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Mei Renjoji Creates Rose Guns Days Prologue Manga
Published by カリス on February 8, 2013 February 8, 2013
Ro se Guns Days is a visual novel which follows a branching plot line, depending on the decisions of the player during the fame. The plot progress in the unique direction as the user intends to, giving multiple options. This also allows users to enjoy minigames during the battle sequence, although it does not actually influence the progression.
Rose Guns Days is created by 07th Expansion, with scenarios and character designs created by other collaborative artists. So far, the story has already three manga adaptations published by Kodansha and Square Enix. However, this time, a new concept to the story will be added at the arrival of its prologue issue: Rose Guns Days Gaiden.
In the March issue of the Kodansha Monthly Shounen Sirius magazine, there has been an announcement that 07th Expansion and artist Mei Renjoji will produce a prologue manga series for the Rose Guns Days game. The story is slated for the June issue of the magazine, to be released on April 26.
07th Expansion, creator of the game, has written the plot to take place in Japan after the World War II. During the devastating defeat, the Japanese government has to comply with the reconstruction plan made by the Allies. Japan starts to recover from its loss after a few years, but two strongholds, America and China, divides control of the nation on many levels. Immigrants make the locals a minority in their own nation.
Rose Haibara, a girl who works at the Primavera club, lends money to the Japanese people to help them rebuild their lives. However, some people are taking advantage of her kindness. On the other hand, Leo Shishigami is known for his reputation of being a womanizer. Their lives change as they encounter each other in the spring of 1947.
Rose Guns Days Gaiden is set on an earlier year, following the lives of Rose and a group termed as “women of the night” after the war.
Categories: Manga
An avid doodler, writer, and a big Japanese Culture fan, I write about nifty new releases of animated movies, manga-turned-live-action, surprising anime news, amazing art exhibits, and everything else. I translate interesting updates, and abuse the word すごい！
Mention me on Twitter: @hellocaris
Lets Be Friends :-)
Hatsune Miku Cosplay Tutorial: Step-By-Step
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Boa Hancock Cosplay Tutorial (One Piece): Step-By-Step
Hiko Seijuro Joins In Rurouni Kenshin Cast In The Legends Ends Poster
Cosplay Mania ’14 Evolution Ready To Take Off To Greater Heights
Mahou Shoujo Ore – Because Magical Girls Are Too Mainstream
Magical girls (魔法少女) have already staked their claim on the anime/manga genres with Sailor Moon (セーラームーン) from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (美少女戦士セーラームーン), Sakura Kinomoto (木之本 さくら) from Card Captor Sakura (カードキャプターさくら) and Madoka Kaname (鹿目 Read more…
Fushigi Yuugi Creator Plans To Resume Arata The Legend This Year
Yuu Watase (渡瀬 悠宇), the name behind the legendary series Fushigi Yuugi (ふしぎ遊戯) and Ayashi No Ceres (妖しのセレ), has made an announced via her personal blog last July 5 that she will be resuming her Read more…
Talented 17-Year-Old Manga Artist Gets Work Published
June 3, 2014 was a big day for Narumi Hasegaki (長谷垣 なるみ) as Tonegawa Ririka’s Laboratory (利根川りりかの実験室) was published in Kodansha’s (株式会社講談社) monthly shojo manga magazine, Nakayoshi (なかよし). Tonegawa Ririka’s Laboratory is the manga she Read more…
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All-Time Series Record
Lady Lions Outlast Wilson College in Overtime
Middletown, PA — The Lady Lions of Penn State Harrisburg used a strong second half performance and great play off the bench to win a thrilling game against Wilson College, 61-54, Wednesday night at the Capital Union Building. With this North Eastern Athletic Conference victory it improves Penn State Harrisburg's record to 2-13 in the NEAC and 4-19 overall. The loss drops The Phoenix of Wilson College to 0-15 in the NEAC and 0-23 overall.
For most of the first half Wilson College controlled the play and their tough defense caused the Lady Lions to struggle to bring their game together. The proof was seen in holding the Lady Lions to just 17 points and 23% shooting in the first half. Despite finding points hard to come by the ladies of Penn State Harrisburg didn't get down and played great defense as well. This helped them stay in the game during the first half and eventually overtake Wilson College in the second half. The Blue and White made a late run in the first half to close the gap to just 24-17 by scoring the final four points.
The late run, it helped the Lady Lions start off very strong in the second half. They built off of their 4 unanswered baskets to end the first half and went on a 7-0 start for the second half. Krystal Miranda's (Bound Brook, NJ/Bound Brook) three pointer tied the game at 24 to cap off the 11-0 run with 17:50 left in regulation. The rest of the second half was back and forth with neither team jumping to anything more then a three or four point lead. Both teams made clutch baskets and sunk foul shots that either tied the game or gave their team the lead. Penn State Harrisburg had a two point lead late in the game with Sarah Engelsman making both her foul shots it tied the game at 48-48, and that is where the scoring ended in regulation.
The Lady Lions dominated the overtime period outscoring Wilson College 13-6. The Phoenix actually scored the first two points of the extra session, but Sandra Adames' (Pontiac, MI/Pontiac Northern) three point play with just under four minutes quickly gave Penn State Harrisburg the lead back. After Dana Bennett's turn around jumper Wilson College took the lead again, it was Katie Hollinger's (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) three pointer on the following possession that finally finished The Phoenix off.
The Lady Lions were led in scoring by Miranda with her 17 points. Close behind was Adames who had 16 points and 15 rebounds. Also, it's key to note that Penn State Harrisburg outscored Wilson College 17-0 off the bench, and a lot of that was thanks to Brooke Conjar's Steelton, PA/Steel High) 10 points, all of which came in the second half and overtime. Wilson College was led by Alaina Hofer's 18 points and 12 rebounds. Dana Bennett had 14 points and 10 rebounds also for Wilson College.
Penn State Harrisburg's final game of the 2007-2008 season is this Sunday against D'Youville at the Capital Union Building at 1pm.
Tue, 02/25 | Women's Basketball at Penn St.-Berks L, 103-64 (Final) RC
Sat, 02/22 | Women's Basketball at Morrisville St. L, 102-70 (Final) RC | BX | V
Fri, 02/21 | Women's Basketball at Cazenovia W, 76-73 (Final) RC | BX | V
Tue, 02/18 | Women's Basketball at Penn St.-Berks L, 86-83 (Final - OT) RC
Sat, 02/15 | Women's Basketball vs. Keuka W, 63-58 (Final) RC | BX | V
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India, on the way to Mars. Good.
India has successfully launched a spacecraft to the Red Planet - with the aim of becoming the fourth space agency to reach Mars.
The Mars Orbiter Mission took off at 09:08 GMT from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on the country's east coast.
The head of India's space agency told the BBC the mission would demonstrate the technological capability to reach Mars orbit and carry out experiments.
The spacecraft is set to travel for 300 days, reaching Mars orbit in 2014.
- bbc
Great! India is finally taking on the west in the latter’s game. But in running head to head with an upstart, don't forget your own unique soul. Winning is not upstaging a competitor, but in being all that you can be at your own game despite the competitor not bothering about it.
And as for those in the west who condemn India for not bothering about a fair bit of its impoverished population, well, the Indians don't have the benefit of colonising other states and ripping them off so that they can afford to journey to Mars and take care of their population.
This 'oversight' just bespeaks a subconscious tendency amongst the western masses to keep the non-white 'coolie' in her/his 'proper place' - like they did when they flung two atom bombs at the Japanese not too long ago for ousting the western overlord in his own game. So what they are actually saying is, 'You should just focus on taking care of your population and leave the advances to us' - whilst conveniently forgetting that much of their 'advances' were funded by colonised states and continuing exploitation of the non-western netherworld.
Western opposition to India’s space programme is not unlike a man in the patriarchal past who thinks his home-confined wife should just use his income to pretty herself or take care of household expenses instead of going on self-advancing courses.
Westerners do not oppose as much when it is their own state that is sending missions to Mars as it is their 'place' to do what others are not expected to. Or even when they do oppose their government's efforts to engage in such extra-terrestrial missions, it is because they feel that they have nothing to gain culturally over others as they have already won their 'superiority' during colonial times to the present.
Hence, that is why many constantly go on about the ‘aid‘ is sent to India and how India should take care of its population. Western opposition to India’s space programme is not unlike a man in the patriarchal past who thinks his home-confined wife should just use his income to pretty herself or take care of household expenses instead of going on self-advancing courses.
Without the Indians, almost the whole of s.e.Asia will fall under the fascist influence of the Chinese and the west will find it quite difficult to contend with such a numerous economic force marching under the same 'central land' banner. India will be the counterbalance. And hence, India has to rise.
It is a bit of a dillemma for myself, but to only focus on the population is to be perpetually subservient to the western overlord. Perhaps this step might do much addressing that, and to the benefit of their impoverished sector as well. India is doing quite well, despite being royally ripped off (pun intended) for more than a hundred years by the west.
It will also help counter and temper the temperament of the fascist and belligerent 'middle-kingdom'-minded Chinese in s.e.Asia as well. That will be in the interests of the west as it will counterbalance growing Chinese power in the region which will most certainly have knock-on effects on the west which no Charles Martell can deliver them from. Without the Indians, almost the whole of s.e.Asia will fall under the fascist influence of the Chinese and the west will find it quite difficult to contend with such a numerous economic force marching under the same 'central land' banner. India will be the counterbalance. And hence, India has to rise.
there should be more efforts to bring about a more egalitarian society in India lest whatever benefits that India reaps will still be a harvest of meagre proportions for the impoverished populace. Yes, the poor may reap more rewards because of the rise of India, but that just serves to justify the inequitable status quo in perpetuity and present the system as something that works as opposed to a system that works badly and inequitably.
That said, there should be more efforts to bring about a more egalitarian society in India lest whatever benefits that India reaps will still be a harvest of meagre proportions for the impoverished populace. Yes, the poor may reap more rewards because of the rise of India, but that just serves to justify the inequitable status quo in perpetuity and present the system as something that works as opposed to a system that works badly and inequitably.
With that in mind and trajectory,
Jai Hind!
Labels: India
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Cape Winelands FM
Your Best Infotainment station...
Winelands TV
info@capewinelandsfm.co.za
Let's Chat:
on www.capewinelandsfm.co.za
Cape Winelands FM is a community radio station currently broadcasting online. Cape Winelands FM is community based radio station currently broadcast local content 24 hours to the community of Stellenbosch and surrounding towns and to the world via audiostreaming. Cape Winelands FM is a registered community radio station (Reg. No: 215-423 NPO) broadcasting from South Africa to the world. We are rooted in volunteerism and diversity. We exist through the support of the communities we serve. We are for the community, by the community.
To produce creative and engaging programming for communities whose voices are underrepresented in the mainstream media.
A cooperative society rooted in values where media operate in the interests of people and where creativity flourishes.
Target audiance
As a community radio station, the broadcasting format carries 70% music and 30% talk. The music will feature a variety of urban genres in R&B, Soul, Afro-pop, Afro-Soul, Hip-hop, Kwaito, and House, and also cater for Jazz and Gospel lovers and what Cape Winelands FM describes as urban jazz and urban gospel. Peoples of all ages will each find that they have been included in the station’s broadcasts. Cape Winelands FM will broadcast in English 40%, IsiXhosa 30% and Afrikaans 30%, Cape Winelands FM will broadcasts 24 hours throughout Stellenbosch with more transmitters covering the main towns and areas surrounding them, also available nationally and internationally by streaming audio over the Internet.
© 2019 Cape Winelands FM
Powered by Mbhashe Online Media: www.mbhasheonline.co.za |081 335 3343 |Mfuras Mfondini
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Sam Polansky Obituary
Sam Polansky
of Sam's Passing
Sam Polansky, 91, of Avon, beloved husband of the late Meta (Bromberg) Polansky, passed away, Saturday, May 29, 2016. Born in NY, NY, son of the late Abraham and Sadie (Simmons) Polansky, he was raised there and served in the US Army during W.W. II, entering right after high school. He served in Ardennes, Central Europe, and Rhinland and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. After his discharge in 1946, he was employed by United Merchants for 20 years before starting his own company ESS-PEE Textile Company, which he operated until his retirement in 2006. He and his wife lived in New Canaan for 23 years moving to Avon 20 years ago. Sam loved to travel both for his work and personally but most of all he loved spending time with his family. He leaves two daughters Laura Radocy (Craig) of Canton and Susan Polansky of Danbury; grandchildren Mark and Morgan Radocy; Jimmy Alexander, and Sara Zandri; two great grandchildren Sam and Amy Alexander; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his wife Meta he was predeceased by a son Jacob, daughter Amy, brother Murray, and sisters Celia, Rose, and Trudy. A graveside service will be held Friday, June 3, 2016, 11 am at New Montefiore Cemetery, Pinelawn, LI, NY. His family will receive friends at Laura and Craig's home, 11 Thompson Hill Road, Canton, from 5-8 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2016. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Memory of Sam Polansky, to the UCONN Foundation, 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269, for Nursing Scholarship Funds or a charity of the donor's choice that benefits our veterans. The Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center of Avon is caring for the arrangements.
Home of Laura and Craig Radocy
11 Thompson Hill Road
Home of Laura and Craig Radocy, 11 Thompson Hill Road, Canton, CT 06019 Visitation for Sam Polansky https://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Sam-Polansky-103617597#services https://www.tributes.com/obituary/get_ics/103617597?service=3318423&tr=
New Montefiore Cemetery
Pinelawn, NY
New Montefiore Cemetery, Pinelawn, NY Funeral Service for Sam Polansky https://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/Sam-Polansky-103617597#services https://www.tributes.com/obituary/get_ics/103617597?service=3318424&tr=
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Office Concerts
Vision News Network
From “The Voice” to Belmont: Gracee Shriver reflects on her past, future in the music industry
Posted by Belmont Vision
Having already fulfilled her dreams of being a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” freshman Gracee Shriver is fulfilling another dream of hers — going to college in Nashville, Tennessee.
As a 16-year-old contestant on the competition show’s 17th season, the Oklahoma native worked with acclaimed artists such as country musician Blake Shelton and Taylor Swift, who Shriver said was a personal role model.
On the show, Shriver impressed the coaches and audience with performances of songs “Leave The Pieces” and “American Honey,” making it to the show’s live top 20 eliminations out of 48 contestants.
The experience she gained by being around so many different musicians made her time on the show special to her and gave her clarity as to what she wanted to do with her musical career, she said.
Shriver said “the exposure … to that side of the industry made me want to do it even more.”
And since her time on “The Voice,” she has already begun a successful solo music career, having commercially released three singles: “Innocent,” “Meant To Be” and “Game Over.”
Writing these songs, Shriver said, has proven a meaningful outlet for her.
Shriver said while she is a country singer at heart, she wants to subvert norms and stand out against her country contemporaries.
“I always wanted to be different than everybody else,” said Shriver of her music.
At Belmont, Shriver is pursuing a degree in music business.
Shriver said she hopes to learn more about a side of the industry “The Voice” didn’t introduce her to — as well as to create more music.
And despite the way COVID-19 has disrupted that goal, Shriver said she remains optimistic about the college years ahead of her — and encouraged other artists to keep creating during the pandemic.
“You can definitely still post covers — and writing songs, you can do that from anywhere. So I would encourage that, and social media as well, reaching out to people.”
Ultimately, Shriver looks forward to her next four years at Belmont.
“I’m really excited for this chapter and all of the connections I’m going to make.”
This article written by Maddie Buchman.
Would you be interested in receiving important Belmont news via email?
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Students celebrate Valentine’s Day by helping homeless
Country comes easy for Belmont senior
Garth Brooks makes guest appearance at Homecoming in the Round
Sweet shopping at Local Honey
How Judy Fisher helped Belmont blossom https://t.co/xUnuxGvAID https://t.co/BjYtbuM0yQ
Recap: Belmont women's basketball snaps home win streak in loss to Murray State Racers https://t.co/FTFoPfKBdT https://t.co/KS5CwEmTHe
SGA welcomes new leaders, prepares to ramp up student engagement https://t.co/HVz6xxm7UO https://t.co/nodREgYLMM
Follow @belmontvision
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... where imagination trumps reality
Invasion of Japan
Japan ‘46 GB
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Brian Perri
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Beyond The Sprues »
Modelling »
Ideas & Inspiration »
Engineering Dept. »
Medium Air Tanker concept
Author Topic: Medium Air Tanker concept (Read 2285 times)
Patterns? What patterns?
Okay, this might be more of a 'scenario' but I've posted it here because I'm looking for more of a engineering critique.
In a nutshell (spoiler alert!), the concept is to revive the concept of land-based Medium Air Tankers (MATs) using the growing number of now-redundant early-model Dash 8 regional airliners. The idea is to use greater numbers of landing-based MATs capable of operating out of rural airstrips close to the action.
My sense is that the size of air tankers is being driven up, in part, by budgetary considerations - ie: if firefighting agencies lease small numbers of Large Air Tankers, it makes it more difficult for Government to cut their operational budgets.
A second component of the proposal is finding 'gainful employment' for these Medium Air Tankers outside of fire season. Surplus early-model Dash 8s are already being converted into cargo carriers. That seems a nature fit for work during the off-season.
The point of that 'extracurricular employment' is making the concept more fiscally palatable to both Government and wildfire response agencies. In this scheme for a Common Medium Air Transport, the agencies of Australia, Western Canada, and the Western US would be able to share interchangeable retardant tanks and ancillary air tank gear during their local fire seasons (although I'm aware that the respective fire seasons are beginning to merge).
I am hoping that this just might turn into an actual RW proposal. So, if you see any holes in the concept, let 'er rip!
Oversight of Firebombing in Australia - Fixed-Wing Air Tankers
For those who aren't familiar, waterbombers in Oz fall under the umbrella of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) but it is the Governments of each Australian State and Territory which is directly responsible for fighting bushfires. As NAFC puts it, "the aim is to facilitate resource sharing and cooperation between agencies across the country."
Up here in the Great White North, there is a similar arrangement through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre in Winnipeg. As with NAFC, CIFFC began with a mandate primarily concerned with coordinating equipment-sharing among local wildfire firefighting organizations in Canada. The dissemination of fire management information naturally followed. And then, in common with any centralized bureaucracy, the dictating of 'standards' inevitably begins. This could be helpful but such organizations drop into following the latest in bureaucratic fads.
What if the bureaucracy is just wrong? According to NAFC: "Fixed-wing aircraft that are used for firebombing tend to be of the larger agricultural-style, specially modified for firebombing. These aircraft are sometimes referred to as SEATs (Single-Engined Air Tankers).
This type of aircraft particularly suits the conditions most often encountered in Australia where there are relatively few long paved runways, but plenty of agricultural airstrips." One follow-on sentence covers all other classed of air tanker, saying: "Larger fixed-wing aircraft have been used where appropriate and cost-effective." Really?
"Rum: Opinion is divided on the subject." - or Size Matters
That NSW just bought a 737 Fireliner suggests that the NAFC conclusion is far from universally accepted. A quick scan of the Aussie press and social media posts, reveals a lively debate about the appropriate size of fixed-wing air tankers for Australia. In the last federal election, the Labor Party advocated buying "six Large or Very Large Air Tankers". No aircraft types were mentioned but NSW refers to its Coulson 737 conversion as a Large Air Tanker (LAT) whereas 10 Tanker's borrowed DC-10s are considered Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT). Both are impressive - the LAT carrying more than 15,000 litres of retardant, the VLAT having more than twice that capacity at just over 35,500 litres. Indeed, one drop by a DC-10 Air Tanker is said to be "equivalent to 12 drops" by a propeller-driven Firecat. And that's the part that has me wondering about an air tanker category which is altogether missing in this debate.
What about the Medium Air Tanker category? In a 03 January 2020 radio interview, former NSW Fire Commissioner, Greg Mullins, said "... large aircraft don't put out fires ... if you had 20 to 30 of these medium-sized aircraft, that have rapid turn-around, you could make a material difference ...". Mullins' point about large aircraft is true of all air tankers. The purpose of firebombing is to "give firefighters on the ground an edge". The medium-sized aircraft Mullins refers to are the Canadair and Bombardier 415 'Superscooper' flying boats. But there is also a case to be made for land-based Medium Air Tanker.
Australia uses US aerial firefighting terminology and classifications. Under the latter, a mid-sized or Medium Air Tanker is classed as one capable of carrying 2,000-to-3,000 US gallons (7,500-to-11,500 litres) of fire retardant or water. So, what ever happened to the medium air tanker category? It seems to have been overshadowed by those smaller SEATs. A typical small air tanker - the AT-802F - carries 3,104 litres (the float-fitted Fire Boss is reduced to 3.028L). That compares well with typical old-school medium air tanker - the Conair Turbo Firecat conversion which could only carry 3,296L despite having almost twice the power. [1] According to Conair Group, the natural replacement for their old Firecat series is the Q400-MR. [2] France decided to bite and their Securite Civile now fields Q400-MRs to replace its Turbo Firecats. [3]
So, an airframe with a wing area of 64.00 m² instead of 45.06 m²; twin 5,071 shp turboprops instead of 1,220 shp; and an empty weight of 39,284 lbs/17,819 kg instead of 15,000 lbs/6,803 kg. I get it, Conair had to work with Bombardier and Bombardier was pushing its then-current production Q400 airframe (and offering a trade-in programme for older Q400s had obvious benefits for new Bombardier production). Fortunately, Bombardier has since pulled itself out of the equation. [4] I'm thinking that this may free up another airframe which Bombardier wanted to downplay.
The Conair/Cascade Q400-MR air tanker can carry 10,000 liters of retardant. It earns its 'Multi-Role' suffix by being about to revert to a passenger- (or cargo-) carrying role in a few hours. Of course, that long Q400-MR fuselage is mainly empty while firefighting. In other words, while acting as an air tanker, the Q400 airframe represents a lot of dead. That wouldn't be the case were air tanker conversions based upon the earlier-model Dash 8 airframes - what Bombardier redubbed the Q100 and Q200. [5] Those earlier Dash 8 fuselages are 10.26 metres shorter than the Q400. Eliminating added-on fuselage sections reduces airframe empty weight by 6,700 kg. [6]
(Caption: The sideview, below, shows a Securite Civile Q400-MR dropping water. The inset is to help give a better sense of the 'extra' airframe for the stretched Q400 series.)
(To be continued ...)
[1] The AT-802F has a 1,350 shp PT6A-67AG, the Fire Boss a 1,600 shp PT6A-67F. The Conair Turbo Firecat needed two 1,220 shp PT6A-67AFs to carry a similar load.
[2] The actual Q400-MR conversions were performed by a former Conair division - Cascade Aerospace (bought by IMP in 2012). As a result, Conair's Q400-MR is closely related to the Cascade Aerospace Q400-PF (Package Freighter) conversion.
[3] The 'FireGuard' package (retardant tank and associated plumbing) can be removed from the Q400-MR in a few hours. This is to allow the Securite Civile to employ its aircraft as passenger carriers in the off-season.
[4] Bombardier sold the rights for the Q400 to Longview/Viking in November 2018. Back in May of 2009, Bombardier had ended Q200 and Q300 production (which will not be revived in production, DH/Viking said in December 2019).
[5] Q100 and Q200 were marketing names, the proper designations remain DHC-8-100 and DHC-8-200 series. Simplified ICAO codes are DH4A and DH4B (with DH4C and DH4D being the longer Q300 and Q400, respectively). CASA sometimes just refers to these aircraft as an '8Q'.
[6] The airframe empty weight difference is based on 17,819 kg for the base Q400 versus 10,477 kg for the Q100/Q200 less the ~635 kg difference in dry weight between a of pair of PW123 and PW150A turboprops.
"... blac to gebeddan; bleda gedreosaþ, wynna gewitaþ, wera geswicaþ"
Re: Medium Air Tanker concept
Common Medium Air Tanker - "... extracting happiness from common things"
All air tankers face the same 'business-model' conundrum - what to do in the off-season? An obvious answer is find other gainful employment. The Securite Civile Q400-MRs are used as agency transports outside of fire season. Meanwhile, the dismounted 'bulges' go into storage until next year. That's fine for agencies with enough transport work (and the wherewithal) but the retardant tanks sit idle while wildfires burn in the Southern Hemisphere. That need not be the case.
Large Air Tankers are already shared between Australia, Canada, and the western United States. That will continue but increased cooperation could benefit a new class of Medium Air Tankers. What if these three regions could agree upon a common aircraft type? Instead of air tankers transiting the entire Pacific Ocean, only their retardant tanks would need to make the trip. A point in favour of adopting early-model Dash 8s as the basis for a Common Medium Air Tanker is availability. Many air carriers - including QantasLink - are phasing out most of their short-bodied Dash 8s. [1] Were that choice of 'platform' agreed, all that would needed a decision on uniform modifications so that the same retardant tanks can be mounted on the Common Medium Air Tankers in any of the three jurisdictions.
That leaves the question of what role such a Common Medium Air Tanker could fill outside of fire season. One possibility is suggested by the early-model Dash 8's ability to land on shorter, unpaved runways. This makes it ideal for servicing smaller, remote destinations. If passenger services are in decline to more remote Australian towns, what about an air cargo service for such communities?
Couldn't Common Medium Air Tankers Carry Cargo to Communities?
Air freight opportunities can provide broader economic benefits to smaller communities. An increase in aerial freight services - perhaps in 'combi' passenger/freight form - would serve to back up Federal Government pledges of "reasonable access to services for regional communities." (Indeed, such flights would probably qualify for funding under Canberra's Remote Air Service Subsidy Scheme.) This would provide a raison d'être for our conceptual Australian Dash 8 air tanker outside of fire season. And, fortunately, cargo conversion kits for early-model Dash 8s are available.
Voyageur Aerotech of North Bay, ON, is producing a dedicated cargo conversion - the Dash 8-100PF. This is a windowless cargo conversion which uses the Dash 8's original baggage door - a 1.52 m x 1.27 m up-and-over type door on the portside [2] Collins Aerospace is marketing a similar concept as their 'Class E' freighter. This is based on a cargo conversion kit developed by a Collin's subsidiary, B/E Canada of Winnipeg . [3] The latter's large cargo door kit provides a Dash 8 with a 1.73 m x 2.75 m clear opening suitable for oversized freight. That allows Collins to market a 'Class F' combi-freighter with palletized passenger seat which can roll-on and roll-off.
A degree of co-ordination would be required on which cargo conversions to adopt for each jurisdiction's Dash 8s. After all, if internal retardant tanks were chosen, their installation would likely dictate the adoption of enlarged cargo doors for all Common Medium Air Tanker 'platforms'. (More on retardant tanks to follow.)
(Caption: The sideview, below, shows a hypothetical Common Medium Air Tanker in the 'off-season' operating as a Voyageur-style 'Package Freighter'. Original rear baggage door - and forward 'air stairs' - are shown open.)
[1] QantasLink’s contractor Eastern Australia Airlines continues to operate Q200s (and Q300s) where smaller passenger loads dictate. For some destinations - such as Lord Howe Island - shorter runways dictate the use of Q200s.
[2] There is also a smaller opening on the starboard side - the former 'galley services' door set just forward of the baggage door.
[3] The Winnipeg firm is subsidiary of Florida-based B/E Aerospace, Inc. which was bought by Rockwell Collins in 2017.
"And a dash of common sense!" - Smaller DHC-8-based Medium Air Tankers
Basing a Medium Air Tanker conversion on 'short' Dash 8 aircraft has two key advantages. First, as previously mentioned, an empty Q100 and Q200 airframes weighs 6.7 tonnes less than the larger Q400. Since the added fuselage space is irrelevant to the air tanker mission, why carry that dead weight? Second is availability since many air carriers - are phasing out short-bodied Dash 8s. [1] Ironically, it is the efficiency of the Q400 as a regional airliner which has prompted the retirement of the earlier-model Dash 8s. However, that Q400 efficiency depends upon flying higher and faster - hardly an apt description of typical air tanker operations.
'Big Sky Country' - An Almost-Was Air Tanker from Montana
The idea of turning early-model Dash 8s into air tankers isn't new. In 2004, Neptune Aviation of Missoula, MT, began exploring conversions of Q200s and Q300s to replace its aged Lockheed P-2 air tankers. (Neptune saw a slightly smaller retardant load as a reasonable trade-off for the Dash 8's superior stalling speed.) A single Q300 was bought to act as a prototype in 2005 but the project seems to have died as a result of cancelled US Forest Service contracts. [2] Although details are sketchy, the planned Neptune Q300 air tanker was to carry around 6,050 litres (1,600 US gallons) of retardant. So, Neptune's planned retardant load was just over half the capacity of Conair's Q400-MR air tanker.
Although there are few available details, the Neptune conversion presumably involved a tank inside the fuselage (as per Neptune's later BAe 146 air tankers). That has two implications. First, this would be a permanent modification - involving drop doors being cut into the bottom of the fuselage. Second, it would require an enlarged cargo door to install that big fuselage tank in the first place. That does not preclude removing the tank at the end of fire season - as demonstrated by Coulson's larger C-130Q Hercules conversion with its roll-on/roll-off retardant tank. If the cost of installing a cargo door is a downside to the Neptune scheme, the obvious upside is that the fully-internal retardant tank adds no drag to the Dash 8 airframe.
As noted before, fitting a single 6,050 litre retardant tank into the former passenger cabin of a Dash 8 would require the fitting of an enlarged cargo door. That may not been seen as excessive if 'off-season' employment was likely to include over-sized freight. It would also make the Common Medium Air Tanker capable of moving bulkier firefighting equipment in the lead-up to brushfire season. Operationally, it means that there is no major added on the airframe when the retardant tank is fitted.
Of course, there are alternatives to internal retardant tanks. That will be covered in the next post.
(Caption: The sideview, below shows a hypothetical Common Medium Air Tanker fitted with an internal retardant tank. Enlarged B/E Canada-style cargo door - handy for 'off-season' freighting - is shown in the open position.)
[1] Aside from the Lord Howe Island route mentioned in the previous post, QantasLink’s contractor Eastern Australia Airlines still operates out of some regional centres - such as Armidale - with a Q200-based air service.
[2] Neptune has since turned its attention to jet-powered RJs - using eight BAe 146-200s and a single RJ100 provided by Tronos Aviation of Summerside, PEI. Compared with Conair RJ air tankers, the Tronos conversions featured completely internal retardant tanks.
"And [Another] dash of common sense!" - DHC-8-based Medium Air Tankers
Bringing about something akin to Neptune's proposed Q300-based air tanker has its challenges. It is easy to imagine such an aircraft with a scaled-down version of the system used on the BAe 146 air tankers devised by Neptune and Tronos Aviation. But that is not quite the same thing as having a proven example on a similar airframe. But, of course, there is a proven air tanker system in use on a Q-series airframe - the Conair Q400-MR that we opened with. True, compared with the Q100 and Q200, the Q400 is much more powerful (perhaps too much so). And, to our mind, the Q400 suffers from an excess of airframe for the air tanker role. But, it exists.
'Strap-On' - Conair's Midriff Bulge Approach to Retardant Tanks
By contrast with the Neptune Aviation approach, the Conair/Cascade Q400-MR reveals a portly waistline. One advantage is that no enlarged freight door modifications are required. Nor is any cabin floor reinforcements needed to support a heavy internal retardant tank. And this add-on tank is easily removable - the Securite Civile using their 'de-bulged' Q400s to move personnel and equipment around at the conclusion of each fire season.
A similar approach could be used for the shorter Dash 8s. However, mounting a full-length Q400-MR tank on a Q100 or Q200 is probably a non-starter due to ground clearance issues. (To permit its extra long fuselage, the Q400 has a taller main undercarriage to match.) Total weight of a loaded, full-sized Q400-MR tank might also be a problem for the less powerful early-model Dash 8s. But that Conair tank has fore and aft sets of drop doors. What if Conair shortened their system to feature only a single set of drop doors?
Shortening the Q400-MR tank would better suit Q100 and Q200 airframes. A shortened tank gets around any weight issues or ground clearance problems - especially during take-off rotation. On that subject, early Dash 8s were specifically designed to operate from shorter, unpaved runways typical of more remote locations. This can be enhanced by add-on rough-field kits similar to those fitted to Dash 8 patrol aircraft being flown by Surveillance Australia Pty Ltd on behalf of the Australian Border Force. So, flying out of semi-prepared gravel airstrips would be no problem for Q100/Q200-based Common Air Tankers. This means that our conceptual Dash 8 air tanker doesn't need the higher transit speed of the Q400 - the short Dash 8 can stay closer to the action.
That gravel airfield performance would also be a boon outside of fire season. More remote airstrips are very unlikely to possess sophisticated cargo handling equipment. Using the original baggage door, non-palletized freight can simply be handed out to loaders at pickup (or 'ute') bed height and driven away.
(Caption: The sideview, shows a hypothetical Common Medium Air Tanker based on a Q100 or Q200 airframe fitted with a Conair-style 'midriff' external retardant tanks.)
The object here is not to advocate either of the retardant tank approaches. Both have their advantages and drawbacks. With either approach, rapid progress is key. The duration and intensity of wildfires is increasing in Australia and the West Coast of North America. Budgets are going to be strained but air tankers need to be built. As Greg Mullins said, the whole point of firebombing is to "give firefighters on the ground an edge".
elmayerle
Its about time there was an Avatar shown here...
Über Engineer...at least that is what he tells us.
I love the idea but I think it makes way too much sense for governments to go with it (particularly the state government of California, IMHO). I could see a standardized airframe configuration with shared specialty gear as each area needs it.
An approach I could see for the US would be to take early LRIP MV-22Bs, bring them up to a common standard (much as the USMC is already doing), and outfit them with a downsized version of the MAFSS fitted to C-130's. Using the belly hatch, they could even reload from lakes or rivers in hover.
Having said that, your approach seems much more economically sound and practical; I suspect bureaucrats will hate it just for that reason.
kitnut617
Measures the actual aircraft before modelling it...we have the photographic evidence.
I'd rather be dirtbike riding
Like I mentioned in your other thread Stephen, there's not a lot of ground clearance on any of the Dash-8's, although the Q-400 maybe the better of the two. IMO, if you're going to convert small airliners into tankers, just use the cabin to hold the tanks like Coulson's do with their 737's
But then ----- there is this conversion ---
« Last Edit: January 09, 2020, 10:37:49 PM by kitnut617 »
Mind you, I think the various outfits that have tankers should work together, like working at Wing strength --- with a concentrated attack on one place at a time, and get that fire out before moving to the next one.
I've noticed here in Canada during wild fire season, you'll see a couple of the bombers working one fire, a couple of others working another, and meanwhile, the fire keeps on going while they go back to fill up again. What if they came at a fire in a large group, say twenty of them and just saturate the area, give the ground guys a chance to snuff out anything left over.
I know it's all down to money --- but how much money will they have to spend in the aftermath of a disaster ---
LemonJello
MARPAT Master
Member number 100...WooHoo!!!
Quote from: elmayerle on January 09, 2020, 11:17:24 AM
And here we see a justification for me to add another V-22 kit to the stash to do up as a fire bomber.
Thanks for the feedback folks!
Evan and LemonJello: I can easily see the V-22 as an air tanker ... as usual, in a category of its own.
There doesn't seem to be an existing, official category for the V-22 as a fixed-winged air tanker. Officialdom would probably class the V-22 as 'rotary-winged'. Were it to be seen as 'fixed-winged', I guess it'd be classed as a 'Small Air Tanker' - assuming a payload of 2,725-to-3,765 litres (720-to-995 US gallons).
Robert: Basically that's what the rural fire services have been advocating for several years. Those agencies' pleas were rejected by the Turnbull Government (IIRC) but the theme was picked up again by the Australian Labor Party during Australia's 2019 federal election.
BAe 146: Yep, not a lot of ground clearance on the Conair RJ tankers either IIRC, these (and the RJs) sit at the lower end of the Large Air Tanker category. If no common air tanker is feasible, the BAe 146 would be a good choice for Australia (based on availability, familiarity, and at least two of proven conversion options). The Neptune/Tronos conversions (BAe 146-200 and RJ100) is similar but has a completely internal tank.
Ground clearance: True for all high-winged transports. I was hoping that shortening the Conair tank would provide at least as much clearance as is available for the long Q400-MR tank. Personally, my preference would be for an internal tank but that pretty much dictates an enlarged cargo door and reinforced cabin floot with attending increases in conversion costs. Of course, in the current political climate, 'ScoMo' might now be willing to push a lot more money at the problem!
I was trying to avoid strongly advocating either of my two Q100/Q200 options. The main priority at this stage would be getting the system agreed to and conversion completed in a timely fashion. Until now, BC has had a pretty dry winter with little snow pack ... I've got a feeling that we're next
Jeffry Fontaine
Unaffiliated Independent Subversive...and the last person to go for a trip on a Mexicana dH Comet 4
His stash is able to be seen from space...
New build amphibian with air tanker capability should also be a thing. Beriev makes a very capable amphibian that has an air tanker capability.
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg
Indeed. Viking keeps teasing with their CL-515 concept - 'SuperDuperScooper'? - while offering leases on CL-415EAF upgrades. Viking were supposed to make a decision on a CL-515 go-ahead in mid-2018. Things went ominously quiet until Viking announced a CL-515 deal with Indonesia at last year's Paris air show. Despite that, Dave Curtis is still being coy about an official CL-515 launch.
The Beriev Be-200 is an impressive aircraft - up to 12 tons of water outside the pressurized cabin! A Beriev could be waterbombing in the morning and doing tourist runs to Catalina later the same day. A pity that the BR715-powered version didn't go ahead - Western engines would've added value.
The proposed US-built Beriev has me scratching my head. A plan to build Be-200s in Santa Monica was announced in 2016. This was supposed to be part of Airbus' EADS Irkut Seaplane deal ... but the latter was cancelled by the end of the same year. US firms' name keep popping up in connection with Beriev - Seaplane Global Air Services (SGAS of Santa Monica, CA), International Emergency Services (IES of Santa Monica), and USA Firefighting Air Corps (USAFAC of Denver, CO).
Of those, USAFAC was to be the 2016 US manufacturer of Be-200s. Earlier, these guys were behind the A-10 waterbomber concept ... but their http://usafac.com website is now '404'.
https://web.archive.org/web/20150221015756/http://usafac.com/aircraft-manufacturing-2/
(Of the USAFAC principals, AFAIK, Chris Olson works for the Forest Service in Alaska; John Simmons is a Senator's aide in Colorado; don't know about Gerry FitzGerald.)
Seaplane Global Air Services is now said to have ordered four Be-200s with an option on six more. But trying to figure out who these guys are is like pulling hens' teeth. SGAS is classed as 'Foreign Stock' which I assume means listed of a foreign exchange. But where? I also note that the official contact agent for SGAS is David Ernest Baskett.
David Baskett also happens to be President of International Emergency Services Inc - which is meant to be a partner firm of Seaplane Global. So that circle closes quickly! So, is something shady going on here? Or are these guys just a bunch of entrepreneurs operating by the skin of their teeth? Dunno ...
« Last Edit: January 10, 2020, 12:28:56 PM by apophenia »
Thirty years ago I would have concluded that you were describing some kind of shadow organization hidden behind several layers of shell companies.
All just a dream until they actually have the item on the ramp handing over the keys and title to the end user.
Amphibian air service is still a viable option for small operations but only if there is a reliable product that can turn a profit and not be stuck in down time on the maintenance ramp.
The Be-200 would be an excellent choice for inter-island/intra-island transport in the Aleutian islands. Places like Adak, Alaska are remote and an amphibian could make a difference in places like that. Other communities such as Atka have no airfield so anything delivered to them is by small boat. Would be nice to see the Be-200 in production to fill that niche.
« Last Edit: January 10, 2020, 12:05:36 PM by Jeffry Fontaine »
Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on January 10, 2020, 11:58:03 AM
Thirty years ago I would have concluded that you were describing some kind of shadow organization hidden behind several layers of shell companies. ...
And 'Santa Monica' would just be a cover name for 'somewhere in Virginia'
That's a very interesting notion! Just need to convince Beriev to based some product support at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
I've been playing with a simplified variation on my Dash 8-based Common Medium Air Tanker.
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=351.msg164545#msg164545
According to Bombardier, the Q200 has a 4,580 lb smaller payload that the Q300 (13,500 lbs vs 8,920 lbs) I'm having trouble understanding why this should be the case. Even the up-engined Q300s only have a total of 400 shp more power. How can that result in a one-third increase in payload for a physically-longer (and thus heavier) airframe?
Stephen, have a look at Carl's post of a Dash-7 in reply #3319 of the 'Cool Photos' thread. It has a cargo door shown open.
GTX_Admin
Evil Administrator bent on taking over the Universe!
Administrator - Yep, I'm the one to blame for this place.
Whiffing Demi-God!
***Topic Departure***
When I first saw the title of this topic I thought it was going to be about a medium sized - say biz jet - air-to-air refuelling tanker.
***Back to regular programming***
All hail the God of Frustration!!!
You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.
That might be a more plausible scenario Greg! I think I've got to knock this one on the head
The Big Gimper
Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
Conair to replace all of their L-188 and CV-580 air tankers with Q400s
The company has purchased 11 De Havilland Dash 8 Q400 aircraft which will be converted to air tankers
https://fireaviation.com/2021/01/14/conair-to-replace-all-of-their-l-188-and-cv-580-air-tankers-with-q400s/
Work in progress ::
I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.
User and abuser of Bothans...
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Call for construction industry to help make a difference in Madagascar
Madagascar often makes headlines for its wildlife, famed for its diversity of animal species and in particular its lemurs, but the African island is also home to some of the poorest people on the planet [read more…]
Architect promotes four to associate director
Midlands architectural practice maber has appointed four new associate directors at its Nottingham, Derby and Leicester offices. They are Andy Purvis and Leo Ward, both based in Nottingham, Lee Smith in Derby and Tim Boxford [read more…]
Forticrete welcomes Chief Scientific Adviser’s report “From Waste to Resource Productivity”
A Government report which offers insight into the value of waste has been welcomed by Forticrete, part of Ibstock plc, a leading manufacturer of concrete construction products. Authored by Sir Mark Walport and Professor Ian Boyd, the Chief Scientific Adviser at [read more…]
Gratnells Engineering invests further in state-of-the-art laser technology
Gratnells Engineering has recently invested in a new state-of-the-art BLM LT Fiber machine, allowing the Harlow-based company to expand their capabilities in 2018 and ensure clients benefit from even faster turnaround times. This brand-new machine [read more…]
Could evolving architectural concrete be taking us back to the future?
Evolution within architectural concrete could be ushering in a new era of building designs that hark back to the rocking 60s and 70s. This is the view of the Commercial Director of a leading construction [read more…]
Vale Southern Construction – Home is where the heart is
Although it is very much a national company, carrying out a diverse range of projects across the country, Portsmouth-based Vale Southern Construction has retained a close link with its home city and the local community. [read more…]
Mainline Group – Safety first approach recognised with award
Further underlining its strong health and safety credentials, 2017 saw Ireland-based Mainline Group receive a Distinction and Consistent High Achiever award at the National Irish Safety Organisation (NISO) Safety Awards held in Galway in October. [read more…]
Domis Property Group – Original thinking gains momentum
While it has only been in operation for little over a year, Manchester-based Domis Property Group has truly hit the floor sprinting thanks to the experience and know-how of the team behind its creation. With [read more…]
Boulting Group welcomes cohort of new apprentices
Engineering solutions provider Boulting Group has appointed seven new apprentices across the business as it continues to bridge the skills gap in the industry. The multi-disciplined engineering solutions provider operates across a diverse range of industry [read more…]
2018 in 2018 for Partner Construction
A County Durham-based housebuilder is celebrating reaching a milestone – building its 2018th house since it started in business – in 2018. Partner Construction is going from strength-to-strength along and its annual results recently showed [read more…]
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Why Netflix Customers Who Haven’t Bailed Probably Won’t
Netflix screwed up so badly this summer and fall that some of its subscribers left in a huff. So how do the ones who stuck around feel?
They’re less happy than they used to be. But they don’t seem to be going anywhere.
That’s the cautiously optimistic conclusion of a new survey Citigroup commissioned over the past few months. It finds existing subscribers still fairly pleased with the service Reed Hastings is offering: 57 percent say they’re either “extremely satisfied” or “very satisfied.” But Hastings’ good will has certainly eroded a bit: In May, a similar survey found 50 percent of his customers in the “extremely satisfied” category. That number is now down to 18 percent.
As Citi analyst Mark Mahaney points out, the survey is a bit skewed, since Netflix subscribers who were most disappointed with the service’s changes — a price hike, an ill-fated attempt to spin off its DVD business into a separate unit, and the loss of programming deal that gives the company access to Sony and Disney movies — have already bailed.
But a different survey question suggests one reason customers are sticking around with Netflix: They don’t see many other options.
While Amazon has been building up its catalog of streaming video, only 9 percent of Netflix customers said they’ve watched movies or TV shows there. And while 15 percent said they’ve used Hulu, that number is down from 19 percent in May. Apple’s iTunes comes in at 8 percent. (Perhaps the reason only 27 percent of Netflix subscribers say they use Netflix is because they’re distinguishing between apps and the site. But that seems like a fairly precise distinction for a large number of people to make, so who knows.)
The very big picture is that Mahaney still assumes Netflix will keep growing. He figures its DVD-only subscribers will drop by 800,000, to 9.9 million, over the next year. But he thinks streaming subscribers will increase 9.9 million, to 30.9 million, and that the company will add a few million more as it expands in Latin America and the U.K. He also thinks Netflix will become profitable again by the end of 2012.
But none of that is going to help anyone who bought Netflix stock earlier this year, when shares had climbed as high as $300. Mahaney has lowered his price target for NFLX, and is now hoping it climbs back to $80.
Tagged with: Amazon, Apple, Citigroup, Disney, DVD, Hulu, iTunes, Mark Mahaney, Netflix, Qwikster, Reed Hastings, Sony, streaming video, video, Web video
When AllThingsD began, we told readers we were aiming to present a fusion of new-media timeliness and energy with old-media standards for quality and ethics. And we hope you agree that we’ve done that.
— Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg, in their farewell D post
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There seems to be a lot of fuss about the 45th President of the USA...
C_D
Post by C_D » Mon Feb 13, 2017 5:02 pm
Trump. Deep State Actor or Renegade Loose Cannon? Or something else, entirely?
Fascinating, either way.
Re: There seems to be a lot of fuss about the 45th President of the USA...
Trump's 'draining the swamp' election promise is looking a bit hollow. Without having delved too deeply into specific appointees (note: must do), the concensus across alternative media (which to my mind very has few crossovers with the 'alt-right' scene), is that there are plenty of old-skool neocons, Goldman bankers, Military invasionists and General Toadies being given positions of power.
This makes me seriously question his credentials as a rogue element.
I maintain that Trump is exactly the kind of leader that America (corporate, industrial, military, monetary) has been heading towards since 9/11.
A country comprising 5% of world population that consumes 40% of the worlds resources, under pressure from an increasingly beligerant internal percentage of the population that expects all the toys but feels guilty about the requisite oppression of others required to keep it all going, needs a Corporatist leader to pull it all together. Ghastly, but is it really that surprising?
I retain the right to constantly change my mind, fickle being that I am.
semper occultus
Post by semper occultus » Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:48 pm
Nafeez Ahmed's take
It appears that there are common themes among the different groupings that comprise the Trump regime. Among them are experiences and recognition of crisis: Rex Tillerson and Steve Bannon, for instance, come from backgrounds acknowledging the reality of the planetary ecological crisis.
Energy interests linked to Murdoch believe in an imminent social, economic and political crisis due to peak oil.
Most Trump teamsters see their task as saving the fossil fuel industries from crises external to them, and now all ostensibly tend to deny the gravity of the industry’s environmental impacts.
All are worried about the profits of their friends in Wall Street.
A large number of Trump team associates have ties to John Tanton, whose proto-Nazi views are rooted in an eugenics-inspired belief that the environmental crisis is due to too many non-white people.
And now Trump’s national security team draws on the parallel views of the old Nixon era Kissinger team concerning the threat of overpopulated poor countries undermining US access to the world’s food, energy and raw materials resources — for which the solution could be to ‘cauldronize’ countries of strategic interest.
These crisis-perceptions, however, are not grounded in systemic insight: but are refracted through the narrow lenses of self-serving power. The crises are relevant only insofar that they represent a threat to their interests. But most importantly, their ensuing beliefs about how to respond to these crises end up being refracted through the ideological framework of the conservative-liberal polarity.
https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence ... .wf4n4do2w
Post by deep state » Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:04 pm
I don't follow much of the current political debate, or any of it really, but it filters down to me of course; the main thing that interests me around this is the liberal reaction to Trump and the force and vigor of antifa emotions, and the behaviors that are being condoned as a result (probably the main reason we ended up posting about this here rather than you-know-where).
The notion that for Liberalism to conquer Fascism requires Liberalism becoming as forceful and uncompromising, as brutal and as bad as Fascism is very rich. Because of course, what kind if victory is it, if you become as bad as what you have defeated? Or rather, who is the real victor?
I enjoyed this guy's videos on the subject (guess we need a youtube button)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCEmk-U57zo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyC80feMcgU
^^ Yeah, Sargon's a big noise, now.
He pretty much mirrors my own exasperation at the current 'Left' (a position I have historically supported). It's the intransigent nature of their self-belief - that they are as correct as it can possibly be - and anyone who disagrees with the minutest detail is a fascist that automatically deserves de-platforming, a beating or death. Scary.
Trouble is, say someone believes in the social good - higher taxes, public healthcare, acceptance of colour or creed, better working conditions etc - but they want to see a reduction in immigration. I feel the 'Left' would brand them a Fascist and sentence them to a Gulag, if we had any. This polarisation can only make communication ever more difficult between those that want it all their own way and those that are more flexible.
We seem to approaching a point of no common ground - and having to make the uncomfortable binary choice of us against them.
I hope not, of course - but it's troubling.
Greenwald on Deep State
Post by C_D » Fri Feb 17, 2017 8:30 am
Greenwald: Empowering the "Deep State" to Undermine Trump is Prescription for Destroying Democracy 16 Feb 2017 Democracy Now
Some supporters of Trump, including Breitbart News, have accused the intelligence agencies of attempting to wage a deep state coup against the president. Meanwhile, some critics of Trump are openly embracing such activity. Bill Kristol, the prominent Republican analyst who founded The Weekly Standard, wrote on Twitter, "Obviously strongly prefer normal democratic and constitutional politics. But if it comes to it, prefer the deep state to the Trump state." We talk about the deep state with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald, co-founder of The Intercept.
cont - https://www.democracynow.org/2017/2/16/ ... p_state_to
Fuck me, that Chuck Schumer (briefly, in the video) is creepy.
Post by deep state » Sat Feb 18, 2017 6:38 pm
I don't know how much truth is in this but it seems plausible, if Trump wanted to rout out some of his enemies and seize power, this would be one way to do it.
From here: https://steemit.com/crime/@mandireiserr ... e-via-blog
BigEyeTenor
Post by BigEyeTenor » Sun Feb 19, 2017 12:12 am
Today, we have an exclusive interview with a special DHS insider who has answered some critical questions we have on PizzaGate. Our insider prefers to call it PedoGate and what he told us blew our minds! We are so fortunate that members of the Intel community like our work and feel they can trust us. We have been trying to get to the bottom of PizzaGate for months and the answers we got from our DHS insider stunned and shocked us. Here we go!
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-02-1 ... versus-spy
Q. So, in the Intelligence community, how chaotic is the atmosphere now?
A. In my 34 years of Governmental service, I have never seen anything like it. It’s the bifurcation of the entire intelligence apparatus.
Q. It seems the intel community has it in for Trump – is this your feeling?
A. There are many Trump supporters within the FBI. The CIA, however, is against Trump because Trump threatens to ruin their game in the middle east.
Q. Can you elaborate?
A. CIA and Mossad work in tandem with British intel. The goal for the CIA was to replace Assad with a puppet and to topple Iran so we could access their oil. Israel works closely with it’s “sister”, Saudi Arabia, to help this dark cause.
Q. So it seems like the intel community has it in for Trump. How can he protect himself?
A. Trump has a tremendous opportunity here, but needs to circle wagons. The travel ban included 7 countries chosen by both Jared Kushner and Rudy. Why did it not include Saudi Arabia, or Pakistan, or Turkey or other countries that hate us? The seven nations mentioned were chosen by Israel, that’s why. And the unspoken alliance of Israel and Saudi Arabia should be exposed. They are brother and sister. Jared Kushner needs to be careful with what he says and to whom. But, the biggest thing Trump can do is expose PedoGate via Sessions. Big names will go down hard, and it gets the blood suckers drained from the swamp. There are as many pedophiles on the Republican side as there is with democrats, but Trump is in a unique position to truly “clean up Dodge”, so to speak. I can tell you that what is in Anthony Weiner’s hard drive, and what videos exist via Jeffery Epstein, WILL BRING massive arrests – in time. Trump’s legacy could be truly great if he was to purge the CIA, stop the extortion, prosecute the pedophiles and reinstate the death penalty for pedo’s convicted a second time. Pedogate is his path to greatness.
Q. How does Russia fit into all this?
A. The CIA and Israel are responsible for the creation of Isis. Isis was created specifically to weaken Iran and destabilize Syria. It worked for a while until Putin shored up Assad and bolstered Iranian Qud forces. The real reason you see such anti-Russian fever from both Schumer and McCain, Graham and Feinstein, is because the operation has blown up in our faces.
Q. Is Israel behind the anti Russian sentiment?
A. Yes. Israeli intelligence is furious with Trump, and will do anything to keep Trump from working with Putin. Understand that if Trump and Putin work together to defeat Isis, they are actually defeating a CIA/Mossad creation, and furthermore, Syria and Iran grow stronger, which the Saudis and the Israeli’s fear. Their goal was to divide Syria and ultimately destroy Iran’s regime. It is not just an oil grab, but a much bigger attempt at moving the chess pieces to allow Israel and Saudi Arabia to dominate the entire Middle East.
Q. So they demonize Putin and try to tarnish the Trump administration?
A. The Deep State is at war with both Trump and Putin. Understand that when Israeli intelligence hears “America first” from Trump, they go apeshit. Israel has bribed, extorted and intimidated our politicians for decades and suddenly this upstart billionaire threatens to ruin everything.
Q. You mention the word extort. Does that relate to Pizzagate?
A. PedoGate is only a modern term associated with a long history of Pedo-blackmail connected to both Israel and the Intel community. There is a full court press to stop PedoGate from being looked at because if people knew the true motives behind the pedophilia epidemic, they would do more than march on Washington. They could actually seed a revolution, with the spark coming from decent American parents who want to protect their kids. Our politicians are compromised. The senior analyst nicknamed “FBI Anon” alluded to this in his exchange with folks on 4chan and with you.
Q. What do you mean compromised?
A. Do you notice 2 central themes running through the MSM lately? Those themes are “Fear the Russians” and “#PizzaGate is fake news“. Both tropes come from the same place.
Q. Can you explain?
A. How do we exert power? Via fear. Do you ever wonder why both Democrats and Republicans fall all over themselves to kiss up to Israel? Odd, since Israel is the size of Rhode Island… The fact is, many of our politicians – on both sides – have been compromised by CIA and Mossad for years. It’s actually not admiration they are expressing for Israel, but fear. Notice Lindsay Graham and Chuck Schumer repeating the same salute when it comes to Israel. How does that even happen? The American people are finally seeing that there is no two-party system, but one big shadow Government pretending we have political dichotomy.
Q. So PedoGate is real and “they” have to get Americans to disbelieve it?
A. Let me explain how threatening PedoGate is… Who wins? Trump. Putin. Americans. Russians. The world…. Who loses? Israel, since they no longer can blackmail our politicians, the same goes for the CIA. The Shadow Government loses. But, the people win.
Q. Can you give me specific instances of politicians being compromised by Israel?
A. Sure. Lolita Island. Jeffery Epstein, a billionaire convicted of pedophilia received a soft sentence. His island was rigged with video recorders. Many politicians have been compromised. It was a Mossad/CIA operation. Contact ex-senior CIA CCS, Robert David Steele. Bob knows and has even spoken about this with numerous reporters.
Q. So an ex-CIA senior agent named Robert Steele is on record saying Epstein’s island was a honey trap to lure our most powerful politicians into a extortion scheme?
A. Yes. There are videos of some of the most powerful players in the most humiliating positions. If this gets out, not only are the politicians ruined, but the extortion game is over and suddenly, the influence CIA and Mossad wield over Washington, is gone.
Q. Wow ! Now its all making sense.
A. Yes. lets continue this conversation later.
The interview resumes
Q. So I checked out Robert David Steele, and he mentions Chuck Schumer being on Lolita Island. So does FBI anon. Is that why Schumer is targeting Trump’s cabinet picks?
A. Connect the dots.
Q. How many other politicians have been secretly extorted?
A. One in three, roughly. It’s not just the Island, its all of their activities. The reason #Pedogate terrifies the media, the CIA, the Israel Lobby, is because they are all part of this “shadow swamp”
Q. Former CIA agent, Robert Steele, says Mossad operated Lolita Island and CIA worked with them. That’s treason on all levels.
A. Yes, and its espionage. Just as these leaks from the intel community regarding Flynn. I expect that at some later moment, Trump will leak some of these videos
Q. Wait. Trump has videos of politicians in ‘delicate” situations?
A. No, But the Intel community has them, and Trump has strong support among certain players in the community. Trump has said he wants to “throw a spotlight on the cockroaches”.
Q. But Trump just met with Netanyahu and pledged the usual unbreakable bond with Israel.
A. Theatre. Netanyahu is desperate to both play Trump into attacking Syria,and hate Putin, and to convince him PedoGate is a conspiracy theory.
Q. That is what Robert Steele says, as well. So, exposing the Pedophiles diminishes Israel’s influence in American politics and also changes the map in a critical mass way?
A. The same media screaming “The Russians are coming” is the same media who says “Pizzagate is fake news” That’s CIA and Mossad talking points.
Q. How do social media giants like Facebook and Google fit in?
A. Facebook and CIA are literally the same petri-dish. Google became a Deep State organ courtesy of Eric Schmidt.
Q. Getting back to the Pedo stuff, FBI anon said in July of last year, that the Clinton Foundation sold secrets to foreign nations. Did they also engage in PizzaGate?
A. There are videos of WJC that would destroy him. FBI anon leaked weeks ago, on purpose. There was a reason.
Q. Ok, FBI anon gave Schumers initials, and Barnet Frank and others, but so far we have only seen low level arrests.
A . FBI anon did a “bank shot”. That’s a pool hall term we use. Ask Bob about it. FBI Anon rattled their cages as other DHS and local authorities rounded up all sorts of street-level human traffickers. The big arrests will come in time, but first the small fish are interrogated, and provide information that leads to larger fish. FBI Anon was firing a shot across the bow, much like you shake a beehive to infuriate the bees. Notice how blatantly hostile McCain, Schumer, Graham, and others are? It was what we call a “targeted trigger“.
It worked. By long-kniving Flynn, they exposed their hand. Now, Trump has full executive powers to investigate the CIA and Mossad. Notice how there is sound and fury about “Russian influence” and utter silence on “Mossad” influence in our power structure?
When FBI anon leaked in early July, the whole idea was to expose the Clinton Foundation,and to hint at the sale of “people” i.e. Pedogate. Look back at his exchange on 4chan. He is a gifted analyst, and knows just what stone to throw at Goliath’s noggin. By triggering the shadow Government, he helps citizen journalists ask the right questions and follow the right breadcrumbs, not the rabbit holes the Elite scum want you to follow.
Now, PedoGate victims are speaking out on their experiences! You just had a story on some lady who went through having her family abused by California-Deep-State-sponsored terrorism. If folks knew that CPS in California is tied into a huge racket that kidnaps children from parents, they would realize just how sick this is. Foster homes, CPS, etc… all get paid well to jail parents and then snatch their kids away. These kids suffer abuse, and perpetuate the growing cancer called pedogate. Politicians who have pedophile tendencies are groomed for power, because they can be later extorted and controlled. Meanwhile, victims have no voice- until now. Suddenly, we have citizen journalism, and it will end up saving the people, in the end.
I have to go, but please contact Robert David Steele, the former CIA agent we discussed. I am sure he would appear on your channel. You are providing a real service to the people and we hope you will continue to speak up for the regular folks who are concerned, rightfully, as to the state of our nation. Take care
'Mind Manipulations” to Influence Election Results
January 06, 2017 http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/46173.htm
"Hacking” to influence election results? Ridiculous! That may have been a thing of the past.
Or not even. It’s an evil invention of the evil losers of the evil Hillary camp, supported by a criminal departing President Obama, who will be leaving office, of course, not with a bang, not even with a whimper, but with a disgrace for his nation and for the truth loving people all around the world.
What a legacy the first African-american US President leaves behind – the architect of thousands of indiscriminate and illegal drone killings, by starting five new wars, being currently involved in seven unjustified and illegal armed conflicts around the globe, killing millions of people and, finally, as a miserable liar.
Already back in August 2016, NSA whistleblower William Binney stated on Aaron Klein Investigative Radio that
“the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) server was not hacked by Russia, but by a disgruntled US intelligence worker.” Binney went on to proclaim that “the NSA has all of Clinton’s deleted emails, and the FBI could gain access to them if they so wished.”
He concluded that there was no need for Trump to ask the Russians for the emails, he could just ask the FBI or NSA to hand them over.
So, one of President Obama’s last deeds in this illustrious office of the Presidency of the United States, is lying to the American people and lying to the world. – Bravo!
The truth behind Donald Trump’s ‘surprise’ election may lay somewhere else. It’s called Psychometrics, a method based on massive behavioral data collection of people to be targeted by propaganda, or more accurately expressed by mind manipulation. This PR technology has been marketed and applied by a small London-based data analysis firm, called ‘Cambridge Analytica’.
The research firm first worked for Republican Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator from Texas, who was little known by most Americans. Cambridge Analytica increased his popularity to 40%, but not enough to win the Republican nomination. The data analysis firm was then hired by Trump’s campaign team – successfully as it appears. In this 11-minute YouTube, Alexander Nix, CEO of Cambridge Analytica, explains the method on the case of Ted Cruz.
https://youtu.be/n8Dd5aVXLCc
As reported by the Swiss newspaper, ‘Tagesanzeiger’ (TA), Psychometrics, or Psychographics, as such is not new. It was developed in the 1980s, as a scientific tool to help determine people’s personalities.
Psychologists concluded that every trait of a person’s character can be categorized into five personality dimensions. The system is called OCEAN, for Openness, Consciousness, level of Extraversion, Amicability (compatibility) and Neuroticism.
In this regard, Cambridge Analytica’s CEO claims that based on about 70 Facebook-Likes, they can determine with 95% accuracy whether a person is black or white, with 88% accuracy whether he/she is homosexual and with 85% accuracy whether he /she is a Democrat or Republican.
With 150 ‘Likes’ he knows a person better than his / her parents, and with 300, better than his / her partner. These are impressive claims. But Are they correct? Many critics dispute them, mainly arguing there is no proof that targeted people (i) actually do vote, and (ii) that they vote according to their profile. In any case, it would be difficult to verify to what extent Cambridge Analytica helped Donald Trump to win the elections. Cambridge Analytica also claims credit for the BREXIT vote.
Facebook entries are not the only input to “Big Data”. In addition to tens of thousands of ‘likes’ collected, data on peoples’ google browsing, eating and consumer habits, what cosmetics and rock bands they like, whether they are drug, cigarettes and / or alcohol addicts, or just users, what type of alcohol, brand or type of car they prefer, their banking customs, even the speed with which they remove their cell phone from their pockets when it rings – and-so-on – are also entered into “Big Data”. We are indeed living in the age of no holds barred as far as disrespect for privacy and universal data collection is concerned. As long as we let it happen, it will only get worse.
Hundreds of thousands of people are literally being ‘profiled’ for targeted and personalized propaganda messages to convince segments of people and individuals of think-alikes to vote for or against a candidate. The TA concludes, that’s why Trump’s campaign messages were often contradictory and confusing, difficult to establish a clear picture of where he really stands. This is still the case today.
According to Cambridge Analytica, in the ‘olden days’, social research firms had to get people filling-in cumbersome questionnaires, based on demographics. Today this approach is outdated. We have internet and Facebook. Not all women, blacks, Hispanics, gays, straights – vote alike. This false assumption was still used by Hillary’s campaign and demonstrated to be deceptive. Even though Hillary had about 2.7 million more popular votes, she lost the election by electorates. Cambridge Analytica worked on swing states. Within these States, they targeted specifically the ‘vulnerable’ or undecided, or motivated those with no intention to vote to get off their butts and cast their vote for Trump, or against Hillary, depending on their profile.
For example, Haitians in Florida, who had no intention to vote, but would have leaned Democratic, i.e. for Hillary, were targeted with propaganda describing the corruption of the Clinton Foundation and how the Clintons ruined Haiti’s economy. So – they went to vote for Trump as an anti-Clinton vote. At least this was the plan and apparently, it worked in sufficient cases to be effective.
Although we will never know for sure to what extent Cambridge Analytica has contributed to Trump’s election win, we can be certain that the method, inexpensive as compared to demographic profiling, will be used masively in the future, most certainly in the upcoming elections in France and the Netherlands (Spring 2017) and Germany (Fall 2017).
Thanks goodness for President Putin (I must have said this many times before) to give Mr. Obama and all the people around him, a lesson on how to behave like a statesman and not like a losing looney what he is.
President Putin did not retaliate Obama’s flagrant lie-based expelling of 35 Russian diplomats with families just before New Year’s Eve, in full preparation of year-end festivities. Instead he invited US diplomats in Moscow and their kids to celebrate the year-end festivities with their Russian colleagues. Obama’s act of cowardice was framed as ‘sanction’ for ‘Russian interference in US elections’ – a blatant lie. Mr. Obama, the master puppet of the deep state that pulls the strings on his lips and mind – he, (nominally) President Obama, knows it’s a sham.
Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a former World Bank staff and worked extensively around the world in the fields of environment and water resources. He is the author of Implosion – An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed – fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution! – Essays from the Resistance.
Post by C_D » Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:32 pm
So, Trumps pre-election promise to pull back on foreign adventurism is bollocks.
The whole speech:
Thank you very much. Thank you. Please be seated. Vice President Pence, Secretary of State Tillerson, members of the cabinet, General Dunford, Deputy Secretary Shanahan and Colonel Duggan. Most especially, thank you to the men and women of Fort Myer and every member of the United States military at home and abroad. We send our thoughts and prayers to the families of our brave sailors who were injured and lost after a tragic collision at sea as well as to those conducting the search and recovery efforts.
I am here tonight to lay out our path forward in Afghanistan and South Asia. But before I provide the details of our new strategy, I want to say a few words to the service members here with us tonight, to those watching from their posts, and to all Americans listening at home. Since the founding of our republic, our country has produced a special class of heroes whose selflessness, courage, and resolve is unmatched in human history.
American patriots from every generation have given their last breath on the battlefield - for our nation and for our freedom. Through their lives, and though their lives were cut short, in their deeds they achieved total immortality. By following the heroic example of those who fought to preserve our republic, we can find the inspiration our country needs to unify, to heal and to remain one nation under God. The men and women of our military operate as one team, with one shared mission and one shared sense of purpose.
They transcend every line of race, ethnicity, creed and color to serve together and sacrifice together in absolutely perfect cohesion. That is because all service members are brothers and sisters. They are all part of the same family. It’s called the American family. They take the same oath, fight for the same flag and live according to the same law.
They are bound together by common purpose, mutual trust and selfless devotion to our nation and to each other. The soldier understands what we as a nation too often forget, that a wound inflicted upon on a single member of our community is a wound inflicted upon us all. When one part of America hurts, we all hurt.
And when one citizen suffers an injustice, we all suffer together. Loyalty to our nation demands loyalty to one another. Love for America requires love for all of its people. When we open our hearts to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice, no place for bigotry and no tolerance for hate. The young men and women we send to fight our wars abroad deserve to return to a country that is not at war with itself at home. We cannot remain a force for peace in the world if we are not at peace with each other.
As we send our bravest to defeat our enemies overseas, and we will always win, let us find the courage to heal our divisions within. Let us make a simple promise to the men and women we ask to fight in our name, that when they return home from battle, they will find a country that has renewed the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that unite us together as one.
Thanks to the vigilance and skill of the American military, and of our many allies throughout the world, horrors on the scale of September 11, and nobody can ever forget that, have not been repeated on our shores. But we must acknowledge the reality I am here to talk about tonight, that nearly 16 years after September 11 attacks, after the extraordinary sacrifice of blood and treasure, the American people are weary of war without victory.
Nowhere is this more evident than with the war in Afghanistan, the longest war in American history - 17 years. I share the American people's frustration. I also share their frustration over a foreign policy that has spent too much time, energy, money, and most importantly, lives trying to rebuild countries in our own image instead of pursuing our security interests above all other considerations. That is why shortly after my inauguration, I directed Secretary of Defense Mattis and my national security team to undertake a comprehensive review of all strategic options in Afghanistan and South Asia.
My original instinct was to pull out, and historically I like following my instincts. But all my life, I have heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the oval office. In other words, when you are president of the United States. So I studied Afghanistan in great detail and from every conceivable angle. After many meetings over many months, we held our final meeting last Friday at Camp David with my cabinet and generals to complete our strategy. I arrived at three fundamental conclusion about America's core interests in Afghanistan.
First, our nation must seek an honorable and enduring outcome worthy of the tremendous sacrifices that have been made, especially the sacrifices of lives. The men and women who serve our nation in combat deserve a plan for victory. They deserve the tools they need and the trust they have earned to fight and to win. Second, the consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable. 9/11, the worst terrorist attack in our history, was planned and directed from Afghanistan because that country by a government that gave comfort and shelter to terrorists. A hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists, including ISIS and al Qaeda, would instantly fill, just as happened before September 11. And as we know, in 2011, America hastily and mistakenly withdrew from Iraq.
As a result, our hard-won gains slipped back into the hands of terrorists enemies. Our soldiers watched as cities they had fought for bled to liberate and won were occupied by a terrorist group called ISIS. The vacuum we created by leaving too soon gave safe haven for ISIS to spread, to grow, recruit and launch attacks. We cannot repeat in Afghanistan the mistake our leaders made in Iraq.
Third and finally, I concluded that the security threats we face in Afghanistan and the broader region are immense. Today, 20 U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The highest concentration in any region anywhere in the world. For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror. The threat is worse because Pakistan and India are two nuclear-armed states, whose tense relations threat to spiral into conflict, and that could happen.
No one denies that we have inherited a challenging and troubling situation in Afghanistan and South Asia, but we do not have the luxury of going back in time and making different or better decisions.
When I became president, I was given a bad and very complex hand, but I fully knew what I was getting into. Big and intricate problems. But one way or another, these problems will be solved. I am a problem solver. And in the end, we will win. We must address the reality of the world as it exists right now, the threats we face, and the confronting of all of the problems of today, an extremely predictable consequences of a hasty withdrawal. We need look no further than last week's vile, vicious attack in Barcelona to understand that terror groups will stop at nothing to commit the mass murder of innocent men, women, and children.
You saw it for yourself. Horrible. As I outlined in my speech in Saudi Arabia, three months ago, America and our partners are committed to stripping terrorists of their territory, cutting off their funding and exposing the false allure of their evil ideology. Terrorists who slaughter innocent people will find no glory in this life or the next. They are nothing but thugs and criminals and predators, and, that’s right, losers. Working alongside our allies, we will break their will, dry up their recruitment, keep them from crossing our borders, and yes, we will defeat them, and we will defeat them handily. In Afghanistan and Pakistan, America's interests are clear.
We must stop the resurgence of safe havens that enable terrorists to threaten America. And we must prevent nuclear weapons and materials from coming into the hands of terrorists and being used against us or anywhere in the world, for that matter. But to prosecute this war, we will learn from history.
As a result of our comprehensive review, American strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia will change dramatically in the following ways: A core pillar of our new strategy is a shift from a time-based approach to one based on conditions. I’ve said it many times, how counterproductive it is for the United States to announce in advance the dates we intend to begin or end military operations.
We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities. Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on. America's enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will. Another fundamental pillar of our new strategy is the integration of all instruments of American power, diplomatic, economic, and military, toward a successful outcome. Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban and Afghanistan, but nobody knows if or when that will ever happen. America will continue its support for the Afghan government and the Afghan military as they confront the Taliban in the field.
Ultimately, it is up to the people of Afghanistan to take ownership of their future, to govern their society, and to achieve an everlasting peace. We are a partner and a friend, but we will not dictate to the Afghan people how to live or how to govern their own complex society. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists.
The next pillar of our new strategy is to change the approach in how to deal with Pakistan. We can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond.
Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists. In the past, Pakistan has been a valued partner. Our militaries have worked together against common enemies. The Pakistani people have suffered greatly from terrorism and extremism. We recognize those contributions and those sacrifices, but Pakistan has also sheltered the same organizations that try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars, at the same time they are housing the same terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change. And that will change immediately. No partnership can survive a country's harboring of militants and terrorists who target U.S. service members and officials. It is time for Pakistan to demonstrate its commitment to civilization, order, and to peace.
Another critical part of the South Asia strategy or America is to further develop its strategic partnership with India, the world's largest democracy and a key security and economic harbor of the United States. We appreciate India's important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development. We are committed to pursuing our shared objectives for peace and security in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
Finally, my administration will ensure that you, the brave defenders of the American people, will have the necessary tools and rules of engagement to make this strategy work and work effectively and work quickly. I have already lifted restrictions the previous administration placed on our war fighters that prevented the secretary of defense and our commanders in the field from fully and swiftly waging battle against the enemy. Micromanagement from Washington, D.C., does not win battles. They are won in the field drawing upon the judgment and expertise of wartime commanders and frontline soldiers, acting in real time with real authority and with a clear mission to defeat the enemy. That is why we will also expand authority for American armed forces to target the terrorists and criminal networks that sow violence and chaos throughout Afghanistan.
The killers need to know they have nowhere to hide, that no place is beyond the reach of American might and American arms. Retribution will be fast and powerful. As we lift restrictions and expand authorities in the field, we are already seeing dramatic results in the campaign to defeat ISIS, including the liberation of Mosul in Iraq. Since my inauguration, we have achieved record-breaking success in that regard. We will also maximize sanctions and other financial and law enforcement actions against these networks to eliminate their ability to export terror. When America commits its warriors to battle, we must ensure they have every weapon to apply swift, decisive, and overwhelming force.
Our troops will fight to win. We will fight to win. From now on, victory will have a clear definition. — attacking our enemies, obliterating ISIS, crushing al Qaeda, preventing the Taliban from taking over Afghanistan, and stopping mass terror attacks against America before they emerge. We will ask our NATO allies and global partners to support our new strategy, with additional troop and funding increases in line with our own. We are confident they will.
Since taking office, I have made clear that our allies and partners must contribute much more money to our collective defense, and they have done so. In this struggle, the heaviest burden will continue to be borne by the good people of Afghanistan and their courageous armed forces.
As the prime minister of Afghanistan has promised, we are going to participate in economic development to help defray the cost of this war to us. Afghanistan is fighting to defend and secure their country against the same enemies who threaten us. The stronger the Afghan security forces become, the less we will have to do. Afghans will secure and build their own nation and define their own future. We want them to succeed. But we will no longer use American military might to construct democracies in faraway lands or try to rebuild other countries in our own image. Those days are now over. Instead, we will work with allies and partners to protect our shared interests.
We are not asking others to change their way of life but to pursue common goals that allow our children to live better and safer lives. This principled realism will guide our decisions moving forward. Military power alone will not bring peace to Afghanistan or stop the terrorist threat arising in that country.
But strategically-applied force aims to create the conditions for a political process to achieve a lasting peace. America will work with the Afghan government as long as we see determination and progress.
However, our commitment is not unlimited, and our support is not a blank check. The government of Afghanistan must carry their share of the military, political, and economic burden. The American people expect to see real reforms, real progress, and real results.
Our patience is not unlimited. We will keep our eyes wide open. In abiding by the oath I took on January 20, I will remain steadfast in protecting American lives and American interests. In this effort, we will make common cause with any nation that chooses to stand and fight alongside us against this global threat.
Terrorists, take heed. America will never let up until you are dealt a lasting defeat. Under my administration, many billions of dollars more is being spent on our military. And this includes vast amounts being spent on our nuclear arsenal and missile defense. In every generation we have faced down evil, and we have always prevailed.
We prevailed because we know who we are and what we are fighting for. Not far from where we are gathered tonight, hundreds of thousands of America's greatest patriots lay in eternal rest at Arlington national cemetery. There is more courage, sacrifice, and love in those hallowed grounds than in any other spot on the face of this Earth.
Many of those who have fought and died in Afghanistan enlisted in the months after September 11, 2001. They volunteered for a simple reason: they loved America and they were determined to protect her. Now we must secure the cause for which they gave their lives. We must unite to defend America from its enemies abroad. We must restore the bonds of loyalty among our citizens at home, and we must achieve an honorable and enduring outcome worthy of the enormous price that so many have paid.
Our actions and in the months to come, all of them will honor the sacrifice of every fallen hero, every family who lost a loved one, and every wounded warrior who shed their blood in defense of our great nation.
With our resolve, we will ensure that your service and that your families will bring about the defeat of our enemies and the arrival of peace. We will push onward to victory with power in our hearts, courage in our souls and everlasting pride in each and every one of you. Thank you. May God bless our military, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much. Thank you
Strip out the references to what a crappy situation the previous administration has left him in and the speech could have come from the mouth of any ex-president of the last 30 years.
Hope & Change mk2
Post by C_D » Mon Sep 25, 2017 12:35 am
Oh, this is starting to get very interesting. The schism created by the system - and in the left corner, we have, weighing in at 100 million adults and their dependents, a movement that wants to see white people demoted to the second class carriage and a lot more non-whiteys in the driving seats of power, leading towards a bright new future of equality for all but no clear or defined way of getting there, except for the conviction that anyone who isn't on their side is a Nazi - and in the right corner, we have, weighing in at 100 million adults and their dependents, a beleaguered assortment of ex-malcontents, nationalists, status-quo lovers and anyone that finds the left corner a bit scary, who believed that El Trumpino was going to be different in policy, but have been sorely disappointed by his lack of any difference to any other Prez for the last 50 years.
It's always surprising where it will manifest itself next. The NFL kneel down - I tell you what, this might actually make sport a bit more competitive and interesting. You'll have teams from left-leaning cities that kneel, really wanting to kick the fuck out of right-leaning city teams because they're obviously Nazis. We should see some proper violence develop soon.
It can only be so long before the shooting starts. They do love their guns. Never ever seen a gun, myself. But I can imagine the fantasy that Hollywood projects about guns is very different to the reality. I bet it's a very messy business being shot, lots of crying and pain and probably screaming.
Will it be a very un-civil war, with no clear sides, or will it be war with a manufactured enemy to unite the American people against a common foe?
Whichever way, that sucker is going down. The die is cast. This has been a long time brewing. A gangster State acts like gangsters. Maybe it is a Russian plot. The Ruskies are very good at analytical thinking. And fighting dirty. And America is hardly the shining beacon it once believed itself to be. The best they could offer this time around was Trumpy or Clinty, ffs. LOL! Its little wonder the vultures are circling.
Wonder where the division will manifest next? Maybe in the US armed forces. Now, that will be interesting to see.
greycircle
Post by greycircle » Mon Sep 25, 2017 2:08 am
Come on man, don't make fun of big daddy, he is the most aerodynamic pres we ever had. And, he isn't orange anymore either! Gonna try to upload a pic, don't know whats gonna happen...
The thing that gives me comfort is knowing that the "extreme left" were largely bused in and paid to act stupid and scream "nazi."
Have you noticed since Trump became Pres we don't have fake "mass shooting of the week" anymore? That shit got boring anyway. Now we have "cars crash into crowds" and some folks actually got hurt. My guess is that these people, some of em anyway, are MK victims.
trump golden ratio.PNG (18.54 KiB) Viewed 8704 times
exodus refugee
Post by C_D » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:50 am
LOL at that golden ratio. There's something about Trump that makes him interesting to watch, for a short period of time. He doesn't pause when he's speaking, like so many politicians - as they take into account all other previous bullshit they have said and making sure it tallies up with what they're about to say - so it's no wonder that he puts his foot in his mouth quite often.
I totally agree that people who drive cars into crowds have mental issues, whether those issues were put there by MK or not - but there have always been people with just plain mental issues. Look at what happened to poor slad.
Politically highly-charged events like Charlottesville attract highly-charged individuals - and that can include psychos. Are you American, greycircle?
Are you American, greycircle?
Yep i'm amurikan.
I looked over there today for the first time in about three weeks. Oh man...Its worse than ever. I looked over the last couple of pages of the "Why Do People Apologize For Russia" thread. It was a toxic tragedy. The last two pages of the thread were slad holding court and lashing out at a few others with her passive aggressive toxicity. She treats that place like her own personal concentration camp. I guess thats really the same person behind that name but its hard to believe.
Slad used to have a lot of different eclectic metaphysical type subjects she posted about. Its like its been wiped from her memory because she never posts about that sort of stuff anymore. Its just gone from her personality, totally. She just sits there all day wallowing in propaganda and arguing with anybody that dares go against her narrative. Its sad. If thats really still the same person Trump drove her to rabid furniture leg biting insanity.
BeneGesserit
Post by BeneGesserit » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:10 pm
C_D wrote: ↑
and in the right corner, we have, weighing in at 100 million adults and their dependents, a beleaguered assortment of ex-malcontents, nationalists, status-quo lovers and anyone that finds the left corner a bit scary, who believed that El Trumpino was going to be different in policy, but have been sorely disappointed by his lack of any difference to any other Prez for the last 50 years.
"ex-malcontents" indicates that these people are now .. contented. I don't see that.
"status-quo lovers" indicates that the ppl who voted for Trump liked things the way they were under Obama. that isn't logical.
"finds the Left corner a bit scary" The left of today is terrifying which is why many Liberals are left rudderless. They aren't suddenly 'right' or 'conservative' they simply aren't whatever the Left now is: fascist, totalitarian, illogical, communist
If you're going to demonize a group of people the least you could do is think about it for five minutes before you type.
Post by C_D » Tue Sep 26, 2017 2:40 pm
Yeah, I do generalise.
When I said ex-malcontents, I mean't less malcontented, now that the 'left' has gone batshit bonkers and the system in place doesn't seem quite so bad. Not that it isn't.
"status-quo lovers" - I have to assume you believe there is a difference between Obama and Trump. I do not see any differences whatsoever. Both are figureheads of an eternal deep state. I also assume that you believe voting decides who will be President (I do not) and that different Presidents have different policies. They do not. They merely continue what has gone before. Witness Trumps promises that won him an election - he will backtrack on all of them.
I know this. The point I was trying to make is that the left do not discern. They tar all with the same brush. Right-wing is anyone who isn't left wing. I think many of the SJW's have quite literally lost their minds. The deep state media that goads them on doesn't help.
Nice to meet you, too.
edited to add - I'm not American, never been there, only met a few Americans, see a lot of their news and share a lot of their concerns, frustrations etc but I have no idea what it's like to be an American. It must be weird at the moment though, judging by what I'm hearing.
Yes I see a difference between Obama and Trump and I'm not so far gone as to think voting is completely irrelevant.
I see the establishment freak out as more than simple theater, in this case.
Trump is a wildcard to a greater degree than anyone has been in a long time, IMO.
jakell
Post by jakell » Tue Oct 24, 2017 11:47 am
Styx's title might be a bit hyperbolic here, but he reigns that in with plenty of nuance in the actual video. I don't follow mainstream American politics very closely, but Styx does it pretty well so I don't have to get my hands too dirty, he was right about Trump last year and I tend to take notice of him.
Apart from Styx's observations here, it's noticable to even the casual observer that Trump hysteria has diminished somewhat and those who got feverish may even try to pretend that they didn't inhale. For an example just check out your local reliable Trump hysteric and take their temperature, they may even have moved on in search of fresher boogeymen**.
Concerning this last, and in line with Styx's previous discussions of moral panics (on here) satisfying a particular psychological need, those Trump hysterics who are now finding his malevolence less triggering may find a new home in the antifa/SJW mindset, where the perception of evil is kept just vague enough (and with many sources) that it can't really be falsified.. there will always be Nazis under the bed - guaranteed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kuc1pEaeqQ
** One of my few concessions to Americanisms, over here we use one less 'o'.
Post by C_D » Tue Oct 24, 2017 9:56 pm
The System gave the malcontents a sop in Trump.
It's a simple play by the system - intentioned, but always fluid -
you're fed up with the system, eh?
ok - here's an alternative - he's a bit of a joke, he's still part of the system, but we'll make it look kind of as though he isn't, by pandering to a few conspiracy-minded topics - he hasn't got a chance, really - but it'll let us gauge just how many of you are actually pissed off enough to vote for any kind of change - fuck, he won! There may be trouble ahead.
but oh, he can't deliver any meaningful change because he's serving the system anyway - and you are realising you've been fooled
so - we'll make him look bad, very bad, worse than you could have imagined - we'll ridicule and debase him
make him the reason it's falling apart - and your fault too, you voted for him
nevermind the fact that our system is so rotten it's making many people mentally and physically ill
but ours is the only system that works and we're the smartest people in the room, we have the divine right to lead the herd
because you a herd, a herd of cattle with no direction without us
and soon, we shall offer you a bright, shining beacon that will seem to too good to be true - and it will be.
Post by jakell » Tue Oct 24, 2017 10:35 pm
I try to give equal credence to the possibility that some things are not a product of 'the system', that they can happen organically and are not a product of 'control'. Another version is to credit anything and everything to the 'Deep State' and I'm starting to roll my eyes every time I hear that.
That's still a whopping 50% allotted to traditional conspiracy tropes, which isn't a bad slice, but allowing that some things may 'just happen' does free my mind somewhat from the old 'puppet-master' archetype that seems to me a little too tempting.
Data Dump & Research
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Kevin Murphy, December 14, 2020, Domain Registries
In what appears to be an almost unprecedented move, ICANN is to review Donuts’ proposed acquisition of rival Afilias at the highest level, raising a question mark over the industry mega-merger.
The org’s board of directors will meet Thursday to consider, among other things, “Afilias Change of Control Approval Request”.
It’s highly unusual for a change of control to be discussed at such a high level.
Every registry contract contains clauses requiring ICANN’s consent before a registry switches owners, and it has approved hundreds over the last decade. But the process is usually handled by legal staff, without board involvement.
The only time, to my memory, that the board has got involved was when it withheld consent from .org manager Public Interest Registry earlier this year.
It’s not entirely clear why Afilias has been singled out for special treatment.
It’s probably not due to its status as a legacy gTLD registry operator because of .info — when GoDaddy bought .biz operator Neustar’s registry business earlier this year, there was no such board review.
In addition, the .info contract’s change of control provisions are very similar to those in the standard new gTLD contract.
Could it be due to Donuts executives former ties to ICANN and the perception of a conflict of interest? Again, it seems unlikely.
While Donuts CEO Akram Atallah is former president of ICANN’s Global Domains Division, former ICANN CEO Fadi Chehadé is no longer involved with Donuts owner Abry Partners, having jumped to erstwhile PIR bidder Ethos Capital this July.
Are there competition concerns? It’s a possibility.
Afilias holds the contracts for 24 gTLDs new and legacy, but supports a couple hundred more, while Donuts is contracted for over 240.
But between them, they have barely 10 million domains under management. Donuts isn’t even the market leader in terms of new gTLD registrations.
And ICANN avoids making competition pronouncements like the plague, preferring instead to refer to national competition regulators.
Could ICANN’s interest have been perked by the fact that Afilias is the back-end provider for .org’s 10 million domains, and the proposed Donuts deal comes hot on the heels of the failed PIR acquisition? Again, it’s a possibility.
But none of the dangers ICANN identified in the .org deal — such as pricing, freedom of speech, and the change from a non-profit to for-profit corporate structure — appear to apply here.
There could be technical concerns. Atallah told DI a couple weeks ago that the plan was to ultimately migrate its managed TLDs to its Amazon cloud-based registry.
But moving its clients’ TLDs to a new back-end infrastructure would require their consent — it would be up to PIR and its overlords at the Internet Society to agree to moving .org to the cloud.
I think it’s likely that a combination of all the above factors, and maybe others, are what’s driving the Afilias acquisition to the ICANN boardroom. It will be interesting to see what the board decrees.
Kevin Murphy, December 2, 2020, Domain Registries
Public Interest Registry has published its 2019 tax returns, revealing a top line of $97.1 million.
That’s a tad under the $101.1 million it reported for 2018, presumably due to the declining number of .org domains under management.
It lost roughly 200,000 names in 2019, bottoming out at 10.4 million, though it has since recovered in 2020.
The returns also reveal that back-end provider Afilias was paid $18.3 million for its trouble, and ICANN was paid $2.6 million in fees.
The Internet Society, which owns PIR and uses it for most of its funding, was paid $67.5 million, up from the $48.7 million given in 2018.
The form also list the salary and bonuses for 20-odd staffers and directors, for the salary voyeurs among you.
ICANN dissenter explains why she wanted .org sale approved
Kevin Murphy, May 22, 2020, Domain Registries
ICANN has finally published the dissenting statement made by one of its directors following the vote to deny Ethos Capital the right to acquire Public Interest Registry from the Internet Society.
Avri Doria was one of only two directors to vote against the majority on the April 30 resolution, and the only one to file a written statement for the record, which ICANN has now published (pdf). It reads:
Briefly, I believe that the contractual conditions have been met by PIR and Ethos and that they have gone beyond these required contractual conditions to offer significant public interest commitments currently missing from the current contract.
On balance after intense study of the proposal I have come to conclusion that the Public Interest of registrants and users is better served by the PICs offered by PIR, though they could
be stronger, than by forcing PIR to remain within ISOC without any guarantees on public interest related to data usage and freedom of expression.
In exchange for ICANN approval of the deal, Ethos had promised to cap its price increases at 10% for eight years and to create a largely independent stewardship council to monitor issues related to privacy and free speech in .org.
With ICANN voting to deny the acquisition, PIR is not required to live up to those commitments, but opponents of the deal feel that its not-for-profit status under ISOC control provide stronger protections against bad behavior.
ICANN said it rejected the deal on “public interest” grounds for a variety of reasons including the lack of transparency into Ethos’ ultimate ownership, distrust that Ethos would be able to service its debt, doubt over its management in the long term, and the sheer volume of dissent from the community.
Also playing a strong role was an objection from the California attorney general, who pulled rank and informed ICANN that it should reject the deal, reminding the organization that it was subject to his oversight. This has been described as a dangerous precedent.
ICANN’s .org decision was NOT unanimous, and it was made in secret
When ICANN announced its decision to deny Public Interest Registry’s request to be acquired by Ethos Capital at the end of April, I felt a little foolish.
I’d confidently predicted just days earlier that the decision by the board would not be unanimous, but ICANN, in announcing the decision, said “the entire Board stands by this decision”.
But it turns out I was right after all. Three directors voted against the consensus and one abstained.
The dissenting votes were cast by industry policy consultant Avri Doria, Serbian internet pioneer Danko Jevtović, and former Sudanese ccTLD operator Ihab Osman.
Doria and Jevtović voted against the first resolved clause, which rejected PIR’s request. All three voted against the second resolved clause, which would have allowed PIR to file a second request.
Sarah Deutsch, a private practice lawyer, abstained from both votes, presumably because she also sits on the board of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the civil liberties group that can, via California’s attorney general, probably be credited most with getting the transaction killed.
All three dissenters and Deutsch are Nominating Committee appointees.
According to the preliminary report of the April 30 meeting, “Doria indicated that she would be voting against the resolution and explained her views about how the public interest would be better served by ICANN granting its consent to PIR’s request.”
What her reasons were are not reflected in the record.
It also seems likely that any substantive minuting of ICANN’s decision is likely to be limited, as it appears to have been made at a different, off-the-books session at an unspecified earlier date.
The preliminary report notes the “the Board discussed and considered alternative draft resolutions for potential Board action as part of an earlier briefing”.
No such earlier meeting is listed on ICANN’s web site. The board’s previous formal meeting, two weeks earlier, had PIR’s request removed from the agenda at the last minute.
So it appears that ICANN’s board decided to reject the deal basically in secret at some point between April 17 and April 29, during a meeting of which ICANN has no obligation to publicly release the minutes.
Nice transparency loophole!
There’s always the Documentary Information Disclosure Policy, I suppose.
.org sale officially dead
Public Interest Registry has formally announced that its proposed $1.13 billion acquisition by Ethos Capital is dead.
The company told ICANN yesterday that it is withdrawing its request for a change of control under its .org contract and that it “will not be pursuing an ICANN Request for Reconsideration or taking any other action to try to revive the Transaction”.
In a statement, CEO Jon Nevett said that PIR is no longer for sale to any other party. It will remain under the Internet Society’s control.
He also pointed out that it’s not within ICANN’s power to arbitrarily transfer .org to another registry, as some critics have called for.
“Such a transfer by ICANN is a contractual impossibility under our registry agreement,” he wrote.
ICANN rejected the change of control request after deciding it was not in the public interest for .org to pass into for-profit hands.
Following the decision, ISOC had indicated that PIR was no longer for sale.
The .org deal may be dead and buried, but calls remain for PIR to lose its contract
Kevin Murphy, May 4, 2020, Domain Registries
The Internet Society has revealed that the .org registry operator PIR is no longer for sale.
The news came in a statement from ISOC chair Andrew Sullivan late Friday, less than 24 hours after ICANN withheld its consent for the proposed $1.13 billion acquisition by private equity firm Ethos Capital.
ICANN had held the door open for Ethos and ISOC to resubmit a change of control request, and Ethos had said Thursday that it was evaluating its options, but it appears the decision has been made to keep PIR under ISOC’s wing.
In his statement, Sullivan expressed his dismay that ICANN had acted as a “regulator” by evaluating the deal using a public interest test rather than simply rubber-stamping it as it has in all other cases of registry acquisitions. He wrote:
It should concern the Internet community that ICANN has shown itself to be much more susceptible to political pressure than its limited mandate would recommend.
Now that we know that ICANN believes its remit to be much larger than we believe it is, we can state this clearly: neither PIR nor any of its operations are for sale now, and the Internet Society will resist vigorously any suggestion that they ought to be.
But who would want to, or could afford to, buy it? While ICANN has made it clear that PE firms are welcome to acquire other TLDs, it wants .org to remain in non-profit hands.
During the last few months of controversy, one other embryonic effort to take over .org was announced, led by founding ICANN chair Esther Dyson.
Called the Cooperative Corporation of dot-org Registrants (CCOR), it had no intention of handing over a billion dollars for .org, it simply wanted ICANN to assign the contract to its control.
It still wants that, or something like that. In a statement Saturday, CCOR said it “calls upon ICANN to proceed with the established multi-stakeholder led open request for proposals for stewardship of the dot-org domain”.
Unless it can be shown that PIR has seriously broken the terms of its Registry Agreement, the chances of ICANN randomly opening up .org to tender is pretty much zero.
CCOR goes on to say that it is still worried about .org falling into private hands and that it will lobby for legally binding policies “including the preservation of privacy, diversity and human rights, and freedom from censorship”.
“Dangerous precedent” as ICANN rejects $1.13 billion .org buyout
In a decision that will shock many, ICANN won’t let Ethos Capital buy Public Interest Registry from the Internet Society.
Its board of directors yesterday voted to reject PIR’s request for a change of control of the .org contract, saying that “the public interest is better served in withholding consent”.
Ethos responded angrily almost immediately, saying the decision “sets a dangerous precedent with broad industry implications” and that it is “evaluating its options”.
The ICANN resolution, which was published overnight, is justified by setting out the case that .org is a unique case: a large legacy gTLD with a mandate to serve non-profit entities.
The Board was presented with a unique and complex situation – a request to approve a fundamental change of control over one of the longest-standing and largest registries, that also includes a change in corporate form from a viable not-for-profit entity to a for-profit entity with a US$360 million debt obligation, and with new and untested community engagement mechanisms relying largely upon ICANN contractual compliance enforcement to hold the new entity accountable to the .ORG community. ICANN is being asked to agree to contract with a wholly different form of entity; instead of contracting with the mission-based not-for-profit that has responsibly operated the .ORG registry for nearly 20 years, with the protections for its own community embedded in its mission and status as a not-for-profit entity. If ICANN were to consent, ICANN would have to trust that the new proposed for-profit entity that no longer has the embedded protections that come from not-for-profit status, which has fiduciary obligations to its new investors and is obligated to service and repay US$360 million in debt, would serve the same benefits to the .ORG community.
Essentially, ICANN is holding ISOC to the by-and-for non-profits commitment that it made when it inherited the registry from Verisign back in 2002. You may recall I went into some depth on the history of .org back in December.
While noting the broad criticism from various parties — which included domainers and non-profits — about the proposed acquisition, the resolution makes specific reference to the investigation by the office of the California attorney general, which had made vague threats of legal action against ICANN.
Some commentators, including Jonathan Zuck and Michele Neylon — are worried that the AG’s influence now means ICANN has a new boss, and that special interest groups in future need only lobby his office in order to override community-built consensus.
But ICANN did not single out one reason for its decision, saying withholding consent was “reasonable in light of the balancing of all of the circumstances”.
Ethos, while not calling out the AG directly, made the broader claim that ICANN has acted outside its mandate by succumbing to lobbying by outside parties.
Its statement, which I think contains hints at future legal action, reads in full:
Today’s decision by ICANN sets a dangerous precedent with broad industry implications. ICANN has overstepped its purview, which is limited to ensuring routine transfers of indirect control (such as the sale of PIR) do not impact the registry’s security, stability and reliability. Today’s action opens the door for ICANN to unilaterally reject future transfer requests based on agenda-driven pressure by outside parties. It allows ICANN to base its decisions on a subjective interpretation of what it deems to be relevant in these transactions, rather than following its own clear and specified legal directive.
This decision will suffocate innovation and deter future investment in the domain industry. ICANN has empowered itself to extend its authority into areas that fall well outside of its legal mandate in acting as a regulatory body. Today’s decision also creates an uncertain and unpredictable business environment, where the enforceability and value of the ICANN contract itself may be called into question now that the rules of transferring ownership are open to influence by outside interests. Ethos is evaluating its options at this time.
In the same statement, PIR called the decision “a failure to follow its bylaws, processes, and contracts” and ISOC said ICANN “has acted as a regulatory body it was never meant to be”.
While the decision could be chalked up as a win for domain investors and civil libertarians that had challenged the acquisition, it has implications that may not entirely please them.
Assuming the deal stays dead, PIR is no longer promising to only increase prices by 10% a year. It will be able to raise its registry fee arbitrarily, whenever it likes, subject to notice periods and the usual uniform pricing rules.
Domainers will have to hope there’s no sour grapes at ISOC, or they could be looking at big price hikes before long.
And for those interested in censorship, remember PIR is no longer committing to a Stewardship Council that would help protect free speech in .org domains.
The ICANN decision came in spite of a last-minute plea from former chair and ISOC co-founder Vint Cerf, who in a letter (pdf) described the deal as a “wedge issue” that could be leverage to force ICANN into an existential crisis, with outside interests such as the ITU pushing itself as a replacement.
ICANN also received eleventh-hour submissions from the German government (which was against the deal) and German trade group Eco (which was vague but appeared to be for the deal).
Decision on .org deal may come sooner than you think
Kevin Murphy, April 28, 2020, Domain Registries
If you’re against the acquisition of .org and are thinking about an objection or spot of lobbying at the eleventh hour, be aware: this is the eleventh hour.
The deal, which would see Ethos Capital buy Public Interest Registry from the Internet Society for over a billion dollars, is on the agenda for a meeting of the ICANN board of directors this Thursday.
ICANN and Ethos have agreed to a May 4 deadline for a decision, but is whispered that the board plans to give the deal the nod, or not, at the Thursday meeting.
Given how long it usually takes for ICANN to post the results of its board meetings, typically a few days, there’s a decent chance that PIR, Ethos and ISOC could be given formal approval before any opponents have time to react to the resolution.
I think it could go either way.
The one thing I have a fairly high degree of confidence in is that I do not expect a unanimous vote.
While I think ICANN’s institutional instincts are to approve, the breadth and depth of the outrage over the deal may be difficult for some directors to ignore.
If it were only domain investors objecting, approval would be a slam dunk. But here we also have non-profits, civil liberties groups and governments crying foul.
Perhaps most importantly, there’s the objection of the California attorney generalobjection of the California attorney general to consider.
He has power over ICANN because it’s a non-profit registered in his state, and he’s said “will take whatever action necessary to protect Californians and the nonprofit community”.
His last letter to ICANN is believed to have caused the board to remove the .org deal from the agenda at its last meeting and seek a deadline extension from PIR.
One plausible interpretation of that chain of events is that the board was ready to give Ethos the nod, but the AG’s letter gave it pause.
As ICANN meets to decide .org’s fate, California AG says billion-dollar deal must be rejected
Kevin Murphy, April 16, 2020, Domain Policy
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has urged ICANN to deny approval of Ethos Capital’s $1.13 billion acquisition of .org manager Public Interest Registry.
The call came in a letter (pdf) dated yesterday, just a day before ICANN’s board of directors was scheduled to meet to discuss the deal.
Becerra, who started looking into the deal in late January, wrote, right out of the gate:
I urge ICANN to reject the transfer of control over the .ORG registry to Ethos Capital. The proposed transfer raises serious concerns that cannot be overlooked.
Chief among his concerns is the fact that ICANN originally granted PIR the right to run .org largely because it was a non-profit with a committment to serve non-profits. He wrote:
If, as proposed, Ethos Capital is permitted to purchase PIR, it will no longer have the unique characteristics that ICANN valued at the time that it selected PIR as the nonprofit to be responsible for the .ORG registry. In effect, what is at stake is the transfer of the world’s second largest registry to a for-profit private equity firm that, by design, exists to profit from millions of nonprofit and non-commercial organizations
He’s also bothered about the lack of transparency about who Ethos is and what its plans are. The proposed new owners of PIR are hidden behind a complex hierarchy of dummy LLCs, and Ethos has so far refused to name its money men or to specify what additional services it might offer to boost its revenue.
Becerra also doesn’t buy the business plan, which would see PIR required to pay off a $300 million loan and, as a newly converted for-profit entity, start paying taxes.
He’s particularly scathing about the fact that ICANN approved the removal of PIR’s price caps last year despite receiving over 3,000 public comments opposing the changes and only half a dozen in favor.
“There is mounting concern that ICANN is no longer responsive to the needs of its stakeholders,” he writes.
Despite saying he “will take whatever action necessary to protect Californians and the nonprofit community”, Becerra does not specify what remedies are available to him.
But it looks like ICANN faces the risk of legal action no matter which way its board of directors votes (or voted) today.
Its current deadline to make a decision is April 20.
Ethos clarifies .org price rises, promises to reveal number of censored domains
Kevin Murphy, April 9, 2020, Domain Registries
Public Interest Registry and would-be owner Ethos Capital have slightly revised the set of promises they hope to keep if ICANN approves the $1.13 billion acquisition.
Notably, in updating their proposed Public Interest Commitments (pdf), they’ve set out in plain dollar terms for the first time the maximum annual price PIR would charge for a .org domain over the coming seven years.
Applicable Maximum Fee
$9.93 June 30, 2019 to June 29, 2020
$10.92 June 30, 2020 to June 29, 2021
Previous versions of the PICs just included a formula and invited the reader to do the math(s).
The two companies are proposing to scrap price caps altogether after June 2027.
If ICANN rejects the deal, under its current contract PIR would be free to raise its prices willy-nilly from day one, though some believe it would be less likely to do so under its current ownership by the non-profit Internet Society.
The new PICs also include a nod to those who believe that PIR would become less sensitive to issues like free speech and censorship — perhaps because China may lean on Ethos’ shadowy billionaire backers. The document now states:
Registry Operator will produce and publish annually a report… This report will also include a transparency report setting forth the number of .ORG domain name registrations that have been suspended or terminated by Registry Operator during the preceding year under Registry Operator’s Anti-Abuse Policy or pursuant to court order.
A few other tweaks clarify the launch date and composition of its proposed Stewardship Council, a body made up of expert outsiders that would offer policy guidance and have a veto on issues such as changes to .org censorship and privacy policy.
The PICs now ban family members of people working for PIR from sitting on the council, and clarify that it would have to be up and running six months after the acquisition closes.
Because .org is not a gTLD applied for in 2012, the PICs do not appear to be open for public comment, but post-acquisition changes to the document would be.
ICANN currently plans to approve or deny the acquisition request by April 20, just 11 days from now.
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News from Member Organisations
Tag: UNDP
COVID-19 Law Lab
Posted on 26/07/2020 28/07/2020 by Milutin
The COVID-19 Law Lab initiative is a joint project of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. It gathers and shares legal documents from over 190 countries across the world to help states establish and implement strong legal frameworks to manage the pandemic.
The goal is to ensure that laws protect the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities and that they adhere to international human rights standards. Well-designed laws can help build strong health systems; evaluate and approve safe and effective drugs and vaccines; and enforce actions to create healthier and safer public spaces and workplaces.
The COVID-19 Law Lab is a database of laws that countries have implemented in response to the pandemic. It includes state of emergency declarations, quarantine measures, disease surveillance, legal measures relating to mask-wearing, social distancing, and access to medication and vaccines. It will also feature research on different legal frameworks for COVID-19. These analyses will focus on the human rights impacts of public health laws and help countries identify best practices to guide their immediate responses to COVID-19 and socioeconomic recovery efforts once the pandemic is under control
The COVID-19 Law Lab is accessible following this link>>>.
Posted in General NewsTagged corona virusCOVID-19COVID-19 Law LabO’Neill InstituteUNAIDSUNDPWHO
International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy
Posted on 29/03/2019 by Milutin
Responding to the harms associated with drug use and the illicit drug trade is one of the greatest social policy challenges of our time. All aspects of this challenge have human rights implications.
Drug control intersects with much of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In line with the 2030 Agenda, the UNDP Strategic Plan 2018 – 2021 and the HIV, Health and Development Strategy 2016 – 2021: Connecting the Dots, the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy provide a comprehensive set of international legal standards for placing human dignity and sustainable development at the centre of UN member states responses to illicit drug economies. The guidelines cover a diverse set of substantive issues ranging from development to criminal justice to public health.
The guidelines were developed by a coalition of UN Member States, WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP and leading human rights and drug policy experts. The Guidelines are an example of the support provided to practically integrate international human rights commitments into national, regional and global policy and programmes.
The drugs issue cuts across the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, reducing inequalities and, of course, improving health, with its targets on drug use, HIV and other communicable diseases. Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions is particularly important, requiring attention to human rights across the Sustainable Development Goals. Since the late 1990s, UN General Assembly resolutions have acknowledged that ‘countering the world drug problem’ must be carried out ‘in full conformity’ with ‘all human rights and fundamental freedoms’. This has been reaffirmed in every major UN political declaration on drug control since, and in multiple resolutions adopted by the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.The reality, however, has not always lived up to this important commitment.
The Guidelines are based on both ‘hard law’ and ‘soft law’ sources – those that are legally binding and those that are authoritative but not binding per se. With very few exceptions, the general descriptions of rights are drawn from binding treaty provisions.
However, since very few human rights treaty provisions address drug control directly and since the application of general rights to specific groups requires a more in-depth analysis, much of the guidance presented throughout the document is based on UN resolutions and declarations, the general comments and concluding observations of UN human rights treaty bodies and the work of UN human rights Special Procedures. Findings of regional human rights courts and national courts are also cited. Such jurisprudence, which is binding for the relevant countries, is cited in the Guidelines as being persuasive of a particular application of a right.
The Guidelines are not a ‘toolkit’ for a model drug policy. The Guidelines are a reference tool for those working to ensure human rights compliance at local, national, and international levels, be they parliamentarians, diplomats, judges, policy makers, civil society organisations or affected communities.
This longer version of the Guidelines will be available on an interactive website where readers may search by specific rights, drug control themes, and other key words, as well as follow links to source material.
To read and download Guidelines on human right and Drug policy follow this link>>>
Posted in General NewsTagged Drug Policyguidelineshuman rightsInternational Centre on Human Rights and Drug PolicySDGsUNUNAIDSUNDPUnited NationsWHOLeave a Comment on International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy
62nd CND Session – Day 2
The second day of the 62th CND was full of side events and sharing with participants.
An overviews of the side events we participated in today includes:
Psychoactive substances and the Sustainable Development Goals – Towards a comprehensive approach in the era of the 2030 Agenda
Organized by the Government of Slovenia, Utrip Institute for Research and Development, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe and IOGT International. Jože Hren started his presentation reminding that for 20 years already the approach in Slovenia is that drug use is primarily a health problem and that possession of small quantities is a misdemeanour also since 1999. Those who are caught in possession of drugs get a fine of 40 Euro, but there is a process to change it to an oral warning or referral to treatment in more complex situations. Representative of the Pompidou Group spoke about the bi-annual prize the Group awards to innovative prevention programmes created by young people for young people. Another Slovenian representative presented their work emphasizing the need to invest in mental health programmes for adolescents. Cost of mental health disorders in Europe take 3 to 5 percent of GDP. There is a need for a reallocation of resources for more sustainable and impactful outcomes in tackling harmful substances and behaviours. Medical help is not enough – it has to be combined with comprehensive and long lasting prevention. They have a programme called “This is me”, which is in line with the Goal 3 of the SDGs. Kristina Sperkova, president of the IOGT International (international network of Templar organisations) works on prevention of alcohol and other drugs harm world-wide. Sanela from Utrip Institute advocated for a community approach to prevention. Notes from the side event are available at the CND Blog following this address>>>.
Leaving no one behind: People at the centre of a harm reduction, human rights and public health approach to drug use
Organized by the Netherlands and Norway, UNODC, UNDP, UNAIDS, WHO, IDPC, AFEW International, Harm Reduction International, INPUD, Open Society Foundations, Aidsfonds and Frontline AIDS. Ann Fordham from IDPC highlighted that the new UNADIS report indicates that 99% of people who use drugs doesn’t have a proper access to health services. WHO representative reminded that half a million people worldwide die of drug related deaths, mainly overdose and blood borne diseases HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. People also suffer because they can’t access the medicines they need. The Netherlands has “put people first” in their approach to harm reduction. The right to health is fundamental to all people irrespective of whether they are using drugs. Drug policies should seek to reduce violence, promote the rule of law, support the most marginalized and vulnerable, lift up human rights. Prohibition and criminalization means a continuation of armed conflict supported by disproportionate spending. Naomi Burke-Shyne from HRI reminded that funding for harm reduction has flat lined from 2007 to 2016, which stands in shocking contrast to the estimated funding need by UNAIDS: existing funding represents only 13% of this estimated need. Judy Chang from INPUD stated that “Existing drug policies threaten security, democracy and the well-being of all, especially those most marginalized and vulnerable. The war on drugs and drug-free agenda undermines the SDG agenda.” Zaved Mahmood from UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that People who use drugs are not just left behind, they are kept out. The right to life includes the obligation to take measures where peoples’ lives might be threatened, including in relation to the use of drugs and HIV and hepatitis.
Drug prevention approaches that make a difference
Organized by the Governments of Iceland and Serbia, and the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe. Serbian representative to the OSC made an introduction speech. The same like the Minister of Health on Thursday 14 at the Ministerial Segment, he said that the Drug Strategy has 5 chapters instead of 7, avoiding to say that Harm Reduction is one of them. Jelena Janković from the Ministry of Health presented the latest developments, including information about overdose deaths in 2018 and creation of the Ministerial Commission (for fighting narcomania in schools). She also presented the project the Ministry did with experiences and support from Israel. Iceland presented their project with are seen as the flagship project on prevention. Almost 2% of the alcohol and tobacco taxes go to prevention programmes! They see as the main risks and protective factors family factors, peer group effect, general well-being and extra-curricular activities and sports. Their learning is that the multidisciplinary collaboration is the key to success. The change thy achieved is different attitude of parents and society – don’t buy alcohol for children. It is not OK for adolescents to be drunk in public. It is not the amount of time that parents spend with their children – it is the quality of time. There are no unsupervised parties. Pompidou Group emphasised the role of police in prevention. Interventions from the floor were on offering more than just sports and having campaigns that cover illicit but also legal substances.
Other side events held today that may be of interest are:
Alternatives to incarceration: When are they useful, how much do they cost and how can member states best implement and monitor them?
Handling dangerous opioids: Keeping our officers safe!
The Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs (VNGOC) held regular Annual General Assembly. The Committee welcomed new members, reviewed and approved the VNGOC annual report and reflected on activities for 2018/19 including those of the Civil Society Task Force (CSTF), got information about the annual accounts for 2018, the latest financial status and audited accounts for 2018, Strategic Plan 2019-21 and Budget for 2019 and Voluntary Code of Conduct for NGOs at the CND and received an update on developments within UNODC. The Committee discussed the future organisation of the VNGOC, based on the background paper presented by the Board.
Following a governance review process undertaken in 2017, VNGOC agreed to stagger the elections for the VNGOC Board to ensure greater stability and continuity. In order to do this, three of the positions elected last year were given one-year terms, the other three positions were given the standard two-year terms. This year, the following three positions were up for re-election: Chairperson, Deputy Treasurer, Deputy Secretary. Our friend fro International Drug Policy Consortium Jamie Bridge was re-elected for the Chairperson. Congratulations!
Posted in General NewsTagged AFEW InternationalAidsfondsCND 2019Frontline AIDSharm reductionHarm Reduction Internationalhuman rightsIDPCINPUDIOGT InternationalJamie BridgeNetherlandsNorwayOpen Society FoundationsPompidou GroupPublic HealthSDGsSloveniasustainable development goalsUNAIDSUNDPUNODCUtripVNGOCWHO
An interesting webinar on social contracting
Health Policy Plus, APMG, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, UNAIDS, UNDP, USAID and others hosted a webinar on 6 March 2019 to discuss social contracting for HIV care, treatment and support. Presenters from around the world discussed how to plan for social contracting as part of a long-term sustainability strategy and how to advocate for it, touching on policy and regulatory challenges, how to develop mechanisms to put social contracting in place and how to implement and monitor social contracting’s success.
To view the recording of the webinar, follow this link>>>>
Slides from the webinar are available following this link>>>>
Health Policy Plus also prepared a factsheet Social Contracting: Supporting Domestic Public Financing for Civil Society’s Role in the HIV Response from which you can learn more about social contracting and how it can support domestic public financing for civil society’s role in the HIV response. You can find the factsheet following this link >>>>
Posted in General NewsTagged factsheetGlobal FundHealth Policy PlusHIVsocial contractingUNAIDSUNDPUSAIDwebinar
Building Recovery: State Policy Guide for Supporting Recovery Housing
Smjernice za programe smanjenja šteta povezanih sa zlouporabom droga
Sustained Recovery Management
Drugs and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Guide for NGOs
A public health perspective
What does Universal Health Coverage mean for People Who Use Drugs: A Technical Brief
Manual on rehabilitation and recovery of drug users
Tweets by DPN_SEE
Copyright Drug Policy Network SEE.
Website design & craft: STANDARD-E
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In the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, 2018 was the year of #20gayteen, and people were here for it. All throughout the year everyone shared their excitement with tweets, photos, and videos using the hashtag to show their pride.
It’s our year, it’s our time. To thrive and let our souls feel alive. #20GAYTEEN #expectations2018
— Hayley Kiyoko (@HayleyKiyoko) January 1, 2018
petition to rename 2018 to #20gayteen bc it'll be our gayest year yet pic.twitter.com/FmyUwlqItV
— Jayden (@PremiumCoffee_) December 29, 2017
As 2018 came to an end and New Years approached, I was excited to read on social media that 2019 was going to be known as #20BiTeen. However, I was recently scrolling through Twitter and discovered that the hashtag had been removed from the platform. Curious about what this meant, I typed #20BiTeen into the Twitter search engine. It was true—while tweets still show up, photos and videos have been blocked from users.
My initial reaction was confusion, but honestly? I wasn’t surprised. From the television show Glee claiming bisexuals are just those who aren’t fully out of the closet yet, to The Weeknd outing Bella Hadid in his song “Lost in the Fire” and then claiming he can “fuck her straight”, bisexuals are familiar with their identities or experiences being questioned—and ultimately erased—from the media.
For as long as I have been aware of my sexuality, I have also been aware of the disregard of those who identify as bi. Growing up in the digital age sure hasn’t made it easier when that was my only link to the LGBTQ+ community in the form of television, movies, music, and books. There has been an onslaught of bisexual erasure in the media for a long time.
One tweet pointed out that when you search #20gayteen millions of tweets, photos, and videos come up. There are plenty of stories of bisexuals being excluded from the LGBTQ+ community, and although this is not the community’s doing, it definitely contributes to bisexuality not being taken seriously as a sexuality.
Same thing happens with photos and news for #20BiTeen, but not #20GayTeen. pic.twitter.com/sqE2sOR4PE
— Bi-Trans Alliance (@BiTransAlliance) February 3, 2019
When you search up the hashtag, a statement from Twitter pops up that reads: “The term you entered did not bring up any results. You may have mistyped your term or your Search settings could be protecting you from some potentially sensitive content.” What sensitive content?
Another Twitter user stated the obvious: bisexuality is not a form of pornography. A sentiment that should be undeniable and yet for some reason still needs to be explained to some. This probably stems from a lot of annoying teen comedies in the 80s and 90s where straight girls would makeout in front of horny teenage boys to seem sexy. Before the rant fully comes out of me: a) straight girls, please stop doing this and b) bisexuals aren’t here for your pleasure. Also, while we’re over here discrediting bi stereotypes, just because someone likes two different genders, doesn’t mean they’re cheaters and/or sleep around. Okay, thanks.
#bisexuality is not pornography, @Twitter. The #20BiTeen tag has been blocked from displaying photos and videos for days now. Nothing from @TwitterSupport. @TwitterVideo, #BiTwitter pic.twitter.com/3rLzsHQgOy
— Larker Anthology (@LarkerAnthology) February 5, 2019
There’s a lot that contributes to the erasure of bisexuality in media, but the internet should be a place where everyone is allowed to express themselves however they see fit. I don’t understand why this hashtag was banned. This issue may seem insignificant to some of you reading this, but if every little ‘insignificant’ act towards erasing bisexuality was tallied, it would clearly add up to the much larger issue that it is. These small things ultimately tell us that society doesn’t think we exist, that our identities and experiences are invalid, and that can be detrimental to people’s mental health who might already struggle with their sexual orientation.
Twitter banning #20BiTeen is just the next nail in the coffin of bisexual erasure.
Danielle Howson
Photograph: Sierra Goulding
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Latest News - FATB 3
Catch-Up with FATB Online in Catch-Up Week Updated 18th October 2020
A return to Online classes and linked workshops with FATB since 28th September has seen performances galore in masterclasses on Telemann Fantasias and playing from memory as well as a range of free-choice pieces; the play-along classes - with a focus on pure fun - have included Schultze, Haydn, Beethoven and Loeillet to date, including a duet for alto flutes! We're also well into the course of linked classes on Poulenc's Sonata at present (ending next week)!
The one-off 45 minute classes range in topic from week to week, and The Singing Flute, Dances in 3-time and King Frederick the Great have been the subjects since September so far. Once in a while, however, we like to have a catch-up week to repeat some of the most popular workshops for those who missed out previously and Catch-Up Week is coming up again for the week of 26th September! This provides one further opportunity to take part in each of:
- Know the Score (sightreading and more!) on Wednesday 28th October 3.15 pm - “Brilliant workshop! Ten excellent points to remember and I'm going to pay particular attention to.” “Thank you for coming at this subject from all angles.”
- Playing in Colour (technique and uses of timbre changes) on Wednesday 28th October 6.30 pm - “This class was delightful. I liked that you offered practical guidance on how to touch the magic of expression in music. Lots to think about.”
- The Singing Flute (tone and melodic interpretation) on Saturday 31st October 10.00 am - “Brilliant - a really helpful reminder of what flute playing is all about and how best to achieve it! And the words of explanation that you use are just so meaningful.”
If you want to take read more about these (or any other) FATB Online classes or book your place(s) while there is still time, please click here.
FATB Online Is Back! Updated 21st September 2020
An exciting new programme of FATB Online classes is beginning the week of 28th September - and booking is now open! We're so excited to tell you about what's coming, which will include:
further terrific play-alongs in a range of musical styles, including one for those alto-flute lovers next month and some very curious pieces in November...
weekly friendly and supportive masterclasses for no more than four players, some with themes such as Telemann Fantasias, playing by heart, double-tonguing and more
in-depth linked classes (a week apart) on the world's best flute repertoire - Poulenc and Mozart are up next
changing weekly 45-minute classes on technique, style, interpretation, history or anything flute-y; we're kicking off with The Singing Flute, Dances in 3-time and King Frederick the Great and his Flute!
Classes are expertly presented by FATB Tutor Zoë Booth, with heaps of clear explanation, demonstrations, on-screen music and linked resources; after every workshop there is time for any questions and/or to connect with others. Places are limited to no more than five participants per workshop (and no more than four in the masterclasses and play-alongs) so don't delay and book now! You can read all about these classes, how to take part and more by clicking here.
The "New Term" with FATB Online Updated 5th September 2020
After 200 or so workshops, 26 weeks and 52 different classes - from technique workshops to play-alongs, classes with a focus on repertoire to performance masterclasses, and including two online Flute Days - FATB Online is going Offline on September 5th, for 3 weeks...
...but we'll be back from the week of 28th September, with a "new term" of exciting and varied online flute classes to enjoy! To find out about these first, do sign up to the FATB newsletter (from the homepage), as places always go quickly!
For now, this is the perfect opportunity to say a huge thanks to everyone for their support of FATB in 2020, for your passionate interest in all-things-flute and your wonderful company - see you again soon!
Ooh La La with FATB Online Updated 25th July 2020
It's not an easy time for anyone right now, and we hope you are staying safe wherever you are. Flutes at the Barns would usually be running residential courses and day events, however the prospect of flute players making music together still remains a little while off yet... but we're making the most of virtual opportunties nonetheless, bringing our community of players together socially, providing chances to rehearse and perform live - in both the play-along and masterclass workshops - and also to develop skills in the amazing array of workshop classes!
Alongside the masterclasses and play-along Mozart, Martinu and Quantz right now, there's a particular focus on French music. Flute players may know of the importance of Paul Taffanel, The French Flute School and development of the instrument, technique and repertoire associated with The Paris Conservatoire at the turn of the nineteenth to the twentieth century; over a three week course, several classes of players have been developing their knowledge of this period, centred around learning the beautiful Fantaisie by Faure. Lots of tips to understand and develop skills playing this music abound, and there's even a French Flute School masterclass where the Faure Fantaisie will get performed alongside other associated works by Massanet, Cohen, Enesco, Ibert, Perilhou and not forgettting Faure's 'Morceau de Concours' too - good luck to all!
To keep up to date with a changing weekly timetable please visit the FATB Online web-page.
FATB Online goes Bach-ing Mad for Bach! Updated 13th July 2020
We've had a wonderful few weeks with a mixture of play-along, performance and inspiring workshop classes, but there's been a definite leaning towards J S Bach, which culminated in fantastic masterclasses on Saturday! Four classes of participants have been studying Bach's beautiful E minor Sonata - including lots of background and related information - over linked, weekly classes, some of them also practising along or taking part in the play-along class of W F Bach's Duet in Eb major during the first week of the course too! After enjoying all the details, appreciating Bach's skills and knowing a lot more about the whole work, those who enjoy a practical perspective took a movement each to perform the whole sonata - with tips and feedback from FATB Tutor Zoë Booth of course - in two masterclasses last Saturday! A huge congratulations to all the performers, who did themselves - and Johann Sebastian - proud!
During these strange times it has been amazing to see the flute players involved with FATB Online remaining so focussed on their music-making and development of skills, they'll be truly emerging with enhanced capabilities as we all thirst to get back to normal life when the time is right!
Thrilling Live Play-Along Sessions with FATB Online! Updated 7th June 2020
When FATB Online began, you could listen or you could perform, but we couldn't play music together.... that all changed a few weeks ago when the play-along classes first began! The participants have all had their own copies of the music at home to play from (sent upon booking, but visible on the website well before that) and we keep hearing how the online classes themselves (55 minutes) fly by as musicians across the UK - and further afield - rehearse live with FATB Tutor Zoë Booth playing the other duet part! Those taking part have had to have their microphones muted, so they can each hear themselves AND the other part, which is why these classes have had such a "real" feel to them! There have been lots of extra tips gleaned from watching the screen; as well as playing, Zoë has been guiding the class-goers through the ensemble of the piece as well as providing lots of style and creative ideas. By the time everyone has got to the final play-through there's been a feeling of knowing how it all works really well, so it's been an absolute thrill to give live performances in full! It's all about fun, no-pressure music-making, as no-one but those in the participants' households have heard the final result... however, we did receive feedback that family clapping has broken out on occasion!
Beethoven Duo in G, music from Mozart's "The Magic Flute", the 'Scherzo' from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Mendelssohn are just some of the great pieces that have been covered so far; Telemann, Quantz, Gluck and Haydn too, and there are still more Mozart melodies coming up as well as delicious duets by W F Bach and Devienne! As well as sounding amazing, the Mendelssohn required a high standard of page-turning; the delightful Haydn 'Serenade' was a thrill to develop into a colourful performance at a gentle pace; there's just been nothing to dislike about the excellent writing from the masters Beethoven and Mozart! FATB Online hopes to welcome you to your own play-along workshop soon!
Online Flute Days with FATB Updated 25th May 2020
Flutes at the Barns should be in Croatia right now, having enjoyed several UK events and eagerly anticipating another in July - it seems the world had other ideas for us all in 2020. FATBers (as participants affectionately call themselves) are nothing if not creative and adaptable however - what more what you expect from musicians - so we've all made the switch to online life. Most recently, this includes the Online Flute Day of Sunday 24th May, the second event of this type. The time just flew! We've distilled the best aspects of the real-life flute day into the three sessions of the Online Flute Day, which are spread out across the Sunday. Participants started by warming up their skills in a live play-along session, which also included meeting (or reuniting with) each other in the virtual world! The middle session of the day was the masterclass, a way to keep up the performance skills (for those who wanted to), albeit from the relaxed environment of one's own home; we had beautiful Poulenc, Gaubert and even folk music this time, leading to a wide range of tips which were happily tried out in this supportive workshop. Finally, the play-along final session of the day was great fun, including the contrasts of jazzy music in swing rhythm alongside a lively Telemann piece! A huge thanks to the friendly group of musicians who took part, and congratulations on your performances on the FATB Online Flute Day!
FATB Online - Play, Perform, Engage Updated 17th May 2020
First of all we hope that everyone is safe and well in these strange times. We've now enjoyed the first eight weeks of FATB Online, featuring over sixty classes. A wide range of musical topics have been covered and and we've welcomed participants from all over; meeting virtually means that distance is no barrier to getting involved of course. If you've not kept up with the range of opportunities for adult flute players that FATB Online is offering, it could be worth signing up for the mailing list from the homepage (or emailing info@flutesatthebarns.com) for weekly updates. Here's what is currently in the calendar:
Classes with a particular focus (45 minutes): the topic changes each week: this week there's just one place left for "Free Your Playing" (Monday 18th May 6.30 pm); booking for "The French Flute School" has just opened for the week of 25th May. With time for Q & A at the end, FATB tutor Zoë Booth employs descriptions, demonstrations and resources to inspire the very next practice session.
Weekly Masterclasses (60 minutes): a chance to perform despite social distancing, pick up tips and repertoire ideas and connect with other players in a supportive atmosphere.
Play-along workshops (55 minutes): it's still possible to rehearse and make music live! We're working through the greatest flute duet repertoire - so far we’ve enjoyed Beethoven's Duo in G, Mozart’s "Magic Flute" and Quantz; this week we're excited to get into the Telemann Canon Sonatas! Check the website to book up for the amazing duet of Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream, as well as repertoire by Haydn, Gluck and more delicious Mozart (you can view the music before booking).
Repertoire workshops (45 mins x 1/2/3/4, held a week apart): the linked-classes allows in-depth discussion of a work, whether it’s already in your repertoire, you’re planning to learn in pace with the class or if it’s just for musical appreciation. Debussy’s Syrinx (over 2 weeks) is next, with Bach E minor Sonata (over 4 weeks) the next on the list.
Join a class (no more than four for any workshop) to connnect with others whilst indulging your love of music. Click here to read more and book your place.
FATB In Your Home - Musical Connections Updated 18th April 2020
First of all we hope that everyone is safe and well in these strange times. For just over three weeks now, FATB Online has been bringing musical connections and inspiration into the homes of flute players everywhere with live online masterclasses and workshops on breathing, solo repertoire, making the most out of practising and - this week - developing tone. Support and reception for the new project has been amazing and 100% positive, reflecting the "keep calm and carry on" attitude, that of looking for what we can achieve in these restrictive circumstances. If you want to take part click here to read about the exciting classes coming up (Fingers, Fingers, Fingers; Performance Skills; Flute Teacher Forum; Mastering Ornamentation; more Masterclasses)... and it could be a good idea to get onto the mailing list to be tipped off as soon as booking opens each week.
FATB Online Has Begun! Updated 28th March 2020
Flutes at the Barns Online has begun! Huge thanks goes out to those who have taken part in yesterday's and today's workshops on breathing ("And Breathe...") and for their positive contributions and feedback! It's amazing how being online still feels so like a class, with explanations, questions and comments, musical demonstrations and heaps of ideas (and free resources) to take away in use in further practice! Here at FATB we're already looking forward to the participants joining us for next week's classes, a choice from the last chance to catch "And Breathe...", the new topic "Music for One" (on solo repertoire) or taking part in an online masterclass - the last few places now available. Enjoy your playing, take care and click here to find out more.
FATB Online and Live In Your Home! Updated 22nd March 2020
It's strange and tough times for us all as we're told to stay apart from one another during this outbreak of Covid-19. Whilst this time at home leaves us with plenty of practice-time on our hands, at FATB we're well aware that the sudden emptying of our diaries and lack of personal contact with family, friends, neighbours and colleagues is unsettling. We're really keen to offer the FATB community the opportunity for musical experiences and social interaction that can be enjoyed despite social distancing; with that in mind, today sees the launch of online FATB workshops, a page with free online activities and articles to inspire your playing as well as the the chance to book for one-to-one lessons with FATB tutor Zoë Booth. Enjoy your playing, take care and click here to find out more.
Setting the Tone - February Flute Day with FATB Updated 2nd February 2020
Just a week since the last Flutes at the Barns Flute Day, here we were again with another amazing event for adult flute players! This Sunday the day remained on the same topic, Focus on Tone, although - with different players and music - it was entirely unique and wonderful. Huge thanks must go to the participants who travelled from far and wide to reinvent their sounds, covering the basic elements right up to advanced ideas for the practice developing colour, expression and communication. Flute choir was glorious, the pieces chosen to put all the workshop techniques to the test right away, whether playing flute, piccolo or alto. Individual performances by the players - and tutors - were enjoyed by all, giving everyone further chance to show their friendly support for one another. It's been great to start FATB's year so positively with such an important topic for flautists everywhere! When's the next one then? Click here to find out!
January FATB Flute Day 'Focus on Tone' Updated 26th January 2020
How we love our FATB Flute Days! We're on a high here at Flutes at the Barns HQ, after a brilliant Sunday with the theme of "Focus on Tone" at Trestle Arts Base - what a fantastic start to the year! After solidifying the basic principles of tone development, the day packed in specialised workshops, delicious flute choir and supportive masterclasses, pulling out ever-inspiring and advanced ideas for expressive sound and communication. There was time for friendship and laughter too, as flute players met from London, Hertfordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Birmingham, Staffordshire and Cumbria. A huge thanks to all the amazing participants and expert tutors Zoe and Mark - we're doing it all again next Sunday (2nd February), bring it on!
Applications Open Once More Updated 13th January 2020
Flutes at the Barns is now open for applications once again! Thanks for bearing with us during our digital difficulties, and apologies for the inconvenience; we are delighted to welcome your bookings once again! Please click here to open the application form and get your chance to grab your spot on one of our brilliant Flute Days in February and May or any of the forthcoming residential courses with availability!
A Technical Problem with Applications Updated 11th January 2020
Flutes at the Barns is sorry to tell you that - owing to technical circumstances beyond our control - we've just discovered that any applications made between Saturday 4th and Saturday 11th January 2020 have not reached us; this also applies to messages submitted via the website. We DO want to hear from you, so if you believe you submitted your application during this period, please email the course administrator on info@flutesatthebarns.com, explaining which flute event you are hoping to attend; it would also help if you could let us know when you sent in your application.
Apologies for the technical glitch, we are working to get this fixed as quickly as possible.
Happy New Year! Updated 1st January 2020
Festive wishes to you as we move from the excitement and over-eating of Christmas into the forward-looking and reflective change from one year to the next - welcome to 2020! The new year is always a busy time for Flutes at the Barns, and this year is no exception as, from January 1st, we proudly release details for and invite applications to four new events across 2020-21; there are also still places available on two further events this February and March!
February 2nd 2020 - Flute Day, Focus on Tone (please note the January Flute Day on this theme is now fully booked)
March/April 2020 - Flute Course, Derbyshire, UK *ONE PLACE NEWLY AVAILABLE!*
May 2020 - Flute Day, Fantastic Fingers *NEW COURSE, NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING* (please note that other residential courses for 2020 are fully booked)
April 2021 - Flute Course *NEW COURSE, NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING*
June 2021 - Flute Course *NEW COURSE, NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING* - Special Edition
July 2021 - Flute Course *NEW COURSE, NOW OPEN FOR BOOKING*
Places can go quickly, so don't miss out! In particular, check out the new Special Edition course for next June, which will be FATB's most exclusive course yet; limited to just six participants, and in a fabulous new venue too! 2020 already promises much, with two trips to Croatia planned, three return visits to favourite venues in the beautiful Peak District and our continued programme of amazing themed Flute Days in St Albans - whether this year or next, we look forward to welcoming you to Flutes at the Barns!
Aiming High - News of the Latest FATB Flute Day Updated 4th November 2019
On Sunday 3rd November Flutes at the Barns held its latest Flute Day at their artistic "home" of Trestle Arts Base in St Albans. These days are always special, owing, not only to the wonderful musicians attending, but also to the individual themes of each day which set them apart... and Aiming High was no exception! The focus of this day was rather unusual for FATB in its specificity to players working towards diploma qualifications and/or at that level, including a number of FATBers who are also instrumental teachers themselves. The day hit the ground running, beginning with warm-ups that pushed the standards, flute choir at a high musical level (featuring piccolos and altos too) and moving onto solo performances given by all, followed by masterclass coaching from tutor Zoe. A huge thanks to Mark, accompanist extraordinaire, and particularly to all those who attended and offered such focus, creativity, commitment and friendly support to one another throughout a busy and buzzy FATB Flute Day.
The next Flute Days - in January and February - are for adult players of any ability level, and the theme is Focus on Tone.
October 2019 Residential Course - News from Cruck'd Barn Updated 27th October 2019
Flutes at the Barns has just returned from a wonderful week away at FATB favourite Cruck'd Barn in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District! After a delicious dinner on Monday evening, participants settled into the first workshop and flute choir before a peaceful night in their individual accommodation, all good preparation for the busy days to follow! The packed musical timetable of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday included breaks for tea, coffee, chat and edible temptations, all of which helped the energy levels sustain through individual lessons and rehearsals, satisfying ensemble playing, masterclasses, workshops and concerts. With encouragement from one another and the course tutors, participants chose whether to perform individually, and the Thursday concert was the culmination of the weeks' musical achievements, bringing together solo playing and all the flute choir repertoire from the course - this time, this ranged from Telemann to Joplin, including some stylish Saint-Saens too! After a friendly and happy celebration and toast to the course on Thursday evening it was, sadly, all over... but with many returning participants, everyone has hopefully gone away with lots of ideas for their playing going forward and in preparation for their next FATB! A huge thanks to everyone who took part, as well as the excellent staff and tutors!
Booking Now - Themed Flute Days in November, January and February! Updated 3rd September 2019
FATB is delighted to open booking for the newest events recently added to the website, three wonderful Flute Days, to be held in November 2019 and the first part of 2020! Click here to read more.
In November, the theme is Aiming High, and this Flute Day is specifically targeted for those players of at least grade eight and above; those currently working towards diploma examinations may also be particularly interested to attend as we delve into performance, interpretation and technique matters related to advanced playing. The Flute Day in January - or, alternatively, catch this a week later in February - is dedicated to tone development and is for players at all levels as we continue to seek surer sonority across the instrument, a wider range of expressive colours, enhance projection and embellish sound stylishly.
Flutes at the Barns Flute Days are held in the beautiful Trestle Arts Base, St Albans, a former church now converted for use by those in the arts. Our excellent, regular accompanists - Mark and Rachael - are on hand to accompany those who choose to perform in the masterclasses for personalised tips and the days adress their theme through group warm-ups, workshops and flute choir repertoire, as well as through the individual repertoire selected by those who attend (maximum ten). Lunch is provided and St Albans is easily accessible as well as a lovely place to stay, whether to sightsee, catch up with flute friends outside of the FATB Day itself, or to attend (limited availability) an individual lesson with tutor Zoe Booth the following day.
Coming Soon - Flute Days in November and Early 2020! Updated 11th August 2019
Not long to go until FATB HQ releases details (and opens booking) for the next themed Flute Days in adults, to be held in St Albans in November and early 2020! Keep checking back here for more information, or - for a first look - make sure you're on the mailing list so that you can receive the newsletter with the latest updates as well as other Flutes at the Barns news and information.
Good Luck In Your Music Exam Updated 19th June 2019
Several Flutes at the Barns attendees have bravely entered for their music exams this term - here are FATB HQ we take our hat off to you and wish you all the best with your final preparations and for the exam itself! We know exams aren't for everyone and they can be nerve-wracking experiences; they are also a great chance to get independent feedback and push yourself to the next level, so go for it!
July Flutes at the Barns at The Mermaid Inn Updated 14th July 2019
What a terrific week of FATB we've just had in the beautiful Peak District! As you see these photos scroll through you can notice what a wonderful week it was of packed music-making (and all those successes in the individual playing and performing!), amazing views and sheep - what you can't see from the pictures is the warm, supportive atmosphere and all the delicious cooking which we enjoyed, so take our word for it! A huge thanks to accompanist Rachael, our chef David and those supportive guests of the participants who joined us, but the biggest thanks must go - of course - to the committed and inspiring participants who took part and offered up so much achievement in their playing and musicianship. The finale concert was particularly impressive, containing solos, chamber music and triumphant flute choir all together before our final night of celebration and fun to round off a friendly week!
A Wonderful Week at Lapwing Barns Updated 9th June 2019
The amazing venue of Lapwing Barns was only "discovered" by FATB flute players in 2017, but it has become a firm favourite very quickly, with last week's course no exception! Lapwing is very much a retreat from the world, with unspoilt views over the changing weather patterns (!) and a beautiful garden enjoyed by the birds and filled with birdsong, tea and friendly chat in our breaks... that is, when the flute playing stops for a brief moment!
It was such a special course last week, with inspiring performances and achievements from each of the eight participants. Flute choir was a real highlight, taking three very different pieces to a very high standard in a short space of time - the finale was a very fitting and explosive "William Tell Overture"! Chamber music gave everyone the chance to mix and discover a different way to play and listen, and there was ample time for working on solos with course tutor Zoe and accompanist Mark, towards the three performances and masterclasses; this all culminated in a brilliant concert (wonderful repertoire choices too!) on the final day, cheered on by fellow participants. Throughout the workshops and warm-ups there was great focus and improvement, whether taking on points about breathing, tone, fingers, articulation, support, projection, performance, interpretation or dynamics! Throughout, the attendees were taken care of in their luxury accommodation, with David - the private chef - providing excellent meals and enviable desserts! A huge thanks to the course tutors (for their tuition as well as their Thursday morning recital!), to chef David, photographer Dave and Georgia from All Flutes Plus for all their commitment and dedication; the biggest thanks goes to the FATB participants themselves, who brought so much to the course, gave even more and made Flutes at the Barns June 2019 a musical triumph!
April 2019 - The 55th Course Updated 12th April 2019
Well, what an amazing week that was! Flutes at the Barns has just returned from the sunshine of the Peak District and our wonderful week of music-making at The Crewe and Harpur. It was a really special course of musical successes in performance, inspiring ensemble playing together and great friendships forged over late nights, delicious treats and a busy schedule of rehearsals and practice! A huge thanks to everyone who took part, to the staff, - including musical tutors (Zoe and Rachael) and private chef, David - to the partners who also joined us for the last day of concerts and evening entertainment and, finally, to Beethoven and all the other brilliant composers featured throughout the week!
A Delicious Day of Low Flutes Updated 31st March 2019
FATB Flute Days are always special, but there is a something extra again about a day getting together the people who adore their alto and bass flutes! We've had a wonderful Sunday of indulging in the low sonorities of the low flutes, mostly alto flutes - including one player making their first start on one - but also including the added richness of two bass flutes. As well as group warm-ups specifically targeting the techniques (and peculiarities) of the largest members of the flute family, the musicians each played beautifully in the masterclass (accompanied by tutor Mark on the piano), sharing repertoire ideas and also providing a chance to receive personalised tips from FATB tutor Zoe. Near the end of the day, the FATB tutors gave a short, exclusive recital before everybody joined in together for one last performance of the Low Flute Choir pieces they'd been rehearsing throughout the day; what a delicious ensemble it was, covering music from the Renaissance right through to the James Bond theme "Skyfall" and others... we all very much hope "We'll Meet Again!" for another smashing day of Low Flutes soon! A huge thanks to our artistic venue of Trestle Arts Base, to the tutors and FATB staff and - especially - to the brave and inspiring musicians who shared their Sunday so warmly - we're always sorry to go home, but it was a satisfying and music-filled day focussed on low sounds... and it ended on a real high!
A Week of Flute, Fun and Sun on the February/March Course Updated 2nd March 2019
Flutes at the Barns has just returned from a wonderful week of music-making with a very special group of flute-players - you can see a few photos right here! Over a busy few days, the quiet retreat of Dale House near Buxton was transformed into a musical haven, as the atmosphere was filled with chamber music, flute choir and solo pieces, as well as some intensive group warm-ups and workshops. Across three concerts and two masterclasses, the participating musicians bravely performed and achieved new advances and experiences in their playing; in return, regular FATB tutors Zoe (flute) and Mark (piano) gave an inspiring tutor concert as well as spending time coaching group activities and individually. FATB wants to say a huge thanks to the musicians who took part, as well as the hard-working and energetic team of tutors and staff; together they all contributed to a week of music, satisfaction, inspiration, friendship, relaxation and delicious treats (for which we thank David, our amazing chef)! Uniquely: it was the first FATB visit to the beautiful Dale House - in the warm sunshine; FATB was also delighted to welcome regular friends All Flutes Plus to the course, with Georgia overseeing their tempting wares for the first time; there was a birthday to enjoy in addition to all the usual carousel of activities. It was sad to go home, but February/March 2019 will be certainly be remembered as a special FATB course!
Time, Ties and Tempo at Trestle! Updated 17th February 2019
The Flute Day with Flutes at the Barns on 17th February lived up to its reputation, once again, as a fun, busy and worthwhile Sunday of flute-playing! Participants spent the day at Trestle Arts Base focussed on the theme of "Time, Ties and Tempo"... and so much more. The masterclass pieces - offered by the brave attendees - and flute choir repertoire flitted between centuries, each providing the chance to focus on one - or more - of the key issues of advanced rhythms, such as tuplets, runs or subdivision. Group warm-ups and rhythm exercises widened and solidified rhythmic and tempo ideas, giving everyone loads of "tricks of the trade" to take further in their own playing now that the day, sadly, is over. A big thanks, as always, go to the amazing course tutors - Zoe (flute) and Mark (piano accompanist) - and ESPECIALLY to the inspiring musicians who entered into the day with their beautiful music, enthusiasm - sometimes in the face of a challenge - and their friendly support for one another and all the performances.
Time Flies on a FATB Flute Day! Updated 28th January 2019
You know what they say about time flying when you're having fun - 27th January proved to be a brilliant Flutes-at-the-Barns way to spend a Sunday! Flute players took part in a busy-busy day of music-making,trying out satisfying - sometimes challenging and thought-provoking yet always fun - ideas related to the theme of "Time, Ties & Tempo". There were tips galore to take back to use in their practice, as well as lots of friendly support for all those who braved the masterclass (ably supported by brilliant accompanist Mark Smith). Flute choir repertoire was specially chosen to promote further engagement with advanced issues of pulse, subdivision and stress. What a packed - and inspiring - day! A huge thanks to the great, regular course tutors, Zoe and Mark, photographer Dave, and to the wonderful flute players who travelled from London, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Surrey, Birmingham, Worcestershire, Yorkshire and even Ireland to take part!
It was sad to go home... but luckily there are only three weeks to wait until we repeat this Flute Day again - why not join us next time?!
Join Us For The First FATB Events of 2019! Updated 12th January 2019
Here at Flutes at the Barns HQ exciting plans are being made for the first participant events of the year... and there is still the chance to join in! First, we have the Flute Day on Sunday 27th January, on the theme of Time, Ties & Tempo; expect all-things rhythmical (recommended grade six at least)! There is ONE FINAL PLACE newly available for this Flute Day, and the day is also being repeated on Sunday 17th February - come and join the friendly adult players and expert tutors! Furthermore, it is VERY RARE to be able to offer a vacancy this close to a residential course, however - on this occasion - there is one space looking to be filled on the first course this year - all others have been long-filled and the next available residential course place is not until April 2020! If you would like to take part, Flutes at the Barns February/March will be held from 25th February to 1st March in a beautiful new venue, Dale House, in the Peak District. Blow away those winter blues with a busy week of inspiring flute music!
As the new year prompts many of us to think ahead to our reinvigorated music-making, it is now customary here at Flutes at the Barns to bid the new year welcome by opening booking for tempting new courses and Flutes Days! Highlights of the new events added to the website today include:
three UK Residential Courses, to be held in the first half of 2020
a new Flute Day - for current players of low flutes, or those wishing to start - to be held in March 2019, in St Albans
Although there are still a few places for 2019 events (one residential place for the Feb/Mar course, and some Flute Day vacancies), those on the mailing list know that residential FATB courses (in particular), tend to book rather quickly, and most places are taken up shortly after booking opens. Even though we're looking ahead as far as 2020, please don't delay if you want to make sure that you get to reserve a place on the course of your choice. We've had a wonderful year of FATB in 2018, celebrating the 15th year, 50th residential course and with a terrific visit to Croatia as well as an inspiring array of UK courses and themed Flute Days - we can't wait to welcome you in 2019 and 2020! Happy New Year to flute players everywhere!
Playing with Freedom - An Inspiring Flute Day! Updated 19th November 2018
On Sunday 18th November participants enjoyed the latest Flute Day from Flutes at the Barns on the theme "Free Your Playing." What brave musicians they were, to embark on a musical day where they were mostly playing without a music stand! The results were inspiring however; "firsts" galore in performing solos by heart, learning by ear and improvising, all entered into happily with the gentle encouragement of FATB tutor Zoë Booth to push beyond comfort zones (and, at times, beyond the score!), resulting in instant enhanced self-expression and musical communication! With the backdrop of our new (climate-controlled) studio at Trestle, it was a friendly and musically varied day, learning a lot and with heaps of tips - and tunes - to take away too. Thanks to Mark to who accompanied the masterclasses (as well as in Zoë and Mark's mini-recital) and huge congratulations to everyone who took part!
Top Practice Tips... for FREE! Updated 16th October 2018
Don't forget - whenever you visit the Flutes at the Barns website - to check the latest FREE tips on better playing and practice from experienced FATB tutor Zoe Booth! You can access the page from the bottom of the homepage. This month there are lots of ideas on how to make your practice better, and recent tips have included tone, fingers, articulation, rhythm, vibrato, all sorts! Many include a page to download, print and use in your practice sessions too.
Celebrating 15 Years of Flutes at the Barns Updated 30th September 2018
October 2018 marks 15 years since Flutes at the Barns began - wow! If you want to read more about how it all started, the 53 (yes 53!) inspiring residential flute courses and16 happy Flute Days we've held since, you can do so on this website (just look for Our Story). You can also reminisce over the wonderful places we've visited both in the UK and overseas too. Central to FATB from the start have been the music, the successes and, not least, the numerous friendships which make FATB what it is here and now in 2018. A huge thanks to the amazing musicians who have all written their own chapter in this story over the years; wherever you are in the world, please join FATB in raising a glass - cheers!
Play Day September 2018 - A New Studio for A Packed Day of Playing Updated 16th September 2018
Thanks so much to the brilliant musicians who took part in the September Play Day, it was a busy day, bursting at the seams with flute ensemble pieces of different musical styles, instruments of all sizes, encouraging support in the warm-ups and workshops, and much friendly chat too! The players turned their hands to everything from baroque and classical through to film scores, getting a term's worth under their fingers in just one day. It was also the first Flute Day in our new, improved and climate-controlled studio (still at our creative home of Trestle Arts Base in St Albans) which was met with enthusiastic approval! We all left inspired, having put in a good day's playing and sad to say goodbye to one another...until the next one of course (which, as you asked, is in November!).
FATB September 2018 - Music, Friendship and Laughter in the Sun Updated 7th September 2018
Flutes at the Barns has just returned from the September Flutes at the Barns course, a wonderful week containing the essential FATB elements - inspiring music, warm companionship, moving performances, good food and much friendly chatter and laughing. The busy playing schedule was set against the peaceful setting of the beautiful Peak District, with musicians enjoying the chance, in their breaks, to enjoy the Derbyshire countryside as the glimpses of the late summer sun allowed. Individual lessons and rehearsals were enjoyed by all, and the participants took opportunities to perform in the masterclasses and concerts, culminating in a very special final concert on the last day where musically satisfying progress and accomplished musicianship were demonstrated. As well as friendly duos, trios and quartets, the whole group formed a flute choir which did a terrific job of developing their repertoire to a high level through focussed rehearsals. All in all, those relaxed evenings sharing a joke over amazing food (and an occasional glass of wine), were well earned. Sadly, that was the last FATB residential course of 2018, so everyone is already looking forward to the first visit back to the Peak District in February 2019... in the meantime, there are the Flute Days (in September, November, January and February) to keep up the inspiration!
Enjoying Playing All Day with FATB on September 16th Updated 19 August 2018
There are now four weeks to go until the next FATB Play Day in St Albans, and the final few vacancies are still remaining if you want to come and indulge in a wonderful day of music-making as a Flute Choir! Our new climate-controlled studio at Trestle Arts Base in St Albans is ready to welcome us; bring your flute, your friends and - if you want to - flutes of other sizes too. Everyone will get the chance to play a range of parts (sight-reading on the day, at your level), so there's no chance you get stuck on a boring part all day (unless you specifically ask for it!). There is a great wealth of musical styles on offer - without giving away too much, it can be revealed that music will include pieces from the Baroque, Classical, Twentieth Century and the world of film, some slow and expressive, some fast and exciting, something for everyone certainly! Our first Play Day in March was a busy and buzzy day, so come and join us! St Albans is easily served by public transport, parking is free, and lunch and all refreshments are taken care of, freeing up focus for a friendly day of fun and music.
FATB Returns from The Mermaid Inn, July 2018 Updated 13 July 2018
The "Team of July 2018" - including participants, tutors, chef David and guest Ian from All Flutes Plus - have just returned from a happy and successful week of Flutes at the Barns! The stunning views (and sunsets!) of The Peak District provided the inspiration for a week of rehearsals, lessons, classes, workshops and performances; the final concerts on Thursday were a fitting reflection of the participants musical achievements and their encouraging support of one another throughout the course. At the end of a good day's playing, the relaxed evenings included lots of cosy chats over delicious dinners, and a lot of laughter too. Thanks so much to everyone who took part, and congratulations to all the performers!
Tick Tock, Booking Opens on New Flute Events! Updated 7 July 2018
Booking has just opened on several new flute events, including three flute days in 2018-19, two additional UK Residential Courses for 2019 and two return visits to Istria, Croatia, both planned for 2020! Highlights of the new additions include; inspiring, themed Flute Days in November, January and February, to be held in our new climate-controlled studio in St Albans (places are still available in September for the Play Day too); with exclusively no more than ten places available on either, two new UK Residential Courses have been added into the calendar, including the first opportunity to try the wonderful new-to-FATB venue of Dale House in Feb/Mar, and a return to FATB favourite Cruck'd Barn in October 2019; following our happy and successful visits to Istria, Croatia, last month, there are now two return visits planned for the summer of 2020! To find out more click on the links, or navigate through the Forthcoming Events button, above.
Latest Plans, New Studio and Coming Soon Updated 1 July 2018
In between courses you may wonder what goes on at FATB HQ? Well, it's all about making exciting plans here - putting the finishing touches to the July course, making contact with the participants who will attend Cruck'd Barn in September and confirming bookings for the FATB Play Day, our second wonderful day dedicated to flute choir alone which will be held in September. On that subject, we're very pleased to reveal that the FATB Flute Days in St Albans will be using a new studio from September onwards; we're still going to enjoy the artistic environment of Trestle Arts Base, however we've upgraded to their newest studio, the reliably climate-controlled - and slightly more spacious - Drama Studio (which I'm vying to rename the Flute Studio!) which will remain warm in winter and cool even in these hot conditions! Finally, just a word to "watch this space" and make sure you are on the FATB mailing list, as exciting preparations for Flute Days, UK residential courses and even overseas visits will be released very soon.... the anticipation is building!
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