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__label__wiki	0.60694	0.60694	Dave Rubenstein David Rubenstein Billionaire David Rubenstein on the Key Principles to Truly Becoming the One in Control Wim Hof Wim Hof "The Iceman" Shares How to Change Your Biochemistry with Deep Breathing \| Impact Theory End of Year Clip Show 6 Tips From Experts on How to Reach Your Full Potential in the New Year \| Impact Theory Leila Janah From Cleaning Toilets to CEO, Leila Janah on How Rejection Is Inevitable and the Key to Success and Grit \| Impact Theory Gary Bishop How to Uncover What's Actually Holding You Back \| Gary John Bishop on Impact Theory Special Guests Q&A How to Get Through Unexpected Changes in Life \| Impact Theory Special Guests Q&A Why You've Been Lied to About Where to Put Your Time, Energy, & Focus \| Seth Godin on Impact Theory Why Be Thankful? 6 Experts Share Important Lessons on Being Grateful \| Impact Theory Tom Bilyeu is the co-founder of billion-dollar brand Quest Nutrition and the co-founder and host of Impact Theory. Personally driven to expand people’s vision of wellness to a 360-degree view that encompasses body and mind, Tom created Impact Theory to help people develop the skills they will need to improve themselves and the world. Through his content and public speaking, he inspires people around the world to unlock their potential and pursue greatness. Tom was named one of Success Magazine’s Top 25 Influential People in 2018 and Entrepreneur of the Year by Secret Entourage in 2016. BOOK TOM TO SPEAK BOOK TOM BILYEU TO SPEAK LEARN, LAUGH AND GET INSPIRED TO Impact Theory™ is a weekly interview show that explores the mindsets of the world’s highest achievers to learn their secrets to success. Hosted by Quest Nutrition co-founder Tom Bilyeu, Impact Theory is designed to give people the tools and knowledge they need to unlock their potential and impact the world. Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday. MASTER THE UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS. IMPACT WEEKLY Get tips and motivation from Tom Bilyeu directly in your inbox! I do a lot of this kind of stuff as you could imagine, and [Tom] was able to get into things that I actually care about, things that I think are actually the punchline, and I enjoyed it. Gary Vaynerchuk 4x NY Times Bestselling Author, Co-Founder & CEO of VaynerMedia Amazing! I had a wonderful time. I appreciate Tom's passion and willingness to deep dive into such an array of topics....Amazing show, amazing mission. Jason Silva Philosopher, Host of National Geographic’s Shows Origins and Brain Games Oh I loved it...and I almost didn't want it to end. It felt like...therapy, actually….I think Tom is amazing, the whole crew is amazing. Thank you for giving me a chance to share a little bit about myself. Jessica O. MatthewsInventor, Co-founder & CEO of Uncharted Play I thought Impact Theory was amazing. It was exactly what I thought it would be. Tom asked all the right questions to really get to the nitty-gritty of your core. Laila Ali Former Undefeated Professional Boxer (24-0), Author, TV Host, Speaker Impact Theory was like a mixture of Oprah meets Richard Branson, meets Barbara Walters, except…that it's like none of those things because Tom is absolutely unbelievable. If you are serious about improving your life...making more money, getting... Mel RobbinsBest-Selling Author, Renowned Keynote Speaker, CNN Legal and Social Commentator Listening to Tom talk to me and ask me questions about my life--it actually made me think about some things I need to get better at….It's made me more aware. I love it. Michael Strahan NFL Hall of Fame & Super Bowl Champion, 2x Daytime Emmy Awards Winner I love Impact Theory. There's a man who is just on a mission to find the best in humanity and then make it known to the world. I'm a huge fan. Peter DiamandisFounder & Chairman of XPRIZE Foundation I love the show. Tom is genuinely exploring and trying to pull out things that not only he can use, but things that his audience would benefit from, so I love it. Tim FerrissSerial Entrepreneur, podcast host, 3x NY Bestselling Author, Angel Investor I think this was possibly the best interview I've ever had. I love Tom's energy. He brings out the best in you because he's so enthusiastic. Vishen LakhianiEntrepreneur, Speaker, CEO of Mindvalley SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW EPISODES JOIN THE IMPACT THEORY COMMUNITY	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3195
__label__cc	0.510078	0.489922	In a Year with 44 Films My Year in Fassbinder Contents/Filmography Was ist es denn? Who am I to talk? A Few Words on Substances and the Artist (Prompted by Philip Seymour Hoffman, R.I.P.) Posted on February 6, 2014 by yearof44films Like pretty much everyone, I reacted to the news of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s untimely death from a drug overdose with utter shock and profound sadness. After a little reflection, however, I realized the shock was probably misplaced. The real surprise might be that he managed to stay clean and sober for as long as he did. Is it really so surprising that an artist of this extraordinary intensity should find the allure of drugs ultimately irresistible? Not to me. Which made me think, not surprisingly, of Fassbinder. They’re not so different, Hoffman and Fassbinder. The kind of performances that both were able to summon from the depths of their own experiences and psyches (and I use the term performance loosely to include authorial and directorial performance); the grueling discipline they subjected themselves to; the intense, seemingly round-the-clock focus they required of themselves; the complexity and nuance, the deep understanding and generosity and kindness each brought to the characters they realized (regardless of how they behaved in their personal lives—that’s not what I’m talking about here)—not to mention the sheer appetite through which they seemed to engage with the world—all this must have been utterly exhausting. (Precisely the word PSH used to describe the acting process in that now much-cited Fresh Air interview with Terry Gross, by the way). Who in their right mind would sign up for such a way of life? Who could endure it—and who would want to? The qualities that enable a person to direct four feature-length movies and four stage plays in a single year, or transform themselves from a 250+ pound man into the diminutive Truman Capote through sheer concentration (the opposite of De Niro-style weight gain or Christian Bale–caliber weight loss, by the way), are not normal, rational, or healthy. Happy, secure, stable, well-adjusted adults do not willingly spend days, weeks, or months on end taking on the extremes of other humans’ misery, nor do they willingly subject themselves to punishing, ultimately arbitrary work schedules—for years on end—that threaten their mental and physical health. To do so is to already have crossed a line into the irrational and the unknown and the dangerous. You’d “have to be crazy” to do what these guys did. So why are we surprised when they show the same disregard for their well-being by abusing drugs? Let me put it this way: I cried for two whole days after watching Synechdoche, New York a single time. What could it possibly have been like to inhabit Caden Cotard’s character day and night for the weeks and weeks it took to shoot? I cannot imagine living with that degree of sadness and pain. Can you? (I reckon we should probably be worrying about Charlie Kaufman right about now, too.) Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not justifying drug use on the grounds that it helps artists make great art—god knows, we lost an entire generation of jazz musicians to that particular fallacy—and I’m not suggesting that drugs are a necessary outlet for the intense emotional burden some great artists bear. But I don’t understand the incomprehension and the hand-wringing and, worst of all, the accusations of weakness and irresponsibility that ensue when such an artist does seek oblivion or relief or stamina or whatever it is they seek through drugs. Just watch Berlin Alexanderplatz or In a Year With Thirteen Moons or Synechodoche, New York, or even that otherwise pretty mediocre transvestite movie costarring De Niro, elevated only by the cringe-inducing honesty of Hoffman’s performance. (What was that movie called? That’s how otherwise unmemorable it was: I’ve forgotten the title but I remember the performance). Weakness has nothing to do with it. What keeps coming up, in memorium after memorium, is the anger and resentment we feel at the thought of all those great PSH performances we are forever deprived of because of Hoffman’s selfish recklessness. No different, I’m sure, from the laments about all the films RWF would never be able to make after his untimely death at the age of 37 (nine years younger than PSH, I might add). We feel cheated and deprived when the artists we deeply admire let us down by dying when they didn’t have to. But did we ever stop to wonder what it cost them, that genius, that intense burning brilliance, when they were alive and working? Do we ever stop and think, if not how sad, at least, what an incredible sacrifice (or even, wow, that looks really scary)? Do we ever marvel at that fact that they are even able to get up in the morning to do it, day after day, despite the incalculable personal cost? When we bemoan the loss of all the great films Fassbinder could have made had he not been a driven, drug-abusing libertine, we fail to acknowledge that it’s the driven, drug-abusing libertine who made the art we so love (and at the death-defying pace he found necessary to get it done). That’s who he was, that’s how he worked. We don’t have to know why, exactly, and we don’t need to understand how he pulled it off for as long as he did to know, at least on some level, that we probably couldn’t have expected the one without the other. To speculate on how things could have been had he not succumbed to the scourge of drugs seems a little dishonest and naïve and, to my mind, implicitly puritanical (though quite commonplace in this pathologizing era of the DSM-5). Better simply to accept that he was a creative genius who took irrational risks on behalf of that genius. It paid off spectacularly, too—until, of course, it didn’t. That’s how risk-taking works. Of course the situation was different for PSH, who spent most of his working life in abstinence. Still, to wonder how he could have stayed clean for 23 years while contributing some of the most beautiful performances of the century, only to blow it all on a heroin binge after starring in a high-concept pop-culture dystopic adventure for young adults, is to make impossible assumptions about who he was deep down—and about which impulses he should have given in to (the deep, painful creative ones) versus the ones we know he should have successfully combated (the impulse to get really fucked up, for example—whether in hindsight, or because we have zero tolerance when it comes to the well-documented risks posed by drugs). I just don’t know how you can presume to separate the two on someone else’s behalf or how you can know where the line is or should be for them. So, rather than dwell on the whys and what-if’s of a brilliant career cut short by a seemingly preventable death, I suggest we look back in wonder and amazement at the body of work PSH managed to leave us—against the odds, I might add—and at the mysterious complexities of a human being who could go there in the first place. That’s what we’ve had to do with Fassbinder, after all. Posted in Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Uncategorized \| Tagged Philip Seymour Hoffman \| 1 Comment Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part X: Loneliness Tears Cracks of Madness Even in Walls (1980) Posted on January 31, 2014 by yearof44films Part X opens in Eva’s elegant flat—not the one she lives in with Herbert, but the one her wealthy gentleman has installed her in, the one Franz stumbled upon that day selling shoelaces, way back when he had two arms—to which Mieze has been invited. Has Mieze ever even dreamed of a life so opulent? Doesn’t she want a place like this, too? She just needs to find herself a rich gentleman like Eva’s and get Franz to stop hanging around political meetings with that good-for-nothing Willy and those stupid communists who don’t even have enough money for a pair of pants to cover their asses . . . Part X closes on Franz, alone in his dismal room, sobbing his heart out after Mieze has left with her new gentleman (Adrian Hoven), rich just like Eva’s, who has rented her a nice apartment and is taking her away for several days. (“It’s my job, Franz. I have to do it,” whispers Mieze, before slipping out.) Closing intertitle: The serpent in the soul of the serpent. What does this mean? Although I would have assumed serpent references at this point would be reserved for Reinhold, it’s impossible not to think of Eva here, original sinner that she is. And indeed, everything Eva has done this episode—encouraging Mieze to find a wealthy gentleman to “keep” her, thereby severely limiting her time with Franz; getting Mieze to demand that Franz stop seeing Willy or attending political meetings, so he’ll have nothing to do and be wholly dependent on Mieze for his livelihood; yelling at Herbert for suggesting that Franz curtail his boozing lest things end up as they did with Ida; planting the seed of curiosity in Mieze’s head about finding out who is responsible for Franz’s accident, and maybe seeking retribution; getting Mieze to agree to let Franz get Eva pregnant (yes, you read that correctly)—all these things are directly linked to Franz’s abject loneliness and misery. Is this Eva’s game, to ruin things for Franz so he’ll come crawling back to her? Is she even aware that this is what she is doing? Eva mentions that her gentleman would like her to have his baby, but she doesn’t want one with him. She wants to have Herbert’s baby, but she’s pretty sure he can’t have one. Or Franz’s. Stunned silence from Mieze who, after a few long moments erupts in a shriek. She starts hugging and kissing Eva indiscriminately, overcome, it turns out, with joy. Mieze thinks this is the most wonderful thing she’s ever heard and ends up making Eva promise that she will have Franz’s baby. Boy, is Franz in for a shock—a series of them, in fact. First Mieze nervously tells him about her new gentleman, who’s found her an apartment—she’s been meaning to break the news to Franz, but just didn’t know how. Big red flag for Franz: “He’s rich and he’s married. And you’re pussyfooting like that? There’s something behind it!”. Franz immediately assumes that Mieze wants to get rid of him. Isn’t this pretty much what happened with Ida? So when she tells him Eva’s coming over in a few minutes to make a baby, Franz goes through the roof. Mieze explains that she can’t get pregnant herself—she’s been to three doctors who’ve all said the same thing—so this is the only way they can have one. This seems to assuage him, and he agrees to sleep with Eva, yet again. Meanwhile, Franz is still trying to make sense of it all. He’s tried being independent and straight and he’s tried being a crooked hot shot and neither has worked out so well, so now he’s flirting with left-wing politics again. It started out as a lark—Willy enjoys taunting the lefties for sport—but Franz seems to be taking it more seriously now, even if he’s not quite on board. How could he be? He’s not even a worker anymore. How is Franz to live? Back at the bar, Willy proclaims that “anyone in his right mind must believe in Nietzsche. Do whatever gives you pleasure. Understand? Anything else is drivel.” Max doesn’t want to hear about politics, either: he just wants to live, that’s all. (“I don’t give a hoot about your Marxism.”) What matters to him is whether or not he can get a loan and for how long and how much. That’s what’s important in this world. “You make it all sound so simple,” says Eddy (Jan Groth), a joiner with a sick wife at home (her uterus has joined with her rectum—god only knows what he’s talking about—collapsed pelvic wall, maybe?). But it isn’t that simple, not when the doctors say your wife is just suffering from nerves, and you’ve got a daughter crippled from rickets at home, and you live with the permanent threat of layoffs when orders are few (a threat which does not extend to management, he notes), and the medical examiner says your rheumatism is not eligible for subsidized treatment. But the worst part of it all? The kids are only learning as much as their parents did in school. Imagine that. How can anything ever change? Eddy doesn’t need Karl Marx to explain any of this to him, either. Nobody needs Karl Marx to figure that out. Franz, who’s been listening quietly, pays the tab and leaves. Outside, he’s not sure where to go next so he just starts walking. The camera tracks along with him, block after block as he wends his way amongst the hotshots and the working girls and the newsboys, rarely cutting, in what is possibly the most beautifully choreographed scene of the entire series. And indeed, choreographed is exactly the word for it: this scene owes more to the musical than it does to conventional melodrama, consisting largely of a sort of duet between Franz, muttering snippets of the conversation in the bar, and a young newsboy who utters the same lurid headline over and over, sometimes at a shout, other times quietly, almost plaintive. Theatrical and musical, it made me think immediately of Brecht (it would totally work on the stage): Franz, singing to himself, walks a couple of blocks, finally sits down on some steps across the street from a newsboy in the foreground. [cut to] NEWSBOY: Child molester scandal! Czech Jew abuses 20 boys! No arrest made. (quieter now, approaching Franz) Child molester scandal. Czech Jew abuses 20 boys. No arrest made. FRANZ: (close up) Her uterus has become joined with her rectum. They operated on her, but it didn’t help internally. NEWSBOY: (close up) (almost conversationally) Child molester scandal. Czech Jew abuses 20 boys. No arrest made. Child molester scandal. Czech Jew abuses 20 boys. No arrest made. Scandal. Child molester scandal. Czech Jew abuses 20 boys. [Franz gets up, approaches. Camera tracks to a 2-shot, following Franz, circling around the lad] No arrest made. What’s up? Something bothering you? FRANZ: Why do you ask? NEWSBOY: You’re acting so strange, walking around me. Out with it if you’ve got a problem. FRANZ: (Still walking around him – camera still tracking) Nothing really. It’s just that I used to sell newspapers myself. NEWSBOY: So what? FRANZ: That’s what I said. It’s nothing really. (Smiles, walks away – camera still tracking as Franz walks back the way he came) NEWSBOY: Scandal! Child molester scandal! FRANZ: And the kids learn exactly the same as we did. You can imagine what comes of that. [Still walking, camera still tracking] And with a nervous illness you’re perfectly fit. Anyone with a nervous illness is perfectly healthy. [Franz enters a shop. Cut to] NEWSBOY: (Close up) Czech Jew exposed as child molester! No arrest made! [Cut back to Franz coming out of the shop with a bottle of booze in hand] FRANZ: And nobody needs Karl Marx for that anymore. But it’s true neveretheless. (sings a little) Taxi! NEWSBOY: Child molester scandal! FRANZ: What does a bowlegged person do in the country? NEWSBOY: Czech Jew exposed as child molester! FRANZ: (Climbing into taxi) What do I care about politics and all that crap? It’s no help to me. Take me to Tegel! [Taxi drives off , camera tracks back to newsboy as he walks toward camera] NEWSBOY: Czech Jew exposed as child molester! No arrest made! Of course the logical next stop is Tegel, which sits, impassively, at the very center of the riddle that defines Franz’ Biberkopf’s existence. Franz, too drunk to make any sense out of anything, lies down to sleep on a park bench, where he is roused by a not unkind policeman, with whom he engages in a slightly comic dialog before hailing another taxi. Back home, before passing out, Franz, incoherent but insightful—notice how his most poetic insights always seem to come when he is barely conscious?—concludes thus: A newspaper has a lot of letters, and the letters are black. A car is black, and the trees are red. Blood is red. But freedom is not order. Order is black., black like the car. And black, like the car, are the letters in my newspaper. Franz, it seems to me, is beginning to see the nature of his predicament more clearly (he doesn’t need Karl Marx to do so, either, although I do think the meetings have helped). Intuitively, he is beginning to grasp the order of things: Pums’ men in their black cars, Tegel, the newspapers that hawk lurid stories to fill the time and imaginations of ordinary folk (not to mention the suckers who sell them for a pittance) are all on the same side of the equation, all part of the same system in which Franz is trapped like a fly. (There’s a very strange scene in this episode involving a spider, which I haven’t been able to fit in for lack of a clear and cogent explanation; let’s just say that the image of being trapped like a fly is not entirely without context here.) I wonder if he’ll have a chance to benefit from this dawning understanding before it’s too late. Posted in Uncategorized \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part X: Loneliness Tears Cracks of Madness Even in Walls (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part IX: About the Eternities Between the Many and the Few (1980) I think it’s strange. . . That it’s possible to talk and think for and against the same thing at the same time. It’s really strange. —Franz Biberkopf Franz Biberkopf is not accustomed to entertaining thoughts that appear to contradict one another. Nuance has not hitherto colored—let alone characterized—his understanding of or approach to the world. Strange then that in Part IX he should find himself suddenly arguing for and against the same principles, behaviors, and even loyalties with seemingly equal conviction. Where is the truth, if wrong can be right and hate is really love? How is one to live? Part IX begins where Part VIII left off: Eva continues to explain to Franz the reality—the necessity—of Mieze’s “employment.” The realization sends him crashing to the floor in a swoon, accompanied by a replay of Ida’s death and a variety of voice-over stories from the ridiculous to the satirically sublime. Franz, who swore to stay straight, is a pimp, and Mieze, the sweetest and most innocent girl he has ever known, is a whore. Because she loves him, Mieze must sleep with other men and, because he loves her, Franz must let her. That sure sounds like a paradox to me. Franz goes to find Mieze on the street, to take her back, to tell her he loves her. But there’s something he must do, he suddenly realizes, so off he goes again, passing once more down Babylon alley, where he persuades Baldie to give him his sales pitch one more time. But Franz has a story too: in Franz’s story a fly crawls into a flowerpot, lets the sand roll off himself, and crawls on. Franz, who has just accepted the fact that Mieze is a whore and he is a pimp, and who continues to work with Willy unloading stolen goods, has once again and seemingly definitively rejected the whore of Babylon. Another paradox? But that’s not the thing that Franz realizes he has to do. No, what Franz now knows with utter certainty is that he needs to see Reinhold, so that’s where he goes. The latter, shaken by this unwelcome visitation, and wound tight like a very, very tightly-wound top, lets Franz in, but not before he’s pulled a gun on him. What does Franz want, he stutters. Franz realizes he doesn’t actually know. He should kill Reinhold, he knows, but realizes, slowly, that he doesn’t actually want to. (“That’s just what the others think.”) A strange, dreamlike détente seems to prevail. Franz, who has fallen into a kind of trancelike reverie, ends up apologizing to Reinhold for his absence. “Forget it,” Reinhold assures him, approaching until they are face to face in the twilit room. (Shy little laugh, awkward smile.) “It doesn’t matter.” It’s just that Reinhold would like . . . to see . . . his injury. I don’t exactly know how to put this, but it’s as though Reinhold has just solicited Franz for sex. The solemnity, the intimacy with which Franz removes his jacket and shirt sleeve to show Reinhold his withered, dangling stump is both highly charged and deeply disturbing. (Has Mieze even seen this in broad daylight, one wonders?) The homoeroticism is unavoidable—at the same time, though, I don’t want to overstate it—yet. Enough to say at this point, I think, that these two have a unique and terrible bond, dangerous and perverse (not to mention paradoxical). I shudder at the thought of where it will lead. Back at Franz’s, though, domestic bliss. Willy arrives and the two go to Max’s for a drink. After his last visit, however, it’s no surprise that Max has had it with Franz and gives him an earful. Franz Biberkopf swore to stay straight, and now he’s a pimp? At this rate he’ll end up back in jail or with a knife in his ribs. Franz laughs it off. Besides, doesn’t Max live off other people? Doesn’t everyone? For reasons no more comprehensible to me in Fassbinder than they were in Doblin, Willy takes Franz to an anarchist meeting, where the two back-alley swells stick out like the interlopers they are. The speaker exhorts his audience to shun the existing so-called democracy, refuse to vote—the socialists currently in power are lackeys of the system, slaves to power, no better than the lackeys on the right—while Franz dreams of Mieze (more on this in a bit.). After the meeting has broken up, Franz and Willy linger over conversation with one of the attendees, who pushes his bicycle through the decrepit building as they make their way to the lavatory, and innocently asks what work they do. Willy defers to Franz, who refuses to answer, instead offering smart-ass retorts about the illogic of decrying capitalism while contributing to it through one’s labor, as all proletarians by necessity do (“You slave away making the shells they’ll use to shoot you,” etc.) When Franz declares that he does not work, period, the old worker puts two and two together: if a guy doesn’t do honest work, he must do dishonest work. Franz repeats that the man is a fool for criticizing the organization of capitalism while he tries to organize the workers himself, for enriching the capitalists with his own labor and then bemoaning it, etc., all the while chewing on his cigar, self satisfied and smug, a real wise guy. Conveniently, the anarchists’ meeting hall is around the corner from Herbert and Eva’s place, so that’s where Franz and Willy go next, still giddy from their antics at the meeting. At Herbert’s, Franz launches into a surprisingly coherent speech against the gross unfairness of the capitalist system, which Eva dismisses with conventional bourgeois arguments about the necessity of preserving order for the sake of bourgeois society (of which she is an eager, newly minted member). Franz, however, persists. Everything he lambasted the poor old prole on the bike for in the preceding scene he now articulates to the skeptical Eva with surprising coherence. Where does Franz stand? The answer, I think, is on both sides. That’s the problem. Both the anarchists and the pimp argue correctly, at least up to a point, and yet both are ultimately wrong. Franz intuits this on some level he can’t quite articulate. This is why he mocks the old prole on the bike, while defending the principles he espouses to Eva: no amount of organizing on the part of the workers will shift the fundamental inequity of the capitalist paradigm, in which the few (owners) profit from the labor of the many (labor). And yet Franz knows, deep down, that the criminal path he has chosen is no solution, dependent as it is on the existing capitalist paradigm, which it does nothing to alter. Selling stolen goods might benefit Franz, personally, but it does nothing to alleviate the burden on the workers—who after all had to manufacture that watch or that fur or that car, thereby enriching the industrialist-owners, who won’t be impacted by the subsequent “redistribution” of goods by Franz or Willy or Pums. (Either way, they profit.) In fact, this redistribution probably ensures a steady supply of goods for guys like Willy and Pums to steal, since more goods will need to be sold to replace the stolen ones. The wage slaves may be ensuring the profits of the owner classes, but Franz and Willy and Pums are sheer parasites. And as for Franz’s commercial relationship to Mieze or Ida, nothing can alter the fact that they must sell their bodies to enrich Franz. There’s just no equation that makes that relation equitable. Of course, Franz’s ambivalence about political organization and political action mirrors an ambivalence that runs throughout much of RWF’s work, especially the more political of his films. A self-described anarchist, Fassbinder didn’t trust political movements, no matter how noble their aims. Just look at the absurdity of his depiction of the movement anarchist, Horst Knab, on the one hand, and the Communist Thälmanns on the other in Mother Küsters, or his clear and evident distrust of the RAF in Germany in Autumn, or the outright contempt he shows for the militants in The Third Generation. Or even, closer to home, his depiction of Dreske and his men in Part II. During the anarchist meeting in Part IX, instead of listening intently to the speaker like the others, Franz replays an erotic daydream or fantasy starring Mieze. He retreats, in other words to the one arena in which he finds both freedom and pleasure. This might seem trivial and selfish, but I would argue that this is precisely the arena to which RWF also retreated on some level, an act which was for him, as I’ve said before, a political act. (This is most apparent in Germany in Autumn.) Freedom, after all, begins at home, and is contingent (at least for RWF) on complete honesty. More to the point, until people free themselves from the bourgeois mores and assumptions that oppress them, in the bedroom as in the workplace, they’ll continue to replicate bourgeois power structures in their own institutions, even if they happen to be good socialists (cf. Mother Küsters and The Third Generation). Of course, Franz isn’t aware of any of this. Unlike RWF, whose own libertine proclivities he productively channeled into his art—which was always engaged, always committed to an ideal of helping people achieve some degree of enlightenment regarding their own freedom—Franz doesn’t know where he fits on any sort of moral spectrum, and so swings back and forth between ideas of what’s right—for him, for Mieze, for the world around him. And yet his intuition seems to me to confirm something important: I think these apparent contradictions in Franz’s behavior reflect a vague but real and possibly growing desire to transcend the terms of the argument. I need to wrap this up so I can move on to Part X. Once again I haven’t gotten around to even mentioning the stylistic elements of this episode. I’ll just add here that Part IX uses a lot of static long shots, primarily in Herbert and Eva’s flat. This gives the set a very stagey feel, and made me think immediately of the countless drawing rooms in which domestic dramas play out in the theater. The bourgeois theater, that is. A fitting milieu for Eva to spout her proper new law-and-order philosophy, don’t you think? Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part IX: About the Eternities Between the Many and the Few (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VIII: The Sun Warms the Skin, but Burns It Sometimes Too (1980) I don’t think I’ve mentioned the opening credit sequence in Berlin Alexanderplatz yet. That’s odd, since the credits are obviously the first thing you see in every episode and they’re always the same. A scratchy tenor on the soundtrack over a montage of grainy, period photographs of everyday working-class Weimar life superimposed over an image of moving train wheels (de rigueur in art cinema across Europe in the 1920s and early thirties: pitch perfect, as usual). The credits begin. Each of the following names is shown in succession, which is to say, each person has the screen to themselves for 3–5 seconds: Xaver Schwarzenberger Dieter Minx Barbara Baum Helmut Gassner Harry Baer Juliane Lorenz Karsten Ullrich Milan Bor Renate Leifer Peter Knöpfle Peer Raben Together with major contributions by many others, present: After the Novel by Alfred Döblin A Film in 13 Chapters and an Epilogue from Rainer Werner Fassbinder Is it just me, or is this unusual—extraordinary, even? Only one of the series’ three producers (Peter Märthesheimer) is mentioned at all, and he comes last, not first in the list. The costume designer (Barbara Baum) is given credit before the music composer (Peer Raben). Editing, sound design, make-up, even “artistic collaboration” (Harry Baer’s newly devised title to explain his many roles) are all listed before the series’ title. All of these representatives of all these departments, in other words, are given equal credit for presenting the series, for making it possible, not just for doing their compartmentalized jobs, in a collaborative effort. (Of course now I feel like I’m going to have to go back and look at RWF’s other credit sequences; I have this vague sense that he may have done something similar in The Third Generation.) Speaking of RWF’s frequent collaborators, I was reminded in Part VIII of a quote from Barbara Baum in her interview in Chaos as Usual: Conversations About Fassbinder. Citing Berlin Alexanderplatz as the biggest challenge of her eight-year collaboration with RWF she notes that “Rainer wanted the basic tone to be gray: [He said:] ‘We are shooting a black-and-white film, even if it is in color.’” (p. 158). Of course the film is not black-and-white—nor even composed of actual shades of gray, and not even, technically, monochromatic (except for the credit sequence, obviously), but the overall palette, the coordinated effect of the film’s visual elements—lighting, color balance, costumes, sets—is a world composed of a thousand shades of brown. Which sounds drab, and I guess it is, but beautifully so. The rare appearances of actual color—the flashing red light outside Franz’s room, most notably, or the blue tissue paper later in this post’s episode—really hit you as a result. Part VIII opens with Franz’s less-than-triumphant return to Max’s bar—not yet open for business or else already closed for the night—for the first time since losing his arm. Of course Max lets him in, warily greets him, brings him a drink. Franz picks up a newspaper, immediately starts laughing—sharply, mirthlessly, too loud: Terrible Family Tragedy in the Ruhr Area! Ha ha ha! Max, surprised by this heartless new Biberkopf, doesn’t understand what there is to laugh about, and the two argue about whether the man who threw his three children into the river after his wife’s suicide is remorseful in his jail cell (Max’s opinion) or sleeping peacefully, enjoying his tobacco, and eating and drinking better than he would if he were outside, as Franz maintains. Wait. Franz Biberkopf is arguing that a guy is happier in prison than outside? What happened to the chill that used to come over him at the very thought of Tegel? Is he no longer afraid of returning there—or is he just trying to convince himself that he’s no longer afraid? Later, sitting in his room with Frau Bast, he’s despondent. What can a guy do without his right arm? Frau Bast innocently suggests a trade, maybe a stand or a cart. Newspapers or . . . fruit perhaps? More mirthless hilarity from Franz. (Fruit! He’s certainly had luck with that business . . .) The doorbell rings and Frau Bast announces that Herr Biberkopf has a visitor. Franz didn’t really think Willy from the nightclub would come visit him when he suggested it at the end of Part VII, but here he is in the flesh, wondering why Franz wants to see him. Franz spits it out. It’s about that gold watch of Willy’s. Franz would like to get in on the action, be a part of it. There’s not much a guy can do with one arm. No, Willy agrees, there’s not much a guy can do. But if he’s smart and has friends. . . Willy agrees to pass merchandise on to Franz, something every day, which he, Franz, can then pass on, and make good money while he’s at it. That’s it! That’s exactly what Franz had in mind. “Work’s a bunch of baloney. And the newspapers, I spit on them. It makes me mad just looking at those knuckleheads, the news dealers. How can a guy be so dumb, busting his ass, with cars driving past next to him?” Looks as though that oath to fly straight and stay straight has indeed been amputated. And now look at Franz Biberkopf in a natty light-colored summerweight double-breasted pinstripe suit, right sleeve tucked smartly in his pocket, strutting down the alley where Baldie is still pushing the whore of Babylon, looking like he owns the place. (He’s still dismissing Baldie’s offers—not interested in that kind of prostitution, not yet, or at least not literally. Taken as metaphor, however, Franz has already cozied up to the great whore.) Franz works with Willy now and he’s flush. Even alone in his room, we can see that Franz is pretty pleased with himself, listening to the gramophone with his feet up on the table, contentedly smoking a cigar. Eva and Herbert show up and boy, are they impressed. Franz even has an Iron Cross he can pin to his breast so his missing arm looks like recognition for wartime heroics. He busts out a bottle of cognac and they drink to their respective good fortune. Turns out Eva and Herbert are back early from Zoppot themselves: Eva’s banker friend’s hotel room was robbed on the same day he withdrew 10,000 DM from the bank, while he and Eva were at dinner! (You see what tragic things happen in the world?). More crazy laughter from Franz. He can’t stop laughing, it’s so funny. He thinks he might die from it. But there’s still something missing, Eva says, echoing Frau Bast: Franz needs a girl. And as luck would have it, Eva knows just the one. Herbert agrees. And guess what? She’s right outside, just across the street. Eva has only to give her a little wave and she’ll come trotting right up. Franz hesitates, he isn’t sure—what if this girl is bothered by his stump?—but Eva pushes ahead. (This shyness is not like our Franz.) Eva and Herbert beat a hasty departure and in a heartbeat Frau Bast announces there’s a girl to see Herr Biberkopf. Too late to run and hide, Franz steels himself, head in hand. He looks up, and there she is. And that’s it. Franz Biberkopf is smitten from the first moment he sets eyes on Emilie Karsunke from Bernau (Barbara Sukowa), dressed in palest gossamer peachy-cream-pink, a floppy ribbon in her bobbed hair, clutching her handbag in front of her, bathed in radiant light (homage to Jimmy Stewart’s first view of Kim Novack in Vertigo?) in the middle of Franz’s brown room. It’s like the sun rising, mutters Franz, and the girl smiles so sweetly, so innocently that we know exactly what he means. Peer Raben cranks up the sweetness on the music track—which takes us straight back to that beautiful hallucinatory monologue about sunrise at the end of Part VI after Franz’s arm has been crushed. So Franz has himself a new girl. And note that the possessive here, has, is literal; with ownership comes naming rights. Emilie says she wants to be called Sonia (that’s what Eva calls her, on account of her Russian-looking cheekbones) but Franz has always wanted to have a girl called Marie, so they settle on the diminutive Mieze. The montage that follows, bracketed by paragraph-long intertitles (which RWF seems to be using more frequently—I’m sure we’ll talk about that soon), nicely encapsulates their idyllic early days, and beautifully quotes a whole host of other movies, albeit in a minor key: Franz and Mieze on a rowboat out in the country, the camera tracking them along the river’s edge; Mieze hiding behind a tree in the woods, playing blind man’s bluff until one-armed Franz, blindfolded, stumbles and falls, helpless among the roots and fallen leaves, as he tries to find her. Back in Berlin, Franz is sleeping. Mieze, who has already been out, tiptoes into his room and leaves a gift: a chirping canary in a cage and a bottle of something wrapped in robin’s egg blue tissue paper. Oh, and a note “From your silly Mieze”. Out she tiptoes again, with an admonition to Frau Bast not to wake a guy when he’s sleeping. Franz soon wakes, though, and is bowled over by her thoughtfulness. (We know, of course, that the little caged bird is a powerful symbol for Franz himself, not all that different from the fragile creature chirping away as though oblivious to its own captivity, its tiny lungs at the mercy of its keepers. The first scene of this very episode ended with Franz gazing at Max’s little bird’s cage which, you’ll remember, had once upon a time provided Max the proof of Franz’s good-heartedness back during the Lüders incident in Part III.) But Franz needs to be careful. Willy arrives, wondering why Franz didn’t show up yesterday as arranged. (He was too busy with Mieze and forgot.) Next, Frau Bast delivers a letter which has just arrived for Fraülein Mieze, which Franz hastily opens (rights of ownership, it appears, extend to communications). It’s a love letter! Some guy has sent his Mieze a love letter! Off to Eva’s for advice, but not before Eva has her way with Franz, right there on the living room floor. (What is up with her? I still don’t quite have a handle on this character: free agent or temptress? I’m assuming the former, for obvious reasons. This is Fassbinder, after all.) Next, Eva’s off to have a talk with Mieze, and nobody can stop her. She finds Mieze on the street, takes her for a cab ride, shows her the letter. Mieze laughs and laughs until she realizes that Franz could leave her over it. She confirms that she loves Franz (her first question is whether he liked the canary) and begs Eva to talk to him for her, which Eva does. Back at the flat where Franz has fallen asleep, Eva spells it out: A girl doesn’t want to spend all her time just making coffee and cleaning up for a guy. She wants to be able to give her man things, too, to show him how much she loves him! So what if some other guy falls for her once in a while? Who cares if he writes her a letter? Cheating has nothing to do with it. Aha, says Franz, finally getting it. Here we go again. That’s how the wind blows, eh? And of course that is exactly how the wind blows and has always blown, whether or not Franz has chosen to acknowledge it: overtly with Eva, of course, who worked for Franz, but also with Ida, and now with Mieze. Again, Barbara Baum explains: “About the women around Franz Biberkopf he [RWF] said, ‘They’re all prostitutes, but only because they are poor, to get a little extra money.’ They were really respectable housewives. Under no circumstances must I betray them through their costumes.” (Chaos as Usual, p. 158). This is why Mieze and Ida don’t look like the whores in Baldie’s alleyway, don’t even consider themselves whores. They’re just (lower class) women trying to get by, trading on the only commodity they have to sell. Even the woman in the street who winked at Franz in Part III was working it. Of course, the women who aren’t actually turning tricks on the street are trading their bodies for food and shelter too, which is no doubt why Lina and Fränze and Cilly were so easily traded, passed back and forth from “owner” to “owner.” They’re all part of the same game. From, Emmi, the barmaid in Part VII, willing to spend an evening with Franz in exchange for drinks and whatever else, to Eva, who services bankers and other bigshots for a much higher fee, to Franz, who must share “his” girl with other men for money, everyone is caught to varying degrees in the same double bind. How do you reconcile the fact that the activity that puts food on the table and clothes on your back is also the hallmark, the currency, the way to and of, the very manifestation of love? Posted in Uncategorized \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VIII: The Sun Warms the Skin, but Burns It Sometimes Too (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VII: Remember—An Oath Can Be Amputated (1980) Posted on December 30, 2013 by yearof44films And so Biberkopf has come to Berlin for the third time. The first time the roofs were about to slide off, then the Jews came and he was saved. The second time Lüders cheated him, but he swigged his way through. Now, the third time, his arm is gone, but he ventures courageously into the city. The man’s got courage, two- and threefold courage. —Alfred Döblin, Berlin Alexanderplatz Pums’ men are gathered in his office to discuss the latest news: Franz Biberkopf isn’t dead, only lost an arm. Various solutions are put forward: they should kill him; they should take up a collection to pay his medical costs; they should do nothing. Reinhold recommends the latter course. He knows Biberkopf is no snitch; besides, if losing an arm wasn’t enough for him, maybe he could lose a head? Finally it’s agreed that they will take up a collection and pay Biberkopf off. Everyone but Reinhold contributes. Franz, whose right arm has been amputated, is staying with Eva and Herbert (Roger Fritz—he’s the guy who was always with Eva in episodes 1 and 2, presumably Franz’s replacement), who are eager to seek restitution by force if need be for what has happened to Franz. But Franz won’t say who pushed him out of the car, so there isn’t much they can do short of starting a war with Pums. Anyway, Herbert and Eva will be leaving soon for Zoppot, Eva with her john and Herbert incognito. What, Eva asks, does Franz say to that? Franz says it must be really nice in Zoppot. (Poor Eva. Can’t get a rise out of Franz—whom she still loves, as she keeps reminding him—to save her soul.) Meanwhile, Reinhold is still with Cilly, although it looks as though her 30 days might be nearing their end. Her triumphant announcement that she’s gotten a job singing in a nightclub ends in tears when Reinhold is neither impressed nor even especially pleased, but he tries to soothe her in his own twisted fashion. (Always the same old bullshit. . . . You’re always crying. Either a guy behaves the way you imagine he should in your goddamned heads, or you cry and bawl and never leave a guy in peace. That’s Reinhold’s idea of a bromide.) Bruno (Volker Spengler) shows up with an offering for Franz. But Franz doesn’t want Pums’s money—he didn’t even do the lookout job, after all. Bruno sticks his hand in his pocket and Eva flips out, starts screaming bloody murder, convinced that she and Franz are about to be shot. Franz collapses on the ground and Bruno takes off (with Franz’s collection money conveniently still in his pocket). This is a wake-up call for Franz Biberkopf. He’s got to get back on his feet, back into the world, back to the Alex, before he collapses entirely, or just wastes away. Franz gets dressed, takes a last vaguely melancholy tour of Herbert and Eva’s place, and sets off. First stop: an alleyway clearly marked “Children Not Admitted” dedicated to pleasure and perversion, lit like somebody’s vision of hell (impressive in itself, since it’s daytime), whips cracking, moans echoing, fires burning, overseen by a bald MC in a white Barnum and Baily–style cape (Peter Kuiper), who assures Franz he’s got the finest collection of broads in Berlin. The greatest, the most exciting thing he has to offer? The great whore of Babylon, who sits by the waters on a scarlet beast and has drunk the blood of all the saints. (This is a brilliant interpretation of Döblin’s text, by the way. There is no such alleyway in the book, just a reference to the Whore of Babylon.) But Franz refuses. Anything you show me now would disappoint me. Don’t make the mistake of promising too much . . . Ah, says baldie, smiling sadly, the same old difference between fantasy and sad reality . . . Next stop, a bar, where Franz orders three beers and a schnapps and engages in a surprisingly charming “dialog” with each, to the horror of the proprietress and the delight of her employee, Emmi (Traute Hoess). I know it sounds corny—and it could have been really annoying in a Robin Williams-y kind of way, but it’s actually very sweet, this dialog (Franz does all voices), the high point of the episode. Emmi, who can’t stop laughing, sits down at Franz’s table; looks like she’ll be spending the rest of the evening with him. He’s definitely her type. In the subway Franz runs into Meck who tries to skulk away without even saying hello. Franz confronts Meck, who won’t look Franz in the eye—reminds him of how differently they greeted one another at their last meeting. Franz cheerfully tells Meck he’s a carnival barker now, and a one-armed boxer. Really, he should come check out his act. (Franz makes repeated jokes about his arm throughout this episode, claiming variously that he left it at home with his girlfriend as a pledge, that he keep its in alcohol on a shelf, that he’s going into business with it—it stands upright on a table and screams Only those who work shall be permitted to eat! and the rabble are willing to pay 5 marks just to watch it.) Meck, whose guilt is palpable, can’t get away fast enough. Franz and Emmi end up in a nightclub where Willy (Fritz Schedlwy) and a young fop (Udo Kier) are playing billiards; Willy, a proto-libertarian, discourses on the folly of paying veterans’ pensions. (You don’t get paid for other stupidities . . . There are thousands running around doing nothing and getting paid for it. . . anyone stupid enough to go to war . . . etc.) Franz, who’s been playing a Weimar slot machine (i.e., a one-armed bandit) finds this amusing and good-naturedly joins the conversation. Although everyone assumes Franz lost his arm in the war (a notion he does nothing to disabuse them of), Franz seems to think what Willy has to say makes a lot of sense. Their conversation, however, is interrupted by the arrival on stage of the evening’s act, none other than Cilly. Cilly recognizes Franz in the audience as her set is ending, runs backstage and confronts Reinhold, who’s been waiting in her dressing room. Why didn’t he tell her Franz was alive? The swine! Reinhold pushes her aside, storms out. Meanwhile, out in the club Willy is schooling the others in linguistic relativity: you can say something has been stolen (the gold watch he’s wearing, for example), or you can say it has been removed from its place of origin, or simply that it has changed owners. (Just as what the authorities call military service, he, Willy, calls deprivation of freedom.) Emmi goes to the ladies’ and Franz decides to take off, but not before suggesting that Willy come visit him at Frau Bast’s one of these days. Is Franz Biberkopf be about to reneg on his pledge to stay clean? (Remember: an oath can be amputated.) End of Part VII. So, not the most eventful of episodes, but it’s quite enjoyable, and sets up a new rack, to follow the billiards metaphor. Anyway its nice to see Franz get back up on his feet, if only briefly, and with such relentless good cheer. Of course we know the gods are not yet finished with Franz Biberkopf—still, we needed a little space in which to recover after the events of Part VI. But what about Eva? As I mentioned in my last post, she does not even put in an appearance in the novel until now, when Franz has himself delivered to Herbert and Eva’s place after he is run over. They take him to the hospital, pay his bills, and oversee his convalescence. Eva, Döblin tells us, is even in love with Franz, but so far there’s been no mention of his ever having been her pimp (nor even her boyfriend), neither does she pay his rent or watch over his doings like a guardian angel. A pretty minor character, in other words. So again, my question, remains: why did RWF need to reinvent her? What purpose does this ubiquitous Eva serve? I still can’t even hazard a guess—even less so after her bizarre outburst when she thinks Bruno has a gun and is going to shoot her. (This comes directly from the novel, but it doesn’t seem consistent with the tough cookie RWF has already depicted.) Stay tuned. Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Tagged Gunter Lamprecht, hanna schygulla \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VII: Remember—An Oath Can Be Amputated (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VI: Love Has Its Price (1980) Cursed be the man, saith Jeremiah, that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree by the waters, that spreadeth his roots and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green and shall not be careful in the year of drought neither shall cease from yielding fruit. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? —Voice-Over Narration, Part 6, Berlin Alexanderplatz By now, I’m sure everyone will have noticed the strong biblical current that runs throughout Berlin Alexanderplatz. We saw it most clearly in Part 4, of course, with the slaughterhouse and the story of Job, but it has cropped up elsewhere, too (in Part 3, for example, when Otto Lüders raids the widow’s flat and the narrator describes Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Paradise). If I have mentioned these references, I realize I haven’t actually drawn any explicit conclusions about them. That’s because it still feels a little early and I’m not entirely sure how it all fits together, beyond the obvious themes of morality and punishment (or persecution, or victimization) within a working class milieu. I also don’t want to overstate the importance of the biblical references, which are but one strand in a more complex tapestry. That said, Part 6 continues the biblical motif and makes recurring use of the above passage quoting Jeremaiah and spoken by the narrator (i.e., RWF), which would seem to suggest that one of Franz Biberkopf’s defining weaknesses (okay, sins) is his willingness to be seduced. How else would you describe Reinhold’s power over him? As for Reinhold’s own nature, the narrator evokes a more ancient evil, in a recurring reference, poetic and literary I assume, to black water lying silent and deep, in the dark forest, untouched by the storm that rages outside, primeval and still.* Speaking of recurring motifs, have I even mentioned the flashing neon light that dominates so many night scenes in Berlin Alexanderplatz—red outside the windows of Franz’s room (which means it’s also flashing red inside), blue outside the men’s room at Max’s bar? I don’t think so—which is pretty surprising when you consider how obtrusive that light is, literally coloring whatever scene it accompanies as it so dramatically does, inexorable as a heartbeat flashing on and off through the night, relentless and hypnotic, prompting analogies cinematic as well as biological, supremely self-reflexive. (Despair and The Third Generation also use this device, though nowhere near to the extent that Berlin Alexanderplatz does.) If I haven’t mentioned it until now, it’s not because I don’t find it significant; there’s just been too much to talk about. Besides, I always knew I’d get to it eventually. Part 5 opens with this crazy-making flashing blue light, in the men’s room at Max’s bar, where Reinhold, a desperate tremolo to his stutter, practically demands that Franz take Trude off his hands . . . or else. Franz, delighted with his own newfound clarity and righteous resolve, refuses. (It’s for the best, believe me!) The relentless blue light flashes on and off, on and off, as the depth of Reinhold’s psychotic misogyny becomes startlingly clear, but Franz doesn’t notice. It’s as though Franz is in a dream state, unable to read the signs.** And indeed, the next scene (the “official” opening of Part 6 introducing the episode’s title) begins with a dream, while the rest of the episode will unfold according to the logic of one. Franz awakens in bed with Cilly, shaken after a nightmare. In the dream he says he was a horse, a workhorse, out in the freezing cold, when he wanted to be inside in the warm straw, and his toes were frozen so that he wanted to die. But suddenly he’s a bird in a tree, approached by a snake. He wants to fly away but he can’t. The snake slithers closer until it bites and kills him. But then he’s not a bird any more, he’s himself and the snake is Reinhold. But he’s still dead, Franz is. And Reinhold is still Reinhold. Poor Franz. He knows the truth, deep down, but he just doesn’t want to face it. (Cilly gets it, though. She knows why Franz is so shaken. She knows, on some level, where all this is leading.) Back in the bar, Boss Pums holds court; his men jump when he calls, but Franz still doesn’t want any part of it. Meck reminds Franz that having just enough money to get by is fine, but there’s something to be said for knowing you’ll have enough to eat in ten days, or three weeks. It all depends, says Franz. It depends, how you look at things and how much you have to sell yourself to have that certainty. . . but here’s Reinhold, nastier than usual, a dark cloud on the landscape apparent to everyone except Franz (and maybe Trude—but I’ll get to her later). Franz pays no mind, no sir! Franz is schooling Reinhold in the art of how to live with women, and he’s feeling pretty good about it. Musing aloud to himself—and to Reinhold, seated nearby—as the series theme is interpreted by a chiming glockenspiel. Back with Cilly, Franz gets up from bed—he didn’t even take his boots off!—in a daze. Why were all those bells ringing? Is it a holiday? No, Cilly says, it’s just another day. Something must have happened, Franz is sure of it. Why else would the church bells be ringing? Cilly hasn’t heard any bells—and neither have we. (Although I would have sworn I had the first time I watched this episode: remember the glockenspiel from the last scene!) Franz is uneasy. He needs to go out into the street and see for himself. (Does Cilly know that she will never see Franz again? I think she does.) There’s a fight going on out on the Alex between two men. One of them is Pums’s man, Bruno (Volker Spengler), who’s getting the stuffing beaten out of him by the other guy. When the cops arrive and the victor runs off, Franz, Samaritan that he is, approaches Bruno to see if he’s okay. Bruno, about to be arrested himself, asks Franz to go to Pums and tell him that he, Bruno, won’t be able to make it that night. Sure thing. How could Franz refuse? Pums HQ is another world entirely, unlike anything Franz has ever seen: opulent, stylish, lit like a nightclub, overseen by Pums’ fur-clad, gun-toting wife (Lilo Pempeit, Mütter Fassbinder herself in her most sublime over-the-top cameo yet). Pums explains to Franz that he’ll simply have to sub for Bruno that night, now that he’s here. There’s no other possible solution. There’s a delivery coming in and he needs men. Franz’s skepticism wavers when Pums tells him his rate (5.5 marks/hour is clearly more than Franz has ever dreamed of) and evaporates entirely when Reinhold shows up. Franz knows things are okay if Reinhold is involved! Reinhold, agitated and glowering, does his best to ignore Franz. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man. Off they go to make their pickup, Franz riding in the back of one of two small trucks or vans with Reinhold. They arrive at their dark, deserted destination. Franz follows Reinhold and Pums up the stairs. Pums turns on Franz with his lantern, angry. Who told you you could come up here? You’re supposed to stand watch! And slowly it dawns on Franz. This isn’t a delivery, it’s a robbery, and he, Franz Biberkopf, is the lookout! He decides to hotfoot it out of there. But Reinhold is on him before he knows what’s what. Didn’t anyone tell you? Contemptuous and snide, he drags Franz back to his station, then slugs him on the arm, hard, when Franz protests. And now here’s Meck—didn’t you know? I’m the other driver! This is turning out to be a very bad dream indeed. Back in the van and they’re off. Reinhold is seriously agitated. But look, there’s a car following them—never mind that it’s just a hotshot and his dame who’s dared him to race the car ahead to see who’s faster. Franz, initially panicked at the prospect of a return to Tegel, lets go of his fear, starts laughing. It’s worth it to see Reinhold so freaked out, covered in perspiration. Franz can’t stop laughing now, it’s too funny. Reinhold, still blistering at being told by Biberkopf how to handle women, gets madder and madder. Carefully, quietly, while Franz is still laughing at him, he unlatches the door of the speeding car and pushes Franz out. The rest of the episode alternates between Franz and Reinhold. The latter is back in Berlin at the bar. Meck is there, of course, and Cilly is there too, drunk and disconsolate. Meck tells Max that Franz is dead in an accident. Where’s Reinhold, asks Cilly? She goes and finds him in the men’s room, asks if he doesn’t still love her a little? Sure, says Reinhold after thinking it over a moment, it’s been long enough. Into a stall they go. Cut back to Franz as he flies out of the back of the speeding car straight into the path of the car behind them, which runs over and crushes Franz Biberkopf’s arm. Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm. The horrified couple (Karl Scheydt and Christine de Loupe) stop, equivocate as to the extent of their moral obligation to go to the police, and finally agree to take Franz to an address he whispers to them (he doesn’t want to go to the cops, either, for obvious reasons). Reinhold, on a serious bender now, brings Cilly back to his place. Problem is, Trude’s still there, and she’s been worried sick about Reinhold, who hasn’t come home in three days. Who is this woman? Reinhold asks, voice dripping with contempt. And so it goes. Trude (Irm Hermann!—back again at last, if only briefly, after so many years, cast once again in a role you just know she had already lived to whatever extent with RWF) avows her love; Reinhold insults her. Trude refuses to leave; Reinhold threatens her. Trude throws herself on his mercy, begs him not to hurt her; Reinhold tears her blouse, slaps her, spits in her face. (In the book, I have to say, it’s far worse). Eventually he throws Trude out, literally, and locks the door behind her, triumphant. He’s finally managed to throw someone out! Hooray for Reinhold! Meanwhile, Franz, bleeding profusely, losing consciousness, occasionally gasping from pain, waxes profoundly, existentially poetic to the strangers who ran over him as they speed through the darkness, carrying him, we hope, to safety (it’s the most beautiful scene of Part 6, and possibly of the entire series so far): It’s important that we’re happy when the sun rises and the lovely light comes. The gas lamps have to go out, the electric lights have to go out. People have to get up when the alarm clock rings. For a new day has begun. The world has gone on turning. The sun has risen. You can’t be sure what’s up with this sun. People are very concerned with this sun. It’s supposed to be the central body of our planetary system. For our Earth is only a small planet. But what are we, then? When the sun rises and we are happy one should actually be sad, for what are we really? The sun is 300,000 times bigger than the Earth and there is no end of other numbers and zeroes, which simply goes to show that we are a zero ourselves, absolutely nothing. It’s ridiculous, really, yet one’s happy nevertheless. You come out onto the street and feel strong. Colors emerge, people’s faces come to life, and there are forms that you can grasp with your hands. What a good thing it is that we can see. That we can see these colors and the lines. And people always take pleasure, when they can show what they are . . . that they’re doing something . . . experiencing something. We take pleasure in a little warmth. We’re happy that the flowers can grow. But that other matter, that must be a mistake. There must be an error in those terrible numbers with all the zeroes. Beneath this soliloquoy, strings worthy of Bernard Herrmann, strikingly beautiful. Which is a surprise, really, not at all what we’re used to (to the extent that one can ever “get used to” Peer Raben’s score, which is radically different from episode to episode). Whereas the music in Part 5 could seem overblown and self-conscious—one of the aspects I love about it, of course—designed, it seems, to foreshadow tension (Part 5 being a transitional episode, in which the threat and menace of Reinhold is hinted at but not yet realized), the music in Part 6, when all that tension really hits the fan, erupting in violence, is surprisingly subdued, modest, tasteful, melancholy by comparison. I think it is the most coherent of the episodes, musically, and possibly the least intrusive, without in any way receding into the background. (Raben and RWF do things with train whistles, car horns, and the principal end-credits-theme in this episode that are just breathtaking. And don’t forget about that glockenspiel.) Oh, but I almost forgot: turns out Eva does turn up as a character in the novel (typical, huh?). I reckon I’ll be talking about her in Part 7. * This collage of references—biblical, literary, and earth-scientific (for lack of a better term)—comes directly from Döblin, of course. The closest narrational analogy I can think of, for what it’s worth, is in Terence Malick’s Tree of Life. (RWF, of course, doesn’t show us the black water in the dark forest, as Malick probably would, but maybe you get the idea if you’ve seen that movie?) ** It just occurred to me that the flashing colored light is exactly the effect that Hitchcock used in Vertigo to signify Scottie’s dream state. Coincidence? Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Tagged Gunter Lamprecht, Peer Raben \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part VI: Love Has Its Price (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part V: A Reaper with the Power of Our Lord (1980) Part 5 seems to mark a transition from one set of concerns (how is Franz Biberkopf going to make a life for himself outside of prison?) to another. Whatever those new concerns turn out to be exactly, they are, at least for now, dominated by the newly introduced Reinhold—a character who will in large part determine our hero’s fate. (I know this because the paperback edition of the novel I am reading was published as a movie tie-in and features movie stills and descriptive captions that include some pretty gross spoilers. Why do they do this? Do publishers just assume that nobody reads books anymore without having first seen the movie, so we won’t mind if the photo on page 273 tells us what happens on page 410?) As such, Part 5 raises more questions than it answers. Here are a few of them. 1. Who is Eva? I’m just shy of the halfway-mark reading Berlin Alexanderplatz (p. 290), and Eva (Hanna Schygulla)—ubiquitous in the film—has not even appeared. What does this mean? Did RWF completely invent her? And if so, why? If I haven’t mentioned this conspicuous absence until now it’s because I wanted to give the novel some time to develop—perhaps Eva is a key player who just doesn’t show up in the original story until much later. But I think it’s been long enough. I think the time has come to look more closely at this mysterious character. At the beginning of Part 5 we learn that Eva has been paying Franz’s rent at least since he went to prison. She was the first and only person to visit Franz on his first day back from Tegel. She seems to know where he is at all times, whether it’s selling tie holders on the Alexanderplatz, going door to door with shoelaces, locked away in a fleabag rooming house or, as in the opening scene of Part 5, back at Frau Bast’s, following his epic bender. Is she a guardian angel, an imaginary temptress, or just a fantasy projection? Whatever she is to Franz, it’s impossible to just ignore her. She matters. (Out of thirteen episodes and an epilogue, Schygulla appears in twelve. Only Günter Lamprecht appears in more than twelve episodes.) And then there’s the question of her name. Eva, Eve: original sinner, responsible for mankind’s eviction from paradise, mother of all human weakness. No wonder Franz ran screaming with his shoelaces when she answered that unfamiliar door in Part 3. But what exactly is the nature of the temptation she represents to our hero? It can’t be promiscuity—Franz Biberkopf doesn’t seem to have a problem with that. Nor is it infidelity as such (no conscience there, either). Is it prostitution? Eva mentions that Franz was formerly her pimp, a relationship he refuses to reinstate. (He tells both Lina and Eva that he will never rely on a woman in that capacity again.) And yet, he accepted money from the widow after he slept with her in Part 3, and he continues to permit Eva to pay his rent. And, although he initially refuses Eva’s request to sleep with her (not like in the past, just for fun), he eventually grants it. Where is the line with him? 2. What is the source of Reinhold’s power? It’s hard to fathom, but Franz Biberkopf is smitten with Reinhold (Gottfried John) from the very first moment he lays eyes on him—sallow, stooped, stuttering—at Max’s bar, drinking lemonade from a straw. Franz romantically imagines that Reinhold has served time in prison too and that Reinhold, looking at Franz, knows that he has served time and that they are, ergo, brothers. Never mind that he hasn’t and they’re not: Franz is not deterred. Franz has a puppydog infatuation with Reinhold which I fear could be his undoing. When Reinhold shows up with his lady friend at the corner where Franz sells newspapers (no longer the Völkischer Beobachter, thank goodness), Franz is stupidly, childishly thrilled. Reinhold, it goes without saying, wants something from poor dumb Franz. He explains it to him later that night in the men’s room of the bar. Reinhold, until recently so smitten with his Fränze (Helen Vita), needs to get rid of her post haste. He can’t stand the sight of her, suddenly, and now he’s got his eye on a new girl. Maybe Franz can help him? Take her off his hands, even? Reinhold will send her to Franz’s place the next day with some boots for him, a gift. If one thing should lead to another, Franz being possessed of considerable charms in this area . . . Sure thing, says cheerful Franz. Happy to help a friend out. Everything goes like clockwork. Next thing you know, Fränze has moved in with Franz and the two are making like rabbits, happy and cuddly both in and out of the sack. But after a few more weeks, Reinhold shows up at Franz’s corner again with his new girlfriend, Cilly (Annemarie Düringer), who, you guessed it, he just can’t stand the sight of anymore. Hasn’t Franz gotten rid of Fränze yet? He’d better act fast, because Reinhold has his eye on a little blonde called Trude. Franz dutifully picks a fight with Fränze in front of the newsagent (Herbert Steinmetz), with whom Franz has engineered the girl’s hand-off. Just in time, too. Cilly’s at the door, delivering a gift for Herr Biberkopf from Reinhold. Lather, rinse, repeat. Franz was happy with Fränze. He’s happy with Cilly. When Reinhold approaches Franz yet again—he’s fed up with Trude now too—Franz tells Cilly everything. And, although he didn’t see it at first, Franz suddenly realizes that this has got to stop. He’ll make Reinhold see reason. He and Cilly will go and visit this Trude and warn her, tell her to stand her ground. A man has got to learn to settle down after all. Reinhold may be Franz’s friend, but enough is enough. 3. What is Reinhold’s game? Reinhold, in this episode, will make demands of Franz that force him to identify the line he does not wish to cross and, maybe, cross it anyway. He’s a first-class manipulator, and not just of women. It’s not clear what he’s up to—yet—but it’s already obvious that he is a sinister force. The narrator tells us so up front: There is a Grim Reaper whose name is Death, with the power of our lord. He whets his knife today, sharp for the foray. Soon he will sheer a path. And we must bear his wrath. Reinhold clearly has “issues” with women. Does he hate them? Is he psychotic? A repressed homosexual? He tells Franz he suffers from a compulsion, beyond his control, to immediately possess one and then, when he tires of her (usually after 30 days), just as immediately to discard her. I don’t entirely buy it, though: this alleged weakness just doesn’t ring true. On the contrary, Reinhold appears very much in control of himself at all times. Surely a man this powerful and this cunning doesn’t need a guy like Franz Biberkopf to take women off his hands, at any rate. The desperate trip he takes to the Salvation Army with Franz in tow as his witness, looking, he claims, for support in the battle with his own nature, seems like an act to me. So what is Reinhold up to? For what foray does he whet his knife? And then there’s the fruit game. When the episode opens, Meck points out Herr Pums (Ivan Desny), the big boss in the fruit trade for whom Reinhold “works,” despite the fact that we never actually see him doing so (it’s hard to imagine the always sharply dressed Reinhold ever pushing a barrow out in the elements). Why does Franz implicitly and immediately mistrust Pums? The latter offers him a job right away, but Franz declines. There’s something fishy in the fruit trade: a worm—or a serpent, more likely?—in the apple. 4. What is that huge piece of machinery in Franz’s room? OK, this might sound silly, and it’s certainly hard to believe I hadn’t noticed it before now, but there is a massive piece of black iron machinery separating Franz’s bed from the table where he eats in his room at Frau Bast’s, which looks like some sort of ancient stripped-down vehicle—a truck chassis, perhaps, or farm machinery, or construction equipment—or maybe even a printing press. (Or could it be some prehistoric boiler? Honestly, I haven’t the faintest clue.) What is it doing in Franz’s room, in any case, and why has RWF been avoiding it until now? You really don’t notice it in Parts 1-4 because of the camera setups, whereas in Part 5 the camera tracks right around it while Franz, seated on his bed on the other side of this huge thing, very sweetly explains to Fränze why she should stay with him and not worry about Reinhold any more. I’ve scrutinized it in slow motion many times now and I simply cannot figure out what the hell it is, let alone what it means. But it’s got to be there for a reason. If anybody out there knows what I’m talking about could you post a comment and let me know? I feel so helplessly ignorant. (I have already vowed not to watch the DVD extras or read the Criterion liner notes until I’ve finished the series.) [Postscript: According to Dieter Minx, it’s a printing press. For what that’s worth. I’m still scratching my head. —EB ] Just a few other observations: Peer Raben’s music continues to delight and astonish. The cycle—and that’s really what it is—beginning with Fränze’s arrival at Franz’s room, suitcase in hand, and ending with the vanquishing of Cilly, is accompanied by a single piece of piano music—dark, modern, vibrating, and serial, having neither beginning, middle, nor end, unspooling in a continuous loop—which is, of course, the perfect accompaniment to these scenes, in which the women come and go like the seasons. As with so much of Raben’s music, it’s a little jarring at first—a little obtrusive, a little too foregrounded—but quite beautiful, and of course used to brilliant effect. My favorite moment in the movie (aside from the tracking shot described in #4 above, which is much lovelier than I’ve described it) is part of this same musical loop. Reinhold visits Franz at work for the second time (the first was to “introduce” Fränze, the second, Cilly). In the far upper-left corner of the screen, behind Franz and Reinhold (nicely framed in a two-shot), barely discernible, a violent scuffle between Nazis and Communists is taking place up on some sort of terrace—the red armbands of the former can only just be made out, along with the latter’s hammer and sickle–festooned banner—as the two groups try to wrestle control of the communist symbol. The action is easily missed, since the dialog between Franz and Reinhold commands your attention, until the two men part ways, their conversation concluded, and the foreground of the reverse shot is suddenly, briefly, crossed by a group of Nazis, running at full speed as they make off with the banner while Franz slips down into the subway to talk to the newsagent about taking Fränze. It only lasts a moment—the less vigilant among us might not even register it—but it’s a chilling reminder of the ways this epic struggle between the movements and ideologies that defined the age were, at the same time, literally backdrop, commonplace enough for a time at least as to scarcely attract attention. Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Tagged Gunter Lamprecht, hanna schygulla, Peer Raben \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part V: A Reaper with the Power of Our Lord (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part IV: A Handful of People in the Depths of Silence (1980) Posted on December 6, 2013 by yearof44films Franz Biberkopf awakens in a dark, dingy, down-market room, a castaway in a sea of empty beer bottles, on a bender to beat all benders. Otto Lüders’ duplicity was just too much to bear; Franz has hidden himself away from the world and is drinking himself into oblivion. Franz stumbles downstairs with his crate of bottles, which gossipy Frau Greiner across the way replaces with fresh ones. He sits at his window watching the activity in the street and in the apartments across the way. A woman walks across the cobblestones below, all business, then turns to look up at Franz where he sits perched in his window, and winks. Franz winks back. Next thing he knows she’s in his room, taking off her dress. Franz, awkwardly, begins to apologize . . . out she storms, furious at having been tricked (“you winked, didn’t you?). He reads the newspaper and drinks. He throws up and drinks some more. He complains of crippling stomach pains, seeks the help of a priest (at least in his mind), spends several days and nights tossing and turning in his room, feverish and sick, attended by his saintly landlord, Baumann (Gerhard Zwerenz). The fever breaks, the worst appears to be over, although Franz is still not out of the woods. Another feminine apparition visits him (are any of these women who visit Franz in his squalor even real? Impossible to say for sure, but I have my doubts): Eva (Hanna Schygulla) appears at his door one night, as though it were perfectly natural for her to be there, and gingerly steps over the sea of beer bottles to sit with a perspiration-soaked Biberkopf on his disgusting floor. Eva, we at last learn, is a successful prostitute and Franz, whom she still loves, was once her pimp. She offers him help, she offers him money, but Franz vehemently refuses both. (He made a vow, after all.) Franz looks out the window after Eva has gone only to spot something going on in the dark over at the wholesale warehouse across the street. A robbery is in progress. How dare thieves bring their perfidious activities to the street where he, Franz Biberkopf, lives! Something hitherto dormant in him, a sense of moral outrage, perhaps, is awakened and suddenly Franz snaps out of his torpor. By the time Herr Greiner and his Frau are arrested for collaborating with the thieves—in broad daylight and in front of the entire neighborhood—Franz is back to his old self, ready to return to life on the Alex, as though he had achieved some kind of catharsis, survived a trial by fire. Baumann bids him a sad goodbye. Franz returns first to the newspaper vendor in the subway (he’ll need a source of income again), then to find Meck, who’s selling clothing now. (Don’t ask where he gets his merchandise.) Part 4 is a tricky one to describe—there isn’t really all that much in the way of action, and the plot is meandering and uncertain. Unlike Parts 1–3, Part 4 almost exclusively depicts Franz’s emotional and spiritual state. Even those plot developments that do involve action seem like feverish projections, hallucinations that unfold as in a dream, random and disconnected. And aside from a couple of forays into the world outside, which anyway feel just as detached and unreal as the interior scenes, this episode takes place almost entirely in Franz’s dreadful room. After a shaky start, Part 1 saw Franz slowly find his footing back in Berlin, largely thanks to the catharsis or closure or whatever it was he achieved (by force) through Minna. In Part 2, Franz regained confidence, found work (never mind how compromising), and even started a happy, relatively healthy new life with Lina. After a promising start, however, Part 3 punished Franz for failing to recognize (among other things) a situation too good to be true. And Part 4—well, Part 4 is a long, dark night of Franz Biberkopf’s soul. (Never mind that it does, paradoxically, happen to feature more daylight scenes than any of the preceding three). Politics, unemployment, social issues, sexual and emotional relationships, none of these seem to penetrate the penumbra that separates Franz Biberkopf and his spiritual crisis from the outside world. (They do penetrate it, of course, but on an unconscious level. More on this later.) The religious overtones are inescapable, beginning with the music, which is downright liturgical (J.S. Bach’s cantatas spring to mind, but I’m not sure how accurate that is), and which is woven into nearly every scene from the very first shot. From the moment Franz Biberkopf awakens and fumbles blindly for a bottle that isn’t empty as he lies on his filthy bed, accompanied by the echoing, unearthly soprano and organ, we know we are in a world removed from the everyday. The pivotal scene in Part 4 takes place in Franz’s smoky, candle-lit room, after the worst of his “sickness” has already passed. He and Baumann play cards and enact a dialog based on the Book of Job, with Baumann as Satan and Franz as Job (late-stage Job, of course, after he has lost his riches and been cast out of his house into a cabbage patch). Here Satan does not appear to want to induce Job to curse God, exactly, but to admit that he does not actually want the help he claims has been denied him, whether from God or man or Satan. It’s a strange scene, but quite moving. And it confirms for us, if we weren’t quite sure, what is going on: like Job, Franz fervently, desperately wants to hew to a right path, to align himself with God—which is to say, with the good—no matter what misfortunes befall him. But he cannot let go of his thoughts, he cannot make himself “wholly beast.” And temptation to return to his old ways anyway beckons from all sides (Otto Lüders, Eva, the Greiners). Franz is only safe when locked in his awful room, drinking. The card game between Job and Satan is sandwiched between two remarkable sequences in a slaughterhouse, introduced by an intertitle: Man’s fate is like that of the beasts. Just as they die, so does he. The first of these consists of a montage of hand-colored still photographs taken in a 1920s abbatoir, with step-by step narration describing a steer’s slaughter in graphic and poetic detail. (And no, that’s not an oxymoron. The description is profoundly moving.) Astute readers will note, of course, that this scene harkens back to the slaughterhouse of In a Year with Thirteen Moons. (Did Döblin’s novel inspire RWF to develop that connection with Armin Meier’s career as a butcher in the first place? I would wager that it probably did.) The second, which comes after the Job scene, is not derived from documentary sources but was shot for the film. An old bearded man in a loincloth, covered in places with what looks like moss (Job, once handsome, found himself covered in sores, another way that God tested him) enters an empty warehouse carrying a lamb. He sits with the animal in his lap and quickly, efficiently, but compassionately, slits the animal’s throat. (And yes, it looks like he really does. Animals, it seems, were harmed in the making of this motion picture.) This scene does not exist in the novel as such—or rather, it does, but in a different form. In the novel you read a (spine-chilling, heart-breaking, vegetarian-making) description of an old man slaughtering a calf—no reference to Job. The juxtaposition of slaughterhouse and Story of Job (and Franz Biberkopf) are there, sure, but the relationship between them is not very clear. By making the old slaughterer biblical, allegorical, RWF draws these threads together: the suffering of Job, of Franz Biberkopf, of lambs to the slaughter, are all of a piece. And they have all the same breath, and men have no more than beasts. As I’ve already mentioned, Döblin’s novel is a modernist work, a dense tapestry woven from floating passages of text from a variety of sources, unanchored and unattributed, often impossible to pin down or ascribe to any one source. Very difficult, as such, to adapt to the screen—which requires, as a rule, a vantage point (or at least something like one). RWF’s solution to this problem—a stratagem no doubt born in the theater, where this problem must be commonplace—was to put those floating snippets of text in the mouths of secondary characters, or occasionally to visualize them through other media. (He seems to have reserved intertitles and voice-over narration for the book’s chapter subbheadings and third-person omniscient narration.) For example, RWF has Frau Greiner, not some third-person quasi-narrator as in the book, describe at length the various characters (and their salient foibles) who inhabit the block of flats Franz finds himself living and drinking in. And a series of legal memoranda written by the attorney across the street (a real skinflint, according to Frau G), which just “appear” in the novel, are here staged, enacted, as the lawyer dictates to his mute secretary (Margit Carstensen), framed by the office window as in a painting as Franz gazes out from his window-sill across the street, Rear Window–style. (Really nice camera-work in this sequence, which culminates in the lady in the street’s wink.) And of course RWF has Franz read the ads in his newspaper—which again, just appear in the novel, unattributed—aloud, while he drinks. The heaviest narrational lifting in Part 4 is reserved for Herr Baumann—a character, I should mention, wholly invented by Fassbinder. (At least so far. I wouldn’t completely rule out Baumann’s appearance later in the novel, although he wouldn’t be the same character in that case, would he?). Why in an adaptation this faithful did RWF feel the need to invent this particular—minor—character? In the novel, the landlady is vaguely malevolent but mostly insignificant. And surely there were other vehicles RWF could have used to convey the Job business? Gerhard Zwerenz, who plays Baumann, was not, as far as I can tell, really an actor at all. A prolific novelist and essayist (his Wikipedia page, only available in German, is impressive, to say the least), he wrote The Earth Is Uninhabitable Like the Moon, a work RWF spent several years trying to make into a film, as well as the novelization of The Marriage of Maria Braun. RWF clearly admired him. He dedicated Veronika Voss to Zwerenz and cast him in a small role in The Stationmaster’s Wife and, more important, as the journalist to whom Elvira turns for help before her suicide in In a Year with Thirteen Moons. (He also opened a marvelous essay on Claude Chabrol with a quote from Zwerenz.) A startling Abraham Lincoln look-alike (same craggy, leathery face, same moustacheless beard, same aura of profund wisdom and courage), Zwerenz exudes an other-worldly calm and sagacity and gentleness. Shot from below in candlelight as he often is in Berlin Alexanderplatz, he looks like some sort of 19th-century Lutheran elder, stern, all-knowing, but kind. As Baumann, he functions as a sort of guardian angel—or perhaps just an angel of Franz Biberkopf’s better nature. (He also plays a mean Satan.) Zwerenz was—still is, I think—a leftist intellectual and outspoken social critic who served in both the German and Red Armies in WWII (if I’m reading Google’s tortured translation of his Wikipedia page correctly), a member of the East German Communist party after the war who later defected to the West. His very presence links Franz Biberkopf’s saga to political and social realities that were an important part of RWF’s agenda—connections which Döblin in 1929 would not have been in a position to make, living and writing as he was in the midst of this unfolding history. RWF peppers his Berlin Alexanderplatz with political-historical references. Part 4 includes two important posters seen in the background of dramatic scenes. The first of these, when Franz goes out into the street after his “illness” (intending, he declares, to visit the Jews in Münzstrasse—remember them?), is an announcement of the execution of Sacco and Vanzetti—anarcho-proletarian lambs to the slaughter, par excellence. The second of these can be seen in the very last scene of the episode, when Franz reunites with Meck. Behind them, a poster announces the incarceration of Carl von Ossietzky, German pacifist, imprisoned in 1929 for exposing the secret German rearmament which violated the Treaty of Versailles and, of course, jump-started Hitler’s war machine. He was convicted of treason in 1931 and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1935, which he was unable to physically accept, incarcerated as he was in Esterwegen concentration camp, where he died in 1936. (Gerhard Zwerenz, I should mention, won the Carl von Ossietzky prize for contemporary history and politics in 1986.) So here’s my favorite scene of the film, nicely modified by RWF from the novel to give it a more coherently poetic as well as a political edge. In his delirium, Franz hallucinates turning to a priest for help. In RWF’s version the figure to whom he directs his confused and humble plea is a drayman, a burly laborer in cap and black leather smock loading his truck with heavy sacks outside the church, unmoved by the stooped and crumpled man in a brown wool coat and hat. Good day, Reverand. I’m Franz Biberkopf, a worker, a casual laborer. I was a furniture mover, unemployed. I wanted to ask you something. How can I stop my stomach pains, heartburn, acid indigestion? Here it comes again! Noxious bile! It comes from drinking a lot. Excuse me for accosting you like this on the street. Am I keeping you from your work? But what can I do about this horrible bile? One Christian has to help another. You’re a good person, but I won’t go to heaven. And why? If criminals exist, I can tell you all about them. Loyal and true, we swore it to Karl Liebknecht. We gave our hand to Rosa Luxemburg. I’ll go to Paradise when I die, and they’ll bow down before me and say: “That’s Franz Biberkopf, loyal and true, a German. Does odd jobs, loyal and true. High flies the banner, black, white and red. But he kept it to himself. He didn’t turn to crime like the others who want to be Germans, and who cheat their fellow citizens.” As in the slaughterhouse scenes, or the preceding scene in which Baumann, on hands and knees, cleans Franz’s vomit from the floor while talking to him about the occupations of the human heart, or the moment of Ida’s death in Part 1, we are in the realm of the sacred. The ecclesiastical choral music on the soundtrack, the deft, almost surreal camera movement, Franz’s humble, rambling plea, all underscore this. At the same time, we are in the realm of the political: the Marxists Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were political leaders whose significance to the working classes was also spiritual, after all, while the laborer and even the landlord here, in words and deeds, are both exemplars of a secular religiosity as well as an implicit political stance. This, I think, is the essence of RWF’s eloquent humanism: he shows us how spiritual, political, historical, and social realities all converge and overlap in a single, precious life. Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Tagged Gerhard Zwerenz, Gunter Lamprecht, hanna schygulla \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part IV: A Handful of People in the Depths of Silence (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part III: A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul (1980) Posted on November 25, 2013 by yearof44films Style and form—everything rested on this. No style without morals, no morals without style. —Ingrid Caven, Interview with Katia Nicodemus, signandsight.com, 5/31/2007 Part 3 picks up where Part 2 left off: outside Max’s bar where Franz, still shaken by the dust-up with Dreske, proclaims his love to Lina. Franz came close—so close!—to breaking his vow to stay on the straight and narrow back there. But one wrong move and they throw the book at a guy like him, so he knows he has to be careful. Meanwhile, there’s still the question of finding—and holding—a job. But wait, Lina has an idea. She suddenly remembers her Uncle Otto. OK, he’s not her actual uncle, but an old family friend. (Is it just me, or does that sound a little creepy?) He’ll be able to help Franz, for sure! So off they go to Uncle Otto’s place, a basement apartment more basement than apartment. Lina introduces Franz as her fiancée. Turns out Uncle Otto Lüders (Hark Bohm), recently widowed, is unemployed too, and has been for two years. How does he get by? Oh, this and that. Right now he has a sideline selling shoelaces. Perhaps Franz can get in on the shoelaces gig too. Uncle Otto kindly agrees to take him under his wing. There are enough shoes in Berlin for the two of them. The next day sees Franz and Otto outside an elegant apartment building, cases strapped over their shoulders. Franz will take the apartments on the left-hand side of the building this time and Lüders the right. Up the stairs Franz goes. He hesitates for a moment outside the first door, then rings the bell. A sad thin woman (Angela Schmid) answers and Franz launches into his spiel. Surely her husband needs shoelaces? Everybody does, and he’s got them in three sizes! No, the woman says, staring intently at Franz, her husband is dead. Franz apologizes. The woman invites him in for coffee. (Don’t do it, Franz! Don’t go in there!) On the dining room wall a picture of a big man who looks a bit like Franz Biberkopf with a big black moustache. Suddenly Franz understands. He puts his hand on the woman’s neck . . . By the time Franz gets back to Max’s bar, Lüders is already waiting. Franz buys lunch but needs to get change because he has . . . 20 marks! That’s got to be more than their entire inventory is worth! Franz tells Otto about the widow, and how he left his case there so he’ll have to go back. Where was this? Lüders asks. First door on the first floor on the left. Can you believe the luck? Franz gives Lüders a tenner; they are a team, after all. Next thing you know, there’s Uncle Otto Lüders standing outside the widow’s door. Expecting Franz, her excitement turns to confusion, then fear. Lüders pushes his way in, demands coffee—like you made for my friend. The innuendo is menacing and nasty. As he is about to leave, Lüders’ tone becomes threatening. He demands money. The camera tracks back to the next room as the widow, frightened, looks on while Lüders ransacks the place, looking for valuables, and the narrator describes the story of the serpent in Paradise. Lüders does not show up at Franz and Lina’s in the morning, so Franz goes out alone. Franz, spooked by the ubiquitous Eva (Hanna Schygulla) who answers one of the first doors he tries (and whose relationship to Franz, maddeningly, we still don’t know) runs away. Franz practically runs to the florist across the street, where he buys flowers for the widow. Of course she won’t let him in when he rings and slams the door in his face. Franz scribbles her a note, stomps on the flowers, and leaves. When Franz does not come home that night Lina is certain he has run away and left her. She finds Meck at Max’s, where Max tells them how Franz came for lunch and received first a package from Lüders (his inventory of shoelaces returned) and then a letter marked confidential, which turned Franz’s face green and caused him to run out. Oh, and another thing: Lüders had come for lunch, spotted Franz, and turned tail and run. What could have caused him to flee Franz like that? Smelling something fishy, Meck and Lina pay a visit to Uncle Otto. When it becomes clear that Lüders is lying about what happened, Meck shows him the knife he carries with him at all times, which he won’t hesitate to use if Lüders doesn’t find Franz by the next day. Lüders locates Franz in a nearby flophouse, where bunks are rented by the night. Franz refuses to return home and rejects the money Lüders offers him. Once more Franz sees red, brandishes a chair, threatening horrible violence, and once more the cloud passes just as quickly. What is the matter with Franz, Lüders asks. He doesn’t understand him at all. “I haven’t learned,” Franz slowly replies, “to say in simple words what’s going on in my head, and what you did to cause what’s going on in my head. I haven’t learned that, because if I’d have learned that, I would have learned a lot more as well, and what has happened would not have happened.” Franz knows he is culpable and complicit in some fundamental way but he’s still not sure how. Is this a chink in his sense of righteous victimhood? Could be. Meck and Lina go to the flophouse, only to find that Franz has already moved on, leaving instructions with the blowsy proprietress (Christiane Maybach) that nobody is to come looking for him. Maybe they should stop looking, suggests Meck. Maybe Lina can come stay with him now, so she won’t be alone and he won’t be alone, either. (He’s always been fond of her.) Lina silently nods okay, yes, and the episode ends. Is it my imagination or is the pace picking up? Part 3 moves forward at a nice tight melodramatic clip. With very little voice-over, no interior monologues and no intertitles to provide commentary on or distract from the inexorable forward (downward?) movement of the story, Part 3 is more melodrama than modernist collage. What little narration there is contributes to the film’s fairy tale–like quality rather than fragmenting it, as was the case in Parts 1 and 2. (Not that that sort of fragmentation is a bad thing; in fact, it seems more faithful to the spirit of the novel.) This is a good time to point out that the complete title of Döblin’s novel is actually Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf. This is no ordinary novel: it is a sweeping saga, an epic tale, a larger-than-life story. Everything in the production contributes to this epic fairy tale quality: the camerawork, the compositions, the blocking, the music, and especially the lighting, which is almost always artificial (i.e., manipulable, controlled), since most of the scenes take place indoors and at night. As we’ve come to expect, Berlin Alexanderplatz features a full array of framing devices and those trademark reflective surfaces (mirrors, windows, etc.) which duplicate and reverse the characters’ images. But there’s a new element at work here too: everywhere surfaces sparkle and gleam, from the shiny silver taps and fixtures in Max’s bar, to the glasses and bottles and silverware, to the light fixtures and even Max’s eyeglasses. The effect is magical and strange, exactly what you would expect in a fairy tale. For me the most perfect example of this kind of heightened unreality is the scene in the florist’s shop. Shot from inside through the front window, we see Franz leaving Eva’s building across the street, partially screened by red and white gladiolus (gladioli?) and elaborate greenery. Pan 180 degrees, as Franz enters the shop, to an oval mirror on the wall opposite the door, where Franz is now framed with roses beneath his face, like an old-fashioned portrait hanging on the wall of your great-grandmother’s house. FRANZ: I have to buy some flowers. But I’m not sure . . . not quite sure what kind they should be. The thing is, they have to mean “the past keeps following you, driving you on and on, driving you someplace where there’s no future.” Do you understand? Cut to a close-up of the florist, warmly lit, the image diffuse and slightly gauzy, against a vivid backdrop of bright zinnias, flattened by a long-ish lens, flowers and florist comprising what looks like a single plane, almost like strangely lit wallpaper. FLORIST: Yes sir. I understand you. What you need are carnations. White carnations, sir. FRANZ: White carnations? But they’re flowers for death, aren’t they? FLORIST: Yes, sir. But you asked for flowers for a death, didn’t you? More than any moment in Fear Eats the Soul, or Martha, or Fear of Fear, or in any Fassbinder film I’ve seen, this tiny little scene, lasting less than two minutes total, made me realize something profoundly important about the way RWF used melodrama, which I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on until now. By manipulating those cinematic codes we associate with a certain Golden Age of Hollywood—codes of lighting, music, color, set decoration—RWF both induces an emotional response and at the same time makes the audience aware of the mechanism by which that response is elicited. OK, we know that. But here’s my point: contrary to the way I have always thought about, say, Brechtian distancing, or what Godard was doing in the 1960s, this awareness does not intellectualize or circumvent the audience’s emotional response, it actually makes it more emotionally powerful, because it is honest, achieved without guile. Does that make any sense at all? RWF honestly shows you what he is doing: look at the beautiful yellow light that focuses your attention on the kind florist whose stock in trade is quotidian human tragedy and joy, look at the way flowers convey desire and loss, look at the image of Franz Biberkopf trapped in a frame, listen to Peer Raben’s melancholy strings on the soundtrack . . . these are not tricks to make you lose yourself in imaginary identification, nor does RWF bracket them in ironic quotation marks. You are free to contemplate the mechanism by which these beautifully styled elements heighten your awareness of Franz Biberkopf’s plight, which only serves to heighten your awareness of . . . Franz Biberkopf’s plight. This is the opposite of manipulation; it is an emphasis on form that I now see is fundamentally moral. Curiously, the image I keep coming back to as I try to articulate this idea, if only to myself, is a mise-en-abîme, as in a series of endlessly repeating reflections in facing mirrors, the kind you find in barber shops or in elegant old-fashioned Ladies’ powder rooms. Reflections of reflections, which give you a perspective impossible to attain when you’re “inside” the image, as we normally are, even when we’re watching movies. At least we think we are—that’s the seductive power of identification, right? The proscenium arch, the frame, just disappears. Reflections of reflections of reflections: how perfectly Fassbinder is that? Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part III: A Hammer Blow to the Head Can Injure the Soul (1980) Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part II: How Is One to Live If One Doesn’t Want to Die? (1980) After the roller coaster ride of Part 1, reality. We knew Franz’s euphoria couldn’t last. Struggling under the impossible reparations imposed at Versailles, in the midst of a global economic depression, it turns out Weimar Germany is just not a good environment for an ex-con to try to regain his place in society. With 673,582 men unemployed in Berlin alone (Lina looks it up), what’s a man to do? What Franz needs, Meck suggests, is a trade. Franz tries hawking tie holders in the street, but his sales pitch, which quickly veers into hardscrabble philosophy tinged with traces of anti-Semitism, attracts no interest—his only customer, Eva (Hanna Schygulla), buys one out of charity, only to spark Lina’s jealousy. Franz decides that consumer gadgets just isn’t his line; newspapers seem more the thing. The newsagent in the U-Bahn station (Herbert Steinmetz) sets Franz up with some publications specializing in “sexual education” (illustrated, of course)—the latest thing, he assures Franz, and perfectly legal, too. Franz, skeptical at first—he knows where looking at too many pictures leads (funny how predominant the impotence theme is proving to be already)—agrees to give it a try and takes some volumes on the topic of homosexuality back home with him. When he describes one of the stories he read to Lina—unerotic and heartbreaking as Franz tells it—she freaks out and tries to run away, assuming Franz must be “like that.” (A brisk grope sets her straight.) Lina marches back to the newsagent and gives him a piece of her mind, along with the unsold magazines. Franz watches, entranced, from the sidelines. Despite Franz’s diminished prospects, Lina convinces him to take her to a night club, Die Neue Welt (The New World—a dance hall with mercifully few traces of Liza Minelli or Joel Grey). Franz meets a man at the bar who immediately identifies Franz as a “true German.” (Franz fails to mention during the man’s rant against Jews, Poles and the French, that his own girlfriend happens to be Polish, but whatever; that’s not the way Franz thinks). The man offers to give Franz “a chance.” Things are looking up! The next day sees a slightly discomfited Franz in the U-Bahn station once more, this time in sandwich board and Nazi armband, hawking the Volkischer Beobachter, a Nazi newspaper. Franz, imprisoned by his sandwich board, labelled with the swastika he’s been told to wear, stands helpless, proud, defiant as characters wander in and out of his range, the station itself a dimly lit stage on which the action unfolds. The subway station, of course, is the perfect platform for this drama (pun not entirely intended)—which, I think, is why RWF set it there. The whole world seems to pass through: sales vendors energetically vie for attention—hawking sausages, pickled herring, and, yes, Nazi propaganda—while private dramas play out unnoticed in the dim light. Daylight just barely penetrates from the subway entrances visible in the distance. I want to say the light down there is crepuscular, but I’m not sure if that quite describes it? You could certainly call the lighting expressionist—or you could just say it is highly dramatic, highly theatrical. Which, of course, you could say about this entire scene (or this entire series, really): it’s highly theatrical. More so than with many of RWF’s films, you really notice the extent to which his background in theater prepared him for this: the lighting, the staging—the way he uses space, the way he blocks each scene for the camera and for the audience, the choreography of camera and actors within the space—I really do think these owe as much to a theatrical vision as they do to cinematic one. (You particularly notice this in the long shots; the close-ups are pure cinema.) Which is not to say that Berlin Alexanderplatz is “stagey” or “uncinematic”—quite the contrary! What I think RWF has achieved here is really extraordinary: a synthesis (not to mention a mastery) of these two art forms that enables him to achieve both critical distance and a sort of fairy tale unreality, while at the same time commanding a profound empathy for his characters. Maybe this is the quality I’ve been trying to put my finger on that sets Berlin Alexanderplatz apart? (In a Year with Thirteen Moons achieves this, too—whatever “it” is exactly.) But I’m getting ahead of myself. So, anyway. Here’s Franz, a sandwich board around his neck and a swastika on his arm, trying to muster enthusiasm for another product to sell. A sausage vendor (Jürgen Draeger) greets him and expresses curiosity about the Volkischer Beobachter. They’re supposed to be alright, the man says, but. . . he senses something else. They’re against the Jews, aren’t they? Personally, Franz says, he has nothing against the Jews, but (gaining confidence) one must have law and order. That’s the thing! The sausage vendor shrugs, wishes Franz good luck—everyone has to make a living according to his own lights—and adds almost as an afterthought that he is Jewish—no hard feelings, though. Franz looks as though he has accidentally swallowed a fly. Ah, but here comes Dreske, whom Franz seems to know from the last war, and a couple of his comrades, who are communists. They openly mock Biberkopf, who doesn’t actually seem to know much about Nazi philosophy, but, his back now up, defends his untenable position as though he actually had one. (Referring proudly now to the swastika on his armband: “There’s nothing on it a man can’t answer for.”) After the war, the republic promised a better way of life, but there’s no work, no butter, no order (he’s on a roll now.) When a man has seen the things Franz Biberkopf has seen . . . After work, Franz goes to Max’s bar to wait for Lina. (Max, by the way, is played by the lovely Klaus Holm, grandfather Gast in the The Third Generation.) Franz has the place to himself, contentedly eating a cheese sandwich he no doubt purchased with his day’s wages, when who should enter but Dreske and his comrades—more of them this time than in the station—looking for a drink and a song and, it would appear, a fight. They immediately launch into the Internationale and demand that Franz join them. He refuses and says he will sing something himself, then recites a poem written by a fellow prisoner in Tegel—who, if I read the flashback correctly, committed suicide in the cell next to Franz’s. But the communists are not satisfied, so Franz sings a song of wartime camaraderie (here’s where a knowledge of German culture and history would really come in handy) and then The Watch on the Rhine. This infuriates the communists, one of whom menacingly approaches Franz and demands the Nazi armband he is sure is in Franz’s pocket. (I don’t know the character’s name so could not look up the actor.) Dreske refuses to intervene, suggesting that Franz has earned whatever punishment he gets. Franz Biberkopf, as they say, loses his shit. He kicks the table over, grabs a chair and brandishes it like a crazed lion-tamer. He shouts. He sings. He flashes back to his jarring re-entry into the world just a few short days previously, when the sky and the buildings seemed about to crash in on his head. For a moment it looks like he is going to run completely, violently, amok and beat these men to a pulp and then . . . the moment passes and he is calm again. The communists, meanwhile, have all slunk silently back to their table across the room. Franz leaves, while Dreske comforts his comrades with Leninist platitudes. These are very difficult scenes to describe, of course, because they require you to work through your natural revulsion at the sight of our protagonist wearing a swastika, on the one hand, and at the same time (in my case, anyway) disregard your natural sympathy for the communists. RWF (and presumably, Döblin) makes you abandon your presumptions and look at the conditions that would drive a man like Biberkopf to the Nazis in the first place. In any case, Franz doesn’t seem to know what the party really stands for, doesn’t even appear to have read the paper he’s selling—just as he doesn’t use a tie holder or read magazines devoted to sexual education. It’s a job, and a job is what Franz desperately needs. At the same time, Franz knows intimately that the society he has re-entered is broken, that a guy like him cannot live and work and expect to make ends meet under the current circumstances, although he desperately needs to. So maybe . . . The communists, he reminds Dreske, haven’t delivered on any of their promises, so maybe those other guys will. That’s as far as it goes with him, and it is probably as far as it went with a good many people in those fateful early days, right? All too happy to overlook the ideology for the promise of better times. (We hear this from our own low-information middle every election cycle: “You guys haven’t fixed anything so I’m voting for the other guys.” If they bother to vote at all, that is.) This is probably a good time to mention Gunther Lamprecht’s performance as Biberkopf. I have had to remind myself several times now that this same actor played Maria’s mother’s good-natured boyfriend in The Marriage of Maria Braun—another under-employed working class character, but with none of the simple, sweet, pugnacious and paradoxical menace of Franz Biberkopf. Gunther Lamprecht is that good: I have to remind myself that this persona is not the only one he’s equipped to play. (In some ways Lamprecht’s performance reminds me of James Gandolfini’s career-defining turn as Tony Soprano, but only superficially; what Lamprecht really captures is Biberkopf’s well-intentioned but dangerous ignorance, his sweet, sometimes child-like innocence which can turn to violence at the drop of a hat, not because he is steeped in a culture and tradition of violence à la the Sopranos, but because he just doesn’t know what else to do when the time comes, because he is a great big bear of a man who can beat a person to death with his bare hands. When push comes to shove, you use the gifts you’ve been given—especially when those gifts are pushing and shoving. It isn’t his fault. This is the beauty of Lamprecht’s performance: he makes you feel that Franz Biberkopf genuinely believes this. Note: I found a used copy of the novel Berlin Alexanderplatz for $15 at Powell’s Books in Portland. (They have a great website. Next time you have to turn to Amazon, especially for anything out of print, try Powell’s first!) I’ll start reading tomorrow. Posted in German Cinema, Melodrama, Rainer Werner Fassbinder \| Comments Off on Berlin Alexanderplatz – Part II: How Is One to Live If One Doesn’t Want to Die? (1980) Querelle (1982) Veronika Voss (1982) Lola (1981) The Little Chaos (1966–67) Addendum: History and Lili Marleen Stefan Komar on Lili Marleen (1981) ChrisJ on Lili Marleen (1981) Przedzienkowski Jaku… on Lili Marleen (1981) davexrobb on Berlin Alexanderplatz –… Berlin Alexanderplat… on The Merchant of Four Seasons…	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3196
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__label__wiki	0.519521	0.519521	Future of handlooms is bright: A. Arya of Fabriclore Founded in March 2016, Fabriclore is a Jaipur-based organisation, with a penchant for telling vivid stories through their collaboration with indigenous designers. A brainchild of three friends – Sandeep, Anupam and Vijay, Fabriclore sets out for a tough task to constantly inspire creative people to achieve stand-out boho and fusion designs in both, clothing and home furnishing. Analysing the fashion trajectory for the past 10 years, the founders huddled in a cafe, and tried to discover the connecting chord between various phases, right from “Darzi era” to the advent of e-commerce. Post a great deal of brainstorming, they realised that fabric is the only thing which is persistently common in all phases. Understanding this, they rolled out the orb of yarn, hemming the foundation of Fabriclore. Anupam Arya, Director at Fabriclore, speaks on the inspiration behind setting up Fabriclore and its achievements over the years. What was the inspiration for your start-up and how did the Fabriclore set-up was founded? The idea behind Fabriclore came from broadly three things – in depth understanding of the textile industry, analysing the various players in the supply chain and considering different phases of the fashion trajectory. Right from the Darzi Era, which was taken over by the retail stitched garments and further with the influx of e-commerce, it was the readymade garment sector that completely took over the conventional designing trends. With the advent of customisation and fusion era, we have now entered an age where couturiers are extensively experimenting with boho fusion designs. We realised fabric is one thing that has been common in all the phases and we thought “Why not just fabrics?” With this thought, we have rolled out the orb of Fabriclore in March 2016. From choosing the right colour palette, to designing a descriptive logo, from creating an easily navigable website to building our presence on various social media platforms our strategy since day one has been, to create a strong brand identity, communicate our brand’s ethos to our audience, i.e., narrating the lore of Indian handlooms and various crafts available across India. Now, that Fabriclore has completed over a year, and what are its achievements? Finding right, bright and stable team to manage various aspects of the business in very initial phases and in turn good reception at consumer end, have been our biggest success. Growing a bootstrapped business without a loan or funding for more than 1.5 years, from 100 orders a month to 4,000 orders a month does mark a great success story in its own, we totally cherish this the most. Design is the backbone of your concept, and how is this being carried out as a continuous process and what is the design set-up? Fabriclore defines itself as “A Design & Tech Driven Online Fabric Brand”, and therefore both technology and design are central to our core philosophies. It gets additional fillip from the founding team who consider these two the most important pillars of modern day businesses. Visual detailing of the product, creative imagery, slicker brand identity, packaging all contribute tremendously in an online business, and that’s what made us setup our own in-house photography studio and team. One of the reasons of our success has been our ability to creatively visualise our product, both pictorially and narratively. On part of product, we initially relied on artisan’s vision of design which was normally restricted to traditional motifs and weaving patterns. Gradually we started playing with dyeing and educating artisans to rather modern hand blocks designs, dying quality and application on modern contemporary fabrics. For this, we have set up our own textile design team who work like warp and weft with these artisans and come up with numerous design crossovers like Mughal Prints on Chanderi, Indigo on Chanderi, Shibori on Rayon, Tie & Dye on Kota Doria, Ajrak on Modal Silk to name a few. Going forward we will have even tighter control on our design and production process that will help us position even more distinctively with proprietary designs and quality. To stay ahead of the trends, we have started engaging with independent designers who are collaborating with us on exclusive designs. How do you market Fabriclore and have you received response from other countries? Being one of the largest online curators of Indian Handloom and Contemporary Fabrics, we feel that communicating the theme of our brand to the audience is critical and hence we pay great attention to design and communication. We have an in-house digital marketing team, social media experts and content creators. We pay utmost attention to graphic and content that goes out on our social media platforms. High-quality photography and application-based content enables us to creatively communicate the attributes of each collection launched on a daily-basis. In addition to this, we often engage with fashion influencers and enthusiasts who can communicate the theme of our brand and kindle the inner designer amongst their target readers and viewers. Moreover, we engage with our customers from time-to-time and keep them informed about innovative offers. For instance, we are celebrating the Fab Festive Month at the moment, wherein we are offering beautiful handcrafted goodies on purchase of certain amount of fabrics. Apart from this, we also have a dedicated team who engage with designers across India and work on custom-made designs and collections. We apparently have received response from select European, Asian countries apart from USA and Canada. At the moment, we are fulfilling these orders on ad-hoc basis whereas automated international order placement right through the website is in works and we certainly anticipate demand from these regions. How do you tackle the challenges of sourcing fabrics? And what are the various products that you offer? We have a dedicated sourcing team who along with our in-house textile designers travel across various parts of India, curating different types of crafts and materials. Fabric curation involves frequent travelling of the team which is no doubt a toilsome activity and brings a lot of exertion. However, we make sure that our team work in tandem with the suppliers across India and focus on building strong relationships, which enable us to rely on the same suppliers for the next purchase order; hence, we save a lot of time on the hunting and mapping process. Moreover, so far Fabriclore has associated with more than 15 artisan communities across India and planning to increase the number to 25 by the end of 2018. Our team is continuously working towards building close knit bonds with these artisans, which is in turn going to help us in smoothening our sourcing activities. We offer 19 kinds of materials ranging from cotton, cotton, silk, khadi, georgette, poplin to chiffon, raw silk, modal silk, chanderi, satin, georgette, chiffon and more; 23 kinds of crafts including Ajrak, Kalamkari, Shibori, Indigo, Ikat, Leheriya, Bandhani, Mangalgiri, Indigo, Dabu, Bagh to name a few. Newest of the varieties from across India are updated every day and widest of the art and craft forms are being added on a real-time basis. Our fabrics are predominantly suitable for apparel stitching and customisation. What do you think are the advantages of online platform for fabrics? Do you see competition hotting up and how will Fabriclore overcome this? For the Indian economy, the textile industry accounts for 20 per cent of its industrial production employing over 15 million people and about 30 per cent of India’s export basket consists of textiles and garments. Moreover, the textile industry is growing at a CAGR of 8.7 per cent which, pretty much explains that fabric industry has great scope in the years ahead. However, if we talk about the online handloom fabric industry specifically, we believe it has just begun to get the kind of attention it deserves. We certainly have a long way to go. Some of the factors that would drive its growth are: Increased awareness and brand building Innovation in design Standardisation of quality Our competition mainly comes from stand-alone suppliers at the regional level and also a few modern retailers who also happen to be doing fabrics. But it’s a highly-fragmented legacy market and has long way to go before entering into the modern era. Indian handloom is coming of age, and the ethnic trends and styles are spreading. How do you see the future of this phenomenon? Handloom in India enjoys a rich cultural heritage, each State has its own unique identity and crafts, which is until date, celebrated amongst the artisan communities. kalamkari of Andhra Pradesh, chanderi of Madhya Pradesh, bandhani of Gujarat, bhagalpur of Bihar, to name a few, are all crafts with unique intricacies and skills being produced by artisans for generations. With the textile industry growing at a CAGR of 8.7 per cent and the Ministry of textiles ardently working towards reviving Indian handlooms, the future of Indian handlooms is bright and blooming. Moreover, the youth has warmly started accepting ethnic trends and styles. They are making smarter choices by taking conscious steps towards sustainable fashion, following designer trends that predominantly revolve around fusing Indian crafts with contemporary designs. What are your views on fusion of western and Indian styles, which recently is gaining momentum? With events like Textiles India 2017 “Symphony of Weaves” and Lakme Fashion Week 2017, where Indian handlooms are regaining the love and attention they deserve; designers are extensively experimenting with Indian weaves and are closely working with the artisans, hence reinforcing the knots between farm and fashion. With the fashion industry rapidly moving towards the customisation era, fusing western cuts and flares with Indian styles are undoubtedly becoming the trend-setters. For instance, banarasi brocade and silk have always been limited to sarees and suits, but designers are now coming up with Banarasi bridal concept gowns, trench coats, peplum tops and cigarette pants, that not only look chic, but also present a subtle touch of Indian culture woven in classic zari and bridal weaves. Not only festive and bridal wear, even our daily wear outfits are adapting to the fusion and boho trends! Therefore, experimenting with Indian crafts and modern-day designs is undoubtedly here to stay for the next few years. What are the future plans and strategies of Fabriclore? By pushing the design abilities of the talented craftsmen, we are looking forward to joining hands with them for a reciprocating opportunity in the long run. We are not just giving them a platform to showcase their talent but also encouraging them to tap their creative potential and challenge their traditional heritage for reinvention. Our big picture is to narrate the lore of fabrics across the world markets. We want to become a pioneer in the reinvention of handloom crafts. Collaboration with independent designers is certainly going to be big. We would like to become their enabler. Textile start-up to develop cotton nonwoven filte... Seshadri Ramkumar, Professor, Texas Tech University, USA and... Vasudha Swaraj engages 1000 tribal farmers into R... Vasudha Swaraj, an agriculture arm of Pratibha Syntex, engag... Karl Mayer offers warp knitting with seersucker e... Karl Mayer makes it possible to produce seersucker-effect fa... Shibori on Rayon Tie & Dye on Kota Doria handloom fabric industry Symphony of Weaves	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3200
__label__wiki	0.615519	0.615519	Ibu Dati’s Mushroom Restaurant: Yogyakarta, Central Java Ibu Dati’s Mushroom Restaurant, which specializes in mushroom-based dishes, is a haven for vegetarians. Mushrooms make the perfect meat substitute as they are nutritious and rich in minerals. Established in 2004 by Ibu Dati, 43, the restaurant is located on Jl. Kaliurang 14.5 Km, which, as its name indicates, is 14.5 kilometers outside Yogyakarta. Today Ibu Dati’s has outlets in the Jogja Expo Center (JEC) compound and in Condong Culinary Park, Catur, Sleman. The restaurant offers 10 kinds of dishes made from mushrooms (tree-ear, oyster and “snow” mushrooms). The menu includes pepes jamur (spiced mushrooms wrapped in a banana leaf and roasted over hot coals), mushroom soup, tongseng jamur (a mushroom dish prepared with sauteed ingredients), tree-ear-mushroom kebabs, fried mushrooms, oyster-mushroom steak, mushroom fried rice, sauteed or stir-fried mushroom dishes, penyet jamur (crushed mushrooms), mushroom noodles and mushroom chop suey. The restaurant only uses organic rice. After their meal, diners can sip Lingzhie tea, which is made from Lingzhie mushroom extract. “Lingzhie mushrooms are good for the health,” Ibu Dati said. Lingzhie mushroom, she said, contain fat, protein, phosphorus and vitamins B1 and B2. Lingzhie mushrooms also assist with the release of energy from the food that enters the body through an oxidation process that requires the active role of a mineral called Ge (Germanium). In Lingzhie mushrooms, GE takes the form of GeO (Gemanium Organic). “In general, Lingzhie is useful to prevent cancer and boost the metabolism. It also improves the stamina and the function of the heart,” Ibu Dati said. Ibu Dati said the Chinese and Japanese had long praised the dietary and therapeutic effects of mushrooms. There are, for example, 45.6 calories, 8.8 mg of calcium, 1.9 mg of iron, 0.15 mg of Vitamin B1 and 12.40 mg of Vitamin C in every 100 grams of oyster mushrooms. This particular mushroom also contains polysaccharide and Beta-D-Glucans, which can lower cholesterol. Mushrooms also contain more nutrients than chicken, which contains 18.2 grams of protein and 25.0 grams of fat but has neither carbohydrate nor Vitamin C content. Fiber makes up 7.4-24.6 percent of mushrooms, which is the reason why they are good for the digestion. “Mushrooms, particularly tree-ear mushrooms, can also neutralize cholesterol. If we fry this mushroom, the cholesterol in the cooking oil will automatically be neutralized,” Ibu Dati said. Ibu Dati cited a study conducted by Bobel (1999) of the Research Institute of Nutrition of Bratislava on natural products with hypolipemic and anti-oxidant effects that showed eating mushrooms helped lower cholesterol and kept the heart healthy. The research was conducted for one month and involved middle-aged people suffering from hyperlipoproteinemia. For one whole month, they regularly ate 10 grams of oyster mushrooms. The result was that their cholesterol level went down by 12.6 percent and their triglycerol level dropped by 27.2 percent. Ibu Dati also said that in general, protein made up 19-35 percent of mushrooms. By comparison, protein makes up only 7.38 percent and 13.2 percent respectively of rice and wheat. Of the 20 amino acids known to date, nine essential amino acids are found in mushrooms. And how about the prices at Ibu Dati’s Mushroom Restaurant? The cheapest item on the menu is pepes jamur at Rp 3,000 per helping. The most expensive is portabello-mushroom steak, which costs Rp 9,000 per helping. “The kebabs are sweet and delicious as the mushrooms have been marinated first. The texture is a bit rubbery though,” said Himawan, one of the restaurant’s customers. The mushroom soup is also delicious. Sold at Rp 3,500 per helping, this fresh mushroom soup contains oyster, tree-ear and snow mushrooms. Fried mushrooms are often ordered as a starter. Fried in a flour mixture, the mushrooms are white in color and have a texture like chicken. They are priced at Rp 4,000 per serving. “It’s more delicious than chicken and you don’t have to worry about avian flu,” Himawan added. A father of one, Himawan said that although mushroom dishes were wholesome and delicious, mushrooms were yet to be popular in the community as many people thought they were toxic and dirty. Ibu Dati agreed that many people were ill-informed about mushrooms. That is why she regularly promotes mushrooms at strategic places. “Sometimes I organize a cooking demo in a mall. Those who try the dish agree that it is delicious and not until then do they realize that the dish is made from mushrooms,” she said. Mushroom-based meals are also good for families on a tight budget as they can be used in place of more expensive ingredients “It makes economic sense. If we used mushrooms we wouldn’t have to import beef. In addition, mushrooms are very easy to cultivate in Indonesia,” Ibu Dati said. Slamet Suseno	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3201
__label__wiki	0.683907	0.683907	Tag Archives: Daily Science Fiction 2014 reading: Short Stories. I fell well short of my goal to read 100 short stories in 2014. Two stories a week, every week, sounded manageable. It wasn’t. This year I’m going for 52 shorts stories: One a week. My reviews of (most of) the 2014 stories I read are here, with links to the stories where they’re available online. “A Letter from Your Mother” by Sylvia Spruck Wrigley in Daily Science Fiction (DSF) was a good little flash fiction in epistolary form that used one voice to develop two well realised characters and the relationship between them. “The night my Dad became English” by Joseph O’Connor in the Irish Independent was a reflective piece from a son to his father, which touched on issues of family, identity, nation-hood and those decisions we make in our lives which shape who we are to be. “In the Dying Light, We Saw a Shape” by Jeremiah Tolbert inLightspeed Magazine mixed a lot of stylistic and genre ingredients – some quite new, others a little cliched – into an interesting near-future sci-fi about our place in the universe. “Apotheosis” by Rosamund Hodge in the Lightspeed Magazine was a Fantasy piece exploring the meaning of divinity and the role of the deity in societies. It had a number of imaginative elements in its world, and was stylistically like a parable or myth more so than a modern narrative. “After the Trains Stopped” by J Kyle Turner in DSF was a great story about an Artificially Intelligent (and empathetic) factory. It developed its central premise (and character) well, but for me its greatest strength was the creeping Horror element. “The Next Generation” by Michael Adam Robson in DSF was a short sci-fi in the old-school sense of a scientist struggling with the moral implications of his invention. It runs along a relatively predictable path where the creation surpasses its creator, and the last line lays on the moral a little thick. “Baby Feet” by Rene Sears in DSF was a sci-fi invasion story told from an interesting perspective. I really engaged with the character and her circumstances. Unfortunately the ending came in thick lumps of expository dialogue. “Saltcedars” by Shannon Peavey in DSF was an alternative world fantasy with an interesting central concept. The world was nicely built and the main character realised. It was well crafted and structured, right until the final sentence, which I think dropped with a clunk and robbed the ending of some of its power. “Mermaid” by Jonathan Schneeweis in DSF was the second mermaid-related story I have read in the last few weeks, and I think the better of the two, despite – or perhaps because of – being less complex. There is some foreshadowing which is a little too obvious, but the turn in the narrative was good and the recurring motif of the counting of ribs was a nice way to tie it all together. “The Seventeen Executions of Signore Don Vashta” by Peter M Ballin DSF was an excellent tale of an unlikely friendship between a man who would not stay dead and the man who was once his executioner. In the interests of full disclosure, I know Peter through a friend. The quality of this story though should speak for itself. The narrative voice is engaging and the development of the relationship between the characters very well handled. “The Devil as a White Swan” by Jane Ormond in Machines Will Not Give Change (a print anthology produced by Cardigan Press) is a more Lit-fic flash fiction about a gift given by an insensitive man and the relationship break-up that precipitates. It’s a flash fiction piece, at about 500 words, and opens with a strong tone, but I found the first person subjective a little suffocating and the inner monologue was hard for me to relate to. “21 Steps to Enlightenment (Minus One)” by LaShawn M. Wanak in Strange Horizons was a story about the ways we can change our lives. The central premise seemed initially to be quite limited, but Wanak took it into such interesting dimensions. The narrator, and the narrator’s mother, worked well together to give opposing perspectives on the phenomenon of the spiral staircases, and the style made palatable what might otherwise have been heavy-handed symbolism. It took me a few false starts, but I really enjoyed this one. “Inventory” by Carmen Maria Machado in Strange Horizons was amazing. The story is kinda NSFW, tracing the life of the narrator through her sexual encounters, but not graphic. Machado allows the back-story to come through gradually, seeping into the tale and growing – dare I say spreading – until it overwhelms. I sat a moment after reading this and just appreciated it. Really a great piece of writing. “Walking Home” by Catherine Krahe in DSF had a well-realised protagonist whom it was easy to empathise with. The fantasy elements were minimal and had little direct influence on the plot, but there was a sense of the setting being second-world and the world building was revealed gradually to have depth and texture. It seemed to take a while to get going, and to end abruptly, but I enjoyed it. “Litany of the Family Bean” by Gemma Files in Strange Horizons is not actually a short story, it being filed under poetry, but I include it here because it did feel as if it had narrative qualities and the setting and characters I found fascinating. The use of language early in the piece was evocative and drew me in. The shock value of the opening fell away quickly, replaced by a curiosity which wasn’t quite sated. Always leave them wanting more, I suppose. “How to Become a Robot” by A.Merc Rustad in Scigentasy used a variety of story-telling forms and techniques to assemble an interesting narrative which explored gender and identity and belonging. Strong characterization and surprisingly effective use of 1st and 2nd person shifts. “Like Bread” by Patricia Russo in SQ Mag was character focused with a sense of otherworldliness. Interesting structure which allowed for foreshadowing and a building of tension/suspense. “The Church of Asag” by Cameron Trost in SQ Ma was built on a good concept, with interesting use of setting. At times overly direct in exposition. Rushed/unsatisfying ending. “Codename Delphi” by Linda Nagata in Lightspeed was Sci-Fi (ish). Near future with a focus on remote and drone warfare. Well structured and communicated the frenetic balancing act well. Simple, linear plot. April : “The Final Girl” by Shira Lipkin in Strange Horizons was a good meta-horror piece, reminiscent both of Freddy Kruger and Whedon’s Cabin. “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings: A Tale For Children”by Gabriel Garcia Marquez was just wonderful. Utterly wonderful. “The Armies of Elfland” by Eileen Gunn and Michael Swanwick inLightspeed has a really fascinating opening, but then let’s fall away some of its most original images and concepts and almost – thankfully never entirely – reverts to familiar tropes. Some cliche moments drop in with a thud, but engaging and interesting throughout. “Select Mode” by Mark Lawrence and available for free on his websiteprovides a good example of Jorg’s voice and Lawrence’s style, and of the fusion of Fantasy and SciFi typical in his work. “Alsiso” by KJ Bishop in Lightspeed was a narrative without a protagonist, unless a lexeme can be protagonist. Tracing the history of a word through elevation, deterioration, semantic shift and all manner of reclassifications and transmutations, the author gives an insight into an evolving culture that makes it’s way from foreign to familiar. Cleverly written and enjoyable to read. “Zombie” by Chuck Palahniuk in Playboy (link is sfw) was a thought provoking story of dissatisfaction and confusion. It wades full into the despair of modernity, lashes celebrity, consumerist culture, and yet finds some hope in modern hyper-connectivity. Written with a beautifully direct, conversationalist style. “Abomination Rises of Filthy Wings” by Rachel Swirsky in Apex Magazine was a very difficult story to read. A trigger warning is given, with cause. Apparently written to show that a domestic/relationship revenge fantasy could be readable, the result is genuinely disturbing. The mix of sexual dominion and the domesticity of the violence was horrific, as was the brutality and contempt, unhidden behind a gossamer-thin veil of the supernatural. A compelling but difficult story: undeniably well-written but not enjoyable. “A Tank Only Fears Four Things” by Seth Dickinson in Lightspeed was a good exploration of PTSD in some alt-history, alt-Earth that is disturbingly familiar and yet suffuses with novelty. The Russian ethnicity adds a sense of the other, but ultimately is tangential. The story never quite fulfills the promise of its title and opening line, undercutting the fantastic element for metaphor. “Paperclips and Memories and Things That Won’t be Missed” by Caroline M Yoachim in Apex Magazine was a beautiful, touching story. At times almost horror, at times melancholy, at times strangely beatific. I keep wanting to use the word ‘haunting’, which would be accurate but rather trite. “Schrödinger’s Outlaw” by Matthew W Baugh in DSF was a very short short. The opening paragraphs had a well set scene, conveyed economically and without the exposition seeming too lumpy. The protag’s voice was clear. From there it fell into a sadly predictable path. The most harmful thing, for me was that it fundamentally misunderstood its central premise. Schrödinger’s cat is not ‘dead or alive’, but ‘dead-and-alive’ – the whole paradox hinges on the superposition of two simultaneous, yet contradictory states. By then end this seemed a bad pun that went too far. “Mephisto” by Alan Baxter in DSF was a well-contained tale. Tight and lean. Baxter uses the dichotomies well, the crowd’s adoration and the magician’s hatred in return. The showmanship and pretense serves well to orient and then disorient the reader. It’s a creeping horror, more apprehension than fear, really. Baxter shows his hand artfully at the end, the exposition delivered but not dropped upon the reader, revealed but not ruined. “Days Like These” by Erica L Satifka in DSF was a good Sc-Fi concept well handled. The protagonist was vividly drawn, as was the world in which he lived. The uncertainty was maintained well throughout, and the reliability of the narrator gradually questioned. It is more a back-handed compliment than a criticism to say that it left me wanting more, but the ending was a little dissatisfying. “Anyway Angie” by Daniel Jose Older, published by Tor, was a case of a good character and great atmospheric prose. The first person worked, the characterization and exposition of back-story was smoothly given without chunks. I found my way to this via Kameron Hurley, whose novel I am reading. It shares a bug motif, which here is used effectively for horror. The story did feel dislocated though, perhaps I wanted it to be an excerpt of some larger work, or perhaps that balance of what the reader was given and what the reader had to infer was ever-so-slightly awry. A good story though. I’d read more. “Trigger Warning Breakfast” was published in various places (I read ithere). This anonymous story is a punch in the guts. Perhaps a webcomic, perhaps an illustrated narrative, it is told with short, stark sentences, crudely but effectively illustrated. A very powerful and personal piece. “Polynia” (available to read through Tor) is familiar in China Mieville’s oeuvre. Weird and fantastic, a London familiar and yet changed, the narrator slightly distant from their own narration, hints of politics, a cameo from a rail-road, clever wordplay, impressive prose. The vocabulary is accessible, the core concept visually arresting and ultimately unresolved. The changes in the world are accepted because there’s nothing else to do than to accept them. “Selkie Stories are for Losers” appeared in Strange Horizons and was nominated for a Hugo Award. It is a mix of the modern working class domestic narrative and ancient myth/fairytale. It’s told cleverly, through narrative denial and breadcrumbs of exposition. At times the short segments felt a little too isolated from each other, and only in re-reading could they be more comfortably pieced together. That’s a minor quibble on a well told story though. “The Turing Test” appeared in Lightspeed Magazine. I liked the subject matter, but to anyone with even a passing familiarity with the concept of the Turing Test the ‘twist’ was easily picked (perhaps at fault here is the title?), and the second part seemed unnecessary. The dialogue was very good, and the prose flowed smoothly. Didn’t seem to do very much with its length though. “Resurrection Points” appeared in Strange Horizons and attracted deserved acclaim. It was beautifully written. An insight into my own world through a different lens. Terrifying in the banality of violence and death, and in the sense of hopelessness or inevitability. The ending was a touch bathetic, but that’s a minor quibble on an outstanding story. “Stone Hunger” appeared in Clarkesworld. I struggled with this one early. It felt like I was flailing for meaning, no foundation to build on. The tense was a barrier for me. Once we were in the city though things got very good, very quickly. I loved many of the concepts, clashing powers as taste sensations, the stone-eater turned sentient statue, the city of monsters. Once into it, I really enjoyed it. Very descriptive and with a strong narrative voice. “The Lady Astronaut of Mars” by Mary Robinette Kowal was publishedby Tor.com. It’s a beautiful story. An alt-history retro-futurist Sci-Fi. A return to a more classical Sci-Fi, where space faring and punch-card programmes and the mystery of Mars loomed large. It’s a story infused with dying and departing, concerned with what legacy each generation leaves to the next. As mid20thC sci-fi has left its legacy on this generation. An atypical protagonist – past middle-aged and female – is drawn with tender realism, and the difficulty of her dilemmas is frankly, honestly drawn. The ending ties the threads together in a satisfying, if somewhat convenient, solution. “Wikihistory” was also from Tor.com. A clever little story told as a series of forum posts and dealing with tropes of time travel and determinism. It tests out Godwin’s Law, and presents us with an alternative view of cultural assumptions. The plot-premise is familiar, but this is a fresh approach. “Enemy States” by Karin Lowachee was published by Apex (and part of their Military Sci-Fi anthology) It was an epistolary narrative, and frequently told in the second person. I found that it shifted in time in curious ways, sometimes in ways hard to follow. It did have moments of beauty, both in terms of its attention to detail and in its prose. The central relationship was finely drawn, a romantic-tragedy set against the backdrop of an interstellar war. “We are the Cloud” was an excellent story by Sam J Miller, published in Lightspeed. I really enjoyed it. A near-future sci-fi. The technology is plausible and integral and its significance mounts as the story progresses. The wounded, vulnerable protagonist is taken down some dark paths, and us with him, but he never loses our sympathy. “Ten Rules for Being an Intergalactic Smuggler (The Successful Kind) was a story by Holly Black that also appeared in Lightspeed. I almost didn’t read it all. What a mistake that would have been. I don’t generally like the 2nd person. I don’t generally like lists as narrative scaffolds (and Rule 1 annoyed me from the start). The exposition on several occasions came in thick dumps. This had so much going against it that I nearly bailed before the end of the second ‘rule’. But for all of that the story turned me fully around. The characterization, the rich and deep world-building, the twisting plot, the moments of genuine emotion. This packs a lot into a story that could have been so much less. Excellent. This is the sort of story for which I undertook this project. This taught me a lot about being a better story teller. “As Good as New” was in Tor.com, a story by Charlie Jane Anders. It’s a mash-up of apocalypse, genie wish cliche, and post-modernist theatre. I’m at a bit of a loss for this. I don’t know how it worked so well, but it worked really, really well. Wonderfully relatable protag. The ennui of a western millennial middle class. Patient plotting that allowed the story to meander pleasantly without ever getting lost. “Tomorrow is waiting” by Holli Mintzer appeared in Strange Horizonsback in 2011. I only just found it and read it through some aggregator site (I forget which) listing good short stories about AI. This is a nice story about an AI muppet kind if accidentally achieving sentience. The writing is stark, quite bare of description, but it has warmth and a beating heart. Anji’s not a strong protag, but she’s relatable. The conflict leaks from the piece in the final third, but the effect of this is a positive ending note and a view of sentient AI which is optimistic, rather than fearful. “Brain, Brain, Brain” By Puneet Dutt appeared in Apex. It’s a very cool little poem, clearly aware of tropes and prepared to flirt with them before twisting to the zombie POV. The imploring insistence of ‘we’re not the bad guys.’ Some beautiful use of language. 1 Comment \| tags: 2014, Apex, Clarkesworld, Daily Science Fiction, Goodreads, Lightspeed, reviews, Scigentasy, short stories, SQ Mag, Strange Horizons, Tor.com \| posted in Reviews Not 100% behind everything in this message, but the perspective of someone born into post-war Austria and embraced… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 week ago	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3208
__label__cc	0.613065	0.386935	JCoSS student wins Poetry By Heart Competition JCoSS Y11 Student, Dana Nitzani has won the Poetry By Heart County Contest, fending off competition from 9 other schools, including Channing, South Hampstead, JFS and Woodhouse College. Dana had to learn 3 poems by heart and recite them to a judging panel of published poets. The 3 poems had to be pre 1914, post 1914 and a poem written in World War I. Dana recited London Snow, by Robert Bridges (1890), Poetry by Marianne Moore (1935) and For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon (1914). As the winner of the Country contest, Dana will now go onto an all-expenses paid trip to Cambridge for the Regional and National finals. Mr Moriarty on BBC London Radio >	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3218
__label__cc	0.72631	0.27369	Born Analog Dennis G. Jerz / 8 May 2009 I dislike the term “digital native.” I mean no offense to Marc Prensky, who popularized it (along with its counterpart, “digital immigrant”), but the term is laden with colonial baggage, though as a humanities person I’m perhaps hypersensitive to that sort of thing. More important, the term also misses an important point. Today’s technologically savvy young people were born analog. Apple’s iPod completely changed the music industry; the iPhone all but eliminated a whole class of handheld computers, and Amazon’s Kindle seems likely to have a similar effect on the publishing industry. While no single vendor has marketed a product that comes close to the full pontential memex, the emerging semantic web — which attempts to learn from the RSS feeds, social bookmarking rankings, and reputation management tools — is a more recent technological effort to magnify our collective cognitive powers. Anyone who uses the web on a regular basis should thank the creators of hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) and hypertext in general, because they were all far more interested in making it easy for information to spread, than they were in figuring out how to lock it down and charge a toll for every bit. Internet service providers are making a steady income by charging to deliver the content that The Washington Post and CNN are putting online for free. (I’m stunned that people will gladly pay 20 cents to send a text message, and another 20 cents to read a reply, but they won’t pay anything at all to read a whole newspaper.) In its early years, Google courted the goodwill of the online community with its “Don’t Be Evil” policy. In recent years, Google’s reach has expanded into e-mail, street-level photo-enhanced maps, a mobile phone system, and its purchase of Blogger, YouTube, and the online advertising service DoubleClick. Those who are exceptionally trusting, or have nothing at all to hide, can opt to permit Google to archive their web surfing history and even the entire contents of their hard drives. The company is now aggressively courting universities with a free suite of e-mail, calendar, and document tools, pushing user content off of university servers and into a Google-controlled cloud. In 2008, the end user license agreement (EULA) for Google’s web browser required users to grant Google a “perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and nonexclusive license” to archive, remix, and distribute any and all content that users create or transmit using the software. In his 2008 book Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations, Clay Shirky writes, “To speak online is to publish, and to publish online is to connect with others… freedom of speech is now freedom of the press, and freedom of the press is freedom of assembly” (171). To Google’s credit, the company responded promptly and sensibly to the public outcry. I’m not ready to don a tinfoil hat yet, but the presence of such language in a shipped product raises serious questions. Vannevar Bush’s hypothetical memex was an analog vision of how technology might help academics cope with the accelerating pace of scholarly publication. He imagined what we might call a photocopier on steroids, manipulating documents at the page level, but also capable of storing annotations and trading them with other researchers, thereby permitting users to collaborate in a kind of proto sneakernet cloud. After investing a great deal of time and effort in learning a new way of relating to the world, kids learn to be digital. “This Little PIggy” helps familiarize babies with their own digits, and ABC-123 further atomizes the world, helping kids move from putting things into their mouths in order to learn about the world, to using language in order formulate questions, and abstracting knowledge from the answers. (I think my daughter was four before she realized that nobody else’s fourth little piggy “wrote on her weblog.”) 8 May 2009 in Academia, Business, Cyberculture, Media, Personal, Rhetoric, Social_Software, Speech, Technology. ← Facebook and academic performance: Reconciling a media sensation with data Lazy journalism exposed by online hoax →	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3221
__label__wiki	0.733958	0.733958	Review: Agricola: Family Edition By FarmerLenny on November 1, 2016 Featured Reviews Farming Ain’t What It Used to Be It looks like in 2016, Agricola had an urgent wish for children. First came the revised edition, and now the standalone Family Edition, a streamlined version of the larger game that plays in under an hour. But does it retain enough of the spark from the original game, or is it streamlined away? Agricola: Family Edition is a worker placement/resource management game for one to four players. Players are farmers building up their farming infrastructure while also having to feed their families. The player with the most points wins. Agricola: Family Edition set up for two. To begin, each player chooses a color and receives two farmers of that color and a two-room wooden house for the farmers to live in. A start player is determined, and players receive starting food. To begin each round, the round tracker pawn is moved along the road one space, and all resource gathering spaces receive resources. Beginning with the start player, each player places one farmer on an action space and takes that action. Once a farmer is placed on a space, no other players may take that action this round. Once each player has placed all of their farmers, the farmers return home. At each harvest, players have to feed each member of their family or go begging. But really, just feed your family. At the end of certain rounds, there is a harvest. Harvests have three phases: field (remove sown grain from a field), feed (pay 2 food for each farmer), and breed (each 2+ group of animals produces one new animal). Each round, one new action space opens up, and as the game progresses, new resources and new possibilities open to the players. Players will be doing things like plowing land, planting grain, building fences and stables to house animals, adding on to their houses, and improving their farms. At the end of fourteen rounds, there is one final harvest, and players count their points. They receive 1 point for every field, pasture, clay house room, improvement, animal, planted grain, and fenced stable. They also receive bonus points for any improvement tiles they have. The player with the most points wins. Improvements are available throughout the game. On the back of each tile, it tells in which round that improvement will become available. USDA Choice, or Mystery Meat? Agricola is the first heavy game I played on entering the hobby, and it retains a special place in my heart. But even with the full game, I wasn’t always in the mood to play with the cards. The cards open up a lot of decision space, and my mind wasn’t always in the mood to make those decisions. The full game originally came with a “family mode,” which was essentially the game without the cards, but Mayfair Games has now released a separate Family Edition of Agricola. Agricola: Family Edition is more than just Agricola without the cards. It streamlines and simplifies some things while retaining much of the core of what makes Agricola great. The result is a very good family game that should be a hit with many audiences. Unlike the full Agricola game, in the Family Edition, pastures of various sizes can be built and added to your farm just by paying the price indicated. This makes things much simpler. The main tension in the game is balancing efficiency with necessity. Each player begins the game with just two actions each round, and every action is precious. This pushes players toward efficiency: many spaces allow you to maximize actions. You can build as many rooms or stables as you want, or as many pastures, or you can plant up to three grain for one action. But you must–must, must, must–feed your family at every harvest. The penalty of three points for every food not provided is too great to pull you away from this main task. (While the game provides beggar tokens for each food you can’t provide, really, these serve more as guardrails than a viable strategy.) So while you want to do as much as you can in a single action, you can’t gather strength each round until you are ready to build everything you want to build in one go. You are necessarily returned to the main path. Feed your family! The first player marker can be very important, especially if the wood (or any other resource) has been allowed to pile up, or if you have to make sure you get the action you need. While this tension causes the main point of conflict in the game, it also provides the source of the fun. Spaces on the board are limited, and you’ve got other players getting in your way. The more other players are in the game, the less chance you have of getting the action you want. Agricola was one of the early innovators in the worker placement genre, and its decree that each spot can hold a single worker is carried over to the family-friendly edition. Once one player claims a spot, no one else can. No exceptions! This affects the tension of Agricola’s system of resource accumulation: many of the spaces not chosen will just get more and more resources placed on them, making them more attractive the longer they’re ignored. My farm in the early game. We don’t have much, that’s for sure… This makes taking the start player token (a cardboard rooster) an appealing proposition. Turn order doesn’t pass naturally from round to round; it has to be wrested from another player by claiming an action space. It can seem like a waste of a turn to do so…until you realize that the wood you need to build your house is never going to accumulate for you unless you seize it first, and you need to go first so someone else doesn’t take the action space you need. Knowing when to nab the start player token is another fun tension in the game. Sometimes you really do need to go first. My farm at the end of a solo game. So much stuff! It’s very rewarding to see what you’ve built at the end of the game. I was a little worried about the longevity of Agricola: Family Edition when I opened the box. Nothing changes in the setup in each game, and players have full and open information of everything in the game. While this may seem like a recipe for predetermined play, I’ve found each game to be unique and engaging. Sure, you can try the same strategy from game to game, but Agricola is very interactive, and chances are if the other players see you pressing the same lever again and again, they will cut off your access to that lever. Further, what seems attractive one game may be less so in another one. The order in which you choose your actions, the willingness of other players to allow resources to pile up, and when you claim your third action are huge game changers, and you don’t have absolute control over any of this in the multiplayer game. So even though setup is the same from game to game, replayability is high, especially since there are several avenues for scoring points. Having children in Agricola is nigh essential, as that is how you will gain more actions. I should say here that replayability here is not the exploring kind. You’re not likely to find new combos from game to game. While you can try new things, the game is still fairly linear, driving you to feed your family, plant and harvest grain, and raise livestock. The replayability arises from the other players, and the game consistently provides a fun experience. This is a game that should have longevity, but it’s not the kind of game that you’ll probably say, “Again! Again!” to. It’s just always going to be a solid choice, every time you go to your game shelf. (Then again, I introduced this game to a friend at work who hadn’t played Agricola before, and for him–like me when I first discovered Agricola–he did want to immediately play again.) I love the jigsaw board with a different supplement to plug in depending on the number of players. The components here are outstanding. The wooden bits are the same high-quality bits in the standard Agricola game. They are shaped and substantial. The tiles are double-sided and on thick cardboard. The board has a jigsaw outer edge, allowing you to plug in the board that fits with the correct number of players (and the game scales to all multiplayer counts). The art and graphic design on each piece is clear and nearly flawless: it’s easy to see the icons, and the icons explain what each thing does. I do wish the harvest symbol along the turn track were clearer, but that’s a quibble. You’re getting a well-built game for the price. The rules are 12 pages but with lots of pictures and explanatory bubbles from Uwe Rosenberg. Not too hard to learn from. The rules of Agricola: Family Edition are 12 pages, more than your typical game aimed at families. But the rules are mostly intuitive, especially given how closely the game hews to its farming theme, and since spaces open up as the game progresses, you can explain the game as you play, allowing strategies to form on subsequent plays. The rules are clear, and there are lots of illustrations and explanatory bubbles throughout (an illustrated Uwe Rosenberg is your guide), so as long as someone is comfortable reading rules, the game should be easy to pick up. The iconography is also excellent, which will help players to remember the rules while they play, and players are generally drawn in by the familiar theme in a illustrated lightheartedly. There are, however, some edge cases that can be easy to forget in a rules explanation–it might be best to consider the first game with new players as a learning game. I’m not a huge fan of the worker placement genre, but for families, I think this is a great choice. I like it much better than the dry and soulless Lords of Waterdeep, and it’s significantly shorter than Stone Age (although in my experience, non-hobbyists love Stone Age). The action spaces get more efficient as the game goes along. For players who already know, love, and own Agricola, I’m not sure Agricola: Family Edition offers enough that’s distinct to own this game too. Even the new edition of Agricola includes rules to play without the cards, and while the Family Edition is a faster and simpler game than even Agricola without the cards (and it’s not possible, really, to import these streamlined features of the Family Edition to the full game), the cardless variant of Agricola works similarly enough that it’s probably not worth buying this edition. If, however, you don’t own Agricola, the Family Edition isn’t a bad buy, especially if you find the card selection in the full game disorienting. For one thing, it’s cheaper, and it’s surprisingly approachable compared to the full game. Aside from removing the cards, there are lots of places where scoring is simplified and rules complexities are streamlined. (For example, it no longer takes an action to bake bread, nor do players have to spend several moments rearranging fences or counting and recounting their wood every time they make a pasture, nor do they have to manage stone as yet another resource.) Yet even with this streamlining, it still feels like Agricola and has the fun tension of the full game–you must feed your family–in a fraction of the time. (Although if solo mode is important to you, I wouldn’t get the Family Edition. There are no differences from game to game, and no special solo rules included, so once you discover the optimal strategy, the game loses its interest.) The game consistently finishes in the 45m to 1h mark, even with new players. If I were to give Agricola as a gift, this is the edition I would give without hesitation. Agricola: Family Edition, like its ancestor, includes lots of plastic bags. to store the pieces. And like its ancestor, I’ve sprung for my own solution (in this case, baby food containers from the dollar store). The only thing I really miss from the full game is Agricola’s necessity to diversify. (The tagline “Monoculture is boring!” on the back of the Family Edition is betrayed by the gameplay, which in no way rewards diversification.) But there is something to be said for the wide-open simplicity of the Family Edition’s scoring system, so I don’t miss this too much. My only hope for the game is that the publisher will release small tile expansions, similar to Agricola: All Creatures Big and Small, that will inject some variety into the game. Even limited additional variety would give this version the edge for me over full Agricola in this stage of my life, where large blocks of uninterrupted free time are rare. I really enjoy Agricola: Family Edition and think it’s a great streamlining of the full game, and beyond this, a fun game in its own right. While I like Agricola’s cards, they add a huge time (and brain) investment, making it a game I have to prepare for in advance in order to play. They also limit the field of who will be interested in it. The Family Edition is short and simple enough to appeal to a wide range of players while remaining deep enough to provide compelling decisions. It is, in short, an ideal family game. iSlaytheDragon would like to thank Mayfair Games for providing us with a copy of Agricola: Family Edition for review. Retains much of the tension and fun decisions of Agricola while wrapped a simpler, faster package Excellent look and feel, with top-notch components Very interactive game ensures that each game will be distinct No variety in the setup from game to game I do miss the scoring that rewards diversification (although the scoring scheme here is much simpler) 8.0 Farm Fresh Tags: agricolaAgricola Family Editionfamily gamefarmerfarmingLords of Waterdeepresource managementStone Ageworker placement Previous ArticleThe Village Square: October 31, 2016 Next Article Review: La Granja Review: Monster Baby Rescue Review: The Way of the Bear Moderate difficulty geared towards players with some familiarity to the hobby 30-60m (box says 45m) 1 to 4 (best with 2-4)	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3225
__label__wiki	0.534515	0.534515	The Village Square: April 14, 2016 By Ruel Gaviola on April 14, 2016 The Village Square As a Manny Pacquiao, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Lakers fan, this week has been a strange one. Manny and Kobe Bryant retired while Vin Scully began his 67th (!) and final season calling Dodgers games. Cheering for my favorite teams and athletes just won’t be the same, but thankfully there are plenty of board games to keep me busy as I mourn the end of a few eras. Long Night Ahead New characters, abilities, and items highlight this preview of Dead of Winter: The Long Night written by its lead playtester. Junk Art Pretzel Games announced that Junk Art, a dexterity game that will “put your creativity up against the laws of physics by having you build unique structures around the world” will debut at Gen Con this August. Hidden Path Entertainment has partnered with Forged By Geeks to bring the Defense Grid video game to the tabletop. Defense Grid the Board Game will be a “cooperative experience where 1 to 4 players work together to build and activate towers in an effort to stop all the aliens that are trying to steal their cores.” Expect it in early 2017. North Star Games and Funforge are releasing Evolution to French-speaking countries by the end of this year. Ghostbusting An interview with Mataio Wilson, designer of Ghostbusters the Board Game and its upcoming sequel. A brief talk with Richard Garfield, designer of Magic: The Gathering. Championship Heroes The 2016 Heroes of Normandie National Championships will take place at Origins on June 18th. According to Iello, “Participants should be familiar with the basic rules of Heroes of Normandie and will be presented with novel scenarios made specifically for the Nationals competition.” From the I-Wish-I-Did-That-In-School file: middle-school students in Bronxville, New York, create their own board games in their technology classes. Clearing Shelves On May 14th, Z-Man Games is having an inventory clearance sale at their facility in Quebec, Canada. A brief look at the history of dice. April 16. Norcal Games Day. San Carlos, California. April 21-24. Conclave of Gamers. Denver, Colorado. April 22-24. MEPACon. Scranton, Pennsylvania. April 22-24. Catan Con 2016. Nashville, Tennessee. April 28-May 1. Kingdom-Con 2016. San Diego, California. April 29-May 1. Game Days 2016. Parkville, Maryland. April 29-May 1. Board Games at the Beach. Wilmington, North Carolina. April 30. Connecticut Festival of Indie Games. Southington, Connecticut. June 24-26. RAGECON 2016. Sparks, Nevada. August 26-28. Coulee Con 2016. La Crosse, Wisconsin. September 10-11. WashingCon. Washington, D.C. September 24-25. Congress of Gamers. Rockville, Maryland. October 15-16. RetroWorld Expo 2016. Wallingford, Connecticut. Tags: Asmodeeboard game conventionsboard game newsboard games in the newsDead of Wintermagic the gatheringOriginsPlaid Hat GamesThe Village SquareZ-Man Gameszombies Previous ArticleReview: Tumult Royale Next Article Why Game The Village Square: December 16, 2019 The Village Square: December 2, 2019 The Village Square: November 18, 2019	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3226
__label__cc	0.650834	0.349166	itbroadensthemind.com Engaging people, engaging ideas: The website of Kevin Trickett MBE My Night at The Midland The Northern Belle Settle Down Now – and join me for a trip on the Settle-Carlisle railway line Le Train Bleu Foncé Three Cunard Queens Salute the City of Liverpool Travelling in Style – the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express Dining with Distinction aboard the East Lancashire Railway Lockdown Jottings Posted on 12th May 2017 13th May 2017 by Kevin Trickett MBE In 2014, my partner and I were standing on platform 2 at Venice’s Santa Lucia railway station, along with 178 other people, admiring the shiny blue and white carriages of the Orient Express (or, more correctly, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express). The journey back to London on this iconic train was the culmination of a remarkable holiday to celebrate a rather special birthday. Our allocated cabin was right at the end of the 17-coach train, in the very last cabin. It did mean that we were very well placed for the loo – there is a shared toilet at each end of each coach but no showers anywhere on the train. However, worry not! There’s a washbasin with hot and cold running water in each cabin and it’s amazing what you can do with a flannel (and where it will reach!). The cabins are a bit on the small side, consisting of a couch, fold-down table, the aforementioned washbasin and some coat hangers, and it’s true that experience of caravanning would come in handy. Fortunately, most of our luggage was stored in the baggage car and on taking our seats we could really appreciate the beauty of our surroundings. Lovingly and painstaking restored, with highly lacquered woods and polished brass fittings, this art deco masterpiece is redolent of an entirely different age when great craftsmanship and service were synonymous with luxury. A discreet knock on our cabin door signalled the arrival of our liveried cabin steward, Claudio, who offered us complimentary cocktails as the train pulled out of the station, bang on time at exactly 11.01 am. Our next visitor was the maȋtre d’ who came to ask what time we would like lunch – with 180 passengers, they operate two-sittings for each meal. We chose the later sitting of 2.00 pm and were given a ticket with our restaurant car and table number. We then made ourselves comfortable to enjoy the passing scenery. At around 1.50 pm, an announcement was made to summon us to lunch with the polite reminder to dress appropriately, which during that day meant smart casual (no jeans allowed). The restaurant cars and bar car are located in the centre of the train, so we only had half a train length to travel but even then, it’s around an eighth of a mile from the back of the train to the middle! The walk did, however, give us chance to inspect the other parts of the train. No two carriages are exactly the same having been built by different manufacturers in different countries (including England!) at different times. Similarly, each of the three restaurant cars is unique, with different colour schemes that extend to the matching china used in each car. Lunch followed a set 3-course menu (including a set vegetarian menu), followed by coffee and petits fours. You can go à la carte if you wish but will need to be prepared to pay a supplement. Wine is not what you’d call cheap – we paid 50 euros for half a bottle and that was at the lower end of the price range. The food and presentation, I have to say, were exquisite and the service exemplary. After lunch, it was back to our cabin where Claudio served us our afternoon tea. The maȋtre d’ whom we were getting to know quite well by now, made another appearance to see what time we would like dinner. We chose the later sitting at 9.30 pm, which gave us time to relax before changing into our tuxedos (there’s an art to this in a confined space, but we managed). By now, the train was moving through the spectacular snow-capped mountains of Austria. Rigged out in our very best, we headed to the bar car. There is one bar car for all 180 passengers so it’s a bit of a crush, ameliorated to some extent by having two sittings for dinner. Fortunately, we were right next to the bar so I was able to order my Cosmopolitan. By the time we made it back to our cabin after dinner, it had been transformed into our rather cosy bedroom with two bunk beds. The train was travelling at full tilt (the maximum speed is around 90 mph), so I was glad of the straps to grab hold of as I climbed the ladder into bed. Sleep is possible although it rather eluded me for a good while. Sometimes, it felt as if the train had taken wings, and the next thing we would be stopped somewhere while locomotives were changed. The blinds had been drawn shut and we left them that way, so it was pure guesswork as to where we were. I awoke early, noticing that the train had stopped, washed (making good use of that flannel!), dressed and then stepped into the corridor to allow my partner to do likewise. Although it was only around 7am, Claudio was there to convert the cabin back to day use. Then he brought us our continental style breakfast. A tap on the door and it was our old friend the maȋtre d’ again, this time asking what time we’d like brunch, 10.30 am or 12 noon? We chose the later one again. On arrival at Calais, we climbed aboard luxury motor coaches to be offered drinks. A large glass of red wine? Well, it would have been rude to refuse. We drove onto the Euroshuttle and, once through the Channel Tunnel, it was on to Folkestone station where we boarded the British Pullman for the last leg of the journey to London. The British train is also made up of individually designed and decorated 1920s art deco coaches, this time in a livery of brown and cream. Each passenger has an allocated carriage and seat number. No sooner had we taken our seats than a waiter asked if we would like a glass of sparkling Rosé to accompany our afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes and lashings of tea. By the time that had been consumed, we were approaching London’s Victoria station. On arrival, we were reunited with our luggage and then it was into a taxi for an overnight stay in a London hotel. Reader, we slept well that night! The following morning, we checked out and caught a train back to Wakefield, the holiday truly over. Was it worth it? Definitely! Having seen the train on TV and in films so many times, there was a slight sense of unreality about the whole expedition. I couldn’t help but expect to see David Suchet around every corner and even though he failed to make an appearance, the spirit of Poirot and Agatha Christie was almost tangible. There was no murder on the Orient Express while we were aboard, but it was murder to leave it! CategoriesTravel TagsDining, Trains Previous PostPrevious Welcome to my new website Next PostNext Three Cunard Queens Salute the City of Liverpool You can email me at the following address: info@itbroadensthemind.com Or click on the email link at the bottom of the page Follow me on Twitter @MrTrickett Kevin Trickett is a freelance speaker, flâneur and writer, based in Wakefield, Yorkshire. All content on this website unless otherwise attributed is © Kevin Trickett Civic Societies Lockdown Jottings – 10 All’s Fine at Fino! Fixing the roof – how civic societies can keep it together	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3228
__label__wiki	0.757672	0.757672	Watch Fullscreen Black Lives Matter: Paul Monekosso Cleal & Jonathan Bowman-Perks: Inspiring Leadership interview Always take people with you Watch Podcast Paul Cleal Former PwC Main Board Partner & Portfolio Career – Diversity & Inclusive Leadership Paul Monekosso Cleal acts as an advisor, board member or mentor to organisations and individuals who want to make positive change happen. He brings a wealth of experience in leadership and strategy gained from 30 years working in both private and public sectors. During 16 years as a partner at PwC, the global professional services firm, he held a range of leadership positions including at main board level in both the UK and Africa practices. He’s led and grown successful businesses within PwC such as the Government & Public Sector practice and Africa Business Group. Alongside his client work in corporate finance and consulting Paul also led PwC’s Human Resources function through a period of substantial change. Paul has been widely recognised externally for his work promoting diversity in business and as a senior role model and been a member of the UK Government’s Social Mobility Commission, among other non-executive roles which currently include Kingston University (Vice Chair of the Board), National Citizen Service Trust and Sainsbury’s Foundation Advisory Board. He’s also a member of the Premier League Equality Standard Assessment Panel and has a variety of other informal advisory and mentoring roles. He holds an MBA from London Business School. Paul’s latest appointment is as a NED at Guys & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust which is the most significant NED role he’s had. Its special as that was where his father did his medical studies from 1948 to 1955. Paul Monekosso Cleal is highly successful by anybody’s standard – promoted at 40 onto PWC main board as People Partner. Deputy Chair, University of Kingston & Board Member, National Citizen’s Trust – community, social mobility & higher education. Paul’s Leadership Tenets: 1. Integrity – being honest with people. Is there a good reason not to share information? 2. Clarity – Create & communicate the vision so everyone understands 3. Inclusive Leadership. Stop exclusion. Teaching Diversity, Equality & Inclusivity Premier League. 4. Lack of Understanding. People who don’t think like you do. Paul has great courage & humility. Looking back on when he got it wrong & he could have communicated better: 1. I should have checked – do they really understand and have you listened? 2. Making it logical doesn’t account for people’s emotional reactions to change. Paul and his wife Suzanne Cleal use mentoring & coaching. Paul‘s Inspirational father was a leader & key figure in Africa’s World health organisation (WHO). Paul got advice from his Father before he died – “always take people with you”.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3236
__label__cc	0.649923	0.350077	Derik Badman's Journal Show/hide categories: Remembered across pages and visits. Coding/Work Journal Site/Meta I was watching Joanna Hogg's Archipelago, but I think I will not be completing it. People say Rohmer movies are slow, or Ozu movies are slow, but this one was something else. Not slow like in "slow cinema" but slow like it wasn't doing much of anything either narratively or visually. Rohmer's movies don't tend to have a lot of action to them, but there is some central conflict (often internal to the protagonist) at play, a character you can sympathize with, but Archipelago felt aimless and it's characters too buried. A family (mom, grown daughter, grown son) are on vacation with a hired cook. The father is not there, though they talk to him on the phone as if they are expecting him (and wondering why he hasn't shown up). The mother seems sad. The son is headed off to Africa to do some kind of AIDS-based work. The daughter just seems critical of everything (and clearly unhappy about something). But over an hour in and nothing has really gelled into a conflict or drama or plot or anything. And it is just not a visually engaging enough movie to make we want to keep watching it just for to look at it. Also I think I'm giving up on Collins' The Woman in White. The melodrama and long-winded prose style is just draining on me. Finding the whole mechanism of the plot really frustrating, and Wikipedia solved my desire to find out what happens (I'm rather disappointed to learn how silly the primary mystery seems to be). I've still got Josep Pla's The Gray Notebook in progress, as it has no continuing story (beyond his life), I don't feel the need to just keep reading it straight through, but I am enjoying dipping in and reading a few days of entries at a time, as it evokes like in his Catalan town at the early part of the 20th century (pre Civil War there). A few books picked up from the library yesterday to dig into. — 2020-12-04 08:25 Previous: 2020-12-03 08:29 Next: 2020-12-07 08:12 © 2019 Derik A Badman, unless noted otherwise	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3239
__label__cc	0.708893	0.291107	(452) Growth Responses of Salvia greggii and Dalea frutescens to Drought Stress Authors: Genhua Niu 1 and Denise S. Rodriguez 1 1 Texas A&M University, El Paso, TX, 79927 https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.40.4.1036A Salvia greggii (salvia) and Dalea frutescens (dalea) are two popular shrubs. However, little information is available on their drought tolerance. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of various degrees of water stress on growth and to characterize the dynamics of water relations to root substrate water content for developing best irrigation management. Salvia and dalea plants in 12-L plastic containers were grown in a greenhouse and pruned to one node at the base of the soft shoots for salvia or at the same height for dalea prior to the start of the experiment. There were three irrigation regimens: plants were irrigated daily (control), or irrigation was withheld until moderate or severe water stress signs exhibited. After several weeks of intermittent cyclic dry-down irrigation regimens, total shoot number per container was reduced by 40% to 50% for salvia and 35% to 40% for dalea. Average shoot length was reduced by 35% to 45% for salvia and 50% to 65% for dalea in moderate and severe stressed treatments compared to the control. Drought stress resulted in less shoot elongation and fewer new shoots in both species. To examine the relationship between plant water status and substrate water content, a dry down test was performed on five well-watered plants by withholding irrigation until midday water potential dropped to below –4 MPa. As substrate water contents in both species reached 8%, the predawn water potentials did not recover from the midday water potential of the previous day, indicating there was no available water in the substrate for roots to take up. The drought tolerance of these two species needs further study using various growing media. Volume 40 (2005): Issue 4 (Jul 2005) Article by Genhua Niu Article by Denise S. Rodriguez	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3240
__label__cc	0.748877	0.251123	Which Video Game Character Would Make The Best Roommate? Tim Rogers I love asking questions almost as much as I love listening to answers. Last week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (aka “E3", aka “Electronic Three”), I got to do both of those things. I asked E3 attendees three mildly stupid questions about video games. Here’s a video of several responses to the second question: “Which video game character would you choose as a roommate?” I asked dozens of E3 attendees this question because, well, I’ve just moved to New York City, and I have been sleeping on a friend’s sofa for a couple of weeks while I look for an apartment of my own. So I have “living situation” on my mind. By talking to E3 attendees about roommates, I learned a number of fascinating details about what people consider ideal qualities of a co-habitor. I also re-learned why I prefer living alone: most responses indicated that the respondent not only wanted a roommate who was clean, they wanted a roommate who would do all of the cleaning and also help them with whatever they needed help with. Hmm. So yeah, “which video game character would you like as a roommate?” proved to be a springboard into a conversation about which video game character would be the most vulnerable to hygienic passive aggression in a domestic setting. What is my own personal answer to this question? Heck, I don’t know. A couple months ago, as a sort of weird joke, I Twitch-streamed myself and my friend Alex Jaffe writing a listicle entitled “These Videogame Characters Would Make Terrible Roommates”, so maybe that’s of interest. Here’s one of the items from that list: Any protagonist from an Assassin’s Creed game would be a terrible roommate. They’d keep jumping up on top of stuff in the house! His normal walking speed is so slow that you just know he’s going to pull the right trigger to be running everywhere: except the only way to run is in parkour mode, where he will Velcro onto literally any object. This dude is going to be on top of the refrigerator all the god darn time. He’s going to be like a kitten in a tree. He’s going to love being everywhere, because it’s so much more fun than that slow walk. He’s going to be bumping into you everywhere. He’s going to occupy every molecule of your space at pretty much all times. He’s going to probably want to sleep in a bale of hay. Bales of hay remind the Assassin of his home. The guy loves bales of hay. He’s going to have a big bale of hay in his room and he’s going to sleep completely inside of that bale of hay. He’s going to be leaving scraps of hay all over your house. There’s going to be hay in your sofa. There’s going to be hay in your soup. The first question was “What was the first video game you purchased with your own money?” Yesterday I posted a video of responses to that question. There’s one question left — yep! Come back tomorrow! What Was The First Game You Ever Paid Money For? I love asking questions almost as much as I love listening to answers. Last week at E3, I got to do I make videos for Kotaku. I make video games for myself and my friends. I like writing fiction. Someday I will publish a novel. Who knows! blue-haired_lawyer Bruce Wayne, he’s punctual with his share of the rent, is almost suspiciously attentive when it comes to apartment security, and isn’t around more than half the time. Also, his gentleman’s gentleman keeps the place tidy and is always ready to dole out some really helpful fatherly advice.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3246
__label__wiki	0.539687	0.539687	Katawa Shoujo in Comitia 96 On 5th of May, the Katawa Shoujo Japanese translation team will attend Comitia96 doujin event at Tokyo Big Sight, at table た12a. Their offerings for the day are: 1. Katawa Shoujo Act 1 A pressed CD of Katawa Shoujo Act1, including v4 installers for Windows, OS X and Linux. The disk is packaged in a DVD case along with a reversible jacket that has Japanese texts on top side and English ones on the reverse side. 2. Player's guide for Katawa Shoujo From the beginning of the project and the foundation of Four Leaf Studios to the release of Act 1 and its Japanese translation, this doujinshi book will guide you through the brief history of Katawa Shoujo to date. In addition, the book features foreword by Aura, and illustrations of each of the heroines in the game, some drawn by the staff artists of Four Leaf Studios. Greyscale with coloured covers, 20 pages, B5 size. The book and CD together will cost 500 yen. "This venture is a promotion attempt in Japan by our team to utilize the time while we wait for the release of full version. The content may be too obvious for the folks eagerly following the dev blog. Please consider them as more of a memorabilia or fan item. Of course this would be a good starting point for anyone who comes across KS for the first time. If by any chance you're around in Tokyo then please drop by. We've applied to Summer Comiket as well. If we're lucky we'll get a seat there. Will post updates on other progress. We're kind of hoping to see some more KS doujin actions in Japan following our trail...we'll see about that on the way." 4LS is of course super excited about this as well, we hope the translation team will have a great deal of fun at the event and keep our fingers crossed for them to make the Comiket cutoff. » Discuss this post on the forums Katawa Shoujo Act 1 v5 released! Have we ever mentioned how awesome the KS translation teams are? Katawa Shoujo Act 1 v5 adds three new translations: Russian (courtesy of Honyaku-Subs), German and Hungarian. This brings the translation project success rate to a fairly respectable figure, and Act 1 to 9 different localizations of 8 different languages. That is pretty amazing. The only additions to V5 are the three new localizations, so the release is not recommended to those who have played a previous version and can't speak one of the new languages. There are some typo and error fixes in the English and other language scripts, but they are not major. See the changelog for the full list over all versions. We hope everyone enjoys this release and warmly congratulate the three translation teams for their completed projects. Download Act 1 v5 from one of these links: DDL: Torrent: Like before this release supersedes the previous ones, so any help seeding the new torrents is appreciated. Also, big thanks goes to Davis for hosting help. » Give feedback! Words of Gods People love canon. At least people invested enough in a work to argue about it on the Internet do; and sure enough, there's nothing better than to add to the content that is indisputably canon since it is source material, because if there's something better than a good thing, it's MORE of a good thing, and if this additional material is not canon it did not "really happen" and as such is sadly useless... right? Personally I happen to disagree (if you couldn't tell already), but this blog post is not about that. More to the point, this thread on our forums, and especially my snarky impulse reply within, got me thinking - why does "Word of God" matter so much to people? Sure, I wasn't being nice, but what does "we've (...) been known to troll, lie, change our mind, and make stuff up on the spot" actually mean? 1. Trolling The ability to play with the fanbase's expectation is one of the perks of what we do. In all honesty we think that the product will include everything it needs to, and any additional information will have to be taken with a grain of salt. As a side note, trolling is not effective if you're ALWAYS trolling or even just too often. So we try to not overdo it. 2. Lying Now that's just mean, but I know I've done it before to protect actual information or just out of spite in response inane questions. In the end it mostly comes down to point #1 anyway. 3. Changing of mind This does happen a lot, hopefully not so much in content that is actually already out (and as such has the "highest canonicity" if you care about such a thing). We don't intend to change Act 1 in any meaningful way, but we will if we think we have to. And in the unreleased part, well... I'll just say I'd be more than happy if we changed our mind less often. Thankfully it does not seem to happen as frequently as it used to at this point. 4. Making stuff up on the spot If I get asked a question, or even if it just strikes me by accident, I may make a statement about some thing that is not relevant to the story at all. This will, for all intents and purposes, be "canon" until someone else on the dev team cares enough to contradict it; but does that matter? In fact, if it mattered, would it not be in the game narrative in the first place? So to summarize, I see two big problems in here, apart from the (in my opinion, overblown) obsession with canonicity people have in general: • It's not like Katawa Shoujo is an exercise in world building like other franchises. We don't really care whether there is a bigger universe outside the story we tell; if we did, we would surely have made said world more interesting. This is not Star Trek, or Lord of the Rings, or even Fate/stay night, it's just a little story. We do care about canon as far as consistency within the work is concerned, but not a lot beyond that. • It's not like the story this supposed world is built around even exists in any meaningful capacity yet, so everything we say is subject to change. For example, I have said before that Richter Bromont's depiction of the Yamaku principal as a Luchador wrestler is actually true. I know that there is nothing to contradict it in the game at this point (because he does not appear, and nor is mentioned in enough detail to make the call), so I'm not even outright lying. I just think it's funny, but does this make it "canon", an in-universe "truth"? I guess so, but I'm also aware that if we actually did decide to show him, he'd be something less... random. In fact, the principal did appear in an early draft, and in there she was a woman. Maybe THAT is more canonical than my offhand remark? But it's not in the game anymore either. The fact of the matter is that there is no objective reality beyond what is shown in fiction, and even for that you have to trust the writer. Seems obvious, but I've read Umineko no Naku Koro ni recently, and I've seen that fans of Umineko have a real problem realizing that even a universe designed at least with some degree of worldbuilding in mind is still made up and does not necessarily have to make sense in the way reality has to. Whether that still constitutes good writing is up to the reader, of course. And even if something is not stated to be one way or the other, "undefined" can be perfectly canon. See the ending of Inception, and how a part of the audience refused to accept that as well. Then there is the matter of fanon; Touhou is a franchise that is mostly fanon, and if enough people believe something is canon in that one, that definitely makes it "true" eventually. Fandom can take matters into their own hands, and if that is more enjoyable than the core narrative, who would argue against it? So, I will not condemn people pulling together various remarks and trying to build a bigger universe if they consider it fun; it's just we ourselves don't care enough to keep track of it because keeping track of actual core material is already stretching it. I am of the opinion that everything that matters is/will be in the game, and would take a small cheap laugh of the moment over building a greater universe than we need - It's not like we're forced to have sequel or spinoff hooks like a lot of commercial franchises. If we're lucky, all of these side ideas might in fact combine to one emergent fictional universe. But don't bet on it. I find it slightly absurd to call writers "gods", yes I know it's a tvtropesism, but that doesn't make it any better, can't get into any decent discussion without tvtropes and their CamelCase puns infesting every single one these days, don't care if it was around before but tvtropes codified it into a nuisance, get off my lawn, I mad, etc. ** In fact, now that I think about it, Umineko made "trolling, lying, changes of mind and making stuff up on the spot" a core part of the narrative, and people seemed to actually like it specifically for that - I kind of did, to be honest. Not much else, but that's beyond the scope of a simple blog post. April Fools: Announcement - Future Plans So now that we are getting closer to game release it's maybe a time to talk about some of the things we've kept secret so far. As anyone who has followed our development process knows, we are committed to releasing the entire game free of charge, and this will never change, since it is one of the incorruptible philosophical foundations of our group. However, it has come to our attention that the modern internet environment offers many opportunities for monetization, and we would be foolish not to take advantage of this. So, we are proudly announcing a subscriber model for people who really take Katawa Shoujo seriously and want to enjoy it to its fullest. Players who want to go beyond the ordinary can sign up for an account, which instantly gives them access to extra features and also makes them eligible for expansion content. So what are these extra features the subscribers get? Here are some of the more prominent ones: 1. Access to expansion stories This is the big one. In addition to scenes unlockable through the extra options (see point number 2), we will be making bigger stories that feature characters not seen elsewhere in the game. They won't be quite as long as the main character paths, but will feature things like romanceable characters with full plotlines and multiple endings, just like the 5 main paths. These stories will be offered as downloadable patches through the subscription system, likely going online some time after the release of the full game. There are four such stories under production, and we're going to reveal the main characters of two of them here: Rika Katayama A second year student at Yamaku, Rika has heart condition not completely unlike Hisao's, called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The condition is fatal if untreated, but Rika has gone through a reconstructive heart surgery as a toddler. Even so, she still left physically weak and at a constant danger of complications. A string of hospitalizations has made Rika a loner, but not a lonely person. She is sometimes hard to get through to, and tends to get lost in thought even in crowds. People sometimes mistake this for shyness, but in reality Rika does get along with most people, although she rarely actively seeks social contact. Hisao meets Rika by chance at the school infirmary and the two find something to reflect themselves from in the other. Rika's aloof attitude and ostensible comfort with her condition might challenge Hisao to grow as a person, but trouble arises when unpredictable circumstances take their relationship to a surprising direction... Rika's story is written by Silentcook and her character artist is moekki. Saki Enomoto Saki suffers from Spinocerebellar ataxia, a degenerative disease that makes her gradually lose muscle control, amongst other issues. She uses a crutch to help her balance, but is going to lose the ability to walk and eventually, all daily tasks and even eating and breathing. Fated to die with no hope of a cure, Saki is a conflicting figure. She has to live with a horrific, degenerative condition every day, yet she is outgoing and fashionable just like any high school girl. Saki takes the clumsiness caused by her condition in stride, even going against it by taking up activites that require fine motor control such as joining the Yamaku art club, where Hisao meets her. He finds Saki an engaging but troublesome person to deal with, due to her incredibly frank and complex personality. One moment she might be giggling about the new spring fashion line, the next, stating her bitterness for her crippling illness, yet never dropping her dazzling smile. But even Saki, for all her openness, holds things inside she would never tell anyone else... Saki's story is written by Aura and her character artist is weee. 2. Bonus content Some of the choices in KS will have options that are exclusively available to subscribers for a minor one-time fee. The unlockable options usually provide small changes to scenes, often extra event CG, sometimes extra scenes or background information that would not otherwise come up. Of course, they have no bearing whatsoever on the main storyline and are entirely optional. 3. Exclusive Merchandise Simultaneously with the subscriber system we will open the Four Leaf Studios webstore, providing fans with Katawa Shoujo and Four Leaf Studios merchandise such as shirts, hug pillows, posters and more. Subscribers gain faster processing and access to freebies and items not available to others. 4. Premium features The basic game will no longer offer saving/loading functionality. Instead, you can jump to scenes via the "Library" option. Both saving and loading will be available exclusively to subscribers through a micropayment system. Additionally, rolling back a line will be available for minor charge per line (of course, readback will remain available free of charge). 5. No advertising Premium customers will not see "sponsored lines" that are inserted into the game text in random intervals. They also get the privilege to block a subset of the in-game product placement. The KSPremium account will be available at the time of KS full release for most regions of the world for a very competitive monthly or one-time pricing, at various subscription levels. Extra features and the merchandise at 4LS webstore will be charged with Katawa Points associated with your account, available separately or through an automatic monthly fee. 100 Katawa Points is equivalent to approximately $5 (depending on your subscription level and location). This will all be made possible thanks to the cooperation of Valve, with Katawa Shoujo releasing on the Steam platform. You might be wondering why we are making an about face with the deal about money and KS. This is because we finally have a good use for it. Many of us have found themselves in a good place in life to do something big, something cool, and that's exactly what's going to happen. Four Leaf Studios is going to become an actual studio, continuing with our adventures in the world of visual novels beyond Katawa Shoujo. We are planning to get ourselves a physical studio office in Copenhagen, Denmark, found a real company and move most of the devs there to work on further projects once KS is completed. That is to say, we are taking the big step forward and really going to make a splash in the indie game world. Stay tuned for further developments on this, both before and after KS is released. We have some pretty neat ideas in store for the future. Thanks for reading and hope you are as excited about these news as we are. Katawa Shoujo Links Shimmie Oekaki Board F@H Team 中文 (Chinese blog) 日本語 (Japanese blog) Katawa Shoujo Chat IRC access Web access (DHTML) Katawa Shoujo Search 4LS Twitters Tweets by @fourleafstudios Tweets by @mishimmie About Katawa Shoujo Katawa Shoujo is a bishoujo-style visual novel set in the fictional Yamaku High School for disabled children, located somewhere in modern Japan. Hisao Nakai, who has had a congenital heart disorder diagnosed just a few months ago, finds his life turned upside down when he moves to a new town and school after a long hospitalization. Despite his difficulties, Hisao is able to find friends and eventually have romantic relationships with one of five main female characters. This is the story of making that game. F@H stats Other 4LS Releases pXt	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3249
__label__cc	0.733898	0.266102	Locations Serviced: We are servicing all of Los Angeles Metro area, including Van Nuys, Los Feliz, Hollywood, Burbank, Silver Lake, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Sunland, Sun Valley, Tujunga, West Hollywood, Glendale CA, Northridge, Encino, Tarzana, Studio City, Los Feliz, Pasadena, Highland Park, Mount Washington, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena, Altadena, Atwater Village, Arcadia, Hollywood Hills, Beverly Hills and Malibu. Kwang Wellness also deliver to the world with our hair analysis. Sign Up for Our Long Distance Program How Dr. Charles Kwang’s Long Distance Program Works	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3259
__label__wiki	0.56999	0.56999	Leon Neal/Getty Images May 22, 2019 - 8:07 am Report: Many Uber, Lyft Drivers Fail to Respond To Recalls One out of six Uber and Lyft drivers in the New York City and Seattle areas are driving vehicles with outstanding recalls, according to Consumer Reports. © d25higgins \| Getty Images Las Vegas Ranks #2 As Summer Vacation Destination When you think of popular summertime vacation destinations, you have the beach, the lake, the mountains. But the desert? Not so much. The lure of Las Vegas, though, is too much for travelers to resist Photo Courtesy: USA Today LV Firefighters Hosting Remembrance Tribute On September 11 LAS VEGAS (KXNT) - It's a day no American will ever forget. Firefighters in Las Vegas will certainly remember it, and on Tuesday, September 11, they're paying honor to the victims and firefighters who died in the World Trade Center tragedy. A longtime tradition in the fire service known as the "... June 04, 2018 - 12:41 pm Tourist Hot Spots Vegas, Orlando Get More Anti-Terror Money LAS VEGAS (AP) — Federal officials have awarded more money under an anti-terrorism grant to tourist hotspots such as Las Vegas and Orlando after deciding to include the number of visitors and high-profile special events when calculating the risk of an attack. The Urban Area Security Initiative... The Alan Stock Show April 05, 2018 - 12:49 pm NYC Police Defend Fatal Shooting With Video, 911 Transcripts Police seeking to defend their killing of a New York City man they mistakenly believed was armed with a gun released videotape on Thursday showing him brandishing a metal object like a weapon and provided excerpts of 911 calls reporting a man threatening people with a pistol.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3260
__label__cc	0.673187	0.326813	We Can Phase Out Fossil Fuels Within a Decade, Study Says (tags) Thinking is the best way to travel - as we transition to a post-materialist, post-fossil and post-autistic economy. The Shortwave Report 12/24/14 Listen Globally! (tags) A weekly 30 minute review of international news and opinion, recorded from a shortwave radio and the internet. With times, frequencies, and websites for listening at home. 3 files- Highest quality broadcast, regular broadcast, and slow-modem streaming. Radio Deutsche-Welle, Radio Havana Cuba, NHK Japan, and the Voice of Russia. BTL:How Much Pain is Necessary to Break U.S. Addiction to Fossil Fuels? (tags) Interview with Michael Klare, professor of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College, conducted by Melinda Tuhus VIDEO and Book Review: "The Long Emergency" (tags) Maybe BP should finance the relocation of Gulf citizens. Do corporations and rights and responsibilities or are they extra-legal tyrants? Americans are also brave, resilient, compassionate, resourceful and adaptable. Maybe BP should finance the relocation of Gulf citizens. Do corporations have rights and responsibilities or are they extra-legal tyrants? Americans are also brave, resilient, compassionate, resourceful and adaptable. EARTH DAY IS EVERYDAY FOR MUSICIAN/ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST, JON HARTMANN (tags) Fossil fuels have no place in our future. If we continue to burn them at the current rate, two things will happen as sure as night follows day.....our economy will be disrupted beyond repair, and our planet, likewise, may be damaged sufficiently to induce global catastrophe. The question arises, what right does the musician have to lambaste the innocent listener with radical environmental warnings? Capitalism and Nature: Elmar Altvater (tags) The capitalist formation of society is characterized by growth fetishism, the notion that boundless growth is socially necessary. Capitalism is historical. "If its beginning is certain, its end is also certain." Peak Oil - True or False (tags) Both sides of the peak oil argument. Blow Off the Arctic Ice Melting....Let's Drill for More Oil (tags) The Arctic ice is melting at an accelerating pace, with this year already showing record retreat. There is still a month or so left of summer heating, but the record minimum ice melt has already been reached. "It is therefore almost certain that the previous 2005 record will be annihilated by the final 2007 annual minima closer to the end of this summer."(1) Petrocollapse and Food Security at the South Central Farm (tags) Jan Lundberg, oil industry analyst, founder of Auto-Free Times and www.culturechange.org came to Los Angeles last weekend to speak on the issues surrounding peak oil. I attended the Sunday afternoon talk on “Petrocollapse and Food Security”, an appropriate title for the location, the South Central Farm. The Achilles’ Heel(s) of the US War Machine (tags) - John Doraemi publishes Crimes of the State, at: http://crimesofthestate.blogspot.com/ - The End of Suburbia: Film Review (tags) The documentary predicts that, as less oil is pumped fromthe ground and prices surge upward, property values of suburban homes will plummet.. The documentary postulates that the answer to the coming oil shortage resides in new urbanism. End of Suburbia Screening (tags) End of Suburbia Screening at Path to Freedom - an Urban Homestead Weaning Off Fossil Fuels (tags) American rooftops can be the Persian Gulf of solar energy. After Australia, no developed nation on Earth gets more annual sunlight than the United States. In addition, wind is now the fastest-growing energy source worldwide and one of the cheapest. But wind and solar power generate less than 2% of U.S. power. We can do better. We can increase auto fuel economy standards to 40 miles per gallon. The technology to achieve that goal exists now. Vote to Prevent War? (text) (tags) Vote to Prevent War? (text)	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3262
__label__cc	0.556143	0.443857	Streetsblog Los Angeles Editorial Independence Policy Streetsblog LA Logo Streetsblog CA MyFigueroa! Legacy of Redlining When Safe Routes to School Is About More than Bike Lanes and Sidewalks By Damien Newton John M, Liechty Middle School. It doesn't look like a great place to walk to...yet... What do you do when the main barrier to encouraging more students to walk and bicycle to school isn’t social pressures or broken infrastructure, but a different sort of public safety hazard? What do you do when it’s not motorists, but gangs that imperil children who want to walk or bike to school? If you work with the Advancement Project, and you’re working in South Los Angeles’ Westlake Neighborhood and Belmont Community, you get the community involved, you get the police involved, and you make a plan. Working with 21 different community groups, advocacy groups and government organizations, including the Los Angeles Police Department, the Advancement Project worked to create a map that showed what challenges face students walking to school and create a safe corridors program to address those needs. “Our role has been to coordinate the amazing assets, programs and services already existing in the community,” explains Maribel Meza, a policy advocate with the advancement project. “It has been a grassroots, community driven effort.” The first step of the project was to complete basic outreach to partners and communities to identify three areas to work on as part of the Project’s efforts in Westlake. Two of those programs had to do with creating safe passages for children to walk or bike to school and other places of interest. Next, meetings were held with all the stakeholders, including students and their parents, to create a mapping analysis. The mapping analysis created showed results that you probably wouldn’t see in Santa Monica, identifying not just places where students would be imperiled by poor urban design but also gang recruiters or even angry alcoholics. Meanwhile, the LAPD, parents, and gang interventionists and parents agreed to patrols on the most problematic routes for student travelers. Areas that had the highest risk would be patrolled by the LAPD, while areas of lesser but still significant challenge would be patrolled by volunteer parents before and after school. With the routes selected and parents on board, the program will launch later this month when the school year begins. The aforementioned coalition began work on a Safe Routes to Schools grant for John M. Liechty Middle School to bring a strong pedestrian infrastructure to the area, including better street lighting, sidewalks and road crossings. The lighting is especially important for students taking part in after school programs who often find themselves traveling home in the dark. If selected by Caltrans, it would bring $1 million to the area to improve connections to the school. Liechty also brings special challenges as explained by Caitlin Kosec, the Development Coordinator for the Advancement Project, “The intersection in front of Liechty Middle School is the intersection of 27 gang territories. Students are harassed, bullied, recruited by gangs and threatened with violence as they walk the few blocks from home to school.” Meza believes that the community outreach and safe passages plan makes the grant proposal much stronger. “With the work of the collaborative we had a much stronger application with this City transportation grant that would bring street lights, road bumps and other environmental improvements around the school.” To expand their program, the Advancement Project has appealed to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, arguing that the lack of access to schools creates a public health and obesity crisis. Kosed notes that, “Studies have shown that when students are scared in their neighborhood or walk to school it creates a public health problem.” In addition the lack of access creates problems for student learning. The Belmont area has a program where students can choose their high school based on their interests. One school specializes in teaching students science, and another focuses on the arts. However, that diversity is underutilized when physical, safety and mental barriers keep students from traveling to the high school where they would be best served. If awarded, the Robert Wood Johnson grant would invest $200,000 in the Project’s efforts, a significant out-of-state investment for South L.A. The grant is designed to reward innovative community-based projects and based on the work going on in this South L.A. community; there are few if any communities in Southern California working as hard to make their streets safe as this one is. Filed Under: Safe Routes to Schools, South LA, South LA Metro Proposes $73.2M Loan to Caltrans for Overruns on 5 Freeway Widening through Burbank Eyes on the Street: New Bike/Ped Crossing over Railroad Tracks in Burbank Senate Introduces a Narrower Bill for Wider Sidewalks By Tanya Snyder \| Apr 18, 2011 Like everyone else, Safe Routes to School advocates are scaling back. Last year, a bill introduced in the Senate asked for $600 million to enhance pedestrian and bike safety near schools. “We were working in a pretty different environment,” said Margo Pedroso, deputy director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. “Everybody was talking […] STREETSBLOG CALIFORNIA Voices from the OCTA Active Transportation Leadership Program By Kristopher Fortin \| Jul 19, 2016 Last week, I stopped by Garden Grove’s and Anaheim’s third Active Transportation Leadership Program workshops to meet some of the attendees. The third workshop invited staff from each city, from Orange County Transportation Authority, Southern California Association of Governments, and from Caltrans to present their sector’s work in forwarding active transportation initiatives. Though the presentations […] South L.A. Steps it Up with Inspirational L.A. 2050 Proposals: Great Ideas from the Advancement Project, Black Worker Center, Community Coalition, Community Health Councils, Neighborhood Land Trust, TRUST South L.A., and the WLCAC with Civic Projects By Sahra Sulaiman \| Apr 2, 2013 As Damien noted in his post on city-wide projects, voting on proposals submitted for the L.A. 2050 Challenge begins today. Sorting through the nearly three hundred proposals vying for the $100,000 prize to find the true gems is probably more than a little daunting for the casual observer. I can only imagine the questions running […] Will Los Angeles Ever Be a Safe Place for Kids? Meet the Women Charged with Creating Safe Routes to Schools By Damien Newton \| Oct 31, 2012 It is no secret that in America, and especially in Greater Los Angeles, too many children do not walk around their own neighborhoods. Whether it is fear of “stranger danger,” safety in the neighborhood, or the allure of electronic babysitting, many of today’s youth spend too much time indoors, and not enough doing something as […] An Interview with Emilia Crotty, New Manager of Los Angeles Walks By Joe Linton \| Jan 19, 2016 Los Angeles Walks has been around a while, but only recently hired its first staffer, Policy and Program Manager Emilia Crotty. Keen-eyed readers probably spotted her introductory interview at L.A. Walks’ website last month. In conjunction with L.A. Walks hosting their annual Sidewalk Soirée awards dinner this Saturday, SBLA wants to introduce Crotty to our readership. If […] Los Angeles County Complete Streets Policy Planning Meeting – SOLD OUT By Damien Newton \| Jan 4, 2014 During 2013 we convened four distinct and different meetings with various partners throughout Los Angeles County: Community Based Organizations, Public Agency staffers, Elected officials and business leaders. Please save the date for our next Los Angeles Collaborative Convening on January 8, 2014 at 8am where we will be working to bring all our partners together […]	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3263
__label__cc	0.582767	0.417233	EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Kraków Loves Adana The Godfathers + Joe Bone & The Dark Vibes + Media... Sound City Emerging Talent 2017 – Abi Chan + The ... News & Previews Year in Review – 2019 Posted by John W. King \| Tuesday 17 December 2019 \| News & Previews I’ve had a genuinely amazing 2019 having attended some of the best gigs of my life. It’s not that there are suddenly lots of new bands around, most of my best gigs were bands that have been around for a while. The difference is that I’ve made more effort to go to gigs, even when they are in Manchester. The Liverpool to Manchester railway was the first inter-city passenger railway in the world, opened back in 1830. Unfortunately it’s not been upgraded much since then 😉 Many a post-gig glow has been dented by my train home being up to an hour late, but the joy of the gig lives on in the memory once the nightmare journey home is (almost) forgotten, so it’s well worth the effort. After all, an easy life is rarely a fulfilled one! Too many people say they are too old to go to gigs, or there’s no good music being made any more, but they are wrong on both counts – there has never been so much great music around, waiting to be discovered, you’ve just got to put in a bit of effort to discover music you like instead of being drip-fed it by the radio like we were in the old days, take a chance, accept a bit of inconvenience. If you go and see a band and they are rubbish, so what? What would you have been doing instead? Watching Gogglebox? You can always set it to record, if you must 🙂 But if you choose wisely, you can see some absolutely amazing acts. I’ve seen around 200 bands this year, and I can count on one hand those that disappointed. Female Fronted? I’ve always gone to gigs for the music. I don’t care about the gender, sexuality, race or any other arbitrary detail of the people making it. So long as the music touches me in some way, that’s all I’m interested in. As Lauren from Hands Off Gretel said “Female Fronted is not a genre”. Quite right! But you may notice that of my Top 10 gigs of the year, only 2 are male fronted. Simpletons may think it’s some kind of mid-life crisis, but it’s definitely not that, and please don’t insult all these hugely talented women by suggesting the only thing a bloke could possibly be interested in is how they look! There really is no mystery, It’s quite simple. From 19 year old Kelli Mayo from Skating Polly who recently celebrated her bands tenth anniversary, having released 5 stunning albums and 31 incredible singles/videos to date that would be impressive for any artist regardless of age, and mind blowing that they’ve produced them so young – to 72 year old Grace Jones who can still do an energetic set, with costume changes on every song, and hoola-hoop her way through the last song of her set – they are all on this list because they fucking rock! Sadly there are still idiots who think that if a woman dresses a certain way, that it entitles them to do what they like. Dolly Daggerz of Tokyo Taboo is the latest in a long line of women who’s experiences make grim reading. What the hell is wrong with people? My Top 10 Live Performances of the Year Ok, here’s my 10 best live performances of the year – rated purely on how big a natural-high I had when I left the gig. I can’t help thinking about the Father Ted “2nd best priest” sketch – I don’t like ranking bands, but rest assured all the gigs on this list were amazing nights. Just those at the #1 end of the list had something extra. To put it into perspective, I’ve seen around 200 bands this year. I was a massive Cure fan back in the day, and I finally saw them live for the first time this year. They were faultless, yet still not in my Top 10 – the standard this year is that high! #10 The Nude Party @ Soup Kitchen, Manchester The Nude Party certainly wear their influences on their sleeves – with songs that sound like Dylan, The Stones, Pink Floyd and so on. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! They put on a lively, energetic show, and the audience absolutely loved them. Read my review here. #9 The Catenary Wires @ Gullivers NQ, Manchester Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey need no introduction to anyone into Indie in the late 80s and 90s. I turned up to the gig early during the soundchecks and Rob started chatting to me like we’d known each other forever. Such a lovely, down-to-earth couple, and it felt more like a social gathering than a gig as most people seemed to know each other. Great music and a really special vibe. Read my review here. #8 The Coathangers @ Arts Club, Liverpool The Coathangers are one of those bands where you hear one of their singles for the the first time, and you think WOW, but you think it’s probably the exception rather than the rule. But then you listen to more and more of their songs, and realise they are consistently excellent! Read my review here. #7 Tacocat Seattle’s Tacocat, recently signed to Sub Pop records are a band whom as soon as you start to listen to them, you know you’re going to like them. Read my review here. #6 The White Ribbons @ Butlins, Skegness Hearing The White Ribbons at Butlins Great British Alternative Music Festival in Skengess on their amazing Introducing Stage, I instantly warmed to them. Their song “Greatest Man” is my 10th most listened to of the year according to Spotify. Whilst listening to my Top 100 of the year, Verity asked who they were as they stood out as a band she really likes. Not only are they musically excellent, but they have a social conscious too. The name comes from The White Ribbon campaign which aims to end male violence against women. This song is about Sophie Lancaster. Some may say, well we all know about Sophie Lancaster (if you’re not from the UK, she was a young girl, sitting minding her own business with her boyfriend in a public park, and a gang of thugs kicked her to death, simply for dressing differently and being a girl. If you google the details, beware that it is very harrowing). But to me, we need to be constantly reminded so that for example we monitor our own children’s behaviour, and if we see that they are developing irrational hatred of people because they are different, that we try to nip it in the bud before it ends in tragedy. You can read my review of Butlins Great British Alternative Music Festival here, and my interview with lead singer Brian Mitchell here. #5 Grace Jones @ Downs Festival, Bristol Grace Jones is the most famous person on this list. What an absolute legend, a massive influence on later artists, great attitude, and great tunes. A real privilege to photograph too! She puts on a dazzling performance with amazing costume changes after every song, that would be impressive for an artist of any age, the fact that she is 72 is mind-blowing. Read my review of the excellent Downs Festival here #4 Vera Sola @ Castle Hotel, Manchester Vera Sola put on an absolutely dazzling performance. When I posted up some shaky video from the gig on my personal FB page, several people told me that they listened to her album on repeat. I later found out that her dad is famous, very famous, like A List famous – full marks to her for making it on her own, rather than using the family name to open doors. Wikipedia is your friend if you’re bothered. Read my review here. #3 Laura Gibson Laura Gibson was outstanding, and played a key part in making me travel to Manchester to see the gigs I wanted to see, rather than worry about trains being late and so on. Her album Goners is a thing of beauty. I momentarily wondered why a guy at the gig bought a copy of the album which he already had, but was a different colour of vinyl – but then I realised that when an artist is this good a) you want to support them and b) it means something. Read my review here. #2 Kælan Mikla @ Studio 2, Liverpool Kælan Mikla are a superb Darkwave band who count Robert Smith of The Cure amongst their fan base. They are from Iceland and sing in Icelandic – not ideal if you want to sing along and don’t speak icelandic, but if there is a band worth learning it for, it’s this one. Truly amazing performance. Read my review over at Urbanista here. #1 (JOINT) Emika @ Hare & Hounds, Birmingham Popping through to Manchester for a gig on a week night is one thing, Birmingham is quite another! But Emika is one of a handful of artists I would make the effort for. With a midnight coach getting me back to Liverpool after 3am, and having to be up at 6.30am to help get my son to school, the next day was a long one – but I was still on a high so it was worth it! She was my Glastonbury 2015 highlight of the weekend, and this gig was equally amazing. It was a real priviledge to see her in such a small venue. Most artists start out playing small venues and long for the day when they can play big venues. Emika started out playing big venues, but was in her element having chosen to play small venues on this tour where she can meet her fans. I struggled for a while to decide whether Emika or Skating Polly should be #1, in the end I thought the only solution was to have a joint #1! They are very different artists, but both amazing in their own ways, and I’d hate to have to choose one over the other! #1 (JOINT) Skating Polly Anyone who reads this blog or my facebook page won’t be surprised to see Skating Polly riding high on this list, it’s fair to say that I rather like them 🙂 Although they’ve been going for 10 years, I only discovered them in May of this year. I receive lots of press releases about lots of bands, I don’t have time to read them all, so I could have very easily missed this band. Particularly as I saw the name and initially confused them with Flogging Molly (doh!). Fortunately it came from the same agency that lots of other great bands use, so I gave them a listen, and wow, just wow! They’ve been a permanent fixture on my Spotify and YouTube ever since, and live they were just immense. Such lovely people too, often when bands come off stage they are a bit grouchy – particularly if they’ve traveled a long way, having been stuck together on the road for several weeks, but not them. They are quite unique in that sibling bands are often notorious for fighting all the time (Gallagher or Davis brothers for example) or end up a bit mad. But Skating Polly come off stage, cool as a cucumber, seemingly oblivious to just how amazing their performance was, and are really chilled and down-to-earth, and friendly. I think one of the things that works really well is that Kelli and Peyton are very different people yet obviously have a very strong bond. When Verity first saw their videos she said Kelli is obviously American, and asked if Peyton is English? I presume the surname Bighorse is native American, albeit I noticed her middle name on song writing credits, McKenna which has Irish/Scottish origins, so she may have some ancestry from the UK, I don’t know. But I see what she means – Kelli has a strong American accent, and leaps around the stage like an angry volcano, whilst Peyton is much more reserved, and I think that works really well. 2 Kelli’s leaping around the stage or 2 Peyton’s being relatively calm wouldn’t really work, but put them together, along with Kurtis’s drumming, and something wonderful happens! Often band dynamics where the singer tends to get all the attention, can lead to tensions within a band. But when Peyton sings one of the songs she does lead vocals on, a glance at Kelli with her expressive face, it was clear how proud she is of her sister. Indeed, when I was getting my album signed, Kelli and Kurtis had already signed it. Kelli was serving another customer and Peyton was chatting to someone so I was waiting patiently, then Kelli handed the pen to Peyton who signed my album, almost like they have a telepathic connection! I think because all 3 members of the band have such a love of music and listen to all sorts of genres etc, living together since they are a family, and being young when they started, means that they’ve been able to experiment and hone their craft in a way that very few bands ever do, and pull off a sound which is both accessible and credible. When I send a link of one of their videos to someone who hasn’t heard of them before, the typical response is along the lines of “wow” followed a few hours later by “I’ve been listening to them for the past few hours, they are great, why haven’t I heard of them before?” And why we haven’t heard them before is a very good question indeed! Why is it for example that our state-owned broadcaster BBC 6 Music, only playlists bands from medium and major labels? Shouldn’t they leave that kind of behaviour to commercial broadcasters and use their unique funding model to take chances and play bands that are getting overlooked because they don’t have a big label who will gut them of everything that makes them unique in order to sanitise them for the masses to sell lots “units”? Surely they should have someone listening out for music this good, making sure that people get to hear it. They posted on Instagram recently that they are returning to Europe earlier next year (they played in October this year) – take my advice and buy a ticket as soon as they are announced! They sold out Manchester and London, and very nearly sold out Birmingham and Glasgow on the 2019 tour. This band is going places, and you want to catch them in an intimate venue before the rest of the world catches up and they only play massive venues! And if you’ve become a Skating Polly-holic, joing the Skating Polly Fans Group – where you will discover that we are not alone! I’ve already mentioned The White Ribbons in my Top 10 (well 11 really, I cheated!) with an amazing EP already to their credit, and another one due for release soon. They are definitely a band I want to catch again in 2020. Here are a few other bands I’m excited about. Skinners Lane Liverpool based Skinner’s Lane with their eccentric Californian front-man Zak Langford-Do were my highlight of this year’s Threshold Festival. Can’t wait to catch them again next year. The Kecks The Kecks have played twice in the UK this year, and on both dates I had unmovable family events so couldn’t go. Shreddy kindly offered to play in my living room next time they are over so that I don’t miss them, I might have to take them up on that 😉 But no, I will make a point of catching them next tour by hook or by crook as I’m really excited by what I’ve heard of them so far. Tokyo Taboo Dolly Daggerz combines her love for pole dancing and singing to stunning effect, creating something quite unique. I believe they one the daily vote on the Butlins Great British Alternative Music Festival Weekender Introducing Stage. Looking fwd to seeing them on the main stage next year! Diablo Furs Another stunning performance on the Butlins Great British Alternative Music Festival Introducing Stage, came from Nottingham’s Diablo Furs who I hope to catch again somewhere in the next year. My friends interviewed them for The Punk Site whilst we were having a pint, and they are really cool people too! Hopes for 2020 In Previous Years, things I’ve hoped for in this section have actually come true! At the end of 2017 I said “I hope that Claudia Brucken performs live somewhere I can get to” and a few weeks later I received an email to say that her and Susanne were performing “A Secret Wish” as xPropaganda in London. What an amazing night that was! At the end of 2018, I said that I hoped Emika would play in the UK again. Lo and behold, I saw her in December! So now we are at the end of 2019, I need to wish wisely! Obviously I’m hoping for 2020 UK tours from Skating Polly and Emika and Roots Manuva. Skating Polly have already said they are coming to Europe earlier next year (hopefully that will include the UK) and I believe Emika is hoping to come back too. Also I really want Sade to tour again, and Cocteau Twins to reform. But then I say that every year. Anyway, thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! See you all at a gig or 5! Words + Pictures: John W. King PreviousEmika + Grisly Faye @ Hare and Hounds, Birmingham – Review NextElectric Dreams Weekender (80s Synth) 2019 – Photo Review John W. King Passionate about Live Music and Photography, always on the look out for interesting gigs and festivals. New Emika Single + Forthcoming Album announced Darkest Dreams by Kraków Loves Adana (Album Review) Chromatics release new single + mammoth deluxe edition of “Closer to Grey” LP Beach Bunny coming to Manchester, Glasgow & London in June 2020 End of Year Roundup Fallen Idles: Return of the backlash? Dry Cleaning + Pozi: Shipping Forecast – Photo Review Poliça + Warm Digits @ Gorilla, Manchester – Review Dry Cleaning – New Single, and Feb/March UK Tour inc Liverpool Friendly Fires to Co-Headline Liverpool Sound City 2020 (Festival Exclusive) © City Business Logic Ltd 2017-2021	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3280
__label__cc	0.717636	0.282364	Transport August 9, 2007 October 5, 2020 Top Green Sports Cars are undeniably environment-friendly by Deepa Thukral Thankfully people are becoming more interested in environmental issues. Everything around us is trying to turn green. Every new day we see umpteen environment-friendly things mushrooming all around the globe. Even sports cars are trying to keep up with this fight to save nature. Are you looking for some environmentally friendly sports cars that can have you not only living green but driving green? Check out the Greenest sports cars – 1) Tesla Roadster – Tesla has taken the most radical approach to be green by replacing the internal combustion engine with a small 70-pound electric motor. As it’s uncommon to hear about bio-fueled cars boasting about their gas mileage credits, the Tesla can proudly say it gets 135 miles per gallon equivalent. Roll over for five more green cars……. 2) Toyota FT HS – The Toyota FT-HS finishes out the line up of environmentally friendly sports cars and is the only prototype in the line up because it will be the first hybrid sports car. The FT HS promises to be a real performer with help from an electric motor and a 3.5-liter V6 engine. The combination electric motor and V6 are said to produce around 400 bhp and accelerate to 60 mph in under 4 seconds all while producing ultra low emissions. 3) Lotus Exige 265E – British make, Lotus Exige 265E is special from other Lotus as it is able to run E85 ethanol and 95-octane unleaded fuel. The boosted 1.8-liter Toyota 4-cylinder inline engine makes 46 more horsepower than its non-ethanol counter part. It is the fastest car ever to leave the Lotus grounds and the first Lotus to promote the use of renewable energy sources at the same time. 4) Trident Iceni – A small British company called Trident has produced a two-seater sports car called the Iceni. The Trident Iceni is the only Diesel fueled car that made it into the line up and is powered by none other than a GM sourced 6.6-liter V8 turbo diesel engine. 5) Porsche Cayman – Porsche has proved that sports cars can be just as fuel-efficient as the common car, if not more so with the Cayman. The Cayman is Porsche’s greenest car ever with a 2.7-liter, 241 horsepower, and boxer-engine. The Cayman starts at $49,400, which is cheap for a Porsche. 6) Koenigsegg CCXR – Like Lotus, Koenigsegg has found the use of bio-fuels like E85 ethanol can add substantial performance to their already powerful engine. This is a car that uses Green technology to increase performance. Finally, it’s the Tesla Roadster that takes the cake as it highlights technology that all sports car manufacturers should take a look at. READ: Porsche and Boss join hands for an exclusive capsule collection Almost 30 years old, Disneyland’s PeopleMover just sold for $471,500 Tesla introduces new entry-level Model S 70D with all-wheel-drive and 240-mile range Porsche wants to revolutionize in-car entertainment by putting VR headsets in its future cars Our 7 favourite exotic cars from the past 10 years Adidas and Porsche Design collaborate for limited edition football boots Top Five Fastest Zero-To-60 Cars……..zooom Check out the one off Porsche 911 R Steve McQueen special Porsche debuts their gorgeous new 911 Targa 4S Exclusive Design Edition 2016 Porsche Panamera Edition models to debut at the New York Auto Show Previous articleAeroscraft ML866 is shaped like a whale Next articleArnold & Son True Moon is cool This 89 foot space ship concept offers the space of a luxury superyacht From Anna Wintour to Chelsea Clinton and many more, how Ivanka Trump’s friends both old and new turned against her as soon as Donald Trump became the President Someone paid $2.2 million for a Batman comic	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3286
__label__wiki	0.620314	0.620314	Social GPS 12/1/20 How to Get Your Relationship Back on Track After a Terrible Fight It’s not easy to bring your relationship back to equilibrium after a major fight. Even if you and your partner have… The Best Time to Get Married, Depending On Your Taxes You’d have to be a very practical person to schedule your wedding around taxes, but most people do think about the… The Upgrade 6/1/20 How to Pandemic-Proof Your Relationship, With Divorce Lawyer James J. Sexton Micaela Heck Being trapped with your significant other 24/7 is not a recipe for relationship success. That’s why this week we’re… What to Do If Your Child's Behavior Is Ruining Your Relationship With Your Partner Leigh Anderson “You know those ABC after-school specials where the parents get divorced, and they tell the kids it’s not your fault,… Seven Things I Wish I Had Known Before Getting Married Melanie Pinola No matter how much advice you get before getting married, nothing can quite prepare you for what it’s really like.… Explainer 10/17/19 Should You Merge Your Finances With Your Partner's? You’ve finally found the one, and now you have to figure out what to do about your finances. If happy couples on… Social GPS 9/26/19 The Communication Mistakes Almost Every Couple Makes Even the strongest, most in-sync couples can encounter bumps in communication in a relationship. Though there are… Babies 7/22/19 What Expecting Parents Need Instead of a 'Baby Prenup' Michelle Woo The idea of a “baby prenup” was first brought into pop consciousness by Porsha of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, and… How to Protect Your Money in a Divorce If you keep your finances separate during your marriage, don’t assume they’ll stay separate if you divorce. How to Manage Household Finances After Your Spouse Dies Few people want to consider what might happen after the death of a spouse, but it’s an inevitability that many of us… How to Get Your Workaholic Spouse Back There are many demands on our time, especially after we’re partnered, with kids, or other family obligations. In a… What to Consider Before Proposing in Public If you’re someone who is already planning a surprise public proposal, you might be in too deep to know that it’s… How I Parent 7/30/18 I'm Writer Laura June, and This Is How I Parent In her new memoir Now My Heart Is Full, Laura June writes about how becoming a parent has helped her make peace… Learn From These Redditors' Wedding Day Regrets Redditors share wedding horror stories and hard-learned lessons in the Ask Reddit thread, “What’s the one thing you… Tough Love 5/29/18 How to Get Your Clingy Significant Other to Give You Some Alone Time This week we have a newlywed woman who’s desperate to get some time to herself. Is there a way for her to ask her… Keep Your Relationship Going Strong With a Daily Maintenance Text There’s no magic bullet or divine secret to maintaining a romantic relationship—every couple is different. But if… Successful Relationships Don’t Necessarily Last Forever As a society, we tend to look at breakups and divorce as a failure. But a relationship ending doesn’t mean it wasn’t… How to Propose Marriage Without Screwing Up A wedding proposal deserves a little spectacle. Not an obnoxious viral-video stunt, but something to make your… What to Do When Your Husband Is More Into Gaming Than Sex This week we have a newlywed woman whose husband plays way too many video games, and it’s affecting their sex life.… VideoLifehacker Asks 4/17/18 What Newlyweds Should Know About Divorce Virginia K. Smith	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3289
__label__wiki	0.863197	0.863197	» Places » Fort Breendonk Type Prison Camp Historical Name of Location Breendonk, Belgium Contributor: C. Peter Chen ww2dbaseFort Breendonk was constructed between 1906 and 1913 to guard one possible path toward the important city of Antwerp, Belgium. It was situated on a parcel of land about 200 meters by 300 meters in size. It was covered under a 5-meter thick layer of soil to protect against shelling, while a moat served to slow attacks by infantry. During WW1, it came under attack by German forces on 1 Oct 1914; its defenders surrendered on 9 Oct after a separate German force took control of Antwerp. During WW2, Breendonk was the headquarters of the Belgian forces in the initial phase of the German invasion. As Belgium came under German occupation, in Sep 1940 Philipp Schmitt was given the task of converting Breendonk into a prison camp. It would eventually hold 3,590 prisoners in this capacity. The first groups of prisoners to have arrived at Breendonk were criminals, but later on the population included a large number of resistance fighters, political prisoners, and civilians kept by the occupation administration as hostages. between 1941 and 1942, a section of Breendonk was also used as a transit camp for Jews en route to concentration camps in Eastern Europe. The fort was guarded by both Flemish and German (SS) personnel. Prisoners were routinely subjected to starvation and various forms of torture; about 120 died as the result of these abuses. 185 prisoners were executed by gunfire or hanging at Breendonk during the German occupation period; many executions were witnessed by the prisoner population. Much of the earth covering the fort was removed, using prisoner labor, to form earthen walls around the fort. In Sep 1940, Karl Schönwetter took over as the commandant. Breendonk was evacuated in Sep 1944; all surviving prisoners were transferred to Buchenwald Concentration Camp in Germany, where more than 1,500 of them would die. After the Allies took control of the fort, it was very briefly used as an internment camp for Belgian collaborators; these prisoners would be transferred to Dossin Barracks in Mechelen, Belgium on 10 Oct 1944. In 1946, a trial was held against Flemish collaborators who had worked for the Germans at Breendonk during the occupation period; 16 of them were executed by firing squad, 6 were given life sentences, and 1 was given a 20-year prison sentence. In 1949, former commandant Schmitt was sentenced to death for crimes committed at Breendonk; the setence was carried out on 9 Aug 1950. ww2dbaseThe fort now serves as a memorial and museum. ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia Last Major Update: Feb 2018 Fort Breendonk Interactive Map Fort Breendonk Timeline 1 Oct 1914 German forces began to attack Fort Breendonk in Belgium. 20 Sep 1940 The first group of prisoners arrived at Fort Breendonk in Belgium. 4 Sep 1944 German SS guards evacuated Fort Breendonk in Belgium. 10 Oct 1944 Belgian collaborators being held in Fort Breendonk were transferred to the Dossin Barracks in Mechelen, Belgium. 9 Aug 1950 Former commandant of Fort Breendonk in Belgium, Philipp Schmitt, was executed. Modern Day Location , CC BY 3.0 — Map data © OpenStreetMap', attribution: 'Stamen \| OSM \| CC BY 3.0', subdomains: 'abcd', minZoom: 0, maxZoom: 18, ext: 'png' }).addTo(mymap); var rawDataArray = [ ["", "51.056389000", "4.341389000", 1] ]; var pointsArray = []; for (var i = 0; i < rawDataArray.length; i++) { var point = rawDataArray[i]; circle = new L.circle([point[1], point[2]], { color: 'red', fillColor: '#f03', fillOpacity: 0.5, radius: 50 }).addTo(mymap); pointsArray.push(circle); } var group = new L.featureGroup(pointsArray); mymap.fitBounds(group.getBounds()); mymap.setZoom(3); WW2-Era Place Name Breendonk, Belgium Lat/Long 51.0564, 4.3414 Fort Breendonk Photo Gallery "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." Winston Churchill, on the RAF	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3297
__label__cc	0.524789	0.475211	#TrendingArtists: Interview with film director Keyvan Sheikhalishahi Giedrius Ivanauskas· #TrendingArtistsCreativityFeatured Creativity Giedrius Ivanauskas Keyvan Sheikhalishahi is a 21-year-old French film director. His new third short Divertimento is one of the biggest indie shorts ever made, starring Hollywood actor Kellan Lutz from Twilight and Expendables, but also Torrey DeVitto (Chicago Med), Ola Rapace (Skyfall), Götz Otto (Cloud Atlas), Christian Hillborg (Fleabag), Hellie Heydon (Harlots) and Brittany Gonzales. Keyvan was compared by Lutz and Otto with a young Steven Spielberg and he just won a Remi Award at 53rd edition of Houston Festival for his second short Nox, an award that Spielberg, Lucas, Scott and others won in their debuts. G: What was your breakthrough moment and how long did you work for it? K: After making several amateur movies when I was around 16, I wanted to make my first professional short. I’ve prepared it during the last year of high school. The first idea kind of worked – I wanted to make a Hitchcockian thriller about a family drama in a countryside setting, involving stars, a beach and a ghost. Rapidly, I found the story I wanted to tell. Of course, I had different options in mind for the development but I saw the result very rapidly. G: How did you get there? What kind of personal/professional habits do you think helped you on your creative journey? What kind of personal skills artist has to nurture in order to succeed? K: I’ve started from nothing. I didn’t have friends or family working in the industry. I needed to convince people and I didn’t have anything to show them. I contacted very early the actress, Agnès Godey and the composer, Gréco Casadesus, who is a big name in the French industry. When they both said ‘yes’ to the project, I understood that everything is possible. Then, I wanted the main character to be played by a big name known in the industry and by the audience. There was no day that I thought this couldn’t be possible, I was convinced 100%, even if naturally you have always doubts and that was not easy. I immediately wrote the character for Götz Otto, he was an obvious choice for me, because I knew him since I was a young child, he spoke French, worked in different countries, for big movies including James Bond and he had the talent and experience to play the character. So, I think what counted were the strength of the script and the ability to convince the others. G: At the early stages of your career, how did your work got noticed by people and the media? K: Working with Götz Otto on my first short Vesper was a pleasure because in addition of his talent and career, I felt very close because I watched him in movies when I was young. It also allowed the short to be stronger and got more noticed by people. So if my work as a filmmaker was successful, the short could only be great, you need to join forces when you make a movie. And we won 44 awards ! My advice would be a motto: ‘the bigger the better’, it’s always how I worked and my new short feels like an indie blockbuster. If I was a painter for example, I would call the biggest art gallery in my town. G: Art and Money, don’t follow each other especially at the beginning, how did you finance yourself at the start of your artistic journey and how did you find sponsors later on? K: That’s the only negative note, hahaha. I had to make kind of sacrifices regarding money, but I prefer to see them like investments. For Divertimento, you’re right, I found sponsors who helped, but I financed the most part. G: There are so many art projects these days, how do you find your edge for the new projects? Where do you look for inspiration and how do you know when you find a good idea? K: Today, the cinema particularly has two competitors, your laptop and your phone, so why the audience needs to see a movie in a theater ? That’s the first question I ask to myself when I make a movie. The strength of cinema is to make an audiovisual experience which needs to be unique in each movie. I also pay attention to the storytelling, I try to create new ways of storytelling, which represent the unconsciousness of the character and make the movie more subjective. For inspiration, ideas come always naturally, I often listen music to be inspired and I know when a idea is good when I like it ! G: What 3 pieces of advice would you give to creatives looking to make it in the art world? K: In the art world, generally, I would advise to be first original, I mean to make something which looks all your own with your own personality, so yourself and the audience can immediately identify the art with you, at least at the beginning of the career. For me, art needs to be interesting and beautiful, and when I make a movie, I always work to make it beautiful because people will watch it and deserve to watch something beautiful or dreamy. G: What are your favourite projects that you have seen recently and who are you favourite artists/people that you follow regularly? K: I can name lots of people !! In cinema, I’m a huge fan of Pierce Brosnan, I love each of his movies, they’re never disappointing and I would love to work with him, that would be so awesome ! My all time favourite actor is someone else though, and I like to keep his name in secret because I hope to work with him soon. I like a lot Christopher Nolan, Shana Feste, Susanne Bier who are incredible directors. I recently watched the last Clint Eastwood movie which was very poignant. My favourite painters are definitely Edward Hopper and David Hockney, his swimming pools are so amazing ! G: What’s the biggest risk that you’ve ever taken as an artist and how did it turn out? K: As I started from nothing, I wouldn’t say there were risks for me. Actually, there wasn’t any risk. But when you’re 17 and work with Götz Otto or 20 and work with Kellan Lutz and Torrey DeVitto, it could be considered like a challenge. When you make movies, you always have challenges and that’s great, I love that. G: What are your future plans? K: I like to keep them in secret, but definitely I’d love to work with some actors such as Pierce Brosnan and my all time favourite actor. I’ve already realized the half of my dream, I need to work on the other half ! Danielle Zoellner· 14/01/2021	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3298
__label__cc	0.526447	0.473553	Mothers and Peace Women must participate in peace processes – at every step and every level 15th November, Brussels - The 3rd MMM ESPERAS Peace Lab brought together two keynote speakers Professor Christina Bache and women’s rights activist Passy Mubalama who through their expertise offered two complementary examples - academic and grassroots - of the important role of women and mothers in peace. Share Share Share Print Email Professor Christina Bache, author of the 2019 EU commissioned study: ‘Women’s role in peace Process’ is a visiting fellow from London’s LSE Ideas. She lives in Brussels where she is also adjunct professor at Vesalius College. She underlined the necessity for the inclusion of women throughout the peace process. “People are failing their communities if this is not taken into consideration,” she said. “Women should be negotiators, observers and even signatories.” From left to right: Laurence van Abeele, President of MMM Belgium and partner of Esperas, with Leen van Waes from Esperas, and students She explained that women are active in grassroots organizations and as such, their voices are critical, because they represent the diversity within their communities. They have a role to play: they are engaged in dialogue, as community leaders. And as mothers, they have above all else, a crucial responsibility to educate their children in a non-violent way. Passy Mubalama, who lives in Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provided the grassroots perspective. She was in Belgium to receive her ‘Changemaker’ award from the 11.11.11 coalition of NGOs, unions, movements and various solidarity groups in Flanders (Dutch-speaking Northern part of Belgium) who work together to achieve one common goal: a fair world without poverty. Passy passionately believes that women should not be seen as victims but rather, as agents of change. To facilitate her work, she set up Aidprofen, an organization that promotes education for women in her country and calls for more of them to actively participate in politics. Discover her presentation See also another article on Esperas and its projects here Passy Mubalama, founder of Aidprofen in DRC, with Myriam Mitu, a volunteer for Esperas Single mothers vulnerability to homelessness and impact on children UN New York - Report on the side-event that MMM organized on the margins of the 58th session of the Commission on Social Development on 18 February 2020 at the How to engage consumers in the circular economy? As part of #Circ4life, an EU Horizon 2020 Research Project, Make Mothers Matter conducted three consumer surveys in order to uncover how to better engage end-users in the circular economy. Unpaid care is work International Women's Day - 'Time to Care’, the Oxfam report released earlier this year, put the spotlight on the link between global inequalities and an issue at the core of See all the articlesof the category	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3304
__label__wiki	0.863044	0.863044	Brendan Fraser lands next lead movie role playing a 600-pound man Rianne Houghton 12 January 2021, 11:13 am ·2-min read Photo credit: Getty Images From Digital Spy Forget The Mummy and any additional reboot plans, because Brendan Fraser has signed on as the lead role for an upcoming project with Darren Aronofsky – and it sounds very interesting indeed. Hoping to recreate the successes of Requiem for a Dream and Black Swan rather than the divisive mother!, Aronofsky is adapting playwright Samuel D Hunter's The Whale for the big screen, with Fraser – last seen in DC's Doom Patrol – as the star, according to reports. First debuting on stage in 2012, The Whale tells the story of a 600-pound man who is eating himself to death, isolated and reclusive in rural Idaho. Literally and figuratively heavy, the play follows Charlie as he attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter. Related: Whatever happened to Brendan Fraser? What George of the Jungle did next Hunter has adapted the original script, telling Deadline that the process has been "a real labour of love". "This story is deeply personal and I'm very thankful it will have the chance to reach a wider audience," he said in a statement. "I've been a fan of Darren's ever since I saw Requiem for a Dream when I was a college freshman writing my first plays, and I'm so grateful that he's bringing his singular talent and vision to this film." Something tells us that The Whale is one to keep an eye on. Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox – and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. Animal Crossing New Horizons is finally announced on Nintendo Switch How to watch Amazon Prime on your TV, smartphone and tablet – and enjoy Good Omens online Nintendo to release two new Switch consoles this year Opposition MPs urge review of diners’ 8pm closing time, say affecting traders too	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3305
__label__wiki	0.802223	0.802223	Harry Styles, Phoebe Waller-Bridge Shimmy Into 2021 in New Music Video J. Clara Chan 1 January 2021, 4:53 pm ·1-min read Harry Styles has blessed the internet with a new music video to his song, “Treat People With Kindness” — and he brought a very special guest with him: Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Shot in black-and-white, the music video features the two internet darlings executing an extremely fun dance number in matching custom Gucci outfits to ring in the new year. Needless to say, their fans were very, very happy with the video, which was announced just two hours before it was released on the first day of 2021. Also Read: Harry Styles Mocks Candace Owens' Call to 'Bring Back Manly Men' “Phoebe waller-bridge and harry styles doing a choreographed dance together has cured my hangover,” one user tweeted. “Harry styles and phoebe waller-bridge already saved 2021,” another person tweeted. “happy new year to harry styles and phoebe waller bridge ONLY,” comedian Matt Bellassai wrote. Also Read: Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Reunite With Andrew Scott on 'His Dark Materials' Season 2 Gabe Turner, who co-directed the music video with his brother Ben Turner, said the project was shot at the beginning of 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic had the entertainment industry shutting down. “Didn’t realize how lucky we were to experience this at the time! Harry & Phoebe – an absolute career highlight! Fitting that it goes out today hoping that in 2021 we can return to some kind of normal,” Turner tweeted on Friday. Take a look at the video here. TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS. OUT NOW.https://t.co/PScWbqZozJ pic.twitter.com/VFujhYHDRg — Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) January 1, 2021 Read original story Harry Styles, Phoebe Waller-Bridge Shimmy Into 2021 in New Music Video At TheWrap	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3306
__label__wiki	0.920909	0.920909	Health D-G says hospital beds not yet at full capacity, but mulling home quarantine for Covid-19 positive cases Yiswaree Palansamy Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah speaks during a press conference in Putrajaya on December 9, 2020. — Picture by Miera Zulyana KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today assured Malaysians that government hospitals are capable of treating Covid-19 cases even as new infections continue to top the 1,000-mark daily. Dr Noor Hisham said government hospitals were not yet at maximum capacity. He said that hospitals in Selangor — which continue to register the highest number of cases today — are only at 59 per cent of their bed capacity at the moment. He added that occupancy in government hospitals nationwide is currently at 81 per cent and 58 per cent occupancy at the Covid-19 Quarantine and Low-risk Treatment Centres (PKRC). He added that it is 84 per cent occupancy at the National Leprosy Control Centre in Sungai Buloh, Selangor and 71 per cent at the Health Ministry training institute, also in Sungai Buloh. However, he said the Health Ministry is considering letting people diagnosed with Covid-19 spend their quarantine at home instead. He added that it would be subject to several factors, including the size of the house and the ability of officials to monitor the patient’s health progress. “Our policy is still the same. We will quarantine positive patients in the PKRC or hospitals, but we are considering whether we can quarantine positive patients at home,” he said in a news conference broadcasted from Putrajaya this evening. “If we want to execute this, there are several criteria to abide by. Firstly, we have to assess the suitability of the homes, rooms, bathrooms and others. “Secondly, we also have to view the health assessment tools and how our healthcare workers can monitor the health of someone who is home. So we are looking at the possibility, but we are not changing our policy as yet, that is we quarantine those who are tested positive in hospitals or PKRC,” Dr Noor Hisham said. He said the Health Ministry is also looking at the possibility of using work hostels as quarantine centres if cases increase further, such as had happened with the Teratai Cluster in Klang. He cited Section 11(3c) of Act 342 (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988) whereby hostels were used to house Covid-19 patients who displayed mild symptoms and were categorised as stage one or stage two of the virus infection. “So this is one possibility which we can use to reduce the congestion in MAEPS for example,” he said, referring to the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang, which is being used as a PKRC. Dr Noor Hisham had yesterday advised those who have tested positive for Covid-19 but are asymptomatic to be isolated at home and stay in touch with their district health offices (PKD) as they may not be taken to government hospitals immediately. He was responding to a complaint by a business owner who questioned the Health Ministry’s contact tracing processes via the MySejahtera app after three of her employees tested positive for Covid-19 but were not immediately contacted or taken to government hospitals. Dr Noor Hisham said the Health Ministry is currently dealing with a very high number of cases and logistics issues when it comes to ferrying patients to hospitals. “The delay is because of an increase in patients who are detected to be positive,” he explained in today’s briefing. “The capacity is still there to take in patients, but we are looking at the logistics to transfer them from their homes to hospitals. So there is some delay there and we advise those who are waiting to be patient and also isolate themselves from their family members, and also stay in contact with the PKD. Always be in contact with the PKD to get the latest information,” he added. Related Articles Covid-19: Pertama kali catat lebih 50,000 kes, saintis dakwa UK berdepan ancaman besar Covid-19: Will the Apple Wallet be the future for vaccine verified check-ins? Perak HRDF employee tests positive for Covid-19	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3307
__label__wiki	0.569302	0.569302	Lucky Foods That Could Make 2021 Your Best Year Yet (Well, We Hope) Around the world, people welcome a new year in different ways. From incomparable firework shows in Australia to water gun fights in the streets of Thailand, commemorating the new year comes in many ways, shapes, and forms. But one thing that all celebrations have in common? Food. Whether you're feasting on your favorite meal or munching on foods that'll bring you good luck in the new year, there are countless New Year's Eve food traditions that people follow worldwide in hopes of starting the next chapter of their lives on the right foot. Some traditions call for noodles, while others call for cakes, but regardless of how different the meals may be, in one way or another, most New Year's food traditions signify forward movement, prosperity, and health. After a year like 2020 that's had so many heartbreaks, disappointments, and hardships, primarily due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, welcoming a new year is bound to feel even sweeter than usual. With newly introduced and approved vaccines on the horizon, 2021 can feel like the breath of fresh air most of the world has been longing for since March. But for the time being, the coronavirus rages on, reaching new, record-breaking numbers of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths every day, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is advising against large gatherings this holiday season. So, while your annual New Year's Eve party may be out of the question, you and your quaranteam can still celebrate the new year in your own way, like throwing a taste-testing party complete with New Year's Eve food traditions from around the world. And though you may not believe that what you eat on Dec. 31 can play a part in the next year of your life, a little extra good fortune in 2021 can't hurt, and what better way to get that than by trying some of these lucky foods for the new year? 1) Grapes Before the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, people in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries around the world partake in a tradition called las doce uvas de la suerte, the 12 lucky grapes. The goal is to eat all 12 before midnight, if you want to have good luck in the new year, according to NPR. Grape Jamwiches Fresh Green Pea Soup with Grape Salsa Grape and Ginger Tart Hazelnut-Crusted Grapes Grilled Grapes 2) Kransekage According to CNN, Kransekage is a wreath cake tower that consists of multiple rings of cake piled on top of one another. The desserts are a part of Norway and Denmark's New Year's Eve traditions. The cake is made with marzipan, is often build around a bottle of wine or Aquavit in the center, and can be decorated for any special occasion. BUY MARZIPAN 3) Tteokguk The taste and ingredients of Tteokguk, a.k.a. Korea's New Year Soup, vary by region. But, generally, its base is made with a protein broth in a soy-sauce seasoned stock, then cylindrical rice cakes are added to the soup. According to the Culture Trip, Tteokguk is one of the many foods prepared as an offering to the family's ancestors on Seollal, the Korean New Year. It's said that someone cannot become a year older until they've had their bowl of tteokguk. 4) Galette des Rois One of France's new year traditions actually takes place a few days after Jan. 1. According to France 24, a Paris-based news network, the galette des rois, or kings cake, is traditionally eaten on the first Sunday of the year to celebrate the Epiphany in Christianity. The cake is often made with puff pastry and frangipane, an almond-flavored cream or paste but they can be filled with plenty of other sweets instead. Regardless of its filling, the galette des rois always hides the coveted, fève, or bean, a ceramic trinket or charm, and the person who finds it is graced with good luck. BUY FRANGIPANE 5) Tamales Tamales are a traditional Mexican dish made from corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and anything else you could possibly want, and then wrapped in a banana leaf or corn husk. Though tamales are eaten year-round and most special occasions, they take on a special meaning during the holiday season. CNN reported that families gather together to make tamales, assigning one aspect of the cooking process to each individual person. On New Year's tamales are served with menudo, a tripe and hominy soup. Tamale Pies Strawberry Tamales Pork Tamale Pie Corn and Black Bean Tamales No-Bake Tamale Pie 6) Oliebollen These Dutch treats are made from frying small balls of dough stuffed with raisins or currants in a pan of hot oil, hence the name Oliebollen, or oil balls, the Dutch Review, a Netherlands magazine, reported. Known in the United States as Dutch Doughnuts, oliebollen are topped with powdered sugar and can be made with other ingredients, like cinnamon or apple pieces. The dessert is often eaten on New Year's Eve and washed down with champagne. 7) Kuku Sabzi According to The Culture Trip, Kuku sabzi is type of frittata made with eggs and fresh herbs. The dish is traditionally served at Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which takes place during the spring equinox. Kuku sabzi promises of fertility and abundance in the upcoming year. Mini Herb Frittatas Florentine Frittata Herb and Feta Frittata Potato and Onion Frittata Veggie Frittata 8) Banitsa The Bulgarian banitsa is one of the many round cakes eaten around the world on New Year's Eve. The shape signifies that the old year has come to and end, and the new year gives you a chance to start fresh, according to Bulgaria National Radio. The banitsa is traditionally made with filo pastry, eggs, and fat, but recipes vary in different parts of the country. Regardless of where you go, however, you'll always find twigs or other sticks placed inside the dish, each one representing well wishes for your relatives. 9) Raw Egg While this New Year's Eve food tradition doesn't involve eating, it is something that people in El Salvador do each year. A minute before midnight, each family member cracks an egg into a glass of water, The Culture Trip reported, and let them sit overnight. The following morning, the shape of the egg gives you a clue about what your future holds. Pimiento, Cheese, and Ham Scramble Egg and Tater Bake Stewed Peppers and Tomatoes with Eggs Scrambled Egg Tacos Egg in a Hole with Broiled Tomatoes 10) Roscas de Reyes According to Latin media company we are mitú, the Roscas de Reyes, king's wreath, is a brioche-style cake, filled and topped with candied fruits. The cake is often paired with traditional Mexican hot chocolate, which highlights the indigenous origins of chocolate. Inside the Roscas, you'll find at least one, if not more, babies representing the newly born Jesus Christ. BUY CANDIED FRUIT 11) Long Noodles In China, Japan and other Asian countries, it's customary to eat long noodles, which signify longevity, on New Year's Day and during the Lunar New Year, according to Washington Post. Since the noodles are never to be broken or shortened during the cooking process, the typical preparation for "Long-Life Noodles" is a stir-fry. Tofu and Vegetable Stir-Fry with Noodles Beef, Vegetable and Noodle Stir-Fry Easy Turkey Stir-Fry Shrimp Stir-Fry Lo Mein with Stir-Fry Vegetables 12) Cornbread A favorite throughout the year, cornbread is especially venerated as a New Year's treat in the southern United States. Why? According to Southern Living, the cornbread color resembles that of gold. To ensure extra luck, some people add extra corn kernels, which symbolize golden nuggets. Buttermilk Cornbread Cheese and Pepper Cornbread Pecan-Apricot Cornbread Jalapeño and Cheddar Skillet Cornbread Cinnamon Buttermilk Cornbread with Cumin and Cardamom Honey Butter 13) Pomegranates Pomegranates represent good luck in Turkey for many reasons: Their red color, which represents the human heart, denotes life and fertility; their medicinal properties represent health; and their abundant, round seeds represent prosperity—all things everyone hopes for in any fresh start. But you don't necessarily eat them to receive the benefits. According to Slow Travel Guide, smashing pomegranates at midnight is said to bring prosperity and health. Pomegranate Panna Cotta Pomegranate-Thyme Spritz Pomegranate-Glazed Salmon Pomegranate Sorbet Pomegranate-Apple Cocktails 14) Round Fruit Though the number of pieces varies by region, eating any round fruit is a common New Year's tradition. According to Spruce Eats, people in the Philippines and Spain, eat 12 round fruits, as the shape resembles that of silver and gold coins. Honey-Poached Oranges Anne Hathaway's Stuffed Peaches Sautéed Plums Tomato & Watermelon Salad Roasted Apples 15) Greens From the coastal American South to Europe, people eat green leafy veggies — including kale, collards and cabbage — on New Year's Day because of their color and appearance, which resembles paper cash. Spruce Eats notes that the more greens you eat, the more prosperous you'll be (and the healthier, too!). Mustard Greens and Chard with Lemon Vinaigrette Creamy Garlic and Herb Spinach Skillet Stuffed Cabbage Kale Salad with Glazed Onions and Cheddar Mushroom and Arugula Salad Pizza 16) Pickled Herring In Germany, Poland and Scandinavia, it's believed that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will ensure a year of bounty — as herrings are in abundance throughout Western Europe. CNN also notes that their silvery color resembles that of coins, a good omen for future fortune. 17) Whole Fish According to Doris Lum, a Chinese cuisine expert, the Chinese word for "fish" sounds like the word for "abundance," one of the many reasons fish has become a go-to good luck food. Also, Rosemary Gong writes in Good Luck Life, her book on Chinese celebrations, that it's important for the fish be served with the head and tail intact to ensure a good year, from start to finish. Salt-Baked Fish Mediterranean Grilled Sea Bass Cod in Parchment with Orange-and-Leek Couscous Spicy Whole Fish Grilled in Banana Leaves 18) Lentils A popular New Year's meal in Italy is Cotechino con Lenticchie (green lentils with sausage) because of the legume's greenish color and coin-like appearance, according to NPR. Deeper into the myth: When cooked, lentils plump with water, symbolizing growing wealth. Lentils are also considered good luck in Hungary, where they're preferred in a soup. Lentil Hummus Lentil Broccoli Falafel Bowls With Jalapeño-Herb Tahini Steak with Lentil and Grapefruit Salad Curried Tomato Coconut Lentils with Gingery Yogurt Indian-Spiced Lentil Soup 19) Pork In some countries, including Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary and Austria, pigs symbolize progress. Some say it's because these animals never move backward, while others believe it's all in their feeding habits (they push their snouts forward along the ground when rooting for food). And the lucky food isn't limited to pork — foods shaped like pigs (think cutout cookies) count, too. Hawaiian Pork Pull-Apart Rolls Saucy Kansas City-Style Pork Chops Cuban Grilled Pork Pork and Peach Kebabs with Grilled Green Beans Sweet and Sour Pork and Vegetable Stir-Fry 20) Black-Eyed Peas Considered good luck due to their penny-like appearance and abundance, Spruce Eats notes that these peas, enjoyed in the southern United States, are traditionally served in a dish called Hoppin' John. On the day after New Year's Day, leftover "Hoppin' John" becomes "Skippin' Jenny," meant to demonstrate frugality and promote prosperity in the new year. Quick Hoppin' John Garlicky Black-Eyed Peas with Spinach and Bacon Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Ethiopian Spices Black-Eyed Pea Salad with Tomatoes and Peppers Louisiana Hoppin' John Want to make your holidays shine? You’re in luck! Subscribe to Woman's Day today and get 73% off your first 12 issues. And while you’re at it, sign up for our FREE newsletter for even more of the Woman's Day content you want. 1 January 2021, 9:14 am Whether you’re trying to bring your family good fortune in the new year or simply try new foods this holiday season, you’ll want to try these lucky foods. From Redbook	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3308
__label__cc	0.578642	0.421358	Policing, Politics and Public Policy Linking Public Policy to Policing on the Streets of Winnipeg Tag Archives: ISIS ISIS Fighters Returning to Canada Tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree I recall vividly driving down Kenaston Boulevard and seeing yellow ribbons tied around the trees welcoming our troops home from over seas. I remember thinking at the time that it was a great gesture to demonstrate support for Canadian foreign policy and a way to thank our soldiers who were the ‘tip of the spear’ of that foreign policy. Now we find ourselves in a situation where we have another wave of ‘soldiers’ returning home to Canada. There is a big difference though. These soldiers are ISIS foreign fighters, terrorists. These returnees are for the most part Canadian citizens who not only reject our Canadian values but took it several steps further and went overseas and joined the other side, actively fighting against the West in support of ISIS. Now that the battle is turning these Canadian ISIS fighters are returning to their safe haven in Canada. And what is the response by the Federal government in Canada? While other countries like the United States, Britain and France are making concerted efforts to ensure that citizens from their countries that left and went to Syria to join ISIS do not return, Canada is essentially rolling out the welcome mat. Ralph Goodale, speaking with his holier-than-thou attitude, tells us that Canada does not engage in “death squads” implying that Canada is in some way morally superior to other countries. The concern of course is that these ISIS foreign fighters, having been indoctrinated and trained by ISIS in Syria, and having ‘tasted blood’ so to speak will return to their countries of origin and continue to wage their war. Not to worry, says our defense minister. The foreign fighters returning to Canada will be monitored for any terrorist activities. Our Liberal Government seems to think that Canada can reintegrate jihadists. Our track record of rehabilitation and reintegration of ordinary criminals is dubious at best, and now we are going to apply that same philosophy to individuals who believe in a higher cause, who live by Sharia Law which in their minds supersedes Canadian Law. Good luck with that. Where does that leave Canada? The Canadian government claims that our vetting measures are adequate to root out potential immigrants and refugees with terrorist leanings. The fact that so many Canadian citizens became ISIS fighter effectively shoots down that myth. However, now that we have fighters returning from Syria who are self-declared terrorists who may have committed unthinkable atrocities we are simply going to allow them to return to Canada to live among us like nothing happened. Well, no, they are going to be carefully monitored by the RCMP and CSIS. That should giver us comfort right? Wrong, for the most part Islamic terrorists who committed attacks in Canada were known to police and CSIS prior to the attack but they had neither the resources or the inclination to deal with them effectively. We keep hearing that under Canadian law it was not possible to arrest and charge them. What does that tell us about Canadian law? If the law does not allow those charged to protect Canadian citizens to protect us the law needs to be changed. In a long-term sense what needs to happen is a change in government. The Liberals sunny ways are not helpful in dealing with the cloudy days we are experiencing. The election is still a long way off but there are things that Canadian citizens can do in the interim. Here are a few suggestions: 1 Make yourself familiar with the Terrorism and Violent Extremism Awareness Guide. 2 If you see anything that you feel may be terrorism-related contact the RCMP National Security Information Line or CSIS by phone at 613-993-9620 or by email. 3 Contact your MP directly. Depending on the nature of your contact you might wish to copy the Minister in charge of the portfolio your issue relates to and or the Prime Minister. The following links provide you with the mailing address, phone number and email address for all MP’s. phone and address email. On the bright side (not), remember that as ISIS fighters are streaming back into Canada you do not need to go out and tie any yellow ribbons to trees to welcome them back, the Canadian government is doing that on your behalf. 3 Comments Posted in Questions of Law and Policy, Uncategorized Tagged foreign fighters, immigration policy, ISIS, Ralph Goodale, Raqqa, refugees, syria, vetting Policing in Winnipeg is at a crossroads Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Response to ongoing thefts of liquor Winnipeg Free Press characterization of citizens as vigilantes grossly unfair Crime and Statistics Election Time Fraud and Waste Peel's Policing Principles Police in the News Police Oversight Questions of Law and Policy Shift Schedules	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3312
__label__cc	0.684312	0.315688	← Helping you root for a team this postseason Utley and Tejada, Perez and Alonso → Arrieta and Cole both losers on City Island Posted on October 7, 2015 by Mick Reinhard Both starting pitchers in tonight’s National League Wild Card game, Jake Arrieta and Gerrit Cole, came through Metro Bank Park on their way to tonight’s matchup. Both left City Island collared with their team’s loss, and in Cole’s case a badly bruised face. Let’s first look back at Arrieta’s lone start against the Senators on May 22, 2009 when he was still a top prospect in the Baltimore Orioles’ system. According to the story from PennLive’s Geoff Morrow, the game also marked the first time the new outfield seats and boardwalk were opened to the public. Arrieta threw well, but was outdueled by Harrisburg’s Luis Atilano in the Senators’ 3-2 win. The future Cubs’ ace scattered six hits over six innings while striking out nine but allowed three first-inning runs. Marvin Lowrance accounted for the big hit in the frame as the slugger connected on a first pitch two-run home run off Arrieta. In Cole’s case three years later on June 26,2012, the Altoona right-hander was hit around and literally hit in his one inning of work. Cole allowed three runs on five hits, none more damaging then a line drive Destin Hood lined right back at the pitcher and off his face. Bruised and battered, Cole finished the inning thanks in all likelihood to a huge rush of adrenaline but was replaced after that. Per PennLive’s Bob Flounders, the Pirates’ prospect was taken to a nearby hospital for a precautionary exam but somehow still made his next scheduled start without a hitch. Reliever Zech Zinicola, who years earlier pocketed the save in the Arrieta game, earned the win against Altoona and Cole. Later tonight, both Arrieta and Cole will make a case for their team to advance in this year’s postseason. This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Destin Hood, Gerrit Cole, Harrisburg Senators, Jake Arrieta. Bookmark the permalink.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3320
__label__wiki	0.520698	0.520698	Effect of curcumin on normal and tumor cells: Role of glutathione and bcl-2 Christine Syng-ai, A. Leela Kumari and Ashok Khar Christine Syng-ai A. Leela Kumari Ashok Khar DOI: Published September 2004 Curcumin induced cell death in different cell lines. A, effect of different concentrations of curcumin on MCF-7, MDAMB, and HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes (RH). B, effect of GSH (5 mmol/L) on curcumin-induced apoptosis. C–E, % apoptotic death induced by curcumin and effect of pretreatment with BSO (1 mmol/L) on curcumin-induced apoptotic death. Percent apoptosis at different time points was evaluated after propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry of 20,000 acquired events. Columns, representative of three experiments; bars, SD. , P ≤ 0.001, with respect to control. A, DNA fragmentation analysis of curcumin-treated human tumor cell lines and rat hepatocytes. Lanes 1 and 2, MCF-7 control and treated, respectively; lanes 3 and 4, MDAMB control and treated, respectively; lanes 5 and 6, HepG2 control and treated, respectively; lanes 7 and 8, normal rat hepatocytes control and treated, respectively. The cell lines were treated with curcumin (50 μmol/L) for 24 hours. B, Annexin V staining of different cell lines after treatment with curcumin for 6 hours. Percent positive cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. A, GSH levels in different tumor cell lines and normal hepatocytes at different time points after curcumin treatment. Basal GSH levels are at time 0 hour. B, time-dependent GST activity in MDAMB, MCF-7, and HepG2 cells and rat hepatocytes after treatment with curcumin. Basal GST activity is at time 0 hour. Columns, representative of three experiments; bars, SD. Curcumin induced generation of superoxide anions. Cells were treated with curcumin in the presence and absence of BSO. Superoxide levels were monitored after 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours as described in Materials and Methods. nm, nanomoles. Columns, representative of three experiments; bars, SD. Northern expression of bcl-2 after treatment of cells with curcumin at different time points. Lane 1, control; lanes 2–5, incubation time of 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours with curcumin (50 μmol/L), respectively. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) expression is the loading control. Expression of c-myc transcripts by different human tumor cell lines and rat hepatocytes (RH). Lane 1, control; lane 2, curcumin treatment for 8 hours; lane 3, pretreatment with GSH (5 mmol/L) for 2 hours; lane 4, pretreatment with BSO (1 mmol/L) for 2 hours. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) expression is the loading control. Effect of curcumin on primary and nontransformed cells % Apoptotic Cells Lymphocytes 1.0 1.6 Hepatocytes 0.5 1.0 Rat skin fibroblasts 0.4 2.6 Chinese hamster ovary 1.4 2.8 Vero 0.6 1.2 F111 0.2 0.8 NOTE: Cells (1 × 106) were incubated with curcumin (50 μmol/L) for 24 hours. Cells were washed and stained with FITC-conjugated Annexin V. % Positive cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. Effect of BSO on GSH levels in different cell lines after curcumin treatment GSH Content (nmol/106 Cells) +BSO % Reduction MCF-7 6.51 ± 0.60 3.26 ± 0.35 50 MDAMB 6.27 ± 0.15 2.77 ± 0.07* 55 HepG2 10.80 ± 0.56 8.20 ± 0.42† 21 Hepatocytes 9.20 ± 0.07 10.42 ± 0.85 — NOTE: GSH levels in different cell lines after treatment with BSO (1 mmol/L) for 2 hours. ↵* P ≤ 0.001, significant with respect to controls. ↵† P ≤ 0.01, significant with respect to controls. You are going to email the following Effect of curcumin on normal and tumor cells: Role of glutathione and bcl-2 Mol Cancer Ther September 1 2004 (3) (9) 1101-1108; Prediction of individual response to platinum/paclitaxel combination using novel marker genes in ovarian cancers Low doses of cisplatin or gemcitabine plus Photofrin/photodynamic therapy: Disjointed cell cycle phase-related activity accounts for synergistic outcome in metastatic non–small cell lung cancer cells (H1299) Identification of a small topoisomerase I–binding peptide that has synergistic antitumor activity with 9-aminocamptothecin Show more Article	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3321
__label__cc	0.6378	0.3622	Gaining momentum with Machine Intelligence and Data Science in Africa With so much excitement, hype, news and breakthroughs happening around the world with respect to Big Data Analytics, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science, it is not surprising to see significant interest in how these technologies – within the framework of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) – can also be utilized here in Africa to help address priorities and solve problems on the continent. As discussed in a recent World Economic Forum article, ICT is set to transform society here in Africa to deliver growth and prosperity based on greater inclusion, social cohesion and environmental sustainability. ICT will become social infrastructure that will not only connect people in a seamless and intuitive way, but also communities, systems, processes and intelligence. Apart from social inclusion, it could also expand access to knowledge, financial services and healthcare, create new business opportunities, and provide more consumer choice. Despite some major problems that need to be resolved, Africa is indeed poised for unprecedented, long-term economic growth driven by potent forces such as cities, stability, trade, people, education, smartphones, and farmland. Along with other organizations and companies that are making a difference here in Africa, the Machine Intelligence Institute of Africa (MIIA) has been established to build a strong and innovative community and accelerator for Machine Intelligence and Data Science research and applications to help transform Africa. Since my previous post (with some more background), MIIA has been on a significant growth curve with already 100+ members on the website, Google+, Meetup, and Facebook(excluding followers on LinkedIn and Twitter) that are starting to engage on multiple levels, in particular via our Slack sponsored real-time messaging environment for community chat and interaction and local Meetups (there is an upcoming Meetup in Cape Town on June 9, 2016). The website has also been updated with information resources on Africa as well as Machine Intelligence and Data Science. As application, research and technology related projects are a core focus for MIIA (the current projects dashboard shows a range of initial projects in all three categories), the MIIA community is encouraged to propose as many project ideas as possible and start engaging on them (with a process defined for projects submission, execution, and delivery). One of the MIIA members has for example won first prize at the LaunchLab startup competition last week for their spatial machine learning project NumberBoost (where they basically geocoded a business’ customer database, plot those customers on a map, and do feature extraction from spatial datasets and then have an interactive dashboard to filter spatial correlations, use the features for better churn prediction, recommendation engines, etc.). The following diagram illustrates the impact areas that the MIIA team envisages for projects with respect to addressing specific African problems and opportunities within certain industries, the high-level expected benefits, and the various types of partners that can help MIIA achieve this. Projects addressing African problems & opportunities and expected benefits In order to build an innovative community for Machine Intelligence and Data Science research and real-world applications in Africa, it is important for the MIIA community to partner with academic, research, and nonprofit organizations as well as business, startup incubators, and government organizations on MIIA projects, events and activities. MIIA is also registered with SANGONeT and TechSoup Global. The SANGOTeCH online technology donation and discount portal is a partnership between SANGONeT and TechSoup Global, a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that assists nonprofits globally to access technology to deepen the impact of their work. TechSoup Global’s mission is working toward a time when every nonprofit and NGO on the planet has the technology resources and knowledge they need to operate at their full potential. There are various types of sponsoring available to support MIIA’s mission and help grow the community and its activities: Donations, Grants, Project-specific funding, and Technology/tools/platforms related donations. We are gaining momentum with Machine Intelligence and Data Science in Africa. MIIA is looking forward to making a contribution with its partners to help unlock the tremendous potential that we have in Africa and its people for a better and more prosperous future for everyone. MIIA is on a mission: To build a strong and innovative Machine Intelligence and Data Science community in Africa to help transform Africa by networking together the critical mass of resources, promote and sponsor learning activities, and strengthen scientific and technological excellence, mentoring and collaboration on the continent. To accelerate and deliver breakthrough Machine Intelligence and Data Science research and practical applications to solve African problems, support entrepreneurial activity, and help drive long-term inclusive and sustainable scientific, technological and socio-economic development on the continent. To partner with governments, business, startup incubators, non profit organizations, universities, and research organizations from around the world to support and help mould the future of Machine Intelligence and Data Science research and applications in Africa. If any one of the following statements are relevant for you, then you are highly encouraged to join MIIA: you would like to participate or at least monitor MIIA’s progress with establishing an innovative community to help transform Africa and solve some of its problems via Machine Intelligence technologies you are keen to see Africa reach its potential and overcome obstacles by driving long-term inclusive and sustainable scientific, technological and socio-economic development on the continent you have an interest in Machine Intelligence technologies (e.g., AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Data Mining, etc.) and/or its applications you have industry and/or enterprise domain expertise, application ideas or needs, or some identified African problems that you would like to see addressed you would like to research and/or test the commercial viability of specific applications using Machine Intelligence technologies from an entrepreneurial or business perspective you would like to promote MIIA and/or help to get funding to grow MIIA and its activities (given that MIIA is a nonprofit organization) View the current MIIA Community registered on the website as well as others onSlack, the LinkedIn group, Meetup, Google+, FaceBook, and Twitter. See How to participate for more details on various ways to help MIIA execute its mission. Become an active member of the MIIA community Become a Community Activity Leader Promote MIIA and follow us on social channels and collaboration platforms Become a sponsor and/or help to get funding to grow MIIA and its activities Links to MIIA and its social channels & collaboration platforms: MIIA website MIIA community on LinkedIn MIIA community on Google+ MIIA community on Twitter MIIA community chat on Slack MIIA project collaboration on Trello MIIA meetings via Meetup Share your visualizations with MIIA on Plotly MIIA on Facebook	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3326
__label__wiki	0.692677	0.692677	CNN’s Chris Cuomo Says Trump’s Flaws are Impacting Coronavirus Response and ‘Making Us Sick’ Android Modified date: 2020-04-02 Google Keep gets always-visible docked sidebar on the web The last major addition to Keep’s online client was a dark mode last July. A tweak sees a new... Technology Modified date: 2020-04-28 Microsoft Windows 10 May 2020 Update and Review This major Microsoft Windows 10 may 2020 update includes a built-in Linux kernel. A new update for Cortana, streamlined features,... How to Modified date: 2020-09-22 Best Sites To Check Internet Speed In 2020 A super-quick internet connection is everybody's inward wish these days. Indeed, internet access is so significant in the present... All the movies streaming early amid coronavirus theater closures: ‘Onward,’ ‘Sonic the Hedgehog,’ ‘The Lovebirds’ The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered theaters across the nation, but there's a silver lining for movie fans. Films with abruptly... 10 new movies you can stream at home to stave off coronavirus boredom Cinephiles have been left scrambling in the wake of coronavirus, with movie theaters closed all over the country. Then... CNN host Chris Cuomo has said President Donald Trump’s “two defining flaws” are compromising the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak during his show Cuomo Prime Time. “In a world of doubt, here is a sure thing. If the federal government and the states don’t get it together better, you will see sickness and death in this country like you never have before,” he said. “And while there are a growing number of mayors and governors in need, there is one persistent problem at the top: Trump. His two defining flaws are on flagrant display. They are literally making us sick.” He criticized Trump’s uninformed comments during his Closing Argument segment and played a clip of the president appearing on Fox News to doubt a request for more ventilators from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. This week, the U.S. surpassed Italy and China to become the country with the most coronavirus cases in the world, with more than 101,240 cases. More than a third of the cases are in New York, overwhelming the state’s healthcare system. “First, his ignorance,” Cuomo said. “He didn’t feel. He doesn’t believe. What about this. When you go to war, do you give troops what they need before they come under fire? Yes, right? Same with health care workers. “They need the (personal protective equipment) now. They need the ventilators in their localities now so when they run out of either, there are more at the ready. Either he doesn’t get that, which speaks to a degree of ignorance that is more threatening than anything COVID-19 can do, or it is just his second defining flaw on display, his arrogance.” Medical personnel secure a sample from a person at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing station at a Kaiser Permanente facility on March 12, 2020 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Image Cuomo also showed Trump’s response during the Friday press briefing, where he asked governors to be more appreciative and warned leaders of hard-hit states not to cross him. “Our money, our government, our power. We gave it to you. We don’t serve you. You serve us. We have the most cases in the world, why? Because we have a big population, there is lots of density in place, and we have major foreign travel hubs,” Cuomo said. “But also because we’ve done the least to stop the spread. And in large part, that’s on Trump. He slept on this. He lied about it. And now he is not doing enough.” The host also attacked Trump’s comments about reopening the US by Easter. “That’s not aspirational. It’s asinine. No expert anywhere says anything like it. Reassess the life limitations we’re under now,” Cuomo said. “Repeating the words of great leaders does not make you one. Doing great things when it matters, that does. And that time is now. We are asking everyone to act now. Act for others. Take this seriously. He added: “How can we be surprised that so many, especially in red states seem slow to the cause when the man they look to for guidance has lied about it, slow-walked it, exaggerated his success, and consistently increased the risk to all of us.” Adam Schiff Denounces Trump’s Firing of Inspector General: ‘Gutting the Independence of the Intelligence Community’ Representative Adam Schiff condemned Donald Trump's decision to fire the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community Michael Atkinson, warning that the president was "gutting... Coronavirus Test Approved by FDA Can Issue Positive Results in 5 Minutes, Negative Results in 13 Minutes Abbott Laboratories has won approval for a coronavirus test that can give positive results in just five minutes. The company announced on Friday that the... Guard at Cowboy Museum Becomes Internet Sensation The new Doom Eternal skin makes the Archvile into a barista Top 3 New PS5 Games Revealed – Watch Videos With Israel Election Results Too Close to Call, Netanyahu Appears in...	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3328
__label__cc	0.606757	0.393243	Looking Back: 10 Years of Minimates (part 3) Category: Specials / Tag: lookingback / Add Comment We’ve briefly touched on the history in Part 1 but this time we’ll take a closer look at each line and I’ll pick my “best of” each group. I know I keep saying it but it’s hard to believe a decade has gone by since minimates started. So much has happened in those 10 years. Minimates Central was Danny’s (aka Divebomb) brain-child; he along with several other classic contributors have done a vast amount of reviews this past decade. Since Danny’s retirement (I picture him sitting on a tropical beach somewhere with red dress Sixes all around) Luke has taken the reins and thankfully kept me around to continue my nonsensical minimate review babble. But we’re not the only review site out there. With the popularity of the minimate line you can imagine there are tons of people eager to sing the praises/criticisms of new releases. OAFE, Michael Crawford’s Reviews, Millionaire Playboy and the Ghostbusters Minimate Archive have some great minimate reviews. Be sure to also check the Review subforum for even more cool reviews. Also longtime minimate addict MiniJeff has an incredible blog worth checking out, Portrait of Addiction; it’s part reviews / part great photos / and all around fun for everyone. Jeff recently interviewed Matt of Iron-Cow Productions whose own site has a wealth of his minimate designs created for Art Asylum. And if you’re feeling adventurous check out Ivan’s Minimate Labs; I could try to explain what it is but honestly there is no explaining what goes on in Ivan’s mind. Each year on the Minimate Multiverse forum we have an awards ceremony celebrating the figures released the previous year. I’m sure this year’s show will be a blast as always so be sure to get your vote in. You may also want to check the shows from previous years: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 & 2006. Before I get started on each of the lines, a big “Hail Ivan” goes out to the Minimate Database because there’s going to be some heavy linkage here. And honestly I don’t have every minimate ever made in my own personal collection so MMDB is my next best option; although there is rumor of a bunker under a lake somewhere in the UK that has such a treasure trove of minimates but I’ll save that trek for another day. So the early days of minimates were filled with 3 inch figures from varying lines of pop-culture. There were figures from recent Oscar winning movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon“, one figure from the TV series “Dark Angel” (the show was cancelled before the full line got started), also Rock characters with a full line of KISS members, even Bruce Lee and Mr. T figures, and of course a true staple in geek culture: Star Trek. There was almost a line of Tony Hawk minimates but they never made it to market. Nowadays the 3 inch body seems chunky but it was a good start 10 years ago. There are a few other differences too, the joints for the elbows and knees are centered and the hands are a C shape but with shorter side for the thumbs. Another nice little gimmick for the early sets were the included puzzle pieces. It was definitely an early sign that even though the characters are from different lines the minimate brand all fits together. Overall the early minimates were fairly simple in design but there were some good stand-outs. The Crouching Tiger figures had some neat accessories but my favorite figure is Lo. Bright colored outfit, pointed shoes, that pre-shrunk vest (seriously what is that thing) and dude comes with a hawk .. A HAWK (first line of minimates and we already have a pet accessory). It’s hard to pick a favorite of Trek; all the main characters match well to the actors so I’m going to have to go with Mugatu for the impressive sculpted pieces. Rock/KISS is another hard call; they’re all scary, strange and great matches to the people themselves. When you have skulls, chains, fangs, claws, cups, wings and platform boots you just have to go with the one you’d be most scared of to meet in a dark alley. For me that would be Rob Zombie’s Techno Zombie; the claws, pointed shoulder pads and mess of hair make him one frightening minimate. For Bruce Lee the Hong Kong Dragon has cool shades and shirt but the simple yellow jumpsuit of Ascension of the Dragon can’t be beat. So what’s the longest running toy line in the world today? That would be Marvel Minimates!! Not only did the Marvel line help to change minimates to the now standard 2 inch base size but the longevity of the line without a doubt has helped to make so many other lines possible over the years. I have a lot of favorites for this line. But like saving your favorite desert for last, I’m going to save my “best of” picks for the Marvel line for later. Meanwhile we’ll continue here with another question: what minimate line was released first with the LEGO style (C3) holes in the bottom of their feet? Nope it’s wasn’t C3, it was actually the Lord of the Rings minimates. With the DC C3 sets on the horizon a change to the minimate body was needed so that these figures could fit into the building block world. The basic minimate foot was shorted and a hole was added to the bottom so that the feet would fit on and between a standard LEGO pegs. Not only could you now use minimates with block sets but you could create displays for your figures and actually keep them standing upright (no more tacky putty needed). Eventually these little peg holes would come to be used for flight, flame, teleportation, cloud, flip, asteroid and more bases. The LotR sets came with clear rectangle block with four pegs, it wasn’t perfect or as stable as the disc bases we see today but it was a good start. The LotR line also used a range of sizes from 2 inch up to the old 3 inch. We also saw the first translucent minimates with Twilight Frodo (the blue version was even cooler). While the orcs and Uruk-hai were all very impressive the best had to be Sauron. Even by today’s standards he still rules as one of the best minimates of all. Ahh, C3 how I loved and loathed you. You brought me my favorite super hero in minimate form: Batman. You taunt me with a Batcave that refuses to stay together. And then you leave me wanting more from a line that will not be resurrected (or will it???). C3 was definitely hit and miss and I love me some Batman but we sorely needed a wider variety of DC characters. Overall most of the sets were good, at the time the Batcopter and Large Batmobile really stood out. The Batcave could have been excellent if it weren’t for the engineering failures. And the whole miniflyer phase just emphasized how the blocks were a way to get around the licensing to be able to create DC minimates. But the best set is the Batwing, it’s the only one that I can honestly say I haven’t seen LEGO create a better one. As far as the figures, this may surprise you, but my favorite is the animated version of the Joker (not a Batman figure, gasp!!!). He just matches the version from the show so perfectly you can almost hear Mark Hamill laughing through that smile. It wasn’t until a couple years later that DC minimates came back sans block sets (besides the lone GL tease in between). Now these were some loved figures. DCD had listened about needing some character variety but unfortunately they took it to far to soon (Ambush Bug & Ma Hunkel?? Really???) . They stayed with the base 2 inch body but had a couple of the larger characters done in 2 1/2 inch size. Looking back now it would have been better if they could have used some of the torso risers and other techniques the Marvel line uses now for added height. But still some great figures were created. My favorite Batman minimate is the modern version (batcuffs!!) even though I don’t like the full slip on head covers, just a well sculpted cowl would have been better; I’ll let this one slide though. Battle Damaged Superman and regular Wonder Woman round out the best of the big three. Cheetah is the best female of the bunch with Starfire a close second. Brainiac 13 has my vote for most incredible torso cover but my favorite of the line is Lex Luthor in his battle armor. This is what a great minimate should be, tons of details, outstanding sculpted pieces with details continued underneath and a perfect relevant accessory (well it would be perfect if he could hold it, but it’s close enough). I’m going to bounce around to some of the TV and movie lines now but any of the ones I skipped I’ll return to next time. Next we have some hot TV series reboots of the time. First came two Speed Racer sets which were supposed to lead to more vehicle sets and some two and four packs. Unfortunately the line fizzled before it could get started. However the good thing that came from these mini vehicles was it became a starting point from which we would later get star fighters, pirate ships, Warthogs and some other famous cars. So another reboot that lasted a bit longer was Battlestar Galactica. What was really nice about this series was we got a mix of old and new characters from the show. Also instead of the regular mix of two packs there were single army builder packs, box sets and vehicle sets too. The little Viper spaceship is still a fun vehicle and something that can be used across minimate lines as a regular spaceship. As far as the figures go, we owe a special thanks to Muffit just for being created! This broke the mold that minimates had to be a two legged human body base. Overall the best figures of this BSG line had to be the modern Cylons and of course my favorite the Cylon Elf. What’s Christmas without a Cylon Elf on the Shelf? So it’s late 2007 and we’ve gotten to a time in minimate history where the 2 inch base body has firmly taken hold, what better line for a rebirth than Star Trek? Star Trek went for five waves and one box set, even venturing into some of the other Trek TV series with some of the characters. Most of the crew would have benefited from the newer buccaneer boots rather than those square looking things they used; so honestly I have trouble picking any of them as the best. Had “The Trouble with Tribbles” Kirk actually came with tribbles in this new set, his snarky self may have gotten my vote. But my best vote goes to the Borg Drone; two figures in one is always a good bonus. Another hot TV series at the time was Fox’s 24 and there were two box sets and a couple 2-packs released. Not only was Jack Bauer in every episode of the show, he was in every minimate set. My biggest gripe with this series was Kim Bauer really should have come with a cougar accessory. But my best pick is the End of Day 2 Nina Myers, she has a simple looking outfit but very cool chain with cuffs accessory (Civil War Capt America will thank her for that a year later). Also that EoD2 pack has an awesome minimate size gurney. Minimates did fairly well with popular TV shows and it was really exciting to see them branch out into several cult and classic movies. The character likenesses of the Rocky minimates were very impressive and they had some great accessories too: boxing gloves, slabs of meat, and even the championship belt. My favorite of the bunch is super cool pimpin Tiger Jacket Rocky. But honestly I’m sad we never got the third box set released with Thunderlips (Hulk Hogan), Clubber Lang (Mr T) and USA shorts Rocky; that would have been an incredible set! There were several one shot box sets/exclusives for Platoon, The Silence of the Lambs and Desperately Seeking Susan. Again some wonder character likenesses and great new accessories. The rounded heads of the Lambs set creeps me out a bit otherwise Hannibal the Cannibal would have gotten top honors. So my favorite goes to Susan; she’s full on rocking the 80’s spirit. And speaking of spirit, in 2009 the comic Spirit was brought to life with a very forgettable movie adaption. A couple movie related sets got made that had several minimate lethal ladies any my best of the bunch, The Octopus (the details on his coat is amazing). Perhaps some of the best minimate movie box sets are the Western Trilogy sets. Even if you’re not into westerns you still have to be impressed by these figures. Lots of details, great looking weapons, cowboy boot feet and ponchos. It’s hard to pick one but if I could only have one figure from all these sets I’d go with Showdown Monco; that poncho is just too awesome. So this is just the first bunch of “best of”, stay tuned for next time and we’ll go over more movie lines, some of the game lines and much much more. by Lurch77	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3329
__label__wiki	0.699917	0.699917	Labor & Employment Law Daily Conviction of union president who conspired to force nonunion contractors to hire union members upheld Conviction of union president who conspired to force nonunion contractors to hire union members upheld By Ronald Miller, J.D. The conviction of a local union president for racketeering conspiracy in connection with efforts to force non-union contractors to hire union members was affirmed by the Second Circuit. The appeals court rejected the union president’s challenge to the sufficiency of two predicate acts under the New York Penal Law with regard to instilling fear in the victims that the union would cause personal injury and property damage in connection with two construction projects. The union president sought to extort property that union members could clearly “obtain.” Wages and benefits are capable of passing from the construction contractors to union members, therefore meeting the requirement, for purposes of conviction, that the targeted property was transferable. However, because the government presented insufficient evidence to support a Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, the conviction of the union president on that charge was reversed (United States v. Kirsch, September12, 2018, Droney, C.). Union members instructed to “turn or burn.” In 2016, a union local president was convicted of Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy and racketeering conspiracy based on predicate acts of New York Penal Law extortion violations. At trial, the government presented evidence that the union president instructed members to “turn or burn” contractors who did not employ them, meaning that non-union contractors would have to hire union members or the union would obstruct their work. Union members picketed and blocked construction sites, threatened construction managers, tampered with equipment, and destroyed property. Although the union president was charged with multiple counts of unlawful conduct with respect to numerous contractors, he was convicted only of racketeering conspiracy for his role in attempting to extort two contractors (OSC and EarthTech), and Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy with respect to conduct directed at a third contractor (Amstar). With respect to OSC and EarthTech, they were awarded contracts to perform certain work. When they refused to hire union employees, company officials were threatened, union pickets blocked entrances to work sites, and property was damaged. As to Amstar, when a company official refused to hire a union worker as a compressor operator, the next day workers discovered that the diesel fuel line in the compressor had been cut, causing a fuel spill, resulting in cleanup and repair costs. Racketeering conspiracy. With respect to the racketeering conviction only two predicate acts based on New York Penal Law extortion violations remained to support a racketeering violation under RICO. The union president argued that an Enmons like exception exists with respect to New York Penal Law and that he could not be convicted of extortion based on those predicate acts because his conduct was committed in pursuit of a lawful union objective. The Second Circuit concluded that no Enmons like exception applies to the extortion provisions of the New York Penal Law. In U.S. v. Enmons, the Supreme Court concluded that the Hobbs Act applied only to threats and violence used to obtain an objective that was itself unlawful, thus limiting the scope of Hobbs Act extortion liability in labor disputes. The question then is whether the Enmon’s interpretation of the Hobbs Act informs the appeals court’s reading of the New York extortion statute, and whether a similar exception exists under that statute. The current New York Penal Law eliminated the word “wrongful” but also provides a separate exception for certain union activities. Labor exemption. The elimination of “wrongful” renders the Supreme Court’s statutory interpretation of analysis in Enmons irrelevant in interpreting the current New York extortion statute. Moreover, the New York statute does not indicate an intent to exempt the use of threats of force by members of a labor union to achieve a legitimate union objective from the prohibitions of the statute. Turning to New York’s revised definition of extortion and its exemption of certain union activities, the appeals court observed that the plain language of the New York extortion statute prohibits threats of violence, even in labor disputes. In addition, unlike the Hobbs Act, the protected activity is clearly defined and cannot be read to encompass threats to cause personal injury or damage property. Here, the government presented sufficient evidence to the jury that the union president “instilled in the victims a fear” that the union would cause personal injury and property damage in connection with the two construction projects. Accordingly, the union president’s challenge to the sufficiency of the predicate acts under the New York Penal Law failed. Transferable property. Relying on the Supreme Court’s decision in Sekhar v. United States, the union president still argued that the property he was convicted of extorting was not transferable, so that the district court should have dismissed both counts. Thus, the appeals court addressed whether the reasoning of Sekhar required that it vacate the conviction for racketeering conspiracy based on New York Penal Law extortion predicate acts. Here, the appeals court concluded that Sekhar applies to the “generic” definition of extortion, but that the transferability of property requirement of Sekhar was satisfied with respect to the state law predicate acts. The appeals court pointed out that the “generic” definition of extortion applicable to RICO state law extortion predicate acts and the Hobbs Act definition of extortion are nearly identical. In order for a state extortion offense to serve as a RICO predicate act, the property must be “transferable—that is capable of passing from one person to another.” Here, the appeals court concluded that the property of the contractors consisting of wages and benefits to be paid pursuant to labor contracts with the union at construction projects—was transferable. Accordingly, the union president’s conviction met the requirement that the targeted property was transferable. Extortion conspiracy. However, the appeals court concluded that because the government presented insufficient evidence to support a Hobbs Act extortion conspiracy, the conviction of the union president on that charge was reversed. According to the union president, the government failed to establish that he agreed with others to extort wages for “unwanted, unnecessary, and superfluous labor.” Specifically, he contended that the government failed to prove his involvement in the Amstar incident. In order for the Amstar incident to support the union president’s conviction, the government had to present evidence that he participated in, “expressly authorized,” or “subsequently ratified” attempts to extort wages for “unwanted, unnecessary, and superfluous labor.” In this instance, the appeals court agreed with the union president that the government’s evidence was not sufficient to connect him to the incident to support a Hobbs Act conspiracy conviction. Similarly, the appeals court concluded that the union president’s conduct with respect to OSC and EarthTech did not constitute evidence of attempts to extort wages for “unwanted, unnecessary, and superfluous labor.” The record established that union members would have likely qualified for the work on the EarthTech and OSC projects. Accordingly, it concluded that the government presented insufficient evidence of the union president’s involvement in a conspiracy to extort wages for “unwanted, unnecessary, and superfluous labor” to support a conviction. Therefore a judgment of acquittal must be entered. Interested in submitting an article? Submit your information to us today! Labor & Employment Law Daily: Breaking legal news at your fingertips Sign up today for your free trial to this daily reporting service created by attorneys, for attorneys. Stay up to date on labor and employment legal matters with same-day coverage of breaking news, court decisions, legislation, and regulatory activity with easy access through email or mobile app. Meet the experts behind the article Ronald Miller Mental health workers’ claims of unchecked harassment and sexual violence by prisoners will go to trial Vendor associates providing merchandising services misclassified as independent contractors under Massachusetts law Ronald Miller January 15, 2021 Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) <search-hl>&</search-hl> Department of Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), July 2020 Combo Email Address This field is required Please Type Valid Email Address Area of Expertise --Please select-- Antitrust and Trade Regulation Banking and Finance Labor and Employment Health Care Intellectual Property Products Liability and Safety Securities, Corporate Governance and Commodity Futures This field is required Article Idea for Consideration We appologize Your request has been forwarded to a Wolters Kluwer representative who will contact you shortly!	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3334
__label__cc	0.715024	0.284976	Teen Culture Update: February 2020 By: Leah Murphy It feels like we just celebrated the launch of a new decade, and just like that, fish fries are back in full effect and you’re doing your best to keep not just your New Year’s resolutions but also your... By: Jay Martin Every few months, Merriam-Webster promotes a fresh batch of words and phrases to the dictionary. In April 2019 alone, more than 640 new words were added to our ever-growing collection of English words. Ranging from “buzzy” to “bioabsorbable,” these... Teen Culture Update: Celebrity Drama, Old Town Road, and Learning to be Pro-Life It’s been a wild spring for teens and summer has made its grand entrance. As I write this blog, the highly anticipated Aladdin remake has already had a successful first weekend (one of a few major summer blockbusters), Miley... Teen Culture Update: December 2018 Welcome to the first of the monthly Teen Culture Updates which have been curated by Life Teen’s resident experts and streamlined by the Coordinator of Digital Evangelization and Outreach, Leah Murphy. Please note as you proceed to links that... Disponible en Español By: Josh Rogers “I been smokin’ since I was eleven/ I been poppin’ pills since I was seven/ Told my pastor I don’t do confessions/ ‘cause I pop a lot of molly for my breakfast” Fun fact, this is a factual lyric... Who Do Your Teens Follow? By: Beth Davis What does it mean to follow someone on social media? In social media, a follow represents a user who chooses to see all of another user’s posts in their content feed. Getting followers is a primary objective for online... #MeToo and Time’s Up and Oprah, Oh My! By: Amanda Grubbs “For too long, women have not been heard or believed if they dare speak the truth to the power of those men. But their time is up. Their time is up.” (Oprah Winfrey) The 2018 Golden Globes Awards had... “I’m sorry, but the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now … Why? Oh, ‘cause she’s dead.” In case you missed it, Taylor Swift released a new single titled “Look What You Made Me Do.” This song...	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3336
__label__wiki	0.628965	0.628965	ODB 084: Rainbow Reservoir Our most recent recruit Ayfer Simms is once again imbued by her literature rich background, reviewing in her poetically lyrical way the new EP from Oxford multi-instrumenatlist and vocalist Angela Space, aka Rainbow Reservoir. Rainbow Reservoir ‘400 Imperfect Rhymes’ 14th July 2014 There’s a muffle sound accompanying the big white balloon wobbling down the beach and the “creepy” village on the pursuit of “no6”. Angela Space and her troubadour friends have occupied the inside of Rover, playing an upbeat, triumphant, theatrical, fairy-circus like music, driving the android bubble like machine insane from the inside, colonizing its organs until it breaks open and leaks them into the free World. Angela, the coo-coo hearted girl hums as energetically as possible in a surreal world where all seems possible: There’s Cocteau’s cat perched on one of the instruments, trembling to the beat of the rich sound of the orchestra, there’s a Victorian burlesque play on a scene without spectators rehearsing in paradise, a voice echoing all over the clouds of a wide ludicrous sky: Dragon’s flying, exotic plants, a clown, a beast slayer, a crab about to trespass…all in good spirit. The dash of sarcasm present in the lyrics do nothing to temper the catchy tempo, we don’t take the sadness too seriously even when she sings an eternal lullaby to the crab, “I am sorry, you’re going to die, life can be sad sometimes”. This track, the “quieter” one of the 5 track LP is the World hidden in the grass of David Lynch’s “Blue Velvet”, the “invisible” slimy things under our feet, we see the idiosyncratic “femme” singing with a voice “a la Nico”, on an empty scene with thick red curtains. We see the light brightening her face with the sense that once the darkness falls she will slip away as if she was Dale Cooper’s vision: a ghost from another dimension, here to bring a precious message. We can’t stop our feet from tapping on the ground, hoping it will release more from the big reservoir of magical colors, tales and musical clamor. Throughout the tracks, lyrics are whimsical, there’s a sweet revenge on the childhood monsters and innocence of the heart discovering love, weaved with themes of medieval legends and heroes. Angela wants to break free, she is a child women who wants to remain a child with the skills of a grown-up and an adult with those of a child, thus creating an original space for her and band to feverishly play in peace: The monster’s under the bed have no chance at all, the nights are safer for people who refuse to grow old.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3340
__label__cc	0.635535	0.364465	Tag: Census Blogging Prompts, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Sympathy Saturday Sympathy Saturday – Manhattan (the Kansas One) May 17, 2014 September 14, 2018 agnette My mom and I attended the National Genealogical Society‘s annual conference last week. I’d never been before – what a great experience! I’m now determined to bring some semblance of organization to not only my genealogy files and records, but also to my genealogical searches. So now my genealogy tasks are threefold: Continue the never-ending census project (tracing all families in the “easy” censuses, from 1850-1940) Share my various findings through this blog Select one mystery or problem, and focus on trying to solve that in a structured and organized way First mystery? Trying to trace the elusive Montgomery family’s origins in this country (or at least back another generation from William Montgomery, my 3G-grandfather, born 1802). With this aim in mind I’ve been focusing more on those Montgomery connections, so Joseph (William’s son and my 3G-uncle) seems a logical topic for today’s post. Joseph S. Montgomery was born in August 1847 in Ohio, son of William and Mary Ann (Extell) Montgomery. He was the eighth of thirteen children and on New Year’s Eve in 1874, he married Sarah Ann Achor. Joseph, Sarah, and their first child, Viola, then five years old, appear in the 1880 census, enumerated in Clarke, Clinton County, Ohio. By 1900 the family had moved to Liberty Township, Geary County, Kansas. Viola is no longer in the household, but two new children are listed – J.W., a son born in February 1882 in Ohio; and Vellah, a daughter born in August 1886 in Kansas. In 1910 and 1920, J.W. is not with the family, but Joseph, Sarah, and Vellah continue to live in the same household. Sarah died in 1923; by 1940 Vellah, unmarried, is listed as head of the household in Lawrence, with Joseph enumerated as her 92-year-old father. He would live six more years, dying in 1946 at nearly 99 years of age. Vellah lived to be 87, dying in April 1974. Joseph, Sarah, and Vellah are all buried together in Sunset Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas. Tagged Census, Genealogy, Kansas, National Genealogical Society, Ohio2 Comments Blogging Prompts, Census Sunday, Hoffmann, Hoffmann Line, Hunkler, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Research, Roberg, Slagel, Swing, Walker, Wilson Census Sunday – 1900: Where Was I? July 14, 2013 September 14, 2018 agnette Carl Ozro with Siblings Genealogy puts one in direct connection with times and places long gone. It can be interesting to look back and imagine oneself in a generation other than the current one. Where would I have been in, say, 1900? None of my grandparents were alive yet in 1900; Grandpa Montgomery would be born the following year. His parents, Charles William and Laura Maud (Walker) Montgomery, were living in Holdrege, Nebraska (Grandpa’s birthplace) that year, with their other six children: Myrtle, Mamie, Bessie, Alta, Walter, and John (Ward). Charles was working as a butcher and was 39 years old; Laura, 37. The children were 16, 13, 11, 10, 2, and 7 months old. Charles and Laura had been married for 17 years. Carl Wilson, father of Grandma Montgomery, turned 15 in 1900. In that year’s census he appears in Lincoln, Nebraska, a boarder and farm laborer in the home of Jonas and Maggie Misler (maybe…the handwriting is difficult to decipher). It would be seven years before Carl would marry Sophie Roberg. Three years his senior, Sophie was also “working out” in 1900. She can be found in Shell Creek, Nebraska, a housekeeper in the household of Mons Knudson, a 43-year-old widower with six children between the ages of fourteen and two. His mother, 76 years old, lived in the household as well. Paul Hoffmann, Grandpa Hoffmann’s father, was 22 years old in 1900, the eldest child still living at home on the farm in Fountain Creek, Illinois; he would marry two years later. Paul and his parents, Jacob (age 63) and Christine (age 50), are listed as having emigrated to America in 1883. Christine had given birth to 7 children, of whom 6 were still living. In addition to Paul, those still at home were Andrew, 16; Maggie, 11; Sammie, 8; and Louisa, 6. Paul and Andrew have “farm laborer” listed as their occupation; the other children were attending school. Paul’s future wife, Emma Slagel, was 20 years old and living at home with her parents in Indian Grove Township, Livingston County, Illinois. Samuel Slagel, then 50, and Mary, 45, had been married for 24 years. Mary had given birth to 4 children, three still living (and all at home): Emma, along with brothers Daniel (22) and Joseph (18). Also living with them was Mary’s niece, Lena Demler, twelve years old. In 1900, Grandma Hoffmann’s father was still using the old German spelling of his name. He appears as “Albert C Schwing,” in Ash Grove, Iroquois County, Illinois. Another farming family, his parents were Albert, Sr., age 40, and “Kathrine,” age 38. They had been married for 16 years, and Catherine had given birth to 10 children, all still living, and all still at home: Martha, 15; Charles, 14; Lena, 12; Albert C., 11; Soloma, 9; Joseph, 7; Katey, 6; Anna, 3; Harry, 2; and Paul, 3 months. A further three children would eventually be born to the family. The final and youngest of these ancestors, Lena Hunkler, was seven years old and living in Washington, Illinois. Her parents, George J. (age 37) and Mary (age 40), had been married for 13 years, and George is listed as a farmer. All five children are at home: Bertha is 13 and listed as Berty (?). Matilda is 11; John G. is 8; “Lenie,” 7; and Hulda, 4. All but Hulda had attended school in the previous year. Census Sunday – Jacob Hoffmann in Illinois Wedding Wednesday – Samuel and Lena Nussbaum Tagged 1900, 1900 census, Ash Grove, Carl Wilson, Census, Demler, Fairbury, Fairbury Illinois, farm laborer, farmer, generation, Holdrege, housekeeper, Illinois, Nebraska, Paul Hoffmann, Shell Creek, working out2 Comments Blogging Prompts, Fairbury, Hoffmann, Hoffmann Line, Swing, Wedding Wednesday June 19, 2013 September 14, 2018 agnette Today’s post comes courtesy of Cousin Millie, who sent me this photo. I can’t be sure this is a wedding photo, but I am grateful not only for the picture itself but also for the inscription written on the back: Samuel and Lena Nussbaum. If not for that, this photo might have ended up in “Friday’s Faces from the Past” instead. Lena (or Magdalene) Swing was born July 26, 1887 in Fairbury, Illinois. Her younger brother was my great-grandfather, Albert Carl Swing. They were two of 13 children born to Albert Carl and Catherine Marie (Hoffmann) Swing. The family appears in the 1900 census in Ash Grove, Illinois, then in 1910 in Pulaski County, Indiana. On May 2, 1911, Lena married Samuel Nussbaum in Winamac, Indiana. Samuel had been born, also in Fairbury, Illinois, on October 22, 1882. Samuel and Lena were the parents of five children, all born in Fairbury: Morris, born June 28, 1913; Richard S., born August 23, 1916; Wilma, born May 24, 1919; Marjorie, born April 20, 1923; and Nelson, born May 20, 1924. My mom reminds me that I once met Marjorie when we, along with my Grandma (Marjorie’s first cousin), visited Illinois in 1984. Samuel and Lena’s family was enumerated in Forrest, Illinois in the 1930 census. Samuel died thirty years later, on August 15, 1961, but Lena lived until August 1983 when she died at age 96. Tagged Ash Grove, Census, Fairbury Illinois, Illinois, Winamac3 Comments Blogging Prompts, Census Sunday, Hoffmann, Hoffmann Line, Schmidt June 2, 2013 September 14, 2018 agnette Jacob Hoffmann, 1900 Census Our Hoffmann emigrant ancestor, Jacob, appears in only two U.S. census records, having come to this country in 1883 and died in 1914. In 1900 Jacob appears in Fountain Creek Township, Iroquois County, Illinois. He had lived in this location for nine years, having purchased 160 acres 1/4 mile east and 1/4 mile north of Fountain Creek proper. This original farmhouse still stands; Jacob’s two youngest children, Samuel J. (born September 9, 1891) and Lucy (born July 1893) were born here. June 2, 1900 Fountain Creek Twp., Livingston, Illinois 23 23 Hoffman Jacob Head W M Sept 1836 63 M 25 France France France 1883 17 Farmer —Christine Wife W F Mar 1850 50 M 25 7 6 France France France 1883 17 —Paul Son W M May 1878 22 S France France France 1883 17 No Farm Laborer —Andrew son W M May 1884 16 S Illinois France France Farm Laborer —Maggie Daughter W F Sept 1888 11 S Illinois France France at School —Sammie Son W M Sept 1891 6 S Illinois France France at School —Louisa Daughter W F July 1893 6 S Illinois France France at School This census lists Lucy as “Louisa,” though Louise was in fact an older daughter who died in 1884. Louise accounts for the fact that Jacob’s wife Christine is listed as having given birth to seven children, six of whom are still living. His first wife, Annette, had given birth to a further ten. On September 16, 1908, Christine Schmidt Hoffmann herself died: Mrs. Jacob Huffman of near East Lynn, died Wednesday night after a lingering illness of several months. She will be buried this afternoon at the Amish cemetery. Jacob then rented the Fountain Creek farm to his son Andy. Two years later, the 1910 census finds the widowed Jacob living with Lucy on 4th Street in Fairbury, Illinois: April 21 1910 Fairbury City, Indian Grove Twp., Livingston, Illinois 18 18 Hoffman Jacob Head M W 74 Wd Ger German Ger German Ger German 1880 na English own income —Lucy Daughter F W 16 S Illinois Ger German Ger German English none Some four years later, on January 20, 1914, Jacob died and was buried in Graceland Cemetery in Fairbury. It would be interesting to know how many of Fairbury’s current residents can claim a connection with Jacob. Wednesday’s Child – Little Louise Hoffmann Tombstone Tuesday – Jacob Hoffmann Tagged Alsace-Lorraine, Census, East Lynn Illinois, Fairbury, Fairbury Illinois, Fountain Creek, France, Graceland Cemetery, homestead, Illinois, Livingston County Illinois2 Comments Blogging Prompts, Census Sunday, Hoffmann, Hoffmann Line, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Research, Swing, Wilson Census Sunday – Finding Grandpa and Grandma When the 1940 census was made available to the public last year, naturally I began scouring its records to find relatives and bridge the gap since 1930’s enumerations. My parents are too young to appear in this census, so my first line of attack was looking for both sets of grandparents. Finding my paternal grandparents’ record was fairly straightforward because I already knew where they were. They were enumerated in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on April 18, living at 1710 Avenue F. They were paying $8 a month in rent, and the household consisted of Lawrence C., age 38, a common laborer doing farm work and earning $650 the previous year for 45 weeks’ work. The census taker indicated he had attended school until the 10th grade. “Blanch A.,” age 31, had gone through the 8th grade. Both had been born in Nebraska. The following children were also enumerated: Florence M., age 12; Irene D., age 10; Myrtle C., age 7; Morris W., age 6; Marvin L., age 4; William C., age 2; and “DeAnna E.,” age 10 months. Deanna was listed as born in Nebraska; the other children’s birthplace was listed as South Dakota. Real estate records indicate the house at 1710 Avenue F is 868 square feet in size, has two bedrooms, and was built in 1915. On our cross-country trek last summer, Mom and I visited Scottsbluff and looked up the little house. My maternal grandparents provided a bit more of a mystery. Married in 1938, they had not yet had my mom, their eldest child. I knew Grandma had worked for the Rock Island Arsenal from May 1938-September 1940 and had assumed she and Grandpa were actually living in Rock Island, Illinois. In the early days after the census release before the records were fully indexed, I scoured the Rock Island records to no avail. I even searched records for Boise, Idaho, since I knew Grandpa and Grandma moved there in 1940. Luckily it didn’t take long for indexing to be complete and for me to be able to search for Grandpa and Grandma by name – and there they were, not in Rock Island itself, but in Moline, about four miles east along the Mississippi River. Apparently one of four couples living in an apartment complex at 1212 7th Avenue, they were paying $30 a month in rent. Joseph Hoffmann, age 32, having completed the 8th grade, is listed as an electric welder at a sheet metal factory. He had earned $820 the previous year but had only worked 24 weeks. Grandma, on the other hand, had worked 52 weeks and earned $1287 as a clerk/typist at the Rock Island Arsenal. She was 23 years old and had completed four years of high school. Grandpa was listed as born in Illinois, Grandma in Indiana. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever been to Moline…yet. Tagged 1940 census, Census, Illinois, Indiana, Moline, Nebraska, Rock Island, Rock Island Arsenal, Scottsbluff, sheet metal factory, South Dakota, welderLeave a comment Blogging Prompts, Census Sunday, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Research, Walker Census Sunday – Mansfield, Piatt, Illinois It’s always interesting to follow one family (or all one’s related families) through each census in which they appear (I’m continuing that never-ending project on a nightly basis). It can also be interesting to look at all individuals who appear in census records in a particular location; this provides color to the history of these family members and how they may have interacted with one another. Mansfield, Illinois, is one of those locations with many family connections. For years I labored under the delusion that it was in southern Illinois, closer to Olney. This delusion was based on the fact that my great-great-grandparents, John and Belinda (Simmons) Montgomery both died in Olney, and a number of their children were born there, then later died in Mansfield. It pays to look at a map – Mansfield is about 125 miles north. Coincidentally Mansfield is much closer to Fairbury, Illinois, home of a huge portion of my maternal relatives, and the location of an annual summer pilgrimage. The earliest Mansfield census record I have found thus far is that of Thomas Milton Montgomery, my great-grand-uncle, in 1910: Village of Mansfield, Blue Ridge Twp., Piatt, Illinois May 3, 1910 Galesville Road Montgomery, Tom M. Head M W 45 M1 Illinois New Jersey Ohio yes Farmer Gen’l ” Frances Wife F W 38 M1 21 6 6 Illinois Indiana Ohio ” Fred M. Son M W 19 S Illinois Illinois Illinois ” Joshua O. Son M W 17 S Illinois Illinois Illinois ” Bertha L. Daughter F W 15 S Illinois Illinois Illinois ” Hattie M. Daughter F W 13 S Illinois Illinois Illinois ” Stella B. Daughter F W 15 S Illinois Illinois Illinois ” Tom M. Son M W 3 S Illinois Illinois Illinois No others are enumerated in Mansfield itself in 1910; in 1920, only Fred Milton Montgomery, Thomas’s son, is enumerated there (Thomas himself is enumerated in Blue Ridge Township but not within Mansfield’s boundaries): January [?] 7, 1920 Mansfield Village, Blue Ridge Twp., Piatt, Illinois Olive Street 121 121 Montgomery, Fred head R M W 28 M yes yes Illinois Illinois Illinois Delivery [?] engineer grain elevator —Hannah Wife F W 26 M yes yes Kentucky Kentucky Kentucky —Raymond son M W 5 S Illinois Illinois Kentucky —Mabel P. daughter F W 4 S Illinois Illinois Kentucky In 1930, a large number of families appear in Mansfield. Of these, two family groups are not in the direct Montgomery line but the Walker line (my great-grandfather Charles William Montgomery married Laura Maud Walker): Joshua O. Bateman and Minnie Walker with their daughter Tessie; and their married daughter Lora, her husband John M. Davis and their family. The remaining families were scattered in various locations around town; Thomas Milton again: April 3, 1930 Mansfield Village, Blue Ridge Twp., Piatt, Illinois Short St. 65 65 Montgomery, Thomas M. Head O 1500 no M W 66 M 25 no yes Illinois Ohio Ohio 61 yes clerk Hardware Store —Frances M. Wife-H V F W 59 M 18 no yes Illinois Indiana Ohio 61 —Onsley J. Son V M W 37 D [I think] 30 [crossed out] no yes Illinois Illinois Illinois 61 yes Electrician Ill. Power & Light Co. W.W. —Thomas M. Son V M W 22 S no yes Illinois Illinois Illinois 61 yes Electrician Illinois Light and Power Co. —Raymond L. Gr. son V M W 15 S yes yes Illinois Illinois Kentucky Thomas Milton’s married daughter Hattie and family: April 3 1930 Mansfield Village Piatt Illinois 62 62 Hannah John Head O 600 No M W 31 M 20 no yes Illinois Illinois Illinois 61 yes Drayman General Handling —Hattie M Wife-H v F W 31 M 20 no yes Illinois Illinois Illinois —Mildred P Daughter F W 10 S yes yes Illinois Illinois Illinois —Arthur C Son M W 8 S yes Illinois Illinois Illinois —Frances R Daughter F W 6 S yes Illinois Illinois Illinois —Richard L Son M W 1 4/12 S no Illinois Illinois Illinois Finally, Thomas Milton’s married daughter Bertha Lucinda, her husband Wren Cole Thomas, and their children: April 4 1930 Mansfield Blue Ridge Piatt Illinois Oliver Street 135 135 Thomas Wren C Head O 1500 R No M W 34 M 23 No Yes Indiana Indiana Indiana 60 yes Proprietor Hardware Store WW —Bertha L Wife-H v F W 34 M 23 no yes Illinois Illinois Illinois —Willis H Son v M W 9 S yes Illinois Indiana Illinois —Lyle M Son v M W 7 S yes Illinois Indiana Illinois —Helen P Son v M W 3 9/12 S no Illinois Indiana Illinois I’ve only found two families enumerated in Mansfield in 1940 thus far: Hattie (Montgomery) Hannah’s married daughter Mildred Pearl and her husband Joseph Edward Alvis; and, again, Wren Cole and Bertha (Montgomery) Thomas: April 9 1940 Mansfield Piatt Illinois W Oliver 78 R 10 no Alvis Joe Head M W 22 M No H2 Illinois Same Place Piatt Illinois Laborer Farm 52 360 —Mildred wife F W 20 M no H4 Illinois Same house Piatt Illinois —JoAnn Daughter F W 1/12 S no Illinois Same house Hannah Arthur brother-in-law M W 18 S no 8 Illinois Same house Piatt Illinois CCC Camp GW 28 250 —Frances sister-in-law F W 16 S no H1 Illinois Same house April 15 1940 Blue Ridge Twp Mansfield Piatt Illinois 160 O 2000 No Thomas W C Head M W 45 M no 8 Indiana Same Place 48 Plumber own business 52 —Bertha Wife F W 45 M no 8 Illinois Same Place —Willis Son M W 19 S no H4 Illinois Same Place 48 Assistant Plumber Father’s business 52 —Lyle Son M W 17 S yes H1 Illinois Same Place —Helen Daughter F W 13 S yes 7 Illinois Same Place —W. C. Jr. Son M W 8 S yes 4 Illinois Same Place Tagged Census, Fairbury, Fairbury Illinois, Illinois, Mansfield, Olney, Olney Illinois2 Comments Blogging Prompts, Cemeteries, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Research, Simmons, Surname Saturday, Vital Statistics Surname Saturday – the Simmons Brick Wall Names are interesting. When I first started doing genealogy, I found it intriguing to realize how many surnames you “own” in your family tree. Sometimes the surnames become more and more familiar over time as more relatives are uncovered and researched. Other times the connection to a surname is more tenuous – a link of one maternal ancestor, and then the proverbial brick wall. My great-great-grandmother Belinda Simmons is one of these tenuous links. Born May 14, 1838 in Cincinnati, she married John Montgomery on Christmas Day 1858 in Ohio. John and Belinda appear in the 1860 (Clark, Ohio) and 1870-1880 (Denver Township, Illinois) censuses with their growing family. Belinda died on Valentine’s Day 1908 and is buried in Pleasant View Cemetery in Olney, Illinois (in a grave my family and I failed to find on a field trip to Olney). Belinda’s parentage, however, remains a mystery, as does her name itself. Sources list her name variously as Malinda, Mary Ann, Mary Ann Belinda, Mary B., and Belinda. After much searching I did finally locate Belinda in the 1850 census, aged 12. The discovery, however, only provided half the story: apparently sometime before 1850 Belinda’s father had died, and her mother (Rachel – the half of the story the census revealed) had remarried a Charles Clark. Also in the household is Belinda’s younger brother Charles H. Simmons, aged 10. If Belinda had been born a little later, it might be easy enough to find a Rachel Simmons and her young children in an earlier census – but since census records prior to 1850 don’t list each individual in the household by name, it is trickier to confirm the identities of family members – especially when the head of household’s name remains unknown. So…the search back in time continues… John and Mary Montgomery Tombstone from Find-a-Grave Tagged Cemetery, Census, Cincinnati, Illinois, Ohio, Olney, Olney Illinois, Pleasant View CemeteryLeave a comment Blogging Prompts, Census Sunday, Davis, Montgomery Line, Research, Wilson Census Sunday – Life and Times of Lucinda Blanche Davis Eldest 5 children of Wellington and Lucinda Wilson On this Mother’s Day it seemed fitting to take a look at the life of Lucinda Blanche Davis, my great-great-grandmother. A mother of six, she died at age 35 when her youngest child was ten months old. Lucinda was born March 16, 1859 in Allenville, Missouri, the oldest child of John H. and Celia (Murphy) Davis. She appears in the 1860 census in West Union, Iowa: June 25, 1860 West Union Twp., Fayette, Iowa John Davis 19 M Farmer 50 Do [born in Ohio] Celia Davis 19 F Missouri Lucinda Davis 1 F Do [born in Missouri] I haven’t located John and Celia’s family in the 1870 census; on August 31, 1879, Lucinda married Wellington David Wilson in Brush Creek, Iowa. Lucinda was twenty years old, and Wellington just shy of that. In 1880 the new family was enumerated in Eden Township, Iowa: 5th June 1880 Eden Twp., Fayette, Iowa Wilson Wm D.W M 21 x [married] Mail Carrier N. York N. York N. York —Blanche L. W F 21 Wife x [married] Illinois Ohio Ill Wellington and Lucinda’s first child, Maud Ethel, was born May 31, 1881; five more children followed over the next twelve years: Jerry Erving, Carl Ozro (my great-grandfather), Caroline Blanch, Pearl Ethel, and William David. Sometime between the births of Maud and Jerry the family moved to Nebraska; in the 1885 Nebraska status census, the family is enumerated in Niobrara, living next door to Wellington’s father Charles: June 1 1885 Niobrara Precinct Knox Nebraska Page 2 Enum 467 13 13 Wilson Chas. W M 52 x [married] Farmer New York NY NY —Lucy B W M 48 wife x Keeps house New York NY NY —Eddie W M 19 Son x [single] Iowa NY NY —Samuel W M 12 Son x x [school] Iowa NY NY Barbara Anderson W F 20 x servant 3 Canada Can Can 14 14 Wilson David W M 26 x [married] servant New York NY NY —Lucinda W F 26 wife x keeps house x [can’t read] Missouri O O —Maud W F 5 Daughter x [single] x [school] Iowa NY Mis. [looks almost like Wis.] —Jerry W M 1 Daughter [sic] x x x [can’t read/write] Nebraska NY O [?] Davis Lizzie W F 19 x servant 6 Iowa NY NY Nine years later, on September 29, 1894, Lucinda died in Bloomfield, Nebraska. Shortly thereafter Baby William David was adopted by Lucinda’s sister Anna and her husband Irwin Hubbard. Around 1895 Wellington David was remarried, to Betsey Olsen; at about this same time he moved from Nebraska to Sisseton, South Dakota. He and Betsey had three children of their own: Beulah, Warner, and Gladys. Wellington died in Sisseton June 17, 1923. Surname Saturday – Nimrod Canterbury Murphy Tagged Census, Iowa, Mother's Day, Nebraska, Niobrara, West UnionLeave a comment Blogging Prompts, Cemeteries, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Research, Wednesday's Child Wednesday’s Child – Montgomery Babies May 1, 2013 September 14, 2018 agnette For children who were born and died within the ten-year gap between censuses, a headstone may be one of the only clues to their existence. Thanks to resources like the Find-a-Grave website, it’s possible to find a record of these headstones from many miles away. A case in point is the double headstone of Anne B. Montgomery and an unnamed infant sibling, children of Samuel and Susanna H. Ruse Montgomery. Samuel was my great-great-grand uncle. Born in 1832 in New Jersey, he married Susanna before 1870, when they were enumerated in Clark, Ohio. Samuel is listed as age 39, Susanna age 25. William, age 1, is in the household as well. Without the headstone in Lynchburg, Ohio’s, Masonic Cemetery, however, it wouldn’t be apparent that Samuel and Susanna had already lost one unnamed child, who was born and died December 22, 1867. Samuel and Susanna had another child, Anne B., born March 16, 1871. As noted on Anne’s headstone, she died at the age of six months and 16 days. A little over a year later Susanna herself died as well. Samuel then married Hattie A. Paige (born between 1844-1845), and they had two sons, Edgar and Stanley, both of whom lived to adulthood and had children themselves. Tagged Census, Lynchburg, OhioLeave a comment Blogging Prompts, Cemeteries, Montgomery, Montgomery Line, Obituaries, Research, Sunday's Obituary Sunday’s Obituary – Samuel Frank Montgomery April 28, 2013 September 14, 2018 agnette Samuel Frank Montgomery was my great-grand-uncle. His older brother, Charles William Montgomery, was my great-grandfather and has been mentioned here a number of times. Samuel appears as “Franklin,” age 7, in the 1870 census in Denver Township, Illinois, with parents John and Belinda, and siblings Hattie, Charles, Thomas, Harry, and Edward. In 1880, Samuel F., age 18, is listed with “works on farm” as his occupation. By 1900 Samuel is married to Ida Goodell and appears in Blue Ridge Township, Piatt County, Illinois, as “Frank,” with a birthdate of September 1863. Other members of the household are: wife Ida M., born December 1869; daughter Florence, born August 1889; daughter Ruth, born August 1891; daughter Nellie, born April 1895; and daughter “Dortha,” born July 1898. Ida’s census record indicates she had given birth to a total of 5 children, of whom 4 were still living by 1900. This photo shows Samuel, Ida, and one of their children: Still in Blue Ridge by 1910, Samuel F. is listed as age 48 and a rural mail carrier. Ida M., age 40; Nellie B., age 17; “Dorotha” L., age 11; and John S. complete the family. By 1920 in Blue Ridge Township, Nellie has left home, leaving a household of four. Samuel is now listed as working at a livery. Ida passed away in 1929, and I have yet to locate Samuel in the 1930 or 1940 censuses. He did not die himself until 1959, age 96. Samuel and Ida are buried in the Blue Ridge Township Mansfield Cemetery in Mansfield, Illinois. Tagged Cemetery, Census, Illinois, Mansfield, ObituaryLeave a comment Archives Select Month July 2019 January 2018 July 2016 June 2016 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 June 2012 April 2011 March 2011 October 2009 April 2009 May 2008 April 2008 February 2008 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 Employed by a Cult Invite to Dinner: the Brother Older than Lee Longevity: the Kerrich Family Favorite Photo: Hidden Treasure Start: High School Sweethearts	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3341
__label__wiki	0.905343	0.905343	Check Out the Grown Up ‘Punky Brewster’ In First Peacock Trailer Peacock, NBCUniversal’s new streaming service, seems to have a very simple business plan. It goes like this: “You know all the old NBC shows you used to love? Well, now they’re all back, with as many of the original cast members as humanly possible. You still like them, right? Great! Try Peacock.” Last night, we showed you the trailer for Saved By the Bell, with Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley back as Slater and Jessie, and now here’s Punky Brewster, with Soleil Moon Frye back as the title character from the beloved ’80s sitcom. Obviously, she’s not playing Punky as the lovable teenager she once was (although that could be interesting, possibly as an Adult Swim show that airs at like 3AM in the morning). Instead, Punky is now a single mother with three children. (She still seems to have a singular fashion sense.) Freddie Prinze Jr., who also appears in this first trailer, plays Punky’s ex-husband. Here’s the trailer: Peacock is now available for Comcast TV and internet subscribers; everyone else will have to wait until July to sign up for a free or paid subscription. When exactly Punky Brewster will actually debut on Peacock is anyone’s guess; when the streaming service revealed a whole bunch of trailers for its original programming yesterday, all they said was these shows were “coming soon.” With production around Hollywood are currently shut down because of the coronavirus, soon may not be all that soon. Gallery — The Best TV Shows on Disney+: Source: Check Out the Grown Up ‘Punky Brewster’ In First Peacock Trailer Filed Under: Peacock Categories: TV News	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3344
__label__cc	0.718385	0.281615	Amazon Virtual Private Cloud Rolled Out Globally AWS Direct Connect launched to enable private network connections between enterprises and the AWS cloud. Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) has announced that Amazon Web Services LLC (AWS) has extended Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC) to all AWS Regions around the world. AWS also announced its new AWS Direct Connect -- a service that enables enterprises to bypass the Internet and deliver data to and from AWS via a private network connection. "’As the largest hotel company in the world with hotels in over 100 countries, our business requires us to operate with a global mindset,’ said Scott Johnson, Vice President of Enterprise Engineering, InterContinental Hotel Group. ‘By making Amazon VPC available in all AWS Regions and in multiple Availability Zones, we gain even more flexibility to deploy our applications in the cloud as we target markets around the world. With AWS Direct Connect, we can quickly migrate data to and from AWS with predictable low latency and high throughput, while avoiding expensive Internet bandwidth charges.’" Read the Full Story at Market Watch This article was originally published on Friday Aug 5th 2011	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3348
__label__wiki	0.509401	0.509401	Basic Real English Users' B.R.E. Transcription box User's menu TagsAdvanced Try mSpy Phone Tracker for Your Kid's Safety \|\| English teacher jobs Peaceful Warrior (full movie) AccentAmerican Accent Touch a word or the <play> button for sound Click on a word or on the <play> button for sound Click on a word or on the red <play> button for sound Click here on play and I’ll read all the text. Click on a word and I’ll read it Or select some text and then click on play. Peaceful Warrior is a 2006 drama film directed by Victor Salva and written by Kevin Bernhardt based on the novel Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. Set at U.C. Berkeley, the film stars Scott Mechlowicz as a troubled but talented gymnast who meets a spiritual guide portrayed by Nick Nolte. Dan Millman is a university student as well as a locally famous gymnast who dreams of winning a National Championship competition. He suffers from restlessness, and on one occasion Dan attempts to compensate for the restlessness by running along streets before sunrise. At a car-service station, he encounters an old man who seems to know more about Dan's problem than Dan himself knows, whom Dan later nicknames "Socrates". Dan is unsettled by Socrates' knowledge; by the fact that Socrates had appeared in a nightmare as a faceless janitor, clad in mismatched shoes (by which he is identified in waking life), who sweeps up the pieces of Dan's shattered leg; and by the old man's extraordinary speed, agility, and coordination. As a result of his exposure to the last, Dan seeks to learn the secret behind it. Socrates, prodded by the impatient and defiant Dan, gives the boy a series of tasks and lessons. The central concept of "Soc's" philosophy is this: that one must live entirely in the present moment. Other ideas include the related notion that at no time is "nothing going on" and the idea that an appropriate time exists for fighting and another for abstaining from violence. These lessons are conveyed through practical lessons, long contemplation, and one spectacular mystical experience. Dan gradually learns to appreciate every moment; to view the journey toward a goal as more meaningful and significant than the attainment; to pay attention to that which he is doing – thus increasing his gymnastic prowess; and (to a slightly lesser extent) control himself. Throughout the lesson, Dan learns virtually nothing about his mentor, other than the philosophy, Socrates' belief that service is the most noble action possible (hence his choice to work as a car serviceman), and the presence of another protégé. This protégé, a woman of Dan's own age named Joy, has learned and integrated Socrates' philosophy into her life, to the extent that she seems as wise as Socrates himself. Dan attempts to ask her for information regarding Socrates, but receives little. Joy treats Dan indulgently, though she evidently respects him. One day, Dan drives recklessly, and his motorcycle collides with a car that ran a red light, causing his right femur bone to shatter. He is rushed to a hospital, where a metal bar is placed in his leg to maintain its integrity. As a result, his gymnastic coach believes that Dan cannot compete in the National competition. Dan, hurt by this lack of faith, recovers from the injury and resumes his training under Socrates' tutelage. Eventually, he is restored to full health and strength, while his coordination improves and his mind is set entirely on the present moment. He competes in the U.S. Trials for the Olympics and achieves a victory. Slightly before the competition, Dan diverts the bus he is riding to Socrates' station, only to find that Socrates has vanished without a trace. At the arena, he attempts to teach his teammate Tommy what he has learned, but fails due to Tommy's emotional insecurity and lack of comprehension. Dan then is called upon for his turn to perform on the Still Rings. While he does his routine, Dan performs flawlessly just like Pommel Horse tryouts. Moments before he completes his routine, Socrates is in his thoughts asking him three questions: "Where are you, Dan?" "Here." "What time is it?" "Now." "What are You?" "This Moment." Dan then performs his triple consecutive flips, the Commentators frantically speaking, and the judges staring at him in amazement. He then dismounts, while the rings swing outwards, eventually touching each other. The screen goes black, leaving his last moment unknown. Official → Cool © Angel Castaño 2008 Salamanca / Poole - free videos to learn real English online \|\| InfoPrivacyTerms of useContactAboutwhy?	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3358
__label__wiki	0.569927	0.569927	ReviewsMusic Julian Casablancas: Phrazes For The Young Phrazes For The Young Well, no one’s going to mistake this for a Strokes album. Sure, Phrazes For The Young shares a voice with Julian Casablancas’ recently silent band, and occasionally it even shares The Strokes’ love of nervous energy and oddly angled hooks. But the building materials have changed, with Casablancas tiptoeing out of his ’70s CBGB comfort zone to bring in ’80s synths. And the voice has changed as well, both sonically and lyrically. Here Casablancas reaches beyond his familiar sneering readings to occasionally (gasp!) emote from the heart. “Somewhere along the way, my bitterness turned to anger,” he sings on the album-opener, “Out Of The Blue.” Emo it isn’t, but the sincerity still sounds shocking, considering the source. At a mere eight tracks long, Phrazes would ideally be an uninterrupted collection of assured stunners. It isn’t, but it does establish Casablancas as a solo artist worth following, thanks to tracks like “Left & Right In The Dark”—which alternates childhood reflections with sounds that would fit nicely on a Duran Duran album—and the first single, “11th Dimension,” a catchy, overreaching barrage of edgy jangle and enveloping keyboards. Then there’s “Ludlow St.,” an unexpectedly twangy Manhattan history lesson that points toward directions still unexplored. Burdened with the responsibility of assuring the future of rock at the beginning of this decade, Casablancas now looks like he could have a decent future of his own.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3361
__label__wiki	0.541687	0.541687	Nigeria allocates N3.12 trillion to service debt in 2021, as fiscal quagmire undermines ambitious recovery Stock Market4 hours ago Commodities18 hours ago Gold prices suffer worst two weeks in a row since November N3.12 trillion has been budgeted to service debt in 2021, representing a 9.09% rise when compared to N2.86 trillion approved for 2020. Bamidele Samuel Adesoji The Nigerian government in an ambitious economic recovery and sustainability agenda has proposed a N13.08 trillion appropriation budget for the year 2021, indicating a 23.3% from the N10.8 trillion budget approved in 2020. Meanwhile, according to the budget breakdown, a sum of N3.12 trillion has been budgeted to service debt in 2021, representing a 9.09% rise when compared to N2.86 trillion approved for 2020. READ: Stamp Duty Non-remittance: RMAFC to probe banks over N100bn The Budget breakdown According to the budget speech made by President Muhammadu Buhari, the 2021 Appropriation Bill is designed to further deliver on the goals of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESC), with a roadmap to initiate post-corona economic recovery. The breakdown shows that the capital expenditure as a percentage of Non-Debt Expenditure is a meagre 29%, while recurrent expenditure (salaries and overhead) as a percentage of total FGN expenditure stood at 71%. READ: Buhari earmarks N420 billion for N-Power, GEEP and others under NSIP in 2021 budget Recurrent expenditure – N5.65trn Capital Expenditure – N3.85trn Statutory transfer – N484.5bn Debt service – N3.12trn Total proposed budget – N13.08trn Oil production – 1.86 mbpd Oil Price – $US40p/b Exchange rate – 379 N/$US GDP Growth – 3.0% Inflation – 11.95% Nigeria to borrow N4.28 trillion to fund budget deficit The breakdown of the 2021 appropriation budget shows that due to persisting revenue challenge in the country, the total budget deficit rose to N5.19 trillion from N4.97 trillion approved in 2020. According to the proposed budget, the 2021 budget deficit will be financed majorly by another borrowing of N4.28 trillion from both domestic and foreign sources. Domestic borrowing is estimated at N2.18 trillion, while external debt borrowing has been put at N940.89 billion, with sinking fund to pay off maturing bonds issued to local contractors and creditors put at N220 billion. READ: FG generates over N1.4 trillion from operating surplus Other sources include N205.15 billion from privatization proceeds and N709.69 billion drawdowns on multilateral and bilateral loans secured for specific projects and programmes. While the 2021 proposed budget appropriation will be largely funded by new borrowing, the attendant cost of borrowing new funds takes a sheer part of the total budget. For 2021, the Nigerian government is committed to meet debt service obligations, amounting to N3.12 trillion. This represents 40% of the total budget and an increase of N445.57 billion from N2.68 debt service in 2020. Explore Data on the Nairametrics Research Website An ambitious recovery? The implementation of 2020 budget has largely been undermined by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, driving the government to set a N13.08 trillion 2021 budget. Meanwhile, the proposed 2021 budget maybe an ambitious one to say the least, as key pressure points on Nigeria’s fiscal landscape persist. A glance at the key parameters underlying the 2021 budget shows that the federal government may be overly ambitious in its drive to initiate the recovery process by 2021. For instance, the government projected the Nigerian economy to bottom out of recession and produce a GDP growth of 3.2% in 2021. Indeed, this may be overly ambitious in an economy already stretched by COVID-19 pandemic amidst a looming recession. READ: OECD reduces global economic decline to 4.5% from earlier forecast of 6% In addition, budget deficit continues to snowball, projected to be N5.19 trillion in 2021. This represents 3.62% of estimated GDP, well above the threshold of 3% stipulated in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA), 2007. Unless there are new revenue sources for the country, given the limited scope for cost-cutting, it will not be feasible to keep budget deficits within the 3% target set in the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Lastly, revenue generation remains government’s main challenge. Despite key revenue management measures introduced in the 2021 budget, which includes deregulation of the price of petroleum products; ongoing verification exercise with IPPIS, and implementation of service-based electricity tariffs; the implementation of the 2021 budget may largely be threatened by the persisting weak global oil price. Related Topics:2021 BudgetFeaturedMuhammadu BuhariNigeria News Samuel is an Analyst with over 5 years experience. Connect with him via his twitter handle The Federal Government of Nigeria achieved a debt service to revenue ratio of 83% in 2020. Chike Olisah The Federal Government of Nigeria achieved a debt service to revenue ratio of 83% in 2020. This is according to the information contained in the budget implementation report of the government for the year ended December 2020. According to the data seen by Nairametrics, total revenue earned in 2020 was N3.93 trillion representing a 27% drop from the target revenues of N5.365 trillion. However, debt service for the year was a sum of N3.26 trillion or 82.9% of revenue. Nigeria’s debt service cost of N3.26 trillion has now dwarfed the N1.7 trillion spent on capital expenditure of N1.7 trillion incurred in 2020. This is also the highest debt service paid by the Federal Government since we started tracking this data in 2009. The total public debt (External and Domestic) balance carried by Nigeria as of September 2020 stood at N32.22 trillion ($84.57 billion). Included in the total debt is a domestic debt of about N15.8 trillion. What this means: Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio is estimated at about 22%, one of the lowest in the world and much below what is obtainable in most emerging markets. However, the challenge has always been the debt service to revenue ratio, a metric that reveals whether the government is generating enough revenues to pay down its debts as they mature. Since the first recession experienced in 2016, Nigeria has struggled with higher debt service to revenue ratio as revenues slid in direct correlation with the fall in oil prices. Nigeria’s government spent about N2.45 trillion in debt service in 2019 out of total revenue of N4.1 trillion or 59.6% debt service to revenue ratio. At 83%, 2020 ranks as the highest debt service to revenue ratio we have incurred. Before now it was 2017 with 61.6%. Breakdown of what debts were serviced The following amount was spent on debt service during the year To service domestic debt, the government spent N1.755 trillion in 2020 as against a budget of N1.87 trillion. For foreign debts, a sum of N553 billion was spent against a target budget of N805.47 billion. The drop here is likely a result of lower interest rates on foreign borrowing as well as very limited borrowing from the foreign debt market during the year. The government only contributed N4.58 billion into its sinking fund instead of the budgeted N272.9 billion. The sinking fund is required to set aside funds that will be used to pay down on other loans such as bonds when they mature in the future. Finally, a sum of N912.57 trillion was spent on servicing CBN’s loans, granted via its Ways and Means provisions. Nairametrics reported last week that a total sum of N2.8 trillion was extended by the CBN to the FG as Ways and Means. What happens next: In 2021, the government projects a debt service of N3.1 trillion against revenue of N6.6 trillion or a debt service to revenue ratio of 46.9%. The government plans to spend N4.3 trillion on capital expenditure during the year. NLNG, paid the Federal Government a dividend of N188 billion in the fiscal year ended December 2020. Samuel Oyekanmi Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Company, NLNG, paid the Federal Government a dividend of N144 billion in the fiscal year ended December 2020. This is according to the information contained in the Ministry of Finance Budget implementation report for the period of January 2020 to December 2020 and presented by the Minister for Finance Dr. Zainab Ahmed. During the year, the Federal Government budgeted a sum of N80.3 billion as its share of dividends from NLNG, however, the actual sum received as its share was N144 billion, N63.2 billion more or 79% higher than projected. The year 2020 was a difficult year for the government as the fall in crude oil prices and the economic shutdown that was triggered by the Covid-19 Pandemic dented projections and ravaged revenues. READ: NLNG says Train 7 project will surge production capacity to 30 million MPTA NLNG Dividend Bliss The dividend received from NLNG was a major bright spot in the government’s revenue performance for the year. During the year, the government projected revenue of N5.36 trillion but only received N3.9 trillion in revenues representing a shortfall of N1.4 trillion or 27% for the year. The huge dividend windfall received in 2020 is a stark contrast from 2017 when Nigeria just exited a recession triggered by falling oil prices and a sharp exchange rate devaluation. In that year, the Federal Government’s share of dividends from Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dropped by as much as $687 million, from $1.04 billion in 2015 to $365 million in 2016, a 65% drop. The N144 billion received in 2020 topped the amount received from signature bonuses only N78.2 billion and complimented the N192 billion received by VAT. It is the most effective form of revenue generation for the government. READ: NLNG signs 10 year sales deal with Eni NLNG Controversies Back in July Nairametrics reported that the House of Representatives planned to investigate the alleged illegal withdrawal of $1.05 billion from the NLNG account by NNPC without its knowledge and appropriation. They had accused the NNPC of illegally tampering with the funds at the NLNG dividends account to the tune of 1.05 billion dollars thereby violating the nation’s appropriation law. NLNG is a company jointly owned by Nigerian owned NNPC(49%), Shell (25.6%), Total (15%), and ENI (10.4%). The company is located in Bonny Island and has six trains with a total capacity to process 22 million tonnes of LNG a year and as much as 5 million tonnes of natural gas liquids. NLNG currently accounts for about 7% of the total LNG supply in the world. Nigeria is ranked as the 4th exporter of Natural Gas in the world. READ: NLNG signs supply agreement with Galp Trading SA Upshots: The FG is targeting a revenue of N208 billion from NLNG as dividends in 2021. If this materializes, it will be a significant payout in dividend (in naira terms) competing with the N238.4 billion expected from VAT. Important to note that the recent devaluation of the naira will increase the naira value of dividends and other government revenue, as it did in 2020. The government also targets N6.6 trillion in revenue for the period under review. Updated: An earlier version of this article captured the dividend as N188 billion instead of N144 billion. It has now been corrected. Uganda’s President Museveni has won a 6th term in office as the opposition alleges wide-scale rigging. The President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has been re-elected as President, gathering 5.85 million votes compared to 3.48 million votes by main opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, a.k.a Bobi Wine. According to Reuters, this victory represents 58.6% of the vote cast while Bobi Wine got 34.8% Bobi Wine announced that the election results show this is the most fraudulent election in the history of Uganda and urged his followers to reject the result. Yoweri Museveni, aged 76, has been President of the East African nation since 1986. Bobi Wine claimed via his official Twitter handle that military men jumped over his fence and took control of his home yesterday. Get the scoops and market intelligence that can help you make better investment decisions right in your mailbox.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3366
__label__wiki	0.961519	0.961519	Share this Story: Ottawa likely to face pressure from Google, Facebook on news sharing rules following threats against Australia Ottawa likely to face pressure from Google, Facebook on news sharing rules following threats against Australia Media outlets have argued for years that U.S. digital firms have been siphoning ad revenue from them, generating revenues from content they did not create or pay for Sep 03, 2020 • September 4, 2020 • 4 minute read Canadian Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault has been among the most vocal opponents of Facebook and Google on the issue of paying for local news content. Photo by Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/File OTTAWA — The Canadian government is likely to face increased pressure from digital giants like Facebook over the company’s use of local news content, after the firm earlier this week levelled threats against Australian authorities for new regulations they introduced. Facebook on Wednesday said it would block Australian people from sharing news on its social media platform if the country moves ahead with a landmark regulatory change, which would force digital behemoths like Google and Facebook to pay news outlets for the stories users share on their sites. Ottawa likely to face pressure from Google, Facebook on news sharing rules following threats against Australia Back to video Canadian media outlets have argued for years that U.S. digital firms have been unfairly siphoning ad revenue away from them, effectively generating revenues from content that they did not create or pay for. Data in recent years show domestic media revenues plummeting, while digital firms scoop up more of the market. Michael Geist, professor at University of Ottawa, said the threat by Facebook is likely to be heard by Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, who has been among the most vocal opponents of Facebook and Google on the issue. “Guilbeault sees that with what’s playing out in Australia, there could be a pretty significant cost,” Geist said. “The Australian situation highlights why there’s some pretty significant risk for Canada if we decided to go down this particular road and we’re seeing it play out in Australia right now.” Guilbeault has in the past floated the idea of imposing regulations to “level the playing field” for local media firms. Earlier this year, a panel released a report commissioned by Industry Minister Navdeep Bains and Guilbeault that called for “regulatory intervention to ensure that creators of news are compensated for the use of their original content by online platform providers.” Canada stands with Australian government against Facebook ’threats,' Heritage Minister says Facebook threatens to stop Australians sharing news as law forces tech giant to pay media outlets Jerry Dias: Why hasn't Canada taken on Facebook and Google to save journalism? Observers in the technology and media spaces are divided over the issue. Some say digital firms built their platforms partly on the backs of news outlets and should pay some form of compensation as a result. Others argue that the stories shared on the platforms typically link back to the original news outlet, and so actually drive traffic. Jesse Hirsh, an independent researcher who covers technology, said there could be some political upside for Canadian policymakers to take on big tech firms on the issue of news sharing. But introducing a tax on tech giants, or regulatory changes that would force them to pay for news, will require immense political willpower that Ottawa might not currently posses, he said. Canada has for the most part followed the lead from Australia, France, Germany and others on the issue. “They don’t want to be first,” Hirsh said. “They want to look as if they are not necessarily being tough on Facebook, but regulating social media.” He said the threats made by Facebook against Australia is a clear shot across the bow aimed at other countries, and a calculation by the company that disallowing people to share news on social media sites could prove politically unpopular. Other observers argue people might actually prefer such a restriction. “They want the government of Canada to pay attention,” he said. “They want the British government, they want the European government, the U.S. government to” contemplate the threats made against Australia. The Australian situation highlights why there’s some pretty significant risk for Canada if we decided to go down this particular road Guilbeault said on Twitter on Wednesday that the Liberals “remain committed” to ensuring a more equitable digital regulatory framework in Canada — “that includes making sure that Canadian news organizations continue to inform and empower our communities,” he said. “As for Facebook’s action, the Canadian government stands with our Australian partners and denounces any form of threats.” In June, Guilbeault told an audience at the Banff World Media Festival that “those who benefit from the media content” of Canadian news companies “should be paying their fair share.” He said he was looking at the models in France and Australia to find a “longer-term” solution for the declining revenues at Canadian news outlets. Friends of Canadian Broadcasting, a non-partisan advocacy group that monitors developments in the television and radio broadcasting industries, has been critical of Ottawa’s posture toward Facebook’s on the issue. It recently launched a campaign targeting Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, where it portrays the billionaire as “wanted” by legal authorities for having stolen news content. “Mr. Trudeau can’t have it both ways,” the organization said in a recent statement. “Facebook behaves like an outlaw because our government lets Zuckerberg write his own rules. They pay no taxes in Canada, suffer no consequences for publishing illegal content and make billions here selling ads against content produced by others without compensation.” Geist says he is unconvinced that Canadian media firms could negotiate a workable agreement with Facebook and Google given the relatively small size of the country’s market. Digital firms have claimed that news sharing makes up only a small portion of their business model, and thus does not justify sizeable contracts for the news it shares. “The response from those platforms has been that the value of your content isn’t worth what you’re asking for in the licence,” he said. Is cannabis use really endorsed by the Bible? Woman named Marijuana Pepsi at birth earns PhD… she is now Dr. Marijuana Pepsi That study saying pot makes sperm swim better? Here’s why it’s questionable Read more on The GrowthOp, the grownup’s guide to cannabis news and culture	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3368
__label__cc	0.533273	0.466727	Trump took out ONE terrorist so far in 2020, but Planned Parenthood will murder 400,000 human children before the end of this year Friday, January 24, 2020 by: Ethan Huff Tags: abortion, abortions, badhealth, human lives, infanticide, medical violence, murder, Planned Parenthood, protests, unborn babies, unborn children, violence (Natural News) News about President Trump’s decision to take out Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani has created quite the uproar, especially on the Left. But if lost lives are such a concern to Democrats that they’re now proposing a resolution to stop Trump from taking any more of them in the Middle East, then will they also take a stand for the approximately 400,000 unborn human lives that Planned Parenthood will murder in 2020? The most recent annual report put out by the nation’s largest abortion provider reveals that in an average year, Planned Parenthood terminates the lives of about 400,000 babies. This means that almost half a million human lives are executed while still in the womb every year, even as liberals continue to whine about “border cages” and “children being separated from their parents.” Somehow, it’s no big deal to tear tiny human bodies limb from limb in the name of “reproductive rights.” But the minute President Trump decides to eradicate a known terrorist for committing atrocities against other humans, the patron saints of the Democratic Party come out of the woodwork to cry about “human rights abuses” and the desperate need to stop the orange man in the White House from doing his job as Commander-in-Chief. “Today we will have a resolution on the floor put forth by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin – we’re very proud of her experience in terms of National Security, under Democratic and Republican presidents, now a member of Congress – putting forth a resolution this week,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stumbling through her words, announced at her weekly press conference. “Last week, in our view, the president and the administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate airstrike against Iran which endangered Americans, and did so without consulting Congress,” Pelosi went on to stake, making no mention of the thousands of drone strikes that occurred at the direction of Barack Obama, presumably without the prior congressional consultation that Pelosi believes Trump should have had. Why does the Left hate unborn human life but adore terrorist human life? Pelosi also compared the killing of Soleimani to the killing of the “second most important person in the [United States],” or Vice President Mike Pence. Whether she meant this as a simple comparison of position or a comparison of actual character and status between the two men remains unknown. Nevertheless, the signaling coming from the Left is suggestive of human loss of life being a “tragedy,” even when the human in question was a terrorist. But this same Left completely ignores the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent human lives are aborted every year by Planned Parenthood. In fact, the Left actually celebrates death by abortion and infanticide as some kind of “virtue,” even as they mope around in mourning over Soleimani’s death by drone strike. The Left would rather see untold numbers of innocent babies killed than even a single terrorist, it seems, because terrorists are more valuable than the unborn to leftists. The Left would also prefer to target Trump and put American lives at risk than to let Trump do his job, which often involves putting terrorists’ lives at risk. This isn’t to say that the president shouldn’t be consulting with Congress and getting its approval before going to war – the Constitution requires this, it turns out. But the way the Left is ballyhooing about Soleimani while remaining completely silent about abortion genocide in this country speaks volumes as to the misplaced priorities of Leftists. To keep up with the latest news about the genocide that’s happening in women’s wombs, be sure to visit Abortions.news. PlannedParenthood.org Previous :EVIL RISING: Disney now flat-out promoting demons and witchcraft to children Next : VICTORY: Health freedom advocates successfully kill New Jersey bill that sought to eliminate religious vaccine exemptions More news on abortion Shocking numbers: Comparing COVID-19 deaths to abortion deaths Kanye West: Abortion has killed more black lives than COVID this year Pinterest whistleblower: I saw how Bible verses, pro-life messages were suppressed Pro-life group warns about COVID vaccines made from aborted babies, vaccine mandates Johnson & Johnson’s aborted baby Covid-19 vaccine harms trial participant Kamala Harris hates the First Amendment and loves abortion If Joe Biden wins, things could get much darker, very quickly https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-01-24-planned-parenthood-will-murder-children-before-end-of-year.html <a href="https://www.naturalnews.com/2020-01-24-planned-parenthood-will-murder-children-before-end-of-year.html">Trump took out ONE terrorist so far in 2020, but Planned Parenthood will murder 400,000 human children before the end of this year</a>	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3369
__label__cc	0.641804	0.358196	Home/Others/Sabah’s terrain, vast territorial waters and challenges to curb the entry of illegal immigrants – DG Immigration Sabah’s terrain, vast territorial waters and challenges to curb the entry of illegal immigrants – DG Immigration malaysia December 6, 2020 Others Comments Off on Sabah’s terrain, vast territorial waters and challenges to curb the entry of illegal immigrants – DG Immigration PUTRAJAYA: Sabah’s terrain and vast territorial waters are among the major challenges facing the state’s immigration service to curb the entry of illegal immigrants (PATI) into the country, said Malaysian Immigration Director General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud (pix). Beyond that, he said, the migrant settlements’ location in wetlands and hard-to-reach places made it difficult for immigration enforcement personnel to arrest those seeking refuge there. “Another challenge facing immigration in Sabah is to get the cooperation of the public to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, as well as the lack of public awareness that it is a crime to house or protect illegal immigrants. “Most employers also prefer to employ PATI because of the low wages compared to local workers, especially in the plantation, agriculture, construction and services sectors,” he told Bernama. Khairul Dzaimee said that since the Covid-19 pandemic, operations conducted by the department must comply with prescribed standard operating procedures (SOP) to prevent enforcement officers, as well as the immigrants, from the virus infection. “The illegal immigrants being held should also be sent to a transit quarantine center before being sent and placed in the temporary detention center,” he said, adding that the department, as well as other enforcement agencies, are seeking public cooperation. to report on the entry of illegal immigrants into the country, and not to protect them. He said the responsibility to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country rests solely with the security forces, as it is also the community’s responsibility to work together to ensure the country’s security and sovereignty. “We are calling on the public to assist security forces and other enforcement authorities by providing information on any border intrusion to the National Task Force Hotline at 011-62511223,” he said. – Named By malaysia NHS is preparing to start vaccinations against the coronavirus Ismail Sabri: Police have issued a compound to 517 people for MCO offenses Cast “Start-Up” says goodbye to drama with closing remarks Microsoft is ramping up Teams video chat to match Zoom’s massive sessions Football: Man United suffers a double injury against West Ham	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3371
__label__cc	0.698774	0.301226	At MSP we are committed to anti-racism and social justice. Click here for Anti-Racism and Equity resources gathered for mental health professionals and the local community. Current Students Alumni Giving News Events MSP Clinic Application & Interview Process Choosing Your Degree About MSP COVID-19 Closure Resources Campus News, COVID-19, President's Perspective Dear MSP Community, As I write this I am struggling to find “just the right words” that will comfort and instill hope for better days. That’s often how I felt with clients; as they sat before me so expectantly, I felt pressured to say exactly the right thing that would make their problems go away. I knew then as I know now, it doesn’t work that way. But I still long for it with my whole heart. What can I say that you haven’t already heard? I can say that we are in this together. That we will do everything in our power to maintain continuity and support each other when it’s time to figure out the true implications of this extraordinary time. That I wish you could witness our amazing team of professionals collaborating behind the scenes with a single goal: to safely serve our students and maintain some sort of normalcy in the face of paralyzing anxiety. Our students are stepping up with remarkable patience and commitment to their educational goals. Training sites are working hard to maintain student health and create alternative arrangements for delivering services. Some are organizing research teams to engage students in continued clinical growth even when they are closed or offering greatly reduced services. Rumors are inevitable during times of intense anxiety, and I want to address one that has cropped up about whether MSP will continue to operate in the third semester. While it’s not possible at this time to make a decision as to the “how”, I want to reassure you that we are prepared to move forward regardless of whether we are back on campus or continue to hold classes and deliver services remotely. Even if we start with remote access, when the time is right we will once again gather back on campus. State of Michigan COVID-19 guidelines and mandates will guide us in our decision making, along with our concern for the continued health of all in the MSP community. If you have questions about MSP operations, please feel free to reach out to me, Vice President Zalapi, Academic Dean Chávez-Korell, or Student Services Dean Ming. We want to help alleviate any anxiety to the extent we can and the best way to do that is by being transparent and providing you with the most accurate information we have at any given time. Please come to the sources if you have concerns about your academic program. This isn’t the first, and won’t be the last time you hear this from me: it is a great privilege to be part of the MSP community. There is no place else I’d rather be. In health and community, President Brown Find reliable information on the MSP COVID-19 Closure Resources page. PrevPreviousStudent/Parent Resources NextTransgender Day of VisibilityNext Why MSP? Contact Information Systems Contact Media/ Events Relations Accreditation // Employment // Faculty Resources // Sitemap © 2019 Michigan School of Psychology. All Rights Reserved. 26811 Orchard Lake Rd. Farmington Hills, MI 48334-4512	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3374
__label__cc	0.705205	0.294795	Charles Komanoff’s “Fuel Tax Magic” New York City economist and activist Charles Komanoff has been focused lately on developing and promoting the idea of a "carbon tax." Carbon taxes are still still very much considered fringe economic theory and politically unviable, though, as you read Komanoff’s latest essay in Grist, you have to wonder how long that will last. The arguments in favor of carbon taxes are logical, powerful and, at least to this non-economist, seem to make a ton of common sense. Fuel Tax Magic by Charles Komanoff …For all the promising antidotes to oil dependence, from ethanol and hybrid cars to rearranging living patterns so people and goods don’t have to move as much, there’s a growing awareness that the only surefire way to advance on all fronts is to create an irresistible and universal market pull by pricing gasoline at a very high level — perhaps in the $10 a gallon range. And now that the climate crisis is overtaking oil dependence as the ultimate energy nightmare, people are starting to face the fact that only vastly higher prices for all fossil fuels can reduce CO2 emissions across the board, through conservation, not just of gasoline but of all petroleum products as well as natural gas and coal. Yes, I’m talking about a carbon tax — the only mechanism powerful and direct enough for the daunting task of phasing out fossil fuels…. Campaign for Fair Energy Taxes (PDF file) Energy Taxes — Rebutting the Myths (PDF file) Carbon Tax (Wikipedia) Filed Under: Carbon Tax, Charles Komanoff, Economics, Energy, Gas Prices, Oil Climate Idealism Can’t Hold a Candle to Collective Action By Charles Komanoff \| Mar 30, 2015 Cross-posted from the Carbon Tax Center. Why do Copenhageners ride bicycles? The key reason, says Yale economist and bestselling author Robert J. Shiller, is that Danes are idealists who resolved, after the oil crisis of the 1970s, “to make a personal commitment to ride bicycles rather than drive, out of moral principle, even if that […] Support Builds for Carbon Taxes Over “Cap and Trade” By Jason Varone \| Apr 5, 2007 The Independent reports that European CO2 emissions are rising not falling, casting doubt on the EU’s touted Emissions Trading Scheme: Europe’s big polluters pumped more climate-changing gases into the atmosphere in 2006 than during the previous year, according to figures that show the EU’s carbon trading system failing to deliver curbs. Critics said the data […] Launching the Campaign for Carbon Taxes By Aaron Naparstek \| Jan 22, 2007 Streetsblog contributor Charles Komanoff, along with Daniel Rosenblum, today announce the foundation of their new organization, the Carbon Tax Center. The Center’s mission is "to educate and inform policymakers, opinion leaders and the public, including grassroots organizations, about the benefits of and critical need for significant, rising and equitable taxes on carbon emissions from fossil […] The Introduction of a New Order of Things By Aaron Naparstek \| Jul 17, 2007 In his essay, "Valuing the Commons," Charles Komanoff discusses congestion pricing and carbon taxes and the difficulty in convincing people to pay for their negative externalities. Komanoff wrote it back in June and it’s on Grist this week: What, then, is standing in the way of congestion fees and a national carbon tax? The power […] Charles Komanoff: Getting the Price Right: The Case for Carbon Taxation By Aaron Donovan \| Mar 14, 2007 Charging American businesses and individuals a price to emit carbon dioxide (CO2) is essential to reduce U.S. emissions quickly enough to prevent atmospheric concentrations of CO2 from reaching an irreversible tipping point. Itâ€™s a bedrock economic principle that prices of goods and services should reflect ("internalize" as the economists say) all of the societal costs […] It’s the Bus Riders, Stupid. By Aaron Naparstek \| Jun 15, 2007 Is Mayor Bloomberg’s congestion pricing plan, a regressive tax, unfair to New York City’s poor and working class? That’s what Westchester Assembly member Richard Brodsky and quite a few of the other critics claim. Before last week’s public hearing before the state legislature Brodsky cited a study commissioned by City Hall showing the mayor’s plan […]	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3377
__label__cc	0.705775	0.294225	New Blog Expounds Joy, and Practicality, of Walking Writer, Streetsblog reader and contributor Dan Icolari has started a new blog, simply titled "Walking Is Transportation." A lifelong New Yorker and former motorist, Icolari "hung up his car keys" some time ago. He recounts the experience like a recovering addict describing his moment of clarity. Like most American drivers, I was convinced my personal mobility–my Freedom, for heaven’s sake–depended on the pathetic hunk of steel, plastic and rubber parked outside my door. I don’t recall the specific event that made me decide to pack it in and go carless. What I do recall is the feeling of unease I experienced more and more often behind the wheel–a combination of vulnerability and simmering anger. Finally, owning and driving a car no longer felt like freedom; it felt more and more like a burden. In the short amount of time since starting the blog (the first post is dated August 6), Icolari has reflected on what it means to be free in a city where so many choose to shackle themselves to the automobile, and what it means to be an "intentional" pedestrian in a society that views walking as a useful means of exercising and meditating, but an eccentric way of getting from one place to another. Speaking of, about that title — would the Secretary agree? Photo: Susan NYC/Flickr Filed Under: Car Culture, Street Safety The Secret to Enjoying Winter: Ditch the Car By Angie Schmitt \| Dec 16, 2010 There’s nothing like a big snowfall to make you stop and think about our car dependent culture. When parts the Midwest got buried last week, and downtown Cleveland looked like a parking lot, I have to say, it felt pretty good to be rushing past cars on foot, while I made my way to the […] Going Car-Free in a Car-Centric City By Angie Schmitt \| Jan 10, 2011 There are those who are blessed to live in a city with a variety of convenient transit options. For the rest of us, car ownership can feel like a mandate — regardless of how much we dream of setting off each day with nothing but a fare card in our pockets. Of course no matter […] Like Great Transit, a Compact City Gives People Freedom By Ben Fried \| May 19, 2015 The Congress for New Urbanism has posted a video of Jarrett Walker (of Human Transit fame) delivering a new presentation, “Learning the Language of Transit.” There’s a passage where Walker frames transit as not simply a mode of transportation, but a means to access your city and, ultimately, the freedom and opportunity to do the things […] Mr. Money Mustache on Retiring at 30 By Riding a Bike By Tanya Snyder \| May 22, 2013 His claim to fame is that he retired at age 30. He swears that you can achieve greater financial freedom too, if you follow his example by eliminating unnecessary expenses and investing wisely. He calls himself Mr. Money Mustache. And he says nothing is more essential to his philosophy and wealth-building strategy than riding a bike. Mr. […] NYPD Arrests Pedestrian After Near-Death Brush With Raging Motorist By Brad Aaron \| Aug 13, 2009 Center Boulevard and 48th Avenue, the Long Island City intersection where a pedestrian was nearly mowed down by an erratic and angry driver. Locations approximate. Image: Google Maps/Carly Clark A Queens man will go to court tomorrow following a charge that he damaged the vehicle of a driver who — twice — nearly ran him […] A New Perspective on Crossing the Street at Your Own Pace By Angie Schmitt \| Jun 13, 2013 Gary Howe has been seeing things differently since he suffered a foot injury when he slipped on an icy patch of broken sidewalk in his hometown of Traverse City, Michigan, this winter. Since then, hobbling has replaced walking for Howe, who runs Network Blog My Wheels are Turning and lives car-lite in this northern Michigan city. The injury […]	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3378
__label__cc	0.648817	0.351183	Cryptocurrencies, Explained: The Beginner’s Guide the Art World Needs Right Now In the first of our three-part series, Tim Schneider offers an art-world primer on the technology everyone is talking about—but few understand. Tim Schneider, January 18, 2018 A "physical Bitcoin" (which is sort of a gimmick, but exists). Photo Illustration by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images. This piece is the first in a three-part series that explores the potential art-world impact of cryptocurrency, followed by Part II and Part III. The art world isn’t exactly known for being at the forefront when it comes to embracing new technologies. Given its late-adopting habits, you might assume our industry would largely dodge the culture-consuming chatter about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies—and maybe this would even be a blessing in disguise, since just yesterday the price of Bitcoin dove by more than 20 percent. But almost no space is safe forever, and a slew of recent news items proved that even the art mainstream is wading into the deep end of cryptocurrencies, however tentatively. In the past two weeks alone, we saw the unwinding of a minor controversy around a supposed Richard Prince “ready-made” cryptocurrency (spoiler alert: THAT Richard Prince was never involved), the New York Times arts section delved into the digital-collectible crazes known as CryptoKitties and CryptoPunks, and Kodak even launched its own Bitcoin alternative called, you guessed it, KodakCoin. Despite the avalanche of conversation and investment dollars plowing into cryptocurrencies, though, most people inside and outside the arts still find the technology confounding. Buzzwords like “mining” and “decentralization” get tossed around with the same reckless abandon as casual lies on a hookup app, but the actual meaning beneath the jargon remains elusive to most people (and understandably so!). Since it looks like cryptocurrencies will remain a part of the art-industry debate for some time, I saturated myself in the minutiae so you don’t have to. And after coming up for air, I can say this: While there are still many, many questions about their adoption, implementation, and value, cryptocurrencies have the potential to transform multiple facets of the art world, from the authentication of digital works to the protection of transactions to the creation of new forms of cultural exchange. Here’s my attempt at a highly approachable beginner’s guide to the technology. To begin, we have to take a step back from cryptocurrencies to wrestle with an even more foundational innovation called the blockchain. Uh, I thought this was about cryptocurrencies. WTF is a blockchain? Blockchains are often described as “decentralized (or distributed) digital ledgers,” a phrase which generally seems to be about as illuminating to the uninitiated as explaining acid jazz as “a live-instrument-based offshoot of the rare groove movement.” So let’s start with the simplest aspect: the idea of a digital ledger. In practice, this just means that a blockchain is an ongoing, digitized record of transactions. Crucially, this ledger is “append only,” meaning that past entries can never be removed. If something about an earlier transaction needs to be changed, a new entry gets added to reflect the alteration. For example, if I paid off a debt, the debt would not be erased from the ledger in a literal sense. Instead, a new entry would be written to zero out my balance. The result is that a blockchain “ledger” only ever gets longer (or, to adopt the lingua franca of the crypto community, “higher”). All of the new transactions that happen over a set time period are grouped into a bundle, or “block.” And every time a new block gets created and properly verified (more on verification later), the new block gets added on top of the blocks of transactions that came before it. Hence: blockchain. But I’m a dealer. Why should I or my clients care about this? I mean, have any of you ever encountered a situation where it would be valuable to see an artwork with a comprehensive, unbroken chain of title, especially one not just cobbled together from musty scraps of paper and age-addled secondhand recollections? Then read on! Mel Chin’s The Fundred Reserve. Courtesy Mel Chin. OK, I’ve got the blockchain part. So, seriously, what’s a cryptocurrency? A cryptocurrency is just one use case for blockchain technology. To explain cryptocurrencies, though, it’s helpful to dissect the second part of the name first. Technically speaking, a traditional currency is nothing more than a record of debt. Every US dollar in circulation represents an amount the American federal government owes to the bearer. So exchanging US dollars means transferring debt from one party to another. Since Richard Nixon phased out the gold and silver standards in the early 1970s, the actual paper has only had value because it’s been backed by “the full faith and credit” of our friends (ahem) in Washington. On one level, cryptocurrencies work the same way as traditional currencies. The digital ledger associated with each one—again, a blockchain—merely tracks debts. The innovation lies in the “crypto” portion of the term. I’m an artist. What does all this mean for me? Well, aside from being able to big-time every annoying hedge-fund bro at your next opening by explaining to them how their money is ultimately just a story we as a society have agreed to tell each other, the revolutionary possibilities of cryptocurrencies don’t materialize until we get through the other half of the definition. Cool? Fair enough. So then what’s “crypto” about cryptocurrencies? Every cryptocurrency isn’t just a digital asset. It’s a SCARCE digital asset. Every new cryptocurrency begins with the founders writing what’s known as a white paper, which basically amounts to a business plan for a blockchain. A good white paper explains conceptual elements like what the cryptocurrency is and why the world needs it (I mean, relatively speaking). But it also addresses simpler, more practical aspects, including the total quantity of the cryptocurrency that will ever exist. As an example, Bitcoin’s creator(s) capped the supply at 21 million tokens. Which may not seem scarce from a numerical standpoint. But the key point is that it is a fixed number, meaning the age-old rules of supply and demand apply: the greater the demand, the higher the price for each existing unit. Granted, this is also partly why cryptocurrencies in general—and Bitcoin especially—regularly go through insane price swings while speculators, regulators, and merchants continue to grapple with this innovation. Still, volatility aside, it would be shortsighted to throw the blockchain out with the bathwater. That’s all well and good, but I work in the art market, where we prefer wire transfers and checks. I’m still not sure how this applies to me. Until the emergence of blockchains, digital scarcity was an internally incoherent concept, like “dry rain” or a “fun heart attack.” Since anything digital is, at base level, just a sequence of binary code, infinite perfect replicas could be created by anyone who copied that code. This normally makes the idea of exclusive ownership impossible, or at least extremely fraught, in the digital realm. Blockchains and cryptocurrencies solve that problem. So if you work with digital art—which, considering the direction our culture is moving, you likely will one day, even if you don’t now—this is relevant to you and your business. Installation view of team Lab’s Living Digital Forest and Future Park at Pace Gallery. Courtesy of the artist and Pace. Wait—why is digital ownership a problem? If you create a GIF and every person on the Internet can download it onto their phone without permission, who “owns” the GIF? Why would anyone buy the original, even at a low price, let alone a high one? And how would the purported owner enforce their ownership rights if they felt they’d been violated? Historically, the answer to that last question has been centralization. For nearly as long as property has existed, its protection has been outsourced by a community to some overlord: a king, a government, or in the case of modern finance, a bank. But the problem with outsourcing power to a central authority is that the resulting power can be abused or undermined. All the information on, say, the average person’s savings account stays siloed on the data servers owned and operated by that person’s bank. If someone were to hack the bank, or if the bank chose to steal from its customers (crazy thoughts, I know!), centralization would backfire. In theory, blockchains—again, decentralized digital ledgers—are immune to these pitfalls. The “decentralized” aspect means that no one central authority maintains the records or holds the resulting power. Instead, the ledger is distributed across a network of computers owned and operated by unrelated entities, each of which holds a matching ledger that is regularly updated and verified in real time. So really, this isn’t just relevant to those who deal with digital art—it’s relevant to anyone in the art market who cares about secure exchange and privacy. Which is, basically, everyone. So, let me get this straight: You’re saying artists and collectors and dealers should all care about Bitcoin. I’m not saying you should blow $20,000 on one, but should you care about the concept? Probably, yeah. We all know that relationships rule in the art industry, particularly in the primary market. Even if a collector has the money to buy a particular work, they may not have the pedigree or connections to access it. Same for artists hoping to show and sell their work in galleries: It’s often as much about who you know as what you’re capable of. Decentralization means that all true uses of blockchain technology are “permissionless.” Without a central authority governing the resources, would-be participants don’t need to seek out approval from a gatekeeper to contribute. So anyone with the means and intent could make, buy, and sell rare digital artwork inside a community without needing to know a single person of standing in the traditional art market. You mentioned verifying a blockchain. How does that work? Trust me, you don’t want to dig too deep into this unless you’re ready to plunge into a quicksand pit of jargon like “merkle tree root” and “Secure Hash Algorithm-256.” But the basics are important, and they lead us back to the “crypto” part of cryptocurrencies. Essentially, for a new block of transactions to be added to an existing blockchain, some computer somewhere has to solve a complex cryptography problem, i.e., crack a numerical code. That problem involves verifying the continued integrity of the transactions in the pre-existing blockchain, as well as those in the new block. The process of solving this problem is known as “mining.” Once a computer solves the problem, every other computer hosting the ledger can instantly verify that the solution is correct. As a reference point, Patrick O’Shaughnessy, whose podcast miniseries Hash Power was instrumental to my still-flawed understanding of this space, equates mining to solving a jigsaw puzzle: Once the work has been done, anyone can see at a glance that the pieces fit as intended. The multiple layers of protection provided by this process theoretically allow any of us, anywhere, to completely trust blockchain-based transactions. And counterintuitively, that trust isn’t supposed to come DESPITE the fact that the blockchain is hosted on a network of computers whose owners we will never meet, personally communicate with, or even know the identity of. It’s supposed to come BECAUSE of the anonymity and the spread of the data. Wild, right? I’m an auction professional. Why should I care about this? Unless you have an extreme fetish for anxiety, shame, and job insecurity, I’m going to assume that you don’t want to be sued for unintentionally selling fake artworks. Suppose some lowlife attempted to fraudulently alter a single piece of data in the chain for a rare digital artwork being offered to your house—say, to contend that he was the rightful owner of someone else’s work. Blockchain technology means that the irregularity would be skunked out during the mining phase and neutralized. In theory, this means authenticity is 100 percent guaranteed and 100 percent verifiable at all times, forever. A MoMA visitor with Claude Monet’s Reflections of Clouds on the Water-Lily Pond. Courtesy of Jason Brownrigg, MoMA. I’m exhausted. Is mining the light at the end of the tunnel? I see what you did there. And mercifully, yes. For its service, the computer that cracks the next cryptography problem to extend a blockchain receives a reward. That reward takes the form of a scarce digital asset, generically called a “token” or “coin,” whose ownership would be tracked on the incorruptible blockchain to which it had just contributed. Hmmm, a currency exchanged for cryptography work. What should we call it, folks? Cryptocurrencies? Exactly! Cryptocurrencies. With all that exposition under our belts, then, we can consider the intrigue of several different blockchains and cryptocurrencies now filtering through the art space. Tune in next time for part II, where we’ll explore blockchain-based artworks, before closing with an exploration of how the technology can impact the business side in part III. Art Business Editor A Miami Beach Conference United Art and Tech A-Listers to Make the Case for Blockchain—And Ended as an Allegory of Market Mayhem By Tim Schneider , Dec 5, 2018 The Gray Market: Why Portia de Rossi’s Art-Tech Startup Has a Hard Road Ahead (and Other Insights) By Tim Schneider , May 21, 2018 Cryptocurrencies, Explained: How Blockchain Technology Could Solve 3 Big Problems Plaguing the Art Industry By Tim Schneider , Mar 22, 2018 Art Industry News: Anish Kapoor Donates $1 Million ‘Jewish Nobel Prize’ to Refugees + More Must-Read Stories By , Jan 18, 2018 A Christie’s Security Staffer Has Been Accused of Being a Deadly Chinese Spy	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3384
__label__wiki	0.947307	0.947307	Archaeologists Just Discovered That Neanderthals Made String 50,000 Years Ago, Suggesting They Were Waaay Smarter Than We Thought The researchers say that Neanderthals "really weren't very different from us.” Sarah Cascone, April 10, 2020 Modern cordage made of grass fibers. Photo courtesy of Bruce Hardy. Archaeologists have unearthed more evidence that Neanderthals were smarter than we previously believed. According to newly found materials, our human brethren were making the world’s first string 50,000 years ago. The oldest-known cord fragments prior to this discovery were found in Israel, and were made some 19,000 years ago. The find comes from an archaeological site called Abri du Maras in southeastern France, where Neanderthals lived between 90,000 and 42,000 years ago. “The idea that Neanderthals were cognitively inferior to modern humans is becoming increasingly untenable,” researchers say in an article documenting their finds published in Scientific Reports. “We found many tools on the living floors left by Neanderthals among bones of reindeers,” archaeologist Marie-Hélène Moncel, one of the paper’s authors and the director of research at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, told the New York Times. “On one of these tools there was a micro-residue of vegetal fibers, twisted.” The world’s oldest-surviving string, seen in this digital microscopy photo, was found at an archaeological site in France. Photo courtesy of the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France. Experts are positing that the string could have been used to produce utilitarian objects such as baskets, nets, mats, and bags, as well as fabrics. Under a microscope, the six-millimeter white fragment found on the tool was revealed to be a three-ply cord made from the inner layer of tree bark, likely a conifer. Excavations at the site had previously turned up other potential string fragments, but the possibility always remained that those were stray bits of modern fibers from archaeologists’ clothing. But “nobody at the site was wearing their conifer pants at the time” of the discovery, the paper’s lead author, palaeoanthropologist Bruce Hardy told the NewScientist. The bundles of fibers were made into yarn using a counterclockwise “S-twist,” and then three strands of yarn were bound together in a clockwise “Z-twist,” creating a durable cord. What makes the find even more remarkable is that the cord suggests that Neanderthals had a mathematical understanding of numbers. The world’s oldest-surviving string was discovered by archaeologists at a Neanderthal rock shelter at Abri du Maras in south-eastern France. Photo by Marie-Hélène Moncel. Making such a cord requires “context sensitive operational memory to keep track of each operation,” the paper says. “As the structure becomes more complex (multiple cords twisted to form a rope, ropes interlaced to form knots),” it demonstrates that Neanderthals may have had “a cognitive complexity similar to that required by human language.” “This is just another piece of the puzzle that shows [Neanderthals] really weren’t very different from us,” Hardy told NBC News. When Researchers Dated Spanish Cave Art to the Neanderthals, It Altered Our Understanding of Evolution. Did They Make a Mistake? By Taylor Dafoe , Nov 8, 2019 Archaeologists Have Discovered the World’s Oldest Cave Paintings—And They’re by Neanderthals By Sarah Cascone , Feb 23, 2018 First Known Neanderthal Cave Art Is a Primitive Hashtag By Sarah Cascone , Sep 2, 2014 Facing a $10 Million Shortfall, the Guggenheim Museum Has Furloughed Nearly 100 Staffers and Cut Salaries for Others By , Apr 10, 2020 Wet Paint: Mary Boone Angles for Early Release From Coronavirus-Ridden Prison, Nancy Pelosi’s Art Collection Revealed, & More Art-World Gossip	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3385
__label__wiki	0.597546	0.597546	Home » Tennis » WTA Finals Red Group: Halep and Sharapova feature on day one WTA Finals Red Group: Halep and Sharapova feature on day one Sam Barnard \| 25.10.2015 Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor \| October 24, 2015 WTA Finals Red Group, matchday one Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore Halep and Pennetta kick off competition at roughly 07:00 GMT Sharapova and Radwanska follow up at approx 11:30 GMT Halep and Sharapova contenders in Serena’s absence The WTA Finals is finally upon us and, with the eight-woman singles event being without world number one and superstar Serena Williams, there is plenty to play for in this elite line-up. Coral preview the first day of the competition in Singapore, where Simona Halep is up against Flavia Pennetta, before former champion Maria Sharapova takes on Agnieszka Radwanska in the round-robin Red Group. Simona Halep v Flavia Pennetta Tournament (10/3) and Red Group (7/4) favourite Halep comes into this event as world number two, but her high standing perhaps gives her too much credit for what she has achieved in 2015. It is clear she has plenty of talent, but tends to flop on the bigger stage, though she will be aiming to go one step further than when she was thrashed by Serena in the final last year. Shock US Open champion Pennetta is her first challenger, and Halep is odds-on at 2/5 to defeat the Italian veteran, who retires from the sport after this tournament. However, Pennetta boats a 4-1 career record over the rising Romanian star, so is a tempting 2/1 shout. None of their five meetings have gone the distance – the one time it did go the three sets Halep had to retire hurt – and each have beaten the other this year. The 24-year-old is an even-money chance to win 2-0, but Pennetta is more tempting at 4/1 for that same scoreline in her favour. Maria Sharapova v Agnieszka Radwanska As for 2004 WTA Finals champion Sharapova, there is no doubt that she has dominated her first opponent Radwanska, having beaten her 12 times in 14 meetings before. It is a surprise, therefore, that both are priced odds-on at 10/11 to win. That could be perhaps due to the fact that the Pole is in great current form, having claimed two titles recently (Tianjin and Pan Pacific Opens). But it is very difficult to see past the five-time Grand Slam winning Russian (6/1 title chance), who has beaten Radwanska in each of their last five head-to-heads. In fact, the duo met at this stage of this event last year, with Sharapova triumphing in three sets. So, back her at 3/1 to do so once more. Check out our tennis archive Take a look at our overall WTA Finals preview too Coral’s top tip: Sharapova beat Radwanka 2-1 here last year, so is very tempting at 3/1 to do so again. « WTA Finals: Serena Williams withdrawal aids Kvitova not Halep WTA Finals White Group: Czech couple Kvitova and Safarova to win » Sam Barnard Sam has been writing for Coral since January 2014, and is the assistant editor of the news site. As well as the main betting sports, football, tennis and cricket, he covers the likes of golf, F1 and darts too, the latter of which has become a particular favourite. Sam enjoys playing as much as writing about sports, but niggling injuries have limited his participation in recent years, so is happy to mainly watch the pros such as Manchester United, Yorkshire CCC, Raymond van Barneveld and even Gibraltar national football team instead. Ben Woodward \| 22.06.2013 Wimbledon Men’s preview US Open women’s semis: Serena and Halep favourites to reach final Lee Gormley \| 17.07.2016 2016 – Year of the underdog: Lincoln Red Imps add to growing list	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3386
__label__wiki	0.721143	0.721143	Home » Football » Is Eden Hazard set to have his best season yet at Chelsea? Is Eden Hazard set to have his best season yet at Chelsea? Daniel Anwar \| 08.08.2018 Sarriball should suit Belgian star very well With less than two days of the transfer window to go, it’s looking more and more likely that Eden Hazard will remain a Chelsea player this summer. It’s 2/1 that the Belgium captain joins Real Madrid, but with so little time to replace him, it’s hard to see Chelsea sanctioning a sale for any price. Hazard’s international teammate Thibaut Courtois seems determined to force a move to the Santiago Bernabeu through, but the 27-year-old seems content to stay in West London. And the Coral News Team have looked at why the arrival of new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri could be very good news for him… Attacking approach Hazard has the ability to beat defenders effortlessly, as well as score and create goals. But his time at Chelsea has been spent playing for managers who favour a defensive approach. Jose Mourinho got Hazard to track back more initially, but that took him away from the areas where he’s most effective. Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 system gave him plenty of freedom, but he was isolated too often. He carried the burden of creating in the final third almost on his own under the Italian. Sarri has a totally different view of the game to his two predecessors. He wants his team to control the ball and take the initiative. Hazard was already one of the best players in the Premier League, even though Chelsea’s team’s tactics have rarely suited him. Now he’ll have midfield runners to link up with and full-backs flying forward. He could be better than ever. Sarri boost One of the most impressive aspects of Sarri’s management is how he works with the players in his squad. The likes of Dries Mertens, Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne all dramatically improved under his leadership at Napoli. Insigne is a similar player to Hazard – both are very skilful and look to cut inside from the left flank. In his three seasons in the Napoli first-team before Sarri’s arrival, the Italian scored 16 goals in all competitions. Under Sarri, his return rocketed to 47 goals in three years. Hazard is a more frequent scorer than Insigne, but there’s a sense he could become even more effective. He’s only scored more than 15 league goals in a single season once during his six years at Stamford Bridge. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him break that barrier this season. Big match previews, betting tips and transfer news – Coral has it all. All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing « Champions League Preview: Ajax, Benfica, and Celtic all in action Do you remember these five blockbuster deadline day deals? » Daniel Anwar Daniel has written about sport for Coral, Squawka, FourFourTwo and the Premier League, among others. Frank Monkhouse \| 11.08.2017 Impressive Celtic to win big Holly Thackeray \| 23.11.2016 Champions League tips for Wednesday featuring Arsenal v PSG and an excellent acca Summer switches between Swansea and Spurs make for superb subplot	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3387
__label__cc	0.745831	0.254169	Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and Steelcase® Roam™ Free Teams to Collaborate Anywhere Microsoft and Steelcase join forces to help teams actively engage in collaboration and fuel better ideas NEW YORK, April 17, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Microsoft and Steelcase introduced a new way to give teams an unprecedented level of control over how they collaborate. Microsoft launched its next generation all-in-one collaboration device built for teamwork: Surface Hub 2S. And Steelcase introduced Steelcase® Roam™, a mobile stand and easy-to-hang wall mounting system designed for the Surface Hub 2S that allow teams to collaborate almost anywhere. These solutions meet the increasing demand for rapid innovation and problem solving by helping people access the right spaces and tools needed to create new ideas. “We joined forces with Microsoft two years ago to explore the future of work. Our work together is built on a shared commitment to put people at the center of how place and technology intersect and empower individuals and teams to do their best work,” says Sara Armbruster, Steelcase vice president of strategy, research and digital transformation. “This next chapter in our existing relationship is about giving individuals and teams freedom to collaborate whenever and wherever ideas strike.” Collaborate Anywhere Great ideas can’t always be scheduled. The Microsoft Surface Hub 2S is an interactive team device with a slim, sleek design that can turn any space into a collaborative space. Microsoft worked with Steelcase to design Steelcase Roam, a mobile stand and easy-to-hang wall mounting system, that allow people to use the Surface Hub 2S to collaborate in planned sessions or spontaneously. The mobile stand can be moved easily with one hand, and its small footprint fits in all kinds of spaces. The wall mounting system is the perfect solution for private offices or smaller spaces, encouraging standing and active postures. Active Collaboration Collaborative work at its best is active work: Neuroscience has established the strong connection between physical movement and improved creativity, learning and problem solving. Earlier Steelcase research, focused on active learning in the classroom, inspired the concept of active collaboration for the workplace. Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and Steelcase Roam support active collaboration by encouraging teams to move, stand, gesture and become more physically, mentally and emotionally engaged in their collaborative work. The benefits of active collaboration are backed by research, including the new Steelcase Active Collaboration Study 20191 that explored collaboration in the workplace and identified gaps that exist between how people are currently working and what they need. The study found: 72% of people want to move when collaborating but only 53% can; 62% of people say they can’t move their furniture but the majority want to; 70% would like to use an interactive collaboration device but only 42% have access to one; 66% say they lack technology to visually display work; 70% of people are still trying to collaborate in traditional conference rooms (sitting around a large table with little room to move around); and 75% of traditional conference rooms are enclosed, 81% of collaboration sessions are scheduled, while only 19% are spontaneous. Equal Participation Steelcase Roam and Surface Hub 2S prime people for creative work whether they are physically together or working remotely. A more relaxed, authentic collaborative experience eliminates hierarchy since people can see eye-to-eye and encourages equal participation. Remote team members can move around with the team and participate more fully. Teammates can see and hear crisply and clearly—making sure everyone has a place at the table. “Today, collaboration is bound by scheduled meetings on our calendars and scheduled spaces in our buildings. With Surface Hub 2S plus Steelcase Roam, you have the freedom to take your ideas with you, relocate to any space, and huddle where you want, when you want. And, anyone, near or far can actively engage,” says Robin Seiler, General Manager of Hardware Engineering, Microsoft. Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and Steelcase Roam are expected to start shipping in the US in June with additional markets soon to follow. They will be sold through Microsoft authorized device resellers. For more information, visit steelcase.com/360-roam. 1 Steelcase Active Collaboration Study 2019 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, UK and US of more than 3,000 office workers. About Steelcase Inc. For over 105 years, Steelcase Inc. has helped create great experiences for the world’s leading organizations, across industries. We demonstrate this through our family of brands – including Steelcase®, Coalesse®, Designtex®, PolyVision®, Turnstone®, Smith System®, Orangebox® and AMQ®. Together, they offer a comprehensive portfolio of architecture, furniture and technology products and services designed to unlock human promise and support social, economic and environmental sustainability. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 800 Steelcase dealer locations. Steelcase is a global, industry-leading and publicly traded company with fiscal 2019 revenue of $3.4 billion. Kayla Hanson khanson@steelcase.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/250d1b55-c5cd-4380-9d7a-36f929b213ef	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3388
__label__wiki	0.647531	0.647531	Consumer confidence slips on RBA cut: ANZ Michael Mehr Consumer confidence retreated at the weekend as households appeared to turn cautious after the latest cut to the cash rate, according to an ANZ survey that had recorded a surge in sentiment in the previous reading. The ANZ-Roy Morgan Australian Consumer Confidence index fell 2.1 per cent from the previous week, with a 4.7 per cent slump in how respondents felt about the financial circumstances of themselves and their family compared with 12 months ago. The weekly measure of consumer mood, which is based on about 1,000 face-to-face interviews conducted on Saturdays and Sundays, also registered a 5.0 per cent fall in people’s perceptions about their finances over the next year. Respondents were also more gloomy about the outlook for the Australian economy, with sentiment about the next 12 months falling 1.7 per cent and optimism about the next five years declining 1.1 per cent. “Last week’s bounce in ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence wasn’t sustained and sentiment is now back below the long term average,” ANZ economist Felicity Emmett said. The poll released on Tuesday is the first reading of public mood since the Reserve Bank of Australia cut the cash rate to an unprecedented low of 0.75 per cent on October 1. Consumer sentiment also went backwards immediately after the central bank’s two other rate cuts earlier this year. The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index fell 2.0 per cent after the RBA cut in June and dipped 1.1 per cent following its move in July. “The RBA is likely to be disappointed about the inability for either confidence or spending to lift materially despite significant monetary and fiscal stimulus,” Ms Emmett said.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3389
__label__wiki	0.740834	0.740834	December 29, 2018\| \| 0 Comment Album Review of Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel by Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey: Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel Mariah Carey Tweets on her sweet new album; ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ release date announced memoirs of an imperfect angel songs Mariah Carey : Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel Urban 2 Discs CD Mariah Carey – Memoirs Of Imperfect Angel (2009) [Full Album] Anew Mariah Carey album, a new promotional psychodrama: the jaunty, wisecracking lead single Obsessed exhumed an old beef with Eminem, received a lukewarm reception and was hurriedly replaced by a safe, typically bombastic Foreigner cover. It is not surprising that Carey’s label is nervous: Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is a sprawling, track epic with few obvious singles — but it is loaded with creativity. It’s an astonishingly intimate listen. Like many big-budget albums of the last years of the s, Mariah Carey’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel faced shifting release dates, all as the final product was tweaked in light of disappointing reactions to early singles, particularly the Eminem-baiting “Obsessed. Certainly, there are echoes of “Umbrella” to be heard on Memoirs, just as there are elements of the gauzy “Touch My Body,” The-Dream and Tricky Stewart’s previous single for Mariah, although working with mainly one set of producers does give Memoirs a cohesion that can sometimes lapse into sameness, but not in an unpleasant fashion. Even when she began flirting aggressively with hip-hop in the mids she was happy to impose her titanic vocals atop even the scrappiest production. And no matter how grimy her surroundings became …. Copyright – MusicCritic , all rights reserved. Entertainment Weekly Their review was positive. The New York Times Their review was unenthusiastic. Once upon a time, Mariah Carey’s albums had infantile titles like Butterfly, Rainbow, Glitter and Charmbracelet — sickly-sweet enough to be some pre-teen cartoon superheroine line-up. So it is with this work, which opens with the suggestion that it might be a concept-album following the singer through her day — a sort of soft-centred Ulysses — but then seems to leap prematurely to the bubble-bath and boudoir that most of us encounter after dark, before ultimately slamming into the brick wall of Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is”. Early accounts reported Mariah working with Timbaland, and Jermaine Dupri, though neither of their efforts have made it to the album. But there’s a reason why soul divas employ vast teams of different producers. 44, Only The Beatles have more No. Maybe this is the reason that it didn’t go well in the sales. Get track 7オクターブ(実際は5オクターブ？）あるという超. Can Mariah Carey still compete with the glut of acts that have made a career out of copying her style? Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel seems to suggest not. Following a mid-career slump that saw her sign a multi-million pound deal with Virgin only to be dropped after one album the disastrous Glitter soundtrack , Carey rose Phoenix-like from the ashes of her career with the confident The Emancipation Of Mimi album. Featuring production from The Neptunes , Kanye West and Jermaine Dupri, it went on to sell over 10 million copies and put Carey back at the top of the pile. Tracks like Inseparable and Candy Bling are little more than musical skeletons, with Carey talk-singing over the top of a sparse beat. The latter is a shame because the song starts relatively restrained and Carey sounds genuinely emotional, but all that is lost after the arrival of a choir and one of the most OTT key changes in recorded history. At least the inclusion of the cover version helps break up the monotony of much of the album. Angels Cry is a limp ballad and the most obvious attempt to recreate the success of her Mimi reincarnation, which ultimately ends up making you want to hear the original version more than anything. My First Blog Post. Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel is the twelfth studio album by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on September 29, by Island Records. Tips It was released on September 25, by Island Records. Het is anders dan de eerste cd’s, maar ja iedereen verandert en groeit. Prime Cart. [artist id=””]Mariah Carey[/artist] is pushing back the release date for Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel from September 15 to September Maybe this is the reason that it didn’t go well in the sales. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations song. The levity reflects the company Mariah is keeping: Every track on Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel was overseen by Carey and the ace duo of The-Dream … Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. My first sortie into this genre of music. I started understanding every song and I grew to love them. Please try againSorry, we failed to record your vote. Like many big-budget albums of the last years of the s, Mariah Carey ‘s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel faced shifting release dates, all as the final product was tweaked in light of disappointing reactions to early singles, particularly the Eminem -baiting “Obsessed. Certainly, there are echoes of “Umbrella” to be heard on Memoirs , just as there are elements of the gauzy “Touch My Body,” The-Dream and Tricky Stewart’s previous single for Mariah , although working with mainly one set of producers does give Memoirs a cohesion that can sometimes lapse into sameness, but not in an unpleasant fashion. Nevertheless, what it also lacks is the pandering, heavy-handed sexuality Mariah has relied upon too heavily this decade — and in doing so, it feels age appropriate in a way she hasn’t in a long time, despite a collection of silly, jumbled lyrics. All Memoirs needs to push it over the edge is a great pair of singles, and their absence does hurt the album a bit, but not enough to prevent it from being her most interesting album in a decade. AllMusic relies heavily on JavaScript. Buy Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel [Limited Edition] (CD) by Mariah Carey (CD Release Date: 09/29/; Label: Island/Def Jam; Catalog #: B Share this page. Tracklistings come from MusicBrainz. You can add or edit information about Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel at musicbrainz. Find out more about our use of this data , and also our policy on profanity. Find out more about our use of this data. Mike Diver Without meaning to set off on the wrong foot — looks first, music second — the imagery associated with Carey is of vital importance in her marketing. The most interesting aspect of the whole album is, sadly, the cover: more thought has probably gone into that than any of these pastiches of past achievements. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you choose to use this review on your site please link back to this page. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Find out more about page archiving. Home Clips. Released Login or Sign Up. Logging in Remember me. Log in. Forgot password or user name? Like many big-budget albums of the last years of the s, Mariah Carey’s Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel faced shifting release dates, all as. In most cases, we ship items within 1 business day of your order; however, this may be extended during peak periods. Please refer to the estimated delivery date set by eBay for when your order is due to arrive Please provide your correct delivery address as we cannot change the address once the order has been placed. Orders are delivered Monday through Saturday usually before 4pm via the U. Postal Service. If your order does not fit in your mail box the USPS may try to leave your order in a safe place or with a neighbor. Additionally, you will be entitled to a replacement item if available or a full refund -. If you have a preference then please state it in your initial message to us. Generally favorable reviews – based on 13 Critic Reviews What’s this? Generally favorable reviews – based on Ratings. See all 13 Critic Reviews. asks Mariah on the first single from Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel. Well a high school girl on her first date, muscle cars and shooting stars. Limited U. In addition, the package includes a 36 page Elle mini-magazine that serves as an inside look at Mariah. Skip to main content. Arrives: 4 – 23 Nov Fastest delivery: 3 – 20 Nov. Usually dispatched within 2 to 3 months. Quantity: 1 2 3 Quantity: 1. Add to Cart. Secure transaction. Your transaction is secure. We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. Young jinsu bio Hailee Steinfeld’s single ‘Wrong Direction’ sparks Niall Horan, One Direction diss track rumors Hilary Duff rose to fame as Lizzie McGuire. Now she’s about to reprise the role in her 30s. Connect. Discover. Share. Qwanell Mosley Previous Previous post: Top Ranked Google Play Apps Next Next post: Dating Keywords PortuguêsItaliano中文(简体)DeutschDanskPolskiNederlandsSuomiΕλληνικάNorskSvenskaFrançaisTürkçeEesti keelEspañolLëtzebuergeschEnglish日本語ČeštinaMagyarالعربية	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3390
__label__wiki	0.647284	0.647284	Home Television Comedy Two Of Us, The Two Of Us, The 1 9 8 6 – 1 9 9 0 (UK) This ITV vehicle for Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst – promoted as “a gentle comedy” – was tired, slow-paced, poorly scripted and terminally unfunny. Yet it ran for 32 episodes between 1986 and 1990. Modern young professional couple Ashley (Lyndhurst) and Elaine (Janet Dibley) were “living in sin” – much to the disapproval of Ashley’s parents. Ashley was keen to make their relationship “legal” but Elaine had a less conventional attitude to life and saw nothing wrong with their existing arrangement. Patrick Troughton played Ashley’s grandfather until the former Doctor Who actor suffered a fatal heart attack in March 1987. Tenniel Evans then took over the role. Ashley Phillips Nicholas Lyndhurst Elaine Walker Janet Dibley Patrick Troughton (1) Tenniel Evans (2) Lilian Phillips Jennifer Piercey Francesca Hall Colin Phillips Paul McDowell Walrus and the Carpenter, The Upchat Connection, The 1 9 7 8 (UK) 7 x 30 minute episodes John Alderton declined to appear in a second series of The Upchat Line so Keith Waterhouse came up... Bay City Blues 1 9 8 3 (USA) 1 x 60 minute pilot 7 x 60 minute episodes A short-lived ensemble drama which followed a minor league baseball team -... Carry on Laughing! 1 9 7 5 (UK) 13 x 30 minute episodes Not to be confused with the series of compilations from the Carry On films that is still... 1 9 5 9 - 1 9 6 1 (USA) 44 x 60 minute episodes The Enterprise was a 100-foot-long paddle steamer that churned up and down... 1 9 8 7 - 2 0 0 8 (UK) David Frost Loyd Grossman	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3392
__label__wiki	0.588755	0.588755	Hispanic-Muslim art April 27, 2020 by Abdullah Sam The Hispanic-Muslim art or Moorish art is the Islamic art developed in Alandalus between centuries VIII and XV. Its main exponents are the Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra of Granada . Another notable expression of Hispanic-Muslim art is the Palace of Aljafería in Zaragoza . The Muslim invasion of the Iberian peninsula in 711 by the Arabs changed the historical inertia of Goda society in Iberian lands, which was in line with the European West after the fall of the Roman Empire . Alandalus , which came to be called Muslim Hispania , maintained peculiar cultural conditions different from both Eastern Islam and the European context of that date. These conditions lasted until the conquest of the Kingdom of Granada in 1492 , the Nasrid dynasty. But, at the same time, this geographical and cultural singularity constituted one of the factors that had a decisive impact on the awakening of Europe , after the centuries of disunity and lethargy that followed the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the barbarian invasions . The Muslim invasion and the disappearance of the Visigoth kingdom of Toledo did not imply the extinction of the Christian and Jewish communities . Some fled to the north, where they formed a stronghold of opposition to the new power instituted in Cordoba and, in time, would constitute the germ of the later called Reconquista ; others, Christians who remained in Muslim territory, came to be known as Mozarabic . Both this minority and the Jewish one enjoyed state protection, forming large communities in large cities like Mérida , Toledo , Valencia , Cordoba ,Seville , Granada , Almeria , Malaga , etc. The changing circumstances over the more than eight centuries of Hispanic Islam meant that the artistic process developed during these centuries was systematized according to historical periods. So the division became habitual in: Art of the Emirate and the Caliphate From an artistic point of view, the Emirate of Cordoba employed a style that does not differ much from the rest of the Umayyad Caliphate . That is, the adequacy of formulas and elements of the cultures that preceded them, in this case of the Roman and Visigoth world . At no time did a literal repetition of motives and forms take place; on the contrary, its incorporation and assimilation resulted in a true creative outbreak, giving rise to the fundamental moment of the Caliphate’s art. Elements of the local Hispanic-Roman-Visigothic tradition were merged with oriental elements, both Byzantine and Umayyad or Abbasid . The artistic buildings are centered, from the first moment, around the capital, Cordoba, in which a congregational mosque was built to become the most important monument in the Islamic West. During the reign of Abderramão II , in whose court numerous artists, fashions and oriental customs were welcomed, several buildings stand out, among others, among which, the Alcázar de Mérida , as well as the minaret of the church of São João in Cordoba, in addition to the improvement of its walls and those of Seville . The Calder Abderramon IIIfollowing the oriental tradition, according to which each monarch, as a sign of prestige, should have his own palace residence, he decided to found the aulic city of Medina Azahara ( Medina al-Zahra ). In the rest of the peninsular territory there was also an artistic flourishing driven by the caliphate. Among those of a religious character are mosques, madrasahs and mausoleums. In the city of Toledo still perceive traces of his staff, as well as its citadel , medina , arrabais and surroundings. Among them is the small mosque of Cristo da Luz or Bab al-Mardum . And works as significant as the one in Guardamar del Segura ( Alicante ), the Castle of Gormaz ( Soria ) or Ciudad de Vascos (Toledo). The refinement of the court led to the creation of all kinds of decorative objects that, under royal sponsorship, were translated into the most varied artistic expressions. In particular, among the ivory works there are objects of daily use carefully carved: boats and archets designed to store jewelry, ointments and perfumes; mortars , pots, bowls, jars and glazed ceramic bowls, etc. In the National Archaeological Museum of Spain , the boat of Zamora for the woman of Aláqueme II or the architect of the Monastery of Leyre , in the Museum of Navarra , can be seen as a sample of this. The monarchs, as in Baghdad and Cairo , created their own fabric factory, which would be the principle of producing silk fabrics embroidered in Alandalus. The geometrical vegetal and figurative motifs are inscribed in medallions that form bands as they appear in the veil of Hisham II, which, like a turban, covered his head and hung up to his arms. Likewise, there were workshops in which bronze was worked , carved with figures that represented lions and deer with their bodies covered in tangent circles evoking fabrics and that were used as sources in the fountains. Its formal and stylistic parallelism with pieces by the Fatimids has led to controversy over the legitimacy of some of these pieces. The ceramics have types of production known as “green and manganese”. Its decoration based on epigraphic and geometric motifs and an outstanding presence of figurative motifs are achieved through the application of copper oxide and manganese oxide. Taifa art The destruction of political unity led to the abolition of the Cordovan caliphate in 1031 and the creation of a mosaic of independent kingdoms that were called taifas (of tawaifs , parties, factions). The rivalries between them, claiming the legacy of the caliphate ‘s prestige and authority , constituted the dominant tonic of the period. This situation was reflected in the artistic field in the emulation of Cordovan models. In this context, the palatial architecture sponsored by each of the monarchs is inserted. One of the best testimonies is, without a doubt, La Aljafería de Zaragoza , typologically related to the Umayyad palace of Msatta ( Jordan). It has a tripartite organization where each of the sectors was dedicated to differentiated functions. The central sector, for protocol use, is dominated by a rectangular courtyard whose smaller sides were occupied by barracks, porches and elongated estates marked at the ends by alcobas. This scheme is undoubtedly derived from the cordovan palatal models. The same repertoire of arcs unfolded in the building, among which we find everything from lobulated, mistilinear arches, of semicircular and pointed horseshoe, to complex organizations of interlocking, overlapping and opposing arches, responds to this same tradition. All of them are made with poor materials, but covered with plasterwork with vegetal, geometric and epigraphic motifs, seeking an effect of fastuosity and apparent richness. The old alcoves of the different kingdoms also underwent major remodeling. In Malaga, a double walled enclosure with square towers and a palace with the vestiges of the so-called Granada Rooms are added. The old Alcáçova de Granada , known as qadima (old), located on the hill of Albaicín , was fortified with square and round towers and added some elbow doors, such as the Monaita door and the Nova door. Also, the city conserves baths known as the Bañuelo, organized in three estancias of which the central or temperate one acquires, for reasons of use, bigger dimensions. Very similar baths are conserved in Toledo ,Baza and Palma de Mallorca . The alcove of Almeria was fortified with side walls, and a palace was built inside, al-Sumadihiyya , surrounded by gardens. In the cases of Toledo and Taifa of Seville , kingdoms that flourished most strongly due to the Cordovan heritage, stunning testimonies of the Arab chronicles about their palaces are preserved, as well as few fragments that are generally out of context. Architect from the Taifa of Toledo ( S. XI, MAN , Madrid ) As with architecture, the sumptuous arts followed the Cordovan tradition although other centers took on the role. Thus the production of ivory was transferred to the workshop in Cuenca , while the prestige in textiles was acquired by the workshop in Almeria. With regard to ceramics, a technique that appeared during the caliphate was consolidated, but which at this moment acquired a great development. It is the “dry rope” ceramic whose pieces are decorated with lines of manganese oxide forming different motifs that are filled with different colored glass. Almoravid art The works carried out during the reign of the monarch Iúçufe ibne Taxufine , also showed the austerity and lack of ornamentation imposed by his religious fervor. Formal rigor that did not keep his son Ali ibne Iúçufe , who sponsored the construction of several buildings decorated with the most beautiful elements. The preferred support is the pillar, replacing the column . They adopt the horseshoe and lobed arch , to which they add horseshoe or humid arches, lobulated in the shape of a clover, mistilíneos and lambrequins formed, the latter, by small curves, right angles and pendant keys. In relation to the development of the arches, they apply, since the saimel, a ” S ” motif called serpentiforme, previously used in the Aljafería de Zaragoza . The preferred roofing system is the two sides, they build wooden ceilings and achieve a great development in the Mudéjar art , at the same time that they realize extraordinary domed coverings. Some, represented by theMirabe the Mosque Tlemcen , follow the model Cordovan: intersecting arches that in this case, pluck angular tubes of mucarnas and use some complements stucco silent decorated with lush floral motifs. From this work, in which the introduction in the zagreb of the mucarna is documented , other types of domes called mucarnas appear, like the one that can be seen in the mosque of Qarawiyin in Fez . The artistic works continued to be linked to previous traditions. The textile workshop in Almeriareached its zenith by performing the famous attabi. These fabrics are characterized by the use of more soft colors with touches of gold forming double, tangent or connected circles, arranged in rows, within which couples of animals are embroidered. The similarity with Sicilian fabrics allows both cutlery to be confused. A similar problem exposes the ivories, which contain ambiguous inscriptions that have not just clarified which of the two cutlery belong to. Ceramics, in turn, continue to develop the technique of “partial dry rope” or “total” depending on whether the decoration covers all or part of the surface. At the same time, there are two new techniques applied to unglazed ceramics: the scribed and the stamped, which would become widespread at the Almohad era. Almohad art [ edit \| edit source code ] Torre del Oro (Seville). Almohad architecture. First third of the 13th century The return to the most extreme austerity led, more quickly than in the case of their predecessors, the Almoravids, to one of the most splendid artistic moments, particularly in architecture. Almohadic art continued the Almoravid stele, consolidating and deepening its typologies and ornamental motifs. They built with the same materials: tiles, plaster, mortar and wood. They also maintained, as support, the pillars and arches used in the previous period. Its mosques followed the model of the Tremecém mosque, with naves perpendicular to the gibla wall. Them was boosted a scheme in ” I ” through the use of domes that are mucarnas the mosque Tinmal and in Qutubiyya of Morocco . They are characterized by their square plan and their height made up of two towers, one of them houses another and, between them, there is a stairway or ramp, as in the case of the Giralda of Seville . The interior tower is formed by vaulted and overlapping rooms that will have their subsequent repercussion in the construction of other Mudejar bell towers, especially those built in Aragon . Palatial architecture introduces the crossed courtyards that had already made their appearance in Medina al-Zahra, but that is, at these moments, when they acquire their greatest protagonism. His best testimony is represented in the Alcázar of Seville , in which the courtyard of the Contracting House and another, currently underground, known as the Cruzado Garden or Baths of Dona María Padilla , have been preserved . This scheme would also be applied in the Nárdidas and Mudéjar yards. Another novelty appears in the Pátio do Gesoof Alcácer de Sevilha, and will have a great repercussion. It consists of placing small openings or windows covered with stucco lattices that give access to a resort and thus allow its lighting and ventilation. Military architecture experiences a typological enrichment and its defensive effectiveness is perfected, which would have great transcendence, even for the Christian sphere. Complex elbow doors appear in order that the attackers, when advancing, leave one of their flanks uncovered; polygonal towers to deflect the angle of fire; albarran towers separated from the walled enclosure, more joined to it by the upper part by means of an arch, which allows to increase its defensive effectiveness with respect to a normal tower, like the Torre del Oro of Seville; reinforced walls that run perpendicular to the walled enclosure in order to protect a water intake, a door, or to avoid the complete enclosure; barbecans or antemuros and balustrades. In the decorative terrain, they applied a repertoire characterized by sobriety, order and rationalism, which translates into the appearance of broad motifs that leave free spaces in which geometric interleaves, smooth vegetable shapes and the newest: the sebqa triumph . Another architectural decoration that appears in this minaret and mosque Qutubiyya is the ceramics, which is applied the technique of alicatado ; that is, cut pieces that, combined with each other, make up a decorative motif. On other occasions these artistic manifestations combine the ornamental and the functional. The works of art of this time are worse represented because of the confusion that exists between the different artistic periods. This is the case, for example, with fabrics, which are not easily distinguished from mudéjares: they accuse a practical absence of figurative motifs while increasing the geometric and epigraphic decoration based on the insistent repetition of Arabic words such as “blessing” and “happiness” “. As metallic elements, aguamanis stand out, representing animal figures decorated with chiseled vegetable incisions. Nasrid art Courtyard of the lions in the Alhambra de Granada Nasrid art is a style that emerged in the late Alandalus era in the nacreid kingdom of Granada . The two paradigms of the same make it the palaces of the Alhambra and the Generalife . Military architecture develops the same systems generated in the previous era, giving it greater complexity. Palatial architecture employs two types of patio organization: one monoaxial patio, patio of the Arrayanes or Alberca , and another, the crossed patio , patio of the Lions . The resorts linked to them respond, again, to two types: one elongated at the ends of which are the alcobas, and another square surrounded by the Rooms, for example, the Sala de la Barca and the Sala de las Dos Hermanas . The few traces of religious architecture allow us to think of mosques that follow the Almohad model, with naves perpendicular to the quibla wall. Perhaps the only notable novelty comes from the fact that marble columns are used when the building is of certain relevance. As for the ornamental repertoire, they use a decorative profusion that masks the poverty of the materials, they use plastered skirting boards and plaster plaster, the painted decoration as the one preserved in the vault of the Sala dos Reis . The cylindrical shaft column and the two-body capital are characteristic, one cylindrical decorated with bands and the other cubic with ataurique. The preferred arches are those with half a staggered and grooved point. The wooden coverings alternate with stucco vaults made with stucco such as those of the Sala das Dos Hermanas (“Duas Irmãs”) or that of the Abencerragens . Also, the usual ornamental motifs (geometric, vegetables and epigráficos) joins the shell to be Nazrid generalized by Muhammad V . In sumptuous arts, there are ceramics with metallic reflections and silk fabrics to which bronzes, taracenas and weapons can be added. Luxury ceramics, known as “metallic reflection” or “golden slate” are characterized by submitting, the last cooking, with very low fire “of oxygen” and lower temperature. With this procedure, the mixture of gold and copper sulfide used in the decoration reaches oxidation, reducing the metallic shine. It was also frequent to add cobalt oxide with which blue and gold tones were obtained. The fabrics were characterized by their intense color as well as the motifs, identical to those used in architectural decoration. Mudejar art Main article: Mudejar art Detail of the Alcázar of Seville Mudejar art took place between the 12th and 16th centuries , and it was an indigenous and exclusively Hispanic phenomenon, carried out by the Mudejar and Moorish . Basically, it was a style for Christians, although it incorporated influences, elements or materials in Spanish-Muslim style. The border situation in continuous movement influenced this art. The Gothic style was based on the north of the peninsula and, as the reconquest progressed, it progressively conditioned the Mudejar. The subsequent conquest of Alandalus implied a younger Mudejar and with direct influences from traditional architecture. The alarife or worker, used simple materials such as tiles, plaster, scale, masonry, wood etc., as a basic raw material to create a work full of imagination. Due to its losing situation, the alarife, becomes cheap labor and is forced to build churches, synagogues, fortifications, palaces … In the Mudéjar art two different schools stand out: Aragon: With a very characteristic personality, it surprises the color that receives the use of tiles in the exteriors and the innumerable resources that they extract from these. Andalusia: In Cordoba the use of stone is maintained, while in Seville the tiles, Almohad shapes and the construction of mausoleums predominate. The last style would be neo-mudéjar , as a final and evolutionary phase in time. Many people like to write, they make a living from… Art and adolescence;How teens can participate in art What is the art of Fauvism or Fovism art? How to Become a Muslim? Why Do Muslim Women Wear the Veil? Why do Muslim women cover their heads? Categories Fine Arts Study Notes Post navigation Numbering of the arts Concrete art	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3394
__label__wiki	0.62329	0.62329	Unplugged: Employees succeed in non-traditional roles September 3, 2015 August 8, 2018 Scott Wudel 1915 Views 6 Comments CPS, energy, females, Labor, utility, women, work min read Meet Letty Ortiz and Bertha ‘Birdy’ Coronado. They are two of CPS Energy’s eight-woman field work force. This Labor Day, we would like to spotlight a couple of folks in non-traditional roles at CPS Energy. Both are 20-year plus employees who have worked alongside their male counterparts in the hot sun, pouring rain, freezing winds and darkest of night. Letty Ortiz is a utility crew foreman in our Underground Electric Distribution Department (UED). Bertha is an overhead maintenance operator. Sitting down with Letty during her lunch break was fun. She has a big smile and a quick laugh that sets you right at ease. Letty started at CPS Energy 23 years ago as a service worker. She’s been in construction since she graduated high school in 1980. “I was looking for jobs in the paper and I came across an ad for a free class sponsored by Texas A&M called Highway Construction for Women,” she says. Three hundred women showed up but they started dropping like flies. I was one of the few that finished the course.” That class began a life-long career in non-traditional construction roles. Letty worked on the I-35 overpass at Rittiman Rd. placing the decorative embankment walls. She worked alongside her father who was a cement finisher on that project. She went to the downtown Tri-Party project after the highway job was complete. It was Tri-Party that led her to work alongside CPS Energy crews. Several of our foremen noticed Letty’s hustle and encouraged her to apply. She started in what, at the time, was called the Service Crew. Think every manual labor job an electric and gas utility encompasses – the Service Crew’s function was to perform all of those jobs. Letty did everything from hand digging and back filling, to trenching and rock cutting. “We would do all the hard work and they (underground hook up crews) would come and do the easy work,” she says with a big laugh. Letty progressed from a general trainee to equipment operator to foreman in just 10 years. She says she faced very few challenges as a woman in the field. It was a different story as foreman. “Once I became a foreman there were some guys who right away said, ‘Whoa, a woman is gonna tell me what to do?,’” Letty recalls. But she says it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. It helped that as a service worker and operator, Letty worked just as hard as the men. She never asked for special consideration and was often the point person on projects. She says as a foreman she continues to work alongside her crews, and did so even back at a time when a foreman working alongside crews was not the standard practice. It’s that work ethic which sums up her work philosophy, “Leading is all about communication and working with your team,” she says. “If your guys see that you are working just like they are, believe me, they’ll respect you and bend over backwards for you.” I’m sure her smile helps. I met Birdy at a job site just south of downtown on a 95-degree day. An 18-wheeler had hit a pole at 4 a.m. and knocked it over. Her crew was on site to relieve the overnight crew and to replace the downed pole, three transformers and wires. Birdy was on site to operate the Pole Setter Boom Truck. – a huge 10-wheeled vehicle with a hydraulic crane. Birdy was there to hang the new transformers on the pole. Birdy’s lunch break interview was on an industrial dock about a hundred yards from the site. Birdy greeted me with a smile and an easy demeanor, leaning against the shaded dock, waiting for my questions. My first surprise was that Birdy also came to CPS Energy after attending a continuing education course at St. Phillip’s College. She was a self-described housewife remodeling her home and she needed to learn how to rewire it. After the course, she rewired her house. That success led to Birdy’s husband suggesting she apply at CPS Energy. She just hit her 26th year this August. She’s been in Overhead Maintenance for 23 of those years and was Overhead’s first female employee. The first three years Birdy was a utility worker in the Gas Department. She worked on a main gas line install crew. “My first day, the low person on the crew had to jackhammer,” Birdy remembers. “I couldn’t even stand up the jackhammer. About two months later, I was able to carry the jackhammer on one arm and the two hoses on the other.” Birdy says she had to prove her herself once she came to the electric side as a helper. While she says her coworkers were always ready to help her carry the heavy stuff, it wasn’t until she became an operator that she felt accepted. “Everybody that would come into the electric side as a helper would stay a year or two and they would move out,” she says. “I was a helper for five years. And then I became an operator, so I guess I proved myself that I was going to stay around.” Along with the Pole Setter, Birdy also operates Bobcats, the large Digger Derrick, and the Mini Digger Derrick EZ-Hauler. Birdy drives all of our commercial vehicles and is an instructor in our commercial driver’s license course (she says she gets a lot of thumbs up from fellow motorists). I asked Birdy to sum up her 26 years with the company: “I like my job. I haven’t had any problems with the guys disrespecting me,” Birdy says. “They’re real good guys to work with. I’m one of the first ones to volunteer for call duty. I always answer when they call for extra people.” These two hard working women symbolize CPS Energy’s commitment to our customers and each other every day of the year. ← Previous PowerFin Brings SolarHost, First-of-its-Kind, Rooftop Solar Program to San Antonio Down…set…call 811 Next → Scott Wudel Scott was part of the Corporate Communications team at CPS Energy. 6 thoughts on “Unplugged: Employees succeed in non-traditional roles” Melody Kreutziger I have worked with both of these ladies on claims related matters and their positive attitudes are refreshing! Letica Juarez WAY TO GO LADIES! 🙂 Lalie Gomez Congrats Ladies… you are truly to be commended for your hard work. Anna J. Solis Congratulation ladies for almond your hard work and your accomplishment. sharon robles Beautiful example of hard working women with integrity & grit. Brenda J. Martinez-Ponce Stories like this make me feel proud to be a woman. Thank you Letty and Birdy for showing for the fine example you set of what women can do!	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3400
__label__cc	0.632526	0.367474	Toyota’s New “LQ” Wants to Build an Emotional Bond with Its Driver Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) today announced the “LQ”, a concept vehicle that leverages advanced technology to build an emotional bond between car and driver. The next generation of the Toyota “Concept-i”, a concept vehicle first exhibited at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, LQ is equipped with automated driving capabilities and “Yui,” a powerful artificial intelligence-powered interactive agent designed to learn from the driver and deliver a personalized mobility experience. Onboard Artificial Intelligence Agent “Yui” delivers personalized driving experience Toyota-developed SAE Level 4 equivalent automated driving LQ to be displayed at “Future Expo” special exhibition of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show Test drive experience available from June to September 2020 in Tokyo “In the past, our love for cars was built on their ability to take us to distant places and enable our adventures,” said LQ development leader Daisuke Ido. “Advanced technology gives us the power to match customer lifestyles with new opportunities for excitement and engagement. With the LQ, we are proud to propose a vehicle that can deliver a personalized experience, meet each driver’s unique mobility needs, and build an even stronger bond between car and driver.” As a mobility company, Toyota believes that when people are free to move, anything is possible. This vision is built on an understanding that mobility goes beyond physical transportation to include the human need to be moved and engaged emotionally. LQ follows this philosophy under a core development theme of “Learn, Grow, Love.” Yui and LQ’s automated driving technology, both developed in partnership with Toyota Research Institute (TRI), combine to create a unique mobility experience that builds the relationship between vehicle and driver by learning from and responding to individual preferences and needs. The name expresses Toyota’s hope that this approach will “cue” the development of future vehicles that enhance the relationship between car and driver. LQ will be on public display at the “Future Expo”, a special exhibition of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show1 from October 24 to November 4. In addition, Toyota today announced “Toyota Yui Project Tours 2020”, a public test-drive event scheduled to run from June to September 2020. The public will have the opportunity to register for a chance to be selected to experience the LQ and the “Yui” AI. By using a smartphone app in advance to provide their interests and preferences, selected participants will join a test drive of the “LQ” with “Yui”. More details for the Toyota Yui Project Tours 2020 will be announced on a dedicated website: https://toyota-yuiproject.com/en/ The main features and technologies of the LQ include: 1. Yui Mobility Expert and AI Agent LQ features an on-board artificial intelligence agent named “Yui” that provides a personalized mobility experience based on the driver’s emotional state and alertness. In order to ensure safety and comfort, the AI can engage with the driver using interactive voice communications, in-seat functions designed to increase alertness or reduce stress, in-vehicle illumination, air conditioning, fragrances and other human-machine interactions (HMI). Yui can also select and play music based on the driving environment and provide real-time information on topics of interest to the driver. In addition to research conducted at TRI, Toyota received support from the following companies in the development and implementation of Yui: JTB Corporation: Provided facility information and driving routes suitable to meet customer preferences; AWA Co., Ltd.: Offered streaming music suitable for vehicle driving routes and customer preferences NTT DoCoMo, Inc.: Provided a high-speed and stable communication environment by installing a 5G base station at the test drive base Going forward, Toyota will continue to work on further expanding Yui’s implementation through integration with other products such as smartphones. 2. Technology designed to provide safety, peace of mind, and a comfortable mobility experience i) Automated Driving: The LQ is equipped with an SAE2 Level 4 equivalent automated driving function. ii) Automated Valet Parking System (Jointly developed with Panasonic Corporation) The system eliminates the need to search for parking spaces by automatically driving between a drop-off spot and an assigned parking space in nearby parking lot, improving accessibility for those with mobility limitations including seniors, people with physical disabilities, pregnant women, customers with infants, and anyone who has difficulty parking. The system also maximizes space in the parking lot by reducing clearance between adjacent vehicles to 20 centimeters. Automated parking uses an on-vehicle system that identifies the current position of the vehicle using multiple cameras, sonar and radar, 2D road mapping, cameras installed in the parking lot and a control center. Vehicle sensors and parking lot cameras also monitor for other vehicles and pedestrians on the automated driving route, automatically stopping the vehicle when another vehicle or a pedestrian is detected. iii) AR-HUD (Jointly developed with Panasonic Corporation) LQ’s Augmented Reality Head’s Up Display (AR-HUD) uses Augmented Reality (AR) to expand the information display area of the Head’s Up Display (HUD), supporting safe driving by reducing driver eye movement. Driving information such as lane warnings, road signs, and route guidance can be displayed in a three-dimensional and easy-to-understand manner over the scenery seen through the windshield. The system helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road thanks to a large screen display (equivalent to 230 inches) that has a depth of 7 m to 41 m ahead of the vehicle. iv) Seat with alertness and relaxation functions (world-first) (Jointly developed with Toyota Boshoku Corporation) LQ’s advanced seating system consists of multiple inflatable air bladders embedded into the seat with an in-seat air conditioning system to help keep the driver awake or relaxed depending on the driving situation. When the system recognizes that the driver is tired, it inflates the air bladder in the seat back to support an upright sitting posture and directs cool air from the ventilation system located in the seat. When conditions allow the driver to relax, such as in automated driving mode, the air bladder in the seat back gradually inflates and contracts to encourage abdominal breathing. 3. Other advanced equipment and technology i) New HMI functions LQ uses the roof and floor mat areas as an intuitive communications platform to share information between the vehicle and passengers. Embedded lighting displays different colors to indicate automated or manual driving mode, and lights up different foot wells to indicate which passenger Yui is addressing. LQ can also communicate information such as road surface conditions to people inside and outside of the vehicle using the Digital Micromirror Device (DMD) installed in its headlights. The system can activate one million tiny embedded mirrors to project complex figures on the road ahead. ii) Organic LED meter display (Toyota's first) A first for Toyota, LQ’s dashboard and meters are displayed using organic LEDs (OLEDs). The advanced instrument panel design wraps around the driver while ensuring high visibility. iii) Air purification coating (Jointly developed with Aisin Chemical Co., Ltd. and Cataler Corporation)LQ features a newly developed catalyst coating that decomposes ozone into oxygen on the radiator fan, allowing ozone near the ground surface, a cause of photochemical smog, to be decomposed as the vehicle moves. Toyota has measured the effect of the coating as purifying about 60 percent of ozone contained in 1,000 liters of air over the course of an hour drive. Toyota expects this technology to help clean harmful emissions like ozone from the air during drives and is considering the coating for use in commercial vehicles in the future. The LQ cabin is designed with a futuristic, forward-projecting silhouette that puts Yui at the center of the instrument panel, with lines that flow from the inside of the vehicle out across its exterior. The minimalist interior is smooth and sleek, with key elements like air conditioner vents hidden behind invisible registers. The 3D-printed center console is reinforced using the design technique of topology optimization, which provides optimal strength and supports an advanced vehicle interior with fewer support structures visible to the driver. The exterior doors feature glass that seamlessly connects with the interior of the vehicle, creating an integrated, elegant design. LQ Main Specifications Length/Width/Height (mm) 4,530 / 1,840 / 1,480 Occupancy (Persons) Vehicle weight (kg) EV cruising rang (km) Approximately 300 1 The special invitation days is on October 24; the show is open to the general public from October 25 to November 4. 2 SAE Level references can be found here View additional Tokyo Motor Show 2019 news releases, images, and more here: https://global.toyota/en/mobility/toyota-brand/features/tms/2019/ 2019 Toyota LQ Concept Dafne Vásquez dafne.vasquez@toyota-europe.com Stefan Ramaekers stefan.ramaekers@toyota-europe.com	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3401
__label__wiki	0.806644	0.806644	NYPD Hunting For 2 Suspects In Fatal Shooting Inside Staten Island Recording StudioThe deadly incident happened Saturday night on Van Duzer Street in the Grymes Hill section of the borough. Outside Of Few Dings, Giants Mostly Healthy Heading Into San Francisco Filed Under:Aaron Ross, Chase Blackburn, Chris Canty, Deon Grant, New York Giants, Victor Cruz (credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)(credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — Coach Tom Coughlin doesn’t think the Giants suffered any significant injuries in Sunday’s NFC division game with the Green Bay Packers Sunday. Coughlin said Monday a couple of players the usual post-game aches and pains but there didn’t seem to be anything to be concerned about for Sunday’s NFC title game against the San Francisco 49ers. Defensive tackle Chris Canty walked away from his locker quickly Monday and said “the proof was in the pudding” when asked about a knee he hurt in the fourth quarter. “I heard that, I heard that,” Canty said after the same Sunday, responding to fans’ boos in Green Bay who thought the injury could have been faked. “The fans pay their money, they’re entitled to cheer as they see fit or boo as they see fit. It’s unfortunate they won’t be able to cheer next week.” Cornerback Aaron Ross was befuddled by leg cramps he experienced in the cold. Safety Deon Grant was examined for a concussion but returned. Linebacker Chase Blackburn left with a stinger but also returned. “I am pretty good, I just got a little helmet to the thigh, but it’s nothing a little ice can’t heal,” said wide receiver Victor Cruz, who was unconcerned about a quad injury. Can a healthy Giants squad be beat in San Francisco? Sound off below…	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3402
__label__cc	0.668179	0.331821	Nine Circles ov…The Binder of Forgotten Metal August 15, 2017 March 2, 2019 Chris Voss There is a significant real estate issue in my house when it comes to physical media. I have one room that is totally mine, but there’s only so much you can cram into a 9×12 foot office. So I began to make concessions: in addition to moving largely digital I’ve been transferring a lot of my CDs into binders, relegating the towers (thank you IKEA Gnedby) to the music I listen to the most. When I first got back into extreme music, I was buying whatever I could to get a sense of what it was I liked and identified with. Now I have two fat binders full of stuff I probably haven’t listened to in years, so for this edition of Nine Circles ov… I decided to grab one of those dusty old binders, open it up and grab some metal to see what I moved in error, and what rightfully deserved its place among the forgotten. Let’s dig in… The Mighty Nimbus – The Mighty Nimbus: Shambling forth with a sludge doom/stoner hybrid that featured members of Sixty Watt Shaman and Alabama Thunderpussy, The Mighty Nimbus probably didn’t hold my interest when the self titled debut came out in 2004 (I was probably craving melodic death metal at the time) but today songs like “Everything I See” with its sweet singalong chorus and the buzzing dirge of “Drinking on a Pile of Skulls” feel right at home to me. Vocally Dan Soren channels a cool mix of Phil Anselmo and a faint echo of Life of Agony in the cleaner moments. I’m surprised how I dig it now – especially the evil left turn the record takes with “Sacraments of the Sick.” Verdict: I was wrong – real good dirty little blast of sludge. Sorry The Mighty Nimbus! Kalas – Kalas: “Matt Pike?! You shelved a Matt Pike project?!” Yeah, sorry but I did. I was super stoked to hear this when it came out after being blown away by High On Fire’s Blessed Black Wings. Falling into the depth of stoner bliss with Sleep only made it more anticipated. And then…this. Reading up on the release now I realize Pike handled vocals only (one nice lead line aside on “Frozen Sun”) and the music, while certainly passable, is just that and nothing more. Mixed in with other songs I guess Kalas is okay, but put next to the Man God Pike’s other works, it falls short. Verdict: Rightfully shelved. Cipher – Children’s of God’s Fire: Political metalcore with hip-hop, noise, and did I mention hip-hop? There was a moment in time when stuff like this was popular I guess, and I admire the band’s commitment on tracks like “Venom” where the really angry and dissonant moments try to work against the more melodic moments, but the barking vocals and syncopated rhythms strive for Candiria levels of integration but never quite get there. I’ll give Cipher this, though: everything feels 100% sincere – there’s nothing that reeks of calculation or a cash grab on a trend on the record. And there are moments when it works, like the aforementioned “Venom” or the two-part “Enduring Freedom” but ultimately this isn’t something I really feel like I need to revisit. Verdict: Rightfully shelved, but not for lack of effort. Gospel – The Moon is a Dead World: I don’t know what I was thinking, okay? It was 2005, people were all over things with solos and that European flair. But dear LORD listen to this thing: the way the bass slinks and slithers on opening track “Congratulations…You’ve Hit Bottom!” is a monster. Merging prog elements with the hardcore/metalcore leanings of bands like Converge probably shouldn’t sound this damn good, but DAMN IT SOUNDS SO GOOD. “Yr Electric Surge is Sweet” is a frenetic blast of hammer-ons and air-raid sirens that makes my blood boil. I apologize to the Metal Gods™ for ever relegating this beauty of a record to the binder. I’ll take my lashes accordingly. Verdict: HOLY CRAP THIS SHOULD SIT ON A SHINY THRONE. Andromeda – Extension of the Wish: Back when I was getting my metal feet wet, labels were just as important as magazines like Decibel or Terrorizer. Century Media was something I went to look for when I was brushing up on my early education, which is probably what brought me to Andromeda’s Extension of the Wish. Progressive metal with plenty of guitar wizardry and clean soaring vocals are the order of the day here, with keyboards giving everything a techno shine that mirrors the shoddy artwork on the cover. For all that I dig the vibe of this, their 2001 debut – there’s a bunch of fun to be had on tracks like “Crescendo of Thoughts” with the very Dream Theater-ish interplay between the guitars and keys. If you’re looking for something very much in the vein of Dream Theater when they were fun, this might be up your alley. Verdict: I may not dig it up too often, but this is fun shit. Bring it forth and let it breathe! Far-Less – Everyone is Out to Get Us: Well, it came out on Tooth & Nail, if that means anything to you. I feel like at the time of the mid-aughts there were a ton of bands doing this kind of snazzy, snappy hardcore/pop melange. The Fall of Troy, He is Legend…even to a lesser extent Protest the Hero. This bears the same scare Kalas does above: there’s nothing here that’s necessarily bad, but there’s nothing here that sticks a second after hearing it. It’s innocuous, which is one of the last things I want from my metal. Once I start to see tongue in cheek song titles (“I Looked at the Trap, Ray” which actually is one of the more successful songs here) you better impress. Meh. Verdict: Sorry. In the binder you shall stay. Losa – The Perfect Moment: We might as well retitle this Nine Circles ov…2005 at the rate we’re going. I remember almost nothing of this album expect reading somewhere of comparisons to Tool. Listening to opener “The Beginning” I think early Mastodon is more apt, albeit with less nuance and more punishment. It’s pretty much “second verse, same as the first” for the rest of the album: pummeling chugging, screaming, and occasionally a twist in the rhythm. The album hits its groove about midway with “From the Ashes of Infancy” and “Linear Prophecy” before giving us the most Tool-like song with “Church of Pitted Vipers.” Maybe if they re-sequenced the record and dropped that first track we’d have a clearer winner in The Perfect Moment. As it stands (it’s also their only album) I can take or leave it. Verdict: If there was a way to ditch the first half and keep the second half, I’d do it. Starkweather – Croatoan: I think everyone and their mother went nuts for this album when it came out in – you guessed it: 2005. At the time it was too chaotic and blistering for me (I was so sensitive at the tender age of 32). I do recall really digging the 2010 follow-up This Sheltering Night quite a bit, but never got back around to Croatoan despite the awesome cover artwork by Paul Romano. My mistake: next to Gospel this is probably the biggest miss I’ve made, one I’m only too glad to correct now. At times blisteringly chaotic, true, but the way that chaos transforms into order is breathtaking on tracks like “Taming Leeches with Fire” where the vocals melt and sputter like death around a crunching set of riffs that beat into your chest like a baseball bat. Speed varies almost randomly, but then everything ties in a ringing open chord before laying waste again. The vocal and musical gymnastics on display here work in the same manner as outfits like Mr. Bungle or Dillinger Escape Plan, but with a bleaker, more punishing outlook. Not convinced? Good news: you can get the album on Bandcamp for a steal at five bucks, along with their other excellent releases. Verdict: Hells yes, bring this up from the depths to get the accolades it deserves. Yyrkoon – Unhealthy Opera: Lovecraftian inspired death metal from France? Yes, please! Or at least that must have been my response back in 2006 when this came out. With more than a nod to head-banging thrash Unhealthy Opera still packs a nice punch with its technicality and brutality on “From the Depths” and the opening stutter of “The Book” with a production that borders on tinny but serves the music well enough. You can slide this into any death metal mix and I’m sure you’d get fists pounding in time with the heads. Leads are super sweet, and Unhealthy doesn’t really ask any more of you than that. Verdict: I can take or leave it. It’s good, but not so amazing I’d seek it out. Sweet leads, though. I don’t know about you, but damn…lots of music in 2005, huh? Seems like I hit a real exploratory period there. I’m not gonna lie: this was a blast to sit back and check out all these old albums I haven’t heard in years. So let’s keep the theme running – I’ll be back in 2 weeks with another batch from the binder. In the meantime, do any of you recall these records? What did you think? Agree with my verdicts? Just amazed it took me over a decade to find the love for Croatoan? Let me know here or on the vast shithole that’s social media and we’ll come back in two weeks with more. Everything listed here should be readily available on your preferred streaming platform with the exception of Croatoan, but hey: $5 on Bandcamp is a steal! Albums, Daily Heresy, Nine Circles ov..., Reviewsandromeda, binder of forgotten metal, children of god's fire, Cipher, croatoan, death metal, doom, everyone is out to get us, extension of the wish, far-less, gospel, hardcore, kalas, losa, metalcore, Nine Circles ov..., progressive metal, sludge, starkweather, the mighty nimbus, the moon is a dead world, the perfect moment, unhealthy opera, yyrkoon Previous Article Album Review: Desecresy – “The Mortal Horizon” Next Article Profile: Tyler Fedeli of Lör 3 thoughts on “Nine Circles ov…The Binder of Forgotten Metal” Pingback: Nine Circles ov… The Binder of Forgotten Metal, Part II – Nine Circles Pingback: Nine Circles ov…The Binder of Forgotten Metal: The Final Chapter – Nine Circles Pingback: Andromeda: Extension of the Wish (2001) – Consuming the Tangible	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3406
__label__cc	0.503711	0.496289	Pencarian untuk: Mencari Sesuatu? Situs Game Online Terbaik Panduan Gaming Peraturan Situs Beranda Tak Berkategori paris, kentucky eiffel tower paris, kentucky eiffel tower pada 4 Desember 2020 4 Desember 2020 This is a very overlooked attraction. Paris is the capital and largest city of France. We took plenty of pictures and admired the huge tower. Paris Hotels with a View. Visit the Eiffel Tower Elevators are located the North, West and East pillars to the towerâs three platforms. â¦Paris Exposition of 1889: the Eiffel Tower and the Gallery of Machines. Save this to your dream destinations or spots to try list! Book your tickets online in advance now! It's located in Paris, TN, a popular boating area near the Kentucky border. It is not a secret that the Eiffel Tower is the main symbol of Paris, but many first-timers are actually surprised that they just didn't like this, the metal structure at all. For your business events, hire a new venue in a magical setting. Find all the transport options for your trip from Eiffel Tower to River, Kentucky right here. The Tower is not Gustave Eiffel’s only creation. It's nestled in a small park, along with a swingset, on the outskirts of the city-near some high voltage power lines, I think. Since she was built, a multitude of rumors and legends have circulated about the Iron Lady. Sells out fast ! French â¦ Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Eiffel Tower Classic Cattle Show. Situated in Paris, this motel is within 2 mi (3 km) of Eiffel Tower, Paris Courthouse, and Paris-Henry County Heritage Center. It was still quite impressive and beautiful though. + From. $71.15 pp . An object of discord, desire and fascination, the Eiffel Tower never fails to impress. Unlike Texas, which is just a kind of ordinary metal structure, it's a real working copy. Comments > 1y. It has all the modern conveniences of todayâs big cities and all the history, glitz, & glamour that comes with centuries of progress. Posted on July 26, 2012 by Discover FunkÄ Kentucky. Buy tickets. It is installed in a square of the city. price/night: $145. The tower was designed to scale by a professor of civil engineering, and 10,000 hours of donated labor resulted in the Eiffel Tower folks now visit in Tennessee today. 10 urban legends about the Eiffel Tower debunked. Check availability. 171 likes. Erected by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution in 1889, the 1,050-foot (320-meter) tower once held the title of the world's tallest structure. History, key figures, lights, paintings, explore all the secrets of the world's most iconic monument. The Champs de Mars is a large, open greenspace that sits in front of the Eiffel Tower. A little later, we got some food and then headed to the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower isn't just a symbol of Paris but a symbol for all of France. Eiffel Tower tickets are available for purchase at the Box Office located across from the Caesars Rewards center next to the main Las Vegas Blvd entrance to Paris. The views are insane! People stroll at Trocadero square near the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Monday, May 25, 2020, as France gradually lifts its Covid-19 lockdown. Whenever one is at its feet, they get amazed by its impressive highness. Itâs hard to realize how big it is until youâre right beside it. On every floor, the Eiffel Tower has a range of dining and gift-shop options. It stands tall over the city. Champs de Mars. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to th Thursday afternoon drive around the district home to one of the most recognizable structures in the world. â¦ At 986 feet, it is quite tall. See the iconic sights of Paris from the water, illuminated for the evening, on this Bateaux Mouches sightseeing dinner cruise. The repainting campaign is an important event in the life of the monument and takes on a truly mythical nature, as with everything linked to the Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower is a landmark in the city of Paris, Tennessee. Nina Afrique. 9.8 Exceptional 220 reviews Avg. For 7 days we got to experience all the splendor and romance that is Paris, France.On the 1 day in Paris, we set off to explore the area around the Eiffel Tower and along the Seine River. Paris, Kentucky. A sight that is looked at and which looks back, a structure that is useless and yet irreplaceable, a familiar world and a heroic symbol, the witness to a century passing by an... Every evening, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with its golden covering and sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour, while its beacon shines over Paris. Millions of travelers come to Paris to see the Iron Lady. Nothing welcomes you to Paris quite like a frontal view of the Eiffel Tower, picture framed in your hotel bedroom window.. Two Muslim women were 'stabbed repeatedly' under the Eiffel Tower amid rising tensions in Paris after the beheading of a teacher last week. The Eiffel Tower is the most emblematic monument of the city of Paris. ... somerset-kentucky.com 110-112 E. Mt. The Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, nickname La dame de fer, the iron lady) is a puddled iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. ... Well, Paris, Kentucky might not be quite as exciting as all that, but it â¦ The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. Here, we’ve collected and debunked the craziest of the myths about the Eiffel Tower. Fully equipped to meet all of your needs. It is nearly 20 meters (60 feet), which makes it 1:20 th. The Eiffel Tower was a great time! Not sure if Paris, KY is where this landmark is :) Remove this comment. TOUREIFFEL.PARIS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER, A website owned by Sociéte d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel, * Tickets for tourism professionals, businesses, works committees, and school groups, Origins and Construction of the Eiffel Tower. More near Effiel tower. Little by little, its image was associated with Paris, until it even became its worldwide symbol. By browsing this website, you agree to the use of cookies which we will use to compile visitor statistics. Almost from the very opening of the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, visitors could access the floors of the monument by taking the lifts. Stroll along the area's lakeside or simply enjoy its restaurants. Explore the great outdoors at Kentucky Lake, a popular spot to commune with nature in Paducah. TOUREIFFEL.PARIS THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE EIFFEL TOWER, A website owned by Sociéte d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel, * Tickets for tourism professionals, businesses, works committees, and school groups. All the practical information you need for your visit to the Eiffel Tower: buy a ticket (Rates: 16 to 25 â¬ maximum for adults and 4 to 12,5 â¬ for children and young people), learn about the monument or news and events in the tower Iâve started to notice that most cathedrals and churches look the same. The apartment is on the first floor. Admire Paris from the Eiffel Tower without waiting in line! By browsing this website, you agree to the use of cookies which we will use to compile visitor statistics. The Eiffel Tower isn't just a symbol of Paris but a symbol for all of France. D-13 before the reopening! Eiffel Tower. Enriched by a history full of new developments, here you can discover all of its key information. 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__label__cc	0.624958	0.375042	Call for Concept Notes OC2 About Oxfam IBIS This is how we work with education Ending gender based violence in conflict affected areas Inclusive Peacebuilding Peacebuilding on country level Women, Peace, and Security Danida-supported projects EU-supported projects Global Partnership for Education Novo Nordisk Foundation Sida-supported projects Smaller foundations The Hempel Foundation Statutes of Oxfam IBIS Result reports Strategies and Thematic profiles Approaches and methods History of Oxfam IBIS Safeguarding and complaints mechanism Anti corruption and fraud prevention Guidelines for Applicants Restricted Call - Component 3 – English Component 3 (OC3) Restricted call This call for Proposal is only for the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and the Regional Coalitions (ANCEFA – Africa Network Campaign on Education For All, CLADE – Latin America Campaign for the Right to Education, ACEA – Arab Campaign for Education for All and ASPBAE - Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education). Please read through the entire guide before applying. The Application Deadline is January 31, 2020 (at 23:59 GMT at the latest) What is this Call for Proposal about? Civil society partners can play a formative role in shaping education policy that will better serve a wide range of communities, especially of the most vulnerable and marginalized populations. They can also help build public support for the government’s long-term education plans and monitor how the government is keeping up with the commitments in those plans. This is the need Education Out Loud, the Global Partnership for Education’s new advocacy and social accountability fund, intends to meet. Education Out Loud, which is managed by Oxfam IBIS, supports greater involvement of civil society groups in building strong and sustainable education systems. With an overall allocation of US$55.5 million from GPE, Education Out Loud is the largest fund in the world dedicated to support civil society capacity building and engagement in education policy processes. Education Out Loud – the Global Partnership for Education’s new fund for advocacy and social accountability) - provides funding to support civil society to be active and influential in shaping education policy to better meet the needs of communities, especially vulnerable and marginalized populations. It is resourced by the GPE (www.globalpartnership.org) and managed by Oxfam IBIS (www.oxfamibis.dk). GPE is dedicated to building stronger education systems in the world´s poorest countries in order to ensure inclusive and equitable quality learning. GPE brings together governments from developing countries, donors, international organizations, civil society, teachers´ organizations, the private sector and foundations. It is active in more than 65 countries, and it prioritizes support to fragile and conflict-affected countries. The five-year ‘GPE 2020’ strategic plan includes three goals and five objectives to support the vision of the partnership, with clear roles and responsibilities which embed and promote mutual accountability and transparency for delivery across the partnership. As part of this, GPE actively encourages civil society organizations to participate in the partnership, enabling inclusive, evidence-based policy dialogue, so that they can monitor plans and help ensure democratic oversight of education policy. Education Out Loud builds on the lessons learned from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF) that has supported Education Coalitions since 2009 in their efforts to engage in developing and monitoring the implementation of quality education sector plans at the country level. 2019 represents the first time an Education Out Loud competition has been run. The Theory of Change underlying the Education Out Loud - assumes that education outcomes are more likely to be achieved when there is widespread public engagement in and demand for equitable, inclusive quality education. Education Out Loud intends to build the capacity of civic groups to strengthen the mutual accountability of education policy dialogue and monitoring and it includes a broader diversity of civil society actors. Increasing the effective representation of civil society in institutional policy dialogue, improving the availability of relevant information to enable the development of more informed policy responses, and supporting advocacy to advance the public interest in education, all comprise important strategies to help build strong public education systems. Education Out Loud has the overall goal to “enhance civil society capacity to further GPE 2020 goals in learning, equity, and stronger systems, by improving the participation of civil society, their efforts to strengthen advocacy and to ensure transparency and increased effectiveness in national educational policy and implementation processes”. The development of strategies and activities through the Education Out Loud fund has led to the articulation of three funding streams, or “Operational Components” (OCs), to meet each of the three objectives. Each OC has specific emphasis on one of the three objectives. EOL’s goal will be realized through the following three objectives: Objective 1 (OC1): Strengthen national civil society engagement in education planning, policy dialogue and monitoring . This objective aims at improving inward accountability of governments to their citizens. The participation of a diverse range of civil society groups is vital to prevent ‘elite capture’ of policy spaces, ensure that there is healthy debate and deliberation, and to ensure that civic space is inclusive even of those traditionally lacking in institutional power. Facilitated processes to ensure equitable participation of marginalized groups is critical because the most marginalized people are often the least able to participate due to constraints in terms of time and opportunities costs, but also the norms that influence their relative power and position in society. Objective 2 (OC2): Strengthen civil society roles in promoting the transparency and accountability of national education sector policy and implementation This objective aims to ensure that civil society groups are able to undertake strategic multi-level monitoring of education policy and budget implementation, and to use the evidence generated to formulate and act on relevant policy solutions and redress mechanisms. Groups working on transparency, governance and other sectors, on behalf of the public interest may be able to contribute valuable skills, creative strategies, and wider networks for collecting and disseminating information that can be used to strengthen education accountability. Consequently, EOL seeks to diversify the range of actors – and the evidence base – contributing to operationalizing the principle of diversity as a vehicle for increased accountability and transparency in the education sector. Objective 3 (OC3): Create a stronger global and transnational enabling environment for national civil society advocacy and transparency efforts. This third objective aims to bring together alliances of civil society actors to work collaboratively on transnational initiatives or campaigns that bear on GPE country level work, particularly in the areas of aid effectiveness, financing, and cross-sectoral synergies. This is important because in the current global system, many of the enabling conditions for effective national education policy planning and implementation in low- and middle-income countries remain subject to powerful influences generated outside the national sphere. Together, these objectives tie in with the theory of change of the GPE, especially objectives 2 and 5, which speak to the need for “supporting mutual accountability through effective and inclusive sector policy dialogue and monitoring” (objective 2, country-level) and “building stronger partnerships” (objective 5, global/cross-national level). Illustration of Education Out Loud’s overall goal and three objectives This Call is only related to OC3: Create a stronger global and transnational enabling environment for national civil society advocacy and transparency efforts. Oxfam IBIS closed the call for proposals for OC1 in October and is planning to launch another Call for Concept Notes under its Operational Component 2 in the first quarter of 2020. Who can apply for this Call for Proposal? The present Call for Proposal falls under the Operational Component 3 that provides support for Transnational Alliances. This call aims to support transnational civil society alliances to carry out innovative multi-country advocacy to influence transnational and national policy frameworks. The present call for proposal is a restricted call that provides support for the Global Campaign for Education (GCE) and the Regional Coalitions (ANCEFA – Africa Network Campaign on Education For All, CLADE – Latin America Campaign for the Right to Education, ACEA – Arab Campaign for Education for All and ASPBAE - Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education). This call aims to support these civil society alliances to carry out innovative multi-country advocacy to influence transnational policy frameworks. The proposal should be submitted by GCE as the lead organization on behalf of a consortium with all Regional Coalitions. What can be funded under this Call for Proposal? Operational Component 3 (OC3) aims to Create a stronger global and transnational enabling environment for national civil society advocacy and transparency efforts. The proposal needs to explain how the applicant will contribute to: -Create transnational and/or “vertically integrated” civil society alliances that represent diverse social actors and that are formed around identified strategic policy changes or areas related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 and GPE (EOL Outcome 3.1) -Increase transnational civil society alliances´ capacities, particularly in relation to advocacy (EOL Outcome 3.2) -Change global, regional or national strategic policies or practices through civil society transnational alliances, advocacy and campaigns (EOL Outcome 3.3) -Create or strengthen social accountability mechanisms, spaces, institutions or commissions that follow up on global, regional or national commitments related to the right to equitable and quality education (EOL Outcome 3.4) -Establish and strengthen “Learning Collaboratives” on effective advocacy strategies (EOL Outcome 3.5). In general terms, the proposal should be developed with the overall aim of: Opening up transnational policy debates to citizen voices and engaging more civic representatives embodying a wider range of opinions and lived realities in transnational spaces; Contributing to the democratization and responsiveness of transnational policymaking; Promoting policy agendas that are more responsive to citizens’ interests as right holders; and Developing more conducive transnational and regional conditions for relevant national policy settings. The proposal should also to the extent possible: Identify the set of problems that can best be solved through multi-country advocacy tactics which are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, and describe why the issue is best solved at the global, regional or transnational level rather than locally or nationally; Describe the transnational policy frameworks or international decision-making arenas which provide the potential for supporting increased progress in education in GPE eligible countries, with a clear feedback loop to country level advocacy and change; Articulate the multi-country or transnational accountability mechanisms which will be leveraged to influence national education strategies, such as the SDG monitoring architecture, regional mechanisms etc.; State the purpose for the strategic approach and potential for experimentation in the approach, including rationale for that approach and whether or how they will know if it is working; Describe whether and how the alliance will support peer learning amongst members on advocacy approaches; Demonstrate broad collaboration, including meaningful participation or collaboration with marginalized groups including people with disabilities, refugees and displaced persons, religious and ethnic minority groups, children/touth or other groups otherwise not traditionally represented at regional or global levels. The proposal are expected to represent a genuine partnership between alliance members and with expected results in GPE partner countries, not limited to global and regional level. Which grant amount and duration is it possible to apply for? Education Out Loud Operational Component 3 (OC3) restricted call will provide a grant with a duration of up to 24 months starting from 1st April 2020 with an overall ceiling of USD1,500,000. GCE is invited to apply for funding. The applicant can find further information online, at educationoutloud.org. Here they will find a link to register as Applicant and have access to the relevant proposal information and templates. After completing the templates, the documents must be uploaded to the system. Applications will not be accepted outside of this system. A Proposal application consists of the following documents: Project proposal (completed template) Logical framework matrix (completed standard format) Project Budget (completed template) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (completed standard format) Risk Management (standard format Copy of financial audited report for last two years including management letter. C.v. of 2-3 key project responsible persons All documents must be uploaded before the Application Deadline and you must press “Submit” in order to complete the application process. The Application Deadline is January 31, 2020 (at 23:59 GMT at the latest). No applications will be accepted after this date or time. Uploading your documents can take up to 20 minutes. It is therefore highly encouraged that applicants complete their applications early to avoid any complications. Upon pressing “Submit” you will receive an email that confirms that your application has been uploaded to the system. The required formats can be downloaded via webpage. Go to the application procedure through this link Should an applicant encounter technical problems while registering as applicant or in uploading the application, then the applicant should take a screenshot and send it to info@educationoutloud.org from the same email address utilized for registering. Upon receiving the screenshot, the applicant will be contacted for technical support. What will we look for in the proposal? A project proposal that comply with the general criteria for funding and basic requirements will be assessed and scored according to the following weighted areas/topics. The maximum number of points for an application is 50. Situation and context analysis (20%) Clear and coherent context-based situation analysis (analysis of all relevant causes and diverse characteristics of the problem) Evidence based project (relevant and newest qualitative information and quantitative data) Analysis of the contextual relations between national, global and transnational policy arenas relevant for the project. Project Relevance (includes views and interests of beneficiaries and relevant stakeholders) Theory of Change and Strategic Approach (20%) Clear presentation of the strategic intervention logic anticipated in the specific Theory of Change Quality of the strategy Clarity of assumptions and evidence for changes Human rights-based approach underlying the project strategy including considerations for promoting gender equality. Sustainability (how the project intervention´s benefits continue after funding has ceased) Project intervention design (20%) Quality of intervention design (results-based project – coherence between objectives, outcomes, outputs and activities) Alignment to SDG4 strategic goals (coherence with defined goals and strategies and relation between national SDG 4 implementation and transnational policy agendas) Alignment to GPE/Education Out Loud OC3 objective and outcomes. Realistic proposal (to what extent are this project´s outcomes likely to be achieved) Reasonable budget (budget alignment to narrative project proposal) Presence of learning approach (10%) Proposal demonstrates acknowledgement of institutional learning needs and of strategies for transnational learning. Proposal emphasizes learning and capacity development in global advocacy (foresees documentation and production of lessons learned) Proposal includes strategies for dissemination and sharing of learnings and utilization of learning collaboratives and learning partners Proposal foresees adaptive planning and management strategies Organizational capacities for implementing the project (10%) Experience in the areas of intervention (organizational trajectory in education, policy influencing, partner strengthening) Technical competence available for the implementation (technical skills and work experience of key persons for the implementation of the projects) Relevance of organizational composition of the Alliance (Including strategy for the inclusion of local and/or marginalized groups - vertical and transnational collaboration). Organizational past performance (former results achieved, financial trajectory) Risk assessment (10%) Use of risk management approach in project planning and implementation. Relevant external risks taken into account (identification and assessment of risks) Relevant internal risks taken into account (identification and assessment of risks) Management strategies are presented, as applicable Stakeholders (10%) Good stakeholder analysis (mapping of relevant stakeholders) Vulnerable groups’ interests present in the proposal (alignment to vulnerable groups’ plans) Partner views present (Partners participated in elaboration of the project; partners support the project) How will the assessment process take place? STEP 1: The proposal received within the deadline by January 31, 2020 will be assessed. The proposal will be checked against the general criteria outlined in this document to confirm eligibility for funding and that all required documentation is duly completed. If the proposal does not comply with the general eligibility criteria for funding and basic requirements will be rejected and not reviewed further. STEP 2: The proposal that comply with general criteria and basic requirements will in the first instance be assessed by the Oxfam IBIS Education Out Loud Global Management Unit that will score the proposal according to the above-mentioned pre-established criteria and weight. STEP 3: GMU will send the screened proposal to the Global Independent Selection Panel (GISP) so that they can assess and approve or suggest moving forward into the next phase of the approval process . What happens after the decision on the proposal? Approved Proposal The GISP can decides for approval of the application for either: Direct Implementation or Implementation after a set of recommended changes has been included. Inclusion of Recommended changes should finalized not later than three month after approval. The final document will be sent to GMU for final acceptance of the changes. The applicant of the approved full proposal will then be invited to sign a financial funding agreement. After the financial agreement has been signed, the applicant has the responsibility to implement the project, carry out the project activities and to monitor that the expected results are achieved. It will also have to collect lessons learned and to present financial and narrative reports to Oxfam IBIS on project progress. Rejected proposal A rejected proposal will not be reassessed. The Global Independent Selection Panel decisions are final. Guidelines for Applicants for download Restricted Call for Proposals Component 3 Restricted Call for Proposals Component 3 (OC3).	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3421
__label__wiki	0.602561	0.602561	PHISH, THURSDAY 11/19/1998 LAWRENCE JOEL VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUMLAWRENCE JOEL VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM SET 1: Cities, The Curtain > Sample in a Jar, Ginseng Sullivan, Bouncing Around the Room, Maze, Something, Ghost > Golgi Apparatus SET 2: Also Sprach Zarathustra > Rock and Roll -> Taste, Frankie Says, Gumbo -> Chalk Dust Torture, Frankenstein, Been Caught Stealing ENCORE: You Enjoy Myself[1] [1] Heloise Williams on vocals. Trey teased San-Ho-Zay in Ghost. 2001 included a Crosseyed and Painless tease. The YEM vocal jam featured a guest appearance by Heloise Williams of the band viperHouse. Ghost, Also Sprach Zarathustra, Gumbo, You Enjoy Myself Crosseyed and Painless tease in Also Sprach Zarathustra, San-Ho-Zay tease in Ghost Nov 19, 2016: Trey Anastasio - Denver, CO Nov 19, 2016: Mike Gordon - Madison, WI Nov 19, 2010: Mike Gordon - Bloomington, IN Nov 19, 2005: Trey Anastasio Band - Wallingford, CT Nov 19, 2002: Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke - Boulder, CO Nov 19, 1997: Phish - Champaign, IL Nov 19, 1996: Phish - Kansas City, MO Nov 19, 1995: Phish - Charlotte, NC Nov 19, 1994: Phish - Bloomington, IN Nov 19, 1992: Phish - Colchester, VT Nov 19, 1991: Phish - New Britain, CT Nov 19, 1987: Phish - Burlington, VT Trey Anastasio, Page McConnell, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon, Heloise Williams (Guest) Review by n00b100 The first set won't particularly blow you away or anything (although the Maze definitely peaks very nicely), and perhaps cognizant that the set hadn't been the greatest ever, the group drops a nifty Ghost at the end of the set, one that quickly drops the standard funk groove for something more melodic and mesmerizing, maybe even close to the ferocious hose of your classic Bathtub Gin jams, or the 7/6/98 version with Page given as much room to work as Trey had. It's a lot of fun, if not the most exploratory Ghost ever, and it should at least by heard by the Ghost fans of the world (of which I am most assuredly one). The second set starts up with a reasonably good, if not upper-echelon 2001 (Mike's bass is especially prominent here), then slides into Rock and Roll. The song portion is fine, if not as muscular as Phish's 3.0 rendition, but the jam takes a more relaxed avenue and peters down into a quiet ambient range, which (as you might expect) leads into a perfectly fine Taste. Frankie Says, which I will never say no to in a set, comes next, and the band then churns out a milkshake-thick Gumbo that (like the R&R before) melts away into an ambient fog before one of Trey's melodic vapors morphs into Chalk Dust Torture and the band rips off a frenetic version. We get a standard-for-98 close, and then YEM for an encore, and it's a decent enough version, even though it never finds any kind of peak. Not sure if I'll ever listen to this one again, but it's a very reasonable picture of Fall '98, and the Ghost definitely deserves a listen. Review by The_Good_Doctor After the highly lauded 1997 barn burner, the boys rolled back into Winston-Salem for another fall engagement. An interesting element of this show are two rare covers: 'Something' and 'Been Caught Stealing' which isn't surprising since Fall 1998 was filled with a lot of 'new' covers (a bit like Summer 2010). The first set 'Ghost' is brooding and introspective without venturing irreparably into the netherword - for better or worse. It is still enjoyable and leads in a spirited delivery of 'Golgi' to close the set. Second set brought the high octane and it is absolutely worth a listen. I think this 2nd set is a bit over looked but it is definitely a keeper. 2001 > RnR seems like a 'typical' 3.0 pairing but keep in mind this was only the 3rd time they played RnR and it was within a month of being introduced in the 'Loaded' costume. It is funny to think about it like that - I was listening to the DotM show on the drive to the show as my buddy had literally just received a Maxell copy in the mail a day before - and in those days that was lightning fast. The second set closed with a raging take on 'Been Caught Stealing.' I was in the bleachers in the lower level and it felt like an earthquake when they dropped into it. I still remember seeing Big Red jumping up and down on stage while they ripped through with a ferociousness I had yet to see Phish embody. Rock and Roll indeed! Review by JMart I can tell you that, immediately after hearing this first set conclude, I turned to my buddy and said "that's exactly what a first set is supposed to do" and he agreed. Nice songs played well. A high energy opener and an inspired call from curtain to sample. One of my favorite ghosts. There's only a minor peak, but I feel like this one's all the more remarkable for its restraint. Gumbo featured a ton of fog. There was a conga line during been caught stealing. I think this is worth a listen! Review by Bulletproof There is a "Where it's At" Tease by Paige in Gumbo. Right at the end. Review by art_vandelay not only was this a great performance, it was probably the best light show out of any phish show i've attended....chris kuroda was in the zone that night, and it didn't go unnoticed by my friends & i. not a huge crowd, but those who showed up were rewarded. this show probably gets overlooked because the hampton shows were next on the tour schedule, but if you were there, i'm sure you got your money's worth.... Review by PHATTSKIS I reported in an earlier review (Murphy Center--11/15/1998) that I had missed this show but I just found my backstage pass from that night. Too cool--don't usually save ticket stubs but did save almost all my aftershows, Betty Fords and laminants--stoked! I am gonna have to dig this up and listen--its been years! there ya have it! Score: -3	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3434
__label__cc	0.736333	0.263667	Free export advice for international growth 5 Steps to Export Success Selecting a market Reaching customers Pricing and getting paid Delivery and documentation Exporters Helpline Export Action Plan My Action Plan UK Competition (Open) International Business Awards (Closed) Forging the way in Data Forensics MD5, specialists in computer and mobile phone forensics contacted UKTI Yorkshire to help find the right contacts overseas. MD5 specialise in computer forensics and mobile phone forensics, in fact they are a UK leader in these fields. Established in 2003 their clients include multi-national businesses and government law enforcement agencies as well as solicitors and accountants. The company set out their stall examining mobile phones and computers to retrieve data for clients across a number of diverse sectors including Public Sector, Corporate Sector, Law Enforcement and Legal Services. Digital Evidence can be used in criminal cases, civil disputes and human resources/employment tribunal proceedings. In 2006 Michael Penhallurick, an MD5 employee who had previously worked as a senior officer in a high tech crime police unit used his professionally honed decoding and software skills to develop a product that has become known as Virtual Forensic Computing (VFC). Secured data retrieved from computers is rarely viewed within its original environment and the investigator can potentially miss vital ‘scene of crime’ information. VFC seamlessly and expeditiously re-creates a virtual scene from either the original evidence drive itself or the forensic copy of the suspect’s system. When Carl Tinker, joined MD5 as Sales Manager in 2009, he brought with him a wealth of sales experience to the digital forensics sector. By 2009 MD5 had a strong UK presence and had experienced some overseas sales through word of mouth. UKTI support Carl had an existing relationship with UKTI from his previous position and approached Steve Haynes, UKTI International Trade Advisor for support to build MD5’s export capacity. With Steve’s help MD5 began to attend conferences overseas and to establish relationships with resellers across the globe. Steve’s knowledge and innovative ideas together with the financial support that UKTI were able to offer enabled MD5 to break into new markets in the Middle East, US and Asia. In each new country UKTI were able to introduce the business to specialists who could advise on business approaches and how to tackle any cultural challenges. Carl explained that in the early days of exporting the business faced challenges because of the necessity to have resellers in each target market. The selling infrastructure had to evolve as the business expanded, in the UK it was enough to sell products and services to purchasers using a credit or debit card but as the business became global it was increasingly important to have in place a suitable pricing and invoicing structure and UKTI were there to advise. Company: MDS Industry: Security Website: www.md5.uk.com In many countries, for example Middle Eastern countries, businesses prefer to trade with organisations that have a physical presence in the country they operate within. Carl described that MD5 had to take great care when selecting resellers that they spoke the required languages. UKTI provided a Middle East Expert to provide advice and help to negotiate. UKTI were invaluable according to Carl, especially when it came to building relationships internationally. Their help with researching foreign markets, providing international experts in target countries and making sure that MD5 were aware of all potential barriers and challenges made sure that the company entered into new export markets with their eyes wide open and vastly increased their chances of success. UKTI have also supported MD5 to be able to carry out what they term “feedback visits” as well as research visits – this in turn has meant that they are able to get out to new markets and appoint resellers, meeting customers and optimising marketing opportunities If you are based in the Yorkshire and Humber region and are interested in developing your business overseas please contact: UKTI Yorkshire If you are based in one of the other UK Regions find your nearest International Trade Advisor via our postcode search facility in Contacts in your region. Sectors: Digital Services, Electronics, and Software Countries: Middle East, South East Asia, United States, and Yorkshire and Humberside Export Action Plan > Ask the Experts > A Recognised © Copyright 2016 Open to Export C.I.C.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3438
__label__cc	0.667439	0.332561	PP+G REVIEW Public Policy and Governance Review Pan-Canadian Perspectives Staff Writers and Contributors Unpacking Equity Indigenous Lens Canada, Public Policy, Seen+Heard Hate Speech, Cyber Space, and Trump: A GDPP Roundtable Posted by nihashahzad on December 3, 2017 September 12, 2018 Niha Shahzad On October 30, the Gender, Diversity and Public Policy Initiative (GDPP) struck a chord with students at the University of Toronto during their roundtable talk on free speech and hate speech policies. At this event, participants discussed policies and recent events that have sparked outrage throughout North America. Roundtable participants discussed President Donald Trump’s Islamophobia, accusations of hate speech at Dalhousie University, and University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson’s refusal to use genderless pronouns. Students from the School of Public Policy and Governance were joined by guest speakers Aarzoo Singh, a PhD candidate at the Women and Gender Studies Institute, and Fady Shanouda, a PhD candidate in disability studies at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Cutting right into the controversy on campus, the roundtable began with a discussion about the conduct of University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson. Dr. Peterson has infamously refused to use genderless pronouns on campus, and has sparked outrage among students and faculty. His critics say his actions further marginalize transgender or genderless people, whereas Peterson thinks that forcing him to use pronouns he disagrees with limits his freedom of expression. “There is a power dynamic in play that cannot be ignored” Facilitators asked participants to consider whether a nationwide policy should monitor universities’ policing of freedom of speech. One student said that “the politically neutral thing to do is to let universities decide how to monitor free speech,” which is what currently happens today. The University of Toronto’s Policy on Academic Freedom states that the university “should not limit…debate by preordaining conclusions, or punishing or inhibiting the reasonable exercise of free speech.” Yet disagreement about what constitutes “reasonable” speech means that freedom of speech remains a subjective issue and allows people like Dr. Peterson to object to using genderless pronouns. Guest speaker Aarzoo Singh argued that students don’t have that same power as professors to express themselves freely. “There is a power dynamic in play that cannot be ignored,” she said, noting that Peterson is a tenured professor. This skewed power dynamic was evident when Dalhousie University pursued disciplinary action against Masuma Khan in response to a controversial Facebook post. The vice-president of the Dalhousie Student Union wrote that she did not support Canada 150 celebrations and ended her post with the hashtags: “#whitefragilitycankissmyass” and “#yourwhitetearsarentsacredthislandis.” Her post garnered backlash and an investigation by Dalhousie administration after another student complained that her post targeted white people. The disciplinary hearing against Khan was later dropped. With respect to the Dalhousie incident, roundtable participants discussed whether policies that monitor online hate speech weaken democracies by stifling political dissent, or strengthen democracies by protecting people’s rights. Guest speaker Fady Shanouda said, “Maybe further regulation isn’t what we need on the Internet, because it isn’t as structured as a university—it discourages spontaneous thought. Maybe we need stronger positions and louder voices.” “Call in” rather than “call out” culture However, some participants thought that unpoliced online speech causes real damage—for example, Trump’s bashing of minorities and Muslims on Twitter. Khadija Waseem, a student at the Rotman School of Management, noted that “social media…[has become] a place to talk and to rant. But [we could have a] culture fostered to listen.” Aarzoo Singh agreed, saying that social media policing is only fixing the symptom rather than the issue of hatred. Singh said that to create a culture of respect in her classes, she encourages a “call in” culture rather than a “call out” one. When her students voice problematic views, she engages with them and invites them to join in a conversation, rather than dismissing them and fostering a culture that excludes an opposing opinion. But what if your cultural view depends on questioning a societal construct? Participants were confronted with this dilemma when it came to the question of whether policies should have censored the French magazine Charlie Hebdo, famous for publishing provocative cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims see them as Islamophobic, because to them any depiction of the Prophet Muhammad is disrespectful. Muslim participants at the roundtable felt the cartoons were an attack “psychologically and emotionally,” and that they could qualify as hate speech. Other participants, though, responded that Charlie Hebdo’s satire stemmed from French culture rooted in the principle of questioning religion, specifically Catholicism. To them, the comics constitute political speech and should not be censored by policies. Overall, there was no clear consensus on the extent to which policies should monitor free speech and hate speech on campuses, or in cyberspace. But maybe that’s a good thing. Perhaps it only matters that healthy debate and disagreement remain respectful of all parties. If we can foster a culture of respectful debate, maybe we would see a decline in hate speech. Niha Shahzad is in her first year of the Master of Public Policy program at the School of Public Policy and Governance. This is her second’s masters degree, having completed her first at Queen’s University. She has 3 years’ of professional work experience in marketing for various industries. Her policy interests include healthcare, global affairs, and digital governance and innovation. Outside of studying, she can be found binging Freakonomics podcasts, reading philosophy or science fiction, and practicing yoga and meditation. Previous Post Upholding Human Rights Through Public Policy – November 29th, 2017 Next Post The Digital Role of the State	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3444
__label__cc	0.745879	0.254121	The Aharonov-Bohm effect for arbitrary $B$-field The Aharonov-Bohm effect is discussed for the case of particles moving along a closed loop through a region with zero magnetic field, however I was wondering whether it still holds for arbitrary fields where particles move through regions with arbitrary non-zero magnetic fields. I suspect this still applies. The reason I think this is that: We know from the Aharonov-Bohm effect that the phase only depends upon the flux enclosed by the loop, so a magnetic field outside the loop would not change anything. Let’s turn on a magnetic field there. The proof of the Aharonov-Bohm effect also does not specify the width of the solenoid—it only specifies that the particles do not move through it—so let’s turn on a magnetic field inside the loop too by making the solenoid infinitesimally thinner than the loop. So we have a non-zero magnetic field everywhere except on the path of the particle. The proof of the Aharonov-Bohm effect as given in the original paper and the proof using Berry phases relies on the fact that, along the path of the particle, as $\mathbf{B} = \nabla \times \mathbf{A} = 0$, one can construct local patches to express $\mathbf{A} = \nabla \chi$ for some $\chi$ for each patch. This tells us that the vector potential in these regions is a pure gauge and we can solve the Schrodinger equation by simply viewing the presence of this vector potential as a gauge transformation from the $\mathbf{A}=0$ case, something like $\psi= e^{i e \chi}\psi_0$. For the case of an arbitrary magnetic field, I would not be able to say that the magnetic field is zero on the path of the particle and therefore $\nabla \times \mathbf{A} \neq 0$ so I cannot use the pure gauge argument. I believe a simple calculation can demonstrate this via path integrals but I imagine I’d now have to insert some potential term into the Lagrangian which models an experimentalist physically restricting the particle to move along a particular path (e.g. for the double slit experiment) otherwise the particles would just undergo cyclotron motion now as they are in a magnetic field. My question is: does the Aharonov-Bohm effect still apply for arbitrary magnetic fields? And if so, how do I show it? quantum-mechanics electromagnetism aharonov-bohm Qmechanic♦ 141k1919 gold badges325325 silver badges16751675 bronze badges Matt0410Matt0410 $\begingroup$ You keep referring to "the loop"; do you intend this to be the path of the particle, or something else? $\endgroup$ – probably_someone May 25 '20 at 5:06 $\begingroup$ Yes it’s the path of the particles $\endgroup$ – Matt0410 May 25 '20 at 9:12 The Lagrangian of a charged particle in a general electromagnetic field is given by: $$L=\frac{1}{2}m\dot{\vec{x}}^2+\frac{q}{c}\dot{\vec{x}}\cdot\vec{A}+qV$$ You have no electric fields in your setup, so $V=0$. Let $S_0$ be the action of a free particle; then the action in your setup is: $$S=\int L\;dt=S_0+\frac{q}{c}\int\dot{\vec{x}}\cdot\vec{A}\;dt=S_0+\frac{q}{c}\int\vec{A}\cdot\vec{dl}$$ The phase acquired along a given path is given by $e^{iS/\hbar}$, so you can see that, regardless of whether the magnetic field is nonzero along the particle's path or not, the path integral of the vector potential will give you the phase contribution for that path. So as long as you have the vector potential for your particular setup, you should be able to determine the acquired phase for any path. The issue at this point is that, unlike the original Aharonov-Bohm setup, for your setup the enclosed magnetic flux is different for every pair of paths, which means that the phase difference is path-dependent in a way that may be nontrivial. probably_someoneprobably_someone $\begingroup$ Is it possible to show it using wavefunctions and the schrodinger equation? The original proof of the effect solves it by treating the effect of the solenoid as a gauge transformation. We cannot do this now $\endgroup$ – Matt0410 May 25 '20 at 10:12 Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged quantum-mechanics electromagnetism aharonov-bohm or ask your own question. Local explanation of the Aharonov-Bohm effect in terms of force fields Basic question on the Aharonov-Bohm effect Aharonov-Bohm Effect electricity generation Phase on Aharonov-Bohm effect doubts Which particle mediates the Aharonov-Bohm effect? What is the analog of the Aharonov-Bohm effect for general gauge fields and for gravity? Is it possible to derive the Aharonov-Bohm effect using translation operators alone?	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3446
__label__cc	0.550049	0.449951	How to train your human, part II: Products that make habits last Lakshmi Mani 5 years In the first part of this series, we learned about designing products that use good triggers and motivators to get users like Joe to engage in healthy behaviors. Now, how can we ensure that these new behaviors become long-term habits? In this second part, we return to Nir Eyal’s Hooked model to look at reinforcing Joe’s behavior through rewards and an investment in your product. Rewards serve as a way to positively reinforce users for the actions they take. Lakshmi Mani Contributor Lakshmi Mani is a product designer at Tradecraft. Here’s what your boring app would look like as a conversation How To Train Your Human: Designing For Healthier Habits Interestingly, brain imaging studies show that it’s not the sensation of the reward that excites us. Rather, it’s the anticipation of receiving the reward that activates the brain’s pleasure centers. When a reward is given each time after a good behavior, anticipation fades away, making the behavior seem dull and routine. However, when the reward is given in an unpredictable manner, we start repeating behaviors for the thrill of the chase. It’s the reason people play slot machines; they don’t win money each time — the thrill of hitting the jackpot is way more exciting than the money itself. So, variable rewards can also be very powerful in repeating healthy behaviors. In Nir’s Hooked model, there are three types of variable rewards: rewards of the tribe, hunt and self. Rewards of the tribe We are social creatures. We crave belonging, connection and acceptance from other people. As such, rewards of the tribe are very powerful in encouraging repeated behaviors. Let’s look at some of these rewards. Rewards of competition Competition is a powerful social motivator. It establishes your status within the community, and gives users a good sense of self-esteem. Health apps use many gamification concepts such as leaderboards and user challenges to achieve this. The reward of winning is highly variable, because your rank is not only dependent on your performance, but also how others have performed. Nike+ Leaderboard (left), Jawbone’s Duels (middle) and Strava’s League Challenge (right) For the user, this causes a strong craving to reach the top. In fact, studies about gaming found that fear of losing in a competition is an extremely powerful motivator for users to get better next time! Rewards of cooperation Rewards from cooperation can be a sense of belonging, feeling a part of a community, feeling wanted and loved. Apps such as Fitocracy and Weilos use social feeds to make it easy for users to join groups and encourage one another. Upon completing their goals, users get rewarded with props and encouragement from fellow members. Weilos (left) uses “Inspired” and Fitocracy (right) uses “Props” The praise the user receives each time is variable. This creates a sense of craving, to keep on sharing and working out on the platform to receive approval from peers. Rewards of the tribe are extremely powerful for users, and are also a great way to foster an active and thriving community around your product. Rewards of the hunt We as a species are also excited by the thrill of the hunt. What once used to be a hunt for food, animals and shelter has now translated into a hunt for things like money, fancy objects and deals. Gamification concepts of rewarding users with badges and trophies is common in many health app these days. From left to right: Strava, Nike+, Fitocracy, Fitbit These rewards are given for completing different actions. They are doled out in a variable frequency, making it thrilling for users to achieve them. Rewards of the self These are rewards that satisfy our intrinsic need for personal excellence and a sense of competence. A lot of health apps accomplish this through gamification techniques, such as levelling up and progress bars. Credit: Superbetter One of my favorite examples is Joyable, an app used to help people reduce social anxiety. Users attempt a series of tasks progressively from low to high anxiety, giving them a progressive sense of control of their anxiety. A note about gamification With the increasing popularity of gamification, it might be tempting for us as product makers to want to use them all in our products. But slapping gamification concepts onto a product, without consideration about who the users are, will only lead to poor product design. We need to ask ourselves, will this reward actually motivate my user? For example, research in gamification shows that only the top 5 percent of performers enjoy the leaderboard experience. Poorer performers are actually terrified by leaderboards! If you’re designing a mass market wearable, pitting the fitness-freak athlete with the out-of-shape middle-aged dad will lead to an unsatisfying experience. Understanding your users’ intrinsic motivation (which we discussed in Part 1) is essential in designing a good rewards system. When users take an action and we reward them for it, they end up making a small commitment of time/effort in using your product. As product makers, we can leverage this small investment to encourage better behavior in the future. We are strongly driven to be consistent with our own past behaviors. Robert Cialdini, describing his principle of Consistency and Commitment, says that, “Once we have made a choice or taken a stand, we will encounter personal and interpersonal pressures to behave consistently with that commitment.” Health apps such as Jawbone make an excellent use of our deep need to be consistent with ourselves. Credit: Jawbone Jawbone asks users to make a small commitment in the morning to get to sleep by a certain time at night. And at night, Jawbone makes the big ask of reminding you to go to sleep at the time you committed to. And by simply clicking on the “I’M IN” button, 72 percent of their users were more likely to go to sleep on time! Users also irrationally value their own efforts, which Dan Ariely calls the IKEA Effect. Users tend to value way more a product they’ve spent effort and time on than a product in which they put no labor into. For example, the first time you open Carrot Fit, it only has a basic weight tracking function. The small action of regularly taking your weight earns you points and earns you new functionalities, such as workouts and new difficulty levels. The more effort you put into unlocking the app, the more you end up valuing the app as a result. By repeating tiny actions, we start valuing highly the results of those actions. And when this happens repeatedly, users start to change their attitude toward the new behavior, setting them on a path toward habit change. Health apps encourage these tiny actions, by getting users to invest their data, time, content or reputation. Investing data Lots of health apps encourage users to key in their weight or their fitness profile, or to import data from other apps. For example, apps such as Sleep Cycle and Pillow track your sleep data. Each day you track your sleep, the new data is used to recalculate your sleep patterns. This makes it much harder for users to leave the apps. Sleep Cycle (left) and Pillow (right) Investing content Health apps also get users to invest a little bit of content, making it easier for them to repeatedly use the product. For example, Zipongo, a healthy recipe recommendation app, asks you to enter your food preferences and allergies during the onboarding process itself. So the first time you see recommendations, the content is highly curated for your needs. Zipongo’s curated recipes As you “favorite” more recipes, your recipe list gets more and more curated based on users who like similar recipes. By asking users to invest just a tiny bit of information about themselves in the onboarding process, Zipongo ensures that, as time goes on, each action becomes an investment into more curated content. This makes it easier for users to repeatedly use Zipongo for their cooking needs. Investing reputation Apps that focus a lot on social workouts, such as Strava, reward their users with trophies and ranks as a sign of their accomplishments. When users start to work out, they build up a list of trophies and followers. Over time, this becomes a big investment in the product as the user now has a reputation to maintain on the platform. Investing time By asking users to invest even just a few minutes of their time and effort, we can get them to keep repeating certain behaviors. Ginger.io is a product that helps users who struggle with depression. It uses short (two-five minutes) exercises to engage users in mindful thinking and behaving. Credit: Xiayouji.com Once the user completes an exercise, these are taken into account by the app to tailor future interventions based on the current exercise the user undertook. Setting up users for next steps During the investment phase, it is also important to set up future triggers to start the next habit-forming loop. For example, when I first sign up for Jawbone, Step 1 of my onboarding asks me to set my movement, sleep and weight goals. Sure, it’s an easy enough task, and I do it. Jawbone’s onboarding process Jawbone then uses this little information I invested to regularly send me new triggers to go to sleep on time and move more. It is important that during the investment phase we are able to get investment that can help trigger users to take action the next time. By doing this, we can increase the chances of a user cycling through the habit-forming Hooked model multiple times. Tying it all together Nir’s Hooked model is a great way to look at how we design products that help our users with long-term health behavior and habit changes. It’s important to encourage good behaviors by giving our users timely triggers, that have a clear call to action. We also need to give users the motivation they need to want to perform that action. By making the action as easy as possible, we also increase the likelihood the user will do it. A surprising and engaging reward at this time helps users form positive associations through repeated use. Through this process, users invest more in your product, making it more likely that they will cycle through the habit-forming loop. And voila! We’re on our way to forging long-term habits. The examples I shared are all interesting ways in which companies out there are tackling a difficult problem of habit change. However, these examples aren’t meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution. As product makers, we need to understand our users’ deep pain and what truly motivates them. Everything that we design must flow from that core. Once we understand our users’ intrinsic needs, the Hooked model can serve as a great framework to design for long-term healthy habit formation.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3451
__label__cc	0.54365	0.45635	President delivers keynote address at ILO World of Work Summit, Geneva Thu 7th Jun, 2018 \| 12:30 location: Geneva, Switzerland Audio Audio Speech Speech Home Diary President Delivers Keynote Address At Ilo World Of Work Summit Geneva President Higgins delivered a keynote address at the United Nations’ European headquarters in Geneva. Along with President of the Central African Republic, H.E. Mr. Touadera, President Higgins participated in a High-Level Panel discussion at the “World of Work” summit in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations. The President’s address was followed by a series of high level meetings with representatives of the ILO as well as with Mr. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Fillipo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. You can read, or listen to, the President's address to the ILO by clicking on the links below. Previous Engagement President receives Michael Bloomberg on a courtesy call Tue 5th Jun, 2018 \| 09:30 Áras an Uachtaráin Next Engagement President attends a meeting with President of the International Committee of the Red Cross See Past Engagements Role and Functions search President.ie Lo Call: 1890 430 430 Phoenix Park, The President Twitter The President Instagram The President Facebook The Official Languages Act © 2021 President of Ireland	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3452
__label__cc	0.731608	0.268392	Steven B. Steinborn Email steven.steinborn@hoganlovells.com Practice groupGlobal Regulatory Steven Steinborn literally wrote the book on food labeling as a principal author of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) labeling guide. On top of that, he offers clients 28 years of experience in guiding informed business decisions, taking into account food laws and other regulations, as well as the environment in which companies operate. Representing food processors, restaurant chains, foodservice operators, ingredient suppliers, and trade associations, Steven focuses on advertising, labeling, and food safety. He is also a strong advocate in enforcement matters brought by the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the USDA, and state regulators as well. From small start-ups to established international brands, Steven understands the dynamics of the food industry. He brings this knowledge to bear on cutting-edge issues ranging from claim substantiation to potential food safety situations. He is also regularly consulted in bringing and defending competitor challenges, and represents companies before the Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division. Keenly aware of the current litigation climate, Steven works closely with marketers in exploring all avenues to reach important business objectives. Beyond the food industry, Steven routinely advises consumer product companies on reporting and potential recall situations arising under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. His practice covers a diverse range of industries, including children's toys, household appliances, infant products, gas grills, furnaces, consumer electronics, computers, printers, handheld devices, and child-resistant packaging. Steven is a frequent speaker on innovation and legal compliance and has authored numerous articles on a range of subjects, from the latest developments in the regulation of genetically engineered foods to important developments that impact food advertising. Food & Beverages: Regulatory & Litigation (Nationwide) Chambers USA Education and admissions J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1987 B.A., Michigan State University, with honors, 1984 Bar admissions and qualifications Consumer Life Sciences and Health Care Consumer Product Safety Regulation Electronics and Consumer Appliances Food Advertising and Regulation Food Recalls Medical Foods and Dietary Supplements Retail and Consumer Goods Food Compliance and Enforcement International Regulatory Compliance Advises the National Restaurant Association on federal and state menu labeling and other regulatory issues. Latest thinking and events Sponsorships and Speaking Engagements FDLI - Food and Drug Law Journal 2020 Symposium 12-13 November 2020 \| 12:00 PM - 4:15 PM (EST) FDA requests information on labeling of cell-cultured seafood National Advertising Division (NAD) 2020 Annual Conference 05 October 2020 \| 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST) Influencer Snapshot webinar series: Influencers around the world 24 September 2020 \| 9:00 AM - 10:15 AM (EDT) Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Releases Scientific Advisory Report for 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans National Advertising Division Issues Decision on “100% Natural,” Satiety, and Curbing Cravings Claims View more publications View more events View more blogs 98SHc42/Fo2ehYxhDOjxz5KYnvCqpNsZQMRJjhPaqBitUawzdI32mn8+xpVo/1ds {D4BD31A6-3DC4-40F3-A842-496ECD1CC33D} 98SHc42/Fo2ehYxhDOjxz5KYnvCqpNsZQMRJjhPaqBitUawzdI32mn8+xpVo/1ds {53398023-D031-49C0-BD00-3D79BD8CCC95} What would you like to discuss?	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3456
__label__wiki	0.567591	0.567591	TMA-2 (Redirected from Tma-2) Summary sheet: TMA-2 2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine 1-(2,4,5-Trimethoxyphenyl)propan-2-amine Psychedelic / Stimulant Come up 1.5 - 3 hours 2,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine (abbreviated TMA-2) is a synthetic psychedelic amphetamine known to produce a unique spectrum of hallucinogenic and stimulant effects that differ substantially from other psychoactive phenethylamines. TMA-2 along with TMA-6 and others are members of the trimethoxylated family of phenethylamines. Members in this family been observed to produce a complex mixture of hallucinogenic, stimulant, psychedelic and entactogenic effects that qualitatively separates it from other psychedelic phenethylamine compounds like members of the 2C-x or DOx series. TMA-2 was first synthesized by Viktor Bruckner in 1933[1], but was not investigated as a psychoactive chemical until Alexander Shulgin synthesized and tested it in 1962[2]. Shulgin published his synthesis and initial research findings in a 1964 paper, describing the effects as similar to mescaline, though lacking in color effects, producing less nausea and prone to causing anxiety and restlessness.[3]. There are occasional references to the use of TMA-2 in early 1970's counter-culture publications[4][5], describing the drug as being rarely produced for sale and expensive in comparison to LSD. This suggests that there was only very limited human usage of TMA-2 between its invention and the publication of its synthesis and pharmacology in Shulgin's 1991 book PiHKAL ("Phenethylamines I Have Known And Loved"). Since then it has been regarded as an oddball and a novelty in the psychedelics community and is only occasionally sought after intentionally. In terms of its subjective effects, it is known for its lack of classic psychedelic visuals compared to its parent compound (mescaline) and is known instead for its instead a unique stimulating body-high and altered headspace that ranges from euphoric to dysphoric variably. Anecdotal reports suggest that TMA-2 is a highly unpredictable and dose-sensitive substance that can produce uncomfortable amounts of body load, nausea, overstimulation, and inconsistencies between experiences. In modern times, TMA-2 is used as an obscure recreational drug and a occasional entheogen. It is rarely sold on the streets and is almost exclusively obtainable as a grey area research chemical through the use of online vendors. 3.2 Visual effects 3.2.1 Enhancements 3.2.2 Distortions 3.4 Auditory effects TMA-2, or 2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine, is a molecule of the substituted amphetamine class. Amphetamines are substituted phenethylamines, being comprised of a phenyl ring bound to an amino (NH2) group through an ethyl chain and a methyl group bound to the alpha carbon Rα. TMA-2 contains methoxy functional groups CH3O- attached to carbons R2 and R4 and R5 of the amphetamine backbone.[6] This pharmacology section is incomplete. You can help by adding to it. Further information: Serotonergic psychedelic TMA-2's psychedelic effects are believed to come from its efficacy at the 5-HT2A receptor as a partial agonist. However, the role of these interactions and how they result in the psychedelic experience continues to remain elusive. This subjective effects section is a stub. As such, it is still in progress and may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding or correcting it. Stimulation - In terms of its effects on the physical energy levels of the user, TMA-2 is usually considered to be extremely stimulating at levels which do not become overwhelming, resulting in a shakiness and unsteadiness of the hands but encouraging one to move around, run, dance, climb and generally engage in physical activities. In comparison, other more commonly used psychedelics such as psilocin are generally sedating and relaxed. Spontaneous bodily sensations - The "body high" of TMA-2 is manifested as somewhat intense in comparison to most classical psychedelics such as LSD. The sensation itself can be described as a constantly present yet somewhat mild energetic pins and needles sensation that encompasses a person’s entire body. It is usually felt over every square inch of the skin, but occasionally manifests itself in the form of a continuously shifting tingling sensation that travels up and down the body in spontaneous waves. Tactile enhancement - Feelings of enhanced tactile sensation are consistently present at moderate levels throughout most TMA-2 trips. Nausea - Mild to extreme nausea is reported when consumed in moderate to high dosages and either passes once the person has vomited or gradually fades by itself as the peak sets in. Vasoconstriction - This effect is usually only present at higher dosages, but can be particularly uncomfortable. Bodily control enhancement Visual acuity enhancement Colour enhancement Pattern recognition enhancement Drifting (melting, flowing, breathing and morphing) - In comparison to other psychedelics, this effect can be described as highly detailed, slow and smooth in motion, static in appearance and unrealistic/cartoon-like in style. Symmetrical texture repetition Colour shifting The cognitive effects of TMA-2 are described as powerful mental stimulation along with undertones of intoxication that can increase the connectivity and rate of conceptual thinking without being overwhelming. The total sum of these cognitive components regardless of the setting generally includes: Empathy, affection, and sociability enhancement - This component is consistently manifested only in the context of social settings in which one is within the company of others. These feelings of sociability, love and empathy are weaker and sharper than those found on substances such as MDMA and 2C-B, but still can elevate one's mood. Analysis enhancement Thought acceleration Time distortion Novelty enhancement Immersion enhancement Thought connectivity Emotion enhancement Increased music appreciation Personal bias suppression Wakefulness Auditory effects Anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index include: Additional experience reports can be found here: Erowid Experience Vaults: TMA-2 Further information: Research chemicals § Toxicity and harm potential, and Responsible use § Hallucinogens Toxicity studies in rats have been showed TMA-2 doses of 80 mg/kg induced frequent clonic convulsions. A dose of 120 mg/kg was associated with fatal toxic effects. It was estimated that the LD50 of mice to be 180mg/kg.[7] The toxicity and long-term health effects of recreational TMA-2 use do not seem to have been studied in any scientific context and the exact toxic dose is unknown. This is because TMA-2 has very little history of human usage. Anecdotal evidence from people within the psychonaut community who have tried TMA-2 suggests that there are no negative health effects attributed to simply trying the drug by itself at low to moderate doses and using it very sparingly (but nothing can be completely guaranteed). Independent research should always be done to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe before consumption. TMA-2 is not habit-forming and the desire to use it can actually decrease with use. It is most often self-regulating. Tolerance to the effects of TMA-2 are built almost immediately after ingestion. After that, it takes about 3 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 7 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). TMA-2 presents cross-tolerance with all psychedelics, meaning that after the consumption of TMA-2 all psychedelics will have a reduced effect. In November 2003, the European Council decided that TMA-2 shall be subjected by the Member States to control measures and criminal penalties within three months.[8] Austria: TMA-2 is illegal to possess, produce and sell under the SMG (Suchtmittelgesetz Österreich).[citation needed] Germany: TMA-2 is controlled under Anlage I BtMG (Narcotics Act, Schedule I) as of October 10, 1999.[9][10] It is illegal to manufacture, possess, import, export, buy, sell, procure or dispense it without a license.[11] Switzerland: TMA-2 is a controlled substance specifically named under Verzeichnis D.[12] Turkey: TMA-2 is a classed as drug and is illegal to possess, produce, supply, or import.[13] [14] Substituted amphetamines Alexander Shulgin Trimethoxyamphetamine (Wikipedia) TMA-2 (Erowid Vault) TMA-2 (PiHKAL / Isomer Design) The Big & Dandy TMA Series Thread (Bluelight) ↑ Bruckner, V. (1933), Über das Pseudonitrosit des Asarons. J. Prakt. Chem., 138: 268–274. doi:10.1002/prac.19331380907 \| http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/prac.19331380907/abstract ↑ Shulgin, Alexander. "Pharmacology Lab Notes #1". Lafayette, CA. (1960-1976). p54 (Erowid.org) \| https://erowid.org/library/books_online/shulgin_labbooks/shulgin_labbook1_searchable.pdf ↑ Shulgin, A.T. Experientia (1964) 20: 366. doi:10.1007/BF02147960 \| https://erowid.org/archive/rhodium/chemistry/shulgin.meo-34-dialkoxyamphetamines.html ↑ 'Acidman'. "Straight Dope". Berkeley Tribe, December 18-25, 1970 p23 (Independent Voices) \| http://voices.revealdigital.com/cgi-bin/independentvoices?a=d&d=BFBJFGJ19701218.1.23 ↑ Lampe, Matt. "Dope-O-Scope". Ann Arbor Sun, November 12-25, 1971, p16 (Independent Voices) \| http://voices.revealdigital.com/cgi-bin/independentvoices?a=d&d=BFBJFGJ19701218.1.23 ↑ https://www.erowid.org/library/books_online/pihkal/pihkal162.shtml ↑ Report on the risk assesment of TMA-2 in the framework of the joint action on new synthetic drugs (2004) European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction ISBN 92-9168-182-2 ↑ "COUNCIL DECISION 2003/847/JHA". Official Journal of the European Union. Office for Official Publications of the European Communites (published December 6, 2003). November 27, 2003. pp. 64–65. OCLC 52224955. L 321. ↑ "Dreizehnte Verordnung zur Änderung betäubungsmittelrechtlicher Vorschriften" (in German). Bundesanzeiger Verlag. Retrieved December 11, 2019. ↑ "Anlage I BtMG" (in German). Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz. Retrieved December 11, 2019. ↑ "§ 29 BtMG" (in German). Bundesministerium der Justiz und für Verbraucherschutz. Retrieved December 11, 2019. ↑ https://resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2014/01/20140125-3.htm ↑ https://resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2014/01/20140125-3-1.pdf Retrieved from ‘https://psychonautwiki.org/w/index.php?title=TMA-2&oldid=144426’ Research chemical I want to apologize for being so powerless.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3463
__label__wiki	0.752658	0.752658	Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill (HC Bill 125) SCHEDULE continued PART 3 continued Contents page 1-9 10-19 20-20 Last page Divorce, Dissolution and Separation BillPage 20 (2) In subsection (8)— (a) for paragraph (a) and the “or” after it substitute— “(a) in England and Wales, a divorce order which has been made final, a nullity of marriage order which has 5been made final, a judicial separation order or a corresponding decree,”; (b) in paragraph (b), at the end insert “or”; (c) after paragraph (b) insert— “(c) in Northern Ireland, a decree absolute of divorce, a 10decree of nullity of marriage or a decree of judicial (3) At the end insert— “(12) In subsection (8) “corresponding decree” means any of the 15a decree absolute of divorce; a decree absolute of nullity of marriage; a decree of judicial separation.” 58 In Schedule 1 to the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 11) (exempt transactions), in paragraph 4— (a) 20in paragraph (a), for “a decree of divorce, nullity of marriage or” substitute “an order or decree for the dissolution or annulment of the marriage or their”; (b) in paragraph (b), for “such a” substitute “such an order or”. 59 (1) In Schedule 3 to the Land Transaction Tax and Anti-avoidance of Devolved 25Taxes (Wales) Act 2017 (anaw 1) (transactions exempt from charge), paragraph 3 is amended as follows. (2) In paragraph (a)— (a) in the English language text, for “a decree of divorce, nullity of marriage or” substitute “an order or decree for the dissolution or 30annulment of the marriage or their”; (b) in the Welsh language text, for “archddyfarniad ysgariad, dirymedd priodas” substitute “gorchymyn neu archddyfarniad ar gyfer diddymiad neu ddirymiad y briodas”. (3) In paragraph (b)— (a) 35in the English language text, for “such a” substitute “such an order or”; (b) in the Welsh language text, before “archddyfarniad o’r fath” insert “gorchymyn neu”. 60 In the Wills and Administration Proceedings (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 40(S.I. 1994/1899 (N.I. 13)S.I. 1994/1899 (N.I. 13)), in Article 13 (effect of dissolution or annulment of marriage), in paragraph (5)(a)— (a) after “divorce” insert “or divorce order,”; (b) for “granted” substitute “or nullity of marriage order, granted or	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3465
__label__wiki	0.832557	0.832557	Why Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey took on Donald Trump — over police bills President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at the Santa Ana Star Center on Sept. 16, 2019, in Rio Rancho, N.M. (AP/Evan Vucci) Frey: ‘It’s my responsibility to look after the taxpayers’ Dave Levinthal Earlier this week, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey infuriated President Donald Trump when he demanded the commander-in-chief pay a $530,000 public safety bill connected to tonight’s scheduled “Keep America Great” re-election rally at the city-owned Target Center. Matters grew ugly. Quickly. Trump’s campaign called the request an “outrageous abuse of power.” Trump himself went on a tweet rampage: “Someone please tell the Radical Left Mayor of Minneapolis that he can’t price out Free Speech. Probably illegal! I stand strongly & proudly with the great Police Officers and Law Enforcement of Minneapolis and the Great State of Minnesota!” Trump officials then threatened to sue AEG, the private company that manages the Target Center on behalf of Minneapolis, if it didn’t honor a signed contract. In this Aug. 15, 2019 file photo, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey speaks at a news conference in Minneapolis. President Donald Trump’s campaign is attacking Minneapolis and its mayor over an attempt to recover $530,000 in security costs for the Thursday Oct. 10, 2019 planned rally in the liberal city. The campaign accuses Mayor Frey, who has been critical of the president, of “conjuring a phony and outlandish bill for security” that far exceeded that for a 2009 event in the same building by then-President Barack Obama. Frey says it’s his job to watch out for taxpayers. (AP/Jim Mone File) Ultimately, AEG didn’t press the security payment issue and Trump didn’t pull out. The rally remains on. But Frey, a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, says he won’t quit in his attempt to recoup public safety costs from a Republican president who has consistently refused to pay police bills cities send his campaign committee. In all, 10 city governments — from Spokane, Washington, to Erie, Pennsylvania — say that Trump’s campaign owes them a combined $841,219, the Center for Public Integrity reported in June. El Paso, Texas, alone wants Trump to pay $470,417 stemming from a rally in February — now more than $569,000 after the city hit Trump’s campaign with a late fee. Public Integrity spoke with Frey on Thursday morning. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity: Center for Public Integrity: Why did you draw such a hard line with President Trump over his campaign paying public safety bills? Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey: “It’s my responsibility to look after the taxpayers of the city of Minneapolis. We know from past experience throughout the country that Donald Trump doesn’t pay his bills. He mentioned it was ‘extortion’ the other day. It’s not extortion to ask somebody to pay their bill even when they don’t really want to pay their bills. I thought it was important to do my job and look out for our residents.” Public Integrity: The issue of presidential candidates — Democrats and Republicans — not paying public safety bills isn’t new. Should Congress address this by giving the Secret Service money to reimburse local governments for public safety services they request? Frey: “Cities are already substantially deprived of federal funds they used to get. Cities are already charged with doing a lot of the more difficult and controversial work when the buck is passed down and the federal government refuses to act. The least we could get is our costs taken care of when something like this goes down. It makes sense.” Public Integrity: Are you surprised by the Trump campaign’s reaction to Minneapolis pressing Trump to pay police bills, particularly since the president frequently talks about how much he supports law enforcement officials? Frey: “I don’t think anybody is ever surprised by anything Donald Trump says on a daily basis. I can never predict some of the garbage that comes out of his mouth on a daily basis. I support our police officers of the Minneapolis Police Department. We’re trying to get them paid by the individual who, in my opinion, owes them the bill. If he supports police officers so much, it’s kind of odd that he’d fight paying their overtime expenses so hard.” Public Integrity: You still want the Trump campaign to pay for public safety costs. How will you do that when a city contractor, not Minneapolis City Hall, signed a contract with the Trump campaign to use the Target Center? Frey: “We made it clear to AEG that associated costs as would fit in the contract would need to be recouped. But as to how AEG handles the agreement with the Trump campaign? That is their prerogative.” Public Integrity: What’s your position on Democratic presidential candidates paying public safety bills when they visit Minneapolis? Frey: “Same position. It’s not a political position. It’s a position on behalf of our taxpayers … our ability to recoup funds is not ideological or partisan.” Public Integrity: Will Minneapolis in any way reduce its police and public safety services during the president’s visit? Frey: “Our number one priority over the next 24 hours is public safety. It’s safety whether you’re attending in support or protesting in opposition. It is our top priority to make sure people are safe. I’ve been working constantly with our Chief [Medaria] Arradondo, and he’s in turn been working with surrounding jurisdictions and the Secret Service, to make sure we can do just that.” Public Integrity: Did you ever consider withholding Minneapolis public safety services from the president? Frey: “No. That would be irresponsible.” Public Integrity: What advice do you have for other cities that host large-scale presidential campaign rallies during 2020 and are concerned Trump, or another presidential campaign, won’t help defray public safety costs? Frey: “Under ordinary circumstances, I’d be honored to welcome a sitting president of the United States to Minneapolis. And I’m sure that under ordinary circumstances, mayors across the country would feel the same. But these are not ordinary circumstances. As far as the contract goes, and the ability to recoup costs, so much of it depends on whether the building is publicly owned, and the contract is publicly held … You have more ability to recoup costs with a direct contract with the campaign itself. The middle ground would be where we are. The vast majority of the time, it’s a privately held building and a privately held contract.” When Trump conducts a campaign rally in Minneapolis or any city, they’re typically major affairs, attracting thousands — even tens-of-thousands — of revelers. Protesters come, too. Cash-strapped city governments have little choice but to provide whatever public safety resources the Secret Service requests of them, regardless of whether the Trump rally is staged at a publicly owned facility or a privately owned one. Yes, cities could theoretically withhold public safety services if Trump’s campaign, or any presidential campaign, refused local officials’ requests to pay police costs. But in doing so, city governments would jeopardize their own community’s public safety — something none has been willing to do. Why the Trump campaign won’t pay police bills Trump campaign still hasn’t paid El Paso police bills Congress could address this situation by appropriating money to the Secret Service for the purpose of reimbursing local governments for help during visits by presidential candidates under their protection. Lawmakers could also conceivably amend federal campaign finance laws to mandate presidential candidates account for and address public safety invoices they receive from local governments. Trump’s campaign, for example, doesn’t even list local government public safety bills in the “debt” section of its periodic campaign finance disclosures. Historically, some cities choose to invoice presidential campaigns for public safety costs while others — for various reasons — do not. Earlier this decade, President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign ignored some police bills while paying others. Hillary Clinton paid most, but not all — a $2,678 invoice from Philadelphia remains unpaid. During the 2020 presidential election, some Democratic candidates have said they’ll always pay police bills they receive. Others have been non-committal or won’t answer the question. Minneapolis isn’t alone in its newly assertive stance toward Trump’s campaign: Green Bay, Wisconsin, is also considering how to compel presidential candidates to pay police protection bills. Fed up with Trump and other non-paying presidential candidates over the years, Green Bay officials later this year will consider whether to require presidential candidates to apply for special event permits when conducting campaign events, said Celestine Jeffreys, chief of staff for Green Bay’s city government. Green Bay, she added, will also explore charging sitting presidents for public safety expenses related to their visits — something the city now only reserves for presidential candidates who don’t currently occupy the White House. When barnstorming presidential campaigns don’t help cities defray unexpected public safety costs, “these costs go directly to property taxpayers,” Jeffreys said. Green Bay, for its part, is still waiting for the Trump campaign to pay $9,380 for public safety costs associated with a campaign rally in August 2016. Investigative must-reads, delivered. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get must-read investigative reporting in your inbox. Conservative political fundraiser pleads guilty to felony Scott Mackenzie — treasurer for dozens of candidates and PACs — faces up to five years in prison What third-quarter fundraising can tell us about 2020 Presidential campaign finance disclosures help gauge candidate viability and voter enthusiasm. Leland Roth Roth More fake news…. The man is so arranged that he is extremely rarely satisfied with something, and this feature of ours has been repeatedly pointed out by poets and writers. But since such people can be found surrounded by each of us, it’s time to figure out why they behave this way. Of course, you can blame everything on the mentality, as they usually do, comparing our way of life with the Western one: they say that there people are much more friendly, cheerful and smiling, and here we are all gloomy, forever dissatisfied with everyone. But in fact, the permanent dissatisfaction of… Read more » Mejust He took on no one. He’s a one term wonder…..	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3466
__label__wiki	0.754425	0.754425	E-Paper Archive Punjab Times January 2021 Edition Windows 10’s next update is ‘Autumn Creators Update’ in the UK and elsewhere by Shivendra Singh · July 17, 2017 Microsoft is planning to adjust the name of its Windows 10 Fall Creators Update in the UK and elsewhere to Autumn Creators Update. Windows Central has spotted that Microsoft now refers to the fall update as “Autumn Creators Update” on its UK dedicated site. While the German and French versions still refer to it as Fall Creators Update, India has also switched to using Autumn Creators Update. The name change is an obvious way to avoid confusion in the UK. British Windows 10 users will be more familiar with autumn than fall, the American way to describe the season that marks the transition from summer sunshine to wet winter weather. Brits particularly hate seeing “Favorites” instead of “Favourites” in apps, and Microsoft has typically… The best kitchen scale by Shivendra Singh · Published July 9, 2017 UK to enforce porn site age checks from April 2018 by Shivendra Singh · Published July 17, 2017 FBI says Islamic State used eBay and PayPal to channel money to the US by Shivendra Singh · Published August 11, 2017 Next story The Morning After: Monday, July 17th 2017 Previous story Career best rank of 168 in singles for India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan Sanskrit emerges as 5th most widely used language in Rajya Sabha Russia: 5.4 magnitude earthquake hits Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky ‘Tula parat maanla re Thakur’: Sanjay Manjrekar explains story behind Virat Kohli’s Tweet MP: 13-year-old girl raped by 9 men in Umaria, check shocking details Our Latest Edition About Punjab Times 'Punjab Times' was first published on 29th June 2001 receiving an invaluable response from the readers and advertisers... More about Punjab Times Being the first Punjabi Indian Newspaper to be published from Sydney, Australia, 'Punjab Times' is distributed free of cost providing an advantage to advertisers as it has a Wide Distribution Network across Sydney and New South Wales, along with selected outlets across other states in Australia as well as a online and social following from around the world. Email: info@punjabtimes.com.au Punjab Times © 2021. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3468
__label__wiki	0.930864	0.930864	BreakingCultureNewsWorld Security Breach? Gay Couple Warned For Holding Hands At Supermarket A gay couple has given the “middle finger emoji” to a supermarket chain after being warned by security for holding hands during a shopping expedition. Thomas Rees, 32, and his boyfriend Josh were pulled aside by a security guard after they finished paying for their shopping – and warned that another customer had complained about them holding hands and showing public displays of affection. Rees, an account manager, said he was “shocked and dumbfounded” by the security guard’s actions at a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Hackney, England. “My boyfriend and I went to our local Sainsbury’s holding hands as we normally do, just general public displays of affection and we didn’t notice anything untoward or weird,” he told ITV News. “In East London it’s not uncommon but we noticed the security guard staring.” They had just finished paying when Rees said the security guard called them over “with a finger” and asked them to follow him outside. It was then that he questioned whether he had accidentally put something in his pocket. “When we got outside I was ready to apologise and then he said a customer had complained about our behaviour,” he said. “My blood boiled. I was shaking and dumbfounded and unable to respond. He kept repeating the customer felt our behaviour was inappropriate.” In an attempt to placate the couple, Sainsbury’s later offered a £10 gift card as a goodwill gesture. To the bigot who complained about my bf & I holdin hands & the security guard at @sainsburys who felt the need to 'talk' to us outside🖕🏻 — Thomas Rees (@doganddinosaur) August 8, 2016 @doganddinosaur Sorry Thomas, can you DM some more details please? Neil. — Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) August 8, 2016 But Rees said he would prefer that store trained its staff about LGBT issues. “They need to be articulate and communicate effectively with the public,” he said. “If he (the security guard) had training he wouldn’t have handled it in the way he did.” Discriminating against someone based on sexual orientation is a potential breach of the 2010 Equality Act which could lead to a fine of up to £5000. Speaking to Buzzfeed, Rees said he there was no sense of humility in the guard’s actions. “I refuse to believe this would have happened to a heterosexual couple – we just stared in disbelief. The issue here is it felt like like 1960s Britain.” A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Buzzfeed: “We do not tolerate discrimination in any form. We are investigating this urgently with our security contractor.” Sponsor drops former world #1 golfer Justin Thomas over slur Mardi Gras cancels 2021 Party and other events due to COVID-19 Someone has taken over Pauline Hanson’s URL to troll her	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3469
__label__wiki	0.930596	0.930596	Aboriginal football and the Australian game Judd, Barry Butcher, Tim Butcher, Tim J. This paper introduces an Australian Research Council research project currently being undertaken at the remote Aboriginal community of Papunya in the Northern Territory. The project, led by Barry Judd and Tim Butcher from RMIT University, explores the role organised Australian Football plays in community wellbeing in a remote community. While mainstream narratives of sport view wellbeing as a natural outcome of participation in organised competition, this project critically interrogates the positive outcomes assumed in this relationship. The authors argue that the promise of Australian Football to transform the lives of remote ... View more >This paper introduces an Australian Research Council research project currently being undertaken at the remote Aboriginal community of Papunya in the Northern Territory. The project, led by Barry Judd and Tim Butcher from RMIT University, explores the role organised Australian Football plays in community wellbeing in a remote community. While mainstream narratives of sport view wellbeing as a natural outcome of participation in organised competition, this project critically interrogates the positive outcomes assumed in this relationship. The authors argue that the promise of Australian Football to transform the lives of remote community residents in positive ways is largely false and that participation in mainstream competition in Alice Springs may be socially and economically detrimental to the wellbeing of the people of Papunya. The paper questions the place that Aboriginal people occupy in Australian Football and suggests that cultural identity has only a tenuous place in the sport. It explores this theme in the context of the Northern Territory Emergency Response, or ‘Intervention’, which has positioned remote community residents as unwanted outsiders in Alice Springs and other ‘white’ spaces in the Northern Territory. It further argues that these issues are of national significance and that the treatment of Australian Football League star Adam Goodes underlines sport’s limitations in delivering wellbeing to Aboriginal peoples and their communities. Australian Aboriginal Studies http://aiatsis.gov.au/publications/australian-aboriginal-studies-journal/past-issues Self-archiving of the author-manuscript version is not yet supported by this journal. Please refer to the journal link for access to the definitive, published version or contact the author[s] for more information. Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified Other Studies in Human Society	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3471
__label__cc	0.571705	0.428295	The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains S.C. Swagerman, E.J.C. de Geus, K.J. Kan, E. van Bergen, H.A. Nieuwboer, M.M.G. Koenis, H.E. Hulshoff Pol, R.E. Gur, R.C. Gur, D.I. Boomsma Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences Amsterdam Neuroscience - Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Stress & Sleep Objective: The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) enables efficient neurocognitive assessment. The authors aimed to (a) estimate validity and reliability of the battery's Dutch translation, (b) investigate effects of age across cognitive domains, and (c) estimate heritability of the CNB tests. Method: A populationrepresentative sample of 1,140 participants (aged 10-86), mainly twin-families, was tested on the CNB, providing measures of speed and accuracy in 14 cognitive domains. In a subsample (246 subjects aged 14-22), IQ data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults; WAIS) were available. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha, comparisons of scores between Dutch and U.S. samples, and investigation of how a CNB-based common factor compared to a WAIS-based general factor of intelligence (g). Linear and nonlinear age dependencies covering the life span were modeled through regression. Heritability was estimated from twin data and from entire pedigree data. Results: Internal consistency of all tests was moderate to high (median = 0.86). Effects of gender, age, and education on cognitive performance closely resembled U.S. samples. The CNB-based common factor was completely captured by the WAIS-based g. Some domains, like nonverbal reasoning accuracy, peaked in young adulthood and showed steady decline. Other domains, like language reasoning accuracy, peaked in middle adulthood and were spared decline. CNB-test heritabilities were moderate (median h2 = 31%). Heritability of the CNB common factor was 70%, similar to the WAIS-based g-factor. Conclusion: The CNB can be used to assess specific neurocognitive performance, as well as to obtain a reliable proxy of general intelligence. Effects of aging and heritability differed across cognitive domains. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000248 10.1037/neu0000248 Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains'. Together they form a unique fingerprint. Intelligence Medicine & Life Sciences Twins Medicine & Life Sciences Mental Status and Dementia Tests Medicine & Life Sciences Wechsler Scales Medicine & Life Sciences Dependency (Psychology) Medicine & Life Sciences Pedigree Medicine & Life Sciences Proxy Medicine & Life Sciences Swagerman, S. C., de Geus, E. J. C., Kan, K. J., van Bergen, E., Nieuwboer, H. A., Koenis, M. M. G., Hulshoff Pol, H. E., Gur, R. E., Gur, R. C., & Boomsma, D. I. (2016). The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains. Neuropsychology, 30(1), 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000248 Swagerman, S.C. ; de Geus, E.J.C. ; Kan, K.J. ; van Bergen, E. ; Nieuwboer, H.A. ; Koenis, M.M.G. ; Hulshoff Pol, H.E. ; Gur, R.E. ; Gur, R.C. ; Boomsma, D.I. / The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains. In: Neuropsychology. 2016 ; Vol. 30, No. 1. pp. 53-64. @article{6ca4e83b53f041fd95fdc05da37d18a4, title = "The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains", abstract = "Objective: The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) enables efficient neurocognitive assessment. The authors aimed to (a) estimate validity and reliability of the battery's Dutch translation, (b) investigate effects of age across cognitive domains, and (c) estimate heritability of the CNB tests. Method: A populationrepresentative sample of 1,140 participants (aged 10-86), mainly twin-families, was tested on the CNB, providing measures of speed and accuracy in 14 cognitive domains. In a subsample (246 subjects aged 14-22), IQ data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults; WAIS) were available. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha, comparisons of scores between Dutch and U.S. samples, and investigation of how a CNB-based common factor compared to a WAIS-based general factor of intelligence (g). Linear and nonlinear age dependencies covering the life span were modeled through regression. Heritability was estimated from twin data and from entire pedigree data. Results: Internal consistency of all tests was moderate to high (median = 0.86). Effects of gender, age, and education on cognitive performance closely resembled U.S. samples. The CNB-based common factor was completely captured by the WAIS-based g. Some domains, like nonverbal reasoning accuracy, peaked in young adulthood and showed steady decline. Other domains, like language reasoning accuracy, peaked in middle adulthood and were spared decline. CNB-test heritabilities were moderate (median h2 = 31%). Heritability of the CNB common factor was 70%, similar to the WAIS-based g-factor. Conclusion: The CNB can be used to assess specific neurocognitive performance, as well as to obtain a reliable proxy of general intelligence. Effects of aging and heritability differed across cognitive domains.", author = "S.C. Swagerman and {de Geus}, E.J.C. and K.J. Kan and {van Bergen}, E. and H.A. Nieuwboer and M.M.G. Koenis and {Hulshoff Pol}, H.E. and R.E. Gur and R.C. Gur and D.I. Boomsma", doi = "10.1037/neu0000248", journal = "Neuropsychology", publisher = "American Psychological Association", Swagerman, SC, de Geus, EJC, Kan, KJ, van Bergen, E, Nieuwboer, HA, Koenis, MMG, Hulshoff Pol, HE, Gur, RE, Gur, RC & Boomsma, DI 2016, 'The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains', Neuropsychology, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000248 The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains. / Swagerman, S.C.; de Geus, E.J.C.; Kan, K.J.; van Bergen, E.; Nieuwboer, H.A.; Koenis, M.M.G.; Hulshoff Pol, H.E.; Gur, R.E.; Gur, R.C.; Boomsma, D.I. In: Neuropsychology, Vol. 30, No. 1, 2016, p. 53-64. T1 - The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains AU - Swagerman, S.C. AU - de Geus, E.J.C. AU - Kan, K.J. AU - van Bergen, E. AU - Nieuwboer, H.A. AU - Koenis, M.M.G. AU - Hulshoff Pol, H.E. AU - Gur, R.E. AU - Gur, R.C. AU - Boomsma, D.I. N2 - Objective: The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) enables efficient neurocognitive assessment. The authors aimed to (a) estimate validity and reliability of the battery's Dutch translation, (b) investigate effects of age across cognitive domains, and (c) estimate heritability of the CNB tests. Method: A populationrepresentative sample of 1,140 participants (aged 10-86), mainly twin-families, was tested on the CNB, providing measures of speed and accuracy in 14 cognitive domains. In a subsample (246 subjects aged 14-22), IQ data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults; WAIS) were available. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha, comparisons of scores between Dutch and U.S. samples, and investigation of how a CNB-based common factor compared to a WAIS-based general factor of intelligence (g). Linear and nonlinear age dependencies covering the life span were modeled through regression. Heritability was estimated from twin data and from entire pedigree data. Results: Internal consistency of all tests was moderate to high (median = 0.86). Effects of gender, age, and education on cognitive performance closely resembled U.S. samples. The CNB-based common factor was completely captured by the WAIS-based g. Some domains, like nonverbal reasoning accuracy, peaked in young adulthood and showed steady decline. Other domains, like language reasoning accuracy, peaked in middle adulthood and were spared decline. CNB-test heritabilities were moderate (median h2 = 31%). Heritability of the CNB common factor was 70%, similar to the WAIS-based g-factor. Conclusion: The CNB can be used to assess specific neurocognitive performance, as well as to obtain a reliable proxy of general intelligence. Effects of aging and heritability differed across cognitive domains. AB - Objective: The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) enables efficient neurocognitive assessment. The authors aimed to (a) estimate validity and reliability of the battery's Dutch translation, (b) investigate effects of age across cognitive domains, and (c) estimate heritability of the CNB tests. Method: A populationrepresentative sample of 1,140 participants (aged 10-86), mainly twin-families, was tested on the CNB, providing measures of speed and accuracy in 14 cognitive domains. In a subsample (246 subjects aged 14-22), IQ data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults; WAIS) were available. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha, comparisons of scores between Dutch and U.S. samples, and investigation of how a CNB-based common factor compared to a WAIS-based general factor of intelligence (g). Linear and nonlinear age dependencies covering the life span were modeled through regression. Heritability was estimated from twin data and from entire pedigree data. Results: Internal consistency of all tests was moderate to high (median = 0.86). Effects of gender, age, and education on cognitive performance closely resembled U.S. samples. The CNB-based common factor was completely captured by the WAIS-based g. Some domains, like nonverbal reasoning accuracy, peaked in young adulthood and showed steady decline. Other domains, like language reasoning accuracy, peaked in middle adulthood and were spared decline. CNB-test heritabilities were moderate (median h2 = 31%). Heritability of the CNB common factor was 70%, similar to the WAIS-based g-factor. Conclusion: The CNB can be used to assess specific neurocognitive performance, as well as to obtain a reliable proxy of general intelligence. Effects of aging and heritability differed across cognitive domains. U2 - 10.1037/neu0000248 DO - 10.1037/neu0000248 JO - Neuropsychology JF - Neuropsychology Swagerman SC, de Geus EJC, Kan KJ, van Bergen E, Nieuwboer HA, Koenis MMG et al. The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains. Neuropsychology. 2016;30(1):53-64. https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000248	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3473
__label__cc	0.733213	0.266787	Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance Ilona McNeill, Patrick Dunlop, Timothy Skinner, D Morrison In the event of a wildfire, Australian residents of wildfire-prone areas have a choice to defend their home or evacuate early. However, rather than deciding on and preparing for one of these fire-responses ahead of time, most residents delay deciding on defending v. evacuating (e.g. they wait and see instead). Recent research has shown that delaying this decision is associated with reduced levels of preparedness for both responses and on the day of a fire, an increased risk to life and property. The current study empirically examined what predicts this decision delay regarding one's fire-response by measuring two personality traits and several decision-related factors. A longitudinal survey study of residents of multiple wildfire-prone areas in Western Australia showed that the strongest predictor of delaying their decision to defend v. evacuate was a lack of difference in perceived values of defending v. evacuating. These findings have important implications for the design of interventions to reduce the risks associated with such delay. For one, agencies could utilise residents' value base to reduce decision delay. Alternatively, they could focus on the formation of proper contingency plans and stress the necessity to prepare well for both defending and evacuating. International Journal of Wildland Fire https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12213 10.1071/WF12213 Link to Scopus publication Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint. wildfires Agriculture & Biology decision Earth & Environmental Sciences wildfire Earth & Environmental Sciences longitudinal studies Agriculture & Biology personality Agriculture & Biology plan Earth & Environmental Sciences measuring Earth & Environmental Sciences McNeill, I., Dunlop, P., Skinner, T., & Morrison, D. (2015). Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24(2), 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12213 McNeill, Ilona ; Dunlop, Patrick ; Skinner, Timothy ; Morrison, D. / Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance. In: International Journal of Wildland Fire. 2015 ; Vol. 24, No. 2. pp. 153-161. @article{94b31f1346fc4361ad796b155722df25, title = "Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance", abstract = "In the event of a wildfire, Australian residents of wildfire-prone areas have a choice to defend their home or evacuate early. However, rather than deciding on and preparing for one of these fire-responses ahead of time, most residents delay deciding on defending v. evacuating (e.g. they wait and see instead). Recent research has shown that delaying this decision is associated with reduced levels of preparedness for both responses and on the day of a fire, an increased risk to life and property. The current study empirically examined what predicts this decision delay regarding one's fire-response by measuring two personality traits and several decision-related factors. A longitudinal survey study of residents of multiple wildfire-prone areas in Western Australia showed that the strongest predictor of delaying their decision to defend v. evacuate was a lack of difference in perceived values of defending v. evacuating. These findings have important implications for the design of interventions to reduce the risks associated with such delay. For one, agencies could utilise residents' value base to reduce decision delay. Alternatively, they could focus on the formation of proper contingency plans and stress the necessity to prepare well for both defending and evacuating. ", author = "Ilona McNeill and Patrick Dunlop and Timothy Skinner and D Morrison", doi = "10.1071/WF12213", journal = "International Journal of Wildland Fire", publisher = "CSIRO Publishing", McNeill, I, Dunlop, P, Skinner, T & Morrison, D 2015, 'Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance', International Journal of Wildland Fire, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12213 Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance. / McNeill, Ilona; Dunlop, Patrick; Skinner, Timothy; Morrison, D. In: International Journal of Wildland Fire, Vol. 24, No. 2, 2015, p. 153-161. T1 - Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance AU - McNeill, Ilona AU - Dunlop, Patrick AU - Skinner, Timothy AU - Morrison, D N2 - In the event of a wildfire, Australian residents of wildfire-prone areas have a choice to defend their home or evacuate early. However, rather than deciding on and preparing for one of these fire-responses ahead of time, most residents delay deciding on defending v. evacuating (e.g. they wait and see instead). Recent research has shown that delaying this decision is associated with reduced levels of preparedness for both responses and on the day of a fire, an increased risk to life and property. The current study empirically examined what predicts this decision delay regarding one's fire-response by measuring two personality traits and several decision-related factors. A longitudinal survey study of residents of multiple wildfire-prone areas in Western Australia showed that the strongest predictor of delaying their decision to defend v. evacuate was a lack of difference in perceived values of defending v. evacuating. These findings have important implications for the design of interventions to reduce the risks associated with such delay. For one, agencies could utilise residents' value base to reduce decision delay. Alternatively, they could focus on the formation of proper contingency plans and stress the necessity to prepare well for both defending and evacuating. AB - In the event of a wildfire, Australian residents of wildfire-prone areas have a choice to defend their home or evacuate early. However, rather than deciding on and preparing for one of these fire-responses ahead of time, most residents delay deciding on defending v. evacuating (e.g. they wait and see instead). Recent research has shown that delaying this decision is associated with reduced levels of preparedness for both responses and on the day of a fire, an increased risk to life and property. The current study empirically examined what predicts this decision delay regarding one's fire-response by measuring two personality traits and several decision-related factors. A longitudinal survey study of residents of multiple wildfire-prone areas in Western Australia showed that the strongest predictor of delaying their decision to defend v. evacuate was a lack of difference in perceived values of defending v. evacuating. These findings have important implications for the design of interventions to reduce the risks associated with such delay. For one, agencies could utilise residents' value base to reduce decision delay. Alternatively, they could focus on the formation of proper contingency plans and stress the necessity to prepare well for both defending and evacuating. U2 - 10.1071/WF12213 DO - 10.1071/WF12213 JO - International Journal of Wildland Fire JF - International Journal of Wildland Fire McNeill I, Dunlop P, Skinner T, Morrison D. Predicting delay in residents' decisions on defending v. evacuating through antecedents of decision avoidance. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 2015;24(2):153-161. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF12213	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3476
__label__cc	0.637435	0.362565	As congress scion Rahul Gandhi & Priyanka Gandhi rain a series of protests in Hathras, a video posted online shows Priyanka Gandhi’s husband, Robert Vadra, holidaying in Turkey. Is Robert Vadra holidaying in Turkey while Pappu & Pinky are allegedly fighting for poor Indian farmers ? pic.twitter.com/BjX5moBh4y — Suresh Nakhua (सुरेश नाखुआ) (@SureshNakhua) October 11, 2020 Yes sir @SureshNakhua! This place is in Turkey! https://t.co/7yxFFoXKL4 pic.twitter.com/N3xYaB256g — Atharva 🇮🇳 (@AtharvaNilesh7) October 11, 2020 After few netizens spotted Sulemanye mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey, in the background of the video posted by Robert Vadra, social media is abuzz with posts which disapprove of him holidaying in Turkey. The reason cited by many is–Turkey since sometime has not been maintaining cordial relations with India and ergo, many have been calling to cut-off ties with Turkey. Ankara has been supporting Pakistan in general against India and in particular over the Kashmir issue. India abrogated Article 370 of its constitution, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special status not enjoyed by other Indian states, in August 2019. Since the abrogation of this article, Turkey has been raising the Kashmir issue at different forums. Indians on social media have been consistently opposing Turkey’s stand supporting Pakistan. Intel reports hint that Turkey is now the hub of ISI activities, and Pakistani agents often target students from Kashmir who head to Turkey on scholarships for studies. Ostensibly, ISI has opened a cyber cell inside Turkey which is used for brainwashing students against Indian government. Estimates suggest that about 100 students leave for Turkey every year on scholarship schemes. This has evoked strong reactions from the Indian government. In October 2019,India’s Prime minister Modi cancelled his visit to Turkey. In the view of growing defense ties between Turkey and Pakistan, India also cut its defense exports to Turkey and reduced imports from Turkey. Meanwhile, Indian national Congress party, an opposition party, has only grown closer to Turkey. Congress’ Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) had issued a press statement about opening an office in Istanbul which was to be headed by Muhammad Yusuf Khan. This had happened a few days after Turkey extended its support to Pakistan at the UN on Kashmir issue. This had earned the grand old party ire of many Indians from across the globe. Presently Congress party leaders Rahul Gandhi & his sister are mounting pressure on Yogi government, in Uttar Pradesh vis-a-vis Hathras case. There have been reports that protests in the region were being pushed by Amnesty organization, which had voluntarily shut it’s operations in India after Indian government froze the accounts under the organization for misappropriate use of funds. Under such circumstances, Hathras protests have become very controversial. Congress party has also been staging protests against agricultural bill that was introduced in the Indian parliament few days ago. Turkey has consistently been found harbouring anti-India entities. Another incident that made it to the headlines was—Shah Faesal trying to escape to Turkey. Mr faesal is an IAS turned politician who was then detained at the delhi airport on august 12 2019, a few days after article 370 was abrogation by Modi government. The incident had happened after his controversial stand against the decision taken by Indian government on article 370. Recently Indian Actor, Amir Khan, who had visited Turkey also came under heavy criticism by Indians for visiting a country that has unfriendly relations with India. Copying the article or an excerpt without giving due credit to the website and author will be considered an infringement of copyright Posted in Authors, General, RnewsAuthor, Strategic affairsTagged congress office in Turkey, congress party, Farmers act India, Farmers bill India, Hathras case, Hathras News, Priyanka Gandhi husband, Priyanka Gandhi twitter, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul Gandhi news, Robert Vadra, Vadra case Previous China, Friedman’s Disaster Capitalism & Collapsing World Economy Next Maoists Planned Communal Tension Under The Garb Of Urban Revolution With The Help Of ISI—Says NIA, Incriminating Evidences Against Navlakha & Teltumbe Brothers	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3478
__label__wiki	0.914005	0.914005	Why startups prefer raising seed capital from angel investors rather than from seed funds With a surfeit of money available, venturecapital funds are competing for seed deals, erasing long-held distinctions in the world of startup investing. Evelyn Fok Shonali Advani Updated: August 21, 2015, 15:16 IST Seed funding, typically the earliest investment in a startup, is no longer the territory of angel investors and dedicated seed funds. Stealthily, big-ticket venture capital funds that normally make large bets in startups are writing smaller cheques to younger companies as well, marking a tectonic shift in investment dynamics. “Investors are playing across the entire funding continuum because nobody wants to miss out—the FOMO (fear of missing out) effect,” said Sanjay Anandaram, venture partner at Seedfund and an adviser at software product think-tank iSPIRT. “These firms are able to seed the seedlings as they grow and cherry pick the ones that they really want to back with big bucks.” While venture capital firms in India have always invested seed money on occasion, a clear trend emerged in mid-2014 when a handful put in more than a dozen such investments. ET, in a survey conducted in collaboration with startup analytics firm Tracxn, found that institutional funds and angel investors now have similar leverage with entrepreneurs looking to raise seed rounds. Prior ET research found that in 2014 major VCs had closed more than 60 seed cheques of up to Rs 5-6 crore apiece. This means expanded options for entrepreneurs, said Rehan Yar Khan, serial entrepreneur who leads early-stage fund Orios Venture Partners. “They can now choose between taking less money at a low dilution from smaller funds or taking more money at a higher dilution from larger funds,” he said. “Angels are seeing fewer deals as a result and are having to come in even earlier, often at the ideation stage.” Startup founders appear to welcome this development. Not only do large venture capital funds offer experienced operations teams that can help early-stage companies scale at speed, the brand recognition that comes with being backed by a reputable name can go to lengths in a ruthlessly competitive startup ecosystem. And then there is the potential of follow-on funding that is hard to ignore. This shift has upped the average ticket size and now seed-stage cheques range from as small as $100,000 (about Rs 65 lakh) to $1 million, often resulting in founders raising more money than they need. “There are a lot of funds (or micro funds) coming up who are competing with institutional investors for early-stage deals, so it’s made the environment more competitive,” said Shanti Mohan, founder and CEO, LetsVenture, a deal discovery platform for earlystage deals. The downsides can be equally painful, said Abhishek Goyal, cofounder of Tracxn. “This will allow entrepreneurs to have significant capital in early days and hence scale their companies quickly... (But) the biggest risk is that startups may scale a lot before figuring out product-market fit and run into the risk of getting caught on the wrong foot,” he said. Also, if a startup is struggling or the market has changed and an institutional investor doesn’t want to reinvest, “it’s doomsday for an entrepreneur,” said Mohan of LetsVenture. “The signaling effect is very strong with institutional investors.”. Shailendra Singh, Managing Director SEED PORTFOLIO: Practo, Mobikwik, TinyOwl, Moonfrog Labs, Pine Labs, Glocal Sequoia Capital that has been investing in India since 2006 has backed some of the country’s most-touted startups— Ola, Zomato, Druva, and FreeCharge, which was acquired by ecommerce major Snapdeal in a landmark acquisition deal this year. The venture fund, which typically invests in earlyto growth-stage startups, has become quite active in seed-stage deals, writing cheques as low as $100,000. Some of its seed investments— including Practo, Grofers, and PepperTap—have gone on to raise follow-on rounds from other institutional investors. “We often invest very early in companies with a goal to partner with world-class entrepreneurs in solving large problems,” said Shailendra Singh, managing director, Sequoia Capital India Advisors. The venture capital firm brings a ‘company building’ mindset along with functional help in recruiting, marketing, and technology to the table to help young companies succeed, said Singh. Sequoia Capital India was the most active investor in Asia between April and June, according to data by CB Insights, a global database for angel and venture capital activity. ACCEL PARTNERS Subrata Mitra, Partner SEED PORTFOLIO: Portea, MySmartPrice, Swiggy Accel Partners, a California-headquartered venture capital firm, has made over 70 seed-stage investments in India since 2004, including in successes such as Flipkart and Freshdesk. Today, 65-70% of its checks are made at the seed level, each between $250,000 and $2 million. The firm expects to close at least 20 seed investments in India this year. “We believe the best opportunity to create outstanding assets is in seed/early stage,” said Subrata Mitra, partner at Accel India, adding that this is not an easy stage to execute. “The India market is in its formative stages in its startup ecosystem and maximum value creation for our investors is possible by participating in seed- and early-stage companies.” Accel’s portfolio is made up of tech companies disrupting large markets in the consumer, healthcare and enterprise industries. Most of the team hails from entrepreneurial or operational backgrounds, and their core competencies lie in the pillars of seed investing— identifying and building quality teams, understanding the value of early DNA setting, and helping companies get product-market fit. Accel has an operating team comprising experts in product management, marketing, design and technology and dedicated to helping portfolio companies grow faster. Karthik Reddy, Managing Partner SEED PORTFOLIO: Instamojo, Explara, Roadrunnr, Zopper, GreyOrange Seed-stage venture fund Blume Ventures, set up in March 2011, has made early bets in 70 companies with its first fund of Rs 140 crore, and has exited 12 of these, including ZipDial and TaxiForSure. “This is the stage of investing we enjoy the most,” said managing partner Karthik Reddy. “We like to work with founders at an early stage of an idea and help in whatever way we can to build various elements of a potentially great company—founder mentoring, hiring, direction and choices around business models.” Blume makes its bets around energy efficiency, manufacturing and healthcare technology. Ticket sizes are mostly of $500,000 to $1 million, with Blume usually taking 50-80% of the round. Blume helps founders solve typical early-stage startup problems and acts as partners. The firm plans to make 10 investments this year from its new $60-million (about Rs 390 crore) fund that is slated to close later this year. One-third of its deployable capital will be for seed investments in startups, and the balance will be for follow-on investments into the best of those.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3479
__label__cc	0.749648	0.250352	Quemado Institute Insight on Global Events 2014-2020 Natural Health & Spirit News from Novorossiya Russian Politics, Terrorism Putin’s 2015 Annual Presidential Address – Transcript Posted by KAR ⋅ December 3, 2015 ⋅ Leave a comment Filed Under Putin Speech Transcript, Putin's Annual Presidential Address, Putin's State of the Nation Address, Transcript of Putin's Presidential Address Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly Vladimir Putin (–Strategic Culture Foundation) Vladimir Putin delivered the Annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of more than 1,000 people. Those present for the Address included members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, members of the Government, heads of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts, regional governors, heads of regional legislative assemblies, heads of Russia’s traditional religious faiths, public figures, including heads of regional public chambers, and the heads of Russia’s biggest media outlets. President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Citizens of Russia, members of the Federation Council, State Duma deputies, I would like to begin my Address with words of gratitude to the Russian servicemen who are fighting international terrorism. Today here in the St George’s Hall, a historic hall of Russian military glory, we have combat pilots and representatives of the Armed Forces who are taking part in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria. Gelena Peshkova and Irina Pozynich, who lost their husbands in the war against terror, have joined us too. My deepest respect to you and the parents of our heroes. I would like us all to honour the memory of the soldiers who gave their lives while doing their duty, and the memory of all Russian citizens who fell at the hands of terrorists. (Moment of silence) Colleagues, Russia has long been at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. This is a fight for freedom, truth and justice, for the lives of people and the future of the entire civilisation. We know what aggression of international terrorism is. Russia faced it back in the mid-1990s, when our country, our civilian population suffered from cruel attacks. We will never forget the hostage crises in Budennovsk, Beslan and Moscow, the merciless explosions in residential buildings, the Nevsky Express train derailment, the blasts in the Moscow metro and Domodedovo Airport. These tragedies took thousands of lives. We still grieve for them and will always grieve, along with the victims’ loved ones. It took us nearly a decade to finally break the backbone of those militants. We almost succeeded in expelling terrorists from Russia, but are still fighting the remaining terrorist underground. This evil is still out there. Two years ago, two attacks were committed in Volgograd. A civilian Russian plane was recently blown up over Sinai. International terrorism will never be defeated by just one country, especially in a situation when the borders are practically open, and the world is going through another resettlement of peoples, while terrorists are getting regular financial support. Terrorism is a growing threat today. The Afghanistan problem has not been resolved. The situation there is alarming and gives us no optimism, while some of the relatively peaceful and stable countries in the Middle East and North Africa – Iraq, Libya and Syria – have now plunged into chaos and anarchy that pose a threat to the whole world. We all know why that happened. We know who decided to oust the unwanted regimes and brutally impose their own rules. Where has this led them? They stirred up trouble, destroyed the countries’ statehood, set people against each other, and then “washed their hands”, as we say in Russia, thus opening the way to radical activists, extremists and terrorists. The militants in Syria pose a particularly high threat for Russia. Many of them are citizens of Russia and the CIS countries. They get money and weapons and build up their strength. If they get sufficiently strong to win there, they will return to their home countries to sow fear and hatred, to blow up, kill and torture people. We must fight and eliminate them there, away from home. This is why it has been decided to launch a military operation there based on an official request from the legitimate Syrian authorities. Our military personnel are fighting in Syria for Russia, for the security of Russian citizens. The Russian Army and Navy have convincingly demonstrated their combat readiness and their increased capabilities. Modern Russian weapons have proved to be effective, and the invaluable practice of using them in combat conditions is being analysed and will be used to further improve our weapons and military equipment. We are grateful to our engineers, workers and all other personnel of our defence companies. Russia has demonstrated immense responsibility and leadership in the fight against terrorism. Russian people have supported these resolute actions. The firm stance taken by our people stems from a thorough understanding of the absolute danger of terrorism, from patriotism, high moral qualities and their firm belief that we must defend our national interests, history, traditions and values. The international community should have learned from the past lessons. The historical parallels in this case are undeniable. Unwillingness to join forces against Nazism in the 20th century cost us millions of lives in the bloodiest world war in human history. Today we have again come face to face with a destructive and barbarous ideology, and we must not allow these modern-day dark forces to attain their goals. We must stop our debates and forget our differences to build a common anti-terrorist front that will act in line with international law and under the UN aegis. Every civilised country must contribute to the fight against terrorism, reaffirming their solidarity, not in word but in deed. This means that the terrorists must not be given refuge anywhere. There must be no double standards. No contacts with terrorist organisations. No attempts to use them for self-seeking goals. No criminal business with terrorists. We know who are stuffing pockets in Turkey and letting terrorists prosper from the sale of oil they stole in Syria. The terrorists are using these receipts to recruit mercenaries, buy weapons and plan inhuman terrorist attacks against Russian citizens and against people in France, Lebanon, Mali and other states. We remember that the militants who operated in the North Caucasus in the 1990s and 2000s found refuge and received moral and material assistance in Turkey. We still find them there. Meanwhile, the Turkish people are kind, hardworking and talented. We have many good and reliable friends in Turkey. Allow me to emphasise that they should know that we do not equate them with the certain part of the current ruling establishment that is directly responsible for the deaths of our servicemen in Syria. We will never forget their collusion with terrorists. We have always deemed betrayal the worst and most shameful thing to do, and that will never change. I would like them to remember this – those in Turkey who shot our pilots in the back, those hypocrites who tried to justify their actions and cover up for terrorists. I don’t even understand why they did it. Any issues they might have had, any problems, any disagreements we knew nothing about could have been settled in a different way. Plus, we were ready to cooperate with Turkey on all the most sensitive issues it had; we were willing to go further, where its allies refused to go. Allah only knows, I suppose, why they did it. And probably, Allah has decided to punish the ruling clique in Turkey by taking their mind and reason. But, if they expected a nervous or hysterical reaction from us, if they wanted to see us become a danger to ourselves as much as to the world, they won’t get it. They won’t get any response meant for show or even for immediate political gain. They won’t get it. Our actions will always be guided primarily by responsibility – to ourselves, to our country, to our people. We are not going to rattle the sabre. But, if someone thinks they can commit a heinous war crime, kill our people and get away with it, suffering nothing but a ban on tomato imports, or a few restrictions in construction or other industries, they’re delusional. We’ll remind them of what they did, more than once. They’ll regret it. We know what to do. We have mobilised our Armed Forces, security services and law enforcement agencies to repel the terrorist threat. Everyone must be aware of their responsibility, including the authorities, political parties, civil society organisations and the media. Russia’s strength lies in the free development of all its peoples, its diversity, the harmony of cultures, languages and traditions, mutual respect for and dialogue between all faiths, including Christians, Muslims, Judaists and Buddhists. We must firmly resist any manifestation of extremism and xenophobia while defending our ethnic and religious accord, which is the historical foundation of our society and the Russian statehood. In 2016 we will hold elections to the State Duma. I would like to remind party leaders, all participants of the upcoming election campaign and all the social and political forces about the following words of our famous historian, Nikolai Karamzin: “Those who have no respect for themselves cannot hope to be respected by others. That does not mean that love for our homeland must blind us into saying that we are better than all others in everything we do. But Russians must know their value.” Yes, we can debate ways to solve this or that issue. But we must remain united and remember what is most important for us: Russia. The election campaign must be honest and transparent and respect the law and the electorate. At the same time, it must be conducted so as to win public trust in the election results and legitimacy. Colleagues, I expect that a considerable part of the parliamentary candidates’ election programmes will be devoted to the issue of corruption, which is a major concern for society. Corruption is hindering Russia’s development. Officials, judges, law enforcement officers and deputies at all levels are obliged to submit their income and expense declarations and declare their property and assets, including outside Russia. From now on, state and municipal officials will also have to disclose information about the contracts they plan to sign with the companies of their relatives and friends. Situations with a possible conflict of interest will be closely monitored by the regulatory and law enforcement authorities, as well as civil society. Just recently participants in the Russian Popular Front’s project For Fair Public Procurement told me about the instances of abuse and blatant violations they have uncovered. I ask the Prosecutor General’s Office and the law enforcement authorities to promptly react to this information. The law must be hard on those who are guilty of premeditated crimes against human lives and the interests of society and the state. But the law must be lenient to those who have slipped up. Today, nearly half of the criminal cases brought to court concern petty crimes or misdemeanours, but those who committed them, including very young people, go to prison for them. A prison term and even a prison record usually have a highly negative impact on these people’s lives, often creating a situation in which they commit new crimes. I ask the State Duma to approve the Supreme Court’s proposal that some offences in the Criminal Code are decriminalised and that misdemeanour is reclassified as an administrative offence, with an important reservation: a repeated offence must be classified as a criminal act. We must also work to enhance the independence and objectivity of our courts. In light of this, I suggest strengthening the role of juries and expanding the list of crimes that can be submitted to them. It’s not always easy to find 12 jurors, and although I know the position of human rights organisations, which insist on 12-member juries, forming such juries is not easy and it is also expensive. Therefore, I suggest cutting the number of jury members from 12 to 5–7, on the condition that they take their decisions autonomously and independently. Colleagues, last year we faced some serious economic challenges. Oil and other products we traditionally offer for export fell in price. The access of Russian financial institutions and companies to global financial markets was restricted. I know that many people are experiencing hardships today. These economic issues are affecting incomes and the general quality of life. I understand very well that people are wondering when we are going to overcome these hardships and what needs to be done in order to accomplish this. The current situation is complicated but, as I have said before, not critical. In fact, we can already see some positive trends. Industrial production and the national currency are generally steady. There is a slight decline in inflation. We can see a significantly lower capital flight as compared to 2014. However, this doesn’t mean that we just calm down and wait for everything to miraculously change, or that we can just sit quietly in expectation of rising oil prices. Essentially, such an approach would be unacceptable. We must be prepared for low commodity prices and external restrictions to last much longer. By changing nothing, we will simply run out of reserves and the economic growth rates will linger around zero. This is not the only issue to consider. Busy with the immediate tasks, we must not overlook general global development trends. The global economy is rapidly changing shape. New trade associations are forming. We are experiencing a period of radical change in the sphere of technology. This is a crucial moment when countries need to compete to secure their roles in the global division of labour for decades ahead. We can and must become one of the leaders. Russia has no right to be vulnerable. We must have a strong economy, excel in technology and advance our professional skills. We must fully use our current advantages, as there are no guarantees that we will have them tomorrow. Clearly, the authorities must hear the public out and explain the nature of the problems people face and the reasons behind the government’s actions, treating civil society and business as equal partners. What areas should we focus on? First, competitive manufacturing is still concentrated mostly in the commodities and mining sector. We’ll only be able to achieve our ambitious goals in security and social development, to create modern jobs and improve the living standards of millions of our people if we change the structure of our economy. Importantly, we do have effective industrial and agricultural operations, as well as small and medium-sized businesses. Our goal is to have the number of these kinds of companies grow fast in all sectors. Our programmes for import substitution and export support, manufacturing retrofitting and professional training should be geared to achieving this goal. Second, we need to bear in mind that a number of industries are now at risk, including primarily the construction, automotive, and light industries, as well as railway engineering. To address this, the Government will need to come up with special support programmes. Financial resources for this purpose have been set aside. Third. It is imperative to support low-income households and socially vulnerable groups of citizens, and finally adopt fair principles of providing social assistance that is made available to those who really need it. In particular, it is necessary to take into account the individual needs of people with disabilities, and focus on their training and employment. We have done a lot to improve demography, education, and healthcare. The key benchmarks in these areas were outlined in the corresponding executive orders of May 2012. Of course, life is ever changing, and, given current complications, our responsibility for people’s welfare only increases, so I’d like to ask you to take these executive orders seriously. We must strive to fulfil them. Fourth, it is imperative to achieve a balanced budget. This, of course, is not an end in itself, but a critical prerequisite for macroeconomic stability and our financial independence. As you may recall, by the end of the 2016 federal budget year, the deficit should not exceed 3 percent, even if revenue is lower than expected. Please take a note of this, colleagues, members of the State Duma and the Federation Council, the Federal Assembly in general. This is important. I just mentioned that financial stability and the independence of our country are completely interrelated. Please keep these basic considerations in mind. Budget planning, in fact, planning each budget cycle must begin with a clear identification of priorities. We must make government programmes play the decisive role in this process again. It is essential that we tighten our control over public funds, including federal and regional subsidies to industrial and agricultural enterprises. I believe that they should be transferred to the end user only through treasury accounts. Government revenue must be used strictly as planned. ”Grey“ schemes used in paying customs duties, excise taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and fuels and lubricants siphon off hundreds of billions of rubles from the budget annually. This is outright theft. I propose forming a single system for administering tax, customs and other fiscal payments. There are a variety of options to go about this, and we have discussed them on many occasions. I expect the Government to submit specific proposals. Here again, I would like to emphasise that the tax environment for business should remain unchanged in the coming years. Fifth. We need to further strengthen trust between the Government and business, to improve the business climate in Russia. This year we have mostly completed the plans outlined in the national entrepreneurial initiative. The dynamics are good, but we certainly shouldn’t stop yet. The Government, together with the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and leading business associations, should continue their systematic work to improve the conditions for doing business, constantly monitoring how laws are carried out locally. I believe free enterprise to be the most important aspect of economic and social well-being. Entrepreneurial freedom is something we need to expand to respond to all attempts to impose restrictions on us. That is why we have given such a broad authority to the newly created Federal Corporation for the Development of Small and Medium Business. I would like to ask all ministries, departments, governors, heads of all Russian regions, state-owned companies and banks to provide all the necessary assistance to it. Polls show that businesses see no qualitative progress in the regulators’ work. Yet, all the necessary instructions for this have been issued, even more than once. We repeat ourselves and our attempts to reduce their powers. We reduce them in one area – they simply grow again in another. A whole army of inspectors continues to hinder the operation of good businesses. I am not saying that control is not necessary. Business does require regulation. But I ask the Government Commission for Administrative Reform to work out, together with business associations, proposals on eliminating redundant and overlapping functions of regulatory agencies, and submit them by July 1, 2016. I would like to cite some figures supplied by one of our business associations. During 2014, the investigative authorities opened nearly 200,000 cases on so-called economic crimes. But only 46,000 of 200,000 cases were actually taken to court, and 15,000 cases were thrown out during the hearings. Simple math suggests that only 15 percent of all cases ended with a conviction. At the same time, the vast majority, over 80 percent, or specifically, 83 percent of entrepreneurs who faced criminal charges fully or partially lost their business – they got harassed, intimidated, robbed and then released. This certainly isn’t what we need in terms of a business climate. This is actually the opposite, the direct destruction of the business climate. I ask the investigative authorities and the prosecutor’s office to pay special attention to this. I would like to emphasise that prosecutors should make greater use of the tools available to check the quality of investigations. I know that discussions have been going on for a long time about the prosecutor office’s needs. As you know, we have separated the investigative authorities and the prosecutor’s office in order to ensure independent investigations are carried out; it was a conscious decision. Today, I remind you, the prosecutor’s office has the authority to cancel a decision to institute criminal proceedings, or waive the indictment, or even refuse to support the case in court. We must learn to use what is available; only then we will be able to analyse what is happening in practice. In addition, I believe that suspects in economic cases should be detained only as a last resort measure; for the most part investigators should opt for release on bail, travel restrictions or house arrest. The role of law enforcement and the judicial system is to protect the economy and community from fraud and criminals, and to protect the rights, property and dignity of all those who obey the law and conduct their business honestly. There is one more point I’d like to make. Last year we announced the so-called capital amnesty to return financial assets to Russia. Yet, businesses seem in no hurry to take advantage of that opportunity, which suggests that the procedure proposed is too complicated, while guarantees it provides are still insufficient. I follow the public discussions on the issue. The word is, that what we have already done and the decisions we made previously are slightly better than the solutions we’ve offered in years past, but it is definitely not enough today. I ask the Government to organise consultations, including further consultations with the business community, with the Supreme Court, with law enforcement agencies, and in short order make the appropriate adjustments. I also suggest extending the capital amnesty itself for another six months. Colleagues, the state will fund the necessary assistance to those who are ready to go forward and become leaders. We are building such a system in our dialogue with the business community based on its requirements and the tasks facing our country. The Industry Development Fund is already supporting import substitution programmes. These programmes are needed by entrepreneurs. I suggest increasing its authorised capital by another 20 billion roubles. We are also guaranteeing stable tax rates and other basic terms for investors who are ready to finance import substitution projects. This is included in mechanisms such as the special investment contract. I suggest granting the regions the right to reduce profit tax to zero under such contracts. Some governors directly request this to allow investors to cover their capital outlays on developing new production lines. Obviously, we are aware of the regional governors’ concerns. The regions should be motivated to consolidate their economic base, so an increase in regional profits from implementing these projects should not lead to a reduction in federal subsidies. We are ready to guarantee the demand for the goods produced under these programmes and projects. I propose giving the Government the right to purchase on a non-competitive basis up to 30 percent of the products manufactured under special investment contracts. Whatever remains should go to the free markets, including those abroad, to motivate these companies, to monitor the quality of their products and reduce overheads. As you know, when other countries carried out these kinds of programmes, the terms for state support were even tougher: it was mandatory for a certain percentage of goods produced to be sold abroad. What for? To motivate producers to manufacture quality products. We’re saying that we will guarantee demand in our own market. Our terms are somewhat different from those in other countries with tougher terms. That said, we must assume that these products will be highly competitive on the international market. Let me emphasise again that we will support expressly competitive domestic production lines. No one should be working under the illusion that under the guise of import substitution it’s possible to build a substandard, out of date product and pawn it off to the state or to our people and make them pay a premium price for it. Russia needs companies that are capable not only of providing the country with quality products but also of taking on foreign markets. The Russian Export Centre was established to help those who are ready for this effort. In addition, I suggest making the growth of non-energy exports one of the key indicators of the performance of industry-related agencies and the Government as a whole. I think it would be appropriate to implement the business community’s initiative and create a technological development agency to help companies acquire domestic and foreign patents and licenses for engineering services. Access to foreign markets and the expansion of Russian manufacturing should become a natural strategy for the development of the nation’s business sector and the entire Russian economy. We should put stereotypes aside and believe in our own capabilities. If we work with this attitude, we are certain to see a result. Our agriculture sector is a positive example. Just a decade ago we imported almost half of our food products and critically depended on imports, whereas now Russia has joined the exporters’ club. Last year Russia’s agricultural exports totalled almost $20 billion. This is a quarter more than our proceeds from arms sales or about one third of our profits from gas exports. Our agriculture has made this leap in a short but productive period. Many thanks to our rural residents. I believe we should set a national goal — fully provide the internal market with domestically produced foods by 2020. We are capable of feeding ourselves from our own land, and importantly, we have the water resources. Russia can become one of the world’s largest suppliers of healthy, ecologically clean quality foods that some Western companies have stopped producing long ago, all the more so since global demand for such products continues to grow. To fulfil these ambitious goals, we need to concentrate our resources on primary support for highly efficient farms. This approach should underlie the programme for the development of the agro-industrial complex. This includes large, medium and small companies – all of them must be efficient. I would like the Agriculture Ministry to pay special attention to this. It is necessary to put to use millions of hectares of arable land that is now idle. They belong to large land owners, many of whom show little interest in farming. How many years have we been talking about this? Yet things are not moving forward. I suggest withdrawing misused agricultural land from questionable owners and selling it at an auction to those who can and want to cultivate the land. I would like to ask the Government to prepare specific proposals, including draft regulations and standards by June 1, 2016. I would also like to ask the State Duma deputies and all members of the Federal Assembly to make amendments to the related laws over the next year and adopt laws to make this possible at the next autumn session. We also need our own technology for the production, storage and processing of agricultural produce, our own seed and pedigree stock. This is a very important goal. We are still vulnerable in these areas. I ask you to get leading research centres, the Russian Academy of Sciences and businesses which are successfully putting advanced technology into practice involved in this process. In my previous Address, I announced the launch of the National Technology Initiative, spanning 15–20 years, but practical work is already underway. It shows that we have plenty of strong teams capable of offering and following through on innovative ideas. In areas such as neutron technology, robotics in aviation and the transport sector in general, energy storage and distribution systems, Russia has every chance of breaking through to global markets in the near future, within the next few years. Development institutions should be geared towards achieving priority goals, primarily those related to technological modernisation. We have over two dozen of them. Unfortunately, many of them, to put it bluntly, have turned into dumping grounds for bad debts. It is essential to streamline them and optimise the structure and mechanisms of this work. I know that both the Government and the Central Bank are actively working on this. We should make a more active use of the investment potential of domestic savings for economic modernisation. I ask the Central Bank and the Government to submit proposals on the development of the corporate bond market, something we have discussed many times. It is essential to simplify the procedure for the issue and acquisition of corporate bonds. To make it worthwhile for investors, individuals to invest in the development of the domestic real sector, I propose exempting the coupon income on these bonds from taxation, including from income tax for individuals. Dozens of major projects are being implemented or are about to be launched in industry, agriculture, transport and housing construction. They should have a positive impact not only on separate sectors but also stimulate the comprehensive development of entire territories. These are primarily private projects. To expedite their effective implementation it is important to make pinpoint amendments to laws, lift administrative barriers and assist the development of infrastructure and the process of entering foreign markets. These issues often extend beyond the scope of just one government agency, so I propose putting in place a mechanism to support the most important projects. A special agency can be established for this. I ask Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to submit proposals on the work of this agency. Incidentally, one such project could be the creation of major private Russian companies that specialise in online trade so that Russian goods are delivered via the Internet to all countries in the world. We do have a great deal to deliver. Colleagues, we are interested in broad business cooperation with our foreign partners, and we welcome investors who focus on long-term work on the Russian market, even though the current circumstances they face aren’t always favourable. We highly appreciate their positive attitude to our country, and the fact that they see advantages for growing their respective businesses in our country. Russia is involved in integration processes designed to open additional avenues for expanding economic ties with other countries. We have reached the next level of cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union by creating a common space, with free movement of capital, goods and labour. We have reached a basic agreement on combining Eurasian integration with the Chinese Silk Road Economic Belt. A free trade zone with Vietnam was established. Next year, we will host the Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi, and I am sure we will be able to work out a mutually beneficial agenda for cooperation. I propose holding consultations, in conjunction with our colleagues from the Eurasian Economic Union, with the SCO and ASEAN members, as well as with the states that are about to join the SCO, with the view of potentially forming an economic partnership. Together, our states make up nearly a third of the global economy in terms of purchasing power parity. Such a partnership could initially focus on protecting investments, streamlining procedures for the cross-border movement of goods, joint development of technical standards for next-generation technology products, and the mutual provision of access to markets for both services and capital. Of course, this partnership should be based on principles of equality and mutual interest. For Russia, this partnership will open new possibilities for increasing exports of food and energy, as well as offering services in engineering, education, healthcare, and tourism to the Asia-Pacific Region, allowing us to play the leading role in forming new technology markets, and re-orienting major global trade flows to Russia. We will continue to upgrade our transport infrastructure and expand major logistic centres, such as the Azov-Black Sea and the Murmansk transport hubs, modern ports in the Baltic Sea and the Russian Far East. We will consolidate the system of inter-regional air transport, including in northern and Arctic regions. We will review in detail the situation with inland waterways and river routes during a forthcoming State Council meeting. The Northern Sea Route should become a link between Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region. To enhance its competitiveness, we will extend the preferential regime of the free port of Vladivostok to key Far Eastern harbours, as requested by the entrepreneurs who operate in this strategically important Russian region. The socioeconomic development of this region is a major national priority. Investors have shown great practical interest in the new methods of operation we have proposed, including priority development areas. I instruct the Government to expedite decisions on levelling off energy rates for the Far Eastern regions where they are considerably above average national rates, and I urge the Parliament to promptly hear the draft law on the free allocation of land plots to people in the Far East. Over the past few years, major investments have been made in the development of Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, and people there have noticed the improvements. Komsomolsk-on-Amur must become one more rapidly developing centre in the Far East. It is a city with a rich history and modern high-tech industries, which turn out civilian products that enjoy high demand and also work fruitfully for the defence sector. But this city’s urban and social infrastructure has been neglected. I’m referring to the city’s face and its sports, culture, healthcare and education facilities, none of which are consistent with the potential of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. This is why it is difficult to attract talented young professionals there, which the regional companies badly need. I believe that we can use resources under the on-going programmes to address the problems of Komsomolsk-on-Amur without delay. Of course, we can’t do this overnight, but we at least must understand what we need to accomplish and how fast work must proceed. Colleagues, we have a long-term agenda that must be independent of election cycles and the prevailing situation. These strategic goals include preserving the nation, bringing up our children and helping them develop their talents, which constitutes the basis of the power and future of any country, including Russia. I’d like to begin with demography. We’ve registered a natural increase in population for the past three years. It has been modest, but present nevertheless. What I would like to highlight is that, according to forecasts, we should have seen a demographic collapse due to the demographic echo of the 1990s, which demographers have predicted, including at the UN. But this hasn’t come to pass, primarily because half of the new-borns today are second or third children. Russian families want to have children, they believe in their future and in their country, and they are confident that the state will help them. The maternity capital programme ends next year. Over 6.5 million families have enjoyed its benefits, including in Crimea and Sevastopol. But we know that our efforts in this sphere have not been sufficient to close the demographic wound of the past. Of course, we realise that this will be hard on the budget, that the programme needs major funding. We said in the past that we need to analyse the figures to see if we can shoulder this burden, as the financiers say, if we can guarantee the payment of these allocations. Yes, we can do this, despite the current challenges. I believe that we must extend the maternity capital programme for at least two years. A major demographic policy measure is the development of preschool education. Over the past three years, 800,000 new places have been created at kindergartens. Practically in all parts of Russia, such institutions are available for children between the ages of three and seven. I know that the Prime Minister has paid special, personal attention to this. Thank you, Mr Medvedev. However, so far, individual families – many families – continue to encounter problems placing children in kindergartens. As long as these problems exist, we cannot say that the issue has been closed. I ask both the Government and regional authorities to pay special attention to this. Now, healthcare. The main achievement of our entire policy in this sphere is that we are seeing an increase in average life expectancy. Over the past decade, it has increased by more than five years and this year, according to preliminary estimates, should exceed 71 years. Nevertheless, there are still quite a few problems that have to be dealt with. Next year, the Russian healthcare system will transition completely to an insurance-based system. It is the direct responsibility of insurance companies operating in the compulsory medical insurance system to uphold patients’ rights, including in situations where they are refused free medical care without a reason. If an insurance company does not do this, it should be held accountable, including being banned from working in the compulsory medical insurance system. I ask the Government to ensure stringent oversight in this regard. Next. We have significantly expanded the scope of high-tech medical care. It may be recalled that in 2005, 60,000 high-tech operations were performed in Russia – 60,000! – compared to 715,000 in 2014. For the first time in the country’s history, a significant part of such operations are carried out without there being a waiting list, and this is indeed a major achievement. However, it is important to understand that certain operations are expensive. As a general rule, they are performed at leading federal medical centres and clinics. To finance such operations, I propose establishing within the compulsory medical insurance system… We have thought about this a great deal – whether we should provide additional funding to the system. The deputies, government ministers and governors know what happens in reality. The compulsory medical insurance system is a territorial system and it supports primarily territorial healthcare institutions. Naturally, underfinancing is a matter of concern for the heads of major federal clinics, where the majority of high-tech operations are in fact performed. So, to finance these centres and perform such operations, I propose instituting a special federal component within the compulsory medical insurance system. I request that the relevant amendments to the law be adopted during the spring session. Even so, this is not enough because people must not suffer while we make these decisions. It is necessary to ensure continuous financing of high-tech medical care, including with direct support from the federal budget until this decision is made. As you also know, the ambulance service has been significantly upgraded as part of the Healthcare national project. We have procured a large number of modern ambulance vehicles and other equipment. Naturally, as time goes on, the auto fleet needs maintenance and renovation. Ten years have passed. This is the regions’ responsibility and they are duty bound to fulfil this task and find the necessary reserves. When we did this 10 years ago, I remember well, we agreed that we will make an initial injection of federal funding, and then the regions will take over the responsibility and keep the financing at a certain level. But this never happened, which is unfortunate. I understand that there may be issues, but like I said many times before, it is imperative to get our priorities straight. It was the wrong thing to do to wait for everything to fall apart, and then expect to be bailed out again with the money from the federal budget. However, the way things are now, it looks like we will have to do it again. But that’s not what we agreed upon. In any case, I ask the Government and the regional authorities to get back to this issue and resolve it jointly. People are complaining that they often cannot understand why certain hospitals, schools, cultural or social centres and institutions are being closed or merged. We keep talking about the need to restructure the network, which is, in some cases, oversized. Yes, that’s a fact. But we must proceed very carefully and be fully aware of the fact that in order for us to be able to reach certain indicators, closing rural medical centres is not always the best option. Unfortunately, such things happen. People then have to travel 100 kilometres to get medical attention. This is outrageous! Please make sure that things are done right. I ask the Government to draft and adopt a methodology for the most efficient distribution of social institutions by March 1, 2016. It should be mandatory for use in the regions. We must find a legally valid formula that will allow us to do so. In matters such as providing assistance to the elderly or people with disabilities, or supporting families and children, it is imperative to show more trust in civil society and non-profit organisations. Often, they work more effectively and efficiently, showing genuine concern for the people. Also, there’s less red tape in their work. I would like to propose a number of concrete solutions based on the results of the active citizens’ forum Community, which took place in November. First, we will launch a special programme of presidential grants to support non-profit organisations working in small towns and villages. Second, the non-profit organisations that have established themselves as reliable partners of the state will receive the legal status of a ”non-profit organisation – provider of socially useful services,“ and a number of incentives and preferences. Finally, I believe that making up to 10 percent of the regional and municipal social programmes’ funding available to non-profit organisations is the right thing to do. That way, non-profit organisations will be able to participate in providing social services that are financed from the budget. We believe we know well the current legislation, and we are not imposing anything on anyone, but I’d like to ask heads of the regions and municipalities to bear this in mind in their work. Colleagues, as you may recall, there was a meeting with children in Sochi at the Sirius Centre for Gifted Children on September 1. Our children and young adults are really interesting and goal-oriented people. We must do our best to make sure that today’s students get an excellent education, have opportunities to be creative, choose a profession to their liking, and are able to self-actualise regardless of their geographical location or level of their parents’ income. All children must have equal opportunities for a successful start in life. Every year, schools have more and more students. There will be 3.5 million more of them over the next decade. It’s great, it’s very good, but it is also important to make sure that this increase does not affect the quality of education and learning conditions, and that the current level continues to improve. Schools need more space for students. I asked the Government to put together, in conjunction with the regions, a specific plan of action in this regard. A decision was made to release up to 50 billion rubles from the federal budget next year to repair, renovate and build new schools. I suggest we take a broader look at these issues. Comfortable buildings are not enough to get a good education. We need professional and motivated teachers, ground-breaking educational programmes and, of course, opportunities for the children to engage in creative activities, sports and extracurricular activities. Of course, we should use the best of what former Palaces of Pioneers and young technicians’ clubs had to offer. We must build our work on an innovative and up-to-date foundation with the participation of businesses, higher education institutions and universities. I will now note a positive fact, such as the growing interest of young people in engineering jobs and blue-collar occupations, the vocations of the future. Competition for enrolment in engineering universities has almost doubled in the past two years. The WorldSkills International (WSI) will take place in Kazan in 2019. By the way, Russia was the first to hold such contests for young people aged 10 to 17 years. It is important to make sure that such tournaments become a road map for school children, for those who are just choosing their trades. We must establish a whole system of national competitions for blue-collar workers. I suggest we call this system “The Young Professionals.” This is a very important task. In a nutshell, Russian schools, additional and professional education, and support for children’s creative work should be aligned with the country’s future, the requirements of people, young people in this case, and the demands of the economy in the context of its prospects. These guys will have to resolve even more complicated tasks and should be ready to be the best. They should become not only successful in their careers but also simply decent people with a firm moral and ethical background. Colleagues, we have repeatedly faced a historical choice of which road to take to further development. We crossed another milestone in 2014 when Crimea and Sevastopol were reunified with Russia. Russia declared a voce piena its status as a strong state with a millennium-long history and great traditions, as a nation consolidated by common values and common goals. We are acting with the same confidence now, at a time when Russia is waging an expressly open, direct struggle against international terrorism. We are making and implementing decisions, knowing that only we can cope with the tasks facing us, but only if we act together. I will cite a quotation that seemed stunning even to me. These words were said by a man who was far removed from politics, Dmitry Mendeleyev, who expressed these thoughts more than a hundred years ago: “We will be immediately destroyed if we are divided. Our strength lies in our unity, our warriors, our benign domesticity that multiplies the numbers of our people; our strength lies in the natural growth of our intrinsic wealth and love of peace.” These are wonderful words that are pertinent to us today. At the same time Russia is a part of a global world that is changing rapidly. We understand well the complexity and scale of existing problems – both foreign and domestic. There are always difficulties and obstacles on the path to progress and development. We will respond to all challenges; we will be creative and productive; we will work for the common good and for the sake of Russia. We will move forward in unity and working together we will achieve success. (Anthem of the Russian Federation.) « Ron Paul: US Intervention Created ISIS, Boko Haram Kiev De Facto Invasion: Will Novorossiya Fight Again? » Quemado Institute Editorial Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan: A Sales Pitch for Elitist Rubbish - Commentaries by Marwin Bishara and Karl Pomeroy - January 29, 2020 Deep State Treason, Trump's Foreign Policy and the Warless World - Impeachment Inquiry: A Question of Who Should Be Running the Show - By Sharyl Attkisson of The Hill - Conclusion by Karl Pomeroy - December 8, 2019 Transcript: Assad's Historic Interview on US, Russian, Turkish and Israeli Roles in Syria - Oct 31, 2019 - "As for Trump, he is the best American President, not because his policies are good, but because he is the most transparent president." -- Bashar al-Assad Quemado Institute Reports BOLIVIA COUP: U.S. Regime Change Operations Explained - By 21stCenturyWireTV - November 11, 2019 Rightful President Evo Morales Forced to Flee Bolivia - Truth about the Bolivian Election - By Anthos Helpa - November 13, 2019 Censorship Page Assange Lawyers’ Links to US Government and Bill Browder Raises Questions - The network of lawyers in conflicting roles in Browder, Assange and US government cases - By Lucy Komisar - Off-Guardian - November 8, 2019 Trump Works for Peace Despite US-UK Globalist Tyranny - Commentaries by Matthew Ehret and Tim Kirby - Strategic Culture Foundation - May 28, 2019 VIDEO:.Greta Thunberg in Stockholm November 2018: The Disarming Case to Act Right Now on Climate Change - Syria Page VIDEO: Assad from Idlib frontline: Erdogan is a thief and a slave to the US (Subtitles) - Syriana Analysis - October 22, 2019 VIDEO - UNREAL: Facebook Encouraged Users To MURDER Conservatives - By Laura Loomer - July 12, 2019 Venezuela in Crisis: Is Maduro the People's Choice? - By Karl Pomeroy - May 10, 2019 UK Deep State, Canadian FM Chrystia Freeland, and New World Order Decay - The Strange Case of Chrystia Freeland and the Failure of the ‘Super Elite’ - by Matthew Ehret - Strategic Culture Foundation - May 16, 2019 Julian Assange Arrest: Why the Global Elite Implements Censorship - Defending Julian Assange; Defending the Truth - By Robert J. 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Yellow Vest Protests: France Rejects New World Order Globalists - People Demand Nationalism, Exit from EU, and the Ousting of Ex-Rothschild Banker Emanual Macron - By Karl Pomeroy - December 14, 2018 EVIDENCE: Kerch Incident Was Planned Provocation – Pretext for US Aid, Martial Law, War in Donbass - 21st Century Wire - November 26, 2018 Quemado Institute – World (Click then scroll to title.) 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Who is next? -By Andrey Afanasyev - Katehon.com - August 17, 2018 Julian Assange in Immense Danger - James Cogan - May 14, 2018 - Ecuador Hints It May Hand Over Assange "There is every reason to believe Kiev regime behind Zakharchenko’s murder." -- Maria Zakharova on the assassination of Alexander Zakharchenko - TASS - August 31, 2018 Day of Sorrow August 31 2018 Donetsk People’s Republic Prime Minister Alexander Zakharchenko, one of the greatest of world leaders, was assassinated today, August 31, 2018, no doubt by Ukrainian saboteurs. He gave his life willingly for the freedom of his country. Let us know he has not died in vain. For those who mourn the death of DPR President Alexander Zakharchenko, there is some consolation to be found in the comment section at The Saker. Full Report at NEWS FROM NOVOROSSIYA Ukrainian forces shell DPR with two dozen rounds over past 24 hours – JCCC / Thursday, March 8, 2018 Does S400 Make F35 Obsolete? Full Analysis by Defense Updates - The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II which is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole fighters is undergoing final testing by the United States. Syria Strike Fails: US, Britain, France Bomb Damascus Friday April 13 2018 - By Kennedy Applebaum - Based on as-it-happened on-site reports by Twitter source AJSB Quantum Theory of Gravitation - by Vasily Yanchilin - Posted April 12, 2018 - A fascinating new approach to gravity and cosmology, this film is about The Quantum Theory of Gravitation discovered by Russian scientist Vasily Yanchilin. Quemado Institute Culture Page Reinhold Messner - World's Greatest Mountaineer - VIDEO Interview set in the Italian Alps Donbass News - Full Report - December 24, 2017 - SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EDITION Quemado Institute Syria Page US supports Kurds in Syria: Turks react - By Mehmet Ersoy - January 27, 2018 - The Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria started five days ago. Five days ago the Afrin region became a possible hotbed of a full-scale . . . CLICK TO READ MORE>> Kiev launches over 1,200 shells on DPR territory in 24 hours - JCCC - DONi News - November 26, 2017 - The Ukrainian army launched more than 1,200 shells on the front-line localities of the Donetsk People’s Republic over the past 24 hours . . . Click image for more>> New Lugansk Leadership Offers Hope For Donbass Unity - Eduard Popov - Introduction - LPR Presidential Transition: The Dark Side and the Light Side - By Kennedy Applebaum - Lugansk after the Coup: Towards a Unified Donbass People's Republic? - By Eduard Popov - Fort Russ - November 26, 2017 Russian special forces repel US-planned attack in Syria, denounce USA and issue a stark warning By The Saker - September 21, 2017 (Click then scroll to title.) GeoEngineeringWatch.org VIDEO - CIA Agent Whistleblower Risks All To Expose the Shadow Government - September 7, 2017 Cataclysm of Planetary Decline: Are Insects Facing Extinction? Apocalyptic Forewarning - By Karl Pomeroy - Quemado Institute - August 30, 2017 Afghanistan Escalation: Full Analysis by Quemado Institute - Donald Trump and the War of the Imperial West - By Karl Pomeroy - August 26, 2017 Google Censorship Under Scrutiny – By Claire Connelly - With introduction by Quemado Institute - Revised September 4, 2017 Novorossiya Daily Sun -Official Website Link- Official Link To Quemado Institute's Dedicated Donbass News Site Follow Quemado Institute on WordPress.com Archives Select Month March 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 December 2018 November 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 December 2014 Categories Select Category Censorship Deep State Donald Trump Donetsk Environmental Crises Fake News Global Financial Elite Hillary Islamic State Israel Julian Assange Libya Lugansk Malorossiya MH-17 MH17 migrant crisis New World Order News Index North Korea Novorossiya Oregon standoff Peace Talks Russian Politics Syria Terrorism Tibet tyranny Ukraine Ukraine Civil War Ukraine Politics Uncategorized Venezuela Vladimir Putin Western Intervention Western Politics World War III Zakharchenko Zionists Coronavirus: How Deadly the Threat? 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Live VIDEO and Analysis May 5, 2017 Trump on North Korea: Interview with Face the Nation, April 29, 2017 April 30, 2017 Trump’s Foreign Policy Sticks to Well-Thought-Out Pattern – Andrey Akulov April 26, 2017 False History: World Crises Fomented by Western Machinations – Finian Cunningham April 24, 2017 Putin, Tillerson On Track for Detente 2.0? April 24, 2017 Why Trump’s Foreign Policy Has Most Analysts Baffled April 24, 2017 DPR President Zakharchenko: Questions From Around the World April 17, 2017 The End of the Trump Presidency April 13, 2017 On Track for Armageddon? Putin, Tillerson Meet in Moscow April 12, 2017 BREAKING: Dramatic Escalation in Syria April 9, 2017 US Syria Strike Threatens Donbass, Europe – Eduard Popov April 8, 2017 EXCLUSIVE from Al-Shayrat Airbase, Syria and the Aftermath April 7, 2017 Trump-Putin Collusion Theory Like Naked Emperor – Paul Craig Roberts March 23, 2017 Will Trump Improve Our Relations with Russia? Contrasting Views of Paul Craig Roberts and Alexander Mercouris March 8, 2017 Are the Rothschilds Fomenting American Russophobia? March 3, 2017 Transcript: Trump Speech to Congress February 28, 2017 March 1, 2017 Novorossiya in Crisis: Please Help Quemado Institute Help Donbass February 27, 2017 Please Help Quemado Institute Help Donbass February 25, 2017 Flynn Ouster Kills Foreign Policy Hopes Under Trump (Revision: Hope Resurrected) February 16, 2017 Flynn Resignation: Is Trump a Figurehead? February 14, 2017 If Putin Died Tonight, Novorossiya Could Fight Again February 14, 2017 Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin May Meet in Slovenia February 10, 2017 Number One Threat to Donbass: Will Trump Team Meet with Poroshenko? February 4, 2017 Amidst Fake News Tsunami, We Stand As An Island Of Truth February 2, 2017 Putin-Trump Call: First Move Toward Friendship? – Alexander Mercouris January 31, 2017 Syrian Republic: Text of New Constitution Proposed by Russia January 31, 2017 Tulsi Gabbard: “End Our War to Overthrow the Syrian Government” January 26, 2017 Trump Deals Lethal Blow to Global Corporate Power Grab – Paul Craig Roberts January 25, 2017 Trump Inaugural Ceremony: Impressions of the Day January 21, 2017 Trump Inauguration: Beware the Coup of the Snowflakes January 14, 2017 Syria Holds High Expectations for Astana Peace Talks January 12, 2017 MH17 Coverup: Netherlands Officials Detain Dutch Journalists, Confiscate Reports from Donbass – Updated January 9, 2017 Trump to Build America, Not Bring Down Iran, China – Adam Garrie December 31, 2016 Trump Beware: Kissinger a Threat to Russia’s Strategic Alliance with China – Paul Craig Roberts December 28, 2016 Censorship 1984-Style: Alternate Media May Soon Be Suppressed – Obama Signs H.R. 5181 (Revised) December 26, 2016 Putin’s 2016 Year-End Press Conference, Donald Trump, and Concluding Commentary on Donbass December 23, 2016 Donbass Survives Despite Western Globalist Hatred and Fear – Janus Putkonen December 7, 2016 Trump’s First Objective: A Successful Inauguration November 29, 2016 Full EU Alternate Media Censorship: Europe Takes Lead over NATO, US – Janus Putkonen November 26, 2016 Trump Conducts Transition in Style of Businessman – Alexander Mercouris November 23, 2016 Novorossiya Residents Express Joy, Hope over Trump Election Victory – Graham Phillips VIDEO November 11, 2016 Comey Defies Lynch Amidst Rigged U.S. Election, Globalist Puppet Masters Belong at Hague – Joachim Hagopian October 31, 2016 Busted: Jig Is Up for New World Order October 29, 2016 The Presstitutes Have Set Up The Election To Be Stolen – Paul Craig Roberts October 26, 2016 Trump in Pennsylvania: Mood of Joy, Contract with Voters October 24, 2016 Corporate Elite Takes Crucial Step Toward Third World War – Peter Koenig October 21, 2016 Motorola: Symbol of Donbass – Kristina Melnikova October 19, 2016 Transcript: Donald Trump Speech in West Palm Beach Florida, October 13, 2016 October 14, 2016 Western Drumbeat to Ban Russian Media – Finian Cunningham October 13, 2016 World War III is All the Human Race Deserves October 12, 2016 Neocons Push to Strike Syria, Russia While Slamming Trump’s Sexual Banter – Paul Craig Roberts October 11, 2016 The Role of NGO’s in Regime Change and Military Interventionism – Vanessa Beeley (VIDEO) October 8, 2016 Entrenched Oligarchy Seeks War, People Control Nothing – Paul Craig Roberts October 6, 2016 MH17: New Russian Data Sparks Controversy October 1, 2016 MH17 Crash Investigation: Links from Eric Zuesse and Commentary by Quemado Institute September 29, 2016 He Who Hesitates Is Lost And Russia Hesitated – Paul Craig Roberts September 26, 2016 Third World War Has Never Been So Close – Alexander Dugin September 22, 2016 Evidence Grows in Deir el-Zour: US Backs ISIS, Russia Makes Accusation September 19, 2016 War and Peace: Ultimate Impact of the US Elections September 13, 2016 Trump vs Clinton: Existential Issue of Nuclear War – Eric Zuesse September 8, 2016 Zero Hedge: Hillary Set Up Personal Server to Hide Scams of Clinton Foundation August 29, 2016 US Meddling, the Kiev Regime, and Globalist Contempt for Trump August 25, 2016 Pentagon Threat: US Will Shoot Down Syrian, Russian Planes – Eric Zuesse August 23, 2016 Ruling Elite Seeks One World Government, Hillary a Puppet – Joachim Hagopian August 19, 2016 Trump Does Not Want War With Russia – Fred Reed August 18, 2016 Full Transcripts: Trump Speeches on ISIS; Law and Order August 17, 2016 Outrageous Rubbish of the Anti-Trump Elite: Analysts Defend Republican Candidate August 12, 2016 Political Assassination The American Way: Trump Enters Elite Kill Zone – Finian Cunningham August 11, 2016 Hillary Exemplar of Neo-Fascism; Trump An Anathema To Pentagon-CIA – Finian Cunningham August 8, 2016 Controversial Lugansk Republic Leader Igor Plotnitsky Survives Assassin Bomb Attack August 7, 2016 Hillary Clinton and the Neo-Cold Warriors August 3, 2016 The Corrosive Psychological Effect of “Nyet” on the American Hegemonic Psyche July 29, 2016 Nuclear War vs. Global Peace: Trump and Putin Poised to Solve Crisis July 26, 2016 Trump’s VP Choice a Betrayal: Open Letter to the Campaign Team – Revised July 16, 2016 Alexander Dugin: Realist Trump to End Contradictions Between US and Russia July 11, 2016 Israeli Violence in Gaza and the Plight of Palestine July 2, 2016 Orlando Shooting: Investigative Report on Motive and Coverup June 29, 2016 Two Nuclear Superpowers at Worst Confrontation Since 1962 – Stephen F. Cohen June 26, 2016 Nuclear World War: The Mounting Threat June 24, 2016 Beltway Imperial Arrogance, The Kiev Coup, and Trump’s Challenge to the Ruling Class – David Stockman June 22, 2016 Orlando Shooting: Gun Rights and the American Police State – Paul Craig Roberts June 20, 2016 Bring The US Death Machine Home! – Jacob Hornberger June 18, 2016 War on Assad Spells Naked US Aggression – Daniel McAdams June 17, 2016 Hillary Okays Drone Strikes VIA Blackberry, Kills 2192 People June 16, 2016 Hillary Led US into Wars of Chaos — Diana Johnstone June 6, 2016 Clinton, Unqualified for President, Plunged America into Foreign Policy Morass — Buchanan June 6, 2016 Hillary Anti-Trump Ad Backfires: Wall Street Bankers to Blame – Rolling Stone May 25, 2016 A Neocon Creation: Russia-China Alliance Too Strong For Washington – Paul Craig Roberts April 18, 2016 Obama and Destruction of the Secular Middle East – Analysis by Eric Zuesse April 16, 2016 Zakharchenko on Donald Trump, Peace in Donbass, and Power Reshuffling in Kiev April 14, 2016 US and NATO Aim for World War III: Direct Aggression Against Russia – Eric Zuesse April 13, 2016 Quemado Institute Changes Focus: The Dearth of Coherent Political Analysis April 10, 2016 Pavel Gubarev’s Historical Book on Donbass Civil War April 1, 2016 How CIA Controls the Media: Special Report March 31, 2016 Trump a Game Changer in US Foreign Policy – Andrei Akulov March 30, 2016 Europe Faces Beginning of the End March 28, 2016 Terrorists, Migrants, Massive Surveillance: The European Vicious Cycle – Wayne Madsen March 28, 2016 Censorship Looms Over European Union Quemado Institute editor Karl Pomeroy received a legal threat today in response to a comment he posted on the Russia Insider website about the rise of the R********d banking family. The comment did not mention race, but was of historical content. The threatener accused Karl of “spreading Nazi propaganda,” then repeated the full text of the German Criminal Code Section 130, which outlaws inciting “hatred against a national, racial, religious group or a group defined by their ethnic origins,” which Karl’s comment did not do. A similar law, it was claimed, is now in force in 11 other European countries and carries a penalty of up to five years. The wording of the law is so vague, it could be applied to any criticism of those in power. If a political analyst can accidentally “violate” this totalitarian decree, there is no freedom of speech or press in Europe.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3486
__label__cc	0.614596	0.385404	Terms of use Privacy About us Media Contact RAIL - Back On Track Rail News! TransLink FB QR Facebook My Go Card Cross River Rail BCC Metro NGR COINGR SEQ lift outages TL Dashboard RAIL - Back On Track » Open Forum - WA » 2016 LD Perth Trip Author Topic: 2016 LD Perth Trip (Read 3709 times) #Metro I'm in Perth for 2 weeks. Already impressed with the fact the bus was already waiting in the front of the Airport terminal. $4.50 to the City one way. Trains here are every 15 mins, and my first impression is that the train system is tiny for a city so small. I can see why the powers that be wanted to shut it down! Also, far less people than Brisbane. Take note Brisbane - Perth has 15 minute trains on all lines during the day! Happy to consider taking transit related requests if you like. Negative people... have a problem for every solution. Posts are commentary and are not necessarily endorsed by RAIL Back on Track or its members. Not affiliated with, paid by or in conspiracy with MTR/Metro. ozbob Re: 2016 LD Perth Trip There are good feeder buses around Perth on the longer lines. Be interested in any observations of that, frequency, loadings, interchange facilities etc. Also the paid parking (park n' ride at stations), how it works out, what do the locals think? « Last Edit: January 26, 2016, 03:55:54 AM by ozbob » Half baked projects, have long term consequences ... Ozbob's Gallery Forum Facebook Twitter Do they have land value taxes and 150 pax superbuses? Not sure if it was a serious question, but yes, Perth has BOTH. Perth Superbus (not 150 pax type, but still a 'superbus') The introduction of the new route 950 has been a runaway success, with more than 17,000 people using the route on an average business day, 2000 more than Transperth expected. Route 950 was introduced on January 27, 2014 and became the highest frequency bus route in Perth with peak period services operating every 3-4 minutes from Morley and every 1-2 minutes from the city to UWA. http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/operational/performance-report/spotlight-950-superbus.asp Land Value Tax, Office of State Revenue, WA From 2015-16, legislative changes have resulted in a flat amount of $300 that applies to land with a taxable value between $300,001 and $420,000. There are also changes to the thresholds at which rates change, and increases of all rates except to the top marginal rate of land tax. If your land tax bill has increased from last year, it may be because of these changes to the rate scale or because the value of your land has increased. http://www.finance.wa.gov.au/cms/State_Revenue/Land_Tax/What_is_Land_Tax_.aspx Here is the killer: there is an additional land value tax in the Perth metro area. Must be how the State Government funded their excellent bus network and train improvements. Translated to the QLD context, this is like imposing a LVT in the BCC area to fund PT, independent of BCC: MRIT is payable in addition to land tax on property located in the metropolitan area. The metropolitan region is defined by the following local government districts: Armadale Bassendean Bayswater Belmont Cambridge Canning Claremont Cockburn Cottesloe East Fremantle Fremantle Gosnells Joondalup Kalamunda Kwinana Melville Mosman Park Mundaring Nedlands Peppermint Grove Perth Rockingham Serpentine-Jarrahdale South Perth Stirling Subiaco Swan Victoria Park Vincent Wanneroo MRIT is imposed on property with a land tax liability at a rate of 0.14 cent for every dollar of the aggregated taxable value of the land in excess of $300,000. If land is not subject to land tax, it will not be liable for MRIT. Please refer to our online calculator to calculate your land tax and MRIT liability. So there. It can be done, just not in Queensland. SurfRail If land is not subject to land tax, it will not be liable for MRIT. IE - most properties (being residential properties below the taxable threshold) will not be subject to this charge because they are exempt from land tax altogether to start with due to low value or the residential exemption for owner-occupiers. The land tax thresholds are a bit less generous than they are in Queensland, where you don't pay land tax if your land holdings are less than $600,000 for natural person resident in Queensland or $350,000 for others. WA it appears to be $300,000, but you only pay a flat amount up to $420,000. Incidentally - buses in Perth do tend to be licensed to carry more passengers for the same vehicle than over here (artics can legally carry - from memory - 130 passengers). You will see the capacities listed on the front bulkhead, as their standard signage suite is very consistent from vehicle to vehicle. Ride the G: Okay, some basic notes: Basically the buses and trains are the same as in QLD. The TransPerth B sets are slightly different looking on the outside - but inside, you'd swear it was as QR train. Same with buses. Same buses as Brisbane Transport. The drivers compartment is caged in however. Smartrider works really well. It is incredibly fast and responsive. Gates fly open instantly. There are a lot of Public Transport Authority staff roaming around stations, on trains, on platforms etc. Wear a bright yellow vest - look almost like the Melbourne Transit Police officers. Seem to be doing both information and security at stations. Also, it's DOO. No Guards. Trains are quite fast, make QR trains seem really slow. Similar with buses. These are fast also. Buses run to interchanges - even where the train station might be only two or three stops from the CBD. Terminates at the station, dump passengers, turn around and then out again. Buses every 15 minutes. Excellent cross-town bus services. 900 series buses I think. They're missing a specific marketing for the frequency like BUZ though. Stations will often have a map of the bus routes that pick up in the suburbs and then feed into the train station, at the train station. The suburbs we are talking about are even less dense than those in Brisbane, and are often surrounded by coastal scrubland. We are talking ULTRA LOW DENSITY. Transport in Perth works. They don't have fancy infrastructure, they just have good frequency, simple network, make everything very fast to make up for low density/sprawling distances. Brisbane's bus network is being mismanaged IMHO. Brisbane has huge resources at its disposal, probably more so than Perth, and it isn't being managed properly at all IMHO. Take it this is your first time over there? The difference is quite phenomenal, not just between there and here but between the current Perth and the Perth of the last few years. My first trip was 2006 less than a year before Mandurah opened, last trip was mid-2015 after Butler was open. In 2005 there was no activity in the CBD after dark, and now it is a lot more pumping. Quote from: SurfRail on January 27, 2016, 04:47:33 PM Its only a few years back that they also have allowed stores to open after dark during the week and 1/2 day Sundays. Plus this year Restaurants are allowed to sell liquor without food on a Sunday. Bit more foot traffic around and public space enhancements in the Cbd, creating a more enticing vibe. Perth Trip 2016 Gather around everyone, it's HAPPY SNAP Time! TransPerth Rail Network. Generally comparable to Brisbane. Though they do have funny stopping patterns and letters like Perth 'K', 'T', 'C', 'W' etc. Typical Perth train station. They aren't overengineered or fancy. This one is placed in the centre of the freeway median. Cars travelling at 100 km/hour appear to go backwards! This image is Glendalough station bus interchange. Basically the buses and trains are the same models as those used in Brisbane (so no excuses now!!). The station is only 6km from the Perth CBD and two stops from the CBD, yet bus interchange is FORCED at this station. So there!! Again, Perth doesn't mess around with fanciness. Stations and interchanges are functional. This image was also taken at Glendalough station. It is also an interchange, and sits immediately under the freeway/station overpass on a main road. Buses not using the main interchange stop here. Similar to Holland Park West Busway in Brisbane. Oh, and for those who think Private Bus Operator = Bring on a Social and Economic Apocalypse, read this sign attached to the side of this TransPerth bus. (No, not the amazing internet deal from iiNet) This TransPerth service is proudly operated by Swan Transit. If you look inside the bus, you can see it is almost identical to those used by Brisbane City Council's Brisbane Transport division. So much for 'Australia's most modern bus fleet.' Modern bus fleets are not only limited to BCC you know. The train replacement bus routes are pre-organised, route numbered and posted. I'm not sure if QR does this. Melbourne also pre-organises their replacement buses. QR should really subcontract BT or another operator, the current train replacement buses used are not flash. Stopping patterns for bus. Also had a full giant bus timetable and very large bus network maps inside the station. QR, take note. This is not my bus, my bus is up next, waiting at the stand further away (third in queue). Note, the bus is practically the same as in Brisbane and modern. Anyway, I spent the day at Scarborough Beach in Perth. This is the bus ready to feed me back to the train station. Note the 900 series numbering - it is basically a crosstown bus. (some did extend to the CBD, but perhaps that is only peak?) Brisbane should get 900 series cross town buses. Who knows what the hold up is. Like I said, the frequency of this bus was INSANE. It would outdo most Brisbane BUZ routes. And we are talking PERTH where the density is probably the same or lower, it's spread out everywhere and population lower. 990 Bus back to the station (yes, it terminated there). Perth Underground. I think this was at Esplanade (Elizabeth Quay) Fremantle Station. This is inside a TransPerth 'B' set. Basically the same as QR, but the button is very irritating. Door buttons are not located on doors and look like small rectangular lights. Confusing. B sets have quite a bit of longitudinal seating. Another 'OMG we can't do that here' kind of thing. Increases pax capacity. Anti-graffiti ad. There seems to be quite a lot more 'Public service' type notices all over the TransPerth system. Don't do this, don't do that, think about this, think about that, report this, etc. Out at Kwinana, an ultra low density housing development 35 km out of the city. Bus network map available. There were just a handful of buses, generally half-hourly but multiple routes. THE DENSITY WAS SO LOW. Literally, the bus was driving through banksias and coastal scrubs before seeing houses. Again, buses feed the train. Fast train to CBD. Thanks for sharing the pics. I will study them for comment later. Yes, PM if you have questions or special requests!! Love the pics. I like the new white Led Display Signs on our busses. Make their busses look like old skool. (not) Done a bit more travelling. Perth allows the SmartRider card to be topped up on city buses. It also can be used to pay for parking and open the bicycle cages at TransPerth stations. The bicycle cages are surprisingly well used! More pics later. The 990 has every 2nd bus continue to the CBD. Frequency from the train station is a bus every 7.5 minutes to the Beach. Bus frequency extended to the CBD is half this - 15 minutes. This has to serve a main road into town through Mt Hawthorn and North Perth, and is presumably slower. Map: http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/timetables/details?Bus=990 There is higher frequency to the train station (double) than there is to the CBD. It is also extremely fast on the train. Every time I got off the trains, the bus was already there or just pulling up. I went further out to Joondalup. There are stations where TransPerth has placed dedicated busway landed and bridges immediately over the train station so that there is interchange. Density? Most areas are just banksia scrub around the station, except for Joondalup, which has a massive shopping centre. Thanks for the update and your experiences. BrisBANE is a total cluster fuk Hard evidence Perth with LD, and myself at Adelaide .. Let's get is sorted hey!! Yes. Perth is very organised. Top up SmartCard on bus - OK Use SmartCard for bike cage - OK Use SmartCard for Car Parking - OK CHARGE for car parking $2 - OK Bike cages well used - OK Services every 15 minutes to all stations everywhere - OK Transit Officers with ticket checking, late night security and arrest powers - OK Top up SmartCard with BPay - OK TransPerth infocentre at Central Station - Good, just walk in, busy as, there were queues! Fast rail, tunneled under the city, bus network organised - OK Frequent bus services everywhere - OK Rational bus network -OK Frequent, hi-speed Crosstown/circle route services (i.e. Fremantle to Midland) - OK Local bus network and interchange maps at stations - OK (Good luck Brisbane!) Perth uses the SAME buses and trains that Brisbane uses. They're just as modern. They are used efficiently and properly. Brisbane is a MESS!! Spend heaps of money on 'concrete' and 'bling' (modern vehicles) but don't organise them properly!! I will post more photos later, I don't do this now as I need to get dinner and battery is running out. Thanks LD! Quote from: LD Transit on February 06, 2016, 07:39:39 PM Better in fact - in Perth they recognise that buses shouldn't be built with single-leaf doors, and should be fitted with proper destination displays on the side of the bus - and that trains should be optimised for standing passengers. ^ good point ! Everything honestly looks so well done there. Easy to understand maps, frequent services, all stops listed - runs rings around SEQ, even the better administrations like the Gold Coast (let's not get started on BCC/BT). Is it really that hard to run frequent, reliable public transport? Sitemap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 “You can't understand a city without using its public transportation system.” -- Erol Ozan Menu Buttons by 2by2host	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3487
__label__wiki	0.570506	0.570506	The attacks in France show that its colonial past endures By islamsurveyed / July 22, 2016 / The Guardian / Leave a comment The attack in Nice, in which 84 people were mown down by a French resident of Tunisian origin, has been a watershed in French politics. After the trauma of the killings, incidents of open, blatant, anti-Muslim hatred have sparked a new, worrying phase. “Why France?” has been the question on many lips, as the nation recovers from its third mass-slaughter terror attack in 18 months. Some point to the French republic’s specific brand of secularism – its model of laïcité (the prohibition of religious influence on anything that relates to the republic) inherited from the 1905 law separating church and state – which is often caricatured and misunderstood. Others point to France’s recent military interventionism in the Muslim world, from west Africa to Iraq. Yet more highlight the discrimination its Muslim minorities suffer. None of this can be ignored. …. According to Le Maire, the enemy that must be “fought with utmost strength within France” is “political Islam”. He didn’t say “jihadi fundamentalism”. He defined political Islam as “Islam that criticises our culture” and “wants to make women invisible”. This is what French colonists thought about Muslims in general. France’s republican model is not responsible for the terrorism it endures. But it is a European country that, unlike others struck by terrorism, still has to come to terms with its colonial past if it wants to build an inclusive, promising future for all its citizens. [342 comments] [TOP RATED COMMENT 811 votes] “if it wants to build an inclusive, promising future for all its citizens.” It cannot build an “inclusive, promising future”, if some citizens do not accept the level playing field of secularism and do not accept (for example) the equality of women. It is not acceptable to permit men in some religious subcultures to silence and ‘keep invisible’ women who have the misfortune to be part of that subculture. Their rights as citizens should come first. [2ND 572] Well, the British have a colonial past in India and Africa. We don’t see bombings here by Hindus or Black Africans. At some stage soon Muslims are going to have to decide if they wish to live in non-Muslim societies. Period. Patience is running out. [3RD 553] Yeah, definitely a colonialist problem. That’s why we have all those Hindu extremists committing massacres over here all the time. Blaming the west is really beginning to wear thin, you know. [4TH 432] I sometimes think that, with articles such as these, The Guardian has some unfathomable agenda to make me turn my back on my liberal principles and turn me into an EDL supporter. [5TH 416] “The attack in Nice, in which 84 people were mown down by a French resident of Tunisian origin, has been a watershed in French politics. After the trauma of the killings, incidents of open, blatant, anti-Muslim hatred have sparked a new, worrying phase.” What an utterly shameful opening paragraph. Anti-Muslim hatred is what’s worrying you, is it? They are never ever going to admit how badly they have got this wrong are they? [Guardian Cif] Read more	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3489
__label__wiki	0.897072	0.897072	Reality Post > Regional > Director Hemanth Madhurkar shares how one of the biggest star of Hollywood Michael Madsen was roped in for Nishabdham Director Hemanth Madhurkar shares how one of the biggest star of Hollywood Michael Madsen was roped in for Nishabdham Posted by Written By RealityPost Desk 13th October 2020 Last Updated:13th October 2020 ‘Bambai Main Ka Ba’ Contest Alert: Here’s your chance to meet Anubhav Sinha & Manoj Bajpayee! Nishabdham is one of the latest releases on Amazon Prime’s catalogue with an incredible storyline and probably having the biggest Hollywood starcast. Director Hemanth Madhurkar reveals on how Michael Madson was roped in for the film. Sharing his vision on how the hunt for a Hollywood actor was focused on primarily and also shares some why a Hollywood actor would generally refrain to work in Bollywood Hemanth reveals,”From the beginning we were looking for a Hollywood actor to be a part of this film for Richard’s character but what happened is I realized during my stay in LA that Hollywood actors have a sag opera which basically means Indian chamber of comers which probably maybe an association. So they are bound to work only for Hollywood and if they have to work outside there’s a lengthy process. As a result, there are no Hollywood actors who work in Indian films except for a few of guest appearances or something like that.” The director further added,”In that process, I thought of alot of stars and it was actually difficult to get the stars that I wanted on board with the timings and alot other things. Finally, when I was doing the auditions for the film, I hired a casting director locally and through her I was casting other stars and they were a lot of other American actors during that time. I mentioned that I am looking for a star as well for the film and then she told me that she knows Michael and she can talk to him.” How things escalated quickly after sending the script the director ends by saying,”I then sent in the script, spoke to him over the call and I met him after so he was very much happy with the script and character and he was eager to be a part of an Indian film where it’s more like an indo American film for his experience and that is one of the main reasons we shot mainly in the US so there won’t be any issue. The film is shot like a Hollywood film having Indian actors in it.” Nishabdham is exclusively available on Amazon Prime Video and is a must watch for an intriguing plot. The film is directed by Hemanth Madhukar, and produced by TG Vishwa Prasad and stars Anushka Shetty, R Madhavan and Anjali in the lead roles. The film marks American actor Michael Madsen making his Indian film debut and also stars Shalini Pandey, Subbaraju and Srinivas Avasarala in pivotal roles. Tags: Anushka Shetty Hemanth Madhurkar RealityPost Desk 13th October 2020 Previous Article Check Out : These Production House have started Shooting for Films Amidst Pandemic Next Article Squad reaches Dhanush’s Residence after Actor receives ‘Bomb’ Threat	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3490
__label__wiki	0.971712	0.971712	On Saturday March 22, the Notre Dame club Tennis team participated in a tournament at Ball State University. Notre Dame played Northern Kentucky, Ball State, and Xavier. In the first round against Ball State, Ali Scoggin and Liz won woman’s doubles 6-2, while Brett Beattie and Ed Kielb won 6-2 in men’s doubles. In the singles matches, Notre Dame managed to earn some more games and lengthen the lead. Robert Michels lost men’s singles 4-6, while Anna Wanzek definitively won women’s singles 6-0. In the mixed doubles, Sophia Hooper and Jamie Sullivan won 6-0. Notre Dame won the round 28-8. In the second round, Notre Dame took on Ball State. In the doubles, Anna Wanzek and Liz Quinn won 6-1, while Men’s doubles lost a tough set 3-6. In the singles, Ali Scoggin won 6-2 while Jamie Sullivan won 6-3. To finish out the round, Sophia Hooper and Ed Kielb lost mixed doubles in a close tiebreak but then won the third overtime game. Notre Dame won the round 27-19. In the final round of play, Notre Dame faced Xavier, who had to forfeit their women’s matches due to sickness of a few players. Jamie Sullivan and Brett Beattie won men’s doubles 6-3 while Ed Kielb won men’s singles 6-3. Notre Dame won 12-6 over Xavier. The tournament was a great success overall, allowing Notre Dame to get a definitive win over the other three teams.	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3494
__label__cc	0.528804	0.471196	Discover → Biographies & Memoirs China Blonde By Nicole Webb Upvote 10 Enjoying this book? Help it get discovered by casting your vote! Read preview Must read 🏆 A first-hand account of a life lived differently. Where the differences add a richness few ever experience and education that's priceless. From a TV newsreader in Sydney to a hotelier’s wife in the heart of China – this is a true story of reinvention, love, and finding your home. Nicole Webb and her husband, James, are always up for an adventure, so when James is offered a job in the ancient city of Xi’an in north-west China, they jump at the chance. Nicole, James and three-year-old Ava pack up their home in Hong Kong and fly into a world they know nothing about -- a place where they know no one. Touching down in the jam-packed Arrivals hall, culture shock hits head on. With honesty and humour, Nicole takes us on a journey of life in the Middle Kingdom at a time when the whole world is looking towards China. We follow her search for friendship and acceptance where she discovers, no matter what your culture or background, we’re connected the world over by the common thread of humanity. CHINA BLONDE gives us a very personal insight, told with a journalist’s eye view. Her experience will resonate with anyone who’s ever built a life in a new home – be it across the city or across the world. Looking at this book's front cover, I was thinking it would be a lighthearted read and somewhat fun; but, in reality, it was over-all serious, detailed, and somewhat dull. I began reading, questioning why any of what I was scanning mattered? Obviously, it mattered to the author; but, I was left wondering if this book would matter to a readership at large? The answer came for me about three-fourths of the way through and it's a resounding, "Yes, it all matters!" What swayed me the most was its last line. After thinking back over all I had read, after looking into my own life of overseas missions, and moves across America that led me from the Mid-West to Alaska; it's the last five sentences that clinched it. "We are all a contradiction of sorts" as seen within this author's extroverted-introverted self; which, as an introverted-extrovert I fully relate to! It's as this book ho-hummed along that it dropped the "ho" and just kept "humming". Like a constant noise in the background, you become immersed in Chinese culture and life. You hear the constant chatter you can't comprehend, the deluge of horns honking and street vendors calling, and see the signage you cannot read. It's all cacophony until it's not. The highlights of this book were the parts in which I fully saw under the author's veneer to her heart. From belting out John Denver's "Country Roads" in the back seat of a car to a karaoke night where she had the time of her life. Music is a balm to ones soul as are nods to your country of origin, like Pizza Hut or Starbucks, when you're longing for something recognizable to ease your transition. The interviews and talks that go deep with the Chinese people themselves is where this book takes root. We're all people, humanity as a whole, and to see another's humanness brings about harmony. My favorite interview? Feeling as though I was sitting at Yéye (Grandpa) and Năinai's (Grandma's) house too. Enter a home of love and be blessed by its warmth. I recommend this book for all ex-pats, specifically those living in China or for those individuals who are considering such a move. This book may save your life; or, at the very least, make your move and settling in an easier experience than if you didn't have it by your side. I'm going to purchase a copy for a friend of mine who moved back to the States from China a few months back. She misses it: The country, the culture, the sites and sounds; but, most of all, the people. This book isn't going to help her miss China less but I do believe it will leave her smiling and feeling understood. A sense of friendship with the author and other ex-pats who have at one time or another, no matter how long or how brief, called China home too. "Waving each other off, smiling, sad it's over but so grateful it happened." Jennie Louwes Reading books and writing reviews brings with it every emotion under the sun; forever changing, forever changed, and I wouldn't have it any other way. May my words not only help fellow readers but also the authors of the books we read. Written by Nicole Webb Not for All the Tea in China... 当风向转变时，有人砌围墙，有人造风车。 Dāng fēngxiàng zhuǎnbiàn shí, yǒu rén qì wéiqiáng, yǒu rén zào fēngchē. When the winds of change blow, some build walls, while others build windmills. A lot of people assume moving to mainland China was my husband’s idea. And why not, I suppose; as a hotelier, for him the next gig is always a source of angst and uncertainty: when, where, what and how? ‘Where’ is always the most difficult one, though. Four years earlier, we’d made the move to Hong Kong where life was sweeter than a glass of bubbly. Why in God’s name we would want to put ourselves into the middle of China, where a glass of bubbly is nearly impossible to find, was a mystery I couldn’t quite decipher. But I was the one who eventually pushed the green button. We’d moved to The (other) City That Never Sleeps on a whim and lived a life that swung between luxurious indulgence and gritty adventure. To make the shift, I’d quit my coveted job as a TV newsreader in Australia, giving up everything I was familiar with as a mostly single woman and swapping it for an unknown identity with my hotelier beau and our relatively new bump. Fast-forward and our little family of three had thrived under the glittering lights of a city (and a baby) that never slept. Truth is, we’d all become rather content in our forty-third floor apartment. We could easily have stayed wrapped in Hong Kong’s glow a little longer, if not forever. Despite its miniature size, we had everything we needed a swift shiny lift-ride away: a myriad of designer shops (including my favourites, H&M and Zara), a speedy train line, untold restaurants and bars, a movie theatre, a school, our work and good friends in the next tower. What more could we want? Our family motto is ‘Us against the world’ and in the intoxicating land of Hong Kong we were invincible. A move could have meant the undoing of our bulletproof trio, and we knew it. But it was time. As second in command at Hong Kong’s chic W Hotel, James, my hotelier husband, needed experience as Number One – a chance to be general manager of his own hotel. China had shimmered in the back of our minds for months, teasing us mercilessly, for better or for worse. While dozens of potential cities were paraded before us like contestants in a beauty pageant, none seemed fit for the winning sash. We carried on in our beloved fragrant harbour city, but underneath our relaxed expat exterior, we lived a tumultuous year and a half filled with uncertainty. I couldn’t commit to anything beyond a month for fear we’d be up and off at a moment’s notice, which is generally the case with hotel life. Once the company made the decision, we’d be given only a few weeks to collect our things and pass go. But until we were paired with the right city, our life was on hold – indefinitely. The wait, though, wasn’t due to a shortage of hotel general manager jobs. They popped up in almost every city across the world, from Bangkok to Doha, Macau to Seoul, Sydney to Goa. And they almost popped up late at night, just as we were about to turn the lights out and leave the day behind. Eventually, I pleaded with James to stop checking his emails so late. One last sneaky check and bam, our lives would be turned upside down and inside out for the next month: Dear Mr Walkden, we have an opening at such and such, would you like to be considered for hotel GM? Oh, and please decide by tomorrow We’d lie there twitching, tossing and turning as storylines played out in our heads. Bali? I’d imagine a life in bikinis and sarongs, wistfully looking out at the sparkling sea while I wrote my latest best seller. Or maybe it would be a life filled with curries and kaftans in Goa, or tuk tuks and endless foot massages in Bangkok. By the time I’d completed my google recce, the job had come and gone. It was then that James would quietly volunteer, ‘We could always go back to Australia, you know.’ But, in my heart, I wasn’t ready to give it all up. I missed my family and desperately wanted Ava, our small person, to grow up closer to them, but something in me, in us, had shifted. It wasn’t so much the indulgent expat life we were clinging to, but more that feeling of constantly being out on our own, surviving life in a country that wasn’t ours. It had become surprisingly addictive. And still, the beast that is mainland China refused to back down. With hundreds of hotels opening in the Middle Kingdom, it was becoming next to impossible to avoid. One night, amid the flurry of late-night emails, a general manager role came up in Wǔhàn in central China. We were given just days to decide if we wanted to take it. We agreed that we needed to see this city (alarmingly nicknamed ‘The Furnace of Asia’ at the time) before making a decision, so we booked last-minute tickets and flew up for a weekend’s reconnaissance. The drive from the airport seemed like an eternity. Our car manoeuvred its way through dusty streets and across giant tangles of motorways drenched with thick grey smog that seemed to reach all the way to the ground. We passed dilapidated buildings, many just empty shells resembling areas in a war-torn city. I tried hard to keep an open mind. ‘There are millions of people living here happily,’ the little voice in my head said. Right across China, ancient towns and districts were being turned into sprawling, up-and-coming cities as rural citizens and farmers were moving out of their family’s villages. With a government desperately trying to keep up with this internal migration of so-called peasants to the city, labourers worked day and night to meet the need for housing, sewage, energy and transport. It was a case of China trying to create entire cities from the ground up in record time, and it meant construction sites were buzzing twenty-four seven. This was Wǔhàn, where hundreds of sites were under redevelopment and a million cranes reached into the sky like giant storks. Despite having a reputation as a developing city with a flourishing university system, we soon discovered there were no international hospitals and, so we were told, just one English-speaking doctor. But the hotel, set on the banks of the Yángzǐ River and our potential new home, exceeded our expectations. We walked into a grand lobby filled with all the bling you could imagine – many Chinese people seem to love a chandelier and the one near the entrance was big enough to light a sports stadium. The lobby was stunning, if you ignored the people snoozing on the plush lounges while the current GM ranted at them to move on. There were fine-dining restaurants, a lush day spa plus an indoor pool. Little to complain about, really. The burning question, though, was how long could we take refuge in a hotel, even if it had five stars? When the current GM handed me a flimsy brochure he called the ‘local newspaper’, suggesting I could write for it – no doubt in a bid to inspire me and help him make his swift exit – my heart sank to my knees. Would this be what my career had come to? ‘We can make anywhere a home as long as we’ve got each other, right?’ I asked James, with more than a hint of desperation. He nodded, but the fear etched across his face mirrored my own feelings. As we lay on the Westin Heavenly® Bed that night, both of us staring out across the river bathed in grey, the sinking feeling that came over us was just too heavy to shift. We couldn’t bring ourselves to say yes to Wǔhàn. Just a few months later, a place called Héféi, also on the mainland, came up. Apprehensive after our Wǔhàn experience, I did the usual google. It was certainly no furnace, but was instead nicknamed ‘Nowheresville’. It didn’t look very ‘liveable’, so we politely said no, acutely aware we were fast reaching the bottom of our bag full of noes. Eventually, the general manager role at the Westin in Xī’ān, Shaanxi Province (not to be confused with Shanxi— or ‘Shānxī’—Province further north) became available. A quick search showed us that the city looked attractive, very pretty in an ancient Chinese sort of way. ‘It looks the most quintessential Chinese city of any I’ve seen,’ I said excitedly to James. ‘It has charm and character. Look at all those red lanterns!’ ‘Do you think?’ he replied, clearly questioning my sanity. I think we were both fed up with the constant uncertainty. We knew we just needed to get on with our new life. So, without seeing the city firsthand, we convinced ourselves Xī’ān would be a reasonable place to call home. When we told our Hong Kong friends, some were shocked. ‘Oh my God! Don’t do it!’ they exclaimed. ‘It’s the mainland! It’s so different ... You’ll never survive!’ Others, though, were a little more encouraging. ‘You’ll be fine. Go for eighteen months, get it done.’ How hard could it be? I asked myself, trying to feel confident. But my body soon gave away my panic and my stomach became permanently clenched in knots. One afternoon after the big decision, my good friend Lauren was driving me through Hong Kong’s streets, which were pulsating with its awe-inspiring energy, when she said, ‘You should stay here and have James come back to Hong Kong on weekends. Lots of women do it. One of my best friends does that, in fact.’ Considering she was born in China, her words rattled me. I fought back tears. What if she’s right? Maybe Ava and I should just stay put. Yeah, as if! I scoffed at the thought. I knew I’d rather be somewhere I hated with James than anywhere without him. Five years earlier at thirty-five, I’d almost convinced myself, that, along with finding a lifetime partner and having a baby of my own, living overseas was definitely off the agenda. I’d spent most of my twenties carving out my career. I’d been too scared to leave Australian shores in case I lost my place in the line-up of eager journalism graduates. As a result, I felt I’d missed my opportunity to live overseas. As for a husband and children ... well, after a number of difficult relationships, they just didn’t seem to be part of the plan. I’d even toyed with the idea of adopting as I started to come out the other side of thirty-five. That was until I chanced upon the hotelier on a blind date. My friend’s friend pitched him to me as a Mr Darcy. I wasn’t buying it, except for the fact that he was British. It was a drizzly Sunday evening when we finally came face to face at a mangy old pub in Sydney’s inner west. Prepared for the worst after a string of painful first dates, I arrived early, knocked back half a glass of courage-inducing chardonnay and waited. When James came along, I was struck by his warm brown eyes and engaging smile. But it was his ‘normal-ness’ that impressed me most of all. What is normal, anyway? To me, it’s the ability to have a conversation that cuts both ways, the ability to understand where a person is coming from and to be present in the moment willingly, which, back then, seemed hard to find. Because I had a funeral to attend the next day, I’d made sure to text him before our date to make it clear that I didn’t have much time; one drink and I’d probably be out of there. But on the night, James was so easy to be with that I stayed on to have two drinks and then dinner. We talked, his eyes twinkled as he spoke and he listened intently, politely. Even better, he seemed like he had it together, even though he was only thirty-three. There must be something wrong with him, I thought. I dug a little deeper but nothing surfaced. I’m not overly religious, but I’d been praying for someone who was kind. That’s all I’d asked for. Surely it wasn’t too much, was it? Right then, it seemed like just maybe it wasn’t. Driving back over the Sydney Harbour Bridge that night after he’d walked me to my car, I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. It wasn’t instant love, but something felt different. For the previous ten years, I’d been somewhat settled at Sky News Australia, a 24-hour news channel where I diligently worked my way up from being a freelance news producer to business producer, programs producer and health presenter, and eventually became one of the channel’s main news presenters. I was definitely in my comfort zone, roaring into the underground car park in my convertible MINI Cooper, and I could just about present a live news bulletin, technical glitches and all, with my eyes closed. But it turned out that the year I turned thirty-five was to be a defining one. Daring to do something for myself, I planned to volunteer at an orphanage in Africa for six weeks, hoping it would be the catalyst to release me from my tumultuous past – a chance to give back and change my path. The trip was everything I’d dreamed of and more. Africa stole my heart and opened my eyes. Not one to do things by halves, I also made a documentary detailing the plight of Kenya and the importance of volunteering which later aired on Sky News. With a renewed thirst for adventure I returned home with a steely determination to chart my own course. As luck would have it, I’d met James a few weeks before my big journey began. Poor timing, but we stayed in touch and managed to reconnect on my return, albeit a little dubiously on my part. I was still scarred and suspicious of the unknown, but the new me stood firm. And with charm and staying power, James convinced me to see ‘what may come’. Eleven months later we were engaged, and a year after that, married – restoring my faith in what will be, will be. For all those times I’d craved a crystal ball, I finally realised I just needed to trust in the universe – with a little bit of preparation on my behalf. As a Brit who’d backpacked his way to Oz on the sheer weight of Home and Away’s surf beaches, James was perfectly fine with staying put Down Under. About a year into our marriage, the W Hong Kong lit up our dashboard. James instantly dismissed it, but something in me had changed. Having lost my best friend – the bravest woman I’ve ever known – a few months earlier to cancer, I was never more conscious of how short life could be. If we stayed, there was no doubt in my mind I would be at Sky News a decade on, doing exactly the same thing. Is that what I really wanted? I was finally ready to go. For the first time in my life, it seemed like an acceptable possibility. It’s been said that when you have someone in your life who supports you and has your back, you feel invincible, capable of anything. With James, it didn’t take long for me to know he was that guy – that he would always have my back, no matter what. It was a given. One night soon after, when James and I were in bed about to go to sleep, I sat up excitedly. ‘Let’s put our hand up for the Hong Kong job,’ I said. He nearly fell out of bed. ‘What? Are you kidding?’ ‘No. I’m not.’ So he threw his hat in ... and low and behold, he got the job. And in the very same week, we found out we were pregnant. I was thirty-eight years old and just eight weeks pregnant when we flew to Hong Kong to our new home to begin our new life. With the wonder of hindsight, when you decide to leave your country and everything you know in your late thirties and have your first baby there, it’s not just a gap year, it’s a life-altering event. Living, working and forging a life in a country you barely know – and bringing up a child where English is not the first language and the culture is completely different – is a monumental undertaking for anyone, especially for relative newlyweds. Four years later, here we were, ready to put everything on the line and do it all over again. Nicole Webb Born in NZ, at 16, Nicole moved to Australia where she became a TV journalist, working as a newsreader at Sky News for a decade. In 2010, she and her husband (+ baby bump) moved to Hong Kong where they lived for 4 years before moving to China. Nicole now works in Sydney as a Writer and Speaker. view profile Published by Broadcast Books Genre: Biographies & Memoirs Enjoyed this review? Get early access to fresh indie books and help decide on the bestselling stories of tomorrow. Create your free account today. 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__label__wiki	0.621344	0.621344	Registres de délibérations urbains au Moyen Âge Juin 2019 – Colloque « La voix des assemblées » Résumés des communications Journée d’études 2018 – La délibération Programme de la journée d’études Contributions écrites des participants – 2018 Journée d’études 2017 – Enregistrer les crises Contributions des participants – Nov. 2017 Appel à communications – Journée d’études « Enregistrer les conflits » Journée d’études 2016 – Le « Midi » en questions Appel à communications – Journée d’études Le « Midi » en questions Assemblées, conseil et délibération Communauté (urbaine, villageoise) Conseils urbains et Droit Crises et conflits Espace public, question démocratique Scripturalité, archives Ville et circulation de l’information Éditions de documents originaux, inventaires Thèmes et lectures connexes Italie du centre et du nord Italie méridionale et îles Dauphiné – Provence – Savoie France – Midi France – Nord Péninsule ibérique Flandre et Pays-Bas Lectures, Recensions, Présentations Barcelona’s Council During the Catalan Civil War (1462-1472): the Conflict’s Management Through Municipal Deliberations par Laura Miquel · Publié 21/02/2018 · Mis à jour 21/02/2018 Laura Miquel Milian est doctorante à l’Institució Milà i Fontanals – CSIC de Barcelona, sous la co-direction de Pere Verdés and Pere Orti. Thème de recherche : Construire les communautés en temps de guerre au travers du discours public. L’article (version de travail / draft) 1.a. Barcelona’s medieval council: its structure and running Barcelona’s council was born in the second half of the 13th century. Since then, its structure changed frequently until the end of the Middle Ages, mainly because of its dirigents pursuit of an institution that was representative, yet functional and useful to their own interests. By the time the Catalan Civil War began, in 1462, the council’s last modification had been done less than ten years before, and it had been quite a radical one.[1] From then until the end of the century, Barcelona’s municipal government remained as follows: at the top were five counselors, consellers, who were in charge of most of the city’s public management and were elected each year. They were not alone, though, as they frequently sought the assistance of the Consell de Cent, or Council of One Hundred, the governmental institution formed then by 128 men who, again, changed every year. However, having to reunite frequently so many people was not practical, that resulting on the creation of a Tentenari, or Council of Thirty, formed in 1462 by 32 of the men of the Consell de Cent. The members of this smaller council changed every three months. The three institutions, that is, the consellers and the two consells, had their members organised according to their social origins. Thus, during the years of the war they were divided in four groups: honorable citizens, merchants, artists and artisans.[2] Even though they were theoretically equal, the honorable citizens had some precedence, since two of the five consellers were always among them. 1.b. Municipal sources There are no records of the decisions made by the five consellers by themselves, but in the archives are kept the memories of the meetings held by both the Consell de Cent and the Consell de Trenta. From 1433 until 1714, when at the end of the War of Spanish Succession the Consell was abolished, a scribe was in charge of writing down all the deliberations resulted from the Consells‘ meetings. Each day he indicated who took part in the meeting,[3] the subjects that were addressed and which had been the Consell‘s decisions. These deliberations’ registers are just a tiny bit of the municipal sources held in Barcelona’s archive. The frenetic activity of the late middle ages’ Consell can be found in other series, which will be briefly commented later. It is thanks to all of them that we can get such an insight into the way the Consell worked during the 15th century. The Catalan Civil War 2.a. Brief history of the war During that century probably no other period was as hectic as the Catalan Civil War.[4] King John II of Aragon had inherited his brother’s throne in 1458. With it came a rather unpleasant present: the situation in Catalonia, and in Barcelona in particular, had been tense for some years, and John found himself in the middle of a problem which seemed to have a difficult, if not impossible, solution. The death in 1461 of his eldest son, Charles, Prince of Viana, who the Catalan institutions had adopted as some kind of champion, and with whom his father had a rather complicated relationship, made things only worse. By the first half of 1462 it was becoming obvious that war was inevitable, and it finally broke out in June, when king John was declared enemic de la terra, enemy of the land. Therefore, while Valencia, Aragon and Majorca remained faithful to John, Catalonia had, according to its leaders, no rightful king. But this kingless situation could not last long, and so it quickly began the search for a new king, preferably one that was powerful enough to help the rebels in their battles. There were three of them. The first was Henry IV, king of Castile, who accepted being lord of the Principality of Catalonia in August 1462. However, changes in his allegiances’ policy made him refuse his newest title in 1463. That same year the crown was offered to Peter, Constable of Portugal, who travelled to Catalonia in order to supervise the military operations that were being made. His death only two and a half years later, in June 1466, made necessary to look for a new sovereign. This time the chosen one was René of Anjou, who sent his son, and after his death his grandson, to command in his name until the end of the war, in 1472. However, the role played by these three alternative kings, Henry, Peter and René, was in many ways merely symbolic. The heads of the rebel side were the main institutions of Catalonia, namely the Diputació del General, born as a permanent split of the General Courts, and Barcelona’s Council. A short-lived but equally important institution during this period was the Consell del Principat, a political organ that operated side by side with the Diputació. All of these represented, mostly, an oligarchy that feared that king John’s actions would endanger its interests and even its very identity. Particularly powerful, in spite of being a local government, was Barcelona’s Council, which had an authority that no one dared to question. Therefore, its decisions were crucial not only for its inhabitants, but also for all those who lived in the whole of Catalonia. Actually, it was Barcelona and its bank the ones in charge of sustaining economically most of the conflict, so it comes as no surprise that its opinions were carefully listened to, even by those who, at least on paper, played a more relevant role in the war’s affairs. 2.b. Commissions for a war It has already been described how Barcelona’s Council worked and having seen that there can be no doubt about how having to put together at least 32 people to take crucial decisions was not the best strategy in extreme circumstances such as a war was. By doing so the resolution of an urgent matter could easily last weeks or months, and since 1462 no one had time for that. That is why, as it had frequently been done before, since the very beginning of the conflict the Council’s members splitted in a number of commissions that dealt with specific matters, frequently alongside the five consellers. These commissions were normally formed by 4, 8, 12 or 16 people, and they always had all the four classes that formed the Council equally represented. Their effectiveness, though, was not as high as it should have been, at least in not so important matters. A typical example of this would be the following: the consellers presented some problem to the Consell de Trenta, that concluded that its members lacked the power to decide upon it and, therefore, diverted it towards the Consell de Cent. The Consell de Cent, that due to its elevate number of members met only when strictly necessary, considered that the Consell the Trenta was perfectly able to solve it on its own and gave it the necessary authority to do so. In its next meeting, the Consell de Trenta appointed some of its members to create a committee with the sole purpose of dealing with it. When they were done, they reported back to the Consell de Trenta and, finally, something was done about it. All these movements can be easily followed in the Deliberations’ registers, although these never contain the committees’ meetings. We can only know their decisions if they are included in their response to the Council. 2.b.i. The Setzena de guerra During the ten years of war, lots of committees were born. Most of them, though, lasted only for a few weeks and then disappeared. However, there was at least one notable exception. That was the creation, early in 1462, of a 16-people commission that later on was known as the Setzena de guerra, 16th of war.[5] Despite its name, the Setzena did not exist during the whole conflict, but only during certain periods of it. In February 1464, two years after its first creation, the Consell de Cent, in charge of appointing its members, decided that the consellers and the Consell de Trenta could have power enough to deal with anything necessary, and therefore suspended its election.[6] The Setzena was resurrected three years later, in February 1467, when the Consell de Trenta asked again for it.[7] The reason was that, before the proclamation of a king or, after having done so, before his arrival to the city, it was traditional to have a Setzena to help the Consell de Trenta. Since René of Anjou had already been appointed as the new lord of the Principality, but neither he, nor his son, had set foot on Catalan soil, the Consell de Cent saw no problem in that petition and approved it.[8] This new Setzena was even shorter-lived, though. Three months later, when theoretically it had to be renovated, the Consell de Trenta decided that, given that René’s eldest son was close to Barcelona, there was no need to bother the Consell de Cent with that.[9] Apparently they changed their mind quickly enough, because in July a new Setzena was elected,[10] that remained active until the end of the year.[11] 2.b.ii. The committee for the subvenció dels cavalls Another committee that remained active during many years was one formed by eight people, which worked side by side with a six-people-committee of the Diputació. Its unofficial name was comissió de la subvenció dels cavalls or committee of the horses’ subvention, and since 1464, when it was formed, its main purpose was to manage all the issues related to some special taxes that had been created in order to pay soldiers. However, there were times when it was charged with tasks that exceeded its original attributions, like when in 1466 it was commissioned to supervise the sending of some troops to save a town that was being besieged.[12] It would seem as if, when there was no Setzena, this special committee acted as it, although with an essential difference: it always did so together with its Diputació counterpart. It also differed from the Setzena because its members did not change unless it was strictly necessary: in the event of someone’s death or if anyone had been appointed for an important post, for example. The war in the sources 3.a. Deliberations As it has already been hinted, no study of the Catalan Civil War can be done without consulting Barcelona’s council’s deliberations between 1462 and 1472. These appear in volumes written by the public scribe, a notary, that begin the day the consellers were elected, that is the 30th of November, after a religious invocation. The deliberations are always written in Catalan, and it is only from time to time that expressions in Latin appear. The structure is always the same. First, a title sums up which Consell‘s meeting was and the main topics that were addressed in it. Then begins the text with an indication of the date and the location where the meeting took place, as well as who was in it.[13] After that, one of the consellers starts proposing the subjects that need to be discussed and when all have been presented, the consell‘s conclusions are written down. It is important to remark that not everything is included in the deliberations. Again, those decisions took by the consellers by themselves, without the assistance of either council, left no trace, and even though it is pretty obvious that no big decision could be made without first consulting it to the councils, this fact has to be taken into account. The same happens with some committees, that had instructions to act without having to refer it to the Council. A quick view to the deliberations’ registers reveals that the Council met during the war with very variable frequencies: it is equally possible to have meetings seven days in a row as to have none during two weeks.[14] How is that? There are a number of reasons that might explain it. The first one is that the importance of the Diputació and Consell del Principat should not be forgotten. A great part of the war’s decisions were under their control, and even though many of them had to be ratified by Barcelona’s Council, their relationship was not always in the best terms. Actually, there are some periods when it feels as if the Council only met when they had to approve one or more of the Diputació‘s deliberations. Another reason might be that the numerous committees were actually more successful that we would normally give them credit to, therefore lightening considerably the Council’s tasks. Obviously, that could also happen with the consellers. Finally, during certain periods there might have been a real lack of reasons to meet. A war as long as the Catalan Civil War was had calm weeks and even months, when a kind of status quo was kept for a while, and one could easily forget what was happening outside the city walls. Having said that, during the war deliberations’ registers have a tendency to be precise and concise. In many cases it can be found that an issue is merely announced and resolved, without giving any details about it besides the agents involved. That presumably happens in those issues that are not of such utter importance, whereas in those cases when something specially relevant is being discussed no information is omitted. Thus, in those cases we can find included in the deliberations letters,[15] requests or ordinances,[16] for example. There were occasions which required a more passionate language, and the notaries in charge of the Deliberations, Joan Ginebret and, after his death, Joan Brujó, were well aware of that. When they had to write about the war, traitors or the members of the Council, their use of grandiloquent and highly descriptive adjectives is quite obvious. That was the transliteration of the kind of language that was being used during a period of crisis, when the Catalan leaders wanted to hear, and, perhaps, even believe, that they were being true to themselves and their homeland. The main point was to change what many, even some members of the Council, thought it was plainly a rebellion, into an act of fidelity towards Catalonia’s rights and its need of a sovereign who respected it.[17] Frequently found sentences such as « the good and most faithful vassals » to define Catalan people proves so.[18] To sum up, through the radicalisation of their everyday discourse the Catalan leaders seeked to alleviate their lack of legitimacy[19]. 3.b. Complementary sources Despite this presentation focuses on council’s deliberations, I would not like to end it without mentioning some other sources that can complete our knowledge of the Catalan Civil War. 3.b.i. Ordinances Specially important are the ordinances. These include all the decrees that regulated Barcelona’s life, from money minting to bread sales. In the time of the war are particularly interesting those ordinances that aimed to keep the city’s correct functioning under such extreme circumstances, notably those that targeted the so-called enemies. For example, it is in the ordinances that we can find radical orders such as the ones issued during the first siege of Barcelona, in 1462, banning talks between people on the walls and those outside of them. If anyone heard them, they could throw the offender from up the walls and keep his weapons.[20] The language used in the ordinances that were published and read out loud through the city is direct and, obviously, very compelling, frequently much more than that found in the deliberations. However, their closeness is still pretty obvious. 3.b.ii. Correspondence Equally close, although perhaps even more eloquent, is the correspondence sent during the war. Its recipients were many, and included kings and their representatives, other towns’ councils, as well as individuals, such as armies’ captains. The beginning of the war implied an increased diplomatic activity, that was carried out through letters or, provided the matter was eminently important, face-to-face. Particularly interesting are those letters written during the first months of the war that were addressed to institutions that could help the Catalan cause, like king Ferrante of Naples or the council of Majorca. Those included the best explanations that could be gathered in order to justify the rebellion against king John II, with sentences such as « as you know, the difference between us and the king is only because we want to defend our rights and privileges ».[21] 3.b.iii. Accounts Finally, few registers can tell us how much Barcelona had to endure during the Catalan Civil War as the accounts’ books do. Besides the preserved regular treasurer’s records, it is particularly compelling a document studied by Jaume Sobrequés that details what destiny had, from 1462 to 1465, the 60.000 pounds that the Council approved to spend exclusively on war’s affairs. The main problem the rebels had during most of the war was their perpetual lack of funds. Therefore, knowing where did the money go and seeing how effective were the funding strategies provides a better understanding of some of the Consell‘s decisions. The collapse of the Taula de Canvi, the municipal bank, in 1468, and the measures taken to revert such an extreme situation by the Council is another key point in the complicated relationship that Barcelona’s government had with its economy during the war. The war was responsible of bringing out the best Barcelona’s Council could offer. During those ten years, it became one of the most importants institutions handling the conflict, and its notorious significance can be easily exemplified by the creation of a semi-permament committee as was the Setzena. Barcelona was the main city of Catalonia, and its dirigents were well aware of this. Frequently they justified their preeminent role with a paternalistic discourse, with statements like « the present city represents the mother of said universities ». Obviously, leading a war was not always an easy task. There were urgent matters that had to be solved as soon as possible, but others, deemed not so worrisome to the Consell members, could linger in the Council for months, thus exasperating those who were affected by them. Moreover, we know that the members of the council had frequently different opinions, sometimes radical ones. However, that can hardly be seen in the deliberations, since normally not even the voting results were written down, and we know of them thanks to the ordinances, for example, or more private documentation. What can be found in the deliberations are disagreements between the Consell and the Diputació or with the king, specially king Peter, but they are always softened. In times so radicalised as the Catalan Civil War were, it was convenient to offer a united view. To sum up, Barcelona’s council’s deliberations from the period of the Catalan Civil War prove that the Consell was indeed a place where many decisions regarding the conflict were taken, though not the only one. Aware of its limits and flaws, their leaders tried to avoid them by creating committees and giving more power to the consellers, responsible for tackling many problems. Even though those decisions were not noted down in the deliberations, sometimes they can be inferred thanks to other preserved series or later events. [1] Carme BATLLE i GALLART: La crisis social y económica de Barcelona a mediados del siglo XV, vol. 1, Barcelona, CSIC, 1973, p. 311-321. [2] In Catalan: ciutadans, mercaders, artistes and menestrals. [3] He did not indicated their names, but only which council was meeting each time and also anyone who was not part of the Consell and was there in order to ask for something, give advice, etc. [4] The most important work about the Catalan Civil War is Santiago SOBREQUÉS i VIDAL, Santiago SOBREQUÉS i CALLICÓ, La guerra civil catalana del segle XV, Barcelona, Edicions 62, 1973, 2 volumes. There is also a monograph in English: Alan RYDER, The Wreck of Catalonia. Civil War in the Fifteenth Century, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2007. [5] The Setzena was born in February 1462 (AHCB, 1B.II-14 (1461-1462), f. 74v-75r). Back then, its main purpose was to take care of anything related to the Capitulació de Vilafranca, with the exception of the issues related to chancellery, that were still a prerogative of the Consell de Cent. [6] « (…) lo dit Concell de Cent jurats del·liberà e conclós per certs sguarts en lo dit concell recitats no affreturar a present elegir XVIa. Vol, emperò, lo dit conçell, que los honorables consellers e concell ordinari de XXXII haie tanta potestat com ha lo present concell en totes les coses concernents los actes del Principat, segons aquell poder per altres concells de C jurats li és stat donat, lo qual poder stigua en sa pròpria força e valor e en res per no haver-hi XVIa no sia periudicat » (AHCB, 1B.II-16 (1463-1465), f. 104v). [7]« Ítem hi fonch posat com no havent proclamat rey e encare aprés la proclamació fins fou arribat en la present ciutat, lo Consell de Cent acustume elegir una Setzena del XXXII que exia, associant aquella als XXXII qui entrave, la qual XVIa, informada dels affers que se eren tractats en lo Trentenari passat, donaven gran direcció en los affers qui s’havien a tractar en lo dit Concell qui novament entrerà. E jatsia sia feta proclamació de rey e senyor, però aquell ere absent e fins la sua felicíssima venguda covendria al concell de la Deputació fer molts actes e del·liberacions en les quals lo present concell haurà a consentir, e per ço ells, consellers, ho posaven en lo dit e present concell » (AHCB, 1B.II-17 (1465-1467), f. 188r). [8] AHCB, 1B.II-17 (1465-1467), f. 188v. [9] AHCB, 1B.II-18 (1467-1469), f. 18v. [10] AHCB, 1B.II-18 (1467-1469), f. 28v-29r. [11] In June 1471 a new Setzena was elected, but apparently its only purpose was to deal with the appointment made by René of Anjou of John, his grandson, as his lieutenant. [12] The town was Sant Pere Pescador, in the Empordà region (AHCB, 1B.II-17 (1465-1467), f. 139r-140r). [13] Vid. note 3. [14] That happened, for example, during the second half of 1468, when very few meetings were held. [15] There are a number of letters of king Peter, for example, like the one from 13/11/1465 that we can find in the deliberation of the Consell de Cent from 15/1/1465 (AHCB, 1B.II-16 (1463-1465), f. 183v-184r); the one from 1/3/1465, which is in the deliberation from 3/3/1465 (AHCB, 1B.II-16 (1463-1465), f. 196r-197v), or the one from 27/5/1465, in the deliberation from 28/5/1465 (AHCB, 1B.II-17 (1465-1467), f. 17v-19r). [16] Notably, the ones written for the redreç of the Taula de Canvi in February 1468 (AHCB, 1B.II-18 (1467-1469), f. 90r-99r). [17] Stéphane PÉQUIGNOT, «”La pràticha de aquesta ciutat e principat”. Réflexions sur l’action diplomatique des autorités catalanes à la veille et au début de la guerre civile (1461-1464)», in Gisela NAEGLE (dir.), Frieden schaffen und sich verteidigen im Spätmittelalter / Faire la paix et se défendre à la fin du Moyen Âge, Munich, Oldenbourg, 2012, p. 163-188, p. 183. [18] AHCB, 1B.II-16 (1463-1465), f. 120r. [19] S. PÉQUIGNOT, «“La pràticha de aquesta ciutat…”», p. 179. [20] AHCB, 1B.IV-8, f. 192r. [21] “e com sabeu la differènçia nostre e del dit Rey no és per pus sinó per nosaltres deffencar nostres libertats e privilegis” (AHCB, 1B.VI-23 (1462-1468), f. 7v-8r. 21/7/1462: letter written to Cagliari). Pour citer cet article : Laura Miquel, « Barcelona’s Council During the Catalan Civil War (1462-1472): the Conflict’s Management Through Municipal Deliberations », in REGIDEL-Registres de délibérations urbains au Moyen Âge, 21/02/2018, https://regidel.hypotheses.org/596. Appel à contribution – FuMaSt – The Future of Manuscript Studies par François Otchakovsky-Laurens · Published 04/10/2020 Appel à contribution – Pratiques sociales de l’écrit 2019/2020. Atelier de jeunes chercheur.e.s Appel à candidatures EfR : Semaine d’atelier Recherche pour les Master par François Otchakovsky-Laurens · Published 11/09/2018 · Last modified 13/09/2018 Article suivant La révolte de 1318 contre le régime des Neuf à Sienne : les enjeux de la communication politique au Conseil et de son expression écrite Article précédent Enregistrer et délibérer pendant la crise : Bologne 1303 Barcelone Bas-Languedoc Bologne Colle Val d'Elsa communes conflits Crises Digne Este Guastalla Gubbio Italie Languedoc Marseille Montpellier Piémont Provence Pézenas Reggio Emilia Registres Toulouse Turin Visconti-Sforza Contributions – novembre 2016 (6) Novembre 2017 – Enregistrer les conflits (2) Musicalité et politique de l'Antiquité à nos jours Chanter sur l'air de... Moyen-Âge postcolonial L’eau dans les villes d’Europe du Nord-Ouest au haut Moyen Âge (IVe-XIIe siècle) Présence de Juvénal Déguisements, travestissements, transformations « Vitium, defectus, macula ». Le corps « incapable » dans la pensée juridique de l’Occident médiéval latin (XIIe-XVe siècle) Construire une histoire du handicap et de la surdité au travers des siècles (CHHS) Le genre des savoirs : apprentissage et éducation dans l’histoire européenne de l’Antiquité à l’époque contemporaine Le frère du roi en Europe (XVe-XVIIe siècle) Les registres de délibérations urbains représentent des fonds documentaires importants en volume et présents dans de très nombreuses villes européennes, particulièrement dans l’aire méridionale. Leur production a accompagné le développement des gouvernements urbains et l’essor des formes écrites de l’administration. À la suite des travaux précurseurs de Paolo Cammarosano puis de Pierre Chastang, une attention nouvelle est à présent prêtée à ces documents. Les études récentes examinent le contenu, le langage, mais aussi la place des registres de délibérations dans les pratiques politiques et leur insertion au sein des ensembles documentaires communaux. Ainsi, la logique documentaire d’ensemble permet de discerner la signification politique. Le carnet Hypothèses REGIDEL s’inscrit dans ce renouvellement historiographique, et s’appuie sur l’activité et les manifestations scientifiques portées par le laboratoire TELEMMe (Temps, Espaces, Langages, Europe méridionale – Méditerranée – UMR 7303 CNRS-AMU). TELEMMe Groupe Bibliographie Regidel Zotero MUAR – Medieval Urban Assembly Records UMR 7303 TELEMMe – Temps, Espaces, Langages, Europe méridionale – Méditerranée REDIGEL et MUAR, deux carnets complémentaires REGIDEL adosse ses activités à celles du carnet en construction MUAR (Medieval Urban Assemblies Registers), animé par Pierluigi Terenzi, et auquel François Otchakovsky-Laurens collabore déjà pour l’aire française. Là où MUAR met en œuvre le très nécessaire recensement des registres délibératifs, en vue d’un inventaire précis et exhaustif à l’échelle européenne, REGIDEL est le lieu d’une réflexion scientifique approfondie autour de cette documentation. Les deux carnets sont donc envisagés comme complémentaires. Les derniers recensements de MUAR Accumoli {{site_title}} © {{year}}. Tous droits réservés. Dans Registres de délibérations urbains au Moyen Âge	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3496
__label__cc	0.51798	0.48202	Docked at the Surfrider, Little Creek, Virginia Booker and Dave Deakyne bought Tortuguita in 2006. She had been in charter in Martinique for 5 years and was bought by a Belgian who sailed her for a while and ended up in Cuba. He married a Cubana and left the boat there to be sold. Not too many Americans were able to look at her there. In January 2006 the broker moved the boat to Florida. It was there, in April when Dave went to see her and the rest is history. She was a real project boat, but a very pretty catamaran. In Cuba, there were no parts available, so things were just wired together to make them work one more day. Everything was broken or assumed to be broken. A fixer upper in all aspects. Dave worked on her for 3 months in Florida to get her seaworthy enough to sail to New Jersey. With the help of college friend, Peyton, they moved her there in July. Not much worked in those days but she floated and they made it. The winter of 2006/2007 was a shakedown cruise to the Bahamas. Jeff and Peyton helped crew to the Abacos. We ended up spending the whole winter in Marsh Harbor partying and fixing. Peyton crewed back to Norfolk and Booker joined up to New Jersey. Timmy and Fred crewed to Bermuda in Nov. 2008 and we got hit by Hurricane Noel. Tortuguita held up better than the crew. Timmy stayed on in Bermuda and was joined by Jeff to crew to St. Maarten. The plan was to head downwind back to the US, but cruising plans are always fluid, so that changed now to a loop around the Caribbean. St. Maarten was a great cruiser base. It was tough to leave all the good friends we had met in Simpson Bay and start heading Down Island. Tortuguita spent that summer in the boatyard at Spice Island Marine, Grenada, while we headed to NJ for the summer. We returned in the fall and joined up with friends on ‘Zenitude’, who had been in Venezuela for hurricane season. We cruised with them until Curacao where we headed up to Puerto Rico. We now were able to head downwind through the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, and Bahamas. Once again in New Jersey, Tortuguita got some major modifications because she would not be returning home for quite a while. The 2009 cold rainy fall and winter from hell chased us down the US East Coast and we didn’t warm up until Mexico. We cruised Belize and Honduras. Tortuguita stayed at the La Ceiba Shipyard for the summer while we went back to NJ. Rare 6 Pointed Starfish - Guanaja, Honduras The 2010-11 season started with a few months in the La Ceiba Shipyard, Honduras. A great place for work which I would go back to anytime. We stopped at the island of Providencia, Columbia on the way to Panama. Tortuguita spent Christmas at PanaMarina and we returned to cruise the San Blas Islands for 2 months. We transited the Panama Canal on March 2nd-3rd and worked our way north along the pacific Panamanian, Costa Rican, and Nicaraguan coasts. Tortuguita spent the summer at Marina Puesta del Sol in northern Nicaragua while we returned to New Jersey. 2011-2012 While we were in New Jersey, Tortuguita was struck by lightning in Nicaragua. Just about everything electronic was fried. Fortunately, the autopilot, fridge, and chartplotter were alright. We met up with and sailed with Don and Gayle Fox the Lagoon Catamaran "Permanently Temporary" to Puerto Vallarta. We brought a bunch of stuff back from the US at Christmas and had the mast pulled, stripped, painted, and rerigged in La Cruz, Mexico during February. We headed up to La Paz in March and explored the Sea of Cortez, ending up in Guaymas for haulout at www.marinasecaguaymas.com. We went back to New Jersey for the summer and made plans to cross the Pacific starting in February and ending the season in New Zealand. That destination later changed to Australia. 2013 was the South Pacific year. We left Mexico in March from Cabo San Lucas and sailed 26 days non-stop to the Marquesas, French Polynesia. We explored the Marquesas, Tuamotos, and Society Islands. We touched the Cook Islands at Suwarrow. Apia, Samoa was a nice surprise and Savaii was a quiet hangout. We short stopped at Tin Can Island, Tonga on the way to Fiji. Fiji was the highlight of the 8000 mile trip with their rich culture and food. New Caledonia was a weather waiting spot for the week long sail to Brisbane, Australia. We spent 68 days underway in 8 months to cross the Pacific. 2014 was the year of big projects. Our time in New Jersey was spent almost entirely doing carpentry and when we returned to Australia in May. We undertook some huge projects that we have been avoiding ever since we bought Tortuguita. The cruising season for 2014 is the Whitsunday Islands and Great Barrier Reef and a return back to the Gold Coast City Marina for another layup and more upgrades. We tried to get to Vanuatu and the Solomons in 2015 but the weather didn't cooperate. Instead we pressed up the Australian coast from the Gold Coast to Darwin covering the 2000 Nautical Mile trip in 30 days. We pressed harder and longer than I ever care to do again along any coast, let alone the Great Barrier Reef, with a sleep/rest cycle of 36 hours underway and 12 hours off for the entire month passage. Boats are like bicycles in coastal Indonesia. We left Darwin with the Sail Indonesia Rally and covered another 2000 miles through Indonesia to Malaysia during the following 3 months. We were reunited with cruiser friends from our South Pacific days who had also been touring Australia or New Zealand during the past 2 years. We dovetailed with the Sail to Langkawi Malaysia Rally with many of the same boats we have been with since Darwin and a whole different group of boats from the Sail2Indonesia Rally that left from Cairns when we left from Darwin. Our Indonesian buddies In December 2015 we hauled out Tortuguita at Pangkor Island Marina where we will take advantage of low labor costs to accomplish many renovation projects. We are spending about 5 months each year in Malaysia doing projects that could not be done elsewhere. We have bought a car and are renting an apartment. This is a great area and we will probably stay around these cruising grounds for quite a while after Tortuguita returns to the water before crossing the Indian Ocean. As the saying goes: Cruising plans are written in the sand at low tide. For more photos, go to:picasaweb.google.com/djdeakyne	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3501
__label__wiki	0.614891	0.614891	I-90 Noise Reduction by Skidabrasion Since its construction in 2001, a section of Portland cement concrete paving on Interstate 90 near Exit 57 in Rapid City has exhibited a pronounced whine under traffic, apparently caused by the surface tining. Noise levels exceed federal standards, which the South Dakota Department of Transportation has adopted. The Rapid City Area office of the Department considered several options for reducing noise levels, including diamond grinding of the concrete surface to remove the tining and thin asphalt concrete overlay to cover it. A more economical alternative suggested by the Office of Research was to remove the tining by &quot;Skidabrasion&quot;, a proprietary method of the Humble Equipment Company. Skidabrasion removes material by projecting high-speed steel shot at the pavement surface. By controlling the Skidabrader power and travel rate, the method can be set to remove only rubber (such as in airport runway restoration) or substantial pavement thickness. The Skidabrader vacuums the shot and loose material from the pavement surface, recovers the shot, and cleanly disposes of the waste. The process can be accomplished at night, when traffic levels are reduced. Most importantly, Skidabrasion leaves a surface with good texture and friction, which is essential on the limestone-aggregate pavement. Because its lower cost and its ability to create desirable pavement friction, Rapid City Area has chosen to use Skidabrasion to remove enough tining to reduce noise levels on this section of roadway. Research is needed to establish the proper level of Skidabrasion and to evaluate its short- and long-term effectiveness in reducing pavement noise and maintaining pavement friction. The research would also attempt to determine why this pavement exhibited uncharacteristically high noise levels compared to other recently placed pavements. The objectives of this research project are to: (1) evaluate the short- and long-term effectiveness of Skidabrasion in reducing noise and maintaining pavement friction on Interstate 90 near Exit 57; (2) compare the cost and effectiveness of Skidabrasion to diamond grinding which has been previously applied to a portion of the pavement; and (3)investigate why the existing pavement generated unusually high levels of noise. Huft, David TRT Terms: Abrasion; Asphalt concrete; Noise sources; Portland cement concrete; Research projects; Skid resistance; Skidding; Skids; Surface course (Pavements); Thickness Geographic Terms: Rapid City (South Dakota); South Dakota Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Pavements;	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3502
__label__cc	0.738355	0.261645	By Katie Berger by River & SouthPosted on May, 2019 June, 2019 Photo from Pexels He spilled things: tiny gold necklaces into shag carpet, wine coolers over a plate of snickerdoodles, letters out the edges of the high school yearbook. The first surprise spit of snow in October felt like him, and I threw six chipped coffee cups into the shallow lake and watched them swallow the mud. He was late if we called it a date–two hours became two days. I chased the full moon with a camera that could have exposed so much so slowly that starlight alone could provide all the light the world needed, but I lost both camera and moon. The mall lost its anchor and held too long to its Christmas tree. My aunt hung Victorian postcards on her kitchen walls–a rabbit pulling Santa’s sleigh, an owl in a dress, a grasshopper larger than children. She rearranged them often and said she could fit them into frames from the dollar store because one can never stray far from the spot where a secret was born. Stickers I pulled from fruit that rattled in the fridge drawers–apple, orange, apple, apple, lime–stuck well to the white spaces of the local Times. I set a glass of water on the table for him and waited. Katie Berger holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and currently lives in Nebraska, where she works in public relations at Northeast Community College. She is the author of Time Travel: Theory and Practice and Swans, both from Dancing Girl Press. Other works have appeared in Cherry Tree, Sugared Water, FootHill, and others. Prev Faith of My Father By Raymond P. Hammond Next Honeygloom By Vern Fein	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3504
__label__wiki	0.818467	0.818467	Clinton Record Home Features News Entertainment Sports Obituaries Rome Sentinel Clinton Record Home Rome Sentinel Jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris to perform virtual concert Stefon Harris Posted Thursday, November 12, 2020 12:00 pm CLINTON — Hamilton College Performing Arts will present a virtual concert with jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris + Blackout at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Recorded live for Hamilton College at Rutgers University’s Clement’s Place, the Stefon Harris + Blackout performance is available for a limited time only. Stefon Harris’s passionate artistry and virtuosity have propelled him to the forefront of the jazz scene. Heralded as “one of the most important artists in jazz” by the LA Times, Harris was named a recipient of the 2018 Doris Duke Awards. He has earned four Grammy nominations and was chosen as Best Vibes in 2017 and 2018 by Downbeat Magazine’s Critic’s Poll. Harris’ landmark TED Talk, “There are No Mistakes on The Bandstand,” was the most-watched talk in its 2011 release and has more than 500,000 views. In advance of the concert premiere, Monk Rowe, director of the Fillius Jazz Archive, will conduct an open interview with Harris via Zoom on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at noon. The interview is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to contribute questions during the interview. This concert is free on YouTube, available Nov. 13-15. Advance registration is required for the interview. For links visit www.hamilton.edu/performingarts. Call 315-859-4350 or email mreiserm@hamilton.edu for more information. More Clinton News Clinton administrators review the positives and challenges of hybrid learning CLINTON — Evaluating the positives of switching to hybrid learning and facing a very unusual school year, versus the challenges still faced by teachers and administrators, were reviewed during the … Bistro has successful launch despite pandemic NEW HARTFORD — Several businesses have closed this year as a direct result of COVID-19, but there are a few exceptions, such as Rintrona’s Bistro, a new restaurant that opened on July 26 in South … Leading EDGE Awards recognize COVID responses Mohawk Valley Edge is honoring five organizations in Oneida County that reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 19th annual Leading EDGE Awards last week. The Leading EDGE Awards were begun in 1998 … Food waste program wins state award The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority has received a Recycling Leadership Award from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling for its food waste diversion program, … CLINTON RECORD ON FACEBOOK North Scott Press Copyright © 2021 Clinton Record. · Privacy policy / Terms of service	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3509
__label__wiki	0.811167	0.811167	Failure is a critical component for blockchain development Validity, consensus and immutability are the core components of blockchain, and all three have failed. Cornell's Emin Gun Sirer explains why that's not such a bad thing. Nicole Laskowski, News Director Proponents of blockchain technology, a distributed data structure that enables peer-to-peer transactions without a central authority, often point to three characteristics as crucial to the technology's success. Transactions have to be valid, the system must maintain consensus and the distributed ledgers, such as bitcoin, must be immutable over time. But, the truth is, "all three of these things have failed in practice before," Emin Gun Sirer, associate professor at Cornell University and co-director for the Initiative for Cryptocurrencies and Smart Contracts, said at the recent Business of Blockchain event in Cambridge, Mass. In his talk, Sirer identified ways in which each of the characteristics of blockchain -- validity, consensus and immutability -- have broken down, but he advised attendees to embrace the failures as critical steps in blockchain's development. It will take a village to raise blockchain to maturity, he said. "It's not going to be done by any one group or any one entity. It's going to be all of us working collaboratively," he said. "We're going to have to learn to not make a big deal out of failures." Indeed, failure isn't the metric by which to judge blockchain's wins or losses; what matters is how resilient blockchains are in the face of failure, he said. "When it happens, as long as you have a way to recover, as long as you've thought it through, that you've preplanned for this, you're OK," he said. "What is dangerous -- maybe fatally dangerous -- is adopting a bad narrative that restricts what you can do." Here is a synopsis of blockchain's three characteristics and how they went wrong: Validity and blockchain development In 2010, a year after bitcoin's public debut, a vulnerability in the code led to the creation of approximately 184 billion bitcoins, greatly exceeding the cryptocurrency's established limit of 21 million bitcoins. The code had been written to prevent more bitcoins from flowing out than coming in. "So I couldn't take 100 bitcoins and send 101 bitcoins," Sirer explained. When the vulnerability created the 184 billion bitcoins, the code added up the output, but it wasn't programmed to account for an integer overflow. Instead, when the sum of the output exceeded a certain size, it "rolled over in the finite space the computer has for representing numbers" and presented as a smaller total than it actually was, Sirer said. Bitcoin Magazine provided a tangible example of integer overflow to explain the error: When a car exceeds the maximum number of miles its manual odometer can clock -- say 999,999 miles -- it doesn't stop working. Instead, it rolls over to zero. The error was caught and corrected "by unrolling the bitcoin blockchain and rerolling it forward having applied the patch," Sirer said. Consensus and blockchain development To add a transaction to the distributed ledger, a majority of the end nodes, each with a copy of the data, has to agree that the transaction is valid. This is known as the consensus mechanism. In 2013, bitcoin experienced what Sirer called a "fork," when the chain of transactions splits. Forks are a known quantity in blockchain. When a fork happens, those working to approve transactions follow a protocol of adding new blocks of transactions to the longest of the two prongs only, quickly stunting the shorter prong from growth. New transactions in the shorter prong are still tied to the blockchain and will eventually be validated. But in March 2013, the miners couldn't distinguish between the longer and shorter prongs for several hours, according to Sirer. "People had to roll back quite a long stretch of the bitcoin blockchain ... because of a change in the consensus rules," he said. Immutability and blockchain development Immutability is considered a crucial characteristic for blockchain technology. "Yet, every currency has had to modify its semantics over time," Sirer said. "Every currency has faced situations where it might want to go back and undo what happened." Sirer pointed to a recent example of this from a decentralized autonomous organization known as The DAO, which he described as "the crazy child of a VC fund like Andreessen Horowitz merged with Kickstarter." The DAO is a crowdfunded business. It's built on the ethereum cryptocurrency blockchain. Members of the community purchased DAO tokens in May 2016, giving them voting rights on how to run the business. The DAO planned to take the funds collected and invest in project proposals (à la a VC fund), with the community voting on what to invest in (à la Kickstarter). Three weeks into its token sale, The DAO amassed more than $100 million, and its seemingly overnight stardom piqued Sirer's interest. He and his colleagues began looking critically at the underlying code of The DAO's smart contract, an automated process that controls the transfer of digital assets and cannot be interfered with once it's set into motion. "It was full of bugs," he said. "It was full of unintended side effects through which someone could essentially drive a truck and come out with a lot of ether." The smart contract was set to automatically become operational 28 days from the start of the token sale. Ahead of that, Sirer and his colleagues made an unusual request: They called for a moratorium of The DAO to fix the known bugs. But to no avail. Within a day of The DAO becoming active, someone exposed two vulnerabilities in the system -- one Sirer and his colleagues had identified and one they hadn't -- and stole about $52 million. The event led to a controversial and permanent split in the ethereum blockchain -- what is called a "hard fork" -- between those who agreed to rewrite the blockchain and reverse The DAO transactions and those who opposed sacrificing immutability. Now, two versions of the ethereum blockchain exist -- ethereum classic and ethereum. A blockchain tutorial for CIOs Blockchain will have a profound impact on IT Blockchain could be an answer to the IoT security problem Why we need an Internet of Blockchains Inside blockchain and its various applications By: Bob Tarzey Inside Amazon Managed Blockchain components and pricing By: Stephen Bigelow Problems with blockchain and how they're being solved By: David Petersson Software Protection Isn’t Enough for the Malicious New Breed of Low-Level ... –Intel What to look for in next-generation IT infrastructure –Pure Storage One of the Keys to Digital Transformation Success: Enhancing the Customer and ... –Dell Technologies Blockchain for Dummies – IoT Agenda Beyond finance: Blockchain's impact on the power ... – IoT Agenda IoT smart contracts bring opportunities and challenges – IoT Agenda	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3513
__label__cc	0.553993	0.446007	The Desire for the Transcendent About Fr Anthony Chadwick Anglican Catholic Church Aspie Corner Goliards then and now New Goliards – Mission Northern Catholicism Orthodox Blow-Out Department Sailors Department The Stoutest Ship were the Frailest Shallop Use of Sarum ← Roots of English Catholicism The Continuum Blog → The Elusive Anglican Patrimony Posted on Monday, 9 January, 2017 by Fr Anthony Chadwick I have had discussions with my friend over the past couple of days, and the subject of the Ordinariates and Anglican Patrimony came up. I think that a lot of wisdom came out of these conversations, both of us being cradle Anglicans, admittedly he from a more Anglo-Papalist background and myself from English middle-of-the-road origins. We went on the little pilgrimage to Hursley parish church and graveyard where Keble’s grave is lovingly maintained. The church was dark in the gloomy English January weather and I couldn’t find the light switches even though the vestry was open. The altar was in the “old” position and, presumably, the cross and candlesticks were in a safe place as a precaution against theft because they were not on the altar. The atmosphere was certainly quiet and serene. Everything was quite plain as would be expected from a Tractarian-era church. Though I called yesterday’s article Roots of English Catholicism, I made a slight error of judgement, because English Catholicism goes back much further than the 1830’s! I left the anomaly all the same. I approach the notion of Anglican Patrimony from a more Romantic than Enlightenment point of view. My own experience of Anglicanism before “swimming the Tiber” in June 1981 was limited to organ playing and choral music. I was very badly catechised and knew very little about the Romantic-inspired Catholic revival in England. I saw many highly ritualistic parishes in London, lots of bells and smells and the old quip “If it hangs, put a tassel on it, and if it moves, incense it”. Most things I have done in my life have been badly prepared and based on illusions, certainly on account of my “different experience of life” and Roman Catholicism was one of them. I was not in the right time and place to have a real formation in Anglican ways other than anecdotes and books. That being said, I did get some insights. One such insight was the old notion of the English parish incumbent, often a highly educated man with a love of a life of prayer and a pronounced pastoral zeal. From a time much longer ago than the Oxford Movement, there was John Wesley whose theology was founded on the riches of the Caroline Divines and Arminianism, very close to many themes found in Orthodox mystical theology. I have always noticed the collusion between the English movement and the equally Romantic struggle of French Catholicism to rise from the ashes of the Revolution. There was the Solesmes monastic revival and its effect on many of the parish clergy. The Abbey of Fontgombault still fulfils that role today with many parish clergy. Some of them are monastic oblates. This, I feel, is where we are going to find the essential of Anglican Patrimony, not in liturgical revival, even the Use of Sarum – but learning, spirituality and pastoral closeness to the people in the parish. A few have understood that, but very few. I understand the underpinnings of Anglican Papalism, which essentially consists of looking to the Church of Rome as the source and centre of the Church’s unity. This is an idea that is very pronounced in the great work of Vladimir Soloviev, Russia and the Universal Church among others. There is a high view of the constitution Pastor Aeternus of Vatican I, that sets the “inopportune” but thankfully moderated teaching on Papal infallibility in the context of the Church. Even in that teaching, the Pope has no rights over the Church; he is Pope because he is the Bishop of the Church of Rome. It is an interesting perspective that needs study. Anglican Papalism led to a very Tridentine and then Novus Ordo liturgical style because it emphasised obedience to the currently approved rites of the Roman Church. However, the churches retained the unique English style as opposed to the nineteenth-century fantasies of questionable taste of France, which found their way into England and Ireland. One such example of this kind of church is All Saints in Twickenham. The combination of the bold English gothic of the Arts & Crafts era and the altar with the Big Six is striking. It works. It is English. It is Anglican, but also implies that yearning for the visible unity of the Church. It is endearing. All the same, I find the lavish Christmas decorations a little over the top. The Catholic revival in the Church of English and the Roman Catholic Church in France has a common progenitor – Romanticism and the yearning for the “pre-rational”, something that preceded the tired-out Renaissance and hyper-rationalist culture. Some of the Romantic churchmen of England and France had a penchant towards monastic sobriety and profound spirituality through the prayer of the Office. This element persisted in Anglicanism long after it shrivelled away in post-Tridentine Catholicism as the old popular devotions were refined and promoted. The great French theologian Louis Bouyer has understood this fact about the Anglican Office of Mattins and Evensong in our cathedrals and parish churches. It does more to involve the ordinary folk than any number of “management” schemes. I discuss this element from a point of view that is less enthusiastic about Anglican Papalism (only a tiny proportion of it joined the Ordinariate). I have latched onto the theme of Romanticism and that particular nineteenth-century perspective of medieval aesthetics and spiritual aspiration. This view is not very historical, but somewhat “creative”. After my own experience with extremely high-church (or dare I say “high-camp”) expressions in my old seminary, my taste has moved towards simplicity and sobriety, the spirit of Arts & Crafts, the Pre-Raphaelites and the monastic ethos. Perhaps my experience at Triors Abbey manifested something a little too plain, in the way I was criticised for playing Herbert Howells on the Hill organ I had installed for them when a more “recollected” style might have been more appropriate. Again, it isn’t about liturgical trappings or merely cultural considerations. It is essential to be well educated, not only to defend the Faith, but to enter into dialogue with the world. Our Anglican vision was always broader and more inclined to follow good principles of fair debate rather than the scholastic way of proving everything and silencing objections. It is very subtle. The next thing is the monastic influence in our love of the Office. Finally, there is the pastoral dimension that I have only seen equalled by French country priests like I have known in Normandy and the Sarthe. The spirit of the great slum priests of London and many northern industrial cities is not dead, and it remains in the Forward in Faith parishes under special episcopal provisions to respect the consciences of those opposed on theological grounds to the attempted ordination of women. Though we in the ACC are critical to such an approach, its existence in the Church of England is little short of a miracle! I finally come to the latest article on my former Archbishop, who seems to be attempting a comeback. Abp Hepworth At St Mary Of The Angels, January 6, 2017. I anticipate another triumphal article from that source about the Mass he would have celebrated in Hollywood today on the Sunday in the Octave of the Epiphany. John Bruce seems to have expressed himself in a fairly matter-of-fact kind of way as far as he perceives it. Abp Hepworth celebrated Epiphany Day mass at St Mary of the Angels on the evening of January 6, 2017. Several things struck me. One was that this was a genuine pastoral visit — he was not presenting himself as some sort of past Anglo-Catholic celebrity, or perhaps some sort of martyr. He was entirely focused on 2017 and his specific responsibilities as bishop of the parish. He seems to anticipate criticism from people like me and perhaps others. It was always the narrative of some commentators from about 2010-2011 that Archbishop Hepworth would not make it himself for the reasons of his canonical impediments, but that he would “sacrifice” himself to get everyone, or nearly everyone into the embracing arms of Benedict XVI’s Roman Church. The evidence of the past few days refutes that pious narrative. My question is who made him “bishop of the parish”. Since when did Roman Catholic apologists support independent “rogue” or “uncanonical” churches? Another is that he is a big man — about the size of President-Elect Trump, maybe six feet two and hardly emaciated. Another similarity is that his mannerisms and timing command respect. I suspect that, like Trump, he’s easily underrated. This posting is not political, so I will not discuss Mr Trump. I don’t necessarily respect a man because of his physical build but from what I believe to be in his heart and mind, his moral integrity, his having taken responsibility for the events of 2011-2012 (the sex abuse allegations which I am not qualified to discuss). I was interested in what he’d say in his homily. Again, it was a pastoral exercise, and it was about Epiphany. He focused on several parts of the gospel narrative: Herod’s request of the magi that they tell him where the newborn Christ was located, the massacre of the Holy Innocents, and the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt. He made the repeated point that in these times, it’s also become more difficult to be Christian, and it still involves the way of the Cross. He always did preach and talk persuasively. Hepworth clearly has a deep understanding and familiarity with scripture and salvation history, which came out in his homily. He’s also focused on the world as it is. Although some visitors here, and other observers elsewhere, have suggested he’s something of a con artist, I got nothing like that from his visit. Now, who is saying that he is a con artist? I don’t know, but what I do remember of 2011-2012 was that there was a different Ordinariate for every person to whom Archbishop Hepworth sold his plan. His version of his having friends in high places in Rome was not shared by Cardinal Levada. The narrative just did not add up. There were gaping discrepancies, but the man himself had such charm and persuasiveness. I got nothing of the idea of a “con artist” on listening to the Archbishop – only from the cold facts a posteriori. I was devastated like anyone having to be deprogrammed from a cult. I came away with the impression, like that of other correspondents here, that Hepworth is a complex man, but I would add to it that he’s something of a visionary. He saw a potential in the Portsmouth Petition that simply hasn’t been realized. It reminds me of the sense of potential, if not necessarily optimism, that I get whenever I visit the St Mary’s parish. “Complex man”? It’s the least one can say! Visionary? He obviously learned a lot about Anglican Papalism in the Diocese of Ballarat where he became and Anglican from being a cradle Roman Catholic. How much did he really assimilate of Anglicanism and the Anglican Patrimony he coined so many times in his talks, addresses and preaching? He showed a tremendous amount of knowledge, but had he really experienced it? I was present at the Portsmouth College of Bishops meeting in October 2007. We stayed at a very pleasant hotel and were shipped by coach to St Agatha’s church. It certainly was stimulating emotionally and we were told we were participating in something historical. I trusted the Archbishop because nearly all the gathered bishops followed almost in lockstep. I had never seen or experienced such a thing in my life. In 2012 it was all smoke and mirrors, an illusion. Rome did sort something out with the Forward in Faith bishops and let in a number of TAC clergy. John Bruce is quite dissatisfied with the Ordinariates. I have kept away from that world and prefer to be out of it. What was the vision that came unstuck? Now in Hollywood, there is no longer the magic (and unverifiable) number of four hundred thousand faithful and a vast international communion. Paff! Some of the clergy joined the Ordinariates, and the TAC is still there, a shadow of what it was, but now on a par with the ACC and other Continuing Churches. The TAC has moved on and it has a new Primate, Archbishop Shane Janzen in Canada. What is Archbishop Hepworth Archbishop of? Again, nothing adds up in the way of something John Bruce would approve of, something that would add itself to the Ordinariate movement or become a part of the mainstream. I return to the subject of this posting. Anglican Patrimony is something that can be identified more easily by the heart and the head. It’s the same for Orthodox folk. Few non-Orthodox can truly fit into the Orthodox Church when they convert, because it involves more than a simple agreement with the Church’s doctrine. It is the same with converts to Roman Catholicism. My own experience was that I could accept the doctrine and teaching, but not the underlying spirit of unquestioning obedience to authority in one’s most intimate being. I was therefore not a good Roman Catholic and did the best thing by reversing my “swim” of 1981. That made me an apostate as far as they are concerned, but for me, it was a partial homecoming after the Roman traditionalists and then the desert of independent bishops. The idea joins up with the so-called Benedict Option, expression coined by the American writer Rod Dreyer. The future of the western Church is not longer in the old institutions outside the surviving parishes in England and the ones I knew in France (some of them taken over by the Fraternity of St Peter, others closed down) – but in the little communities of folk in those surviving parishes or house communities, or yet the lonely and isolated souls who gather around this blog and others. I have identified the points of hard intellectual work and teaching, monastic spirituality and kindness and nearness to those who approach a priest for whatever reason. These qualities also involve honesty, deep humility, knowledge of self and something very quiet and unassuming. With my experience of life and my probable neurological condition, I have nothing to prove to anyone and no reason to manipulate or change other people to any agenda of mine. That seems to have more of the spirit of Wesley, Keble, Newman or Pusey, the hard-working dons and priests living their quasi-monastic life. This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Archbishop Hepworth, Canterbury Anglicanism, Continuing Anglicanism, Monastic life, Pastoral matters, Reflections, Romanticism, TAC. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Responses to The Elusive Anglican Patrimony Monday, 9 January, 2017 at 1:20 pm I think you have hit a number of nails on the head here Father. One never really escapes one’s upbringing, much as one tries. Like you, I tried during my RC years to be fully RC, and put my Anglicanism behind me. And like you, I could accept all the doctrine and dogma. But there was something else, rather more slippery. An ethos, which was never really mine. I was always a convert. Dr Hepworth went the other way. I wonder if he was always, in his heart, a Roman Catholic? I do not know, as I do not know him. ed pacht says: Sometimes we never fit anywhere. I was brought up a Lutheran and retain a lot of the world-view and thinking style I learned there, but, from a child I was never really comfortable with the ethos. I became a distinctly AngloCatholic Episcopalian, but was always a bit of an outsider. I became a Pentecostal preacher, but was always seen as an eccentric. I am now a Continuing Anglican (ACA/TAC) layman, very much at home, but distinctly a misfit. Perhaps that is as it should be. Christians really do not fit in this world and all the churches (no matter how much they try to make it otherwise), being in part human organizations, do tend to conform in large degree to the world system. It tends to make me a bit uncomfortable when people seem fully comfortable, even in the best of churches. J.D. says: You’re right, there’s a very distinct underlying belief in Roman Catholicism that one must have unquestioning obedience to authority. I found I could fairly easily make sense of most of the dogmas of that communion but I could never understand the Roman Catholics deep love of and devotion to the pope, or to their insistence that such thing as ” magisterium” actually exists. I still don’t. There’s rely a deep and abiding devotion to the man and the Office that guys who came in as converts can perhaps never fully understand. I find myself more Eastern but I also do not feel at home in the often viciously anti Western Orthodox Church, a communion which has zero love or understanding or willingness to understand almost anything of the Western Patrimony. I’m an Easterner at heart, but I also love the Western Patrimony and do not hold it with suspect and derision the way many Orthodox do. Maybe I would have a home in something like the ACC. The closest church in in Jacksonville though, and there’s no way at this point for me to make getting there feasible. No longer naive says: Naively enough, when I joined the Ordinariate I supposed that it would be a home for Anglican patrimony, liturgically and theologically – the opportunity for an exciting revival of stuff like Sarum, and even BCP practices like the use of the 10 commandments in more penitential seasons, regular Morning and Evening Prayer – and also the chance for a new theological and philosophical synthesis incorporating the Romantic influence of Coleridge via Newman & Pusey; putting a fresh historical and doctrinal light on things we weren’t so emotionally attached to… like the papal dogmas etc. One thing that it seems has been made absolutely clear: Anglican liturgical eclecticism is not allowed (e.g. silly things like the three-year lectionary and some absurd features of the modern Roman calendar are mandatory). And blanket uniformity – acquiesced in, bizarrely, and defended by those clergy who once made a virtue out of disobedience for the sake of tradition – is in fact sucking the life and spirit out of a movement hated by most of the RC & C of E hierarchy, and crucially starved of the oxygen of Anglo-Catholicism – its buildings. I have had firsthand experience of petty animosity, unmanly evasion, and an instinctive hatred of the free and easy atmosphere we bring with us as ex-Anglicans… from as high up as the episcopal throne, from those who talk the language of openness and tolerance and squelchy love in their patronising sermons. That the nastier members of the RC hierarchy should try to impose on us the same unreasoning and double-minded subservience that they have imbibed themselves, and therefore wish to visit on newbies, is a sad fact of human nature. But that the Ordinariate should assist in destroying its own liturgical ethos is inexplicable to me: they are not winning any friends by so doing. For myself, I see no way back into mainstream Anglicanism, or onwards into mainstream RCism, and will probably stay put, for the sake of a decent sermon and probably the best English-language liturgy one could hope for as an RC. I withhold my name partly because I don’t want my fellow-worshippers to think that I am contemptuous of them as I don’t think that is right, and partly because I am still personally grateful for a church life and liturgy that many people in the mainstream greet with a huge sense of relief and escape, watered down as I fear it is. There may be an element of cowardice on my part as well, I hope not… but nemo judex in parte sua… Mr Bruce doesn’t think there is such a thing as Anglican patrimony, perhaps because he hasn’t tried to bring it with him tout court into RCism… if he had, he would have discovered, by the opposition he would have faced, some things about this elusive notion. Father, if you had qualified for the Ordinariate through different prior circumstances and ended up joining, you would have been told to stretch yourself over a massive area of Normandy to cover for the lack of priests, and on the first hint that you were doing Sarum or anything remotely outside what had an official stamp of approval from the Vatican, that would have been that. You have taken a shortcut! Fr Anthony Chadwick says: Monday, 9 January, 2017 at 11:54 pm I left the TAC in early 2013. When Archbishop Hepworth was removed by Archbishop Prakash and the other TAC bishops, I was incardinated into the English Diocese of the TAC. I tendered my resignation announcing my intention to join the ACC, and I received a reply affirming that I was leaving on good terms. Such things are very important for me. I needed the distance both from the “old” TAC, the “new” TAC and the Ordinariates. I have not followed Ordinariate news, and have preferred to refrain from judging it in any way. I believe its intentions were pure, both from the point of view of the bishops-monsignori chosen to lead it and the Pope. However, I do read Fr Hunwicke’s blog most days, and his singular and original point of view is appreciated. As I have said in my posting, I understand the underpinning of “Anglo-Papalism” and the support of Fathers like St Ignatius of Antioch. However, I seem to be more culturally in tune with the earlier Tractarian ethos, the plainness and the medievalism, just replacing the 1662 Prayer Book with the Use of Sarum with the Sarum or Monastic Office in English. The Ordinariate was founded on the ethos of Anglican-Papalism and largely excluded “classical Anglicanism” whether with Sarum or the Prayer Book. It is understandable, because trying to replicate “comprehensiveness” would have delayed the Anglicanorum coetibus movement for many years. Archbishop Hepworth’s approach was to tell Rome that “we are Roman Catholics with only a few minor cultural differences”, himself being a Roman Catholic desirous of returning to his Church of origin and being accepted back into the priesthood. In the ACC, we have a fairly Anglican-Papalist style of liturgy and appointment of our churches. My chapel is an exception with its Dearmer-esque layout and fittings. The unity of our Church outweighs small cultural differences which are readily tolerated in this spirit of charity and Christian kindness. I respect the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham in the choices it has made, and I am an outsider. I also appreciate the difficulties of becoming Roman Catholics but at the same time wanting some aloofness from that Church’s mainstream parish life. I don’t envy those priests in the contradictions and difficulties they have to face, including the effect of a “Continuing Church” despite its canonical legitimacy in the Roman Catholic Church. Some priests do help out in mainstream parishes and show a spirit of self-sacrifice. How far can such sacrifice of identity go? Personally, I would have felt stifled had I applied to the Ordinariate and been accepted. I would have done me no good and I would have done them no good. I am too odd and eccentric for mainstream Churches. The ACC and I accepted each other on the basis of “What is written on the label is what is in the jar”. I pray for the visible unity of the Church (the Church cannot be divided sacramentally), but things must be on a level playing field – they are not. I don’t know Mr Bruce, but I would hate to have him in a parish of which I would have the cure of souls. I don’t know what drives him, whether it is bitterness or seeking validation for his conversion by persuading others to do the same. I went to RCism without Anglican patrimony, by going through the traditionalists, a kind of “do what Newman did”. I shut down when I am stifled. It is the way I am. I often wish I could have been a boat builder or a composer rather than a priest, had I lived a different life. I found a little Church to which I can relate and live out my little life as a priest. No one stifles me, and I respect the fact that what I do is through tolerance rather than entitlement or right. Having left the RC Church in about 1998, it would have been dishonest to rejoin it just to be a “kosher” priest whom the faithful in the parishes would accept – but yet be made to conform to everything you mentioned. At one time, I went along with the narrative of Archbishop Hepworth saying that we would all be “amnestied” from our canonical irregularities and “grandfathered” in. No, that was not to happen, and I was and am relieved. Conversion to RCism is not the thing, but work towards preparing all our Churches for visible unity on the mere basis of the doctrine of the Fathers and the Ecumenical Councils. We can’t have our cake and eat it. What do we do? Just the same as the little parish clergy in la France profonde. We get on with our little lives doing what we believe to be right. We accept being of no interest to anyone and living by the inspiration of Blessed Charles de Foucault, the “hard bastard” in the Sahara Desert who did not make one single convert among the local Muslims. He wrote and prayed, and he was elevated to the altars. jimofolym says: Tuesday, 10 January, 2017 at 12:25 am I think Mr. Bruce has a mild case of ‘convertitis’. Don’t worry, it’s not contageous unless you stand too near! I’ve been there several times, mostly in my youth, and now have immunity. Charles de Foucault is one of my heroes. As is Benedict Labre, who slept in the sewers of Rome. This is my personal blog concerning my philosophy of life as a Christian following the Romantic world view. I am a priest in the Anglican Catholic Church – Original Province and live in France. Follow The Blue Flower on WordPress.com O for the Wings of a Dove Limits and Change Macron the Philosopher King? Christopher Cox on Limits and Change Fr Anthony Chadwick on More on Wooden-Leg French Stephen M. 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__label__wiki	0.696574	0.696574	1940 Chris Craft 19ft Custom Runabout “Barrel Back” 1940 Chris Craft 19ft Custom Runabout Barrel Back. The iconic custom runabout, also known as the Barrel Back, was produced from 1939 to 1942, with a total of 433 hulls produced. They represented the highest level of craftsmanship Chris Craft ever offered because it required skilled craftsmen to produce the full half circle transom shape. These boats were the inspiration for Carlo Riva and his legendary Ariston and Aquarama models. This 1940 Custom Barrel Back was fully restored and is in excellent condition. It features the two-piece coverboards and the fold down Bugatti style windshields as used in 1939 and 1940. This 1940 Chris Craft has a west system bottom for “no soaking” usability. Power is by a Chris Craft M engine with 130 hp that was rebuilt in 2016 by Sierra Boat. The rebuilt engine has extremely low hours on it. The deck and hull sides were fully restored in the winter of 2016/2017 by Sierra Boat as well. This 1940 Chris Craft is protected by a custom waterline sunbrella cover that was made in 2016. Don’t miss out on one of the most iconic boats of all time! https://www.woodyboater.com/blog/2015/06/18/thinking-of-buying-a-chris-craft-barrel-back-buy-the-best-or-else/ ID: VIXEN II Builder: Chris Craft Model: Custom Barrel Back Engine: Chris Craft M, 130 hp 1940 Gar Wood 19ft Custom Runabout 1940 Gar Wood 19ft Custom Runabout. Gar Wood Boats’ success was directly tied to owner Garfield Wood’s dominance in winning almost every race he ever entered. His hands-on designs and special engine configurations were considered the leading technology of the era. Gar Wood’s are among the most sought-after and valuable boats on today’s classic wooden boat market. This 1940 Gar Wood Custom Runabout is powered by a Chris Craft 283 V8 with 185 hp. The engine has 234.3 fresh water only hours on it. In 2015 the boat received a brand-new Sierra Boat Co. membrane bottom. The membrane bottom performs and appears like a traditional bottom but requires no soaking. The deck, hull sides and transom varnish are in excellent condition. The upholstery has been meticulously maintained and is original in styling. The boat is protected by a custom full waterline cover. This Gar Wood has been stored and service by Sierra Boat Co. with all the records for many years! For more information about the bottom replacement, please click on this link that takes you to an article and pictures of how the bottom replacement was done. https://sierraboat.com/blog/2016/03/02/roki-ii-1940-19-garwood-bottom-restoration/ https://www.garwood.com/index.php/gar-wood-history/ ID: ROKI II Builder: Gar Wood Model: Custom Runabout Engine: Chris Craft 283 V8, 185 hp 1942 Chris Craft 17ft Deluxe Runabout “Barrel Back” From 1940 to 1942, Chris Craft only produced 425 17ft Chris Craft Deluxe Runabouts or better know as “Barrel Back” runabouts. The iconic “Barrel Back” name comes from the almost perfect semi-circle transom that looks from the rear like a floating barrel when it is in the water. Beautifully appointed, these mahogany-hulled runabouts were built to the highest standards and the graceful lines made them popular with generations of collectors and wooden boat enthusiasts. This 1942 Chris Craft 17ft Deluxe Runabout was found in LA where it was used on fresh water lakes in that area. The original restoration was completed in 2001 and later the boat received new coats of varnish and mirror work at Northwest Classic Boats in Grass Valley, CA. This boat features a no-soak west system bottom for easy use. It is powered by an upgraded Chris Craft KL engine with 121 hp which helps it move along at Lake Tahoe’s high altitude. There is no engine hour meter, but the seller has stated that the engine has less than 200 hours on it. The boat has its original 6V electrical system. This “Barrel Back” has been featured in magazines and books as well as been shown at Nationals, Wood & Glory, and Lake Tahoe’s Concours d’Elegance a number of times where it won third place in the “user” class. Always lovingly cared for by the seller in its custom built, insulated, ventilated, concrete floored boat barn. The boat comes on a 1991 DHL tandem axle trailer with new tires and bearings. This “Barrel Back” at 17ft allows for easy storage and trailering. ID: LAHONTAN Model: Deluxe Runabout “Barrel Back” Engine: Chris Craft KL, 121 hp Trailer: 1991 DHL Tandem Axle Trailer 1952 Chris Craft 27ft Semi Enclosed Cruiser Delivered to a Los Angeles auto dealer in 1952, this 27ft Chris Craft Semi Enclosed Cruiser was moored at Newport Harbor for roughly 40 years. Her primary purpose was to carry her multiple owners to and from Catalina Island. Derelict and in need of a new purpose, she was purchased in 1992 and was completely restored to her original beauty, named Viking, and brought to Lake Tahoe. Her Tahoe debut was at the 1994 Concours where she won 2nd place and the Richard Clark Perpetual Award for Grace, Style and Excellence. She won a 2nd place again in 1995 at the Concours and a 3rd place at the 2003 Concours. In 2001, Viking was honored with the People’s Choice award at the ACBS Tahoe Keys Show and in 2005 was honored with the Kids Choice award. The restoration in 1992 included an epoxy glass bottom and new, Chevrolet V-8 engines. This is a very attractive and practical day-use boat. It has plenty of seating for a large group, plus a sink, stove, and refrigerator. At only 27ft, it is small enough to be trailered but is ideally suited to Lake Tahoe and its rough waters. https://www.chriscraft.com/our-story/timeline/ ID: VIKING Model: Semi Enclosed Cruiser Engine: Twin 350 Chevrolet, 300 hp ea. Trailer: V/M 27’ Tandem 1965 Lyman 21ft Founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1875 and later relocated to Sandusky, Ohio, the Lyman Boat Works is known for building wooden, lapstrake “Clinker-Built” boats with legendary craftsmanship, unsurpassable utility, and steadfast seaworthiness in rough Lake Erie waters. Lyman is one of the few truly great names in American boat building. Lyman Boats quickly established a regional reputation for quality lapstrake boats. The company expanded its model offerings and helped establish the “utility boat” as a favorite among the boating public. Following World War II, Lyman production expanded to more than 4,000 boats a year, giving thousands of Americans years of enjoyment at the helm of a Lyman. This 1965 Lyman was fully restored in 2011/2012 by the famous Lyman restores Androscoggin Wooden Boat Works in Wayne, Maine. Androscoggin Wooden Boat Works specializes in the restorations of Lyman’s so this boat was restored properly with no details overlooked, http://www.androscogginboatworks.com/. All records from the restoration have been saved showing the complete refinish restoration as well as the install of a new PCM 5.7L HO 303 fuel injected engine with 330 hp. The records also show extras such as a custom covers, top rear and side curtains, gold leaf name, dual battery system, etc. The seller has over $75k in the restoration which the condition of the boat reflects. This is a prefect turnkey Lake Tahoe boat that can handle the rough waters and the high-altitude sun! ID: MIMI GIRL Builder: Lyman Engine: PCM 5.7L HO 303, 330 hp 2005 Comitti 25ft Portofino In business since 1956, Comitti is a small company in northern Italy nestled in the foothills beside the beautiful waters of Lake Como. It is the sole remaining Italian shipyard with a modern production facility and a growing business building wooden runabouts. The Italian tradition of fine craftsmanship and classically modern design is evident in each boat. Thanks to the finest materials and traditional construction methods, Comitti runabouts are produced for connoisseurs and represent the pinnacle of Italian boat-building tradition. Founded by Mario Comitti, the company was later managed by Mario’s son Elia, until 2003 when a new management took over the ownership of the yard. In the last 15 years it has introduced several new models. Today, Comitti builds semi-custom 100% wood construction runabouts in two lengths – SANREMO 22’ and PORTOFINO 25’ – plus the VENEZIA wood-fiberglass composite runabouts of 22, 25, 28, 31 and 34 feet. For more information on Comitti Boats, see: www.turnermarinegroup.com This 2005 Comitti 25ft Portofino was delivered new to Lake Tahoe in the summer of 2005. It is being sold by the original owner and has always been stored and maintained by Sierra Boat. Comitti boats, while crafted in wood, are as modern as any fiberglass boat. It features a MerCruiser 6.2L MPI fuel injected V-8 engine mated to a Bravo 3 duo-prop drive, which gives it enhanced maneuverability. The construction is laminated wood and epoxy for exceptional durability. It is finished with a high UV acrylic urethane finish, which is long lasting and can be polished. This boat has been re-spayed with new finish since new. With a style that is typical of Italian boats, the Portofino has a comfortable stern lounge for sunbathing. A built-in stern platform with ladder is ideal for swimming and watersports. ID: ZELDA Builder: Comitti Model: Portofino Engine: MerCruiser 6.2L MPI, 300 hp Price: $125,000.00 2013 Cobalt 232 WSS The WSS model, Water Sports Series, is not your typical Cobalt. With a professionally designed tower, bold color schemes, ballast tanks, drive trim to adjust the wake and much more, this extreme water sports package offers the advantages of a high-end ski/wake board boat with the classic Cobalt lines and signature deep vee hull. Having a boat that can accommodate all of your water sports activities and still be able to handle the rough waters on Tahoe is a true luxury. Wake boarding and skiing enthusiasts have some very specific performance requirements. Tow boats need to be quick on plane, stay on plane at low speeds, and be able to generate a variety of wake shapes. The Cobalt WSS has the quickest time-to-plane in the industry, averaging about four seconds. Plus, a Cobalt’s running surface will hold it on top at speeds where other boats would mush out. For the wake shape, Cobalt’s normal clean wake offers an acceptable skier’s wake but for generating the big waves, Cobalt designers have taken two approaches. One is that these crafts have been treated to a professional-level ballast system. Three tanks, positioned for greatest effect, can be filled, or emptied independently with up to 700 pounds of water. The second, is creating consistency and repeatability for a wake. Cobalt has adopted the Perfect Pass ski boat cruise control and added their own Touch Tech memory system which stores the riders’ preference profiles. A touch of the screen, the tanks fill or empty automatically, and Perfect Pass knows exactly what to do so that you get the perfect personalized wake each time. This 2013 Cobalt 232 WSS came to Sierra Boat in 2017 where it has been serviced and stored since then. The boat is powered by a Volvo Penta 5.7 GXI engine with 315 hp. It has low engine hours and has been meticulously maintained. The boat comes on a 2016 Magic Tilt tandem axle trailer. * Pictures, video, and a more detailed description of the boat will be added in spring 2021 when access to the boat from winter storage is gained * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFYy63D-nvk ID: CF5974KZ Builder: Cobalt Model: 232 WSS Engine: Volvo Penta 5.7 GXI, 315 hp Trailer: 2016 Magic Tilt tandem axle 2014 Chris Craft 28ft Launch Heritage Trim Edition Chris-Craft harkened back to their mahogany roots with the introduction in 2003 of the retro-style 28 Launch, a high-quality bowrider whose meticulous detailing and classic tumblehome stern set her well apart from anything on the market. Today, the Launch 28 is highly sought after for the unmatched performance and design. Built on a deep-V hull with a well-flared bow, this vessel can easily handle rougher waters. The cockpit is notable, not just for its plush Ultraleather seating and custom entertainment center, but for its simplicity and comfort as well. The wider Launch 28 includes generous fore and aft seating, with a double-wide captain’s chair that allows the driver to share the view. This 2014 Chris Craft 28ft Launch was purchased by the seller late in the fall of 2019 from Hideaway Yacht Sales in Michigan where it was a one owner and fresh water only boat. The seller had the boat shipped directly to Sierra Boat where it went into winter storage and was intended to be used in the Spring of 2020. Due to Covid-19 related issues, the seller was not able to use the boat for the 2020 boating season and has decided to list it for sale in the fall of 2020. A survey can be provided that was done for the seller when he purchased the boat in 2019. This 28 Launch is now a two-owner boat, with an extremely low 164.0 engine hours of fresh water only. The boat is powered by Twin 350 MerCruiser MAG engines with 300 hp each. The outdrives are Twin MerCruiser Bravo III and feature Bravo Three stainless steel three blade propellers. Features on this 2014 Chris Craft 28ft Launch include; an electric engine hatch that provides easy access to the engine compartment and bimini top, a stainless steel windshield, a pressure water system and transom shower, refrigerator, a Tecma head system with sink, anti-fouling bottom paint even though it was in fresh water only, battery charger, cockpit and bow covers, windlass stainless steel anchor, LED docking lights, selectable exhaust, stereo system with satellite radio, and much more. The hull paint color is Metallic Cashmere and the interior upholstery is Ivory Cream vinyl. The boat was ordered with the Heritage Trim Edition package with adds teak to the drink holders, cockpit steps, engine hatch walkover, footrests, covering boards, aft grab rails, and swim platform. For a new Chris Craft, equivalent to this 28 Launch, the base price starts at $250,000. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own a fresh water, low hour, like new Chris Craft for the fraction of the cost of a new one! https://www.chriscraft.com/ Model: 28 Launch Engine: Twin 350 MerCruiser MAG, 300 hp ea. 1916 Lawley 37ft Vee Bottom Launch This is a very rare 1916 Lawley 37ft Vee Bottom Launch. Miami is an historical boat that was custom built by Lawley for Carl Fisher. Mr. Fisher was an American Entrepreneur and among many other things the main real estate developer of Miami Beach. Fisher needed a comfortable fast cruiser for his new playground and turned to the Lawley Boat Company to build him his custom boat. Miami was used in Florida and her name is a tribute to that history. Carl Fisher then sold it and shipped it to Michigan where it was used and loved for many years. The Michigan owner knew that a full restoration was due, but the cost prohibited him from proceeding. In 1986, Sierra Boat’s manager Dick Clark was shown Miami during one of his annual boat hunting trips and immediately recognized Miami as a boat worthy of a good home and a proper restoration. Miami arrived at Sierra Boat in 1987 and sat until 1990 when her current owner purchased the boat and set about formulating a restoration plan. The restoration project took the approach that all visible details would be as faithful as possible, but the powerplant and mechanical systems would be modern. Considering its age at the time, Miami was in remarkable shape. The restoration project started with the hull and continued with the cabin and complete deck replacement. The engine was replaced with a Chrysler 440 V8 to give it the performance needed in Lake Tahoe’s altitude. Miami made her first sea trial on Tahoe in the fall of 1995. In the summer of 1996, she was honored with the best professional restoration award at the Tahoe Concours d’Elegance. Miami has been stored and maintained by Sierra Boat since its Tahoe Arrival in 1987. The boat received a brand new cold molded bottom completed in the spring of 2011. All annual maintenance has been kept up with corresponding records. Miami is birthed for the summer months in a slip at Sierra Boat. In 1997, Classic Boating did an extensive article on Miami’s history and her 1990-1995 restoration project. Please see the pictures for the scanned version of the article as it goes into great detail. Miami is truly a one of a kind historical boat that is ready for the next chapter of her life! For the company history of Lawley & Sons, please click on the link: http://classicsailboats.org/george-lawley-son/ ID: MIAMI Builder: Lawley Model: Vee Bottom Launch 1915 Fay & Bowen 27ft Launch 1915 Fay & Bowen Launch. This is an early model, hull number 588. It is a very original boat. The decks are new, but it is believed that the rest of the boat is all original including the bottom. The boat is powered by a very rare original Fay & Bowen model LC-41 with 27 hp. This boat is in fine shape cosmetically and runs well with the original engine. As with all boats of this construction type, butted planks with no battens, it takes weeks to soak up the original bottom. It is due for a new bottom and a buyer needs to be aware that this work should be done prior to use. Comes on a fitted cradle. Price reduced, make offer! ID: GIGI Builder: Fay & Bowen Model: Launch Engine: Fay & Bowen LC-41, 27 hp 1941 Chris Craft 19ft Custom Runabout. The pre-war Chris Craft Custom Runabouts are the most iconic and collectible of all of the vintage runabouts. The 19’ version was built from 1939 to 1942. The vintage boat hobby refers to these boats as barrel backs. This is a hobby term and was never a factory name, the correct model name for the 19’ being a “custom”. In the first two years this model had a more pointed bow and fold down small windshields, often termed Bugatti windshields. For the model year 1941 and later, the hull received a more rounded bow and a four panel, folding windshield. Collectors have their preferences and the style is a matter of taste more than function. In the water they are essentially the same boat. The boat featured here is an older restoration with little use. It was purchased by the current owner at the Tahoe Concours d’Elegance boat show and has primarily been used on Lake Tahoe. A key feature on this boat is a glued West System bottom which is the ultimate bottom for durability. This boat can be dry launched without soaking. It also features a later series M type engine from the late 50’s. The MCL engine makes 175 hp which is 45 hp more than the original 130 hp model M. This means that the boat will really perform, especially in Tahoe’s higher altitude. It also features a 12V electrical system. This is not a Concours boat show winner due to the upgraded West System bottom and engine, but if you want a reliable boat you can really use, this is the one for you! ID: MISS BEVERLY Engine: Chris Craft MCL, 175 hp Trailer: 2008 Instigator Tandem 1938 Chris Craft 19ft Custom Runabout This is the last of the early 19ft Custom runabouts. The model evolved into the barrel back models in 1939 and those boats are based on these earlier models. They were built from 1935 to 1938 and only 328 examples were produced. In my opinion, this model captures the essence of what a classic Chris Craft should look like. It has the appealing vee-shaped windshield and excellent proportions. This is an older restoration but has been used little and is still in very good condition. The engine is a period correct Model “K” engine with 85 hp, but the serial number does not match the one on the hull plaque. The bottom has been replaced but is an original type bottom and will have to be soaked. ID: SIERRA SUNRISE Engine: Model K, 85 hp This 1939 Custom Barrel Back was fully restored in 1994 and was used up until 2005 when it went into storage at Sierra Boat and has not been in service until now. It represents a late 1939 build with two-piece coverboards. Unique to this year is the one-piece instrument panel. This boat has the fold down Bugatti style windshields as used in 1939 and 1940. It has a west system bottom, for no leak usability. Power is by a Chris Craft KFL engine with 130 hp. The upholstery is not period correct but is in good condition. The deck and hull side varnish are in good condition. ID: MI ELEANORA Engine: Chris Craft KFL, 130 hp 1928 Custom Hacker 17ft “Houston Girl” is a 1928 17ft Custom Hacker 151 Class Pelican single step racing hydroplane. This boat is a John Hacker design which ran in the limited 151 cu.in. displacement class in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s, a support class running with the APBA Gold Cup race series. Commodore Henry Faulk of the Houston Yacht Club and President of the Mississippi Valley Power Boat Association had her built. She was campaigned from Havana, Cuba to San Diego, California. The Peerless 151 motor was restored by John Allen of Allen’s Marine Engines. John Allen is considered to be one of the top vintage marine engine restorers on the west coast. But not only did John Allen restore the motor for “Houston Girl”, he completed the restoration of the boat and the original vintage trailer too. This Custom Hacker was completed in 2010 in time for the Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance in June. “Houston Girl” was awarded the Most Unique Boat of Show and Best Hacker Craft of Show at the prestigious 2010 Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance. https://www.woodyboater.com/blog/2010/11/30/houston-girl-a-few-days-in-the-life-of-a-lake-tahoe-show-girl/ ID: HOUSTON GIRL Builder: Hacker Model: Custom Single Step Racing Hydroplane Engine: Peerless 151 Trailer: Custom 1929 Chris Craft 38ft Custom Commuter 1929 Chris Craft 38ft Custom Commuter. The Custom Commuter was Chris Craft’s first cruiser type boat. The Commuter name comes from the use of this type of boat to “commute” from Long Island sound to Manhattan. At the time the only boats available were custom built boats and Chris Craft saw an opportunity to build a production boat to fill the demand. 65 examples were built from hull no. 5001 to no. 5065, most of them built in 1929 before the depression killed the demand. Dat-So-La-Lee is number 15 in the series. This 1929 Chris Craft 38ft Custom Commuter was fully restored in 1991 and has received additional work in later years. Most notably, the bottom was fully replaced with the 5200 style bottom. The engine was changed out to a modern Mercruiser 496, giving the power needed in Lake Tahoe’s altitude. The boat comes with a fully re-built Chris Craft A-120, which was the original engine used before the restoration, but is not the original engine to the boat. The original engines in 1929 were the A-70 engine of a similar design. The boat is very original and still has the correct head with a pull-down pull man style sink. The main modification was the conversion of double bunks to a table and benches. Otherwise, every attempt was made to retain originality throughout using the original factory drawings as a guide. ID: DAT-SO-LA-LEE Model: Custom Commuter Engine: Mercruiser 496 8.1L, 385 hp 0 Responses to "All Boats" Wind: 1mph ENE	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3520
__label__cc	0.687247	0.312753	Exclusive: Why businesses shouldn’t rely on a single cloud vendor Jacques-Pierre (JP) Dumas Recently IT Brief had the opportunity to talk to Ed Jennings, COO of Mimecast about multi-cloud and the cost of downtime. To start off with can you tell me a bit more about yourself and your experience in the industry? I joined Mimecast in August 2015 as Chief Operating Officer where I’m responsible for leading the global marketing, sales and services teams. Prior to Mimecast, I was responsible for delivering the global marketing strategy for cloud-based application security firm Veracode as Chief Marketing Officer. My experience in Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and security, however, started when I was Chief Executive Officer at Copanion, a SaaS workflow solutions provider. I also served as General Manager at ADP where I was responsible for the company’s SaaS-based compliance business. Why do you believe a majority of businesses transitioning to the cloud rely on a single vendor? A majority of businesses do not rely on a single vendor. Most have dozens or hundreds of cloud service providers as part of their IT portfolio. These range from some of the largest cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Office365 to smaller cloud-based service providers. However, when businesses transition from adopting legacy applications to cloud-based applications, securing these applications and data are no longer on-premise, which can be concerning for many organisations. While some security controls exist within the cloud services themselves, it’s critical organisations also work with a specialised cloud security provider to implement independent security services to ensure optimum efficiency and protection is achieved. Organisations should regularly review business functions that are supported by a single vendor or platform and identify those technologies that are business critical. Knowing this enables organisations to build in resilience from a security, service assurance and data assurance perspective for those vital few. What are some of the major issues related to only relying on one vendor? Operational dependency on a single service provider for security, data management, and service resilience creates business risks. It’s inevitable that services will fail from time to time and IT leaders need to ensure they are prepared for it by not outsourcing responsibility to a lone cloud service. When outages occur, they are disruptive, but the consequence are worse when the downtime is caused by a cyber attack. If organisations rely on a single vendor the price tag of downtime – when it occurs – can be expensive. According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is US$5,600 per minute, which adds up to well over US$300,000 per hour. And if you consider that the average downtime Australian organisations experience following a ransomware attack is three days, the financial damage can quickly add up. No organisation should trust a single vendor without an independent cyber resilience and continuity plan to keep connected and prepared during unplanned, and planned, outages. All organisations need to deeply consider the downstream effects of losing a critical service due to technical failure or human error. Loss of critical business services such as email are often underestimated and can have a detrimental impact on productivity levels, customer relationships and business reputation.   How can businesses better prepare themselves for potential cyber breaches and cloud downtime? There has never been a more important time for organisations to seriously consider implementing a cyber resilience strategy to secure all business-critical IT services. Transitioning services from on-premise to the cloud has many economic and operational benefits, however preventing malicious attacks is not one of them. The good news is that the IT operational best practices and security control frameworks that have been in use for years, pre-cloud, apply in the cloud era. The only differences are how these practices and controls are implemented. Third-party cloud providers are well-positioned to provide various types of security controls, backup and recovery, and independent continuity services to help organisations recover from cyber attacks or periods of downtime that impact their cloud-based applications and services. Given the scale, and dedicated security teams of these cloud providers, smaller organisations, or often larger organisations, are able to access greater security and better uptime than what can be realistically achieved on-premise. Resiliency in layers is key to business continuity. Testing and planning regularly will also ensure that when organisations are hit with an outage that the impact of downtime is minimal, and they can be up and running as soon as possible. What would the optimal balance between cloud and security look like for businesses? Organisations should never have to choose between using cloud services or securing applications in the cloud. It’s possible to achieve both. Organisations need to remember when they transition their applications and data to the cloud, they don’t neglect their security posture, instead it’s important they view it as an opportunity to enhance it. Organisations can reinvest the funds they save from moving to the cloud into enhancing their business continuity and disaster recovery plan. Cloudflare launches Data Localisation Suite Palo Alto Networks launches enterprise data loss prevention service Data leakage concerns dominate cloud security perceptions - Bitglass report Zerto launches security solutions for containerised applications ThreatQuotient & Infoblox integrate threat intelligence capabilities Attivo solutions launch on McAfee marketplace Data protection Cloud vendors Interview Mimecast	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3530
__label__wiki	0.840991	0.840991	Facial recognition tech can identify partial images of people Facial recognition technology is getting smarter – we’re now at the point where technology doesn’t even need an entire image of someone to identify them. Global technology firm NEC is exploring that very idea through the development of its ‘Person Re-identification technology’, which essentially matches images of people who are partly obscured from cameras, even when the picture is taken from the side or from behind. NEC’s technology goes one step beyond facial recognition – apparently it can analyse a person’s clothes and body shape to determine whether they match with other images of people. “This technology enables a wide range of people to be recognised, even in places where there are many people or visual obstructions that prevent a person's face or body from being fully seen,” NEC says. Facial recognition technology was conventionally flawed because it could not fully identify people who were surrounded by objects such as chairs, or other people that hindered matching efforts. But now people who aren’t fully visible to a camera can be matched to an image. Apparently NEC’s highest matching rate was as high as 90% when it tested its tech in-house against public databases. With identification technology moving ‘below the neck’ as it were, it opens up entirely new avenues for security monitoring in large areas like airports. NEC even suggests that it could also help in the search for lost children. “Matching is possible with images taken from behind or from the side. Effective use of deep learning techniques can match people from numerous angles, such as from behind or from the side, and shot with multiple cameras. As a result, this technology can effectively match people using camera images where the face is not visible,” NEC says. Behind the scenes, the technology is powered by a facial recognition AI engine and an advanced video analyser. While NEC’s technology is still in development, it marks another step forward for facial recognition and biometrics that may soon be able to identify anyone, anywhere. Facial recognition control solution hits A/NZ COVID-19 crushes fingerprint reader market Petone identity management firm JNCTN partners with NEC NZ D-Link brings thermal scan/facial recognition camera to A/NZ Concerns over hygiene sends biometric device revenue spiralling NEC announces partnership with Cisco amid increasing cyber threats Biometrics Facial recognition NEC	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3531
__label__cc	0.53903	0.46097	My Legislation Bertino-Tarrant’s legislation making college more affordable for veterans becomes law Published: Monday, August 10, 2015 08:36 AM SPRINGFIELD— A new law was signed last Friday that will allow veterans attending Illinois colleges and universities to qualify for instate tuition rates. “Those who serve our nation deserve our utmost respect,” said Bertino-Tarrant, Senate sponsor of HB3692. “This law will make college more affordable for student veterans who have made significant contributions to our nation.” The law applies to veterans attending college through the Pre-9/11 G.I. Bill. Last year, Illinois allowed veterans using the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to qualify for in-state tuition. Bertino-Tarrant simply wanted to make sure all veterans utilizing a G.I. Bill program would qualify for in-state tuition. Since being signed into law by President Roosevelt in 1944, the G.I. Bill has helped millions of veterans pay for college and readjust to civilian life after completing military service. HB3692 is effective immediately. Senator Bertino-Tarrant to hold satellite office hours in Oswego Published: Friday, August 07, 2015 10:10 AM OSWEGO— State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) continues to hold satellite hours throughout the area this summer. The next satellite office event will be in Oswego in August. The Oswego satellite office event will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 20, at the Oswego Village Hall (100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, Illinois 60543). “My staff and I look forward to having satellite office hours so that community members can meet us at a location that is more convenient for them,” Bertino-Tarrant said. Area residents are welcome to attend satellite office hours to discuss state government and community concerns. Many services will also be provided. Residents can receive assistance with FOID card applications, food stamp issuance, health care, veteran or disability issues, Medicare paperwork, foreclosure prevention assistance and much more. Oswego Satellite Office Hours Date: Thursday, August 20 Time: 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Location: Oswego Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill, Oswego, Illinois 60543 Senator Bertino-Tarrant votes to freeze property taxes Published: Thursday, August 06, 2015 10:50 AM SPRINGFIELD-- Homeowners could see meaningful relief under a proposed two-year property tax freeze that State Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) supported in the Illinois Senate. “As I talk to residents in our district, their number one concern is controlling rising property tax bills. I voted to offer them relief,” Bertino-Tarrant said. Senate Bill 318, passed by the Illinois Senate this week with a vote of 37-1-18, will provide relief for Illinois homeowners by freezing property taxes for two years. “We need to do what we can to help working families and seniors find additional savings,” Bertino-Tarrant said. It passed the Senate with Bertino-Tarrant’s support this week and now moves to the Illinois House for consideration. Bertino-Tarrant wants more compassion in the court room for children and the disabled Published: Friday, July 24, 2015 03:35 PM SPRINGFIELD— A new law has been signed that will allow children with a severe or intellectual disability to have a “comfort canine” in the court room to help relieve the stress of testifying in sexual assault cases. Senator Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant (D-Shorewood) co-sponsored the measure in the Illinois Senate. “Having dogs in the court room is one way we can help victims cope with the stress of confronting their attacker and providing testimony,” Bertino-Tarrant said. Authorized dogs would be required to go through training and be evaluated as registered members of Assistance Dogs International. “Our Will County State’s Attorney, Jim Glasgow, has already initiated similar therapeutic use of dogs outside the courtroom,” Bertino-Tarrant said. “It has been very successful. This law broadens its effectiveness.” When deciding whether or not to allow a child or person to testify with the assistance of a dog, the court must consider the age of the child or person, the rights of the parties to litigation and any other relevant factor that would facilitate testimony. Senate Bill 1389 takes effect January 1, 2016. Bertino-Tarrant’s caffeine powder ban signed into law Legislation improving student teacher background checks signed into law Senator Bertino-Tarrant to hold satellite office hours in Joliet Senator Bertino-Tarrant and Representative Manley to hold pet fair in Shorewood 119 B Capitol Building 15300 Rt. 59 Unit 202 Individual Event Flyers Blood Drive Flyer Session Information / Caucus News Copyright - Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus - 2020	cc/2021-04/en_middle_0020.json.gz/line3533

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