book on your own?
Dave: Steve wasn’t really up for it. It was hard enough to get him to write his bit for No Retreat, and he actually lived through everything he wrote about then. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how difficult it would be to persuade him to spend a few days researching some obscure anti-fascist group in a library or whatever, and then get him write up his findings and send them to me. The book would have to be printed on waterproof paper, because we’d all be submerged under rising sea levels by the time it finally came out. Steve would be the first to admit that he’s not really a writer, but he has helped out with a couple of little things here and there.
Street Voice: The BNP have been keeping themselves busy but there’s been almost no opposition to them. Do you think it’s time for AFA to be re-launched to bring Anti-Fascists together as one again?
Dave: We have been faced with this problem before in Britain, during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s for instance. The forces of anti-fascism were very thin on the ground, but as the fascist threat increased, so did the opposition, eventually culminating in the launch of RAR and the ANL, so there is still hope that something can be got off the ground. The difference between then and now of course is that a lot of the old communities based around the docks, the steel yards, the mines, factories etc, are broken up, and the traditional ties that bound these communities to the trade unions, the Labour Party and the left are gone. The Labour Party has abandoned them, the left are too busy with their endless cycle of marches, meetings and paper sales, and this leaves them easy prey for the fascists. This process boosts the BNP, while at the same time undercuts the supply of anti-fascist recruits AFA has had its day. When Red Action dismantled AFA and formed the Independent Working Class Association (IWCA), they threw the baby out with the bath water, and this allowed the fascists the space to grow. Sadly, it is only now, a decade later, that they are beginning to realise their fatal mistake.
Street Voice: OK I know we have Antifa but that’s largely anarchist based and probably wouldn’t appeal to the average person on the street so who else is there?
Dave: There is no single organisation doing it at the moment. Just a few small grouplets doing bits and pieces of worthwhile stuff. Some of the community-based work done by IWCA for instance, if it was combined with militant anti-fascism, and taken on board by some of the larger left groups would shake the situation up a bit. I think the IWCA has reached the limits of what can be done with a small number of dedicated, but somewhat paranoid and intolerant individuals, but their politics should not be discounted as readily as their personalities.
Street Voice: While I like to remain positive about Antifa it’s hard to take them seriously at times when their members and the likes of Watmougth and Wigan Mike just threaten each other on the likes of Indymedia?
Dave: Antifa seems to be making the same mistakes as some of the least politicised elements of AFA. For instance I’ve seen several “Antifa Hooligans” and “Antifa – Fighting the Fascists – What else ya gonna do on a Saturday” stickers around town recently, that make you shake your head in disbelief at their sheer stupidity and lack of political message. Can anyone tell me what the point of these stickers is? Do they think the general public will see these stickers and go, “Oh ok, I won’t bother going to Asda this afternoon, I’ll join a crew of anarchists and get in punch ups with fascists instead.” From the outside, Antifa (like a lot of anarchist groups), looks like a small clique of like-minded individuals, who all know each other, are roughly the same age, all dress the same, and have the same lifestyles and musical tastes, etc. There appears to be no attempt whatsoever to broaden their appeal to the general public as a whole. I could be wrong, but I’ve not seen them attack the BNP on a
political level in working class communities, or attempt to offer their own solutions to the problems faced in those areas. There seems to be far too much emphasis on ambushing some of the smaller Nazi and bonehead groups, who, while they might prove occasionally troublesome, do not offer anywhere the same margin of threat as the BNP.
Street Voice: Would you agree there’s no longer a Socialist alternative for working class folk any more on the streets of Britian?
Dave: I’d agree that there is no socialist alternative in Britain at the moment, and sadly I think things will get worse before they get better. This directly impacts on anti-fascism, as in the past, socialists have formed the backbone of many anti-fascist movements. I believe we will have to come to a situation in the future where desperation forces whatever disparate forces are left to unite on some commonly agreed platform, before we can start to move forward again. Hopefully the bitter struggles and disappointments in between will have burnt off the careerists, the egoists, the sectarians and the weirdos.
Street Voice: Can you see the BNP getting a couple of seats in parliament if there’s no real opposition to them?
Dave: That’s a very real possibility. Remember, its not so long ago that people would have said you were mad if you’d told them that the BNP would have 50 plus councillors. I think we’re more likely to see an MEP, or a couple of MEPs first however. The economic downturn will only exacerbate the problem, although it might also open up opportunities for the left if they can stop their infighting for long enough to take advantage of them.
Street Voice: Did you hear that Simon Shephard from C18 is claiming political asylum in the U.S.A. since being found guilty of race hate charges in the UK? What did you make of that?
Dave: I didn’t hear about that. Its typical of the contradictions that lay at the very heart of fascist politics however.
Street Voice: Personally I think it’s a cop out with American and British Govts bailing out some of the banks so why do you think people just sit back and accept shit like that?
Dave: People feel disenfranchised from the political system. They see very little difference between the main political parties, who are all in the pocket of the major capitalists, and they feel powerless to effect change, which is exactly what the Govt wants. They see over a million people march through London in an effort to stop their country going to war, which you think might have given any government pause to contemplate, but their voices are completely ignored and the war goes ahead regardless. People feel their voices aren’t being heard. So at the one end you get low polling returns as people despair at the system, and at the other end you get people voting for the BNP, some for racist reasons, but others because they are seen as not being part of the establishment.
Street Voice: Moving from politics do you still get down FC United?
Dave: As often as I can, which is not as often as I’d like.
Street Voice: How are they doing as a football club?
Dave: After three consecutive promotions, they appear to have hit a plateau this season. Crowds are holding up reasonably well though, but the Development Fund, which was started in order so that the club can buy/build their own ground still needs your pennies. Incidentally, a couple of seasons ago, the BNP tried to muscle in on the club, but they were sent packing by anti-fascist FC fans and ordinary supporters. The final straw came when the entire Cemetery End started chanting “You can stick your BNP up your arse,” at them. The whole club has been built by ordinary working class people, and just shows what can be achieved when people have a sense of purpose and a commonly identified goal.
Street Voice: Apart from your job and writing your book what else does Dave Hann like to do?
Dave: Well I used to coach a youth football team until last season, which was reasonably successful (the boys won a couple of trophies and once went a whole season undefeated), but that has come to a close now, although I’m still involved with my son’s new team. I’m also involved in a couple of local campaigns, one to stop a massive Tesco’s redevelopment in town, which will put dozens of small shops out of business. These days, if I see a campaign that I agree with, I’ll help out in whatever way I can, no matter who initiates it. Apart from that, I like to do absolutely nowt. Lazy git that I am.
Street Voice: Anything you’d like to add?
Dave: know this interview has tended towards pessimism, but people need to stop picking pointless arguments on Internet forums, and get out there and start looking at ways to unite around a common goal. Undercutting the BNP’s potential base of support, by forcing them out of the areas where they have become embedded, and presenting people with a viable socialist alternative would be a good place to start.
Intelligence Gathering: Bugged BNP Meetings
Posted on August 31, 2013 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard Reply
BNP meetings were bugged in order to gain intelligence for Anti-Fascist Action and Searchlight. The buggings have been discussed in No Retreat.
The recordings are not 100% and I am working on subtitles for them. I suggest you wear headphones.
But they provide an interesting glimpse into the lengths anti-fascists would go into and their ingenuity. To extent the buggings were useful in terms of putting the information in use in physical action is not 100% clear.
If you have anything you’d like to add then please comment or fill out the form below.
BNP Meeting (April, 1990)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-meeting-april-90.mp3
BNP Meeting (May, 1990)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-meeting-may-1990.mp3
BNP Meeting (June, 1990)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-meeting-june-1990.mp3
BNP Meeting at Mother Macs (June, 1990; Manchester)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-mother-macs-meeting-june-1990.mp3
BNP Meeting at Mother Macs (Oct, 1990; Manchester)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-mother-macs-oct-90.mp3
BNP Meeting (2nd Feb, 1992)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/bnp-meeting-10-2-92.mp3
Interview with Mark Jones (May, 1990)
https://afaarchive.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/interview-with-mark-jones-may-1990.mp3
Red Pepper Interview with Michael and Gary – Jan 2012
On its 75th anniversary, much attention was given to the Battle of Cable Street, where Oswald Mosley’s blackshirts were prevented from marching through the predominantly Jewish working class East End of London. But Cable Street itself was the culmination of a wider tradition of direct physical confrontation with fascists both at the time and throughout most of the 20th century. We are happy to praise those who made a stand in the 1930s. But what of those who literally fought the fascists more recently, in the shape of the British Movement, the National Front or the pre-Griffin British National Party? The publication of Beating the Fascists: The Untold Story of Anti-Fascist Action (Freedom Press) has re-asserted the importance of this disparaged and neglected tradition. Michael Calderbankspoke with Gary and Andy, longstanding members of Red Action who helped to initiate AFA, about their controversial new book.
Michael: Maybe we could begin by talking about the history of physical confrontation with the fascists in Britain?
Andy: Well, if you’re a Jew living in the 1930s or a working class Communist then it’s in your face, you’re dealing with Blackshirts who are on your street corner. It’s something you’ve got to react to and deal with in the here and now. You’ve also got people looking at the wider strategic picture – what was going in Spain was very real, what was going on in Italy and Germany was very real – and people with foresight understood that if you don’t put something in place to prevent that then you’re going to be in trouble yourselves. After the war, when it was totally clear what fascism could lead to, you had the ’43 group which, although it had CP members in its ranks, was largely an apolitical purely paramilitary body who would go round attacking the fascists. They were tough people, physically aggressive who had often served in the armed forces, many from Jewish backgrounds, who had seen a lot in their few years – these are young people – if you’ve been through that and don’t understand it, you’re never going to understand it. So people who have gone through that, seen it in the cinemas, or even in your own family over in Europe – and then you’re just going out and minding your own business, and you see some geezer on a soapbox talkin’ about the same stuff, it’s gotta be obvious to you, yeah?
Gary: There’s an example when a group of Jewish lads went past Mosley’s secretary [Jeffrey Hamm] after the war speaking up at Jack Straw’s Castle [near Hampstead Heath], and they were incredulous. I’m mean, here was the same old Jew-baiting going on after the war as you had before the war – with everything that had gone on! So they gave ’em a good shoeing and found: ‘these fuckers are everywhere!’ I mean, y’know, it’s ridiculous, we’re not havin’ it. There was a huge strain of anti-Semitism in the British establishment that Mosley hoped to profit from but never did. And so when Jews who had just got back from the war met fascists on the street they weren’t gonna petition the council to get see if they could do something! They were just gonna get on and do it themselves.
Andy: When people’s whole family lines have been wiped out and turned to ashes, what are you gonna do with people like that, try and debate with them in that situation?
Gary: And they wouldn’t wouldn’t debate with you either, that’s the point. If you went up to them and said, ‘excuse me, I’m a member of the Jewish faith and could you…’ [laughs] they’re not gonna argue the point, you’d be hit be a cosh. But, you might not be out looking for any trouble particular, but they’re there. And that situation doesn’t go away, it’s like that later on. You’ve gone to the football or something and you’re standing next to some guy who gets a bottle smashed over his head, a black kid who they’ve chased down, do you stand back and say ‘right we’ll get onto the council to do something!’?
Andy: It’d depend what kind of circles you moved in to. I mean I don’t want to generalise too much, but many of the people involved on the left at the time would have come up through a university background and lived in this sealed kind of world from what I could tell. But I didn’t know, I didn’t come from a political background. Everywhere I went I met these people, they were in your face. And Britain at the time was a violent and anarchic sort of place in some ways. I mean you’d go out round the pubs on a Friday night, have a disagreement, or you’ve gone to the football or a gig or something, and you run in to these geezers with all sorts of badges, handing out leaflets, maybe taking the band off the stage and attacking the band! I’ve seen that happen! It’s not like you’d read in some textbooks about what should or shouldn’t be done, it was an instinctive thing. These people are bullies, they’re not people who can debate with. It’s not alien if you come from that kind of background.
Gary: Yes, and the left has to understand that as soon as they appear, it’s because your own side has been making mistakes. Fascists won’t appear in very small numbers, they’ll wait until it’s right for them. I mean they look at it strategically as well, they’ll take it onto a physical level when they think there’s something for them to gain. So it’s not a matter of waiting until they attack our people – we’ve got an investment in smashing up their meetings, their paper sales and the rest of it. You don’t want to wait until they’re some kind of respectable opposition. If it gets that far, you’ve already lost.
Michael: And at what stage, after the war, had the left started to fail in your view to such an extent that you started to see a fascist threat beginning to make its presence felt on the street?
Gary: Well, most of our people come into it from outside politics, with a completely fresh look, with no political hinterland at all. So there was a lot of cynicism from our side towards the existing organised left from a very early stage. I mean we supportedemotionally and intellectually the basis for the whole left concept, and there was some stuff happening from on the picket lines (which was where I was recruited) and on things like the right-to-work marches, but even in the mid-Seventies it wasn’t clear cut and we certainly weren’t winning. There was a real lack of leadership across the board, not just on the revolutionary left but across the entire labour movement. And at the same time as you had the start of the neoliberal stuff, you’d get the fascists upset at over-reaching in ’79 thinking – let’s not hang about let’s go for it now. The whole Anti Nazi League Mark I was a huge success for the left and beat back the first wave of the National Front electorally. There was incredible resentment about that, and they lose a bit of what discipline they might have had. They could just attack anyone now. So, as Andy was saying, you could retreat into your sealed world. Or you could stay where you were and stand your ground. And they were – the arenas then football, gigs, street sales, their meetings, our meetings and the rest of it…
Andy: They were an extremely violent group of people. So if you’re looking to organise, you’re thinking, what streets can I walk round, what pubs you can go in talk to people, where can I talk about stuff on the football or at a gig? All that’s contested territory. Are these aren’t the kind of people who believe in freedom of speech, and I don’t mean that in a metaphorical way, I mean literally! You’d get a glass smashed in your face. To me it’d become obvious. When their election campaign failed, there was people there who wanted revenge. And so all this territory needed to be fought for.
Michael: Reading the book, as we said in our review, some of the violence described is not exactly for the faint-hearted. And many people reading the book might be thinking, isn’t there a danger of becoming just like them, being brought down to their level? What would you say to those who say, when you end up like two groups of thugs who are as bad as the other, you don’t win the wider public around? Gary: Well, it wasn’t always a pretty business, there’s no denying that, but it’s not a path we’ve just chosen for ourselves. They’re the point of aggression, the tip of the spear. If you approach them you’ve got to be prepared for violence to be done to you. And if you know that in advance, if you’re going to contest the territory you’re duty bound to prepare to do violence to them it’s as simple as that. In terms of complaints, we didn’t get much complaints from the Jewish stallholders when the NF paper sale got scatttered from Chapel Market [Islington], in fact the police couldn’t get a [single] witness to testify. But the pub landlord in King’s Cross, the who was making literally a thousand pound [a week] from opening his pub to bonehead gigs for his mates like Ian Stewart [Donaldson, lead singer of fascist band Skrewdriver] was going to complain when the place – course he was. He wasn’t interested in blacks or homosexuals getting attacked – which they did after the pub closed – he was after making money. He was raking it in! But when AFA marched through Bethnal Green, and into Whitechapel, it was like a siege had been lifted. Little Asian kids running about in the street – that was there
attitude to us!
Michael: Actually, reading the book, it struck me that – judging from the state’s reaction – that’s what they feared most. When it looked like it might have been possible to link up between white working class communities and black or Asian areas…
Gary: …on a political basis, yes. The state was concerned but the left weren’t, what does that tell you? I mean the left wasn’t trying to do what we were doing, not on an organised basis. But the state thought there’s a germ here that might develop. Not good, not from their perspective. So did they say, we’ll just see if we can put someone in and steer it a bit? No! They smashed it straight away, that was their approach. It’s quite a useful little anecdote. ‘You can do that there… up to a point…but you can’t do it here. No way.’
Andy: I think we were conscious that we didn’t want to get trapped in a siege mentality. Us looking after ‘our’ areas, the fash looking after ‘theirs’, the wars, us looking for them, them looking for us, we always wanted to break out of that. When RA [Red Action] helped to form AFA we tried to grow it as wide as possible within reason, and eventually when people tried to take politics back into the community, via the IWCA [Independent Working Class Association], that was our effort, we did what we always wanted to do, to go to working class communities and try to grow a political movement there. I mean we can argue the toss about how successful that was, but that would be a different debate. I’d never say it was entirely successful but I don’t think it was a total failure either. We got some things very right, but you’d have to look at the time and the context, what we’re up against, but that was us trying to put our vision of political organisation in working class communities into effect. And that was always our intention. We never thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if we could fight an ongoing war with a load of other people’.
Michael: I mean there would be that accusation, that you’d ended up participating in a sub-culture, that you’d have your sales, they’d have theirs, you’d have your bands, they’d have their bands, etc.
Gary: Well, let’s look at the alternative. They have their subculture, you have nothing. They have their sales, you don’t. They have their bands, you’ve got nobody. Then they have the football fans, and you have nobody. And they have the working class estates and you’ve got nobody….
Andy: And the thing is, in Islington with the IWCA, we always knew there’d be people with racist ideas on the estates, of course there are. We’re living in the real world. But the one thing we knew is that we didn’t have to keep looking over our shoulder, we could meet the people from the tenants’ association in the local pub and talk about how to organise against plans to sell off social housing in the borough. So we needed that space to get on with doing what we wanted to do. I’d reject that idea that we got sucked into looking forward to the next confrontation with the fash, that was never our vision. Never. Now, if you’re gonna ask me were there elements drawn to AFA who did get off a bit on the excitement or hanging around on the fringes, possibly. But every movement
gets that. And there weren’t that many if you ask me. Certainly not amongst what I would call the leadership. That was never how we tried to shape the organisation, never how we sold it to people.
Michael: Without going into the various anarchist critiques – and in part for obvious reasons like you need people around you that you totally rely on and won’t leave you in the lurch – it sounds like you had a pretty centralised model going on, with a definite core…
Andy: Actually AFA was very democratic, when compared with say the ANL. On the street if wasn’t – couldn’t be. But as a broader organisation it was very democratic in the way it operated, on political campaign work etc. Similarly with Red Action. We’re a democratic organisation but when it came to the streets it couldn’t be and everyone understood that. We had it opposite to the rest of the left from what we could see. We thought when it came to politics you should be democratic and open, but they couldn’t take that, they had very tight control. But on the streets they’d say [in mocking tone], ‘let’s involve as many people as possible and everyone can come along to an open organising meeting’, and we’d say ‘that’s ludicrous, who do you know is sitting there!’ [laughter]. I’d say they’d got that the wrong way round.
Michael: I’m sure you’ve heard all this before, but the Leninist groups would say ‘you are basically trying to substitute yourselves for the organised working class, setting yourselves up as a small urban guerilla army to be the noble defenders of the class instead of mobilizing those larger sections of society…’
Andy: That’s just projection by them. No-one leafleted more working class council estates in East London than us. We organised all the carnivals [between the end of the ANL Mark I and the relaunched version], it was us that organised an exhibition that we invited schoolkids along to, there was this whole side of organising. Admittedly, that doesn’t perhaps get as much prominence in the book. But there was a large amount of campaigning, and a lot of efforts made to reach out to movers and shakers among the black or Asian youth…
Michael: …at which point the state came in to stop it. Do you think there were intelligence agents operating inside AFA?
Gary: Undoubtedly they’d have tried. The problem was for them the ‘split-screen’ structure. You could say what you want in the organising meeting and try to steer it round. But on the streets it was top-down. They’d latch on but you could shake ’em off.
Michael: So you could spot who they were?
Andy: Sometimes. Who knows? Listen, if they could penetrate the IRA they could penetrate us. But do we think they managed to effectively push us off course? No, no. I
think we done what we wanted when we wanted to do it. We made decisions when we wanted to make them.
Gary: Yes, there’s no evidence of that looking back with hindsight. I mean as you can tell from the book there’s people there with a huge question mark over them. But in terms of the way things got done, no. Being hierarchical like that you couldn’t slot somebody into a middle-manager type of position. But we were also democratic. It was asymmetrical so it worked really well. If it had been asymmetrical the other way around, as Andy said, we wouldn’t have lasted out a weekend.
Andy: We’d have ended up in the same jail together!
Michael: And people did occasionally get jail terms…
Gary: But as the book explains, we’d go out of our way to avoid that at all costs. Out of fidelity to the volunteers if you like. I mean we needed people – we had people who worked full time but they were on the dole, they didn’t get paid. And you’re dealing with a finite number. So you had to maintain morale. And also, even simple convictions could – in time – lead to jail.
Andy: We were mindful, we learnt a lot from Ireland, right, that’s a simple fact. And we learnt that if someone has been left adrift by the leadership having done something and copped time for it, and it seems like no-one gives a [toss] about them, how easy is it for the Old Bill to turn that individual. You’ve got to look after your people, do right by ’em, on the street, in custody…
Gary: There was this one time in Hammersmith with Martin Webster [leading NF activist] and when they fled his arse was still hanging out literally of an open door, and one black kid dragged an NFer out, and he [the NFer] got left behind on his own. Ended up in hospital without even a bunch of grapes! I thought that was terrible PR.
Andy: Never looked after their people. But it’s a dog eat dog world for them.
Gary: They’d stand and fight individually, but they’d never look after each other. For us that was verboten. No-one got put in that position, in as much as you could.
Andy: We even went out of our way to help some people on the left avoid getting caught out by their own stupidity. We were doing surveillance around the time of the ANL relaunch in the East End, and they were gonna go out leafleting, and we knew that there were some well-known faces in the area. And we went down the ANL and said, ‘this is not good right, we’ve seen certain people’, and they said, ‘nah, don’t be stupid’. And people ended up in hospital. We said alright then, nothing we can do here, and got back in the car and [drove] off. And as we’re driving down the road, the ambulances are already passing! And one of the guys who got injured quite badly came over to AFA straight after that.
Gary: The left often only really wanted to get involved when they thought it was in their interests to do so – and often they made a mess of things that had already been achieved.
Andy: Yes, when AFA organised the first major national march against the BNP in the East End – and it was really big, considering we were mainly based in Central London – it came on the radio and this woman came on and said it had been organised by the newly relaunched ANL! Seriously, they’d done all the organising!
Andy: That’s why I never take it really seriously when people moan ‘oh why didn’t AFA work with other people’ and all that. We did, we tried. The amount of time our people went to talk to them and try to get them involved, and say ‘yes, OK, we’ll give you two places on the committee as long as it does’t ease anyone else out’ and make it as broad as possible. And we were relatively successful. At one stage there were anarchists there – the Direct Action Movement – along with dogmatic Trotskyists, people like Workers Power, and they were all co-operating. Things weren’t always smooth. But it went along, and it showed that we were able to show a level of political maturity that’s rare on the left. Were the SWP prepared to come in on the same footing as us? Nah. They couldn’t deal with that. But we had CP people involved, even individuals from the local Labour party.
Gary: Including at the rough end of it! Cos we’d go out in a group of 30 or 40 people and we’d have like 15 stewards there on the ground, while the rest could go up to the flats and do the political work, leafleting and what have you. So not everyone was expected to do the fighting, but there’d be people who wanted to campaign with us and supported what we were doing.
Michael: And were women involved, or was it all blokes? Gary: There were women at every level, every level. But particularly in the intelligence work. They’d go into pubs that fellas hadn’t got the balls to walk into! They’d give you a whole run down of who was in there, what they were up to…
Andy: We tried using a geezer once, and all you got was ‘there’s fuckin’ loads of ’em, but we could have ’em, we could do this and that’. Obviously working class women knew the score, got themselves dolled up – look the part – and engaged them in conversation and found out real stuff you wanted to know: who were the real movers and shakers, what were relations like between the fash and landlord and bar staff; how are the locals treating them, will the hangers on bolt, that sort of thing. Women would get that information, because they’d have far less of an ego. And that’s why in West Germany when the police were fighting the Red Army Faction they said, ‘shoot the women first’. The women were so effective, because they were colder and more logical and systematic in their thinking.
Gary: If they were ever rumbled – when they walked into a pub in jeans and jacket, maybe a little bit of eye-liner – if the fash did think they were after information, they’d
assume they were police. As long as they could hold their nerve they could get themselves out.
Andy: And horny fash can give up loads of information, rendez-vous points and all sorts to our people! (laughter) That’s a fact. Human nature. But you need to be seriously talented people to do that kind of work – to tell us exactly what we need to know. And they were treated at all times as equals. The left would sometimes say ‘any women involved are all like gangster’s molls’, all this insulting, patronising [rubbish]. The women didn’t feel like that. It was just that the roles were different, a lot of the time their skills were better used elsewhere. But not all the time. Sometimes they were involved on the street, and that’s a fact.
Michael: Clearly the nature of the far right threat has changed a lot since those days, with the changes to the BNP under the leadership of Nick Griffin. In the introduction of the book your talking at a point when the the BNP on are a high, after the European elections. Since then after the General Election it appears that – as an organisation – they don’t seem to be in a position to go much further. So what threat do you see them posing today?
Gary: What you said there was important, ‘as an organisation’ – it doesn’t take away from the support they’ve shown they can establish. I think with the BNP it’s partly that they never had the experience of high political office, didn’t have the opportunity. To begin with they didn’t have the middle class types, they were having to fight for the same survival thing which we drew them into, they were all on the streets even Griffin. They were stuck in waiting rooms on stations on Stockport and all that – they never had the chance to step out of the scenario. Next thing, they’re MEPs, they’ve dozens of councillors. Where have they done the planning for that? They’re used to planning Blood and Honour gigs in backrooms of pubs in Deptford. Suddenly they’re elevated. Not equipped – first thing. Second thing – they’ve felt the long arm of the state, no question. Inside, everywhere, every which way – diced and sliced – and at at the same time the key component was to decapitate the organisation, which they’ve failed to do, which was a key [state] objective. The BNP might limp along, but the die has been cast, right, in the sense that the radical alternative will come from the far right within the constituencies we’ve identified. The left has not done anything to address that – at all – in thirty years. They’d no appetite do that, less appetite to do it now, even. There’s nothing on the left that could organise it on a national level. They’ve tried it – Socialist Alliance, Scottish Socialist Party, Respect and all that – they’ve nearly all fallen at the first hurdle, some of ’em didn’t even get to the first hurdle! What does it tell you about Respect – talk about enclaves or sub-groups and insulating yourself! That kind of mindset was partly what we were fighting against, that you could retreat from your core constituency and fight somewhere else on identity grounds. We saw it coming. We said in 2001 that the BNP would prove that – in contrast to the left – they did have traction, could mobilise support in white working class communities. And in 2002, boom!
Where would the far right be if they had a free run at it for the last 30 years? Imagine if they never had to fight a war of attrition and could have brought in all the people with the organisational skills, the media skills and all that in? They’ve had none of that, the BNP leadership. They never got the head-space because AFA weren’t going to give it to ’em. But imagine if they had a clear 30-year run like they got in France and a number other European countries where they’ve basically been unchallenged – with a free run, imagine where we’d be? If all the AFA stuff, all that ingenuity and effort, had been applied behind the BNP instead of against them!
Michael: There’s another account of what cut across the rise of the BNP which I’m sure you won’t like at all, namely that Searchlight and their allies in Barking and Dagenham managed to mobilise the existing community groups, trade unions, faith groups etc along with all the residual support that exists for the Labour party in order to unseat every single one of their councillors.
Andy: They had all those resources and completed a full circle – you had the state, so-called anti-fascist and anti-racist groups, religious groups and what have you – to reinstate the status quo. The status quo is back. Labour rules. Why did people vote BNP in the first place?
Gary: And also the BNP vote went up didn’t it? That’s the future you’re looking at. Not that they’ve been unseated for now because Labour’s woken up. Take the Isle of Dogs. We saw the portents were obvious a long way out. The ANL knocked out [Derek] Beacon…
Andy: …and they were actually popping champagne corks that night, the ANL. His vote went up!
Gary: That was the future – we could see it then; they [the BNP] could see it then. Like Barking and Dagenham it was just a technical knock out.
Andy: I mean Margaret Hodge, what does she stand for?! She’s fine now. Everything’s sorted. She’s back in power, they’ve got all their councillors in – nothing to worry about. Thank you very much. So people have joined ‘respectable’ anti-fascism, the church, the local Labour party, the state, the police, the trade unions, using all the wealth, the resources, the intelligence to take back that seat that was needed. Now, I don’t want the BNP to win in Barking and Dagenham or anywhere else. But don’t let anyone try to kid themselves that that’s any kind of victory for what I would call working class politics. Cos it ain’t.
Gary: If it was the IWCA or the Socialist Party or something like it that had stopped the BNP in Barking and Dagenham that would be a different matter. Really something to celebrate, right? Not to bring it back to where it was originally.
One Man’s Revolution: A Review
Posted on June 19, 2013 by Anti-Fascist Archive Standard Reply
One Man’s Revolution by Dan Todd: a Review
The Archive is grateful for being informed about this short autobiography via the Anti-Fascist Archive’s email (antifascistarchive@gmail.com). If you have any stories or information please don’t hesitate to email and let the Archive know.
Whilst One Man’s Revolution has an image of Red Action’s dark ‘Voice of Reason’ t-shirt the memoire largely covers Todd’s life prior to joining Anti-Fascist Action in 1992 and Red Action in 1994. Obviously, it’s this period the Archive is most interested in. However, Todd writes a fluent and interesting account of his political development and his personal life, giving an insight into a Red Action member. One criticism of the writing is that the chronology can sometimes be hard to follow. From the interviews I conducted for my thesis, Todd has a lot in common with their responses. Including, believing the Socialist Workers’ Party to be neither revolutionary nor working class.
In the fourth chapter Todd reaches the AFA and Red Action stage of his political life. Todd is modest in his role in AFA prior to joining in Red Action but once joining Red Action he was thrown into a full-time role despite wanted to be a part-time activist due to family restrictions. Red Action had no time but full-time. In Red Action and AFA he found a political role, unlike the SWP, he found Red Action to be both revolutionary and working class. Todd gives constant justification to violence throughout the book and Red Action’s promotion of violence sat well with Todd. Red Action’s social make up also made Todd feel more socially comfortable.
Todd does recount some interesting details of joining Red Action and physical contact with fascists. Regarding his recruitment, Todd joined the south London Red Action branch and names an organiser as Tubby. Tubby has an interesting story; Todd derides Tubby for lacking the precision and discipline trade mark of Red Action. He also questions his actions during preparations for a hit on Matthew Collins, later revealed as a Searchlight agent, and during the Little Driver action. Repeated failures in discipline and disorganisation led Todd and two other Red Action members to report Tubby and their suspicions of him being an infiltrator to the leadership. Tubby was given the benefit of the doubt and asked to leave Red Action and turn over any materials to Todd; which only led to further proof of Tubby holding back on intelligence. It is quite clear Todd believes Tubby to have been an infiltrator, perhaps a state infiltrator. Following Tubby’s departure Todd with help from the Greenwich Action Committee Against Racist Activity kick life into the South London AFA branch.
Whilst Red Action’s activity against fascism is features heavily its support of militant Irish republicanism does not. Todd mentions the criticism Red Action received for “links” with the INLA and a Red Action meeting with Sinn Féin member Francie Molloy, now a MP. But it seems he largely had little to do with the Republican side of Red Action, including the Saoirse campaign.
Todd remains loyal to the Red Action withdrawal from the streets and the Independent Working Class Association. He saw the continuing violence against tiny sects as futile and repeatedly criticises a character named Mickey, who he met when Mickey was filming Ratcatcher, for surrounding himself with anarchists who wanted to continue a physical only strategy against the dwindling elements of fascists who pursued the same strategy.
One Man’s Revolution is well worth a read for scholars of militant anti-fascism. It provides a glimpse into the causes of one man to join Red Action and AFA and also provides a short history of AFA and Red Action in south London. The writing style is enjoyable although the chronology can be at times confusing and it is light on any analysis of Red Action’s and AFA’s activity.
One Man’s Revolution is available for Kindle on amazon.co.uk
Anti-Nazi League: A Critical Review
This document was written in 1995 and produced by the Colin Roach Centre. It examines the ANL in it’s first manifestation from 1977-1981 and in it’s second from 1992-1995.
The first section is written by an active participant of the ANL MK1 and the second portion written by an ex-member of Anti-Fascist Action.
The document can be downloaded here.
Here is the introduction:
The Anti-Nazi League is the largest and best-known anti-fascist organisation in Britain. Its placards and posters declare “no platform for fascists” and “by any mean necessary.” The reality is often different. In this pamphlet, written by two active anti-fascists, the record of the ANL between 1977-1981/2 is contrasted with its record since it was re-launched in 1992.
Much of the material is centred on east London, looking at the struggles against the National Front (NF) in the 1970’s and the British National Party in the 80’s and 90’s. The aim behind the pamphlet is to create discussion and debate, leading to action against the fascists and the system which helps to create them. Comments, favourable or otherwise, can be sent to the publishers of the pamphlet. The authors are both members of the Colin Roach Centre.
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John McEuen’s 70 Years
4 Dec, 15 by Greg McGrath
John McEuen has asked a group of friends from varying genres of music to join him in celebrating his 70th birthday in Nashville. The String Wizard is bringing what he is calling his “Music City Jam and Christmas Show” to Music City Roots at The Factory in Franklin on 16th December.
Joining him with be original Nitty Gritty Dirt Band bass player (’66-’75) Les Thompson, who performed on the “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” album and many of their early hits. Along with Les will be another former Dirt Band alumni, John Cable, who went on the NGDB’s historic trip to the Soviet Union in May of 1977. The NGDB was the first American group to tour Russia. Joining them will be long time musical pal Matt Cartsonis (mandola and guitar) who is also known as an ‘acrobatic’ singer.
These friends represent the eclectic side of my own and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band music, and they all have had an influence on what I do – John McEuen.
McEuen didn’t stop there when it comes to guests and influences: Jesse McReynolds, Roland White, Mike Bubb, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s Jeff Hanna, Bernie Leadon, David Amram and Rhonda Vincent are also on board for a great evening of music. Throughout the show, it will become apparent how each of these artists had an effect and influence on John’s music and the NGDB.
In a special appearance, John Carter Cash will join McEuen and the ensemble as they cover how the Carter Family music crossed paths with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to create the iconic platinum-selling “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” album. The audience can expect Carter Family stories and songs to be included in this part of the show. John and John Carter have done dozens of shows the past two years delving in to the Carter influence and how it all came about.
Jim Lauderdale is the host of “Music City Roots”.
About John McEuen:
With a music career spanning 50 years, McEuen’s contributions are many and varied. Apart from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, of which he is a founding member, John has recorded with many unusual and iconic names in music. While his talents on banjo, mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, lap guitar, Dulcimer, and dobro are known to be the instrumental bedrock of the NGDB, it is ‘away from the band’ where McEuen ventures in to newer music as well as songs from the iconic “Circle” album.
Grammy and Emmy nominations and awards, Western Heritage Award, Surround Music Awards, as well as other notices and accolades combine to take John to about 120 cities a year, split between solo shows and NGDB performances. As a solo performer he has been honored with The Best of the West Performer Award, presented by the Folk Alliance. In June 2013 John received the Charlie Poole Lifetime Achievement Award. McEuen has also received the Uncle Dave Macon Award for excellence in and pursuit of preserving historic music.
“Music City Roots” is heard on more than 30 radio stations, including several internet outlets, and can be seen on more than 100 PBS stations, including presenting station, Nashville’s WNPT.
The show will be held at Liberty Hall in the Factory at Franklin, located at 230 Franklin Road. Shows begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Filed Under: International News Tagged With: John McEuen, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
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Home / Local News / Too little, too late
Too little, too late
Opposition MPs Kerrie Symmonds and Santia Bradshaw.
The Opposition Barbados Labour Party has branded the 10-point tourism recovery plan announced this afternoon by Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy as disappointing, idle promises that fail to address “the state of emergency” in the country.
Shadow Minister of International Business, Commerce and Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, told a hastily-called news conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Buildings, that what the minister of tourism failed to understand, was that Barbados has an aging tourism plant, “afflicted by the fact that is has been systematically starved of resources of a developmental and marketing nature by this Democratic Labour Party Administration”.
Symmonds identified a series of “promised” initiatives by the Government since coming into office, including an Energy Bill, but yet, he added, all the country was hearing was talk and no tangible action. “We hear today, it (Energy Bill) is soon to come and will soon be finalised. This Government presided over the increase in water rates at a level of 60 per cent across the board.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that having afflicted the hospitality sector in Barbados with an increase in water and an increase in the cost of electricity, that you now come and offer this paucity of a response, in the form of a five per cent rebate for one year, seeking to undo the damage that you have inflicted on the sector over the course of the last three years,” Symmonds added.
He described as a self-fulfilling prophesy of the Democratic Labour Party that they inflict more and more hardship on the people of this country. Symmonds said it was time for the ruling DLP to put “serious and sustainable solutions” on the table and desist from knee-jerk reactions to the problems facing the vital tourist industry and the country as a whole.
The shadow minister was of the view that the $10 million proposed by Minister Sealy for retrofitting in the hospitality sector, was ludicrous when split among 85 hotels. He noted that the National Insurance Scheme, which was assisting with the funding, required a commercial rate of return from these businesses.
But he suggested that, given the state of their finances, such properties were not in a position to make that level of return.
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View Hall of Fame
About BASHOF
Brandi Chastain
2018, Soccer
Soccer star Brandi Chastain’s love of sports was honed in childhood. Growing up in San Jose, she was an avid supporter of the San Jose Earthquakes. She was on a youth team called the Quakettes and was so enamored of her uniform that she slept in it. She became a...read more
Steve Negoesco
Steve Negoesco, who played (1947-51), and coached (1962-2000) soccer at the University of San Francisco, was one of the greatest of both. He was an All-American, the first from the West Coast, in 1948, and helped the Dons to a share of the National Championship in the...read more
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Hungary EU leader in fall of tax-to-GDP ratio
BBJ
Friday, November 30, 2018, 09:30
Hungary’s tax-to-GDP ratio (the sum of taxes and net social contributions as a percentage of GDP) generated one of the biggest declines in the European Union, fresh data released by Eurostat shows.
Picture by Shutterstock
In the European Union as a whole, the tax-to-GDP ratio edged up 0.3 of a percentage point to 40.2% during the period.
Compared with 2016, the tax-to-GDP ratio increased in 15 Member States in 2017, with the largest rise being observed in Cyprus (from 32.9% in 2016 to 34% in 2017), ahead of Luxembourg (from 39.4% to 40.3%) and Slovakia (from 32.4% to 33.2%).
In contrast, decreases were recorded in 13 Member States, notably in Hungary (from 39.3% in 2016 to 38.4% in 2017), Romania (from 26.5% to 25.8%) and Estonia (from 33.8% to 33%).
Barceló Group opens Budapest hotel
Spainʼs Barceló Group has opened the 179-room, four-star Barceló Budapest on Király utca after two years of development, according to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal. The Spanish hotel group has signed a 25-year tenancy deal with developer the Sunbelt Group, owned by Hungarian investors.
Wed, July 17, 2019, 11:45
Barceló Group
Sunbelt Group
Europroperty
Hungarian firms tend to determine increasingly strict deadlines, leading to many clients asking for delays, which may become a challenge for companies in case of an economic downturn, according to a report by debt management firm Intrum.
Tue, July 16, 2019, 11:45
Intrum
Hungarian, Czech super laser facilities to form consortium
Super laser research facilities in Hungary and the Czech Republic will form a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC), Minister for Innovation and Technology László Palkovics said after meeting with Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček in Prague on Monday.
Palkovics
Havlíček
Energy/environment
E.ON set to win EU approval for Innogy deal
German electric utility giant E.ON is expected to win EU antitrust approval to buy rival Innogy’s network and retail assets, sources have told international news wire Reuters.
Fewer Hungarians tune in to radio every day
The percentage of Hungarians over the age of 14 who listen to the radio every day fell to 37% in 2018, from 42% in 2017, shows a survey by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH).
Mon, July 15, 2019, 14:00
Hungary spends HUF 573 bln on German weapons in H1
Hungary was the biggest buyer of German weapons in the first half of 2019, news portal portfolio.hu reported. New acquisitions of the Ministry of Defense amounted to HUF 573 billion, which Hungary will pay in instalments.
Eurostat: Hungary generates highest home price growth
House prices, as measured by the House Price Index, rose by 4% in both the euro area and the EU in the first quarter of 2019 compared with the same quarter of the previous year, the statistical body of the European Union, Eurostat says.
Thu, July 11, 2019, 10:00
House Price Index
Orbán to spend billions of public money on home railway
The Vál Valley Light Railway, a 6-kilometer vintage railway line passing through Prime Minister Viktor Orbánʼs hometown of Felcsút, is set to be extended at a cost of billions of forints, despite low passenger numbers and questions about the misuse of EU funds for the initial stage of the project, news site hvg.hu reports.
Orbán
narrow-gauge
Felcsút
EC raises Hungary 2019 GDP growth forecast to 4.4%
The European Commission (EC) has raised its projection for Hungaryʼs GDP growth this year to 4.4% in a quarterly forecast released on Tuesday, up from 3.7% in its previous forecast, and over the Hungarian governmentʼs projection of 4.0% growth.
ScaleIT awaits scaleup applications for investment opportunity
ScaleIT invites scaleups from the region to apply for a chance to be one of 15 projects to pitch in front of a number of high-profile investors, with applications open until July 15, according to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal.
scaleup
ScaleIT
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Business Industry Association of So Cal > KPCC > KPCC: Developers bracing for mayor’s proposed affordable housing fee in LA
KPCC: Developers bracing for mayor’s proposed affordable housing fee in LA
April 24, 2017 Joanna Rivas
Mayor Garcetti’s plan to raise millions of dollars for affordable housing in Los Angeles by charging a new fee on real estate development looks like a foregone conclusion, says the head of the area’s largest trade group for builders. “This one’s a freight train,” said Randy Johnson, president of the Los Angeles/Ventura chapter of the Building Industry Association. “The mayor really wants it and there’s no one on the City Council that is going to go against it that I know of.” The mayor, who first proposed the fee in fall of 2015 as a way to fund the much-needed production of below-market rate housing, brought up his proposal again in his State of the City address last week. Garcetti urged the City Council to pass the fee “and do it now.”
Categories:KPCC
KPCC: Where is the political will to tackle California's housing crisis?
KPCC: How California is leading the way in affordable housing on tribal lands
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Texas Cancer News: What You Need to Know
News by Institution
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Immune Avoidance Mechanism Discovery Could Point to Treatments for Deadly Eastern Equine Encephalitis Mosquito-borne Virus
January 22nd, 2014 Charles Moore 0 comments
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEEV), is a rare but deadly mosquito-borne disease that kills about half of the people it infects. However, research by a team of scientists at the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research (CVR), the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the Weizmann Institute of Science has discovered that the EEEV uses a never-before-documented mechanism to “hijack” one of the cellular regulatory systems of its hosts to suppress immunity holds promise for better outcomes.
The discovery, which will be published in the journal Nature and is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), could aid in the development of vaccines and treatments for EEEV, which in the U.S. is found primarily in the Atlantic and Gulf States. It also may be useful in efforts to inhibit other diseases, such as West Nile virus, dengue fever, rhinovirus and SARS.
“Anytime you understand how a virus causes a disease, you can find ways to interrupt that process,” says senior author William Klimstra, Ph.D., associate professor at the Center for Vaccine Research in a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Physician Resources release. “And this discovery is particularly exciting because it is the first time that anyone has shown a virus using this particular strategy to evade its host’s immune system and exacerbate disease progression.”
The central research focus at Dr. Klimstra’s CVR laboratory is to define host and viral factors that determine success or failure of the innate immune response to infection with arthropod-borne viruses. The specific approach is to examine at the single cell level, the molecular mechanisms that determine host cell permissivity to the alphaviruses (e.g., Sindbis virus [SB], Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus [VEEV], eastern equine encephalitis virus [EEEV], western equine encephalitis virus [WEEV], Chikungunya virus [CHIKV] and Ross River virus [RRV]) and the contribution of replication in specific cells to the pathogenesis of viral disease).
BioNews Texas’s Wendy Gaisford reported last August that an outbreak of EEEV in humans was reported in the eastern Panamanian province of Darien in 2010, raising questions as to how the virus crossed the species barrier, noting that scientists were convinced that unlike the Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEEV) viruses, this virus was fundamentally different in its ability to infect humans. Researchers from the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston collaborated with Panamanian scientists to investigate this outbreak and results published that month in the New England Journal of Medicine confirmed 13 human cases of EEEV and one case of dual infection of both Eastern and Venezuelan equine encephalitis. In that study, researchers highlighted that the occurrence of EEEV in humans in Latin America may be the result of ecologic changes where human contact with these viruses and their enzootic transmission cycles have increased. Researchers also proposed that genetic changes in strains of this virus may have resulted in an altered host range and increased human virulence.
Read more articles about the havoc that mosquitoes cause in human health:
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Photo Credit: Anastasija Popova/Shutterstock
A University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston release notes that the mosquito-borne virus that causes EEEV is found all over the Americas, and infects horses throughout its range. Human infections are diagnosed every year in North America and are taken quite seriously; they carry a 50 percent chance of mortality, and can result in lifelong neurological damage. But 2010 marked a dramatic change in the way the virus behaved in Latin America.
Professor Scott Weaver, Director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, head of the UTMB study group, and senior author of the paper on the epidemic that appeared in the August 22. 2013 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighted that, ”although only about a one in 10 case-fatality rate in Panama was observed, which is low by U.S. standards, concerns are being raised about whether this virus has changed and become more virulent for people,” and stressed: “we need to know, number one, is it going to spread to other parts of Latin America or number two, are other Latin American strains likely to do the same thing?”
“Until the Darien outbreak, we had become convinced that the virus in South America was fundamentally different in its ability to infect people and cause serious disease,” said University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston professor Scott Weaver, “This epidemic broke that dogma’s back very quickly.”
UTMB researchers collaborated with Panamanian scientists to investigate the outbreak, testing samples from 174 patients and many horses. In the end, they confirmed 13 human cases of eastern equine encephalitis and one case of dual infection of both eastern and Venezuelan equine encephalitis.
Weaver also noted that earlier studies have shown that the eastern equine encephalitis virus is common in many Latin American locations where human exposure to virus-carrying mosquitoes is high. Since the virus is constantly mutating, it’s possible that a strain like the one seen in 2010 in Panama could take hold in an ecosystem in nearby Colombia, Ecuador or the Peruvian Amazon.
“With a situation where a lot of people are being exposed to the virus, there would be the potential for a lot of new disease,” observed Dr. Weaver. “So it’s important to understand what’s happening in Panama both for the Panamanians and for people all over Latin America.”
Read other articles about Eastern Equine Encephalitis:
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Upon introduction into a susceptible host, alphaviruses initially replicate within cells of the dendritic cell (DC) and macrophage lineages. In young animals, this replication is unrestrained and leads to induction of a toxic proinflammatory cytokine response. However, in adults virus replication and cytokine induction are restricted by one or more as yet uncharacterized mechanisms. These mechanisms likely involve changes in host cell permissivity to virus infection.
Dr. Klimstra’s Webpage notes that ongoing studies at the lab include determination of the relationship between infection of DC/macrophage and induction of the systemic inflammatory response, identification and characterization of cellular receptors that promote virus infection and identification of host innate immune mechanisms that control virus replication within individual cells. Furthermore, since the extent of virus replication, viral cellular tropism and the host response to infection are critical factors in stimulation of robust and appropriate immune responses to immunogens, we also strive to translate information gained from pathogenesis studies into strategies for improvement of alphavirus-based gene delivery systems.
The UPMCEEEV Physician Resources release explains that EEEV carries ribonucleic acid (RNA) as its genetic material, and Dr. Klimstra and his colleagues have discovered that EEEV evolved to have a binding site in its RNA that fits perfectly with a small piece of RNA, called microRNA, in the cells of the organism that the virus is invading. Typically, microRNAs are produced by the host to control its own cellular processes.
When the virus binds with the microRNA in certain cells involved in triggering an immune response in a human, it restricts its own replication. This allows the virus to evade an immune response because the viral replication in these cells is what would normally tip off the host’s immune system and induce it to mount an attack to rid the body of the virus.
Meanwhile, the virus is able to replicate and spread undetected in the cells of the host’s neurological system and cause overwhelming disease, including brain inflammation that begins with sudden onset of headache, high fever, chills and vomiting, and can quickly progress to disorientation, seizures and coma.
There is no specific treatment for the disease, which is addressed medically with symptoms-management, but it is mercifully rare, with about five to 30 cases reported in the U.S. annually according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has a 30 to 70 percent fatality rate, the highest of any North American mosquito-borne virus, with significant brain damage in most survivors.
EEEV does not transmit easily to humans, and the mosquito species that typically carries it is usually found in swampy areas that aren’t highly populated, though it has been found in more common mosquitoes, spurring pesticide spraying, curfews and outdoor event cancellations in recent years in states such as Massachusetts, where EEEV is more frequently found.
In the laboratory, Dr. Klimstra and his colleagues created a mutant version of EEEV without the microRNA binding site, facilitating their discovery that the binding site is key to the virus evading detection. When this manufactured mutant version was tested in the laboratory, the researchers found that the host’s immune system was able to mount an effective response to the mutant virus. Dr. Klimstra adds that the studies were mostly done in the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory at Pitt, a unique, high-security facility constructed with Pitt and NIH funds.
“Viruses are constantly evolving and changing,” Dr. Klimstra observes. “However, the genetic sequence that allows EEEV to bind to our microRNA has persisted. We find it in samples from the 1950s, which indicates tremendous evolutionary selection pressure to maintain this mechanism. Ultimately, these results suggest that the mutant virus could be used as an EEEV vaccine and that microRNA blockers could have potential for use as a therapeutic treatment for EEEV-infected patients who currently can be treated only with supportive care.”
Co-authors on this research are Derek W. Trobaugh, Ph.D., Cristina L. Gardner, Ph.D., Chengqun Sun, Ph.D., and Kate D. Ryman, Ph.D., all of the University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research and Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics; Andrew D. Haddow, Ph.D., Eryu Wang, Ph.D., and Scott C. Weaver, Ph.D., all of the University of Texas Medical Branch; and Elik Chapnik, Ph.D., and Alexander Mildner, Ph.D., both of the Weizmann Institute of Science.
This work was supported by NIH grants AI049820-10, AI060525-08, AI083383, AI095436, U54 AI081680.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC)
University of Pittsburgh Center for Vaccine Research (CVR)
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
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Charles Moore
Charles Moore is a syndicated columnist for several major Canadian print newspapers and has an extensive background in covering technology. He serves as a Contributing Science and Technology Editor for BioNews Texas.
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The Church is not a building. The Church is its congregation wherever they are, Where can I find one around Kirkton? Often in Church buildings! Read on..
What is the Nature and Purpose of the Church?
The word ‘Church’ has to be one of the most misunderstood words in the English language. It has confused both saints and sinners alike for Millennia. I will suggest that the Church is both the medium for God’s purposes on earth and contains the divine message. As the Twentieth Century philosopher Marshall McLuhan said “The medium is the message” (McLuhan:1964). The Church’s Mission is God's mission.
What is the Church?
If you asked a person in the street where the church was you would get different answers. A non- churchgoer will direct you to a church building. Going there you, enter a peaceful but usually empty building. It would not necessarily be a church our founding fathers would have recognised. To fulfil God’s purpose a church needs people and they would say the people are the Church.
If the person you asked was a traditional churchgoer, they might direct you to the same church building but add a service time. You might go, hopefully be warmly welcomed and enjoy the service. This would start to be an expression of God’s mission in the 21st Century – but what about the other seven days in the week? God’s mission and purpose would only be being partly fulfilled.
If the person you asked was an enthusiastic member of a house church, they might say that they don’t meet in a ‘church’ at all. You might be taken to a house, industrial building or community hall on the edge of town which was full of a welcoming, believing church community. The Apostles would not only have recognised this as God’s Church but probably gone up to the front and contributed! This church would be not only by its nature a ‘church’ but be fully performing the purpose of ‘the Church’.
During the first four centuries of its existence the early Christian Church had no great church buildings. The disciples and apostles created the ‘divine firestorm’ of the early church without buildings. The nature of the early Church was just its people. Their role was simply reaching and preaching to more and more people. This were both the Church’s nature and function. The more there were, the bigger it got and the more of the Church function they achieved. However, the success of the early Church created logistical problems. Gradually congregations became too numerous to meet in people’s houses. How were large numbers of worshipers to gather together for regular worship and to hear the word of God if they were not protected from the elements? The Church needed church buildings. This is when the Church started to get complicated and institutionalised.
Over time, the Church and church fabric became confused – not only by the average person in the street but by saints like St Francis. When he was worshiping in the little dilapidated church of San Damiano in 1205 and heard the divine command to ‘Rebuild my church, which is in ruins.’ he misunderstood the instruction. ‘He (St Francis) thought God meant the building. It was to be the most significant moment of his life, a command that determined his future vision and direction. However, initially he misunderstood and like so many of us today, became preoccupied with rebuilding the fabric of the tiny church building. Two other churches were similarly repaired before Francis grasped the enormity of what God was asking of him’ (Day: 2017). The Holy Spirit was of course asking Francis to rebuild the Church as a whole – not just the three little churches he restored!
How and why churches and the Church had to happen
What if our street enquirer had been sent to the first church, found a great crowd of people, been warmly received and then participated in an uplifting and inspiring service? From this we can conclude that the Church was not the building but the building facilitated the worship. It may or may not be called a church. However most of the great Church denominations would include their buildings as a part of their nature and function. Without them they would find it hard to express the purpose and mission of Christ. They create focus, inspiration and above all a space to worship and learn of God and the value of religious life. Equally, inspirational church music, art and liturgy are an integral part of worship and so a part of the nature of the Church. Church buildings can also be places of refuge for the sick, homeless or abandoned. Compassion and healing were a key part of our Lord’s ministry (Mat. 25 34-46). St Martins in the Fields in London personifies the way Church buildings can be used to shelter and minister to thousands of lonely and rejected rough sleepers. Saint Teresa of Calcutta did the same for the destitute and orphaned of Calcutta. All over the world the Church performs charitable work with the help of church buildings.
Our churches and church organisations are only one part of the great Universal Church. However, the tail must not be allowed to wag the dog. The fact that Francis was confused by the nature and purpose of the Church suggests that we need to think more deeply and historically about the evolution of the Church that we see today. As Alister McGrath observes:
Ecclesiology was not a major issue in the early church. The Eastern Church showed no awareness of the potential importance of the issue. Most Greek patristic writers of the first five centuries contented themselves with describing the Church using recognisably scriptural images, without choosing to probe further (McGrath: 356).
In spite of Paul creating one of the first Christian congregations in Europe in Philippi, it was four centuries before its bishopric was established. Many generations of that congregation saw no need to have one. Their concept of Church, as an organisation was based on the Old Testament one where groups of believers were simply the ‘called out ones’ or Ekklesia. The congregation of the Israelites in the wilderness – referred to in Old Testament were the Ekklesia. (Halls:12)
When our Lord appointed Peter to lead his ‘Ekklesia’ He described the nature and purpose of the Christian Church he was to establish in (Mat 16:13-19). ‘The word Ekklesia appears 115 times in the New Testament (Ibid). Equally, it is the name given to the company of original disciples at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:47).
By the fourth century the Christian Church, or God’s mission, needed to be expressed in more formal terms. When the Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in or around 312AD he not only ended the Roman persecution of the Christians but allowed church buildings to be constructed all over the Mediterranean and Near East. If we were to look at Philippi there was only one church building at the beginning of the Fourth Century but by the Six Century there were seven – a seven-fold increase. Similar rates of expansion were replicated across other early Christian communities. The nature of the Church had started to include buildings. These needed to be contextually appropriate. Thus, the new Trinitarian theology and Christology created Ecclesiology which help inform the church structures the congregations required. When the Romans adopted Christianity as their state religion church buildings became increasing recognisable. Christianity at once became mainstream and in ancient terms ‘world-wide’. Unfortunately, this new status came with it the trappings of power, status and political influence. These were eventually to enter the Church decision making processes and contribute to divisions within it. New denominations would be formed and its nature, if not its ultimate purpose, to mutate.
The Nature and Purpose of Church Evolves
Between the fourth and sixth centuries Donatist Controversy created one of the first major divisions within the Church. Donatist questioned the authority of bishops to ordain priests if they had at any time succumbed to the demands of the Diocletian persecution (303-313). They became known as ‘Traditores’. This schism, originating in the Church of Carthage, argued that clergy must be faultless for their ministry to be effective therefore their sacraments valid. St Augustine ‘healed’ the Church by pointing out that Christ’s message was all inclusive and was for sinners and saints alike (Luke 15). Augustine simply asked "Whenever did I describe the church as being without spot or wrinkle" (Ibid:30) Augustine stated that the ‘efficacy of a sacrament rests not upon the merits of the individual administering it but upon the merits of the one who Instituted them in the first place – Jesus Christ’ (McGrath:359). However, I do wonder whether the papal excesses which led to the Reformation would never have achieved a foothold if Donatist levels of ecclesiastical rigor had been applied to the Church clergy. We will never know but Augustine’s intervention has unquestionably become a changed both the functioning and the nature of the Church
More controversy was to follow. The Council of Ephesus in 432AD created a split which resulted in the Assyrian Church then later the Council of Chalcedon created the Oriental Orthodox denomination which held a different Christological position concerning the nature of Christ divinity calling it Monothelitism. The understanding of the nature of the Church was muted each time.
Even more radical developments were to come as the Great Schism of the 11th Century resulted in the remaining major body of the early Church splitting in two to create the Catholic and East Orthodox denominations. Although this schism was a result of deeply held theological beliefs, it could be argued that the causes of this breakup were as much political as religious and so did not actually effect the purposes and nature of the greater Church.
More fundamental was the effect of the Reformation. Although Pope Gregory IX supported Francis’s divine command to “rebuild my Church” his support did not result in the reforming of the Church – only in assistance in the foundation of the Franciscan Order. It took Martin Luther’s and Calvin’s protestant movements and those of the radical Reformation movements like the Anabaptists who shone a light on the self-serving excesses of the Catholic Church in the latter part of the middle ages. The Catholic church’s response was to establish its own Counter Reformation, beginning with the Council of Trent (1545–1563). This saw the nature of the Church mutate into something we can more easily recognize today. From then on there were Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions. These three vast umbellar entities cover a huge range of liturgy and religious practice which most denominations trace their roots back to. They are the foundations of the nature the Church today.
Undoubtedly the Luther and Calvin driven Reformation helped to restore the ‘one to one' nature of our relationship with God. This was the nature and mission embedded in the early church. Those who wished had the option of abandoning the Catholic traditions that still assigns a central role to its priests. Further key developments occurred in 20th Century during 1962-65 Pope John XXIII initiated Catholic Church’s Vatican II Council. This transformed the nature accessibility of the Catholic Mass, made the Catholic church more ecumenical and so further evolved its nature in and direction.
Four Marks describe the Purpose and Nature of the Church as being One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
Ever since the Council of Constantinople in AD 381 created our Creed, the Church has declared itself to be at once One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.
Christ’s mission and therefore the Church’s mission is at once inclusive and universal. There are denominations within the Church but it is still only one Church. The nature of the Church is as Paul says, one body if containing very different elements and talents (1 Cor 12:27)’. Cyprian of Carthage calls the Church the ‘seamless robe of Christ’ which should not be divided (Cyprian of Carthage, AD 251): Chris Halls suggests that there are five different approaches to describing or predicating unity of the Church. These include the narrow Imperialist Sectarian approach, the Platonic empirical historical church, the Eschatological Church, the Biological tree like Church and the Theological approach. All ultimately unite the Church - either currently on the last day (Halls: slide 24) This said many may lean towards St Teresa of Ávila’s poetic approach when she says that we are the body of Christ through which He performs His Mission. The italics are mine.
Christ has no body but yours - nature
No hands, no feet on earth but yours, - nature
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world, - purpose
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, - purpose
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world - purpose
The Church is Holy because it has been initiated by Jesus Christ not because its members are holy. I have already quoted the pragmatic view of Augustine. Thomas Aquinas is equally practical ‘That the church will be… without spot or wrinkle… will only be true in our eternal home, not on the way there. We would deceive ourselves if we were to say that we have no sin, as 1 John 1:8 reminds us’ (Halls:31).
The purpose of the Church is apostolic because it originated with the apostles, teaches what they taught and carries on the succession of their apostolic ministry
If the Church were an animal it would have the nature of a chameleon. Whenever if faces trials or persecution it changes its colour to the colour of the times - while still staying one animal. For instance, when the Romans persecuted it the Church became Roman, when the czar Ivan the Terrible and later scientific socialism destroyed churches in Russia the Church remained its people and is now resurgent, rebuilding churches destroyed by the revolution. Currently, although Christianity flatlines in the West, Church activity flourishes in China and the southern developing countries to the point where overall numbers of Christians are increasing - thanks in large part to the Pentecostals.
However, there are examples of emerging church forms in the West which include the Alpha movement, Filling Stations, Missional Church, Deep Church, Messy Church Cafe Church, Liquid Church, Simple Church and the Purpose Driven Church. All are valid as important as the new expressions of Church as are virtually all denominations which are rooted in Christian spirituality. The first condition for expanding churches are that they are ‘Churches that cultivate earthed spirituality where people encounter God’ (Murray:64) The Centreing Prayer and contemplative traditions personified by the work of the Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohe are classic and expanding examples of this work in action.
Lastly when talking about the current nature of the Church must include the increasing role of laity and especially women clergy within many churches. The Church Times (2017, September 27) recorded that in September 2017 there were a record number of 5,690 women in full-time ministry just within the Anglican Church. (Williams:2017) They are making a crucial contribution to both the nature and function of our Church and the Church worldwide.
The nature and purpose of the Church today can be summarised as the Missio Deo mission. "Mission is God’s mission and it is a mission that goes beyond the church. It embraces everything that God is doing in the world through people and nations to establish His Kingdom here on earth. God's work is not limited to the endeavours of the church but the church does have a special role, sent by God to continue in His mission” (Robinson:1)
The Church’s mission is God’s mission. Although a work in progress the Church’s nature and function are both the medium and the divine message.
Richard Searight
Robinson, Alan (2017) Faithindevelopment.org, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies: Oxford
Dey, Gordon (2017) Rebuild My Church www.franciscans.org.uk/page/2?s 10th December 2017
Halls, Chris (2018) Ecclesiology; Christian Doctrine lecture, South West Ministry Training: Exeter
McLuhan, Marshall (1964) Understanding Media, Mentor: New York
McGrath, Alister (2017) Introduction to Christian Theology, Wiley & Sons: Chichester
Murry, Stuart (2008) Church After Christendom, Paternoster Press, Milton Keynes
Robinson, Alan (2017) www.faithindevelopment.org Tearfund or (OCMS) Oxford 28th April.2017
Williams, Hattie (2017) More Women Than Men Enter Clergy Training, Church Times 27th Sept. 2017
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HomePosts tagged 'organized labor'(Page 2)
organized labor
this day in crime history: april 10, 1936
April 10, 2018 John DuMond History, True Crime 1936, bomb, crime, Good Friday bombings, history, murder, organized labor, terrorism, true crime
On this date in 1936 in Pennsylvania, former union head Thomas Maloney unwittingly detonated a mail bomb that had been sent to him. The bomb was hidden inside a cigar box, and Maloney, a former union official, opened it on his kitchen table. His sixteen year old daughter and four year old son were with him when the bomb exploded. Maloney and his son eventually died from their wounds. The daughter was seriously injured and required lengthy hospitalization.
Maloney was not the only target of the bomber. Local school director Michael Gallagher was killed when he opened a similar package he had received in the mail. Former Sheriff Luther Kniffen, another intended victim of the bomber was spared when the bomb sent to him failed to detonate when he opened it. Three more bombs were intercepted before being opened. The press began referring to the incident as the Good Friday bombings.
By July 1st, the police had arrested coal miner Michael Fugmann for the bombings. His motive was believed to be revenge for the actions of his victims during recent labor conflicts. Fugmann was tried the following September. He denied guilt, but was convicted after a two week trial and sentenced to death. He was executed in the electric chair at Rockview State prison on July 17, 1938.
Citensvoice.com – Mail bomb spree by disgruntled coal miner marks 75th anniversary
timesleader.com – 80 years ago, Luzerne county hit by Good Friday Bombings
December 30, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1905, assassination, bomb, crime, Frank Steunenberg, history, Idaho, murder, organized labor, Pinkertons, true crime, union violence, Western Federation of Miners
On this date in 1905, former Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg was killed by a bomb that was rigged to a gate at his home. While in office, Steunenberg took a tough stand against the Western Federation of Miners during a period of labor unrest. Former WFM member Albert Horsley (a/k/a Harry Orchard) was arrested for the crime. Legendary Pinkerton detective James McParland headed up the investigation. McParland pressured Horsley into implicating three high-ranking WFM officials as co-conspirators. Horsley was ultimately convicted of Steunenberg’s murder, but his testimony against the other men was discredited. Two of them were acquitted at trial, and charges were dropped against the third. Albert Horsley was sentenced to death by the court, but the sentence was later commuted to life in prison. He died in prison in 1954 at the age of 87.
Wikipedia – Frank Steunenberg
Wikipedia – Albert Horsley
Find a Grave – Frank Steunenberg
Idaho Meanderings: Steunenberg, Trial of the Century, Labor, Legal, Political History
November 11, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1919, American Legion, Armistice Day, Centralia Massacre, crime, history, IWW, organized labor, true crime, union violence, Wobblies
On this date 1919, four members of the American Legion were shot and killed during an Armistice Day parade in Centralia, WA. The men were shot by members of the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the Wobblies.
The incident started when members of a local Legion post passed in front of the Wobblies’ union hall in Centralia. Legion post commander Warren Grimm was shot in the chest by a Wobbly sniper. Legionnaire Arthur McElfresh was next, shot in head by a rifle from long distance. At that point, Legionnaires stormed the Wobbly building. Legionnaires Ben Cassagranda and Dale Hubbard were killed by armed Wobblies after they moved on the union hall. Five more Legionnaires were injured. A number of Wobblies inside the building were captured and turned over to law enforcement.
That night, a crowd stormed the local jail and took IWW member Wesley Everest from his cell. They brought him to the Chehalis River Bridge and lynched him. This, and other actions by vigilantes, led to the governor sending the National Guard to Centralia to quell the unrest.
There are two versions of how the shooting started. The Legionnaires claimed that they stormed the Wobbly hall after Grimm and McElfresh were shot in the street. The Wobblies claimed they did not open fire until after the Legionnaires stormed the hall. They had only armed themselves in self defense after multiple attacks on IWW members in the months leading up to the incident. But the first two men killed were shot at long range with rifles. The blood trails from both men indicated they were shot while standing in the street, over 100 feet from the Wobbly hall.
A trial was eventually held in Montesano, WA. Seven Wobblies were convicted of second degree murder. They received prison sentences of 25-40 years. Six of the men were paroled in 1931 and 1932. The seventh was paroled in 1939. No one was ever charged with the murder of Wesley Everest.
Wikipedia – Centralia Massacre (Washington)
University of Washington – Essay: The Centralia Massacre
this day in crime history: september 2, 1885
September 2, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1885, crime, history, Knights of Labor, Labor Movement, murder, organized labor, Rock Springs Massacre, true crime, union violence, Wyoming
On this day in 1885, white miners working at the Union Pacific coal mine in Rock Springs, WY started a riot that resulted in the murder of over two dozen Chinese immigrants.
The trouble started at the beginning of the work day when ten white miners showed up on the work site and announced that Chinese miners were banned from a more productive part of the mine (workers were paid per ton of coal they mined, making certain work locations more desirable). The confrontation resulted in a fight in which two Chinese miners were beaten. One of the beaten men later died of his wounds.
The white miners walked off the job, resulting in a work stoppage. They went into town where they gathered at local bars, and at the Knights of Labor (a union that was trying to organize the white miners). After a few hours of drinking and fuming about the Chinese miners (who worked for less money than the white miners, and were blamed by the whites for low wages), a large group of white miners headed for Chinatown. Many of the miners were armed.
In the ensuing chaos, 28 Chinese miners were killed, 15 were wounded, and 79 homes were burned to the ground. Many of the homes were looted by white miners before they were burned. At the request of the territorial governor, the Army was called in to restore order.
Sixteen men were eventually arrested, but the grand jury refused to indict them. They returned to a hero’s welcome in Rock Springs. No one was ever successfully prosecuted for the crimes committed that day.
History Matters – “To This We Dissented”: The Rock Springs Riot
Wikipedia – Rock Springs Massacre
Wikipedia – List of victims of the Rock Springs massacre
this day in crime history: july 30, 1975
July 30, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1975, cold case, crime, Detroit, history, Jimmy Hoffa, mafia, missing, organized crime, organized labor, Teamsters, true crime, unsolved mystery
On this date in 1975, former (and wannabe future) teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa disappeared. Hoffa was scheduled to have a sit-down at the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield, MI with Detroit mobster Anthony “Tony Jack” Giacalone and New Jersey labor leader Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano. Tony Pro, by the way, was also a made member of the Genovese crime family.
Hoffa’s plan was to mount a court challenge to a federal ban on his participation in union activities that would have kept him out of the Teamsters until 1981. With that out of the way, he could challenge his successor Frank Fitzsimmons for control of the Teamsters. Sadly for Jimmy, it looks like the mob had other ideas. He was last seen leaving the restaurant parking lot in an unidentified car.
Crime Museum – Jimmy Hoffa
Wikipedia – Jimmy Hoffa
this day in crime history: may 30, 1937
May 30, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1937, Chicago, Chicago Police Department, crime, history, Memorial Day Massacre, organized labor, true crime, work
On this date in 1937, ten unarmed demonstrators were shot and killed by Chicago Police outside the Republic Steel mill. The demonstrators were members of the Steel Workers Organizing Committee (SWOC) of the Congress of Industrial Organizations. They were on strike against Republic and other steel companies that had refused to sign a labor agreement similar to one reached with U.S. Steel, the largest of the American steel companies.
On Memorial Day, hundreds gathered at SWOC headquarters and prepared to march on Republic Steel. As they neared the mill, their path was blocked by members of the Chicago Police Department. The protestors were told to turn back. When they refused, the police answered with tear gas, billy clubs and bullets. Ten of the protestors were killed, dozens more were injured.
A coroner’s jury would later rule the deaths as “justifiable homicide.”
If you’d like to judge for yourself whether deadly force was justified, check out this video of the incident. The violence starts about five and a half minutes into the video. Not a great moment in Chicago Police history.
Wikipedia: Memorial Day Massacre of 1937
Chicagoist – Flashback: Memorial Day Massacre of 1937
April 10, 2017 John DuMond History, True Crime 1936, bomb, crime, Good Friday bombings, history, murder, organized labor, Pennsylvania, terrorism, true crime
timesleader.com – Good Friday bombings of 1936 terrorized area
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A Chance to Revisit an Abortion Law
21 Mar 2017 A Chance to Revisit an Abortion Law
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Feature: The Trudeau government is cleaning up the Criminal Code, removing provisions that have been deemed unconstitutional. This includes the old restrictions on abortion. On the feature today, ARPA lawyer John Sikkema, on how this could be an opportunity to re-open the discussion on introducing an “International Standards” abortion law.
Government-sponsored porn in Alberta schools? The Alberta government is in hot water for posting links to pornography on a government-sponsored website for young students.
Québec doctors killing more of their patients: Some troubling new numbers from Quebec.
Normalizing and professionalizing euthanasia: Plans have been finalized for the first-ever professional gathering of doctors who provide “Medical Assistance in Dying”.
Manitoba’s legislature debates access to porn: An update on a private member’s resolution in the Manitoba legislature on access to pornography.
Alberta government caught in porn controversy
Theresa Ng
The Alberta government is in hot water for posting links to pornography from a government-sponsored website. The issue was uncovered by blogger Theresa Ng, who runs a site called “Informed Albertans”. Last Monday, Ng was surfing the Alberta government’s Gay-Straight Alliance Network website, a site she says is “funded and recommended” by the Alberta government. The site is organized by the “Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services (iSMSS)” from the University of Alberta. Ng was shocked at what she discovered. “There’s a section called ‘community supports’ intended to help kids with their GSA – their Gay-Straight Alliance. I started clicking on a few of (the links), and they led to Facebook pages, and these Facebook pages were posting articles that featured extremely sexually explicit and graphic materials, including BDSM and links to advice to pay for pornography and to visit sex clubs.” She says she published the information on her blog, and just a few days after that post, most of the links had been taken down.
However, Ng says, there’s a deeper concern at play here, because Alberta is undergoing a “massive rewrite” of the curriculum. “There’s been a lot of secrecy about who’s at the helm of that curriculum rewrite, and there’s strong reasons to suspect that iSMSS and its director, Christopher Wells, are very involved in that curriculum rewrite.” She says the concerns don’t end with “the removal of a few links.” The real question, she says, is “who is the government trusting with the care of K-12 children in the province?” Ng has started an online petition, asking Education Minister David Eggen for assurances that iSMSS won’t be involved in the curriculum rewrite.
The issue also prompted a request for a full and formal police investigation on how the web links might violate Sections 152 and 153 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to counseling minors on how to engage in sexual activity. That complaint was filed by Donna Trimble with the group “Parents for Choice in Education.”
Québec doctors killing more of their patients
Sean Murphy, Conscience Protection Project
The Québec government has released new statistics on the incidence of euthanasia in the province. The numbers show that, in total, 449 people in Québec had their lives ended with the help of a doctor last year. Euthanasia was legalized in Québec in December of 2015; last year was the first full calendar year in which so-called “medical assistance in dying” (MAiD) was legal in that province.
The numbers also show that the rate of doctor assisted death grew as the year progressed. In the last six months of calendar 2016, the number of those deaths almost doubled from the first half of the year. Sean Murphy with the Conscience Protection Project has looked at the rates of euthanasia in Québec, both per 100,000 of population, and as a percentage of total deaths. On both counts, he says, after just one year of legal euthanasia in Québec, the numbers are well ahead of the early statistics from Belgium, which was one of the first countries to legalize doctor-assisted suicide. “The numbers in Québec – after one year of operation – are at the level that Belgium reached after 5 years, and if that rate continues throughout 2017, then it’ll exceed what Belgium reached after 9 years.”
Murphy’s organization is dedicated to preserving the conscience rights of doctors and others to not have to provide these kinds of services, and he says there’s a worrying trend behind the Québec numbers. “If you have a dramatic increase in the volume of demand for the service, that can put pressure on people who don’t want to be involved.”
Normalizing and Professionalizing Euthanasia
Alex Schadenberg, Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition
A disturbing conference in Victoria, BC is slated to kick off in early June. It’s called the “Medical Assistance in Dying” conference, the first of its kind for medical professionals in Canada. Alex Schadenberg with the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, says the whole idea is troubling. “I’m very concerned about the drift toward acceptance of more and more killing for more and more reasons; the cultural shift that appears to be going on.” Schadenberg says the purpose of the conference is also questionable, because it will “give physicians who are killing their patients a speciality to say ‘I’m part of this special group, and I’ve received training, and now we have better rules about how we’re going to do it.”
Schadenberg says it appears that what they’re trying to do is normalize “what has always been considered homicide.” He also says it would be very interesting to find out if the event is underwritten with federal funds; so far he hasn’t been able to determine that.
Manitoba Legislature debates pornography access resolution
MLA James Teitsma
The Manitoba legislature debated a Private Members Resolution on pornography last week. The resolution mirrored Member of Parliament Arnold Viersen’s Motion 47, asking the federal government to look at the health impacts of easily-accessible online pornography.
The Manitoba resolution was sponsored by Radisson MLA James Teitsma. He says at the end of the day, the NDP used a procedural tactic to ensure the motion would not be able to come to a vote; essentially, they filibustered it. “A lot of the comments that NDP members made when they spoke about the resolution were positive, but they also played what they considered to be a political card by exercising their right to stretch out the discussion so that it wouldn’t come to a vote.”
Teitsma says it’s difficult to understand why the NDP would actually do this, but it’s part of the culture in the Manitoba legislature right now. “The NDP is divided amongst themselves, and have lost the trust of voters. I had (actually) hoped they had learned their lesson because back in the fall, we had a Member bring forward a Bill that would recognize September as ‘Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.’ There was no reason to oppose it whatsoever, but (the NDP) chose to talk that one out as well, and boy, were they ever surprised when the Facebook page of the House Leader got plastered with stories of parents whose children had had cancer or had even died from cancer.”
The motion cannot be brought back for reconsideration, but Teitsma says the fact that he had good support in the gallery during the debate means his message definitely got out there. “I had over 60 people come, including families who had struggled with this sort of thing.” He says their presence in the gallery “really changed the tone and the tenor of the debate. By being there, the debate was more respectful, and certainly there’s a sense of accountability that the NDP members now have. They know that I don’t stand alone.”
LN Feature: A Chance to Revisit an Abortion Law
ARPA Canada lawyer, John Sikkema
On the feature this week, a conversation with ARPA Canada lawyer John Sikkema about a move by the Trudeau government to clean up so-called “zombie laws”. These are laws which are officially still on the books, but which have been ruled unconstitutional and – because of that – are no longer enforceable.
There are a number of them, dealing with everything from water-skiing at night to spreading false news to certain prohibitions against vagrancy. And there’s also a Criminal Code provision covering the provision or procurement of abortion. All of them are proposed to be taken out of the Criminal Code.
LN: So the government has written what’s essentially a piece of housekeeping legislation to remove some of those old laws from the books. One of the things they want to remove from the Criminal Code is a provision that makes it illegal to provide or procure an abortion.
This is the section that was struck down in the Morgentaler decision back in the ’80’s.
Chantal Hébert got our attention last week with a column in the Toronto Star, intimating that the Liberals were actually playing some games here; that this was an effort to create some divisions within the Conservative ranks on this.
Does ARPA have a position on taking this item out of the Criminal Code?
JS: It’s interesting, the article you mention. She makes it an issue for potential division in the Conservative Party and talks about it as a wedge issue. I suppose a more cynical view of this (would) suggest that the Liberal government would like to see the Conservatives become divided on this issue. But I think it’s wiser to just see this as what it is on the surface. It is a housekeeping bill. It would be one thing if this were a bill just to remove that one section (on abortion) when there are other unconstitutional provisions still floating around in the Criminal Code. But it’s not that. So I don’t see it as any kind of affirmation of the Morgentaler decision, although certainly this government – I think – would affirm that decision. But I don’t think it’s wise to read too much into this politically. At the same time, it is a good opportunity for revisiting the issue. You know, a lot of people don’t understand why exactly the provision was struck down. A lot of people don’t remember that the Supreme Court tried to pitch it back to Parliament. I don’t think the Supreme Court even anticipated that there would be this kind of a void if you look at the language of the different opinions of the justices who wrote in that case. So it’s an opportunity to discuss the issue again, but I wouldn’t see the repeal of the unconstitutional section as a statement of Parliament’s view on the issue necessarily.
LN: So you talk about this as an opportunity to reopen the debate in some sense. I know ARPA’s We Need a Law arm has been talking about an “International Standards” abortion law. It’s the old talking point that we’re all familiar with: Canada is the only democracy in the world that doesn’t have any regulation on the matter of abortion. Is this a chance to sort of reopen that discussion somehow, and say “Yeah, OK. The Supreme Court in Morgentaler ruled that that particular provision is unconstitutional, but can we take this opportunity to reopen the discussion and say that as an alternative, the Supreme Court did tell Parliament to fix it, and maybe here’s how to do that?”
JS: I think it is an opportunity for that. People may recall Stephen Woodworth’s Motion 312 a few years ago. That was to ask that the government study – or a Committee study – the definition of “Human Being” in the Criminal Code. (That) definition… defines a human being as a person who has “been born”, right? Been completely born. And that may seem arbitrary. “Well, are you not human before you’re born?” And I think it’s a reasonable question to ask, and we can look with skepticism on that definition in the Criminal Code. But that definition has been there for a very long time, since the first Criminal Code, I believe. And that definition serves a certain purpose, and that is…a human being is defined in the context of the homicide provisions of the Criminal Code. So it’s saying if you kill someone after they’re born, it’s homicide. And it had always been if you kill someone before they’re born, it was procuring a miscarriage. And that wasn’t because society didn’t see the unborn as human. It’s because – as one judge pointed out in the Winnipeg child decision – when we didn’t have the kind of medical knowledge that we have today, evidentiary concerns necessitated what’s called the “born-alive rule.” And that’s what’s reflected in the definition of “human being.”
So up until the 19th century when our criminal laws started to be formed in Canada, it was known that many children could be born dead. But medical practitioners could not tell for certain – if a woman was pregnant, before she could feel the child move – they could not tell for certain if a child in-utero was actually alive. And so, strictly speaking, to call even an abortion “homicide” would be difficult for reasons of evidence. Was the child alive at the moment that the instruments did their damage? That kind of thing. So it was still a very serious offence, alongside homicide. So you had this kind of pre-birth offence – which was a very serious offence – and then post-birth was the homicide offences. And of course, there’s different kinds of homicide, which depend on circumstances that are unique to those people who are already born. So that I think is why that was there historically.
But now, when we’re taking away the offence completely – now removing it from the Criminal Code – you don’t see that. You don’t see the kind of pre-birth offence and the post-birth offences. And for that reason too, we can say “why did we historically separate the offences; pre-birth and post-birth?” And you can look at that in other areas of law too where…why does the law treat the unborn differently? It recognizes them. They have a certain status with this kind of “born-alive rule”. If a child is injured in the womb, the child can’t be compensated for the injury until the child is born, because we would want to see what harm was actually caused. And we would have to wait until the child is born to see that.
So that’s all kind of part of the historical development of our law in a number of areas. It has to do with limited knowledge of the unborn. And so I think that (brings) us to today, where all these things are worth looking at again. The definition of human being, the way the unborn are treated in other areas of law, and – as you mention – the International Standards law.
That’s kind of where that brings us (to) today. So if we’re going to say “OK, the Criminal Code says human being is those who are born”, let’s talk again about those who are unborn, like all these other countries have. And the International Standards law – while maybe not the law that we would ultimately hope for in the long-term – would start to introduce some Criminal Code protections for the unborn. Not allowing abortion for no reason, not allowing abortion after a certain gestational period except to save the life of the mother; those kinds of things that are in the International Standards bill that ARPA has drafted.
Porn in Manitoba
Push for parental rights in Alberta continues
Bubble zone legislation in Ontario
Criminal charges in Toronto baby death
Must doctors facilitate euthanasia? Appeal to Ontario’s highest court
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Music Gifted and generous, Gord Downie proved cynicism does not always prevail
Gifted and generous, Gord Downie proved cynicism does not always prevail
SAMANTHA NUTT
Samantha Nutt is the founder of War Child Canada.
My heart is broken. Shattered in ways that feel incomprehensible, though I knew this day was coming. I could not prepare for it – I did not want to accept its inevitability.
Our beloved friend and Canadian icon Gord Downie has passed away.
I don't imagine he was ever comfortable with the word "icon." In person, he was modest, self-effacing, almost shy. He transformed himself on stage with twists and turns, grimaces and sequined hats, his signature handkerchief tucked into the back of his belt. He could be hard to talk to, but only because you could not help but feel that somehow he was operating on another plane. A plane where life and poetry collide, and from where he interpreted thoughts, feelings and stories in ways that only the truest artist can – he taught us about ourselves.
Obituary: Gord Downie, troubadour of Canada, charmed and challenged a nation
Gord Downie's swan song: How he made his final year count
With just a few words, you gave the whole country courage': Fans pay tribute to Gord Downie
Gord Downie: 10 essential tracks to remember him by
I would not be overstating the point when I say that without Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip, War Child Canada would not exist. In the late nineties, we were an idea – an aspiration about how to build a different kind of humanitarian organization for women and children in war zones. When we asked for help, almost everyone passed. I was told by more than a few self-proclaimed experts that "the cause wasn't marketable." I heard "no" so often that it became all that I expected to hear from those with money, power, celebrity or influence. No, this issue doesn't matter to us. No, we can't support you. No, we won't offer any pro bono services. No. No. No.
Gord Downie was the first "yes." I approached him in New York's Central Park on Canada Day 2000 (of course) to headline a concert we were hoping to stage a few months later in conjunction with an international conference on war-affected children taking place in Winnipeg. It would be our launch and our only chance. I was given five minutes with him to make my case, and I knew it was the longest of shots. The Hip were the biggest band in the country and I was asking them to perform for free. Gord looked at me as I stumbled all over my plea and, with his distinctively boyish grin, said only, "I'm in." I was so stunned, I wasn't quite sure what to do, nor was I convinced we could even pull it off. More than 80,000 people showed up to that event at The Forks, which raised more than $300,000 for War Child Canada's programs. It was the start of something that would grow into an organization that has supported more than two-million children worldwide. While he would never have claimed credit for it, or boasted of his early intervention, our organization is part of Gord Downie's beautiful legacy. His unyielding conviction that children everywhere – Indigenous or war-affected – deserve our compassion and concern.
Today I am filled with grief, but also gratitude. Gratitude that this extraordinary Canadian came into our lives, inspired us, challenged us and proved that cynicism does not always prevail. Gifted and immeasurably generous. This is how I will remember Gord Downie. I thought I would have more time to tell him that, over many more years. We all deserved that – Gord most of all.
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Toronto Google’s Sidewalk Labs preferred partner on Toronto waterfront development
Google’s Sidewalk Labs preferred partner on Toronto waterfront development
The Toronto skyline as seen from an inbound Porter airlines flight on Feb, 4, 2017.
Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Alex Bozikovic Architecture Critic
Jeff Gray Queen's Park Reporter
Published October 4, 2017 Updated October 4, 2017
Google's Sidewalk Labs has been selected as the top candidate to turn part of Toronto's waterfront into a smart neighbourhood designed to integrate new technology and advance sustainable architecture and urban design, The Globe and Mail has learned.
The project, known as Quayside, aims to turn 4.9 hectares (12 acres) of waterfront land near Parliament Street and Queens Quay East into a mixed-use community that Waterfront Toronto says will use advanced technology, innovative building techniques and funding to encourage "climate-positive urban development."
Waterfront staff selected Sidewalk Labs LLC, a unit of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc. that imagines, designs, tests and builds urban innovations, pending approval from the agency's board in the coming weeks, according to a source close to the negotiations.
The project would allow the tech company to work toward its stated goal of "reimagining cities from the Internet up," by integrating technology and urban design to create a 21st century neighbourhood that uses innovation to address common city problems, such as traffic congestion and a shortage of affordable housing.
According to a request for proposals issued by Waterfront Toronto, 20 per cent of the residential units built must be designated as affordable, and the development is meant to accommodate a range of income and age groups.
A spokesman for Google Canada declined to comment, as did Toronto Mayor John Tory. Waterfront Toronto spokeswoman Carol Webb declined to comment on Sidewalk's potential involvement.
"Our process includes a blackout period that must be observed … until our board of directors has approved the recommended proponent and the formal announcement is made," she said. "We expect to make that announcement later this fall."
Waterfront Toronto, the agency set up in 2001 by federal, provincial and city governments to transform 800 hectares in and around Toronto's port lands, issued an unusual request for proposals in March: It asked for an "innovation and funding partner" for the project. The particular form of development on the site was not fully determined. The project is intended to generate a financial return but also "use the waterfront as a test bed for how we construct the future city," Waterfront Toronto CEO Will Fleissig said in an interview in March.
The development, Mr. Fleissig suggested, could help make Toronto a global leader in addressing climate resiliency and the "smart city."
The Quayside land, currently home to low-rise industrial or office buildings surrounded by parking lots, is made up of tracts owned either by the city or Waterfront Toronto itself, plus one that is privately owned. Its development would carry forward to projects on nearby land, some of which is made possible because of the June announcement of a $1.185-billion flood protection plan.
"Our objective with Quayside is to advance new models for addressing pressing urban challenges, such as the increasing disparity in housing affordability, congestion on our roads and the imperative to address climate change," said Waterfront Toronto's Ms. Webb. "Beginning with Quayside, we aim to design a new kind of mixed-use, complete community that will combine forward-thinking urban design and new technologies to create people-first neighbourhoods that help address these challenges."
Sidewalk Labs develops what are often referred to as "smart cities" systems. It aims to use data collection and new technologies to solve urban problems. For example, it says it is working on an adaptive traffic light system that could "detect pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and transit vehicles to facilitate safe, seamless movement through congested urban intersections."
But the first project it mentions on its website is called "Building a District." Toronto is not mentioned by name but the site says Sidewalk is "pursuing a large-scale district that can serve as a living laboratory for urban technology – a testbed for co-ordinated solutions, a foundation for people to build on, and a vision for other cities to follow."
Bloomberg News reported earlier this year that Sidewalk CEO Dan Doctoroff – a former Bloomberg LP CEO who was the deputy mayor of New York under Michael Bloomberg – laid out the concept in a speech at a New York conference.
"I'm sure many of you are thinking this is a crazy idea," Mr. Doctoroff was quoted as saying in remarks first reported by a website called StateScoop. "We don't think it's crazy at all. People thought it was crazy when Google decided to connect all the world's information. People thought it was crazy to think about the concept of a self-driving car."
Sidewalk, which is about two years old, says its aim is to spin off any urban technologies or systems it creates into separate companies. Its most visible project to make that jump is called LinkNYC, a network of Wi-Fi kiosks to replace New York's payphones run by a Sidewalk-supported company called Intersection.
Two condominium units were combined to make this unique large two-bedroom condo
Canada’s tallest condo tower, 1 Bloor West, set to rise in Toronto Subscriber content
How a 73-year-old is hoping to link the GTA through water-based transportation
Toronto waterfront to undergo $1.185-billion flood-protection makeover
Follow Alex Bozikovic and Jeff Gray on Twitter @alexbozikovic @jeffreybgray
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cpsindia.org
Religion Data of Census 2011: XXXI Mizoram Manipur and Nagaland
Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of the Northeast: Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland
The Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland have been nearly completely converted to Christianity. This has happened already two or three decades ago.
In Mizoram, Christians now form 90 percent of the ST population. Besides the Christians, there are 8.8 percent Buddhists among the STs; most of them are Chakmas, who are unlikely to convert. Christians have a presence of nearly 99 percent in all other tribes, excepting the Kuki and the unclassified Generic tribes. The share of Hindus in these two tribes is now 5 percent and 3.4 percent respectively, sharply down from their share of 24 and 13 percent in 1991. Before 1991, there was also a considerable number of the Hindu Bru Reang tribe in Mizoram; all of them are now living in refugee camps in north Tripura, where there are larger numbers of that community.
In Manipur, Christians have a share of 97 percent in the ST population. Christianity has penetrated deep into every numerically significant tribe of the State. Christian presence is near 98 percent in 15 of the17 tribes with a population of more than 1,000 in 2011. The two exceptions are the Kabui and the unclassified Generic Tribes, among whom the share of Christians is 90 and 94.5 percent, respectively. The Kabui have 1,491 Hindus and 7,657 ORPs in their population of 1.04 lakh. Of the ORPs among the Kabui, 5,949 are followers of the Heraka faith.
In Nagaland, Christians form more than 98 percent of the ST population. The share of Christians is near or above 98 percent in all of the numerically significant Naga tribes, except the Zeliang. Among them, the share of Christians is 95 percent. This is because there continue to be about 2.5 thousand followers of the Heraka faith among them.
In each of the three States, there are a very large number of diverse tribes often inhabiting geographical distinct districts or regions. All this diversity of beliefs, practices and ways of life has now been reduced to the uniformity of Christianity. Only a few followers of the Heraka faith remain among the Kabui of Manipur and the Zeliang of Nagaland as reminders and remnants of that diversity.
With the level of Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes having reached saturation levels, the direction of conversion seems to have shifted towards the non-Scheduled Tribes populations. In the last two decades, the share of Christians in the non-ST population of Mizoram has increased from 4.7 to 37.7 percent and that of Nagaland from 9.3 to 22.1 percent. In Manipur, it is the share of the ORPs rather than Christians that has recorded extraordinary increase from nearly nil to 13 percent in these two decades. The ORPs, as we have seen, are often a half way house between Hinduism and Christianity. The share of Hindus in the non-ST population has declined everywhere, from 72.3 to 39.7 in Mizoram, from 87.7 to 69.5 percent in Manipur and from 74.5 to 59 percent in Nagaland.
Religious Demography of the Scheduled Tribes and Others in Mizoram, 2011
Total Pop
ST Population
Non-ST Pop
% of Total Pop
% of ST Pop
% of non-ST Pop
The Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram are either Christian or Buddhist
Of the total population of 11 lakh counted in Mizoram in 2011, 9.6 lakh, forming 94.4 percent of the total is from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities and 90.1 percent of the Scheduled Tribes are Christian. There are also about 91 thousand Buddhists among the STs; they form 8.8 percent of the ST population. Besides the Christians and Buddhists, there are 11.8 thousand STs in the State; of them half are Hindu.
Religious demography of the non-ST population
There are only about 61 thousand non-Scheduled Tribe persons counted in Mizoram in 2011; they form 5.6 percent of the population. Christians have a share of 37.7 percent even among them. Muslims form another 17.4 percent. Only 39.7 percent of the non-STs are Hindu. In 1991, the share of Hindus in the non-ST population was 72.3 percent.
Sudden rise of Christianity in the non-ST population
Rise of Christians in the non-ST
population, 1991-2011
%C
As in Meghalaya, the number and share of Christians in the non-ST population of Mizoram has risen suddenly during the last two decades. In 1991, there were only 1.7 thousand Christians in the non-ST population; their number has now risen to more than 23 thousand and their share in this population has gone up from 4.7 to 37.7 percent in the last two decades. The share of Muslims in this period has also risen from 11.6 to 17.4 percent. The share of Hindus in the non-ST population has consequently declined from 72.3 to 39.6 percent.
Christian share in the STs has stabilised
Share of Christians in the
ST population, 1991-2011
As seen in the Table here, the share of Christians in the ST population has remained stable at about 90 percent for the last two decades. This is because nearly all of the STs of Mizoram—except the Buddhists who constitute about 9 percent of the ST population—have already converted to Christianity. Christians and Buddhists together thus account for more than 98 percent of the ST population. Further accretion to Christianity is therefore possible only in the non-STs, which seems to have happened in the last two decades, as we have noticed above.
Buddhist share has slightly improved
Share of Buddhists in the
%B
While the share of Christians in the ST population has remained stable, that of the Buddhists has slightly improved. This is mainly because the population of the Buddhist Chakma tribe has grown faster than the total ST population of the State. Total population of STs has grown by 58 percent between 1991 and 2011; the Chakma have grown by 79 percent in the same period.
Christianity among the individual tribes of Mizoram
All Scheduled Tribes
Mizo (Lushai) Tribes
Pawi
Kuki Tribes
Lakher
Paite
Generic Tribes etc.
Man Tai
Khasi and Jaintia etc.
All tribes except the Chakma are now predominantly Christian
As seen in the Table above, all the Scheduled Tribes of Mizroam, except the Buddhist Chakma, are now nearly fully converted. The Mizo or Lushai are the largest tribal group in the State; of the total 10.4 lakh STs, 7.3 lakh are Mizo (Lushai) and nearly 99 percent of them are now Christian. Christians have a share of 99 percent or more in the smaller tribes of Pawi, Lakher, Hmar and Paite also. The share of Christians in these tribes had reached this level already in 1991. The level of Christianisation is somewhat lower at around 94 percent in the Kuki and the unclassified Generic Tribes. There is some Hindu presence in these two groups; about 5 percent of the Kuki and 3.4 percent of the Generic Tribes are still Hindu. In 1991, the share of Hindus in these two groups of tribes was about 24 and 13 percent, respectively. There was once considerable number of the Hindu Bru Reang in Mizoram; they are now living in refugee camps in northern Tripura.*
Even the Man Tai in Mizoram have become Christian
The Table above lists all tribes with a population of 1,000 or more. Surprisingly, the small community of the Man Tai in the State, who are nearly all Buddhists in Meghalaya, seem to have been entirely converted. Of 1,263 Man Tais counted in 2011, 1,247 are Christian. Incidentally, only 3 Man Tais were counted in Mizoram in 2001.
Only the Chakma have escaped conversion
RDI of the Chakma, 2011
%Share
The Chakama are the only significantly numerous tribal community of Mizoram to have largely escaped conversion to Christianity. In 2011, total population of the Chakma is about 1 lakh, of which only about 7 thousand are Christian. There are also 526 Hindus, 183 Muslims and 177 Jains among them. The remaining 91.7 percent of the Chakma are Buddhist. It is indeed a measure of their commitment to Buddhism that they have continued to follow the path even when all others around them have been converting to Christianity.
Distribution of the various tribes in Mizoram
Census of India lists 16 Scheduled Tribes in Mizoram, including the unclassified or Generic Tribes. We have listed 10 of the larger tribes in the Table above; these ten have a population of more than a thousand in 2011. The remaining 6 include Dimasa (Kachari), Garo, Hajong, Mikir, Synteng and Naga tribes. Of these, Garo and Naga have a population of around 760; population of the other four is less than a hundred each.
In the Map here, we have given the population of the major tribes in different districts for 2001; such district level data is not yet available for 2011. As seen in the Map, the Mizo or Lushai tribes have a significantly high presence in all districts except the two southernmost districts of Lawangtlai and Saiha. The Chakma and the Pawi dominate Lawangtlai, and the Lakher and the Pawi dominate Saiha. Both the Lakher and the Pawi are now nearly fully converted. The Chakma, of course, remain Buddhist; they form a majority of the ST population in Lawangtlai. There are substantial numbers of the Chakma in Lunglei and they have a notable presence in Mamit also. The Hmar, who are also nearly all Christian, have a notable presence in Aizwal. There are significant numbers of Kukis in Mamit, Lunglei and Lawangtai. Other tribes do not have a notable presence in any district.
Religious Demography of the Scheduled Tribes and Others in Manipur, 2011
Scheduled Tribes form only two-fifths of the population
Among the smaller States of the Northeast, Manipur is unusual in having a low share of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) in its population. Of the total population of 28.55 lakh counted in 2011, 11.67 lakh is from the STs. They form only about 41 percent of the total population. This is because the STs inhabit mainly the hilly districts of the State, while the non-STs dominate the much more densely populated districts in the valley and the plains. As seen in the topographic map of Manipur here, Manipur is divided into Manipur Valley comprising Bishnupur, Thoubal and Imphal East and the surrounding hills that comprise Senapati, Ukhrul, Chandel, Charachandpur and Tamenglong districts. Parts of the last two and the whole of Imphal West also fall in the flat plains. The valley and plains districts are naturally more densely populated than the hills; the latter are inhabited mostly by the Scheduled Tribes, the former by the non-ST populations.
Scheduled Tribes have almost all been converted
As seen in the Table above, nearly all of the Scheduled Tribes have been converted to Christianity. Of 11.7 lakh STs counted in 2011, 11.4 lakh are Christian. Of about 30 thousand non-Christian STs, 11 thousand are ORPs—mainly Sanamahis, about 9 thousand Hindus and about 4 thousand Muslims. There are also 2.3 thousand Buddhists among the STs and 3 thousand STs have been counted under the category of Religion Not Stated (RNS). Christians now form more than 97 percent of the ST population of Manipur; this proportion has remained more or less unchanged since 1991.
Decline of Hindus in the non-ST population
Changing Religious Demography of the non-ST*
Non-ST Population
* Religious breakup of the population for 2001 is not
available for three divisions of Senapati division and
hence for the whole of Manipur.
As in Meghalaya and Mizoram, the share of Hindus in the non-ST population has declined considerably in the last two decades. They formed 87.7 percent of the non-STs in 1991; their share in 2011 is near 69.5 percent. But unlike in Meghalaya and Mizoram, this decline is largely because of the increase in the share of the persons counted as ORPs. There were less than 3 thousand persons counted under this category in 1991, the number in 2011 is 2.2 lakh; the share of the ORPs in the non-ST population has therefore gone up from almost nil to more than 13 percent; much of this increase in the share of the ORPs had occurred during 1991-2001. The Muslims and Christians have also improved their share in the last two decades. The share of the former has gone up from about 11 percent in 1991 to 14 percent in 2011 and that of the latter from less than 1 percent to about 2.5 percent. All this has been at the cost of Hindus, who have lost 18 percentage points off their share between 1991 and 2011.
The rise of Sanamahis in the non-ST population
Most of the ORPs counted in 2011 are followers of Sanamahi, an ancient faith of the Meities; during the twentieth century there has been much concerted effort to represent the Sanamahi way as a religion separate and distinct from Hinduism. Of 2.34 lakh ORPs counted in 2011, 2.22 lakh are Sanamahis. The number of persons identifying themselves as Sanamahis, as distinct from Hindus, rose suddenly during 1991-2001, but their number in 2011 is almost exactly the same as in 2001.
Christianity among the individual tribes of Manipur
All Schedule Tribes
Poumai Naga
Kabui
Kacha Naga
Vaiphui
Any Kuki tribes
Gangte
Almost all tribes of Manipur have become nearly entirely Christian
As we have seen earlier, nearly all of the ST population of Manipur has been converted to Christianity; and this seems to be true of every individual tribe. The Census of India lists a total of 34 Scheduled Tribes in Manipur, including the category of Generic or Unclassified tribes. In the Table above, we have compiled data for the 17 tribes that have a population of more than 10,000. The proportion of Christians in the population of 15 of these 17 tribes is around or above 98 percent. The two exceptions are the Kabui and the Generic Tribes. The Kabui have 1,491 Hindus and 7,657 ORPs in their population of 1.04 lakh. Of the ORPs among the Kabui, 5,949 are followers of the Heraka faith.
ORPs among the Scheduled Tribes
Of about 11 thousand ORPs counted among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur in 2011, more than 6 thousand are followers of the Heraka faith and of about 2 thousand of Judaism. There are also 710 Sanamahis and 604 Pagans among them, besides small numbers of followers of numerous other faiths. The Heraka are mostly among the Kabui and the Judaists mostly among the Thadou, though there are a few followers of these faiths among several other tribes. As in Meghalaya and Mizoram, the great diversity of religious practices that prevailed among the tribes of Manipur has been more or less replaced entirely by Christianity. The numerous practices and faiths of the diverse tribes of Manipur that had survived within the benignly protective and tolerant mainstream of Hinduism are now largely extinguished; only the memory of those seems to have been preserved among a few families and villages here and there.
Hindus among the Scheduled Tribes
The few Hindus that survive among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur are mostly among the Tangkhul, Kabui, Thadou and Kacha Naga; all of these have more than a thousand Hindus among them and the share of Hindus in the population of Thangkhul, Kabui and Kacha Naga is near or a little above 1 percent, it is only 0.5 percent among the Thadou. Hindus have a higher share in some of the smaller tribes; the highest is of about 12 percent among the Purum, who number only 278. Hinduism among the STs, like many of the traditional faiths of the diverse tribes of Manipur, now survives only as a remnant.
Distribution of different tribes in Manipur
In the Map here, we show population of the major tribes in different districts of the State as counted in the Census of 1991. Similar data for 2011 is not yet available, and the data for 2001 is not complete because no census was conducted in parts of Senapati district. In 1991, Imphal East and Imphal West were not yet separated; the data given here is for the combined district.
As seen in the Map, the Mao dominate Senapati district, while there is also a considerable presence of Thadou. The Thadou, who are the largest tribe of Manipur, do not seem to dominate any district, but they have a presence in almost all of the districts. The Tangkhul, who are the second largest tribe of Manipur, dominate Ukhrul district. The Poumai Naga, the third largest tribe in 2011, were counted along with the Mao in 1991 and 2001. The Kabui seem to dominate Tamenglong along with the Kacha Naga. In Churachandpur and Chandel several tribes are present in large numbers; among these the Paite, Hmar, Vaiphui and Zou are mainly in Churachandpur and Maring and Anal in Chandel. Manipur hills are thus inhabited by a great diversity of tribes, all of whom have now been absorbed into the uniformity of Christianity.
Religious Demography of the Scheduled Tribes and Others in Nagaland, 2011
Nagaland like Meghalaya and Mizoram is now a Christian tribal State
Of the total population of 19.78 lakh counted in Nagaland in 2011, 17.11 lakh is from the Scheduled Tribes. The STs thus form 86.5 percent of the total population and 98.2 percent of the STs are Christian. This makes Nagaland even more of a Christian tribal State than Meghalaya or Mizoram. There are only 30.5 thousand non-Christians among the Scheduled Tribes; of them, 15 thousand are Hindus, 5.5 thousand Muslims and 10 thousand others. The last include about 5 thousand Buddhists and 3 thousand ORPs.
Christians form more than one-fifth of the non-ST population also
In the non-ST population of about 2.68 lakh, there are 1.58 lakh Hindus. But there are also more than 59 thousand Christians, forming 22 percent of the non-ST population; this makes them the second largest religious community in that group. Besides them, there are 43.5 thousand Muslims and about 7 others. Among the last, there are around 2 thousand each of Jains, Buddhists and Sikhs.
The recent rise of Christianity in the non-ST population
As in Meghalaya and Mizoram, the rise in the share of Christians in the non-ST population in Nagaland is a recent phenomenon. There were less than 14 thousand Christians in the non-ST population of Nagaland in 1991; their number now is more than 59 thousand. Christians formed 9.3 percent of this population in 1991; their share now is above 22 percent. A large part of this rise in their share has occurred during 1991-2001. With this rise in the share of Christians, and with the Muslim share rising from 13.5 to 16.3 percent, the share of Hindus in the non-ST population has declined steeply from 74.5 percent in 1991 to 59 percent now.
Share of Christians among the STs is now stable
As seen in the Table here, the share of Christians in the Scheduled Tribes has now stabilised at above 98 percent. It is probably not possible to make Christianity penetrate beyond this level. It needs to be noted that there has been a decline in the ST population, as also in the total population of Nagaland, during 2001-11. But this decline has come after an extraordinary growth during 1991-2001, when the ST population rose from 10.6 lakh to 17.7 lakh. The decline seen during 2001-11 is perhaps a consequence of some over-counting that might have happened during the previous decade.
Christianity among the individual tribes of Nagaland
The Census of 2011 lists 19 Naga tribes and 4 non-Naga tribes among the Scheduled Tribes of Nagaland. Of the total ST population of 17.1 lakh, 16.7 lakh is of the Naga tribes; there are only about 34 thousand persons of the non-Naga tribes and another about 9 thousand of the unclassified “Generic” tribes. Among the non-Naga tribes, the major population is that of the Kuki and the Kachari. Among the Kuki 98.6 percent are Christian. Of the Kachari, 69 percent are Hindus and the remaining largely Christian. Of about 15 thousand Hindu STs in Nagaland, 9 thousand are Kacharis.
Konyak(ST)
Sema(ST)
Ao(ST)
Lotha(ST)
Chakhesang(ST)
Angami(ST)
Sangtam(ST)
Zeliang(ST)
Yimchaungre(ST)
Chang(ST)
Rengma(ST)
Khiemnungan(ST)
Phom(ST)
Pochury(ST)
Tikhir(ST)
Naga (ST)
Viswerna(ST)
Chirr(ST)
Makware(ST)
Non-Naga
Kachari
Christians have a share of more than 98 percent in 15 of the 19 Naga tribes. The share is somewhat lower only among the Zeliang, Viswerna, Makware and Konyak. Of these, Viswerna is a very small tribe with a total population of less than 4 thousand; presence of only a few Hindus and Muslims among them has resulted in a somewhat lower share of Christians. Makware is even a smaller tribe with a population of 10 of whom 1 is a Hindu. The Konyak are the largest Naga tribe; the number of Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists among them is relatively high, but Christians still form nearly 98 percent of their population. The share of Christians among the Zeliang is relatively low because of a significant presence of the ORPs; of a total of 3,096 ORPs among the STs in Nagaland, 2,478 are from the Zeliang. They form 3.3 percent of the Zeliang population. Incidentally, 2,441 of the 2,478 ORPs among the Zeliang are followers of the Heraka persuasion. Thus, one of the numerous faiths of the Naga seems to be still surviving among the Zeliang; all others seem to have become nearly extinct.
Distribution of different tribes in Nagaland
Different Naga tribes dominate different parts of Nagaland. Mon is the district of Konyak Nagas, Mokokchung of the Ao, Wokha of the Lotha, Zunheboto of the Sema and Phek of the Chakhesang. The Angami are distributed mainly in Dimapur and Kohima. But in Dimapur, the Sema have the largest numbers and there are almost as many of the Ao as of the Angami. Kohima has considerable numbers of the Zeliang and Rengma besides the Angami. Tuengsang seems dominated by the Phom, but there are also considerable numbers of the Sangtam, Yimchungre, Chang and Khiemnungan. Phek has a noticeable presence of the Pochury besides the dominant Chakhesang. This great individuality and diversity of the Naga tribes seems to have now been subsumed within Christianity.
1. Of the total population of 11 lakh counted in Mizoram in 2011, 9.6 lakh, forming 94.4 percent of the total is from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities and 90.1 percent of the Scheduled Tribes are Christian.
2. Besides the Christians, there are 8.8 percent Buddhists among the STs. Most of the Buddhists are Chakmas, who are unlikely to convert.
3. The possibilities of further expansion of Christianity among the STs of Mizoram are now exhausted. Since 1991, their share in the ST population has remained unchanged at slightly above 90 percent.
4. There has however been considerable growth of Christianity in the non-Scheduled Tribes population of Mizoram in these two decades. There were only 1.7 thousand Christians in the non-ST population in 1991; their number in 2011 is above 23 thousand and their share in this population has risen from 4.7 to 37.7 percent.
5. The main Mizo or Lushai tribe of Mizoram is nearly 99 percent Christian. The share of Christians is near or above 99 percent in 6 of the remaining 10 tribal groups with a population of more than a thousand. The only exceptions are the Chakma, the Kuki and the unclassified Generic tribes.
6. Christians form 94 percent of the population of the Kuki and the Generic tribes. There are still some Hindus left in these two communities; they form 4.8 percent of the population of the former and 3.4 percent of the latter. In 1991, the share of Hindus in these two groups of tribes was much higher at 24 and 13 percent, respectively.
7. There also used to be considerable number of the Hindu tribal community of the Bru Reang; they are now living in the refugee camps of north Tripura, where there is a larger population of the Hindu Bru Reang.
8. Surprisingly, 7.3 percent of the Chakma also have been converted; in 2011, 7 thousand Christians have been counted in their population of about 97 thousand.
9. A large part of the Chakma population is concentrated in the southern Lunglei and Lawangtlai districts.
10. Scheduled Tribes form only 41 percent of the total population of more than 28 lakh in Manipur. This is because Manipur is geographically divided; the Scheduled Tribes inhabit the hills, others inhabit the more densely populated but much smaller area of the valley and the plains.
11. Christians have a share of more than 97 percent among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur.
12. The Census lists a total of 34 tribes in Manipur. Of these 17 are sufficiently numerous to have a population of 10 thousand or more in 2011.
13. Christians have a share of around or above 98 percent in the population of 15 of these 17 tribes. The only exceptions are the unclassified Generic tribes and the Kabui.
14. The Kabui have 1,491 Hindus and 7,657 ORPs in their population of 1.04 lakh. Of the ORPs among the Kabui, 5,949 are followers of the Heraka faith.
15. As in Mizoram, the possibility of further expansion of Christianity among the Scheduled Tribes of Manipur seems to have been exhausted.
16. Major changes have, however, taken place in the religious demography of the non-ST population. In Manipur, it is not so much the share of Christians, but that of the ORP that has risen from 0.2 to 13.2 during 1991-2011.
17. More than 2.2 lakh non-STs have been counted as followers of the Sanamahi faith in 2011; their number was almost the same in 2001, but only a few had mentioned their faith as Sanamahi in 1991.
18. As in other States of the region, the share of Hindus in the non-ST population has come down from 87.7 to 69.5 percent. The share of Hindus in the ST population is in any case less than 1 percent.
19. Nagaland, like Meghalaya and Manipur, is now a Christian tribal State. Of the total population of 19.8 lakh, 17.1 lakh are from the Scheduled Tribes, and of the latter more than 98 percent are Christian.
20. The share of Christians in the ST population has remained stable at somewhat above 98 percent since 1991. The possibility of further expansion of Christianity into the Scheduled Tribes is now exhausted.
21. However, there has been considerable expansion of Christianity in the non-ST population. Their share in the ST population has risen from 9.3 percent in 1991 to 22.1 percent in 2011.
22. Christians have a share of around or more than 98 percent in almost all but 3 of the Naga tribes inhabiting Nagaland. The only numerically significant tribe among these three is the Zeliang. Christians form 95 percent of the Zeliang population of about 75 thousand. There are about 3.3 percent ORPs among the Zeliang; most of the ORPs are followers of the Heraka faith.
23. Thus of the innumerable religious beliefs and practices of the numerous Scheduled Tribes of Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya, only the Heraka survives as a remnant and reminder of that rich diversity.
24. Hinduism also now survives as a mere remnant among a few tribes like the Kabui of Manipur. And even among the non-Scheduled Tribes populations of this region, Hinduism is in rapid retreat. The share of Hindus in the non-ST population has sharply declined since 1991 in all the three States that we have considered here, as also in in Meghalaya that we have described in an earlier note.
Labels: Buddhist, Chakma, Christian, Heraka, Hindu, Kabui, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Religious Demography of the individual tribes of the northeast, Sanamahi, Zeliang
Religion Data of Census 2011: XXXI Mizoram Manipur...
Religion Data of Census 2011: XXX ST Meghalaya
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You are here: Home / Private Jet / 10 Misconceptions About Private Jets
10 Misconceptions About Private Jets
As private jets get increasingly popular, more and more people are talking about them. While that’s great in itself, it also means there are more misconceptions about the industry than ever before. So just what false impressions do people have? We’ll take a look at some of the most common misconceptions that your clients may have heard about private jets, and why they’re complete nonsense!
They’re not safe: This has been an ongoing concern for a while, and can be a deal-breaker for many. People tend to assume that because the statistics show that private jets crash more often than public airliners, it must mean that they’re not as safe. But people generally fail to realize that over 95% of these crashes are either due to the pilot making a mistake, general negligence, or poor maintenance of the jet. In other words, if these preventable causes are checked, then a private jet is as safe, if not safer, than a public airliner.
Only billionaires can afford them: Again, this simply isn’t true. The idea that private jets are exclusively for billionaires has been floating around for a while now, which makes it pretty hard to change people’s minds. While jets are multimillion dollar pieces of machinery that cost a fair amount to maintain, they’re by no means exclusively for billionaires.
They’re expensive: Yes, private jets can be expensive, but private jet charters are far more reasonable than most people might think. There are now some really affordable ways to enjoy flying privately.
They’re not that different from first class: It’s funny that a lot of the people who say this have never flown first class, let alone in a private jet. As anyone who’s flown privately before will tell you, it’s also just not true. First, the fact that it’s a “private” jet tells you a lot about the experience. You have priceless privacy, loads of space, and an entirely new level of luxurious comfort.
They can’t travel long distances: This misconception is also quite simply not true. People just assume that what the jet gains in speed, it loses in distance covered.
They develop problems easily: Everything can develop problems with time, especially if they’re not properly maintained. Yes, private jets can develop problems like everything else, but it’s a complete lie that they have a higher share of problems.
They’re overrated: Again, it’s funny that this appears to be said by people who’ve never flown privately. It couldn’t be further from the truth; if anything, the awesome feeling of flying privately is underrated!
You need to pay for the full plane: Well, you can if you’ve got the money. But if you don’t have the cash ready, you can easily get a private jet through leases and loans if you have suitable credit.
It’s safer to replace a faulty plane than to repair it: This entirely depends on the kind of fault, and it’s up to the engineers and pros to actually decide this, not armchair “experts.”
They’re just not worth it: From being able to make quick journeys for time-sensitive events to the fact that you won’t have to deal with flight cancellations or any of the other annoyances of flying publically, it’s very much worth it.
While the above are some clearly incorrect (and painfully common) misconceptions, it’s important that they’re addressed so the private jet charter business can continue to flourish.
Filed Under: Private Jet Tagged With: develop problems, private jet, private jets
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Director Jacob Hatley's intimate documentary finds rock and roll legend Levon Helm (The Band) at home in Woodstock, NY, in the midst of creating his first studio album in 25 years. Shot during the course of two-plus years, this highly anticipated film focuses in on the four-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member after his 2007 comeback album, Dirt Farmer, brought him back to the spotlight.
Los Lobos Kiko Live BLU-RAY
2-disc Blu-ray/CD set. Kiko Live captures roots-rock legends Los Lobos in their February 24, 2006, performance at the House Of Blues in San Diego, CA. Never before released or broadcast, Kiko Live also contains interviews with the band and others involved in the making of the studio album. Released in 1992, Kiko was embraced by fans and hailed by critics as the band's defining moment, the album that put Los Lobos back on the innovation track. The album, wrote All Music Guide, "demonstrated the b...
Mick Taylor Band New Morning BLU-RAY
Mick Taylor's 2009 Tokyo concert, superbly backed by Max Middleton, Jeff Allen, Kuma Harada and Danny Newman. Mick revisits in grand style his now classic repertoire - check Losing My Faith - as well as tunes of Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and - play it again Mick! - of the Rolling Stones.
Muscle Shoals BLU-RAY
Director Greg "Freddy" Camalier tells the story of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, home of FAME Studios and its legendary owner Rick Hall -- who helped to make some of the greatest records in rock-and-roll history. Rising up through poverty, Hall sensed that he was onto something big when he opened FAME Studios. He couldn't have been more right, either, because not only is Muscle Shoals one of those sacred locations where music seems to simply blow in the breeze, but the best artists of the era would so...
New Orleans Music In Exile BLU-RAY
NEW ORLEANS MUSIC IN EXILE examines what Hurricane Katrina and breached levees did to the city's music community.
Like their neighbors, members of the legendary New Orleans music community were devastated by Hurricane Katrina and its tragic aftermath. With NEW ORLEANS MUSIC IN EXILE, noted music documentarian Robert Mugge (DEEP BLUES, GOSPEL ACCORDING TO AL GREEN, THE KINGDOM OF ZYDECO, RHYTHM 'N' BAYOUS) creates an emotional portrait of horror, heartbreak, and hope as the musicians who l...
Pride And Joy: The Story Of Alligator Records A Robert Mugge Film BLU-RAY
Robert Mugge's dynamic portrait of Alligator Records, the legendary Chicago blues label founded by Bruce Iglauer in 1971
In 1971, Bruce Iglauer founded Alligator Records, an independent record company which, in the decades since, has proven to be the most successful modern blues label. In early 1992, the label staged the Alligator Records 20th Anniversary Tour, starring Koko Taylor and Her Blues Machine, Elvin Bishop, Katie Webster, The Lonnie Brooks Blues Band (featuring Lonnie's son R...
Robert Cray Band 4 Nights Of 40 Years Live BLU RAY/2 CD Set
Contemporary blues icon Robert Cray is celebrating his 40 years of performing with this Blu-Ray-CD combo package. Contains 90 minutes of concert footage from multiple camera angles, creating an incredible perspective. Filmed and recorded at Ventura, Belly Up (Dec. 4, 2014), Saban Theatre (Dec. 6, 2014) and his rehearsal studio in Dec., 2014. The program also includes in-depth interviews with Cray, his band members and testimonials from legends Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Keith Richards, Jimmie Vaug...
Rolling Stones - From The Vault Sticky Fingers Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015 BLU-RAY/CD
This incredible release includes Stones classics like Brown Sugar, Wild Horses, Start Me Up, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Bitch, Dead Flowers, When The Whip Comes Down and more.
This latest addition to the acclaimed “From The Vault” series captures a truly unique event in the long and eventful history of The Rolling Stones. On the 20th May 2015 at the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California, the band performed the entire Sticky Fingers album live in concert for the first and so...
Rolling Stones - No Security San Jose '99 Blu-Ray
Recorded at the San Jose Arena on Stones' 1999 No Security tour. It followed on from the colossal Bridges To Babylon tour and took its name from the "No Security" live album recorded on that 97/98 tour. This show was recorded in April 99 at the end of the North American dates. Songs on CD & BLU-RAY include Jumpin Jack Flash, Bitch, ou Got Me Rocking, Respectable, Honky Tonk Woman, I Got the Blues, Saint of Me, Some Girls, Paint It Black, You Got The Silver, Before They Make Me Run, Out Of Co...
Rolling Stones - Voodoo Lounge Uncut BLU-RAY/2CD Set
Voodoo Lounge Uncut presents for the first time the full, unedited show filmed on November 25th 1994 at Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium. Originally directed by the legendary David Mallet, this new version features 10 performances omitted from its previous release in the 90s, and the full show is now presented in its original running order.?
With its ahead-of-its-time cyberworld staging, guest appearances from Sheryl Crow, Robert Cray and Bo Diddley, and a setlist combining classic trac...
Rolling Stones From The Vault Hampton Coliseum (Live In 1981) BLU-RAY
"From The Vault" is a new series of live concerts from The Rolling Stones archive which are getting their first official release. "Hampton Coliseum –Live In 1981" is the first title in this series. The Rolling Stones American Tour in 1981 was the most successful tour of that year taking a then record $50 million dollars in ticket sales. The tour was in support of the critically and commercially successful "Tattoo You" album. There were fifty dates on the tour which ran from Philadelphia at...
Rolling Stones From The Vault Steel Wheels Live At The Tokyo Dome BLU RAY/2 CD Set
Filmed & recorded at the show on 26th February, and features Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Ronnie Wood and Bill Wyman, who in August of that year, would play his last ever show with the Rolling Stones. The touring band included Bobby Keys, Chuck Leavell, Lisa Fischer, Cindy Mizelle, Bernard Fowler, Matt Clifford and the Uptown Horns. The Steel Wheels/ Urban Jungle tour became the highest grossing tour of all time. But it's not just the figures that set this show apart from others, the Rolling ...
Rolling Stones From The Vault The Marquee Club Live In 1971 BLU-RAY/CD
This 'club performance' was filmed (for US TV) in 1971 at the legendary London venue a month before the release of Sticky Fingers and marked the first time Brown Sugar, Dead Flowers, Bitch and I Got The Blues were showcased live. The line-up at this time was Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Mick Taylor and Bill Wyman. This set is being issued as DVD/CD and Blu-ray/CD combos both with restored footage and sound mixed Bob Clearmountain. 5.1 surround sound is included on both formats, wh...
Rolling Stones Ole! Ole! Ole! A Trip Across Latin America BLU-RAY
The documentary follows the Stones 2016 tour of South America. The filming captures all aspects of the tour; live, interview and behind the scenes. Also included are bonus tracks performed on this tour. BLU-RAY
The Kingdom Of Zydeco BLU-RAY
ZZ Top Live From Texas BLU-RAY
This live performance has been filmed for release on Blu-ray. The track listing spans their career from early tracks and classics through 80s blockbusters and up to more recent hits. The concert was filmed in their home state of Texas in front of a wildly enthusiastic audience at their very best. Extras include band interview over a game of poker, behind the scenes on their show day in Dallas, photo shoot, and live bonus track.
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"Why isn't Althouse covering the fact that two daughters of two famous liberal Democrat Senators - both 51 years old - died on the same day?"
"More importantly, why isn't Althouse making note of the fact that today is Constitution Day and that, exactly 75 years after the Constitution was signed, on the bloodiest day on our soil, 3000 Americans fell at Antietam in a war where Constitutional issues were paramount?"
Comments from the previous post.
ADDED, the next day: I'll answer the 2 questions.
1. I'm not inclined to savor the cuteness of the coincidence. Two women died, too young.
2. On the Althouse blog, every day is Constitution Day.
Tags: death, history
"A study like this implies you are scientifically less manly just when you’d like to think you’ve hit a new plateau of manhood."
"You’ve spread your seed, so to speak, and joined the ranks of your own father... not only are you a dork when you lapse into goo-goo talk, but now you’re less of a man scientifically."
Oh, man, the guys will have their revenge for all the cat litter box cleaning they had to do when we women were pregnant and had to be protected from toxoplasmosis.
During pregnancy, the man is the pussy man, dealing with the cat poo. But now that the baby is born, if she doesn't want a pussy man, depleted in testosterone, it is her turn to handle the poo.
Now, these arguments about division of household labor have a new dimension: My dear, are you anti-science or are you trying to emasculate me?
ADDED: Is it manly to make that argument? It suggests you need to conserve the testosterone you have. It would be more macho to act like you have plenty to spare. Also, I think diaper changing is one of the more manly baby-related chores? It's a dirty job and someone's got to do it. We don't have a study about which specific baby-relted activities are testosterone depleting. I'm going to speculate that it would tend to be the ones like bottle/breast-feeding where you look for a long time into the baby's eyes... not the one where you're looking at the nether regions.
Tags: babies, cats, excrement, gender difference, health, marriage, masculinity, relationships, science
At the Anarchist Café...
... you can say anything you want.
Tags: anarchy, photos by Meade, signs, Wisconsin protests
"Elizabeth Warren and her little gold ball earrings are running for Senate!"
Inexplicably sexist headline on a Bloggingheads video.
Tags: Elizabeth Warren, jewelry
"Freedom means freedom for everybody," says Dick Cheney, approving of same-sex marriage.
IN THE COMMENTS: pbAndjFellowRepublican said:
I wonder if his views have been influenced by his relationship w/ his daughter. I'd assume so. Presumably Althouse would be opposed to such decision making because it is influenced by personal experience. Or, maybe that anti-anecdote position is only for other people, re other issues? Where Althouse doesn't have her own anecdote.
I don't like argument/reasoning from anecdotes, and one's own personal experience is a subcategory of this. I don't think the argument for gay rights should hinge on whether you're gay or you know someone who is gay. If something is actually bad or morally wrong, you don't try to promote it by talking about the person in your family who does it. You may notice that I've been writing in support of same-sex marriage on this blog for more than 7 years, and I don't think I've ever bolstered the argument with anecdotes of personal experience. In fact, I think it cheapens the argument to blend that in.
Tags: Barbara Walters, Cheney, freedom, pbAndjFellowRepublican, same-sex marriage
The Obama White House "actually fit all of the classic legal requirements for a genuinely hostile workplace to women."
Said former White House communications director Anita Dunn, as quoted a new book, "Confidence Men: Wall Street, Washington, and the Education of a President" — written by a man, Ron Suskind — the Washington Post reports.
Dunn now rejects the term "hostile workplace,” and adds the typical PR bullshit evidence: “The president is someone who when he goes home at night he goes home to house full of very strong women... He values having strong women around him.”
In my experience, women who are vigilant about workplaces that are hostile to women hate that argument: A man has a strong wife at home, so he must not be opposed to the success of women in the workplace.
And, by the way, specifically, I'd say that Barack Obama has kept his wife in a distinctly subordinate role. Michelle Obama went to Princeton and Harvard Law School, and now she works on encouraging children to eat vegetables and get some exercise.
But... whatever... Anita Dunn... I always thought she was a bit of an idiot. She shouldn't have gotten the job in the first place. If she was initially overpromoted, it was a good thing that she got excluded. She shouldn't have been included.
But Suskind talked to other disincluded women. According to the Washington Post account of the book:
[W]omen occupied many of the West Wing’s senior positions, but felt outgunned and outmaneuvered by male colleagues such as former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Summers.
Obama, according to the book... failed to call on Romer after asking her male colleagues for their opinions. The snub prompted Romer to pass a note to Summers where she threatened to walk out of the dinner, according to the book....
The Obama White House has long been dogged by similar claims of exclusivity — his golf outings have been typically all-male affairs...
So... is there something sexist about the Obama administration? Seems like Suskind came up with a great angle for his book, but I'm skeptical. I think Obama may have been overenthusiastic about giving a lot of positions to women, and perhaps those women really weren't as good as the men he surrounded himself with and really does need to rely on. In that case, he deserves credit for good judgment. But it is funny that he's not more concerned about the optics. Perhaps he assumes that he is especially appealing to women constituents and he doesn't need to do much to maintain that favor. It's the men he's in danger of losing. Time for another round of all-male, manly golf.
Tags: Anita Dunn, books, feminism, golf, Michelle O, Obama and manliness, Obama and women, Rahm Emanuel, Ron Suskind, sexual harassment
"Today we are thrilled to unveil DHS’s new website, StudyintheStates.dhs.gov."
Great moments in government website creation:
Today we are thrilled to unveil DHS’s new website, StudyintheStates.dhs.gov.
It’s with great pleasure that I was fortunate to attend the unveiling of the Study in the States website by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the University of Wisconsin – Madison today.
Together with our partner agencies...
You can read more about the Study in the States initiative on the DHS blog.
The crossed-out link in the post title and the "partner" link only trigger a drop-down box that demands a name and password. If you try to go in without the name, you're informed that you lack authorization. All the strikeouts above are on the web page that Janet Napolitano came to Madison yesterday to publicize.
I refrained from attending the big event. But Meade was there and he snapped this pic:
Tags: Janet Napolitano, photos by Meade, website design
"Average SAT exam scores for high school seniors dropped three points in reading, one point in math and two points in writing..."
"Reading scores are the lowest on record."
But it's probably just that more students take the test these days.
Tags: exams, reading
Mooncake.
It's the fruitcake of China.
Tags: China, food
"Many people say I want to kill myself because I do this."
"People can say what they want. I do it because I want to be cured."
Electric therapy, via lying on railroad tracks, in Indonesia, where "many practice a form of Islam that is mixed with superstition and traditional beliefs, including voodoo-like treatments to ward off spells and illnesses." So... it's not New Age. It's Old Age.
Tags: bad science, electric shock, Indonesia, New Age, railroads, voodoo
"Some Cabbies Given Right to Say No to Racy Ads."
"The city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission unanimously approved a regulation that would prevent owners of yellow taxi medallions, who often lease drivers the right to operate taxis in New York, from installing any signage a taxicab owner 'reasonably' deems inappropriate."
For Mohan Singh, the breaking point came last year when his granddaughter, who was 6 at the time, saw a seductive woman in an advertisement affixed to the roof of his taxicab. She proudly announced... "I want to be a FlashDancer."...
Still, the regulation falls short of helping drivers like Osman Chowdhury, who owns neither his medallion nor his cab. Mr. Chowdhury, 45, said he routinely drove his leased taxi to his mosque, where, among fellow Muslims, whom he called “conservative,” he stood out like a black sheep due to the images of lingerie models and strippers atop his vehicle....
[S]everal drivers who own their cabs but not the medallions, said medallion owners typically earned $100 to $200 a month from companies like VeriFone Media, one of the largest suppliers of rooftop taxicab advertisements....
Vehicle owners who do not own medallions generally are not compensated for advertisements, they said, even though the signs weigh down their vehicles, raising gasoline costs.
I'm surprised that so little money is made on those ads. Why not ban them entirely? They cause extra consumption of gasoline and more exhaust in the city. It hardly seems worth it. Get rid of the clutter. And then no one needs to worry about what to be offended about and whether the offense is "reasonable."
Tags: advertising, city life, environmentalism, religion and government
Soli-Polka-Darity.
Meade shot this video today at the Wisconsin Capitol. I edited. The usual noon-hour singalong is pretty jovial... except perhaps the sullen guys with the "May we RIOT now?" banner.
Tags: dancing, signs, Wisconsin protests
"We've got better vision. We've got better ideas. We've got real plans. And we've got better hair."
Flashback to 2004. Remember when John Kerry said that... about himself and John Edwards? I wonder what the best hair combination is among the current group of Republicans... and if Obama ought to oust Biden and go with Hillary for a hair upgrade.
Radiating all the vigour and enthusiasm Kerry had surgically removed at birth, the honey-toned Edwards found himself adored by the media for his "two Americas" stump speech, a Disraelian portrait of Dickensian gloom conjured in the tones of a Depression-era sob-sister.
Ha ha. I came up with a Mark Steyn column when I Googled for what I was looking for:
Even if you have never heard it, you know how it goes: there's one America where Dick Cheney's oil buddies are swigging down Martinis and toasting their war profits; but there's another America where "tonight a 10-year-old little girl will go to bed hungry, hoping and praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm".
Oh, what a huckster that John Edwards was!
I embarked on that Google search as I was writing the previous post, disapproving of reasoning/arguing with empathetic anecdotes. I thought it might help you, as you steel yourself against the political rhetoric that comes in the form of anecdotes, to remember that disgraced prettyboy John Edwards and his 2-Americas mascot, the (nonexistent) coatless little girl.
I've been writing about the shortcomings of the human imagination as we get hung up on one thing — such as a person in the room pleading with us — and neglect to think about all the people who aren't here in our presence. But when politicians use anecdotes, they merely paint a picture for us to see in our minds, and the thing that we fail to see may be more real in the world than what's painted in that picture, such as Edwards's nonexistent coatless little girl.
There must be a little girl, you were supposed to think, because her story is specific. She's 10-years-old and I see her there, kneeling by the side of the bed, and it's a cold night.
You can see it — the unseeable nonentity — in your imagination. The anecdote-purveyor clogs up your head with phony pictures. Fight the fake little 10-year old that the ultra-fake politician would use to gum up the imaginative mechanisms of your mind. Feel the oiliness of the fakery as it lubricates those mechanisms, and visualize the things they'd prefer to be left unseen.
Tags: 2004 campaign, Edwards, hairstyles, rhetoric, seen and unseen
Rick Perry's admirable eschewal of anecdotal argument about the HPV vaccine.
Arlette Saenz, at ABC News, reports:
Months after the Texas state legislature revoked [his executive order requiring young girls receive the HPV vaccine, Governor Rick] Perry expressed in very personal terms the potential the HPV vaccine holds for preventing cervical cancer in young women. Perry spoke of the missed opportunity of the Texas government at a memorial service for Heather Burcham, a 31-year-old woman who died from cervical cancer after contracting HPV.
“Though some could not see the benefits of the HPV vaccine through the prism of politics, some day they will,” Perry said in July 2007. “Someday they will recognize that this could happen to anyone’s daughter, even their own. Someday they will respond with compassion when they once responded with ignorance. And, someday, they will come to a place where they recognize the paramount issue is whether we will choose life, and protect life, without regard to what mistakes, if any, have been made in the past.”
Perry and Burcham, a teacher from Houston, Texas, struck up an unusual friendship in the months after he issued his executive order.... Despite the legislature’s decision to revoke the executive order, Perry befriended Burcham. In the final months of her life, the two took a motorcycle ride together and spent a weekend at a ranch with her friends at the governor’s invitation.
In the final days before her death, Perry even sat at her deathbed, a moment he has described on the campaign trail. ”I sat on the side of a bed of a young lady, and she was dying from cervical cancer, and it had an impact on me.”
It's important to note that Perry's decision to use an executive order to impose the vaccine requirement — which he now calls a mistake — did not come as a result of his experience knowing Burcham. He met her after that happened. I would criticize him if he was the sort of executive decisionmaker who reacts to the vivid story of one victim. How effective is the solution you're adopting? How does it affect everyone that your imposing it on? How many other victims are likely to be spared? You have to look at the big whole picture if you're making policy, and you can't have the sort of mind that fixates on one person, feels deep empathy, and wields governmental power to do something... right now.
In fact, Perry showed a propensity to think about matters at a higher level of reasoned generality when he was challenged, at the debate, to explain his executive order. I think many politicians, in that situation, would begin with the compelling story of Heather Burcham. He said:
And at the end of the day, this was about trying to stop a cancer and giving the parental option to opt out of that. And at the end of the day, you may criticize me about the way that I went about it, but at the end of the day, I am always going to err on the side of life. And that's what this was really all about for me.
Life. He could have said: This is about Heather Burcham. Let me tell you about Heather Burcham... I can hear Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton or Barack Obama or any number of other highly successful politics moving smoothly into that line of persuasion. Maybe Perry is just less slick, less smart. But I think it's interesting that he doesn't seem have the instinct for anecdotal reasoning.
Anecdotal reasoning is a manifestation of the human tendency to weigh the seen over the unseen. Yes, it's a terrible thing that a a 31-year-old woman died from cervical cancer caused by HPV. If she were dying right in front of you, maybe you would think, I swear I will do anything in my power to express my outrage at her death, but a mind that gets stuck in that mode can't be trusted making broad policy decisions and imposing requirements on all of us.
Consider Michele Bachmann, who famously emoted: "There’s a woman who came up crying to me tonight after the debate. She said her daughter was given that vaccine... She told me her daughter suffered mental retardation as a result. There are very dangerous consequences."
Well, that's just one instance of how Bachmann's mind processes information. It's the one we're seeing right now. I don't want to overweight one vivid bit of evidence, or I will exemplify the very kind of thinking I am trying to avoid.
Tags: cancer, Michele Bachmann, rationality, Rick Perry, seen and unseen, vaccine
Man arrested for "biting off a man's eyebrow during a fight, chewing it and spitting it out."
He spit it out? Well, there was hair in it.
Tags: cannibalism, crime
How Dan Quayle got into law school through affirmative action — a controversy from 1988.
Perhaps you remember the challenges to Dan Quayle, who was the GOP VP nominee in 1988 (and later served as VP under George H.W. Bush):
[Quayle] was questioned about a report that he had been admitted to Indiana University Law School as part of a program designed for students whose grades and aptitude test scores were so low they would not have been admitted in the regular admission process....
Mr. Quayle acknowledged earlier that he had persuaded the dean to admit him despite poor grades at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind....
Professor [Charles] Kelso said he did not remember Mr. Quayle and was certain that neither his family nor his wealth had played any role in his admission to the course.
I remember discussing this matter at the time, perhaps with another Wisconsin law professor. My interlocutor said that an applicant who shows up in person and makes a persuasive argument demonstrates a determination and skill that might justify admitting him to law school. These are qualities, seen in person, that might not appear in the cold numbers of the LSAT and the GPA and that are in fact relevant to the applicant's aptitude for lawyering.
I said: But what about everyone else who got rejected? If they had known there was another way to get in, they might have wanted to appear in person in front of the dean and show that they too were brimming with lawyerly promise unmeasured in standardized tests. If there is a second way to get in, there should be a competition there too. The dean who let Quayle in on alternate grounds may have seen value in the man who appeared before him, but did he fully visualize the others who might have presented themselves too? Was Quayle really the best of them? The dean had no way to know.
My interlocutor retrenched: If there is a secret backdoor route into the law school, the applicant who is able to find it has manifested a special skill that would be irrelevant if the school made it plain to all that there is an alternate admissions path that uses an interview with the dean. My interlocutor had to concede that there is no way the law school dean would put up with interviews with every rejected applicant who wanted to take the trouble to show up in Indianapolis to plead his case.
I said: So a law school should make a special point of admitting the guy who realizes the official process might not be the only way to get what you want and who has the nerve to decide that his personal interests transcend the importance of equal rules for all and to take up the time of a busy person (the dean) and to promote his individual case? Well, maybe that is the attitude a client wants from his lawyer, and maybe it's okay that their lawyer couldn't score well enough on the LSAT to get into Indiana.
But I couldn't accept the law school dean's failure to treat Dan Quayle like the other rejected applicants. I thought and still think that it was the moral failing of valuing the seen over the unseen. Quayle showed up in person: Here I am, see my worthiness! But all the other rejected applicants were human beings too. Imagine them, all of them, and what they might have argued in pursuit of their goals.
By chance, the linked article — which I dug out of the NYT archive — contains another seen-and-unseen issue:
Outside the plant about 150 protesters carried signs that said such things as ''Draft Dodger Quayle - Who Died in Your Place?'' - a reference to his decision to join the Indiana National Guard in the Vietnam War.
If you opposed the Vietnam War and evaded the draft, did you truly visualize the person who went in your place?
Tags: affirmative action, Dan Quayle, law, law school, lawyers, seen and unseen, the draft, Vietnam
Things seen and unseen.
Instapundit linked my post about the morality of affirmative action:
THE MORALITY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: “The students at a university are always the students who were admitted. They feel hurt or outraged if they think the message is that they shouldn’t be here. They’re here, in the room, and the individuals who did not get in are not here to cry out with corresponding outrage. . . . The policy will only affect individuals who are not in the room, who are out there, just as the students who didn’t get in this year are out there. The difficult thing — and the true moral challenge — is to visualize those who are affected who are not in the room to express pain when you hurt them.”
Another case of what is seen and what is not seen. Politicians — among whose number I certainly count university presidents — advance their careers by exploiting the difference between the two.
He links to the essay "What Is Seen and What Is Not Seen," by the 19th century political economist Frédéric Bastiat, who begins:
In the economic sphere an act, a habit, an institution, a law produces not only one effect, but a series of effects. Of these effects, the first alone is immediate; it appears simultaneously with its cause; it is seen. The other effects emerge only subsequently; they are not seen; we are fortunate if we foresee them.
There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good economist takes into account both the effect that can be seen and those effects that must be foreseen.
My son John Cohen also quoted my seen-and-unseen comments, and he associated the general principle with the specific problem of capital punishment, quoting an article by Cass Sunstein and Adrian Vermeule called "Is Capital Punishment Morally Required?" In that context, statistics indicate that capital punishment has a deterrent effect, but the people who are not killed are, of course, never identified. What we see is the convicted person, with whom we may feel challenged to empathize, and the dead person, whom it is too late to save.
The phrase "seen and unseen" calls to mind the Nicene Creed:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
I wonder if that was ever intended to refer to things that are unseen because they never happened, the alternate version of reality that would exist if we had made a different decision. But that is the moral problem I want to notice, and I will designate with a new tag "seen and unseen." I have 2 more things I want to talk about under that heading. One has to do with Rick Perry and the other has to do with Dan Quayle. But I'll put these in separate posts.
Tags: affirmative action, Cass Sunstein, death panels, economics, God, Instapundit, law, morality, seen and unseen
Janet Napolitano speaks in Madison today.
She's going to talk — and answer questions — about "innovative ways to encourage the 'best and brightest' international students and scholars to study and remain in the U.S."
2–3 p.m. in Varsity Hall at Union South, on campus. The UW website says: "All faculty, staff and students are invited to attend."
Tags: education, immigration, Janet Napolitano
"Former Walker aide shaken, embarrassed following FBI raid, denies any wrongdoing."
"[Cynthia] Archer said law enforcement has ordered her to not discuss the case, and officials with the FBI and the Milwaukee County district attorney's office are not saying anything either. The information vacuum has led to a minor media frenzy, with reporters trying to figure out if this has anything to do with Walker."
Sorry I've failed to contribute to the frenzy. I don't like to post to say hey, look at that. I feel like I have to add some value. So I'll just say... what's with the secrecy combined with conspicuousness? The woman's reputation is besmirched by the conspicuous raid, and the governor of our state is collaterally damaged. But she's supposed to keep quiet, why?
"I'm not worried," Archer said. "I don't even have a lawyer. I don't need a lawyer. I did nothing inappropriate."
Why not? The FBI search your house for hours and you don't need a lawyer? Just because you think you've done nothing wrong doesn't mean you don't need a lawyer! Assuming Cynthia Archer is not an idiot, on what theory does she not need a lawyer?
Tags: Cynthia Archer, FBI, law, lawyers, Scott Walker, search and seizure
Colorado high country.
A photograph Meade brought home from his mountain biking trip last week.
Tags: biking, Colorado, landscapes, photos by Meade
Baseball's Meanest Players.
Sports Illustrated polled 215 MLB players to get this list.
#9 and #13 are Brewers.
And what was #13 thinking?
Tags: baseball
Chancellor David Ward responds to attack on University of Wisconsin—Madison admissions practices.
From email addressed to "members of the campus community," which I received a few minutes ago:
Many of you have been involved this week in an important debate about diversity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I want to again say that the university remains firmly committed to enrolling a highly diverse student body -- that means recruiting not only students from ethnic minorities, but those from rural Wisconsin, first-generation college students, women in the sciences and othergroups.
When making admissions decisions, UW-Madison uses holistic processes for undergraduate, graduate and professional schools that take into account a range of factors. University officials are confident these practices are constitutional and consistent with U.S. Supreme Court decisions that say race is a permissible factor when part of a holistic admissions process. We know that enrolling students of all cultures and backgrounds improves the learning environment at UW-Madison and prepares everyone to be competitive in an increasingly multicultural world.
Tags: affirmative action, diversity politics, University of Wisconsin
Wisconsin Supreme Court justices vote 6-1 against opening up their conferences to the public.
The vote is not surprising, of course. What was surprising was that it was proposed. It was presented by Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson, and Abrahamson was the only Justice who voted for it. Even Justice Ann Walsh Bradley — who last spring accused fellow Justice David Prosser of putting her in a "choke hold" — voted against it.
[The Chief Justice] and Justice Ann Walsh Bradley were the only two who voted in favor of opening to the public discussions about which cases the court would accept. And the same two justices were the lone voters in favor of releasing recordings or transcripts of opinion conferences at least one year following the release of opinions....
But other justices expressed discomfort with Abrahamson's idea, saying open conferences could chill discussions among the justices. Justice Patrick Crooks, often an ally of Abrahamson in court decisions, called the proposal "a big mistake."
"It's a little bit like the old saw about making sausage," Crooks said. "I don't think you want to see that in the Supreme Court."
The court tabled a decision on another of Abrahamson's proposals, to bring in an expert to on work dynamics to work with the justices on collegiality....
At one point Ziegler asked Abrahamson how much more time she wanted to spend on her transparency proposals, saying: "When are we going to get back to work?"
Abrahamson rebuked Ziegler for insinuating she was wasting time, calling discussion of court functions as important as drafting decisions. Ziegler quickly backtracked, saying she only wanted to know when she could go to the bathroom....
Tags: Wisconsin Supreme Court
"It's lonely at the top. 'James, can we meet for dinner?' was the subject line of an email we received from none other than Barack Obama."
Hey! I got "Ann, can we meet for dinner?" The President is 2-timing me!
I'm giving this post my "metaphor" tag. (Also my "Obama the boyfriend" tag.) It's a metaphor to imagine that the relationship between the government and the governed is romantic. No one's really fooled though, are they? Yesterday...
... while Obama was delivering a campaign speech there, "a lone male voice rang out: 'I love you Barack!' Obama responded immediately: 'I love you back!' " It must've been Giuseppe.
Obama quickly decided he'd better play hard to get. According to Agence France-Presse, he added: "If you love me, you got to help me pass this bill." The reference was to Stimulus Jr., the $447 billion boondoggle he proposed in a historic speech to a joint session of Congress last week...
[One] reader thought Obama might have been inspired by... John 14:15 [which] quotes Jesus as saying: "If you love me, keep my commands."
Yeah, but Jesus isn't asking me out to dinner... unless... I mean, when Barack asks us out to dinner, it won't be like this...
... right?
Tags: James Taranto, Jesus, metaphor, Obama the boyfriend
"How do you escape the notion that getting rid of affirmative action is white supremacy?"
2 UW-Madison students challenge Roger Clegg — the president of the Center for Equal Opportunity:
Like the clip in the previous post, this was recorded at a Federalist Society-sponsored debate on September 13th.
[Video shot and edited by me.]
ADDED: I want to say that, for me, the second questioner exemplifies a central problem for Clegg and his agenda. The students at a university are always the students who were admitted. They feel hurt or outraged if they think the message is that they shouldn't be here. They're here, in the room, and the individuals who did not get in are not here to cry out with corresponding outrage.
It reminds me of debates about abortion. Those who were aborted are never present in the room to express their perspective on the issue. The emotions of those who are not present may be expressed, vicariously, by others, but it's another matter entirely to say to human beings as they stand in your presence: Under my proposed policy — the only morally/constitutionally permissible approach — you lose.
Now, I'm sure Clegg would try to find a way to say these students wouldn't lose. Under a race-blind approach to admissions, some of them would get in, and, if so, they won't be burdened by a stigma that, he would say, attached when race is taken into account. And, in any event, a switch to a color-blind approach would only take place prospectively, so it wouldn't affect any of these students, who got in under the existing policy, and no matter how illegal or immoral the policy is, they didn't design it. They played by the rules in effect at the time, and they won and deserve their prize.
The policy will only affect individuals who are not in the room, who are out there, just as the students who didn't get in this year are out there. The difficult thing — and the true moral challenge — is to visualize those who are affected who are not in the room to express pain when you hurt them.
AND: I don't know that Clegg's primary concern really is for the individuals whose applications were rejected but who would have gotten in under a race-blind approach. I think he expressed more concern for the harm done to the students who did get in, the ones who were in the room resisting his message. He was telling them, to their faces, that they were being stigmatized by affirmative action. In that light, the young woman's statement "You disrespected me" really is not such an inaccurate understanding of what he was saying. He was concerned about her, but it wasn't a kind of concern she appreciated.
Tags: affirmative action, education, ethnicity, Federalist Society, race and education, racial politics, seen and unseen, University of Wisconsin, video
"You need to take an Ethnic Studies Requirement class!"
An audience member yells reeducation advice at Roger Clegg of the Center for Equal Opportunity, who asserts that public universities should not sort people according to race and ethnicity:
That's a short clip from the Federalist Society-sponsored debate that took place here on campus on September 13th.
Tags: affirmative action, education, ethnicity, Federalist Society, race and education, racial politics, University of Wisconsin, video
Wisconsin legislators fight over whether to fully reimburse Madison for law enforcement help during the protests.
The budget committee approved $8.2 million to cover all the extra law enforcement that was required during the protests, but some GOP legislators are resisting paying $751,500 to the city of Madison, on the theory that Madison police and Dane County deputies might not really have been serving in good faith.
"It's almost a slap in the face to ask that question," Madison Police Chief Noble Wray said. "It's very disappointing as a law enforcement professional that someone for political reasons would question the ethics and the integrity of our (work)."...
Republicans on the committee urged Walker administration officials to consider carefully the claims by the City of Madison and Dane County before paying them....
"I hope you're aware that the mayor of Madison clearly would have preferred his police officers to stay on the other side of the (Capitol) Square," Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said.
Committee co-chairman Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) echoed those reservations, saying he believes there were "legitimate concerns about actions of individual officers."...
Wray, the Madison police chief, said he never denied any direct request for help from the Capitol police or other state officials. He said that Madison police usually stayed off the Capitol Square grounds because of a prior agreement with the state that they would police the areas around it, which are their jurisdiction.
I'd like to see the specifics of those "concerns about actions of individual officers." In observing the protests nearly every day through the entire period of the protests, Meade and I often tried to figure out what the police were doing, including the Capitol police. There seemed to be a policy of facilitating the protesters, perhaps because it actually was the best strategy for maintaining order when the police were vastly outnumbered. I have video of protesters assuring me that "The police are on our side."
But allowing the protesters to believe that was one way of keeping them calm and under control. It made a lot of protesters willing to wait patiently in lines when they could have rushed doors, and it made them willing — much of the time — to listen to polite requests from police. I don't like the idea of questioning the integrity of the police who were faced with controlling huge crowds of relentless, angry people who felt righteously entitled to occupy the Capitol building and grounds.
Put the specifics out there, or pay up and move on.
As for the protesters, you drained that $8.2 million out of the state treasury. Take responsibility for that.
ADDED: From the Badger Herald:
A statement from the [Joint Finance Committe] said operating decisions of the Madison police during the protests were inappropriately affected by the political leanings of high ranking members of the police department and the Mayor’s office.
Tags: Grothman, Madison, police, Wisconsin protests
"Get nice and rowdy. It's a 4:15 game, plenty of time to get lubed up..."
Says Tom Brady to Patriots fans.
"Yeah. Start drinking early."
A Patriots spokesperson clarifies, saying that Brady wanted fans to "stay hydrated, drink a lot of water. Be loud. Drink responsibly."
This suggests new slang. Which do you like better?
"I'm getting lubed up," when you're drinking water.
"I'm staying hydrated," when you're drinking alcohol.
Tags: drinking, euphemisms, football, slang, Tom Brady
Did you see that Harvard law student — John Cochran — on "Survivor"?
The new season started last night.
For some reason, he blurted out, at the first opportunity, that he's watched every episode of the show (that's some 20+ seasons) and that he's a Harvard law student, which — you'd think he'd know if he's such a sharp student of the show — makes him look unreliable and threatening. Plus, he made a spectacle of his lack of "Survivor"-level physical beauty and athleticism. Well, maybe he has some genius strategy and making elementary blunders is some sort of sleight-of-hand misdirection.
Over at the Television Without Pity forum on last night's episode:
I didn't mind "Cochran" so much until his little self-pity rant where he bemoaned the unfairness of being voted out "before the three girls." I mean, ooh, "girls" might be better than you are? The shame, the shame!...
[Different commenter:] I was kind of rooting for Cochran until he threw in that "girl" bit. Was he at a different challenge than the rest of us? Did he not notice that the GIRL, Mikayla, was seriously kicking ass?
[Yet another commenter:] Trust me, they are giving Cochran MAJOR grief at Harvard Law School for that "girls" comment. Not cool.
Cochran assumes he is charmingly witty — because that's what he needs in place of looks. But that doesn't mean people see the humor. He probably intended the "girls" remark to be cute and self-deprecating, but those show fans didn't hear it that way.
So... are we rooting for the law student or not?
Speaking of rooting, Meade and I were going back and forth between "Survivor" and the Brewers game. Let's just say that it helped a bit to have the South Pacific as leavening in the Milwaukee experience.
Tags: "Survivor", baseball, Harvard, law school, masculine beauty, masculinity
A law authorizing police to enter a private home whenever they can see a keg inside.
An outrageous ordinance proposed in Madison, Wisconsin:
Downtown Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said police wanted the ability to enter house parties with visible kegs, especially in situations where kegs could entice more people to come and make parties "even more out of control."
Tags: beer, drinking, law, Madison, police, search and seizure
"This is a man who has been relentlessly stalking my family to the point of moving in right next door to us..."
"... to harass us and spy on us to satisfy his creepy obsession with my wife... His book is full of disgusting lies, innuendo, and smears. Even The New York Times called this book 'dated, petty,' and that it 'chases caustic, unsubstantiated gossip."
Says Todd Palin, disgusted that Joe McGinniss is getting attention after putting adequately juicy nuggets in his book about Sarah Palin.
The referenced NYT review is by Janet Maslin, who exposes McGinniss's execrable ethics:
“The Rogue” ... includes this: “A friend says, ‘Sarah and her sisters had a fetish for black guys for a while.’ ” Mr. McGinniss did in 2011 make a phone call to the former N.B.A. basketball player Glen Rice, who is black, and prompted him to acknowledge having fond memories of Sarah Heath. While Mr. Rice avoids specifics and uses the words “respectful” and “a sweetheart,” Mr. McGinniss eggs him on with the kind of flagrantly leading question he seems to have habitually asked. In Mr. Rice’s case: “So you never had the feeling she felt bad about having sex with a black guy?”...
[McGinniss] even finds a species of Alaska yenta willing to remark on the condition of the Palins’ toilet...
... Mr. McGinniss suggests both that Ms. Palin is committed to stealth religious control of government, and that she is not sufficiently devout.
With the same imprecise aim he cites conspiracy theories that Ms. Palin may not be the mother of her youngest son, Trig, and questions the circumstances under which he was born. Mr. McGinniss puts forth a provocative case for doubting Ms. Palin’s account of Trig’s birth, which involved a round trip between Alaska and Texas while she was supposedly in labor. But then he comes to an indefensibly reckless conclusion: “It is perhaps the most blistering assessment of her character possible that many Wasillans who’d known Sarah from high school onward told me that even if she had not faked the entire story of her pregnancy and Trig’s birth, it was something she was eminently capable of doing.”
That last quote might be the most embarrassing sentence written by a journalist that I have ever read.
ADDED: Here's Filip Bondy in the NY Daily News:
The next time Sarah Palin complains about her treatment by any media member, that reporter might want to inform her that at least he or she is not literally sleeping with sources. Because according to a new book, Palin violated the most basic of journalistic tenets, bedding college basketball star Glen Rice in 1987 when she was a young TV sports reporter for KTUU in Anchorage....
This is the stuff that drives legitimate women reporters nuts, makes members of AWSM (Association for Women in Sports Media) furious because it tears at credibility and plays to false stereotypes. ..
Tags: books, ethics, Joe McGinniss, journalism, racial politics, Sarah Palin, Todd Palin
"Should Faking a Name on Facebook Be a Felony?"
Orin Kerr asks:
The little-known law at issue is called the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. It was enacted in 1986 to punish computer hacking. But Congress has broadened the law every few years, and today it extends far beyond hacking. The law now criminalizes computer use that "exceeds authorized access" to any computer. Today that violation is a misdemeanor, but the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to meet this morning to vote on making it a felony.
The problem is that a lot of routine computer use can exceed "authorized access." Courts are still struggling to interpret this language. But the Justice Department believes that it applies incredibly broadly to include "terms of use" violations and breaches of workplace computer-use policies.
I was a victim of that crime back in 2007, and I got mocked for even objecting to the behavior, as though I was repressive and humorless. ("You know, I realize you're going on 70 or whatever, but seriously, you act like you're still in high school, being picked on.") I never said I wanted the government to prosecute the person who impersonated me on Facebook in violation of Facebook's Terms of Use. I just wanted Facebook to delete the imposter's account... which it did.
Anyway, there are a lot of complicated issues here. As Kerr observes, way too many things are swept into this vague law, and the effects have been limited because federal prosecutors tend not to charge misdemeanors. There is, however, some core behavior that ought to be prosecuted as a felony, and Congress ought to specify what it is and not simply trust prosecutors — incentivized by the new felony status of internet misbehavior — to select appropriate targets.
Tags: anti-Althousiana, computers, crime, Facebook, law, Orin Kerr, the web
At the Late Night Café...
... go ahead and talk all night.
"Obama Approval Plummets on Jobs Plan."
"The downbeat assessment of the American Jobs Act reflects a growing and broad sense of dissatisfaction with the president. Americans disapprove of his handling of the economy by 62 percent to 33 percent, a Bloomberg National Poll conducted Sept. 9-12 shows. The disapproval number represents a nine point increase from six months ago."
Tags: Obama 2012, Obama economics
Blitzer's question about the uninsured man who needed expensive care hit Ron Paul close to home.
Sam Stein explains:
Paul's 2008 campaign manager, Kent Snyder, went through a strikingly similar experience to Blitzer's hypothetical one, dying of complications from viral pneumonia just two weeks after Paul ended his presidential bid. Snyder was uninsured, so family and friends were forced to raise funds to cover his $400,000 in medical bills. Their efforts included setting up a website soliciting contributions from Paul supporters.
The episode reflects what Paul himself argued should be the free-market ideal for health insurance policy. During Monday night's GOP primary debate, the libertarian Republican made the case that health insurance coverage was a choice. If one decided to forgo it, he ran the risk of mounting bills. If a patient was on his deathbed, it wasn't the taxpayers' responsibility to pick up that tab.
"I practiced medicine before we had Medicaid in the early 1960s when I got out of medical school. I practiced at Santa Rosa hospital in San Antonia, and the churches took care of them," Paul said. "We never turned anybody away from the hospital. And we've given up on this whole concept that we might take care of ourselves and assume responsibility for ourselves, our neighbors, our friends, our churches would do it. This whole idea -- that's the reason the cost is so high. The cost is so high because they dump it on the government, it becomes a bureaucracy."
As Stein notes, people have been paying way more attention to the unseen idiots in the audience who shouted "yes" when Blitzer asked if we should let that guy die than to Paul's answer. And the fact is, Paul's answer is brilliantly stated. I'm not saying I agree with Paul, but what an articulate response!
Blitzer's question was designed to make Paul look heartless and extreme and unrealistic, and Paul flipped it, perfectly. Which is, I think, why the media would like to pay more attention to the yes-shouting jerks in the audience.
Tags: charity, insurance, libertarians, ObamaCare, Ron Paul, Wolf Blitzer
Oh, Gumby! Has it come to this?!
"Gumby gives up; Police keep the suit."
IN THE COMMENTS: Chip S. said:
Looks like he'll get some quality pokey time.
Tags: Chip S., crime
Madison radio personality Sly incites listeners to go to Paul Ryan's home and dump candy at his door.
Audio at the link.
We fired up our V-8 caravan and headed south to Janesville, home of an empty GM plant, worker plight, and Paul Ryan. He offered candy to a constituent who really just wanted a job and his legislative help in getting one for himself and the rest of Rock County's unemployed. So, we brought him enough sugar to last he [sic] and his yippy-skippy wife and neighbor the rest of their lives.
You can listen to the audio of the radio broadcast yesterday morning on WTDY. Sly gives out Ryan's home address, giggles about going over to the house to put candy there as a prank, and urges readers to head over there, with candy. He goes into detail about the directions to the house, the number of children who live there, and the physical attractiveness of the Congressman's wife.
Tags: candy, Paul Ryan, protest, WTDY's Sly
"When Do Gay Kids Start 'Acting Gay'?"
"Sometimes when they're toddlers," writes Brian Palmer in Slate.
What? No discussion of the "pre-gay" boy on "Curb Your Enthusiasm"?!
Tags: children, Curb Your Enthusiasm, gender difference, homosexuality, Larry David
Will the state legislature look at University of Wisconsin-Madison admissions after the reports on affirmative action?
Apparently yes:
As a result of the findings, Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, issued a statement calling for an oversight hearing to review the “possibly illegal” process. Nass chairs the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities.
“The study raises serious allegations against the UW System that they would use race and ethnicity as a core admissions test,” said Mike Mikalsen, a spokesperson for Nass. “It seems to show numerous students are being bypassed, with hundreds of more qualified students not being admitted.”
Mikalsen said the hearing, which would be scheduled in the upcoming weeks, could lead to the drafting of new legislation concerning the issues at hand or a request being made to the attorney general for formal review.
He added litigation against UW lies “almost certainly” on the horizon.
You know, I've been thinking about last night's debate between Roger Clegg of the Center for Equal Opportunity (which released the reports accusing the UW of "severe racial discrimination") and Wisconsin lawprof Larry Church. Describing it afterwards, I said:
I would have liked more discussion of legal doctrine and the precise issues from the case law, but both men chose to concentrate on policy, with the assumption that racial equality and harmony are the desired ultimate goals. What's the best way to get there? It's an old, old question, and the 2 men mainly assembled the usual pro and con arguments, so I doubt if any minds were changed.
What I need to say this morning is that there are 2 separate matters: whether affirmative action is permissible and whether it is a good idea. If affirmative action violates the Constitution, it doesn't matter whether it's a good idea or not. It's not permissible. It isn't an option in the set of options that the University has when it designs its admissions policy. (Yes, you could try to get the Constitution amended or the University could decide to go ahead and violate the Constitution and try to cover up what it's really doing.)
But is it a good idea? What struck me last night is that both Clegg and Church spoke almost entirely about whether it's a good idea. Each man had his set of reasons for his policy position, and, frankly, I found it a bit dull, because they weren't honestly agonizing over the difficult costs and benefits and ethical trade-offs. They already had their positions and they advocated them. There was no view into a real human mind thinking seriously about a difficult problem, no real-time performance of decisionmaking.
Now, why did both men choose to discuss the matter at the policy level, each endeavoring to sell his policy? Why did neither man have much to say about whether it's constitutional? One answer is that it's a complicated question, and the answer is that it's constitutional if you do it the right way and it takes a long time to explain what the right way is, and it takes a really long time to go into the matter of whether the University is presently doing it the right way. You could also say that the legal question is difficult enough that most people — including judges! — are going to decide it based on what they want the answer to be. So it's best to talk about policy anyway.
But shouldn't Clegg want to emphasize law? Clegg wants to deny the University the full range of options and the way to do that is to put the affirmative action option off limits by designating it as a constitutional rights violation.
Scroll back to the top of this post for your answer. The University is currently the decisionmaker about which policy to adopt among the range of permissible policies, but the state legislature could trump the University. Clegg may seem to be threatening a lawsuit and, if he takes that route, he will need to speak in the language of constitutional rights.
But there is a different route, the legislative route, and it doesn't depend on aligning the facts of this case with the fussy particularities of the Supreme Court's case law. It's a direct appeal to the people of Wisconsin and their representatives in the Capitol. And nobody needs to understand the law for that groundswell of antagonism to affirmative action to take the policymaking power away from the University.
Tags: affirmative action, law, Supreme Court, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin
"Ridiculous NY-09 spin: 'It’s a very difficult district for Democrats.'"
Ed Morrissey laughs.
Just how big is the NY-09 result?
Tags: Democratic Party, Ed Morrissey, New York
There was a huge crowd for tonight's big affirmative action debate here at the University of Wisconsin.
But the 2 speakers — Roger Clegg and Larry Church — refrained from cranking up the emotions in the big room. There was some clapping and finger-snapping to approve of just about anything pro-affirmative action and some hooting and booing over anything against affirmative action, but the men were in no way drowned out. Clegg and Church got to say what they had to say. During the question period, the various students who got a turn at the mike sounded passionate but not irrational.
As Meade and I walked home, I called the students "admirable" for not getting out of hand and shouting down the speakers, and Meade made fun of my low standard. I said, "It's Wisconsin. Kudos for not rioting."
ADDED: Pictures:
"Socialism 101/What it is and why we need it":
Tags: affirmative action, diversity politics, education, Federalist Society, law, University of Wisconsin
In Madison: 150 protesters storm hotel to disrupt press conference given by the president of the Center for Equal Opportunity.
Roger Clegg was announcing 2 studies that purport to show the University of Wisconsin racially discriminates in its undergrad and law school admissions.
About 50 minutes into Clegg's press conference -- in which he took questions from media members, students and UW-Madison faculty -- noise erupted outside the banquet room. Protesters, most of whom were UW-Madison students, could easily be heard chanting "Power to the people!"
Power to the people?! You know, when one side is claiming constitutional rights, yelling about the majority's will is not impressive. Seriously, what is the point of a protest like this? What is it coherently saying? If you want to argue that there is no violation of rights... why are you yelling? And why are you breaking into a private place of business?
The article says the hotel secured its entrances, but one student got in "through the food services entrance and then allowed everyone else inside." And hotel "staff were... rushed by a mob of protesters, throwing employees to the ground."
Meanwhile, at Union South, there's a debate at 7 pm between Clegg and our wonderful Wisconsin Law colleague Larry Church. Will the 2 men be allowed to debate or will hostile voices try to drown them out? I'll let you know.
Tags: affirmative action, diversity politics, law, law school, racial politics, University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin protests
A Federalist Society/Wisconsin Law School event promoted with boxing gloves...
... just got a lot more boxing-y.
Professor Larry Church will debate Roger Clegg of the Center for Equal Opportunity tonight, the evening of the day Clegg dropped the Center's bombshell studies accusing the Law School (and the undergraduate program) of "severe racial discrimination."
The event — a debate titled "Affirmative Action and Higher Education" — was planned — by The Federalist Society — without knowledge that these reports were forthcoming.
It's scheduled to take place tonight at 7. It was originally going to take place in a room that will hold only 95 people. I will update to tell you where it actually will take place when I find out.
UPDATE: The event will take place in South Hall, in our beautiful new Union South.
Tags: affirmative action, Federalist Society, law, law school, racial politics, University of Wisconsin
The Center for Equal Opportunity releases its 2 studies and claims "severe discrimination on race and ethnicity" in UW admissions, both for undergraduates and at the law school.
I have not read the studies, but they are available for downloading at the Center's website here, where the findings are summarized:
The odds ratio favoring African Americans and Hispanics over whites was 576-to-1 and 504-to-1, respectively, using the SAT and class rank while controlling for other factors. Thus, the median composite SAT score for black admittees was 150 points lower than for whites and Asians, and the Latino median SAT score was 100 points lower. Using the ACT, the odds ratios climbed to 1330-to-1 and 1494-to-1, respectively, for African Americans and Hispanics over whites.
For law school admissions, the racial discrimination found was also severe, with the weight given to ethnicity much greater than given to, for example, Wisconsin residency. Thus, an out-of-state black applicant with grades and LSAT scores at the median for that group would have had a 7 out 10 chance of admission and an out-of-state Hispanic a 1 out of 3 chance—but an in-state Asian with those grades and scores had a 1 out of 6 chance and an in-state white only a 1 out of 10 chance.
CEO chairman Linda Chavez noted: “This is the most severe undergraduate admissions discrimination that CEO has ever found in the dozens of studies it has published over the last 15 years.” Chavez also noted: “The studies show that literally hundreds of students applying as undergrads or to the law school are rejected in favor of students with lower test scores and grades, and the reason is that they have the wrong skin color or their parents came from the wrong countries.”
Posted by Ann Althouse at 12:06 PM 173 comments
Tags: affirmative action, law, law school, racial politics, University of Wisconsin
"Insurgents launched a complex assault against the American Embassy and the nearby NATO headquarters on Tuesday..."
"... pelting the heavily guarded compounds with rockets in an attack that raised new questions about the security of Afghanistan’s capital and the Westerners working there."
Tags: Afghanistan
How many roadside memorials are enough?
500 in one city... and the requests keep rolling in.
Tags: roadside memorials
"The Reagan library is the way presidential libraries have been in the past... The Nixon library represents the new kind of museum that presents more of an historic view, warts and all."
Said history prof Jon Wiener.
That would have been a spiffier sound bite if he'd said "The Nixon library represents the new kind of museum that presents more of an historic view, 5 o'clock shadow and all."
Or has 5 o'clock shadow lost the sinister connotation it had back in the days when Nixon lost the TV debate with JFK (but won on the radio)?
Or maybe Wiener should have said: "The Nixon library represents the new kind of museum that presents more of an historic view, shifty eyes and all."
Tags: eyes, history, Nixon, Reagan, shaving
"The last two Republican presidential debates have been some of the most macabre on record."
"Blitzer asked if under Paul’s libertarian philosophy, a sick man without insurance should be allowed to die in the hospital rather than have the state pay his medical bills. Before Paul could answer that question, shouts of 'yes!' and cheering bubbled up from the audience."
Tags: death, debate, debates, insurance, ObamaCare, Ron Paul, Wolf Blitzer
"Seldom has there been as clear a winner" as Mitt Romney at last night's debate.
Asserts Fred Barnes.
Tags: 2010 elections, debate, debates, Fred Barnes, Mitt Romney
"The White House is girding for a political loss in the heart of New York on Tuesday."
"They’re also spinning up an explanation that won’t entirely result in the blame landing on the low popularity of the president. As in Massachusetts, where Democratic Senate candidate Martha Coakley was faulted by the White House and many others for tone-deaf campaigning, Democratic candidate Dave Weprin may see the undercarriage of that new White House campaign bus."
Tags: Obama 2012
"A challenge to our commenters: Just try to out-racist your counterparts over at Ann Althouse’s blog."
See? This is the kind of thing I have to contend with. Web writers who don't like me or don't like whatever side of politics they think I represent will comb through the comments to find whatever sounds worst and then smear me and the entire comments community here. As the discussion turns to affirmative action today, people who would like to discredit or silence me are going to be especially active looking for comments. What can be done? 1. Think about what you are writing and how it will look to outsiders, 2. Don't feed the troll, 3. Perceive the Moby.
Tags: anti-Althousiana, blogging, Moby, racial politics, the Althouse comments community, trolls
It's protest time again.
"Sit-in at Doubletree Hotel in Madison to protest lawsuit being filed by the Center for Equal Opportunity against the University of Wisconsin, alleging that current admissions policies discriminate against white and Asian students."
ADDED: I'm not the protest type, but I do remember once participating in a protest — marching around in a circle and chanting. The subject was affirmative action. The year was 1970 and the place was the University of Michigan. The chant was "Open it up... or shut it down," and we did shut it down. There was a student strike. (I still have the letters I wrote to my parents explaining why we were striking.) In 1973, the University of Michigan began its affirmative action program. These days, I'm a law professor, and I teach the case in which the Supreme Court found that the program violated the Constitution. Speaking of circles.
And I'm a blogger observing the protests. One observation I have about student protests is that the applicants who don't get in are not around to march and chant. They went somewhere else — perhaps Eau Claire or Whitewater. The university officials last night stressed that every student who is here should feel good about being here, that he or she deserves to be here. Of course, we want everyone who is here to feel great about it. The officials don't see much need to speak to the individuals who were rejected. They're not part of the campus climate. Back in 1970 when we protested at Michigan, we were protesting against our own interest, being altruistic, saying, essentially, maybe we don't deserve to be here. It is important to visualize the effect of a policy on persons who are not present to assert their interests.
If the question is whether the current admission policy is constitutional under the existing Supreme Court case law, we need to examine the details. In its 2003 cases involving the University of Michigan programs, the undergraduate program was found unconstitutional, but the law school's approach was upheld. So, under the current law, it depends on how you do it, and of course, Wisconsin's policy today was shaped with knowledge of that case law.
It should be noted, however, that the Michigan law school program was upheld in a 5-4 decision in which Justice O'Connor provided the decisive vote. I think today's Supreme Court — with Alito replacing O'Connor — would have gone the other way in that case. It remains to be seen what will happen to the lawsuit against the University of Wisconsin. We have yet to see the reports that will be released today and how the university will respond.
Not every controversy is resolved through a lawsuit, of course. For example, California, via proposition, banned the use of race as a factor in admissions. Obviously, Wisconsin has a conservative legislature and governor, but I tend to doubt that they want the mass of trouble that would ensue if they were to propose to end affirmative action by statute. So, I assume there will be a lawsuit, and we shall see what happens.
ADDED: Here is the UW-Madison Chancellor's response, asserting that admissions at UW-Madison are done through "a holistic, competitive and selective process."
Tags: affirmative action, Doubletree protest, law, O'Connor, Supreme Court, University of Michigan, University of Wisconsin, Young Althouse
"Two reports released today allege the University of Wisconsin discriminates against whites and Asian applicants and have electrified both UW administration and some student leaders."
This is the diversity emergency discussed in the previous post:
The reports were released at midnight on Tuesday from the Center for Equal Opportunity in conjunction with a press conference CEO President Roger Clegg will hold at the Double Tree Inn at 11 a.m. today. Clegg will also be at a debate on the future of Affirmative Action at the UW Law School at 7 p.m. this evening....
In an interview with The Badger Herald, Clegg said the reports show how a heavy preference is given to blacks and Latinos over whites and Asians in the admissions process for undergraduate programs and in the law school.
[Damon Williams, UW vice provost for diversity and climate,] and Dean of Students Lori Berquam said CEO had filed an open records request on the UW admissions process for both undergraduates and law school applicants and had already set the wheels in motion to orchestrate a “coordinated attack” against the campus....
Williams stressed the need for students to mobilize, and the students present did not seem to need any convincing.
“Don’t wait for us to show the way,” Williams said to students, who were already assembling poster board to make signs against the CEO president’s report and visit.
That was the report in The Badger Herald. Here's the other student newspaper, The Daily Cardinal:
The "aggressive and right wing" organization's plan, according to Berquam, is to effectively eliminate affirmative action at UW-Madison.
"I was so upset that our students are going to have to wake up in the morning and deal with this," said Williams with tears in his eyes. "That's not what students came here for."...
But Williams told students not to despair, for every student admitted to UW-Madison is and deserves to be a badger.
"I want students to be able to be in power; to say this is who we are, this is what we value," Williams said.
He said students should lead the university's response against CEO....
One of the first responses will occur tomorrow, when students opposing CEO's stance will hold a rally "to express their solidarity and pride in UW and a sense of togetherness," said [Sarah Mathews, vice president of public relation for the Wisconsin Union Directorate].
ADDED: In the next post, I discuss the law and politics.
Tags: affirmative action, diversity politics, law, Lori Berquam, University of Wisconsin
"This afternoon a troubling communication was brought to my attention that involves a threat to our diversity efforts."
"I invite you to an urgent meeting this evening at 8:00 in the MSC Lounge in the Red Gym to discuss this matter. While last minute, I urge you to participate so we can be in community regarding our response."
What's going on?!
UPDATE: Well, it's not that we fell in the U.S. News rankings. Last year:
The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranked 13th among public institutions in rankings released today (Tuesday, Aug. 17) in the U.S. News & World Report's 2011 Edition of America's Best Colleges.
UW-Madison also tied for 45th among 262 national doctoral universities. In the 2010 edition, the university ranked ninth among public institutions and tied for 39th among national doctoral universities.
This year, we've gone up to 10th among public institutions and 42d among national universities.
UPDATE: Explained here and discussed here.
Tags: diversity politics, University of Wisconsin
Live-blogging the Republican Debate.
Come! Hang out here. My son John is live-blogging too. He's great at this, so check him out.
7:04 — Somehow, CNN is incorporating the Tea Party. We'll see how that works.
7:06 — Thumping music. And everyone's in a black suit tonight. Kind of scary... but finally a lady! It's Michele Bachmann, in a red jacket. For a while there, I thought it was going to turn into a boxing match.
7:07 — WTF? The National Anthem precedes a debate? This is making me want to switch over to the Brewers game. Is CNN all hot to prove it's patriotic? Ridiculous!
7:09 — Santorum and Romney mouth the anthem. Perry looks staunchly patriotic. This is soooo cheeseball. The singer goes all angry-face. Freeeeeeeeeee! Yikes. Give me a break. CNN has set this up to repel us.
7:12 — Introductory statements. Blah.
7:15 — "President Obama stole over $500 from Medicare for Obamacare" — says Bachmann.
7:16 — Perry assures the oldies they'll have Social Security. But "this is a broken system" — and lots of other people have called it a Ponzi scheme.
7:18 — Mitt Romney challenges Perry for saying SS shouldn't even be a federal matter, that it's unconstitutional. Does Perry want to retreat from that? Perry does retreat, saying we mainly need to "have a conversation" about it. Romney pushes him again and asserts it's "an essential program." Perry hits him back with his own statement, that it's criminal. The audience is so supportive of Perry, cheering every Perry jab.
7:20 — I think CNN's scheme is to have packed the audience with the Tea Party faithful, making it a cheering section for Rick Perry. It's a bit irritating. I think Mitt knows what's happening, and he has a great opportunity to show that he can keep his bearings.
7:31 — Funny how no one will take away the seniors' drug benefit. Even Paul. "We shouldn't have voted for it..." but we can't cut it.
7:40 — The American economy will "take off like a rocket ship" if you let small business folk get a return on their investment, says Romney. Pushed by Blitzer, Perry blurts out a slogan: "People are tired of spending money we don't have on programs we don't want."
7:43 — Romney says there are 7 things we need to do. He's counting them off. Are we going to be tested on this?
7:45 — "If you're dealt 4 aces, that doesn't necessarily make you a great poker player," quips Romney, asked how much credit Perry deserves for all his accomplishments in Texas. Apparently, Texas is the 4 aces. He ticks off 4 attributes of Texas. This could be an amusing Romney tic: numbered lists.
7:46 — Perry has some nicely Reaganesque speech cadences. Works well to make Romney seem rabbit-y.
7:48 — "There are people comin' to Texas — for 5 years in a row, the number 1 destination — they're not comin' because we're overtaxing them. They're comin' to Texas because they know there's still a land of freedom in America, freedom from overtaxation, freedom from overlitigation, and freedom from overregulation, and it's called Texas. We need to do the same thing for America." Well spoken! By Rick Perry.
7:50 — Huntsman says, no, it's Utah that is the best state of all.
7:59 — Bachmann wants to put the Federal Reserve on "such at tight leash that they will squeak."
8:00 — Perry stands by his "almost treasonous" remark, referring to the use of the Federal Reserve for political purposes. Think that's inflammatory? I don't. I think it's rather bland. And I love the total unrufflability of Perry. He seems so happy too, even as he represents viewpoints normally considered angry. I like his temperament. I think. Or is it a little odd?
8:01 —A young guys asks a classic question: "Out of every dollar that I earn, how much do you think I deserve to keep?"
8:13 — Very intense disagreement over inoculating schoolgirls against cervical cancer. Bachmann, Perry, and Santorum all sounded strong, even as Perry had to concede he's made a mistake. Bachmann accuses Perry of being bought for $5,000 and Perry says he's insulted that she'd think he could be bought so cheaply.
8:15 — John writes: "Perry keeps defending his HPV vaccination law by saying, 'My goal was to fight cancer,' and 'I will always err on the side of life.' Isn't that exactly the same principle used by supporters of government-sponsored health care, which Perry presumably thinks is tyrannical?"
8:22 — Michele Bachmann is on fire: "2012 is it. This is the election that's going to decide if we have socialized medicine in this country or not."
8:34 — Huntsman accuses Perry of treason for saying we can't secure the border. And just before that, Perry got a lot of boos for defending the Texas law that lets young people in Texas illegally pay in-state tuition at public colleges.
8:35 — Romney takes a tough position on illegal immigration. "Of course we build a fence."
8:51 — What would you bring to the White House? Perry says, "the most beautiful, most thoughtful, incredible First Lady that this country has ever seen — Anita." That seems to overshadow the ones that went before, making it hard for Romney, who follows, not to promote his wife, but Romney does well, saying he'd bring back the bust of Winston Churchill.
8:52 — Huntsman will bring his Harley Davidson. Does he win the quien-es-mas-macho game?
9:00 — So... what did you think? Ron Paul empathizing with al Qaeda was a bit... off. Perry lost some ground with the rowdy crowd by empathizing with undocumented aliens. Huntsman and Bachmann were feisty. Perry was solid and articulate. Romney was fine. Cain, Santorum, Newt... they got their statements in well enough, but I can't see them as serious contenders.
Tags: debates, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, poker, Rick Perry
Text at last: The American Jobs Act.
Tags: Obama economics
"School garden organizers around Madison say running a garden is not without its challenges, and one of the biggest is getting teachers involved."
Should school teachers be doing the gardening?
"Teachers just don't have the time," [Mary Michaud, a parent who started the garden at Madison's Van Hise Elementary.] "And many don't have the training or the instructional support to do it."
Suddenly, they want you to be a farm worker!
As a result, many school gardens primarily are run by parent volunteers, who can be in short supply in schools with high poverty rates where parents don't usually have time for gardening.
Poverty? Do middle-class parents have more time?
But Max Lubarsky, who has worked as an Americorp volunteer at Glendale and this fall will be an educational assistant, and Joe Muellenberg, youth nutrition educator with UW-Extension, have in the last two years revived the school garden. They hope it will attract more parent and teacher interest.
The two moved the garden from the back of the school where it often flooded to the front and built 11 raised beds, including three in the shape of pizza slices growing basil, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and cilantro.
Lubarsky said students participating in a Madison School & Community Recreation program do most of the work at the garden now, but incorporating it into curriculum is "definitely a goal for the future."
So... there's no teaching. Just farm work for the kids. But it's okay to compel this for them because... why? Because you think they're fat? But your garden is premised on pizza!
Teachers don't need to go out and dig in the garden; they can simply hold math class among the tomatoes to get students thinking about the environment and being outside, he said.
The old outdoor class. Does that ever work? I say teach in the classroom and then give the kids some time to go out and play, freely. Not work in the sun.
I'm not against gardens, by the way. I love gardens. And I think a school garden could be a great learning experience. I just have a problem with underdeveloped feel-good projects and compulsory menial work.
Tags: children, education, gardens, labor, Madison, pizza
"Al Gore in 24-hour broadcast to convert climate skeptics."
Convert skeptics... convert skeptics...
Does that sound a little religion-y to you?
Tags: environmentalism, global warming, Gore, religion substitutes
"I think women should never be in politics. We're just not suited to it."
Said Jackie Kennedy.
Tags: gender difference, gender politics, Jackie Kennedy
"He came back over to the White House to his bedroom and he started to cry, just with me."
"He came back over to the White House to his bedroom and he started to cry, just with me. You know, just for one -- just put his head in his hands and sort of wept... It was so sad, because all his first 100 days and all his dreams, and then this awful thing to happen. And he cared so much."
Tags: crying, Jackie Kennedy, JFK
JFK, the bookworm.
"He was a voracious reader who brought books with him into the bathtub, and even tried to read at meals and while doing his tie."
From the Jackie tapes. Also, he changed into his pajamas before taking a midday nap and, each evening, he knelt by the side of the bed to say his prayers. Went to confession too:
As president, he occasionally slipped into a confession booth in Palm Beach, Fla., "like anyone would," she said, with a Secret Service agent holding a place in line for him and the priest never knowing he'd just had the president in the confessional.
Can we get some fact-checking on this stuff?
Tags: Jackie Kennedy, JFK, pajamas, prayer, reading
"A Madison man stopped an attack on a Madison woman by pulling a gun on the alleged attacker..."
It happened in Madison!
The man with the gun held the suspect... at gunpoint until police arrived...
Police spokesman Joel DeSpain said the man got involved when he heard screams in a common hallway of the apartment building and went to investigate.
"He saw the suspect standing over the woman, stomping on her head," DeSpain said. "He yelled for the man to stop but his pleas fell on deaf ears."
The man went back to his apartment to get his cell phone so he could call 911, but he couldn't find the phone and grabbed the handgun instead.
"He went back into the hallway and pointed the gun at the suspect, once again ordering him to stop," DeSpain said. "This time, the suspect paid heed."
Tags: guns, Madison
"Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Mary Kuhnmuench found that there was no precedent for horn-honking being constitutionally protected political speech."
Azael Brodhead, a 36-year-old Iraq War veteran, represented himself, unsuccessfully, after he was ticketed for "Unnecessary Blowing of Horn":
Between 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. each day, someone in a black Honda would drive past Walker's house in Wauwatosa, blow his horn like crazy, give the finger through his sunroof and shout, "Recall Walker."
Week after week, the routine didn't change.
Then, on April 27, state troopers stationed at the Walker home decided to take action.
"I stopped the vehicle for the constant horn violation on today's date," wrote State Trooper Robert Simpson. "I asked the driver for his driver's license, and he immediately stated he was recording me and that he was a state probation agent." ...
"Probation agent is my day job," said Brodhead, who made $42,720 last year. "Being a concerned citizen is 24-7."
That happened in Wauwatosa, not Madison, it should be noted. I wonder what it would take for Madison police to ticket someone for political horn-honking. Obviously, there have to be some generally applicable laws about excessive horn-honking. The question is whether they were selectively applied in this case.
Tags: law, Scott Walker, Wisconsin protests
Is Perry ahead in the polls mainly because Republicans think he's most likely to win?
I'm reading this new CNN poll of Republicans and " independents who lean toward the GOP":
Thirty-six percent, for example, see him as the strongest leader in the field, with Romney second at 21 percent. According to the poll, 35 percent say Perry is the Republican candidate most likely to get the economy moving again, with Romney in second at 26 percent.
Nearly three in ten say that Perry is the candidate who is most likely to fight for his beliefs, with Palin in second place at 23 percent and, significantly, Romney in a distant tie for fourth at just 11 percent.
But Perry's biggest strength may be the electability factor, with 42 percent saying he has the best chance of beating Obama next year. Some 26 percent say Romney has the best chance of defeating the president....
As I said in the previous post, Perry gives Romney the opportunity to demonstrate a fighting spirit.
The poll indicates that Perry doesn't fare quite as well on issues. Only 26 percent say he is the Republican hopeful who is most likely to agree with them on the issues. That's good enough for the top spot on that measure, too, but it's a far cry from the low 30s and high 40s Perry pulls on electability and leadership.
Perry's biggest Achilles heel may be the likeability factor. Only one in four say he is the most likable GOP candidate out there, his lowest mark on the six items tested.
He still comes out in first place, though! (PDF here.) Second place goes to Palin, who's not even running (yet). So what kind of an Achilles heel is it that one in 5 persons thinks Sarah Palin is more likeable than you?!
Tags: Mitt Romney, polls, Rick Perry, Sarah Palin
"Why the Perry-Romney Slugfest Plays Right Into Obama’s Hands."
TNR's Ed Kilgore says:
Every moment they spend sparring over the New Deal and Great Society is a boon to Barack Obama. Even if the incumbent cannot win a referendum on his own presidency, he can win a competition between the ghost of Barry Goldwater and the ghosts of FDR and LBJ.
It seems to me that Perry is giving Mitt Romney a great opportunity to demonstrate his fighting skills.
Tags: 2012 campaign, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry
Rick Perry, the death penalty, and the "Texas governor is weak" argument.
Jonathan Weisman in the Wall Street Journal:
In 2009, two days before an agency called the Texas Forensic Science Commission was to hear evidence that an innocent man may have been put to death, Gov. Rick Perry removed the panel's chairman and two other members, replacing them with a fresh set of allies who then bottled up the issue.
The move, which the commissioners say took them by surprise, was one of many Mr. Perry has taken to strengthen his authority and centralize control—turning a traditionally weak governorship into a power center. Now a Republican presidential candidate, Mr. Perry says he wants to diminish the reach of the federal government. His history suggests he would be unafraid to exercise power to achieve his goals....
The move, which the commissioners say took them by surprise, was one of many Mr. Perry has taken to strengthen his authority and centralize control—turning a traditionally weak governorship into a power center. Now a Republican presidential candidate, Mr. Perry says he wants to diminish the reach of the federal government. His history suggests he would be unafraid to exercise power to achieve his goals.
It could also suggest the opposite! If the point is, he's good at consolidating his own power, then, in a position of national power, he might consolidate power at the national level.
As for the death penalty issue in particular, Rick Perry — at last week's debate — did not rely on the argument that the Texas governor had little power. I believe some bloggers brought up the weak-governor argument, and I thought it was notable that he eschewed that excuse. I assumed he had decided to forgo that argument because it is generally unhelpful to his cause. (He wants to portray himself as a richly experienced executive.) But now I see the a specific reason involving the details of the Cameron Todd Willingham execution.
There's another debate tonight — which I plan to live-blog — and I hope the questioners — it's CNN this time — ask him about the issue raised in Weisman's article.
Tags: death penalty, debate, debates, Rick Perry
"Monday morning, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up..."
"It's time to go... time to go to work."
Tags: Neil Young
The tape tape.
Tape Generations from johan rijpma on Vimeo.
Via Metafilter.
Tags: Metafilter, video
"New Yorkers defiant in face of terror threat."
One more day of defiance passes in New York City.
Tags: 9/11, NYC, terrorism
"Violently liberal women in politics" preferred Adlai Stevenson to JFK because they "were scared of sex."
Oh my! The transcript of the Jackie Kennedy tapes has hit the NYT.
“Suddenly, everything that’d been a liability before — your hair, that you spoke French, that you didn’t just adore to campaign, and you didn’t bake bread with flour up to your arms — you know, everybody thought I was a snob and hated politics,” she tells Mr. Schlesinger. All of that changed. “I was so happy for Jack, especially now that it was only three years together that he could be proud of me then,” she says. “Because it made him so happy — it made me so happy. So those were our happiest years.”...
Describing the night of the inauguration, she recalled that she was both recovering from a Caesarean section and exhausted. She skips dinner and takes a nap. But she finds herself unable to get out of bed to attend the inaugural balls until Dr. Janet Travell, who would become the White House physician, materializes and hands her an orange pill.
“And then she told me it was Dexadrine,” Mrs. Kennedy says.
Tags: drugs, gender politics, Jackie Kennedy
"Are carrots orange for political reasons?"
Possibly!
Tags: carrot, Color
Presidential prayer demeanor.
Head bowed/head uplifted.
Would this be a better picture if Michelle Obama's head did not appear to be a bulbous extension of Obama's head? And if Bush's head didn't seem to be a weight hanging from Obama's neck? At first I thought yes, but now I think it's utterly fascinating, symbolically and graphically. Note that we only see Obama's body, so the other 2 heads seem like growths on that body. His wife would pull him back, perhaps with excessive braininess, and his predecessor would pull him down, with all the regrets and burdens of the past. With effort, he lifts up his head...
But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
That's not the Psalm Obama read at the ceremony, which was Psalm 46. This is Psalm 3.
LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”...
Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked.
Lord, take these sons of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong.
Tags: Bush, Obama's religion, prayer
President Bush, reading Lincoln's letter at the 9/11 ceremony in NYC.
"I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours, to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom."
Tags: 9/11, Bush, death, freedom, God, Lincoln, sacrifice
President Obama reads Psalm 46 at the NYC 9/11 ceremony.
Come, behold, the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth...
Tags: 9/11, Bible, God, Obama's religion
Presidents Obama and Bush arrive at the World Trade Center memorial.
Tags: 9/11, Bush, Laura Bush, Michelle O, monuments, Obama
At the Reflection Café...
... you can talk about whatever you want.
Tags: gardens, photography
"I thought I’ll only be alive for maybe a minute longer, so I only have to keep trying to figure out how to save my life for one more minute."
"I told myself I can’t give up until I pass out. I remember that I hoped for a fast death. Then something switched in me. I was okay dying.... Now I realize that the time when I could not breathe was probably less than a minute. I had accepted the pain and my death after only 30 seconds."
Penelope Trunk describes her post-9/11 path, from high achievement in New York City to retreat, of a kind, in Wisconsin.
Who would seek this gift of knowing what you would think if you believed you were living the last 30 seconds of your life? But if that gift arrived... what would it look like?
Tags: 9/11, death, Penelope Trunk
"Is it just me, or are the 9/11 commemorations oddly subdued?"
Asks Paul Krugman.
Is it odd to be subdued?
Having observed that we are subdued and that it is odd, Krugman applies the label: shame. We are ashamed of ourselves for what we did after the attacks.
Te atrocity should have been a unifying event, but instead it became a wedge issue.
Te atrocity. Fix the typo, Mr. Krugman. People will think you haven't given enough weight to the atrocity. As long as we're looking for symptoms and making diagnoses, I might as well do it too.
The memory of 9/11 has been irrevocably poisoned; it has become an occasion for shame. And in its heart, the nation knows it.
I’m not going to allow comments on this post, for obvious reasons.
You don't want to see what you don't want to see, which is oddly at odds with your belief that Americans have a shameful way of blinding ourselves to the full range of what is happening and what we are doing.
Tags: 9/11, Krugman, shame, typo
Today, we observe the 10-year mark since the terrorists attacks of 9/11.
What will you do to mark the occasion? Is the 10th anniversary different for you?
Do your reflections remain fixed on the human beings who suffered and died?
Do you think about how the attacks changed our country? Do you think about yourself — where you were when you first heard, how you reacted, how — perhaps — your life took a new path?
Tags: 9/11
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Frank Bennack
Del Bryant
Homer Hans Bryant
Robert Daly
Vin Di Bona
Craig Kallman
Kay Koplovitz
Sherry Lansing
Barry Meyer
Ron Meyer
Katie and Mauricio Mota
Matt Pincus
Gigi Pritzker
Bruce Ramer
Abbe Raven
Brian Roberts
Phil Rosenthal
Tom Rutledge
Carole Bayer Sager
Jeffrey Seller
Kevin Tsujihara
Casey Wasserman
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“Television is a very personal experience for people. It’s a privilege to be invited into somebody’s living room. It’s not just a box on the wall, it’s an emotional experience that people have. That’s an amazing responsibility as well as an opportunity.”
Abbe Raven, chairman emeritus and former CEO of A+E Networks; excerpted from an interview with the National Museum of American History, April 27, 2017.
On growing up in New York City
I grew up in Queens in a lower-middle-class family, which exposed us to New York City culture. Because of finances, I probably didn’t have as much opportunity as others, but I was a real fan of “going into the city,” as we called it, and seeing what I could see. At age 11, I had the opportunity to take ballet lessons in the Carnegie Hall studios, which was sort of romantic and exciting. Later, as I became more intrigued with theater, I would stand in line and get student tickets to whatever play I could see. I sat in the last row of the balcony or the standing-room-only area for lots of memorable theater experiences. Later as a teenager, a sort of hippie young woman, I experienced a lot of music at the Fillmore East or at jazz clubs in the Village. New York City culture was a part of my life and it definitely influenced me. Growing up in a very well-integrated urban neighborhood, during those times, shaped how I saw the world and shaped who I am.
Two American classics, playwright Arthur Miller of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible and film star Marilyn Monroe, married at the time, were photographed by Richard Avedon in 1957.
“I got the theater bug and that was it”
There was something about sharing an experience with an audience that was poetic and emotional to me. In my junior year in high school, I had a phenomenal English and drama teacher who introduced us to plays by Tennessee Williams to Arthur Miller to the classics. I was enthralled and I said to him, “I think I want to do this,” and he said, “If you’re really serious, you could try to be an apprentice somewhere. Just write to every summer theater.”
And that’s what I did. My parents thought I was crazy. We knew nobody in show business, and they didn’t really know what I was talking about, but I wrote letters to all the summer theaters on the East Coast, and I received a couple responses back. Some of them required a fee to be an apprentice, and we certainly couldn’t afford that. Then a theater that still exists today, the John Drew Theater in East Hampton, Long Island, called and gave me an interview with the production manager; and he accepted me as an apprentice. I talked my parents into letting me go alone to live out on the Island, where I knew no one, and started working as an apprentice. I got the theater bug and that was it. I decided that’s what I would study in college.
This poster from about 1920 was designed to be hung in a home to indicate that a woman had exercised her right to vote and help shape local and national decision-making.
On the influence of politically active and patriotic parents
My mother was born in Chinatown and grew up in Brooklyn. Her family had been an economically stable family until the depression and had a history of being philanthropic. Her grandfather started the Hebrew Free Burial Society, which still exists today on Staten Island. My mom had to drop out of college after her first year because of economics, but both of my parents believed strongly in education. My mother was very involved in New York City grassroots politics. She worked in civil rights and advocated for integration in New York City. She did things like chain herself to the gates of the governor’s home, at one point. She was a very spunky woman whom I adored. She was really the person who said to me, “You can be whatever you want to be.” She always felt robbed of an education, and the year I went to college, she went back to college too. She graduated the same week I did, at the age of 55, and I went to her graduation rather than mine.
My father was born in Brooklyn and came from immigrant parents from Russia. My grandfather worked as a tailor. As immigrants, they had a hard time finding their place in the world, so my father was forced to drop out of high school at the age of 15 to support his family. He served in the infantry in World War II as an Army gunner and saw a lot of action. He went from North Africa, up the deadly boot in Italy, into France and Germany, and saw some terrible devastation. He was there at the uncovering of one of the concentration camps. He was very much affected by his war experience and was very involved in veteran groups and proud of his service.
On breaking into cable after a career in theater
Cable was just starting, and I thought maybe I could get a job in this new industry. I sent out a zillion résumés and didn’t get any responses, except some rejections. And then one day I saw a New York Times advertisement that said, “Come Meet the Stars.” It was for the launch of a new women’s network called Daytime. Daytime was one of the places I had sent a résumé and had not heard anything. The launch event was held in the third floor of the lingerie department of Macy’s, of all places, and I decided to go. There were about a hundred other women with the same idea. I started to leave and said to myself, “This is your shot; you’ve got to go back.” By the time I got back, the crowd had thinned, and one of the senior executives was putting on her coat. I went up to her and said, “Are you thinking of doing arts programming? I was a theater major and a stage manager. I want to break into television. Do you think I can do that?” She said, “I have no idea if they need anybody, but here’s the name of the guy who runs the studio at Daytime. You can tell him I gave you his card. Give him a call.”
In a pre-digital business world, copy machines facilitated the speed and distribution of information.
So, I literally stalked that guy. I called him a million times a day. Finally, he answered the phone and said, “I don’t have anything for you. You have no experience.” I begged him to meet me and he said, “Okay, can you come in tomorrow?” He said he had been interviewing people from all parts of broadcast television that want to get into cable, and he said, “Sorry,” and dismissed me. I was walking out of his office and I said, “I’ll do anything. I’m really good.” He paused and said, “Do you really mean anything? Do you see these scripts that are piled up here? My secretary is going in the hospital tomorrow. I need these Xeroxed.” And I said “I’m in!” And that was it. I went in the next day. I was really good at Xeroxing, and I eventually became his assistant, and about two years later I got his job.
On being a good leader
I always felt that I needed to be the best CEO, the best leader I could be, and not necessarily focus on being a woman — even though I was, without question, a minority in the market. For me leadership is about teamwork; it’s about how you lead your team, being a real team player. My theater experience, without question, influenced me in that regard. And so, it’s about trusting your team, giving them the opportunity to swing big and take risks and create an environment where you can be as creative as possible. Being a CEO is not a sprint, it is a marathon every day. Every day there are new issues, and you never know what you’re going to face. I learned from a great leader. My predecessor, Nick Davatzes, was a fantastic chief executive who very much believed in teamwork, so the position was right in sync with the kind of things I had experienced and knew would help us be successful.
“I believe you should put the best person in the job, man or woman, but we are not giving women enough opportunities to rise”
Having been part of the cable industry for all these years, it is still shocking that there are not that many women in the C-suite. Cable gave women a lot of chances to grow on the programming side but not as much on the business side. I was a rare pick for CEO because I had the programming side and some business side, but I didn’t grow totally out of the business side. I have shown that the model works, but there’s still a really long way to go. Lifetime, a network devoted to women, made incredible efforts and strides in bringing women to the creative side of the business. While the industry numbers for women behind the camera — writers, directors, show runners, etc. — is in the low teens, at Lifetime it’s almost 60 percent. We have made that paradigm shift, which shows it is possible. I believe you should put the best person in the job, man or woman, but we are not giving women enough opportunities to rise. I was very lucky that I had a mentor that saw my potential, and I had a board of directors that supported the idea of women rising to the top.
Abbe Raven at age 2 with her father, Ben Raven, in Laurelton, Queens, New York
Abbe Raven at age 5 with her mother, Anne Raven, and their dog, Lassie
Abbe Raven in the control room/broadcast center watching the launch of the Arts & Entertainment Network, February 2, 1984, at 8 a.m.
Abbe Raven and students of Humanities & Arts Magnet High School, Queens, New York, during a Principal for a Day event on October 19, 2006
First Lady Laura Bush honors The History Channel and Abbe Raven with a Preserve America Presidential Award in 2007 at the White House
Abbe Raven on the occasion of receiving the Hunter College Bridge to Achievement Award with son, David Tackel (left), and husband, Martin Tackel (right), in 2008
Abbe Raven in New York City in 2010 — a few months after the acquisition of Lifetime Television
The Hollywood Reporter, April 4, 2014
Abbe Raven with son, David Tackel (left), and husband, Martin Tackel (right) at the celebration event for her retirement from A&E Networks in March 2015
Abbe Raven with husband, Martin Tackel, at Rainbow Room, October 2015
On the Ruby Slippers and the Gypsy Robe
Many Americans have found such meaningfulness in the music and story of The Wizard of Oz that they incorporate it into their life stories.
I grew up waiting all year long for The Wizard of Oz to come on television, because it only aired once a year, maybe not even every year. I had a teeny replica of the red shoes hanging off of my keychain for years. I was on a business trip to Kansas and purchased the little red shoes, and they’ve been on my keychain ever since. The words to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” have been a meaningful part of my life — exemplifying dreaming and the importance of family. They were actually part of the toast I made at my son’s wedding last year, because it has such personal resonance.
This muslin Gypsy Robe bears designs of musicals produced on Broadway between 1995 and 1997, representing each chorus member who received it.
The Gypsy Robe is one of those incredible traditions theater people have created. It is such an emblem of theater superstition, of things that get passed along, like saying “break a leg” or not saying the word “Macbeth” anywhere in the theater. The tradition that I always loved is the stage light. You put the light on a stand on the stage at the end of the night, and that light stays on all night long so the theater stage is never dark. Part of that tradition started as superstition to keep evil spirits out of the theater, but it was always emotional for me as a stage manager to turn that light on as I walked out of the theater to make sure the theater always stayed bright. And it’s still tradition. You go to any theater at night after the show, you will see that. My husband and I actually went backstage last year after seeing Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and before we left, we had our photo taken next to the light on the darkened stage. We so believe in the power and magic of theater.
‹ Bruce Ramer up Brian Roberts ›
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How do the UK driving test changes compare to the rest of the world?
Posted: Feb 14, 2019
It has been over a year since the UK implemented a series of historic changes to the practical driving test, with drivers now expected to get to grips with using sat-nav, performing new reversing manoeuvres and answering an additional safety question whilst driving. How have these changes impacted learners and instructors, and have they improved road safety in the UK? We investigate the matter with the help of Motorparks, retailers of used Mazda and other reliable models:
Public reaction to the new test
Speaking as the driving test alterations were being announced, the chief executive of the DVSA Gareth Llewellyn pointed out: "DVSA’s priority is to help you through a lifetime of safe driving. Making sure the driving test better assesses a driver’s ability to drive safely and independently is part of our strategy to help you stay safe on Britain’s roads.
"It’s vital that the driving test keeps up to date with new vehicle technology and the areas where new drivers face the greatest risk once they’ve passed their test."
Andrew Jones, Britain’s Transport Minister, was an early supporter of the changes. He stated: "Our roads are among the safest in the world. However, road collisions are the biggest killer of young people. These changes will help us to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads and equip new drivers with the skill they need to use our roads safely."
Members of the public were behind the alterations when they were proposed too. Ahead of the changes being put into place, a public consultation involving more than 3,900 people occurred. During the consultation, 88.2 per cent were behind the move to increase the independent driving part of the examination. 78.6 per cent were in favour of the adjustments to the reversing manoeuvres, 78.4 per cent backed the introduction of a show me question while someone sitting a driving test was behind the wheel, and 70.8 per cent gave a thumbs up to candidates having to follow directions from a sat nav.
How do people feel now that the changes have been put into practice though? In their Driving test changes in 2017: impact summary report, the DVSA recorded that 81.2 per cent of new drivers believed the driving test now prepared them for driving on Great Britain’s roads.
The report also acknowledged that 86.3 per cent of new drivers now use a sat nav at least some of the time when they are driving. 86.2 per cent felt confident that they can drive safely while following directions provided to them via one of these gadgets.
What can we learn from other countries and how can the driving test be improved in the future?
If the DVSA is looking to make any further alterations to the driving tests of England, Scotland and Wales, inspiration could be gained from driving tests that motorists must sit across the globe. Here’s three ideas…
1. Extra help for nervous candidates
According to a major report by the University of Cambridge which was published in the medical journal Brain and Behavior, over eight million people across the UK suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder.
Taking a driving test can obviously be a stressful time, with chief driving examiner Lesley Young offering these words of advice to The Sunday Times’ Driving segment: "It’s normal to be nervous before your test, but if you’re properly prepared and your instructor thinks you’re ready, then there’s really no reason to worry. Your examiner’s not trying to catch you out; they just want to make sure that you can drive safely."
To help anxious drivers even more though, the Netherlands may have a perfect solution. Driving test candidates across that country can request a faalangstexamen — an examination that is carried out by an examiner who is trained specifically to deal with those sitting a test who feel very nervous.
2. Checking the vehicle for leaks
In South Africa, those sitting a driving test can fail their examination even before they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. This is because one reason for failure is a driver forgetting to check under their car for any leaks.
A motorist in the south-east London district of Chislehurst certainly could have benefitted from carrying out this procedure, after The Express reported that the driver was fined more than £1,000 for damage after their car leaked oil when it was parked up.
It’s not just oil that can leak from a vehicle either. Motorists should also be regularly checking that their set of wheels isn’t leaking antifreeze, fuel, brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, windscreen washer fluid or water.
3. Practice driving at night
Many of us will drive after the sun goes down, whether it is to complete a commute from work, at the end of a late-night shopping outing or when heading home after being out for a meal or cinema trip. However, road casualty statistics reported on by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents reveal that 40 per cent of collisions will be recorded during the hours of darkness.
In Sweden though, people who are learning to drive get to grips with being behind the wheel when it’s dark by taking compulsory night-time driving sessions. Even if they pass their driving test during the summer, many motorists in this part of Scandinavia will seek out a driving school throughout the winter months to undergo a night-driving course.
We’ll have to wait and see if any of these ideas make it into the driving test of England, Wales and Scotland in the months and years to come. If you’re preparing to sit an examination soon though, we wish you the best of luck!
Outreach Executive at Mediaworks. I enjoy writing informative and educational articles that can help businesses succeed.
Member since: Jul 26, 2018
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EARLY SUMMER 2002
LastWords
Fiction July 1st, 2002
Without Swords
by Mark Swartz
from the novel Instant Karma, to be published by City Lights fall 2002
Guy Fawkes Day, a good starting point for the journal of an anarchist. “A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy,” Fawkes said.1
Robert Cecil, the first Earl of Salisbury, who executed Fawkes and seven others January 30-31, 1606, for conspiring to blow up Parliament, said “The greater the offences are, the more hydden they lie."2 But if an offense, public, private, historic, contemporary, is so great then it can withstand any amount of attention, if a hidden one can stay hidden, then it couldn’t be that great. A man who has cancer in his blood undiagnosed throughout his life, until a truck runs him over, wasn’t a cancer victim.
Sunday 6 November
Bluefin tuna “carry particles of magnetite in their brains that allow them to navigate using the earth’s magnetic field.”3 I am sure that other creatures, such as elephants, have evolved analogous navigational tools, magnetic or otherwise. Such apparatus varies widely in human subjects. My own deficiency in this regard leaves me as disabled as a deaf-mute or a hemophiliac—perhaps more so, since it’s ignored by the same medical establishment that funds research into chronic fatigue syndrome. I have no faith in syndromes, not excluding the big one.
My biochemical distortion was a family joke. My parents would tell friends that if I didn’t come back from a restaurant bathroom after a reasonable amount of time, they would know they could find me hovering between the kitchen and the broom closet. Entering a building through one door and exiting through another. I’ve never know which way to turn to get where I was going; and since I never think of myself as getting lost until it’s too late to recall where exactly I went wrong, directional instinct continues betraying me, and every landmark easily reverses itself on me. Once I set out in one direction, no matter how far along I get, even if everything looks right, I feel unsure of my decision.
The sense of being lost quickly mutates into a self-hatred that has no parallel in any other phase of my existence. The names I call myself, the abuse I dish—if I weren’t so upset, I’d laugh at myself grunting, “Hurray for the God-damned idiot! Hurray!”4 My disorientation increases with complexity of architecture, which is why M.C. Escher is a redundancy for me. Buildings with exits and entrances on different floors stymie me, as do elevators that open in front and back. Urban planners spend seven years in graduate school studying how others have ignored my condition in the past and devising new ways to perplex me in the future. They meet in city hall to dream up highway ramps aiming in contradictory loops, one-ways, and divided highways, and diagonal streets—especially diagonal streets, which require a grasp of eight compass directions at once.
If not for the existence of the Israeli army, made up of Jews who presumably have the same genetic history as I do but zip across unmarked skies and deserts without having to think about it, I would be certain that the condition is racial.5
Eve Jablom: a thing of beauty and a joy for none.
Tuesday 8 November
Election Day. Do anarchists vote? They vote for everybody. And they stand outside polling places wearing Brooks Brothers suits and paper bags with holes cut out for the eyes, distributing leaflets with handwritten copies of poems and quotations by Gertrude Stein, Emma Goldman, and Hugo Ball. Anarchists sing patriotic songs off-key and pay compliments to ladies with hats and children with glandular abnormalities. They spew meaningless statistics and warn voters not to eat the donuts that the polling officials are offering. Upon hearing election results on the radio, anarchists laugh themselves hoarse.
Wednesday 9 November
In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury describes the members of the resistance as “bums on the outside, libraries inside.”6 In this city we have the reverse.
Eve ensures smooth operation of the library and the library anchors the city morally. There, in the dialogue between texts, among the disputes fueled by dead ideas, the pictures in magazines, the closely argued papers in scholarly journals, mass accumulates, condenses, derives from itself the force of gravity that keeps the city from flying apart. Only to the extent that the police serve and protect the library do they separate society from anarchy. Most people never go to the library, but most people never go to the moon either, and the moon makes the waves in the ocean.
Thursday 10 November
Eve gave me a look of knowing apprehension this evening when I checked out Stephen Hero, as if something she had been wondering earlier now made sense.7 With a couple of keystrokes she could print out a list of every book I’ve ever checked out. I should consider this access as yet another invasion of privacy by government in the Information Age, but instead I hope that what she’d see would impress her. A true Man of Letters! she’d think. A reader with a taste for the neglected classics of the past as well as the more obscure works of the great writers. Charlotte Bronte’s Villette instead of her Jane Eyre. Kafka’s diaries instead of his novels. Not Hamlet, Titus Andronicus.8
If she checks, she’ll notice that Felsenstein, David D., never kept a book out past its due date. That ought to earn me a commendation in the library’s quarterly newsletter.
Today I accidentally walked out of the library without checking out Havelock Ellis’s Dance of Life9 and didn’t even set off the alarm as I passed through the electronic gate. I wonder if this feat has something to do with the anti-magnet in my brain. Fine, if it happens in a library, but what about airports? Do the metal detectors ever blink? If I were a terrorist by occupation and was flying for pleasure only, and if I forgot to leave my grenade behind, and if airport security missed it, I would feel obligated to hijack the place.
Though architecturally dissimilar, libraries and airports promote similar world views. Sections are assigned alphanumeric codes, and passage down every corridor tests the skill and memory of the visitor, while workers push glum carts without having to look up to see where they are. Libraries are airports for people who aren’t going anywhere and who are picky about what they read.
Sunday 13 November
In the 11 Salvation Army doctrines,10 there’s no mention of couches sprayed with cat piss, bleach-stained velour shirts, beta-maxes, six-slice toasters, or tarnished heart-shaped cookie cutters. Purple suspenders and broken chair seats. What a revolting place.
No. 5: “We believe that our parents were created in a state of innocency [sic] but by their disobedience they lost their purity and happiness and that in consequence of their fall all men have become sinners totally depraved and as such are justly exposed to the wrath of God.” No. 10: “We believe that it is the privilege of all believers to be ‘wholly sanctified’ and that ‘their whole spirit and soul and body’ may ‘be preserved unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
And my favorite, No. 11: “We believe in the immorality of the soul, in the resurrection of the body, in the general judgment at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked.”
Respectively: yes, no, no, no, no.
D. Edgar Felsenstein, the first Salvation Army bell ringer with anarchist leanings. I told Mr. Leon, a man whose corduroys are worn smooth on the tops of his thighs but who denies himself the bounty offered by the thrift shop, that I was good at handling change. He said he sees a little bit of himself in me. I told him the holiday season excited me, and he laughed in a way that made me think I had accidentally made a bawdy remark. Get a lot of action around Christmas, Mr. Leon? Tis the season if you know what I mean. You don’t have to spell out for me the reason your pants are worn out.
For me, bell ringing doesn’t serve any amorous function. I’d die if Eve ever strolled down Michigan Avenue. She’s a State Street girl. No, bell ringing has nothing to do with her. It’s the opportunity to keep time as the momentum picks up, as the shoppers grow frenzied and their children suffocate under layers of Thinsulate. There must be more to buy, there must be more to buy. The crowds thicken. The homeless send out for reinforcements. It gets noisy. Cars make sudden turns into walls of pedestrians. At first, people smile at one another, but by mid-December they’re shoving, stealing, tipping over stacks of argyle sweaters. And the weather outside is frightful. And there’s still room on my charge card, so get the hell out of my way. Capitalism shades into Anarchy.
Drop your coins in my can, Sir, and our change will go to the building of pipe bombs for the federal court house and a huge electromagnet to sabotage the phone lines and disrupt cable television transmissions. Hear the chaotic clanging of my bell and dodge my spit and invectives, you bitches and sons of bitches. Why should I thank you, ma’am, when our intercourse is repugnant to me and gratifying for you? Why should I smile? Why should I even let you see my face? The least I can do for you is to make the recipient of your charity unknown to you.11
There are several good reasons for wearing a paper bag over my head while I swing that bell like an ax. The Salvation Army people will have to show me where it says I can’t wear a bag.
Collected $44.71 today. My breathing dampened the inside of the bag. My right shoulder aches, and my right ear is ringing, ringing.
Wednesday 16 November
Mr. Leon says that customers have been asking questions about me. The paper bag scares them. In the back of the store he sat me down and asked if I knew what I looked like to people with a bag on my head. He stood over me to peer down into my face and grimace.
“Is it the fumes from the traffic? Are you an asthmatic, Dave? There was an asthmatic last year that wore a surgical mask.”
“No, sir, I like the city air. Especially when a bus rumbles past. Buses use ethanol and it burns clean.”
“Are you embarrassed to ring the bell? A lot of brave and honorable men have rung that bell. Soldiers without swords. Afraid your girlfriend’s going to see you in the red smock?”
“No. She. Never mind. I’m not embarrassed. I didn’t think it would be a big deal. It’s not in the 11 Salvation Army Doctrines.”
A pause. He never read them, never even heard of them. “I’m saying it doesn’t look good. Do you know what it looks like?”
How can I know what it looks like? All I can tell is what people look like to me when I see them through the eye-holes in the bag. They look farther away, and the colors are brighter and flattened-out like cartoons. I suppose optics have something to do with it. How do I look to people, Mr. Leon? I suppose I look like a combination town-crier, nightwatchman, and executioner.
I spent the entire evening reading the video catalog that arrived in today’s mail. There are so many movies; I’m sure we’ve reached the point where a person could be brought up in a screening room, all the hours of his entire life watching nothing but movies, skipping meals, an education, a career, sitting in the dark watching nothing but movies, eight per day—or 12 per day if it were on during sleep, and why shouldn’t it? That person would grow accustomed to the codes and patterns that belong to the history of film and eventually believe that he controlled them, and in his confusion he would come to see himself as the vengeful and petty God of the Old Testament. Or at least as a studio boss who sees himself as God.12 I circled more than 40 in the catalog, and this in itself is a pleasurable activity—making calligraphic Os, incomplete; the two ends must miss each other. I ordered only two, hoping it would be okay to send cash. The first is 1941 (1979) Spielberg’s other World War II farce, featuring John Belushi at his coked-up best, a film with a lot of shouting and explosions in it.
The second is The Lord’s Prayer, the only film made by Salim Sultan, an Indian-born poet who served a life sentence for burning down a Catholic church in London in 1920. The catalog says that there was only one print of the film made, and that was thought to be destroyed by psychiatrist/memoirist/drummer Richard Huelsenbeck during a poetry reading at the Cabaret Voltaire in 1916, but it resurfaced in Texas in the 1970s and was kept by an oil magnate who screened it every year at the company Christmas party so religious types would know they weren’t welcome. The catalog says that the opening sequence of D.A. Pennebaker’s 1965 documentary on Bob Dylan, Don’t Look Back, showing the frail singer displaying cue cards with the approximate lyrics to his “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” pays homage to The Lord’s Prayer, though how Dylan or Pennebaker could have possibly viewed the film during its period of unavailability is unclear.
Eve has been overworked and inhospitable, just like the Mary that George Bailey never married. Muscles clench in her temples when she tries to smile. She seems close to the edge. How would a librarian act during a nervous breakdown? Would she remember to remain quiet? Don’t be afraid, Eve, it’s the easiest thing in the world. Think of it as accepting a dare. I dare you to laugh out loud for no reason at all. Now I dare you to topple that stack of books. I double dare you to lose your mind.
1 Dictionary of National Biography.
2 Quoted in Mark Nicholls, Investigation Gunpowder Plot, Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1991, p. ix.
3 John Seabrook, “Death of a Giant,” Harper’s (June 1994) p. 53.
4 Stephen Dedalus, in Joyce’s Ulysses, ridicules himself with these words when he recalls the days of “reading two pages apiece of seven books every night” (New York: Random House, 1934, p. 41).
5 Jews “aren’t made for geographies but for histories” (Grace Paley, Collected Stories, New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1994).
6 New York: Ballantine, 1953, p. 136.
7 James Joyce, Stephen Hero: “There is an art, Mr Dedalus, in lighting a fire” (New York: New Directions, 1994, p. 28).
8 ”Come and take choice of all my library, / And so beguile thy sorrow” (IV.i.34-35).
9 ”The great writer...knows how to quote.” (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1923): p. 152.
10 Herbert A. Wisbey, Jr., Soldiers without Swords, New York: MacMillan, 1955, pp. 219-20.
11 Maimonides, in his "Laws of Gifts for the Poor," 10:7 in Mishneh Torah, values anonymity in giving tzedakah.
12 In An Empire of Their Own, Neal Gabler writes, “The Hollywood Jews created a powerful cluster of images and ideas-so powerful that, in a sense, they colonized the American.
Mark Swartz
Mark Swartz is a writer who lives in Brooklyn.
Steel Stillman: Black Point
by Taylor Dafoe
JUL-AUG 2018 | Art Books
The pictures in Black Point—culled from a larger body of work called Enlargements—began as old point-and-shoot photos taken by the artist from 1979 to 2014.
by John Bankston
NOV 2017 | Critics Page
I have lived and worked as an artist in San Francisco for more than twenty years. For all of that time, my studio has been at The Point, in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood on the southern edge of the City. When I first moved there, I traveled to my studio by bus. The long ride to and from my studio allowed for reflections of daily life in San Francisco and ultimately shaped my artistic vision.
Laura Jane Grace and Dan Ozzi’s Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock’s Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout
by Yvonne C. Garrett
NOV 2017 | Books
The first thing you need to know about this memoir is that it gets better. Not only does life get better for Laura Jane Grace (née Tom Gabel), but the book itself gets better.
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LocalBitcoins Seller Pleads Guilty to Operating Unlicensed Business
A LocalBitcoins seller pleaded guilty of operating an illegal money transfer business in a Southern California federal court earlier today.
The defendant admitted to buying thousands of Bitcoin over a 16-month period and selling them through the popular peer-to-peer marketplace without the correct licence to do so.
Bitcoin Dealer Agrees to Forfeit Over $820,000
According to a news release from the Southern California Department of Justice, a San Diego man has pleaded guilty of operating an unlicensed money transmitting service today.
Jacob Burrell Campos admitted to illegally selling hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of Bitcoin without taking necessary precautions to abide by federal financial regulations.
Campos had used the platform LocalBitcoins to advertise his operation.
According to the news release, at first he was buying the Bitcoin from a “U.S.-based, regulated exchange” and then selling them privately at a 5% premium. He would accept a range of payments including: cash, ATM deposits, and MoneyGram transfers and often communicated trades via email or SMS.
Shortly after setting up shop his initial account was shut down following a “large number of suspicious transactions”. This prompted him to move to a Hong Kong-based exchange. The report indicates that this account was used to buy $3.29 million BTC over a series of several transactions.
During the period between January 2015 and April 2016 Burrell is thought to have served over 1,000 independent customers sourced from LocalBitcoins. However, federal law requires money transmitting businesses of this size be registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of Treasury and operate according to know-your-customer and anti-money laundering regulations. The San Diego man’s operation was compliant with neither of these regulations.
Finally, the 21-year-old also admitted to being involved in a dollar smuggling operation. The combined effort of this are thought to have resulted in over $1 million crossing the Mexico – America border between late 2016 and early 2018. The group are thought to have been arranging the transfer of amounts just under the $10,000 reporting requirement.
In the plea agreement, Campos states that he is willing to forfeit $823,357 to the U.S. government. He could also receive up to five years in jail for his crimes or a $250,000 fine. The 21-year-old will be sentenced on February 19.
U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman added:
“Unlicensed money transmitting businesses, especially those operating at or near the border, pose a serious threat to the integrity of the U.S. banking system, and provide an ‘open door’ for criminals to utilize such businesses to launder the proceeds of their illicit activities.”
Related Items:business, guilty, localbitcoins, operating, pleads, seller, unlicensed
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2014 Super Bowl XLIX New England Patriots Championship Ring quantity
SKU: N/A Category: Super Bowl Rings Tags: 2014 patriots super bowl ring, 2014 super bowl ring, New England Patriots rings, tom brady championship rings, tom brady rings, tom brady super bowl rings
The Super Bowl XLIX Rings for New England Patriots, was sealed at the last minute by Malcolm Butler’s famous interception. It is considered as the largest Super Bowl ring ever made and highest appraised value among the four Super Bowl rings for the Patriots.
On Feb. 1, 2015. the super bowl 49 in on, with a 28-24 lead and 26 seconds remaining in the game, Patriots undrafted rookie Butler making a game-saving interception of Russell Wilson’s throw.It is the first time a Super Bowl was won by a score on the final play in NFL history and one of the most stunning moment in pats fans.To this moment and the whole team, “do your job” is engraved forever in Patriots Super Bowl Rings of this season. Later after the victory, MVP brady lost his super bowl XLIX Jersey and somehow he kept to himeself and only revealed 2 years later in super bowl li
1985 New England Patriots American Football Championship Ring
2001 Super Bowl XXXVI New England Patriots Championship Ring
2013 Super Bowl XLVIII Seattle Seahawks Championship Ring(Fan)
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Report: How Can We Access Finance to Enable Innovative Creative Projects?
Posted by rebekah on July 21, 2017, in Event reports, News
At Byte the Book’s annual pitching event, sponsored by HW Fisher, four budding entrepreneurs were offered the chance to pitch their book businesses to a panel of industry experts, in front of a live audience. Paul Freedman of Four Elements LLP chaired, while the panel comprised Graham Goodkind, Founder and Chairman of Frank PR, Mary Keane-Dawson of MKD Consultants and the Arts Council’s Emma Langley.
Our sponsors, HW Fisher (from left to right): Barry Kernon, Andrew Subramaniam, Andy Levett, Chris Pitsillides and Ajay Jassal.
Prior to the pitching itself, the panel spent some time discussing whether there was one "special" ingredient to a successful investment. Paul revealed that he likes to be able to “look the founder in the eye” and assess whether they’re “the sort of person who’ll give you a run for your money”. Or, to put it another way, an excellent CEO can make an average business idea successful, but it doesn’t tend to work the other way round. Mary stressed that an entrepreneur must know exactly what they want from their business—do they crave global dominance, for instance, or aim to remain local?—and added that, at the end of the day, quality of service and product will always win out.
Our panel of judges (from left to right): Paul Freedman (Chair), Mary Keane Dawson, Graham Goodkind and Emma Langley.
Having a strong team is important, said Graham, as is a robust strategy, a novel concept and a first-mover advantage, but these elements often pale in comparison to a far more cryptic one: timing. He explained that he’s seen many brilliant ideas fall by the wayside because they simply arrived too early (Facebook being a golden example of a business that landed at exactly the right time), and concluded that “winners get their timing spot on”. Finally, Emma came at the question from an Arts Council standpoint, revealing that while cultural and social impact is obviously of huge importance to her when considering pitches, it’s a myth that the Arts Council have no interest in commercial potential. “Even not-for-profits need to make money,” she said.
Our brave pitchers (from left to right): Neil Marcus, Daniel Morrell, Jacquelyn Guderley and Candide Kirk.
The floor then opened to the pitching entrepreneurs, who each had five minutes to present their ideas. Daniel Morrell began proceedings by introducing Chant Music, an app-based tech initiative which allows users to contribute to the “chants” of their favourite artists, and in doing so help fund pro-social initiatives around the world. Next up was Jacquelyn Guderley, pitching her literary magazine for emerging female writers, Salomé. The magazine is different from its competitors in three important ways, she explained. Firstly, it’s the only magazine of its kind to exist in both digital and print; secondly, the editorial team offer a full page of feedback on all submissions (accepted or otherwise); and thirdly, they pay all their writers (“Not even the Guardian do that!” noted Jacquelyn).
Jacquelyn pitching Salomé.
Candide Kirk then pitched her innovative app Novellic, a digital platform that helps people discover, create, join and manage book clubs. The app, which is currently experiencing month-on-month user growth of 300%, is monetised through affiliate book sales and live events, as well as by working directly with publishers on analytics and trends, mined from Novellic’s user data. Finally, the convivial Neil Marcus presented his entertainment business, The Stable, which is essentially a collective of experienced theatre professionals working on a wide portfolio of new musicals for regional touring. Musicals, which have recently become “cool” again, are notoriously difficult to make money from (around 70% of shows fail to break even), but the portfolio nature of The Stable spreads the risk, greatly increasing the likelihood of investor profits.
Our eager audience in the Soho Room at the Groucho.
All four pitches attracted praise from the panel. Paul said that, were he investing for real, he’d pick The Stable, which in his eyes had the clearest route to return. Mary chose Salomé, which she felt benefitted from a real opportunity of scale. Emma, who again came at things from an Arts Council perspective, praised Novellic, as she saw in it the potential for huge public benefit. Finally, Graham highlighted the fact that different businesses offered different benefits—for an impact investment that “makes a difference”, he would favour Salomé or Chant Music, but he felt that The Stable offered the highest chance of return.
And, of course, there's always time for networking at Byte the Book.
A definite highlight of the night was when Neil Marcus was asked why he was restricting himself to musicals, and he replied, quite simply: “It’s my passion.” Because if there’s one thing a new business needs, it’s passion by the truck-load.
Sallyanne Sweeney
Sallyanne Sweeney grew up in Dublin and studied English at Trinity College before completing an MPhil in American Literature at Queens’ College, Cambridge. After graduating she joined Watson, Little Ltd, becoming a Director of the company in 2011. She …
Our Vision To provide efficient and effective copyright and licensing solutions to support publishers in providing access to their content. Our Aims We aim to achieve our Vision: Through collective li…
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