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Cartwright’s leadership PAC and its quite distant connection to Cher
by Borys Krawczeniuk | Oct 9, 2018 | 0 comments
U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright
Most people don’t know this, but U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright has what’s known as a leadership political action committee.
Leadership PACs allow members of Congress to raise money from their donors to give to candidates or causes they like without using money they collected for their own campaign committees.
Cartwright, a Moosic Democrat, named the committee named that works to re-elect him Cartwright for Congress. He called his leadership PAC Making Americans Count, or MAC PAC. He started it in 2013, not long after his first election to Congress. He’s running for a fourth term against Republican John Chrin in the Nov. 6 election.
Many members of Congress have separate leadership PACs because they want to help other candidates but don’t want to risk upsetting donors, who gave to support the member but not necessarily others. The PACs can also amplify giving. More on that another time.
Now, as for money MAC PAC handed out, let’s go to Federal Election Commission records.
The biggest donor is kind of a surprise. Each year since 2015, the Comcast Corp. & NBCUniversal PAC has donated $5,000, or $20,000 overall.
Plus, David Cohen, Comcast’s senior executive vice president, donated another $2,500 in 2015.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC also donated $20,000, $5,000 each year from 2014-2017. No surprise there, unions love Cartwright.
The Sheet Metal Workers International Association Political Action League gave $5,000 in 2016 and 2018 for a total of $10,000.
The American Association for Justice PAC, which represents trial lawyers (Cartwright was one), gave $10,000, $5,000 in 2016 and 2018.
Donating $5,000 were Cartwright for Congress, the International Union of Operating Engineers Political Education Committee, Thomas Fortune Fay (he’s a Silver Spring, Maryland, lawyer), Murat Guzel (chief executive offcer of Smart Juices LLC), the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers PAC, Scott Linde (owner of Linde Enterprises), Lofgren for Congress (California U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s candidate PAC), Mainstream PAC (Lofgren’s leadership PAC) and (another surprise) the Boeing Company PAC.
The National Air Traffic Controllers PAC gave $3,000 as did the Philadelphia law firm, Levin, Fishbein, Sedran & Berman. Four partners in the firm, Arnold Levin ($1,230), Michael Fishbein ($720), Howard Sedran ($600) and Lawrence Berman ($450) gave a total of $3,000 more.
The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund and DRIVE (Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education) each gave $1,000.
As for who got money from Cartwright’s leadership PAC, well, start with the biggest recipient, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s campaign committee, Bob Casey for Senate Inc., which received $10,000 last year.
Coming in second, Cartwright for Congress, $8,100, over 2016 and 2017.
MAC PAC gave $5,872 to Jonathan Chane, an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for the House in Florida’s 18th Congressional District in 2016.
The state Democratic Party got $5,000 in August.
In 2015, MAC PAC gave $5,000 to the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition PAC, which is what it sounds like.
MAC PAC also gave amounts ranging from $1,000 to $2,700 to a dozen Democratic candidates for the House and to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign ($1,000).
The $2,700 recipient was Raul Ruiz, a Democrat who represents a California congressional district and won his seat by defeating Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack in 2012.
Anybody as old as I might remember Mack used to have a famous husband, Sonny Bono, whose earlier wife was Cher.
Mary replaced Sonny in Congress after he died in a skiing accident in January 1998.
OK, you’ve read this far so here’s the Scranton connection.
In a November 2000 People Magazine article, Cher said she wrote the song, “Cher, Nuns & Trouble,” about her unfortunate stay at an orphanage in Scranton when she was growing up.
— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK
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Whether you have lived here all your life or are visiting for the first time, it does not take long to realize that East Tennessee is a special place. It is a land of verdant mountains and valleys, a land where the progress of the Tennessee Valley Authority, atomic energy facilities, and a state university blend with generations-old traditions to create a cherished way of life.
To truly know East Tennessee today, though, you must first explore its past. And, the East Tennessee Historical Society invites you to do just that—to come explore, to come learn about the people, places, and events that have shaped our region through the award-winning exhibits housed at the Museum of East Tennessee History.
The Museum is located at the East Tennessee History Center in the heart of downtown Knoxville, directly across the street from the Tennessee Theatre and just blocks from other historic attractions, such as Blount Mansion and James White's Fort. Open seven days a week, the Museum has been developed to capture the interest of a wide range of audiences. For instance, the interactive displays found in the signature exhibition, Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee, allow visitors the opportunity to not only be in the presence of original artifacts that stood witness to the region's past but also to hear first-person accounts of what life was like, all amidst a backdrop of compelling, historic imagery. The Museum mounts a number of changing exhibits throughout the year, too, each of which focuses on a unique aspect of East Tennessee.
Peruse the galleries below for information about what is currently on view, and then come find your place in East Tennessee history at the Museum of East Tennessee History!
Admission is $5.00 for adults, $4.00 for seniors, and FREE for children 16 and under. Admission is FREE each Sunday, and ETHS Members always receive FREE admission.
We also offer school tours and group tours!
Interested in visiting the Museum of East Tennessee History soon? If so, learn about the exhibits that are currently on display. While the signature exhibit, Voices of the Land, and the East Tennessee Streetscape remain on permanent view, there is always a new exhibit to experience in the Rogers-Claussen Feature Gallery.
One of the primary ways the Museum of East Tennessee History fulfills its mission is through an active exhibition program. These award-winning exhibitions often focus on a particular aspect of East Tennessee's culture and heritage and, since they change frequently, visitors are encouraged to return often to explore the region's past. See what's being planned next!
Want to re-live highlights from the Museum of East Tennessee History's past exhibitions? Take a stroll down Memory Lane via these archived projects.
At the heart of the Museum of East Tennessee History is its permanent collection, consisting of more than 13,000 artifacts. Strengths of the collection include decorative arts, textiles, and Civil War items. Learn how you can donate to the permanent collection. It is the future of the past!
From time to time, the Museum of East Tennessee History organizes exhibitions for travel. Intended for museums, universities, and other educational institutions, these traveling exhibitions are developed around themes with broad, regional appeal.
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‘Historic Preservation in the Face of Climate Change’ explored in three-part series
Posted by UptownMessenger.com at 4:07 pm environment, events, flood protection and drainage, land use & development
(prcno.org)
The Preservation Resource Center is hosting a three-part series to address the risks and challenges climate change presents for New Orleans and the role preservation can play in creating a more resilient future.
The first event of the series, to be held Wednesday, is a panel discussion titled “Document.” As the PRC website explains: “As our climate changes, so do our natural, built and cultural landscapes. While we strive to save as much as we can, we must consider what we are poised to lose and how efforts to record and archive can help mitigate inevitable casualties.”
The panelists will be Jonathan Foret, executive director, South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center; Daniel Hammer, vice president and deputy director, The Historic New Orleans Collection; and Susan Langenhennig, director of communications and editor of Preservation in Print, Preservation Resource Center.
Part 2, “Adapt,” will be held May 15, and Part 3, “Persist,” is scheduled for June 19. The moderator for each panel discussion will be Ella Camburnbeck, community planning and resilience senior grants manager with GCR Inc. and former director of Felicity Redevelopment and former house director of the Beauregard-Keyes House and Garden Museum.
The events, presented in partnership with Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, are free and open to the public.
The first event of the series will be held Wednesday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Preservation Resource Center, 923 Tchoupitoulas St. If you plan to attend, RSVP here.
The PRC explains the series “Historic Preservation in the Face of Climate Change” on its website:
In New Orleans, we know that it doesn’t take a hurricane to cause catastrophic flooding damage to our homes and buildings. Heavy thunderstorms, strong winds, hail and other weather-related hazards are top of mind for most residents in the city. What role can historic preservation play in the face of climate-related issues such as these?
To meet the challenges of our increasingly complex relationship with water and weather, the field of preservation must develop creative strategies for historic buildings and neighborhoods to document in the face of loss, adapt in response to change, and persist against all odds. … The series will examine what is at stake, how preservationists are currently responding and who our actions serve.
For more information, contact the PRC at 504-581-7032 or prc@prcno.org or go to prcno.org.
Broadmoor Community Church to ‘party in the park’ this Sunday Sponsored: Dine and Dance under the Stars at the Grow Dat Hootenanny
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About Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka[a] (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a German-language writer of novels and short stories, regarded by critics as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. Kafka strongly influenced genres such as existentialism. Most of his works, such as "Die Verwandlung" ("The Metamorphosis"), Der Prozess (The Trial), and Das Schloss (The Castle), are filled with the themes and archetypes of alienation, physical and psychological brutality, parent–child conflict, characters on a terrifying quest, labyrinths of bureaucracy, and mystical transformations.
Kafka was born into a middle-class, German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In his lifetime, most of the population of Prague spoke Czech, and the division between Czech- and German-speaking people was a tangible reality, as both groups were strengthening their national identity. The Jewish community often found itself in between the two sentiments, naturally raising questions about a place to which one belongs. Kafka himself was fluent in both languages, considering German his mother tongue.
Kafka trained as a lawyer and, after completing his legal education, obtained employment with an insurance company. He began to write short stories in his spare time. For the rest of his life, he complained about the little time he had to devote to what he came to regard as his calling. He regretted having to devote so much attention to his Brotberuf ("day job", literally "bread job"). Kafka preferred to communicate by letter; he wrote hundreds of letters to family and close female friends, including his father, his fiancée Felice Bauer, and his youngest sister Ottla. He had a complicated and troubled relationship with his father that had a major effect on his writing. He also suffered conflict over being Jewish, feeling that it had little to do with him, although critics argue that it influenced his writing.
Only a few of Kafka's works were published during his lifetime: the story collections Betrachtung (Contemplation) and Ein Landarzt (A Country Doctor), and individual stories (such as "Die Verwandlung") in literary magazines. He prepared the story collection Ein Hungerkünstler (A Hunger Artist) for print, but it was not published until after his death. Kafka's unfinished works, including his novels Der Process, Das Schloss and Amerika (also known as Der Verschollene, The Man Who Disappeared), were published posthumously, mostly by his friend Max Brod, who ignored Kafka's wish to have the manuscripts destroyed. Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre are among the writers influenced by Kafka's work; the term Kafkaesque has entered the English language to describe surreal situations like those in his writing.
Quotes By Franz Kafka
Now I can look at you in peace; I don't eat you any more.
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Measurement of charged jet production cross sections and nuclear modification in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=5.02 TeV
article256.pdf (979.0Kb)
Adam, J.
ALICE Collaboration (ukupan broj autora: 971)
Charged jet production cross sections in p-Pb collisions at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV measured with the ALICE detector at the LHC are presented. Using the anti-k(T) algorithm, jets have been reconstructed in the central rapidity region from charged particles with resolution parameters R = 0.2 and R = 0.4. The reconstructed jets have been corrected for detector effects and the underlying event background. To calculate the nuclear modification factor, R-pPb, of charged jets in p-Pb collisions, a pp reference was constructed by scaling previously measured charged jet spectra at root s = 7 TeV. In the transverse momentum range 20 LT = p(T, chjet) LT = 120 GeV/c, R-pPb is found to be consistent with unity, indicating the absence of strong nuclear matter effects on jet production. Major modifications to the radial jet structure are probed via the ratio of jet production cross sections reconstructed with the two different resolution parameters. This ratio is found to be similar to the measurement... in pp collisions at root s = 7 TeV and to the expectations from PYTHIA pp simulations and NLO pQCD calculations at root s(NN) = 5.02 TeV. (C) 2015 CERN for the benefit of the ALICE Collaboration. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Worldwide LHC Computing Grid (WLCG) Collaboration, State Committee of Science, Armenia, World Federation of Scientists (WFS), Armenia, Swiss Fonds Kidagan, Armenia, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP), Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), Chinese Ministry of Education (CMOE), Ministry of Science and Technology of the Peoples Republic of China (MSTC), Ministry of Education and Youth of the Czech Republic, Danish Natural Science Research Council, Carlsberg Foundation, Danish National Research Foundation, European Research Council under the European Communitys Seventh Framework Programme, Helsinki Institute of Physics, Academy of Finland, French CNRS-IN2P3, France, Region Pays de Loire, France, Region Alsace, France, Region Auvergne, France, CEA, France, German Bundesministerium fur Bildung, Wissenschaft, Forschung und Technologie (BMBF), Helmholtz Association, General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Ministry of Development, Greece, Hungarian Orszagos Tudomanyos Kutatasi Alappgrammok (OTKA), National Office for Research and Technology (NKTH), Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India, Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), Italy, Centro Fermi - Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche Enrico Fermi, Italy, MEXT, Japan, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna, National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), Consejo Nacional de Cienca y Tecnologia (CONACYT), Mexico, Direccion General de Asuntos del Personal Academico (DGAPA), Mexico, Amerique Latine Formation academique-European Commission (ALFA-EC), EPLANET Program (European Particle Physics Latin American Network), Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM, Netherlands, Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Netherlands, Research Council of Norway (NFR), National Science Centre of Poland, Ministry of National Education/Institute for Atomic Physics, Consiliul National al Cercetarii, Stiintifice-Executive Agency for Higher Education Research Development and Innovation Funding (CNCS-UEFISCDI) - Romania, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russian Federal Agency of Atomic Energy, Russian Federal Agency for Science and Innovations, Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Ministry of Education of Slovakia, Department of Science and Technology, Republic of South Africa, Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (CIEMAT), E-Infrastructure shared between Europe and Latin America (EELA), Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO) of Spain, Xunta de Galicia (Conselleria de Educacion), Centro de Aplicaciones Tecnologicas y Desarrollo Nuclear (CEADEN), Cuba, Cubaenergia, Cuba, IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Swedish Research Council (VR), Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW), Ukraine Ministry of Education and Science, United Kingdom Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), United States Department of Energy, United States National Science Foundation, State of Texas, State of Ohio, Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of Croatia, Croatia, Unity through Knowledge Fund, Croatia, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India
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ON THE RIGHT TO COUNSEL
[Posted August 1, 2008] One of the fringe benefits of being in the ABAs Council of Appellate Lawyers is a subscription to The Judges Journal, the periodical published by the ABAs Judicial Division. The CAL is technically a part of that division, and that membership sometimes leads to some awkward correspondence, when I get bulk mail addressed to The Hon. L. Steven Emmert, a title I am not likely to see legitimately in this lifetime.
The summer 2008 issue of the Journal arrived this week, and I have just read a very thoughtful article by Justice Earl Johnson, Jr., who retired last year from the California Court of Appeal. Justice Johnsons theme is that indigent parties should have a right to court-appointed counsel, not just in criminal cases, but in important civil proceedings, too. Note that he doesnt advocate an attorney for each and every court appearance, or even each and every case; specifically, he cites with approval a 2006 ABA resolution that calls for such appointed counsel in those categories of adversarial proceedings where basic human needs are at stake, such as those involving shelter, sustenance, safety, health[,] or child custody . . ..
You probably know that there is no right to court-appointed counsel in civil cases. You may not know that the US Supreme Court rendered just such a ruling in a 1981 case, essentially sealing off the right to appointed counsel to criminal proceedings alone. But the context of that ruling, as explained by Justice Johnson, is worth noting.
In 1942, the Big Supremes ruled that there is no right to a court-appointed lawyer in criminal cases. Betts v. Brady, 316 US 455 (1942). It took only 21 years for the Court to reverse itself on this point, in the celebrated case of Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 US 355 (1963). But eighteen years later, the Court held, in the child custody case of Lassiter v. DSS, 452 US 18 (1981), that no such right existed in civil cases.
The Lassiter decision was 5-4, as so many decisions seem to be on the increasingly fractured Court of the 21st Century. But as the justice points out, the facts of the case (which he describes as the weakest possible fact situation for declaring such a right”) seemed to presage the ultimate decision, if only as a matter of practicality:
Lassiter was a double murderess who hadnt seen her children for years and wouldnt be able to be a parent to them until her earliest possible parole date, by which time they were adults. It seemed highly unlikely any lawyer, even a Clarence Darrow or his equivalent, could have won the case [below] . . ..
Despite this overwhelmingly problematic fact pattern, four justices voted to extend a right to counsel to Lassiter. One can only wonder (as Justice Johnson does) whether the US Supreme Court would react differently if a more compelling case came along. Given the current composition of the Court, my initial reaction is that I doubt it. But that doesnt mean that the issue is dead.
The other thread of the justices argument is that we are seriously lagging behind the rest of our partners in civilization in refusing to recognize this right. Germany, he notes, recognized it back in 77. By the way; thats 1877. France did so 25 years before that, at a time when Victor Hugo was probably just starting to formulate Les Miserables in his imagination. And in 1979, just two years before the Lassiter decision, the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the Irish legal system had to provide a free lawyer, based on the guarantee of “a fair hearing,” to an indigent woman who wanted a legal separation. The Lassiter decision mentions nothing about that case, or any of the other nations rulings.
In America, we are a confederation of sovereign states, constrained only by the federal constitution in what rights must be provided or cannot be denied. So whats the state of affairs here in Virginia? At least at the appellate stage, Virginia now provides some succor for indigent parties. Last year, the Supreme Court approved a program providing for panels of volunteer attorneys willing to accept assignments (note not appointments; there is a difference) to cases involving unrepresented indigent parties (appellants or appellees). That is an important step toward enabling the court to ensure that both sides of a case are professionally presented for decision, presumably avoiding a whole lot of bad law. [If any of you would like to volunteer for these panels, contact me and Ill make that happen.]
But does this program go far enough? Two considerations suggest that it might not. First, the appointment can be made from these panels only after the court decides to grant a writ. At the petition stage, there is no provision for appointed or assigned counsel. Overall, the writ-granted rate in civil cases usually runs to about 21 or 22 percent; the rate for pro se appellants is probably much lower than that. How many potentially meritorious appeals never mature to the merits stage because they are not presented in a professionally prepared petition for appeal? I cannot begin to guess.
Second, and implicating vastly more resources, is Justice Johnsons principal thesis: Court-appointed trial counsel for indigent parties in civil cases. As any good appellate lawyer will tell you, if the trial record is a disaster, theres not much she can do with the case. The seeds for appellate victory are always, always planted in the trial court, and that point is where the assistance of counsel is most vital; where the absence of counsel can be most fatal.
Justice Johnsons views raise the troubling possibility that Americans may regard that their indigent citizens simply arent worthy of the kind of legal protections afforded to those in other nations. Those countries have based their policies on guarantees of things like fair proceedings, or of equal access to justice, in their fundamental legal documents. In Justice Johnsons view, we have a couple of phrases like that. See if these sound familiar: Equal protection of the laws. Due process of law. (We even have some language like that in the Constitution of Virginia.) Europeans, at least, think that noble words like that should be interpreted broadly.
Regardless of what the nine Robes say in Washington, our Virginia appellate courts could, based on the Virginia Constitution, declare that there is such a right in our courts. (The Supreme Court of Virginia, not the one in Washington, is the court of last resort on questions of Virginia law.) But that does raise one practical consideration: Virginias contemporaneous objection rules, Rule 5:25 and Rule 5A:18, require that an issue be raised in the trial court before it will be considered on appeal. Few pro se litigants are likely to have the presence of mind (not to mention the legal ability) to suitably raise this issue in a trial court. The question becomes whether either appellate court will entertain such an argument, raised for the first time when an appellate lawyer steps up to the lectern and assails the way we do business here. Given the importance of this issue for defining the kind of society we will have and that history will judge us to have had I earnestly hope the answer is yes.
← Analysis of September 2, 2008 CAV Opinions Report from Richmond →
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Up Hatherley
Up Hatherley CP/AP
Parish-level Unit
Total Population 1801 to 1961: Population grew from 22 in 1801 to 305 in 1961.
Occupational Structure in 1881:
Here we are presenting statistics for a historical unit, which may have changed its boundaries significantly during the period covered.
Ancient Parish
F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
Up Hatherley CP/AP, Gloucestershire
UP HATHERLEY Preferred English F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
HATHERLEY UP Alternate English 1831 Census of Great Britain, Table [1], 'Population Abstract'.
UPHATHERLEY Alternate English 1861 Census of England and Wales, Table 1, 'Area; Houses and Inhabitants, 1851 and 1861, in Districts, Sub-districts, Parishes and Places'.
This unit was associated with the following other units:
Nature of association
Other unit involved
was succeeded by UP HATHERLEY EP Ecclesiastical Parish F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Ancient County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
CHELTENHAM PLU/RegD Poor Law Union/Reg. District F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
CHARLTON KINGS Registration sub-District 1911 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Registration Counties, Districts and Sub-districts with their constituent civil parishes. - Urban or Rural District in which each parish is situated; Area; families or separate occupiers, and population, 1901 and 1911; and population enumerated in Institutions, large establishments, and on vessels, &c., 1911'.
CHELTENHAM RSD Sanitary District F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
CHELTENHAM RD Local Government District F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
DUDSTONE AND KINGS BARTON Hundred Ancient District F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
GLOUCESTER Borough Ancient District F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 176.
This unit was affected by the following changes:
Type of change
Area transferred
01 Apr 1935 was reduced to enlarge CHELTENHAM CP/AP Area: 25 acres. Population in 1931: 3. 1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Order No. 80904. The County of Gloucester Review Order, 1935
GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Up Hatherley CP/AP through time | Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit, A Vision of Britain through Time.
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A Marriage of Styles Pop Art to Abstraction
VIEW INSIDE A CAVE 1965 Patrick Caulfield (1936 – 2005) © The Estate of Patrick Caulfield. All rights reserved, DACS 2018.
Curated in association with Professor Martin Hammer (University of Kent), this exhibition tells the story of the meeting of two movements in the 1960s, namely those of Pop Art and the ‘post-painterly’ abstraction strongly inspired by 1950s American practice.
The title A Marriage of Styles comes from one of David Hockney’s witty works, but for this exhibition serves to capture a distinct impulse in British art which was characteristic of the period either side of 1965. The provocative juxtaposition of heraldic geometric devices and figurative imagery was prefigured in the Target paintings of Jasper Johns, and elaborated in the UK in the work of Peter Blake. By the middle of the decade, we can see figurative painters such as Patrick Caulfield, David Hockney, Allen Jones, Howard Hodgkin and Pauline Boty making self-conscious reference to the formal language of their abstract contemporaries, while other artists, notably Richard Smith and Derek Boshier, were introducing into abstraction deliberate allusions to the visual strategies of current advertising and packaging.
This exhibition partners those at Studio 3 gallery on the University of Kent campus and at The Beaney House of Art and Knowledge, also in Canterbury, and contributes to the programme of cultural events and public engagement activities celebrating the University of Kent’s 50th anniversary.
For more information on the University of Kent's 50th anniversary and the celebratory exhibitions please follow the link: http://www.kent.ac.uk/50/celebrate/projects/my-generation.html
Patrick Caulfield
To abstract means to remove, and in the art sense it means that artist has removed or withheld references to an object, landscape or figure to produce a simplified or schematic work. This method of creating art has led to many critical theories; some theorists considered this the purest form of art: art for art’s sake. Unconcerned as it is with materiality, abstraction is often considered as representing the spiritual.
28 Mar 15 - 06 Jun 15
UK, Paddock Wood, Mascalls Gallery
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Paulines
The History of the Pauline Family
Incited by the Spirit, Fr. James Alberione established a number of Institutes between 1914 and 1960. Collectively known as the Pauline Family, they are all connected to one another by the same spirituality and by a deep-felt bond of communion.
Fr. James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family, was one of the most creative apostles of the 20th century. He was probably the most prolific religious founder in Church history. He founded 10 church organization, 9 Institutes of Consecrated Life and a group of lay Pauline Cooperators.
The Society of St.Paul (1914):This was Fr. Alberione's first endeavor. Pauline priests and brothers work with all of the contemporary means of social communication: print, television, radio, and the digital media, to preach the glory of God and the sanctification of souls.
The Daughters of St. Paul (1915):Their mission is the same as that of Pauline priests and brothers. Although their works are diverse and include all of the means of social communication, the Daughters are plausibly best known for their St. Paul Book and Media Centers throughout the World.
The Sister Disciples of the Divine Master (1924):TThe Visit for the Pauline apostolate is the center of their lives. This Institute is also engaged in the ceremonial apostolate.
The Good Shepherd Sisters (1938):These Sisters work in diocesan Parishes. They assist pastors in bringing the love and message of Christ to the committed, through their cooperation in numerous parish ministries.
The Sisters of the Queen of the Apostles (1957):These Sisters work solely to encourage and nurture various vocations for the Church.
Institutes aggregated to the Society of St. Paul:
Institute of Jesus Priest (1960)
This Institute gives Diocesan priests a chance to share in the Pauline apostolate and to enhance their priestly vocation with consecration in the Pauline Family.
The Archangel Gabriel Institute (1960)
For single men who wish to dedicate their lives to serving God in the Pauline apostolate while living a sanctified life in the World.
Our Lady of the Annunciation Institute (1960)
For single women who are summoned to live a consecrated life while continuing in the World and carrying out the Pauline apostolate.
The Holy Family Institute (1960)
For engaged, married, or widowed people who are beckoned by God to live an anointed life in the World. Holy Family members are devoted to Pauline prayer and practice while they continue to live a regular married life. The Holy Family Institute is one of the greatest gifts that God has bestowed upon married couples!
Organization for Lay Collaborators:
Pauline Cooperators (1917):Men and women who wish to devote themselves to the mission and ideals of the Pauline Family. They provide help, inspiration and their prayers to support the Pauline apostolat
© 2019 Holy Family of the Lord Institute. All Rights Reserved.
Not Resisted? Create Account Now.
© Businex 2019. All Right Reserved.
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Justice, District 1, Division 4 — California State Court of Appeals
Judges in the higher courts get into office and stay in office in a different way than other elected officials. Judges for the Supreme Court are appointed and then confirmed. Voters are asked to vote on whether to keep the judge after confirmation, and again after every twelve years.
You can vote yes or no on each of these 2 candidates.
Associate Justice, First District...
Decide cases fairly, impartially, and promptly.
Treat all persons equally.
Uphold the rule of law.
Save your choice
Do you want to keep this judge for another term?
Acting Presiding Justice
Decide cases fairly, impartially and promptly.
Associate Justice, First District Court of Appeal
1,243,752 votes (81.5%)WinningCheck
The Commission on Judicial Appointments unanimously confirmed Alison M. Tucher as an Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Four, on August 23, 2018. Before joining the court of appeal, Justice Tucher served as a judge on the Alameda County Superior Court.
Justice Tucher grew up in the Bay Area. She attended Williams College, graduating with a B.A. in economics and winning a scholarship to study at Cambridge University, where she received a B.A./M.A. in Engineering. Justice Tucher then worked briefly in Washington, D.C., before returning to the Bay Area to earn a J.D. from Stanford University in 1992.
After law school, Justice Tucher worked as a law clerk for Justice David A. Souter on the United States Supreme Court and Judge William A. Norris on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. She then spent three years trying criminal cases in Santa Clara County Superior Court as a Deputy District Attorney.
In 1998, Justice Tucher joined Morrison & Foerster LLP in San Francisco, where she practiced law until her appointment to the bench. At the firm, Justice Tucher handled a variety of intellectual property and commercial cases in trial courts, appellate courts, and private arbitrations. She also maintained an active pro bono docket, including several post-conviction criminal cases, and taught and lectured in law schools, including a Stanford class on trade secrets.
In 2013, Governor Brown appointed Justice Tucher to the Alameda County Superior Court. There, she worked in family law and criminal court assignments, while also chairing her court’s committees on judicial education and juror participation. Justice Tucher served, and continues serving, on the boards of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers and the Alameda County Bar Association’s Volunteer Legal Services Corporation.
Justice Tucher and her husband have two teenaged children.
Profession:Acting Presiding Justice
Partner, Keker & Van Nest (1997–2014)
President, State Bar of California — Elected position (2011–2012)
Partner, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (1989–1997)
Associate, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (1982–1989)
U.C. Berkeley Law School — J.D. (1981)
Stanford University — A.B. (1978)
Website: courts.ca.gov/29297.htm
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Home > Equality Forum, history, religion, Social Justice > Equality Forum’s History Panel: Spotlight on Religion
Equality Forum’s History Panel: Spotlight on Religion
May 1st, 2010 John Culhane Leave a comment Go to comments
You couldn’t swing a rainbow cat at Equality Forum’s History Panel without hearing that phrase. In fact, social justice has been one of the recurring themes at the panels I’ve attended so far, suggesting that the movement is entering a newer, more mature phase and looking toward the day when we can move beyond the identity politics that circumstances have required of us to date.
Of course, one is entitled to expect that the panel of religious leaders would emphasize social justice, and the LGBT rights movement within that context. Although some misguided religious folks seem to spend most of their time on the attack against everything from our community to Obamacare to women’s reproductive rights, any religion (or part thereof) that takes its founding messages to heart invests both belief and blood in ameliorating the difficult conditions in which many people live.
But I was nonetheless heartened (not quite amazed, but…) at the panelists’ willingness to be as direct and forceful as they were. Perhaps the most progressive of the lot were Timothy Safford, who is the Rector at the historic Christ Church Episcopal Church in Old City, Philadelphia. I’ve been there. Two of our closest friends are congregants, and when my partner David had the honor of being named godfather to their second child we attended the baptism. Safford, who’s straight and married, will be one of the three officiants at tomorrow’s blessing of some 100 same-sex unions.
The Episcopalians, of course, are known and celebrated (well, by some) for their progressive stand on women’s issues and for being increasingly welcoming to the LGB (and, to a lessser extent) T community. Safford and his gay twin (at least as far as dress was concerned — they looked as though they’d decided to confuse us by selecting almost identical clothing for the event) Rodger Broadley, Rector at St. Luke and the Epiphany, had a nice sort of back and forth on issues ranging from the debt the LGBT movement owes to the women’s movement (Safford is particularly eloquent on this point), and on the on-going struggles between the U.S. church and the “home office” back in Britain. With a second gay (lesbian, in this case) bishop to be ordained soon in L.A., both men expect that the U.S. church will be “voted off the island” and made to forge ahead, alone. But that didn’t seem to trouble them, and — oddly, to some — they thought it important not to walk away from the table no matter how exasperated and angry they became. Safford expressly decried his own “moderation” in supporting the compromise reached a few years ago, by which Bishop Gene Robinson’s ordination was “traded” for a promise to ordain no more openly gay or lesbian clergy. As Broadley so movingly put it: “Who are we to tell God who can serve?”
Approaching issues of history and faith from a more academic perspective was L.A. Rabbi Denise Eger. She explained the evolution of the various movements (less formally, “branches”) of Judaism on LGBT issues; as might be expected, the Reform and Reconstructionist sects embraced their LGBT fellow worshippers decades ago, with Conservative Judaism by now fairly far along on that path. She also mentioned that even the Orthodox branch had recently begun discussing our issues, and not in the kind of negative dismissive way that might have been the case earlier, but in a real effort to come to terms with the reality that can no longer be ignored.
Interfaith matters are an area of special interest to Eger, and she described the efforts of a female Muslim cleric in L.A. who is now trying to apply reform principles to that religion. Her comment reminded me that all four of the panelists — as good as they were — represented only the Judeo-Christian tradition. The panel would have been even more compelling had it showcased clergy from Eastern religions.
Rounding out the panel was Francis DeBernardo, who is Executive Director of New Ways Ministry, which has been described as a “national Catholic ministry of justice and reconciliation for lesbian and gay Catholics. I’ll confess that I have trouble understanding why anyone who identifies as LGBT would consider himself or herself Catholic, but that’s my issue. Obviously, not all Catholics (in the U.S. or elsewhere) follow every pronouncement from the Vatican, and many see the Church’s undeniable good works (social justice, again, at least for the poor and the sick) as reason enough to stay. Thinking of what’s going on at the very top of the Church hierarchy these days (do I really need a link here, people?), DeBernardo said that reform within the Church has come at precisely those times when the Vatican leadership seems most ossified and out of touch. Perhaps the Church can get out of the sucking vortex that’s pulling it down, but I doubt it.
This post is a bit later than promised. I ended up attending the Tribute to Brian Sanders last night, staying out late, and then running from event to event today. The good news is that I’ve got tons to write about, and will be busy doing it well into next week.
BTW, the interview I did with David Boies earlier tonight will run on 365gay.com, not here — although of course I’ll provide a link and a summary when it posts.
Categories: Equality Forum, history, religion, Social Justice Tags: Brian Sanders, Christ Church, David Boies, Denise Eger, Episcopalians, Equality Forum, Francis DeBernardo, Judaism, Rodger Broadley, Tim Safford
Jayden Thomas
July 28th, 2010 at 07:07 | #1
actually it doesn’t matter what Religion you may have, as long as you treat the other person right.~`;
Oscilloscope :
October 25th, 2010 at 07:27 | #2
religion is a good thing since this is our only connection to a higher being;*;
HTC Evo View 4G Accessories
September 30th, 2011 at 06:13 | #3
Do you have any references for what you wrote right here?
May 2nd, 2010 at 19:47 | #1
marriage trouble blogs | FIX MARRIAGE
Record or choose a video?
The Least-Qualified Dance Critic in America… Equality Forum Revs up for the Weekend
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(→Idolatry)
** [[w:Statue|Statue]]
** [[w:Figurine|Figurine]]
* Voodoo dolls?
*** Toy Figurine + search video on He-Man Cartoons...
** Dolls
*** [http://www.demonbuster.com/dolls.html DOLLS, STUFFED ANIMALS, AND TOYS]
*** Voodoo Dolls?
* '''[[911:Occult_symbolism_VII#Mother_goddess|Occult symbolism: Mother goddess]]
* [[w:Fetishes|Fetishes]]
- "Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will" - Aleister Crowley
- "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
- “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception” - Aldous Huxley
2.3 Wicca
3.9 Amulet
4 Biblical text references
Magic played an everyday part in the lives of people living close to the land (see also: shamanism), as their survival depended on the health of their crops, and living in harmony with the earth is a basic tenet of many of the modern revivals of magic and witchcraft, such as Wicca and various NewAge movements. During the Renaissance period in Europe the appearance of secret societies and scholar-magicians brought a newer emphasis on the actual controlling of the forces of nature by harnessing the power of both spirits/demons and of the human mind, which gave rise to the popularity of cabala, an ancient, esoteric Jewish system, and alchemy. These scholars were perhaps the first scientists, attempting to discover how the realm of the spiritual interacted with the realm of the physical in order to cause drastic changes in tangible matter.
Magic has experienced a vast reappearance in the 20th century with the popularity of Aleister Crowley, who, consulting many of the ancient systems, devised his own brand of ceremonial magic. He suggested the spelling of the word "magic" be made with a "k" at the end to signify the difference between stageshow conjuring magic and serious occult magic, and that device is used almost exclusively now in reference to the occult. He is infamous for referring to himself as "The Great Beast", but left behind a great following of serious students of the occult.[3]
"Practitioners of magic down through the ages have done so in a wide variety of ways. Most often, there is a great deal of sombre ritual and ceremonial performance, aimed at altering the magician's consciousness in order to promote a conducive state for magic to take place. In the earliest earth-based (pagan) religions, the seasons were celebrated, and rituals were in a serious, but celebratory tone. The cunning women of folk-medicine often had no elaborate ceremonies to follow, and only practiced the knowledge passed down through the generations of their families. In more native religions, shamanistic magic is also very ritual oriented, including many sacred objects and mind-altering experiences to guide the shaman. Modern magic, too, depends heavily on ceremony and ritual. Objects included in magical workings (ancient and modern) often include(d) knives (athames), swords, wooden wands, chalices, candles, salt, various containers (for holding herbs, incense, water, wine and other necessary items), writing instruments for drawing various magical symbols, chalk for marking out the circle in which the ritual is performed, bells, and other sacred objects. The magician wears clothing that is designated for ritual purpose only, and often bathes before the ritual in order to purify him/herself." [4]
The most dangerous form of black magic is the scientific perversion of occult power for the gratification of personal desire. Its less complex and more universal form is human selfishness, for selfishness is the fundamental cause of all worldly evil. A man will barter his eternal soul for temporal power, and down through the ages a mysterious process has been evolved which actually enables him to make this exchange. In its various branches the black art includes nearly all forms of ceremonial magic, necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, and vampirism. Under the same general heading are also included mesmerism and hypnotism, except when used solely for medical purposes, and even then there is an element of risk for all concerned. Though the demonism of the Middle Ages seems to have disappeared, there is abundant evidence that in many forms of modern thought--especially the so-called "prosperity" psychology, "willpower-building" metaphysics, and systems of "high-pressure" salesmanship black magic has merely passed through a metamorphosis, and although its name be changed its nature remains the same. [5]
New World Order (conspiracy theory) Occultism / New Age Spirituality / Awareness control (New Age agenda)
Category: Hermeticism / Hermeticism / Hermetic Qabalah
Category: Mysticism / Mysticism / Shamanism
- "The majority of modern mediumistic apparitions are but elemental creatures masquerading through bodies composed of thought substance supplied by the very persons desiring to behold these wraiths of decarnate beings." - ( Manly P. Hall in Ceremonial Magick and Sorcery)
- "…in the arcanum of magic it is declared that ‘he controls the soul who controls the blood of another.’ " - Manly P. Hall
In fact, several features have been identified which bring about dissociative states in the black religions of the Caribbean and South America. First they have dancing to a pronounced and rapid beat. Next, the induction into the dissociative state frequently follows a period of starvation and/or overbreathing (hyperventilation). The beginning of the demonic possession is characterized by a brief period of muscle inhibitions, or a collapse. The person who is experienced at being possessed acquires a specific behavior pattern for the deity that is supposedly controlling it. And finally, the head and limbs may tremor under trance, and the person may become dissociative enough that they can pick up red hot irons. The possessed can be conscious, semiconscious, or subconscious. [6] (edited)
"In the 16th century Spencer St. John (a 19th century British consul) wrote a book (in 1884) saying that Voodoo rites assisted in the murder and eating of children, in honor of the serpent god. W. H. Seabrook was in Haiti in the twentieth century. He saw Voodoo rituals from 1915-1933, and wrote about his observations of what he called "sinister practices."[7]
There are also some instances in which the loa recognize the higher authority of Jesus Christ, even as happened in New Testament times. Even given the peaceful co-existence that seems to exist between Roman Catholicism and voodoo, anthropologist Francis Huxley relates isolated instances in which loa prohibit people from going to church and forbid them to "hear the words of the Gospel." [8] Some of the side effects of Voodoo possession (which Parallels with Biblical demon possession) are: Exchange of personality, Clairvoyance, Unusual strength, Moral impurity, Seizures and convulsions
Demon Scriptures -- 106 of Them
Some of the more important demonology books are the Sixth and Sixth and Seventh Books of Moses, The Black Raven, The Spring Book, The Spiritual Shield. [9]
Biblical possession [10]
Category:Theosophy
Theosophy is a religious philosophy with emphasis on mysticism, esoteric doctrine, occultism, monism and Eastern philosophy. Theosophy though ancient in origin is presently promoted through the Theosophical Society, founded by Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and is espoused by the New Age Movement. It is through the ideas and tenents of theosophy that the many diverse groups within the New Age find a common ground of purpose. The Theosophical Society affirms the following objectives:
(1) to form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour;
(2) to encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy, and science; and
(3) to investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in man.
One of the society's most controversial claims concerns the existence of a brotherhood of Great Masters or Adepts, who, it is asserted, have perfected themselves and are directing the spiritual evolution of humanity. (Ency. Brit:Vol 18, pg. 277) One of the fundamental principles of theosophy is that all souls are identified with the Universal Over-Soul and are obliged to undergo a cyclic pilgrimage through the Cycle of Incarnation. [13]
todo: link to nazi esoterism, Shambala, Great White Brotherhood, Ascended Masters.
It was in 1873 that she emigrated to New York City. Impressing people with her psychic abilities, she was spurred on to continue her mediumship. Mediumship (among other psychical and spiritual sciences of the time), based upon the quasi-religion known as Spiritualism which began at Rochester, NY, was a widely popular and fast-spreading field upon which Blavatsky based her career. Throughout her career she claimed to have demonstrated physical and mental psychic feats which included levitation, clairvoyance, out-of-body projection, telepathy, and clairaudience. Another claim of hers was materialization, that is, producing physical objects out of nothing, though in general, her interests were more in the area of 'theory' and 'laws' rather than demonstration. (Wikipedia)
Ascended Masters
Djwal Khul
Nicholas Roerich
Occult symbolism deities: Moloch (child sascrifices)
The dangers of Ouija Board
The Dangers of the Ouija Board by Dan Corner
The Dangers of Ouija Boards
Although Ouija boards are viewed by some to be a simple toy, there are many people who believe they can be harmful, even dangerous. Those opposed to the use of Ouija boards claim that the board facilitates contact with evil spirit's or demon's, who masquerade as cooperative ghost's or dead loved ones, then proceed to trick players into becoming spiritually possessed. Others claim that evil spirits or demons can cause a user to start using the Ouija board as though it were a drug (Spiritual Lust), eventually ignoring personal relationships and obligations. The use of a Ouija board has also been claimed to cause users to go insane. As early as 1924, Harry Houdini wrote that five people from Carrito, California were driven insane by using a board (Harry Houdini, A Magician Among the Spirits 2002 ISBN 1589638956)). That same year, Carl Wickland reported that "the serious problem of alienation and mental derangement attending ignorant psychic experiments was first brought to my attention by cases of several persons whose seemingly harmless experiences with automatic writing and the Ouija board resulted in such wild insanity that commitment to asylums was necessitated."( Carl Wickland, Thirty years Among the Dead 1996 ISBN 0787309656). In 1944, occultist Manly P. Hall, the founder of the Philosophical Research Society and an authority on the occult during the early twentieth century, stated in Horizon magazine that, "during the last 20-25 years I have had considerable personal experience with persons who have complicated their lives through dabbling with the Ouija board. Out of every hundred such cases, at least 95 are worse off for the experience." He went on to say that, "I know of broken homes, estranged families, and even suicides that can be traced directly to this source."b( Manly P. Hall, Horizon Magazine, (October-December 1944), pages 76-77). Ouija board users have reported experiences of depression, hearing voices, and seeing apparitions after using the Ouija board. Suicide's, and occasional murder's (See * Natasha Cornett & the Lillelid murders) are sometimes attributed to Ouija board use. Susy Smith Susy Smith claimed in her 1971 autobiography, "Confessions of a Psychic," that use of a Ouija board caused her to become mentally disturbed. Christians are against the use of Ouija boards, because the Bible forbids all forms of divination (and mingling with spirits). Christians believe that dead person's soul can not be summoned (Hebrews 9:27), and therefore all spirits contacted through the Ouija board are demons trying to harm humans. The late Roman Catholic priest Malachi Martin believed talking boards were dangerous and claimed that by using these devices a person opens themselves to demonic oppression or possession, topics upon which Martin spoke and wrote extensively for many years. Malachi Martin, Hostage to the Devil: The Possession and Exorcism of Five Americans, (HarperSanFrancisco: 1992 ISBN 006065337X). Ouija
Consequences Of Using An Ouija Board
The former medical director of the State Insane Asylum of New Jersey, Dr. Curry, stated that the Ouija board was a "dangerous factor" in unbalancing the mind and believed that if their popularity persisted insane asylums would be filled with people who used them. Decades later, in 1965, parapsychologist Martin Ebon in his book Satan Trap: Dangers of the Occult, states that "it all may start harmlessly enough, perhaps with a Ouija board," which will, "bring startling information... establishing credibility or identifying itself as someone who is dead. It is common that people... as having been 'chosen' for a special task." He continues, "Quite often the Ouija turns vulgar, abusive or threatening. It grows demanding and hostile, and sitters may find themselves using the board compulsively, as if 'possessed' by a spirit, or hearing voices that control or command them."
English ouija board
Ouija board altar cloth
Psychic circle ouiji message board
Slate ouija
Here are a selection of Abraxas Gems, amulets and seals. In most cases we find the classic depiction of Abraxas, with a roosters head, man's torso and snakes for legs. [2]
Biblical text references
todo: Conclude what magic really is, bible quotes,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12).
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+25:41&version=NIV Matthew 25:41)
Wicca: Satan's Little White Lie, William Schnoebelen, ISBN 978-0937958346
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Jorge Benjor's "Mas Que Nada" - 50 Years Later
In May of 2013 I was interviewed about Jorge Benjor's song "Mas Que Nada" by the Japanese television show Song to Soul*, which airs on the BS TBS channel in that country. Each hour-long program profiles a particular song that has achieved status as a classic in Japan. In this case, the show focused on the recording of "Mas Que Nada" by Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66, which projected the song globally.
"Mas Que Nada" (Oh, Come On) is a composition that left an indelible cultural mark in many countries, and has become one of the most played Brazilian songs of all time worldwide. Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Al Jarreau, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Trini Lopez, Al Hirt, Ella Fitzgerald and many notable Brazilian artists are among the few hundred musicians who have recorded it. In recent years, it has been the most played song in North America sung entirely in Portuguese, and the Sergio Mendes version was the only all-Portuguese recording to have been a pop hit in the U.S., other than Carmen Miranda's "Mamãe Eu Quero."
Jorge Benjor (Jorge Duílio Lima Meneses) first recorded the song fifty years ago in 1963, after introducing it to enthusiastic bossa nova and jazz audiences at Bottles Bar, in the famed Beco das Garrafas lane of nightclubs in Copacabana. One of those who heard Benjor (then going by the name of Ben) playing there with the Copa Cinco group was a Philips executive and the young singer-songwriter-guitarist was soon signed to a contract. Benjor released "Mas Que Nada," a kinetic samba with hints of maracatu, on his album Samba Esquema Novo for the Philips label. Just prior to that, the song was recorded by the Zé Maria group (with Jorge supplying vocals) for its Tudo Azul album and by the Tamba Trio on Avanço.
The song had Benjor's unique groove, and didn't fit into the realms of either traditional samba or bossa nova. "Mas Que Nada" was a hit and helped launch Benjor's career in Brazil. It achieved iconic status outside of Brazil thanks to the 1966 album Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66, which incorrectly lists the tune as "Mais Que Nada." Mendes had been tinkering with his group and repertoire, trying to find the right combination to achieve success in the U.S. And on this album, recorded for A&M Records, he found it. It featured a light, upbeat blend of Brazilian music and American pop, and Lani Hall's double-tracked vocals (she later sang in unison with Janice Hansen, who joined the group after this recording was finished). The album reached no. 7 on the U.S. pop charts, with a big push from its lead song, "Mas Que Nada."
Mendes's infectious version of "Mas Que Nada" was more celebratory than Benjor's own (which had been arranged by J.T. Meirelles) and closer in spirit to the organ/percussion-heavy Zé Maria recording, with Sergio's driving, jazzy piano and Lani Hall's soaring chorus. While "Mas Que Nada" was only a minor hit, reaching no. 47 on the Billboard pop singles chart, it caught the ears of many other musicians and has stayed in the public consciousness to this day. Sergio recorded it again in 2006, a hip-hop-charged version with the Black Eyed Peas, for the album Timeless. The new version hit no. 1 in Brazil, Holland and Hungary, no. 13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and no. 6 on the U.K. singles chart. The version was included in EA's 2006 FIFA World Cup and NBA Live '07 video games, and in a Nike ad with soccer players from the Brazilian national team. Mendes recorded it again with his wife, singer Gracinha Leporace, for the 2011 animated film Rio.
Starting with "Mas Que Nada" and Samba Esquema Novo, Jorge Benjor carved out a unique musical identity for himself, fusing elements of samba, bossa nova, rock, and funk, not fitting into any one category. He knocked down cultural walls just by being himself, and was able to move freely between different musical factions -- whether it was the bossa nova crowd, the Jovem Guarda pop stars, or various MPB artists. "Pais Tropical," "Fio Maravilha," "Chove Chuva," and "Taj Mahal" are among his other many oft-recorded standards. The Jorge Benjor "swing" has influenced generations of Brazilian musicians, including contemporary romantic pagode samba artists, and is still fresh after all these years, as is "Mas Que Nada."
Here is Jorge Benjor's own 1963 recording of the song:
Sergio Mendes's 1966 version:
And the 2006 Sergio Mendes and Black Eyes Peas recording of "Mas Que Nada":
--Chris McGowan
*There is information in Japanese about the July, 2013 "Mas Que Nada" edition of Song to Soul here: http://www.bs-tbs.co.jp/songtosoul/onair/onair_74.html.
Posted by Chris McGowan at 2:13:00 PM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: jorge ben, jorge benjor sergio mendes and brasil '66, mas que nada, samba esquema novo, tudo azul, ze maria
Accordionist-composer Dominguinhos, one of the musical greats from Brazil's Northeast, passed away on July 23rd. His accordion playing on his many solo albums and works by Luiz Gonzaga, Gilberto Gil, Elba Ramalho and many others is an indelible part of Brazil's musical history. Born on February 12, 1941 in Garanhuns, in the interior of Pernambuco, Dominguinhos started learning to play the accordion at age six, met and impressed the legendary Luiz Gonzaga at nine, and moved to Rio at 13 to pursue a musical career, where he re-connected with Gonzaga and became part of his band. He was a master of the regional forró, xote and baião styles, and also delved into bossa nova, jazz and pop.
He went on to tour and record with Gonzaga, and worked with many important figures of MPB (also including Martia Bethânia. Toquinho, Nana Caymmi, Sivuca and Yamandú Costa), being called upon "when the perfect accordion touch was required," as noted in The Brazilian Sound. He recorded more than forty solo albums and as a songwriter teamed with Anastácia, Nando Cordel, Gilberto Gil, Djavan, Chico Buarque and others. He contributed numerous Northeastern-flavored classics such as "Só Quero Um Xodo" and "Lamento Sertanejo." He was considered a fine person and will be sorely missed. He was much beloved in Brazil's musical community: here are some testimonials to Dominguinhos (in Portuguese).
Here are two of his most well-known compositions:
Dominguinhos, "So Quero Um Xodó"
Dominguinhos and Gilberto Gil, "Lamento Sertanejo"
Dominguinhos at Amazon.com
More info (in Portuguese): Dominguinhos official site.
Posted by Chris McGowan at 8:11:00 AM No comments: Links to this post
Labels: dominguinhos
Another Side of Jazz Samba: An Interview with Buddy Deppenschmidt
Buddy Deppenschmidt in 1992.
Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s 1962 album Jazz Samba is one of the most important popular music albums in history. Without it, bossa nova might never have boomed outside of Brazil and become such an indelible part of the world's music. And Jazz Samba might never have been recorded were it not for a young drummer's enthusiasm for bossa, which he first heard on a trip in early 1961 to Brazil. William "Buddy" Deppenschmidt, who played drums on the album, was on a U.S. State Department-sponsored tour of South America that year as part of the Charlie Byrd Trio, along with guitarist Byrd (1925-1999) and bassist Keter Betts (1928-2005). While in Salvador, he heard bossa nova for the first time, and was enraptured by the new style. He and Betts spent many hours on the trip trying to learn the new style, and when they returned to the U.S. they continued practicing. Eventually, they and Byrd started performing bossa nova songs at the Showboat Lounge in Washington, D.C.
According to Deppenschmidt, he was the first to suggest that the trio record a bossa nova album and he and Betts spent months trying to convince Byrd to do it. Byrd eventually talked to saxophonist Stan Getz about doing a joint album of bossa songs and played him a Gilberto record. Getz liked the music and the concept. He went to A&R executive Creed Taylor at Verve, who gave it a green light. According to many sources, they initially tried to record Jazz Samba in late '61 with Getz's musicians, and it didn't work. So, Buddy and Keter were brought back into the project.
In an August 29, 1963 Downbeat article by Leonard Feather, Byrd recalled, "We tried to make the album in New York, as you know, with a New York rhythm section, but they just couldn't make it. Buddy Deppenschmidt deserves an awful lot of credit for his part in the album; he spent so much time working on getting the exact rhythmic thing down." His wife Ginny added, "Buddy and Keter stayed up nights learning those rhythms." Byrd added, "All Stan had to do was come in and play. We had the rhythm section and the idea." Byrd picked the songs (by Antonio Carlos Jobim and others), provided the musicians, did the arrangements, and set up the recording session. Getz flew down from New York to Washington, D.C. for the day with Verve's Taylor, who produced the album. Jazz Samba was recorded in about two hours on February 13, 1962 at the All Souls Unitarian church. Drummer Bill Reichenbach and guitarist/bassist Joe (Gene) Byrd completed the lineup.
The original cover of Jazz Samba
Jazz Samba eventually made it to the no. 1 position on the Billboard pop albums chart, the only jazz instrumental album to have ever achieved that feat. One of its highlights was the sublime "Desafinado," a composition by Jobim and Newton Mendonça. With inspired soloing by Getz, the tune stayed on the pop singles chart for sixteen weeks, and won a "best solo jazz performance" Grammy for Getz. Jazz Samba stayed on the charts for seventy weeks and sold half a million copies within eighteen months. It was more jazz than bossa, but the new sound struck a nerve. Byrd and Getz were the first Americans to release an album of bossa nova songs, and it launched the bossa craze in the United States.
About a month after the release of Jazz Samba, Getz offered Deppenschmidt a gig, according to Buddy. Stan asked if he had a New York union card (he didn't) and said, "Well, if you can get one, you've got a job. We're getting a lot of requests for the bossa nova stuff and my drummer isn't getting it." Alas, the young Deppenschmidt was already working steadily in D.C. with Byrd and didn't want to pay the $500 for the card. "I was young and didn't realize how much my playing was worth and had a young family to support." It was a missed opportunity. Soon after, Byrd replaced Deppenschmidt in the trio with Reichenbach, although he used Buddy for another recording later in the year.
Deppenschmidt only received $150 for his playing on Jazz Samba. While Byrd took Verve's parent company MGM to court in 1964 for a fairer share of the album's royalties, Deppenschmidt waited much longer, until 2001, to sue Verve and its then parent, the Universal Music Group; according to the drummer, he reached a settlement with them around 2004. His and Betts' vital contributions to the conception and realization of the album were largely ignored until June 2004, when JazzTimes published David Adler's article "Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd: Give the Drummer Some." Buddy's account differs from that of the Byrd family; Elana Byrd (Charlie Byrd's sister-in-law) claims that the project was the idea of Charlie's wife Ginny. Whichever account is true, the album certainly wouldn’t have sounded the same without Deppenschmidt and Betts, in part because they were so enthusiastic about the new style and because of the hours they spent practicing it before recording with Byrd. The interview below tells Buddy's side of the story, which deserves to be heard.
Buddy Deppenschmidt (born February 16, 1936 in Philadelphia) played with Byrd from 1959-1962 and appeared on such albums as The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd, Charlie Byrd at the Village Vanguard, Blues Sonata, Jazz Samba, Latin Impressions, and Once More! Charlie Byrd's Bossa Nova. He also performed with jazz figures such as Chet Baker, Mose Allison, Clark Terry, Coleman Hawkins, Herb Ellis, King Pleasure, Phil Woods, Lionel Hampton, and James Moody, and has long been active in jazz education. In recent years he has led his own group, Jazz Renaissance, and has been a faculty member at The Conservatory music school in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, where he teaches music theory and improvisation in jazz, Brazilian, Latin and other styles.
Chris McGowan: You filed a lawsuit against Verve and Universal Music Group in 2001. Was there a result?
Buddy Deppenschmidt: It went into mediation because they didn’t want it to go into court. I had to sign a gag order so I’m really not supposed to talk about it. But they reneged on part of their agreement. They didn’t fulfill their end of the bargain. I was even considering possibly re-opening the case. They didn’t treat me fairly at all. They claimed they couldn’t come up with any sales figures for Jazz Samba. They didn’t even know if it had sold a million copies. And I’m sure it went gold, platinum and diamond. It had to. You still play $18 or $19 for a copy of the CD when you go into one of the larger record shops. It’s there, everywhere, and still selling.
C: What year did the settlement take place?
B: I think maybe around 2004. I'm somewhat disappointed but can’t talk about it. I wish the Adler [JazzTimes] article had [already] come out; I would have probably been treated with more respect.
C: When Charlie Byrd sued MGM (Verve's owner then) back in 1964, did you not also sue them then because you didn’t have the money for the legal fees?
B: Yeah. I didn’t have enough money to hire a lawyer. I was in my twenties and very inexperienced. If only I had known then what I know now, I would probably have realized that any lawyer could have done it on a contingency basis. I know that of all the people who were involved in that project, the person who did the least was [Verve's] Creed Taylor, because all he had to do was show up.
C: Yet, even though you couldn’t afford a lawyer back then, why did you wait until 2001 to file suit? It had been such a long time and that album had sold so much over the years.
B: I’ll tell you why. Because I was busy playing and living in the present and not in the past. My girlfriend deserves a lot of credit because she’s the one that said this isn’t right, this isn’t fair. Let’s do something about it. She helped me and we put out a press release together and we sent it out to people.
C: So, your girlfriend talked you into pursuing it.
B: Yes, and I’m glad she did. Because I found it was more satisfying to know that I had at least done something about it. To just be complacent isn’t the way to go. And I had just given it up. I was so disappointed in the whole thing and the way it turned out, other than the way the music turned out well and that it was a successful venture, God knows it was successful for Verve records and for Stan Getz and for Charlie Byrd. But it wasn’t very successful for me. I was still happy to see my idea be materialized, and I was part of it and I got to do it and the music is there and it will be there forever. And I have to get my satisfaction from that. Because if I had dwelled on the fact that I didn’t get financial compensation, I would have been miserable over it, so I just had to dismiss that.
The 1961 tour of Latin America: Buddy Deppenschmidt, Charlie
Byrd and Keter Betts on the left and Ginny Byrd on the far right.
C: It all started with a three-month Latin American tour in 1961, sponsored by the State Department. How long were you in Brazil for?
B: Approximately two weeks. We went to eight cities—Bahia, Sao Paulo, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Recife, Belo Horizonte and Belém. We did not play in Belém. We didn’t go to Rio because the state department had sent large groups down there. Since we were just four people—Keter, Charlie, Ginny [Byrd's wife] and myself—they sent us to cover bases they hadn’t covered in the past. To send Count Basie’s band was airfare for twenty or thirty people. We were just four people. So they tried to send us to a lot of places that had never had any American jazz before.
C: Was the purpose of the trip to spread American culture?
B: That’s what it was. It was called the Cultural Exchange Program, and we surely did culturally exchange. I learned a lot down there and I tried to teach everyone we had contact with, all the musicians. Whenever we’d get together I’d show them stuff and they’d show me stuff. Even after I got back to the United States I had drummers mailing me rhythms written out on paper. There were nights we stayed up all night.
C: What did you perform in your concerts in Brazil?
B: We played a lot of Latin stuff in our repertoire. It was on our concert program. We had four programs and in each city the embassy would choose which program they wanted us to play. All of the programs had some Duke Ellington tunes and some Latin-type tunes. I got to play a lot of Latin rhythms, mostly based on rhumba.
C: When you were in Brazil, it must have been a pretty magical time, because in 1961 Brazil was at a peak in a lot of ways, and had much less crime and a much smaller population. You probably went at a great time.
B: It was wonderful. I loved it, every minute of it. I’m glad I didn’t just go to embassy cocktail parties. I reserved most of my off time to hang out with local people and most of the time they were musicians, but not all of the time. Sometimes it would be like a local jazz club, or something like that (in Uruguay not in Brazil). I remember the people so well. I got letters for quite a while.
C: You had some particularly important meetings in Salvador.
B: I got to meet Master Bimba [Mestre Bimba, the leader of the "capoeira regional" school of capoeira]. We were having lunch and when we were done lo and behold there was master Bimba with his troupe of guys and they were doing capoeira. And that’s when I got berimbau [lessons]. They got some shots of Charlie playing his guitar with master bimba after at the restaurant and some shorts of Bimba in my hotel room, giving me lessons on the berimbau. He made me a berimbau and taught me how to play it. I’m not a virtuouso but I can play it and I still do. I still have it and have used it on some recordings. I make a few now for my students and show them how to play it. I was really interested in the berimbau and particularly in the bossa stuff [Mestre Bimba Tocando Com Charlie Byrd on YouTube is a very short video showing Mestre Bimba with both Buddy and Charlie Byrd].
A late '60s photo of Buddy playing berimbau.
C: You also went to the house of a judge [Carlos Coqueijo Costa], and he played some bossa records for you. Was Charlie Byrd with you or were you off on your own?
B: He was with us then. They invited the whole group of us to his home for dinner, and after dinner we had wine and he played music for us and they passed the guitar and everyone played guitar. And his wife played the guitar; his son played piano and drums. That was the first time we ever heard Gilberto and Jobim. Keter and I went out the very next day and bought his [Gilberto]’s records. And we started rehearsing in our hotel rooms. Just he and I. Charlie was not included in that.
C: At the judge’s house, were they teaching you the rhythms and also showing Charlie how to play bossa nova on the guitar?
B: Not really. You know, they weren’t giving me a lesson in it either. I was just fascinated with how his son played the brushes on a record jacket. He stuck an LP jacket between his knees and started playing brushes in it.
C: What were the two bossa albums you bought?
B: The first two João Gilberto Odeon recordings [Chega de Saudade and O Amor, O Sorriso e A Flor]. The judge brought the third one [João Gilberto] up to me in Washington D.C.
Mutinho (guitar), Malu (center) and Buddy.
C: You also learned a lot about Brazilian music in Porto Alegre?
B: About a week later in Porto Alegre this girl, Malu Pederneiras, came up to me after a concert and invited me to lunch at her house the next day. I didn’t know what to think of it. I thought maybe she was coming on to me. I didn’t know what to expect and it turned out to be a very wholesome regular get-together. It was a musical thing. She wanted me to come over and meet her boyfriend and he was going to show me how to play the [bossa nova] rhythm. Probably when she heard me playing Latin rhythms on drums, she thought, "We should show you how to play the new stuff. Come on over to the house tomorrow, bring your brushes and your sticks, and we’ll show you how to play it." She just invited me over to lunch and they started showing me how. Her boyfriend played guitar and was a drummer. His name was Mutinho. He’s playing in São Paulo now. She had her whole family there and her father didn’t go to work that day; he stayed home. And all of her relatives were there and friends. It was like a family reunion. We must have spent an hour or two where they were teaching me how to play the rhythm.
Mutinho, Buddy and Malu.
C: Were they teaching Charlie how to play the guitar? Was he there?
B: He wasn’t there. She just came to me and invited me over and didn’t say anything to anyone else.
C: So, you were already practicing bossa nova while you were in Brazil.
B: I loved the music. I fell in love with the music the first time I heard it. Keter too. And I said let’s rehearse a little bit while we’re here instead of waiting until we get back home. Let’s just get together and play in our rooms a little bit. And we started getting it together and I said [to Keter], "We’ve got to do an album of this stuff." I was really hot to do one. I didn’t even start talking to Charlie about doing an album until we got back to the States, and then when we got back I said, "We gotta do this. No one has heard this music in the States. It’ll be the first album if we do it."
C: Well, Capitol had released the João Gilberto album Brazil's Brilliant João Gilberto [his second Brazilian LP, with a new title] in 1961 but it bombed. Nobody really listened to it.
B: It just goes to show. That’s the pure version. As far as I’m concerned that’s the real deal (laughs). I do what I do. I do my version of it. I was brought up and steeped in the bebop era and Stan Getz was my idol. I had all of his records, all of his stuff. I always did think he was a wonderful player. I thought to myself, this is the way we make it sound. But they really play it the pure way. I don’t know why [Gilberto's album] wasn’t a huge hit.
João Gilberto's debut album Chega de Saudade for Odeon in Brazil.
C: Well, I can hear that. For a huge massive success it was necessary for a slight translation. And João Gilberto’s voice was too different for Americans and he sang in Portuguese. You guys did an instrumental album. I just wonder if there would have been a bossa nova boom in the United States if Jazz Samba had never come out. Maybe nothing would have ever happened.
B: I thought the same thing. I think it opened up an opportunity for Brazilian musicians to come play music in this country and make a decent living doing what they do. And I thought it was great for them.
C: I think what you guys and Herbie Mann and others were playing was jazz bossa.
B: That’s what it is. You can’t call it bossa nova music because it’s not pure bossa nova. It is definitely a fusion of jazz and Brazilian music. And it’s a really nice combination. I can see why it was so popular because it was probably the mixture of the two that finally convinced [the public]. They weren’t ready to hear it the way João Gilberto did it, they weren’t ready for that, they couldn’t quite accept that. But what we did sort of hit a nerve and all of a sudden they said this is pretty good stuff. You can dance to it. It’s unobtrusive. You can have a conversation and it’s not in your face. And it’s interesting, it’s not boring, it’s not elevator music. It’s everything that you would want, actually.
C: Was the album your and Keter’s idea? Or was it your idea and he was trying to help you push it?
B: It was really my idea, but I wasn’t getting through. And at the time I was only about 25. Keter was about ten years older than me and had been with Charlie several years before I joined. So I said, "I’m not getting anywhere with Charlie, why don’t you help me, Keter? You’ve been longer with him and he’ll listen to you." And even that didn’t work. And then I went to Charlie’s wife [Ginny Byrd] and tried to talk her into doing it. She said she didn’t think it was the right thing for Charlie, because he was known for playing blues and classical. And I said, "Well, it’s guitar music. It’s perfect for him and we could do a great job. Why don’t you try to talk him into it?" Finally, I convinced her. Because we used to hang out together during intermission when Charlie would do his classical bit. We’d do a jazz set and then Keter and I would get off and Charlie would do twenty or thirty minutes of classical guitar [at the Showboat Lounge], and I would be hanging out with Ginny. I tried to sway her and I finally did. And she talked to Charlie. Keter had already done it, and I had been pushing it. And finally he decided maybe we should do this.
Betts (bass) and Deppenschmidt (drums) during the '61 tour.
C: Whose idea was it to play with Stan Getz?
B: The whole thing with Stan Getz was my idea. And I said, "Look, if you can’t get Stan Getz you can try to get Paul Desmond. He would be good for this music."
C: Once Byrd gave it the green light, the next hurdle was finding a receptive record label. Byrd's label, Riverside Records, wasn't interested.
B: Riverside didn’t want to have anything to do with it. No interest in it at all. Keter even mentioned to me that he played the records we bought for Orrin Keepnews [co-founder of Riverside] and he didn’t think much of it. I don’t understand why. It just goes to show you can be good but you don’t know everything. I’m sure he kicked himself in the butt after Jazz Samba came out and was such a big hit. And then everybody started going that way.
C: But producer Creed Taylor at Getz's label, Verve, was interested. According to many sources, at that point you almost were removed from the project, as Getz and Byrd recorded tracks with Getz's band in two or three sessions in October 1961 at Rudy Van Gelder's Studio in New York*.
B: Keter is the one who told me. Keter knew John [Neves], who was the bass player for Stan at the time, and he went to New York and he met John on the sidewalk and John said “Hi, how you doing, I just did a date with your boss today.” And Keter said, “What do you mean, you did a date with my boss?” And he said, “It’s the second one we’ve done and we couldn’t get one track that we could use. It’s that Brazilian stuff.” Keter is the one that came to me and told me this. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known about it. They tried to do it with Stan’s rhythm section, or at least his bass player and drummer. And Roy Haynes [Getz's drummer] is one of the finest jazz drummers you could wish to have in your group but at the time he wasn’t getting the feel of the bossa nova right and they didn’t get anything that worked.
[*Author's note: Charlie Byrd referred to The New York "phantom sessions" in the 1963 Down Beat interview mentioned earlier; it was also mentioned by Getz biographers Donald Maggin and Dave Gelly, John Litweiler (who wrote liner notes for a Jazz Samba reissue), and musicians Keter Betts and Roy Haynes (in the JazzTimes article by David Adler). The latter notes that the Verve master discography lists two recording sessions with Getz and Byrd on 10/25/1961 labeled "JAZZ SAMBA." Creed Taylor, however, denies that the "phantom sessions" ever took place.]
Creed Taylor
C: Why did Getz want to use only his own musicians?
B: I think the only reason they didn’t use Keter and me right off the bat was that Verve Records was insisting that Getz use his musicians and Charlie would be brought in as a guest artist. And the way it worked out they wanted to do it on Stan’s record label with Stan’s musicians. It would be Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. Not Charlie Byrd and Stan Getz on Riverside.
C: But it didn't work out like that.
B: They tried to do it without us and it didn’t work.
C: Did Charlie ever talk to you about the failed recording dates?
B: Charlie never mentioned them.
C: They had to come back to you and Keter.
B: It finally came to pass. Charlie said he had decided to do the album. I said, "When?" And he said, "On Saturday." And Saturday was just three or four days away. It didn’t make me nervous because I was ready. So when they decided to do it with us it worked and we did it in two hours.
C: You guys had been playing bossa nova at the Showboat Lounge already.
B: Yeah, it started then. It took almost six months before we started playing it in public and when we did it was received very well and Charlie liked that, and I think that [part of the reason] he finally gave in [was] because he saw that the public liked it and it was good music for us, guitar, bass and drums, perfect instrumentation. We were probably doing it in the club for three months, something like that.
C: In the days between when Charlie told you about the recording date and when you did it, were there any specific rehearsals of the material?
B: There were no rehearsals.
C: But you guys, by playing bossa tunes together at the Showboat Lounge, had essentially been rehearsing. So when you went to the recording session you were well rehearsed.
B: Absolutely. We were ready to rock and roll.
C: Did Charlie pick all the songs to be recorded on Jazz Samba? Did you have any input?
B: I had no input on the song selection. Charlie chose them and sketched out the simple charts.
C: You have disagreed with certain claims by Creed Taylor about the session.
B: In that [JazzTimes] article by David Adler, he [Taylor] denies there were any other attempts to make the record without us. [And] he says he brought a tape recorder and two microphones which is absolutely preposterous. Contrary to what Creed Taylor claims, there were nine mics including the ambient mic, which can be seen on a stand above us in the session photo. There were three microphones on the drum set alone, and Bill Reichenbach had a microphone because he was doing a thing on a snare drum with brush, and then Charlie’s brother had to have a microphone on his bass and guitar, and Keter had a microphone and Stan Getz had a microphone. Whoever wrote all that publicity from the record company, Hans Christian Anderson couldn’t have done a better job. I think “Jazz Samba” may have been the only thing that was Creed Taylor’s idea.
Stan Getz, Joe Byrd and Charlie Byrd at the Jazz Samba recording session.
C: The name of the album?
B: I think he came up with the title. Everyone thought he could walk on water because of Jazz Samba though he didn’t have a darn thing to do with it. The only thing he had to do—he was the A&R man at Verve and Stan Getz was under contract to Verve.
C: Speaking of all of you guys, it's amazing that Getz got so much of the credit. Charlie and you and Keter had been playing this for a few months. And Charlie set up the recording session and Getz just showed up and played for two hours.
B: It was more like Getz was sitting in with the Charlie Byrd Trio.
C: The actual recording session was about two hours long?
B: We started at noon and the recording was over by 2pm. They were listening to playback as I was packing my drums up. I was out of there by 3pm. Back over to the Showboat and getting my drum set back up for that night. Then I had to drive over to Arlington, Virginia where I lived, eat, take a shower, get dressed, and get back over to D.C. to play that night. So I wasn’t going to hang around and listen to the playback. "I’ve heard those tunes before, I’ve played those tunes before."
C: Did it match what you wanted to do, your idea?
B: Yes, it did. Except that I hadn’t counted on having two bass players [Joe Byrd and Keter Betts] or a rhythm guitar player [also Joe Byrd], or another drummer [Reichenbach].
C: Was Joe Byrd someone who played with you at the Showboat Lounge much?
B: No.
C: He wasn’t part of the band.
B: He wasn’t part of the band, but there were a few times he substituted for Keter. I can only remember two or three times that Joe played bass while I was in the band.
C: You hadn’t expected him to be at the recording session?
B: I did not know that Bill Reichenbach was going to be on that date and I didn’t know that Joe was going to be on that date. Charlie told me at the last minute. I was thinking it was just going to be a quartet—Charlie, Keter, myself and Stan Getz. Our trio plus Getz. I didn’t know he was augmenting the band with two other people.
C: Why was Bill Reichenbach brought in to play on Jazz Samba?
B: Maybe Charlie had intentions of getting Bill Reichenbach in the band and letting me go. I don’t know.
Buddy, Keter and Charlie listening to playback
of The Guitar Artistry of Charlie Byrd in 1961.
C: When the album came out you didn’t get any credit for it having been your idea. Did you have any argument with Charlie about that?
B: No, I’ll tell you the truth. At the time I was just so excited that the album came out and I was happy with my job. I was getting to play the kind of music I wanted to play every night. It didn’t enter my mind that I wasn’t getting any credit. After he let me go, I thought, "Well, that’s gratitude for you." I talk him into doing this great album that’s very successful and then he fires me. I just don’t understand it. And then when he fired Keter two months later I thought he was losing his mind. If you’ve got Keter Betts, he was as good a bass player that has ever played [Betts went on to play for many years with Ella Fitzgerald]. I thought we had a great trio and it didn’t make any sense at all, musically. I’m now firmly convinced that the reason he let me and Keter go might have been the advice of Pete Lambros, who was his manager. He probably said, "Look, get rid of these guys and you’re going to take all the credit for this."
C: When did Getz ask you to come join his band in New York? Were you still in Byrd's trio? And had Jazz Samba come out?
B: When Stan Getz asked me to join his band, it was because he was getting a lot of requests for bossa nova because of the release of the album. I was with Charlie when Stan offered me the job because I turned it down thinking that I had a solid position with Charlie, didn't want to leave him and relocate, and couldn't afford it. Therefore, I was still with Charlie when the album was released. [Later] he brought me back to do one album that was called Once More [Once More! Charlie Byrd's Bossa Nova]. At that time Bill Reichenbach was playing for him.
C: What happened between Getz and Byrd that they didn’t record together again?
B: I don’t know why. Maybe because Charlie sued for royalties and he rubbed him the wrong way.
C: Were they friends before Jazz Samba?
B: I don’t think they had really met each other.
C: Who are your favorite Brazilian musicians?
B: Who I really like a lot is Maysa. I really like the stuff she did. Jobim and Dom Um Romão.
C: What about percussionists Airto Moreira and Naná Vasconcelos?
B: I love Airto, and Mutinho.
C: When you recorded Jazz Samba, did it feel like something special when you were doing it?
B: Well, it felt like it was good. I had no idea that it was going to be as successful as it was. But I knew the music was going to be good. There was no way it was going to be bad.
Read more about Jazz Samba here:
Blame It On the Bossa Nova: Jazz Samba's 50th Birthday
Read about Getz/Gilberto and "The Girl from Ipanema" here:
A four-CD box set of Stan Getz's bossa nova albums:
Stan Getz, The Girl from Ipanema: The Bossa Nova Years
Read more about Brazilian music:
The Brazilian Sound: Samba, Bossa Nova and the Popular Music of Brazil
Posted by Chris McGowan at 1:59:00 PM 1 comment: Links to this post
Labels: bossa nova, buddy deppenschmidt, charlie byrd, creed taylor, jazz samba, stan getz, verve
Another Side of Jazz Samba: An Interview with Budd...
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Other attractions in the vicinity.
The Thomas Shop, Penybont
Nostalgic museum shop, old laundry gallery, tea room and gift shop in a Grade II listed building.
On the A44 in the centre of Penybont: look out for the round teapot sign on a yellow background. Tel 01597 851951.
Water-Break-Its-Neck Waterfall
This spectacular waterfall is in Warren wood, NW of the A44 half way between Llanfihangel-Nant Melan and New Radnor. From the A44 take the up-hill track, through the first parking area into the woodland to a second small car park, just before a stream. From here walk up-stream a third of a mile along the level track to the waterfall.
Abbey-cwm-hir
The village of Abbey-cwm-hir lies on a minor road NW of Penybont and Crossgates and E-NE of Rhayader. The name derives from the Cistercian monastery built here in 1143 but never completed. In the abbey grounds, on the south side of the road, is a stone slab marking the reputed burial place of the last native Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, who was killed in 1282.
The village church of St Mary was visited by Rev. Francis Kilvert, famous for his diaries of rural life in the 1870s.
The Hall at Abbey-cwm-hir, built in 1834, is Grade II* listed as one of Wales’ finest examples of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture. For tours of The Hall and/or gardens phone 01597 851727.
Abbey-cwm-hir is on the Glyndwrs’ Way national walking trail, the northern section of which, from Machynlleth to Welshpool, passes Dolobran Quaker Meeting House, the oldest Meeting House in Wales, dated 1700 (though not in continuous use since then).
The National Cycle Museum
The National Cycle Museum in Llandrindod Wells is home to over 260 cycles, from an 1818 hobby horse, Victorian solid-tyred machines, and classic lightweights to the latest carbon-fibre designs.
Dog-friendly. For opening times visit http://www.cyclemuseum.org.uk/ or telephone 01597 825531.
The Automobile Palace
Temple Street
LD1 5DL
Radnorshire Museum
The Radnorshire Museum in Llandrindod Wells collects, preserves and interprets the rich cultural heritage of the old shire county of Radnorshire. This is reflected in its diverse collections of geology, archaeology, natural history, social history and fine art. The museum houses an art gallery with a programme of varied and exciting exhibitions and events.
The museum occupies two floors of the former Carnegie Public Library set within the attractive Memorial Gardens in Llandrindod Wells.
Lift to first floor. For opening times visit https://en.powys.gov.uk/radnorshiremuseum/ or telephone 01597 824513.
Powys LD1 5DL
Rock Park Spa
Llandrindod Wells Rock Park is a prominent park and woodland community space which was established in the spa town’s Victorian heyday. The Springs were referred to in Roman writings as Balnes Siluria (the baths of the Silurians).
For more information visit http://www.llandrindod-wells.com/waters.html or telephone 01597 822997.
The Rock Park Centre
Rock Park
Powys LD1 6AE
Llandrindod Wells Lake
Llandrindod Wells Lake, to the south-east of the town centre, is a beautiful and peaceful place. Walk the 1 km path around the lake and through the adjacent woodland, watch the wild life, and admire the water serpent sculpture in the lake. There are pedalo boats to hire. Visit the lakeside café (tel. 01597 825679), close to which sits a distinctive tree-trunk sculpture known as ‘Llandoddie’.
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The Typewriter News Site
Best Online Political News
Soudi Arabia
Top Political News Today – The Last U.S. Elections
Published on : November 19, 2018 December 28, 2018 Published by : MarkVilla
The Typewriter News Site Review: The Republican Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has prevailed on Sunday against Democrat Bill Nelson during a particularly contested Senatorial election.
End of suspense in Florida, twelve days after the midterm elections. At the end of a recount automatic then Manual of the ballots, the incumbent Democratic Senator, Bill Nelson, elected to the post since 2001, conceded his defeat Sunday afternoon. The current Governor of Florida, Republican Rick Scott, won this Senate seat with a short lead of 10 033 votes, over 8.1 million voters (50,05% of the vote).
Read also Democrat and Republican Senate room: after the midterms, a Congress divided as the country
If the Republicans were already guaranteed to retain control of the upper House of the Congress, the victory in the great state of South offers a more comfortable majority. The new Senate, which will sit on 3 January, has now 52 Republicans against 47 Democrats. After the victory of the Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, elected Senator of Arizona, remains one last seat of the Upper Chamber of Congress to assign: that of the Mississippi, at the end of a second round held on November 27, the Democrat Mike Espy is trying to delight at the outgoing Republican, Cindy Hyde-Smith.
“Since the first day, Rick Scott remained steadfast, immediately tweeted US president Donald Trump, who had actively campaigned in Florida, a State he won in the presidential election of 2016.” ” Congratulations to Rick for a brave and successful campaign!”
Saturday is the Democratic candidate for the post of Governor of Florida, the Mayor of Tallahassee, Andrew Gillum, who acknowledged his defeat against the Republican Ron DeSantis. This election did not need manual counting, the gap via the automatic recount (34 000 voices) is sufficient to determine the winner.
Like the 2000 presidential election, where Florida had put five weeks to decide his decisive vote for George W. Bush’s victory by 537 votes, these long perusals have exposed a series of malfunctions in the electoral system of the State. And as in 2000, attention has especially focused on the South Florida counties. Since November 6, the day of the midterm elections, disputes focused on the competence of those responsible for the elections in some counties, on deadline for the recount, which was deemed too short, or the capacity of the machines used in Florida recount several elections simultaneously.
Palm Beach County, for example, officially ended the manual counting of ballots for the Senate one second before the deadline Sunday noon. The results were sent to the authorities of the State to ‘ 11:59:59 ‘, said Susan Bucher, responsible for the elections in this county.
Tumultuous
The victory of Rick Scott, after two tumultuous weeks, probably puts an end to the career of Bill Nelson, 76. First elected as Deputy in the Congress 40 years ago, this Florida native had survived the Republican wave of the 1990s in this State, swing state by excellence, and is represented in the Senate for a fourth term.
The candidacy of Rick Scott, a multimillionaire businessman, entered politics eight years ago, was strongly encouraged by Donald Trump. Scott ran an aggressive campaign against Nelson and has several times accused of electoral fraud the recount process. “Campaign is now behind us, and this is where we let her, said shortly after the official announcement of the results, Sunday.” ” We have to do what Americans have always done: come together for the good of the State and the country.”
Categorised in : United States World
International Political News Articles: A guide to the recent protests in Hong Kong
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Typewriter News Site Year in Review
thetypewriter.org Presents: Five Major World Events That Happened in 2018
1. Connectivity and Global Order
The International Political News Publications have been writing more and more about the increased control over road traffic of goods and information that has become a strategic priority. In economic terms, the ownership and control of the means of transport are as vital as the means of production. In 2018, we will see the continuation of the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative led by China: an integrated web of maritime and land transportation more closely connecting a vast space of Asia, Africa, and Europe. This is seen as a provocation by the United States seeing how they struggle to hold onto being the global economic and military power. The global politics news scene was amazed.
2. Taxation, Middle Classes, and the Welfare State
Ten years have passed since the last big financial crisis erupted and became an International Political Issue. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers came to Europe in the form of the sovereign debt crisis. The European Central Bank (ECB), led by Mario Draghi, promised then do “whatever we need to” to preserve the euro. In the last-minute surprise of 2018, the ECB will meet the promise to gradually limit the purchase of sovereign bonds (PSPP) program to reduce spending from 60,000 monthly million to 30,000. The prospect of having to pay more interest on the debt will increase the pressure on taxation. The sense of urgency will increase before the finding that there are underlying trends in the field of automation and digitization of the economy that could be even more stress on a few choked welfare States. This could add the outrage that would lead to the techniques employed by individuals and large companies to evade taxes.
3. Urban Order
In recent decades, we have witnessed a process that seems unstoppable concentration of population, wealth and power in the urban and metropolitan area. Similarly, the great challenges of the planet also occur in cities. Here at typerwriter.org, we have reported on this issue multiple times. Poverty, exclusion, violence or climate change are phenomena that are the consequence of a growing urban dimension. In this context, while raising the number of local political leaders claiming to be more than managers and implementers of policies adopted by the Central Government. They seek to influence the main global agendas linked to sustainable development, aware that the solution to the major global problems begins at the local level.
4. A Fortress for Pit Migrants
For many, there has bee talk about the “Europe-fortress.” An idea that, with variations, is also associated with the immigration policies of the United States and Australia. But it has been insufficient to reflect the way in which they will govern migratory flows in 2018. Between this so-called fortress and emitting countries is building a broad (and often deadly) moat that will prevent migrants or refugees access to a destination. The allegations and laments what happens within those pits will be insufficient to turn the tide of migration policies and, although they will not be reduced, the flow will be redirected and will find more obstacles. Throughout Political News Sites stories of construction of walls and fences pop up. The installation of monitoring mechanisms in remote spaces that make it more and more difficult to cover by journalists and humanitarian organizations.
5. Terrorism: No land only an Action Plan Many of the World’s News Politics Websites reported on how everyone proclaimed to be one that defeated the Islamic State (IS). The disappearance of the proto-State in Syria and Iraq does not imply its death as a movement. And much less the end of the terrorist attacks perpetrated in their name. In 2017, all limits were reached with some of the bloodiest attacks in recent history such as Mogadishu and the mosque of the Sinai, with 512 and 309 victims respectively. Most attacks by 2018 will continue to be characterized by its relatively low cost and be carried out autonomously, sometimes very far from the scenes of conflict.
Browse through the typewriter news site to read more about international political issues and news.
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Biographies of the Village Trippers
David Amram Joanne Brackeen Tom Chapin The Chapin Sisters Keller Coker Billy Harper Diana Jones Vic Juris Yoshiko Kline David Massengill Lucy McDiarmid Andy Mckee Kenneth Radnofsky
Martha Redbone Cecilia Rubino Happy Traum Suzanne Vega VickiKristinaBarcelona
The Village Trip Team
Dawn Drew Danny Kapilian Liz Thomson
David Amram
David Amram, The Village Trip Artist-in-Residence, started his professional life in music as a French hornist in the National Symphony Orchestra (Washington, DC) in the early 1950s, as well as playing French horn in the legendary jazz bands of Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton. Appointed by Leonard Bernstein as the first Composer-in-Residence for the New York Philharmonic in 1966, he also composed the scores for the films Pull My Daisy (1959), Splendor in The Grass (1960) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and for Joseph Papp's Shakespeare In the Park from 1956-1967. He premiered his comic opera, 12th Night with Papp’s libretto in 1968, and wrote a second opera, The Final Ingredient, An Opera of the Holocaust, for ABC Television in 1965. From 1964-66, David was the Composer and Music Director for the Lincoln Center Theater and wrote the score for Arthur Miller's plays After the Fall (1964) and Incident at Vichy (1966). Read more.
VISIT DAVID AMRAM'S WEBSITE
Joanne Brackeen
Joanne Brackeen, jazz pianist and educator, has been described as “one of the greatest living pianists hands down; no footprints!" (Metroland) Whatever the musical setting – solo, duo, trio, quartet, or quintet – Yamaha Artist and 2018 NEA Jazz Master Brackeen's unique style of playing commands attention.
Her sound was honed through periods of apprenticeships with some of the world's greatest names: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers (the first and only female member), Stan Getz and Joe Henderson.
In addition to her captivating and complex improvisations, Brackeen has recorded 25 albums as a lead musician and appears on more than 100 recordings in total. She has written over 300 intricate and rhythmically daring compositions in a wide stylistic range.
Brackeen maintains an active worldwide touring calendar, headlining and playing to sold-out and standing room-only crowds. Most recently at the Kennedy Center, at the Newport Jazz Festival (where her solo piano concert was named one of the best live performances of 2017 by the New York Times) and at the Monterey Jazz Festival where Jazz Times magazine declared her trio "a most revelatory and favorite act of the evening”, and proclaimed: "After years of listening to her albums, the first time hearing Brackeen live, and with such a responsive ensemble, felt like transitioning from black-and-white TV to the Technicolor Land of Oz."
Brackeen balances touring by teaching as a professor at Berklee College of Music and at the New School, by conducting master classes and residencies and by adjudicating competitions.
VISIT JOANNE BRACKEEN'S WEBSITE
Tom Chapin
Tom Chapin’s career spans five decades, 26 albums and three Grammy awards. The New York Times has called him “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music.” A multi-talented singer-songwriter-guitarist, Tom has covered a vast swathe of creative ground. In addition to his work as a recording artist and concert performer, he has acted on Broadway, as well as working extensively in television, radio and film.
As a music-maker, Tom has maintained two long and productive parallel careers, both as a respected contemporary folk artist and as a pioneer in the field of children's music. In both roles, he has established a reputation for insightful, heartfelt songcraft and charismatic live performances. His witty, life-affirming original songs convey positive messages about family, good food and the green earth. Tom accompanies himself on guitar, banjo and autoharp. Read more.
VISIT TOM CHAPIN'S WEBSITE
The Chapin Sisters
The Chapin Sisters carry on a proud family musical legacy: father Tom Chapin is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter; legendary late uncle Harry Chapin was a musical artist and activist best known for his 1974 #1 hit "Cat's in the Cradle"; and grandfather Jim Chapin was an esteemed jazz drummer and author of seminal drum instructional books.
"Prepare to lose your soul," said LA Record of the Chapin Sisters’ seventh recording, Ferry Boat. Produced by drummer/composer Evan Taylor, it features two songs each by Abigail and Lily alongside their take on a number written with them in mind by friend and musical compatriot, banjo player and multi-instrumentalist Hilary Hawke. Read more.
VISIT THE CHAPIN SISTERS' WEBSITE
Keller Coker
Keller Coker is a jazz trombonist, composer, and arranger, who immediately prior to joining the New School was a full-time professor of music at Western Oregon University. Educated at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where he received his bachelor and master of music degrees in jazz studies, a doctor of musical arts degree in historical musicology, and completed his PhD, Coker joined School of Jazz and Contemporary Music at the New School as Dean in spring 2017.
Coke founded the American Metropole Orchestra, served as executive director of the Smith Fine Arts Series, arranged music for Kurt Elling, Cuong Vu, Martha Reeves, Joe Lovano, and Allen Toussaint, produced shows for Aiofe O’Donovan, Dr Lonnie Smith, the Turtle Island Quartet, and Sean Jones, and has developed and taught an extraordinarily wide range of courses including songwriting, early music ensemble, jazz composition, brass seminar, ethnomusicology, music history, improvisation, world music, music theory, popular music in America, and more.
He has worked in the record business as a booking agent, performer and composer. He says he plans to use everything that he’s learned from his experience of being in the industry. “I can’t imagine another job like that, that would let me be all the things that I am.”
In the 1990s Coker was co-founder of an “eclectic classical label” in Los Angeles called RCM. He has also produced recordings for Sony, Sierra and Teal Creek.
MORE ABOUT KELLER COKER
Billy Harper
Billy Harper, tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator, was born into a musical family in Houston, Texas, and lists as his main influence the black church and the spiritual and musical experience that comes with it. Family members noted his talent for singing at the age of three and his singing career began early with his performing at sacred and secular functions. Around the age of 10 he became fixated on a saxophone in the window of a music shop he passed each day on the way home from school. He would stare at the horn, trying to figure “how anyone could actually play all those notes that appeared on the instrument, when there were only ten fingers available for use.” At 11, he was given his first sax as a Christmas gift and was initiated into the Texas experience of marching bands.
One of his first and strongest connections at this early age was Malcolm Pinson, who would later become one of the favorite professional drummers of his Quintet. Already Harper was working professionally in blues groups, his drama and speech instructor Vernell Lillie teaching him how to develop his character and stage savvy. Harper graduated cum laude in 1961 and went on to North Texas State University where he would extend his musical development with the acquaintance of James Clay, Claude Johnson, David “Fathead” Newman, Louis Spears, Ted Dunbar and Roger Boykins. He was the first black musician to be inducted into the NTSU Big Band which was awarded first prize at the Kansas Jazz Festival.
Harper graduated in 1965 as a Bachelor of Music, with a major in saxophone, and a minor in theory. He moved to New York City in 1966 and after a year of unemployment, sitting in with bands, he caught a lucky break in a New York documentary, The Big Apple. He met Gil Evans on Broadway and within six months was working with the prolific arranger-composer. In 1967 he also began working with the Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers.
Trumpeter Lee Morgan asked him to join his group in 1969, and Harper played in Lee’s Quintet until the trumpeter’s in 1971. Over the following years, Harper worked with Gil Evans, Donald Byrd, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Max Road and Randy Weston, with whom he still performs from time to time. A tour of Japan in 1968 with Art Blakey established Harper as a favorite with Japanese audiences and he embarked on regular tours of that country. With his quintet, Harper has toured extensively in Western and Eastern Europe, and in Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and beyond.
In 1970, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Harper, Harold Mabern, and dedicated listeners formed the Jazz and People’s Movement.
MORE ABOUT BILLY HARPER
Diana Jones
Diana Jones has been called the “Emily Dickinson of song” and “the female Johnny Cash.” But a journey of adoption and reunion as mysterious as her songwriting led to the gritty, authentic, Americana storytelling that has become her life’s work and her live show. Adopted as an infant, Diana grew up in suburban Long Island feeling an unexplained attraction to rural Southern music. “My brother had Johnny Cash’s Live at Folsom Prison album, and I stole it from his room. Whenever I heard that or someone like Emmylou Harris, I’d think, ‘Wow, that’s beautiful.’ I just didn’t know where to find more of it.” In her twenties the attraction was explained when Jones met her biological grandfather, a singer and guitar player, who introduced her to the folk songs her ancestors had been singing for generations. Gradually she discovered an uncanny affinity for Appalachian music and began claiming it as her own as she discovered her true artistic calling. Read more.
VISIT DIANA JONES' WEBSITE
Vic Juris
Vic Juris has been hailed as one of the premier guitarists of the 21st Century with an undeniable command of the acoustic and electric guitar. Growing up as a child prodigy, he performed at a young age with Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Ron Carter, Sonny Stitt, Jimmy Scott, Michel LeGrand, Freddie Hubbard, Sarah Vaughan, Eddie Jefferson and Nancy Wilson. Juris has been a member of the Davie Liebman band for 20 years, part of the Gary Peacock Group, and Rufus Reid’s Quiet Pride, and has performed with Joe Lovano, Joe Locke and many others. He is also a master of the duo, partnering with Phil Woods, Larry Coryell and vocalist Kate Baker.
Juris’ 25 recordings have featured in the Top Ten Airplay Charts and have received widespread critical acclaim. They include A Second Look, Free Admission, Walking on Water, Blue Horizon, and Night Tripper.
The Vic Juris Trio has acquired fans from across the globe with its innovative arrangements, brilliant originals, organic grooves and ability to cross genres. The latest release is Blue (Steeplechase Records).
Pat Methany has commented: "Vic Juris has been a total monster ever since we both hit the scene at around the same time in the seventies, playing great no matter what the setting. But he has taken the knowledge gained from a long stay in Dave Liebman's band to form a really new way of thinking about melody and harmony on the guitar. His playing is always musical and his pure mastery of the instrument is something to behold.”
VISIT VIC JURIS'S WEBSITE
Yoshiko Kline
Yoshiko Kline performs as recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician throughout Asia and the New England area. Her most recent travels brought her to Shenzhen China where she performed with saxophonist Kenneth Radnofsky. Yoshiko’s performances have been reported as “carefully colored and musically refined … with a sensitive ear, relating sound to musical expression… Her remarkably unique interpretations were the charm of her performance…” Since her debut concert, in Tokyo, she has appeared in the Steinway Concert Hall in China, Boston’s Jordan Hall, Museum of Fine Arts, and Gardner Museum; as well as The Tanglewood Music Festival, the New York Keyboard Festival and Aspen Music Festival. Performances have also been broadcast live from the studios of Boston radio stations WGBH and WMNB and Aspen, CO Radio KAJX. In addition to her classical interests, she excels as a contemporary artist performing and premiering new works for numerous emerging composers, artists and ensembles. Her solo CD, Jon Meets Yoshiko, released in December 2015 by Phoenicia Publishing, is a collection of neo-classical, neoromantic piano music by Jon Appleton. Read more.
VISIT YOSHIKO KLINE'S WEBSITE
David Massengill
David Massengill, storyteller, songwriter and picture-book maker, "emigrated" from Bristol, Tennessee to the Greenwich Village folk scene in 1976 with a dulcimer and a dream of bohemian nirvana. He was a key figure in Jack Hardy’s Fast Folk which featured Suzanne Vega and Shawn Colvin, and which produced 115 issues of The Fast Folk Musical Magazine, now part of the Smithsonian collection.
David’s songwriting style ranges from tragic mountain ballads to the lure of tender love songs and iconic political narratives. His songs have been recorded by Joan Baez, David Bromberg, Chad Mitchell, the Roches, Lucy Kaplansky, Tom Russell, Nanci Griffith and his mentor, Dave Van Ronk, who once said that David "took the dull out of dulcimer." Dave on Dave: A Tribute to Dave van Ronk is among David Massengill’s six CDs, 11 bootlegs, 15 books, a movie score, Boudicca Bites Back, and school programs. In 2016 the Southern Folklife Collection at UNC-Chapel Hill offered to archive his works. He accepted, thus joining his friends and heroes Dave Van Ronk, Bill Morrissey and Mike Seeger as a member. He once chased a bobcat, and visa versa. Read more.
VISIT DAVID MASSENGILL'S WEBSITE
Lucy McDiarmid
Lucy McDiarmid is a scholar and writer. Her academic interest in cultural politics, especially quirky, colorful, suggestive episodes, is exemplified by The Irish Art of Controversy (2005) and Poets and the Peacock Dinner: the literary history of a meal (2014; paperback 2016). She is a former fellow of the Guggenheim Foundation and of the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. Her most recent book is At Home in the Revolution: what women said and did in 1916; at the moment she is completing a book on contemporary Irish poetry. She is currently Marie Frazee Baldassarre Professor of English at Montclair State University. Her dating memoir will be published soon, but not too soon.
VISIT LUCY McDIARMID'S WEBSITE
Andy McKee’s bass playing, like his way of moving through life, is defined by three words - strength, passion and artistry. Having performed for 25 years with many jazz greats, his reputation stretches from his home base of New York across the United States to Europe and Japan.
McKee’s hard-swinging approach evolved naturally from his formative years on Philadelphia’s jazz scene. Musicians such as Hank Mobley, Johnny Hartman, Slide Hampton, and Clarence “Cee” Sharp provided a nurturing environment for him and other young players. Philly Joe Jones, in particular, was an important mentor.
The next major influence on McKee’s musical development came in 1983 when he debuted with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine at the Village Vanguard. Over the next decade, he played with the group for years at a time as staff bassist on tour in Europe, the Middle East and at home in New York City. In the mid-80s, McKee was living in Paris. He performed and toured extensively with Mal Waldron, Clark Terry, Steve Lacy, Don Cherry, Horace Parlan, Steve Grossman, as well as European greats Daniel Humair, Marcial Solal and Franco D’Andrea and others. At about this time, he was introduced to one of the most celebrated French jazz pianists of the period: Michel Petrucciani. Between 1987 and 1991, McKee, Petrucciani and Victor Jones played to great acclaim at venues throughout Europe, Japan and the US. McKee recorded two albums with Michel for the Dreyfus label.
Back in New York for long stretches between 1992 and 2003, McKee toured, recorded and served as associate musical director of the Mingus Big Band and the Mingus Dynasty. More recently, he has enjoyed sessions with the venerable and swinging Vanguard Jazz Orchestra where sight-reading the intricate arrangements of Thad Jones and Jim McNeely keeps him sharp. Other notable performances in the last few years have included the Kennedy Center and other venues supporting the Three Baritone Saxophones led by Ronnie Cuber.
While continuing to tour in Europe with various musicians several times a year, McKee has released the recordings Sound Roots with Ed Cherry and Billy Kilson and One World with Idris Muhammed, Alex Foster and Joe Locke. With Manolo Badrena and Dave Stryker, he laid down the groove for Trio Mundo, which recorded the Grammy-nominated Carnaval in 2002 and the 2004 follow-up, Trio Mundo Rides Again. His latest project, All @ Once, began in collaboration with tabla master Badal Roy and has evolved into a complex bass-rooted soundscape colored by the synthesizers of Adam Holtzman, the harmonic richness of Vic Juris’ guitar work and the fireworks of percussionists Badrena and Mino Cinelu. Drawing on his classical training with Homer Mensch among others, McKee distinctively incorporates arco work into his compositions and solos.
Challenges outside jazz include playing for film scores, performance art pieces, neo-classical European composers and Broadway orchestras. His teaching takes him to Europe each summer where he puts his French and Italian to work with students in master classes and workshops. At the New School in New York City the rest of the year, McKee teaches the Mingus repertory as well as ensembles and individual bass students.
And he brings almost as much subtlety, drive and inventiveness to the kitchen as he does to the bandstand — his “chops” in the kitchen have earned him a reputation as the best bass-playing cook on the road.
VISIT ANDY McKEE'S WEBSITE
Kenneth Radnofsky
Kenneth Radnofsky, saxophonist, has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras throughout the world, including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, Jerusalem Symphony with Gisele Ben-Dor and Boston Pops with John Williams. Radnofsky gave the world premiere of Gunther Schuller’s Concerto with the Pittsburgh Symphony (composer conducting). David Amram's Concerto, Ode to Lord Buckley, was premiered with the Portland Symphony, under Bruce Hangen's direction, as well as three other works dedicated to him from Amram, including a new trio entitled Three Lost Loves, for violin, saxophone and piano written for his Amram Ensemble' (with Elmira Darvarova and Thomas Weaver).
Of the 100-plus works he has commissioned, Ken has also premiered the works of Michael Colgrass, John Harbison, Donald Martino, Michael Gandolfi, Betty Olivero, James Yannatos, Baris Perker, Jakov Jakoulov, Osnat Netzer, Elliott Schwartz, Michael Horvit and Yang Yong, to name but a few. Read more.
VISIT KENNETH RADNOFSKY'S WEBSITE
Martha Redbone
Martha Redbone’s music flows equally from her own unique, award-winning blend of Native American elements with funk and her deep roots in Appalachian folk and Piedmont blues favored by the matriarchy that raised her on a rich sojourn from Clinch Mountain, Virginia to Harlan County, Kentucky and beyond to Brooklyn’s Dodge City-esque mean streets.
Since the establishment of her career in London and New York City, Redbone has humbly and steadfastly earned a solid reputation as a sought-after collaborator. Working with rising comers like Brit Grammy winner Shola Ama or such legends as Redbone’s Ohio Players/P-Funk mentor Walter “Junie” Morrison, she and UK-bred partner Aaron Whitby consistently provide essential direction and soulful support to knit track and artist into an indelible whole.
Thus it may come as a surprise to some that Redbone, noted for purveying the wilder shores of R&B on prior releases Home Of the Brave and Skintalk, recorded her 2012 album Garden of Love: The Songs of William Blake in the fabled center of country music, Nashville. Yet, proudly retracing the path of her uniquely American mixed heritage back to its earliest source, she is merely taking the inevitable next step of a maverick artist who has never been chained by borders. Americana is her natural homecoming, sonic and otherwise.
Redbone and Whitby crafted Garden of Love between touring, producing albums at their Brooklyn studio, an ongoing foray into banjo mastery, activism, and the never-ending daily joys of raising a young son during 2011; but the album attains the heights of an imperishable artifact, due to the acute losses of her mother, aunt and other trials amidst the writing and recording process.
The couple has spent the last couple of years creating Bone Hill, a musical theater piece based on Redbone’s Kentucky mining family’s history and heritage, a project supported by a grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts.
VISIT MARTHA REDBONE'S WEBSITE
Cecilia Rubino
Cecilia Rubino has written, devised and directed theater pieces which recently have performed at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade and Bruno Walter Theaters, the New Victory @ 42nd Street, Jefferson Market Playhouse, the New York Fringe and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. Her just-completed documentary, Remembering Shakespeare, explores new ways of thinking about memory and Shakespeare’s words in our digital age where memory itself is at risk. Her chapter, “If It Live in Your Memory” appears in The Whirlwind of Passion: New Critical Perspectives on William Shakespeare (Cambridge Scholars Publishing). At Jefferson Market Library Playhouse, she recently directed Lives of Tiresias which she co-wrote with David Richman; Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde; and her own adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Rubino also wrote and directed From The Fire, which won the UK/Music Theater awards for best music, best production and best new musical at the Edinburgh Fringe Theater Festival. She is an Associate Professor of Theater at Lang College/The New School.
VISIT THE REMEMBERING SHAKESPEARE WEBSITE
Happy Traum
Happy Traum, renowned folk singer, writer, teacher, recording artist and first-rate fingerstyle guitarist, began playing guitar and five-string banjo as a teenager, and was an important participant in the legendary Greenwich Village folk scene of the 1950s and ‘60s. He was a student of blues guitar legend Brownie McGhee, a major influence on his picking style. Happy has played in concerts, clubs and festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia and Japan, both solo and with his late brother, Artie Traum, with whom he performed for more than 40 years. Their performances at the 1968 and 1969 Newport Folk Festivals helped to gain them an avid following and a contract with famed manager Albert Grossman.
“Between them they've been studio musicians, composers, comedians, writers, editors, folklorists, and a host of other things... A brilliant and unique entity in the world of country-folk music” - the New York Times. Read more.
VISIT HAPPY TRAUM'S WEBSITE
Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been labeled contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world’s best-known halls. In performances devoid of outward drama that nevertheless convey deep emotion, Vega sings in a distinctive, clear vibrato-less voice that has been described as “a cool, dry sandpaper- brushed near-whisper” and as “plaintive but disarmingly powerful.”
Bearing the stamp of a masterful storyteller who “observed the world with a clinically poetic eye,” Vega’s songs have always tended to focus on city life, ordinary people and real-world subjects. Notably succinct and understated, often cerebral but also streetwise, her lyrics invite multiple interpretations. In short, Suzanne Vega’s work is immediately recognizable, as utterly distinct and thoughtful, and as creative and musical now, as it was when her voice was first heard on the radio over 20 years ago.
Vega was born in Santa Monica, California, but grew up in Spanish Harlem and the Upper West Side of New York City. She was influenced by her mother, a computer systems analyst, and her stepfather, the Puerto Rican writer Egardo Vega Yunque. There was a heady mix of multicultural music playing at home: Motown, bossa nova, jazz and folk. Age 11 she picked up a guitar and as a teenager started to write songs.
Vega studied dance at the High School for the Performing Arts and later attended Barnard College where she majored in English Literature. It was in 1979 when she attended a concert by Lou Reed and began to find her true artistic voice and distinctive vision for contemporary folk. Receptionist by day, she was hanging out at the Greenwich Village Songwriter’s Exchange by night. Soon she was playing iconic venues like the Bottom Line and Folk City.
At first, record companies saw little prospect of commercial success. Vega’s demo tape was rejected by every major record company—and twice by the very label that eventually signed her: A&M Records. Her self-titled debut album was finally released in 1985, co-produced by Steve Addabbo and Lenny Kaye, the former guitarist for Patti Smith. The skeptical executives at A&M were expecting to sell 30,000 LPs. One million records later, it was clear that Vega’s voice was resonating around the world. “Marlene on the Wall “was a surprise hit in the UK and Rolling Stone eventually included the record in their “100 Greatest Recordings of the 1980s.”
1987’s follow up, Solitude Standing, again co-produced by Addabbo and Kaye, elevated her to star status. The album hit #2 in the UK and #11 in the States, was nominated for three Grammys including Record of the Year and went platinum. “Luka” is a song that has entered the cultural vernacular; certainly the only hit song ever written from the perspective of an abused boy.
The opening song on Solitude Standing was a strange a cappella piece, “Tom’s Diner” about a non-descript restaurant near Columbia University uptown. Without Vega’s permission, it was remixed by UK electronic dance duo DNA and bootlegged as “Oh Susanne.” Suddenly her voice on this obscure tune was showing up in the most unlikely setting of all: the club. Vega permitted an official release of the remix of “Tom’s Diner” under its original title which reached #5 on the Billboard pop chart and went gold. In 1991, a compilation, Tom’s Album, brought together the remix and other unsolicited versions of the song. Meanwhile, Karlheinz Brandenburg, the German computer programmer was busy developing the technology that would come to be known as the MP3. He found that Vega’s voice was the perfect template with which to test the purity of the audio compression that he was aiming to perfect. Thus Suzanne Vega earned the nickname “The Mother of the MP3.”
Vega co-produced the follow-up album with Anton Sanko, 1990’s Days of Open Hand, which won a Grammy for Best Album Package. The album also featured a string arrangement by minimalist composer Philip Glass. Years earlier she had penned lyrics for his song cycle “Songs From Liquid Days.” Continuing to battle preconceptions, she teamed with producer Mitchell Froom for 1992’s 99.9F. The album’s sound instigated descriptions such as “industrial folk” and “technofolk.” Certified gold, it won a New York Music Award as Best Rock Album.
In 1996, Vega returned with the similarly audacious Nine Objects Of Desire, also produced by Froom, who by then was her husband. “Woman On The Tier (I’ll See You Through)” was released on the Dead Man Walking soundtrack. Over the years, she has also been heard on the soundtracks to Pretty in Pink (“Left Of Center” with Joe Jackson) and The Truth About Cats & Dogs, and contributed to such diverse projects as the Disney compilation Stay Awake, Grateful Dead tribute Deadicated, Leonard Cohen tribute Tower of Song, and Pavarotti & Friends. In 1999, The Passionate Eye: The Collected Writings Of Suzanne Vega, a volume of poems, lyrics, essays and journalistic pieces was published by Spike/Avon Books. In 2001, she returned to her acoustic roots for her first new album in five years, the critics favorite, Songs in Red and Gray.
Vega’s neo-folk style ushered in a new female, acoustic, folk-pop singer-songwriter movement that would include the likes of Tracy Chapman, Shawn Colvin, and Indigo Girls. In 1997, she joined Sarah McLachlan on her Lilith Fair tour which celebrated the female voice in rock and pop. She was one of the few artists invited back every year. She was also the host of the public radio series American Mavericks, 13 hour-long programs featuring the histories and the music of the iconoclastic, contemporary classical composers who revolutionized the possibilities of new music. The show won the Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.
In 2007, Vega released Beauty & Crime on Blue Note Records, a deeply personal reflection of her native New York City in the wake of the loss of her brother Tim and the tragedy of 9/11. But the record is not a sad one per se, as her love for the city shines through as both its subject and its setting. In it, she mixes the past and present, the public with the private, and familiar sounds with the utterly new, just like the city itself. “Anniversary,” which concludes Beauty & Crime, is an understated evocation of that time in the fall of 2002, when New Yorkers first commemorated the Twin Towers tragedy and when Vega recalls her brother’s passing. It’s more inspiration than elegy, though: “Make time for all your possibilities,” she sings at the end, “They live on every street.” Produced by the Scotsman, Jimmy Hogarth and featuring songs such as “New York is a Woman” and “Ludlow Street,” Beauty & Crime is that rare album by an artist in her third decade; an album that is as original and startling as her first. It won a Grammy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
Suzanne Vega is an artist that continues to surprise. In 2006, she became the first major recording artist to perform live in avatar form within the virtual world Second Life. She has dedicated much of her time and energy to charitable causes, notably Amnesty International, Casa Alianza, and the Save Darfur Coalition.
VISIT SUZANNE VEGA'S WEBSITE
VickiKristinaBarcelona
VickiKristinaBarcelona comprises Rachelle Garniez, Amanda Homi and Terry Radigan, a power trio dedicated to re-imagining the songs of Tom Waits via three-part harmonies and a treasure trove of instruments including banjos, bottles and bells. They create a world of sound at once powerful, playful and poignant.
Seasoned singers and songwriters, each a hybrid story-teller and multi-instrumentalist in her own right, join forces to salute the tragicomic lyrical genius of the Waits songbook. Picture the Triplets of Belleville disguised as Depression Era hobos riding the rails across America stopping to play dance parties and funerals along the road to nowhere.
hree distinct styles form a captivating original mix, greater than the sum of its' parts, never failing to amaze and delight audiences of all stripes. Collectively, they have worked with artists including Jack White, Jackson Browne, Jane Siberry, Patty Loveless, Dan Penn, Ray La Montaigne, Thomas Dolby, and Taylor Mac.
VISIT THE VICKIKRISTINABARCELONA BAND WEBSITE
Dawn Drew
Dawn Drew, Associate Producer – Business Operations, has always connected music with place, time and culture. As the Vice-President and Publisher of National Geographic Traveler for 16 years, and as head of her Manhattan-based consultancy MOSTE, Inc. Dawn, with partner Danny Kapilian, has co-executive produced more than 20 live cultural programs featuring music, the visual arts, artisan handicrafts and food in major venues around the USA including New York's Central Park, the Hollywood Bowl, and Millennium Park in Chicago. She has also been creator and co-executive producer of 39 half-hour television episodes about food and travel, all filmed on location in India, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa.
Contact: ddrew822@gmail.com | 202 258 5728
Danny Kapilian
Danny Kapilian, Artistic Director, is a Brooklyn-based producer of original live events, touring productions and festivals. Premier presenters of Kapilian productions include Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater, Lincoln Center, BAM, the Hollywood Bowl, the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood, London’s Barbican Center, Sydney Opera House, and the Montreal, Newport, New Orleans, North Sea, and Montreux Jazz Festivals. Danny has presented great artists of every genre, among them Joni Mitchell, Chaka Khan, Ravi Shankar, Lou Reed, James Taylor, Snarky Puppy, Herbie Hancock, David Byrne, Roberta Flack, Miles Davis, Tina Turner, Ornette Coleman, Alan Cumming, XTC, John Cage, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Laura Mvula, Wynton Marsalis, La Santa Cecilia, Rufus Wainwright, and George Clinton and P-Funk.
Contact: danny@kapilian.com | 718-930-1166
VISIT DANNY KAPILIAN'S WEBSITE
Liz Thomson
Liz Thomson, Co-Founder and Executive Producer of The Village Trip, born and raised in London, has long been fascinated by Greenwich Village, an area she has come to know well over two decades of visiting, always staying at the Washington Square Hotel.
The idea for The Village Trip sprang from her work on the restoration of the late New York Times journalist Robert Shelton’s biography of Bob Dylan, No Direction Home (2011), which chronicles in vivid detail the 1960s Village scene. She is a widely published journalist and author and a frequent broadcaster and has appeared on platforms at literary festivals around the world as an interviewer.
A contributor to The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians, she has lectured at Liverpool University’s Institute of Popular Music and been a Visiting Fellow of the Open University Sixties Research Group. Liz is the co-founder of Square Roots Productions, a UK-based charity celebrating the folk music heritage which connects the British Isles with North America, and a founding trustee of the Desmond Elliott Prize for first novelists.
Contact: LizThomson@thevillagetrip.com | (00) 44 7799 503414
VISIT LIZ THOMSON'S WEBSITE
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Afghanistan first lady Rula Ghani moves into the limelight
Thursday, 16 October 2014 - 10:10
Afghanistan's new first lady Rula Ghani looks set to challenge the tradition of leaders' wives staying out of the public eye.
Just days after moving into her new office in the presidential palace, Mrs Ghani said she hopes to encourage greater respect for women.
"I would like to give women out there the courage and the possibility to do something about improving their lives," she said.
Mrs Ghani has already begun to break the mould.
During the election campaign of her husband, Ashraf Ghani - the eventual winner of the 2014 presidential race - Rula Ghani was the only candidate's wife to appear in public.
And when the new leader paid an emotional tribute to his wife in his inauguration speech, it became a talking point for the whole country.
Mrs Ghani says it was a revealing gesture which summed up her vision of how attitudes to women could change.
Mrs Ghani addressed a meeting during her husband's election campaign
Rula and Ashraf Ghani with their children, her late mother and brother Riad in 2012
Rula Ghani as a student in 1969 after returning from France
Meeting of minds
What makes Mrs Ghani stand out even more is the fact that she was born and brought up in a Maronite-Christian family in Lebanon.
She met Ashraf Ghani in the 1970s when they were both studying political science at the American university in Beirut.
Rula Ghani had just returned from a year's study at the prestigious Sciences Po institute in Paris where she was caught up in the 1968 student protests.
Source- BBC
India reels as summer temperatures touch 50C
Air Force An-32 transport plane missing after taking off from Assam, search ops to continue overnight
04 June 2019 - 9:33 am
Donald Trump praises 'eternal friendship' at state banquet
Tamil MPs to meet the president today
New revelation on destruction caused to the forest located in the border of the Singharaja- Hadapaan-Ala reserve
Transporting of garbage to the Aruwakkalu site commences
Bodu Bala Sena asks that action be taken against Ranjan Ramanayake
England win their first men's Cricket World Cup
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Maximizing the emotional effects of sound in all kinds of spaces makes possible the creation of sound that is richly elegant, sensitively delicate or boldly audacious, as needed.
As music resounds through a concert hall, the artistry inherent in the sound itself ranges from the fiercely intense to the upliftingly pleasant and gentle. In sports stadiums, sound is an essential element in helping thousands of fans, absorbed in the emotional movement of the game, to share a common feeling. In such ways, the performance-enhancing power of sound has the capacity to transport people into extraordinary aural and emotional spaces. TOA offers audio equipment on par with the strictest standards of audio professionals, helping to make spaces more dramatic and pleasant, and contributing to the emotional movement and shared experience of the people who use them.
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Uncovering a hidden past
Source: www.vancouversun.com
Adopted 48 years ago, Christiane Weideli finally finds out where her birth family came from
BY DARAH HANSEN, VANCOUVER SUN NOVEMBER 14, 2009
Christiane Weideli looks over photos from her childhood in her Vancouver home.
Photograph by: Jenelle Schneider, Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Sun
Christiane Weideli holds a photo in her hands of a gorgeous fair-haired baby girl in a white wool coat.
Weideli searches the black-and-white image for signs of herself, but finds the child smiling back at her is a stranger.
“I look at it and go, ‘Oh my God, that’s me?'” she says, struggling to sum up her reaction.
Weideli, 48, can be forgiven her confusion about her past. Until this year, the Vancouver woman had never seen her own baby picture.
The fact that she had been adopted had been hidden from her until she was an adult. She was born in Switzerland and raised by a wealthy and highly secretive European couple who took her to Peru on a cleverly forged birth certificate.
Her adoptive mother would later give her the only description she ever got of her birth parents: a Swiss farm girl and a Czechoslovakian “terrorist.”
This summer, however, through the combined effort of a Canadian documentary crew, two Swiss government adoption workers, and a Swiss police officer, Weideli finally found her true identity.
Tucked away in a box in the government archives in Zurich, the real record of her birth has swept clear the ghosts of her past, reuniting her with family members she never knew existed and with the little girl in old photograph.
“It’s more than I could have ever asked for,” she said.
Weideli’s story first came to public light in 2008 when she submitted what little she knew of her childhood as part of The Vancouver Sun’s genealogy contest.
The contest asked readers to send in a short essay detailing a particularly compelling chapter in their family history. The prize was a DNA test that allows users to trace their ancestral roots, ethnic background and surname roots through a gene-base website.
The entries were fascinating, but none could compare to the mystery surrounding Weideli’s birth and subsequent adoption by a couple who couldn’t have children of their own.
Raised in Lima, Peru, along with an older brother, who was also adopted, Weideli was in her 20s and living in Canada when an uncle told her she’d been adopted.
By then she had long since severed ties with the couple who raised her, describing her childhood as abusive and unhappy.
For years, she clung to the hope she might find the truth of her past, though she had only thin threads of information from her uncle tying her to a Swiss adoption centre operated by a woman named Alice Honegger.
That trail ran cold with Honegger’s death in 1997, the adoption business long since shut down.
Weideli had few expectations when she wrote to The Sun for help.
But a deep sadness haunted her.
“It would be a consolation to know where I started,” she said at the time.
The information churned up through the DNA kit did little to shed light on the mystery. One test result hinted that her mother had at least some North American aboriginal blood, as well as a Germanic component.
Another loosely matched her with several famous European monarchs and a man in Virginia who had also been adopted.
The many Sun readers captivated by Weideli’s tale proved more helpful.
One man in particular, identified in his e-mail as “Joe,” suggested Weideli contact Ancestors in the Attic, a Toronto-based television series that follows Canadians on a worldwide search for their family roots.
It was good advice. Like everyone else, the TV crew was immediately hooked.
“It’s extraordinary,” Ancestors producer Dugald Maudsley said of the story.
Story producer Chris Robinson first cracked the difficult case after coming across some unflattering references to Alice Honegger among correspondence related to international migration on file at the Social Welfare History Archive in Minneapolis, Minn.
Honegger’s name surfaced with American adoption authorities after questions were raised about the way she adopted out babies.
“It sounded like Alice wasn’t following the rules, specifically in terms of evaluating the couples,” Robinson said.
In particular, it appeared Honegger allowed certain couples to jump the queue to fast-track an adoption.
“In Christiane’s case, I think you could probably argue that her parents were not screened well enough to determine if they were appropriate,” he said.
With the name of the adoption centre in hand (Private Mutter und Kinderfursorge Rapperswil), Robinson took his search to Switzerland, where he learned the files from Honegger’s defunct business were transferred to a government agency in Zurich.
On the other end of the line, Swiss adoption workers Priska Luther and Martina Scholl gamely rolled up their sleeves and began the search for Weideli’s name — if it indeed, existed — among the thousands stored in the archive boxes.
It took eight months before Robinson got the word the two women had been successful.
The file was discovered lying on top of dozens of others in a box stored in the archive attic marked for “foreign adoptions.”
“That just blew the whole thing wide open,” Robinson said.
In late August, Weideli, along with her best friend and the Ancestors documentary crew, flew to Zurich to read for herself the contents of the file.
In it, she learned the identities of her birth parents: Edith Frieda Hermine Docekal and Oldrich Docekal.
Her adoptive mother had, at least, been partially right about their heritage. Edith Docekal was a Swiss national and Oldrich from Czechoslovakia, though there is no evidence he was a terrorist.
Weideli also found her own Swiss certificate of birth identifying her as Daniela Docekal, born Feb. 3, 1961 — a birthday a full 10 months earlier than the date assigned to her by her adoptive parents.
“That was kind of a bummer,” Weideli said. “I went to Switzerland at the age of 47 and came back a week later a year older.”
Letters written by her birth mother, Edith Docekal, to the adoption agency following her daughter’s birth describe the heartbreaking decision to surrender the baby into Honegger’s care.
She was pressured by her husband to give the baby up and was too poor to take action on her own. In the letters, Docekal described working full-time as a waitress, struggling to care for her older daughter while her husband appeared to work only sporadically.
She repeatedly pleaded with the agency to give her time to pay the mounting foster-care costs and to arrange for a train ticket to bring her baby back home.
“I have already purchased a bed and baby carriage for Daniela,” Docekal wrote.
In the end, the mother bowed to the wishes of her husband and the agency and gave the baby up.
But just thinking of her child, she wrote, “causes me pain.”
On Sept. 2, Weideli made one final stopover before returning to Canada. Travelling to the small town of Wirges, on the outskirts of Koblenz, Germany, Weideli spent a quiet evening with her long-lost sister. The whereabouts of Angelika Docekal Schraeder had been tracked by a Swiss police officer who specializes in missing persons.
In a private moment, away from the cameras, the sisters hugged each other in silence.
“We didn’t speak the same language … but there was a recognition of everything we’d gone through to get to that point,” says Weideli.
The conversation that followed, aided by a translator, helped the women to better understand each other.
Both had difficult childhoods, though Weideli came from wealth and Schraeder from poverty.
Weideli learned the marriage between Edith and Oldrich lasted until Edith’s death from cancer in 2003, but it had been a bitterly unhappy union.
Schraeder, meanwhile, remained close to her mother throughout her life, but always felt a lingering resentment. She was eight years old when her baby sister disappeared and a headstrong Edith had refused to talk about the adoption.
Her mother’s letters, which Schraeder had never seen before, proved a soothing balm for the old hurts.
The letters “showed us how hard our mother had tried to get me back,” Weideli says.
Weideli also briefly met her birth father during the same visit. Oldrich Docekal, now 85, lives with Schraeder and her family.
According to Weideli, her birth father has always maintained he has only one daughter.
“We said hello,” she said of that reunion.
Back home in Vancouver, Weideli is still trying to absorb the reality of her new world.
She and Angelika continue to speak by telephone about once a week, though conversation is stilted because of the language barrier.
“I guess I’m going to have to learn German,” Weideli said.
She is grateful “beyond words” to all those whose hard work and determination led her to her family. The unsettling gaps in her existence have now been filled.
“I am so lucky,” she says.
The Ancestors in the Attic episode featuring Weideli is currently in the editing process. It is scheduled to air sometime in early 2010 on History Television.
For most of the crew, the outcome of the story is as good as it gets. As for Robinson, “I wish only that her mother had still been alive.
“I have a feeling that she was a bit of a hero in this whole thing and would have been the person who could have told Christiane everything she wanted to know,” he says.
filed under: Switzerland
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Mark Robbins
K & M Farms
Prepared: October 14, 2008
“We like to see the smiles on people’s faces after they’ve bought one of our birds and they come back for another one” said Mark Robbins of K and M Farms on MacLure Road in Abbotsford. Growing pasture-raised chickens and turkeys, Mark and his wife Kathy and their daughter, Jill, have just five acres of land for their farm. But it is quite amazing what you can do with five acres. “Small scale farming is a really good second income” said Mark. “It makes it possible to have a very pleasant lifestyle, you can grow a lot of your own food, and you get to live in the country – a great place to raise a family”. K and M farms raises about 2000 chickens and about 700 turkeys annually.
Mark Robbins is also a Regional Agrologist with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands in Abbotsford. It took he and Kathy quite a while to finally develop the kind of small farm operation that would suit their needs. “We started with five acres in the Sumas Prairie growing vegetables” said Mark. “That didn’t really work for us so we then got involved with about 40 acres of raspberries and that didn’t work either” he said. Often people considering farming need to try some different options until they settle on the right one for them. “This takes time” said Mark. “It isn’t easy to get started but it has certainly been worth the effort for us”.
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Home » Letter From America: Maung Maung Ohn lies about the Rohingya people
Letter From America: Maung Maung Ohn lies about the Rohingya people
Sun, 2015-07-05 07:02 editor
By Dr. Habib Siddiqui
The Outlook India magazine has recently conducted an interview of General Maung Maung Ohn, the chief minister of the Rakhine state of Myanmar. In that he shared his opinions about the Rohingya people who are recognized as the most persecuted people in our planet. During his tenure in office we have seen the exodus of tens of thousands of Rohingyas who have fled the country and have become the ‘boat people’ of our time. He has been a major player in implementing Myanmar government policies that has led to such genocidal activities against the Rohingya people.
General Ohn epitomizes racism and bigotry and his replies to various questions show once again his hideous criminal mind and deplorable bias against the persecuted Rohingya people. Here is a sample of his lies:
1. He denies that there is any discrimination or persecution of the Rohingya people.
2. He says that the term ‘Rohingya’ was not mentioned anywhere before the ’50s or ’60s. And that his objection to the use of the term stems from the perception that granting such special status has other significant implications. It would entitle them to special social, political and even legal benefits. If they are given this privilege, their next step will be to demand separate statehood.
3. He claims that in Myanmar, minorities coexist harmoniously.
4. And here is a sample of half-truth from General Ohn's mouth:
• There has been communal violence in the state. Not just 2012 but in 1942 they had carried out a genocide in north Rakhine state.
Only a liar or a propagandist can afford to lie like Maung Maung Ohn. Lest we forget, soon after taking office in June last year in Arakan, when the entire world community was highly critical about Myanmar government policy and the lack of supplies and humanitarian aids getting to the Rohingya IDP camps, he audaciously claimed, “When we visited IDP camps [for Rohingyas], there were food, good toilets, and good living conditions. But in some ethnic Rakhine villages, there is no toilet, no electricity, and no drinking water.” He definitely has perfected the art of lying. If the Nazi criminal propagandist Joseph Goebbels were alive today, he would have been very proud of his brain child!
Maung's views on the absence of persecution of the Rohingya people and that they are living securely and that the minorities are coexisting in harmony are simply ludicrous. His bloated claims are not shared by any independent observer, international NGO and human rights group, let alone the UNHCR. According to reliable UN estimates, some 150,000 Rohingyas are now living in Nazi-like concentration camps, while more than a hundred thousand have fled the country and many have died in the seas while trying to do so in recent years since the genocidal activities of 2012.
Contrary to Maung's claims that the term 'Rohingya ' is an invention dating only from the 1950s, facts are that the term was in vogue since at least the days of Bodaw Paya's rule in the late 18th century, and that any curious researcher may find the mention of the term in history books and travelogues of Europeans who had visited the region.
Consider, for instance, the account of Francis Buchanan, a surgeon with the British East India Company, who had traveled to imperial Burma in 1799 and met members of a Muslim ethnic group “who have long settled in Arakan [Rakhine], and who call themselves Rooinga, or natives of Arakan.” That would indicate there were self-identified Rohingya living in Rakhine at least 25 years before the 1823 cut-off for citizenship of modern day Myanmar [Burma].
Gregory Poling who is a fellow with the Sumitro Chair for Southeast Asia Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C. writes, "Even if the name “Rohingya” is too taboo to be accepted inside Myanmar, the historical record is clear that the ethnic group itself has existed in Arakan, or Rakhine State, for centuries. A significant Muslim population lived in the independent Kingdom of Mrauk-U that ruled modern-day Rakhine State from the mid-fifteenth to late eighteenth centuries. Many of the Buddhist kings of Mrauk-U even took Muslim honorifics. The evidence suggests that this community is the origin of today’s Rohingya. The group likely assimilated later waves of immigrants from Bangladesh during and after British rule, but it did not begin with them."
Bengali poets and writers of Arakan of the Mrauk-U dynasty that ruled the region since 1430 had called the territory Roshang and Rohang in their literary works. As I have pointed out elsewhere, people in lower Bengal and Arakan add the partial word - iya - at the end of a district or region to identify its people. Thus, the people of Chatga (Chittagong) came to be known as Chatgaiya, and so is the case with the people of Rohang or Roshang who came to be called Rohingya. [Note that in southern Chittagonian dialect, the sound -sha - is often transformed to - ha – without 's'; as such, what is Roshang in pure Bengali would be sounded as Rohang.]
Now let me get back to Maung's half-truth. He fails to provide the full picture about the 1942 pogroms that saw deaths of tens of thousands of Rohingya people. The casualty was almost one-sided, and it was the Rohingya and not the Rakhine people that suffered enormously during the Japanese occupation of Burma.
Some historical background may suffice here to understand the event. When the Second World War broke out, the territory of Burma was under British occupation. To many Burmese, cooperating with the Japanese fascist army was preferable to living under the British rule. Aung San, father of Suu Kyi, and his group of comrades belonging to the BIA (Burma Independent Army) were at the forefront of that alliance with the fascist Japanese army when Japan entered the war on December 8, 1941. Japan captured Rangoon (Yangon) on March 7, 1942 leading to the exodus of an estimated half a million Indians and Muslims. “Thousands are reported to have died of starvation, disease or during sporadic military attacks in one of the darkest but least reported incidents in modern Burmese History,” writes Syed Ashraf Alam, a Rohingya historian.
Japan dropped bombs in Akyab (the main town of Arakan) on March 23. 24 and 27 leading to the withdrawal of the British administration. Since the Muslim population, in general, and the Rohingya people, in particular, in the Arakan (Rakhine) region were deemed collaborators of the British regime, they were targeted for elimination soon after Japan occupied the region in late March of 1942 by fascist Rakhine Buddhists. A genocide of Muslims followed. According to Alam, “The Rakhine communalists in connivance with Burma Independence Army (BIA) led by Bo Rang Aung brought about a pogrom massacring about 1,00,000 innocent Rohingya Muslims, driving out [another] 80,000 of them across the border to East Bengal, devastating their settlements and depopulating the Muslims in some parts of Arakan.”
To quote Professor Abid Bahar, a foremost authority on the Rohingya people having studied the subject since the mid-1970s, "In 1942 Japan occupied Burma and the ultra-nationalist Buddhists jointly massacred the Karens, the Mons and in Arakan the Rohingyas. Feeling the threat of extinction, and certain Rakhines determined to drive out the Muslims of Arakan, Muslim leaders officially took the already existing name for their suffering community as the Rohingyas. However, Rohingyas were conveniently identified by the Rakhine extremists as being the Chittagonians. During the time of Japanese occupation, the number of Rohingya death in Arakan was staggering to be over 100,000. Rohingyas call the event as the “Karbalai Arakan,” the bloodshed in Arakan.”
What happened in Arakan in 1942 was truly ethnic cleansing and nothing short of that. In his speech at the Burmese Parliament, Sultan Mahmud, former Health Minister and Member of Parliament from Akyab district, said, “I refused to accept that there was a communal riot in Arakan in 1942. It was a pre-planned cold-blooded massacre. On March 28, 1942 a group of 37 soldiers who are trekking their way to Burma was intercepted, persuaded and prevailed upon to attack and loot the Moslem villages. The cold-blooded massacre began with an uncontrollable fury in the Moslem village of Letma on the western bank of the Lemro River in Maybon townships. It spread like a conflagration in all directions and the unsophisticated villagers with the prospect of gain joined with guns, dahs, spears and all other conceivable contrivances of destruction. Some high-minded and far-sighted Arakanese gentlemen intervened at the risk of their lives to prevent the deadly onslaught. But all their pious efforts were in vain.
There was absolutely no attempt at retaliation even by way of self-defence by the Moslem and it was simply one-sided affair. Not a single Rakhine suffered even a scratch. Maybon Township in Kyaukpru District and the six townships of Minbya, Myohaung, Pauktaw, Kyauktaw, Ponnagyun and Rathidaung in Akyab district were depleted of Moslem by murder and massacre and those who escaped evacuated through long tortuous and hazardous routes across mountains to Maungdaw. Twenty Two thousand Moslem reached Subirnagar Camp in Rangpur District in India but very large number had stayed behind in Maungdaw owing to lack of facilities, disease and destitution.
These refugees in Maungdaw who had lost their dearest one and all their property now turned against the Rakhine and fell upon them in retaliation. This is what exactly happened in 1942 and I leave it to your impartial readers to judge whether it could be term as communal riot. There were Moslem too who saved a good number of Arakanese Buddhists from the wrath of the Moslem and brutality of the Japanese but modesty forbids me from mentioning their names. I give below the number of Moslem villages totally destroyed in the various townships in 1942. They are: (1) Myebon in Kyaukpru District 30 villages; (2) Minbya in Akyab District 27 villages; (3) Pauktaw in Akyab District 25 villages; (4) Myohaung in Akyab District 58 villages; (5) Kyauktaw in Akyab District 78 villages; (6) Ponnagyun in Akyab District 5 villages; (7) Rathedaung in Akyab District 16 villages; and (8) Buthidaung in Akyab District 55 villages. Total 294 villages. All the villages in Buthidaung Township were re-occupied and rehabilitated by the original inhabitants and refugees after the War but not a single one in other townships.” [Sultan Mahmud, Muslims in Arakan, The Nation, Rangoon, Sunday, April 12, 1959]
Soon the Rakhine Buddhists were streaming in droves from the north as the Rohingya Muslims were streaming from the south, and Arakan stood divided into two distinct territories, a Muslim north and a Buddhist south one. Since then, the traditional relation between the two sister communities deteriorated.
According to historian Moshe Yoger, “When the Japanese advanced into Arakan in 1942, the Buddhists instigated cruel measures against the Muslim population. Thousands of Muslims (their exact number is unknown) were expelled from regions under Japanese rule in which Buddhists constituted a majority. The Muslims fled to eastern Bengal, or to North Arakan, seeking refuge in territories under British military rule. As they fled, many were killed or died of starvation. For their part, Muslims conducted retaliatory raids from British controlled territories where they were the majority, particularly in the vicinity of Maungdaw. In short order, these acts of mutual slaughter caused the Buddhist population of North Arakan to flee just as the Muslims had abandoned the South. In effect, Arakan was divided into Buddhist and Muslim areas. From December 1942 until April 1943, the British waged an unsuccessful counteroffensive, and the Japanese were able to expand their hold over most Muslim regions in Arakan including Maungdaw. The situation continued to deteriorate, and communal strife grew worse impelling more Muslims to abandon their homes.”
As can be seen in much contradistinction to Maung's assertions, facts are that it was the Rohingya people who were the major victims of 1942 pogroms, and not the Rakhine Buddhists who had collaborated with the fascist forces to drive out and/or kill the Rohingya and other Muslims not just inside the Arakan region but all across Burma.
After the British forces reclaimed the territory in January of 1945, thanks to the sacrifice of the Rohingya Muslims of British Force V to turn the tide of the war, many of the refugees who had fled to Chittagong and other parts of today's Bangladesh returned only to find their homes and properties occupied by the usurping Rakhine and other Buddhists. This led to a series of lawsuits filed in the courts to establish ownership of ‘disputed’ properties.
In the post-World War II era, due to sensitivity of the situation when Britain had promised to get out of India and Burma, and had also been cooperating with Aung San's group (which just before the fall of the Japanese army had switched the side again being betrayed by the Japanese army, which did not grant the promised independence) the British administration was, however, reluctant to bring back the displaced Rohingya from today's Bangladesh. [It also betrayed on granting them a ‘Muslim National Area’ in the northern Arakan as a reward for their loyalty.] Some 13,000 Rohingyas were not able to return from refugee camps inside India (and today’s Bangladesh). Nevertheless, some Rohingya refugees did resettle in the Northern Arakan State, later to be called Mayu Frontier Administration Area. Some Rakhine usurpers were forced out of Muslim-majority areas in the north. But the southern Arakan, which saw ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya and Muslim population by the hostile Rakhine Buddhists, was off-limits to the returning refugees. Many of them continued to live as refugees in the north. This event has led to permanent souring of the relationship between the two dominant groups of Arakan - the Rakhine and Rohingya.
In the last days of the British rule of Burma, Aung San, who had been negotiating for independence of Burma, tried to bring harmony in a fractured country through dialogue with ethnic and religious minorities. This was unacceptable to Buddhist fascist elements. Soon, before Burma would achieve independence from Britain on January 4, 1948, his entire team of democracy leaders were assassinated by powerful quarters who sought to control Burma by force. Rohingya and other Muslims felt very insecure and severely discriminated, which led to exodus of many to Chittagong district of East Pakistan.
As noted above, Rohingyas began to feel insecure in independent Burma. According to the Pakistan Times (August 26, 1959) some 10,000 refugees had by then taken shelter in East Pakistan. In 1959, Burma agreed with East Pakistan governor Zakir Hossain to take back Rohingya refugees who had taken shelter in Chittagong in 1958. When questioned “why refugees were pouring into Pakistan from Burma, the Governor replied that the government of Burma had nothing to do with it. Actually the Moghs [i.e., Buddhist Rakhines] of Arakan were creating the trouble.” (Pakistan Times, 27 August 1959) Governor Zakir Hossain's reply once again underscored the deep hostility of the racist Rakhines against the minority Rohingya people. On October 27, 1960, the Daily Guardian, Rangoon, reported that Burmese “Supreme Court quashes expulsion orders against Arakanese Muslims,” which once again shows that the Arakanese [Rohingya] Muslims faced much problems in their reintegration. [In today’s Myanmar, the Rohingyas are treated as ‘Bengalis’ – or intruders from Bangladesh - denying them the right to self-identify as Rohingya.]
The above brief analysis disproves unproven assertions and claims made by Maung Maung Ohn. Such willful distortions by him should not surprise anyone given the fact that after he took over
His views reflect his deep hostility and racism against the persecuted Rohingya people whom he wants to see totally eliminated. But his deplorable and criminal views cannot hide the facts of the on-going genocide against the Rohingyas of Myanmar to which crime he is a party to.
Notes in the margin (U Nu and early Ne Win era – 1948-75):
During U Nu’s period (1948-1962), there was much unrest throughout Burma as many minority groups - ethnic and religious - felt betrayed by the constitutional provisions about their status. Several rebellions broke out. The most serious of these was by the Communists who had been denied membership in the government coalition; four other rebellions were on an ethnic basis—the Karens, Kachins, Mons, and Rohingyas of Arakan [the so-called Mujahid Revolt] all of whom hoped to realize their separatist aims in opposition to the central Burmese government in Rangoon. As armed Rakhine nationalists seized control of many of the towns throughout Arakan, hundreds of Rohingya armed supporters flocked to join the Mujahid Party in Buthidaung Township to press for a Muslim Autonomous State in north Arakan. According to Moshe Yeger, the fighting between the Mujahid and Burmese army led to exodus of some 20,000 Rohingya Muslims escaping to Chittagong in East Pakistan by early February of 1949. The Burmese army used repressive measures, which included destruction of Rohingya villages and mosques, further escalating the refugee crisis in East Pakistan. In 1950, a memorandum by the public of Maungdaw, which is close to southern tip of East Pakistan (today's Bangladesh), demanded the protection of fundamental rights and an unconditional repatriation of Rohingyas from Chittagong.
When the Rohingyas armed resistance movement gained momentum in 1950’s against the tyranny of the Burmese regime, the Burmese government appeased the Rohingya public by offering some governmental positions and a special district called “Mayu Frontier District” encompassing Buthidaung, Maungdaw and western part of Rathedaung, which was to be centrally administered. [After General Ne Win came to power in 1962, the plan was cancelled. He quickly nationalized business, which led to forced exodus of some 300,000 Indians, mostly Muslims, and 100,000 Chinese.]
During the military crackdown in East Pakistan in 1971, an undetermined number of Bengalis took shelter in Arakan. Subsequently, 17,000 returned to Bangladesh. In early 1975, some 15,000 Muslims from Arakan were forced to leave their homes to cross to Bangladesh because of persecution by Rakhine Buddhists.
- Asian Tribune -
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WHY VALLARTA?
VALLARTA ART TALK
RESORT LIFESTYLES
VALLARTA WEDDINGS
101 HOTTEST THINGS
Democrats Abroad Invite You to Meet Markos Moukitsas
Julie Guerrero - BanderasNews.com
With country committees and local chapters in over 80 countries around the world, Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization for the millions of Americans living outside the United States.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - The Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico invites you to come to No Way José! Restaurant - Bar on December 12, 2017 to meet with the like-minded people who will be in Puerto Vallarta on a cruise sponsored by The Nation, a liberal political journal.
Join this limited-seating reception on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and enjoy a presentation by Markos Moukitsas, a political commentator and publisher of The Daily Kos, the largest liberal community blog in the U.S. with more than 20 million visitors per month. This news organization also serves as a community and activist hub. Markos has also written The Resistance Handbook: 45 Ways to Fight Trump. After his presentation, local members of Democrats Abroad Mexico will share news about the Costas Banderas chapter and the 2018 elections.
The price of admission is $500 pesos per person, and includes one cocktail and a festive botanas plate provided by No Way José! Tickets are now on sale at this award-winning Mexican contemporary restaurant located at 5 de Febrero #260 in the Col. Emiliano Zapata. Profits from the reception will be donated to a local children's charity for the holidays.
After the reception, guests are encouraged to experience the last day of the peregrinaciones (pilgrimages) to Our Lady of Guadalupe through the streets of El Centro to the picturesque church in the Plaza de Armas, an iconic emblem of Puerto Vallarta.
The peregrinaciones take place the first 12 days of December. December 12 marks the last day of the pilgrimages and includes fantastic opportunities to experience the beauty of the Mexican culture in the streets of Puerto Vallarta. Devotees make their offerings to our Lady of Guadalupe, the primary object of worship in these pilgrimages honoring the "dark virgin" of Mexico.
The peregrinaciones have become a celebration of friendship between Puerto Vallarta and its visitors. A verbena is set up in the plaza where you will find typical snacks such as elotes, enchiladas, pozole and churros.
With country committees and local chapters in over 80 countries around the world, Democrats Abroad is the official Democratic Party organization for the millions of Americans living outside the United States. For more information about the Costa Banderas Chapter of Democrats Abroad, click HERE.
No Way José! welcomes you to La Zona Romantica on the south side of Vallarta at 5 de Febrero 260, just over the Vallarta street bridge on your left heading south from the Malecón. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. Reservations are recommended and available by calling (322) 223-2853 or online at NoWayJoseMx.com. For more information, visit NoWayJoseMx.com, or join us on Facebook for real-time updates and special offers.
Click HERE to learn more about No Way José!
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Bayswater Removals
Get your quote from the Bayswater Removal Specialists today
It is well known that moving is one of the most stressful times in anyone's life, so leave it to the best in the business. Big Red Removals have over 10 years of experience in house and flat moves within Bayswater.
Big Red offer a range of services to suit any move, large or small. We can offer a full or partial packing service to ensure that your precious possessions reach their destination intact. Our experienced and dedicated team of professional removers will ensure that your move goes without a hitch. From offering a full site survey for larger moves to flexible hourly rates for smaller moves, Big Red have got you covered, able to offer the most competitive rates in Bayswater.
All moves with Big Red can be covered with liability insurance. As Members of the National Guild of Removers we follow their Code of Practice and you can be assured that Big Red will give you the best removals service in Bayswater.
Whatever other stresses you have with your move, you can rely on Big Red to ensure that, from start to finish, the removal process is not one of them. Call the Bayswater removals specialists now on 0207 228 7651.
-0.18380151.5134339
Parking in Bayswater
Most of the roads around Bayswater are controlled parking, and either parking suspensions or dispensations are required. For larger Removals in Bayswater a parking suspension is a necessity. The suspension has to be booked 10 working days in advance of the required date. These are booked with Westminster council online. For smaller Bayswater removals, using vans, we can load and unload for short periods on single yellow lines. Otherwise a dispensation would need to be booked, if we are packing and Bayswater flat moving.
For parking and other council information please click here Westminster Council.
A Little Bit About Bayswater
Bayswater was initially developed as a fashionable residential suburb when, in 1827, the surveyor to the Bishop of London laid out the area between Praed Street, Edgware Road and Bayswater Road. This layout consisted of an inter-related pattern of wide streets, crescents and squares planned on either sides of the main boulevards- Westbourne Terrace and Sussex Gardens.
Bayswater is well known for its Georgian stucco terraces, many of which are Grade II listed, there are also handsome 1930s mansion blocks and a few new small residential developments.
Situated in post code W2 and in the London Borough of Westminster, Bayswater has long been a popular place to stay among visitors to London. It has lots of advantages, not least a wide variety of hotels to suit all pockets – from bed and breakfast accommodation in the converted Victorian townhouses of leafy avenues to the luxury of grand international hotel chains. A few steps across Bayswater Road lead to the green acres of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, where there is a wonderful activity area for younger members of the family: kiddies love scrambling round the huge wooden pirate ship and its surrounding beach in Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground, which also contains tepees and play sculptures. Teenagers, meanwhile, may spend many happy hours at Queens Ice And Bowl with its ice rink, bowling alley, arcade video games and pizza joint. It’s found in Queensway, a street that’s as famous for its multicultural restaurants as its retail therapy. Whiteley’s Shopping Centre is an unusually beautiful and elegant building that ranges shops, cafés, restaurants, a cinema, an art gallery and a gym across its four floors and basement. From Bayswater, there are also fast and easy connections to world-renowned destinations including Kensington High Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street.
Bayswater has excellent schools- parents favour Fox School, which has an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. Others include St Mary of the Angels, St Stephen’s and Colville. For secondary schools, Airlie Gardens in Holland Park has an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted rating. For private schools, there is Wetherby, Pembridge Hall and Lansdowne College.
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NINE INCH NAILS, SIX FEET UNDER First-Week Sales Revealed
NINE INCH NAILS' sixth studio release, "Year Zero" (Nothing), has sold 187,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at No. 2. The CD's release was preceded by various guerilla marketing efforts to raise awareness of the album. First single "Survivalism", already peaked at No. 1 on the Modern Rock tally. NIN's prior album, 2005's "With Teeth", opened with 272,000.
In other news, SIX FEET UNDER's new album, "Commandment" (Metal Blade), registered a first-week tally of 3,000. A video was recently shot for the track "Ghosts of the Undead". Click here to view the video teaser.
ACE FREHLEY To Reunite With His Former FREHLEY'S COMET Bandmates At This Year's 'Kruise Fest'
SLIPKNOT's 'Knotfest Roadshow': 'Slipknot Museum' Details And VIP Packages Announced
QUIET RIOT To Release 'Hollywood Cowboys' Album In November
New Photo Of DAVE MUSTAINE In Pre-Production For MEGADETH's 16th Studio Album
ALICE COOPER Makes Surprise Speech At Ohio Church
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Public Inquiry into Development at Sun Lane
The proposals for 500 new homes and land for a new school were approved by Bradford Council back in May 2018, however after concerns were raised by residents, the Secretary of State decided to 'call-in' the scheme. This means the decision will be taken out of Bradford Council’s hands and given to the Planning Inspectorate.
A public inquiry will now be held into the development on land at Sun Lane and Ilkley Road. The public inquiry has been set for 14th May 1000-1600 and is expected to last up to 8 days.
Residents will be aware that an e-petition was launched to encourage Bradford Council debate the issue of hosting the Sun Lane Planning Inquiry in Burley, rather than in Bradford. Following careful consideration of the views expressed, Bradford Council has now decided to hold the full Inquiry at the Queens Hall in Burley. However, if for any reason the Inspector considers the venue unsuitable, whether this be on arrival or during the course of the Inquiry, it may be relocated and take place at City Hall, Bradford.
Residents can check progress on this inquiry through the Planning Portal at https://acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk using case reference APP/W4705/V/18/3208020
David Wildsmith has been appointed to conduct the planning inspection and has stated that all ‘interested persons’ will have the opportunity to speak. During preliminary meetings the inspector has stressed that he will not hear people repeating the same points adequately made by other speakers, and has suggested that people may like to co-ordinate delivery of the key points that need to be conveyed.
Speakers are encouraged to tell Bradford Council in advance of their intention to speak, and where possible to deposit any evidence or papers in support with their arguments with Bradford Council by 23rd April so that all parties can consider them. It’s worth noting that both barristers and the inspector can question anyone who wishes to speak.
Bradford Council have committed will write to everyone who has already communicated with them with regards the planning inspection, and CEG intend to create a website with all the documentation on it accessible via Bradford Council’s website. The key documents are expected to cover the main arguments CEG wish to address which are: planning law, highways, ecology, highways, education, landscape, flooding / drainage and design. Hard copy documents of all papers to be discussed in the proceedings are to be made accessible for reading in the Queens Hall once they are publically available.
Parish Council Position
The Parish Council has submitted a 48 page representation to the Inquiry outlining that proposals for housing development will be supported when they would not result in the loss of an open space identified as being important to the community. The Parish Council are not opposed to more new homes in the village, and indeed fully supported the planning application for several new housing developments such as new homes at Greenholme Mills (149 homes), but the proposal for 500 homes at Sun Lane poses some significant challenges which include:
The Parish Council consider that this particular development is inappropriate in the Green Belt and detrimental impact (transport in particular) will be caused
Whilst the Parish Council wants to plan for more new homes and jobs, we also want to protect open spaces and preserve the natural and built heritage of the area
The Parish Council fully understands that whilst the village will grow, this must be proportionate to its infrastructure, and any associated commitments to improve transport infrastructure.
Until BDMC demonstrates it has the funding and commitment to purchase land and build a school, the site cannot be classed as having ‘exceptional circumstances’, because the exceptional circumstances don’t arise until the commitment to build is there
The analysis of alternative sites indicates that a new site offering 500 new homes is not required to deliver to the BDMC target of least 700 new homes.
The full document can be viewed here.
In the meantime, residents who want to receive the monthly Burley Matters newsletter which includes this and other and other important news from Burley Parish Council can subscribe here
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Mottet Leadership Institute fulfills one of priest’s last wishes
By Barb Arland-Fye
A social justice activist even as he approached death, Msgr. Marvin Mottet gave an earful of advice to Dan Ebener, Loxi Hopkins and other colleagues about moving forward with social justice in the Davenport Diocese.
“The last several times I visited with Marv we might have spent an hour-and-a-half talking about the things he wanted me to do to carry on his work,” said Ebener, an educator and diocesan leader. “The last thing he told me was, ‘Get to work.’” Hopkins, a volunteer in the diocese’s Social Action Office, said Msgr. Mottet “wanted ‘The Two Feet of Social Action’ to continue, and that we train young people to get involved.”
Logo design by Lindsay Steele
The Mottet Leadership Institute is the result of that mandate; a training institute to engage people of all ages, particularly young adults, in the work of social justice. The institute’s centerpiece is an eight-week course led by national trainers and spread out over eight months. The first session will be held in September at diocesan headquarters in Davenport. It is a project of Quad Cities Interfaith (QCI) in collaboration with the Diocese of Davenport, St. Ambrose University in Davenport and the NAACP.
Leslie Kilgannon, QCI’s executive director, said her organization believes the institute will provide terrific training for people who might not otherwise get the opportunity. Msgr. Mottet was a founding member of QCI committed to “engaging ordinary people to make changes around issues affecting their lives,” she noted.
Msgr. Mottet, who preferred to be called Father Mottet, died Sept. 16, 2016, at age 86, following a life dedicated to The Two Feet of Social Action. He believed that action on behalf of social justice was a necessary part of Christian life. Charity and justice are the two steps in his “two feet” approach. Training is essential to understand and carry out this approach, he believed.
In his own efforts to bring about change, he worked with Gamaliel Foundation of Chicago to provide faith-based leadership training for people from around the diocese and beyond. Gamaliel trains community and faith leaders to build political power and create organizations that unit people of diverse faith and races. The founder, Greg Galluzzo, is also a founding member of the Mottet Leadership Institute.
Ultimately, the institute reinforces the core values of Fr. Mottet: participation in the public square; social justice; solidarity; dignity of the human person; stewardship of God’s creation; and preferential option for the poor and oppressed.
People interested in becoming more involved in public life are the institute’s target audience. “They might be interested in local politics, or state, federal or international,” Ebener said. “It’s wherever they want to make an impact in public policy.” He gave as an example concern over a new fireworks law that is disrupting the quality of life for some Iowans. If someone wanted to change the law, “what can they do? How do they begin to impact change on something like that?” Ebener asked. The leadership institute provides the skill-building necessary to address such questions.
Institute participants can expect to be challenged and held accountable for carrying out the actions they plan during the training sessions, Ebener said. “We expect them to impact the public policies they’re most interested in, or to start building the relationships necessary to make an impact.”
Mentors will be available to help participants with their “home work.” Hopkins describes institute training as a “life-changing experience. You have to look deep within yourself and ask where you are and what you want your life to be.” The training offers benefits beyond community advocacy. “It helps you with relationship building, and how you deal with jobs, managers, and people in general,” Hopkins said. She hopes participants come out of the Mottet Leadership Institute “feeling that they want to be part of something bigger.”
The Mottet Leadership Institute is about “creating a new generation of leaders for social change,” Ebener said. “We’re making a special effort to recruit younger people, but also people from lower-income neighborhoods. We’re building capacity for people who generally don’t have a voice in public policy.”
Training for the Mottet Leadership Institute
What: The Mottet Leadership Institute, an eight-week training program.
Where: Diocese of Davenport headquarters, 780 W. Central Park Ave., Davenport.
Time commitment: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on eight Saturdays.
Week one: Sept. 23 – Public life, power, values and self-interest.
Week two: Oct. 28 – Public relationships, one-on-ones, building a public life.
Week three: Nov. 18 – Qualities of a leader, building a team, power analysis.
Week four: Dec. 16 – Cutting issues, doing actions, how to enter the public arena.
Week five: Jan. 2018 – How to run and organize a meeting, power one-on-ones.
Week six: Feb. 2018 – Media and social media as part of a change campaign.
Week seven: March 2018 – Organized money and people.
Week eight: April 2018 – Pathway to power.
Cost: $400 per participant. No one will be turned away due to lack of funding. Funds are being raised to create a scholarship fund. “If participants can’t pay $400, we’ll ask them to raise the money from their church or a civic organization or ask to be considered for a scholarship,” said Dan Ebener a founding member of the institute.
Other details: All sessions will be taught by the Gamaliel Foundation. St. Ambrose University in Davenport will issue a certificate to all institute graduates. A mentor will be assigned to any participant who is interested.
To register, contact Loxi Hopkins at Mottetinstitute@gmail.com or call her at (563) 940-2580.
Interest surges for ‘Mottet’ leadership training
Building power for social justice: Mottet Leadership Institute spurs students onward
◀ Saying goodbye to Sacred Heart School
Women’s Choice Center celebrates 15th birthday ▶
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Home | Business in Action | August 14 | Karnalyte Resources
Karnalyte Resources
Canadian explorer Karnalyte Resources is developing a massive carnallite resource in Saskatchewan in hope of becoming a leading low-cost producer of low-sodium potash.
These days, it seems the best ore deposits are those that have been mistakenly overlooked for decades previously. The 85,126-acre Wynyard Carnallite Project belonging to Karnalyte Resources Inc. (TSX: KRN) is a perfect example of this. Located just half a kilometre south of Highway 16, near the town of Wynyard in Saskatchewan, the property is easily accessible and contains a massive, uniform ore body of potassium-containing minerals carnallite and sylvinite, with a high grade of potassium chloride (KCl). Yet up until 2008, it had barely been touched.
Karnalyte Director Robin Phinney first came across an assay for the property in 1984, while working for another potash company. “I asked the company’s underground experts about it and they said, ‘we avoid carnallite like the plague in the potash industry’, so I left it alone,” he recalls.
“But for years afterwards it bothered me, and I always said to myself that I’d go back and have a second look, just to see if there was anything there. That second look happened about five years ago – I was finishing a project in concrete and thought I’d look there for magnesium. It was the property no one wanted; BHP and the rest had every other bit of Saskatchewan covered. So I put in my application and, low and behold, I got it.”
Although Phinney set out in search of magnesium, that changed when he researched the property’s history further and found two drill cores from it from the 1950s. To his surprise, these were completely intact, having never been assayed properly. “I was shocked that the geologists of the time hadn’t looked at it,” he remarks. “Because when I saw the core samples, I saw that the ore body was all one continuous mineralogy arrangement, which is kind of spectacular.”
He confirmed his observations with a 3D seismic study and confirmed that it was a large, continuous ore body, with a grade of 18-20 per cent KCl as a wet assay, or in excess of 30 per cent KCl as a dry assay. “That’s when I celebrated, because that’s when it became really, really significant as a very big and uniform ore body with a high grade, which would make it very easy to extract with solution mining and very easy to make a high-grade concentrate from.”
Thus Karnalyte Resources was born, and on 14 December 2010 made its debut on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Wynyard Carnallite Project is now well on its way to realisation, having completed its Environmental Impact Assessment and entered the construction permitting process.
Two of the water wells are confirmed and Phinney says there is more than enough water available for the entire project. “We have all the permits, all the approvals, everything’s confirmed with the Saskatchewan Government; we’re pretty much ready to go in every aspect,” he remarks.
The Bankable Feasibility Study, which covers only the first 20 per cent of the total property, confirms 155 million tonnes or Proven and Probable reserves – enough to support a 70-year mine life. Initial production would be 625,000 tonnes per annum, which would ramp up within five to six years to 2.125 million tonnes per annum. Phase 1 would require C$626 million capital expenditure (capex) and have an operating cost (opex) of $129 per tonne, while Phase 2 would require approximately $2 billion capex and $125 per tonne opex. The after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of the potash mine is $1.7 billion at a discount rate of 10 per cent, and the after-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 21.4 per cent.
The particular location and geology of the property has given the Wynyard Carnallite project comparably advantageous economics. As well as being half a kilometre from a major highway, the project is just 2km from the main railway and also on Saskatchewan’s main power corridor. The only infrastructure Karnalyte needs to upgrade is the existing gas pipeline.
In terms of geology, Phinney explains that Karnalyte will be able to extract its KCl easier and cheaper than potash miners who have sylvite ore bodies.
“We can set our wells up to run continuously for seven years,” he begins. “Typically if you’re trying to do this in a sylvite ore body – the way our competitors will be doing it – the sodium dissolves first. So they have to apply cold water to dissolve the sodium first, then after about 18 months they apply hot water in order to extract the KCL.
“In our case, our ore body delivers continuously at whatever temperature we want to set,” he continues. “That gives us quite the advantage, because it comes to only a quarter of the standard cost.”
A superior product
Karnalyte plans to utilise the latest technology available to develop the Wynyard Carnallite project, including some methods pioneered and patented by Phinney himself. The processing facility will be able to produce round pellets of 97% KCl minimum, compared with the industry-standard granular, compacting material of 95.5 per cent KCl minimum. Karnalyte’s pellets will be less than 1 per cent sodium, compared with the standard 3.5-5 per cent, and this low sodium percentage should benefit crop yields.
“Our little round pellets are the same size and density as the nitrogen and phosphate blends they will be mixed with, so they’re absolutely perfect for blending,” Phinney elaborates. “The pellets can handle storage and high-humidity warehouses very well. Our main objective is to have the highest quality, most durable product, at a price that customers would like to buy it for.”
One customer is already confirmed, thanks to the off-take agreement Karnalyte signed in January 2013 with Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals (GSFC). This Indian fertiliser manufacturer bought a 19.98 per cent interest in Karnalyte for $45 million, in a deal that includes a take-or-pay off-take for 350,000 tonnes of Phase 1 production, and 250,000 tonnes annually of Phase 2 production. There remains a further 775,000 tonnes annually from Phases 1 and 2 combined available for further off-take, with which Karnalyte hopes to raise the remaining funds it needs to begin construction.
“With additional off-take to offer up as our trading arrangement, we’re in a unique position and looking for an additional strategic partner,” Phinney explains. “We’re negotiating at the moment, trying to figure out the best way to raise the money we need to move the project forward.”
Karnalyte hopes to finance the project in the next 12 months, after which will follow two years of construction, in time for initial production in 2016/17. With one buyer already confirmed, the project has been significantly de-risked and Phinney is confident that Karnalyte will be able to establish a product line of high-quality potash, and more besides.
Coming full-circle, back to his initial reasons for securing the property, he hopes to establish an additional line of magnesium-based minerals.
“[Magnesium] is not a big market – the biggest market is potash – but it is very attractive and there’s good potential for developing magnesium hydroxides and magnesium carbonates for the marketplace,” Phinney explains. But while willing to expand the scope of the Wynyard Carnallite Project, he and the company has no need to look further afield.
“We don’t see any reason to be looking sideways,” he says resolutely, “when we have something as valuable as this.”
www.karnalyte.com
The Business of Auto Racing
Factoring – What is it?
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Steep Canyon Rangers Sign With Rounder Records
by CMT.com Staff 12/15/2010
Steep Canyon Rangers have signed with Rounder Records and plan to release their first album for the label in 2011. The North Carolina-based band gained mainstream attention after comic, actor and author Steve Martin chose them as his touring band following the release of his 2009 Rounder album, The Crow: New Songs for the Five String Banjo. Steep Canyon Rangers released their previous four albums on another independent label, Rebel Records. The band will tour again with Martin in 2011 to support a collaborative album set for release in March. The project will include guest appearances by Paul McCartney and the Dixie Chicks.
Tags: Dixie ChicksSteep Canyon Rangers
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Sean Monahan News
Rating: 79.2#20 C
(Center) (C) |
Monahan (illness) will be a game-time decision on Saturday.
Source: @NHLFlames 04/6/19, 3:16 pm EST
Line Change
Monahan is expected to be scratched on Wednesday.
The Flames have clinched a roster spot and it looks like Monahan will be the latest forward to be rested. Mikael Backlund is expected to replace him in the lineup and Derek Ryan will skate on the first line.
Source: Derek Wills 04/3/19, 2:43 pm EST
Monahan (illness) will return to the Flames lineup on Thursday.
Source: Pat Steinberg 03/21/19, 1:28 pm EST
Monahan (illness) missed the morning skate but will be a game-time decision on Tuesday.
Source: Derek Wills 03/19/19, 1:19 pm EST
Monahan (illness) will be a game-time decision on Tuesday.
Monahan (illness) will not play Saturday in Winnipeg.
Monahan will undergo season-ending wrist surgery.
Monahan has been playing through wrist and hip injuries and with the Flames falling out of the playoff hunt, Monahan will be shut down for the rest of the season. Monahan had another great season, picking up 31 goals and 33 assists (64 points) in 74 games. Sam Bennett and Curtis Lazar are expected to play with Johnny Gaudreau on Saturday.
Source: Wes Gilbertson 03/24/18, 10:06 am EST
Monahan (undisclosed) will play Tuesday vs. Edmonton.
Monahan missed Monday’s practice with a lingering issue, but he will be available tongiht vs. the Oilers. Monahan has cooled down recently, picking up just one goal and two assists in his last seven games, but he hit the 30-30 threshold for the second time in four years.
Monahan (undisclosed) is expected to be in the Flames lineup on Friday.
Monahan (undisclosed) will not be in the Flames lineup on Sunday.
Source: Kristen Odland 01/14/18, 1:12 pm EST
The Flames signed Sean Monahan to a seven-year contract worth $44.625 million ($6.375M AAV).
Monahan, 21, scored 27 goals with 36 assists for a career-high 63 points in 2015-16. The 2013 sixth overall pick has had an outstanding start to his NHL career—his 58 goals over the last two years is good for 16th in the NHL over that span. Monahan is easily a No.2 fantasy centre with No.1 upside.
Source: Eric Francis 08/22/16, 5:27 am EST
Monahan (undisclosed) will be a game-time decision on Wednesday.
Monahan missed Tuesday’s practice, but was on the ice for Wednesday’s morning skate and still remains questionable for tonight’s game vs. the Jets. Monitor his status during pre-game warmups at 9:30 p.m. ET. If Monahan can’t play, Freddie Hamilton will make his Flames debut.
Source: Pat Steinberg 03/16/16, 10:51 am EST
Monahan will be a healthy scratch tonight.
Monahan (illness) is on the ice for warmups; expected to play.
Source: Kristen Odland 12/1/15, 3:34 pm EST
Monahan (rest) will not play on Saturday.
Monahan played in all 81 games leading up to today, but will be held out of the lineup this afternoon. After scoring 22 goals in his rookie season Monahan followed it up with 31 goals and 31 assists (62 points) this year.
Source: Pat Steinberg 04/11/15, 12:30 pm EST
Monahan (illness) is on the ice for pregame warmups.
Monahan did not participate in the morning skate but it looks like he will give it a go in the season opener vs. the Canucks. Monahan will centre the top-line with Curtis Glencross and Jiri Hudler on his wings.
Source: Ben Kuzma 10/8/14, 5:34 pm EST
Monahan (illness) will be a game-time decision tonight.
Monahan is sick and will not practice this morning, so the Flames will see how he is feeling later before making a decision whether or not to get him in the lineup tonight in the Flames' season opener vs. Vancouver. Monahan was set to centre the Flames top line with Curtis Glencross and Jiri Hudler on his wings.
Source: @NHLFlames 10/8/14, 8:19 am EST
Monahan (foot) will return to the Flames lineup this afternoon.
Monahan missed the last seven games with a fractured foot, but gets back in the lineup for TJ Galiardi today vs. the Sabres. The rookie has nine goals and six assists in 24 games.
Source: Roger Millions 12/14/13, 7:11 am EST
Monahan is skating this morning for the first time since suffering a hairline fracture in his foot on November 21.
This is great news for the Flames, because the rookie has been one of their best offensive players this season. He has nine goals and 15 points in 24 games. His 15 points has him tied for second on the team in scoring and fifth amongst NHL rookies. He is likely still at least a week from returning to the Flames lineup.
Source: Roger Millions 12/9/13, 7:55 am EST
Monahan is week-to-week with hairline fracture in foot
Speculation is that Mikael Backlund will get more opportunities in wake of the Monahan injury. Given his history, look to your waiver wire first before jumping on Backlund.
Source: Wes Gilbertson 11/28/13, 8:38 am EST
<< Earlier Sean Monahan News (2/2)
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CITY GUIDE >Culture and Events
Orchestrated revelry
By Qiu Yijiao (China Daily)
Italian conductor Riccardo Chailly will lead the German Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra at the National Center for the Performing Arts for a treat of Mendelssohn, Mahler, Mozart and Bruckner this weekend.
It is the orchestra's first visit to Beijing in its 266-year history.
Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No 5 and Gustav Mahler's Symphony No 1 are the highlights of the two-day performances.
The orchestra has a long tradition of presenting works by Mendelssohn (1809-47), who was its conductor for 12 years, starting from the age of 27. The group is marking the 200th birth anniversary of this great German composer this year.
Mendelssohn's original Symphony No 5 poses a challenge to the orchestra, as it has never before played the score. However, Chailly is confident about the version they will present. "Today, we can show many alternative versions. The public loves to be challenged with new versions."
German composer Mahler (1860-1911) will also occupy a prime place in the program. During the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in Switzerland last month, the orchestra's interpretation of his classic Symphony No 1 received wide praise.
Although the performance will mark the orchestra's debut in China, it is not Chailly's first time here. In 1996, he led the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra to Shanghai. He has cooperated with many world-famous orchestras, including the London Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Philharmonic.
"We are looking forward to the performances in Beijing ... I hope the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra will leave a good impression," says Chailly.
7:30 pm, Oct 24, 25. National Center for the Performing Arts, west of Tian'anmen Square. 6655-0000
国家大剧院,天安门广场西
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CMT All-Time Top 40: George Jones
Country Stars Count Down Their Favorite Artists
by CMT.com Staff 10/4/2014
One of country music’s truly iconic and original voices, George Jones arrives at No. 10 on CMT All-Time Top 40: Artists Choice .
A list of the most influential artists in history chosen by country stars themselves, another honoree is revealed each week on CMT Hot 20 Countdown .
Praised for an unequaled ability to inhabit the songs he sang, Jones has often been held up as the ideal country singer since his breakout hit “White Lightning” in 1959. He would go on to record what are recognized as some of country music’s greatest songs of all time, including “She Thinks I Still Care,” “The Grand Tour,” “Golden Ring” (with then-wife Tammy Wynette) and the incomparable “He Stopped Loving Her Today.”
Plagued with alcoholism throughout his life, Jones had just as many troubles as he had success stories. He earned a reputation as “No Show Jones” for failing to make some concert dates and famously drove a riding lawn mower to the nearest liquor store after his wife hid all of the keys to the family’s cars.
Despite his setbacks, Jones’ career stands as a truly legendary monument to country music as an art form.
Jones was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1992. He passed away in Nashville in 2013 at the age of 81.
Charlie Daniels, The Oak Ridge Boys, Bobby Bare, Rhonda Vincent, Craig Morgan and George Strait are just a few of the artists who named Jones as one of the most influential artists in history.
“George Jones is one of two or possibly three of the most influential singers, style-wise, that ever came along in country music,” Daniels said. “I did a song with George one time, just an album cut we did with (producer) Billy Sherrill. George is the only person I’d ever seen make a five-syllable word out of ’church.’
“A lot of kids try to sing like George in their own way, and when they do, they try to stretch a word out or make a lot of syllables out of it or something. It was an affectation. When George did it, it was natural. That was his vocal style. It belonged to him, and it didn’t belong to anybody else. No one ever sang like George Jones did.”
“He milked out every word,” the Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen agreed. “If he was singing about hurting, I mean, it hurt. He drug those vowels and syllables out and wallowed around on them a little bit, and you could feel it. … He got the most out of every lyric of anybody.”
“He understood what he was singing about,” Bare explained. “He could make you feel the pain, and that’s what his songs are all about — pain. He knew how to put it to you.
“’He Stopped Loving Her Today’ … it doesn’t get any better than that. That’s as good as country music will ever get. They might talk about different subjects, but when you say country music, you think George Jones and ’He Stopped Loving Her Today.'”
“I think he made no excuses. He made no apologies for however he wanted to sing,” said Vincent. “Of course, it was country music through and through, but he might step out and do something out of the ordinary a little bit. But it always stayed within the template of the voice of George Jones, no matter what song he sang.”
For Morgan, Jones’ gifts were almost otherworldly.
“George is just one of those extremely unique people who had an aura about him,” he said. “There’s not a whole lot of those guys and, honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever have them again. … When George Jones came on the radio, even people that don’t listen to country music knew who that was.
“It was really weird because he’s the complete opposite of everything that I expected,” Morgan explained about getting to know Jones. “You’ve seen the movies, you’ve seen the shows, you’ve seen George and ’No Show’ and the drinking and the partying … but the George Jones that I knew was a sweet, kind, loving, caring gentleman. Every time I ever talked to him, he hugged me and made me feel extremely comfortable. He always made me feel welcomed, and he was just very kind. I always felt like he spoke from his heart, and he was honest.”
Because of his musical gifts and that warm personality, it was almost as if Jones could do no wrong.
“George liked to have fun,” said Strait with a grin. “He was a free-spirited, happy-go-lucky, fun-loving guy, and I think that came out in his music. But his fans could never hate him, no matter what he did. If he ever did something wrong, everybody forgave George. I mean, if he was ’No Show Jones’ or if he showed up and kicked everybody’s ass, he was still great.”
Check out the rest of the CMT All-Time Top 40: Artists Choice list, and find out who will be announced each Saturday at 11 a.m. ET/PT on CMT Hot 20 Countdown .
Tags: Charlie DanielsCraig MorganGeorge JonesGeorge StraitRhonda VincentThe Oak Ridge Boys
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Home Articles Multifaith Britain?
ArticlesLife
Multifaith Britain?
written by Colin Dye May 4, 2012
Britain is known as a nation that welcomes foreigners. Not only do we have some of the most liberal laws in Europe for immigrants and asylum seekers, our colonial past means that many nations now have a right to the benefits of British Commonwealth hospitality. The openness of Britain’s borders makes her the easiest nation in Europe for refugees and asylum seekers to enter.
All this means that Britain hosts many people with different faiths – both nationals and foreigners. Mosques, Temples and other places of worship for other faiths are increasingly commonplace, particularly in our cities. Her Majesty the Queen has participated in numerous Commonwealth church services in which leaders from other world religions have not only been present but also have played an active part. Although these services have affirmed our great British tradition of tolerance they also have helped support the notion that all religions are basically the same and that Jesus Christ can take His place as one lord among the many lords in the belief systems of the world.
Such tolerance is not just the outworking of the principles of the Commonwealth in our modern setting. It has its roots in our Judeo-Christian heritage. In ancient Israel, the foreigner was welcomed into the Hebrew society coming under the protection and provision of the nation, its laws and its faith in the one true God, Yahweh – the LORD.
But today, the “strangers’ are free in our society to enjoy all the privileges of modern Britain while remaining true to their own culture even to the point of challenging the culture of their host nation. We are (or so we are told) a multifaith society. That means, as “political correctness’ dictates, we should not allow any form of Christian faith to be present in our public life. Some Moslems have objected to the presence of the tiny cross that forms part of the uniform of our Metropolitan Police. The Red Cross banned any celebratory symbols of the Christian faith from its charity shops over this last Christmas period. A small cross was recently removed from the reception area of one of our hospitals because it was said to be an offence to those of other religions.
Is Britain really MultiFaith?
With all this talk of Britain being a multifaith society, it is necessary to look at just how multifaith we really are. 10% of Britons are in regular attendance at Christian church services, 12% claim a particular allegiance to the Christian faith and some 72% would call themselves Christians in some general sense. All this is a reflection of the underlying Christian culture in our society.
Non-Christian faiths, on the other hand, are represented by no more than 3% of the population. Islam, which is said to be the second largest religious grouping in Britain, makes up only 2% of the population.
From these facts a truer picture of modern Britain emerges. The original evangelisation of the British Isles some 1,500 years ago profoundly affected our nation, giving birth to many generations of Christian culture and establishing many of our nations laws, institutions and values.
Secularist agenda
Often, it’s the non-religious who are pushing for changes said to be in keeping with the so-called multifaith make up of our nation. Why is this? Are they really concerned about religious matters? Far from it. Their secularist agenda means they want to see Christianity, their greatest opponent, lose is pride of place in British society. It is their attempt to see religious life kept out of the public life of the nation.
A Protestant nation
During the time of Henry VIII in the 16th Century, England, then a Catholic nation, broke away from Rome and the Church of England was established as the official religion of the State. Henry had been given the title, “Defender of the Faith’ by the Pope because he had written a tract against Martin Luther’s teaching. But after the Reformation in England, this title came to signify that the king was the defender of the Protestant faith as established in the Church of England. Thus we are officially a Protestant Christian nation.
Muslims at prayer at the London Central Mosque, by Regents Park
Defender of Faiths?
Prince Charles has made it known that when he comes to the throne he would like to known as “Defender of Faiths’ and not “Defender of the Faith’ so that he can be more representative of all religious faith in Britain. That sounds well and good, but it would go against the long-established constitutional position in Britain. It would introduce sweeping changes in the British Monarchy and would further undermine the Church of England as the established religion of Britain. It is hard to see how this approach of Prince Charles would allow him to remain Head of the Church of England. Does he even want to be the head of this Protestant Christian religion? What is his attitude to the historic Christian faith? Historically, the title “Defender of the Faith’ is given to the British Monarch by virtue of his or her position as Head of the Church of England. It is easy to see why the secularists seek to emphasise, if not exaggerate the importance of the different faiths held by a minority in Britain.
Abuse of British tolerance
Britain is renowned as a nation of tolerance. This is due no doubt to the temperament of the British people in general, and to the particular influence of Christianity upon British culture. Christianity is a tolerant religion. The basis of faith in Christ is freedom of choice. Despite the command of Christ to disciple every nation on earth (Matthew 28), there is no coercion or compulsion present in the Christian faith. Jesus made it clear that choice it was up to each person’s own conscience. Everyone must decide for himself. Coupled with this is the idea of our rights to freedom of speech. This exists in western democracies as a direct result of the influence of Christianity. Those who come to Britain have freedom to believe and practice their faith under the enlightened and tolerant laws of British society.
This same tolerance is noticeably missing from many nations where other world faiths dominate. In the nations where Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam are in control there is nothing like the freedom of religion for Christians that exists for those from other faiths who choose to make Britain their home. It is a sheer abuse of British tolerance for other faith adherents to campaign for changes in Britain to remove Christianity from its pride of place in our society while Christians are opposed, persecuted and even killed for their faith in the very nations these people have come from.
A tiny minority of those from other faiths go even further than that. Asylum seekers were recently implicated in the Ricin poison case and it was discovered that Britain had given asylum to a man who had fought on behalf of the Taliban in Afghanistan against British troops.
Christian response
What should our attitude be to all of this? What is our response? We have a vital part to play and an invaluable contribution to make to our society at this time.
In the first place, we can demonstrate that the issue is not one of race or colour. The church is a multicultural community in which our cultural differences enrich rather than endanger our unity. Kensington Temple must surely be one of the most multicultural, multiethnic churches in the world. Over 100 different nations worship together as one community in KT/LCC. We are a living testimony to the fact that “multicultural’ doesn’t necessarily mean “multifaith’. We have an opportunity to show our friends from other faiths that Jesus satisfies the desires of all nations and that He is the Saviour of all the peoples of the world.
Multifaith gatherings such as this cause confusion as they make Jesus appear as just of many ‘Gods’
We are seeing many from the great world faiths come to find Christ the Saviour and the one true path to God. This is after all what Jesus, the great Prophet-Teacher claimed of Himself as John 14:6 declares,
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No-one comes to the Father but by Me.”
The religious freedom and tolerance of our society must surely mean that believers in Christ have the right to proclaim their faith to those who don’t yet share it and freely pass on their beliefs in the uniqueness of Christ without being branded as intolerant and insensitive to those of other faiths.
Secondly, our call is not just to proclaim Christ, but also to love and accept all in our society in His name and with His love. The command of Moses to love the “stranger in the midst’ is still relevant to us today. We must show this love by arguing for the religious, racial and social acceptance of all who seek shelter within our borders. That surely is the work of the church that claims to represent Christ in the world.
And finally, we should challenge the notion of “multifaith Britain’ as it is popularly understood. Yes, there is a minority of people who wish to follow non-Christian faiths in Britain, and we should be upholding their rights and freedom to worship. But we must strongly resist the insistence of those adherents to foreign faiths who want to downplay Britain’s Christian roots and erode our Christian culture.
We cannot accept that the multi faith presence in Britain means that Britain should become a multifaith nation. The government’s pet phrase, “the faith community’ which supposedly embraces all those with a religious faith, may be well intended, but is also extremely dangerous. It places all faiths on the same level and fails to discern between them. We must be willing to discern truth from error. Differences in world faiths represent rival claims to truth which cannot be dismissed through some all-embracing mishmash of religion in the name of tolerance.
British society must give place to the fact that not all these religions can be right and remember that it is the Christian religion that has given us our freedom, our democracy and many of the institutions that make Britain such a desirable place for those from all over the world who wish to make their home among us.
Multifaith Britain? was last modified: April 26th, 2012 by Colin Dye
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Joel Osteen Pressed on Homosexuality; Says He Didn’t ‘Choose to Be Straight’
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HomeNewsEthiopian women “revived” by Denison alumni
Ethiopian women “revived” by Denison alumni
If you are a woman in rural Ethiopia, chances are high that you have fistula. Although this hole that develops between a woman’s reproductive organs and excretory system, viewed as a curse, is a treatable condition, most women with fistula live without being treated medically and humanely.
Abdi Ali ‘13 and Shiyu “Amy” Huang ‘13 worked to fix this through the Davis Peace Project over this summer. Their goal was to “empower women and young girls who suffer from fistula in an effort to heal and bring peace to the minds of these ostracized women,” they explained in a presentation on Monday, Oct. 7. They aimed to provide maternal health education and transportation support to pregnant women in rural villages around Asella, Ethiopia in order to prevent fistula and other childbirth injuries.
According to Ali, fistula is a common medical condition in third world countries where women have to work heavily for long hours.
Ali and Huang spent most of their time at Asella’s Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA)’s Fistula Center, where they hosted maternal health workshops. With local medical staff support, they visited 16 health centers in rural villages around Asella and gathered over 150 pregnant women to talk about obstetric fistula and prevention of other childbirth injuries.
These sessions emphasized the importance of delivering at a health center or hospital, instead of at home like many women do for financial reasons. Only 10 percent of rural births are attended by skilled medical professionals, quoted Ali from UNICEF.
Ali and Huang pledged to provide transportation and a hospital service fee stipend to pregnant women who could not afford to go to the Asella Hospital at $30 per trip. Childbirth delivery is free, and the women only need to pay the hospital service fees.
With the Davis grant, they pledged to enable up to 31 pregnant women to deliver at the hospital. Two disadvantaged pregnant women were already able to deliver their babies at the hospital.
“Our support might be small, but it brought relief and joy to some women at our workshops, knowing that money would not be an issue for them to have their babies safely,” said Ali and Huang in their report.
The final stage of the project was to empower women who suffer from fistula. One of the main challenges facing fistula patients is lack of means to support themselves. Therefore, Ali and Huang pledged to support up to 14 women, giving each a new blanket and integration monetary support, in the form of four sheep or goats, “so they could generate income of their own,” said Huang.
“We have seen how much difference this small amount of monetary support (around 100 U.S. dollars) makes on the lives of these women,” said Huang. “One of the patients, who had suffered from fistula over 15 years and lived with her adopted son, was very excited to show us the four sheep she bought with the Davis fund and looked forward to her future life.”
One of the fistula patients said, “I never knew that there are so many people who care about me, and for you to come to my house and present me with these sheep alone gave me so much dignity, respect, and status. Everyone who disowned me would be respectful now and developing fistula wasn’t a curse after all.”
Davis Projects for Peace is the vision of Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong philanthropist, who created the program “to help young people launch some immediate initiatives that could bring new thinking to the prospects for peace in the world.”
Ali and Huang’s project was Denison’s sixth project in the Davis Projects for Peace program since the first in the summer of 2008 by Ian Darrow ’10 and Kara Lemarie ’11.
Denison students are invited to submit proposals for Projects for Peace to be implemented during the summer of 2014. 100 projects will be funded at $10,000 each on 90 college campuses. Projects may be implemented anywhere in the world, and all undergraduate students, including graduating seniors, are eligible to apply as individuals and groups of students.
To apply, a draft proposal should be submitted by Nov. 15 to Cookie Sunkle in the Gilpatrick Center, at sunkle@denison.edu.
If you are a woman in the rural areas of Ethiopia, chances are high that you catch fistula. Although a quick treatable medical condition, most women with fistula live without being treated medically and humanely.
“I first knew about this from my women’s studies class, and it sparked by interest when the application came out,” explained Abdi Ali ‘13 in his presentation about the project with his project partner Shiyu “Amy” Huang ‘13.
The goal of the project was to “empower women and young girls who suffer from fistula in an effort to heal and bring peace to the minds of these ostracized women,” the presentation explained. It also aimed to provide maternal health educational outreach programs and transportation support to pregnant women in rural villages around Asella, Ethiopia in order to prevent fistula and other childbirth injuries.
According to Ali, fistula is a common medical condition in third world countries where women have to work heavily for long hours. [MORE EXPLANATION COMING]
Ali and Huang spent most of their time at Asella’s Women and Health Alliance International (WAHA)’s newly established Fistula Center.
One of the main stages of the project was education: Ali and Huang hosted maternal health workshops. With local medical staff’s support, they visited sixteen health centers in rural villages around Asella and gathered over 150 pregnant women to talk about obstetric fistula and prevention of other childbirth injuries.
These sessions emphasized the importance of delivering at a health center or hospital, instead of at home like many women usually do, due to financial reasons. In rural Ethiopia, only 10 percent of births are attended by skilled medical professionals, such as doctors, nurses, or midwives in rural Ethiopia, quoted Ali from UNICEF, hence the need for this basic medical education.
Ali and Huang also pledged to provide transportation as well as a hospital service fee stipend to pregnant women who could not afford to go to the Asella Hospital in case of an emergency at $30 per trip. Childbirth delivery is free, and the women only need to pay the hospital service fees.
With Davis grant, they pledged to support up to 31 pregnant women with financial difficulties to deliver at the hospital. As of now, two disadvantaged pregnant women, who attended the workshops, were able to deliver their babies at the hospital ((break around here)) safely. In the long term, WAHA and local medical staff will manage this fund and identify pregnant women with financial difficulties.
The third stage of project was to empower women and young girls who suffer from fistula. One of the main challenges that fistula patients face after treatment is that they have no means to support themselves. Therefore, Ali and Huang pledged to support up to 14 women and each woman would receive a new blanket and integration monetary support, which had been translated to at least four sheep or goats, “so they could generate income of their own,” said Huang.
One of the fistula patients who invited Ali and Huang to her house said, “I never knew that there are so many people who care about me, and for you to come to my house and present me with these sheep alone gave me so much dignity, respect, and status. Everyone who disowned me would be respectful now and developing fistula wasn’t a curse after all.”
Davis Projects for Peace is the vision of Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong philanthropist. Upon her 100th birthday, Davis created and provided funding for the program “to help young people launch some immediate initiatives that could bring new thinking to the prospects for peace in the world.” Davis passed away this past April at the age of 106.
Ali and Huang’s project was Denison’s sixth project in the Davis Projects for Peace program since our first in the summer of 2008 by Ian Darrow ’10 and Kara Lemarie ’11.
Denison students are invited to submit proposals for Projects for Peace to be implemented during the summer of 2014. 100 projects will be funded at $10,000 each on 90 college campuses. Projects may be implemented anywhere in the world, and all undergraduate students, including graduating seniors, are eligible to apply. The program is open to individuals and to groups of students.
To apply, a draft proposal should be submitted electronically no later than November 15, 2013 to Cookie Sunkle in the Gilpatrick Center, sunkle@denison.edu. Final proposals will be due via e-mail by January 20, 2014.
You can hear directly from Ali and Huang from their blog at spreadinglovepeaceandhope.blogspot.com
Tags:alumni, davis project for peace, ethiopia, featured
Denison Democrats endorse ‘Taco Dan’ for Village Council
Updates on medical assistance, transportation
Speaker shares own story to combat rape culture
The Denisonian
The Denisonian represents the the majority view of the editorial board, consisting of the Editor-in- Chief, section editors and assistants. To know more about us as individuals, please scroll up and see "About Us."
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DIRECTORS INCREASE HOLDINGS IN DHX MEDIA
Halifax, NS – 18 December 2006 – DHX Media Ltd. (AIM & TSX ticker: “DHX”), a leading independent international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content, announces that Steven DeNure and Neil Court, both executive directors of DHX Media, and John Delmage, a former shareholder of Decode Entertainment Inc., have increased their holdings in DHX Media as a result of electing to accept shares as partial payment for amounts owing to them in connection with the purchase of their interest in Decode Entertainment Inc. pursuant to the purchase agreement dated December 12th, 2005. Accordingly, the TSX has approved the private placement of 225,000 shares (“New Shares”) to be issued from treasury at the five day, volume weighted average price of $1.41.
The transaction increases the shareholdings of Mr. DeNure and Mr. Court by 100,000 shares each to 1,846,314 shares each, resulting in a holding of 5.6% of the issued common shares of the Company each. .The New Shares will be subject to a four month hold period. All other shares in DHX Media held by these individuals are subject to lock-in imposed as part of the Company’s initial listing of shares. The New Shares will rank pari passu with existing common shares and are expected to be admitted to AIM and listed on TSX on December 21, 2006.
DHX Media Ltd.
Dana Landry – Chief Financial Officer
David A. Regan – Corporate Development & Investor Relations
AIM Nominated Advisors: Canaccord Adams Limited
Neil Johnson – Head of Corporate Finance
Erin Needra – Vice President, Corporate Finance
+44 (0) 20-7050-6500
About DHX Media Ltd.
DHX Media Ltd. is a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. DHX Media Ltd. shares trade on AIM and are listed on the TSX, the Toronto Stock Exchange. DHX Media’s production companies, Decode Entertainment and Halifax Film, are the producers or co-producers of 11 original television series or theatrical releases currently commissioned for production and maintain a growing library of over 1,100 half-hours of children and youth-oriented television productions. www.dhxmedia.com
Certain statements herein may constitute forward-looking statements, including those identified by the expressions ‘‘may,’’ ‘‘will,’’ ‘‘should,’’ ‘‘could,’’ ‘‘anticipate,’’ ‘‘believe,’’ ‘‘plan,’’ ‘‘estimate,’’ ‘‘potential,’’ ‘‘expect,’’ ‘‘intend’’ and similar expressions to the extent they relate to the Company or its Management. These statements reflect the Company’s current expectations and are based on information currently available to Management. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, including the matters discussed under ‘‘Risk Factors’’ contained in the Company’s prospectus dated May 12, 2006. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.
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dotasurvival.com
US: Evidentiary documents released in Golden State Killer case
This article is a prepared story. It describes an event that is scheduled or expected but has not yet occurred.If this article is ready to be developed, change the {{prepare}} tag to {{develop}}
On Friday, the Sacramento, California County Superior Court in the United States, with Judge Michael Sweet presiding, publicly released approximately 123 heavily redacted pages from an 800 page document related to the trial of 72-year-old Joseph DeAngelo, in the Golden State Killer (GSK) case. The high-profile case prompted the defense to motion delaying the release on the grounds of jury tainting.
From 1974 to 1986, there were 12 murders, 45 rapes, and 120 burglaries ascribed to the GSK. Many of these crimes were initially attributed to separate suspects, and California investigators coined such nicknames as “East Area Rapist,” “Original Night-stalker,” “Visalli Ransacker,” and “Diamond Knot Killer.” All these identities were later determined to be the GSK. DeAngelo is currently being charged with first degree murder with special circumstances, and is being further investigated for the 1975 first degree murder of Claude Snelling.
GSK’s alleged victims include 18-year-old Janelle Lisa Cruz on May 4, 1986; 35-year-old Cheri Domingo on July 27, 1981; 27-year-old Greg Sanchez on July 27, 1981; 24-year-old Keith Harrington on August 21, 1975; 27-year-old Patti Harrington on August 21, 1975; 21-year-old Brian Maggiore on February 2, 1978; 20-year-old Katie Maggiore on February 2, 1978; 44-year-old Dr. Robert Offerman on December 30, 1979; 35-year-old Debra Manning on December 30, 1979; 35-year-old Lyman Smith on March 13, 1980; 33-year-old Charlene Smith on March 13, 1980; 45-year-old Claude Snelling on September 11, 1975; and 28-year-old Manuela Witthuhn on February 5, 1981.
Law enforcement used DNA and other evidence to link the twelve known murders attributed to the GSK to suspect DeAngelo. Any DNA from rape kits and burglaries that predates 1970 is only admissible in court for murder cases because of California’s statute of limitations. The DNA evidence allegedly implicating DeAngelo was not found through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) database, which catalogs 20 sections of DNA from local, state, federal, and some international agencies making a unique profile for 16 million individuals, but CODIS did rule out other GSK suspects, like Paul “Cornfed” Schneider and Joe Alsip.
Instead, law enforcement used a nuance investigative technique, comparing GSK’s DNA profile against the open-sourced GEDmatch’s genealogical DNA database. The GEDmatch’s database flagged a GSK blood relative and, with other evidence, DeAngelo was suspected of being involved with GSK’s crimes. The genealogical website methodology is not unique to the GSK case. GEDmatch’s database was also used to identify 51-year-old William Earl Talbott II in the 1987 rape and homicide of Jay Cook (20) and Tanya Van Cuylenborg (18) in Seattle, Washington.
The newly released documents reveal DeAngelo’s DNA was not collected via a warrant but rather from the door handle of his personal vehicle as he was shopping in a local Hobby Lobby on April 18. A secondary sample was collected from a tissue found in the garbage on April 23. The door handle and tissue DNA were compared to a semen sample from a known GSK murder that had been confirmed using the CODIS’s 20 section DNA profile standard. On April 24, DeAngelo was arrested for the twelve GSK murders. A warrant for DeAngelo’s Citrus Heights, California residence disclosed dozens of wedding rings, photographs, driver’s licenses, and other objects allegedly taken from victims as trophies.
Public defender David Lynch, tasked with defending DeAngelo, motioned for the 800 documents to be sealed until trial to prevent the jury from becoming tainted. Lynch has also questioned the validity of certain search warrants for undisclosed reasons. Prosecutors from Sacramento, Ventura, Orange, and Santa Barbara counties have not determined the best way to prosecute DeAngelo considering the complexity, age, and multiple jurisdictions of the case.
DeAngelo was, until 1979, a police officer in small California towns. After allegedly stealing a hammer and dog repellent, DeAngelo was subsequently fired from the Auburn, California police force. He later became a truck mechanic near Sacramento.
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Pittsburgh Pirates 2011: RIP
And so it ends. For the 19th consecutive season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have failed to have a winning season.
As you can see, my Pittsburgh Pirates Care-O-Meter settled on the next-to-last level, "How Much Are Neil Walker bobbleheads going for on eBay?" The only reason that they ended up there is for about two and a half glorious sunny months, they gave us hope, which is more than they gave us for about two decades.
Granted--that's not enough. There aren't any "Best Participants Awards" in pro sports, nor should there be. The Pirates lost because they stunk, and that's not acceptable for 19 years. More respectable organizations would have long moved to Memphis or Jacksonville or Las Vegas long ago just so they could talk a silkwood shower after the disaster they've had in the steel city.
Now, despite the fact that I'm both a sports fan and an armchair numbers guy, I am surprisingly uninterested in the stat-heavy game of baseball. I can't tell you what the problem is. I can't say whether it's bad fielding or bunting or catching or whatever the hell it is they do out there. Of course, they can't either.
When it's all said and done, of course, Major League Baseball still has a money problem. Every year, the Yankees make the playoffs due to their outsized payroll. Instead of the standard salary cap, they simply pay a "luxury tax" which more or less gets distributed to small-market teams. Rather than discouraging huge payrolls, it simply lets small market teams (like the Pirates) be profitable with 19 losing seasons; why would they increase payroll and potentially lose, when financial success is not tied to games won? (As we have seen in football and (somewhat) in hockey, salary caps would all pretty much max out, leveling the playing field for all teams.) The owner of the Pirates can actually lose money when their team wins, you know something is wrong with the system.*
It doesn't have to be like this. The Milwaukee Brewers are a small-market teams and are currently in the playoffs, even with a reduced payroll. And the Pirates almost had it. So it can be done, but I just can't see why it can't be made easier. When one specific team had a 25% chance or so of winning each year, why bother winning when you can just make money?
Anyway, I think the Pirates will do okay. Hopefully next year we can sustain the victories long enough to make a decent season out of it. I don't expect competitive play for quite a few years, and I fear that there is a chance they will lapse back into awfulness. We will have to wait until next summer.
*This, in reality, would probably never, ever happen. But gone are the days where baseball teams are owned as novelties but are now integral business units. So it is a concern.
Labels: baseball, mlb, pittsburgh pirates
Terrifying New Changes To Your Favorite Tech Companies
It wasn't a good week for tech companies.
First, Netflix announces a name change and organizational restructuring (oh, and a half-assed apology), enraging long-time users. Then Facebook's new design has frustrated many individuals and compromised security of accounts. But these two aren't the only companies that are making missteps.
Here is a list of massive changes that big tech companies are planning on implementing very soon, for good or bad:
Yahoo! will adopt some sort of product or service that will generate income
If you download a holistic health book, A Shore Thing, or any Dan Brown book to your Amazon Kindle, Jeff Bezos will personally come to your house and punch you in your stupid face
Twitter will automatically suspend your account if you post what you are eating
HP will move from the manufacturing of computers to burning down their own offices and factories.
Google will automatically send a message with your search bar queries to your spouse once a month
PayPal will reroute unused funds in your account to this guy they got a hot tip from in Nigeria.
Apple will start ordaining clergymen
Internet Explorer will promise everything they can come over to his house and play cars and eat sundaes if they just use him
Wikipedia will stop auto-deleting the page you made about your ex-girlfriend and the different sections entitled "That Whoreface," "Her Sister Was Hotter," and "I Sat Through A Jason Mraz Concert For You, You Heartless Bitch."
YouTube will exclusively offer content related to dogs riding on skateboards and cats falling off things
The march of progress goes on.
Posted by Crank Crank Revolution at 7:26 AM No comments:
Labels: business, science
Faster Than The Speed Of Light
Recently, scientists announced that they may have discovered particles moving faster than the speed of light--an impossibility per Einstein's theory of relativity, at least up to now. While it still has to be independently confirmed (and presumably replicated), it still appears to be a major breakthrough in theoretical science.
Of course, this isn't the first time the light speed barrier has been broken. Here is a list of things that as far as I know have already been declared faster than light:
The time between when you buy an iPad and when Apple comes out with a better version of the iPad
Ryan Reynold's agent running out the door after The Green Lantern
The time before Terra Nova--or any other reasonably high-quality drama on television--gets cancelled to make room for Real Vegas Mechanics Kitchen Challenge*
Ron Paul's decreased chances of winning the Presidency if gold goes below $1200 an ounce.
How fast Solyndra spent the "loan" money gift-wrapped for them
Facebook changing its layout after its previous, privacy-compromising layout change
How quickly people complain about said Facebook change
The time between someone inventing planking and the time in which it is the stupidest thing ever
Subscribers cancelling Netflix--I mean, Quikster.
The time between when you first meet a new mother and the time she wants to tell you about their child's bowel movements in graphic detail
Rick Perry, if someone tells him there is lost treasure to find, Injuns to attack, or a minority to execute
The time before all scientists, rather than admit that they were wrong, declare this is what they meant all along in the first place
I am sure that scientists will find more practical use out of their new discovery than any of this stuff has.
*I would still probably watch this.
Labels: science
There Will Be Cake
So, I finally got around to playing Portal.
I'm so happy for you.
Yes, yes, yes, I know, I'm only five years behind. And I'll be honest: the only reason I played Portal is because it was free to download this weekend. (I'd always wanted to try it; I just hadn't pulled the trigger on paying for it, yet.) They tried to convince everyone it was in honor of learning physics or some bullshit like that, but, really it's about boosting sales of Portal 2. It reminds me of the physics class trips we took in high school to a local amusement park called Kennywood, where we would perform various physics experiments on roller coasters and all the other rides. This, of course, was a blatant falsehood; the only physics actually getting done on that field trip was how many Potato Patch french fries it would take for my pants to go up another size.*
Anyway, it's no longer free, but even still, it's worth the money.
Portal is one of the more original and engaging games to come along in a while. (Again, assume that I'm writing this five years ago when everyone in the world else discovered this.) You are given little to no instructions aside from how to move around, and no backstory to orient yourself--you're in some sort of testing environment for a laboratory, but the purpose and extent of this training is left vague. You don't get to control any weapons, and your level of destruction is pretty minimal--a few sentry robots get destroyed here and there, and there are plenty of pools of acid for you to fall in, but the game is remarkably non-violent. It's a puzzle game that looks like a first-person shooter.
Of course, the concept of the game is the portal gun: you have a gun that is capable of creating a portal, where you jump in one entrance of the portal and come out the other. This very simple mechanic leads to various puzzles involving physics, moving platforms, and hidden rooms. You have to deflect energy pellets and defeat the aforementioned sentries, all while using one simple concept. You aren't given a time constraint, so you can fuss around all you want to find the solution. While you can die, the times you can die are pretty obvious, and you're only set back a short while (although frequent saves are still recommended).
While the gameplay itself is fun, it's also very short: it only provides about four to six hours of play total. And while there are 19 levels, you'll breeze through the first dozen or so in a half hour at most. Around the mid-teens the complexity ratchets up significantly, and you'll find long, multilayered challenges you have to think six steps ahead for.
But none of this matters, because the best part of the game is GLaDOS, the computer that aids you on your way. Your journey to the end is a true psychological thriller, as you realize the intentions of your supposed benefactor are not what they seem. Announcement slowly get more and more aggressive and cryptic, and are written and delivered with a perfect combination of humor, assertiveness, and dread.
The game takes place in a sanitized laboratory, but you get a few peeks here and there of the ductwork and storage rooms, full of half-crazed scrawlings of the test subjects before you. Since they're not specific, they must fill you with dread as to what is coming next. There are no characters besides yourself and GLaDOS, and you even only get glimpses of yourself if you set the portals up right--the fact that you can only partially see yourself is even more creepy than if you never saw yourself or were able to see everything. The contrast between the sleek, clean lab floors and the dirty, noisy, dangerous back rooms just adds to the impending gloom.
Anyway, while I think that the game is original, there's no doubt that parallels can easily be drawn to HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey. While the concepts and even motives are roughly equivalent, the personality is sufficiently different as to be considered independent.
Of course, the game is not without its flaws. It is too short, and some of the puzzles rely a little bit too much on finding an obscure place to place a portal; I occasionally checked walkthroughs on the internet, just to confirm I was doing the right thing, just a few pixels off. There is very little positive feedback, so a frustratingly long puzzle leaves you with nothing to show for it. While I won't say much about the ending, a little more background could have been useful--although the deliberate vagueness of everything is part of the charm, so I'm not sure if that would be positive.
The internet is full of young video game players looking for speed-plays and minimum-portal wins. To me, this defeats the purpose of the game. Unlike so many other big-budget games, Portal encourages experimentation and patience. It's not whether you can kill everyone in record time or force your way through brute force, but whether you can experiment and have fun.
Is this game for everyone? Probably not; overly assertive players only looking for war and conflict in their games will be bored; the easily frustrating will give up; and hard-core sci fi apologists will probably find the storyline mundane. Personally, I enjoyed it, and look forwarded to playing Portal 2. In, probably, five years or so.
*This experiment is still ongoing.
Labels: video games
Split Decision
It's getting to be the season: it's time to start thinking about the Electoral College!
OK, so this is the sort of thing that us Poli Sci majors get all excited about, and no one else much cares. Even 11 years after the first electoral college disaster in over a century--that would be the 2000 election in case you have mercifully forgotten--nothing concrete has really changed. Colorado tried to alter how their votes were distributed, but that was shut down by voters. And aside from the historical but otherwise trivial split that Nebraska pulled off in the '08 election, no one has said much of anything.
Then enter my home state of Pennsylvania. A lawmaker recently proposed setting up a district-based system for assigning electoral votes. Basically, the presidential candidate that wins each congressional district would win one vote; the statewide winner would get the last two additional votes. (For those that fell asleep in civics class, each state is awarded one vote for each representative they have--based on population--and then one for each of their state-wide senators. All states but Nebraska and Maine have a winner-take-all system.)
A Republican member of the State Senate--Dominic Pileggi--says that this is a fairer system than the winner-take all method, since all of those individuals voting for the losing candidate for their state still don't feel their votes matter. It is entirely coincidental that PA is more or less a Democratically-leaning state and, oh, yeah, the Republicans are in the process of redrawing their congressional districts.
Personally, I don't find there to be flaws in the current system. People who get upset that people in states that are a lock for one candidate or another--and so there is no reason to vote--forget that the same happens on the other side, too. Texans who wanted to vote for Obama, knowing full well McCain was going to win the state, felt the same as Republicans in California and New York. Yeah, it makes you feel bad, but the end result isn't going to change all that much. (And, besides, you should also be voting for lower-ballot candidates as well, which conceivably have more of an impact on your life.)
And the vote-splitting proposal causes other problems--with very little at stake, candidates will be less inclined to campaign in your state. The system for PA right now means a candidate will either win 20 votes or 0; with the new proposal, it might be 12-8 or 11-9 or something similar. Yes, you can fight in the middle for a few swing districts...but why bother, when it's only one or two votes out of 538? To alleviate this problem, many states have signed legislation that they will adopt this split-vote method...as soon as other states do the same, so everyone is in the same boat. Add to this that you now introduce the ugly art of redistricting into the presidential election, not just the congressional ones, and it just seems like you're replacing old problems with new problems.
It's easy to point to, say, Florida in 2000, and claim that without the electoral college, Al Gore would have won. But you can't turn back the clock. Had there been no electoral college, Bush might have campaigned in northern California and upstate New York, while Gore would have made trips to Austin and Atlanta. The entire landscape would have changed--different issues, vote totals, and speeches would have been emphasized--so you can't take the rules from one scenario and transplant them to another.
My love affair with the current system is part blind historical appreciation but also of practicality. Say that, instead of just Florida, the entire nation was just a 537 vote difference. What would the recount have looked like then? Where would it have happened? Everywhere, in each state? Since all votes contribute to the final total regardless of state, a recount in Iowa would mean the same as a recount in California. By localizing the elections by state, such issues can be contained to only a few states to reflect the needed practicality of our system.
I don't think the world will come screeching to a halt if Pileggi's vote somehow passes. I think it's a bad idea, given my thoughts above, but even as a political matter, Pileggi's proposal could easily come back to haunt his party. There are several ways this could happen, but I will leave it to the interested parties to formulate their own plans.
Labels: elections, political science
Concert Review: They Might Be Giants and Jonathan Coulton
On Wednesday, my wife and I went to go see They Might Be Giants, with opening act Jonathan Coulton.
I'll be honest: I was more excited to see Coulton than They Might Be Giants. Not that I don't like the two Johns, but 1) I have already seen them several times in concert, and 2) I knew they'd probably be playing a lot of stuff from their just-released album, Join Us, a project I didn't particularly care for. And I had yet to see Coulton live. But TMBG always put on a good show, so I was looking forward to the show.
We get to the Byham Theater in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh--and spending perhaps four minutes of our allotted 45 minute allowance to find parking--and the first thing I notice is the rather diverse crowd. There are plenty of people my age, but also quite a few younger college kids wearing ironic T-shirts and a surprising number of older people as well. The theater itself, which I had never been to, was also quite nice--but more on that in a minute.
The usual marketplace was there, where we somehow managed to score a copy of Jonathan Coulton's Smoking Monkey for a sweet ten bucks, and then was informed his other album, Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow is out of print and normally goes for fifty bucks on eBay. So much for that. Rather embarrassingly, I pretty much had everything on the TMBG table already.
The show started, and Jonathan Coulton came on stage. He also has a new album out (Artificial Heart) but played a good, solid mix between his old music and new. He kicked off the show with "Skullcrusher Mountain" and played "Still Alive," "I Feel Fantastic," and "Good Morning Tuscon." Alas, he only played for a half hour, but was funny, performed excellently, and definitely made some new converts; the audience members around me, clearly hearing him for the first time, were laughing.
After his set, They Might Be Giants came out. As expected, they played stuff from their new album, but also a mix of the crowd-pleasing classics such as "Birdhouse in your Soul" and "Particle Man." Unfortunately, the Byham Theater is not built for live music such as this, and the acoustics were pretty bad. After an hour of play the band seemed to adjust and the second half of the concert went better, but it was disappointing that the sound was so off.
Here is John Flansburg sporting a creepy mustache. He was offering free copies of Mink Car from a van after the show.
John Linnell in his element.
But John and John had a blast. They had clever banter between songs, did a hilarious little puppet show in the middle of everything, and talked about the vaunted Mr. Smalls, the previous oxygen-deprived venue they played in.
It certainly was a good time. The crowd had fun, the set list was just about perfect (they didn't play any of the few songs I hate, which other people seem to love) and aside from the acoustics problem was a grand show. I'm not sure if I'll go back--I've seen TMBG enough that if I miss a show I don't think it will be a huge deal. But I definitely will be seeing Coulton the next time he tours. I'd like to see a full show of his.
Labels: concert, coulton, review, tmbg
Candy-ish Review: Freezer Bars
Well, summer is over, but that doesn't mean that the hot summer treats have to end!*
One of those summer treats are those old sugar-with-artificial-flavoring ice sticks. They were called various names and were usually manufactured by low-rent food distributors looking to unload untold gallons of blue-colored corn syrup injected with synthetic blueberry flavoring. Kids loved them because they were more or less nothing but pure sugar and it made their tongues bright neon colors that probably ended up giving them nerve damage later in life. And let's not forget the arcane packaging, where you had to find a pair of scissors to snip off the end of it or--if you are a human being of any sort--you just chew off the jagged plastic end of it with your teeth, cutting up the tip of your tongue which can then be soothed by frozen cherry syrup and red dye #2. And, of course, not to forget the last, manhood-forming ritual of sucking on the package and slurping up the syrup that has melted and collected in the bottom of the package, thick and sweet enough to make Hi-C taste like Evian.
Of course, none of this matters. They are incredibly cheap--usually pennies apiece--and they are cool and tasty, so why not?
What we are going to review today are some of the newer flavors to come out, and these are flavors that appeal to the young and old alike:
Here we have A&W Root Beer, Warheads, Dr. Pepper, and Candy Shop. All are manufactured by the Jel Sert company.
We can lump A&W and Dr. Pepper together. They both taste exactly as you would expect--root beer, and whatever the hell it is that is in Dr. Pepper.** They are very good and not too strong. However, the main problem is the nature of the product--these things aren't carbonated, obviously, so it basically tastes like you are drinking a frozen, flat version of a can of soda.*** It's not that bad, of course, since the sweeteners prop it up a bit. They're good, but don't expect the same refreshment of chugging a six-pack.
The Warheads are very...strange. If you aren't aware, Warheads are these obnoxious little candies that are lip-puckering sour. These are no exception. The initial taste wears off quickly, though, and the remainder remains fairly tart. I enjoy this the most, although those who don't like sourness are advice to stay clear. While they come in different colors and (presumably) different flavors, they actually just come in one flavor: taste-bud-destroying sour.
And to think, Reagan wanted to rid the world of these. Useful idiot, indeed.
The last one, the Candy Shop, includes red licorice, cotton candy, banana taffy, and bubble gum. I didn't get to try the bubble gum, but the other ones were pretty good--they taste exactly as you would expect. Banana taffy just tastes like banana and the red licorice is a little weak, and they're all just a touch too sweet. But I guess for a branding called "Candy Shop" you can't expect too much different.
The verdict? None of these are too strong, and all are refreshing. They're also reasonably priced, though when you can get a crate of the regular kind for less than a dime you have to look at it in the absolute. While I'm not sure I would stock up and run through them, I can see them as an occasional refreshment on those hot days--or, hell, during the next ice storm.
*Oh, don't look at me like that. You eat ice cream during blizzards, the same as everyone else.
**My guess: prunes, ginger, and the souls of abandoned sea monkeys.
***Or, as normal people say, pop.
Labels: candy, review
My 9/11 story isn't particularly exciting or insightful.
That morning I had a phone interview for a job--I had been unemployed for about eight months and was really looking forward to the opportunity. It was with a start-up company that seemed very, very interested in me, so I quite literally locked myself in a room with no distractions (such as television or radio) and just my notes. The phone call was scheduled for 10:00am, so imagine my bewilderment when that time came and went, and I heard nothing. Hoping they hadn't forgot, or had rescheduled, I called then back, with no answer. Eventually I left the room and found out what had happened; but up until that point I had no access to any form of news or communication. (This was in the days before I even had a cell phone.) The employer eventually called in the afternoon to reschedule, and I did go to a live interview much later, but nothing came of it--no doubt because of the changed conditions of the economy.
9/11 didn't trigger any particular emotion in me. I didn't really feel angry or perplexed or frustrated. Maybe that's bad of me, I don't know. I didn't get any sudden swelling of patriotism or a sudden overly jingoistic desire to burn the rest of the world. I just knew things would be different in the short term, and the trajectory of American history probably got knocked a few degrees one way or the other.And since we weren't asked to grow victory gardens or send used tires to Fort McHenry, but just to go shopping, that's exactly what we did.
Of course, like most Americans during that time, I just didn't know how to react. What did this mean? Was it a future of roadside checks, national ID cards, and a retreat from globalization? Or would it be absorbed into the American experience like so many other tragic events have? I certainly had opinions at the time--most, I am sure, I would be embarrassed about today--but as far as conceptualizing what 9/11 did, I didn't know.
A few weeks later, I remember standing in our local Wal-Mart. I remained frustratingly unemployed, so it was in the middle of the afternoon. I was standing in front of the magazine rack--still, week after week, a collage of headlines and covers, all gray and black and smoke and Bold Impact. A well-dressed, middle-aged woman walked up beside me, transfixed by this panorama of emotions in newsmagazine form. She was clearly out of her element--her clothes were too expensive for 1) being in my small town, and 2) being in a Wal-Mart. I always assumed she was driving somewhere instead of flying, and just had to stop at an exit to get something. I don't know.
She turned to me and said, "I still can't believe this happened."
I replied, after a pause, "I know. It's all too surreal."
I could think of nothing to say, so I said the exact sort of thing I try to avoid.
It was most definitely not surreal. It was quite real, and staring us both in the face, as it would for months. But no one knew what else to say--or at least I didn't--so we fell back on platitudes and comfort.
Even now, I don't know what to say. Over the weekend, many people told their 9/11 stories on social media outlets and the airwaves were crammed with heart-wrenching tales of heroism and tragedy. I didn't watch any of it. Not because I didn't care, or wasn't interested, but that I still don't know how to digest it. I wasn't originally going to write a post about 9/11 because I have nothing useful to add. And, still, I really don't. But back then, as now, you fall back to that which makes it easier to process.
About the only thing that conjured up in my memory was that feeling of--I don't want to call it bewilderment, because it wasn't a particularly confusing time. It was kind of this blank, malleable feeling that no matter what decision you made, you could no longer predict how it would end up. It made people like me that routinely use strict cost-benefit analysis to figure out what brand of kidney beans to buy uncomfortable with the world. Perhaps that is the appropriate adjective--uncomfortable.
I tend to disdain such shallow superficiality when it comes to tragedy, since I find that most people use empty words to replace hard choices and specific actions that have a legitimate impact. But sometimes grinding down both edges of blind patriotism and irrational hatred is exactly what is needed for this world to proceed. Maybe I'm just a hypocrite. Or, most likely, both.
Labels: 9/11
I can't say that I'm the most scientifically knowledgeable individual--my physics grades in high school can attest to that--but I've always held a fascination about the speculation of our future. I love reading about different fuels our cars will use, or the advances the military has made in various endeavors, lethal or no.* While I find most technical magazines fail to enlighten me, popular (i.e., dumbed-down) sources such as Coast to Coast AM** and newsmagazines help fill the void.
And so, looking at the latest issue of The Economist, they have an insert about just that--innovations that are currently wavering between theory and practice. (They have a Technology Quarterly section, of which the latest was just released.) Here are a few of the highlights--though note that I am basically providing a simplified summary of a magazine article that is already a simplified summary:
Enhanced Cameras: Cameras that take multiple pictures at different angles, then use computer animation to make one big "super" picture. Since many standard pictures suffer loss of lighting in at least one dimension, these photos will always provide an extraordinarily-lit and highly details still. It also lets you change focus after the fact.
Advances in Game Theory: A pet interest of mine, most people are familiar with game theory mostly through the Academy-Award winning movie A Beautiful Mind. Economists and mathematicians have created game theory frameworks for years, but advances in computing technology have made it much more accurate. (Game theory, for those who don't know, is the science of creating "games"--basically, decision-making matrices with varying payoffs based not only on what you choose but what your rivals choose. Google "prisoner's dilemma" for the most famous example.) Game theorists have gotten to the point where they can accurately predict when governments will be overthrown, government-sale auctions will be determined, or wars will start.
Artificial Muscles: The science of making artificial muscles--they are exactly what you think they are--has become so efficient that they may replace conventional electric motors. These muscles are significantly more efficient, and can be much smaller and lighter than conventional engines--which can have a huge difference in many applications. The biggest roadblock was getting a muscle to make a true rotary motion, which has been accomplished. While they will always be used for the purposes of artificial limbs, new applications are being formed every day.
Thought Control: New ideas about using thoughts alone to control things, namely electronics, have been introduced. Of course, while many are suspicious, forms of it have been around for a while (such as lie detector tests). But now, games and applications are being developed where the outcome is based on your thoughts alone--no actual mechanical or electronic input required. (These games/applications range from such subjects as disaster-response scenarios to job interviews to dating sites.) Prices are tumbling and readings are becoming more accurate, but they aren't quite at the mass-produced scale yet. Expect a lot of hand-wringing and worry as applications become more...diverse.
Fusion Power: Long the darling of futurists and scam artists, fusion power is the El Dorado of scientists. He who develops it will unlock a world-changing phenomena--a world of limited power. Unless fission, which is what our current standard nuclear power plants rely on, fusion power leaves only trace amounts of radioactivity and can use nearly any material as fuel--doubling as a waste reducer as well as an energy provider. A reactor being built in Germany is the closest scientists have come yet to cracking this. It's still a long ways away from fruition, but reading the article makes one awfully optimistic.
There are plenty of other new developments of a more practical matter--ridiculously versatile ID scanners, remarkably efficient cancer drugs, and desalination techniques--are not nearly as sexy but are quite important. Granted, the Economist, as well as other outlets, have a tendency to oversell new scientific discoveries; drawbacks abound, and most of these are barely out of the theoretical stage. Still, sometimes looking at the future isn't so bad.
*Extrapolating this to history--which I suppose is the exact opposite of the future I'm envisioning--The entire story of the Manhattan project is equal parts scary and illuminating--it was like taking twenty years of research and doing it in, like, two years. It sometimes makes me wonder if today's theoretical scientists should just get on the stick and give it a try, though I suppose the folks in Geneva are doing just that.
**Laugh, but they often have legit scientists talking about what the future is likely to bring. While I love the werewolves and Kirilians, these scientist shows are by far my favorite.
Labels: future, science, the economist
Below is a tale of woe and electronics.
I had one of those cords where you can hook your cell phone and/or MP3 player into your car speaker. It costs maybe ten bucks, which I suppose is OK; even though dollar-store headphones can be bought by the gross with a ten-spot and this cord is basically two of the less-expensive end of those, I will admit I'm not about to borrow my neighbor's soldering iron and go to the basement for a mad splicin' session. So I put my money down at a big box electronics store (for what ended up being about fifteen bucks) and then, after contemplation and deciding to get one for my wife, I find one at a different big box department store for nine dollars.
Fast forward about a month. The cord somehow manages to slip between the car seat and the metal frame without my knowledge, so the next time I slid the car seat back the cord was chopped right in two. (Or at least I assume. It looks normal, but it only vaguely works when I squeeze one part of it with both sets of fingers, something that is remarkably difficult to do when operating a vehicle.) So after cursing the fates and debating whether I wanted to get a new one or buy a cord on eBay for twelve cents from some back-alley electronics distributor from Kuala Lumpur and wait a whole two weeks to get it, I break down and get a cord.
It works fine, and all is right with the world, but SO HELP ME if this one commits suicide like the last one I will storm the Best Buy with a regiment and demand they sell me the necessary six cents' worth of rubber, copper, and shame at cost.
Labels: electronics
Board Game Review: Railways of the World
This is a review of Railways of the World, by Eagle Games/Fred Distribution. It was designed by Martin Wallace and Glenn Drover.
First, a little background. This game was originally published as Railroad Tycoon, from a license with the popular PC game. The rules were tweaked a little and the parts were changed a bit and it was re-released as this game.
The first thing you notice when you open up the box is that there is a LOT of stuff, and ALL of it is big.
This is probably about a third of what comes in the box.
The Eastern US board, in particular, easily can take up the entirety of a standard kitchen table.
Of course, part of this is necessity based on the nature of the game. Railways of the World is a playable board game in and of itself, but it's also part of a kit: the publishers have released different maps covering different regions of the world. So you get all of the parts in this base game, and then all you need to do is purchase a board and some new cards and you can play any new map they release. So while it's intimidating at first, realize that you're not really going to be using all of the parts that have been provided.
The base game comes with two maps: Eastern US and Mexico. The Mexico map is small and suited best with two or three players. The Eastern US, however, is the flagship map. The rules change slightly from map to map, so what I am describing below are the "generic" rules, though all of the examples are from the Eastern US.
The goal of the game is to end up with the most victory points. Note that the goal is not to get the most money. The two are clearly related, of course, but since there are a few ways to earn victory points that are unrelated to money (such as connecting specific cities) this is an important distinction to make. Players will spend most of their time building track between cities and transporting goods.
The map is first "seeded." Small wooden cubes of differing colors represent goods in each city. Each city has a number roughly representing its size/economic activity, and the board is set up by placing a random cube in each city equal to this number.
Each player is dealt two Railroad Baron cards, and they keep one. Each baron is kept hidden from all other players; the card provides some sort of victory point bonus at the end of the game. (Things such as "have the highest-valued engine" or "get one point for every connection you control in Chicago.") Most only provide a few points, but their abilities tend to vary wildly, so choose carefully.
Three Railroad Operations cards are placed face-up so all players can inspect them. The first three are pre-determined, but after a card is taken a random one replaces it. Technically, the operations cards are an optional rule, but it makes the game so much better I can't imagine ever not playing with it. Players are also given a pile of trains of one color, which serve to note ownership of railways on the board.
Players start the game with no money. Obviously, players need money to do...well, anything, so players must take out bonds. A bond permits a player to collect $5,000. However, interest must be paid each turn, and each bond costs you one victory point at the end of the game.
Once the game is set up, play begins.
There are three phases in each turn: First Player Auction, Player Action, and Income and Dividends.
The First Player Auction is easy: each player makes a bid to be the first player on the turn. Play proceeds clockwise from the first player.
There are three Player Actions for each player, done once each in turn order. Players can build track, transport goods, take an operations card, upgrade engine, and urbanize. Players will spend a majority of the game building track and transporting goods.
To build track, players simply place rail tokens on the board. The cost of the rail depends on the terrain; generally, there is an extra cost for mountains or water. It takes a time or two to get used to adding it all up, but it's not hard to get the hang of. Players cannot split railways; while they can cross other railroads, each section of track can only be a single line from one city to another. Players can only build four pieces of track each turn (and you get three turns per round), and any incomplete tracks are removed (and your money wasted) if you can't finish it by the end of the round.
The hexes are easy to see: it only takes one piece of track to get from Philly to Baltimore, but two to get to Dover. The cities are much more spread out in the Midwest.
You don't have to connect to your existing track, although it often pays to do so. You note your ownership of a railway by placing a train of your color on it.
Transporting goods is easy, but finding ways to go about it isn't quite so easy. You can transport a good from one city to another--passing through additional cities on the way, if needed.. However, the destination city has to be the same color as the good. And you can only move through as many cities as the level of your current Engine. So at the beginning of the game, when your Engine level is 1, you can only make simple, one-track deliveries. As you upgrade, you can transport goods farther away from their home city. And you gain one victory point for each segment you use to deliver the good.
You can move along another player's track, but they get any victory points from each segment you use.
Many of cities are colored gray: no cubes may be delivered there, since there are no gray cubes.
Let's look at some examples:
In this situation, the yellow cube in Columbia can be delivered to Raleigh by the yellow player. It could not be delivered to Charleston, since Charleston is red. The red cube in Raleigh can be delivered to Charleston only if the yellow player has upgraded to Engine Level 2, since it will be traveling along two different segments. Nothing can be delivered to Columbia since it is grey.
The cube in Atlanta can be delivered to Jacksonville; however, two different players own track. So either the Blue player will have to move along a Red track, or the Red player must move along a Blue track. Both players get one victory point either way. Either player may attempt to build new track to circumvent their opponent. Or--since some cards and abilities grant additional bonuses above and beyond the delivery--it may still be worth it to deliver the good if additional bonuses are granted. The black cube in Jacksonville cannot be delivered yet, since it is not connected to any Black cities.
It seems a little complicated, but it's really not. Basically, you ignore the color of the city you are delivering from; you're only concerned about the city you're moving to.
When a city has had its last cube delivered, place a special token on it. The city is now "spent." Once a certain number of cities have been emptied out, the game ends.
Upgrading an engine is easy: you simply pay the cost of the new engine. This gets pretty pricey as you reach the highest level, 8.
You can take an Operations card and follow its directions. There are plenty of different conditions for each card: some you keep in your hand, some you must play immediately, etc. It's not difficult, so just read each card.
Finally, you can urbanize. With an expensive price tag ($10,000) you won't do this often. It can convert any "any grey-colored city into a colored city, and add a few cubes there as well. This can be useful for two reasons: it gives you more cubes to deliver (and, usually, these are cities right in the heart of your train network, so they will be easy to deliver) and it creates a new color for you to deliver to. This can certainly help if you've found yourself boxed in with little opportunities to grow without major expense, and maybe deliver some stubbornly-placed cubes that have been taking up space in your existing cities. Of course, any player can deliver these goods, so players must be careful that they are in the best position to take advantage.
Once all players have taken three actions, the game goes into the Income and Dividend phase. Players collect money based on their position on the victory point track, and also pay the interest on any bonds they have. (Income rises drastically as you get more VP; then it levels off, and, strangely, starts to dip as you get even more VP.) Interestingly, players are not permitted to pay off bonds, so once taken out you're paying interest for the rest of the game. (It's possible a player has to pay more than what they have on hand, which necessitates taking out another bond. This can get ugly and spiral out of control if you're not careful.)
Once a set number of cities have been empties of their cubes, the game ends. Players adjust their victory point totals based on the number of bonds they have and any bonuses from their baron card. The player with the highest final total wins!
Game time varies greatly depending on how many people are playing; a 3-4 player game probably takes about two hours once you get the hang of it. You can also adjust the length of the game by changing how many cities must be emptied for the game to end.
As stated before, the rules can change from map to map. For example, the Eastern US has a rule about the Western Link, where a player can spend an enormous amount of money to "link" their rails to western cities. This produces a ready supply of new cubes. I like these small but important rules, since it adds a little flavor to a game that tends to seem a little generic at times.
What I like about the game:
*The rules are simple. People's eyes may boggle a bit at the delivery and rail-building rules listed above, but it's actually quite intuitive. Aside from some weird track-laying situations, there isn't much room for question of how to do it.
*Even though the rules are reasonably simple, there is still plenty of strategy involved. Do players take out bonds with abandon, stocking up on cash so they can build aggressively, hoping their efforts will pay off in the long run? Do you make several regional railways, or let them spoke out of one major city? Do you build long, expensive rails to deliver some high-valued goods, or deliver a lot of shorter routes? The free-form railway-building system makes plenty of decisions about how best to win, and the randomized goods at the beginning of the game make each game different.
*A few small, subtle decisions make the game better. For example, you can't urbanize a new Red city: these are set at the beginning of the game and won't change. It doesn't seem big until you realize that it makes delivering red cubes more difficult, and suddenly you realize you can't take some action you originally intended.
*Separating cash and victory points--although keeping them closely related--helps the game design. There are certain decisions that will help your income but not your VP, and vice versa. This makes many decisions more meaningful than if the game was a straight-up cash grab.
*The Operations cards are very nice; while none of them are particularly overpowering, they can help give a boost to a player willing to spend an action picking it up. And the first three cards are "conditional" cards--you can't pick them up until you meet specific criteria--so there is sort of a time-delay release before players can start snapping up random cards.This lets players get their footing and prepare for any unexpected cards that pop up.
*The length of game vs. fun ratio is pretty good. It doesn't take horribly long until only one or two cities are left to be emptied before the game ends, and so there is a tense period that's over before you know it. But early in the game, the building pace is nice and slow.
*Although the "expandable" nature of the game seems gimmicky, so far they've been done very well. For the records, there are maps for the Eastern US and Mexico (which come with the base game) along with Europe, Western US, England and Wales, and (oddly) Time. Fans can also easily make their own maps.
What I don't like about the game:
*The rules could have been cleaned up. Some track-laying situations are spelled out, but others aren't, and I had to resort to some mad internet searching to find the answers.
*Players are permitted to "block" other players by building track in spaces, preventing them from completing their track (which then must be discarded at the end of the round). This seems...cheap to me, since one player placing a $2,000 piece of track can easily force someone else to abandon $15,000 worth of track. Granted, this only happens in the tightest of games, but it can happen, and it just seems ugly given how the rest of the game works.
*The income you derive on the victory point track scales up, reaches a peak, then scales back down--which means the more VP you earn, the less money you make each turn, after a certain point. I understand why this was done--leaders can run away with the game if it wasn't set up like this--but it seems so illogical. (I suppose the increased fixed costs of running a huge railroad can be used as an excuse, but I'm not impressed with that reasoning.) I just wish something a little more elegant could have been used.
*If you get the first print of the game, keep in mind that there are two issues with it. The first is irritating but minor: there are no Mexican Operations cards. Technically, the rule is optional, but I can't imagine why anyone would not play with them. The reprint includes them for free, and you can buy a deck for five bucks from the manufacturer, although shipping is pretty pricey (and ends up being something like $15 for a handful of cards.) You can simply print them out for free if you want to go through the trouble.
The second issue, however, is pretty bad. I guarantee this mistake will ruin your first game play, because it does for pretty much everyone. While the reprint fixes this, there really isn't a way to correct it on the first edition or the first few expansion maps.
Basically, the colors in the game are screwed up. The "blue" cities on the board are very, very dark, to the point where they look like the purple cubes. However, the purple cubes are supposed to be matched to purple cities--which are, in reality, a bright magenta. So basically purple cubes look like blue cities. Blue cities aren't even close to magenta/purple cities, so you can't just switch them. And it is so easy to confuse the two, and it happens every game. It's unacceptable and makes the game much more confusing than it should be: the entire game, players are going to be trying to deliver purple cubes to blue cities.
The lower cube is "purple" but that city is "blue." They are, essentially, the same color. But the upper cube is technically the blue one. You can see a magenta city (which is supposed to be purple) in the first track-laying example above.
There's no reason you can't have a house rule that blue cubes go to magenta cities, but that often is confusing as well. There's no reason this should have happened, and it spoils a perfectly good game.
Final verdict? Despite the color issue, this is a very good game. It actually feels like a railroad-building game, even though a lot of it is abstracted out for simplicity and it plays reasonably quick for its scope. The sheer size and quality of the components is impressive for the price tag. And it plays reasonably fast for the amount of fun you're going to have. I'd like to try some of the other maps, but I just haven't had the time to do so. I would easily rate this an A if you have new reprint, but I can't let go of the color issue, or how it happened in the first place, so overall it gets a B.
Labels: board games, review
I Haz A Fall
Yay! Let's ring in September with post #300!
1. I am ready for Mad Men to come back. I've had to push gender stereotypes and verbally abuse my inferiors on my own to make up for it, and my friends and co-workers are starting to get grumpy. Especially the inferior ones.
2. I was never a huge fan of webcomics. They tend to be pretentious and I have found very few that both have storylines and also are consistently funny. (As much as I find today's syndicated comics trite and at best blandly amusing, it at least has the benefit of quality control.) The better ones tend to be the self-contained one-off panels. And so, if you've never seen them, I can recommend the popular xkcd, The Oatmeal, Hyperbole and a Half, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal, and (my current favorite) Hark, A Vagrant! Like most things they are hit or miss--and sometimes post erratically--but still are some of the best I've found. If anyone has any good suggestions, by all means let me know.
3. Man, both the 5.9 earthquake and Hurricane Irene turned out to be huge busts. 2012 needs to get here and show us how shit gets done.
4. It's time for Fantasy Football! I will do what I do every year: let the system auto pick everyone, then more or less ignore it until the week before it's over, keeping players on the roster well after it has been confirmed they no longer have functional limbs. Basically: I don't know what I'm doing. (I am many things in this life, but one of those things is not caring who, or how good, the third-string cornerback for the Washington Redskins is.)
5. It's almost fall, which means it's pumpkin time! Once again I will be on the lookout for Pumpkin Pie Pop Tarts. True, I still have nearly all of the boxes still unopened from the great Big Lots raid of 2011, but at this point I'm afraid their quality is quite suspect.
6. You know that whole joke about gingers not having souls? It's stupid, it's getting old, and we can all stop now.
7. I've never considered myself a proper grammar Nazi--everyone makes mistakes, including me, and there are plenty of easy ones to make with our imperfect language--but I always had a knee-jerk corrective reaction (that, thankfully, I often did not verbalize) when I saw someone else make a mistake. I think I may actually be letting go of that particular annoyance. Part of it is seeing how people with such a low grasp of grammar and style succeed monetarily, and I realize exactly how little grammar, spelling, and formatting really matter. And part of it is the fact that so many true-blue grammar Nazis just piss me off with their self-righteous pretentiousness. I don't ever want to be that person.
8. I know that it's blatantly obvious at this point, but the fact that I was able to get more information about last week's earthquake and hurricane from Twitter instead of the old-school television set or (so help us all) radio is an astounding thing that I don't think society has quite come to grips over.
9. I think that this blog needs a mascot, and that mascot is going to be a new character I will artfully name Pimpin' Abe Lincoln. Just think of the marketing possibilities.
10. So, you know how Saturday Night Live kinda sucks? How they will have one character or skit that is legitimately amusing and clever, then they will beat the hell out of that dead horse for six seasons until all the life and energy that went into whatever made it creative is a mere embarrassing husk of itself? And that, at any given time, there are about 45 minutes worth of such sketches every episode? Well, that is what Lady Gaga is at this point.
Labels: comics, football, television
Terrifying New Changes To Your Favorite Tech Compa...
Concert Review: They Might Be Giants and Jonathan ...
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#2,097. For the First Time (1969)
Directed By: Octavio Cortázar
Starring: Charlie Chaplin
Trivia: The entire film was shot on April 12, 1967 in the village of Los Munos, in the Baracoa municipality of Cuba
Produced by the Cuban Film Institute, For the First Time is a wonderful little documentary that’s sure to delight cinephiles the world over.
For the First Time was shot in its entirety on April 12, 1967, when a “cine-mobile” truck carrying a generator and movie projector rolled into the small village of Los Munos. A remote village nestled deep in the mountains near Gunatanamo, Los Munos is well secluded (the driver comments at the beginning of this documentary that he’s had trouble in the past just getting his truck in there), and its residents rarely venture far from home. As a result, most of them have never seen a motion picture before. After gathering what appears to be the whole town together, the two men in the cine-mobile proceed to show the crowd excerpts from Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times. It was a huge success.
Designed to promote Cuba’s home-grown film industry, For the First Time kicks things off with a few interviews: first with the two men who spend 28 days a month living in the Cine-Mobile, driving it from town to town;, and then with the villagers themselves, many of whom admit they’ve never seen a movie before. Where this film truly excels, though, is in its second half, when we catch a glimpse of the faces of those viewing the film, and reacting to the images they’re seeing on the screen. The entire audience, young and old, howled with laughter as they watched the scene in Modern Times where Chaplin tests the “automatic feeder”, a contraption built to keep workers on the job during their lunch hour.
Along with creating a new bunch of film fans (one villager, after viewing Modern Times, says “A movie is a beautiful and important thing”), the Cine-Mobile vehicle and For the First Time also prove just how magical moving images can be, and to see these people sitting back and enjoying something produced 30 years earlier definitely brought a smile to my face.
#2,085. The Hollywood Knights (1980)
#2,086. Surf Nazis Must Die (1987)
#2,087. Navajo Joe (1966)
#2,088. The Inside of the White Slave Traffic (19...
#2,089. The Revenant (2015)
#2,090. Waves '98 (2015)
#2,091. Children of Eve (1915)
#2,092. Circus of Fear (1966)
#2,093. Pigs (1972)
#2,094. The Mummy's Shroud (1967)
#2,095. One Froggy Evening (1955)
#2,096. Coming Distractions (2004)
#2,098. So You've Grown Attached (2014)
#2,099. Sea Child (2015)
#2,100. Symphony in F (1940)
#2,101. The White Buffalo (1977)
#2,102. Fangoria's Blood Drive (2004)
#2,103. Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002)
#2,104. All the Love You Cannes! (2002)
#2,105. More (1998)
#2,106. The Bat (1926)
#2,107. Rock & Rule (1983)
#2,108. Drux Flux (2008)
#2,109. Sainte barbe (2007)
#2,110. Land of the Heads (2009)
#2,111. Ha'Aki (2008)
#2,112. Subservience (2007)
#2,113. Robes of War (2008)
#2,114. Hungu (2008)
#2,115. Marquis de Sade's Justine (1977)
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Directed By: Joseph H. Lewis
Starring: Sterling Hayden, Sebastian Cabot, Carol Kelly
Tag line: "When the Texas Plains Ran With Blood and Black Gold!"
Trivia: Co-star Nedrick Young wrote much of the script, but b/c he had been blacklisted during the McCarthy era, he was not credited for it
Even the most casual fans of western movies love a good showdown scene, but very few are as unusual as what transpires during a key moment in 1958’s Terror in a Texas Town.
A hired killer, dressed in black, stands at the end of a street while his opponent, the film’s hero, walks towards him, followed closely by just about every honest man in town. We know right away that a showdown is coming, only the hero isn’t packing a traditional sidearm. No, he’s carrying a whaling spear!
You heard me right… a whaling spear, and this little surprise is one of several elements that helps lift an otherwise humdrum western to a whole different level.
The hero is George Hansen (Sterling Hayden), a Swedish sailor who traveled to Prairie City, Texas, to live with his father Sven (Ted Stanhope), owner of a small farm just outside of town. Unfortunately, George arrived a few days too late; his father was recently gunned down by Johnny Crale (Nedrick Young), an outlaw employed by wealthy landowner Mr. McNeil (Sebastian Cabot).
McNeil hopes to “persuade” the farmers and settlers to move away as quickly as possible (McNeil claims he has a grant proving he owns the entire area, and he wants every man, woman, and child gone before they realize how much oil is flowing beneath their feet). Most of the locals have been living there for 20 years or more, and refuse to budge, which is where Johnny Crale enters the picture; as a warning to everyone else, McNeil had Johnny shoot Sven dead, a cold-blooded murder witnessed by Hansen’s nearest neighbor Jose Mirada (Victor Millan) and Mirada’s young son Pepe (Eugene Mazzola).
Still, despite what’s happened, George Hansen has made it known that he intends to stick around a while (having sent money to his father each and every month, George now feels the property is as much his as it was Sven’s). Naturally, this doesn’t sit well with McNeil or Johnny Crale, but will George be forced to face them on his own, or will the other farmers finally band together to fight McNeil and his team of killers?
From a stylistic standpoint, Terror in a Texas Town has the look and feel of a TV movie, with basic set-ups and not much camera movement (immediately after making this film, its director, Joseph H. Lewis, spent the remainder of his career working in television). Story-wise, it also treads in familiar territory (greedy land grabs, hired guns, revenge, etc), but what distinguishes this 1958 film from others of its ilk are its characters, a few of which are incredibly dark.
Even the love interest has an edge to her. Johnny’s live-in girlfriend Molly (Carol Kelly) lets Johnny walk all over her, absorbing the verbal abuse he heaps upon her day and night, not because she loves him, but because being around someone like Johnny gives her a feeling of superiority, something she has yet to experience with any other person she’s ever met. As for McNeil, he doesn’t really like Johnny, either; he keeps him around only to finish the job that needs doing (the various meetings between the two so-called “partners” are some of the film’s most contentious moments). As for Johnny himself (played wonderfully by Nedrick Young), we sense that his spirit died a long time ago. Now he’s just going through the motions, killing dispassionately and without a care in the world, which makes him the most frightening character in the entire movie.
On the other side of the coin, Sterling Hayden is perfectly believable as the strong-willed George (even when he faces Johnny with a whaling spear, we never once feel that George is at a disadvantage), and Ted Stanhope shines in his brief appearance as George’s equally determined father. In a film where everything else seems routine, the characters that inhabit Terror in a Texas Town are anything but, and it is thanks to them that this movie is so damned engrossing.
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Twin Forks – Irving Plaza (New York, NY)
(Photos by Envy. Show date: 05/16/2014)…
Spencer Sutherland
Self-taught singer-songwriter Spencer Sutherland sat down with us recently to chat about his burgeoning stardom, working with Disney Channel stars, and promoting positive body image and self worth. Check out what he had to say below.
Who was the first musician that really spoke to you, causing your interest in music and songwriting? Hey, thank you guys so much for the support! There are so many artists that have spoken to me, but the first was Elvis! His infectious pop/rock n roll music and lyrics …
Jason Derulo – Talk Dirty
Over the past year, Jason Derulo has teased us with singles from Talk Dirty and the time has finally come that we can get our hands on the full album. From beginning to end, this album is filled with hits and features some killer collaborations with 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, & Tyga just to name a few. For those of you with a love for sweet dance beats (like myself), this is your candy. Choreographers everywhere will be anxious to create some great moves & …
Taking Back Sunday, The Used, Tonight Alive – Webster Theater (Hartford, CT)
(Photos by Envy. Show date: 4/11/2014)
Taking Back Sunday – Happiness Is
If you didn’t know any better, you would think that Taking Back Sunday were a new band coming at you with a powerful indie-rock-fueled debut album – but in reality they are long time veterans of the music scene. Maybe its the fact that Happiness Is feels like the band went back to their roots that has me thinking about this, or maybe its just that young, spirited feeling I get when listening to this album.
I was a bit nervous upon my first listen …
Kylie Minogue – Kiss Me Once
Is that the voice of a goddess or an angel? It’s Kylie Minogue, so, obviously, the answer is “both”. After more than 25 years in the music industry, Minogue’s star is still shining as bright as ever, and – more impressively – is still putting out incredible music.
From seeing her as the peppy, red-haired Dr. Petra in the Pauly Shore/Stephen Baldwin classic Bio-Dome (yes, classic!) to her video for “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head”, Kylie Minogue earned a permanent place in my …
Breadwinner – …Can’t Win
Having heard Kevin Mahoney sing background vocals in Hit The Lights for the past few years, its pretty rad hearing him take the lead with his new project Breadwinner. I like hearing this softer side to him. The songs are quite adorable and they make me want to listen to songs like “Mass Pike” and “Ann Arbor” by The Get Up Kids.
This EP is perfect listening for when you want to lay back and relax and smile, or doodle about the boy or girl …
Thief Club – My Heavy
With Hit The Lights laying low, I’ve really missed hearing new songs featuring Nick Thompson’s voice and was super stoked to hear that he was releasing an album from his new project, Thief Club. My first thought was wondering whether it would be something completely different, or if it would sound like a HTL album – and the answer? It lies somewhere in the middle.
Some songs were obviously written with the intent for them to become Hit The Lights tracks, others feel like Nick …
Mindless Self Indulgence – Fuck Machine
If I didn’t know the lyrics to this song before, I certainly do now. Mindless Self Indulgence’s Fuck Machine is 12 tracks of the same song over and over again, each one different than the last – that’s right, its an album full of remixes.
Included in the mix is an a cappella version of the song, along with remixes from Combichrist and KMFDM among others. My personal favorites are the Chantal Loves Jimmy and Scandinavian Cock versions, as well as the Black Lipstick remix …
Manhattan Coast – This One’s For You
While I had never heard of Manhattan Coast before – within seconds of the first song I immediately recognized a vocal style similar to that of Daryl Palumbo from Glassjaw/Head Automatica – it was love at first listen. And of course, it turns out they are from the UK, so now I have even more reason to make a long-awaited trip across the ocean. I swear, most of the good music is coming from the UK lately.
I was a bit shocked when I went …
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hidden Personalities
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Entries / Hermitage
Hermitage. The Leonardo da Vinci Hall.
New Hermitage. Ancient Sculpture Hall. Watercolour by L.Premazzi. 1856.
Hermitage. Raphael's Loggias.
Hermitage. The Hall Faturing Dutch and Flemish Painting Schools. Watercolour by L. Premazzi. 1860.
Categories / Science. Education/Museums
HERMITAGE, State Museum (32-38 Dvortsovaya Embankment) is one of the biggest museums in the world, exhibiting art as well as cultural and historical objects. It consists of 5 inter-connected buildings: the Winter Palace, the Small Hermitage, the New Hermitage, the Old Hermitage, and the Hermitage Theatre (see Buildings of the Hermitage). The Hermitage is considered to be founded in 1764, when Empress Catherine II purchased the merchant I. E. Gotskovsky's art collection. The collection included 225 canvases, predominantly by Dutch and Flemish masters. Initially, the museum was simply the empress' personal collection. It was housed in the Winter Palace and called the Hermitage, which comes from the French word ermitage, a place of solitude. Then the picture-gallery also received the name Hermitage. The Hermitage was called the Imperial Museum in 1778, and was opened only for palace visitors. By the end of the 18th century, there were over 3,000 pictures and over 100,000 drawings in the Hermitage Collection. Important acquisitions included the collections of H. Brule (1769), F. Tronchain (1769), A. L. Crosa (1770), the Walpoles (1771), and the libraries of Voltaire, D. Diderot, M. Grimm, and Prince D. A. Golitsyn. In 1773, E. Minich compiled the Hermitage Collection's manuscript catalogue. The first printed catalogue was published in French in 1774. Raphael's Loggias were erected in 1792. The Hermitage continued to purchase exhibits and collections throughout the 19th century: the collection of Malmaison Palace in Paris, the Barbarigo Palace in Venice, and those of P. P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky and K. F. Schroll. An exhibition of Russian artists was opened in 1825, and in 1852 the Hermitage was opened for visitors. The Hermitage Collection grew after October 1917 due to the nationalisation of private collections. A number of masterpieces were sold abroad by the Soviet government in the 1920-30s. Among those who worked at the Hermitage in the 19th - 20th centuries were artists A. G. Varnek, N. I. Utkin, F. I. Iordan, A. N. Benois, G. S. Vereysky; and professionals G. K. Keller, E. K. Lipgart, D. A. Schmidt, V. F. Levinson-Lessing and M. I. Artamonov. A considerable part of the collection was evacuated to Sverdlovsk at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War 1941-45, and returned to Leningrad in 1945. In 2003, the Hermitage was broken down into eight departments, among them the Department of the West, the Department of Numismatics, the Department of Ancient Art, the Oriental Department, the Department of the History of Russian Culture. There are also archives, a professional library, and a chemical research and scientific-technical experiment laboratory. The Hermitage Collection contains works by great masters from all over the world. The Menshikov Palace became a branch of the Hermitage in 1981. A section of the Main Staff building was given to the Hermitage in 1989 (6-10 Palace Square). The Hermitage's total exhibition space takes up over 350 halls. The museum's collection contains 2,800,000 objects, and only five percent of the collection is on display. The Hermitage purchases works of art, holds professional conferences, organises temporary and permanent exhibitions, and exchanges exhibitions with various museums from all over the world. The Hermitage Museum puts out professional publications, including the periodicals Works…, Reports…, and various monographs, catalogues, albums, and guide-books. The Hermitage's research departments organise archaeological expeditions (in 1990-2000s, to the Kapovaya Cave in Bashkiria, the Southern Tamansky Complex, Bukhara, Nimfeya, excavations in Central Russia, all around the St. Petersburg region). The Hermitage's Computer Gallery, a computer guidebook about the museum halls, was opened in 1999. In the 1960-70s, a lecture-hall was located in the Hermitage Theatre building. Up to 30,000 guided tours were held annually at the beginning of the 2000s. The number of visitors reduced from 3.3 million in the 1980s to 800 thousand in the 2000s. The Hermitage has been publishing the journal Ermitazh since 2003 (editor-in-chief, M. B. Piotrovsky); a radio station called Radio Hermitage also operates at the museum, as well as a film studio Ermitazhny Most. Among the museum's directors over its history were Prince N. B. Yusupov (1796-1802), S. A. Gedeonov (1863-78), Prince А. А. Vasilchikov (1879-88), I. A. Vsevolozhsky (1899-1909), V. B. Legrand (1831-34), I. A. Orbeli (1934-51), M. I. Artamonov (1951-64), and B. B. Piotrovsky (1964-90). M. B. Piotrovsky has been a director of the Hermitage since 1990.
References: Шапиро Ю. Г. Эрмитаж: Путеводитель по выставкам и залам. Л., 1989; Эрмитаж: История и современность. М., 1990.
Y. N. Kruzhnov.
Artamonov Mikhail Illarionovich
Benois Alexander Nikolaevich
Brule Heinrich von
Catherine II, Empress
Crosa Pierre, Baron
Gedeonov Stepan Alexandrovich
Golitsin Dmitry Alexeevich, Duke
Gotskovsky Johann Ernest
Grimm Friedrich Melchior, Baron
Iordan Fedor Ivanovich
Keller G.K.
Legrand V.B.
Levinson-Lessing Vladimir Franzevich
Lipgart Ernst Karlovich
Minich Johann-Ernest
Orbeli Iosif Abgarovich
Piotrovsky Andrian Ivanovich
Schmidt D.A.
Schroll K.F.
Semenov-Tyan-Shansky (real name Semenov) Peter Petrovich
Tronchain Francois
Utkin Nikolay Ivanovich
Varnek Alexander Grigorievich
Vasilchikov Alexander Alexeevich, Duke
Vereysky Georgy Semenovich
Voltaire Francois Marie Arouet
Vsevolozhsky Ivan Alexandrovich
Walpole Horace
Yusupov Nikolay Borisovich, Duke
Dvortsovaya Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 36
Dvortsovaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 6
Dvortsovaya Square/Saint Petersburg, city, house 10
Шапиро Ю. Г. Эрмитаж: Путеводитель по выст. и залам. Л., 1989
Эрмитаж: История и современность. М., 1990
The subject Index
Hermitage Theatre
Menshikov Palace
Main Headquarters
Mentioned in articles (116)
Arsenals (general article)
ARSENALS, establishments for storing and repairing weapons and ammunition, as well as buildings meant for such use. The first arsenals in St. Petersburg (Zeughaus) were built in 1703-05 in St Peter and Paul Fortress and the Admiralty Fortress
Artamonov M.I., (1898-1972), archaeologist, director of the Hermitage
ARTAMONOV Mikhail Illarionovich (1898-1972, Leningrad), archaeologist, historian, museum worker, Ph.D (Doctor of Historical Sciences, 1941). Lived in Petrograd from early 1917
Bartold V.V., (1869-1930), orientalist
BARTOLD Vasily Vladimirovich (1869, St. Petersburg - 1930, Leningrad), orientalist, Member of the Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1913). Graduated from the Oriental Languages Faculty of Petersburg University in 1891
Benois А.N., (1870-1960), artist
BENOIS Alexander Nikolaevich (1870, St. Petersburg – 1960), painter, graphic artist, stage designer, art historian and critic. Son of N. L. Benois. He studied in K. I
Bobrinsky A. A. (1852-1927), public figure
BOBRINSKY Alexey Alexandrovich (1852, St. Petersburg 1927) Count, statesman and public figure, major land-owner, businessman, archaeologist, historian, senator (1896), Arch-Hoffmeister (1916). He was a son of Count Alexander A. Bobrinsky
Braz Osip Emmanuilovich (1873-1936), artist
BRAZ Osip Emmanuilovich (1873-1936), artist. He graduated from the Odessa Art School (1890), and studied under Sandor Kholloshi in Munich (1891-94) and under Ilya Repin in the Academy of Arts (1895-96)
Bruni F.А., (1799-1875), painter
BRUNI Fedor (Fidelis) Antonovich (1799-1875, St. Petersburg), painter. Studied under A. I. Ivanov, A. E. Egorov, and V. K. Shebuev at the Academy of Arts in 1809-18
Bryullov B.P. (1882-1939?), Regional Ethnographer
BRYULLOV Boris Pavlovich (1882, Pavlovsk - 1939), art historian, regional ethnographer, organizer of excursions around Leningrad. Grandson of A. P. Bryullov. Graduated from the Faculty of History and Philology of the St
Collot M.-A., (1748-1821), sculptor
COLLOT Marie-Anne (1748-1821), sculptor. Studied in Paris under E.M. Falconet. In 1766 she went together with him to St. Petersburg, becoming a member of the Academy of Arts in 1767. She sculpted marble busts of Prince G.G
Ekaterinhof
EKATERINHOF, a country estate. Tsar Peter the Great presented it to his wife Ekaterina Alexeevna (the future Empress Catherine I) in 1711. It was situated on Ekaterinhofsky Island
Ermitazhny (Hermitage) Bridge
ERMITAZHNY (HERMITAGE) BRIDGE (in 1738 Naberezhny, in the middle of the 18th century known as Verkhnenaberezhny, or Zimnedvortsovy; was also called Dvortsovy (Palace) until 1828), across Zimnyaya Kanavka along Dvortsovaya Embankment
Evacuations of 1812, 1854-55, 1917
EVACUATIONS OF 1812, 1854-55, 1917. Organised removal of state establishments and state valuables from St. Petersburg during the wars with Napoleonic France due to a fear of the enemy's capturing the city
Falconet E. M., (1716-1791), sculptor
FALCONET Etienne Maurice (1716-1791), sculptor. He studied sculpture under J. B. Le Moin in Paris in 1734-44. He was the director of the Sevres Porcelain Factory in 1757-66
Flittner N.D. (1879-1957), Eastern Studies scholar
FLITTNER Natalia Davydovna (1879, St. Petersburg - 1957, Leningrad), Historian of the East, Egyptologist. Ph.D. (Doctor of History) (1940). Graduated from the Department of History and Philology of Higher Women’s Courses (Bestuzhev courses) in 1904
Fonvizin D.I. (1744/45-1792), writer
FONVIZIN (von Vizin) Denis Ivanovich (1744 or 1745 - 1792, St. Petersburg), writer, fellow of Russian Academy (1783). He was educated at a gymnasia attached to Moscow University (1755-62). His first visit to St. Petersburg dates back to 1759-60
General Staff Building
GENERAL STAFF BUILDING (6-10 Dvortsovaya Embankment), architectural monument in the Empire style, in commemoration of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 and the campaigns of 1813-14 against Emperor Napoleon I
Geological Prospecting Museum
GEOLOGICAL PROSPECTING MUSEUM, Central Research Geological Prospecting Museum Named after F.N. Chernyshev (74 Sredny Avenue of Vasilievsky Island), one of the world’s largest natural science museums
Glinka V.M. (1903 - 1983), historian
GLINKA Vladislav Mikhailovich (1903-1983), historian, art historian, writer, honoured culture worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1964)
Gumilev L.N., (1912-1992), historian
GUMILEV Lev Nikolaevich (1912, Tsarskoe Selo - 1992, St. Petersburg), orientalist, ethnographer, Ph.D. (Doctor of Historical Sciences, 1961; and Geographical Sciences, defended his thesis in 1974
Hessen A.E. (1917- 2001 ), architect-restorer
Hessen Alexander Ernestovich (1917, Petrograd - 2001, St. Petersburg), architect, restorer, one of the founders of the school of scientific architectural restoration in Leningrad. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts (1939)
Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra
HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL of the Alexander Nevsky Lavra, located at 1 Monastyrka River Embankment, is an architectural monument of the late Classicism style. Its location in the centre of the Lavra ensemble
Kondakov N.P. (1844-1925), archaeologist
KONDAKOV Nikodim Pavlovich (1844-1925), archaeologist, art historian, corresponding member of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1892), member of St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1898), full member of the Academy of Arts (1893)
Kuchumov A.M. (1912-1993), museum worker
KUCHUMOV Anatoly Mikhailovich (1912-1993, town of Pushkin), museum worker, art historian, honoured culture worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1975), honorary citizen of the town of Pavlovsk (1992)
KUNSTKAMMER (from German "Kunstkammer" - "chambers of curiosities, museum") (3 Universitetskaya Embankment). The oldest museum in Russia, was founded in 1714 based on the private collections of Peter the Great
Kushelev-Bezborodko, Houses of
KUSHELEV-BEZBORODKO, HOUSES OF (1-3 Gagarinskaya Street), architectural monuments of Eclecticism. The first house was built in 1774-1775 (unknown architect) for General I.I. Meller-Zakomelsky, in the 1830s it was bought by Count A.G
Laval, House of
LAVAL, HOUSE OF (4 Angliiskaya Embankment), an architectural monument of the Empire style. The first stone edifice was constructed on this place in 1719, in the middle of the 1730s it was reconstructed in the Baroque style for Count A.I
Levinson-Lessing V.F. (1893-1972, Leningrad), museum worker
LEVINSON-LESSING Vladimir Franzevich (1893-1972, Leningrad), museum worker, art historian, professor (1940). The son of F.Y. Levinson-Lessing. Studied at Forestry School and Tenishevsky School
Libraries (entry)
LIBRARIES. The first library of St. Petersburg was founded in 1714 by the decree of Tsar Peter the Great as His Majesty’s Library; later on, it formed the basis of the Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Likhachev N.P., (1862-1936), historian
LIKHACHEV Nikolay Petrovich (1862-1936, Leningrad), historian, archivist, art historian, bibliography expert, collector, specialist in historical studies, Associate of the St
Lomonosov Porcelain Factory
LOMONOSOV PORCELAIN FACTORY (LPF) (151 Obukhovskoy Oborony Anevue) is the largest porcelain factory in the country, leading manufacturer of decorative porcelain. The factory was established in 1744 as the Portselinovaya Manufactory
Malevich K.S., (1878-1935), Artist
MALEVICH Kazimir Severinovich (1878-1935, Leningrad) artist, art theorist. He was trained at the studio of F. I. Rerberg (1905-10) in Moscow. He lived in Moscow until 1919. Had phases of enthusiasm for impressionism, primitivism, cubofuturism
Maltese Order
MALTESE ORDER (the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Johnnits, hospitaliers, knights of Rodos), a monastic knightly order. It was named after the hospital (travelers’ home) in Jerusalem
Ministry of the Imperial Court
MINISTRY OF THE IMPERIAL COURT and Principalities (in 1852-56 The Ministry of the Imperial Court) was established in 1826 by request of the Emperor, the Imperial Family, and the Imperial Court
Montferrand A.A. (1786-1858), architect
MONTFERRAND Auguste Augustovich (Henri Louis Auguste Leger Richard) (1786-1858, St. Petersburg), architect, actual state counsellor (1858), honorary associate of the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts
Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts
MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE AND APPLIED ARTS, St. Petersburg Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts of Mukhina Academy of Arts and Design (13-15 Solyanoy Lane), founded in 1878 in Baron Stieglitz Academy of Technical Drawing
Museum of the Academy of Arts
MUSEUM OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS, a science and research museum (17 University Embankment), Russia's oldest art museum, founded by I. I. Shuvalov in 1757 as a collection of samples for the students of drawing and sculpture classes at the Academy of
Museums (general article)
MUSEUMS. Russia's first public museums appeared in St. Petersburg. In 1702 Peter the Great issued first orders on collecting and exhibiting high-quality models and various rarities
Nartov A.K. (1693 -1756), mechanic
NARTOV Andrey Konstantinovich (1693-1756, St. Petersburg), mechanic. Worked at the Moscow Mint for the artillery department. In 1712, he settled in St. Petersburg, becoming Tsar Peter the Great's private lathe operator
Naval Revolutionary Committee
NAVAL REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE (NRC), established on 26.10(8.11)1917 in Smolny at the meeting of the delegates of Second All-Russia Congress of Soviets of Fleets and Flotillas
Neradovsky Peter Nikolaevich (1875-1962), artist
NERADOVSKY Peter Nikolaevich (1875-1962), graphic artist, art historian and museum curator. He studied in the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture (1888-96) under Sergey Korovin and Leonid Pasternak and the Academy of Arts
October Revolution (October Armed Revolt) of 1917
OCTOBER REVOLUTION (OCTOBER ARMED REVOLT) of 1917, the name accepted in Soviet historical literature of the events in Petrograd of 24 -26 October (6 -8 November) 1917
Orbeli I.A., (1887-1961), orientalist
ORBELI Iosif Abgarovich (1887-1961, Leningrad), orientalist, member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1935), member and the first president of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic (1943). Brother of L.A. Orbeli
Orlovsky B.I., (1796-1837), sculptor
ORLOVSKY (real name Smirnov) Boris Ivanovich (1796-1837), sculptor, adherent of Classicism. Born into a family of serfs. From 1809 studied in Moscow under S.P. Campioni, and from 1817 in St. Petersburg under A. Triscorni
Ossovsky А.V., (1871-1957), music theorist
OSSOVSKY Alexander Vyacheslavovich (1871-1957, Leningrad), music theorist, corresponding member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1943), Honoured Worker of Arts of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1938)
Patersen Benjamin, (1750-1810), Artist
PATERSEN Benjamin (1750-1810, St. Petersburg) Swedish artist, water colour painter and engraver. He received his artistic education in Goteborg. He lived in St. Petersburg from 1786
Patronage of Art (entry)
PATRONAGE OF ART is disinterested financial and other forms of participation in the culture, science, and assistance to figures of science and culture. The beginning for patronage of art in St
Peter the Great (1672-1725), Emperor
Peter the Great (Peter I) (b. 1672, d. 1725 in St. Petersburg), Tsar (from 1682) and Emperor (from 1721) of Russia, founder of St. Petersburg. Peter was the son of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich (born from his second marriage) and N. K. Naryshkina
Peter the Great' waxwork
PETER THE GREAT's waxwork, a life-size model of Emperor Peter the Great made of wax and wood by sculptor B. Rastrelli in 1725 by the order of Empress Catherine I
Peterhof Museum Park
PETERHOF MUSEUM PARK. Called Petrodvorets State Museum Park in 1944-91, the museum was founded in 1918. It included the palace and park ensemble in the town of Peterhof: the Lower Park and the Upper Park with fountains, a system of canals and pools
Piotrovsky B.B., (1908-1990), archaeologist
PIOTROVSKY Boris Borisovich (1908, St. Petersburg - 1990, Leningrad), orientalist, archaeologist, museum worker, member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1970), honoured worker of arts of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1964)
POLITICAL PERSECUTION refers to large-scale punitive measures organized by the Soviet Government from October 1917 on with a purpose of physical removal of real or potential political opponents
Punin N.N., (1888-1953), art historian
PUNIN Nikolay Nikolaevich (1888-1953), art theorist, historian, and museum worker. He lived in Pavlovsk and Tsarskoe Selo from the early 1900s. In 1907-14, he studied at the law faculty and faculty of history and philosophy of Petersburg University
Quarenghi G. (1744-1817), architect
QUARENGHI Giacomo (1744-1817), architect, representative of Neoclassicism. Native of Italy. From 1761 (according to the other data sources, from 1763) studied painting and architecture in Rome. At the end of 1779, he came to St
Rakov L.L. (1904-1970), Historian, Director of the Museum of Leningrad Defence
RAKOV Lev Lvovich (1904-1970, Leningrad), historian, art historian, museum worker, Ph.D. in History (1938). Rakov graduated from the Department of History of the Leningrad State University in 1929
Restoration Workshops and Organizations
RESTORATION WORKSHOPS AND ORGANIZATIONS. Restoration work in St. Petersburg has developed since the end of the 19th century. The reconstruction of historical and cultural monuments was first considered by the Imperial Archaeological Commission
Rovinsky D.A. (1824-1895), art historian
ROVINSKY Dmitry Alexandrovich (1824-1895), lawyer, archaeograph, art historian and collector, Associate (1881) and Honorary Fellow of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1883), Honorary Fellow of the Academy of Arts (1870)
Russian Museum, State
RUSSIAN MUSEUM, State was founded on 13 April 1895 by the decree of Emperor Nicholas II as the Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III with the purpose of gathering the collections of Russian art
Schliemann H., (1822-1890), Archaeologist
SCHLIEMANN Heinrich (1822-1890), German and Russian businessman and amateur archaeologist. In January 1846, he arrived in St. Petersburg as a representative of a Dutch company
Shuvalov Family
SHUVALOV FAMILY, nobles and counts (since 1746), known since the 16th century. I.I. Shuvalov was a favourite of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna's. His brothers were Alexander Ivanovich Shuvalov (1710-71), a Count (1746), statesman
Somov A.I., (1830-1909), art historian
SOMOV Andrey Ivanovich (1830, St. Petersburg - 1909, ibid.), art historian, museum worker and collector. He graduated from Larin's gymnasia in St. Petersburg and the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics of St. Petersburg University (1854)
SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral
SS. PETER AND PAUL CATHEDRAL (Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul), an architectural monument in the style of the Petrine Baroque. The cathedral was constructed in 1712-33 (by architect D
Stable Museum
STABLE MUSEUM (the Museum of Court Carriages). Founded in 1857, at the Court Department of Stables; opened in 1860. The two-story Stable Museum building (4 Konyushennaya Square), built in 1857-1860s (architect P.S
Stroganov Family
STROGANOV FAMILY, barons (from 1722) and counts (from 1826; some branches had the title of Count from 1761); family originating from notable people of the second half of the 15th century. Several family members were closely associated with St
Stroganov Palace
STROGANOV PALACE (17 Nevsky Prospect), an architectural monument of the late Baroque period. Originally a two-storey house at the corner of Nevsky Prospect and Moika River Embankment (1738, architect M.G
Struve V.V., (1889-1965), orientalist
STRUVE Vasily Vasilievich (1889, St. Petersburg - 1965, Leningrad), orientalist, member of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR (1935), honoured worker of science of the Uzbekistan Soviet Socialist Republic (1943)
Suchtelen P.K. (1751-1836), engineer
SUCHTELEN Peter Kornilovich (Jan Peter) (1751-1836), baron (1812), count (1822), military engineer, cartographer, diplomat, collector, engineer-general (1799), General Quartermaster (1801), honorary member of the St
The Armory is a high red brick gothic style building situated in the Alexander Park. The Armory is a free copy of a pavilion in the Shrubs Hill, England. Architect A.A. Menelas started the construction of the Armory in 1819 and architect A.A
The Arsenal (Monbijou) (an ensemble of the Alexander Park).
The pavilion Arsenal (Monbijou) is located in the Alexander Park of the town of Pushkin. During 1747-1750 in the center of the Menagerie architects S.I. Chevakinsky and F.-B
Source: Tsarskoe Selo
Tolstoy F.P., (1783-1873), sculptor
TOLSTOY Fedor Petrovich (1783 - 1873, St. Petersburg), Count, medalist, drawer and painter, Privy Counsellor (1846). Graduated from the Marine Cadet Corps in 1802, served in the fleet, retired in 1804
Tolstoy I.I. (1858-1916), archaeologist, numismatist, vice-president of the Academy of Arts
TOLSTOY Ivan Ivanovich (1858, the town of Luga of St. Petersburg province -1916), count (1866), statesman and public figure, numismatist and archaeologist, Staff Master (1898), Honorary Fellow of the St
Tozelli А., (?-1826 or 1827), artist
TOZELLI Angelo (? - 1826 or 1827), architect and painter. An emigrant from Italy, he came to St. Petersburg in 1816. While here, he worked as a scene painter for the Imperial Theatres. He was the painter of the unique St
Tsentralny (Central) District
TSENTRALNY (CENTRAL) DISTRICT, an administrative-territorial entity within St. Petersburg, with the territorial administration situated at 176 Nevsky Prospect. The district was set up in 1994, when Smolninsky District
Utkin N.I., (1780-1863), printmaker
UTKIN Nikolay Ivanovich (1780-1863, St. Petersburg), printmaker and teacher. He attended the workshops of A.Y. Radig and I.S. Klauber at the Academy of Arts from 1785 to 1800; in 1803-14 he held an Academy scholarship in Paris
Vereysky G.S., (1886-1962), graphic artist
VEREYSKY Georgy Semenovich (1886-1962, Leningrad), graphic artist, full member of the Academy of Arts of the USSR (1949), people's artist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (1962). He studied in Kharkov and was a student of M. V
Weiner P. P., (1879-1931), publisher of the journal Starye Gody
WEINER Peter Petrovich (1879-1931), public figure, museum worker, collector, full member of the Academy of Arts (1912). He graduated from the Alexandrovsky Lyceum in St
WINTER PALACE, the Great Winter Palace (38 Dvortsovaya (Palace) Embankment), a Baroque architectural monument (1754-1762, architect F.B. Rastrelli). Up until 1917, it remained the main Imperial residence in St
Wrangel N. N. (1880-1915), Art Historian
WRANGEL Nikolay Nikolaevich (1880-1915) a baron, art historian. Lived in St. Petersburg from 1897. Wrote about the history of Russian artistic culture from the 18th to the beginning of the 19th centuries, including sculpture, painting
Yaremich S.P. (1869-1938), artist, art historian
YAREMICH Stepan Petrovich (1869-1938, Leningrad), art historian, artist, collector. Studied in a real school in Kiev. Moved to St. Petersburg in 1899. Yaremich was a member of the World of Art Association and Old St. Petersburg Society
Yusupov Family, Princes
YUSUPOV FAMILY, a family of princes of Nogay origin, who lived in Russia from the 16th century. Several family members were closely associated with St. Petersburg
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So, This Is The Bounce Barack Obama Gets For Supporting Same-Sex Marriage?
Has this what it's come to? What a difference four years makes! Then, it was the young, very attractive Amber Lee Ettinger who became an Internet and media sensation as the "Obama Girl." Her youth and energy symbolized the rise of Obamaism — enthusiasm, hipness, celebrity, cult, bumper sticker mentality . . . emptiness. Three years later, having actually studied the issues, Ms. Ettinger is a conservative. But not to fear. The president's new found "evolution" into supporting same-sex marriage has endeared him to another budding Internet starlet. It's Brooklyn, New York's very own Justin Brown, and he is the Obama Boy. He's proud and very loud (see Bobby Eberle's The Loft at GOPUSA.com). Here are some of his lyrics:
Cuz I gotta a crush on Obama
I cannot wait for my soul mate
Barry you're the finest candidate
I can't wait to see you get hard on Romney in debate
Why don't you pick up your phone cuz
I got a crush on Obama
I cannot wait for my soul mate.
Barry you're the finest candidate.
Open, honest and out
That's what we're all about
Here's his video. While the "Obama Girl" video in 2008 helped bring Barack Obama to the attention to thousands of young voters and gave his campaign a certain early buzz, even cache among certain segments of the pop culture, Mr. Brown's video not only isn't likely to gain votes for the president, it may even lose him some. We report. You decide. Here's the video.
We wonder what Michelle thinks.
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Last Friday, a Henrico County judge heard arguments in our case against former Governor Terry McAuliffe’s Board of Health for its disregard of the law when it eviscerated Virginia’s abortion center health and safety standards.
Now, one would think that someone in the media might be just a little bit interested when the government is put on trial but, alas, none of Richmond’s major media outlets deemed it worthy. Now, some reported when we filed the lawsuit last year, but on Friday, no reporters were to be found when actual arguments against the McAuliffe administration were heard.
So, when I checked the NBC 12 (Richmond) website that evening to see if there was just by chance any mention of our case, call me surprised to see a link to an abortion story – out of Alabama.
The issue scandalous enough for the local network to cover involves the discovery that an abortion center in Alabama had “failed to report a patient who was 13 years old to the Department of Human Resources, according to a report from the Alabama Department of Public Health. Abortion clinics are required to report the pregnancy of a child under the age of 14 to DHR.”
Admittedly, that’s a scandal worthy of reporting. And it should be covered no matter what state it might happen in.
Except when we discovered the exact same thing here in Virginia a few years ago – thanks to inspections of abortion facilities required by abortion center health and safety standards gutted by Terry McAuliffe – the local Virginia media ignored it.
That’s right. In 2013, inspection reports found that an abortion center in Roanoke had multiple examples of children under the age of 14 receiving abortions without parental consent and without any record that any of the “health care workers” at the facilities – i.e. mandatory reporters – reported the possible incidents of sex trafficking, child sex abuse, or a litany of other possible horrors. To our knowledge, those cases were never investigated. No one knows if those little girls were victims of unimaginable horrors – but clearly no one in the Virginia media or state government cared.
Oh no, when it involved a Virginia abortion center, there was silence.
Could it be that such a story would have harmed the narrative the media has so carefully crafted here in Virginia that our abortion centers are “safe” and require no oversight? Could it be that the possible sexual molestation of 12 and 13-year-old girls isn’t worth talking about if it might harm the reputation of an abortion industry that pours millions into the election of media favorites like Terry McAuliffe?
I’ll let you decide.
The media in Richmond was silent as a Planned Parenthood in Roanoke failed to report statutory rape in 2013, but reported a similar case last week from Alabama. Meanwhile the lawsuit against the Board of Health continues without any reporting, and unsafe abortion facilities like the one in Roanoke continue without adhering to health standards.
If anyone ever wondered why so few people trust the “mainstream” media, today’s stories about two bills that passed yesterday in the House of Delegates and state Senate are clear evidence.
Now, as someone who has been doing political media work for nearly 20 years, let me first say that there are still good reporters out there trying to be accurate. Not all reporters are so blatantly biased that they manipulate stories, and even some who have bias do an admirable job of trying to be fair. But the decline in accuracy, the inability to even begin to hide bias, the have-to-get-this-online immediately syndrome, and quite frankly, the rise of a generation of reports who have no concern about being subjective and inaccurate has ruined media credibility and if not corrected is going to have devastating consequences for our nation. Fake news is just the beginning.
Back to today’s news stories (some of which first appeared online last night, leaving no time for any reporter to verify claims made).
In a story delivered by the Associated Press to multiple news outlets concerning the passage of a House bill that would redirect money away from Planned Parenthood, several false claims were made and printed as if true. The first claim, that abortion makes up only 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s business, has been repeatedly proven false and misleading, even by the media’s own “fact-checkers.” The statement is not attributed to anyone in particular in the story, so where did the “reporter” (I’ll explain why that’s in quotes shortly) get the information? Was it her own bias? Did someone with Planned Parenthood or some other abortion-defending group tell her? It’s in the paragraph that prefaces other claims with “according to the organization.” Does that apply to the 3 percent claim? Who exactly should be held accountable for the falsehood?
Another false claim in the article states, “Without the funding, the organization says it would have to shut its five clinics in the state.” The reality is that most of the money Planned Parenthood receives is from Medicaid, which this bill doesn't address, and the amount of taxpayer dollars that would be affected by this bill is relatively small. Small enough that it would have no bearing on whether or not a facility would close.
Late this afternoon, a correction on the second claim was posted on the story on the Richmond Times-Dispatch website, stating, “An earlier version of this story reported erroneously that losing funding would force the group to close its five clinics in the state. Planned Parenthood officials said defunding would ‘significantly undermine our ability’ to provide services at the clinics, but they did not say the facilities would close.” Frankly, the correction is just as false as the original statement, but it’s at least moving in the direction of accuracy.
Here’s the interesting part, the “reporter” on the story is, in fact, a student at VCU and not a professional journalist. Because news outlets are bleeding money and most veteran reporters in Richmond have been kicked to the curb or left for other jobs, some media outlets are relying on something called the Capital News Service, which is primarily staffed by college kids! So, the Associated Press story was not actually written by someone with the AP, but by a college student.
Now, I’m all for “real life” experience for college kids. Heaven knows many could use some. But relying on a college student for actual news reporting is far removed from the days when they would research and verify facts for a story, not have the actual byline! Regardless, an editor somewhere along the way should have known about the 3 percent falsehood. It’s easily found with a simple Google search. Clearly, no one cared if the story was accurate, just that it went online quickly and, I dare say, fit the narrative that Planned Parenthood must be saved at all cost.
A second story came from the Richmond Times-Dispatch regarding a religious liberty bill that passed the state Senate. It quoted the Senate Democrat caucus this way: “The Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus issued a news release saying the bill would allow state employees to refuse marriage licenses to people based on religious beliefs.”
Except that statement is patently false. The bill clearly defines to whom it would apply and “state employees” are nowhere to be found. It’s very limited to those associated with religious organizations in the performance of duties associated with the organization. Again, the story popped up online and my guess is the reporter had no time to verify the claim, which was since deleted from the online version of the story. This afternoon, after the reporter was made aware of the erroneous claim, the Senate Democrat caucus issued a correction saying, “Yesterday's press release incorrectly stated that Senator Carrico's SB 1324 would allow state employees to refuse to issue marriage licenses on account of their sincerely held religious beliefs. That was not the intention of the bill. We apologize for the staff error and commit to further quality controls in order to make sure this does not happen again.”
Intention? No, it’s the actual language of the bill, but here’s to “quality controls” to make sure facts are used. Perhaps the editors at the Associated Press and RTD should think about some “quality controls” as well.
Of course, online corrections to these stories is simply too late. How many people go back and read a story again to find the corrections hidden at the bottom? My guess is you won’t see these false claims challenged in any meaningful way on any media website or in print. Anchors or reporters on newscasts (like here) who may have quoted the falsehoods won’t likely begin tonight’s newscasts with an apology (rarely do you see that happen) or correction. The fact is the narratives for these stories were affirmed and people were fed falsehoods that they will continue to believe because “it was in the news.”
I repeat, some of these errors can be attributed to reporters not having time to verify claims in the age of news is now. But still, these falsehoods are suspect on their face and a simple reading of the legislation will show them to be false. Clearly, a reporter should have time while sitting waiting for votes to be cast to actually read the bills? An editor should be aware that fact-checkers have found statements to be false or misleading. Some of it may be shear laziness.
But a lot of it is biased. Too many reporters believe what confirms their bias. How do we know? Last night, when talking with reporters about the Planned Parenthood bill, we challenged the false claims, because the "AP" story was already online. And we were ignored. To me, that’s proof they weren’t interested in truth, but in telling their version of reality, which just happens to align with Planned Parenthood’s.
And that’s why people are just as willing to believe “fake news” as they are what they are being fed by the “mainstream” media.
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Select Clips
Tiffany Williams
Institute for Policy Studies Associate Director
Emily was my first editor as a professional advocate. I have learned how to turn my passionate 'activist voice' into one that is more approachable and relatable to hometown newspaper readers. I think this kind of skill is really valuable, since preaching to the choir will only get you so far! She taught me how to simplify my jargon, use my own stories and experiences, and ensure that each article had a clear logic. She also took the time to learn about my areas of interest and expertise, so she was able to come to me with ideas of things to write about and knew enough about my issues to edit my work wisely. My relationship with her as an editor will be one that I cherish throughout the rest of my career.”
Khalil Bendib
Artist, Cartoonist, and Radio journalist
When I had the privilege of working with Emily Schwartz Greco for more than six years as an editorial cartoonist, I learned a lot from her. Emily is a perfectionist who brings out the best in the writers and cartoonists collaborating with her. She's also a talented columnist in her own right. I look forward to following her work wherever it leads her.”
Writer, editor, and playwright
I worked with Emily for more than a decade at the Institute for Policy Studies. She is a superlative editor, an excellent writer, and an extraordinarily competent manager. She's a whiz at writing op-eds as well as the even more challenging task of placing op-eds. She placed my opinion pieces in top locations around the country including the Boston Globe. We also worked together on writing workshops, and she gives a splendid tutorial on how to craft effective op-eds. Emily also has great command of a number of different issue areas, from Brazil and Latin America more generally to food politics and economic inequality. She works hard, works efficiently, and works to deadline. If she's available, hire her before someone else gets her!”
Marjorie E. “Betsy” Wood
Senior Program and Communications Advisor at Rutgers Center for Innovation in Worker Organization (CIWO)
I worked with Emily from 2014-2016 at the Institute for Policy Studies as a regular columnist for OtherWords. Emily has very high, consistent editorial standards and is a consummate professional who keeps at it until she gets it right. She has a unique ability to take complex policy debates and issues and make them understandable — and enjoyable — for a lay readership. She's a strategic thinker who's also funny, well-informed, and a pleasure to work with.”
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Never underestimate the power of ENTHUSIASM!
Home » History/Politics » Independence Day!
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Independence Day!
4 Jul, 2018 in History/Politics / Noteworthy / Quotations by TonyC
In 1776 twelve Colonies on the Atlantic Coast of North America declared their independence from Briton and formed thirteen United States. On July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote these words to his wife Abigail, capturing the spirit of the times:
“Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater, perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men. A Resolution was passed without one dissenting Colony ‘that these united Colonies, are, and of right ought to be free and independent States, and as such, they have, and of Right ought to have full Power to make War, conclude Peace, establish Commerce, and to do all the other Acts and Things, which other States might rightfully do…’
The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival…. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”
Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence from Great Britain had originally been presented to Congress on June 7, 1776, but Congress agreed to delay the vote July. In the intervening period, Congress appointed a committee to draft a formal declaration of independence. which was presented to Congress for review on June 28, 1776. Congress thought it of the crucial that independence be unanimously proclaimed, so the debate was delayed until July 1, 1776, when debate on the Lee Resolution resumed.
Independence was formally declared on July 2, 1776, with the passage of Lee’s resolution. The vote was unanimous, with only New York abstaining. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the Congress approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence, which had been written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. John Hancock signed the document as President of the Congress and the printer Dunlap engaged to produce about 200 broadsides of the Declaration which was signed by the members on August 2, 1776.
An excerpt from The Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was an agreement among the 13 original states of the United States of It was approved, after a debate between , by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777, and came into force on March 1, 1781. Samuel Huntington served as the first President of the United States in Congress Assembled.
The United States Constitution, originally comprising seven articles. Its first three cover the doctrine of the separation of powers. The federal government is composed of three branches that act to balance each other like a clockwork modulates a well-regulated timepiece:
The Legislative, the bicameral Congress representing each the people; and the states,
The Executive the President;
The Judicial, the Supreme Court, and federal courts.
Articles Four, Five and Six describe the rights and responsibilities of the federal government, state governments, and of the states. Article Seven establishes the procedure to ratify it.
With memories fresh from the reasons for separating from England, ratification required ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution with guarantees of personal freedoms and rights, limitations on the government’s power in judicial and other proceedings, and declarations that all powers not specifically delegated to Congress by the Constitution are reserved for the states or the people.
It is regarded as the oldest written and codified constitution in force of the world.
May we be blessed with continued Independence made possible by this contract.
About TonyC
I am a Louisiana surveyor/consultant. I enjoy public speaking, If you would like something for your group, ask.
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Haliburton dragon boaters competing in New Zealand
By Jerelyn Craden
Special to the Echo
Excitement is growing for seven members of the Haliburton Highlands Paddlers dragon boating club who will compete in the largest multi-sport event in the world – the 2017 World Masters Games in Auckland, New Zealand this week.
“I’m retired and I never thought I’d be doing this,” said Haliburton resident, Carolyn Ellis.
“The first thing that got me going was when we competed at the Port Perry Dragonboat Festival and we won a medal. I got excited and loved it.”
Ellis joins locals, Pamela Boyce, Lillian Hall, Linda Shulist, Chris Whittemore, and Lois Deacon who will compete with 22 other paddlers from Lindsay as part of the all-women IB Dragonboating Club team.
“My husband, Mac, will compete on IB’s mixed crew of six men and four women, one drummer and one steersperson. We wanted to experience it together,” Ellis said.
“I’m very excited,” said Whittemore, a crew member on the IB women’s team and a spare for the mixed crew. “I’m 66 years old and I hike, canoe and cycle. The more I do, the better I feel. It’s really rewarding, mentally. We’re all over 50, but most of us are over 60. One of our crew members from Lindsay is 76.”
Only three years ago, the paddlers grew from a spark of an idea to a member of The Haliburton County Community Co-operative, an umbrella organization that runs a number of not-for-profit initiatives in the county. Through the co-op they joined Dragon Boat Canada, and obtained marine insurance. The Co-op also provided some start-up funds, and 20 individuals stepped forward with donations and interest-free loans that together were sufficient to allow the paddlers to obtain a steersperson’s oar, 20 paddles and a dragon boat – the Susanna Foo.
“There’s a whole gang working on refurbishing the boat right now – sanding, painting, varnishing,” Whittemore said.
“We’ve received tremendous support from the community. RPM stores it for the winter. Patient News lets us keep it docked during the summer. And the Minden Curling Club is where it’s presently being worked on indoors.”
Boyce loves the competitive aspect of sports and looks forward to the challenge that the World Masters Games provides.
“We’re not representing Ontario or Canada,” she said.
“We’re representing our own club, made up of male and female paddlers from Kawartha Lakes, Durham and Haliburton.” Boyce, who used to be a competitive swimmer, has been dragon boating for two summers and will compete with both the IB women’s and mixed crews. “I’m very excited. We worked hard all year for this.”
In addition to practices twice per week last summer on Head, Grass and Kashagawigamog lakes in Haliburton, most of the women paddlers, aptly dubbed “The Kiwi Crew” also made the trip to Lindsay twice a week where they practised on the Lindsay River with IB Dragonboating, under Games coach Carol Gonder – a competitive swimmer and former competitor in the first World Masters Games in 1986.
When the cooler weather came, it didn’t curb their enthusiasm. They practised throughout the fall and winter at “The Tank,” (created for indoor simulated dragon boat training) at Trent University in Peterborough, focusing on both fitness and technique.
Participation in the Games started with Gonder. When she learned of the opportunity to compete in the World Masters, she wasn’t sure if they could field a team.
Each paddler would have to cover her own costs to New Zealand.
According to Ellis, “When she put it out to us, we all said: Let’s do it.”
To help with the cost of training and registration fees for the Games, which run from April 21 to 30, fundraising initiatives included “Project Turkey Pie,” where the team made and sold 2,700 pies; and two fashion shows. Approximately $19,000 was raised.
They also received $4,000 in donations from local (Lindsay) business owners. The money raised was applied to registration ($400 each) and training costs for the tank rental.
“The most amazing thing is how the Lindsay group welcomed us,” said Ellis.
“Some of them started with the breast cancer survival group, the ‘Dragon Flies,’ which Carol Gondor helped to create, so they had been together for quite awhile. I’m really proud to be part of their team. They’re inspiring and have a different outlook on life.”
According to a blog post at www.haliburtonhighlandspaddlers.ca, 25,000 athletes at the 2017 World Masters Games will compete in 28 sports across 48 venues.
The IB dragon boating teams will have two practices in Auckland Harbour prior to their races on April 29 (500 metres) and 30 (200 metres), in Lake Pupuke near Auckland.
Regardless of the outcome at the New Zealand World Masters Games, Whittemore and the Kiwi crew look forward to competing again.
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Sunshine List includes educators, county staff and hospital employees
The OPP are refusing to release a staff list of the Haliburton Highlands detachment for the purposes of public salary disclosure.
By Chad Ingram
“Thank you for your request, but due to the operational nature of your request, that is something that cannot be provided by the OPP,” communications officer Dianna Dauphinee wrote in an email to the paper. “If you wish, you can make a request through the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.”
The detachment has released staff lists to the paper in previous years and the paper has filed an FOI request.
Last year, 22 officers from the detachment made what is often referred to as the “Sunshine List,” a legislated public posting of public sector salaries above $100,000 per year. Salaries ranged from $106,000 to $138,000 for the detachment commander.
A number of senior staff members at the County of Haliburton were on the list for 2015, including the EMS director and paramedic chief who earned $133,440 and two deputy-chiefs who each made just more than $102,000.
The former treasurer, who retired earlier this year, made $114,265; the library CEO $106,260; human resources director $105,550; the retired chief administrative officer, who worked part of last year, $105,990; and tourism director $104,775.
The current county chief administrative officer and roads director both started work mid-year and did not appear on the list under Haliburton County.
At the lower-tier level, the Minden Hills CAO/treasurer made $125,680; Algonquin Highlands CAO $122,250; Algonquin Highlands treasurer $102,240; and Dysart et al CAO just more than $106,000.
Within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, principals at ASES, JDH and Wilberforce and Cardiff elementary schools made around $117,000, while the ASES vice-principal made just more than $102,000.
The principal at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School was paid $126,400.
The board of education director was paid more than $186,000.
At the Haliburton Fleming College campus, the principal earned $130,000 while two instructors made just more than $103,000 each.
The college president made more than $280,000.
Eight employees at Haliburton Highlands Health Services made the list, including six nurses with salaries ranging from $102,000 to $117,000, a technologist at $130,000 and the former CEO, who was dismissed by the board last November, made $180,000.
At the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, 10 employees made the list, from the manager of clinical services at $106,000 to the health unit’s medical officer of health at just less than $300,000.
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Clinical Characteristics, Patient and Technique Survival in Elderly Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis
Balasubramanian Karthikeyan1, Raj K Sharma2, Anupama Kaul2, Amit Gupta2, Narayan Prasad2, Dharmendra S Bhadauria2
1 Department of Nephrology, Saveetha Medical college, Thandalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
2 Department of Nephrology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Raj K Sharma,
Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow - 226 014, Uttar Pradesh
The outcomes of the elderly population on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in developing countries are less known. In this study, we intended to study the clinical characteristics and patient and technique survival of elderly patients on PD. In this study, data of 148 elderly patients with end-stage renal disease who initiated PD between January 2001 and December 2015 were collected. Baseline clinical characteristics and events during the study period were recorded. Overall patient and technique survival rates of diabetic and non-diabetic elderly patients on PD were analyzed. Around 128 patients who were initiated PD during the study period were included for final analysis. The mean age of the study group was 70.3 ± 5.1 years, and 94 (80%) were males. Among these, 79 (65.8%) had diabetes. At the end of the study period, only 20 (16.6%) patients were remained on PD. Eighty-four (70%) patients died during PD and 15 (12.5%) patients were transferred to hemodialysis during the study period. The main reasons for death were cardiovascular (56.6%) and sepsis due to peritonitis (18.8%). The mean patient survival time was 38.2 ± 2.6 months. The patient survival rates were 91.2%, 45.3%, and 22.8% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Predictors of mortality were increased serum phosphorus, peritonitis episodes, urine output <400 mL, and ultrafiltration <1000 mL/day at beginning of PD. The mean technique survival time was 92.0 ± 5.1 months. Technique survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 94.8%, 85.3%, and 71.7%, respectively. None of the factors was found to be predictive of technique survival. We found no significant difference between diabetic and non-diabetic patients in terms of technique and patient survival. Mortality was higher in elderly patients on PD. Factors affecting mortality in elderly patients on PD are low urine output, low ultrafiltration at beginning of PD, high serum phosphorus, and presence of peritonitis episodes. Patient and technique survival rates were comparable between diabetic and non-diabetic elderly patients on PD.
- Karthikeyan B
- Sharma RK
- Kaul A
- Gupta A
- Prasad N
- Bhadauria DS
* Requires registration (Free)
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Hillsborough sheriff looks to add body cameras amid deadly force investigation
By Haley Hinds, FOX 13 News
Investigation underway in teen's shooting
TAMPA, Fla. (FOX 13) - For more than four years, Pasco County deputies' body cameras have shown us, first-hand, what it's like to wear - or come in contact with someone wearing - a badge.
In most cases, the recordings leave few unanswered questions about what really did or did not happen.
Deputies with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office could be the next to press record. HCSO announced Wednesday it is seeking proposals from body camera vendors that meet a list of requirements, one of them being automatic activation when a firearm is pulled from its holster.
Requests for proposals are due July 31, with a testing period to follow. The total cost associated with the implementation of body cameras for 1,200 deputies, which will include a video storage system, is not yet known, as the agency works with the county to find potential funding sources.
Sheriff Chad Chronister stated, "I am confident in the professionalism and integrity of our deputies, but I recognize the need for transparency to our citizens, particularly as it relates to the use of deadly force or the drawing of a firearm."
In March, an HCSO deputy shot an unarmed 17-year-old after responding to a domestic violence call. The teen was paralyzed from the chest down. The deputy said he thought the teen was armed, ordered him to "drop the gun," and opened fire when he didn't comply.
An eyewitness told a different story.
"He didn't say, 'Put the gun down, put the gun down!' he said, 'Stop, show me your hands!' and proceeded to fire directly after that," said witness Jose Aviles.
That case remains under review by the State Attorney's office. Had the deputy been wearing a body camera, the video may have served as the best witness.
Attorneys representing the teen reacted to the office's announcement about adding body cameras.
Michael T. Davis, Manuel J. Alvarez, and Benedict P. Kuehne sent a statement, saying, "Law enforcement claims of being in fear of a gun when no gun is present have become all too frequent and expected. Body cameras are essential to the truth-finding process. This issue was presented to the Sheriff, and the unarmed teen and his family applaud the Sheriff for taking responsibility for his deputies. We look forward to continued dialogue with the Sheriff."
At the Tampa Police Department, 60 of 974 officers wear body cameras. The agency recently applied for a Department of Justice grant to equip 600 more.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office was not available for comment on this story.
Sarasota man zip-tied hungry child to plywood, deputies say
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ONSCREEN AUDITION MASTERCLASS CANNES
TBA Central Location in Cannes
The class will be divided into half day sessions:
Session 1: Feedback on Self Taped Audition clips and show reels:
Self-taped auditions are increasingly prevalent in the industry and actors are expected to have the skills to effectively present themselves. Actors will be assigned scenes to tape in advance and will bring them to the class on a USB stick for professional feedback from Luci Lenox. Actors are welcome to bring demo tapes, headshots and CVs for feedback as well.
Session 2: Cold Reading Technique:
Nancy Bishop will teach the techniques outlined in her book, Secrets from the Casting Coach, leading actors through a series of exercises that strategize how to approach new material. This half of the class will focus on how to tackle unknown texts when there is not much time to prepare.
Nancy Bishop, CSA, has cast supporting talent on nearly one hundred films such as Mission Impossible IV, Snowpiercer, and November Man. She just finished work on Unlocked, directed by Michael Apted and starring Michael Douglas and Orlando Bloom. Nancy was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on Anne Frank, The Whole Story. An internationally recognized acting coach, her classes are in demand from Rio de Janeiro to Istanbul. She founded the Acting for Film Program at The Prague Film School, and penned the best-selling book, Secrets from the Casting Couch. She works internationally and is bi-located in London and Prague.
Luci Lenox, CSA, specializes in casting international co-productions shooting in Barcelona, Spain and the UK. Casting credits include: Perfume, directed by Tom Tykwer, Woody Allen's Vicky, Christina, Barcelona, Mabrouk el Mechri's Cold Light of Day, and The Dictator by Larry Charles. She has worked for some of the world's leading production companies including Constantine, Filmax, MediaPro, Disney, Summit, Intrepid, and Kanzaman. She runs workshops for actors on a regular basis in Spain and the UK and is a teacher on E.S.C.A.C’s master programme for directors and producers.
Registration Instructions: Please send headshot and CV to: masterclass@franksteinstudio.com
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London firm enters boom for city student properties
A LONDON-based property and investment firm headed by a former executive with private equity giant Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is the latest in a slew of international companies targeting the burgeoning student accommodation market in Dublin.
Hattington Capital, a boutique firm that is involved in private equity deals and real estate, is planning a €25m project to build a development with almost 250 accommodation units on the site of the landmark Frawley’s store on Thomas Street in the capital.
It’s the company’s first foray into the student accommodation market either in Ireland or the UK. Hattington is understood to be on the lookout for additional sites in Dublin.
There are 80,000 full-time students in Dublin and another 100,000 language students.
The site on Thomas Street was once owned by developer Liam Carroll. It’s believed that Hattington bought the site from the receiver for around €2.5m.
Frawley’s closed in 2007 after more than a century of trading on the site.
A store was reopened under a different name at the site the following year by Sean Duffy, with the support of his son, Boyzone singer Keith Duffy.
Sean Duffy worked in the menswear department at Frawley’s for 30 years. The new shop remains operational but it’s thought it will have to move when development commences.
Hattington was founded by former Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) executive Frederick Goltz. Its executives also include Irishman John Harrington, a former associate partner at Harrington Bannon, now BNP Paribas Real Estate.
Former Tesco commercial director Barney Burgess is also involved in Hattington.
Hattington Capital’s student accommodation unit has just submitted a planning application to construct a 247-bedroom student accommodation premises on the Thomas Street site. When completed, it will be operated by an existing student- living firm.
The development will include the conservation and refurbishment of a number of the location’s existing buildings, as well as the construction of new buildings that will range in height from three to six storeys. It will include four retail units at the ground floor.
Hattington has also made other investments in Irish property.
In December, it acquired two units at the Galway Retail Park. Last September, it paid just over €6.5m for two adjoining office buildings at Citywest Business Park in west Dublin.
Hattington is just one of a number of firms that is targeting Dublin’s student accommodation sector.
Earlier this year, a company owned by Singapore-based Irish businessman Peter Mullins applied for planning permission to build a major scheme close to O’Connell Street.
In October, Dubai-based Global Student Accommodation (GSA), which specialises in building and managing student residences around the world, said it had joined up with The Creedon Group – an Irish construction firm – to build a €41m development close to St James’s Hospital in the capital.
GSA’s brands include Urbanest, which last year was denied permission from An Bord Pleanala for a €36m student accommodation scheme in Dublin.
However, Urbanest is now eyeing other opportunities in Ireland and the company has earmarked €250m to invest here.
Last year, Ziggurat Student Living confirmed it would open the former Montrose Hotel opposite UCD in Dublin as a student accommodation site.
London-based Knightsbridge Student Living, which is backed by US private equity giant Oaktree, has been developing a €40m student living scheme in conjunction with Bennett Construction at the Digital Hub.
Consumer/Retail
Hattington Capital
22-23 Old Burlington Street
London W1S 2JJ
info@hattington.com
Bridge House
Baggot Street Bridge
+353 (1)660 1082
Hattington Investment Partners LLP is an appointed representative of Kingswood Corporate Finance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
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Tag Archives: Lyrics
Anniversaries, Identity, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Music & Video
Kurt Cobain, RIP in memoriam; On Being Yourself and too much Empathy
5th April 2017 Katy Went Leave a comment
Being Yourself by Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain – the Day the Music Died, 1994
Kurt Cobain, was born in 1967, and died 5 April by taking his own life, back in 1994, aged just 27. He flitted between narcissism, empathy, love and pain, trying to enjoy his life and simply be himself, but not feeling it, over-feeling everything else instead. He’d have been in his 50s now, just a month older than me. Some years ago, I also attempted suicide, after a lifelong struggle with identity and feeling too much.
Whilst Cobain is in nirvana now, where are we 20+ years on? Still struggling for identity, as individuals, and a generation? Cobain struggled with being seen as the voice of a generation. His band, Nirvana, was labelled “the flagship band” of Generation X, and Cobain himself proclaimed as “the spokesman of a generation”, something that did not sit well with him.
Dear Kurt—We miss you.
image: Michael Levine pic.twitter.com/U4uRE7IMuA
— Nirvana (@Nirvana) April 5, 2018
Faking it, Being Someone Else
“Wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are.” – Kurt Cobain
Cobain was trying to work out how to be himself amidst the pressures of fame, parental divorce, love and loss, and mental health conditions including bipolar mood swings between depression and mania, as described by his cousin, a nurse, who noted his childhood diagnosis of ADHD and as an adult Bipolar (unconfirmed?). Several relatives had also committed suicide in the same way.
He struggled to feel what he thought he was meant to feel or enjoy. He couldn’t fake the enjoyment of fame, or life itself.
“I’ve tried everything within my power to appreciate it” – Kurt Cobain, suicide note
“The worst crime is faking it.” – Kurt Cobain
Empathy and Fame
Kurt Cobain suicide note
He mentioned empathy four times in his suicide note, and the struggle between feeling too much and yet not feeling anything – or what he thought was the right thing, at all.
“I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative, Pisces, Jesus, man, ‘Why don’t you just enjoy it?’ I don’t know!” – Kurt Cobain, suicide note
Nirvana sold over 25 million albums in the US, and over 75 million worldwide, but fame and success do not fill the void. He hated the fame, and was envious of Freddie Mercury and how he seemed to relish it.
“We’re so trendy we can’t even escape ourselves…I really miss being able to blend in with people.” – Kurt Cobain
Reading, Writing & Lyrics
Cobain “occasionally took refuge in the counter-cultural writings of authors such as William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Samuel Beckett and Charles Bukowski”. Yet, described himself as having the “tongue of an experienced simpleton”, and hating the Freudian analysis that people subjected his lyrics to. Another reason, to explore him in his own words, not the interpretation of others.
“I’m not well-read, but when I read, I read well.” – Kurt Cobain
“I like to have strong opinions with nothing to back them up with besides my primal sincerity. I like sincerity. I lack sincerity.” – Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain was seemingly bisexual, though gave mixed interviews on that side of his personal life, calling himself “gay for a while” yet “more sexually attracted to women”. As a teen he was arrested and fined $180 for graffitiing “Homosex Rules” on a wall. He once said, “I started being really proud of the fact that I was gay even though I wasn’t.” It is not clear if he ever consummated this part of his persona, despite saying:
“If I wouldn’t have found Courtney, I probably would have carried on with a bisexual lifestyle.” – Kurt Cobain
Whilst Generation Y, born early 80s to 2000, followed Cobain’s Generation X, we are now on the Gen Z cohort, born since the Millennium. A group happy to be neither gay nor straight, to question gender and express it fluidly.
Cobain wrote about women’s rights in his songs, including concerning the rape of a 14yo girl after a concert (not one of his).
“I definitely feel closer to the feminine side of the human being than I do the male – or the American idea of what a male is supposed to be.” – Kurt Cobain
“He was himself”
Canadian musician and writer, Dave Bidini, in an article for the National Post entitled “Kurt Cobain, who died 20 years ago today, wasn’t a hero, martyr or vampire. He was himself” ended with this comment:
“He looked like he didn’t care (because he didn’t) … His arms hang down and he turns sideways from the crowd, as if he’s trying not to be seen, even though 20 million people have their eyes trained on him. In a society where ‘bringing it’ and ‘all or nothing’ and ‘going for it’ are sicknesses pumped by fools who aspire to drive people apart rather than draw them together, Cobain’s sense of oblivion was, in a way, brave and confrontational, and that’s why he cracked even the hardest edifice and ate through misplaced pop culture like a creeping disease. In the end, he made an enormous impression for someone who wasn’t even there.” – Dave Bidini, National Post
Cobain did escape, “Rather be dead than cool”, others need not take that route if they can follow his other wisdom, to be yourself and find someone you can be yourself with and talk to.
“It’s better to burn out than to fade away” – suicide note
Remember him alive though, here’s an awesome unplugged hour-long Kurt Cobain MTV concert in NYC November 1993 just months before his suicide, my favourite line of which was “like this is my third cup of tea already” – how Rock’n’Roll!
I will remember him, as much for the angst music of a tortured soul, as the desire to find and be himself, a journey I am also on, aren’t we all to a degree?
“I’d rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not.” – Kurt Cobain
AcceptanceADHDBeing YourselfBipolarBisexualDepressionEmpathyFameGeneration XGeneration ZIdentityKurt CobainLoveLyricsMental HealthMental IllnessMusicNirvanaRapeSexualitySuicide
Memorials & Obituaries, Music & Video, Purple, Quotes & Sayings
Inspirational Prince Quotes and Song Lyrics, RIP 1958-2016
22nd April 2016 Katy Leave a comment
Prince and the Revolution
Genderblend Love Symbol of the artist formerly known as Prince
The enigma that was Prince Rogers Nelson, whose African-American family hailed from Lousiana originally burst onto the pop scene as a 17-year-old teenager, in the late 1970s. Aged just 20, in 1979, he performed his first gig with his band, who became, ‘The Revolution‘. His death, this week, leaves behind dozens of songs, lyrics, statements, and beliefs, that not everyone understood.
His own path navigated 3 engagements, 2 marriages and divorces, and the death of his only child. In 2001, he became a Jehovah Witness and said he was turning to monogamy after prior romantic links to Kim Basinger, Madonna, Sheila E., Carmen Electra, Anna Fantastic, Sherilyn Fenn, Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, Susan Moonsie of Vanity 6, and Vanity, herself, another singer who underwent a Christian conversion and also died this year.
Prince, the Genderbending Rule-breaker
“A strong spirit transcends rules”, Prince said in a 1999 interview.
Steven W Thrasher, writing in the Guardian, writes of Prince’s genderbending and gender-busting allure:
Prince broke all the rules about what black American men should be. The musical genius captivated both men and women with his high heels, tight butt and playful sexuality – and he refused to be anyone’s slave…
…letting go of all those rules he seemed to have dispensed with? That purple clothing, those high heels and ruffled shirts: was he proudly feminine, or so secure in his masculinity he didn’t mind others questioning it? That small frame and that tight, small butt that seemed to leave him “shaking that ass, shaking that ass” for men and women alike?
Prince was a paradox in that he expanded the concept of what it meant to be a man while also deconstructing the entire idea of gender.
It was, in retrospect, the first time I experienced someone refusing to live under the oppressive binary regime of gender, or to submit to the dominant power’s rules.”
In 1982, Prince said that “What’s missing from pop music is danger – there’s no excitement and mystery”. Well, he certainly provided that mystery, much as David Bowie did.
I wanna be your lover
Wanna be your mother and your sister too
– “I Wanna Be Your Lover” (1979)
Mick Jagger tweeted that Prince was “authentic in every way“.
…but most importantly, authentic in every way. 3/4
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) April 21, 2016
“Prince brazenly blended rock, R&B, funk, pop and jazz like few artists before or since. He pushed the envelope on sexuality and androgyny in music, dared to take on the corporate music industry…” – Star Tribune
Freedom and Fascination
From a rare interview in 1996 with, among others, NME, on the release of his ‘Emancipation’ triple album comes these quotes from Prince on freedom, life, experience and people:
“I find freedom sexy. I find freedom so sexy I can’t even explain it to you. You wake up every day and feel like you can do anything.”
“Everyone has their own experience. That’s why we are here, to go through our experience, to learn, to go down those paths and eventually you may have gone down so many paths and learned so much that you don’t have to come back again.”
“I’m no different to anyone. Yes, I have fame and wealth and talent, but I certainly don’t consider myself any better than anyone who has no fame, wealth or talent. People fascinate me. They’re amazing! Life fascinates me! And I’m no more fascinated by my own life than by anyone else’s.”
Prince, Mystery or Madness?
“America still believes Prince to be mildly insane…’Why does everyone think I’m mad?’ he once asked his British press person. ‘Because,’ the PR replied, ‘you do weird things and you don’t explain them.’ Prince does do weird things, but he also performs live with a stage presence and a charisma that’s unrivalled in American entertainment.” – Guardian (2006)
His refusal to bow to the corporate line of either the music industry or journalists meant that he came across as ‘odd’, but his response was that he didn’t care:
“I don’t really care so much what people say about me because it usually is a reflection of who they are.”
“Despite everything, no one can dictate who you are to other people.”
Being yourself and not worrying about what others thought was one of the ways he inspired others to break out.
“Cool means being able to hang with yourself. All you have to ask yourself is ‘Is there anybody I’m afraid of? Is there anybody who if I walked into a room and saw, I’d get nervous?’ If not, then you’re cool.” – Rolling Stone Magazine
Prince, Song Lyrics
Stand up everybody/This is your life
Let me take you to another world, let me take you tonight
You don’t need no money, you don’t need no clothes
The second coming, anything goes
Sexuality is all you’ll ever need
Sexuality, let your body be free…
I’m talking about a revolution we gotta organize
We don’t need no segregation, we don’t need no race
New age revelation, I think we got a case…
No child is bad from the beginning, they only imitate their atmosphere…
Stand up, organize
We need a new breed, leaders, stand up, organize
– “Sexuality” (1981)
Whenever I feel like givin’ up
Whenever my sunshine turns to rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams
Are aimed in the wrong direction
She’s always there
Tellin’ me how much she cares
She’s always in my hair
– “She’s Always in My Hair” (1985)
AndrogynousAndrogynyAuthenticAuthenticityCoolDangerFreedomGenderGenderbendingLyricsMick JaggerMusicPrincePurple RainQuotesRebelRevolutionSexualitySongs
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In the 1960s, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) were found to produce more ketone bodies per unit of energy than normal dietary fats (which are mostly long-chain triglycerides).[15] MCTs are more efficiently absorbed and are rapidly transported to the liver via the hepatic portal system rather than the lymphatic system.[16] The severe carbohydrate restrictions of the classic ketogenic diet made it difficult for parents to produce palatable meals that their children would tolerate. In 1971, Peter Huttenlocher devised a ketogenic diet where about 60% of the calories came from the MCT oil, and this allowed more protein and up to three times as much carbohydrate as the classic ketogenic diet. The oil was mixed with at least twice its volume of skimmed milk, chilled, and sipped during the meal or incorporated into food. He tested it on 12 children and adolescents with intractable seizures. Most children improved in both seizure control and alertness, results that were similar to the classic ketogenic diet. Gastrointestinal upset was a problem, which led one patient to abandon the diet, but meals were easier to prepare and better accepted by the children.[15] The MCT diet replaced the classic ketogenic diet in many hospitals, though some devised diets that were a combination of the two.[10]
Are you using a casserole dish that is too small so the casserole is too thick/tall? The beef is already cooked before you add it to the casserole dish so all you are cooking is the cheese sauce and to ensure the flavour is infused throughout the keto cheeseburger casserole. It should take no longer than 25 minutes. Let’s see if we can figure out what is going wrong here.
I was a Corpsman (not a corpse-man as some recent somewhat fanatical president would say), and I can tell you many stories of Marines and Sailors who maintained restrictive diets (aka picky eaters). Most obvious was lack of sustaining energy (hypoglycemia) at mile 15 (with 80lbs of gear including a 6.5lb rifle and 200 rnds of ammo, etc.) and depletion of essential vitamins, electrolyte imbalance. They were always the first to collapse and have to hear me scold “see I told you so.” An IV of D5W usually does the trick (D is for dextrose, OMG!)
The day before admission to hospital, the proportion of carbohydrate in the diet may be decreased and the patient begins fasting after his or her evening meal.[19] On admission, only calorie- and caffeine-free fluids[37] are allowed until dinner, which consists of "eggnog"[Note 8] restricted to one-third of the typical calories for a meal. The following breakfast and lunch are similar, and on the second day, the "eggnog" dinner is increased to two-thirds of a typical meal's caloric content. By the third day, dinner contains the full calorie quota and is a standard ketogenic meal (not "eggnog"). After a ketogenic breakfast on the fourth day, the patient is discharged. Where possible, the patient's current medicines are changed to carbohydrate-free formulations.[19]
There are three instances where there’s research to back up a ketogenic diet, including to help control type 2 diabetes, as part of epilepsy treatment, or for weight loss, says Mattinson. “In terms of diabetes, there is some promising research showing that the ketogenic diet may improve glycemic control. It may cause a reduction in A1C — a key test for diabetes that measures a person’s average blood sugar control over two to three months — something that may help you reduce medication use,” she says.
Furthermore, humans develop a condition dubbed ‘rabbit starvation’[7] when they eat a diet that is low in fat and carbohydrates, and high in protein (> 35% of total daily energy intake). This is due to the inability of the human liver to sufficiently upregulate urea synthesis to meet excessive loads of protein. Consequently, hyperaminoacidemia, hyperammonemia, hyperinsulinemia, nausea, diarrhea, and even death can ensue within 2 to 3 weeks. These effects were recognized historically through the excess consumption of lean wild meat by early American explorers.[8]
In fact, patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have been shown to improve after eating very low carbohydrate diets.31, 32 Another study found increased carb-intake worsened GERD, while a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet reduced symptoms.33 And two studies have linked esophageal diseases, including Barrett’s esophagus (BE)34 and GERD,35 to sugar and carbohydrate intake.
Reduced hunger. Many people experience a marked reduction in hunger on a keto diet. This may be caused by an increased ability of the body to be fueled by its fat stores. Many people feel great when they eat just once or twice a day, and may automatically end up doing a form of intermittent fasting. This saves time and money, while also speeding up weight loss.
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Can Guatemala’s Long Struggle for Justice Provide Lessons for Haiti?
NACLA.org
While it is too early to tell whether or not Jean Claude Duvalier will appear in court today to face charges for embezzlement and corruption, it is important, whatever the outcome, to highlight that Guatemala’s arduous 14-year struggle to prosecute former military dictator Efrain Rios Montt for crimes against humanity provides an important template for Haiti moving forward.
After Guatemala’s civil war ended in 1996, a National Reconciliation Law (NRL) was enacted which granted amnesty for political crimes committed by both the Guatemalan Armed Forces and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Union. The hasty establishment of the NRL was seen as a crucial component mandating that both sides lay down their arms, but it also threatened to institutionalize impunity in a nation seeking to rebuild itself after 36 years of civil war.
Following the models of nations seeking to move forward from a history of brutal military governments, like Argentina and El Salvador or apartheid in South Africa, Guatemala organized a Truth Commission to spark the process of national reconciliation. However, many Guatemalan and international human rights organizations argued that neither justice nor reconciliation would be achieved, as the NRL remained foggy as to whether or not those who carried out extra-judicial executions would qualify for amnesty. This lead the New York Times to write at the time that “Guatemala's commission will be allowed to report on who died or disappeared and perhaps under what circumstances, but it will not be allowed to investigate who committed this violence.”
In 1999, the Guatemalan Commission for Historical Clarification released a report titled Guatemala, Memory of Silence which stated that “Although many are aware that Guatemala's armed confrontation caused death and destruction, the gravity of the abuses suffered repeatedly by its people has yet to become part of the institutional consciousness… The massacres that eliminated entire Mayan villages… are neither perfidious allegations nor figments of the imagination, but an authentic chapter in Guatemala's history.” The report found that about 200,000 people—the vast majority of them civilians—were killed or “disappeared” during the war, a number that was much higher than initially thought. Rios Montt’s brief presidency (1982-83) was arguably the most violent period in the civil war, in which thousands of unarmed indigenous civilians were killed.
Despite the initial feelings of helplessness after the passing of the NRL, a law which was looked at as being drafted by and for the military and guerillas, it excluded crimes against humanity which were not subject to any statutes of limitation under international law.
It was with this opening in 1999 that Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu and other victims filed a criminal suit in the Spanish National Court against Efraín Ríos Montt and seven other senior Guatemalan officials. Menchu turned to the Spanish National Court on the principle of universal jurisdiction after her efforts in the Guatemalan courts were met with hesitation, delay, and intimidation. Menchu remarked that “The fundamental idea behind justice is to dignify the memory of our deceased. It is to dignify the children, the women, the elders, who were annihilated through genocide, those who were kidnapped, those who were disappeared, those who were tortured.”
Legal motions in Spain staleed progress in the case for several years until 2005, when the Spanish Court ruled to the surprise of many that they would in fact act upon the principles of universal jurisdiction and charge Rios Montt and other senior officials with genocide, terrorism, torture, and illegal detention. The Spanish Court soon after issued arrest warrants in July 2006.
Similar to Duvalier in Haiti, Rios Montt remained connected to the traditional political and economic centers of power in the country—and as such successfully ran for a seat in Congress in 2007, granting him immunity from prosecution until January 14, 2012.
Despite this roadblock—it was a perhaps even blessing in disguise—the organizing by the victims and human rights defenders continued unabated in the face of threats and intimidation. This grassroots effort to prosecute high ranking military officials finally bore fruit in 2011, when General Héctor Mario López Fuentes, the former Minister of Defence was detained for his alleged role in massacres committed in 1982 to 1983.
Once Rios Montt was no longer covered by Congressional immunity in January 2012, he was indicted in a Guatemalan court for committing crimes against humanity. On March 1, 2012, according to the established norms of international law, a Guatemalan judge refused to grant Rios Montt amnesty from the charges of crimes against humanity—leading to the first time that a former head of state would be tried for genocide in their own country. On January 31, 2013, the criminal trial of Rios Montt for crimes against humanity formally began.
Although it is true that the charges against Duvalier are not on the level of genocide—and thus are not comparable in that regard—the Inter American Commission on Human Rights has classified the systematic abuses carried out by Duvalier as crimes against humanity. Through the command of the Ton Ton Macoutes and the Haitian army, Human Rights Watch has reported that Duvalier oversaw the killing and torture of thousands, while hundreds of thousands more fled into exile.
While different in many ways, like Haiti, Guatemala also suffers from a lingering history of deep-rooted racism, significant structural inequality, foreign intervention, deep politicization with limited political participation by the popular classes, and a history of a corrupt judicial system. Despite this, the success of Guatemala in bringing Rios Montt to trial for crimes against humanity highlights that, despite the overwhelming odds at times, justice can prevail.
Labels: crimes against humanity, Duvalier, Guatemala, haiti, human rights, justice, Rios Montt
Can Guatemala’s Long Struggle for Justice Provide ...
A Small Step Toward Ending Duvalier’s Impunity in ...
The Drug Trade and the Increasing Militarization o...
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Manchester Art Fair is back in town
Partnerships | October 5 2018
Later this month, Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair will return to the city, bringing with it an incredible collection of art. Over 120 galleries and artists will be in town to sell thousands of modern and contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography and prints. The fair runs alongside The Manchester Contemporary, now in its tenth year, which takes a uniquely artist-focused approach, inviting the most exciting international and UK galleries to participate.
We are delighted to be partnering with Aviva Investors Manchester Art Fair, spreading the word on the street as their eye-catching designs take over key sites in central Manchester. As a partner, we are also offering you free tickets to attend the preview or the weekend. Use the promotional code ‘SCULPTURE’ when buying tickets at www.manchesterartfair.co.uk/tickets.
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Jai's Book Reviews
The Atlas Shrugged - A Review
This is my first post in this blog where I am planning to write reviews on the books I read. I will try to give some advise on the choice of books for passionate readers like myself. The first book I have chosen to review is a very old fictional classic by the philosopher Ayn Rand based on her philosophy known as Objectivism.
Many of you might be wondering why I have chosen a classic that is more than half a century old for my first review? Well, the answer to that is I re-read the book recently and secondly the topic that it deals with - capitalism - is relevant even today. Now on to the book.
Rand weaves her characters into the fabric of the plot beautifully. All her protagonists, the beautiful and brilliant Dagny Taggart, the millionaire playboy Francisco Anconia, Hank Rearden the business magnate are all strong personalities with powerful convictions. All of them believe that the self and living for oneself should be the supreme objective of men and women. Nothing should come free including love. Every man should be the center of his universe.
Dagny Taggert runs the railroad Taggert Transcontinental. The ornamental vice-president of this company is her brother James Taggart who is referred to as lice in one sentence of the book. The era in which this story is set seems to be one where the very core of economy is breaking down in Europe and America.
Communist philosophy is sweeping across countries all round the globe. Nations are breaking down and the final straw is when the government of the US issues directive after directive stripping industrialists of their powers by regulations that frown on the profit motive. People want everything for nothing.
The hero of the story John Galt appears only in part III of the book but makes his presence felt. He has a brilliant brain, the kind that occurs only once in a century. Galt is an individualist who wants to stop the motor of the world, or in other words wants prove to the world that without the men of brains the society cannot survive.
Galt convinces the men of intellect and acumen to leave the looters as he calls them, to fend for themselves and take refuge in the city he has built called the Galt's gulch. Dagny is romanced by a number of men but realizes that it is Galt who is her true love, so much so, that Rand would have us believe she was in love with him even before she had met him.
Rand seems to be a philosopher who is an extreme capitalist. Her philosophy Objectivism envisions a world where nothing is given free and everyone has to earn his or her keep. She does not even spare filial affections. I strongly disagree here. Parents love their children because they are their children and for no other reason.
Hank Rearden does not seems to have any affection for his mother, wife or brother. Rand's theories defy the maxim, "blood is thicker than water". She does not believe in taxation or even the rudimentary governmental control on economy. There are to be no free public services. Everything has to be paid for and earned.
Her society is ruthless and her philosophy reminds me of Nietzsche's lunatic ravings. I am not a communist. I believe that equal opportunities have to be provided to everybody and people have to be rewarded according to their productivity. But I certainly do not believe in this extreme and radical form of capitalism where there is no room for even a Christmas gift.
But I still congratulate the author as she definitely makes a strong case for the self being supremely important. After all, man is essentially selfish. The narrative is racy and the speeches by Anconio and Galt where they expound their philosophy make very interesting reading.
The book runs into a thousand pages but does not let up in pace or get boring. For such skillful writing and for holding the attention of the reader for over a thousand pages I go with a 3 out of 5 for Ayn Rand's "The Atlas Shrugged".
Tomichan Matheikal November 27, 2017 at 5:40 AM
I loved reading this as a young man. I read two other novels of Rand after this. Loved them all. But today, as a more mature person, I don't think I'll love her works. Too idealistic?
Jai November 27, 2017 at 6:18 AM
It is a bit radical... Rand carries selfishness to the extreme and tells us it is a virtue and should be celebrated... Yes you are right... Too idealistic...
© Sitharaam Jayakumar and Jai's Book Reviews, 2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any material from this site without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sitharaam Jayakumar and Jai's Book Reviews with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
"The God Of Small Things" By Arundhati Roy - A Book Review
Recently I was listening to an interview with the author Preeti Shenoy on BBC. When she was asked about fictional novels she stated that there are two kinds of fiction: one that wins a number of literary awards and the the other that ends up being a No 1 bestseller. Arundhati Roy's "God of small things" combines both.
The language used is quite posh, sophisticated and sometimes very poignant and poetic which allows one to classify it as literary fiction. The story moves a bit slowly at first and I found myself making excuses to put the book down and take a break quiet often. But at some point as the narrative picked pace, I got absorbed in the unfolding tale. The story is based in a village in Kerala near Kochi where I live.
The characters are quiet intriguing. The book centers on the tragic tale of a woman who makes her own choice of a life partner and then finds that he is willing to sell her for benefit…
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga - A Review
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
It is my belief that there are two kinds of books that can be categorized as fiction. On one hand we have popular Masala fiction like 'Two States: The story of my marriage' written by Chetan Bhagat which top the best sellers list. On the other hand we have literary fiction written by authors like Arundhati Roy and Aravind Adiga which win literary awards.
I am not a very literary type and I had bought 'The White Tiger' because I found it in a small book shop and did not have to pay much for it. But believe me, the book was worth much much more than what I had paid for it. It is a story which clearly brings out the caste hierarchy in the Indian society. It brings out the conditioning of the minds of the poor and the marginalized by centuries of oppression they have been subjected to by the rich and elite of the Indian society.
The story is about a man who wants to break free from what he refers to as a rooster coop where the poor are held in…
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Clovis Toons
Antigua gov't warns Digicel, Flow over sharing spectrum space
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the foreign-owned telecommunication companies, Digicel and Flow, could “jump high or jump low” but they will have to share the spectrum space in Antigua and Barbuda.
Last month, the Irish-owned Digicel defended its decision to secure a High Court order preventing the government from sharing any of the 850 MHz spectrum it has been allocated with the state-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA).
But speaking on his private radio station here, Prime Minister Browne told listeners that Digicel and Flow, formerly the British telecommunication giant Cable and Wireless, would not survive any spectrum war against APUA and his administration.
He said his government was prepared to buy out Digicel operations here.
“I have already sent a message to the owner of Digicel to tell him that APUA is willing to buy them. So let's talk. If that's the way we need to resolve it and we are waiting for them to get back. So if one has to go it will not be APUA they better recognise that”.
Browne said he recognises that the telecom space “is somewhat over crowded because the market is so small, it really probably justifies a monopoly or at best two players, so if one has to leave, I want to them it won't be APUA.
“So between Digicel and Flow they need to make up their mind,” Browne told radio listeners, as he blamed the former administration of having “literally displaced APUA and gave Digicel all of the lucrative spectra”.
He said that APUA does not benefit from the revenue collected from roaming charges because it “does not have that type of low-frequency spectrum” and that the existing playing field is not equal.
“You are telling me what we must sit down and allow that inequity to continue. So we say to them you have 21 gigabytes of space let's share it 7-7-7 and that is what they are resisting,” he said, insisting that all three telecommunications companies can survive under that arrangement.
“There are large telecommunication companies all over the world, with millions of customers sharing that kind of spectrum, and they (Digicel) with their little two by two customer base are trying to say to us that they cannot share because they want to keep out APUA,” Browne said, noting that the Court has given the parties three months to resolve the issue on their own.
“And I hope they corporate because ultimately if they think they going to kill APUA, I can say to them not under my administration. If anything they will get killed they are not killing APUA, mark my word about that,' Browne said, dismissing suggestions that his government is hostile to investors.
“It's not because we hustle to foreign investors we welcome foreign investment but this idea that you can just come and extract and put a company that is owned by the people of Antigua and Barbuda at a disadvantage that cannot be fair,” he said, adding that he was not against competition.
“We said to them, dress over, small up yourselves. We are not trying to disrupt their services. We said we will work with you to make sure there is a minimal amount or perhaps no disruption to your services,” he said, adding that the government is bringing an “external firm with no skin in the game” to assess whether the spectrum can be shared even though such an assurance has come from local experts.
“I want to say on the basis that he confirms that the spectrum can be shared, Digicel and Flow can jump high, they can jump low they have no choice but to share,” Browne said, adding “either share or leave and we make no apologies about it.”
“You know why, it is our assets,” he told listeners.
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Posts Tagged ‘Favorite Memories of Madison Avenue’
Favorite Memories of Madison Avenue: My Night at the Berlin Wall
It was the creative shoot-out of the year in the advertising business. Four of the largest and most prestigious agencies in the business…Ogilvy & Mather, BBDO, NW Ayer and Young & Rubicam, the agency where I was working as a senior creative director, were all vying to win the U.S. Army’s recruiting account which at that time, the Fall of 1986, was billing over $125,000,000 a year.
Our CEO, a former All-American football player who was used to winning, called me into his office and told me he wanted me to lead the creative effort. He also made it clear to me in no uncertain terms that he wanted to win this one. In fact, he wanted it so badly he was willing to spend upwards of a quarter of a million dollars of Y&R money to create and shoot a full up sixty second commercial that would be so emotionally powerful it would leave the panel of generals who would be making the decision literally in tears.
I went back to my office and called the three art director/copywriter teams who would be working for me on the pitch together for a meeting and explained the assignment. They were all smart, experienced and creative and in just a few days the three teams got back to me with a batch of ideas. I went through them. Suggested a few changes here and there. And then selected the ideas I thought best. When the changes had been made I arranged a meeting to present them to the CEO and other agency big-wigs. There were a lot of good ideas but a decision was made.
The spot we were going to shoot showed a young US soldier on patrol at night at the symbolic dividing line between democracy and tyranny: the Berlin wall. The obvious solution was to send our creative and production teams to Berlin and shoot there.
Sadly, there was one problem with that particular “obvious” solution. The US Army’s rules for the pitch stated in no uncertain terms that no one from any of the competing agencies could have any direct contact with any active duty U.S. military personnel. There would be no way to avoid such contact at the Wall in Berlin. The second, less obvious solution, was to find a close replica of the wall closer to home. Our producer and production company dispatched location scouts all over the New York tri-state area. They found a number of walls that didn’t make the cut. And one that did.
It was an almost exact replica of the real thing surrounding a moving company warehouse just outside of Newark in Harrison, New Jersey. All it lacked was barbed wire strung along the top and the endless graffiti that the real wall had. We sent out team a team of set designers who strung the barbed wire and spray-painted replicas of the real graffiti. They also created an almost exact copy of Checkpoint Charlie, the best-known passage between the US sector and the Russian sector of the divided city.
When everything was ready our creative and production teams along with the young actor we’d cast in the role of an American MP headed out to the wall. It was a rainy Friday night when we set up and started shooting. The actor was shown patrolling a sector of the wall and finally arriving at the checkpoint which was manned by extras wearing East German military uniforms and toting (fake) automatic weapons.
The shoot all went perfectly. The only hitch was that our wall and our Checkpoint Charlie happened to be located directly across the street from the Harrison stop on the PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) railroad station. There weren’t many passengers getting off at midnight on a rainy Friday. But every time a train pulled in a few who’d obviously spent their Fridays drinking too much in Manhattan bars staggered onto the platform only to be confronted with our machine gun toting East German soldiers and a large sign telling them that they were now “leaving the American sector.” It was a thing of nightmares and from their shocked, unbelieving expressions I have no doubt that many of these poor souls decided it was well past time to give up the booze.
In any event we wrapped the set around three in the morning and headed for home. We selected our takes and edited the commercial over the next few days and within a week or so I was presenting it (along with the rest of the Y&R team’s voluminous pitch proposal) to the assembled brass at an army conference center south of Washington.
The post-script is that we got the account and I spent the next three years as Creative Director on the Army account creating many more pool-outs of the Army’s highly successful “Be All You Can Be” recruiting campaign.
And please don’t forget to look for my latest McCabe/Savage thriller, A Fatal Obsession, coming out on August 21st and available for preorder now!
Follow me on Twitter or Facebook for more details!
Tags: A Fatal Obsession, Crime writing, Favorite Memories of Madison Avenue, Favorite Memories of Madison Avenue: My Night at the Berlin Wall, Hayman, James Hayman, maine crime writers, McCabe, McCabe Savage, Mystery, Suspense, The Berlin Wall, thriller, Young & Rubicam
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“Fatal Vision” and “The Journalist and the Murderer.” A Tale of Three Very Real and Brutal Murders and the Problems With Writing About Them.
The Story of Tom Joyce:
Conan Doyle for the Defense
Dirty Money/Clean Money
From The Author
Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine
Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention
CrimeReads
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
International Thriller Writers
Maine Crime Writers
Sisters in Crime
The Strand Magazine
About James Hayman
Born and raised in New York City, James Hayman spent nearly thirty years working as a copywriter and creative director for some of Madison Avenue,s biggest ad agencies.
In 2001 he left moved to Portland, Maine in search of the right kind of place to begin a new career as a fiction writer. Portland filled the bill perfectly. The Cutting is his debut thriller.
Fog can be a sudden thing on the Maine coast. On even the clearest mornings, swirling gray mists can sometimes appear in an instant, covering the earth with an opacity that makes it hard to see even one’s own feet on the ground. On this particular September morning it descended at 5:30, about the time Lucinda Cassidy and her companion Fritz, a small dog of indeterminate pedigree, arrived at the cemetery on Vaughan Street...
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Tag: Azad
Velez
Pueblo Police Officers Call Out Chief and City Manager for Incompetence and Cronyism
Earlier this month the Pueblo Chieftain published a story indicating 95% of Pueblo Police Officers have No Confidence in Pueblo Police Chief, Luis Velez. Of the 99 Pueblo Police Officers who completed the survey 94 indicated they have “No Confidence” in Chief Velez.
Wow. Velez is about as popular as a root canal….without sedation. If he were an Animal House character he’d be Douglas C. Neidermeyer, killed by his own troops.
In addition to their lack of confidence in Chief Velez’s leadership they launch very serious accusations of cronyism, aimed primarily at Pueblo City Manager, Sam Azad. The following letter was released by IPBO Local 537, the local union of Police Officers. Our community’s Police Officers have spoken clearly. They need new leadership. I hope City Council is paying attention.
The recent release of the response by Chief Velez and City Manager Sam Azad in reference to the survey conducted by IBPO Local 537 has solicited a rebuttal by the Union E-Board.
Based on Chief Velez’s response, it is clear that he believes the frustration of his officers is a new problem. He states that 2015 had problems not seen before, such as gang violence, not enough manpower, forced overtime and the condition of police equipment.
We would like to point out that the gang problem in Pueblo has been here since the early 1990’s. However, we agree that recently the problem has become worse. The decision by Chief Velez to reduce the four man gang unit to a single Detective in the Pueblo Police Department Gang Unit has certainly not been in the best interest of public safety.
Nor has it been in the public safety interest to eliminate the ten beats that patrol officers used to be responsible for and essentially turn the ten beats into basically two beats referred to as North and South Sectors. When the Police Department had beats, there was a higher potential of the same officer responding to the same address for the same type of calls. The officer immediately knew the history of problems in the neighborhood and would have a better idea as to how to correct the issue.
By enlarging the area of responsibility to half a city, the chances of the same officer responding to the same address for the same type of call has decreased substantially. That puts the responding officer in the poor position of trying to be brought up to speed on what the history of the problems are. The officer is not aware of what tactics were used before and therefore is at a loss as to which tactic might work better.
As far as the manpower shortage, this is also not new. For the past several years, the department has been limited to 193 officers after City Manager Sam Azad froze fourteen positions. That brought the Department down to 193 total officers. That number includes 1 Chief, 3 Deputy Chiefs and 7 Captains. This actually leaves 182 officers on paper, but in reality there are only 164 officers. The 13 newly graduated officers, will not hit the streets on their own until the summer of 2016. The addition of 7 more officers, which were only hired due to an outcry by the public, is merely a drop in the bucket to where we should be.
The Union does agree that the forced overtime issue was a larger problem this year than in years past. However, it should also be noted that the Patrol Captains initiated a minimum staffing requirement that is the same for every day of the week, disregarding the days where fewer officers may not be needed and adding to days where they are needed. Again, the Union pointed out during contract negotiations that we were then at 1.7 officers per 1000 citizens when the state average was 2.4. So instead of having 264 officers, we only had 164. So even with the influx of 20 officers over the next ten months, we will still be 80 officers short.
Chief Velez mentions problems with police equipment, primarily the vehicles. This has been a problem for years, and a problem he said would be addressed during his first year as Chief. He has been able to purchase several new patrol SUV’s which have helped incredibly. We will give him that one.
Regarding the Departments ongoing partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s SAFE Streets Program, this partnership includes a single FBI agent working with the Pueblo Police Department. It isn’t as huge as the citizens have been led to believe.
Chief Velez also states that the Department is going to undergo an overtime audit completed by an outside agency. It is our understanding that this was ordered by the City Council and was to be conducted by an independent organization. We have since been told that KRW will be the independent organization to conduct this investigation.
The “K” in “KRW” stands for Loren Kramer, the former Chief of Police in Colorado Springs. Chief Kramer was instrumental in turning the reins of Chief of Police over to his long time friend, Luis Velez, in Colorado Springs. Chief Velez received a vote of no confidence by the officers in Colorado Springs and resigned.
Approximately five and one half years ago, KRW was hired by Pueblo City Council to conduct an internal investigation into the Pueblo Police Department. KRW’s recommendation was to bring in former Colorado Springs Chief Luis Velez to run this department. It is not very comforting now to see that KRW is once again going to be the independent organization to determine whether or not the overtime issues within the department are based on management’s mismanagement of staff or rather to deflect the blame to the Police Union instead.
The citizens of Pueblo need to be aware that the City Attorney’s Office has had numerous qualified attorneys working for them for over half a century. During that time period, countless numbers of contracts were ratified between the employees and management. Coincidentally, upon the heels of the KRW report five years ago, the City of Pueblo hired one of the largest national law firms, Fisher & Phillips, to annually negotiate bargaining agreements with the City’s three Unions.
Fisher & Phillips not only specialize in contract negotiations, but also in decertification of Unions. We would be surprised if the City of Pueblo admitted that was their reasoning for hiring extremely expensive additional legal counsel during a time period when the city is also saying they have no money. If that isn’t the reason, why then do they still have a City Attorney sitting next to a Fisher & Phillips attorney making $450 an hour telling us the city has no money. It seems to us that the City Attorney could tell us the same information at a substantially cheaper cost.
Chief Velez has been here now for nearly five years. We admit he has done some positive things, but crime is up, morale is down and we have fewer officers now than when he started. Was that the 5-year plan or is there a new one because the first 5-year plan didn’t work? Or did it?
Chief Velez recently told us that he is thinking of placing a public safety initiative on the November ballot. Interesting since the Union supported an initiative 2 years ago that he publicly was against because he didn’t feel the fire department deserved half the money. He informed us that the “fire department deals with property, but we deal with people” therefore he deserves more of the pie.
Sam Azad is the former finance officer of the Colorado Springs Police Department and worked directly under Chief Velez in that capacity. Again, it is probably only coincidental that Sam Azad is now the Pueblo City Manager and Chief Velez works directly under Sam.
For the past three and one half years the Police Union has pointed out to Sam Azad that our manpower is substantially under manned and the crime problems are increasing. Nothing we have told Sam or Chief Velez again recently is anything new. It is the same issue that we have been bringing up for several years now and it has been falling on deaf ears.
We can appreciate the fact that both Sam Azad and Chief Velez have been looking forward to their not too distant retirements but assure you that the employees of the City of Pueblo, specifically the Police Union, can only say, “Godspeed, and the sooner the better.”
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Home Networking & Communications U.S. Electricity Grid Compromised
U.S. Electricity Grid Compromised
By Alex Goldman | April 09, 2009
Experts have been saying for over a decade that the energy industry needs better infrastructure control and management systems. But change has been slow and now there's a report that the system has been compromised.
Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated By Spies says a report in the The Wall Street Journal today. That much is breaking news, but the ongoing modernization of the U.S. energy industry has been slowed by a dilemma involving tradeoffs between security and efficiency that were first recognized over a decade ago.
The threat is all too real today, as the Journal reports, "Cyberspies have penetrated the U.S. electrical grid and left behind software programs that could be used to disrupt the system, according to current and former national-security officials."
The news comes as the smart grid is expected to grow as the government's stimulus package allocates funds to its expansion. But it's unlikely that threats to the smart grid will derail its deployment, experts said.
What's the potential damage? We don't know. We don't know whether or not it's possible to create a "three mile island-type incident," said Eric Knight, senior compliance engineer at compliance software company LogRhythm. However, he added, any penetration of the U.S. grid was likely detected by software systems that monitor networks in much the same way as activity monitors protect enterprise IT systems.
"Energy and power supply systems do have vulnerabilities," said Tiffany Jones, Symantec director of public policy and government relations who served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board in 2002. "We've seen it in tests and red teaming."
The issue is that many systems were not designed to be connected to the Internet. In addition, they were designed for reliability and efficiency. "Adding security onto these systems can slow things down," she said. "We need more research and development."
The slow development of standards
The federal government and regulatory agencies have been working for years to address the issue, but progress has been slow.
In 2003, Dr. Arden Bement, director of the National Institute of Standards & Technology, was able to point to years of warnings about the grid in his keynote speech to the NSF Workshop on critical infrastructure protection for SCADA & IT. He noted the following warnings: the 1997 report Critical Foundations: Protecting America's Infrastructures prepared by the President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection; the 1998 signing of Presidential Decision Directive 63 calling for a national strategy to protect America's critical infrastructures, particularly its cyber-systems, and creating the Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office; and Executive Order 13231 of October 2001 on Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age.
Bement also referred to "that incident in the Spring of 2001 when hackers broke into computer systems of CAL-ISO, California's primary electric power grid operator and apparently were not discovered for 17 days."
He called for "new or revised standards to address control system security . . . design guidelines and standards to address the need for interoperability, redundancy, and security . . . control system test beds to validate new approaches to security" and concluded, "We need to be able to retrofit the systems we have to provide the necessary level of security -- but without compromising performance and reliability."
Wired's Threat Level blog said that the issue dates back as least as far as June 10, 1999 (in a story published almost exactly a year ago), referring to an incident in which a computer failure prevented control room workers from releasing pressure in a pipeline to prevent its rupture. The resulting flood ignited a river, killing two ten-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man.
"These are the first fatalities from a control-system cyber-event that I can document, and for a fact say that this really occurred," said Joe Weiss, managing partner at Applied Control Solutions.
Next page: Will the industry respond?
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Azzurra will represent Italy in the Audi MedCup Circuit 2011
© Stefano Gattini
The prestigious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda have confirmed that they will compete on the Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 in the colours of the new Audi Azzurra Sailing Team with a crew built around a core group of sailors from the 2009 TP52 World Champions Matador.
Guillermo Parada, Francesco Bruni and Vasco Vascotto will lead the team.
A large media congretation convened Wednesday morning in the beautiful Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnica in Milan to enjoy the presentation of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda 2011 ambitious sailing program.
The project's key strand is the Audi Azzura Sailing Team which marks the return to top level racing again this year of the legendary Azzurra colours, which will compete on the Audi MedCup Circuit 2011 for the first time, under the guidance of Riccardo Bonadeo, the Yacht Club's commodore, who said:“At this stage this is the most exciting sailing you can find in Europe, and Azzurra just could not miss out on being part of it. We've had the chance to join again with a perfect partner in Alberto Roemmers, Matador's owner, with whom this partnership already worked well before, with Maspero. We hope that the same succes can be achieved by Azzurra.” Audi Azzurra Sailing Team's project is a collaboration between the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and Audi, who are Official Automotive Partner of the yacht club.
Michael Frisch, Audi Italy’s General Manager: “ This is big and prestigious collaboration showing the perfect relationship between two very important entities. Both Audi and the YCCS always have and continue to display a passion for excellence, class and elegance, a showcase of dynamism and fair and clean competition.”
The crew for the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit campaign will include some of Italy’s most important sailors, such as tactician Francesco Bruni (Azzurra's helmsman since 2009), and strategist Vasco Vascotto who won the inaugural MedCup Circuit season in 2005 and has been a key player each year since, accumulating considerable knowledge of the class, the circuit and the venues: “ We've got one only goal: to sail well. This has always been our mentality, and the one that has helped us up to were we are now. We are true sportsmen, who go on the water to perform at the maximum, and in each regatta we will try to bring home the best result. We are proud of being here and to wear these colors, and we want to represent such an important sponsor and the colours of the Yacht Club through our professionality. We've worked hard throughout the winter, and we are very motivated because we know this project means everything.”
Nacho Postigo, Audi MedCup Circuit Technical Director, echoes the enthusiasm about the team joining the Circuit
“For the circuit, the participation of Azzurra and the Yacht Club Costa Esmeralda is very important, and we are happy to welcome them. It is a nice mix, carrying on the strong Argentinian core but infused with the Azzurra's soul and spirit. I believe they will be able to have good results, thanks to a strong crew and a new boat, which are some of the foundations needed to win. That doesn't mean it will be easy, since they'll have to beat the best sailors in the world, on a Circuit with so many competitive boats”.
Audi Azzurra Sailing Team's new boat has been designed by Rolf Vrolijk and is being completed currently at King Marine in Valencia, due to be launched Sunday April 10th. The boat will be baptized on the first day of the first regatta trophy, planned for May 16th.
It will be skipperd by Argentinian Guillermo Parada, which has been involved in the Matador project for many years, guiding Matador to third place on the podium in 2008 and 2010 and fourth in 2009 . “Our mentality will be the same as last year, but this is a very important step forward for the team. Having the support of two sponsors like Audi and Azzurra is a big responsability, which we assume with pleasure. We consider it the reward to all the things we've achieved in the past years, and we hope that our commitment will show in the results. For the team this is the beginning of a new era”.
Besides Parada, Vascotto and Bruni, the other members of the crew will be Italian Bruno Zirilli (navigator), Juan Pablo Cadario (pit), Mariano Caputo (bowman), Alejandro Colla (grinder), Pedro Rossi (mid bow), and the trimmers Maciel Cichetti, Paul Westlake, Simon Fry and Mariano Parada.
http://www.azzurra.it/
Labels: Audi Med Cup, Azzura, inshore, TP52
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Richard Beyer
Mr. Beyer has served on our board since April 2017. Richard Beyer is an English solicitor. He joined NYK Line in 2007, initially advising its LNG and Offshore Business Groups in London and Tokyo, before taking responsibility for the LNG chartering and business development team of NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic) Limited, NYK Line's London based energy shipping business. Mr. Beyer has been a Director of NYK Energy Transport (Atlantic) Limited since 2011 and a Director and General Counsel of NYK Group Europe Limited since 2015. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Beyer was a Senior Legal Adviser to BP Shipping Limited, and prior to that he was a shipping finance specialist at London based international law firms Stephenson Harwood and Norton Rose, advising a range of shipowners and financiers.
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Dan Saffer: The Want Magazine Interview
Interview conducted for Want Magazine in Spring of 2010.
Dan Saffer is a man with strong opinions, varied interests, and quite possibly, a distaste for the term “User Experience.”
Mind you, Saffer is far from “anti-usability.” His track record as an Experience Design Director at Adaptive Path, a founder/principal of design consultancy Kicker Studio, and the writer of Designing Gestural Interfaces, should put paid to that. He merely feels the term, when applied to an industry, bites off more than it can chew.
We traveled to SF’s South Park neighborhood to interview him in Kicker Studio’s echo-rich, dog-friendly loft offices. It was late on a Friday, he’d had a crazy week and casually nursed a glass of Bourbon as we talked about UX, robotics, magazines on tablets, and how good usability should help us forget that computers areeverywhere.
User Experience, Defined
Want Magazine: Beyond the textbook definition, what is user experience to you?
Dan Saffer: What is User Experience? Well, there’s a lot of different ways of thinking about it…User Experience for me is kind of the overall picture, what used to be called “creative direction” is now called User Experience, because it contains everything from architecture to industrial design to visual design to interactive design to sound design. A very kind of holistic umbrella term that encompasses all of those things under it.
All those disciplines to me are in service to an overall experience. To me there aren’t very many actual user experience designers. There are people who are doing different disciplines sometimes at different times under this user experience banner.
It sounds like what you’re talking about is it’s a much bigger tent than it used to be–so big that you don’t find people that have a skill set that encompasses it anymore. I think that’s definitely true. It’s very hard to be very good at disparate fields like architecture and content strategy. There’s a pretty broad range of skill sets in there depending on the kind of product that you’re building.
If it’s an interactive product, for instance, you may have an industrial designer, you may have service designers, sound designers, all kinds of things, or if it’s a website, you may have visual designers, architects, content strategists, copy writers, all those people. So it can be very different people working at very different kinds of ways, all under User Experience.
Robotics: Keeping Us Clean and Sane
DS: The next big wave after touch and gesture is probably going to be robotics. That’s my guess, anyway.
What are you seeing at the consumer level currently that is interesting?
Currently the one that’s really out that people just adore is Roomba. That’s the one that everyone loves, everyone names them, puts stickers on them, talks to them. They really think of them as being family members. And it’s just a really kind of fascinating item.
Certainly there are other cultures, Japan, Korea, that are far, far ahead of us. Korea has a whole department of robotics, like a Ministry of Robotics or something, where they want to put robots in everyone’s home by, I think it was like 2015…Because they are facing, as we are here, a glut of people who are becoming old, who are becoming elders. And in order to care for them, they see robotics as a real solution to that.
An automated solution.
Right—do small automated tasks that are difficult, or can help provide things like security and communication…and mobility tasks that become difficult for people as they get older. So I think there’s a real growth market there that’s untapped.
We were just at CES last month, and there was a really amazing, this robot seal that they had there. It was mostly for autistic kids. And it was really beautiful. I thought it was going to be really creepy, but it was actually this really great seal that they could hold, and it purred and it felt warm. As you stroked its fur, it had touch sensors so that it really woke up and responded in a very kind of real way, and they say that it’s really great for kids with autism. That they really start to respond to it. And for elder care. People who just need comfort.
How To Build “Want” Into an Experience
DS: If something’s not usable, it’s eventually not going to be desirable, certainly not for the kinds of tools that I make. For jewelry or something, all that matters is that it’s desirable, but for interactive products, eventually if it’s not useful, you’re not going to want it, eventually. It’s going to go away.
But how do you create that desire is a really tricky and hard question. And some of it is about creating products with personality. What is the personality of the product, and how does that personality manifest itself? And is that something I want, as a consumer, in my life? Does this somehow reflect me or who I want to be? Or is it simply appealing, something that I want to spend time with?
That was what was so great about the site Mint, was that it had this really conversational tone. It had a kind of friendly, appealing, easy to understand, jargon-free persona about it that was just refreshing when it came time to think about financial service. So it was like, “Oh, this is something new, something that I would want to spend time doing…” Other banking sites may be more useful or usable, but they’re certainly not more desirable, because it feels like spending time with them is spending time doing work. It’s a chore. To slog through them and put in your data and all those kinds of things. It’s not a pleasurable experience.
The Value of Advertising and Marketing
How much importance would you put on marketing and advertising towards achieving product infatuation?
Marketing and advertising plays a huge part…And as much as we try to, as designers, there’s this reflexive, “Oh, God. Marketing and advertising.” A lot of times it is a core component of what we’re trying to do. I think one of Apple’s secret weapons over the years has been its marketing and advertising. There’s no way that Apple would have had the success that it had with the iPod and the iPhone and stuff like that without its advertising partners.
It doesn’t matter really how usable or useful something is if no one’s using it! If no one can find it, or no one’s heard about it, you can have the greatest product in the world, and it may not matter. Sites like social media sites are a perfect example of this: Unless you have enough people to populate it, it just withers on the vine. You could create the next Facebook that is so much better (and some would argue that that wouldn’t be very hard to do). But if you don’t have that core group of people, then it just doesn’t matter. And I think that’s where marketing and advertising can play that key part.
Now, certainly, designers can make it easier on them by creating products that are beautiful and display their functions in a beautiful way and are approachable and all those good things that we really strive to do.
A lot of what we do here at Kicker are new technology [projects]. People come to us and say, “We’ve got this [brand new technology]. What can you do with this? What is the product here?”
And so some of that is figuring out: what is going to make people want this thing? What’s going to drive it? And for us [our priority is], what’s the personality of it? How is that going to make people want to even think about adopting it? How am I going to try this for the first time? With new products, especially with things like touch screens and gestures, which we do a lot of, there’s this hesitation, like, “Am I going to break this thing? I’m afraid to try it because I’m going to look stupid doing it.”
But [our job is] really to make [people think], “No, it’s really fine. Just try it. It’ll be okay.”
That’s really important with new technologies in particular. Because people come to it with expectations that may or may not be met and how you’re able to meet those expectations and hopefully exceed them. Or, when the expectations aren’t met how, do you fail in a way that’s not off-putting? Failure is really a chance to product personality.
Flickr does a great job of this. When something doesn’t work, it tells you why. It offers a suggestion, like, “Hey have you tried this?” There are ways that failure can be a place to show personality.
Is Usability for Conversion, or Retention?
Is the interaction designer’s job to influence initial adoption, and purchase, or is their job to make the user experience enjoyable for the long run?
It’s definitely some of both. Alan Cooper has a great thing about this, where he says, we spend way too much time on those initial moments when people first start using it, and then we neglect all the people, once they get past that, when they’re intermediate or advanced. It’s like we’ve given them no tools, and then the product seems too simplistic for them.
So it’s a hard balance to strike. How do you give enough meat for intermediate users, which is where most people end up being, while not being too intimidating for someone coming at the site for the first time?
You have to build up a product knowledge that leads people as rapidly as you can into being intermediates. But you still have to design those [adoption] hooks into the service.
I think one of the great things about Blogger back when it started 5 or 6 years ago; it seemed just like this FTP service. “What is this thing?” And when Jeff Veen and some of the guys at Adaptive Path [took it on], they said, okay. It’s three things. And they really aligned it, you do one step, two step, three step. And they made it so very straightforward that all of a sudden adoption just took off. Because there was this three simple steps that led you into becoming a blogger. And I think that was brilliant.
You can do those kinds of things that are basically little attractors…that really get people hooked in. And the history of that goes back ages and ages. Think about old video arcade [games]—they would tease you as you walked by the video game. It would be playing a little movie. And you’d be like, “Hey, that looks interesting. I can put a quarter in and start to shoot or move the joystick around.” That little attraction affordance to draw people in is an important piece to design.
Building for “The Long Wow”
DS: Now certainly that’s not all you should design. Then you get into the meat of, “Okay, now you’re here, you’ve got all this. You have tasks that you need to do.”…No matter how entertaining it is, you still have to get stuff done.
One of the things that interaction designers can do is what Brandon Schauer calls “The Long Wow,” where over time, you keep building in these things that you discover, not your first time using it, but your fiftieth time using it, your hundredth time using it. Those things that are really important over time, so you keep getting reinvested in the service, because they keep giving you something. They keep rewarding you for being a long time user. If you can think about them and really design them in from the beginning, It’s a really great thing.
I mean, obviously, some of that stuff comes after people have used the product for a long time…People start to suggest things: “Why don’t you have ‘x’?” Or, “This would be really helpful,”…which is of course it’s own danger. And then you start adding stuff, and the product can drift away from what it was originally done for.
The “long wow” you just described is very similar to what makes a good multi-level game. Everything from the shelf appeal to the hooks that you’re talking about. I think there’s so much that interaction designers can learn from game designers. There’s always that idea of a reward. What am I leveling up to? Or, what am I resourcing here? In some cases it might be money. In some cases it’s time. In some cases it’s effort…It’s interesting.
Because…the things game designers think about first are the emotion, and “What is the aesthetic appeal of this?” And then they say, “What are the game mechanics that can cause that?”…More thinking like a game designer, thinking, “What’s the aesthetic appeal? What’s the emotional appeal that we’re trying to do, and then how can we start to structure the product to achieve those goals?” Is an interesting way to start thinking about designing products.
On Mag+ and Touch-Screen Magazines
There’s a project that you guys have worked on recently, the Mag+ demo. That is something that we’re particularly interested in, especially because we’re a magazine entity, and we’re interested in moving to a format like that.
Mag+ is a really interesting project. It’s with the magazine publisher Bonnier, who are Swedish and they do every kind of magazine you can think of, from cooking magazines to Field and Stream, to Photography, Popular Science…this pretty wide range of magazines.
They worked with our friends in London, a company called BERG, and they did kind of a concept video of how magazines might work in this kind of new world of e-readers. But they didn’t want the [usual] kind of e-reader experience. And they didn’t want the .pdf experience. They really wanted to capture what it was like to read an actual magazine. Because magazines have evolved over the last 250 years, 300 years, something like that.
Actually one of the first things I did when we got the product was actually go back and read the first magazine.
Yeah, that was the first thing. And surprisingly, there were a lot of the same things. There was still a table of contents, there was still an appendix. There were still lots of short articles, those kinds of things.
So…our job was actually to take that concept and really prototype it and make it into something that would actually work. That would actually go ahead and would eventually be built and that had buy in from all the magazine’s editorial staffs at these magazines and from readers. That it was something people actually wanted to sit down and curl up and read these magazines like they would a normal magazine, a physical paper magazine right now.
That’s why right now currently our walls in the studio are just covered with magazines that are torn all to bits. It looks like a magazine stand has exploded in here or something like that. But [we’re] looking at all the content types that we needed to support. Everything from table of contents to long articles to short articles to timelines to graphics to advertising to classified ads. All different kinds of content that we really had to support.
And then we had to say, what are some of the–what’s it like to actually do page turning in this kind of digital world. Do we still have to have a physical page turn? How can you tell when you’re done reading an article?…We really wanted to keep some of the structure of magazines. And so some of that was finding out what that structure was.
One of our mandates was that it didn’t feel like a piece of software. It wasn’t something that you booted up and had to download and read this whole thing. It wasn’t a chore. It was a magazine. It was something that you’re going to flip through as you’re killing time, or you just want a little bit of information, you want to immerse yourself in it. You don’t want to think about all the parts of it, or how do I then flip a page, how do I do all these…You just want to read the magazine.
It’s really kind of a fascinating project. How do you turn something that was previously, I don’t want to say dumb, but without the digital intelligence, and how do you turn that into something with a kind of intelligence—but not ruin the experience? How do you translate the experience in a way that doesn’t feel wrong, that doesn’t feel like work, it doesn’t feel like I’m reading a .pdf.
So that’s been the real challenge with it. And we’re just finishing up prototyping right now. So I imagine by the time people hear this… Bonnier will have released it.
What’s the next step for it? Would Bonnier offer it as hardware? Would they offer it as an app for the iPad, or…
I think they’re figuring that out. My guess is, from what I know…that it’s something that will be delivered on various platforms as some kind of pay in service.
That being said, there certainly could be [opportunities] where they could sell their own reader…maybe there [should be] a special Bon Air reader…that’s customized for magazine reading specifically. That maybe has things like, it can get wet! We found that an amazing number of people read in the bathtub.
On His Book, Designing Gestural Interfaces
I read an interview where you said that you wrote Designing Gestural Interfaces because at the time, there was no substantial resource on this particular subject.
Right. Because I started writing it, probably…two-and-a-half, three years ago…Prior to that I had mostly done web work. But I suddenly started finding myself doing a lot more touch screen work…So I started trying to research the subject, and was finding it very difficult to get good solid information about it…just the basic stuff. Like, how big should the touch target be on the screen for someone to reasonably tap. And I couldn’t find it.
So I said, “There’s clearly this hole in the market.” And I just set about writing the book. Because I knew that if I didn’t write it, someone else would.
The Rise of Touch Screens
DS: It’s an interesting time because we’re definitely in an interaction revolution…A lot of the paradigms that we’ve used for 40 years now, things like cut-and-paste, we still have them around. The laptop’s not going anywhere quite yet. But now we have this new language on top of it that is the language of gestures and the language of touch.
So projects like Mag+, a couple of years ago, would have been totally different. You would have had buttons on the side like you did on the early version of the Kindle. And that’s how you would be flipping pages. You couldn’t just swipe and flip a page. You just, it wasn’t going to happen. And now it just seems like a natural thing.
I mean, granted, touch screens have been around for almost 40 years at this point, but it’s really taken that long for the technology and the market to mature to the point where—getting back to that desirability thing—where people really want them. They see the value in it and can then say, “Wow. I want that in my stuff.”
And now we’ve almost gone overboard with it. Now it’s like, “Let’s put touch screens in everything. Your toilet now has a touch screen on it.” Someone actually called me about having a touch screen in a shower.
The less said about it the better. But it’s interesting to think you can have computing power in places where you never had it before. And that’s both good and bad, of course. Why does my shower have to be invaded by my email? It doesn’t. I like that five minutes in the shower where I don’t have to think about anything.
Fear of a Blank Tablet
DS: [With touch-screens], there is this kind of like, “As soon as I’m touching it, I’m already doing something. Oh wow. I didn’t have to click on it. I’m touching it. Now something’s happening.” Which is both good and bad.
There is definitely this odd fear factor, and it’s kind of a physiological one. Some research figured out that people are actually afraid of being electrocuted as they touch electrical objects. It’s like a fight-or-flight thing. And getting people over that is a major concern. Which is why that really nice slide to unlock thing on the iPhone is really nice. It’s this really simple thing like, “If I can do that…” “Oh! It unlocks!” and “Oh, there’s some other stuff here I can touch…”
UX: The Front Line of Modern Life
Do you think that in this heyday of touch screens, with the iPad coming out, with Microsoft Surface, is this heralding a new era in user experience?
Yeah. It is an interesting turning point in time. Because all of a sudden, computing power is so cheap it can be disseminated everywhere. It’s on surfaces, on walls, on tables. It’s in our pockets. We’re just surrounded by it all the time.
And user experience and interaction design is playing a big role in that introduction of this new technology, what we can do with it, and how it can hopefully make our lives better—and not make our lives suddenly overburdened or crushed by information.
All those things that really could happen. We could lose all of our privacy. We could lose all these things that we now take for granted, but could easily be taken away from us, thanks to the technology that we’re trying to get people to buy.
So it’s an interesting time. And really, I kind of see user experience people being on the front line of keeping technology, and what it can do for us, really making it for human beings. And I think that the good that we can do for the world, is really make this stuff useful, usable, desirable, and not overburden us—and treat us with the dignity and respect that we should get as human beings.
It’s kind of a hard thing to [realize] when you’re in the middle of a project, and you’re cranking out these deliverables and doing your wire frames or your site map, your CAD drawings…But this stuff goes out in the world and it makes a huge difference to people. That’s why I do it, really.
Thanks to David Gomez-Rosado for his assistance with this interview.
In Ideas, Interviews, San Francisco, User Experience, wantmag Tags dan saffer, interview, journalism, kicker studio, user experience, UX, want magazine
Peter Merholz: The Want Magazine Interview
An interview I conducted for the now-defunct Want Magazine, back in Spring of 2010.
Here’s the secret to a great interview: find a savvy subject, ask him or her the right questions, and stay out of the way. Lob in your pitches and let that person across from you swing for the fences.
Such was my interview with Peter Merholz, co-founder and co-president of Adaptive Path. Peter has the unique ability to speak in paragraphs—meaty ones, with continuity and coherence and a minimum of “um”s. Interviewing him saves on transcription because there are so few carriage returns.
It doesn’t hurt that Merholz has worked in interactive media since the early-90s CD-Rom days, served as a designer at the estimable Studio Archetype, and in 2001, co-founded Adaptive Path, arguably the first consultancy devoted to User Experience research, development, and training. Plus, legend has it he coined the term “blog.”
We ventured to ‘Path’s South Park offices to talk with Merholz about the dominance of Apple, the triumph of the Wii, what the next wave of Personal Computing might be, and much more.
Want Magazine: Adaptive Path has been around since about 2001. Would you consider yourself the first agency or provider of this type?
Peter Merholz: We were probably the first agency that specifically offered services around user experience. Other agencies had user experience as part of a larger set of capabilities they provided–Organic, Razorfish, Studio Archetype, where I worked during the first wave–but they were design firms, and user experience was a part of what they offered. Adaptive path was pretty much the first agency that focused on user experience and not just usability; that would be the other distinction. There were usability firms, but not really user experience firms.
When we began, we focused on customer research, then information architecture and interaction design. We’ve expanded to include product strategy. So [we’re] going earlier in the process to help clients. And then farther down the process, and to visual design, and prototype engineering.
The other thing that’s probably changed is in 2001, we were focused solely on the web. Now, we’ve worked in mobile. We work in embedded device software. We’ve even done retail environment design. So we’ve expanded the platforms on which we are doing this type of “experience design” work.
I noticed from your writing and from what I’ve seen on the Adaptive Path Blog is that one of the services Adaptive Path provides is “experience strategy.” How do you create a successful experience strategy?
One of the things that we found missing when we were working was a good understanding of why [our clients] were doing what it is they were doing. They would often have a set of functional requirements, some type of brief that they were meant to execute on…and we would start asking questions, and there weren’t answers to them. So we developed this capability or methodology around discovering an experience strategy.
An experience strategy is meant to be another way of thinking about product strategy. But instead of simply as a go-to-market strategy, or what are the market segments we’re trying to hit, and all that stuff, what is the experience we want to deliver? What is the feeling we want to create through the device? How are we articulating that? Is there an experience vision for the device, or service that we can be living up to? Experience strategy, for us, is defining and articulating the desired end-experience early on, so that your subsequent design work has a focus.
With an experience strategy, the way you solve those design problems are organized and coherent, because there’s an understood common objective towards what it is you’re trying to deliver.
It sounds like what you have is a way of building in or baking in the outside-in experience that I’ve heard user experience experts talk about.
Right. It’s very much a response to what is typical from strategy, which tends to be very inside-out: “Here’s who we are, and what we want to put out into the world. Here are the capabilities we have.” [For instance], a technology-driven company will have a very capabilities-driven strategy: “Here’s the features and functionality that we’ve developed. Let’s put it in a product and put it out in the world whether or not people want them.”
A more marketing-driven organization will have a more brand-driven strategy: “Here’s who we want to be seen as in the world,” and that will drive it.
The key difference with experience strategy is it begins by trying to understand what it is that customers want–what is it customers are asking for from this interaction with your company?–and use that to drive the strategy. Use that as the set of key touch points to think about how to organize the design work moving forward.
So it’s a way of insisting upon those learnings, making sure that that stuff is hard-wired into the product.
Exactly. Yeah. There’s a way of thinking about it, a visual way of thinking about it, at least when it comes to software that we use. A very simplified way of thinking about it. But if you think of software as a set of concentric circles. You’ve got at the outermost circle, user interface. The next circle is logic, the programming. And the core is data. And too often organizations focus on what they have at the core, and then just figure out how to express that out. They start with the technology.
What we argue is that customers don’t care about what’s in the center. All the customer sees is the interface. And everything else to them is magic. They shouldn’t expect to be expected to know how it works.
What we’re saying is because of that, you want to start with the customer as well, thinking about what is that experience that they’re looking for. And design from the outside in. Let the desired experience, and the desired interface drive the software and drive the data that you have, instead of doing it the other way.
Now this is something you referenced heavily in a book that you wrote for O’Reilly.
Yes. Four of us here at Adaptive Path wrote a book called Subject to Change: Creating Great Products and Services for an Uncertain World. That’s a mouthful in the subtitle. This book was really an attempt on our part to articulate our philosophy about how to do product and service design. It’s not a book of methods or step-by-step. It’s really trying to help impart a mindset that organizations can take in that helps them think about their problems in a way that we think will be successful in what we refer to as “an uncertain world.”
The idea that the world is getting smaller because of communication. The idea that you’ve got microchips embedded in everything, and products are getting much more complex. There’s a lot of confusion and craziness happening in industry. So an obvious one right now is media. The media industry is totally in an uproar. Whether it’s the music industry getting Napster-ized, whether it’s the newspaper industry getting all its revenues taken away by Craigslist. What’s happening now with publishing? Is the iPad going to save publishing? There’s the fact that you could consider Google a media company because it actually generates all of its money from advertising, which is a media revenue model.
So there’s confusion out there and things are changing really rapidly. We wrote the book to articulate how companies can react appropriately, which is to step back and, starting with the customer, figure out what it is people are trying to get down. Figuring out what it is that people want, and then gear the work that you’re doing to deliver on that.
Beyond the textbook definition, what is user experience to you?
Here at Adaptive Path, we’ve been shifting–to a certain degree–away from “User Experience,” and towards “Experience Design.”…We actually think of User Experience in the way that Don Norman [who coined the term] originally intended it, but which kind of got lost. User Experience became essentially a synonym for user interface. People didn’t realize that there was any difference between the two.
“Originally, Don’s conception of user experience was to think about the entire experience the user is having with the product, from the packaging, opening up the packaging, taking out the manual, reading the manual, turning on the machine, installing software…All of that he considered the user experience: not just the software interface, but every step in what you also now hear of as “The customer’s journey.” [It’s about] all of those steps–and thinking intentionally about delivering greatness at each of those steps.
This is something that Apple still does today. If you buy an Apple product, starting from going into an Apple store now…and the interactions you have with the people there, buying the product, taking it home. The famous Apple un-boxing experience that no one has been able to match. Opening up, let’s say it’s a laptop, turning it on. There’s a lot to guide you through the initial installation and setting up your user account, etc. Transferring stuff over from a prior machine, etc. All of that I would consider user experience.
Is it possible for, especially for architects of user experience, to manufacture WANT? To create desire in a product or service, either in the initial the purchase or conversion, or in the continued use of the product?
So you asked a yes-or-no question. The answer to which is yes. But I’ll try to expand further.
The thing that we can’t manufacture are needs. And I think it’s important to distinguish between needs and wants. Because I think from a more traditional marketing standpoint, there’s been a lot of belief that you could create needs.
You can’t create needs. You can influence how people respond to those needs. You can try to shape people’s approach to addressing those needs, but you can’t create needs. But I think you can, to a certain degree, manufacture want. I’m hesitant to use Apple as an example again, but they’re probably the best case of this. If you think about, particularly with their more consumer electronics devices, like the iPhone [or] iPad. They’ve created a want, right? People waited in line to buy an iPhone. And I think that’s a demonstration of an ability to create that want.
In Appreciation of the Wii
PM: I think with the Wii, Nintendo created a want, a desire that people might not have known is there. People have a need for play, for fun, and perhaps the other systems, the Xbox 360, the Sony Playstation weren’t tapping into it, because they’re too complex. But here’s this device, here’s this system, that allows you to tap into that need that you have in a way that feels right to you. And again, creates that want, whether it was the Wii itself, and the balance board, and all these types of tools.
For us, the Nintendo Wii is a remarkable case study of experience design realizing a whole new market. Realizing a whole new play space in the market, away from the hard core gamers, that had been simply ignored. No one thought those people wanted to play games. It turns out they did–they just didn’t want to play the hard core gamer games. They wanted to play lighter-weight, more casual games. Games that didn’t involve just sitting there and twiddling your thumbs. Games that maybe used your whole body. Games that encouraged social engagement in the room. That was an identification of want on Nintendo’s part that they met brilliantly.
Were they playing on the (relatively) universal needs of play and escape, and then creating want around those with this frictionless interface and the ease of use?
I think, yeah. Essentially they recognized–thinking about it more from an MBA standpoint here—they couldn’t compete in the product category in the way they had before. Both Microsoft and Sony had decided that the way they were going to compete was more technology, the latest technology, more polygons. Sony put a Blu-ray player in there. They were going to shove more crap in there.
Nintendo had actually lost the prior generation’s battle. The GameCube was a failure, compared to PlayStation 2 and the original Xbox. People thought Nintendo was an also-ran. And they decided, We’re going to try something radically different. Maybe it won’t work, but we’re going to try something radically different.
The hardware in the Wii is almost identical to the hardware in the GameCube. It’s just a bare leveling-up. But they recognized that there was this opportunity with a new controlling mechanism, with the accelerometer and the little camera in it, that they could have radically different game play. But the cost of goods for them was remarkably low, because the stuff in the Wii remote, an infrared camera and an accelerometer, aren’t that expensive. The hardware in the console itself is last generation’s hardware, so that’s not expensive.
So they were able to take essentially existing piece parts and bring them together in a really revolutionary way by thinking about how they could deliver a different experience for gamers–and realize a whole new market of, or tap into a previously untapped market of potential gamers. One of the things that we love about the Nintendo Wii case study as it were is that when the Xbox 360 launched, and when the Sony PlayStation 3 launched, both of them cost more to build than they were able to price them for. So both of them were loss leaders. And that was pretty typical in video games.
Sell the razor cheap and make it back on the blades.
Exactly. So the Xbox 360, they lost $125 per sale and Sony lost like $250 per sale thinking they were going to make it up with the licensing on the games on the other end. The Nintendo Wii actually made $100 profit per sale on the hardware alone, because they were using the last generation’s hardware. They were able to charge less: $250 compared to Xbox 360 and PlayStation, which were $400 and $500 [respectively]. They were able to charge less and still make a profit. And their insight was by creating a whole new experience we might be able to realize again, tap into this untapped market. And it proved true. It proved remarkably and wildly successful. The Wii has by far outsold Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3.
Making The Product The Brand
Marketing and advertising are not what Adaptive Path does per se, but what’s your take on this: How does advertising and marketing contribute towards instilling want in a consumer?
I have a very mixed view of marketing and advertising. Because much marketing and advertising tries very hard to instill want, but deals with the service of a crappy product or a crappy service. So you might have great marketing and advertising, but if it’s handing you off to something lame, how meaningful was it? And all that might do is it might get somebody in the door, but then the product experience will be so bad that they just drop off. They never come back.
There are some interesting examples of tying marketing and advertising into a larger experience. Probably the best one I can think of involves the launch of the iPhone. If you remember, back after they announced iPhone at Macworld in January–but it didn’t launch until June–they had a set of ads. All the ads were was a shot of an iPhone and someone using it. And so what that’s doing is that is essentially serving as a manual of how to use this new technology. Because iPhone introduced some new interaction paradigms. There’s no buttons except for the home button. There’s swipe gestures. There’s multi-touch and pinch & zoom gestures. And so one of the things that Apple needed to do was get people comfortable with these ideas before they would start using them. And they ended up using these ads to do so.
Apple’s in a rarified position, because clearly all of this stuff, the advertising, marketing, product development, all rolls up to one man. But what it points out is marketing and advertising that isn’t being considered as part of this larger product development process is being given short shrift. Marketing and advertising needs to be considered at the same time as you’re developing the product.
That’s where for me the customer orientation from the outset is helpful, because it can also help the marketing and advertising better understand who it is that you’re trying to engage? What are the things they are concerned with? How can we communicate that to them meaningfully? I think when done well, marketing and advertising…can become that first touch-point in the customer journey. It introduces people to it, and then hands them off to, say a retail store where they can have some hands-on experience. And then they buy it. And then they have the un-boxing experience. And then they use it. But…that kinetic energy was built up with that initial impression that they got through a good advertising campaign that was germane to the whole product experience.
But too often, advertising is considered long after a product’s been developed: “Okay, now we need to market it.” And it’s considered separately from the product. It doesn’t really dovetail into that desired product experience.
Another company that is doing an interesting job in this regard is Southwest Airlines. I just flew Southwest recently. If you remember the Southwest Airline campaign, they use that “bing.” “You’re now free to move about the country,” which they get from inside the airplane’s “bing.” “You’re now free to move about the cabin.”
So, when you check in at the gate for Southwest Airlines, they run your boarding pass under their bar code scanner. It makes that same “bing” noise as you hear in the ad and as you hear on the plane. I thought that was really interesting. It’s pretty loud, so it’s very purposeful. It’s not just some computer beep. They’re making an attempt to tie together these different threads of the experience. Southwest is a company that I hold up as an exemplar of how to do experience design right. They figured out a lot of these elements. And so that’s clearly very purposeful, not accidental. So that’s another one where you’re tying together, again, not thinking about marketing and advertising as something separate, but just as the first step of a customer’s journey of engaging with your business.
It reminds me of what I experienced working in advertising, where every agency claimed to offer “360 degree branding.” For most ad agencies, that meant “We’ve got a TV division, we’ve got an interactive division. We’ve got this, that, and the other,” to extend your brand into every advertising medium. But it really should extend more towards customer management, customer service, and of course use of the products themselves.
The problem for me is that the marketers did it from this very brand[-driven] orientation–very inside-out…you might have the same logos and identities around, but that’s only part of the experience…We need to make sure that our brand is reflected appropriately on, in the marketing channels, at certain touch points, etc., without really an interest in the outside in orientation. What is it that customers want?
I want to get back to user experience vis-à-vis computing. in a recent post on the Adaptive Path blog, you suggested the iPad may be “the best computing interface for communication and consumption.” Can you elaborate on that?
Yes. If you look at the history of computing, it’s gone through stages. And it’s really the history of personal computing. I’ve been involved almost from the beginning in that I had an Apple 2e when I was a kid, the first commercially successful personal computer. And the Apple 2 used essentially a text-based, command-line interface. And text-based interfaces were fine. command line interfaces were fine, when computers were primarily used for Calculation (the first “C” of Merholz’s “Five C’s” of personal computing”).
But what happened is, [these computers] started going into people’s homes. People couldn’t spend thousands of dollars on a fancy calculator. So these computers were being asked to do other things. Word processing. Spreadsheets. Desktop publishing. And what you get is, instead of Calculation, you now have this new “C,” of Creation.
The problem is that the text-based interface we were using with Apple 2’s or IBM PCs is not really a good Creation interface. Because what you’re seeing on the screen isn’t what you’re getting if you say, print it out. So that led to the Graphical User Interface (GUI), made again commercially available by Apple through the Macintosh. This idea of WYSIWYG: What You See Is What You Get. So you now have a user interface tailored to how people were using the computer, which was to create things. Create documents, create banners in PrintShop, or in PhotoShop. It was about making stuff.
Then what happened is, these computers started getting on a network. Whether it was dial up or Ethernet, you started plugging them into a network and into the internet. And the uses shifted again, so people weren’t spending nearly as much time creating things on their computer as they were doing one of two things. Communicating, whether it was over email, instant messenger, or more recently things like Skype. Or Consumption. By Consumption, I mean consuming media. Reading web pages. Watching YouTube videos. Listening to music. So, if you were to look at your own use of a computer, at least outside of work, what are you doing with it? Most people are spending their time communicating or consuming.
The problem is, we’re using an interface paradigm that was designed for Creation. WYSIWIG isn’t all that meaningful in a Communication or Consumption mode. It’s a mismatch of paradigms. In fact, I think there’s something about what’s called the WIMP GUI (Windows Icons Menus Pointers) interface, that again was tailored well to Creation, and falls apart when you’re dealing with the flow of Communication, or the desired lack of interruption in Consumption.
That’s where I think the iPad is interesting.
iPad: The Consumption Engine
PM: [With the] iPad, you don’t have a mouse anymore. You don’t necessarily have the keyboard. There is a soft keyboard, but it’s a very direct experience that you’re now having with the device, which, from a consumption standpoint, it’s far and away the best. You have a fuller screen when it comes to video. You’ve got this almost ideal reading interface now. You can hold it one hand. You can use gestures to move around, swipe pages on a book, or whatever.
I think they’ve nailed the Consumption. Communication is something that it’s not clear to me they’ve hit. I think the tell-tale aspect there is–they recognized it but weren’t able to go all the way–with a front-facing video camera. It turns out that they have software hooks for a front-facing video camera. People have been mucking around in the developer code and saw that there were some plans there. And someone got some, looks like some type of initial prototype fabrication of an iPad, took it apart and saw that at the top above the screen there was a space for a camera.
But when they announced it in the event in January, none of that was mentioned. Not even addressed.
You wrote about this not long ago, and your take on it was price point.
Price point: this is another aspect of experience design that tends to not get considered. My guess–no one has said this–is that there is a mantra within Apple, probably Steve [Jobs]’s in particular, that they had to at least have an iPad they could sell for less than $500. That was a magic price point, in order to make it a truly mass-consumable good. And when they took out everything they needed to take, when they left in everything they needed to have in there–Wi-Fi connectivity, touch screen, certain video capabilities, and graphics chips or whatever it is that they had to have just to have the right base experience–they got to a point where they had maxed out what they could put in there and still keep it below a certain price.
So, my assumption is it got booted for that reason. I think they’re missing out on this huge opportunity to really make it a Communication device. You can use email on iPad. You can type on the thing. But email is a communication artifact of what computers could do. That was how you could communicate with a computer. I know in my personal experience, you don’t want to extrapolate too much from any individual’s experience, but we’re seeing, with Skype, both Skype audio and Skype video, these things are taking off.
We think of Communication in the prior paradigms of email or instant messaging, but that’s not necessarily how it’s going to be. And I think a Communication tool that addresses that appropriate flow of Communication and takes advantage of current technologies, such as a front-facing camera, will really be able to tap into this fifth “C” of computing, Communication (I actually left out one of the “C”s, which is Cataloging, databases and stuff. Probably not worth going into now).
And the iPad, there’s nothing better than this, but it didn’t quite get there. And the other thing that I find strange about iPad, and who knows, I might live to regret this interview, is how much effort they put into maintaining Creation. There’s document creation. They re-designed the whole Apple iWorks suite, Pages and Numbers, to work in iPad. And I don’t quite get it. Again, we’ve got a tool that does creation very well. It’s called the Personal Computer. Whether it’s a Mac or a PC. What we need is a tool that does Consumption and Communication really well. And the iPad is really damn close. It’s the closest thing out there. But it’s almost like they couldn’t quite let go of that legacy of creation. They couldn’t quite embrace what’s coming.
This might prove to be an interstitial product. [Maybe] iPad 2.0 gets that front facing camera. With the app store, you can have whatever apps, whether they’re Creation, etc. But I’m all but certain what people will actually do with it is consume media, whether it’s movies, TVs or reading. And communicate with people.
The other thing they’ll do is play games. Gaming is a whole separate parallel track when it comes to computing. What I realized as I was thinking about this is, no matter what you give people, whether it was a command line interface, a graphic GUI interface, or some iPad, iPhone interface, they will figure out how to make games from it. I think that just taps into that deep seeded human desire to play.
You have these five “C”s that you’ve just outlined. You’ve also gather those categories under three waves. There’s just about two “C”s per wave, if I remember correctly.
One to two.
You consider the iPad and its ilk as exemplary of the third wave.
[The iPad is] the first computing device that’s really addressing that third wave of Consumption and Communication.
What do you think the fourth wave will be?
I’m about to go to South by Southwest where I’m going to be monitoring a panel called “Beyond the Desktop: Embracing New Interaction Paradigms.” And in there, there might be some of the fourth wave stuff. One of the people speaking is a gentleman named David Merrill, who’s the creator of a technology called Siftables, which are these little computers. They’re about an inch square on an side. And the point is to have a lot of them. It’s like interactive Legos. They can talk to each other. They have screens on them. They have accelerometers. And they have infrared monitors.
And so what it is, they know where they are in relationship to one another. So you get this wholly different way of thinking about communicating. When you think about it very physical, small, and compiled. What happens when you’ve got 15 of these on a table talking to each other in strange ways? And it allows for social interaction: you can have five, and I can have five, and he can have five, and we could all be playing with these and interacting in new ways.
[Also speaking is] Johnny Lee, who became most famous for a set of YouTube videos he did around the Wii mote and hacking the Wii mote, create new interfaces with it. He’s at Microsoft now, working on Project Natal, which is about full body interfaces: Minority Report-type stuff, where you’re using your hands. It’s gesture-based, and it’s immersive. Something coming from that might be this fourth wave. I don’t know what that will be. Communication still tends to be one-to-one…You and I can’t easily engage with an iPad together.
We see with video game consoles, they’re creating something that multiple people can use the same thing at a time. But what we’re seeing now with this next set of computing paradigms, whether it’s things like siftables, or an immersive Minority Report-type of thing, allowing multiple people to engage with the same stuff simultaneously in the same space as opposed to across spaces and going back and forth. Where it’s not my computer anymore. It’s just a resource that we’re all engaging in and drawing from.
In Ideas, Interviews, San Francisco, User Experience, wantmag Tags interview, journalism, peter merholz, user experience, UX, want magazine
Anarchy in the UX: Engineering Desire the Malcolm McLaren Way (From Want Magazine)
An essay I wrote for the now-defunct Want Magazine. Published July 20, 2010
It feels serendipitous that, while closing our first release of Want Magazine, “The Engineering of Desire,” international attention turned towards one of its canniest practitioners.
Malcolm McLaren departed this world in April 2010, leaving behind more than just The Sex Pistols, Bow Wow Wow, and the proto-hip-hop single “Buffalo Gals.” He left a legacy that we as designers, marketers, and other UX acolytes would do well to examine.
No, seriously.
Photo with permission by © Eva Tuerb
McLaren as UX Practitioner? “We Mean it, Man”
I can hear the flame war already. What can the life of the man who allegedly invented punk rock and brought hip-hop to Britain and suburban America teach we who design smart phone apps and touch-screen PCs?
More than you’d think. McLaren took a startup venture—consisting of four pimply youths who frequented his London fetish shop–and guided it to international recognition and a social impact that popular culture continues to reel from.
He did it by applying a fascinating mix of strategies–some, like denying customers access to his product, would lose today’s UX experts their jobs. Others, like conducting user testing and enforcing a focused product strategy, UX’s leading lights follow every day.
French Marxism Meets Kings Road Retail
From the beginning of his career, McLaren had a talent for picking up existing cultures and philosophies and re-framing them to create something new.
The latter skill came from his late-60s art-school education, where he discovered the political movement, Situationism. Founded by Marxist philosopher Guy DeBord, the Situationists advocated provocative, even absurd actions both as political statement and performance art. McLaren would eventually apply Situationist ideals to sales, management, and eventually, product strategy.
He began his career in retail. In 1972, McLaren and then-girlfriend Vivienne Westwood opened up a clothing store in London’s trendy Kings Road district called Let It Rock, selling Teddy-Boy-style-apparel like leather jackets and skin-tight trousers. Then, during a trip to New York, he discovered the DIY culture of punk rock and the hardware-heavy fashion of S/M fetish culture.
This influenced McLaren and Westwood to change the name of their store to Sex and sell leather and vinyl bondage gear. McLaren would later tell Vice Magazine, “I wanted to sell things that were normally sold in brown paper bags under the table. People were afraid to come in. It was fantastic.”
The store served as his Situationist comment on retail: “A shop in which nothing in it was for sale. I liked the contradictions of that. It turned our shop into a place that people found impossible to leave.” [Swindle Magazine]
Selling such disreputable items in a Kings Road boutique created the political volatility on which McLaren thrived. “We were raided twice by the police and went to court, but I didn’t give a damn…all the kids thought, ‘This is the coolest place on earth.’” [Vice Magazine]
The store failed to cultivate a customer base–but it built a hungry audience. McLaren would leverage this audience for his other products–not the least of which was a band, consisting of four of his most loyal non-customers.
“Cash From Chaos”
As he moved into the music industry with the Sex Pistols, McLaren continued to leverage his Situationist tendencies. He made sure every piece of media the band actually released had some element of inaccessibility–the beginnings of an anti-marketing strategy he would dub “Cash from Chaos.”
This strategy, unheard of today, had dual positive outcomes. One outcome was the creation of publicity.
The record, “Anarchy in the UK,” needed to create an eruption. After all, it was just a record and somehow that didn’t seem to be enough. I refused to put a pretty picture of a band on a cover. Instead, I instructed the marketing department to produce a plain black cover with no hole in the middle, no name, no title, no record label. Nothing. [The Guardian]
The other outcome was a targeted, passionate audience, much like the one he cultivated among the kids at his store.
EMI were not happy. How, they asked, will anyone find the record? They didn’t understand that I didn’t want just anybody to find it. I wanted only those who cared. [The Guardian]
But the chaos—and the cash—had only begun to accrue.
God Save the Queen (and the Band’s Reputation)
McLaren made it a point to keep the band away from its fans and the press—partly to maintain that sense of mystery and exclusivity; partly because the Sex Pistols were actually terrible musicians.
Creating an inflammatory image helped. The Pistols lobbed f-bombs on national television—unheard of at the time. Most infamously, during the twenty-fifth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the throne, McLaren rented a boat and had the band float up and down the Thames performing “God Save the Queen” and “Anarchy in the UK.”
This offense on the media actually allowed him to keep his product under wraps, making the idea of the band more popular than their music ever could have been.
Instead of having the band play, I had them judge beauty contests. Town councilors were conducting press interviews. Whole towns and cities across the nation formed vigilante squads, not only to ban the group from playing but to prevent them from entering the city. Congregations were praying they just might self-destruct. The national debate was on. [The Guardian]
Creating this firestorm around the band, as he did with Sex, did the trick. “The fact that (people) couldn’t be at the event made the event an enigma that could never be resolved.” He told the musician Momus in 2002. “And that’s what kept the Sex Pistols on the top of the media pile for eighteen months.”
Shared Experience: Four UX Rules McLaren Followed
Keeping one’s product away from prospective buyers rarely leads to platinum sales, as it did with Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols. But looking at the techniques and opinions of some of the leading minds in UX–specifically, those interviewed in Want Magazine’s Release 001–McLaren might not have been all that off-base after all.
1. Have a tightly-focused product strategy.
Take Luke Wroblewski’s interview, wherein he praises the efficacy of the single-focus product strategy:
Many times that (drive) comes from an entrepreneur who has that very, very strong desire. That personal drive to bring something to the world…is an incredibly strong focus point. I think this is why a lot of early-stage companies can deliver something new to the world.
2. Don’t Listen to your users. Watch them.
McLaren relied on user testing–or at least his version of it. He founded punk style by observing the clientele of Sex, his Kings Road boutique. He noted the ones who most frequented the store bought very little, but rather, hung out for the scene, for the style. Malcolm described them in an interview as “The dispossessed fans of David Bowie, Roxy Music, et cetra, who were looking for something of their own.”
3. Find your user’s unmet needs or wants—and meet them.
In our interview with Cordell Ratzlaff, Cisco’s Director of User-Centered Design, he mentions that “A lot of the emotional connection that people have with products goes back to satisfying a need that they didn’t even know that they had.”
As McLaren developed an understanding of what his audience wanted—even before they themselves did–he created ways to capitalize on them without compromising his product’s authenticity. Volatile publicity stunts like the Queens’ Jubilee boat trip resulted in “God Save the Queen” reaching #1 on the British pop charts–building the band’s anti-authoritarian image and moving units at the same time.
4. Cover flaws with an overall enjoyable User Experience.
The cleverest UX strategy applied by McLaren is one referenced by none other than Don Norman. In Norman’s Want interview, Norman applies it to the most un-counterculture experience around: amusement park lines. Norman points out that amusement parks can do little about the lines for their rides, and so try to make every other aspect of the park experience pleasurable.
By making the total experience a great one, people are willing to overlook the minor problems of boredom and standing in line…When something is really good and pleasurable, we do overlook the minor faults.
Which, of course is exactly what McLaren did—i.e., use a publicity smokescreen to hide the fact that the experience of watching the Sex Pistols play was actually unpleasant. While this is a strategy Norman acknowledges, it’s not one he’d have recommended.
I would hate to have that used, though, as a way of deliberately allowing ourselves to have faults and making up for it by some other thing, say by the packaging or styling.
As such, it’s unlikely that Don Norman would approve of the Sex Pistols.
Steve, Malcolm. Malcolm, Steve
McLaren melded disparate elements of culture and politics as a UX designer or strategist does with metaphors and design patterns. He knew how to create ideas at the big-picture level, and shape and lead a team that could execute on them.
Was his ability to combine fringe cultures of late-70s New York City with fashion retail to create a million-selling rock band terribly unlike today’s product innovators? Is it so different from Steve Jobs, who looked at a hotel concierge desk and thought “Genius Bar,” or Jonathan Abrams, who took a Match.com profile as his inspiration for Friendster? Can’t innovation come from anywhere, into any industry, provided it’s sufficiently fueled by passion and imagination?
If Malcolm McLaren’s career is any indication, of course it can. Part P.T. Barnum, part Fagin-esque entrepreneur, he spent his life trusting his gut and failing as often as he succeeded. Yet his successes influenced design and technology in ways most of today’s innovators can only dream of–all with a minimum of cash and resources; mostly wit, drive, and an eye for talent.
Perhaps it’s that path to DIY success where McLaren truly resonates with us in the UX field. His work permeated our culture in a way that today’s tech start-ups aspire. “If you play your cards right,” He ranted in the film The Great Rock N Roll Swindle, “You can capture the imagination of the entire world.”
by Ken Grobe Managing Editor, wantmag.com
Ken Grobe is a UI writer, editor, and award-winning copywriter. When he’s not helping Want Magazine to increase the general profile of User Experience, he writes comedy for San Francisco’s Killing My Lobster.
Thanks to David Gomez Rosado for procuring the McLaren Photo.
In music, Pop Culture, User Experience, wantmag Tags essay journalism, malcolm mclaren, marketing, product design, sex pistols, user experience, UX, want magazine
Luke Wroblewski: The Want Magazine Interview
An interview I conducted with Luke for the now-defunct Want Magazine, back in Winter 2010.
Luke Wroblewski isn’t exactly what you’d expect. For one thing, he looks a lot younger than his 15 years in the Usability and design fields would imply. And he’s much more mild-mannered in person than his prolific blogging and busy conference schedule would suggest.
Oh, and he doesn’t work at Yahoo anymore, which one suspects he might have had an inkling about when we interviewed him there the other month. But what, he’s going to clue us in? We’re press.
One place where the name is firmly on the tin is in his know-how and grasp of the UX field. His popular design books, Site Seeing and Designing Web Forms, speak to that. He was kind enough to sit down with us in Yahoo’s Sunnyvale offices to talk about UX in general and web forms in particular—including how to get the guy in the corner office to throw money at redesigning them.
The Hard Truth About Web Forms
“Nobody wants to fill out web forms.” He admitted matter-of-factly. “What [users] want is something on the other side. They want to buy something. they want to communicate with their friends. They want to have their opinions heard…The form really sits at this lynch-pin point of engagement online.”
How much difference can a form re-design make? “It’s not uncommon for a web form redesign to move metrics up into the double digits, to reduce error rates something like 80%…At eBay, we were constantly tuning and optimizing the key forms. The business folks knew hands-down what kind of lever that was.”
Who else “gets it?” Luke cited YouTube, a site that gets around 150,000 videos uploaded per hour, all via–say it with us, class–“A web form! Those guys have redesigned that web form 10 times that I know of.”
Successful use cases like these also support WANT_001’s theme, “The Engineering of Want.” As Luke sees it, “One of the things that you can do to sort of increase desire is remove obstacles.” The easier you make that web form, the more easily a user can get what they came for.
It’s a Form. It’s a Home Page. It’s Geni.com
Luke’s favorite example of a usable, want-able web form is from a lesser-known service: Geni.com. A social network based on family trees, and one of Time Magazine’s “50 Best Websites of 2008,” Geni’s home page is a form that makes you feel like you’ve gotten something back from the time you spent filling it out.
“Their front page looks like a little family tree. It says ‘your mom, your dad,’ and down below it says ‘you’…[the “you” field] has ‘first name,’ ‘last name,’ ‘email address,’ ‘go.’ So it’s technically a web form, but it’s designed around your explicit need, which is ‘I want to make a family tree.’ Super easy. Before you know it, you’ve created the scene and are engaged and you want to share and get it out there.”
Luke insists that a sense of progress is the driving factor of good form design. One of the questions he consistently fields is “How long should my web form be?” Which he tends to answer with another question: “Are [users] making forward progress towards what they actually want? If they are, then they’ll fill in 20 pages!”
Inside/Out Concepting Vs. Outside/In
Which brought our conversation to any UX-pert’s favorite subject: Do you review the company’s resources and abilities first, then try to fit those into the customer’s needs, or do you start with the customers’ needs and see how the company’s resources can fulfill them?
In this regard, Luke cites Lou Carbone as an influence. “One of the phrases that he uses is, ‘Think outside in.’ The vast majority of people building products and kind of running a business are thinking inside out.
“Inside/out thinking tends to be: ‘This is the database technology we have available. This is the easiest way to display a form on a web page to get the information that we need.’” And so on, with little thought about the customer’s needs and proclivities. Web forms, in particular, are so closely tied into a company’s database technologies that a customer-focused perspective is rare.
Which might explain Luke’s poor opinion of Web usability in general. “I think the vast majority of the web experiences out there are pretty terrible right now. They are defined through what they are versus what the people using them want to accomplish.”
Getting from GUI to NUI
When asked about the future of UX, his answer was similar to Don Norman’s: that the interface will disappear. Or in Luke’s words: “we’ve been removing more and more layers of abstraction between the person and the content in the tasks and activities they want to accomplish.”
Consider command-line coding–typing in commands and “if/then” statements to get the computer to do anything–a “fully abstracted” user experience. The creation of a GUI made the experience less abstract, with file folder systems and menus full of choices, but it still required unintuitive interactions like dragging discs to the trash can to eject them. Take, for example, photos: In the typical GUI, you’re still clicking and dragging icons of photos, not full graphic representations of the photos themselves.
Which brings us to the latest generation of UI, “Natural User Interfaces” (NUIs) that remove another crucial layer of abstraction. Luke, like most UX minds these days, cites the iPad as the most popular current representation of that.
“There is a lot of conversation around Apple’s iPad. It doesn’t really have a window system, doesn’t have any kind of control panel, it doesn’t have a hierarchical folder system…it doesn’t have all these layers of abstractions that keep you away from the content.”
Luke uses the iPad photo experience as an example.
“You are literally interacting with the content…You want the photo? there’s the photo. Move the photo, touch the photo, re-size the photo, spin the photo…”
He also pointed out that this kind of NUI is likely to catch on, due to Apple’s considerable touch-screen user-base, as well as pure economics. “Jeff Dachis said that everything that can be digital, will be digital, because it’s faster, easier and cheaper. It allows you to do so much more with it.”
A published author, it’s only natural that Luke would cite books as another example. “I love holding a book and flipping through it, but it sucks for searching. It’s terrible for sharing. It’s actually pretty bad for annotation and recall as well. It doesn’t take advantage of all these things that the digital realm can do to make it better. Which is why I think a lot of these new interfaces are so exciting; they bring that power.”
The Next Level of UX: You’re Soaking In It!
What’s next after touch-screen interfaces? The real world, of course. Luke has named the next wave of UX “first person user interfaces,” that reduce abstraction further by bringing digital materials into the real world via contextual interfaces like GPS and RFID.
“The devices you [already] have are sensor-rich enough that they understand the context of where you are. Mobile phones are an early indicator of this. They’ve got GPS, they have a compass, they know where you are and what direction you are facing, so they can remove all the things in between you and the space you are in and really bring information to you that’s relevant right then and there.
“[Let’s say] there’s something [nearby] that has an RFID tag. I can get information about that object without having to go through these layers of operating system.”
Author William Gibson famously said, “The future is already here. It’s just not very evenly distributed.” Luke Wroblewski sees a future where objects become open books, books become digital objects, and digital objects become easier to use than ever. And yes, it’s happening now. All in all, his take on the future is as interesting—and unexpected—as the man himself.
In Interviews, User Experience, wantmag Tags interview, journalism, Luke Wroblewski, user experience, UX, want magazine, yahoo
Bill Scott: The Want Magazine Interview
Interview conducted for the April 2010 issue of Want Magazine
Yessir, there’s nothing like working for a quarterly publication in today’s fast-and-loose online media environment. The best part? Interviewing someone like Bill Scott about his company, Netflix, and then finding out three weeks before press time that he doesn’t work for Netflix anymore. Bill Scott. Yep.
Fortunately, Scott’s career and influence doesn’t start and stop with Netflix, nor even with his current position at Meebo. He’s a published author, an in-demand UX lecturer, and a heck of a nice guy. He sat down with us at the end of a busy day to talk about the evolution of UX, bidding adieu to the scroll bar, and why happy employees make better products. And yes, he did give us a look under Netflix’s big red hood. Want Magazine: So, Bill. What’s your definition of User Experience?
Bill Scott: I’ll cop out and give a couple. Because if you’re doing something that’s much more entertainment–an engaging game–then it’s much more about fun, defined in a sense of thrill and fear, and all those emotions, and you’re always climbing that ladder of challenge and success and challenge and success.
“But there’s another kind of fun—[as applied to] productivity apps…if you can get the flow, and the tool becomes transparent and visible to you and there’s a transparency to it and you get your stuff done and you feel smarter, then that’s a good user experience.
And then, in [Netflix’s] situation a good user experience is, you found a movie that you enjoyed that you didn’t know that you were going to enjoy. So…games: more directly fun. And then productivity apps are all the way out here, where it’s more like “I’m very invisible.” And [the Netflix UX] is a little bit more in-between.
Let’s talk a bit about your job at Netflix. I was surprised to hear that there are in fact two UX departments in Netflix. One is User Interface Engineering (of which you’re the director), but there’s also a UX department, where you have a director of User Experience.
Yes. Rochelle King is my counterpart. Wonderful person to work with. And [her] team is the actual UX design team. And my team is what a lot of people call the front-end engineers, the engineers that are actually putting the website together. So their skills range from, usually HTML, XML, CSS and Java script. Although I like to have people in the team that also have design sensibilities.
So why is the author of Designing Web Interfaces heading up an Engineering department?
It’s actually an interesting role, because User Experience is valued here highly at Netflix, and they like to hire people who bring a hybrid of skills. So while someone like myself could do the User Experience side, I do the User Engineering, that’s where I put my focus, but I can easily brainstorm with Rochelle. I don’t try to run the design team. She does a great job of that.
When I was at Yahoo!, I was [the Ajax Evangelist], and so it involved both the design side and the engineering side. At first I was in the core design team, and then when I launched the Yahoo! pattern library, that was design assets. But then I went over and became engineering manager for a while for a product called Yahoo! for Teachers. So I’m kind of one of those odd birds that jump back and forth between engineering and design. And I like that. I enjoy the back and forth.
We Don’t Own Red, But…” The Psychology of Creating “Want”
Can one manufacture “want” into a product or service? I think you can…One can have the right motive in doing that…persuasive experience is what we would call it.
If you understand human psychology…you can persuade a little bit better. For example, people want a big set of choices, [but] if the Paradox of Choice theory is correct, people are actually happier with fewer choices.
If you know that generally things you put up first, people are going to have a higher take on, you can manufacture a little bit of want and desire there. You can say that something’s free—and that creates this good feeling. People are drawn to that. So there are certainly things you can do.
A good book I would recommend to people is Susan Weinschenk’s book, Neuro Web Design, a very good book. She’s got some YouTube web videos also. And she talks about these things like fear of loss and other things like the paradox of choice and some experiments with that.
I think it’s like most things in life, though. If you try too hard to do something, say, superficial like that, then it becomes too apparent and it falls apart…You could really try to manipulate people with the fear and scarcity and the last minute deal, [but] it goes overboard. Because you’re just focused on that. You’re a one-trick pony.
How much importance do you think marketing and advertising have towards creating this kind of want and desire for a product? I think a lot. A lot of the success we have had [at Netflix] is because we have a great marketing group that’s got the Netflix brand out. The red envelope has been huge. It’s like this symbol of happiness people have when they get it. It’s huge for us now.
Of course, you have to envision some day in the future, [Netflix will focus more on] streaming. And…we won’t have red envelopes, which will be a sad day.
But yeah, it creates a tone. Our brand team, we don’t own red. Obviously. Nobody owns red. But we do have a red color that people do recognize as us, and we try to bring that forward.
The Responsibilities Of the Interaction Designer
What is the Interaction Designer’s job: to influence conversion or extended use? What is the interaction designer’s job, whether it’s an engineer, whether it’s a designer? Is it to make a product desirable for adoption–to influence purchaser adoption? Or is it to make it consistently enjoyable over use?
There’s kind of a tension between pure design, aesthetics, and business concerns it seems like you’re kind of getting at there. Really, at the end of the day, you can blend the two together. What we try to find is the intersection point between what’s a good user experience and also what helps the business.
Between conversions and reuse. There’s some things you can [do], surface certain things in the site…People tend to enjoy it more if you can find hidden gems and things that are more of a treasure. We don’t have hard data on that, but we have a pretty good hunch based on some data.
Then it’s a good experience–and it’s not bad for business either.
Designing Constraints
BS: From a designer, the challenge you know in hiring a design team at pretty much any web company that’s going to be successful, they can’t just be about design. The team as a whole has to be thinking about the business.
But I think [this is] one of the challenges in the design team, and I work with Rochelle on this. When she hires, I interview the designers too and I’m part of her process.
You have to find designers and engineers who enjoy living in constraints. Some designers want all the freedom, and they want to be artists really and not designers. Designers have to design for solutions. And so you have to mentally prepare people in a team to say, this is actually fun. This is a challenge. Here are the constraints that you have. Yeah, you want to fill this experience, but to win at this game, these business metrics need to move. And it’s an objective. It can be read wrong. It can be misused. But it’s an objective measure, and you can go against that.
“Happy People Design Happy Products”
But how does that affect the quality of the product and/or service that we’re talking about here? It affects it because happy people design happy products.
I heard this one company recently where they were telling me the product managers were cussing out the designers and just lambasting the engineers. This is in the valley here. What a bunch of nonsense. We all have to go home, and we have families, and live civilly. It affects our work. But if you have teams that, if the reward structure of the whole organization is around moving the business forward, everybody gets the value of that.
People that enjoy their work are going to be more creative. I just believe that. That book Driven that just came out recently talks about motivation of creatives. It’s not about the stick-and-carrot approach. It’s really about being driven by the desire to create. Now, we temper that because we have the numbers that drive the business.
It sounds like what you’re saying is that having a cohesive team or teams is the best way to create a product that people want. I think it’s a strong ingredient. I think without that ingredient, you can fall apart pretty quickly. It certainly wouldn’t stand on its own if we didn’t have the [shared] passion towards simplicity, to not just add a bunch of features. No feature is actually sacred. It can be taken away if it’s not something that’s valuable. A resource that’s not really helping our members. The objective is of the measures, business measures…web analytics is a really important part of it. Well, it’s only one piece of the puzzle, I should say, but very important.
The Future of UX
Do you see the field of UX evolving past the point we’re at now? Yeah. I really do. We’re definitely at a change point. For the last 26 years, we’ve had the mouse, we’ve had a lot of things that go with that.
It’s interesting. I was thinking about this the other day. My first introduction to the mouse and the scroll bar was a Mac in 1984…and I was ecstatic that I could actually scroll back and forth and see my Mac Basic program and not just roll off the window. I could actually scroll back and forth.
And I thought it was quite appropriate that if anybody took the scroll bar away from me, it would be Apple because they gave it to me to begin with. I guess 26 years seemed kind of poetic.
They giveth, and finally they taketh away. [Now], you just flick with your finger.
We’re at kind of one of those watershed moments. Just like the iPhone ushered in a lot of stuff, I think the iPad will too. If it’s not the iPad itself that just takes off and sells zillions of units, it will definitely be devices like that. And I think because it changes the game around the input device.
I’m not saying touch takes over everything. But certainly as we move that way, it begins to change a lot of the way we think about things. And if you design an interface, you would never design an interface with a lot of scrolled areas, because the scrollbar can get to be really ugly. Visually dense. But you can actually have lots of sliding panels in a touch space. And, so, it just changes a bunch of things around. The physicality. The iPad’s going to [change things] a lot.
Whenever you change the assumptions like that, it’s great for all of us, because we rethink things. And even if we don’t end up where we thought we would end up by doing that, even if it’s not the iPad, the thing that changes the world, it certainly starts changing the direction.
So these are really interesting times. Because we’re getting interfaces into lots of places they haven’t been. Mobile space, even phones.
Are you talking strictly about gestural interfaces? I’m talking about gestural, the natural user interfaces, but I’m also talking about even on the TV–it’s left-right-up-down, so that’s not a great interface yet.
Netflix’s “Secret Sauce” (Ingredients: 2)
BS: It’s interesting. The secret sauce to the user experience here is two things that people don’t think of. Well, one of them they probably do. One of them that most people don’t think of [is that] the goodness of the user experience has more to do with the service than the site. Because if you become a member of Netflix, and you get a movie that you enjoy, you have love in your heart for Netflix.
And it’s true! When I first came to Netflix…and I started going out and speaking, I got a lot more love. I got love [when I would speak] for Yahoo!…but I got a lot more gushing [with Netflix].
And it was like, okay, wait a minute. I know the warts of our site, so I’m like, “It’s not perfect or anything. There’s things that can be better.” But because the service is good, the whole experience is good, then it transfers some goodness to the site, even if it may not be there. So that’s one.
The other is, the devotion to the analytical side of usability. I come from the Alan Cooper kind of world, not quite as extreme as Alan. I don’t believe that. “Good design is self-evident,” he would say.
One of the things that drew me to Netflix was because I was always a design-by-hunch kind of guy, I had a knack for design. I wanted to bring [numbers] into it.
Around here, our metrics’ are simply around acquisition—membership. getting people in. But, thinking of the member side, how do you measure retention? You can’t, until it’s too late. So you measure it by leading indicators.
Those leading indicators can be things like consumption. You can know if somebody added something. And now you can [measure] plays [of streaming media]. And so we’ve got metrics around that. And then there’s also “taste input”—star rating. If you rate something, that’s an important metric. And those things all tie together.
Because when you get into the consumer world, most people out there are not like us. I don’t know if you’ve seen that Google video, “What is a browser?” If you haven’t, check it out. The Google Chrome team goes out and surveys people in Times Square, and I think it’s 8% of the people surveyed that day could articulate what a browser is. “Oh, it’s Google, it’s search, it’s whatever.” And that’s who we’re building websites for.
In Interviews, User Experience, wantmag Tags bill scott, interview, journalism, netflix, user experience, UX, want magazine
Cordell Ratzlaff: The Want Magazine Interview
From the now-defunct Want Magazine. Article Published May 14, 2010.
If all Cordell Ratzlaff had done was design the interface for Apple’s OSX, he’d still have a place in the pantheon of UX luminaries. But in the ten years since that ground-breaking design, he’s gone on to high-profile positions at Frog Design, a variety of independent projects, and most recently, Director of User-Centered design at Cisco.
Ratzlaff stands about 6’4”, with a square jaw and deep-set eyes that convey intensity even during polite conversation. It’s easy to imagine losing an argument to him. His long track record illustrates his success in getting testy engineers and egotistical designers to play nicely at some of this industry’s most successful companies. And in his three-years-and-counting at Cisco, they’ve gone from a company that focused more on ship dates than user experience, to one that recently won a design award for their WebEx Meeting Center.
He gave us a couple of hours of his day to chat about User Experience, how to make a product desirable, and how to teach a 65,000-person company to appreciate user-centered design.
User Experience: A Big (And Broad) Deal
When it comes to the concept of User Experience, Cordell takes a very broad view of usability—well, maybe not broad so much as expansive.
“I think it encompasses the entire relationship that a person has with the device or product or application that they’re using. That includes the functionality of the device. It includes the physical relationship between the person and the product. And it includes the emotional relationship.
“It also encompasses every touch point between the person and the product. From the time somebody’s aware of a need that they have for a product, to the research that they do to understand what product is going to meet that need, to the purchasing process, to the use process, to the upgrade and disposal process.”
Creating Want From the Ground Up
Coming from the product side of design, Cordell agrees with us here at WantMag that desire can be engineered into a product. It starts with discovering the desire(s) of the audience.
“I think it goes back to doing the research. And I think a lot of the emotional connection that people have with products goes back to satisfying–in many cases, satisfying a need that they didn’t even know that they had.”
“But if you can surprise people in a way that unexpectedly delights them, it creates a tremendous bond between a person and a product.”
Having the resources of a Cisco at one’s disposal certainly helps.
“I have a couple of researches on my team who spend a lot of their time out in the wild with our customers, or people who would like to be our customers, really understanding. In our case, we’re building communication, collaboration products. So we’re understanding how people work together.
“We spend a lot of time just watching people in their environment and looking for ways that we can help them work together better. A lot of times, we draw insights based on what we see that would cover a need that people themselves don’t even realize. And that spurs ideas for how we could build either an entire product or a feature for a product that would help them accomplish what they wanted to do.”
Discovering Desire, Disregarding Dialogue
As Jakob Nielsen and other UX experts expressed in our interviews, simply asking people what they want isn’t enough. Instead, Ratzlaff advises, “Watch them.”
“I’ve been doing this long enough to know that a lot of times people won’t tell you what they want, for a couple of reasons. One thing is they don’t want to. They may be embarrassed. But a lot of times, they just can’t articulate what they want. It doesn’t even register to them. They’re used to doing something the same way…so they don’t think that there’s any other way to do it.”
Customers First, Technology Second
Ratzlaff says that his chosen philosophy for making a desirable product doesn’t sync with that of most companies’ product design strategies. He believes most companies look at what they can do with their existing technology, then build the interface and experience on top of that.
“But…if you look at companies like Nintendo, or companies like Apple, what they’re doing is they’re looking at what the experience should be. And in many cases, the technology doesn’t exist to support that. That’s where they really innovate. And that’s where you can really gain market leadership.”
“Human Middleware” Discovered
Cordell provided a great example of when research uncovered those unrealized needs. In his pre-Cisco days, while developing an online travel reservation site, Ratzlaff’s team discovered some unusual behavior, universal among those with a specific job title: Executive Assistants. Research revealed that his particular group would check flights, then write all the information down—despite having the information onscreen. Why this unusual behavior?
“They weren’t necessarily the decision maker for the trip,” Ratzlaff revealed. “They would have to write [all the flight options] on a tablet. Once they had done all of their research, they would go to the person that they were making the reservations for, and they would show all the options. The person would look through it. And they would decide, ‘This is the one I want.’ Then [the assistant] would go back to the site and actually book the ticket.
“It’s essentially putting a human into the loop…you’ve got information in digital form, and you’re asking a human to translate it into another format. What we call that is ‘human middleware.’ And once you start looking for that, you start seeing it every place.”
Once Ratzlaff and this team identified this audience of power users, they were able to create a clipboard function that met the needs of this audience.
The Irrational Million-Dollar Purchase
We asked Ratzlaff if emotion played a role in the purchase of a product. He suggested it plays a bigger role than most people think—even with Enterprise products.
“I think the larger the purchase, the more emotion plays a role. You would think that would be the opposite. Think at the corporate level. You’re spending millions of dollars for something. You would think that people would be rational. They would run through all the numbers and make a decision. It doesn’t matter if it’s a corporate IT expenditure, or if it’s you purchasing a home.
“So, back to the days when I was working in the design agency. We would get…in some cases CEOs, and need to explain to them why they should be spending a million dollars on this design project.…You could go in and with all the ROI analyses, all the justification based on the Excel spreadsheets you came up with. And a lot of times…even if you could justify it, people would question the numbers.
“But if you went in with just an amazing demo, of ‘Here’s what your product would look like. This is the way that your customers would react to this product,’ And you could hook them with that, [the numbers] wouldn’t matter. You could always find some way to justify the financials…And again, that wasn’t just talking about buying a toaster oven. This was making a major expenditure.
“So I have found that approach just to be much more successful; appealing to somebody’s emotion rather than appealing to their logic.”
Culture Change at Cisco: Taking Products From “Shippable” to “Usable”
Successful insights like these brought Ratzlaff to the attention of Cisco in 2006. After working for more design- and usability-driven organizations, he saw an opportunity to work for a company that was just discovering the need for user-centric design.
According to Ratzlaff, that need had been conveyed to Cisco by its customers, in the form of user feedback and lost sales. Advances in technology brought down the cost of VOIP and telephony products—Cisco’s stock-in-trade. Increased productivity—achieved by making their products more usable—became the last value-add a company of its size could offer. But they were being “out-UXed” in certain markets by Microsoft, Apple, Google, and other companies who’d been in the usability game—largely for consumer audiences—longer.
“So,” Ratzlaff continued, “The opportunity for me was, ‘Come in here and tell us how to do it—with all of the resources that we have available.’…It wasn’t necessarily an opportunity to come in and design great products, but an opportunity to change the culture. Because I think in order to design great products, you need to have the culture in place.”
The Enterprise User Doesn’t Exist
Central to that culture change was a dispelling of the myth of the “Enterprise” user. “There is no such thing.” Ratzlaff insists. “We’re all people. When we walk in the door in the morning at work, our expectations, our skills, our values don’t change…At the end of the day, we go home to our Sony PlayStations, and our iPhones, and our Nintendo Wii’s. And we should expect to have the same types of great experience with the tools that we use at work as we do at home.”
This change in thinking also comes from the simple fact that, until recently, only enterprises could afford technology. “It used to be [that] the most reliable, the most feature-rich, the best products, always came out first in business. And then eventually, as the cost came down, that technology found its way into the consumer market…Now what you’re seeing is more and more companies focusing their innovation on the consumer market—first.”
In an era when people carry around between 1-3 computers on their person (phone, MP3 player, tablet/e-reader, laptop), the expectations for usable, enjoyable technology have been raised higher.
A First Victory in the War on Company Culture
So, Cisco had a clear and present need for a sharper focus on UX. Changing the culture of a $9.8 billion company? Not easy.
“Yeah…” Ratzlaff offered, thinking about his first weeks at Cisco. “So one of the things that happened when I got here was, there were a number of reactions within the company. One was, ‘We hired this guy. He’s going to focus on user experience and problem solved. We’ll just go back to doing things the way we used to do.’”
So, okay, tough climb. As Ratzlaff discovered, sometimes drastic measures must be taken.
“Anytime you are attempting to go through a culture change,” He explained, “There’s a point where you almost have to whack somebody on a head with a 2×4 just to get their attention. Just the inertia of doing things, particularly in a large company, over and over again, is very hard to change.
“One of the first things I did was look at all the different products that were going on. And I noticed that there had been a lot of great work being done. A lot of great research. I started thumbing through the design specs. ‘This all looks great.’”
Okay, more promising…
“Then I’d look at the products, and [think], ‘What happened here?’”
“Something went missing from the time somebody designed this to the time it actually got out in the market place.”
Ratzlaff Gets Out The 2×4
As with any number of Enterprise products, features were often scrapped to guarantee on-time shipment—usability occasionally being one of those. Ratzlaff decided to take a stand on one particular product rollout.
“One of the products I started looking at…at the tail end [of its production process]…was a very simple product. It basically allowed our customers to change the desktop pattern and ringtones on their phones. Not an earth-shaking product, not something that every mobile device manufacturer doesn’t have for their products as well.
“But I looked at this, and this was [complex enough to be] designed for an IT manager. It was really bad. It was embarrassing…It was the typical story you hear a lot in companies: “’We’ve got this event coming up, we want to announce this…We don’t have enough resources to do it right. We’re just trying to get along. We’ll fix it in the next phase.’
“[At Cisco], you always shipped your products on time. You went through the process. And then it went out. And then you dealt with it later. I looked at this and I said, ‘No. We can’t go out this way.’”
Ratzlaff sat down with the General Manager of that particular business unit and convinced him to kill the project—despite the fact that the product was mere months from shipping.
“We killed the project.” He told us. “We made a big announcement, sent a note out to the entire organization, saying, ‘We killed this project because it wasn’t good enough. We’re going to start over with a different team and get it.’
As expected, a decisive move like that helped him draw a distinct line in the sand regarding Cisco’s UX. “We looked at this as a great opportunity to really send a message to the whole organization that we’re serious about user experience.”
“It wasn’t a big revenue impact to us.” Ratzlaff recalled. “But it certainly had a big impact in terms of getting people’s attention.”
The lesson learned: “Anytime you’re going [to a new company], find an opportunity like that as soon as you can, and take advantage of it. Don’t let it go. Don’t wait too long. Because things just start going along and then you just become part of the normal process, normal way of doing things.”
Culture Change, Rewarded
Cut to 2009, when Cisco won Best Of Show at the MacWorld Expo for their WebEx Meeting Center suite. “Going from when I started here at Cisco…winning a Best Of Show award at MacWorld, was even more than I thought we could accomplish. But I think it’s a great testament to some of the things that have changed here.”
The story behind the Meeting Center’s iPhone app is a triumph of the kind of culture change Ratlzaff strives for at Cisco—not least of which because, as per Ratzlaff’s definition of UX, it started with research.
Their studies showed that more and more people were taking conference calls from remote locations—mostly via mobile phone. What’s more, most of the people on mobiles were going not just from one location to another, but from one device to another.
“Maybe they’re driving into work,” Ratzlaff suggested. “They get into their office, and now they’ve got a nice, high audio quality desk phone sitting on their desk, but they’re participating in a conference call on their mobile device. They want to move the call from their mobile device to their desk phone. The only way to do that is you’ve got to disconnect from one device and call back in…It was disruptive to the meeting…It’s a hassle for the person that’s doing it.”
Given that, as a WebEx conference call, the audio was handled over IP, and that the system recognized all the devices, Ratzlaff and his team saw an opportunity to improve that user experience. “We figured, ‘There’s got to be a better way to make that seamless.’” He explained. “We have smart engineers who figured out a way to do that.”
And figure they did, but not with the solution you’d expect.
“We could have done a way where you’ve got a button on your phone. And when you’re ready to switch the call, you go through a menu, and move the device over, move the call from one device. You have to locate the other device. Which works, but it’s still kind of clunky.”
(Spoiler alert: The WebEx app lets you shake your iPhone at the desk phone to transfer the call.)
“[WebEx knows] your mobile device, [and] your desk phone. Through Bluetooth …and the iPhone’s accelerometer, you can just shake your mobile phone at your desk phone…the audio can go to your desk phone, the video can go to your PC, so now you’ve got all it up here on a nice, large monitor.
“So there was really no interface at all, other than the shaking of the phone. It’s reducing that gesture to its lowest or simplest form.”
Interface-less call transfer: it ain’t the Polio vaccine–but did the Polio vaccine surprise or delight thousands of enterprise customers? No one looked at the nurse sticking a needle in their arm and said, “Cool.”
“When people ask, ‘How did you do that? It’s like magic,’ Ratzlaff recalls. “That’s a good gauge of when you’ve hit the mark.”
The Creation of “Cool Factor:” Ideas First
The “cool factor” of such an intuitive interaction is a given. But what’s equally impressive on Ratzlaff’s part is the way he managed to push this little innovation through the challenging Cisco culture. “We defined what we wanted the experience to be first,” he sums up. “And then figured out how to build the technology to accomplish that.” As if it were that simple.
“We built a prototype. It was actually a Flash prototype, just to get the idea across: ‘Wouldn’t it be great if people could do this?’…I remember showing that at a fairly large meeting…I remember hearing people in the back, engineers in the back room laughing, ‘That’s science fiction. There’s no way you can do that.’”
“But we had a couple of engineers who saw that and took that as a challenge to make it work. So three weeks after we showed that, I had two engineers in my office saying, ‘You remember that demo you showed? We actually got it working.’”
Inspiring innovation in engineers: That’s one way to change a company’s culture.
“The technology for doing that was really, really hard, and required some really smart people to figure it out. But it was the type of thing where…we defined what we wanted the experience to be first, and then figured out how to build the technology to accomplish that.”
“I think the truth is, just coming up with ideas for how things should work, that’s the easy part. It’s actually the execution part [that’s difficult]…Apple gets a lot of props for great design, but I think where they make that happen is in having really smart engineers that can figure out how to do that.”
Continuing the Shift at Cisco
Which isn’t to say that Ratzlaff doesn’t still have his work cut out for him. “It is becoming easier,” he says about the culture shift at Cisco, “But that job is never done.” With an award under their belts, a design department that has gone from 2 to 30 employees in three years, and a solid set of values about what makes products usable, he’s well on his way.
Thanks to David Gomez-Rosado for his help with this interview.
In Interviews, User Experience, wantmag Tags apple, cisco, cordell ratzlaff, interview, journalism, user experience, UX, want magazine
Jakob Nielsen: The Want Magazine Interview
Interview conducted via Skype for the April issue of Want Magazine.
I can list several reasons why my Editor-In-Chief and I high-fived each other after our interview with Dr. Jakob Nielsen. Granted, Nielsen is one of the few “celebrities” of the Usability trade, that rare author/expert known outside the UX community who is interviewed by mainstream publications and even called “The guru of Web page usability” by no less an authority than the New York Times.
The fact that he was kind enough to talk to us three times longer than the time span he allotted for us didn’t hurt either. But I’d say the high-five largely came from an appreciation of Nielsen’s ability to look at the field of UX with a scope of knowledge and understanding matched by few.
Nielsen started his career as a usability engineer pre-Web, in 1983, to be exact. We asked him how the field of UX—and its older brother, Human Computer Interaction (HCI)—has changed in that span of time. Once again, He went the extra mile for us, outlining the history of the field by splitting it into two cycles: product focus and sheer growth.
Cycle One: From Applications to Apps
Nielsen charted one cycle of interface design from the 1940s, with the design of airplane cockpits and nuclear power plant control panels–—essentially, interface design for applications. When Nielsen started his career almost three decades ago, application interfaces—albeit for computer software—remained the discipline.
Fast-forward to the 90s and early 2000s, when web design gave us new interfaces to contend with, forcing the need to create and design new idioms and paradigms for navigation and use.
Less than a decade later, as our digital use strays from the desktop computer to mobile devices, the need for application design has returned to the forefront. “It’s really come full circle.” Nielsen explains. “With ad campaigns preaching that ‘There’s an app for that,’ comes a need for people who know how to make them usable.”
Cycle Two: From Handfuls to Crowds of Experts
In the second cycle, Nielsen charts the demand for UX talent—which has never been greater. “There’s been a very linear path in the influence and the size and the magnitude of usability work [and] of serious business attention to user experience.
“Going back to my early career, there were just a handful of people like myself in the world–—several hundred [at most]. Most projects proceeded without any user testing–—without even the minimal amount of usability work. The design was done by the programmers as kind of a side effect of the implementation. Which, we know, leads to bad software, but that’s how it was done.
“Today, we have tens of thousands of usability professionals, people who specialize purely in the research aspect of finding out what users need. We have hundreds of thousands of professional interface designers. But there’s still a lot of [interfaces] done just as a side effect of the implementation…by the programmers. Websites are [often] designed by sort of an HTML-coder kind of person or even a so-called interface designer who doesn’t really understand interaction design.
“So, we’re not there, but the growth path has been immense. This field has grown by at least a factor of 1,000 in the time I’ve been doing this job.”
UX: Growing By The Day
The demand for usability continues to rise. “More and more,” Jacob assures us, “It’s the differentiating factor between different products and different websites.”
That factor makes sense, given the amount of competition out there. By Nielsen’s rough (but probably conservative) estimates, “There are, I think, about 300 million websites in the world, several hundred thousand software applications, and a handful of mobile phone companies, and so forth.” Lump in the amount of companies that build interface-dependent products (phones or consumer electronics, anyone?) and you have a lot of demand for a user interface that shifts units.
Can Usability Buy Happiness?
While that’s good news for professional UX-perts and magazines looking to appeal to that audience (ahem), it’s even better news for consumers—as Nielsen points out from his own experience:
“I just bought a camera, and the first thing that happens when opening the box? It says, ‘Stop. If you cannot figure out how to use this camera, do not return it. Call our customer support line.’
“They know their camera is bad.” Nielsen says, shaking his head in disbelief. “Theyknow consumers can’t use it. And then they have a high cost of return product and a high cost of support calls. They could just hire a few usability people and make it easy instead.”
The Rise Of The Amateur
Nielsen also anticipates an increase in “amateur” usability, a phrase he does not see as derogatory. Rather, he defines it as people for whom usability is only a part of their skill set and/or paycheck.
“Designers,” He uses as an example, “Should do a lot of their own usability. Same for a lot of market research and business managers, and so forth.”
And they’ll have plenty to keep them busy: “There’s not going to be enough full-time professionals–really seasoned, experienced people–to cover all these websites and hundreds of thousands of complex applications and all of that.”
With more and more daily-use objects becoming digital, increased focus on better UX comes not a moment too soon. While books, music and photos come first to mind, Nielsen gave us an example of a physical, industrial product with a renewed need for interface design: cars.
“BMW, for many years, received consistently bad reviews for a control device, called the iDrive, that was very difficult to use. That’s software design, it’s screen design, it’s interaction design–it’s not just car design. [BMW] can’t just take people who are good at building fast cars and assume that those guys can make a great complex menu hierarchy.”
The Engineering Of Want
We asked Nielsen the question on which we’ve based this issue’s theme: How can “want” be one engineered “want” into a product or service. Ever a numbers-over-instinct man, he refused to buy into the idea that an audience’s “want” can be gauged by anything other than methodical testing.
“Let me first say what I do not do, and that’s to just ask people what they want…people don’t know what they want. What they say and what they do are very often different things.
“The average person’s great ability is that they are the average person—they are the customer; they are the user—what they do rules, but only what they do, not what they say they do.”
How to instill want? In the mind of Jakob Nielsen, you figure out what your audience wants, and design towards that. As advice goes, it doesn’t get much more user-friendly than that.
In Ideas, User Experience, wantmag Tags interview, Jakob Nielsen, journalism, user experience, UX, want magazine
Don Norman: The Want Magazine Interview
One of the interviews I conducted for Want Magazine. Published May 14, 2010
The ability to explain complex academic theories in palatable layman’s’ terms is the mark of a good teacher—and Don Norman is certainly that. “Don,” Adaptive Path founder Peter Merholz warned us, “likes to take people to school.”
He is, of course, much more than a professor. Often called “The father of User Experience,” Norman coined the phrase some two decades ago. He’s the co-director of the dual-degree MBA and Engineering program at Northwestern University. Professor. Author. Ground-breaking usability theorist. Being taken to school by someone in his league, I can deal with.
I arrived at his Palo Alto home with pad, pen, and camera crew to chat with him about the “Engineering of Want,” the theme of our maiden issue. I left with a surprisingly environmentalist critique of product design, a preview of his new book, Living with Complexity, and the idea that the ultimate state of UX is for it to disappear. Oh, and he accused me of being a marketer.
HCI & UX: Re-Framing the Big Picture
Norman began our lesson as soon as I asked him our first interview question: “What were the fields of User Experience and HCI like when you started?” He chuckled and pointed out that, back in 1989 (when he wrote the seminal The Design of Everyday Things), there was no HCI. “My research group and I had been looking at the problems of Unix and the problems with these clunky terminals. We didn’t yet have graphic displays.”
These early days of (non-)UX were marked by a lack of decent user interfaces. “In the beginning,” Don explained, “We really had to think about usability because the early computers, and for that matter almost all early products that used computers, were unworkable, unusable, not understandable—because they had tended to be [designed] by engineers, who were much more concerned with ‘Could we even get the thing to work?’…And we had done the book called User Centered System Design, which, I guess, you could say was the early days of HCI.”
Norman agrees that the field of UX has come a long way since then—in our thinking, if not in execution. “Now, lots of products are still unusable, but the principles of how we should make them usable are very well known, and they’re really not changing.”
“I think that we no longer need to focus. The usability people really have to focus on doing best practices or making sure that what we know, how we know to do things should be applied.”
Norman’s take is that we, as an industry, should agree on UX best practices and move on. To where, we wondered? He was glad we asked.
“The Real Focus is System.”
Norman’s impending new book, Living With Complexity, covers what he feels is the next level of usability—being part of a system. Lest you suspect that the author of The Design of Everyday Things has joined the Borg, he provided an example from everyday life. For a taste of his teaching style, here’s a short transcript:
Don Norman: Look at the iPod. Why is it successful? Is it a great music player? Yeah, but is it much different than the other music players? No.
Want: One might suggest it’s a more elegant interface design.
Don Norman: Barely. The others are easy to use. They’re often less expensive. They often have more memory. The basic player is not why the iPod is successful.
Want: iTunes?
Don Norman: Well, no, but you’re in the right direction. You may remember that in the really old days, it was hard to get music, and on top of that, it was illegal to do so. You really had to be pretty technical. Apple was the first company to do the licensing. So, first of all, they made it legal; second of all, they made the price sensible. Then they took a big database, an SAP database, and they made it usable, and that became iTunes. They made it easy to go there and find the music you wanted. They made the download effortless. You plug the iPod in and without doing anything, your iPod is up to date. And they also allowed other people, third parties, to build all sorts of accessories like external speakers. Those people are part of the ecosystem that Apple provided.
“So,” Norman said, summing up his definition, “We have a system that, under the surface, is incredibly complex, but at all touchpoints, is easy and enjoyable to use—from the licensing on the one end of music, to the licensing on the other end of third parties who are providing all of the accessories that expand the utility of the iPod. And everything is effortless.”
So Complex, It’s Easy.
Complex under the surface, but easy to use: that’s the future of products and services, according to Living With Complexity. “People think the opposite of complexity is simplicity, but it’s not.” Don explained. “People who say, ‘I want it simple,’ want it understandable and usable.”
Norman’s new book argues that just because a product is complex, doesn’t mean it has to be difficult to use. “The problem with complexity,” he says with his trademark grin, “is that it often leads to being complicated. ‘Complicated’ is in the head. If we can make a complex thing that is understandable, then, in fact, we like it, because it gives us a lot more power.”
What is key to understandability? Good design plays a big part, by helping to make things modular. “You do that,” he suggests, “by providing a good, cohesive model so there’s a conceptual model; you do that by adding structure; and you do that by also learning it in small hunks.”
Your product or service should provide a simple return from basic comprehension, and offer greater returns the more you learn it. Take iTunes: playing a song on it is easy. But as you learn each of its features, like playlists, the Genius function, syncing it with a portable device, you get more enjoyment out of it.
Norman cited cars and cell phones as other examples of this—but the one that he kept coming back to was cooking.
“You learn cooking slowly, over time. You start off by making, I don’t know, boiled eggs, and you slowly learn how to make scrambled eggs and omelets, and so on. You work your way up.
“Every little tool that we use in cooking is pretty simple. Cooking itself is made up of many simple steps, but the large number of simple steps, and the need for proper timing and the need for knowing what goes together, makes it a complex activity.”
Are the “Engineers of Want” the Enemy?
Keeping with our theme for Release 001, we asked him if it was possible to engineer “want” into a product or service.
“It’s interesting,” he remarked after a thoughtful silence, “that what we’re doing is sort of moving the user experience and design world into the world of advertising.”
And so the interview took a fascinating turn. The single question gave him plenty of reason to opine about consumer industry and its drive to iterate constantly in order to drive sales. Don, ever the academic, believes that advertising and marketing “create desires and wants and needs that never existed before.”
“Think about the environmental mess that we have…Is it really necessary to discard your cell phone every six months or every year or even every two years? Is it because the advertising community has figured out ways of, oh, wow, giving you some new feature you can’t live without? So maybe it’s not a good thing that we create these wonderful desires for something new that we don’t have.”
“Remember,” he advised, “the design world and the advertising world are not that far apart.”
Lest my Editor-in-Chief and I (both marketers at points in our careers) feel completely to blame, Don let us off the hook by tracing the origins of this iterate-to-sell point of view.
“It came from automobiles: deliberate styling to make your automobile obsolescent in one to two years. So there would be a model change every year in automobiles and every three or four years there’ll be a big change. And then the advertisers made it feel that you were evil—out of date—if you didn’t have the latest version.
“But is that any different than, ‘See, you have one of those old, clunky iPhones or one of those old, clunky iPods?’…The new ones are prettier and smaller, but the music sounds the same.”
“See,” Don offered with a wide grin, “The user experience community thinks they’re pure.
“’No, no, no!’” He added, lightly mocking product designers and usability experts everywhere. “’We don’t do that evil advertising stuff. We’re not doing evil marketing. We’re simply finding what people really want, and we’re providing it for them.’ Every six months, though, we provide new wants. Come on, what’s the distinction between that and what marketing does and what advertisers do?”
The Computer Becomes Invisible
Norman does concede that product line evolutions can offer significant leaps, rather than wasteful stylistic iterations: going from cell phones to smart phones, for instance. In fact, that’s the direction he sees the future of computing heading.
“What I’ve always advocated…and I think is happening, is that the computer disappears. [Take for example] the book reader, the specialized device just for reading books. Inside, it’s a computer, but who cares? A music player–a specialized device for listening to music–is a computer.”
iPad: Makes Great Fries!
Does this mean that we’ll see more products containing PC-level computers? Norman believes so, for better…and for worse. I mentioned the debut of a new line of microwave ovens with web-browsing ability, which amused him to no end.
“Too many times the technologists say, ‘Oh, gee, we could make a microwave oven that browses the Internet.’ Well, what for? ‘Oh, you could look up recipes on it.’ But if you actually think about the way people work, they don’t want to stand in front of their microwave looking for recipes.”
Which brought up a computer that he did consider a helpful device in the kitchen: The iPad.
“Suppose I’m thinking, oh, let’s have something different for dinner tonight. How do I do it? First of all, I peruse my memory and my knowledge of cooking and also my knowledge of what we have in the house to figure out what we might do. But I might turn to my cookbooks. I have a row of cookbooks there, and I might pull one out and read it.
“But why not…a portable reading device? It’s convenient to use. I don’t have to go to my office and sit under my desk. I can go to my couch, or I can sit here at the table. The new Apple iPad…would allow me to find recipes, maybe browse the Internet for cooking sites and see pictures, or if I’m not sure how to do the preparation, there’s a little video…People will start writing cookbooks not with photographs of the food, but with videos.
“But the nice thing is…not that suddenly the Internet gives us information—it already does. It’s that it gives it to me in the way I want to think about cooking. That’s what I think is going to be so powerful. These devices now will fit our lifestyles instead of us changing the way we work.
“When we look at the way things will come together, it’s going to be based around people’s activities, not because the technology suddenly makes it possible for your refrigerator to show TV programs,” he added with a professorial smirk.
Good Design is…Well, Advertising
And yet, we still hadn’t gotten Norman to address “the engineering of want” to the level we, well, wanted. Perhaps we never would. But it was worth another try.
We decided to address it from an angle he had established in his book, Emotional Design. There, he outlines three levels at which people process the products they buy and use: visceral (styling & perception), behavioral (look & feel) and reflective (one’s self-image that comes from the owning/using of the product).
Then we asked him how one could use those levels of emotion to instill want or desire into the creation of a product…and then he went off on a bit of a rant. But just a bit.
“Hmmm, here we go again. Doesn’t that make designers somewhat into advertisers or marketing people because we’re asking, ‘How do we make it so people should enjoy the product?’ Now, that’s not entirely fair, because why not make it so people really enjoy the products?”
A fair question.
“But yeah, make it attractive. Make it so it really feels good. That’s why we like precision tools. That’s why as a cook, I really like a well-balanced knife and good tools for cooking.”
“The question is the balance. We don’t want to sell things simply because we figured out how we can sell things: ‘Whether or not people care about it or need it, we’re going to make them care about it.’
“But if you can sell things that people really need, that really do make their lives better and do not destroy the environment, then sure, the distinction between designers and marketers, I think, is very small. Both of us are trying to do what the customer wants. The goal of marketing is to understand what people are willing to buy, and the goal of designers is to try to understand what people really need, and these groups really ought to be working closely together.”
All edifying and fine food for thought. But we still wanted to find that secret sauce. I pressed the issue from yet another angle:
Want: You’ve also written about how emotional attachments trump practicality. How much of that can be an exploitable trait when seducing audiences, when creating customers and of course the making of successful products?
Don Norman: Gee. You really are a marketing person, aren’t you?
Want: How did you know?
Don Norman: How much of that could be used to seduce the customers, to have them buy this, or have them overlook the horrible flaws we have on this side because this part is so wonderful and attractive?
Marketing as Damage Control
Which brought up an interesting point: How much of marketing and advertising is about promoting a product’s good points—and how much of it is about covering up flaws?
“You know, it’s interesting that all of this can be used to exploit people. Because…when something is really good and pleasurable, we do overlook the minor faults…We recognize that we can’t make everything perfect, and so we try to make a total great experience.
“One of the standard stories I tell is going to, say, a Disney theme park. I ask people what they hate; invariably they hate the lines. ‘[But] would you go back?’ Yes, most people would go back.
“The point is, the lines from Disney’s point of view are unavoidable. There’s no way they can prevent the lines because the only way really to prevent the lines is either have the rides be shorter or have more rides. But rides are very expensive: $10 million, $20 million a ride. They can’t put in many more rides. So here’s a case where all that I’m saying works: by making the total experience a great one, people are willing to overlook the minor problems of, you know, boredom and standing in line. But they didn’t deliberately put a negative in. They didn’t know how to get rid of the negative, so they made the surrounding experience positive. That’s what I like.”
“And so, with all of our products, which may have some unavoidable negative components, yeah, make it good, but I wouldn’t seduce them by saying, you know, we actually know this part is crap, so we’ll make this part really wonderful and maybe they won’t notice.”
“I would hate to have that used, though, as a way of deliberately allowing ourselves to have faults and making up for it by some other thing, say, by the packaging or by the styling or something else. I would hope that we do our very best.”
Finishing Up (at Northwestern)
Recently, Norman announced that he’d be retiring from his position at Northwestern University later this Summer–which, as he writes on his website, “…will let me do more consulting, travel more, stay longer, and be more spontaneous (but I’m booked until early 2011).”
Even after three-plus decades of ground-breaking work, Don Norman is by no means slowing down. Anyone who might suggest that he’ll be teaching less has not had the pleasure of interviewing him.
In Interviews, User Experience, wantmag Tags don norman, journalism, user experience, UX, want magazine
Want Magazine in Communication Arts
Thanks to the fine, discerning folks at Communication Arts for making Want Magazine their Web Pick of the Week! It's always a pleasure to see a project you've put your heart and soul into get props.
Although sometimes I wonder what anyone who Googles me must be thinking: "Waitaminute...the guy getting press for interviewing UX legend Donald Norman and the guy getting press for making videos of talking burritos and hipsters getting punched...IS THE SAME GUY?" Yes he is, Google-stalker with bad grammar. Yes he is.
In marketing, User Experience, wantmag
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2012 IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence for Security and Defence Applications (CISDA)
Sponsors/Supporters
Tutorial/Special Session submission
April 23, 2012:
Submission of full paper
Notification of acceptance/rejection
June 18, 2012:
Submission of final camera-ready manuscript
While your in Ottawa, don't miss out on the exciting BluesFest from July 4th-15th!
Ottawa has been described as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. Less than an hour's drive from the American border, Ottawa enjoys the attributes of a major centre for the visual and performing arts, as well as other big city attractions. Yet, it still maintains the accessibility, atmosphere and charm of a smaller city, in addition to access to spectacular park and wilderness areas located within and around the city. Ottawa is home to 12 national museums devoted to Canadian art, nature, science and technology, aviation, war civilization and more. Also of interest are the Royal Canadian Mint and the Byward Market, which is constantly buzzing with people visiting the many restaurants, shops and pubs.
Ottawa is easily accessible by road, train and flight. Ottawa also has a large international airport that provides numerous domestic and international flights daily. Most major international destinations connect through Toronto, and major US hubs such as Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta. There is good access by train from major centers in Ontario and Quebec. The airport and train station are easily accessible by public transportation (www.octranspo.com) and taxis. OC Transpo provides an excellent network of buses with fast connections throughout the city.
The language for the symposium is English. However, Ottawa is a bilingual (English-French) and multi-cultural city.
Ottawa 's weather in July is usually comfortable with temperatures ranging between 15 and 26 degrees Celsius. It is usually warm at this time of the year, so make sure to dress for the weather. Ottawa’s weather helps visitors get a true taste of Ontario: the surroundings of Ottawa are among the best places to observe nature in its entire splendor.
Ottawa Highlights
Ottawa , the capital of Canada, has a population of about 1 million people. It is in the central part of Canada at the junction of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau Rivers. The symposium location is very close to several sites of interest including the Canadian Parliament Building, Rideau Shopping Centre, National Arts Centre, National Art Gallery, the Rideau Canal, Sparks Street Mall, The Byward Market as well as several museums. All these sites are within easy walking distance from the symposium site. Additional information on Ottawa can be found at http://www.ottawakiosk.com or http://wikitravel.org/en/Ottawa.
Several sites offer tourist information about Ottawa-region and Canada, including maps, accommodation lists and descriptions of sites of interest:
Discover Ottawa Canadian Museum of Nature
National Capital Commission National Gallery of Canada
Official Ottawa Tourism Site Canadian Museum of Civilization
Ottawa Kiosk - One Step Guide to Ottawa Byward Market
Ottawa Convention Guide Canadian War Museum
Ottawa Tourism Parliament Hill
Ontario Travel National Arts Centre
Travel Canada Canada Science and Technology Museum
© Copyright 2008-2012, IEEE.
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Scientists Discover The 'Happiness' Gene In New Study
By Staff Reporter Apr 25, 2016 05:02 PM EDT
Scientists may have discovered the human "happiness" gene. The new findings could be huge when it comes to treating depression and to account for differences in neuroticism.
Previous research using information from the Netherlands Twin Register and other sources had shown that individual differences in happiness and well-being could be partially due to genetic differences between people. In other words, different people feel happiness and well-being differently. Policy makers, in particular, are increasingly focusing on well-being since studies suggest that it is a factor in mental and physical health.
The latest study is a large-scale effort that involved more than 298,000 people. In this study, researchers found three genetic variants for happiness. Not only that, but two variants could account for differences in symptoms of depression.
The genetic variants for happiness are mostly expressed in the central nervous system. However, they're also found in the adrenal glands and pancreatic system. These findings, in particular, show which areas that researchers should target moving forward.
"This study is both a milestone and a new beginning: A milestone because we are now certain that there is a genetic aspect to happiness and a new beginning because the three variants that we know are involved account for only a small fraction of the differences between human beings," said Meike Bartels, professor at VU Amsterdam and one of the researchers involved in the new study. "We expect that many variants will play a part."
The researchers believe that studying the variants they found will help them study the interplay between nature and nurture. More specifically, it will show the differences in the way in which people experience happiness.
"The genetic overlap with depressive symptoms that we have found is also a breakthrough," Bartels said. "This shows that research into happiness can offer new insights into the causes of one of the greatest medical challenges of our time: depression."
The findings could be huge when it comes to better understanding the symptoms of depression. Not only that, but it could also lead to new treatments.
The findings are published in the April 2016 edition of the journal Nature Genetics.
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Forums > Submission Feedback > zippdementia's Half-Minute Hero review
This thread is in response to a review for Half-Minute Hero on the PSP. You are encouraged to view the review in a new window before reading this thread.
Add a new post within this thread...
Author: aschultz
Posted: February 25, 2010 (03:21 AM)
Actions: Register for a free user account to post on the forums...
My goodness...this is a cool game. It deserves a quick, snappy review. I'm not 100% sold on the whole dialog with the fellow reviewer, but given that it extols brevity in games, I think a review is best brief. I'm not sure how much reviews are ALLOWED to piggyback. I'd like to see interaction or respectful argument among reviewers, yet here this good effort feels forced. I can't make suggestions on that, sadly.
As for what I'd fix, I do think the action paragraph is a bit long, and I'd be more interested to hear if HMH actually takes a shot at being conventional, or if it's satirical all the way through. "Some memorable and innovative things?" I'm intrigued, beyond CATS.
Yet I feel that CATS doesn't necessarily show how ridiculous the whole RPG genre is--Zero Wing was, after all, a shooter. Isn't it more exact to say, with this sort of example, that there are reliably ludicrous cross-genre elements, and RPGs may focus on the worst of them, and do so to profit? I think that's a small problem with an entertaining tour de force review, when it sweeps me to a harsh conclusion that just doesn't seem justified on reflection. Clever zingers do not an argument make. Still, it was a lot of fun getting there.
My principal said, 'Emo, Emo, Emo.'
I said 'I'm the one in the middle, you lousy drunk!'
-- Emo Phillips
Author: zippdementia
Posted: February 25, 2010 (12:01 PM)
I think you're right, that last paragraph could use some expansion. It wouldn't be hard. There's a lot of material in the game to work with.
Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."
None of the material contained within this site may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Half-Minute Hero is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Half-Minute Hero, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors. Staff and freelance reviews are typically written based on time spent with a retail review copy or review key for the game that is provided by its publisher.
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You are here: Home > EHIC cards will no longer be...
EHIC cards will no longer be valid under no-deal Brexit
Study pinpoints cell types affected in brains of multiple sclerosis patients
Ribociclib receives NICE recommendation
B cells off rails early in lupus
Osteoarthritis linked to higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease
European health insurance cards (EHIC) may no longer be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit, the Department of Health and Social Care has said.
10 April, 2019 12:00 AM
Depending on arrangements made with EU member states and European Free Trade Area states (which includes Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), UK-issued EHIC cards may not be valid if a no-deal scenario goes ahead.
The DHSC updated its healthcare advice last month for UK travellers, stating that the Government is working to maintain the current healthcare arrangements in a deal or no-deal scenario until 31 December 2020.
This means that the Government will continue to cover healthcare for current or former UK residents who are visiting, living or working in the EU, but this depends on EU member states agreeing to extend the current arrangements until the end of 2020.
However, the NHS website has stated that if on April 12, the UK leaves the EU without a deal, then UK citizens visiting within the EU, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland will have to buy travel insurance to cover healthcare.
The NHS has published guidance for accessing healthcare in each EEA country, depending on the chosen country’s health system.
A spokesperson for the DHSC said: "The Department of Health and Social Care has been working closely with EU member states and EFTA states to protect existing healthcare arrangements for these and other groups.
"As we have always advised – UK nationals traveling abroad anywhere should always get compressive travel insurance, regardless of EU Exit or not.
"All UK nationals who are planning to reside in, travel to, work or study in the EU or European Free Trade Area (EFTA) states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) are strongly advised to check the country-specific guidance on GOV.UK and NHS.UK about healthcare arrangements if the UK leaves the EU without a deal."
This story was first published by our sister publication Pulse.
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Focus (2015)
Directed by: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Writers: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Nikki is a master of deception and influence who uses his skills to con unsuspecting victims out of their valuables. Jess is young woman who wants in on the game. Nikki mentors her in the art of lifting wallets, gambling and toying with people’s perceptions, but after a short-lived romance, abandons her in New Orleans. Three years later, Nikki finds himself in Buenos Aires, preparing to pull off a major heist. Until he runs into Jess, who is now romantically involved with his next target.
Jess is a likeable enough character, but there's little about her that is inspiring or empowering. She finds her way into the world of petty criminals, but doesn't have any stated goals for when the money starts coming in. Her tastes are extravagant and her interests are short-term and simple. She seeks pleasure where she can find it and doesn't give much thought to the morality of the world she's entered or the potential consequences. She appears to be content as long as she is surrounded by luxury and excitement, regardless of who is footing the bill.
Gender Roles - Men: 1 Star
Nikki is a professional con man who believes love is a weakness that can get him killed - and yet he is portrayed as the hero that ultimately wins Jess’s affections. He does share some personal memories with her that explains where he developed his unhealthy attitude towards intimacy. But he never offers her a heartfelt apology for the way he treated her in New Orleans, or truly proves that he’s a changed man. In fact, Nikki never even admits to Jess that he loves her. We can read between the lines based on his behavior, but there’s nothing progressive about a man who is so afraid of real, human emotion. At the end of the film his father tells us that Nikki turned out to be one of the “good guys,” despite his best efforts - and yet Focus contains little evidence that Nikki is in fact a "good guy," or that he’s ever done anything that isn’t inherently selfish.
Self-Esteem and Body Image: 1 Star
From the very beginning, Jess is assured of her ability to learn the tricks of the trade, and this self-confidence gives her some charm. She also displays some fortitude when Nikki tries to come back into her life, insisting that she’s happy with Rafael and that she doesn’t want him back. It doesn’t take long, however, for Nikki to convince her otherwise. And we’re left with the impression that she isn’t quite the independent, self-respecting woman that she appears to be. Jess is able to use her sexuality as a decoy when she’s stealing from unsuspecting passers-by, and under the circumstances, the tactic could be interpreted as simply making use of her resources rather than demeaning herself. Throughout the film, she appears to be in control of herself and her body, but it’s unfortunate that she never develops the same cleverness that Nikki has in twisting the emotions and perceptions of his victims. Focus tries to make Jess out to be a skilled criminal, but she never comes across as more than a petty thief who uses male lust to gain the upper hand. The end result, of course, is that her body receives more attention than her personality.
Plot: 1 Star (Spoilers)
Focus leads you to believe that this is the sort of story where Jess, the student, eventually learns enough to challenge her teacher and pay him back for the way he treated her so many years ago. Audiences are likely expecting Jess to play a clever mind game with Nikki and show him what it truly feels like to have someone bend your perceptions and abuse your trust. But no such cat and mouse game ever develops. To the contrary, Jess never graduates beyond lifting watches and purses, and she's fairly quick to forgive Nikki for his earlier transgressions. When it comes down to it, Jess is simply the thing that motivates Nikki to change his philosophy on love, but she doesn't come close to matching his talent for deception and persuasion. She is, in all possibility, just another victim of it.
Character Development: 1 Star
We’re told that Jess is an orphan, but more than likely, this tidbit is thrown into the dialogue simply to justify her criminal behavior. The film never explores how her childhood might have shaped her own views on love and intimacy, or created some deep-seated fear of abandonment. Had they developed some of these issues, we might have seen some more intense interactions between her and Nikki when he reappears in Buenos Aires. To the contrary, she comes across as a perfectly well-adjusted young woman who has a taste for cheap thrills and easy money. She doesn’t have enough depth to her to hold your interest for long, or to even feel too sorry for her when things start to go south.
Love: 1.5 Stars
Nikki and Jess shared an obvious connection in New Orleans, but it was hardly the sort of romance that would have survived such a cold dismissal and three years of empty time and distance. One would hope that Jess would have moved past that ancient hurt by the time she sees him again and barely waste the energy it would take to shake her head at him and walk away. The idea that she is still in love with him after all this time is a bit difficult to swallow, and may even give men the foolish impression that there is always another chance to win the girl back. That women are desperate enough for love and validation that they will forgive even the cruelest break-ups at the hope of reconciling. The film does suggest at one point that Jess returns to Nikki partially because Rafael has been abusive or cruel, but running from one jerk to another isn't much of an improvement.
Language and Sexual Content: 3 Stars
Focus doesn’t use much harsh language, though Jess is occasionally referred to as a “racing skank.” Nikki defends her when people demean her like that and the brief exchanges are clearly meant to be funny. But at the same time, part of the reason audiences will find it funny is that they agree with the loaded phrase, and may in fact perpetuate the legitimacy of the label.
The sexual content in Focus is fairly standard for this sort of film. Nothing is lewd or demeaning and in fact, indicates that Jess is in touch with and in control of her own sexuality. Like so many films these days, there is a noticeable age difference between Nikki and Jess which reinforces the idea that men’s sex appeal is based on power and influence, and retained well into their later years, whereas women’s sexuality is based on youth and vulnerability and has a limited shelf-life. There is nothing inherently wrong with these pairings, but it is certainly a reflection of Hollywood’s own perception of the value and appeal of older women, as opposed to older men.
Similar titles with higher ratings
The Italian Job (2003)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Lucy (2014)
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The Peaceful Part of the Norman Conquest of England
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that “on Christmas Day archbishop Ealdred consecrated him king in Westminster; and William gave a pledge on the Gospels, and swore an oath besides, before Ealdred would place on the crown on his head, that he would govern this nation according to the best practices of his predecessors if they would be loyal to him.” The William the chronicle speaks of was the Duke of Normandy, who just ten weeks earlier had defeated and killed King Harold Godwinsson at the Battle of Hastings.
What took place between October 14th, 1066 and December 25th, the day William was officially crowned the new King of England? This topic has been explored in the recent article, “William the Peacemaker: the Submission of the English to the Duke of Normandy, October 1066 – January 1067” by Paul Dalton. He found that in the weeks and months after the battle, the leader of the Normans effectively used diplomacy and negotiation to complete his conquest of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom.
In the aftermath of the Norman victory at Hastings, Duke William had hoped the remaining English leaders would surrender. Instead, they went to London and choose Edgar the Ætheling, grandson of Edmund Ironside, to be their new king. It seemed that another military engagement would be likely.
As this was happening, William and his forces marched through south-east England, where the Duke managed to gain the peaceful submission of a number of areas. Dalton writes:
It emerges first at Dover. Its citizens were prepared to surrender, but some of William’s men burnt part of the town. William ‘paid for the repair of the buildings and gave compensation for other losses.’ But references to William expelling Englishmen from their homes to provide his soldiers with lodgings, strengthening Dover’s fortifications and installing a garrison indicate that imposition of harsher terms of surrender. His actions were probably intended to intimidate other English strongholds into submission. ‘Immediately terror spread out beyond the town to all neighbouring cities, boroughs and places.’ Fearing complete destruction, Canterbury despatched messages to offer William tribute, fealty and hostages. ‘Afterwards many more [settlements], holding firmly to their own rights … made gifts to the king’. English settlements unprepared peacefully to submit and offer William loyalty, security and money faced the loss of rights or destruction. But William was also prepared to offer terms, including protection and the preservation of urban privileges to encourage such surrenders.
Evidence can also be found that William was prepared to make deals with the ruling elite of England, such as Queen Edith, the widow of Edward the Confessor, who was able to keep much of her land and wealth in return for her submission. So did Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, who came to William and renounced his support from Edgar the Ætheling – he would keep his ecclesiastical offices for another four years.
Datlon, who is a Principal Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University and has done extensive research on the political and ecclesiastical history of the Anglo-Norman world, finds that an important event was a meeting held at Berkhampsted, which lies just west of London. Here William met with many of the remaining leaders of the Anglo-Saxons, including Ealdred, archbishop of York, Edgar the Ætheling, Earls Edwin of Mercia and Morcar of Northumbria, the leading men of London, and Bishops Wulfstan of Worcester and Walter of Hereford. The D-version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that they:
submitted out of necessity after most damage had been done…and it was great folly that they had not done it earlier, since God would not make things better, because of our sins. And they gave hostages and swore oaths to him, and he appointed them that he would be a gracious lord, and yet in the meantime they ravaged all that they overran.
Dalton notes that much was left unsaid about what deal was made at Berkhampsted, including what would be the fate of Edgar the Ætheling, but he believes there are signs that show “it was agreed that although Edgar’s royal status would be modified (he was not to be king), it would also be respected. Edgar might have obtained from William a grant, or at least a promise, of lands – of a ‘premium’, in other words, to secure his support for the peace – and assurances regarding the respect to be shown to the royal status and dignity of his kinswomen.”
Soon after London also submitted to William after threats and offers were made, which paved the way for the Duke to get his coronation at Westminster Abbey. In the following weeks more deals and submissions were made, allowing the new king to solidify his hold on England.
Dalton writes:
There is no doubt, and the point should be emphasized, that the talks involved William threatening and terrorising the English into submission, and demanding (at sword point) homage oaths of loyalty, hostages, money, gifts and other acts of supplication: but the English surrenders were far from unconditional. The peaces they made with William were often contractual, involving obligations on both sides. Some of the English negotiators made demands to William before submitting, and William often confirmed (for a price, and in the short term at least) many English leaders in their dignities, lands, offices and rights, and made more general promises about ruling the English well; though his assurances were not to endure and might have not been entirely sincere.
He concludes that “Wiliam’s success in England by January 1067 owed much not only to his military abilities but also to his negotiation skills. Unquestionably a conqueror, he was also an accomplished peacemaker, albeit a remarkably brutal, threatening and ruthless one.”
The article, “William the Peacemaker: the Submission of the English to the Duke of Normandy, October 1066 – January 1067” appears in Rulership and Rebellion in the Anglo-Norman World c.1066 – c.1216: Essays in Honour of Professor Edmund King, which is edited by Dalton along with David Luscombe. Published in 2015 by Ashgate, it has over a dozen articles, including pieces by Judith A. Green, Katharine Keats-Rohan, Paul Latimer, David Crouch and Nicholas Vincent.
See also: Ten Things You Should Know about William the Conqueror
Click here to check out this special issue of Medieval Warfare magazine on the Battle of Hastings
TagsMedieval England • Medieval Politics • Norman Conquest • William the Conqueror
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by oliviagrider
The Homestead: Southern Comfort
December 11, 2013 in Luminaries, Winter 2013 Issue by oliviagrider
Indiana couple finds perfect home on Weiss Lake and meaningfulness in retirement by embracing their adopted community
story and photos by OLIVIA GRIDER
Jeff and Alexis Wolfe didn’t expect to retire in Alabama. The northwest Indiana natives worked in the Midwest’s famed steel industry, Jeff for U.S. Steel Corporation’s railroad division and Alexis in business administration before the couple had children. They moved with Jeff’s job from Indiana to Pittsburgh to Illinois, and when it was time to retire, Jeff, now 61, wanted to be on a lake. (Lake Michigan was the obvious one, and he had his eye on Wisconsin.)
But Alexis, 64, had another idea. “If you’re going to move, why go where it’s colder?” she asked. So the couple compromised.
Their daughter and son-in-law, who work for NASCAR , had been living in Gadsden, Ala., for two years. The Wolfes decided to consider real estate on five nearby lakes – Smith Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Wedowee and Lake Martin.
[s2If !is_user_logged_in()]
[/s2If][s2If is_user_logged_in()]They were looking for a home with hardwood floors, granite countertops, large windows and a yard with trees. They didn’t find anything they liked on Smith Lake. On Logan Martin Lake, a foreclosure was a possibility, but it needed work; they liked another house as well, but a grave in the neighboring yard was a deal breaker.
Then they looked at a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house on two acres adjoining Weiss Lake.
“Well, that’s it,” Alexis recalls saying. “When you walk into a house and you’re looking, you get that feeling. It just felt like my house. It’s homey. It’s easy to clean.”
Both Jeff and Alexis loved the hickory floors, stacked-stone fireplace, two-story living-room ceiling and tall doors and windows. Alexis found the earth-tone color scheme perfect. “I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says she thought.
They even liked the furniture in the house. Their traditional, farmhouse-style furniture fit their previous house well, but this home had a more contemporary, Tuscan feel. They accepted the owner’s counteroffer on the house with the contingency that the furniture stay.
That was in 2011, and now the couple has not only settled into their Cedar Bluff, Ala., home, but introduced numerous friends and family members to the area and immersed themselves in their adopted community.
The home’s layout is great for the parties and crappie fries (Weiss Lake is known as the “Crappie Capital of the World”) the Wolfes host and for overnight guests.
Each of the three bedrooms is in a separate part of house. “There’s privacy,” Jeff says. “Everyone has their own space.”
Thirty to 40 out-of-town guests from states including Illinois, Indiana, Florida, South Carolina, California and Pennsylvania have stayed with the Wolfes in the two years since they bought the house.
“It’s amazing how comfortable people feel here,” Alexis says. “People can watch TV in the living room without feeling like they’re bothering anyone else in the house. Some just like going out and sitting on the boat dock.”
In addition to taking guests boating and tubing, the couple shows them the many natural and cultural attractions they’ve discovered in northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia and southeast Tennessee. Among the places they visit are Mentone and Fort Payne in Alabama, Chattanooga, Tenn., Little River Canyon and DeSoto State Park on Lookout Mountain and Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia.
“I was really surprised at the things you can do in the area,” Alexis says. “There are so many parks that you could visit here. You can go to a restaurant that’s a hardware store [Hardware Café in Mentone] and an antique store that’s a restaurant [The Strand in Fort Payne]. Little things like that. It’s just unique.”
Jeff, who enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and biking, says the mountains and trees are a nice contrast to the flat cornfields he was used to in Indiana and Illinois.
“We had no clue what to expect here,” Jeff says.“We’ve had fun exploring Alabama.”
After five months in Alabama, Jeff, a self-professed organizer who was a village trustee in Manhattan, Ill., was getting involved in the community. “I want to be active in my retirement,” he says.
The couple’s 31-year-old daughter, Jamie, and her husband are avid rock climbers, and they introduced Jeff to Cherokee Rock Village, a range of boulders on the bluff of Lookout Mountain. On the initial visit, he says he thought, “This is my kind of place.” Soon he was a member of the Cherokee County Park Board, which oversees Cherokee Rock Village. He also joined the local Lions Club, having been a member in Pennsylvania.
Alexis had the house situated and was asking herself what she should do. She always wanted to be involved with the humane society, but never had time. “I said to myself, ‘You know what, I’m going to do that,’” she says. She called the animal shelter in Cedar Bluff and asked about volunteering. “They said, ‘Come on down. We need you,’” she recalls. Now she volunteers twice a week, and one of the couple’s dachshunds, Bo, was adopted from the shelter.
She joined two women’s groups as well – the Cherokee County Connection, which gets together for lunch, book clubs and to play cards, and the Women’s Club of Weiss Lake, a community-service organization that funds scholarships, donates to area food banks and sponsors educational programs.
Both Jeff and Alexis are involved with the Cherokee Rose Garden Club. “Garden club was not on my retirement list,” Jeff says. “It was hiking, biking, golf and fishing.” But he was pleasantly surprised. “This is the best group of people,” he says. “You can’t believe how much fun we have.” The group maintains Cedar Bluff City Park, flowerbeds at a post office and a butterfly garden at a school in Gaylesville, Ala.
Jeff headed up a landscaping renovation the garden club did at the Cherokee County Courthouse. Overgrown ivy and bushes were obstructing monuments to World War II and Confederate veterans. “People couldn’t see these things,” Jeff says.
A team of 40-45 volunteers from the garden club replaced shrubs, created a drainage system for the site and built a retaining wall and pathways to the monuments. “It really turned out nice,” Jeff says.
He does find time to fish in spring and fall and tries to golf with a friend every week. They play at Cherokee County Country Club in Centre, Ala., Terrapin Hills in Fort Payne and Twin Bridges Golf Club in Gadsden.
“You wonder going anywhere if people are going to accept you,” Jeff says. “My advice to any retiree is just to get involved in the community.” The Wolfes have met people living in Cherokee County who are from Michigan, Kentucky, New Jersey and other states, and everyone is accepted, he says. A desire to help others is something they all have in common. “We have a pretty good life, a good retirement, so why not?” Alexis adds.[/s2If]
Tags: The Homestead, Winter 2013 Issue
Comments Off on The Homestead: Southern Comfort
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Publisher’s Note: Sit for a spell →
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A few new pics
My niece Maysen; Eric in Manhattan Beach showing off his school(s) - USC and DeSmet; Eric catching up to his 6'8" and 6' 5" uncles (won't be long!);
Eric and Mark
in Manhattan Beach
Well E got cut from the team during these 3rd cuts. I am so proud of him for trying out and working so hard these past couple of weeks. He was not upset at all about not making it. I think he and I are both a little relieved that we don't have to worry anymore about injuries like this, which happened yesterday during tryouts. He went to tackle someone and ended up on the bottom of a pile. Someone's cleat got up under his helmet and he got a shiner :) It'll make him look tough when he gets his school picture taken next week :)
E made the second cuts in football. They ended up not having to do first cuts because enough kids quit before they could get cut. So they had tryouts again yesterday and posted the list today and Eric made that cut. Now they have a third cut in the next couple of days.
Now I can't forget my other "children." Here is an overview of what THEY have been up to... (See pictures) That is KC sitting amongst the remnants of her cardboard breakfast and then that is also KC tearing the stuffing out of the pillow that Stella is lying on.
E's first day of school!
E started school this morning. It's sort of a trial run they do for the freshmen only, so they don't have to feel so dorky around the upper classmen while trying to find their classes and lockers. Doesn't he look so cute?
He made the first cuts for football. Yesterday they had tryouts with pads and helmets. Today are final cuts so we'll let you know.
Oh boy...
E started football this morning. He was so excited about trying out for wide receiver. Even though he played quarterback for two years, he didn't want to play it in high school because it's too much pressure. The coach needed some "throwers" for the receivers and asked if anyone had played quarterback. Eric's friend Danny piped up, "Eric can play quarterback." Eric was so mad, but he didn't say anything about not wanting to play quarterback because he didn't want to disappoint the coach. When I asked how he did, he very unenthusiastically said, "Really good." So I don't know what's going to happen now. I mean, if he's good at it and they need quarterbacks, he should play. But I understand about the pressure. Stay tuned...
Eric woke up yesterday morning and said, "I feel taller." So we measured him and he is 6'3" without his shoes and 6'4" with shoes, so he grew another inch. He was 6'2" but told everyone 6'3" because that's how tall he was with shoes. Jason's friend RT was here when we were measuring him, and RT, who is about 5'8" said, "I wish I could wake up one day and say 'I feel taller. I think I've grown.'" It was pretty funny.
Amazingly, after going to FOUR different stores, we found size 14 football cleats. No actually, I think they are size 13, but they run big and should last through October. So I'll let ya'll know how things went after football tryouts this Tuesday.
Jason and Larry left for California this morning. Larry is going to help with the installation of a kitchen and parking spots, including a fence, for Jason's frat at USC. Eric also left this morning for his DeSmet retreat and will be back tomorrow afternoon. HEAR YE, HEAR YE....I AM ALONE!!! It's really weird considering we've had about 10 people in the house at all times for the past week. It was amusing when yesterday I was driving Larry's cousin's kids, his nephew and his aunt to the airport and halfway there we got a call saying that their flight was delayed for five hours. Back to the house we went! Just when I thought we were getting rid of them! Just kidding. They were really fun to have around. The kids were so easy and so helpful and fun. But anyway, imagine how quiet our house seems to me right now. It's just me and the girls (A.K.A. Stella and KC).
Nice to be back
Had a great time in Italy. Came home to our lively puppy, who thanks to great vets, has earned back her name "wiggle butt." Unfortunately for Stella, I spoil KC even more because she almost died and I sooooo appreciate having her back. The week after we got back from Italy we had a 90th birthday party for Larry's dad. Fifty people were invited, including relatives from California. The party was great, as was the food, and we got everyone and their walkers down the front steps safely. The next morning we all went to Lake of the Ozarks, where everyone went boating, tubing, skiing and got too much sun. Now we're home and some of the California cousins are still with us. Today Larry is showing them how to have fun. I have no idea what they are doing...something about 4-wheeling. I don't really want to know. :)
Eric decided yesterday to try out for football next Tuesday. Running back and defensive something or other (end?) Tonight he has a basketball league that is every Monday and Thursday night through August. He tried on his basketball shoes that I got him last month for DeSmet basketball camp and guess what? Right! They don't fit! Now he wears a 14. So off to the store for football cleats, basketball shoes and baseball cleats (for fall ball). Nike, he's ready for his contract whenever you're ready!
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NEUROSOCIETY: An Artistic Take on the Brain
by Kayla Kranen February 2, 2017 February 25, 2017 0297
I walked into the PACE Art + Technology’s exhibit, The Institute Presents: NEUROSOCIETY expecting just another art exhibit, albeit one focused on the brain and how we think. What I got instead, however, was more like a performance, that, as cliche as it sounds, made me question what it meant to be human.
It started in the lobby. Once inside, I was greeted with vibrant, almost toxic lime-green walls, a large central desk, the sounds of phones buzzing, and the ambient hubbub of people talking. It was only later that I realized these sounds were not coming from the room, but from speakers hidden along the walls. As I walked up to the desk I was asked to type my age, gender, and race into an iPad. Once I did so, I was given a wristband with a code of four letters that would represent me for the rest of the exhibit. It was this, combined with the fact that I was then asked to put on shoe protectors, that tipped me off that this was not a normal art gallery exhibit.
Each visitor received a wristband with a unique identifying code. Credit: Kayla Kranen / M-A Chronicle.
When my time slot arrived, a guide appeared and led myself and 13 others down a short hallway into a room that looked like it belonged on the set of a game show. Lights flashed overhead as I took my place at one of the numbered podiums and waited to be told what exactly I was in for. Much like the lobby, each podium was equipped with an iPad, where I typed my four-letter code once I was told to do so. The guide explained that we would be asked a series of questions and we would have three seconds to answer each one.
It started simple: would I still consider myself to be myself if I lost a finger? Easily, I answered yes. Then, the questions got harder. They escalated, asking me if I would be myself if my consciousness was uploaded to a computer, and finally, if I had somebody else’s brain. The questions continued, presenting continuous moral dilemmas. It was at the end of these dilemmas that our guide told us to come out from behind our podiums and escorted us to the next room.
The first room had a gameshow-like atmosphere. Credit: Drew Altizer Mindfulness Exhibit.
The second room of the exhibit was small and cramped, unlike the game show room, and lit by blinding orange lights. The guide explained that this room would challenge our perception of the world around us. She led us up to a set of windows, also orange, through which I could barely make out the shapes of windmills. She then asked us to put on goggles, and when I did, I was able to see so much more. The goggles turned my vision blue, and I was able to see that the windmills, which I previously thought were stationary, were in fact, moving. I realized that there was an entire landscape that I had been unable to see before I put on the goggles.
When my time gazing into the hidden landscape was up, I took off the goggles and followed the guide into the third room. This room resembled an old-school classroom, complete with blackboards, chairs, and desks with iPads. In this room, our guide gave us a pop quiz. Our guide explained that two faces would appear on the iPad screens, and it was our job to guess which of the two was a previous U.S. Senator. Faces flashed by and I guessed, having no idea if I was right or wrong, and going off what the people looked like. This, apparently, was the point of the exercise. Our guide showed us our data and asked the group to explain why we chose one or the other in each pairing.
The classroom decor of the third room, complete with lime-green chairs and walls. Credit: Drew Altizer Mindfulness Exhibit.
The fourth and final room was, to me, the most interesting. It felt like a laboratory, with a curtained-off area, shining white linoleum floors, white walls, and off-white chairs that reminded me of a dentist’s office. Once inside, the guide explained that we would sit in the dark for eight minutes, followed by three bright flashes of light. I sat down in one of the chairs, and the lights went out.
The sterile decor of the fourth room was laboratory-esque. Credit: Drew Altizer.
As the end of the eight minutes approached the guide told us to put our right hand in front of our faces. The lights flashed and I saw my hand for a split second before seeing its after-image burned into my eyes. For the second flash, the guide told us to put a mirror in front of our faces. After the light flashed, I could see my own face staring back at me for the next ten seconds. For the third flash, the guide stood in front of us and jumped as the light flashed. She then told us to lean back, and amazed, I watched her after-image fly upwards with my eyes. Once the flashes were done she slowly turned on the lights.
With the lights on, our guide told us to put on VR headsets that were hanging on the edge of our chairs. I put mine on and was greeted by a peculiar sight. I could see myself and the 13 others in the room as though we had one more member. As I looked down at what appeared to be my body, I realized who that fifteenth member was. I was seeing the world from the perspective of a doll. It went further than seeing, however, as I realized when the guide tapped the dolls leg with a mallet and I felt a tap on my leg. The tapping continued and I felt the mallet up and down my leg. As the experience came to an end our guide told us to take off the VR headsets and gave us a final speech.
She explained that so much of the world is created by our brains, as they filter and alter information to fit our needs. Because of this, even in our everyday lives we see things that are not there and do not see things that are. As I left the exhibit it made me consider the way I live my life through an entirely different lens.
The exterior of the exhibit. Credit: Drew Altizer.
The Institute Presents: NEUROSOCIETY will be open Tuesday through Sunday until March 31. As the weekends are busier, the best times to visit are Tuesday through Friday. Tickets are $20, and available here. It is important to note that photos are not allowed inside the exhibit.
#twinning: Max and Lucy Prichard
Boys Soccer Suffers Defeat to Woodside in Close Match: Slideshow
Kayla Kranen
Hi, my name is Kayla Kranen. I am a new member of journalism this year, and am super excited to join the M-A Chronicle team! I am interested in writing about pop culture, working on graphic design, and possibly delving into the world of photography. Outside of school, I like to play soccer, perform in plays and musicals, and dance around my house to Disney music. I am looking forward to learning more about the journalistic process this year, and might even look forward to a career in journalism in the future.
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LGIM Real Assets (Operator) Limited, a company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered Number 05522016) and entered on the Financial Services Register number 447041.
LGIM Corporate Director Limited, a company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered No. 07105051) and entered on the Financial Services Register number 518241.
The following company is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority:
Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited ("PMC"), a company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered No. 01006112) and entered on the Financial Services Register number 202202.
Each of these companies is entered on the Financial Services Register which you can verify by visiting the Financial Conduct Authority’s website http://www.fca.org.uk or by contacting the Financial Conduct Authority on 0800 111 6768.
The ultimate holding company of all of the above companies is Legal & General Group plc, a company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered No 01417162). The registered office for each of the companies mentioned above is One Coleman Street, London EC2R 5AA.
Intended Audience and Use of Information
This Site is intended solely for the use of investment professionals only. It is not intended for use by individuals.
You are not authorised to copy, distribute or otherwise make use of any logo, trademark, copyright material or other intellectual property of Legal & General which appears on the Site, except as expressly permitted in the Terms and Conditions.
The contents of this Site are provided for general information only and do not constitute advice of any kind (including investment, tax or legal) on which you should rely, or a recommendation to buy or sell any product, service or investment.
These Terms and Conditions are in addition to any terms of business which you may have in place with Legal & General as a direct customer ("Direct Terms") and in the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any Direct Terms, the terms and conditions of the Direct Terms will prevail.
Please note that any services or products offered by Legal & General will be subject to their own terms and conditions, which you must also read.
The services or products on this Site are not available to persons in any jurisdiction where Legal & General is not registered or authorised to engage in any investment business or activity requiring registration or authorisation ("Unauthorised Jurisdiction"). Use of this Site in an Unauthorised Jurisdiction is entirely at your own risk. You should seek advice on your position from your professional advisers.
In particular, this Site and its contents are not directed at any person that is resident in the United States ("US person"), and no offer or invitation is made to any US person to acquire or sell any service, product or security referred to. The provision of any information in this Site does not constitute an offer to US persons to purchase securities.
If you choose to access information on this Site, it is your responsibility to comply with applicable local, national or international laws. Specific variations to these Terms and Conditions apply to each jurisdiction in which Legal & General is authorised or registered to engage in investment business or activities, and these variations can be found below. You must comply with these Terms and Conditions, as varied by the applicable terms below, in relation to the jurisdiction in which you are accessing and using the Site.
Professional Investment Adviser and Investment Risk
You should consult a professional adviser on your particular financial circumstances before taking, or refraining from taking, any action on the basis of the content of our Site, and you should not rely on the material on this Site. Before making an investment, you should read the appropriate fund prospectus (if applicable) or other terms and conditions as may be appropriate and raise any questions you have on this documentation with your professional adviser.
All investments involve a degree of risk. In particular note:
Past performance is not a guide to future performance;
The value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and you may not get back the amount invested; and
Where the investment has exposure to overseas assets, changes in exchange rates between currencies may cause the value of the investment and the level of income to rise and fall.
You are also responsible for ensuring that all persons who access our Site through your internet connection are aware of the Terms and Conditions, and that they comply with them.
Changes to Content of the Site
Legal & General reserves the right in its absolute discretion at any time and without notice to update, remove, amend or vary any of the content which appears on any page of this Site. However, please note that any of the content on our Site may be out of date at any given time, and we are under no obligation to update it.
Using and Sharing Our Content
(i) view our Site for your personal use on any device that is compatible (including a PC, laptop, smartphone, tablet or other mobile device);
(ii) print off one copy and download extracts of any page(s) from our Site solely for your own personal use;
(iii) draw the attention of others within your organisation to content posted on our Site; and
(iv) share links to specific content or information on our Site by using any sharing tools we make available.
If you wish to share the content of our Site with others, we are happy for you to do the following, provided you comply with the terms set out in this section:
(i) publish online, the original headline and a link to the article and the first 100 words of an article ("Article Summary");
(ii) forward the original headlines, links and an Article Summary to other individuals.
Other than in accordance with the paragraph above and unless stated on our Site or as indicated by a social sharing icon, you are not permitted to publish, re-transmit, re-distribute or otherwise re-produce any of the content which appears on any page of this Site in any format to anyone else, and you are prohibited from using any such content from the Site in connection with any business or commercial enterprise without obtaining a licence to do so from us or our licensors.
If you wish to re-produce in full any article on the Site, you should contact us directly for authorisation and if granted, we will require you to include an attribution to us when re-producing that article.
Further, you must not modify the paper or digital copies of any materials you have printed off or downloaded in any way, and you must not use any illustrations, photographs, video or audio sequences or any graphics separately from any accompanying text.
If you fail to comply with the paragraph above, we reserve the right to immediately terminate your right to link to our Site and to share the content of our Site, your right to use our Site will cease immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the materials you have made.
Linking and Posting Material to our Site
You may link to, or post material to this Site, provided that you do not:
(i) in any manner to imply that Legal & General is endorsing your investment strategies or policies or any statement made by you; or
(ii) post or transmit material that is libelous, defamatory, obscene, fraudulent, misleading, harmful, that violates the property rights of others (including without limitation infringing use of any third party's intellectual property rights), that violates the privacy of others, or that is in violation of any applicable laws.
If you post material to our Site, we reserve the right to make editorial adjustments before publishing and reserve the right to remove or block any comments or materials posted to the Site which:
(i) contain profanity or other language likely to cause offence;
(ii) break the law or condone or encourage unlawful activity (including, without limitation, breach of any intellectual property right, defamation and contempt of court);
(iii) are seen to impersonate or falsely claim to be, someone else or represent an organisation;
(iv) repeatedly post the same or similar messages, i.e. spamming;
(v) are unrelated to the topic the message is posted under;
(vi) include contact details such as phone numbers, postal or email addresses;
(vii) constitute advertising of products and / or services;
(viii) contain links to websites deemed to be unsuitable by us; and/or
(ix) we do not feel are otherwise suitable or appropriate for the Site.
Third Party Links and Resource in Our Site
The Site may contain links to third party websites and/or the content of third parties ("Third Party Content"). The Third Party Content has been made available solely for your convenience or information. The Third Party Content should not be interpreted as an endorsement by us and we have no control over such Third Party Content. Accordingly, Legal & General makes no representation, warranty or guarantee with respect to the Third Party Content whatsoever (including, as to its accuracy, completeness, suitability or reliability). If you access or use the Third Party Content, you do so entirely at your own risk. To the extent permitted by law, Legal & General excludes any liability arising from any use or reliance by you on the Third Party Content.
We do not guarantee that our Site will be secure or free from bugs, viruses or other malicious code.
You are responsible for configuring your information technology, computer programs and platforms in order to access our Site. You should use your own virus protection software.
misuse our Site by knowingly introducing viruses, trojans, worms, logic bombs or other material which is malicious or technologically harmful;
attempt to gain unauthorised access to our Site, the server on which our Site is stored or any server, computer or database connected to our Site; or
attack our Site via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of service attack.
We will report any breach of this section to the relevant law enforcement authorities and we will co-operate with those authorities by disclosing your identity to them. In the event of such a breach, your right to use our Site will cease immediately.
Legal & General is the owner or licensee of all copyrights and other intellectual property rights in the Site and all material published on this Site. Those works are protected by copyright laws and other intellectual property laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved to Legal & General and its third party licensors.
All trade marks, service marks, company names or logos are the property of their respective rights-holders and no permission is given by Legal & General in respect of the use by you of any such trademarks, service marks, company names and logos and any such use may constitute an infringement of the rights-holders’ intellectual property rights.
All copyright in any indices values and constituents lists which may be published on the Site, from time to time, may belong to a third party licensor. Where such indices feature on the Site, Legal & General has obtained full license from the relevant licensor to use such copyright in the creation of the contents of the Site.
Legal & General is committed to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information secure. Any personal information you supply to Legal & General via this Site will be treated in accordance with the data protection legislation relevant to your jurisdiction. When you use our Site, you consent to Legal & General collecting and using your personal data in the manner described in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
Our Privacy Policy can be accessed at www.legalandgeneral.com/institutional/privacy-policy/.
Our Cookie Policy can be accessed at www.lgim.com/cookie-policy.html.
Invalidity
If any part of our Terms and Conditions is determined to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable (including, without limitation, any provisions in which we exclude or limit our liability to you), then to the extent of such illegality, invalidity or unenforceability, such terms or conditions shall be deleted and severed from the Terms and Conditions and the enforceability of the remaining Terms and Conditions will survive in full force and effect.
Applicable laws may require that certain information or communications be in writing. When using the Site, you accept and agree that communication with Legal & General may be electronic. Legal & General may contact you by email or provide you with information by posting notices on this Site. For any contractual purposes, you agree to electronic means of communication and you acknowledge that all contracts, notices, information and other communications that Legal & General sent to you electronically comply with any legal requirements that such communication be in writing. This provision does not affect your statutory rights.
Telephone Recording
As required under applicable laws Legal & General will record all telephone and electronic communications and conversations with you that result or may result in the undertaking of transactions in financial instruments on your behalf. Such records will be kept for a period of five years (or up to seven years upon request from the Financial Conduct Authority (or such successor from time to time)) and will be provided to you upon request.
If Legal & General fails at any time to insist upon strict performance of any of your obligations under the Terms and Conditions, or if Legal & General fails to exercise any of its rights or remedies to which Legal & General is entitled under these Terms and Conditions, this shall not constitute a waiver of such rights or remedies and shall not relieve you from compliance with such obligations.
The Terms and Conditions set out the whole agreement between you and Legal & General in relation to the use of the Site. Each party acknowledges that in entering into the Terms and Conditions it does not do so on the basis of or in reliance upon any representations, or promises undertakings, warranties or other statements (whether written or oral) of any nature whatsoever except as may be expressly provided in these Terms and Conditions.
The Terms and Conditions and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws in the applicable jurisdiction.
The parties irrevocably agree that the courts in the applicable jurisdiction shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with the Terms and Conditions or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).
This agreement is drafted in the English language. If this agreement is translated into any other language, the English language text shall prevail.
Questions comments and requests are welcomed and should be sent to Web Marketing: Email us
In addition to the terms and conditions above, the following terms apply to the jurisdictions listed above them.
To the extent that any services or products on this Site are not used for personal, domestic or household use, then, subject to section 64A of the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) and section 12EC of the Australian Securities and Investment Commission Act 2001 (Cth), which is not otherwise disclaimed or limited under these Terms and Conditions is restricted to:-
for goods, replacement or repair or the cost of replacement or repair; or
for services, re-supply or the cost of re-supplying the services.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 an investor any person may request access to the personal information (if any) we or you hold about them.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "in force in the state of New South Wales, Australia."
Legal & General Investment Management Limited ("LGIM") is registered with the Austrian Financial Market Authority ("FMA") to provide cross-border investment services in Austria in accordance with article 34 Directive 2014/65/EU (at the time of notification: Article 31 Directive 2004/39/EC).
Registered Address of LGIM is:
1 Coleman Street, London, EC2R5AA, United Kingdom
LGIM is registered with Companies House under 02091894.
Supervisory Authority: Financial Conduct Authority
VAT Identification Number: 244 1554 78
You can contact LGIM, as follows:
T: + 44 02031243000
In the Chapter "Intended Audience and Use of Information", the first sentence shall read:
This Site is intended solely for the use of (i) "professional clients" (Professionelle Kunden) as such term is defined in section 66 Austrian Securities Supervision Act 2018 (Wertpapieraufsichtsgesetz 2018), (ii) entities or persons who have been qualified as professional clients in accordance with section 67 of the Austrian Securities Supervision Act 2018 and (iii) "eligible counterparties" (Geeignete Gegenparteien) as such term is defined in section 68 of the Austrian Securities Supervision Act 2018. Hence, for the avoidance of any doubt, this Site is not intended and must not be relied on by (i) "private clients" (Privatkunden) as such term is defined in section 1 item 36 of the Austrian Securities Supervision Act 2018 and (ii) "qualified private clients" (Qualifizierte Privatkunden) as such term is defined in section 2 para 1 item 42 of the Austrian Alternative Investment Fund Managers Act (Alternative Investmentfonds Manager-Gesetz).
The third paragraph ("The contents of this Site…") shall be amended with the following sentence:
Nothing contained herein must be considered as financial analysis nor shall contents of this Site or part of it form the basis of, or be relied on, in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever.
In the "Disclaimer and Liability" section the last paragraph shall be amended as follows:
Nothing in the Terms and Conditions shall exclude or limit Legal & General's liability for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or blatant gross negligence [krass grobe Fahrlässigkeit] or for any other liability to the extent that such liability cannot be limited and/or excluded by applicable law.
The wording in section "Telephone Recording" shall be read as follows:
"As required under applicable laws, LGIM will record all telephone and electronic communications and conversations with you that result or may result in the execution of transactions in financial instruments on your behalf. LGIM will, however, prior to such recording inform you about it and your data protection rights. Pursuant to art 16 para 7 Directive 2014/65/EU and the applicable laws of England and Wales (implementing Directive 2014/65/EU) such records will be kept for a period of five years (or up to seven years upon request from the Financial Conduct authority (or such successor from time to time)) and will be provided to you upon request.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "substantive Austrian law under the exclusion of its conflict of laws rules and the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods".
LGIM is registered as a UK MiFID-firm on the basis of free provision of services with the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (the “FSMA”). In particular, it is allowed to provide the following services and activities on a cross border basis in Belgium:
reception and transmission of orders in relation to one or more financial instruments;
execution of orders on behalf of clients;
foreign exchange services where these are connected to the provision of investment services; and;
investment research and financial analysis or other forms of general recommendation relating to transactions in financial instruments.
The use of the Site is intended only for investors that (A) qualify both as “professional investors ” (as defined by article 3, 30° of the Act of 19 April 2014 on alternative investment funds and their managers, as amended from time to time or any successive legislation that may enter into force, and by article 5, §3 the Act of 3 August 2012 on undertakings for collective investment that fulfil the conditions set out in the UCITS Directive and undertaking for investment in receivables, as amended from time to time or any successive legislation that may enter into force) and as “qualified investors” (as defined by article 10, §1 of the Act of 16 June 2006 concerning the public offering of investment instruments and the admission to the trading on a regulated market of investment instruments, as amended from time to time or any successive legislation that may enter into force), i.e. “professional clients” and “eligible counterparties” as referred to in Annex A and Article 3, § 1 of the Royal Decree of 3 June 2007 containing detailed rules implementing MiFID and the Commission Directive 2006/73/EC implementing MIFID as regards organizational requirements and operating conditions for investment firms and defined terms for the purposes of that Directive (the “Royal Decree of 3 June 2007” as amended from time to time or any successive legislation that may enter into force), (each, a “Qualified Investor”), and (B) do not qualify as “consumers” defined by article I.1.2° of the Code of Economic Law of 28 February 2013 [optional: referring to “any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession”], and (C) any such Qualified Investor shall act in its own name and for its own account and shall not act as intermediary, or otherwise sell or transfer, to any other investor, unless any such other investor would also qualify as a Qualified Investor.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of Belgium."
This Site is intended solely for the use of investment professionals only. It is not intended for use by individuals or the public in Brunei. The term “investment professional” used in the Site generally refers to a person who is either an institutional investor or a person who holds a capital market services licence under the Securities Market Order, 2013.
The Site and its contents are not directed at any person that is resident in Brunei Darussalam (“Brunei Person”), and no offer is made to any Brunei Person to provide or acquire or sell any investment business service, product or security. The provision of any information in this Site is for general information only and it does not constitute a recommendation, an offer or invitation to offer to Brunei Person to invest or purchase securities.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall in each case be deleted and replaced with "of England and Wales."
By providing personal information in the course of your use of the Site, you expressly consent to the transfer of that information overseas in accordance with the terms of the Privacy Policy.
Legal & General Investment Management Ltd. is registered with the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority to provide cross-border investments services in Denmark in accordance with Article 31 in MiFID-Directive and Danish legislation.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of Denmark”.
In the "Information About Us" section, the following shall be inserted at the end of such section"
Of the entities listed above as being authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and/or the Prudential Regulation Authority, the following have been notified to the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority and may provide services into Finland:
Legal & General Investment Management Limited
LGIM Real Assets (Operator) Limited
Legal & General Assurance (Pensions Management) Limited
Of the entities listed above as being authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the following have not been notified to the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority and do not offer services into Finland:
LGV Capital Limited
LGIM Corporate Director Limited"
In the "Using and Sharing Our Content" section, the following shall be inserted at the end of such section: "This provision does not affect your statutory rights."
In the "Privacy and Cookies" section, the following shall be inserted at the end of such section: "You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, but you may thereafter not make any further use of the Site."
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of England and Wales".
All copyright in the indices values and constituents lists which may be published on the Site, from time to time, may belong to a third party licensor including, without limitation, FTSE International Limited ("FTSE"). Legal & General has obtained full license from the relevant licensor to use such copyright in the creation of the contents of the Site.
The FTSE indices used within the Site are calculated by FTSE. FTSE does not sponsor, endorse or promote any Legal & General funds.
"FTSE®", "FT-SE®"; and "Footsie®" are trade marks of the London Stock Exchange Plc and The Financial Times Limited and are used by FTSE under license. "All-Share®", "All-World®" and "FTSE4Good®" are the trade marks of FTSE.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of France".
In the "Information About Us" section the following shall be inserted;
"Legal & General Investment Management Limited ("LGIM") Private Limited Company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered No. 2091894), whose share capital amounts to £4 750 000, having its head office located at 1 Coleman Street, London, EC2R5AA, United-Kingdom, phone number + 44 02031243000. Investment Manager authorised and regulated by the Finacial Conduct Authority, entered on the Financial Services Register number 119272 and benefiting from European passports to carry out its activities in France.
The publication manager is LGIM. Please direct any queries to: LGIM Marketing, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA,
Email IB Distribution.
The Site is hosted with LGIM. Please direct any queries to: One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA,
LGIM is authorized to carry out business in France under a cross-border services passport into France"
In the section "Linking and Posting Material to our Site" the following words shall be inserted; "You shall hold us harmless from from any and all claims, injuries, damages, losses or suits including attorney fees, arising out of or in connection with any link and material that you post to this Site."
In the "Information About Us" section, the following wording is inserted;
"The Site is operated by LGIM. LGIM's information is as follows: Legal & General Investment Management Limited ("LGIM"), a company incorporated in England & Wales (Registered No. 2091894) and entered on the Financial Services Register number 119272.
LGIM's address is: 1 Coleman Street, London, EC2R5AA, United-Kingdom, phone number + 44 02031243000.
LGIM is represented by: Notices for the attention of: LGIM General Counsel, LGIM Legal, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA
LGIM's capital stock is £4.75million Pounds Sterling.
You can contact LGIM, as follows: Email Web Marketing.
LGIM's monitoring authority is: Financial Conduct Authority
The person responsible for editorial content (sec. 55 (2) rstv) is: LGIM Marketing, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA,
IB Distribution email"
In the "Intended audience and use of information" section the first paragraph shall the replaced with the following; "This Site is intended solely for the use of German professional as well as semi-professional investors and consultants only. It is not intended for use by private investors in particular in accordance with paragraph 19 no.31 of the German Investment Code ("KAGB").
In the "Disclaimer and Liability" section the following wording is inserted; "LGIM shall also be liable for any damage in the case of a culpable violation of a material contractual duty or cardinal duty; however, in the event of a violation of a material contractual duty or cardinal duty based on simple negligence, the liability of LGIM shall be limited to the typically foreseeable damage. A “cardinal duty” in the sense of this provision shall be a duty of LGIM whose fulfilment enables the proper performance of the agreement, whose infringement jeopardizes achieving the purpose of the agreement and in whose compliance you may normally trust. Any further-reaching liability on part of LGIM shall be excluded."
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "German law".
References to "Legal & General", "We" or "Us" in the the Terms and Conditions shall also include Legal & General Investment Management Asia Limited (“LGIM Asia Ltd”), a Licensed Corporation (CE Number: BBB488) regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") to conduct regulated activities of dealing in securities and asset management in Hong Kong. The registered address of LGIM Asia Ltd is Room 902, 9/F, Chinachem Tower, 34-37 Connaught Road, Central, Hong Kong.
The Site has not been reviewed by the SFC and is provided to you on the basis that you are a Professional Investor as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (the "Ordinance"). By accepting using the Site, you acknowledge and agree that the Site is provided for your use only and that you will not distribute or otherwise make this material available (except as specified in the Terms and Conditions) to a person who is not a Professional Investor as defined in the Ordinance.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China."
In our Privacy Policy, under the "Information we collect" section, the following additional terms apply:
We intend to use your personal data in direct marketing and may not do so without your consent.
Any promotional emails that we may periodically send about new products, special offers or other information that we think you may find interesting shall relate to the investment products and/or services offered by Legal & General.
Your personal data may be transferred outside of Hong Kong and/or to a Legal & General group company for the reasons set out in this section.
You represent and warrant that you are entitled to enter into a binding agreement under the laws of the Republic of Indonesia, in particular to the Terms and Conditions, and that you are at least 21 years old or are married and not under guardianship.
Please be informed that Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (the Indonesian Financial Service Authority) or Bank Indonesia does not declare its approval or disapproval of our services and products offered nor do they guarantee the accuracy or adequacy of its services and products, nor do they supervise the use of our products. Therefore your use of our Site will be purely contractual relationship with us as set out in these Terms and Conditions.
This Site or other related documents and information shall not be considered as an offer to our services and products in investment sector; consequently such documents and information shall not be considered an offer.
Some of the information on this Site may contain projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events or future financial performance of countries, markets or companies. These statements are only predictions and actual events or results may differ materially. You must make your own assessment of the relevance, accuracy and adequacy of the information contained in this Site and to make such independent investigations as you may consider necessary or appropriate for the purpose of such assessment. Any opinion or estimate contained in this Site is made on a general basis and is not to be relied on by you as advice.
The collection and use of personal data under these Terms and Conditions have been in compliance with the collection and use of personal data under the prevailing laws and regulations in Indonesia.
For the use in Indonesia, these Terms and Conditions are drawn up in both the English and the Indonesian languages, both of which versions are binding on you and us. In the event of any inconsistency between the Indonesian language version and the English language version, to the extent permitted by the prevailing laws and regulations, the English language version will prevail.
LGIM Corporate Director Limited is authorised to provide alternative investment fund management services in Ireland on a cross border basis in accordance with the provisions of the European Union (Alternative Investment Fund Managers) Regulations 2013 (as amended) and is approved by the Central Bank of Ireland to act as a service provider to funds.
PMC has an administrative authorisation to carry on life assurance business in Ireland on a freedom of services basis.
LGIM Corporate Director Limited and PMC are each entered on the Central Bank of Ireland’s registers, which you can verify by visiting the Central Bank of Ireland’s website at http://registers.centralbank.ie/
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of England and Wales."
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of Italy”.
The Site is intended solely for the use of institutional investment professionals only. Please do not use the Site if you are not on behalf of an institutional investment professional. Accordingly, the Consumer Contract Act of Japan (Act No. 61 of 2000, as amended) does not apply to the use of the Site.
The Site and its contents are not directed at any person that is resident in Japan ("Japanese person"), and no offer or invitation is made to any Japanese person to acquire or sell any service, product or security referred to. The provision of any information in this Site does not constitute an offer to Japense persons to purchase securities.
In the "Intellectual Property" section the following shall be inserted; "If you post material to the Site, we are deemed to be authorised to use such material on the Site."
In the "Intended Audience and Use of Information" section, the first sentence shall be replaced with, "This Site is intended solely for the use of institutional investment professionals only. Please do not use the Site if you are not on behalf of an institutional investment professional. It is not intended for use by individuals. Accordingly, the Consumer Contract Act of Japan (Act No. 61 of 2000, as amended) does not apply to the use of the Site."
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words “the laws in the applicable jurisdiction” shall be construed as meaning the Laws of Luxembourg.
LGIM and the companies listed in the Section “Information About Us” are not authorized by the Macau Monetary Authority to act as financial institutions and/or provide financial services pursuant to the provisions of Decree-Law No. 32/93/M in the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
None of the information, opinion, reports, prospectus or other documents contained or made available on this Site shall be construed as an offer for subscription or purchase, or an invitation to subscribe for or purchase, or a recommendation or solicitation by Legal & General to acquire or sell any products or securities referred to in this Site.
By accepting the Terms and Conditions or otherwise using this Site, you confirm and represent to us that you are a person who come within one of the categories of persons set out in Part 1 Schedule 6 and 7 of the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 of Malaysia, as amended from time to time (“CMSA”).
We are not licensed or authorised to carry on any regulated activity (as defined in the CMSA) in Malaysia and none of the information or documents contained or made available on this Site shall be construed as advice of any kind (including financial, investment, tax or legal).
In the “Intended Audience and Use of Information” section, after the words “investment professionals”, there shall be inserted “(including ‘wholesale investors’, as defined in the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 of New Zealand (the “FMCA”))”.
No use by you of the Site shall activate the provisions of any consumer protection laws of New Zealand, including, without limitation, the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993; the Fair Trading Act 1986; and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003, the operation of which you agree shall hereby be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.”
The provision of any information in this Site does not constitute an offer of or invitation to subscribe for any financial products to any person in New Zealand, nor does it constitute a ‘regulated offer’ to retail investors within the meaning of the FMCA. The Site is intended for use by persons who are 'wholesale investors' within the meaning of the FMCA only. ‘Wholesale investors’ include:
any persons who are required to pay a minimum upfront subscription amount of at least NZ$750,000 each on acceptance of any offer of financial products made to those persons and before the allotment of those financial products; or
any persons who are otherwise categorised as 'wholesale investors’ pursuant to the FMCA.
If you are not a ‘wholesale investor’ you shall immediately cease any access to or use of the Site and any services and/or products on the Site.
Legal & General Investment Management Ltd. is registered with the Norwegian Financial Supervisory Authority to provide cross-border investments services in Norway in accordance with Article 31 in MiFID-Directive and Norwegian legislation.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of Norway”.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of the Republic of Singapore."
LGIM is registered with the Spanish Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (Register number 828) as an investment firm of the European Economic Area under the freedom to provide services regime, to provide certain investment services.
In the "Law and Jurisdiction" section, the words "in the applicable jurisdiction" shall be deleted and replaced with "of Spain."
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Finance Ministry should review and reduce the 21% cut in the Health Ministry budget allocation as health and education should be regarded as essential expenditures with the cuts coming from less essential services like the Defence Ministry
(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): The Finance Ministry should review and reduce the 21% cut in the Health Ministry budget allocation as health and education should be regarded as essential expenditures with the cuts coming from less essential services like the Defence Ministry.
Health Minister, Datuk Chua Jui Meng said yesterday that his Ministry was negotiating with the Finance Ministry for the 21% cut in its budget allocation to be reduced.
Affordable quality health care is becoming more and more out of the reach of poor and low-income Malaysians and it is a matter of grave national concern that there would be a sharp deterioration in the standards and services in the public hospitals, which have already undergone great decline in the past decade.
The Health and Education Ministries are two Ministries which should be given special treatment in having the least reductions in the general cuts in budgetary allocations.
In his first 1998 Budget on Oct. 17, the Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a two per cent cut in the allocation of all Ministries and departments, while in the second 1998 Budget on Dec. 5, he announced a cutback of at least 18 per cent of Federal government expenditures in 1998, beginning with an immediate 10 per cent cutback across the board of both operating and development expenditures and 8 per cent on a more selective basis.
This would mean a RM11.6 billion cutback from the original 1998 Budget of RM64.1 billion to RM52.5 billion.
The RM11.6 billion cutback in Federal government expenditures is necessary as part of the national belt-tightening process to face up to the national economic crisis.
However, the cutbacks should be fine-tuned and selectively applied so as not to undermine the future competitiveness of the nation or sacrifice the objectives of social equity and justice in the country.
Affordable quality healthcare should be a fundamental right of all Malaysians, and for this reason, there should be the minimum of cutbacks in the Health Ministry budgetary allocations, keeping it in the region of 5 per cent cutback. Even with the five per cent cutback in Health Ministry budgetary allocation, the Health Ministry should be able to deliver better, more efficient and higher quality health services to the poor and low-income Malaysians by cutting down on the enormous waste of public funds in the government service and improving on the efficiency of the health service by raising productivity in the public medical and health service.
The shortfall arising from the reduction in the cutbacks in the budgetary allocation for the Health Ministry should be made up from bigger cutbacks in other Ministries which do not rank so high in the national scale of priorities during the national economic crisis, as for instance, the Defence Ministry.
The Defence Ministry is given a RM5.7 billion total budgetary allocation for 1998 as compared to RM4.2 billion for the Health Ministry.
The Finance Ministry should keep the cutback for the Health Ministry to five percent of the 1998 budget and any shortfall in the Health Ministry cutback should be made up by a greater cutback in the Defence Ministry, as there should be a freeze on all major defence expenditures as well as a downsizing of the armed forces during the times of national economic crisis.
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153/3, Joardar Lane
Malibagh Bazar Road, Dhaka – 1217
Litigation (Civil / Criminal)
Limpid Advisers & Co > Publication
IMPLICATION OF “COPYRIGHT”: A DOOR TO POSSIBILITIES By Sheikh Saiful Islam Rajib It is repeatedly apparent in Bangladesh that lot of “creative talents” received an untimely and inhuman death because of poverty, even some time they died of lack of basic need such as food, shelter and medical treatment. However, in developed countries such as USA and UK creative/intellectual persons live a wealthy life. The most crucial reason behind such economic status of such people in Bangladesh is the absence of “intellectual property law” practice especially the “copyright law” since the trademark, patent and design law is generally practiced in standard level in corporate and business environment. Before denying the possibilities someone should consider the consequences of having “copyright” Copyright law allows authors or originators to be financially remunerated for their talents and labours which they have been put in creating something original. The monetary remuneration works as an motivation to them to continue their creation .
The person or enterprise who holds the copyright is the only one legally able to reproduce, change, publish, sell, distribute, rent or perform the copyrighted material. With the lack of copyright protection, it will be easy for anyone to claim such work as their own and to exploit it without giving any recognition or compensation to the original creator. Copyright law also protects the authors or originators of derivative (or new) works : For example- Dramatizations, translations, adaptations, abridgements, arrangement, and other alterations of literary or artistic works . There is one of the reasons behind creation of copyright laws that it give authors or originators exclusive rights to their creation for a certain time which is at least lifetime of the creator plus 50-60 years( it varies in different countries). The copyright laws is not only for the creator’s benefits, it benefits the public too. One of the purpose of copyright law is to promote “the progress of science , useful and recreational arts” . The public benefits in at least two ways: the authors and inventors continue creating original works that these authors or originators may not have developed if there is lack of copyright law and Secondly, these creations are freely usable by the public once the limited time has passed. It should also be noted that authors and copyright holders are not necessarily the same people. The author or the creator of the work usually owns the copyright.
However, if an employee created the work as part of a job, the employer automatically holds the copyright. Copyright laws give the copyright owner legal rights with important implications for those work that creates businesses to them. These include the exclusive right to make and distribute copies; sell, rent or license the work; display or perform the work publicly; and to create new works based on the original copyrighted work. So apparently copyright law helps to build business and commercial venture where thousands of people’s livelihoods are involved. In Bangladesh “Intellectual Property Law” draw its attention towards the government and that is why several statues enacted by Bangladesh Parliament. The government enacted separate extensive Law and Rules in relation to “copyright law ” and they are Copyright Act 2000 and Copyright Rules 2006. The above features shows the list of possibilities (not an exhaustive list) can be achieved only by accepting the facility of copyright law. So the intellectual and creative people out there what are you waiting for? Embrace copyright law and prosper in your life. Copyright© Sheikh Saiful Islam Rajib 2016 saiful_rajib2005@yahoo.com
Law Firm Social
About Limpid Adviser & Co
Limpid Advisers & Co. (LAC) is one of top law firms in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Its expert in company registration, documentation,Immigration, IP, litigation, Corporate, Commercial, and Family law matters. It represents its clients in Civil disputes, as defense counsel in Criminal matters and equipped with credentials to present.
Copyright in Copyright office & Patent, Design and Trademark registration in Bangladesh : A path to financial stability
Hindu-Muslim Marriage, other Interreligious Marriage, and Court Marriage in Bangladesh: A comprehensive analysis of Law of Marriage in Bangladesh.
An analysis of Divorce, Divorce law and Divorce lawyer in Bangladesh
‘Akbar Mahal’ (Ground Floor) 153/3, Joardar Lane Malibagh Bazar Road,Dhaka — 1217, Bangladesh.
E-mail : info@limpidlaw.com
Content@2017 Limpid Advisers & Co. All rights reserved.
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We keep it fresh, we keep it real!
"When you become so fanatical that it drives you every day to a point where you are willing to do and go where others will not... That is THE PAPPO'S WAY!"
When the desire to produce exceptional pizza quality increases to it's highest point...you demonstrate your willingness to sacrifice the cost or convenience...when you become so FANATICAL that it drives you every day to a point where you are willing to do and go where others will not...back to a time a place where food was a passion and art form...that is THE PAPPO'S WAY! And after trying PaPPo's, like many customers, you might find that any other pizza JUST doesn't measure up. They don't measure up because they just aren't willing or are not able to invest in a scratch menu with the quality ingredients that PaPPo's uses and bake the old fashioned way on a STONE HEARTH OVEN. NO CONVEYER OVENS at PaPPo's! Yes it takes a little longer to handcraft and bake our pizzas on hearth ovens, but honestly you can taste the difference and very few places have as many choices as PaPPo's gives you. After you taste the difference, you might become fanatically loyal to PaPPo's and never turn back to the everyday ordinary. You then understand what it means when we say.... At PaPPo's... "WE KEEP IT REAL...WE KEEP IT FRESH!"
ABOUT THE CREATION OF PAPPO'S
PaPPo's Pizzeria and Pub was born out of several serendipitous events...some occurring over time...and some more recent, culminating into a new experience for Pizza Connoisseur's and Craft Beer lover's wherever there is a PaPPo's Pizzeria and Pub.
The Beggining
With many years of pizza experience, a curiosity and a desire to produce exceptional food, "PaPPo" Chris Galloway has been developing recipes and ways of cooking for many years. PaPPo came from an Italian family. HIs mother Joan was born into the Sant'Antonio family (later changed to Santantonio) to Italian parents, PaPPo's grandparents, Fred and Antoinette (Babe) Santantonio. In 1903, Fred came over on the boat, as they say, with his parents and 2 brothers, from Italy. Fred's father was a custom Tailor who made fine riding britches for wealthy American's in what was at the time a booming town...Cleveland, Ohio. The Sant'Antonio's changed their name to Santantonio and lived on the East side of Cleveland. Fred Santantonio married Babe in 1933 and in 1950, after WWII, they ended up in Brooklyn, Ohio a suburb of Cleveland. The Santantonios were always cooking and talking about food. They we're known for putting on the Annual Spaghetti Dinner for 800 people at St Thomas Moore Church. Babe actually was, at that time, kind of a cooking star as she had several of her recipes published in The Cleveland Plain Dealer and reportedly made a cameo appearance on a local TV show. Joan or "Joanie" as they called her was their first child. Joan's brother, Rocky Santantonio, recalls the family's desire to get into the "pizza business." According to Rocky, "One interesting point is that my Dad put a rent down payment on a store for a pizza shop after they did so well selling pizza at the St. Thomas Moore Church Bazar. That evening we were in the pizza business but because my Dad hadn 't slept a wink worrying about the rent money, he got up the next morning and went and got a refund. So, we were out of the pizza business just as fast as we got in."
Joan married Richard Galloway and they had a large family of 10 children of which PaPPo was the oldest and probably got in the most trouble. They settled in Lakewood, Ohio a suburb on the west side of Cleveland. Every Sunday after church PaPPo's mother would put on an Italian feast for her family. PaPPo also spent a lot of time at his Grandparent's, Fred and Babe's home where he learned about his Italian heritage and especially about the food. His introduction to pizza was at his Grandparent's with a recipe that garnered Babe first place in a recipe contest and publication in a Cleveland Plain Dealer. The pizza had a crispy bottom, was light and airy and yet full of flavor. According to PaPPo, "There were no "pizza cutters." A pair of scissors was used to cut the pizza into slices." Another member of the family was famous for her cooking, Aunt Rita. Aunt Rita was revered for her "sauce." There was no better. There was always a big pot of sauce on the stove on Sunday and holidays at any of the houses in the family and sometimes there would be huge get together of the all of the families at Aunt Rita's and Uncle Tony's house because they had a finished basement which had a table that took up the entire space which seated 30 people. These were loud events with lots of food and wine where there would be arguments about "how a toilet flushed" or "whether a fight was rigged" and would usually end with the men falling asleep on Sunday afternoon after dinner sitting up in chairs while the women talked among themselves. The children ran around outside getting rid of all the energy that comes from eating so much "spaghetti." In high school, PaPPo would take some of his buddies over to his Grandfather's house to experience the Italian culinary feast for themselves. On one such occasion, at the end of one of his Grandfather's feasts, one of his best friends had eaten so much that he suddenly bolted from the table outside the house and jumped in his convertible and took off down the street just to get some "air" while Christopher and his Grandparents laughed. PaPPo says, "Yes...the food was just that good that you ate as much as you possibly could till you would bust."
What started with PaPPo's Italian relatives, his mother Joan became the torch that passed on an Italian culture and tradition of family and food to her family. Joan was famous for putting on a full meal complete with candlelight every night for two adults and ten children and usually a boyfriend or girlfriend or two. On Sunday afternoon, right after church it was spaghetti and meatballs, fresh baked bread, and a little taste of wine. PaPPo's father Richard would say the same thing that Uncle Saragi on Sunday afternoon....."trow em in Joan." Those same meatballs are served at PaPPo's today. Joan had a big influence on PaPPo and the way he approaches food. Subtle flavors, natural, fresh, without a ton of extra added ingredients. This is the way the Italians do it. She could whip up and amazing meal in a matter of a half hour that was incredible using fresh ingredients. PaPPo's father, Richard, was also influential in his love for good food and he was a bread baker. He taught PaPPo how to roll out fresh made from scratch bread. This freshed baked bread is served at PaPPo's today and is used for the garlic cheese bread and the sandwiches.
Fast forward...after owning pizza franchises and other restaurant concepts, PaPPo became disillusioned with the products and the way the products were being made. It was all about convenience for the operator and cutting costs to produce a cheaper and faster product. Realizing the need and desire for a higher quality pizza, he decided it was time to get back into the pizza business with a concept that served handcrafted pizza with only the finest and the freshest ingredients much like his Italian family had done for decades. Chris was searching for locations and was urged by stepdaughter Briana Mathews and friend Jonathan Swisher (now Operating Partners at the Springfield location) to open the first store in downtown Springfield, Mo. PaPPo found a location at 221 East Walnut in downtown Springfield complete with brick walls and a high ceiling and a big bar than ran through almost half the space. And yet there was still no name for the concept.
Out of the mouth of "Babes"
Christopher and his wife Melissa had visited son Jamie, his wife Emily and their 3 year old Granddaughter, Moriah. Without any encouragement Moriah began calling him "Pappo". While struggling to find a good name for the new pizza concept, and after throwing out almost every name they came up with, Melissa said "what if we called it PaPPo's?" They looked up the meaning in Italian and it means "to prepare carefully, gobble up, eat." Thus was born the name...PaPPo's Pizzeria.
The PaPPo's in Springfield opened with success. PaPPo's son Warren Galloway has joined the team and helped open a 2nd store, located in Osage Beach, Mo. The Osage Beach location has been a huge success and is getting rave reviews and wide acclaim from locals and visitors alike, not only for the handcrafted pizza, but also the 32 Craft Beers on tap....thus adding the Pub to "PaPPo's Pizzeria and Pub" and taking advantage of the huge trend toward "Craft Beers." PaPPo's has continued and will continue to add exciting new things to the menu very carefully as to not upset the balance of quality and service. With Christopher's experience and Warren's energy and together their leadership, PaPPo's is currently looking for expansion opportunities in the Midwest.
About - Header
About - Divider
About - Founders
Pappos Pizzeria & pub
PaPPo's Pizzeria
4705 Osage Beach Pkwy,
Osage Beach, MO, 65065,
(573)693-1092 pappospizzeria@aol.com
Mon 11am to 10pm
Tue 11am to 10pm
Wed 11am to 11pm
Thu 11am to 11pm
Fri 11am to 12am
Sat 11am to 12am
Sun 11am to 10pm
Sign up for all kinds of happenings at Pappos!
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Man donates decades of research about Churchtown
Kate York
editoral@newsandsentinel.com
Photo by Kate York Gus Letto works at unpacking and shelving books and documents he’s donating to the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Churchtown. Letto has been researching the area for nearly 60 years.
Photo by Kate York Gus Letto opens a family Bible at the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Churchtown.
Photo by Kate York Letto looks through the 1875 Atlas of Washington County.
CHURCHTOWN– Gus Letto has a near-guarantee for the residents of Churchtown, past and present.
“If anybody from this (St. John the Baptist Catholic) parish walks through the door, I can almost certainly tell you your ancestors, including 16 great-grandparents,” he said.
Letto, 85, of Albuquerque, N.M., has a database of 47,000 people he created to back him up as well as 60 years of research on Churchtown, something he good-naturedly admits is a bit of an obsession. He has been in town this week, passing along boxes full of information for the St. John church to keep and share, as he wants to step back from his longtime hobby.
“I may want to actually watch something on TV for once,” he joked. “Or I could visit a museum.”
His interest started in 1958 when his mother-in-law took him to visit the Ava Maria Cemetery and former church just outside Churchtown, which was built in 1866 along with St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Churchtown, Washington County.
“It fascinated me,” said Letto. “The church was still there. The pews were gone but the stained glass was still intact.”
The church was later torn down in the ’80s but Letto’s interest in both of the sites continued.
“I started collecting information over the years, a little bit here and there,” he said. “Even for a year in Vietnam (while serving with the Air Force) when I wasn’t flying I wrote letters to people and would get information back. I came back with a whole notebook full of things.”
It was the people in the rural Washington County community, both living and in the cemeteries he’d visited, that drew him in, said Letto.
“It’s the fact that they’re such salt-of-the-earth people,” he said. “There are no judges, no famous politicians, just farmers who were deeply religious people. They taught their kids to be honest farmers and deeply religious and for so long, they all stayed here.”
The same family names that are listed in a current parish newsletter are in the 1860 census for the area, Letto said. That includes the Pottmeyers, of which his wife, Carolyn, is one.
Local historian Ernie Thode said he expects a lot of interest in the materials Letto has shipped from New Mexico.
“This is a community that just really gets into their roots,” he said. “They relish their roots.”
Letto spent the week unpacking and shelving his books and documents. To house the items, a room in the brick building next to the church on Ohio 676 was renovated by Ken Pottmeyer, a cousin of Carolyn Pottmeyer and lifelong member of the St. John congregation.
Once Letto returns home, members of the parish will set hours for those interested to come and research their families. They can also visit a room full of old photos and family histories of the area in the building next door.
“I’m giving them what I call a starter,” said Letto. “It’s names, dates, places and if they want to do more research, they can. So many people you meet these days don’t even know their grandmother’s maiden name. It’s sad.”
Letto also has a grave locator for those interested in finding the final resting place of their local ancestors.
As for his? He’ll be back in Churchtown, the site of his decades-long passion.
“They’ve agreed to let us be buried in the cemetery,” he said. “We’ll be among all good people.”
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Majora's Mask 3D
Eiji Aonuma Discusses Idea Origins for The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Want to know where Termina got its name?
by Mitch Vogel Mon 2nd Mar 2015
The excitement around the recent release of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D is still burning bright. Falling right in with this, Nintendo Dream - a Japanese, Nintendo Power-like magazine - published an interview with Eiji Aonuma about Majora's Mask 3D in this month's issue.
They start off with a rather interesting question, asking Aonuma where the word “Majora" came from. His response was unexpected, to say the least:
Imamura, who made the design for Majora's Mask, invented the word by combining characters from the movie title Jumanji and from his name Imamura.
So there you have it; without Jumanji, we most likely would not have Majora's Mask as we know it today. Keeping the thread of name origins, the interviewer then asked Aonuma where Termina got its name. This had slightly more expected beginnings:
Termina is a terminal, right? As it means a place where people come and go, terminal became Termina.
So it seems Aonuma had the idea of Termina being a temporary place that one simply passes through, like a terminal; though considering the apocalyptic tone of the game as a whole, it probably isn't a coincidence that it's only a couple letters short of “Terminate".
Moving on, the interviewer brought up a mask owned by the Happy Mask Salesman that bears resemblance to the pattern on the mirror shield. Aonuma had this to say:
That's right. The mask came first. When the Mirror Shield was being designed, we wanted to have some kind of pattern for the reflection. Having said that, it was hard to come up with a pattern for the shield. We clearly couldn't make it like the shield from Ocarina of Time as the shape is too detailed and it wouldn't fit the image of this game. But the Happy Mask Salesman is carrying a mask which has a face of distress, so wouldn't it be interesting to use that one? Therefore, the Mirror Shield was born from what was previously a mask of Happy Mask Salesman.
What do you think of this? Are you surprised by anything Aonuma revealed? Sound off in the comments below.
[via nindori.com, nintendoeverything.com]
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D (3DS)
About Mitch Vogel
Mitch has been a fan of Nintendo ever since he got his start on the GBA in 2005. When he's not busy playing games or writing, you can find him down at his local MMA training facility learning how to punish the unrighteous.
HarryK
Mon 2nd Mar 2015
I never understood the face of the mirror shield, and after this explanation I still don't.
Wait....how does Jumanji give the idea of the Majora's Mask? The board game was cursed....so I guess that was the inspiration for that....but what about the name?
@Artwark
It was just the word 'Majora' which was taken from Jumanji, not the entire idea.
yokokazuo
@Artwark I believe it could be taking the start of 'Ju' from Jumanji and putting it between Imamura so it would be Ima MuJura (it is written Mujura in Japanese).
C-Olimar
Kind of thought Termina's name could have been derived from the other meaning of terminal - "forming or situated at the end or extremity of something." Seems to make sense, given the story of the game.
Interesting article.
KayFiOS
An unexpected tie between Legend of Zelda and Robin Williams. Pretty neat.
It would be cool if Termina is somehow captured within the Wii U Zelda Map
Termina in Italian is End I think. So yeah, end of the world for Termina.
DarthNocturnal
@allav866
Heh, I noticed that meself. Although I'm actually kinda surprised that it's just letters taken from random names/ titles. I guess I figured that there might've been a mythology out there with a similarly named deity/ entity, and that they adapted/ took the name from it.
Come to think of it, Metroid was supposedly created by mixing "metro" and "android".
And I thought Termina's name was obvious. "terminal" means "to end".
Dpishere
So that is how Termina got its name. It is always cool learning about the little details and how they happened.
Dreamz
The Game Theorists did an entire series on Majora's Mask and origin-type stuff for it. I highly recommend anyone who's a fan of the series check it out over on Youtube.
( But remember, it's just their theory. A /game/ theory.)
@Dreamz Or more accurately put, a hypothesis.
Saeros_Fae_Falla
@Artwark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1iv1Ws5XU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etogQoNoX1w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKSMIqADJ-s
It was obvious that the name Termina came from the Latin terminus. It was, however, less obvious where they got Majora from. It's not as if they made up a new word, so it's a bit puzzling to hear that they got the name from an amalgamation of two completely unrelated words. I always assumed they just took it straight from the Latin, though the meaning was still not clear.
Tamalesyatole
Termina means something like "[it] ends" in Spanish.
Also, kinda like "Terminus" from Asimov's Foundation series, too.
@Mogster
Perhaps Robin Williams inspired them (for his work in the Jumanji movie) as The Legend of Zelda Inspired the name of Robin Williams' daughter, like Nintendo giving a small tribute since they probably knew he was a big fan of the series.
Henmii
Mon 9th Mar 2015
So that's where the name Majora comes from. Fun to know!
Random: 'Princess' And 'Zelda' Mentioned On US Game Show Years Before The Game
Contestant randomly links words four years early
Video: The 25 Best Nintendo 3DS Games Of All Time
What will you play?
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
13th Feb 2015 (USA)
13th Feb 2015 (UK/EU)
Official Site:
zelda.com
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Arnold Palmer has done just that for 83 years because of his dad, who always stood beside him—and in many ways still does.
By By Peter Kerasotis
Arnold Palmer Library
The old dog barks a greeting from down the hallway and Janet Hulcher confirms what everybody already knows. “Mr. Palmer is here,” announces the golf legend’s executive assistant, sitting at her desk. Mulligan, a lumbering yellow Labrador whose age nobody seems to know anymore, appears first, the metronome of his tail wagging slowly. Mulligan’s master, Arnold Palmer, is moving even slower, his body contorted with pain, his gait forced. “I’m not having a good morning,” he states as he shuffles gingerly to his office on the second floor above the pro shop at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge. He had played golf the day before on the course he owns, and his creaky body is what’s barking at him.
Palmer is 83, and in golf parlance he has played life’s 18 holes and has had the good fortune to be able to go back onto the course for perhaps another nine. Twenty-seven holes would be nice. It would also provide a sense of symmetry, for it was 27 holes that his father got—not in figurative years, but literally. On a picture-postcard Florida afternoon on February 6, 1976, Milfred Jerome “Deacon” Palmer, 71, played 27 holes of golf at Bay Hill, returned to his room at the lodge, had a massive heart attack and died.
All these years later, Arnold Palmer’s eyes moisten and his voice chokes several times during an hourlong conversation about his father. It takes only seconds until his first failed attempt to fight back tears. I ask about the story of when Arnold was only 3, his father, or Pap as he called him, put his son’s hands into his and then placed them around the shaft of a cut-down women’s golf club in the classic Vardon grip.
“Now boy, don’t you ever change that,” the elder Palmer ordered his son. “Just keep it that way the rest of your life.”
It is a life that saw Arnold Palmer win 62 PGA Tour titles, seven major championships and bring the sport to the masses, becoming its most beloved figure, with his legion of fans known as Arnie’s Army. It is a life that saw him pioneer the athlete as a product endorser, doing so innovatively and lucratively, becoming the highest-grossing athlete in endorsement income from 1961 to 1991, when Michael Jordan supplanted him.
It is a life that has extended beyond his father’s by a dozen years. But even now, into his ninth decade and metaphorically playing another nine holes, Palmer’s memory of his father teaching him the Vardon grip is still fresh. So are his emotions.
“I would guess,” I say to him, “that just about every time you grip a golf club, you think of your father.”
“Oh...,” Palmer says, then stops. His voice cracks and raises an octave. “I... I think of him all the time. In everything I look at and think about, it reminds me of him.”
There are other lessons—those that pertain to golf and, more importantly, to life. Arnold Palmer wasn’t the perfect son, nor was Deacon Palmer the perfect father. They had their differences. Deacon was a staunch Democrat who revered Franklin Roosevelt, while Arnold became a Republican and a close friend of Dwight Eisenhower. But Deacon and Arnold Palmer, imperfect as they were, were a perfect match: the demanding, disciplined father and the son who wanted nothing more than to win his approval. Tellingly, at the end of his 1999 autobiography, A Golfer’s Life, Palmer ruminates about his father, “wondering what my Pap would make of this golfer’s life. Some things never change. I still hope he’d be pleased.”
Had his father not been so demanding, Palmer doubts he’d have been so successful. To win a golf tournament was one thing, but to win even the slightest commendation from his Pap was quite another, and harder to come by. “The approvals were very limited,” Palmer recalls, “and the compliments were very slow and slim.”
I ask him to think of one special time when he got his father’s approval, and what was it like for him.
Palmer pauses, remembering the U.S. National Amateur Championship he won in 1954, shortly before turning pro. His mother, Doris, was the first to reach him afterward, her pride and tears overflowing. “Where’s Pap?” Arnold asked her. He soon found his father in the crowd, wearing a contented smile. It was the first time he’d seen him smile all week. But that wasn’t all, although that smile would’ve been enough. While posing for photographers, Deacon put his hand
on his son’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You did pretty good, boy,” he said.
“I was always trying to please him, trying to get his approval,” Palmer says now, smiling at the memory, sitting at his desk. “I don’t think I would’ve driven myself as hard if not for that.”
To this day, nobody knows how Milfred Jerome Palmer got the nickname that stuck—Deacon. “Milfred Jerome wasn’t his thing,” Arnold says. “What are you going to do with a name like that? He wasn’t a Milfred or a Jerome. He was Deacon. That fit.” Deacon, or Deke as he was also called, named his firstborn son Arnold Daniel Palmer after two of his friends.
Deacon Palmer had a lot of friends, from bankers and businessmen to bartenders and bricklayers. Like his son, he liked people. At 15, he quit school and went to work for the company that is now Standard Steel in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Though he had a club foot and walked with a limp due to infantile paralysis, Deacon Palmer was a strong, robust man who could pump one-handed chin-ups with either arm. He loathed working indoors so when he heard about a local golf course being built, he applied and was hired as a laborer. It was 1920, and Deacon Palmer never left Latrobe Country Club, eventually becoming the grounds superintendent and then club pro. Many of the trees he planted with his own hands still dot the golf course today.
It was there that young Arnold learned most of his life lessons, not to mention how to play golf. He often says that everything he knows about golf, he learned from his father. Deacon was his first and only swing coach. Shortly after teaching his boy the Vardon grip he still employs today, the father gave another bit of golf advice that Arnold never abandoned.
“Hit it hard, boy,” Deacon told him. “Hit it hard. Then go find it, and hit it hard again.”
The classic Arnold Palmer swing has never been described as a classic golf swing. In his prime, it was violent in its power, efficient but not effortless. His shots were clothesline low, seemingly launched from a cannon instead of lofted from a tee. That he inherited his father’s strong hands and upper body helped. Because he tried to hit the ball so hard, Palmer created tremendous natural torque from his rotating hips, an instinctive motion that served him well as a pro. But as a boy, sometimes he’d swing so hard his feet would leave the ground.
One time he even toppled over. Seeing that, one of Latrobe’s prominent members, J.R. Larson, told Palmer’s father, “Deacon, you better do something about that kid’s swing. He swings so hard he can’t even stay on his feet.” With piercing eyes Deacon glared at the member and growled, “J.R., you let me worry about the kid and you take care of your own game, all right?!”
It was an exchange that gave young Arnold insight into a caring and fiercely protective side of his father that he didn’t fully appreciate until years later. So did another incident when Arnold was a teenager working in the pro shop. One hot afternoon nobody was around, so the boy locked up and headed onto the course to practice. When Larson came by and couldn’t get to his clubs, he found Deacon, who found Arnold and promptly lit into his son in front of Larson, telling him how unreliable and undependable he was. At one point, Larson chimed in, “Tell you what, Deacon. Send him down to the steel mill to work. We’ll straighten him out fast.”
Once again, Arnold recalls, his father’s reaction was shockingly swift.
“Don’t tell me what to do with my kid!” he snapped. “You take care of your business, Mr. Larson, and I’ll take care of mine!”
For a father who wasn’t much for displaying affection and who was penurious with his compliments, the two J.R. Larson anecdotes are telling.
“Your dad was protective of you,” I say.
“Yeah, but he never let me know it.”
“But in those two instances you did see it,” I say. “He wasn’t going to let anyone mess with you.”
“Well, he didn’t want me to work in the steel mill.”
“But it was more than that,” I say. “He loved you dearly.’’
Palmer’s face flushes.
“Right,” he says, nodding, his eyes watering, his voice a whisper. “That’s true.”
Although Palmer practically grew up on a golf course (the family’s small wood-frame home was just off the 6th fairway), he didn’t enjoy the privileges that being the club pro’s son might bring today. The Palmer kids weren’t allowed on the course or even in the club pool. Instead, they swam in a nearby stream and played in the road in front of their house. Deacon Palmer was fastidious about the golf course, loathing divots or any other blemishes. This meant no practicing your short game around the holes. Not surprisingly, throughout his pro career, Arnold Palmer’s short game was his weak link.
But working at the golf course during summers certainly had its advantages. Young Arnold learned and constantly practiced; and when he caddied, he could play the course on Mondays. He was also always around his Pap, absorbing whatever his father taught him about the game.
There also were other advantages to having a country club essentially in his backyard. Deacon Palmer had not come from privilege; he was the son of a painter. But he observed and learned from the upper-crust club members he befriended and then passed those lessons on to his children.
Manners and etiquette were paramount to Deacon Palmer, and he tutored his children in them, with zero tolerance for any breaches. If Arnold left his hat on in the presence of a woman or when entering a room, Deacon would remind his boy of his shameful transgression by snatching the cap off his head—and if some of his scalp came with it, so be it.
These days at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, hats on men’s heads are not allowed in the dining area. And no matter where he might be dining, Palmer can’t eat with a group of people without escaping from the lessons his father taught him.
“When I was a little boy, and my sister and I were growing up, my Pap taught us how to eat and how to be mannerly and how to hold a knife and fork,” Palmer says. “How many kids today know how to hold a knife and fork properly?” He pauses for several seconds, shakes his head and adds, “Not many. I have meetings with business executives all the time, and I watch famous people eat, and they don’t know how to hold a knife and fork. Many of them are remiss, and they look like they’re going to butcher something.”
He shakes his head again.
“It wasn’t just everything I know about golf that my father taught me. It was simply everything. How to eat, how to drink, how to act, how to sit, how to talk ... he gave it all to me.”
He didn’t grow up in fear of his father. Instead, it was a lifelong fear of displeasing him, and it still lingers with Arnold today, 37 years after his Pap’s death. One of his earliest memories is from when he was 5 and was fascinated by building model airplanes. One day at the local drugstore, he took a packet of glue, slid it into his pocket and walked out the door. He got away cleanly, but not with a clean conscience. He began worrying about what his Pap might think of his theft. All these years later, he still thinks about it. “It has haunted me my entire life,” he says.
All in all, his was a happy childhood. Arnold’s mother, Doris, was bubbly and nurturing, and she filled in all the tangible gaps—the expressions of affection—that Deacon withheld. Latrobe had a communal feel, even with all the different strata of income. Among the members of Latrobe Country Club members was the Rogers family, who owned a die-casting business. Their son, Fred, was a year older than Arnold. Years later, Fred created a children’s TV show, modeling much of it after the Latrobe that he and Arnold Palmer grew up in. He called it Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
Arnold thought he would never leave Latrobe, and he never really has. He winters in Orlando, where he not only has an office at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge but has also become intricately involved in the community, most notably with the hospitals for women and children that bear his name and that of his late first wife, Winnie. His main home, though, has always been in Latrobe. At 18, Palmer did leave for college, heading to North Carolina’s Wake Forest University to play golf on a full scholarship. At the time, he knew nothing about Wake Forest, much less its athletic nickname—the Demon Deacons—the second word of which was another reminder of his father.
There is another story Palmer relates whose roots perhaps delve into the subconscious. He was maybe 9 when he got into a fight with another boy, whom he soon had on the ground. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder, that of a local man known as Fat Rusnak. “He wanted me to stop, and I told him, ‘Up yours.’” Rusnak wouldn’t turn him loose, so Arnold grabbed a peach from a nearby fruit stand and smeared it all over Rusnak’s shirt. The man disappeared into a nearby bar and emerged several minutes later accompanied by a scowling Deacon.
“It had been raining, and my Pap had an umbrella,” Palmer recalls. “He spanked me with that umbrella all the way home.”
Today, the logo at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is an umbrella. Coincidence? Palmer thinks about it, before answering, “I don’t think so. Not really.”
But who really knows?
What he does know is that the umbrella spanking is one of only a couple of times his Pap laid a hand on him. The other time was the most dramatic and traumatic event of his childhood.
Deacon Palmer was a drinker, and sometimes an over-drinker. Latrobe produced Rolling Rock beer, but Pap preferred bourbon. When Arnold was an adult and affluent and could afford any kind of alcoholic beverage imaginable, father and son had a teasing routine they’d enjoy. “He used to kid me,” Arnold says.
“I’d say, ‘How about a beer, Pap?’ And he’d say, ‘Why do you drink that belly wash?’ He liked the beer. But he really liked whiskey. He wanted to get to the good stuff.”
Sometimes, though, the good stuff got to Deacon, and it could be bad. One of those times was Arnold’s 16th birthday, when Deacon came home for dinner after having too many drinks and promptly started picking on Arnold’s mother, his words insensitive and mean-spirited. Arnold had seen this play out before, and this time he’d seen enough. He told Pap he didn’t like the way he was talking to his mother. The look he received was one of shock and rage. Deacon grabbed Arnold’s shirt, lifted him off the ground, and threw him against a galvanized stovepipe, flattening it. Later that evening, Arnold gathered some belongings and slipped out of his house, planning to run away. Soon, he found himself in the middle of the night wandering the most peaceful place he knew of on earth—the Latrobe golf course. Before the sun rose, he eased back into the house and into bed. The incident was never mentioned again, nor did Deacon ever again lay a hand on Arnold.
“He was ... the whiskey part ... he was a drinker,” Palmer says. “He handled that sometimes poorly. He was a guy that ... he smoked for a little while. But then somebody said something to him about smoking, and he quit. He never smoked again in his life, and this was in his early 20s. Later, he would come to my house, and I’d be smoking. He hated my smoking. He’d say, ‘Arn, you’ve gotta quit smoking.’ Then he’d say, ‘Give me one of those.’ And he’d smoke a cigarette right there in front of me, and then throw it away and not smoke another.
“He wanted to show me he could quit, that he could smoke a cigarette and throw it away and never have another one. He did it to show me he could smoke if he wanted to, but he just didn’t choose to. He was strong in that department. He had a lot of willpower. And when he drank a little too much once in a while, he’d quit drinking. He wouldn’t drink any at all. Just stop. He knew when he needed to stop, and he would. He took great pride in his willpower—in being able to do things, and also not do them.”
Even when Arnold Palmer became the biggest name in golf, he was still Deacon’s boy, and not above counsel from his old man. When Palmer was busy revolutionizing the image of an athlete as an endorser, making more from that than he did on the PGA Tour, Deacon would tell him the same thing that he heard from a lot of critics during the 1960s—that he should scale back on business ventures and focus more on golf. Palmer, who also became a golf course designer, was what that era called a tycoon. He had a pilot’s license and his own plane and would fly himself to tournaments and business meetings.
“Pap used to tell me, ‘Why don’t you just stick to your golf?’ He was just that kind of guy. We’d talk about golf and my business and how I was doing a lot of traveling, and like a lot of people he thought I should focus more on my game. But there were a lot of aspects of it that he enjoyed, like the airplane; that I’d take him in the airplane to play golf somewhere. And he enjoyed my mother going with us. That was always fun.”
In addition to designing and building golf courses, Palmer decided in 1971 to buy an existing one—Latrobe Country Club. By then, the half-century-old course was showing its age, and Deacon implored his son not to buy it. “Are you crazy?” he asked more than once. But Arnold did buy it, and then promptly renovated the course until it once again became an emerald on western Pennsylvania’s hilly landscape. “Now you have to work for me, Pap,” Arnold teased his father.
The one decision Deacon was immediately on board with was Arnold buying the Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Palmer had liked Orlando the first time he ever visited, when he was a college golfer and Wake Forest played a match against Rollins College (where, coincidentally, Fred Rogers earned a bachelor’s degree in 1951). Palmer, though, really fell in love with Orlando in 1965, when he shot a course-record 66 in an exhibition at Bay Hill to beat his nearest competitor, Jack Nicklaus. Later, he excitedly told his wife Winnie, “Babe, I just played the best golf course in Florida, and I want to own it.”
Back then, similar to now, if people from the North wanted to buy in Florida, they sought somewhere along the coastline, not inland. And certainly not in Orlando, and definitely not Orlando before Walt Disney established any roots. But Palmer saw something he instantly loved. “I saw the lakes, the fresh water, and the environment here was fantastic,” he says. “It was so natural. Everything. The orange groves. I loved the orange groves and the grapefruit, and all the natural farming area here. It was just a natural. And I thought, ‘Gee, what a great place for a private resort-type of club.’ ”
And Deacon?
“He loved it. Oh, he loved it. He wasn’t familiar with all my financial arrangements and things that I needed to do to buy Bay Hill (it took him better than five years to finally purchase it). But he loved it.”
After working at Latrobe Country Club for 55 years, Deacon Palmer finally retired in 1975. Early in February of 1976, he and his son’s longtime personal assistant, Doc Giffin, took a winter trip to Bay Hill.
“Deacon was a lovable guy but crusty at the same time,” Giffin says. “Like his son, he liked people. And there was a sensitive side to him, too. I’d just had a very emotional month. One of my closest friends from childhood was killed in a plane crash. When we got ready to go to Bay Hill, Deacon said to me, ‘Doc, I know you lost your good buddy. I’ll try to be your good buddy this week.’ Two days later, Deacon was gone.”
Arnold was playing in California at the Bob Hope Desert Classic, a PGA tournament he won five times. He’d just shot an opening-round 64 and was ebullient. Then his world came crashing down. Back home at Bay Hill, after playing 27 holes of golf, his Pap suffered a heart attack in his lodge room and died. Giffin saw his door ajar, and then found Deacon lying on the floor.
Distraught when he heard the news—“I just lost it,” he says—Palmer flew to Latrobe. He then had his father’s body flown there on his plane. Deacon was cremated, and after a small, private ceremony, his ashes were spread along a knoll just above the 18th green at Latrobe Country Club.
It’s the same spot where Arnold Palmer wants his own ashes spread one day.
Palmer thought that day might have arrived last year, with perhaps the end also coming for him at Bay Hill, just like his Pap.
Since 1979, Bay Hill has hosted the PGA Tour stop now known as the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and every year Palmer is there on the final-round Sunday, waiting for the winner at the 18th green for the awards ceremony. But he wasn’t there last year. His blood pressure had skyrocketed, so much so that he visited the medical tent on the tournament grounds. The doctor there wanted him hospitalized. Since Palmer’s personal physician, Dr. Fernando Hernandez, lives at Bay Hill, he went to his house for a second opinion. Unable to get Palmer’s blood pressure under control, Dr. Hernandez drove him to the hospital and admitted him.
As the events of that day unfolded, it provided Palmer with a sense of symmetry. Just as his father resides in his earliest sentient memories, teaching him the Vardon grip, they surfaced there again for an octogenarian Arnold Palmer during those disconcerting medical moments.
“I did connect the whole thing to my father, and how he died at Bay Hill,” Palmer says, his voice softening as he slowly nods. “I definitely was thinking about that, about my Pap. Seems like I’m always thinking about him.”
In the Name of Healing
Through his contributions to two hospitals, Arnold Palmer has given children a fighting chance.
It looks like an amusement park, with Disney characters and children’s play areas, bright colors and cheery architecture. But inside, children aren’t fighting for a seat on the next ride. They are fighting for their health, and all too often for their life.
Arnold Palmer stands in the lobby and looks around, absorbed by his surroundings. He also becomes absorbed in his thoughts, his mind rewinding to a time when the building that bears his name didn’t exist, and children in dire medical need were cramped in a tiny area at Orlando Regional Medical Center. In the early 1980s, Palmer was asked to help raise funds for the children housed in the hospital, and he toured it to see why there was a need.
Palmer says cleanliness was a major issue. And that didn’t just sadden him. It moved him.
“I thought I could have a part in bringing a hospital to Orlando that would smell nice, that would be clean and that would give people, especially children, a different perspective so they wouldn’t be afraid,’’ he says. Today, that hospital is the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, which opened in 1989. Across the street is the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, which opened in 2006 and is named after Palmer’s late wife.
Lest anyone think that all Palmer has done is lend his name and checkbook to the cause, Dr. Gregor Alexander has a much different take. A neonatologist, Alexander was with Arnold and Winnie Palmer when they first toured Orlando Regional Medical Center, and he’s been a key figure at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. “I remember him saying, ‘We can do better, and we will do better.’ He has been the inspiration and driving force for all of us to continue to do our labor of love.”
And it is a labor of love—and compassion. Every child admitted to the Arnold Palmer Hospital receives a Bill of Rights stating that they can expect:
• Time to play each day.
• People to knock on my door before coming in my room.
• Doctors and nurses to tell me their names.
• People to understand that sometimes I need to cry when I’m afraid or hurt.
• My parents to help take care of me.
• People to laugh with me.
• Safe, quiet times during each day.
• People to tell me what’s going on and why.
• My room and my bed to be safe places.
• People to let me choose what I want when it’s OK.
• My favorite toy from home to be with me and to go along to surgery and different places in the hospital.
• A hug when I need one.
Of all Palmer’s accomplishments—his 62 PGA Tour wins and seven major tournament victories, and various successful business ventures, like his ownership of the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, which houses a PGA Tour stop that bears his name—it is these two hospitals that he thinks of most.
“Every day,” he says. “If I don’t think about it, I’m reminded of it when I’m listening to the news or reading the newspaper.”
It’s comforting, humbling even, when he hears that someone in need of medical help was “taken to Arnold Palmer,” the implication being that they are in good hands now—in Arnold Palmer’s hands. As he talks about how special those words are every time he hears them, a woman passes by in the hospital lobby, recognizes Palmer, and says, “You do such nice work here. Thank you, and God bless you.”
Not only is the hospital doing nice work, but great work. U.S. News & World Report just named Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children one of the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals, an honor it has achieved four times in the past five years.
Michael Thomas doesn’t need to be convinced. The 18-year-old Merritt Island resident has spent most of his teenage years in and out of Arnold Palmer Hospital, battling hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, or HLH, a rare and potentially fatal disease. He also suffers from twisted intestines and pancreatitis.
“I can get sick really easy,” Thomas says from his hospital bed, moments after meeting Arnold Palmer. “The last time I was here I was supposed to die. I don’t want to be gross, but I puked up a pint of blood, my lung collapsed, I had multiple infections, and I went through two rounds of chemo. I’ve been coming here a lot the last five years. They’ve saved my life. If Arnold Palmer had not made a hospital for children, a lot of kids like me wouldn’t be here today.”
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English Home > Policies > Secretariat of the International Peace Cooperation Headquarters, Cabinet Office > Search by Chronology > Democratic Republic of the Congo > International Peace Cooperation Assignment in Democratic Republic of the Congo
International Peace Cooperation Assignment in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Capital:Kinshasa
Presidential and legislative elections were conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ) on July 30, 2006. At the request of the UN , Japan sent 8 election observers ( 5 national government officials and 3 individuals from the private sector) to these elections. For the presidential runoff, which took place on October 29, Japan sent 5 election observers ( 2 national government officials and 3 individuals from the private sector)
During these two missions, the Japanese observers carried out observations at various stages of the election process, including the campaign, preparations for polling day, voting, and counting, in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC .
Election Observers
Verification of voter's card at a
polling station
An election observer asking
questions to a staff member at
a polling station
A congolese with his ballot
Counting operations continued
until midnight
Registration of election
On July 22, 2006, two of the eight Japanese observers arrived in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC , collected necessary information and proceeded with preparations for election monitoring activities. Following the arrival of the remaining 6 observers, including three civilians, in Kinshasa on July 26, their activities gained momentum. They monitored activities on different stages of the elections including electoral campaigns, voting preparations, voting and ballot counting, and so on to ensure the execution of free and fair elections.
On the polling day, the Japanese observers covered a total of 59 polling and counting stations at 10 facilities in Kinshasa Province. The counting operations continued until the following day. The statement of the Chief of the Japanese Election Observation Mission was released on August 1. (His statement is available here.) All the Japanese observers completed their allotted duties and returned to Japan by August 5, 2006.
Since none of the presidential candidates won a majority of the votes, a run-off election was held on October 29, 2006 between the two finalists. For this round, five Japanese election observers were sent for election monitoring activities similar to those carried out by the first group of observers sent in July.
On the polling day, the Japanese observers monitored 43 polling and counting stations at 6 facilities in Kinshasa. The statement of the election observers was released on October 31. All the Japanese observers completed their allotted duties and returned to Japan by November 2, 2006.
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Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine group is a coalition of environmental charities, working with the collective vision of achieving healthy, well-managed seas, where wildlife and coastal communities are flourishing and ecosystems are protected, connected and thriving.
The LINK Marine group successfully campaigned for the Marine (Scotland) Act which came into force on the 10th March 2010. The Act radically alters the governance of our seas, and places important duties on Scottish Ministers to, amongst others, protect and where appropriate recover our seas, develop our first ever system of marine planning, and create a network of marine protected areas. The group now continues to work hard to ensure the Act fulfils its promise.
How can we recover our seas?
LINK’s Marine project is grateful to the John Ellerman Foundation for its continued support, which currently funds one full time policy officer. The project is also grateful to the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation for its long term support of this project which ended in 2016. Funding from WWF Scotland currently supported employment of two project officers working LINK’s Marine Group until November 2017.
Scottish Environment LINK is the forum for Scotland’s voluntary environment organisations, with over 35 member bodies representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society. The Marine group comprises of the following organisations:
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You are here: Home Articles Beram, prehistoric settlement
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Beram, prehistoric settlement
Tag: Beram, Istrian hinterland, architectural heritage, archeology, historical development, SB Research Group
Summary - The research team SBRG decided to pursue further research Beram's hill-fort, cemeteries from all three developmental stages, and also sheding light on the mystery of discovering other "tower" mentioned in the deed of gift from 911th year. Through scientific researches, which will be included diverse experts, weighs the final goal is not only documenting the history, but, most importantly, quality of the revitalization of the settlement taking into account the diverse situations during development.
This study is introduction for knowledge of the historical and urban value of this important archaeological site, where SBR Group plans researching for the year 2013.
Activities will begin digging at the site of the oldest cemetery, started in the late nineteenth century, but never completed.
The Istrian peninsula is an area rich with very densely spaced urban and rural agglomerations, high values. Small towns of central Istria connect some common traits, such as accommodation on the top of a conical hill, on the positions of prehistoric hill-forts, and tight construction which depends of the ring of fortifications. At the same time, due to different conditions and time of formation, each town individually is realization of self.
In the vast period of time, from prehistory to the present day, there was created a series of use cases relevant to the culture in Istria. Starting from the archaeological finds, through ethnological objects, glagolitic text, sacred and profane objects - monuments of culture, we come to the vast cultural wealth, which in its extreme and simple form, tells of a man and space in the hinterland of the peninsula. Just this treasure is preserved in fragments, often only like the text. What is left in situ was not valorised in a timely manner, to enable better presentation, now, when almost everyone understands that Istria has an inestimable treasure.
The consequence of the closed cycle of food production and a high degree of self-sufficiency, as the basic conditions of survival, was the organic structure of the settlement. This kind of structure is formed in a situation where the available energy is reduced to that amount that can be produced in site, with primitive tools. Organic structure is apparent at all levels of spatial organization, from the divisions of wide area, through structure of the compacted settlement, until the functional organization of the house, and even the structure of the wall or sidewalk.
Beram is one of the typical Istrian villages on a hill, which continuity of natural growth we can monitoring from prehistory to the present. It is the latest in a series of settlements along the Lim bay. In the case of Beram was achieved remarkable balance between settlements (architectural heritage) and the surrounding landscape (natural heritage). For centuries, local residents use in the best vay diversity of terrain, soil type and climatic conditions.
Figure 1 view of Beram
The first mention of Beram we find at 911th in the grant of King Berengar, but traces of its existence date back to the time before Christ, at least VIII century, about what is a very detailed analytical work related to archaeological research conducted at the end of the nineteenth century. Rich historical events have left their mark on the appearance of the village and the medieval fortification, gothic presbytery in the new sacred building, but also on the street grid. Historical events are made known only in fragments, thanks to research of the most famous Istrian frescoes (painted 1474th year) in the Church of Our Lady on Škriljinah, and the painting opus of Vincent from Kastav.
Hill-forth of Beram was not investigated, but nevertheless, on the basis of position and still preserved visible construction elements it’s possible to create a picture of the former appearance. Land treatment, and subsequent work on the southern slope are mostly clear forth trace. It can still be observed during the carefully visit of ground.
The entrance to the oldest part of the hill-forth (phase I) is still used today by residents of Beram like secondary entrance, and called him LITTLE GATE. The upper plateau at +320 m above sea level still yet is the center of the village and a space of gathering in front of the main church. Life continued here at the time of Roman domination, the arrival of the Slavs-Croats, in the reign of the Franks, the Bavarian Duchy, and so consequently to the present day. There was no a period in which the settlement was abandoned by their inhabitants.
Figure 2 Reconstruction of Beram's hill-forth (prepared by J. Drempetić)
Prehistoric hill-forth, situated on a hill overlooking the valley on which followed a Tinjan's and Lim's dell, connected with Lim's bay. It is obvious connection between Beram's forth and the other similar located within the basin of Lim fjord, to the sea and further. Very early was established trade links with maritime countries, evidenced by the most significant findings of askos from Daunia (VII century BC), in the necropolis of Beram. One can even assume that the valley under Beram was inhabited from the Stone Age. In any case, Beram was an important point for the ancient inhabitants of Istria.
In the winter 1882 on 83rd archaeologist Marchesetti received in Trieste urn from Beram, accidentally discovered during the processing facilities in the garden. Then begins an interest for this small Istrian village. Already in April 1883rd Marchesetti goes to Beram when begins with test digging, when he found 25 urns, whose content has brought with him, and about finding wrote a short article. Afterwards come two more archaeologists carried out the research, Karl Moser and Dr. Andrea Amoroso, with which is at the end of 1883rd finished work on the cemeteries. Since then nobody has raise the question of the completion of the investigation, nor was any attempt to cleanse the southern slopes below Beram to the remains of fort walls, that the walls were accessible and detailed registered.
Amoroso has published a paper on their findings. He was only one who dealt with the issue of accommodation in relation to the ruins walls, however, he did not come to the conclusion how the fort looked like and where exactly is a necropolis. He assumed two variants: 1. outside the village if are the two walls, and 2. land between the second and third wall. In recent time, Lonza B. concludes that the Beram necropolis was located between the second and third wall (compared with an example of Picugi near Poreč), but there is no material evidence for this claim.
Figure 3 Some archaeological finds from the necropolis Beram
1 ceramic urn 2 idol in the form of birds (such as those found in Troy)
3 askos from daunia 4 bronze horse length 41 mm
5 ceramic urn
Grant from the 911th year
Year 911th King Berengar I gives to diocese of Trieste tower-castles (upper and lower) Beram near Pazin.
Historians had different opinions about it, from Kandler (author Codice Diplomatico Istriano), Carlo De Franceschi, Benussi, until to Corbanese, author of the latest history of the north-eastern part of Italy, but all of them believed that it is Beram near Pazin.
Analyzing documents, cadastral maps (the oldest available year 1872nd kept in Pazin and copy older from 1820.), land registry books, the names of land, the old ways which are still used from residents of Beram, we come to the some possible locations of "tower" that is mentioned 911 . year. Possible options are:
I On the location near the Church of Our Lady on Škriljinah, where the parcel bore the name Burger, located at elevation +350 m. asl;
II The hill from which residents of Beram fail to control the condition of crops in the valley of Cipri. It is possible also visual communication with a number of settlements on distant hills. This peak, which residents call Purgar, is located at elevation +460 m. asl;
III The elevation +438.8 m. asl where the land is still called Purgar or under Purgar.
The development of settlement until the end of the XVI th century
In the second half of the XIIth century Beram already belongs to County of Pazin and to the Earl Mainardi. After division of property between the Emperor Charles V and his brother, Archduke Ferdinand, the Pazin's feud formally became part of the associated countries of Carniola. County of Pazin is a political term that covers the whole territory of the Austrian part of Istria.
In this period within the first phase of fort walls, at the highest elevation, was built a castle with a tower (the tower mentioned in the Xth century in document). For the first time it was devastated in the year 1344th, and after the renovation it was built the original church of St. Martin, on 1431st year, within the castle walls.
The first surviving document entitled “Urbar”, made the 1498th, talking about the population of Beram, and their obligations under the nobleman. Then, in the settlement, living 62 families.
After year 1570th in Beram settled refugees from the "turkish countries" and the increasing number of families is 148. Then, this little town is experiencing an intense build, renew of fortifications, and was given the honorary title of "stättl" within the Pazin County. New “Urbar” was made on 9 th march 1578th, and from them are visible the names of recognizable sites today, religious buildings, and listed names of peoples which have been kept until today.
Figure 4 Beram, late XVIth century (prepared by J. Drempetić)
A fortification (from 1578. year Stättl) 1 main entrance "big gate"
B Citadel (a-tower, b-St. Marti 2 secondary entrance "little gate"
K defence tower 3 lounge in front of gate
4 church outside the walls
The settlement during the XVII th century
Beram reached the pinnacle of its development in the early seventeenth century, regarding the importance of size and population. Venetian-Austrian war, called the Uscoks' war, fought on the territory of Istria from 1612 until 1618th year represented a turning point. It was not just break of the structural development of settlement, but also, began a long period of devastation of the village. After the conclusion of the Madrid peace 1617th people from Beram were obliged to knock down defence walls and towers. In the eighties year of the XVIIth century, Baron J.W. Valvasor (commander, historian, topographer, ethnographer, traveller) with his drawings, permanent, marked the state of space around Beram.
Figure 5 Beram - J.W. Valvasor graphics, 1689th
Despite the slow development and long lasting residual social structure, despite the stagnation of the some economic and demographic failures, Beram was gradually followed by phases of Istrian history, and experienced the ups and downs of social movements in political life.
In its long-term Beram has preserved evidence of the architectural development from the VIIIth century B.C. until today. Particular value is the fact that the original fortified structure became the basis of the overall development of settlements. Artistic activity until the beginning of the XVIIth century was at a high level, so today we can say that the entire Beram monument and some kind of museum. This is an archaeological site important for the Istrian, but also for European history.
Jadranka Drempetić – 29th February 2012
Ancient Origins
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Archaeoacoustics
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Title: Leninism
Subject: Marxism–Leninism, Communist Party of China, Christian communism, Communism, Titoism
Collection: Leninism, Marxism, Modernism, Political Philosophy by Politician, Theories of History, Vladimir Lenin
The Russian revolutionary and later Soviet premier Lenin (Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov) c. 1920.
Leninism codified: the intellectual György Lukács, the philosopher of Leninism, c. 1952.
In vanguard party, and the achievement of a dictatorship of the proletariat, as political prelude to the establishment of socialism. Developed by, and named for, the Russian revolutionary and later Soviet premier Vladimir Lenin, Leninism comprises political and socialist economic theories, developed from Marxism, as well as Lenin’s interpretations of Marxist theory for practical application to the socio-political conditions of the agrarian early-20th-century Russian Empire. In February 1917, for five years, Leninism was the Russian application of Marxist economics and political philosophy, effected and realised by the Bolshevik party, the vanguard party who led the fight for the political independence of the working class.
Functionally, the Leninist vanguard party provided to the working class the October Revolution of 1917, Leninism was the dominant version of Marxism in Russia, and then the official state ideology of Soviet democracy (by workers’ council) in the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR), before its unitary amalgamation into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) in 1922.[1] In 1925–29 post-Lenin Russia, Joseph Stalin integrated Leninism to Marxist economics, and developed Marxism–Leninism, which then became the state ideology of the Soviet Union.
As a political-science term, Leninism entered common usage in 1922, after infirmity ended Lenin’s participation in governing the Russian Communist Party. Two years later, in July 1924, at the fifth congress of the Communist International, Grigory Zinoviev popularized the term to denote "vanguard-party revolution". Leninism was composed as and for revolutionary praxis, and originally was neither a rigorously proper philosophy nor discrete political theory. After the Russian Revolution, in History and Class Consciousness (1923), György Lukács ideologically developed and organised Lenin’s pragmatic revolutionary practices into the formal philosophy of vanguard-party revolution (Leninism). As a work of political science and philosophy, History and Class Consciousness illustrated Lenin’s 1915 dictum about the commitment to the cause of the revolutionary man, and said of Lukács:
Historical background 1
Imperialism 1.1
Leninist theory 2
The vanguard party 2.1
Dictatorship of the proletariat 2.2
Economics 2.3
National self-determination 2.4
Socialist culture 2.5
Leninism after 1924 3
Philosophic successors 4
Further reading 8
In the 19th century, revolution would first occur in the economically advanced, industrialized countries. Yet, in the early 20th century, the socio-economic backwardness of Imperial Russia (uneven and combined economic development) facilitated rapid and intensive industrialization, which produced a united, working-class proletariat in a predominantly rural, agrarian peasant society.
Moreover, because the industrialization was financed mostly with foreign capital, Imperial Russia (1721–1917) did not possess a revolutionary bourgeoisie with political and economic influence upon the workers and the peasants (as occurred in the French Revolution, 1789). So, although Russia's political economy principally was agrarian and semi-feudal, the task of democratic revolution therefore fell to the urban, industrial working class, as the only social class capable of effecting land reform and democratization, in view that the Russian propertied classes would attempt to suppress any revolution, in town and country. In April 1917, Lenin published the April Theses, the strategy of the October Revolution, which proposed that the Russian revolution was not an isolated national event, but a fundamentally international event — the first world socialist revolution. Thus, Lenin's practical application of Marxism and working-class urban revolution to the social, political, and economic conditions of the agrarian peasant society that was Tsarist Russia sparked the “revolutionary nationalism of the poor” to depose the absolute monarchy of the three-hundred-year Romanov dynasty (1613–1917).[3]
In the course of developing the Russian application of Marxism, the pamphlet Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism (1916) presented Lenin’s analysis of an economic development predicted by Karl Marx: that capitalism would become a global financial system, wherein advanced industrial countries export financial capital to their colonial countries, to finance the exploitation of their natural resources and the labour of the native populations. Such superexploitation of the poor (undeveloped) countries allows the wealthy (developed) countries to maintain some homeland workers politically content with a slightly higher standard of living, and so ensure peaceful labour–capital relations in the capitalist homeland. (see: labour aristocracy, globalization) Hence, a proletarian revolution of workers and peasants could not occur in the developed capitalist countries, while the imperialist global-finance system remained intact; thus an underdeveloped country would feature the first proletarian revolution; and, in the early 20th century, Imperial Russia was the politically weakest country in the capitalist global-finance system.[4] In the United States of Europe Slogan (1915), Lenin said:
Leninist theory
The vanguard party
In Chapter II: “Proletarians and Communists” of The Communist Manifesto (1848), Engels and Marx presented the idea of the vanguard party as solely qualified to politically lead the proletariat in revolution:
Hence, the purpose of the Leninist vanguard party is to establish a democratic dictatorship of the proletariat; supported by the working class, the vanguard party would lead the revolution to depose the incumbent Tsarist government, and then transfer power of government to the working class, which change of ruling class — from bourgeoisie to proletariat — makes possible the full development of socialism.[7] In the pamphlet What is to be Done? (1902), Lenin proposed that a revolutionary vanguard party, mostly recruited from the working class, should lead the political campaign, because it was the only way that the proletariat could successfully achieve a revolution; unlike the economist campaign of trade-union-struggle advocated by other socialist political parties; and later by the anarcho-syndicalists. Like Karl Marx, Lenin distinguished between the aspects of a revolution, the "economic campaign" (labour strikes for increased wages and work concessions), which featured diffused plural leadership; and the "political campaign" (socialist changes to society), which required the decisive revolutionary leadership of the Bolshevik vanguard party.
Democratic centralism
As epitomised in the slogan “Freedom in Discussion, Unity in Action”, Lenin followed the example of the democratically centralised vanguard party, wherein free political-speech was recognised legitimate until policy consensus; afterwards, every member of the Party would be expected to uphold the official policy established in consensus. In the pamphlet Freedom to Criticise and Unity of Action (1905), Lenin said:
Full, inner-party democratic debate was Bolshevik Party practice under Lenin, even after the banning of party factions in 1921. Although a guiding influence in policy, Lenin did not exercise absolute power, and continually debated and discussed to have his point of view accepted. Under Stalin, the inner-party practice of democratic free debate did not continue after the death of Lenin in 1924.
Before the Revolution, despite supporting political reform (including Bolsheviks elected to the Duma, when opportune), Lenin proposed that capitalism could ultimately only be overthrown with revolution, not with gradual reforms — from within (Fabianism) and from without (social democracy) — which would fail, because the ruling capitalist social class, who hold economic power (the means of production), determine the nature of political power in a bourgeois society.[9] As epitomised in the slogan, “For a Democratic Dictatorship of the Proletariat and Peasantry”, a revolution in underdeveloped Tsarist Russia required an allied proletariat of town and country (urban workers and peasants), because the urban workers would be too few to successfully assume power in the cities on their own. Moreover, owing to the middle-class aspirations of much of the peasantry, Leon Trotsky proposed that the proletariat should lead the revolution, as the only way for it to be truly socialist and democratic; although Lenin initially disagreed with Trotsky’s formulation, he adopted it before the Russian Revolution in October 1917.
Dictatorship of the proletariat
In the Russian socialist society, government by Northern Expedition portion of the Chinese Revolution (1925–1927), wherein it resulted in the right-wing Kuomintang’s massacre of the Chinese Communist Party; nonetheless, despite the failure, Stalin’s policy of mixed-ideology political alliances, became Comintern policy.
The Oppositionists
Until exiled from Russia in 1929, Leon Trotsky helped develop and led the Left Opposition (and the later Joint Opposition) with members of the Workers’ Opposition, the Decembrists, and (later) the Zinovievists.[16] Trotskyism ideologically predominated the political platform of the Left Opposition, which demanded the restoration of soviet democracy, the expansion of democratic centralism in the Communist Party, national industrialisation, international permanent revolution, and socialist internationalism. The Trotskyist demands countered Stalin’s political dominance of the Russian Communist Party, which was officially characterised by the ‘cult of Lenin’, the rejection of permanent revolution, and the doctrine of Socialism in One Country. The Stalinist economic policy vacillated between appeasing capitalist kulak interests in the countryside, and destroying them. Initially, the Stalinists also rejected the national industrialisation of Russia, but then pursued it in full, sometimes brutally. In both cases, the Left Opposition denounced the regressive nature of the policy towards the kulak social class of wealthy peasants, and the brutality of forced industrialisation. Trotsky described the vacillating Stalinist policy as a symptom of the undemocratic nature of a ruling bureaucracy.[31]
During the 1920s and the 1930s, Stalin fought and defeated the political influence of Leon Trotsky and of the Trotskyists in Russia, by means of slander, anti-Semitism, programmed censorship, expulsions, exile (internal and external), and imprisonment. The anti–Trotsky campaign culminated in the executions (official and unofficial) of the Moscow Trials (1936–38), which were part of the Great Purge of Old Bolsheviks (who had led the Revolution).[16][32] Once established as ruler of the USSR, General Secretary Stalin re-titled the official Socialism in One Country doctrine as “Marxism-Leninism”, to establish ideologic continuity with Leninism, whilst opponents continued calling it “Stalinism”.
Philosophic successors
In political practice, Leninism (vanguard-party revolution), despite its origin as Communist revolutionary praxis, was adopted throughout the political spectrum.
In China, the Mao Zedong Thought, the Chinese practical application of Marxism-Leninism, specific to Chinese socio-economic conditions.[33]
The [34]
In turn, Maoism became the theoretical basis of some third world revolutionary vanguard parties, such as the Communist Party of Peru – Red Fatherland and others.[35]
In several works, including an essay written from jail and published posthumously by her last companion, Paul Levi (publication of which precipitated his expulsion from the Third International) titled "The Russian Revolution",[36] the Marxist Rosa Luxemburg sharply criticized some Bolshevik policies, such as their suppression of the Constituent Assembly in January 1918, their support for the partition of the old feudal estates to the peasant communes, and their policy of supporting the purported right of all national peoples to "self-determination." According to Luxemburg, the Bolsheviks' strategic mistakes created tremendous dangers for the Revolution, such as its bureaucratisation.
Left communism is the range of communist viewpoints held by the communist left, which criticizes the political ideas of the Bolsheviks at certain periods, from a position that is asserted to be more authentically Marxist and proletarian than the views of Leninism held by the Communist International after its first and during its second congress. Proponents of left communism have included Amadeo Bordiga, Herman Gorter, Anton Pannekoek, Otto Rühle, Sylvia Pankhurst and Paul Mattick.[37] "Left-Wing" Communism: An Infantile Disorder is a work by Vladimir Lenin attacking assorted critics of the Bolsheviks who claimed positions to their left.
Critics of Lenin, such as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Noam Chomsky, have argued that Stalinism (i.e., a political system which includes forced collectivization, a police state, a totalitarian political ideology, forced labor camps and mass executions) was not a deviation from Lenin's policies, but merely a logical extension of them.[38][39]
"The "call-up of 1937" was very loquacious, and having access to the press and radio created the "legend of 1937", a legend consisting of two points: 1) If they arrested people at all under the Soviet government, it was only in 1937, and it is necessary to speak out and be indignant only about 1937; 2) In 1937 they were the only ones arrested. Here's what they write: "That terrible year when they arrested the most devout Communist executives: Secretaries of the Central Committees of the Union Republics, Secretaries of the Provincial Party Committees, Chairmen of the Provincial Executive Committees; all the commanders of the military districts, marshals and generals; provincial prosecutors; Secretaries of District Party Committees..." At the very beginning of our book, we gave a conspectus of the waves pouring into the Archipelago [labor camps] during the two decades up to 1937. How long all that dragged on! And how many millions there were! But the future call-up of 1937 didn't bat an eye and found it all normal.... And for a long time after, as they became convinced of the irrevocability of their fate, they sighed and groaned, "If only Lenin were alive, this would never have happened!" What did they mean by this? Was it not precisely this that had happened to the others before them?" Aleksander Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago, Vol. 2, p. 328
An equal amount of products for an equal amount of labor
Anti-Leninism
He who does not work neither shall he eat
Lenin's national policy
The State and Revolution (1917)
^ a b The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought Third Edition (1999) pp. 476–477
^ Hill, Christopher Lenin and the Russian Revolution (1971) Penguin Books:London p. 35.
^ Faces of Janus p. 133.
^ Tomasic, D. "The Impact of Russian Culture on Soviet Communism" (1953), The Western Political Quarterly, vol. 6, No. 4 December, pp. 808–809.
^ Lenin, V. I. ‘United States of Europe Slogan’, Collected Works, Vol. 18, p. 232.
^ Townson, D. The New Penguin Dictionary of Modern History: 1789–1945 London:1994 pp. 462–464
^ Lenin, V.I. (1905) Freedom to Criticise and Unity of Action, from Lenin Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1965, Moscow, Volume 10, pages 442-443. Available online at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1906/may/20c.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ Lenin, V.I. (1917) The State and Revolution, from Lenin Collected Works, Volume 25, pp. 381-492. Available online at http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1917/staterev/index.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ a b Isaac Deutscher, 1954. The Prophet Armed: Trotsky 1879-1921, Oxford University Press
^ Lenin, V.I. “The Proletarian Revolution and the Renegade Kautsky”, from Lenin’s Collected Works, Progress Publishers, Moscow, Volume 28, 1974, pages 227-325.Available online at: http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/prrk/ (Retrieved 2 December 2011)
^ a b Carr, Edward Hallett. The Russian Revolution From Lenin to Stalin: 1917-1929. (1979)
^ Lewin, Moshe. Lenin’s Last Struggle. (1969)
^ Carr, Edward Hallett. The Russian Revolution, from Lenin to Stalin: 1917–1929. (1979)
^ a b c d e f Deutscher, Isaac 1959. The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky 1921-1929, Oxford University Press
^ Marx Engels Lenin on Scientific Socialism. Moscow: Novosti Press Ajency Publishing House. 1974.
^ Dictionary of Historical Terms Chris Cook, editor (1983) Peter Bedrick Books:New York p. 205.
^ Lenin, V.I. The New Economic Policy and the Tasks of the Political Education Departments, Report to the Second All-Russia Congress of Political Education Departments, 17 October 1921, from Lenin’s Collected Works, 2nd English Edition, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1965, Volume 33, pp. 60–79. Available at http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1921/oct/17.htm (Retrieved 2 December 2011)
^ Lenin, V.I. (1914) The Right of Nations to Self-Determination, from Lenin’s Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1972, Moscow, Volume 20, pp. 393-454. Available online at: http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1914/self-det/index.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ Harding, Neil (ed.) The State in Socialist Society, second edition (1984) St. Antony's College: Oxford, p. 189.
^ Lenin, V.I. (1914) The Right of Nations to Self-Determination, Chapter 4: 4. “Practicality” in The National Question; from Lenin’s Collected Works, Progress Publishers, 1972, Moscow, Volume 20, pp. 393–454. Available online at: http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1914/self-det/index.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ Lewin, Moshe. Lenin’s Last Struggle (1969)
^ Lenin, V.I. (1923) The Question of Nationalities or ‘Autonomisation’ ” in “ ‘Last Testament’ Letters to the Congress’, from Lenin Collected Works, Volume 36, pp. 593-611. Available online at: http://marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1922/dec/testamnt/index.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ Central Committee, On Proletcult Organisations, Pravda No. 270 1/12/1920
^ Chambers Dictionary of World History (2000) p. 837.
^ Lewin, Moshe. Lenin's Last Struggle. (1969)
^ Lenin, V.I. 1923-24 "Last Testament" Letters to the Congress, in Lenin Collected Works, Volume 36 pp. 593–611. Available online at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1922/dec/testamnt/congress.htm (Retrieved 30 November 2011)
^ Trotsky, Leon 1927. Platform of the Joint Opposition, available at: http://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1927/opposition/index.htm (Retrieved 28 November 2011)
^ Trotsky, L.D. (1938) The Revolution Betrayed
^ Rogovin, Vadim Z. Stalin’s Terror of 1937-1938: Political Genocide in the USSR. (2009) translated to English by Frederick S. Choate, from the Russian-language Party of the Executed by Vadim Z. Rogovin.
^ Zheng Yongnian, The Chinese Communist Party as Organizational Emperor (2009) p 61
^ Peter Wilson, Economic growth and development in Singapore (2002) p 30
^ Kenneth M. Roberts, Deepening Democracy?: The Modern Left and Social Movements in Chile and Peru (1988) pp 288-89
^ "The Nationalities Question in the Russian Revolution (Rosa Luxemburg, 1918)".
^ "The 'Advance Without Authority': Post-modernism, Libertarian Socialism and Intellectuals" by Chamsy Ojeili, Democracy & Nature vol.7, no.3, 2001.
^ Steven Merritt Miner (May 11, 2003). "The Other Killing Machine". The New York Times.
^ Noam Chomsky (Spring–Summer 1986). "The Soviet Union Versus Socialism". Our Generation.
Key works by Lenin
The Development of Capitalism in Russia, 1899
What Is To Be Done? Burning Questions of Our Movement, 1902
The Three Sources and Three Component Parts of Marxism, 1913
The Right of Nations to Self-Determination, 1914
Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, 1917
The State and Revolution, 1917
The Tasks of the Proletariat in the Present Revolution (The "April Theses"), 1917
“Left-Wing” Childishness and the Petty Bourgois Mentality, 1918
Left-Wing Communism: an Infantile Disorder, 1920
"Last Testament" Letters to the Congress, 1923–24
Isaac Deutscher. The Prophet Armed: Trotsky 1879–1921, 1954
Isaac Deutscher. The Prophet Unarmed: Trotsky 1921–1929, 1959
Moshe Lewin. Lenin's Last Struggle, 1969
Edward Hallett Carr. The Russian Revolution From Lenin to Stalin: 1917–1929, 1979
Paul Blackledge.What was Done an extended review of Lars Lih's Lenin Rediscovered from International Socialism
Marcel Liebman. Leninism Under Lenin. The Merlin Press. 1980. ISBN 0-85036-261-X
Roy Medvedev. Leninism and Western Socialism. Verso Books. 1981. ISBN 0-86091-739-8
Neil Harding. Leninism. Duke University Press. 1996. ISBN 0-8223-1867-9
Joseph Stalin. Foundations of Leninism. University Press of the Pacific. 2001. ISBN 0-89875-212-4
CLR James. Notes on Dialectics: Hegel, Marx, Lenin. Pluto Press. 2005. ISBN 0-7453-2491-6
Edmund Wilson. To the Finland Station: A Study in the Writing and Acting of History. Phoenix Press. 2004. ISBN 0-7538-1800-0
Non-Leninist Marxism: Writings on the Workers Councils (texts by Gorter, Pannekoek, Pankhurst and Rühle), Red and Black Publishers, St Petersburg, Florida, 2007. ISBN 978-0-9791813-6-8
Paul Le Blanc. Lenin and the Revolutionary Party. Humanities Press International, Inc. 1990. ISBN 0-391-03604-1.
A. James Gregor. The Faces of Janus. Yale University Press. 2000. ISBN 0-300-10602-5.
Works by Vladimir Lenin:
Imperialism: The Highest Stage of Capitalism
The Lenin Archive at Marxists.org
First Conference of the Communist International
Other thematic links:
Marcel Liebman on Lenin and democracy
An excerpt on Leninism and State Capitalism from the work of Noam Chomsky
Organizational Questions of the Russian Social Democracy by Rosa Luxemburg
Lenin's Philosophy by Karl Korsch
Cyber Leninism
Leninist Ebooks
Lenin as a Philosopher by Anton Pannekoek
The Lenin Legend by Paul Mattick
Dead Labor: Marx and Lenin Reconsidered by Paul Craig Roberts
Marxist philosophy
Marxian economics
Mode of production
Classless society
Proletarian internationalism
Workers' self-management
World revolution
Primary stage of socialism
Socialist mode of production
Capitalist mode of production
Communist state
Communist revolution
Communist symbolism
Communism and religion
History of communism
Socialism with Chinese characteristics
Prachanda Path
Đilasism
Left communism
Council communism
Anarchist communism
Religious communism
Christian communism
World communism
Stateless communism
National communism
Primitive communism
Scientific communism
Ho Chi Minh Thought
Harmonious Socialist Society
List of communist parties
Communist League
First International
Second International
Third International
Communist world
Anti-communism
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Use dmy dates from July 2012
Theories of history
Political philosophy by politician
In the course of instituting government policy, Stalin promoted the doctrine of
After Lenin’s death (21 January 1924), Trotsky ideologically battled the influence of Stalin, who formed ruling blocs within the Russian Communist Party (with Left Opposition, and the later Joint Opposition.[16][30]
Trotskyism vs. Stalinism
[16] To that end followed proposals reducing the administrative powers of Party posts, in order to reduce bureaucratic influence upon the policies of the Communist Party. Lenin advised Trotsky to emphasize Stalin’s recent bureaucratic alignment in such matters (e.g. undermining the anti-bureaucratic Workers’ and Peasants’ Inspection), and argued to depose Stalin as General Secretary. Despite advice to refuse “any rotten compromise”, Trotsky did not heed Lenin’s advice, and General Secretary Stalin retained power over the Communist Party and the bureaucracy of the soviet government.[29][16] to remove Stalin as the General Secretary of the Communist Party.Leon Trotsky Lenin warned that Stalin has “unlimited authority concentrated in his hands, and I am not sure whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution”, and formed a factional bloc with [28] for the national and ethnic groups of the former Tsarist Empire, which was a key theoretic concept of Leninism.self-determination The counter-action against Stalin aligned with Lenin’s advocacy of the right of [28][27] Until shortly before his death, Lenin worked to counter the disproportionate political influence of
Lenin vs. Stalin
In post–Revolutionary Russia, Stalinism (Socialism in one country) and Trotskyism (Permanent world revolution) were the principal philosophies of Communism that claimed legitimate ideological descent from Leninism' thus, within the Communist Party, each ideological faction denied the political legitimacy of the opposing faction.[26]
Leon Trotsky (ca. 1929)
Leninism after 1924
[25] The role of the Marxist vanguard party was to politically educate the workers and peasants to dispel the societal
Socialist culture
The internationalist philosophies of Bolshevism and of Marxism are based upon class struggle transcending nationalism, ethnocentrism, and religion, which are intellectual obstacles to class consciousness, because the bourgeois ruling classes manipulated said cultural status quo to politically divide the proletarian working classes. To overcome the political barrier of nationalism, Lenin said it was necessary to acknowledge the existence of nationalism among oppressed peoples, and to guarantee their national independence, as the right of secession; and that, based upon national self-determination, it was natural for socialist states to transcend nationalism and form a federation.[23] In The Question of Nationalities, or “Autonomisation” (1923), Lenin said:
Lenin recognized and accepted the existence of nationalism among oppressed peoples, advocated their national rights to self-determination, and opposed the ethnic chauvinism of “Greater Russia” because such ethnocentrism was a cultural obstacle to establishing the proletarian dictatorship in the territories of the deposed Tsarist Russian Empire (1721–1917).[20][21] In The Right of Nations to Self-determination (1914), Lenin said:
Soviet democracy nationalised industry and established a foreign-trade monopoly to allow the productive co-ordination of the national economy, and so prevent Russian national industries from competing against each other. To feed the populaces of town and country, Lenin instituted War Communism (1918–21) as a necessary condition — adequate supplies of food and weapons — for fighting the Russian Civil War (1917–23).[13] Later, in March 1921, he established the New Economic Policy (NEP, 1921–29), which allowed measures of private commerce, internal free trade, and replaced grain requisitions with an agricultural tax, under the management of State banks. The purpose of the NEP was to resolve food-shortage riots among the peasantry, and allowed measures of private enterprise, wherein the profit motive encouraged the peasants to harvest the crops required to feed the people of town and country; and to economically re-establish the urban working class, who had lost many men (workers) to the counter-revolutionary Civil War.[18][19] With the NEP, the socialist nationalisation of the economy could then be developed to industrialise Russia, strengthen the working class, and raise standards of living; thus the NEP would advance socialism against capitalism. Lenin regarded the appearance of new socialist states in the developed countries as necessary to the strengthening Russia's economy, and the eventual development of socialism. In that, he was encouraged by the German Revolution of 1918–1919, the Italian insurrection and general strikes of 1920, and industrial unrest in Britain, France, and the U.S.
Soviet constitutionalism was the collective government form of the Russian dictatorship of the proletariat, the opposite of the government form of the dictatorship of capital (privately owned means of production) practised in bourgeois democracies. In the soviet political system, the (Leninist) vanguard party would be one of many political parties competing for elected power.[1][10][13] Nevertheless, the circumstances of the Red vs. White Russian Civil War, and terrorism by the opposing political parties, and in aid of the White Armies' counter-revolution, led to the Bolshevik government banning other parties; thus, the vanguard party became the sole, legal political party in Russia. Lenin did not regard such political suppression as philosophically inherent to the dictatorship of the proletariat; yet the Stalinists retrospectively claimed that such factional suppression was original to Leninism.[14][15][16]
(1917) Lenin describes: The State and Revolution In chapter five of [11]
Means of production, Trotskyism, Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, Communism
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About Tatiana and Sergey Nikitin
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Tatiana and Sergey Nikitin are among the most well-known and revered folk music singing duos in Russia. If one has never heard them, however, it is not easy to define the musical genre that they have helped create over the years. They are equally at home sharing the stage with Pete Seeger, a jazz ensemble, or a symphony orchestra. Indeed, the Nikitins' music lends itself to instrumental interpretation, featuring a variety of styles, from classical to jazz to Russian village chant.
We could define the Nikitins in terms of theatre, because, as their audiences have often remarked, their performances unfold like musical dramas. Their ties to film and theatre are lasting and strong. Sergey Nikitin has composed dozens of soundtracks for films and theatre productions in Russia. In 1980, the duo wrote and performed the soundtrack for the Oscar winning Russian film "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears." The dramatic opera based on Chekhov’s "The Proposal" is still running at the School of Contemporary Drama Theater in Moscow, after more than 1,000 sold-out shows.
When Tatiana and Sergey Nikitin are on stage, the means of expression are sparing: a seven stringed guitar and two voices. So what is the secret of their success – millions of records sold, high accolades, sold-out performances around the world, several generations of Russian children who have grown up listening to their songs? Perhaps, it is their impeccable taste in poetry that Sergey puts to music – from William Shakespeare to Boris Pasternak. Or maybe, it is the insightful musical treatment that poetry receives in the Nikitins’ renditions — when the sole purpose is to bring out the melody already ripe in verse. Or perhaps, it is their conversational tone, as though they were among friends, their utter lack of all artificial show-biz luster, while professionalism of the highest level rules supreme.
However we define their musical genre – folk song, poetry put to music, musical theatre — the fact is, Tatiana and Sergey Nikitin are among the very few artists in any country who have transcended the limits of the genre that they themselves once helped to establish.
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Athlete Profile: Chris Klebl
Athlete Profile: Chris Williamson
Athlete Profile: Chris Robanske
Athlete Profile: Megan Heinicke
Athlete Profile: Perianne Jones
Athlete Profile: Brendan Green
an article by cccski.com | Mar 18, 2014
Chris Klebl grew up alpine skiing and snowboarding in Austria. Participating in many other sports, he also competed in running and rowing in high school. A broken wrist caused him to narrowly miss the U.S. Junior National team for rowing. In 1995, Chris broke his back jumping off a cliff on his snowboard in Colorado. After a few years living in Kauai, Hawaii, and working as a massage therapist, he moved to California and worked in the Software industry where he started racing hand-cycles. After moving back to Colorado, a hand-cycling friend introduced him to sit-skiing, and three months after his first day on snow he raced his first World Cup.
After racing for six years where he competed in two Paralympics, and racked up more than one dozen IPC World Cup podiums, and 11 U.S. national titles, Chris moved to Canmore, Alta. to race for Canada. His two biggest accomplishments in Para-Nordic skiing are his two World Championship medals, including a gold in 2011. Chris looks forward to more great results, which he sees as a direct result of the much more comprehensive support that is available on the Para-Nordic Team in Canada. It is much more gratifying for Chris to be part of a group of dedicated professionals who are all working for the combined goal of high level international success. Chris was able to get on World Cup podiums for a number of years with minimal support, but the results somehow felt empty….not anymore since racing for Canada.
While he still contemplates what he’ll do after ski racing, Chris enjoys photography, travel and warm weather when not skiing.
For Chris’ full bio visit: http://www.cccski.com
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Shayna S. Israel
Sojourner Blog
P-20Ed Blog
McCain & Aretha: A Tale of Two American Ideals at Peace by Shayna S. Israel
Senators McCain & Ted Kennedy
Franklin with MLK, Jr. Everett Collection
We look to heroes. We tend to want to see examples of how to be better than ourselves. We are aspirational folks, us Americans. We both reflect on and imagine greatness. Our heroes are both born—and made.
We look to our ancestors, sports players, musicians, teachers and politicians—yes, for what they did, but also for some hint of how they did it. We look at our heroes' and heroines’ accomplishments and wonder: How they managed to do it all?
In my life, I have set many goals. Yet, time and time again, it is most often what happens when I get stuck, knocked flat on my back, or in a jam that also comes to shape who I am. In American folklorist tradition, there is the story of the small triumphing over the powerful as recurring troupe. Horatio Alger, rags to riches stories.
We also celebrate larger-than-life characters such as American icon Henry Ford. We hear the stories of his triumphs with the Model T and the assembly line technique that he introduced. Yet, less is known about his prior two attempts and failures in 1901 and 1902 before organizing The Ford Motor Company in 1903 [1]. Henry Ford was “an indigenous folk hero,” David Lanier Lewis in The Public Image of Henry Ford writes, he “appealed to millions of his countrymen because in their view, he succeeded through his own creativeness and hard work and by supplying a product to meet the public’s desires rather than by manipulating money or people…he reminded people of an earlier, simpler society.”
"Our heroes are both born—and made."
Ford started late in life at the age of 40; it wasn’t until the age of 51 that he became an “overnight international celebrity by more than doubling the wages of most of his workers” [2]. He was considered very “controversial, paradoxical, colorful,”—“an enigma, endlessly fascinating,”— “an idealistic pioneer in some respects” and “a cynical reactionary in others” [3]. This is our American legacy.
The American hero, like this great country, has many colorful and controversial figures. Some are imported, some are homegrown, some are discovered, some are fashioned, some emerge and some are elected. It is of important note that the American folk heroes of 2018 were an Irish-American man and African-American woman: John McCain III and Aretha Franklin.
The two back to back funerals of McCain and Ms. Franklin this past August sent a message: Here is a model for peace, America. Reconciliation.
John McCain with Enda Kenny
Franklin at Kennedy Center Honors Awards (1994). Mark Reinstein/Corbis Historical/Getty Images
The is also something to note: Both of their ancestors have been enslaved.
At a time when the bulwark of our freedoms—our free and fair election process—is compromised, looking to what it means to survive and hold onto one’s principles when faced with great adversity is what McCain and Aretha Franklin teach us.
Former Vice President Joe Biden remarked that McCain lived by “an ancient, antiquated code where honor, courage, character, integrity and duty were what mattered…But the truth is, John’s code was ageless — is ageless" [1]. McCain’s code “was “grounded in respect and decency, basic fairness, the intolerance for the abuse of power [1].
McCain was one of the last great Lions of the Senate, elected officials who were forged in military battle. I am not one to glorify war. I do believe it is a necessary evil that can be kept at bay by democratic and diplomatic relations. The desire to keep the peace through civil dialogue, through rigorous debate is, I believe, connected to that honor code that Biden references. I do believe McCain’s stance does derive in significant part from his Irish-American heritage, well more precisely his Scots-Irish heritage (Read more on the Scots-Irishman tradition and influence on American Southern culture).
"What it means to survive and hold onto one’s principles when faced with great adversity is what our McCain and Aretha Franklin show us."
Anatol Lieven, in a Prospective Magazine article from 2008, writes “By ancestry, John McCain is a Scots-Irishman. That is to say, he comes from one of the oldest, most admirable and most worrying ethno-cultural traditions in the US. To a remarkable extent, that tradition is reflected in McCain’s character traits: his obstinancy; his tendency towards unshakeable friendship and implacable hatred; his hair-trigger temper; his deep patriotism; his obsession with American honour; and his furious response to any criticism of the US. These are not just the products of his military upbringing and experiences as a prisoner in North Vietnam, but also the result of his being the proud descendant of Indian-fighters and Confederate soldiers” [2].
As a Belizean-American woman, as a black woman, that last sentence is important to include. McCain has shown us time and again how to live: When we screw up, we are obliged to fess up. He acknowledged his ancestors’ Confederate legacy, AND apologized, acknowledging that there were groups “denied their freedoms by [his] ancestors.” He acknowledged “slavery as a grave injustice” and said that his ancestors “fought on the wrong side of history” [3].
I once heared that there is no word for “sorry” in the native American language. The closest approximation, as I understand it, is restitution: If you break something, you fix it.
McCain with Former VP Joe Biden
Franklin at the Lincoln Memorial (1992). Mark Reinstein/Corbis News via Getty Images
McCain’s life’s work personally and professionally, has been dedicated to living out his creed, in his actions.
The symbolism in his funeral is as much a part of his farewell address as the letter itself: His pallbearers were ethnically and racially diverse as well as from diverse segments of the military; his daughter Mehgan’s outfit (when he was being flown into our nation's capital) had the image of a shining city on a hill, both a republican and a democratic president gave a eulogy. When we needed a hero, McCain was called up.
We have another heroine that has come to signify what it means to be American: Aretha Franklin. Our stories of heroines from the fairy tales many of us were taught as kids are of obedient, exceptionally pristine and submissive young women. Ethel Johnston Phelps in The Maid of the North presents folk heroines who are portrayed as “spirited, courageous and smart” [4]. Those three qualities could equally be used to describe Ms. Franklin.
Aretha Franklin’s known for helping us to “Rock Steady,” taking us to church with her rendition of “Mary, Don’t You Weep,” and for her soulful call to R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The heroines that Ms. Franklin exemplifies have sass, know-how and a fighter’s spirit. Much is known about the style that the Queen of Soul has honed over a half century of singing. Less is known about the courageousness Ms. Franklin demonstrated in the face of adversity and her exceptional business acumen.
Source: Healthyblackwoman.com
Aretha Franklin "was the first woman ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, has won 18 Grammys (for several years, she had more than any female artist in history), and has sold a whopping 75 million albums over the course of a stellar career," Stereo Williams writes in his piece Aretha Franklin Deserves More Respect. It takes drive, fortitude and discipline to do what she did.
Like any of you, Ms. Franklin's outfits, gowns, jewelry and hairstyles caused us to marvel just as much as her singing or long list of accomplishments did. Her dazzling attire and sparkling accessories are part of what we come to look for in traditional fairy tale stories. Yet and still, while Aretha Franklin's gowns are as much a feature of her career as her singing, she also represents a long line of powerful ancestral figures—where it was understood that women hold the seat of power in their communities. In a time where women are wanting to see more images that represent them as leaders, that celebrate the diversity of body types and sizes, that show women as capable and astute, Aretha Franklin provides a shining example.
Born in the Rust Belt of America, Aretha rose to stardom starting from singing in church. She forged a career spanning six decades when many contemporary singers struggle to maintain longevity through the next news cycle. She transformed and remade herself over and over again. It takes fortitude and determination to continually be in tuned with current trends and to maintain a brand as recognizable as Ms. Franklin's.
Jane Yolen, America's Cinderella, laments that fairy tales like the Cinderella story are where we go to find a “rags to riches," when we should recast our heroines as “ riches recovered; not poor girl into princess but rather rich girl (or princess) rescued from improper or wicked enslavement; not suffering Griselda enduring but shrewd and practical girl persevering and winning a share of the power” [5].
Aretha taught us attitude. She taught us power. She could take a song and refashion it into a declaration of strength even while being immensely vulnerable: "You better think. Think about what you're trying to do to me ," she warns. Her story is one of a survivor—more than just a little bit.
At the age of six (6), she lost her mother. At the age of 12 she began singing on the gospel circuits of the 1950s. By the age of 14, she birthed two beautiful sons. She has seen her share of heartache and heartbreak. Yet, she persisted. In the era of the #MeToo movement women in the entertainment industry help bring awareness to the struggles women in business face and have had to overcome. Ms. Franklin did this a half century earlier. None matched her work ethic. That ethic was also seen in her championing of Civil Rights, marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"Aretha taught us attitude. She taught us power."
Folk heroes emerge during a time of culture-building to help provide a normative model for how to be in trepidations times [6]. For John McCain, his code of honor, fealty to country and warrior ethic—while forged from his American military service can also be traced back to Ireland. For Aretha Franklin, her singing prowess, her sense of style, her righteous power and work ethic while forged in the churches of Detroit can also be traced back to African aesthetic principles.
John Willie Roberts in his book, From Trickster to Badman: The Black Folk Hero in Slavery and Freedom, talks about how cultural heroes in the black tradition are informed by their African heritage even while they emerge in American settings and contexts. He writes, "When we encounter the African American folk hero, we meet a figure whose actions reflect the transformed and, in some ways, transmuted values of African people shaped by situations and conditions in America” [7]. The same thing can be said across the board about the range of ethnic communities that we have in the United States: We have been shaped by the New World while bringing in our Old World values—no matter which immigration wave your folks arrived on.
How to represent our forefathers' and foremothers’ labor, their dreams for us, their hopes for the future is what we are asked to vote on.
The folk heroes of yore are transitioning. As the new generation of leaders emerge, we have a glowing example of two American ideals not at war but very much at peace.
A dreamer with a pen.
Link to My Archive Repository
Sojourner Blog Archives
Shayna S. Israel is a poet, educator and scholar.
(C) Copyright 2018. All rights reserved.
Photo of Mayan ruin courtesy of Freshairjunkie.com | Photos for P-20Ed and My Archive are courtesy of Pexels.com
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Crying Out for Drugs: The Babies Behind the Opioid Epidemic
June 14, 2018 / Nyasha Maforo
Image Credit: Public domain.
Inside the walls of hospitals across the country, babies are literally crying out for drugs. The rising rate of opioid use and abuse has dramatically increased the number of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Characterized by inconsolable crying, seizures, difficulties feeding, sweating, and vomiting, NAS is the result of an infant’s withdrawal from opioids that the child was exposed to in utero [1, 2]. Upon delivery, newborns diagnosed with NAS often require prolonged treatment and spend days, weeks, or even months in a hospital.
Figures published in a 2016 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that the rate at which infants born with NAS due to prenatal exposure to prescription painkillers or heroin had quadrupled over a fifteen-year period in the U.S [3]. The states of Maine, Vermont, and West Virginia have the highest rates of infants born with NAS, exceeding 30 cases per 1,000 births [3]. As alarming as this is, the rising number of incidents show no signs of decreasing [3, 4], and the prognosis of infants exposed to opioids remains poor. Consequently, these children experience a variety of complications affecting their young lives such as a range in severity of NAS symptoms, altered methods of feeding, and potentially adverse short- and long-term developmental outcomes.
Image Attribution: "Dramatic Increase in Maternal Opioid Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome" by the NIDA (NIH) is in the Public Domain.
NAS was observed as early as 1875 and was reported as Congenital Morphism. At the time, there was no treatment. With no intervention available, these infants often died. In some cases, mortality was not exclusive to the absence of treatment but was due to premature birth. By 1901, doctors had recognized that NAS was a direct consequence of interrupting in the placental supply of opioids. The placenta, which acts as the interface between mother and fetus, facilitates gas exchange, metabolic transfer, hormone secretion, and fetal protection. Drugs, including opioids, readily cross the placenta and pose severe health consequences for the fetus. Because opioids are low in molecular weight and are lipid soluble, they readily cross the placenta and reach maximal uptake by the fetus anywhere from two to three hours after their mother has taken the drug [5].
Pharmacological – drug-based – interventions have improved infant survival rates significantly [6]. In recent years, a wide range of drugs have been used to treat NAS, but evidence suggests that opioids are the most appropriate, at least in infants exposed to diamorphine or methadone [7]. Most commonly used pharmacological-based interventions are performed in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where the current standard of care is a methadone or morphine solution that is orally administered [6, 7]. In this process, infants are prescribed a dose of either morphine or methadone, weaned from it, and then discharged upon successful evaluation. A scoring system, known as the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS), is used to evaluate NAS in the diagnosed infant [6, 7]. During this treatment plan, infants have little-to-no interaction with their mother depending on the severity of their symptoms and their mother’s level of opioid dependency. Confounding these protocols and evaluations, however, is that many infants with NAS have been exposed to other substances such as alcohol and amphetamines. Thus, further research is being conducted to determine the optimal protocol for these infants, which may include a single opiate or multiple drug regimen [1, 6, 7].
Emerging non-pharmacological treatments in use include approaches that utilize an eat, sleep and console (ESC) model to treat infants with varying degrees of NAS symptoms [6-8]. With this approach, newborns are provided increased access to their mother, more-so for mothers undergoing supervised opioid management treatment and not using street drugs. Recent research [9] has confirmed that breastfeeding is not a problem under these circumstances as evidence demonstrated that the level of medication in the mother’s breast milk is low enough to be safe for the infant. Scientists hypothesize that increased mother to child time during treatment is beneficial for both parties and may reduce overall treatment time for the infant [8]. On-going research aims to find the balance between non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods for treating babies presenting with NAS.
NAS exposes a very complex two-body problem between expecting mothers and their babies. As noted in recent statistics, prenatal opioid exposure may be a direct consequence of maternal opioid abuse or treatment for opioid dependence. With that said, it is essential to make a clear distinction between a baby born to a mother using street opioids during pregnancy from one born to a mother undergoing treatment for opioid dependency. Fetuses of mothers using opioids and receiving little to no prenatal care have an increased risk of having a preterm birth, intrauterine grown restriction, and an increasing incidence of fetal death [1, 6].
Treatment for opiate dependency during pregnancy is characterized by three conventional drugs: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Among other side-effects, NAS has been noted as an outcome of both methadone and buprenorphine treatment during pregnancy [3]. A series of animal and human studies have been performed to determine the efficacy of each [2]. Animal studies using methadone demonstrated detrimental effects on growth, behavior, neuroanatomy, metabolism, and increased perinatal mortality [2]. Clinical observations of buprenorphine concluded that its impact on infant development is similar to those of methadone, but also that it is potentially superior in reducing the incidence and prognosis of NAS [2].
In most neonates, following maternal treatment with buprenorphine, NAS presented as mild and did not require pharmacological intervention [2]. Although limited in sample size, results from naltrexone experiments suggest superior outcomes in neonates from mothers treated with oral or sustained-release implantable naltrexone compared to those treated with methadone or buprenorphine [2]. While some of these drugs have adverse side-effects, they outweigh the detrimental effects of opioid abuse during pregnancy. On-going trials with methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone, and other drugs aim to address opioid dependency along with best practices to maintain the health of both the mother and fetus.
The cries of the babies affected by the opioid epidemic have been, and continue to be, heard across the nation. It is unclear, at this point how NAS will impact these children’s lives in the long term, but as awareness of NAS as a national epidemic grows, protocols can be put in place to standardize the assessment of patients and management of treatment. Success in reducing the frightening statistics of infants born needing therapy for NAS will require the combined effort of researchers, physicians, and policymakers to provide adequate education and treatment regimens for opioid-dependent women so that they and their children may lead full and healthy lives.
Nyasha Maforo
PhD Candidate, Physics and Biology in Medicine Graduate Program, UCLA
[1] Logan, B. A., Brown, M. S. & Hayes, M. J. Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Treatment and Pediatric Outcomes. Clinical obstetrics and gynecology 56, 186-192, doi:10.1097/GRF.0b013e31827feea4 (2013).
[2] Farid, W. O., Dunlop, S. A., Tait, R. J. & Hulse, G. K. The Effects of Maternally Administered Methadone, Buprenorphine and Naltrexone on Offspring: Review of Human and Animal Data. Current Neuropharmacology 6, 125-150, doi:10.2174/157015908784533842 (2008).
[3] Ko, J. Y. et al. Incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome - 28 States, 1999-2013. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 65, 799-802 (2016).
[4] Brown, J. D., Doshi, P. A., Pauly, N. J. & Talbert, J. C. Rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Amid Efforts to Combat the Opioid Abuse Epidemic. JAMA pediatrics 170, 1110-1112, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2016.2150 (2016).
[5] Griffiths, S. K. & Campbell, J. P. Placental structure, function and drug transfer. Continuing Education in Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain 15, 84-89, doi:10.1093/bjaceaccp/mku013 (2015).
[6] Gomez-Pomar, E. & Finnegan, L. P. The Epidemic of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, Historical References of Its’ Origins, Assessment, and Management. Frontiers in Pediatrics 6, doi:10.3389/fped.2018.00033 (2018).
[7] Johnson, K., Gerada, C. & Greenough, A. Treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome. Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition 88, F2 (2003).
[8] Grossman, M. R., Lipshaw, M. J., Osborn, R. R. & Berkwitt, A. K. A Novel Approach to Assessing Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Hosp Pediatr 8, 1-6, doi:10.1542/hpeds.2017-0128 (2018).
[9] Hudak, M. L. & Tan, R. C. Neonatal drug withdrawal. Pediatrics 129, e540-560, doi:10.1542/peds.2011-3212 (2012).
June 14, 2018 / Nyasha Maforo/
Opioid epidemic, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Hacking Nature: Using Stem Cells to ...
At the “Heart” of Opioid Abuse
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Home » Robbie Tann
Robbie Tann
Ibsen’s "An Enemy of the People" is a classic of modern drama but at times it can seem musty in a poor translation. David Harrower’s "Public Enemy" is not only a shrewd, accessible adaptation, it also makes clear the contemporary relevance of the dangers of the herd instinct in a seemingly just society. The Pearl Theatre Company production is a must-see for all good citizens, particularly in these perilous times. [more]
Everything You Touch
It’s a stylized “family secrets” drama, presented with a broad comedic tone. Heightened and arch (often including lengthy florid speeches) the dialogue has shades of "The Devil Wears Prada." Though mostly dense and opaque, there are emotionally involving sequences, particularly as the play reaches its conclusion. Ms. Callaghan also explores the theme of women’s self-image and how that issue clashes with society’s idealized view and the resulting conflicts. Bordering on the didactic, this nevertheless does yield moments of poignancy. [more]
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posted Mar 18, 2013, 8:41 AM by Brenda Guynes
In the 1981 film (http://www.filmsite.org/filmnoir.html) Body Heat (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082089/), directed by Lawrence Kasdan (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001410/), the character played by Kathleen Turner (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000678/) uses her smoldering sexuality and an arcane rule of common law to trick her attorney, William Hurt (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm.0000458/) The arcane principal that she relies upon is the Rule Against Perpetuities (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_against_perpetuities). The Rule is an aspect of law which we inherited from our British colonizers, along with much of the rest of common law (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Common+law). The Rule Against Perpetuities has been the bane of existence of law students and young lawyers for generations because of its obscure purposes and complex phrasing. I could argue that the Rule Against Perpetuities was the basis for many general practice attorneys choosing not to practice probate law and instead refer probate and trust cases to lawyers who concentrate their practice in this area. Alas, the Rule Against Perpetuities has been repealed or partially repealed in most American jurisdictions. Missouri repealed (http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/c400-499/4560000025.htm) its version ten years ago because the purpose was no longer being achieved by the rule and tax laws were achieving the original goals.
Essentially, the purpose of the rule is to prevent control of wealth and property by people who have died long ago. It is one aspect of a broader common law principal archaically known as prevention of restraints on alienation (http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Restraints+on+alienation). These types of laws seek to make sure that living people who own, occupy or oversee property have the ability to use and sell that property anyway they wish otherwise society suffers because property becomes unused and unusable as time passes and situations change.
For example, in many families where property has passed down from one generation to the next, over the course of several years, the ownership of the family home has not followed the uses by the family and the occupants. One or more members that own the property no longer live there, have died or have lost touch with the family. These sorts of problems arise not only in wealthy families but also in families of more modest means whose principal asset is the family home. After only one or two generations, the legal ownership of a home can be hopelessly confused such that correction of the pending issues requires the services of a probate and trust lawyer. I find that I am often able to help such families at a cost less than the purchase of a new home but at a substantial cost. I have talked on television (http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx#/Attorney+answers+vital+questions+on+trusts+and+wills/47423527001) about a similar false economy when people attempt to save money with the internet and other form wills but generate much larger legal bills for their heirs.
The best course of action in preventing property from becoming entangled in legal confusion is to plan ahead. It can often be difficult to choose amongst heirs but there are many ways which a skilled attorney can assist a property owner in transferring their wealth in ways that ensure their heirs benefit but does not restrict the families ability to use the property with legal entanglements. Unfortunately, I find that a great many people attempt to address these issues themselves through simple, inexpensive means such as quit claim deeds and simple wills in order to avoid attorneys fees. Matters of titling property are amongst the most complex areas of the law. Frequently, inexpensive solutions generate much larger legal bills later than is saved by the attempted shortcuts.
Even families who have had ancestors take ill advised shortcuts that complicated their problems, or created problems where there were none still have options. I find that I am often able to correct these matters, admittedly with an expense, but still in a way that ensures continued use of the property in question and without property becoming a blight on neighbors or others with interest attached. Of course you will need to catch me when I am not enjoying a classic film noir redux….
-Thomas Glick
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Total Health Publications
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FREE BOOKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
The greatest problems facing our survival in our world are ecological. The most critical problem is overpopulation. More people on the planet not only emit more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but they also send other wastes into our atmosphere, our oceans and waterways and our landfills.
Every intelligent person now realizes that to deny climate change is a position of ignorance. The thousand temperature gauges around the world clearly show a rise in temperature for more than 100 years. The melting glaciers of the world, particularly those in the arctic have raised the oceans over the last century. The strong hurricanes and tsunamis that have hit the world from Thailand to New York are the result of more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, including water vapor which is a very powerful greenhouse gas. The more that carbon dioxide warms the air, the more water vapor the air can hold. This makes tropical storms able to dump more rain and whip up more winds. This becomes more dangerous to coastal cities because the ocean has risen over the last century. For example the Atlantic seaboard ocean has risen a foot in the last hundred years. This creates far more danger of flooding in the coastal areas. Some islands have had to be evacuated permanently because the ocean has risen so high.
With over half of the world’s population now living in cities, we have built our factories and homes on land which was once arable. A relatively small portion of the Earth’s land is arable because it is steep mountains, arid deserts and frozen tundra or glacier covered land.
One of our major problems is the lack of freshwater. With more people on the planet, with groundwater sinking because of the centuries of pumping up the water to irrigate the fields, with glaciers melting faster than they have in the past we have more flooding in the summer but less water in the winter. This has been particularly true in the rivers that receive their water from the melting glaciers of the Himalayas. These include major rivers in China, India and Southeast Asia.
There are many more problems associated with our massive population of over 7 billion people. Estimates by experts indicate that if the people of the world are to live at the level of the United States and Europe, the maximum population of the world can be only about 1 1/2 billion people.
People have been led to believe that climate change is our major problem and that science will discover methods for producing massive amounts of nonpolluting electricity. But this is only one of the problems that we face. We are using nonrenewable natural resources while we pollute our atmosphere with gases and garbage. A severe reduction in population is the only solution but no one wants to be told that they cannot have as many children as they would like. In our representative democracies, politicians will not be elected if they attempt to limit the size of people’s families or even limit children to people who are not financially or emotionally capable of being effective parents.
Total Health Publications offers a series of free e-books that discuss the problems of overpopulation and other related societal problems. They can be accessed at: http://www.andgulliverreturns.info
The books are designed to look a bit into the future to see what might be done to reduce overpopulation and to solve other problems. The odd-numbered books look at some problems and solutions in a science fiction mode. Each book alludes to a situation that is then deeply examined in the following book. All of the books are documented, even those that are in a science fiction mode.
The remaining four books in the series will deal with: an equalitarian society where social welfare is generous (Book 11), a look at the effects on children of their heredity and their environment– including a look at eugenics (Book 12), a visit to a country in which the several religions gets along well (Book 13), and a look at Western Scriptures to see where they are in agreement and in disagreement with present-day values– and how a misinterpretation of these Scriptures is often common (Book 14). These books will be finished within the next four years.
Book 1 (And Now to Save the World from Overpopulation)
Book 2 (Are We Digging Our Ecological Crypt?)
Book 3 (An Asian Utopia–Kino)
Book 4 (On Human Values)
Book 5 (Our Visit to Singaling)
Book 6 (Our Psychological Motivations)
Book 7 (Our Visit to Indus)
Book 8 (POLITICS – The Science of the Possible)
Book 9 (THE UNITED COLONIES)
Book 10 (JUSTICE – LIBERTY or EQUALITY
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Biography and True Stories : True Crime
Behind the Gates of Gomorrah: Life Inside One of America's Largest Hospitals for the Criminally Insane
Title: Behind the Gates of Gomorrah: Life Inside One of America's Largest Hospitals for the Criminally Insane
Author: SEAGER STEPHEN
Psychiatrist Stephen Seager was no stranger to locked psych wards when he accepted a job at California's Gorman State hospital, known locally as 'Gomorrah', but nothing could have prepared him for what he encountered when he stepped through its gates, a triple sally port behind the twenty-foot walls topped with shining coils of razor wire. Gorman State is one of the nation's largest forensic mental hospitals, dedicated to treating the criminally insane. Unit C, where Seager was assigned, was reserved for the 'bad actors', the mass murderers, serial killers, and the real-life Hannibal Lecters of the world...Against a backdrop of surreal beauty - a campus-like setting where peacocks strolled the well-kept lawns - is a place of remarkable violence, a place where a small staff of clinicians are expected to manage a volatile population of prison-hardened ex-cons, where lone therapists lead sharing circles with psychopaths, where homemade weapons and contraband circulate freely, and where patients and physicians often measure their lives according to how fast they can run...'Behind the Gates of Gomorrah' affords an eye-opening look inside a facility to which few people have ever had access. Honest, reflective, and at times darkly funny, Seager's gripping account of his experiences at Gorman State hospital give us an extraordinary insight into a unique and terrifying world, inhabited by figures from our nightmares.
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When You Compare Ranking Methodologies, You Realise their Disconnect from Students
Aisling Curtis compares the QS and Times Higher Education Rankings, and says that for students, they're not that important.
Aisling CurtisOpinion Editor
Sergey Alifanov for The University Times
In terms of international rankings, Trinity has had a bad month: the university fell seven places to 78th in the QS World University Rankings and 22 places in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, placing at 160th internationally.
For an institution that placed 76th on the same list in 2011, this reflects a significant and concerning drop. What is most striking, however, is the difference between Trinity’s placement in both sets of rankings: in the same month, Trinity’s place in the world has been pegged at very different points – the 78th best in the world and the 160th best in the world, over 80 places apart. And how close UCD comes to Trinity also varies significantly – from as close as 16 places in the Times rankings to over 75 in the QS ones.
So, what explains the difference?
Following last year’s Times rankings, Daniel O’Brien analysed the five major categories that dictate where a university is placed on the list. 13 separate indicators are grouped into these five overarching criteria, which are made up of teaching, research, citations, international mix and industry income. While some of these scores are undoubtedly useful to students, such as teaching, many of the others that make up the bulk of the ranking are only relevant to academics or those pursuing an advanced degree.
These categories aren’t very useful for an undergraduate student looking to see where they will have the best educational experience
For students, a university’s published research output or income generated from innovation is not particularly helpful in delineating how well students will be treated there. Quality of research is not an indicator of quality of teaching or standard of degree, and many academics can do poorly in a classroom environment while excelling in a lab. These categories are useful for those pursuing high-level academia, but of less value to an undergraduate student looking to see where they will have the best educational experience or which university will give the best job prospects.
In fact, even the teaching category in the Times rankings is less relevant, in that it primarily evaluates a university on its reputation amongst academics and not on its reputation to companies or industry, factors which would be of importance for students looking to get the most earning and career potential out of their degree. While academic reputation is useful for assessing the consensus of international academic opinion, it’s not that helpful as a measure of directly relevant teaching quality. Problems that hinder student experience, such as Trinity’s complex bureaucracy and the accommodation crisis affecting Dublin, will not be exposed in such a measure. They outright improve or deduct from a degree and yet they aren’t exposed in the methodology that the rankings use.
If the Times Higher Education rankings pull categories together in this way, do the QS rankings do the same? They base their list on six performance indicators that assess research, teaching, employability and internationalisation. As with the THE list, academic reputation is measured using a global survey of leading academics, a measure which naturally has the same pitfalls as the Times’ rating. However, QS does take into account employer reputation, which makes the score more relevant to students and is unique amongst university rankings. While it only makes up 10 per cent of the actual rating, it places greater emphasis on votes from employers for universities outside their own country, and so assesses industry consensus on an international level.
In many cases, the measure just obscures fundamental issues – or successes – in a university’s policies and day-to-day running
The QS ranking also uses more “hard” data to quantify where a university places. Student-to-faculty ratio assesses whether a university provides small class sizes and so if it is equipped to provide students with a more individualised teaching experience. Citations-per-faculty, as with the Times list, operates under the assumption that the more research citations that a faculty has, the more influence it has, and the better quality experience it can provide. The final measures this ranking looks at refer to international faculty ratio and international student ratio, assuming that universities which attract more individuals from abroad have a greater impact.
The rankings methodologies are similar, although the QS list takes into account employer reputation, which makes its scores more relevant to the average student. Trinity places well on both lists with regards to its numbers of international students and staff, and also has success in citations. Its less successful with regards to more student-relevant measures, such as student-to-faculty ratio and QS’s employer reputation number. Trinity fares poorly in industry income and research in the Times list, but these criteria do not have as much weight for the average individual, unless they’re interested in pursuing a high-level further education degree.
The methodologies of the rankings expose their importance. There’s certainly a disconnect when it comes to how important the rankings are for academics, and how important they are for students looking for a high-quality undergraduate degree. In many cases, the measure just obscures fundamental issues – or successes – in a university’s policies and day-to-day running. While they may accurately discern the research impact of an institution, this may be far removed from the realities of a degree programme and they therefore should be assessed by students with a certain amount of care.
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Tag Archives: protocol
Vitamin C injections and cancer: perceptions vs reality
In May 2018, a petition signed by more than 70,000 people was submitted to the National Assembly of Quebec, with the goal of “authorizing” vitamin C injections in cancer patients. Asked about the petition, the Minister of Health at the time then said that, according to oncologists consulted, this intervention “had no added clinical value”.
A second petition, started in January 2019, collected more than 120,000 signatures and asked even more, notably adding vitamin C injections under the list of medications reimbursed by the government. It received a lot of positive media coverage and was promoted by several well-known public figures.
People living with cancer go through extremely difficult times, and are very brave. Some of them already receive vitamin C injections at this time and believe that it helps them to tolerate their chemotherapy better; I sincerely wish that these people will be able to keep receiving these treatments.
However, the issue here is broader.
It’s not an issue that a few people receive such injections. The problem is that the current enthusiasm and fascination around this story suggests that it should be a widespread, easily accessible, and regularly used treatment for cancer patients. It is not the case.
Unfortunately, by reading comments left online under the news articles or on the the petition itself, it is obvious that many people do not really understand the real issues at play. And I can’t blame them; it’s actually quite hard to grasp the facts here, especially if one relies on what is said on social networks and in the media.
This article therefore aims to review the differences between the popular perceptions VS the reality of vitamin C injections.
(Note: the comments analyzed below are real and quoted verbatim)
Vitamin C injections are not a cure for cancer.
The suggested indication is to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, which would improve patients’ quality of life. And unfortunately, to date, the data are not conclusive for this use either.
(In other words, there are some positive trials, and some negative ones… but these trials do not have an adequate placebo group that would tell whether the effect is actually due to vitamin C, or do not have a design that allows to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the treatment. So overall, the efficacy is not clear and remains theoretical, see here, here, here and here among others).
The belief that vitamin C cures all kinds of diseases dates back to the 1970s, but proved to be wrong when tested scientifically.
As far as we know, the only thing that is cured with vitamin C injections is scurvy, an uncommon condition in this post-Jacques Cartier era.
It is not “illegal” to inject vitamin C in Quebec, even for cancer.
The issue is not legality, but the fact that it is not ethical, rational or justified to do so in the absence of solid scientific evidence.
More importantly, it is not more acceptable in Ontario than in Quebec. The media mentioned a clinic offering these injections there; it is not a medical clinical, but a center for “integrative medicine” (i.e. the new name given to complementary and alternative therapies). Its founder and executive director is a naturopath. According to its website, there is only one physician who seems to practice there as a clinician, and she is not an oncologist.
In short, the fact that clinics in Ontario, in the rest of Canada and in the United States (there’s many of them) offer vitamin C injections is not proof of effectiveness.
A lot of comments draw a comparison with the legalization of cannabis. But again, there is no question of “legalizing” anything, so this analogy does not hold water.
(note : true story)
Vitamin C injections do not typically seem to cause a lot of side effects, that much is true.
But here’s the real problem: preliminary data suggests that vitamin C could interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy.
[When chemo is administered for incurable cancers (e.g. palliative care), it is not to treat cancer as such, but to reduce pain and prolong life. So if vitamin C decreases the chances that this approach works, we should definitely take it into account.]
Clinics offering such injections say so in their own references:
Other trials with oral vitamin C had to be stopped prematurely because of toxic effects that appeared to be caused by vitamin C itself.
These effects are not surprising. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and some have theorized from in vitro data that it may also have opposite effects (i.e. pro-oxidant). In any case, we’re talking about reactions within the human body that are subject to a very delicate balance, with health effects that remain little known and therefore largely unpredictable.
In short, it’s a mistake to see these injections as harmless. Besides, administering megadoses of vitamins is always dangerous.
Meanwhile, we know that people with cancer who use alternative / complementary / integrative therapies are at higher risk of dying from their cancer: we’re talking about a 2- to 6-times higher risk of mortality (see here, here and here).
In summary, if we accept preliminary data suggesting efficacy, we should also accept preliminary data suggesting potential hazards.
Chantal Lacroix is a TV host and public figure known for her social commitment and for her involvement in humanitarian causes. For that, bravo!
But her comments regarding the petition – which she has been a major supporter of – are strange…
The professional oath of doctors required them to “[practice] medicine according to the rules of science“. And that’s exactly what they’re doing.
Prescribing an unproven and potentially risky treatment, it is not rather that which would “flout the Hippocratic Oath”? Is that ironic too? (At this point I’m confused on what constitutes irony or not).
In short, it’s unfortunate that someone as influential as Ms. Lacroix promotes a cause by discrediting the medical community with unsubstantiated assertions.
Others bring this idea even further:
Let’s try to look at this logically…
In fact, a woman in Quebec who is currently receiving vitamin C injections recently mentioned on a radio show that these treatments allowed her to stay longer on chemotherapy.
In other words, if vitamin C injections work, they are ultimately profitable for Big Pharma.
Actually, natural health products are a multi-billion dollar industry. There’s a lot of money to be made, despite extremely poor regulation.
According to the information I was able to collect:
It’s expensive and not accessible to everyone.
OK, we’re far from the billions of dollars generated by the industry … but for a therapist or a clinic that follows many patients, there are tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to be made each year.
(Just to be clear, I’m not saying that the therapist or clinic administers vitamin C in order to make money, but simply that yes, it can generate significant profits)
That’s what the United States just did.
The Right to Try Act, signed by Trump in May 2018, allows terminally ill patients to have access to any experimental treatments, regardless of their efficacy or safety.
At first, it may seem like a good idea …
But what we forget to mention is that terminally ill patients, both in the US and Canada, already have special access to experimental treatments. But only those that seem to work.
When they invoke Right to Try instead, patients essentially become guinea pigs for unsupported therapies and lose their basic rights in case of problems. They can easily become the victims of charlatans ready to sell them a miracle therapy (it has already started elsewhere). And nobody can be held responsible.
For the protection of the public and the sick, I hope we will not choose this route in Canada.
(sorry for this lame title design, I can’t help it)
I understand those who are committed to this cause, and the topic of cancer is very important to me.
Also, I realize that by talking about this subject in a very matter-of-fact way, making jokes to lighten the subject, I probably sound – to some people – as closed-minded, or even insensitive.
But one of the most important messages I am trying to convey with The Pharmafist / Le Pharmachien is that applying the scientific approach when making health choices is one of the best things when can do for ourselves, collectively and individually, especially for people who are vulnerable.
What I find the most unfortunate here is that many people will stay with a feeling of injustice. And yes, it may seem unfair. But when we choose to support a cause, we have the responsibility to ensure that we understand the deep issues, not to select what pleases us or not.
If vitamin C injections really had “proven” benefits, they would be prescribed regularly in oncology, because everyone (patients, doctors, industry) would be a winner.
Yes, some people may derive benefits from them (real ones or through the placebo effect). But to this day, it remains a treatment that seems to involve risks and whose benefits are uncertain, and so it is quite normal that it is little or not used in medicine at the moment. It’s in the best interest of people with cancer.
P.S. I did a mini-investigation and there’s currently an oncologist in Montreal who prescribes vitamin C injections for cancer. Despite all my efforts to get his name, he wants to remain anonymous … which is really strange, considering that he is allegedly heading an oncology research center (not found via Google) that is about to start a clinical trial on vitamin C injections (not found on any registry). I found the phone number of the center and I spoke to his coordinator, a very kind lady, who said to me: “I know you, and I know you don’t believe in that kind of things…”. Actually, I won’t need to “believe” when the results of the clinical trial are published and we can analyze them. In the meantime, I think we should remain skeptical and cautious.
*** UPDATE – JANUARY 21, 2019 ***
A new version of the petition is circulating. The petition again calls for “authorizing doctors to prescribe vitamin C“, and also proposes “to set up a vitamin C injection registry in Quebec“, as well as coverage on the list of reimbursed medications. The petition was also mentioned on national TV, on the popular show “Tout le monde en parle“, on Jan. 20, 2019.
Here are some thoughts and developments on this topic:
As explained in my article, “authorizing” vitamin C injections is still not a real issue, since this intervention is already allowed. It’s the scientific and ethical aspects that are problematic. Creating a registry will not address these issues either.
In 2018, Montreal-based oncologists said they were preparing to start a clinical trial on vitamin C injections fore cancer. To date, no information has been provided to this effect. It’s important to note that all research must be approved by ethics committees well before it can begin. And the last time a trial protocol on the topic was submitted in Montreal, it was back in 2010.
Some people are currently promoting a scientific publication by Alexander et al. (2018), claiming it “proves the benefits of vitamin C injections” for people on chemotherapy. This publication proves nothing of the sort; it includes mainly pre-clinical data (in vitro and animal experiments), as well as a brief overview of preliminary data for a pilot study (Phase I) in humans in relation to radiotherapy (not chemotherapy). But above all, this type of trial (Phase I) is not designed to support efficacy claims, something the authors themselves mention – subtly – later in the publication. In fact, I even took the initiative of writing to the editors of the journal Cancer Research to inform them that the summary of this publication contains, in my opinion, misleading and possibly unethical statements.
The Chief Scientist of Quebec also commented on the topic.
*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 5, 2019 ***
Some people are currently promoting a news item stating that Sherbrooke University has received a $ 2.8 million grant to study vitamin C injections.
It’s true … but it’s for a totally different indication, namely septic shock (a serious complication of some infections). It involves a completely different mechanism of action being studied, and no link can be drawn with cancer at this point.
*** UPDATE – FEBRUARY 11, 2019 ***
Science journalist Jean-François Cliche inquired with the Ontario Ministry of Health about their position on vitamin C injections in cancer cases. Unsurprisingly, this practice is not considered scientifically or ethically acceptable there either, contrary to what is stated in the petition.
Proponents of the petition are now citing a new article to support their claims. However, by opposition to what its title suggests, it is an in vitro experiments on cells, which is important for stimulating future research, but can not be extrapolated to humans. The article also mentions a phase I trial in 11 individuals, aiming to assess safety of vitamin C injections (also called a “safety trial”). On the one hand, this study is never referenced in the article, which is very bizarre … I presume that it was never published, and therefore it is impossible to analyze or interpret it; I wrote to the editors of the site to have more information. But above all, this type of study can not assess 1) the effectiveness of treatment and 2) the risk of reducing the effects of chemotherapy (because the duration of the study was too short, i.e. 2 months).
Contacted about this, the author of the article in question objected to her text being used in support of the petition, stating:
“I and Cancer Commons have never endorsed [this] position / petition and asked [the organizer] to remove the post from Facebook. While there are some data to support high-dose vitamin C, they are not conclusive. Cancer Commons’ name has been used without permission.”
Proponents of the petition have adopted a new strategy (visibly effective) over the past few days, probably in a final sprint before filing to the Quebec National Assembly on February 28, 2019. Yesterday, Ms. Chantal Lacroix published a video summarizing the group’s current arguments, which must be analyzed because it underlines how important it is to become familiar with the foundations of critical thinking. The video in question …
1. Continues to spread the idea that vitamin C injections are “illegal“, and that the petition is intended to “legalize” them. This fallacious argument is called “ambiguity of language“; legalizing, or even authorizing anything, in not an issue here, as explained in my article.
2. Implies that if vitamin C injections are not “legalized“, people with cancer may need to turn to physician-assisted suicide, which is legal. On the one hand, this comparison is tasteless, misplaced and indelicate towards the terminally ill. On the other hand, it is a false dilemma, which gives the impression that a person may have to choose between these two options, which is not the case. Above all, this is a bad analogy because both interventions are considered in very different contexts.
3. Adds that dozens of public figures from the artistic world have signed the petition in the last few days, which – according to them – demonstrates the validity of the requests. This is an appeal to popularity; the fact that many people or celebrities sign the petition is not a guarantee of anything.
4. States that “leading experts” in the field of cancer have signed the petition. On the one hand, no such expert has endorsed the petition publicly, to my knowledge. But above all, it is an appeal to authority; even if some “leading experts” had signed the petition, this does not guarantee its validity.
5. States that even if scientific data on vitamin C injections are lacking, “everyone wins” by signing the petition, as it will allow more data to be collected through the creation of a clinical registry. This statement is false because creating a registry is no substitute for clinical research, which is necessary in this case. Clinical registries in Canada are a succession of anecdotes collected in an uncontrolled environment, which makes it impossible to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of an intervention. Drug registries identify certain side effects that appear to occur more frequently, which may result in increased government and manufacturer vigilance, and may stimulate the development of additional clinical studies. In short, creating a registry of vitamin C injections would only be relevant if this intervention was already supported by convincing data and therefore was considered scientifically and ethically acceptable by oncologists.
This is not the first time that Ms. Lacroix has ignored criticism by scientists, or is promoting questionable health practices. She obviously has good intentions, and I do not doubt her sincerity in this process. But again, I would like to invite her to be more cautious and restrained when it comes to health topics, given her vast popularity and influence.
Youri Chassin, the local deputy politician supporting the petition, is now calling for a special Parliament Committee on vitamin C injections. So I contacted him directly on his Facebook page :
(the following is an image modified in order to include the translation in French)
I did not get an answer, even when following-up with his office by email. However, Mr Chassin answered this to another user:
Mr Chassin later deleted his post from Facebook.
*** UPDATE – MARCH 1, 2019 ***
I explained above why the creation of a clinical registry, in my opinion, is not appropriate in this case, but I realize that I did not explain why I think the same thing about a parliament committee on vitamin C injections.
According to the National Assembly of Quebec, “Parliamentary committees are the perfect forum to examine in detail bills or other current issues. The deputies also play a role in controlling government activity and public consultation on the various issues that animate society“.
I have no doubt about the relevance of these commissions for different issues of public interest that are subject to debates of ideas or opinions. But in this case, the issue is the lack of evidence to support vitamin C injections in people with cancer. In other words, it is not a matter of opinions, but of science.
A commission will not generate new data on the effectiveness and safety of the treatment. And even if the goal was to discuss funding for a possible clinical study on vitamin C injections, how could one justify that research funds, so hard to obtain, be awarded on the basis of the popularity of a petition? It is not up to a parliament committee to decide on the funding of clinical research, but to organizations specialized in this field, such as the Quebec Health Research Fund (FRSQ), or the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).
It should be noted that, to this day, NO experts have publicly endorsed this treatment.
It should also be noted that during a parliament committee on Lyme disease in March 2018, the National Assembly of Quebec summoned as key expert a French doctor who supports the idea that the progression of Lyme disease is due to a Nazi researcher in hiding in the United States who is genetically modifying ticks on the behalf of the US military. This gives you an idea of the accepted standard in this type of commission regarding “key experts” …
In summary, having a parliament commission to discuss such a niche medical issue, which is primarily a matter of critical analysis of the evidence, is in my opinion a strategy of political lobbying that bypasses the scientific process, involving significant risks for medicine and the healthcare system. It is also, in my opinion, poorly invested public money, considering the limited scientifically and clinically relevant information that can be obtained from such a commission.
Note: I’m far from being a specialist in politics, so if I’m wrong regarding the above, thanks for bringing me specific arguments that will make me reconsider my position. To date, I have had none.
So here’s what’s happening right now…
And as promised, here is the entirety of my conversation with the initiator of the petition in 2018.
*** UPDATE – MARCH 21, 2019 ***
At last! Experts have decided to come forward on the scientific aspects of vitamin C injections, because of what’s going right now:
Dr. Denis Soulières, hematologist and medical oncologist
Dr. Jacques Jolivet, medical oncologist
Dr. Martin Champagne, Oncologist and President of the Association of Hematologists and Oncologists of Quebec
I also want to tell you how much I’m touched to read all the support I have received in recent days. It would be impossible for me to answer everyone, but I want you to know that I read your messages and that I am deeply grateful.
I also want to say a huge thank you to my broadcaster and to the Quebec Order of Pharmacists, who understand the situation and offered me their support. I consider myself very lucky.
I also thank all the scientists, healthcare professionals and scientific or medical associations who have decided to come forward. Such complex subjects deserve to be the subject of a joint effort of communication.
You will understand that given the gravity of the situation, I can not / do not want to comment on it.
But beyond my case, as many have guessed, it is not so much “me” that needs to be defended: it’s the scientific process. It’s harder than ever to discuss science publicly, and we should not let the situation deteriorate to the point where it’s no longer possible to do it.
On a more cheerful note, this case has initiated a serious reflection about the involvement of scientists in public debates, and how to support them in the current context. There already seems to be embryos of projects in this direction, which I hope will come to fruition soon; stay tuned for updates on this below.
Thank you again everyone, I appreciate your support so much!
*** UPDATE – APRIL 4, 2019 ***
Click here to read the complete decision of the Government of Quebec.
More media coverage can be read here.
*** UPDATE – MAY 1, 2019 ***
I can now confirm that positive outcomes have ultimately emerged from this case:
A government task force was created in order to protect scientists who speak publicly about sensitive topics (I am fortunate enough to be involved in it);
Also, an inter-professional advisory committee was created by several professional Orders in order to support healthcare professionals, such as myself, when they speak publicly, so they can do so without fear of disciplinary action.
It is comforting to know that despite the negative events in this case, there are positive repercussions. I hope these initiatives will help others avoid situations like the one I experienced.
*** UPDATE – JUNE 13, 2019 ***
Back in March 2019, there was a joint request by several professional associations, in response to the public controversy that ignited, to mandate the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS) to write an official report on the clinical relevance of vitamin C injections. This is now official and will be done. An INESSS mandate is precisely what I was wishing for from the start, so I see this as the best possible outcome.
This case is closed, so far.
Many thanks to all of you for your interest towards this topic!
To read about the original version of this story in French (which includes about a hundred comments and my answers), see here.
Tagged alternative, ambiguity of language, antioxidant, appeal to authority, appeal to popularity, attacks, authorizing, bad analogy, basic rights, benefits, big pharma, billions of dollars, Canada, cancer, cannabis, cause, chemo, chemotherapy, claims, clinic, clinical, Coalition Avenir Quebec, committee, complementary, coverage, criticism, cure, cyberbullying, dangerous, death threats, deputy, design, doxing, doxxing, efficacy, ethical, evidence, experimental, experts, fallacious, fallacy, false dillema, fundamental right, government, harm, harmless, harrass, harrassment, hazards, hematologists, Hippocratic Oath, illegal, in vitro, INESSS, injectable, injections, injustice, insults, integrative medicine, interfere, intimidation, intravenous, legal, legality, legalizing, Linus Pauling, lobbying, media, megadoses, methodology, mob, money, Montreal, National Assembly, naturopaths, oncologists, oncology, Ontario, parliament, parliament commission, patients, perceptions, petition, pharmaceutical industry, Phase I, placebo, politician, poor regulation, popularization, positive, preclinical, preliminary data, price, profitable, prolong life, proof, protocol, proven, public, public figures, pxo-oxidant, Quebec, rational, reality, reduce, reduce pain, registry, reimbursement, repercussions, Right to Try, risks, safety, safety trial, sales, science communication, scientific, scientific process, scientists, scurvy, sick, side effects, special access, strategy, support, terminally ill, theoretical, threats, tolerate, toxic, treatment, trials, unethical, United States, unpredictable, unsupported, value, vitamin, vitamin C
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Home Opinions Dynamic Ad Insertion: A Long Term View
Dynamic Ad Insertion: A Long Term View
Paul Davies
It’s no secret that broadcasters with major sporting rights are able to unlock hundreds of millions of ad impressions in live streams each year. To give you an idea why such services are so valuable, at Yospace we see an average viewing duration of 30 minutes per live stream, across some 300+ live online channels. That equates to around 12 previously unavailable ad spots being opened up per viewing session. Compare that with the next best solution – a couple of pre-rolls – and you can see why broadcasters are so excited about server-side Dynamic Ad Insertion.
2016 may well prove to be a watershed in this regard. Across Europe between Q1 and Q3 there was an eight-fold increase in available, addressable ad inventory created by DAI. Add to that the fact that average view-through rates are over 95% for replaced ad breaks and you’ll get a sense as to why DAI is so valuable.
Despite the sharp growth this year, we’re only at the beginning of what will be achieved. A number of territories with large online TV audiences are yet to deploy DAI, but will do in the next 12 months or so. There’s also plenty of room for expansion across platforms, especially if DAI is deployed at scale across IP delivered TV services, as many expect it will. Plus of course there’s a full plethora of connected devices that have not yet come into full focus for many broadcasters, not least the set-top box.
The overall point I’m making is this: the model works. Supporting it all is the fact that server-side ad insertion technology has now been proven out at scale, and that’s one of the biggest takeaways of 2016. However, we are only in the foothills of revenue potential. It’s one thing to dynamically replace an ad and to apply some form of addressability, but if the ultimate target is to optimise yield then there is a lot more to come. GroupM Chairman Irwin Gotlieb attempted to apply some pressure at last week’s Future TV Advertising Forum, when he urged broadcasters to “start delivering the goods that technology now allows TV to provide”.
Gotlieb also stated that he would “settle for baby-steps” toward a world where every piece of inventory across all channels and all platforms is accessible. In this vein, the initial priority for many broadcasters in implementing Dynamic Ad Insertion is simply to open up otherwise inaccessible inventory. This was certainly the case for STV, who, nearly three years ago, became the first UK broadcaster to launch DAI for live streams. At the time they were preparing for the 2014 World Cup and, knowing a significant proportion of its audience wanted access to live channels on its STV Player service, needed to find an effective monetisation strategy.
STV launched user registration on its platform at the same time and were able to apply some broad segmentation rules to its advertising. A year later it was in a position to apply more advanced techniques that combined first party and third party data, and this was implemented ahead of the Rugby World Cup in 2015. The system was also in place for the European Championships earlier this year. From no targeting at the start of 2014, 98% of STV’s online inventory is now addressable.
This example sets a marker for other broadcasters. It’s well documented that Sky and Channel 4 lead the way in addressable advertising, having the resources to build out their own programmatic sales infrastructure, but it’s encouraging to see what a broadcaster like STV has already achieved in this space.
So what’s next? Live streaming audiences will continue to grow, which means the opportunities to optimise yield through addressable advertising will also grow. Those opportunities will be supported by ever more advanced programmatic infrastructure and, possibly, though by no means certainly, widespread adoption of real-time bidding.
Underpinning all these elements will be the availability of ad creative. The cost of creating high-end ad content is certainly an area that needs to be addressed if there is to be a move towards fully addressable. On the other side of the scale are the ads from local businesses, to which broadcast-grade standards need to apply at an affordable rate. A unified broadcast-standard approach will be needed on the ad stitching side, too, particularly around encoding and tracking when there is so much ad creative entering the system.
But the broadcast industry has an amazing ability to adapt when it needs to, hence its long and successful history. STV were among the first broadcasters in the world to launch the technology for live channels, and their example offers a unique long-term view, but it’s important to remember that the deployment happened just three years ago. The speed with which those at the cutting edge of broadcasting have advanced in that time is incredible, and who would bet against Irwin Gotlieb’s wish coming true within the next three years, for addressable inventory on every channel and every platform?
This is an exciting period for all concerned, especially as we know that the journey has only just begun.
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Paul Davies is Manager, Communications, Marketing and Commercial at Yospace
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Smithfield welcomes 'ALICE'
Smithfield elementary school teachers gathered at the high school for "armed intruder" training on Monday. Officers from the Smithfield Police Department conducted training sessions for the teachers on how to respond in the event of an armed person in their schools. Jessica Deremer, from Gallagher School, places a desk against the classroom door during a barricading exercise. (Valley Breeze & Observer photos by David Wuerth)
Safety training offers teachers choices in case of intruders
By MELANIE THIBEAULT, Valley Breeze Staff Writer
SMITHFIELD - Smithfield police were at the high school Monday, directing teachers to climb out windows and shield themselves with desks.
The procedures were part of a new training program to replace traditional lockdown strategies, and equip school staff with options to protect themselves and students in the case of an armed invasion.
After Monday's session, 150 Smithfield teachers and staff now have the ability to do more than wait and hide for first responders to arrive on the scene.
ALICE, which stands for "Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate," is a way for individuals "in active, threatening situations to react and/or defend themselves," said Detective Sgt. Gregg Catlow, who is a certified instructor of ALICE.
He added that ALICE will provide "options that adults will have in the event of unsafe situations" and allow people "to rely on their instincts."
Elementary school teachers and staff received an instructional presentation on Monday, while middle and high school teachers and staff had the opportunity for hands-on, practical exercises, led by Catlow.
Catlow hosted the training along with Capt. Kenneth Brown Jr. of the Smithfield Police Department, and Renee Palazzo, assistant principal of Smithfield High School.
"I think it was a total success," said Brown, who also serves as the incident commander for the school system. "Teachers and staff got to see the practical side (of the training) and began to see the urgency (of these types of situations)."
ALICE is a nationally-recognized training program with headquarters in Ohio. According to its website, the ALICE Training Institute offers "proactive risk management" tips and information to individuals, which can "increase chances of survival during an armed intruder event."
In light of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., many school systems have been looking to increase security. In a report from CNN earlier this summer, the U.S. has seen approximately 15 incidents similar to Sandy Hook since December 2012.
According to Brown, "Traditionally the goal was to make (teachers and students) invisible by asking them to hide," turn off the lights, and lock their classroom doors.
But traditional lockdown methods are no longer enough to keep faculty, staff, and students safe in the case of an armed intruder.
The ALICE Training Institute website says that individuals can't rely on "law enforcement alone." Brown noted that based on a past incident, it took police two minutes and 41 seconds to arrive at the high school.
"It could be quicker if someone were out driving around," he said, adding that the national average of deployment from a police department to a school is three to five minutes.
That might not seem like a long amount of time, but in the case of an armed intruder, every second counts.
ALICE training will give Smithfield faculty and staff the knowledge and ability to make the most of the time before police arrive.
ALICE does not train or teach faculty, staff, and students how to fight. Instead, it offers individuals options to keep themselves and others safe in the case of an intrusion, be that to lock down, counter, or evacuate.
Countering does not mean pro-actively fighting off an intruder, said Palazzo, who also serves as the emergency operation coordinator for the school district. It can be a distraction that takes the form of yelling or throwing objects at an intruder while students and staff escape.
"We want teachers (and staff) to be aware," said Palazzo. "We want them to use their professional judgment. (ALICE) gives them the ability to leave the building if they're in a position to leave."
For example, if an armed intruder is in the left side of one building, people in the right side should be able to evacuate and reach a place of safety. In a traditional lockdown, everyone remains trapped in the building, waiting and worrying, when they could be escaping.
In the case of an evacuation, Palazzo and Brown want to emphasize that there is a "comprehensive evacuation plan" in place, which will ensure accountability for all students and staff.
The Smithfield school district has a very comprehensive security plan, added Palazzo. It's an ongoing goal to "ensure student and adult safety" in the schools, and the recent ALICE training is just "one element" in the plan.
Now that faculty and staff have received at least one aspect of ALICE training, the next step is to reach out to parents and students.
"There is a plan in progress," Palazzo said. Teachers may speak with students and say, "This is what we do" in the case of an intrusion.
Brown added, "We have to get the kids on board next, so we have to sell it to the parents."
Monday's ALICE training comes after a different training session held on Aug. 15 for school administrators. That program, run by Smithfield Fire Chief Robert Seltzer, focused on the Incident Command System (ICS), which Brown said is the structure that is in place in the event of an emergency at any of the schools. He said that it's a collaboration between the fire and police departments and the school system.
Brown called ICS a "hierarchy of instinct management," and described it as a system of "who answers to whom."
Chief Seltzer said that the recent ICS training, which was at an introduction level, "opened some administrators" eyes to what they should be doing and thinking about during an emergency at their school.
"It also took away some of the 'mystery' about what the Incident Command System is and how it is used in the school environment," he continued.
The training helped explain to administrators what they should expect from fire and police, and what those officials expect from the school administration, Brown said.
At a meeting with Catlow, Brown, and Palazzo last Friday, Assistant Superintendent Bridget Morisseau called the Smithfield Police and Fire Departments "great partners" to the school system.
"Academics don't matter if the kids aren't safe," she said.
For more information about ALICE, visit alicetraining.com .
Cindy Ripley, left, and Amy Kaighan, both teachers at Gallagher School, escape through a window during the training session.
Using an approach that is no longer recommended, teachers huddle together in a classroom to experience the fallacy of that technique.
Lynch Fence Co.
Borrelli's Bakery
CJ Tree Inc.
Compassionate Care Veterinary Clinic
George M. Prescott, Attorney at Law
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Nanomaterial advancement offers bendable wearables
By Ryan Daws
13 June 2016, 16:04 p.m.
Clothing & Textiles, Devices, Research
(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/ChesiireCat)
Wearables today are limited in their flexibility due to current widely-adopted materials being unable to carry the current required for electronic devices. Many researchers have attempted to overcome this hurdle with nanomaterials, but a new ultrathin film could be the most promising advancement yet.
An international team of nanomaterial researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago and Korea University have created an ultrathin film which is a mat of tangled nanofiber, electroplated to form a "self-junctioned copper nano-chicken wire" as it's been called.
Developing the material in such a manner allows it to be stretchable and bendable which opens up a range of new possibilities of how it can be used in the creation of more advanced wearables. Smart clothing is expected to become more popular in the coming years, and we're already seeing technology manufacturers like Lenovo showing off related products such as their "smart running shoe" unveiled last week.
(Image: Lenovo Smart Running Shoe)
Most consumers do not want technology to get in their way so nanomaterials such as the one being developed by the researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Korea University will be important for wearables to move beyond the smartwatches and HMDs (Head Mounted Displays) which are popular today.
"It's important, but difficult, to make materials that are both transparent and conductive," says Alexander Yarin, UIC Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, one of two corresponding authors on the publication.
The new film establishes a "world-record combination of high transparency and low electrical resistance," the latter at least 10-fold greater than the existing record, said Sam Yoon, who is also a corresponding author and a professor of mechanical engineering at Korea University.
For some idea of how small the material begins, it's electrospun using a nanofiber mat of polyacrylonitrile, or PAN, whose fibers are about one-hundredth the diameter of a human hair. The fiber then shoots out like a rapidly-coiling noodle, which when deposited onto a surface intersects itself a million times.
After this process is complete it must be coated with a metal to attract metal ions, before the fiber is electroplated with copper, silver, nickel or gold to make it conductive. Yoon said the "self-fusion" by electroplating at the fiber junctions "dramatically reduced the contact resistance."
The finding is reported in the June 13 issue of Advanced Materials.
What are your thoughts on the nanomaterial advancement? Let us know in the comments.
Follow @Gadget_Ry
http://WearableTechnology-News.com/
Your friendly editor, gadget-lover, music-purveyor, and ex-host of a consumer technology show.
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Waldorf Resources
If you want to educate others, you yourself need to be educated. If you want to have any kind of influence on young people, you yourself need to stay young and continuously work on yourself.
Simon Gfeller, Swiss teacher and author (1868 - 1943)
Teaching Practice
Attitude, Inclusion, Behavioral abnormality, Behavioral disorder, Challenging behaviour, Interaction, Crossing boundaries, Understanding, Appreciation, Disturbed circumstances, Normopathy, Internalizing disorders, Anthroposophical human understanding, Symptomatology, Diagnosis and therapy, Sympathy, Anthipathy, Authority through relationship, Trust, New authority
By: Dr. Andreas Fischer, March 2019, First publication in Seelenpflege Issue 3, 2018, shortened by Katharina Stemann
"Attitude Is a Small Thing That Makes a Big Difference". Approaches to understanding and dealing with challenging behaviour
The quote from Sir Winston Churchill mentioned in the title is an important benchmark for dealing with children and young people with challenging behaviour. A look at practice shows that employees in schools and boarding schools are increasingly confronted with children and adolescents who not only challenge their behaviour, but often overtax all those involved, including parents. The excessive demands can lead to stress reactions among employees, which can culminate in a burnout or termination of employment. Often the final consequence is the exclusion of the child or adolescent from school or boarding school, an unsatisfactory solution for all, often coupled with a bad conscience. Because "not only teachers and educators are led by these children to their own limits, the children themselves suffer from this onesidedness with which they evoke so much negative resonance in their environment". (1)
In the following, an attempt will be made to explore the question of how to deal with challenging behaviour from different perspectives. The first step is to clarify the concept of behaviour conspicuousness, and then to address the question of attitude. Subsequently, I briefly outline explanatory approaches from the anthroposophical understanding of man. Finally, the central questions of authority and trust are presented, two fundamental questions in relation to the topic.
A term that raises questions and requires several perspectives.
The commonly used term behavioural disorder is not entirely undisputed. It implies a secret value, a devaluation of the child. The power of definition always lies with the adults, the object area is highly unclear and the term always assumes a norm in its definition (2). Depending on the social, statistical or an ideal or minimal norm, the assignment of the term takes place in relation to the behaviour of the child or adolescent.
In our society it is expected that a child in the first grade can sit quietly in his desk in school, if he does not because he wants to live out his age-specific urge to move he is regarded as conspicuous, because he does not correspond to our expectations.
It is precisely because conspicuous behaviour is not an isolated event, but always involves the environment, that we can distinguish four different perspectives from explanatory approaches. However, each of these four perspectives represents a onesidedness in itself.
The person-oriented perspective focuses on the child or the young person: "If one takes a person-oriented perspective, one assumes a "sick" personality. The cause of the conspicuous behaviour is seen in a conspicuous personality structure, in deviating personality characteristics as outlasting characteristics and typical reaction patterns of the person.
The child "is just like that". (3).
A second perspective focusses on the situation: "From such a situationist perspective, only the current situation and the conditions for the occurrence of a behavioural disorder are decisive. Person variables take a back seat. It is assumed that, irrespective of the individual characteristics of the person, the specific characteristics of the situation cause the person to react in a conspicuous way" (3).
The interaction can also be central: "The focus is on the interaction between certain person variables and certain qualities of the current situation. Neither exclusively the peculiarities of a person nor exclusively certain peculiarities of the situation are regarded as the cause, but the current conspicuity is seen as the result of a disturbed person-environment interaction" (3).
One very important aspect is emphasized by the observer perspective. It focuses on the adult, who claims the power of definition for himself, because he or she "labels a certain behaviour as conspicuous: he or she lends this behaviour and experience the label "conspicuous" (3). Labelling in itself is questionable, but it also poses a further danger, because "moderate or radical labelling can also lead to the attributed "disturbed" behaviour actually occurring (clustered)" (3).
From these remarks it becomes clear that we must be very careful with the terms so that they do not lead to labelling a "conspicuous" pupil cannot get rid of his conspicuousness throughout his school days, because all teachers recognize a confirmation of the attribution in his perhaps harmless and age-appropriate behaviour - and to pigeonholing. "The child carries the label "the one who always disturbs" and the parents are "the ones with the disturbing child who don't get it right at all". (4)
It must not be the case that we only determine all difficulties with the child or also the parents but the behaviour of the child is always also a reaction to an impaired or problematic relationship to itself, to the environment or to the world around it, it always requires all four of the perspectives listed above.
In the following I will use the term "challenging behaviour" because it gives more weight to the contextual reference, but also does not gloss over or trivialise the behaviour - behavioural original - and thus emphasises the seriousness of the question for everyone.
The attitude - small thing and big difference
The confrontation with children and young people with challenging behaviour places enormous demands on employees and can lead to helplessness and feelings of helplessness. Such children and adolescents very often cross a border and can hurt employees not only mentally but also physically. The attitude with which adults encounter these border crossings is of the utmost importance. A moral condemnation of the child or adolescent usually followed by a sentence can provide short-term relief, but hardly leads to a change in behaviour on the part of the child or adolescent. It is important to understand the child's behaviour and to ask the question about the meaningfulness of the behaviour even if we experience it as challenging and conspicuous.
What does the child or adolescent want to express with his or her behaviour, what weakness or one-sidedness is overlooked, what is the reason behind it? "To meet a person with the attitude that his behaviour has a meaning that we do not understand enables a completely different approach to him than if we simply label him as "confused", "crazy" or "unadapted" ... Just trying to understand changes the quality of the
relationship" (5).
What is important from our point of view is that we distinguish between the child (or young person) as a human being on the one hand and challenging behaviour on the other.
Two reactions are possible:
-I judge the child and its behaviour morally; the child feels devalued and not accepted.
-I differentiate and signal to the child that I value him as a person but cannot accept his behaviour.
This small but significant difference in attitude takes into account that any kind of behaviour makes sense to the person showing it. A hypersensitive child may scream loudly or destroy objects in an overburdened situation. For us as viewers this is challenging and conspicuous, for the child it is a strategy to deal with the overstrain. "Every child's behaviour makes sense on the basis of previous social learning experiences there is a "good reason" for every bizarre behaviour" (6).
The Swiss curative teacher Emil E. Kobi has consistently condensed this approach, with the result that a behavioural disorder can be an expression of normality. "A child can normally be disturbed by disturbed conditions and thus his behaviour is disturbed in a disturbing way. (Behaviour disturbed) Behaviour disturbed is thus an expression of normality (7).
To regard a behavioural disorder as an adequate and healthy reaction to disturbed conditions is challenging, but in my opinion it provides fruitful explanatory approaches and possibilities for action. The logical reverse conclusion, "a child whose behaviour is not (no longer) disturbed by disturbed conditions appears abnormal, and conformity to behaviour is thus an expression of normopathy (7), encourages reflection. This makes it clear that many irritations or disturbances do not have to be directed outwards, but rather unfold their effect inwards and the child - despite serious difficulties - behaves correctly and shows socially and socially adapted behaviour. This would mean that employees would have to pay special attention to those children who show adapted behaviour, because internalising disorders are not conspicuous externally, but they are very serious.
Approaches to understanding from the anthroposophical understanding of human experience
The anthroposophical understanding of human experience offers many starting points for understanding challenging behaviour and, against this background, for finding accompanying and supporting approaches. The starting point is the assumption that challenging behaviour is the child's or adolescent's strategy for dealing with weakness or one-sidedness.
The three-step symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy - as perception, understanding and action - is also presented in the curative education course. Only perceiving the phenomena and trying to understand them beyond sympathy and empathy is a huge challenge in everyday life! But only when the appearance - for example the challenging behaviour - becomes an objective picture, when one has inwardly connected oneself with it with calmness, "then there is the state of mind in the astral body, which correctly places the educator next to the child. And then he will more or less get everything else right" (8). Overcoming sympathy and antipathy is an inner work that can show its effects in a change of posture.
The central point of reference is Rudolf Steiner's reference to the demands made upon adults in encounters with children: "It is never finished, for him every child is a new problem, a new riddle. But he only comes upon it when he is now guided through the being in the child, as he has to do in the individual case. It is an uncomfortable work, but it is the only real one" (8). In my opinion, there are many important aspects hidden in this short section which are extremely important for dealing with children with challenging behaviour.
We are confronted by a child, a young person with challenging behaviour, which is primarily a problem that poses riddles. The adult must now engage with the riddle of man, a long and challenging process.
"Whenever it is important to get involved in processes, it is a matter of including one's own personality. The process also changes the one who gets involved with it" (9). That is why this path is uncomfortable, because I also have to change myself, because perhaps the child or young person shows a behaviour that hits me in my sore spot and reveals my weaknesses, which it is not always easy to stand by. I have to do this work on myself if I want to be able to be guided by the being of the child.
"The word diagnosis literally means "to recognize apart" or "to recognize through and through". What may at first sound like a contradiction, gets a connection through the connection with the process of curative education diagnostics. The approach to the individuality of the other is, on the one hand, about looking at many different aspects that belong to the expressions of the individual. This would describe the process of recognizing apart. But that is not enough to understand an individuality. What is still needed is the ability to pursue what is expressed through the phenomena. This requires a completely different approach than the analytical consideration of the various aspects" (9).
At this point, it is worth recalling once again the basic rules of curative education, as formulated by Paul Moor almost sixty years ago; in our opinion they cannot be surpassed in their brevity, topicality, expressiveness and practical relevance:
• First understand, then educate
• Not against the mistake, but for what is missing
• Not only the child, but also its environment must be educated (10).
These three statements contain the essentials that can help us in our everyday lives.
The attempt to understand is a diagnostic process, on which I can get involved and where I can rely on the human aspects worked out beforehand. The action is not directed against the mistake - `I will break with your behaviour` - but makes offers to the child or adolescent - `what do you need“ - so that the conspicuous behaviour no longer has to be shown as a reaction to a life of want.
With the third rule it becomes clear that the efforts must not only concentrate on the child. The inclusion of the environment, to which I naturally also belong, is essential. "For you have no idea how unimportant is all that the teacher says or does not say on the surface, and how important what he himself is, as teacher" (8), because in this way " we will be able to rediscover the old truth, which is often disguised by the methodical refinement that the educator works less by what he does than by what he is“ (11).
Of authority and trust
It cannot be denied that challenging behaviour on the part of children and young people is on the increase and has become a major problem in education and schooling. As a result, there are many voices suggesting that this increase in challenging behaviors is related to the increasing questioning of the legitimacy of the authority of caregivers.
The shaking of the traditional understanding of authority, the failure of the anti-authoritarian and partnership-based style of education (12) raises a central question: "How can the vacuum created by the disappearance of traditional authority be filled again, so that children can have developmental experiences of setting limits, of demands and of struggles with difficulties - in a morally and socially acceptable way" (13)?
Thus, it is not a question of relapsing into old forms of authority marked by distance, fear, unconditional obedience, control, the incontestability of the role of the educator and physical punishment, but of forming a new attitude towards authority on the basis of proximity, presence, relationship, non-violence and allowing a culture of error (13).
The approach "authority through relationship" was originally developed by the Israeli psychologist Haim Omer. In my opinion, it is very fruitful in dealing with the challenging behaviour of children and adolescents, because it relieves the burden on the persons they relate to and enables them to take new action. "New authority is based on the realization that absolute control is not only undesirable, but not possible. This allows a gradual change in the emotional reaction and actions of the authority person, their statements, their sense of identity and their physical reactions. These changes begin with the following insight: "I cannot control the feelings, thoughts and reactions of the child, only my own" (13)!
The focus here is not primarily on changing the child's behaviour, but on maintaining the relationship.
Uncommented, I will mention three principles of the new authority below; they speak for themselves, a reflection on them is fruitful.
• "One must not win, but persevere".
• "You have to forge iron when it's cold"
• "One may be mistaken, since affairs are also to be made good" (13).
It is central that the child's trust in himself and his environment is not shaken, for "trust is not the key to solving the life problems of children and adolescents with behavioural problems, but in most cases the basis for meeting them at all" (14).
"It is not the pedagogical intention that is pedagogically fruitful, but the pedagogical encounter" (14). It is precisely when the encounter and the formation of relationships is made more difficult by challenging behaviour patterns that they are all the more important for the child or young person who confronts us as a problem, as a riddle. "A soul suffering from the contradictions in the world, in human society, in its own physical existence, confronts me with a question, by trying to answer it to the best of my knowledge and conscience, I help to become a character who overcomes the contradictions by acting" (14).
It is not easy for children and young people to live up to obedience as a guideline and a demand on the part of adults and to meet expectations. For "the concept of traditional authority equates the prestige of the person in authority with the degree of obedience to it. But the fact that someone is given a certain authority does not mean that the persons subordinated to him must be obedient (13).
Where obedience is to develop, trust must be cultivated. Trust cannot be demanded, it is not simply there. Giving trust to a person has to do with an opening gesture, it makes one vulnerable, therefore it is also bound to prerequisites for children and young people with challenging behaviour. For this reason it is important that children and adolescents with challenging behaviour do not experience relationship breakdowns again and again, this not only weakens the self-esteem of the child, but can also lead to the fact that after many disappointments they are no longer prepared to trust another person. "The educator himself cannot presume this kind of trust and cannot create it in any way; it can only be given to him by the child's trust. And let us add immediately: it is given to him much more often than he deserves it. But because he so often does not notice this and then disappoints the trust, he loses it" (14).
In summary, it can be said that dealing with challenging behaviour in children and adolescents increasingly determines everyday life in institutions and schools.
The following key statements seem to me to be important as an attitude and prerequisite for overcoming this challenge:
• Children and young people who cause us problems with their behaviour have a problem of their own.
• We cannot change our behaviour, but try to understand the problem.
• The relationship of the child or adolescent to itself, to the environment and the world around it becomes the focus of attention.
• If we succeed in understanding the problem of the impaired relationship and offer adequate support, the challenging behaviour can be reduced by the child.
• Often children and adolescents need exactly what they vehemently reject, e.g. relationship offers and closeness.
• The basis of all support is trust and an authority based on relationship and closeness.
• Accompanying children and young people with challenging behaviour is a tightrope walk with abysses, an individual is overwhelmed by it.
• Employees need guidance, support and a safe place to talk about their injuries and feelings.
I am very aware that there is a great discrepancy between theoretical explanations and practice in this field. "I have lived my professional activity forwards and understood it backwards" (15); the reflection of my own practice, however, has led me to the conviction that an honest examination of the aspects listed can be meaningful and helpful in everyday life with these children and young people. Because attitude is a small thing that makes the big difference!
Andreas Fischer, Dr. phil., married, four children, training as curative teacher, primary teacher and supervisor. 1980 - 2001 Headmaster and teacher in a small special school home in eastern Switzerland, 1995 - 2006 Head of the Coordination Office of the Association for Anthroposophical Curative Education and Social Therapy of Switzerland (vahs). From 2006 - 2017 Director of the Höhere Fachschule für anthroposophische Heilpädagogik (HFHS) in Dornach.
(1) Schulz, Dieter (1994): The troublemaker - Why does Frieder disturb? To the understanding of the developmentally abnormal child. Merkblätter für eine bewusste Lebensführung in Gesundheit und Krankheit, No. 147. Association for an extended healing system, Bad Liebenzell.
(2) Hillenbrand, Clemens (2006): Introduction to pedagogy for behavioural disorders. 3rd edition, Reinhardt Verlag, UTB, Munich, Basel.
(3) Stein, Roland (2017): Basic knowledge of behavioural disorders. 5. newly revised edition, Schneider Verlag, Hohengehren GmbH.
(4) Schulz, Dieter / Zimmermann, Karel (2011): AD(H)S - Illness or time problem? Therapeutic approaches from anthroposophical curative education. Gesundheit aktiv anthroposophische Heilkunst e. v., Bad
Liebenzell.
(5) Pörtner, Marlis (2004): Taking Confidence Understanding seriously. Klett Cotta, Stuttgart.
(6) Schmid, Marc /Lang, Birgit (2012): What is innovative and new about trauma education? In: Schmid et al: Handbuch psychiatriebezogene Sozialpädagogik. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen. S. 337-351.
(7) Kobi, Emil E. (1994): Zur heimlichen Unheimlichkeit von Heimen -
Heilpädagogische Reflexionen zum System Subsidiärer Residenzen, Edition SZH, Lucerne.
(8) Steiner, Rudolf (1985): Heilpädagogischer Kurs GA 317. Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach.
(9) Schöffmann, Erika / Schulz, Dieter (2015): Ways to the Other. Facets of curative education diagnostics on an anthroposophical basis. Mayer Info3 Verlagsgemeinschaft, Frankfurt.
(10) Moor, Paul (1994): curative education. An educational textbook. Study Edition, HPS Series Volume 7, Edition SZH, Lucerne.
(11) Kobi, Emil E. (1993): Basic questions of curative education and curative education. 5th edition, Haupt Verlag, Stuttgart, Zurich.
(12) Winterhoff, Michael (2008): Why our children become tyrants. Or: The abolition of childhood. Gütersloh publishing house, Gütersloh.
(13) Omer, Haim / von Schlippe, Arist (2016): Strength instead of power. New authority in family, school and community. 3rd edition, Vandenhoek & Ruprecht, Göttingen.
(14) Müller, Thomas (2017): "I can no longer trust anyone". Concepts of trust and their relevance for thpedagogy of behavioural disorders. Julius Klinkhart publishing house, Bad Heilbronn.
(15) Wigger, Annegret (2005): What do social pedagogues do and what do they think they do? Professionalisation in everyday home life. Publisher Barbara Budrich, Opladen.
Further literature
Bijloo, Marijke (2011): Bonding and bonding problems. In: Niemeijer Martin / Gastkemper Michael / Kamps Frans (Hg): Developmental disorders in children and adolescents. Medical-pedagogical support and treatment. Publisher at the Goetheanum, Dornach, pp. 189-205.
Brisch, Karl Heinz (2017). Binding disorders. From Binding Theory to Therapy. 14th edition, Klett-Cotta Verlag, Stuttgart
Fischer, Andreas (2013): The curative education course in the context of current research. The connection between "mental soreness" and vulnerability. In: Seelenpflege in Heilpädagogik und Sozialtherapie, Issue 3, Dornach. p. 21- 32
Köhler, Henning (1994): Of anxious, sad and restless children the basics of a spiritual educational practice. Publisher Freies Geistesleben, Stuttgart
König, Karl (1995): Sensory development and physical experience. 4th edition, Verlag Freies Geistesleben, Stuttgart
Lievegoed, Bernhard (1984): Curative considerations. Help for the treatment of developmental disorders. Publlsher Freies Geistesleben, Stuttgart
Lievegoed, Bernhard (2012): Man on the Threshold. Biographical crises and development opportunities. Freises Geistesleben Publishing House, Stuttgart
Niemeijer, Martin / Gastkemper, Michael / Kamps, Frans (Hg) (2011): Developmental disorders in children and adolescents. Medical pedagogical accompaniment and treatment. Publisher at the Goetheanum, Dornach
Pichler, Annette (2016): The dynamics of point and circle as the basis for bond security. In Seelenpflege in Heilpädagogik und Sozialtherapie, Issue 3, Dornach. p. 175180
Schulz, Dieter (1991): Early intervention in curative education. Publisher Freies Geistesleben, Stuttgart
Waldorf 100 International Research Working Days
Mon 15.07.2019 - Fri 19.07.2019
Waldorf 100 International Research Working Days Waldorf High Schools July 15 to...
26th East European conference
Tue 30.07.2019 - Sun 04.08.2019
The 26th East European conference for doctors, Waldorf teachers, pre-school teachers, farmers,...
Mon 02.09.2019 - Thu 31.12.2020
Sat 07.09.2019 - Mon 09.09.2019
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Centennial Celebration of the Waldorf School Uhlandshöhe
We are currently making great strides towards the 100th birthday celebration of the Waldorf...
With kind support by
On behalf of the International Forum for Steiner/Waldorf Education in cooperation with the Pedagogical Section
Rüttiweg 45, CH-4143 Dornach, Ph +41617064315, info(at)waldorf-resources.org, Imprint
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Are Fatherless Families Destroying the Fabric of Society?
More than 30 million children in the world today are growing up without fathers. Kids are literally being abandoned by the men who should be their protectors, allies, mentors and role models. Instead, boys and girls are being brought up by single mothers. The cost to society? A huge spike in societal problems and a slide into poverty for more and more single parent homes. A fatherless family is pretty much like a casino without casino bonuses – there’s simply no incentive to become anything else than the misfits in society.
What’s Driving the Fatherless Phenomenon?
What’s driving this sustained global trend? According to the psychologists and social workers who are grappling with the issue, it’s a combination of factors. One of the key reasons behind fathers abrogating their responsibility to their children is the fact that modern men want more freedom and autonomy.
Men’s Quest for Freedom and Individualism
Marriage, accountability and the so-called white picket fence lifestyle is no longer appealing. Men want to be able to pursue their individualism without a wife or family acting as the proverbial millstone around the neck. The offshoot of this individualism is that fatherless families have become more widespread. Today it’s almost accepted practice for dads to pack up and flee the shackles of familial obligation rather than stick around and contribute meaningfully to their children’s well-being.
Are Father’s Feeling Redundant in the Family?
Modern men are also struggling to define their role in the family. In the past they were more bread winners than care givers. They understood their obligation to provide materially for their wife and children. They were also the disciplinarians who would mete out ‘punishment’ for any wrong doings.
Today many women around the world are bread winners and care givers. Men have lost their sense of purpose. They don’t quite know how they fit into the scheme of things. Their role as head of the family has been systematically eroded, leaving many of them feeling conflicted and superfluous within the family unit.
Migrant Labour System Fuelling Single-Parent Homes
Another factor that has contributed to the fatherless phenomenon in countries like South Africa is the migrant labour system. Under the apartheid government, black people were denied freedom of movement. An exception was made for mine and agricultural workers who were forced to leave their wives and children in the rural areas and migrate to other provinces to work.They would return home periodically… usually leaving their wives pregnant with another child.
60% of South Africa’s Children Fatherless
Although the apartheid system was dismantled decades ago the hangover of the migrant worker system persists to this day. Thousands of households are affected by absentee dads. In fact, 60 percent of South Africa’s children grow up without a father and 40 percent of the country’s mothers are single parents.
Compare that to the world average of 15 percent and it’s no wonder South Africa is facing mounting socials ills. Today the country is plagued by problems that vary from rape, teenage pregnancy and the highest HIV infection rate in the world to crime, delinquency and poor academic performance.
The Impact of Absentee Dads on Boys
There’s no denying the fact that the trend towards fatherless families is driving social crises. Research has revealed that boys who grow up without their dads are more inclined to be aggressive, angry and depressed. They have problems having normal, loving relationships with women later on in life, largely because they have no male figures to confide in or to guide them.
These boys usually learn about sex and relationships from their peers, social media platforms and pornographic content, none of which is a reliable or safe source for something as important as sexual relationships. Concepts like consent and respect are simply not part of the lexicon.
Why Social Crises are on the Rise
As most single parent homes are usually poor, boys often drop out of school to help their mothers’ put bread on the table. Many of them join gangs or fall into a life of crime. The end result is a growing number of male children who are uneducated, delinquent, antisocial and violent. They are also unlikely to make any sort of valuable contribution as a father one day in the future… a situation that leads to a never-ending spiral of dysfunction in the family unit.
Girl Children Suffer Too
In normal families, girl children have very close relationships with their fathers. They are usually the apple of daddy’s eye. In families where dad is an absent or partially absent parent, girls usually have low self-esteem. They are also more inclined to indulge in risky sexual behaviour, behaviour that results in teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions. On top of that many young girls engage in sex with older men in exchange for money so that they too can contribute towards the family’s needs.
Although fathers are vitally important in maintaining a happy healthy family, strong male role models are equally effective in bringing stability to the home. Mentorship programmes which focus on kids from fatherless homes have generated overwhelmingly positive results. If you’re a father, teacher, coach or just an ordinary guy who has time on your hands why not sign up for a new role as a stand-in dad for some fatherless kid in your community!
Are Fatherless Families Destroying the Fabric of Society? was last modified: October 17th, 2018 by Arya
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Pirates Continue Breaking Records
Posted: December 14th, 2006 by WorstPreviews.com Staff
Now that the results are in, "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" have began breaking records in DVD sales. First week out, there were 10.5 million unites sold, to make it the biggest home video debut of any new release this year. This is all after the film dominated the theatrical box office, becoming the top earner of 2006.
At this point, the film is poised to become the top-selling DVD this year, beating another Disney title, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe," which was released in April and has since sold about 14 million copies.
The success of the "Pirates" DVD isn't limited to the United States. In the United Kingdom, the film sold nearly 1.5 million DVDs its first week of release, a record. And in Japan, "Pirates" sold nearly 1 million units to become the number one live-action movie of all time in that country.
Earlier on the "Today Show," an executive from a file-sharing service predicted the end of DVDs, due to digital downloading. But judging by the sales of "Pirates," at this point, that seems unlikely. "With the incredible success of 'Pirates,' it is evident that the home entertainment industry continues to flourish," said Bob Chapek, president of Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment.
Debuting at number two, was Michael Mann's "Miami Vice," while the previous week's best seller, "Superman Returns," slipped to number three.
Click here to read our review of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a constitutional monarchy ruled by King Abdullah II bin Hussein, with a population of approximately 5.9 million. The constitution concentrates executive and legislative authority in the king. The parliament consists of the 55-member House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan), appointed by the king, and a 110-member elected lower house, the Chamber of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwwab). The 2003 multiparty parliamentary elections were generally considered to be free and fair; however, the election law significantly underrepresented urban areas. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces, although there were some instances in which members of the police and security forces were accused of committing human rights abuses.
While the government respected human rights in some areas, its overall record continued to reflect problems. The following human rights problems were reported: Restrictions on the right of citizens to change their government; torture, arbitrary arrest, and prolonged detention; impunity; denial of due process of law; limited judicial independence; infringement on citizen's privacy rights; harassment of members of opposition political parties; restrictions on freedom of speech, press, assembly, association, movement, and on some religious practices; legal and societal discrimination against women, discrimination against persons of Palestinian origin; restrictions on labor rights; and abuse of foreign workers.
During the year, there were no reports that the government or its agents committed any politically motivated killings; however, on April 13, one prisoner died in a prison riot at Gafgafa (see section 1.c.).
In 2004 five men accused in the 2002 killing of an American diplomat were convicted, some in absentia. One suspect, Muammar al-Jaghbir, convicted and sentenced to death in absentia, was in custody as of year's end and was retried in accordance with the law, which provides for a new trial in such circumstances. At his retrial, he was also charged with the 2003 bombing of Jordan's embassy in Baghdad.
In November 2005 a group of Iraqis carried out suicide bombings at three hotels in Amman, killing 60 and injuring over one hundred. On September 20, one attacker in custody was sentenced to be hanged, along with six others who were tried in absentia and convicted of plotting terrorist acts and possessing explosives with illicit intent. Her sentence was under review by the Court of Cassation; at year's end she has refused to appeal.
The law prohibits such practices. Following his July visit Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, described police and security forces practices using torture as "widespread." He stated there were many "consistent and credible" allegations of torture, which Nowak claimed were substantiated by forensic medical evidence. He noted that a number were difficult to verify because of incommunicado detention (see section 1.d.) by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Public Security Directorate (PSD) and the General Intelligence Directorate (GID).
Additionally, the Special Rapporteur reported that detainees at the Al Jafr Correctional and Rehabilitation Center were routinely subjected to corporal punishment. The Special Rapporteur also received many allegations of torture at various local police stations.
In a July 24 report, Amnesty International (AI), an international nongovernmental organization (NGO), alleged the systematic torture of political suspects. The most frequently alleged methods of torture included severe and prolonged beating with sticks, plastic pipes, ropes or whips, on the soles of the feet and elsewhere, sleep deprivation, extended solitary confinement, forced standing in painful positions for prolonged periods, threats of extreme violence or sexual or physical abuse of family members, and physical suspension. In the AI publication, Your Confessions are Ready for You to Sign, defendants charged with security-related offenses before the State Security Court claimed that they were tortured to obtain confessions and subjected to physical and psychological abuse while in detention.
According to AI, suspected Islamists and Palestinian-origin citizens were more likely to be tortured.
Government officials denied many allegations of detainee abuse, pointing out that many defendants claimed abuse in order to shift the focus away from their crimes.
During the year defendants in nearly every case before the State Security Court claimed that they were tortured while in custody. At times the courts requested that prison administrators treat inmates in accordance with the law. A May 21 report issued by government-funded National Center for Human Rights (NCHR) covering 2005 reported 70 mistreatment or torture complaints at prisons and detention centers administered by the PSD; there were 250 reported in 2004.The NCHR report did not specifically provide information on complaints regarding GID facilities.
NCHR's May report covering 2005, The State of Human Rights in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, stated that the court system does not provide sufficient guarantees to prevent torture and other forms of abuse at the hands of authorities.
In December 2005 NCHR sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Bakhit calling for the adoption of a series of legislative and procedural arrangements to combat torture. In response, the government formed a committee to study the report and consider its recommendations.
During a June 29 press conference, UN Special Rapporteur Manfred Nowak, visiting at the government's invitation, stated he had observed indications that torture had taken place, and urged the government to criminalize torture, dissolve private police and intelligence courts, investigate torture allegations and create mechanisms to prevent torture. The government responded publicly by highlighting its invitation to Nowak as evidence of its commitment to addressing human rights issues.
During the year human rights activists alleged a number of cases of beatings and other abuses of individuals in police custody.
On January 10, three men were arrested entering a mosque during the 'Eid al-'Adha holiday, according to AI. Their families learned that they were being detained by the GID in the Gafgafa prison and were permitted to visit them eight days after their arrest. The three men alleged they had been beaten and forced to sign confession statements. The men were charged with "belonging to an illegal organization", namely the Hizb al-Tahrir al-Islami, which openly calls for the overthrow of the Hashemite monarchy. On December 6, the State Security Court sentenced two of the men to one year in prison and the third to six months.
On March 23, the State Security Court sentenced nine men to death in connection with an uprising that took place in Ma'an in 2002. They were charged with possessing weapons and making explosives for illegal use. The defendants alleged that they were beaten, kept naked in cold cells, and forced to sign pre-written testimonies.
On September 19, Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international NGO, published Suspicious Sweeps: The General Intelligence Directorate and Jordan's Rule of Law Problem. The report states that the GID arrests "radical Islamists who support use of violence and who consider others to be infidels and therefore legitimate targets of violent attacks," and documents cases of 16 detainees. Some of the detainees alleged that the GID abused and tortured them.
Prisons were overcrowded and understaffed with poor sanitary conditions and inadequate food and health care, according to the NCHR. The government permitted visits, with private interviews by independent local and international human rights observers, except to some GID detainees. There were instances of torture and harsh and inhumane treatment, according to the UN special rapporteur and human rights organizations.
On November 1 NCHR, a quasi-governmental body with educational, protective, and reporting responsibilities, issued its fourth report on the condition of the country's prisons. The report noted that although the government has improved some facilities, more needed to be done, particularly with regard to health and safety conditions at the prisons. NCHR recommended that the government close Al Jafer prison, located in the desert 155 miles south of Amman. Since the prison is geographically isolated, NCHR contended that the inmates have limited access to lawyers. The report also mentioned high illiteracy rates among inmates overall in the country, which contributed to their ignorance of their rights to seek legal assistance. On December 17, the King announced the immediate closing of the facility and its conversion to a vocational training school.
The government generally held men, women, and juveniles in separate prison and detention facilities. The GID held some persons, detained on national security grounds, in separate detention facilities, and the government held other security detainees and prisoners in regular prisons. While security prisoners often were separated from common criminals, conditions for such prisoners did not differ significantly.
The police regularly placed potential victims of honor crimes in protective custody (see section 5).
Local human rights monitors were allowed to visit prisons. NCHR made 19 visits to prisons in the 12 month period beginning in October 2005. During the year the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was permitted access to prisoners and detainees in all prisons.
In March and April disturbances erupted at prisons in Jweideh, Swaqa, and Gafgafa. On April 13, riots occurred in Gafgafa prison, which resulted in the death of one prisoner and 35 injured inmates as well as some prison guards (see section 1.a.).
In August and September inmates in Swaqa and Jweida prisons staged hunger strikes. These strikes attracted a great deal of media attention but ended peacefully.
Criminal laws generally require warrants; however, in most cases, suspects may be detained for up to 48 hours in the absence of a warrant. Police made severalarrests during the year prior to obtaining warrants. The penal code allows for a functional bail system of conditional release. Detainees were not always allowed prompt access to a lawyer of their choice. There were allegations of incommunicado detention (see section 1.c).
The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention; however, the government did not always observe these prohibitions. The law provides that citizens are subject to arrest, trial, and punishment for the defamation of heads of state or public officials and dissemination of "false or exaggerated information outside the country that attacks state dignity."
After approval by parliament on August 27, the Prevention of Terrorism Act was published in the official gazette. Some Jordanian commentators and human rights groups complained that its definition of terrorism might lead nonviolent critics of the government to be arrested or detained indefinitely under the provisions of the act. At year's end, the government had not made use of the new act.
The Public Security Directorate (PSD) controlled general police functions. The PSD, GID, and the militaryshared responsibility for maintaining internal security and maintained authority to monitor security threats. The PSD reports to the interior minister with direct access to the king when necessary, and the GID in practice reports directly to the king. Security and policing activities were effective.
Corruption within the PSD was not a significant issue, and there were mechanisms in place to investigate police abuses. There were allegations of police impunity for both the PSD and GID. In 2005 28 police officers were tried in courts on torture charges. Of them, 14 were convicted and 14 were acquitted. During the year, eight police officers were tried, three were convicted, two acquitted, and two were awaiting verdict at year's end. The PSD's preventative security office investigated officers' performance. Incidents of poor officer performance ultimately were reported to the PSD director's office (see section 1.c.). Citizens may file a complaint about police abuse or corruption to the office of complaints and human rights. During the year citizens filed 425 complaints (see section 4). The head of this office reported directly to the PSD director. New officers in training received special instruction on preventing corruption.
The criminal code requires that police notify legal authorities within 48 hours of an arrest and that legal authorities file formal charges within 10 days of an arrest; however, the courts routinely granted requests from prosecutors for 15-day extensions as provided by law. This practice generally extended pretrial detention for protracted periods.
The State Security Court gives the judicial police authority to arrest and keep persons in custody for a period of seven days, when necessary, in any crimes under the jurisdiction of the court, which includes many misdemeanors. In cases involving state security, the security forces arrested and detained citizens without warrants or judicial review. The authorities frequently held defendants in lengthy pretrial detention, did not provide defendants with the written charges against them, and did not allow defendants to meet with their lawyers, at times until shortly before trial. Defendants before the State Security Court usually met with their attorneys only one or two days before their trial.The criminal code prohibits pretrial detentions for certain categories of misdemeanors. At years end,according to the NCHR, 590 inmates were in detention without charge.
In June 2005 extremist Issam al-Barqawi, also known as Abu Mohammad al-Maqdisi, was released after having been held for six months following his acquittal on charges of plotting subversive acts and possessing explosives as part of an alleged terrorism plot. In July 2005, he was rearrested and charged for allegedly contacting terrorist groups and charged with plotting subversive acts. At year's end he was awaiting trial by the State Security Court. On December 12, a jihadist website posted a letter claiming that Maqdisi was "physically abused" by an officer and six prison guards in Jordan (see section 1.c).
In the past human rights activists reported that the government detained journalists (see section 2.a.) and Islamists for varying amounts of time for what appeared to be political reasons. Detainees were kept in solitary confinement and were denied access to lawyers.
Local governors have the authority to invoke the Crime Prevention Law, which allows them to place citizens under house arrest for up to one year without formally charging them (see section 2.d.). House arrest may require persons to report daily to a local police station and impose a curfew. Persons who violate the terms of their house arrest may be imprisoned for up to 14 days.
The government used the threat of detention to intimidate journalists into practicing self-censorship, according to the Center for Protecting the Freedom of Journalists (see section 2.a.).
The law provides for an independent judiciary. In practice there was an independent decision-making body; however, the judiciary was subject to family and tribal influence. The higher judiciary council, a committee led by the president of the Court of Cassation, and comprised of other high-ranking officials from the various courts and the Ministry of Justice, determines judicial appointments, assignments, and evaluations. The higher judiciary council remains under the administration of the Ministry of Justice.
Unlike in previous years, there were no allegations that judges were "reassigned" in order to remove them from particular proceedings.
The judicial system consists of civil, criminal, commercial, security, and religious courts. Most criminal cases are tried in civilian courts, which include the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Justice, and the Court of Cassation. The State Security Court, composed of both military and civilian judges, has jurisdiction over offenses against the state and drug-related crimes. Penal laws grant the same rights to defendants arrested by the security agencies as others who are arrested. The religious courts are subdivided into Shari'a (Islamic law) courts and tribunals for non-Muslim religious communities. Shari'a courts have jurisdiction over all matters relating to the personal status of Muslims, including marriage, divorce, and inheritance. Christian courts have jurisdiction over marriage and divorce cases among Christians, but Shari'a law is applied in inheritance cases (see section 5).
The law provides that all civilian court trials are open to the public unless the court determines otherwise. Defendants were entitled to legal counsel, may challenge witnesses, and had the right to appeal. Defendants who faced the death penalty or life imprisonment were represented by legal counsel. Public defenders were provided if the defendant was unable to hire legal counsel. All citizens were accorded these rights. Civil, criminal, and commercial courts accord equal weight to the testimony of men and women; however, in Shari'a courts the testimony of two women was equal to that of a man in most circumstances (see section 5). Defense attorneys were guaranteed access to government-held evidence relevant to their clients' cases.
The State Security Court consisted of a panel of three judges, two military officers and one civilian. Approximately two dozen cases were tried or were ongoing in the State Security Court during the year. Like the civilian courts, proceedings of the court were open to the public. Defendants tried in this court were often held in lengthy pretrial detention and refused access to legal council until just before the trial. State security court judges inquired into allegations that defendants were tortured and allowed the testimony of physicians regarding such allegations (see section 1.c.). The Court of Cassation ruled that the State Security Court may not issue a death sentence on the basis of a confession obtained as a result of torture. Defendants in this court have the right to appeal their sentences to the Court of Cassation, which is authorized to review issues of both fact and law, although defendants convicted of misdemeanors in the State Security Court had no right of appeal. Appeals were automatic for cases involving the death penalty.
The press and publications law permits journalists to cover state security court proceedings unless the court rules otherwise. The press routinely reported on cases before the court, including all cases heard during the year. Such reporting routinely covered defense arguments and allegations of torture.
During the year, there were reports of political detainees (see section 1.d.). On June 11, four Islamic Action Front (IAF) members of Parliament were arrested and charged with violating Article 150 of Jordan's Penal Code, which prohibits writing or speech that is "intended to, or results in, stirring up sectarian or racial tension or strife among different elements of the nation," after visiting the condolence tent of the family of Abu Musab al- Zarqawi (see section 2.a.).
In August four men were arrested while distributing leaflets condemning the July to August conflict between Israel and Lebanon. The leaflets were prepared by the outlawed Hizb al-Tahrir, a political party dedicated to restoring the Islamic Caliphate and ending the Hashemite monarchy. Charged with membership in an illegal group and distributing illegal material, on December 6, two of the four men were sentenced to one year prison terms. One man was sentenced to 6 months for distributing illegal material only and the fourth man was acquitted on both charges.
There is an independent judiciary in civil matters. The Supreme Court of Justice hears administrative complaints. The courts are open to all residents. Courts also have jurisdiction over any person in a civil or criminal matter, including in lawsuits where the government is a plaintiff or a defendant.
The law prohibits arbitrary interference; however, in practice the government restricted the rights to be free of arbitrary interference. The law requires that security forces obtain a warrant from the prosecutor general or a judge before conducting searches or otherwise interfering with these rights; however, in security cases, authorities obtained pre-approved warrants. Security officers monitored telephone conversations and Internet communication, read private correspondence, and engaged in surveillance of persons considered to pose a threat to the government or national security. The law permits these practices if the government obtains a court order.
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and press; however, the government imposed significant restrictions on these rights in practice.
The 1998 Press and Publications Law is foremost among the laws that impose restrictions on the operation of newspapers. Government intimidation also led to self-censorship of journalists. The Penal Code provides that "insulting the king and stirring sectarian strife and sedition," could be invoked to punish journalists. According to the Penal Code the punishment for defamation of the king or royal family is three years in prison and a fine not exceeding $700 (500 dinars). Additionally, citizens may be prosecuted for slandering the government, or foreign leaders, and for offending religious beliefs. Citizens generally did not hesitate to criticize the government openly. Allegedly government officials delayed publications at the printer. However, journalists exercised caution with regard to the king, the royal family, and the GID. Membership in the Jordan Press Association (JPA) is required for persons to be considered journalists or editors; the JPA can exercise control over content or threaten disciplinary measures. The law gives the association the authority to hold disciplinary councils against any journalists that violate the rules or ethics of the profession.
The Press and Publications Law provides the government with limited ability to issue fines, transfers the power to withdraw licenses to the judiciary, limits significantly the government's power to order shutdowns of printing presses, allows journalists to cover court proceedings unless the court ruled otherwise, and requires publications to be licensed. Article 35 of the Press and Publications Law gives the Prime Ministry the right to withhold publishing any printed material. The law imposes strict limits on publications, which gave the government broad leeway to impose sanctions. During the year the government used informants and censors at printing presses to inform it if particularly objectionable material was slated for print.
Journalists also may be prosecuted before the State Security Court for criminal and security violations. There were no cases during the year. Although historically some past cases were dismissed before trial, in the past some cases lingered in the courts for years. According to the National Center for Defending the Freedom of Journalists, the government used detention and prosecution or the threat of prosecution to generate journalistic self-censorship (see section 1.d.).
The Prevention of Terrorism Act enacted on November 1 was criticized as limiting free speech. Some human rights groups alleged that the broad definition of terrorist speech and opinion under the Act could lead to arrest and detention of government critics. However, the government has not to date used the Act.
During the year there were several reported instances of arrest and government harassment of journalists. On May 30, Amman's conciliation court sentenced two editors, Jihad Momani and Hashem al-Khalidi, to two months imprisonment for "attacking religious sentiment" over their publication of the controversial Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The court immediately released the editors on bail pending their appeals. Following the death in Iraq of terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, on June 8, the government interrupted a live interview with Zarqawi's brother-in-law, broadcast on Al-Jazeera satellite television. Police briefly detained the station's Amman bureau chief, Yasir Abu Hilalah.
On June 11, four members of parliament were arrested after visiting the condolence tent of the family of Abu Musab al- Zarqawi. The four men were Muhammad Abu Faris, Ali Abu Sukkar, Ja`far al-Hurani, and Ibrahim al-Mashukhi, all members of the IAF. They were charged with violating Article 150 of the penal code, which prohibits writing or speech that is "intended to, or results in, stirring up sectarian or racial tension or strife among different elements of the nation." Abu Faris praised al-Zarqawi as a martyr in a television interview and disparaged the victims of the November 2005 Amman suicide bombings, in which 60 died and over 100 were injured. In August Abu Faris and Abu Sukkar were sentenced to 13 months in prison and fines of 100 JD. The others arrested were released in July and August. King Abdullah pardoned Abu Faris and Abu Sukkar on September 30 and all fines were dropped.
During the year, several journalists interviewed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an international NGO, reported that authorities pressured printers to delay publication of several newspapers until editors agreed to remove critical articles. Editors reportedly received telephone calls from security officials instructing them how to cover certain events.
In April Tammer Smadi, a reporter for the Islamist weekly As-Sabeel, and a photojournalist from the same publication were detained for several hours for covering a street protest organized by an Islamist organization. They were interrogated, and the reporter alleged he was beaten. The photojournalist's camera was taken from him and later returned. Later in the month the GID allegedly arrested another journalist from As-Sabeel and detained him for three days after he returned for an interview with Mousa Abu Marzouk, a Hamas leader living in Damascus.
On April 4, Ahmad Ali Abdullah al-Yamani, a bookshop owner in Aqaba, claimed he was harassed by the GID, who confiscated newspapers and books from his shop. They allegedly detained his son for several hours for questioning and instructed him not to keep newspapers in the glass window of his shop before releasing him.
In May Fahd Rimawi, editor of the weekly Al-Majd, was held by GID for over eight hours the day after he printed a story quoting Prime Minister Bakhit as saying accusations that Hamas was smuggling weapons through Jordan lacked credibility. He was also allegedly called by the Prime Minister's office and asked to issue a retraction.
On November 1, former royal advisor Adnan Abu Odeh was sued by a group of private citizens for saying in an October 28 interview with Al Jazeera that Palestinians are underrepresented in Jordan. The complaint included allegations Abu Odeh had "stirred unrest" and "insulted the king". On November 5, the State Security court dismissed the suit.
The Press and Publications Department continued to enforce bans on the publication of selected books. Books were banned for religious, moral, and political reasons.
In January authorities banned the distribution of A. S. Bishtawi's book, History of Injustice in the Arab World.
During the year, the government passed a law that requires sermons and classes in mosques to be under government control. Muslim imams and teachers required written approval from the Ministry of Religious Affairs (See section 2.c.).
In September the Press and Publications Department, a government censorship office, withdrew a number of books from Amman's 11th annual International Book Fair. Among these was The English in Faisal's Life, a book about King Faisal of Iraq, Exposed Secrets dealing with Israel and nuclear weapons, and A Feast for Seaweeds, a novel banned for containing themes contrary to Islamic laws.
High taxes on media and tariffs on paper caused journalists to reduce the size of their publications. Journalists also criticized the government for advertising predominantly in newspapers in which the government owned shares.
The law provides foreign media operations freedom of expression. Radio and television news broadcasts, more restricted than the print media, underwent limited liberalization during the year. Jordan Television reported only the government's position on controversial matters. International satellite television and Israeli and Syrian television broadcasts were available and unrestricted.
In July King Hussein Bin Talal University signed an agreement to begin broadcasting on an FM frequency. Its license excludes news and political content.
On October 1, Yarmouk University began broadcasting Yarmouk FM, with support from Internews, an international NGO. The licensed format is that of a community-radio station; while social issues are discussed, news and political content are not allowed.
During the year, the government allowed Internet news sites to operate in the country, including those that presented news critical of the government.
In the past the government opened investigations attempting to determine who was responsible for Internet sites that allegedly libeled the king; however, no one was known to have been prosecuted in such cases during the year. In the past there were reports of government interference with Internet access, including several Web sites that appear to have been blocked.
The government limited academic freedom. Some academics claimed that they received frequent threats of dismissal. During the year members of the academic community claimed that there was an ongoing intelligence presence in academic institutions. During the year the University of Jordan continued to grant its president authority to appoint half of its 80-member student council, including the chair. This measure was viewed widely as an effort to curb the influence of campus Islamists. Many students, including non-Islamists, continued to object to the university's policy.
On May16, 700 students at the University of Jordan demonstrated to oppose the university administration's appointment of the head of the Student Union. A counter-demonstration supporting the administration took place on the same day.
The constitution provides for freedom of assembly; however, the government restricted this right. Citizens must obtain permits for public gatherings. The government generally granted permits for protests it finds objectionable only after extensive negotiations with the organizers. The law requires that the organizers of rallies and demonstrations request permission from provincial governors at least three days prior to any event. Under the law no protest may be held without the governor's consent, and violators face imprisonment from one to six months and a fine not to exceed $4,230 (3000 dinars). In some cases the government granted approval at the last moment, making it difficult for organizers to plan the demonstrations. Other requests were denied outright.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Law No 5520, provides for punishment of those involved in peaceful demonstrations which could be interpreted as "disrupting of public order," or "endangering public safety", both of which fall under the definition of "terrorist acts" in the newly promulgated law.
On March 7, the government banned a planned demonstration of professional unions against a draft law barring professional associations from engaging in politics and deployed security forces to prevent the protest.
On April 9, the security services briefly detained several dozen IAF activists for promoting an unsanctioned general strike opposing cuts in fuel subsidies. Although reports differ on the number of activists detained and the length of their detentions, authorities released all of the activists within days.
On August 19, approximately 1000 citizens marched to protest alleged threats to the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The governor of Amman initially refused the event organizers a permit on technical grounds, but a second request was approved the day before the march was scheduled to occur.
On September 19, the IAF requested the Governor of Amman's permission to organize a demonstration to protest statements by Pope Benedict XVI. Permission was denied.
On November 14, the acting Governor of Irbid Walid Abda rejected a request by the National Opposition Parties Coordination Committee to organize a demonstration in Irbid to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.
In 2004 the government detained protestors at the al-Wihdat refugee camp in the southern suburbs of Amman, claiming that the demonstration was not licensed. According to media reports, more than 60 persons were detained for burning the national flag and destroying property. Human rights activists claimed more than 200 demonstrators were detained in the demonstration following the killing of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. The government claimed it filed formal charges against some of the detainees while releasing those under 18.
The constitution provides for the right of association; however, the government limited freedom of association by law. The law prohibits the use of associations for the benefit of any partisan organization. The government required and routinely granted approval for nonpolitical conferences, workshops, and seminars.
The government prohibits membership in unlicensed political parties but routinely licensed political parties and other associations. During the year there were 33 licensed political parties. The government may deny licenses to parties that it decides do not meet the political and other criteria contained in the Political Parties Law (see section 3). In practice, the government sometimes rejected applications by political parties to organize rallies and demonstrations.The High Court of Justice may dissolve a party if it violates the constitution or the law.
The Labor Law prohibits some groups from joining labor unions, such as noncitizens and agricultural and domestic workers. (see section 6)
The constitution provides for freedom to practice the rites of one's religion, provided that religious practices are consistent with "public order and morality"; however, the government continued to impose some restrictions on freedom of religion. The state religion is Islam. The government does not officially recognize all religious groups. Groups obtain recognition with the approval of the prime minister. In order to be recognized, the group must have citizens among its constituency, and the Ministry of the Interior must also conduct a background investigation. Recognition allows a religious group to purchase land with a tax exemption.
During the year the parliament approved a law that required preachers and teachers in mosques to have licenses issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (see section 2.a.).
Members of unrecognized religious groups and converts from Islam faced legal discrimination and bureaucratic difficulties in personal status cases. The government prohibits non-Muslims from proselytizing Muslims.
Persons enjoy freedom of belief, and there were no reports that the practice of any faith was prohibited. Some religious groups, while allowed to meet and practice their faith, complained of societal and official discrimination. In addition not all Christian denominations have been accorded legal status.
Islam, Judaism, and Christianity are the religions formally recognized by the government.The government did not accord the Druze or Baha'i faiths the status of officially recognized religions but did not prohibit the practice of these faiths. The government did not record the bearer's religion on national identity cards issued to Druze or Baha'is.
The government did not recognize Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Christ, or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but each of these denominations conducted religious services and activities without interference.
The Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS), a training school for pastors and missionaries, had not been accredited as an educational institution by year's end, although the government granted it "registration," allowing it to operate as a cultural center. During the reporting year, the government confiscated a shipment of approximately one hundred books ordered by JETS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs intervened and secured the release of the books to JETS.
Conversion to Islam by Christians was allowed; however, a Muslim may not convert to another religion. Muslims who convert to other faiths complained of social and government discrimination. Under Shari'a converts are regarded as apostates and legally may be denied their property and other rights.
Converts from Islam to Christianity faced possible loss of civil rights, loss of child custody, and economic hardship. However, courts have shown a willingness to decide mixed religion child custody cases in the best interests of the child.
On January 20, a Shari'a court received a complaint against Mahmoud Abdel Rahman Mohammad Eleker for apostasy, following his conversion from Islam to Christianity. On April 14, the complainant, the convert's brother-in-law, dropped the case after the convert's wife renounced in the presence of a lawyer any claims she might have to an inheritance from her own parents.
Converts from Islam are still considered Muslims under Shari'a in matters of personal status.The constitution provides that religious community trusts, or awqaf, and matters of personal status fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Shari'a courts for Muslims, and separate non-Muslim tribunals exist for each religious community recognized by the government. Civil marriage is not recognized by the government. The head of the department that manages Shari'a court affairs (a cabinet-level position) appoints Shari'a judges, while each recognized non-Muslim religious community selects the structure and members for its own tribunal. All judicial nominations are approved by the prime minister and commissioned officially by royal decree. The Protestant denominations registered as "societies" come under the jurisdiction of one of the recognized Protestant church tribunals. There are no tribunals assigned for atheists or adherents of unrecognized religions. These persons must request one of the recognized courts to hear their personal status cases.
Men may divorce their spouses more easily than women; however, since 2004 Shari'a courts have granted over 239 divorces sought by women (see section 5). Some Christians are unable to divorce under the legal system because they are subject to their denomination's religious court system, which does not allow divorce. Such individuals sometimes convert to another Christian denomination or to Islam to divorce legally.
The legal system regards minor children of a male Muslim who converts to another religion to be Muslims. Adult children of a male Christian who has converted to Islam become ineligible to inherit from their father if they do not themselves convert to Islam. Muslim converts to Christianity and minor children of male converts to Christianity are not recognized legally as Christians and continue to be treated as Muslims in matters of family and property law.
The government noted individuals' religions (except for Druze, Baha'is, and other unrecognized religious groups) on the national identity card and "family book" (a national registration record issued to the head of every family that serves as proof of citizenship) of all citizens. Atheists must associate themselves with a recognized religion for official identification purposes.
Government policy requires that foreign missionary groups refrain from public proselytizing. The government has taken action against some Christian proselytizers in response to the complaints of recognized Christian groups, who charge that the activities of these missionaries are disruptive to society.
Societal Abuses, Discrimination, and Anti-Semitism
Relations between Muslims and Christians generally were amicable.
Anti-Semitism in the media was present and editorial cartoons, articles, and opinion pieces critical of Israel sometimes depicted negative images of Jews throughout the year in the newspapers Al-Rai, Al-Dustur, and Al-Ghad. There was no government response to these pieces.
Aside from expatriates and diplomats, there was no resident Jewish community in the country.
Muslims who convert to other religions often faced social ostracism, threats, and abuse from their families and Muslim religious leaders. Families usually strongly discouraged interfaith romantic relationships. Such relationships may lead to ostracism and, in some cases, violence against the couple or feuds between members of the couple's families. Baha'is faced some societal discrimination.
For a more detailed discussion, see the 2006 International Religious Freedom Report.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The law provides for these rights; however, there were some restrictions. The law requires that all minors obtain written permission from a guardian to apply for a passport. Unlike in previous years, there were no cases of mothers reporting they were prevented from departing with their children because authorities enforced requests from fathers to prevent their children from leaving the country (see section 5). The GID sometimes withheld passports from citizens on security grounds.
Local governors may use the Preventing Crimes Law to place citizens under house arrest for up to one year without formally charging them (see section 1.d.). House arrest may involve requiring persons to report daily to a local police station while under curfew. Persons who violate the terms of house arrest may be imprisoned for up to 14 days.
Citizens receive passports that are valid for five years. Most persons of Palestinian origin living in the country were citizens and received passports; however, the government estimated that there were 150,000 Palestinian refugees, mostly of Gazan origin, who do not qualify for citizenship. They received two-year passports valid for travel but which do not connote citizenship. West Bank residents without other travel documentation are eligible to receive five-year passports which do not connote citizenship.
Human rights activists continued to charge that the government did not consistently apply citizenship laws, especially in cases in which passports were taken from citizens of Palestinian origin. The government maintained this policy was in line with its efforts to implement the government's disengagement from its former claims to the West Bank. However, activists complained that the process is not transparent and the appeal process virtually nonexistent. Claimants or families filed appeals with the Ministry of Interior, which were not resolved to their satisfaction. The government asserted that all cases it closed involved persons without valid claims to citizenship or travel documents.
Human rights activists claimed that approximately 10,000 to 12,000former residents of Palestinian origin remained outside the country, and that the government refused to renew their passports at embassies overseas. The government asserted that only nonresident Palestinians who sought to renew travel documents, which required proof of residence in the country, have been refused.
The law prohibits internal and external forced exile, and the government did not use forced exile in practice.
The government is not a party to the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol and does not have any national legislation pertaining to the status and treatment of refugees. It generally cooperated with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in assisting refugees and asylum seekers. The government respected the UNHCR's eligibility determinations regarding asylum seekers, including those who entered the country clandestinely. An April 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the UNHCR contains the definition of a refugee, confirms the principle of non-refoulement, and allows recognized refugees a maximum stay of six months during which period a durable solution must be found.In practice the government provided protection against refoulement, the return of persons to a country where they feared persecution. However, during the year some Iraqis detained for alleged criminal offenses were returned to Iraq before UNHCR could determine their refugee status.
The UNHCR continued to train law enforcement officials and judges in international refugee law, including instructors from the NCHR, which conducted a course for entry-level government officials during the year. However, in March the UNHCR reported that approximately 200 Palestinians formerly residents of Baghdad were refused entry.In Julythe UNHCR reported that approximately 200 Iranian refugees formerly resident in a UNHCR camp in Ramadi, Iraq, who had been refused entry in 2005 were again refused entry. It also reported in several instances that it intervened to prevent the deportation of persons issued UNHCR asylum seeker cards.
As of December 31, approximately 1.86 million Palestinian refugees were registered with the UNRWA. The UNRWA and the government continued to provide assistance to these Palestinian refugees during the year. Approximately 700,000 persons displaced from former Jordanian territories during the 1967 war have been granted nationality. An additional 120,000 persons displaced during the 1967 war hold temporary residency permits. A further 200,000 Palestinian refugees were also estimated to be living in the country without any direct assistance.
Since 1991 many Iraqis have applied for refugee status and received legal and material assistance from the UNHCR. An estimated 500,000 to 700,000 Iraqis were living in the country. Most had not requested refugee status. The government has tolerated the prolonged stay of many Iraqis beyond the expiration of the visit permits, under which they entered the country.
The government generally recognized UNHCR's requests that states continue to grant temporary protection for all Iraqi asylum seekers, including new arrivals, rejected cases, and recognized refugees whose cases had been suspended by resettlement countries. In April 2005, however, the Ministry of Interior formally declined UNHCR's request to renew an expired informal Temporary Protection Regime (TPR), which had committed the government to continue tolerating Iraqis in the country illegally. The lapsed TPR had no basis in the law and conferred no rights on recognized refugees. Despite expiration of the TPR, with few exceptions the government has continued to tolerate the large number of illegal Iraqis residing in the country. Thousands continued to enter the country each month; however, UNHCR reported that some Iraqis were refused entry into the country. UNHCR also reported that it intervened to prevent the deportation of persons issued UNHCR asylum seeker cards in several instances. Access of Iraqi children to Jordanian public schools varied from cases to case; many schools ran second shifts in order to accommodate Iraqis, while some school administratorsdeclined to admit the children of Iraqis residing in the country illegally.
According to UNHCR figures, during the year, 822 persons, primarily from Iraq, Russia, and Syria, recognized as refugees awaited resettlement. An additional 90 Chechens were allowed to remain indefinitely pending repatriation. By year's end approximately 20,850 persons, primarily Iraqis, were seeking asylum.
The government also continued to provide temporary protection to recognized refugees formerly resident in a UNHCR camp in Ramadi, Iraq, who fled Iraq in 2003. By mid-December 97 Palestinians, 16 Iraqis and 4 Iranians remained in a UNHCR-managed camp in Ruweished, having relocated there following the government's closure in May 2005 of a UNHCR reception camp in the "no man's land" between Jordanian and Iraqi frontier posts at the Trebil/Karama crossing. Most Palestinians at the Ruweished camp were expected to depart for resettlement countries by year's end.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) statistics, between January 1 and December 7, the government granted temporary protection to 340 third country nationals fleeing Iraq en route to Sudan and Nigeria. The government also facilitated the transit of 692 Iraqis voluntarily returning to Iraq from third-countries, primarily from Europe. IOM verified that all repatriations to Iraq and to third countries were voluntary.
The law does not provide citizens the right to change their government peacefully. Citizens may participate in the political system through their elected representatives in parliament; however, the king may use his discretion to appoint and dismiss the prime minister, cabinet, and upper house of parliament; dissolve or extend parliament; establish public policy; and approve the appointment of all mayors.
After being appointed by the king, a prime minister is required to submit his cabinet to a parliamentary vote of confidence, if there is a seated parliament. Executive power is vested in the king (or, in his absence, in the regent), who exercised his power through his ministers in accordance with the provisions of the constitution. The June 2003 multiparty parliamentary elections were generally considered to be free and fair; however, the election law significantly underrepresented urban areas and some observers considered electoral districting unfair, claiming that it was intended to reduce the representation of areas heavily populated by citizens of Palestinian origin. There were some speculations of fraud. Many observers considered electoral districting unfair because of a lack of balance between the population and the number of seats per district, and claimed that it was intended to reduce the representation of areas heavily populated by Jordanians of Palestinian origin. The law allows voters to choose one candidate in multiple-seat districts. In the largely tribal society, citizens tended to cast their vote for family members. In practice, candidates who lacked tribal credentials generally received fewer votes in tribal districts. The Islamic Action Front boycotted the 2003 municipal elections in all districts outside greater Amman to protest the provisional law on appointing municipal officials.
The election law requires judiciary verification of polling results, and establishes the number of lower house seats at 110 with six reserved for women. The voting age is set at 18 years for all citizens.
Citizens may freely nominate themselves and register as candidates if they have a "certificate of good conduct" issued by the GID. Persons who have been sentenced to over one year in prison are ineligible for election. The king proposes and dismisses extraordinary sessions of parliament and may postpone regular sessions for up to 60 days. If the government amends or enacts a law when parliament is not in session, it must submit the law to parliament for consideration during the next session; however, such "provisional" laws do not expire and, while technically subject to action by parliament when it returns to session, in practice remain in force without legislative approval.
Women have the right to vote and were encouraged to vote and be active in the political process. Seven women serve in the senate, six in the Chamber of Deputies, and one in the cabinet. Of the 110 seats in the lower house, the quota provisions reserve nine for Christians and three for either the Circassian or Chechen ethnic minorities.
Citizens of Palestinian origin, estimated to be more than half of the total population, comprised four of the 26 ministers. In parliament, 9 of 55 senators and 18 of 110 lower house deputies were of Palestinian origin. There were no Palestinians in any of the country's 12 governorships. The electoral system gives greater representation to areas that have a majority of inhabitants of non-Palestinian origin.
Four women have been elected to the councils of the country's 11 professional associations. Of these women, three sit on the Nurses and Registered Midwives Syndicate and one on the Jordan Press Association Council. An estimated 31,000 women are registered as members of these associations, representing approximately 23 percent of the membership.
Corruption is a crime. There was a public perception ofcorruption in the executive and legislative branches. Influence peddling and a lack of transparency have been alleged in government procurement and dispute settlement. The use of family, business, and other personal connections to advance personal business interests was widespread. The GID has an anticorruption department.
On November 1, the Financial Disclosure law was published in the official gazette. Under this law, specified government officials must declare their assets in a sealed envelop to the newly formed Financial Disclosure Department of the Ministry of Justice. This envelope will be opened by the Chief Justice in the event of a complaint.
In November the parliament brought charges against former Minister of Municipalities Abdul Razzaaq Thbeshat for corruption. The case involves a 2002 purchase of waste-management vehicles from Germany, which an Audit Bureau later found to be faulty. On December 3, a special committee in Parliament was formed to investigate the allegations. As Thbeshat was an acting minister when the alleged felony took place, he cannot be tried in a regular court. However, four other men implicated in the case were being tried in the Court of First Instance at year's end.
In January 2005 Haider Mahmoud, a respected poet, wrote a thinly-veiled poem to the king warning him of the corruption surrounding him. Mahmoud was vilified in the press as a traitor, and then-prime minister Faisel al-Fayez called for the mayor of Amman to fire Mahmoud from his position as head of the Al Hussein cultural center; Mahmoud resigned. Mahmoud's son also resigned from his job with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In May 2005 MP Ghazi Zaben opened an investigation into awqaf (religious endowments) funding, and into allegations that a former minister of awqaf and Islamic affairs, Ahmad Hilayel, was illegally profiting from travel packages to Mecca for the annual Muslim pilgrimage.
Under a December 4 law an official committee will be established entrusted with combating corruption. The committee will have a free mandate to pursue current and former officials who are suspected of being involved in corrupt activities. The law also states that this body will be autonomous and its officials immune from prosecution.
The law provides for public access to government information once it becomes a matter of legal record, and the government enforced this law in practice.
Several domestic and international human rights groups generally operated with restricted permission from the government, investigating and publishing their findings on human rights cases alleging torture and other abuses committed by the security forces. Within these limits government officials were cooperative and responsive to their views. The Press and Publications Law removed restrictions on the publication of information about the military and security forces, which had prevented the publication by domestic groups of reports alleging torture and other abuses committed by the security forces; however, similar restrictions still exist in the penal code and other laws (see section 2.a.).
The NCHR's activities, which began in 2003, included training government and international organization personnel on human rights standards and conditions in the country and collection and analysis of citizens' complaints. The government cooperated with and funded the center; some human rights activists complained that it was too influenced by the government. On May 21, the NCHR issued its second annual report on the state of human rights in the country, covering 2005. According to the NCHR, it continued to face legal hindrances which impinge on the Center's "moral and financial privileges" necessary for its work. The 2005 report also stated that the government's response to the 2004 discussion of legislation on the right to associate and the freedom of expression was negative. In the 200557-page report, the NCHR ranked the country "good" at the planning and policy level; "acceptable" in economic, social, and cultural rights; and "poor" in civil and political rights. A ministerial committee was formed after the report's release to study the report and formulate a response. At year's end the committee had met but had not yet produced a response.
There were eight PSD human rights complaints offices in each of its eight regional directorates. Persons charging police misconduct may submit complaints to the relevant office. Plaintiffs may file compensation claims for damages, and convicted officers reportedly also were subject to disciplinary action. During the year citizens filed 425 complaints against PSD personnel.
The government generally cooperated with international NGOs, but human rights observers claimed that they were unable to meet with some security detainees because they were held incommunicado. The ICRC was permitted full access to all detainees and prisoners, including those held by the GID and the military intelligence directorate (see section 1.c.). The government did not respond to HRW requests to allow its researcher to investigate torture. Some high level officials did meet with HRW after the release of their report, Suspicious Sweeps.
The constitutiondoes not distinguish between citizens on the basis of race, disability, language, or social status; however, the law treats women unequally and some minorities faced discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas.
Women experienced legal discrimination in pension and social security benefits, inheritance, divorce, ability to travel, child custody, citizenship, and in certain limited circumstances, the value of their Shari'a court testimony (see section 1.e.). Violence and abuse against women continued, although the full extent of the problem was difficult to determine. In rural areas violence against women was reported more frequently than in major cities; however, women's rights activists speculated that many incidents in cities went unreported. Although in recent years the government has taken steps to increase the resources available to help abused women including opening a safe house for women, cultural norms continued to discourage victims from seeking medical or legal assistance.
Abused women have the right to file a complaint in court against their spouses for physical abuse; however, in practice familial and societal pressures discouraged them from seeking legal remedies. Marital rape is not illegal. NGOs such as the Jordanian Women's Union, which had a telephone hotline for victims of domestic violence, provided assistance in such matters. The Family Protection Unit of the Public Security Directorate also offered a comprehensive support program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.During the year the PSD reported 644 cases of sexual assault and 141 cases of domestic violence. Spousal abuse is technically grounds for divorce, but a husband may seek to demonstrate that he has religious authority to strike his wife.
On May 30, the Communication Partnership for Family Health (CPFH), in coordination with the Ministry of Health and Tulane University, published results of a survey of 1,847 households regarding attitudes towards domestic violence. The study revealed that 40 percent of men and 53 percent of women believed that wife beating was acceptable under certain circumstances.
Authorities prosecuted all 18reported instances of honor crimes that resulted in death of the victim. These killings derive from customary notions of family honor among some communities, both Muslim and Christian. According to women's rights activists, there was evidence of a societal trend toward condemnation of honor crimes. The police regularly placed potential victims of honor crimes in protective custody. Activists estimated that at year's endmore than 25 women were in protective custody. At least one NGO was working in conjunction with the government to establish a shelter where the women could live in relative anonymity as an alternate to protective custody.
In ordinary cases the maximum penalty for first-degree murder is death, and the maximum penalty for second-degree murder is 15 years in prison. Article 340 of the penal code provides for lenient treatment in cases where the accused personally witnessed the victim of an honor crime engaging in sexual relations or in bed with a nonspouse. Article 98 of the penal code specifically states that "an extenuating justification can be invoked by anyone who commits a crime in a fit of rage as a result of an unrightful and dangerous act carried out by [the] victim," and, as a result, may significantly reduce penalties for murder. Although the defendants are almost universally found guilty, a successful article 98 defense results in the defendants receiving token sentences.
For example, on January 4, a woman was allegedly shot by her brother after her family threatened her life for reasons of family honor. The woman survived and her brother was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder.
In June a brother allegedly shot his sister to death after an argument over her alleged "immoral behavior". He was charged with premeditated murder and detained for 14 days before being released on bail. His case is still pending.
On October 24 in Madaba, a man allegedly shot and stabbed his 31 year old sister because of her "bad conduct". He turned himself into the police, who arrested and detained him.
In a widely reported case, two brothers were convicted of murdering their pregnant sister. The woman had become pregnant out of wedlock with an Egyptian man. She confronted her family with the pregnancy and received her father's blessing to marry in Egypt. Upon her return to the country to give birth, her brothers killed her and her unborn child.
By invoking Article 98, the charges for honor crimes are often reduced from premeditated murder to manslaughter. Most men convicted of an 'honor crimes' were given no more than 6 month prison sentences. The most common perpetrator is often a father or brother of a woman who acquires a gun and shoots the women to death to restore the family honor. Pregnant women have been killed, along with unborn children. The perpetrators may receive minimal punishments.
According to the law, sexual harassment is strictly prohibited and subject to criminal penalties including fines and imprisonment. Prostitution is illegal. The government provided men with more generous social security benefits than women. The government continued pension payments of deceased male civil servants but discontinued payments of deceased female civil servants to their heirs. Laws and regulations governing health insurance for civil servants do not permit women to extend their health insurance coverage to dependents or spouses. However, divorced and widowed women may extend coverage to their children.
Under Shari'a as applied in the country, female heirs receive half the amount that male heirs receive, and non-Muslim widows of Muslim spouses have no inheritance rights. A sole female heir receives half of her parents' estate; the balance goes to designated male relatives. A sole male heir inherits both of his parents' property. Male Muslim heirs have the duty to provide for all family members who need assistance. Men were able to divorce their spouses more easily than women, although a provisional law introduced in 2002, which was in effect at year's end, permitted women to initiate divorce on any grounds, provided they give up the financial settlement normally granted in divorce cases. The existing permanent divorce law allows women to seek divorces and retain their financial rights only under specific circumstances, such as spousal abuse. In these cases there is a burden of proof that the women must overcome (see section 2.c.). Special courts for each denomination adjudicate marriage and divorce matters for Christians (see section 2.c.). During the year, there were 25 female judges, an increase of six from 2004.
The 2003 Passport Law states that women and their minor children have the right to obtain passports without the written permission of their husbands (see section 2.d.). Married women do not have the legal right to transmit citizenship to their children; however, female citizens married to noncitizen men can pass citizenship to their children upon the permission of the council of ministers. In practice this permission was usually granted, except in cases where the father was Palestinian origin. Furthermore women may not petition for citizenship for their noncitizen husbands. The husbands themselves must apply for citizenship after fulfilling a requirement of 15 years of continuous residency. Once the husbands have obtained citizenship, they may apply to transmit the citizenship to their children. However, in practice such an application may take years, and in many cases citizenship still may be denied to the husband and children. Such children become stateless and, if they do not hold legal residency, lose the right to attend public school or seek other government services.
Civil law grants women equal pay for equal work; however, in practice this was not consistently enforced.
Traditional social pressures discouraged many women from pursuing professional careers, especially after marriage. Nonetheless, women had employment opportunities in many professions, including government, engineering, medicine, education, the military, and law. Women's groups stressed that the problem of discrimination was not only one of law but also of women's lack of awareness of their rights or unwillingness to assert them. A professional women's association, the royal family, and the government promoted improvements for women's civil and economic life. Official figures at year's end show that 48 percent of students enrolled in higher education institutions were female, and in some disciplines, women comprised 80 percent of the student body.
At year's end, while unemployment for the population as a whole reached 15.4 percent, for women the number was 31.4 percent.
The government was committed to children's rights and welfare in the areas of education and health; however, government efforts in these areas were constrained by limited financial resources. Education is compulsory from ages six through 16; however, no legislation exists to enforce the law or punish guardians for violating it, and absence from school goes without penalty. A student may be absent from school for up to two years and the Ministry of Education will still allow the student to return to school. Public education was free from age six through completion of high school (age 18). The overall school attendance and total secondary school attendance rates remained at 92 percent. Several domestic and foreign religious groups operated private schools throughout the country. Since 1999 the government denied Iraqi children admittance to public schools unless they were legal residents of the country or recognized as refugees by the UNHCR. In September the MOI decided to bar enrollment of Iraqi children at private schools in the country unless their parents have residency permits; however, in practice most are allowed to attend. (see section 2.d.).
The government attempted to address the issues of educational development and quality and the relevance of education to job-market demand. The government did not charge tuition for public education, and it granted food and transportation supplements to families with many children and to very poor families.
Students must obtain a good behavior certificate from the GID to be admitted under the university quota system. Activists reported that the GID sometimes withheld these certificates from deserving students due to a family member's allegedly problematic record.
The government provided free inoculation programs typically administered through the school system for children. In addition children had access to government-subsidized public clinics, which offer reduced fees for most services.
The National Council for Family Affairs coordinated all issues concerning family safety. Since 2005 the government-funded "Dar al Amman," the country's first child protection center, provided temporary shelter, medical care, and rehabilitation for abused children age six to 12. At year's end, approximately 25 children were residing temporarily in the shelter.
During the year authorities received complaints of 59 cases of physical abuse and 475 cases of sexual abuse of children (a decrease from 2005). The law specifies punishment for abuses against children. Conviction for rape or sodomy of a child under 15 years of age potentially carries the death penalty.
The current minimum age for marriage is 18 years. However, with the consent of a judge and a guardian, children as young as 15 may be married. In most cases the guardian made the decision that the child should be married, and it was not the child's choice. One partner, almost exclusively the male, is most times significantly older than the 15-year-old. The government attempted to safeguard some other children's rights, especially regarding child labor (see section 6.d.). Although the law prohibits most children under the age of 16 from working, child vendors worked on the streets of Amman. Economic conditions and social disruption have caused the number of these children to increase over the last 10 years.
The law prohibits trafficking in children; however, it does not specifically prohibit trafficking in other persons and there were reports that persons were trafficked to Jordan primarily from Bangladesh, China, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan to work in the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZs), according to a report released by the National Labor Committee, an American NGO (see section 6.e.) Other criminal statutes prohibit slavery and indentured servitude.
Since August the government has undertaken a cooperative program with the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) to raise foreign domestic workers'(FDW) awareness of protections and rights under the law.
On May 14 the Ministry of Labor (MOL) opened a new directorate specifically to address the needs of the approximately 70,000 FDWs. In addition to sponsoring stricter legislationregulating the recruitment and hiring measures used by the recruitment agencies, the MOL also established a 24-hour telephone hotline that FDWs could call to report abuses. Further, the Ministry produced booklets on the FDWs' rights, published in their own languages and distributed them to the workers when they arrived in Jordan. Regular announcements in local newspapers advise employers of their responsibilities towards their domestic help.
In the past, reports have alleged that workers suffered abuses that amounted to human trafficking, including nonpayment of wages, excessive hours, and withholding of passports. In 2005 the Human Rights Directorate of the Foreign Ministry created the position of Deputy Director of Trafficking issues.
The law provides persons with disabilities equal rights and there were no reports of discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or in the provision of other state services.
The law mandates that companies reserve 2 percent of their positions for people with disabilities. According to education officials, there are 4,000 blind teachers currently employed. The law further focuses on accessibility measures and individual support. This includes infrastructure modifications on new buildings and roads. The government generally enforced these provisions, although many private and public office buildings still have limited or no access for persons with disabilities. High unemployment restricts job opportunities for persons with disabilities, who officially numbered 220,000 although UN estimates placed the number closer to 500,000. Thirteen percent of citizens with disabilities received monetary assistance from the government. A Special Building Code Department was established in 1997, to oversee the retrofitting of existing buildings to make them accessible to disabled persons.
There were three groups of Palestinians residing in the country. Those that migrated to the country and the Jordan-controlled West Bank after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war were given full citizenship. Those still residing in the West Bank after 1967 were no longer eligible to claim citizenship, but were allowed to obtain temporary passports without national numbers, provided they did not also carry a Palestinian Authority travel document. In 1995 then-King Hussein announced that West Bank residents without other travel documentation would be eligible to receive full-validity passports, although still without national numbers. Refugees who fled Gaza after 1967 were not entitled to citizenship and were issued temporary passports without national numbers.
Human rights activists maintained that despite the codified passport issuance procedures, many citizens of Palestinian origin have had their Jordanian national numbers revoked at the whim of the interior ministry employees. Others claimed that their temporary passports have been confiscated after spending time in the West Bank. Human rights activists claim glass ceilings inhibit Palestiniansfrom receiving appointments to many senior positions in the government and the military, as does a quota system for admittance to public universities and the granting of university scholarships. Citizens of Palestinian origin complain of under-representation in parliament (see section 2.d.).
During the year there were reports of societal discrimination against Iraqis living in the country. According to a December 7 UN Integrated Regional Information Networks report, the number of reports of discrimination against Iraqis living in the country rose following the Amman hotel suicide bomb attacks in November 2005 (see section 1.d.). The Iraqi Association for Nationals Living in Jordan received hundreds of complaints from Iraqis living in Amman of discrimination in the streets, in shops, and in public places. Several beatings of Iraqis were reported in the days immediately following the bombings.
Societal discrimination against homosexuals existed. There are no laws that addressed discrimination against homosexuals.
The law provides workers in the private sector, in some state-owned companies, and in certain professions in the public sector the right to form and join unions without excessive requirements; in practice the government allowed unions in these sectors. Unions must be registered to be legal. The labor law limits membership to citizens, effectively excluding the country's more than 218,000 registered foreign workers. However, some unions represented the interests of foreign workers informally.
According to official figures, more than 30 percent of the workforce was organized into 17 unions. Although the Solidarity Center, a global NGO, put the actual number closer to 10 to 15 percent, the number approaches 30 percent when the professional associations are included Unions are required by the government to be members of the General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions (GFJTU), the sole trade union federation. The government subsidized and audited the GFJTU's salaries and activities. Union officials are elected by secret ballot to five-year terms, when elections actually take place. More often than not, the number of candidates equals the number of seats. Members have three days to file a nomination application, which is reviewed by the union. Elections are only held if there are more candidates than seats. In recent election cycles, when the number of candidates exceeded the number of seats, some candidates were persuaded to withdraw. The government monitors the elections in the event of a complaint to ensure compliance with the law.
The constitution prohibits anti-union discrimination, but the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) claimed in late 2005that the government did not protect adequately employees from anti-union discrimination. Workers may lodge complaints of anti-union discrimination with the MOL, which is authorized to order the reinstatement of employees discharged for union activities. There were no complaints of anti-union discrimination lodged with the MOL during the year.
Unions have and exercise the right to bargain collectively. Labor laws mandate that workers must obtain government permission to strike. Unions generally did not seek approval for a strike, but workers used the threat of a strike as a negotiating tactic. Strikes are prohibited if a labor dispute is under mediation or arbitration. If a settlement is not reached through mediation, the MOL may refer the dispute to an industrial tribunal with agreement of both parties. The tribunal is an independent arbitration panel of judges appointed by the MOL. The decisions of the panel are legally binding. If only one party agrees, the MOL refers the dispute to the council of ministers and then to parliament. Labor law prohibits employers from dismissing a worker during a labor dispute. There are no special laws or exemptions from regular labor laws in export processing zones.
Many of the workers in the QIZs are non-Jordanians. As a result, under the current labor law, they are not permitted to form or participate in unions.
On February 16, 230 employees from Magnesia Jordan held a sit-in before the MOL to protest the fact that they were not transferred to the Arab Potash Company after Magnesia Jordan halted production. On March 9, the employees held another sit-in before the Prime Ministry to protest nonreceipt of wages for over three months.
On March 10, over 3,500 workers at the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company went on strike demanding the resignation of the JPRC Board of Directors. They also demanded improved working conditions. Their salaries were raised but the Board of Directors remained in place.
On September 28, 1,000 Bengali workers in a textile factory in ad-Dulayl staged a strike over the imposition of long and unpaid overtime hours by the factory manager. On October 1, 1,400 workers at two other factories also went on strike over unpaid wages.
On October 1, workers at the Rainbow Textile Factory in ad-Dulayl went on strike to protest an MOL decision to deport six workers who were thought to be "troublemakers". On October 5, the MOL reversed its decision and let the workers stay in the country.
The constitution prohibits forced or compulsory labor, except in a state of emergency such as war or natural disaster; however, there were reports throughout the yearthat such practices occurred. Foreign domestic servants, almost exclusively female, were subject to coercion and abuse and, in some cases, worked under conditions that amounted to forced labor (see section 6.e.). Also, some workers in the QIZs were allegedly forced to work without wages, amounting to indentured servitude. The law does not prohibit specifically forced or compulsory labor by children; however, such practices were not known to occur.
Labor law forbids children under the age of 16 from being employed, except as apprentices; however, there were reports of child labor throughout the country, mostly in urbanized areas. Children under the age of 18 may not work for more than six hours continuously between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., or during weekends, religious celebrations, or national holidays. Children under 18 may not work in hazardous occupations. Provisions in the labor laws do not extend to children in the informal sector, which consists of agriculture, domestic labor, and small family businesses.
The law provides that employers who hire a child under the age of 16 must pay a fine ranging from $140 to $710 (100 to 500 dinars). The fine is doubled if the offense is repeated. The government, however, provided little training on child labor to the 72 MOL inspectors responsible for enforcing the relevant laws. When investigating child labor, inspectors generally acted to ameliorate the situation of the involved families, including directing some adult family members toward job training programs. In the past some government officials claimed that if children were barred from working, they would lose important income, on which their families depended, and might turn to more serious activities, such as drug trafficking and prostitution, for income.
The MOL's Child Labor Unit (CLU) received, investigated, and addressed child labor complaints (although it has no formal mechanism for doing so) and coordinated government action regarding child labor. The CLU received less than 40 complaints this year. Anecdotal evidence suggested that child labor, especially of street vendors, was more prevalent during the year than it was 10 years ago. Despite the difficulty in accurately measuring the extent of child labor, child labor was particularly noticeable in big cities, where children work in mechanical workshops or as peddlers at traffic lights. A 2002 official study estimated that 32 thousand children were working.
The law does not specifically prohibit forced or bonded labor by children; however, such practices were not known to occur (see section 6.c.).
On June 1, the government increased the national minimum wage by 5.7 percent, from $127 to $154 (95 to 110 dinars) per month, to become effective July, 2007. The minimum wage applies to all workers except domestic servants, those working in small family businesses, those in the agricultural sector, and those in the QIZs. Inspectors from the MOL enforced the minimum wage, but due to limited resources were unable to ensure 100 percent compliance. The national minimum wage did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. The government estimated that the poverty level was at a monthly wage of approximately $47 (33 dinars) per month per capita.
The law requires overtime pay for hours worked in excess of the standard work week, which generally is 48 hours. Workers may not work more than 10 hours in any continuous period or more than 60 hours of overtime per month. Employees are entitled to one day off per week. Labor law does not apply to small family businesses, domestic servants, and nonprofessional and non-technical workers in the agriculture sector. However, it does apply to citizens and noncitizen workers in other sectors. There is a separate civil service law. The law specifies a number of health and safety requirements for workers, which the MOL is authorized to enforce. The law requires employers to report industrial accidents to the ministry within 48 hours. Although employers are not required to report occupational diseases to the ministry, the law stipulates that if the medical authority determines that a worker suffers an occupational accident or disease as a result of his work, the employer is liable for compensation. The ministry mediates disputed amounts of compensation in cases of occupational disease. Workers do not have a statutory right to remove themselves from hazardous conditions without risking the loss of their jobs.
According to the MOL, there were approximately 200,000registered noncitizen workers in the country, the majority of whom were engaged in low-wage, low-skill activities in the textile, agriculture, construction, and industrial sectors. According to the government and independent surveys, approximately 30,000 of these workers were employed in the QIZs. Foreign workers in the QIZs were recruited through a vetted process involving registered recruitment agencies.
The May report by the American NGO, the National Labor Committee (NLC), brought the QIZs under international scrutiny, as the NLC claimed that foreign workers were subject to conditions that amounted to human trafficking (see section 5). In response the government conducted immediate inspections and closed some factories that were found to be in violation of internationally recognized labor standards. Workers from these factories were moved to factories with standards that met the guidelines set forth by the ILO. At year's end 10factories had been closed, of which 2 were subsequently re-opened after complying with updated government standards. Many workers were moved from non-compliant factories to factories that the government had recently identified as complying with updated standards. However, at year's end a number of factories continued to violate international standards. Additionally, on September 17, the Cabinet exempted 2,300 QIZ workers who had been moved from one factory to another from the fines associated with that move, as well as the fines that accumulated for remaining in the country after their work permits have expired. The total estimated value of these fines is 1.2 million Jordanian Dinars.
Abuse of domestic servants, most of whom were foreign, was widespread, although not thoroughly documented. Employers routinely limited their domestic employees' freedom of movement, and often illegally confiscated travel documents. Victims, who feared losing their employment and being returned to their home country, generally did not report complaints to government officials. In Mayin cooperation with UNIFEM and several source country embassies, the government also introduced a new standard work contract with greater protections that applied to all FDWs arriving since July 2003.
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Chad is a centralized republic with a population of approximately 10 million. In 2006 citizens reelected President Idriss Deby, leader of the Patriotic Salvation Movement (MPS), to a third term in what unofficial observers characterized as an orderly but seriously flawed election boycotted by the opposition. Deby has ruled the country since taking power in a 1990 coup. Political power remained concentrated in the hands of a northern oligarchy composed of the president's Zaghawa ethnic group and its allies. The executive branch dominated the legislature and judiciary. Despite 2006 and 2007 peace accords with rebel groups, fighting between the government and rebels continued and resulted in civilian deaths and the widespread destruction of homes and property during the year. Rebels attacked N'Djamena in February, as well as locations in the east in June. The government supported Sudanese rebels. Violent interethnic conflict, banditry, and cross-border raids by Darfur-based militias continued. Civilians were killed, and an estimated 185,000 have been internally displaced as a result of violence. Approximately 250,000 Sudanese refugees who had fled from violence in Darfur lived in camps along the border. On March 15, the European Union Force (EUFOR) in Chad, whose mandate includes protecting civilians, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the east, reached operational capacity. Civilian authorities did not maintain effective control of the security forces.
The government's human rights record deteriorated in comparison with the previous year. Human rights abuses included limitation of citizens' right to change their government; extrajudicial killings; politically motivated disappearances; torture and rape by security forces; security force impunity; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; incommunicado detention; lengthy pretrial detention; denial of a fair public trial; executive interference in the judiciary; arbitrary interference with privacy, family, and correspondence; use of excessive force and other abuses in internal conflict, including killings and use of child soldiers; limits on freedom of speech, press, and assembly, including harassment and detention of journalists; widespread official corruption; obstruction of the work of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); violence and societal discrimination against women, including the widespread practice of female genital mutilation (FGM); child abuse and trafficking; ethnic-based discrimination; repression of union activity; forced labor; and exploitive child labor.
Rebel groups, ethnic-based militias, Darfur-based militias, and bandits committed numerous human rights abuses. These abuses included killing, abducting, injuring, raping, and displacing civilians; attacks against and destruction of villages; use of child soldiers; and attacks against humanitarian workers.
There were reports that the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings.
There were reports of numerous killings of civilians by the government, militias, and rebels during the year in connection with the country's internal conflict (see section 1.g.).
Security forces committed politically motivated killings and officially sanctioned extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals. Use of excessive force resulted in deaths. Security forces continued to kill civilians during apprehension and while in custody and killed demonstrators. The government did not prosecute or punish members of the security forces who committed killings, although it established a commission of inquiry during the year to investigate abuses that occurred between January 28 and February 8 (see section 1.g.).
According to Human Rights Watch, the military killed civilians and burned villages in the Central African Republic (CAR) in support of nomadic Peuhls who drive their cattle across land used by farmers in CAR. For example, witnesses stated that on February 29, the military destroyed several villages in the area of Maitoukoulou, CAR.
On June 29, security forces used excessive force in response to a confrontation in Kouno during which supporters of Sheikh Ahmet Ismael Bichara reportedly attacked security forces. Approximately 72 persons were killed during the confrontation, including an estimated 68 supporters of Bichara and four gendarmes. Bichara had earlier called for a "holy war" against the government and declined to negotiate with religious leaders from the High Council for Islamic Affairs (a government-sanctioned, nongovernmental body). Security forces detained Bichara, and he remained detained without charge at year's end.
Security forces killed demonstrators (see section 2.b.).
There were no developments regarding the numerous reported 2006 and 2007 killings by security forces.
Unexploded ordnance and landmines laid by government, rebel, and foreign forces resulted in deaths (see section 1.g.).
Attacks by armed bandits increased during the year. Armed bandits continued to operate on many roads, assaulting, robbing, and killing travelers; some perpetrators were identified as active duty soldiers or deserters. Their targets included employees of foreign assistance organizations and NGOs (see section 1.g.).
On July 14, armed bandits between Koumogo and Sarh killed Tenebaye Oringar, a college professor. No suspects had been identified by year's end.
On July 22, near the village of Djarwaye, armed bandits attacked a vehicle, killing one person and injuring another.
On August 19, armed bandits shot at the car of General Secretary of the Ministry of Mines Oumar Abdoul Dabeh, killing him.
No action was taken against the perpetrators of numerous 2006 and 2007 attacks and killings by bandits.
Interethnic fighting resulted in numerous deaths (see section 1.g.).
There continued to be reports of politically motivated disappearances and persons being held incommunicado during the year, particularly in relation to the country's ongoing conflict (see section 1.g.).
On February 3, security forces arrested opposition leaders Lol Mahamat Choua, Ngarlejy Yorongar, and Ibni Oumar Mahmat Saleh, according to the commission of inquiry. Saleh's whereabouts remained unknown at year's end (see section 1.g.).
There was additional information regarding the case of at least 16 high-ranking army officers whom the government detained in 2006. Although in 2006 government and human rights sources reported that Colonel Ahmat Ismat had been released, his whereabouts during 2007 and 2008 were unknown. In April 2007 Colonel Abdoulaye Issakha Sarwa was released.
The constitution and law prohibit such practices; however, the government did not respect these provisions in practice. Members of the security forces tortured, beat, abused, and raped persons. Such practices also occurred in connection with the ongoing armed conflict (see section 1.g.). The government took no known action against security force members responsible for such abuse.
No action was taken in reported 2006 or 2007 cases of security force abuse.
Police, gendarmes, and Chadian National Army (ANT) personnel raped women.
Prison conditions remained harsh and life threatening. Prisons were seriously overcrowded, had poor sanitation, and provided inadequate food, shelter, and medical facilities. As a result of inadequate record-keeping and management, many individuals remained in prison after completing their sentences or after courts had ordered their release.
Local human rights organizations continued to report on the existence of military prisons and prisons run by the National Immigration Service, to which access was prohibited; they also reported on the existence of secret National Security Agency (ANS) and General Directorate of Security Services for National Institutions (DGSSIE) prisons. The NGO Chadian Association for the Promotion of Human Rights (ATPDH) reported, based on the statement of an escapee, the existence of a secret prison in Koro Toro in the department of Bourkou-Ennedi-Tibesti. The Commission of Inquiry to examine disappeared persons and other abuses that occurred from January 28 to February 8 also found that secret detention centers existed. The commission visited the detention facility in Koro Toro and found that most of the detainees were children, that two persons were in shackles, and that the detainees had not been accorded due process.
While the law provides that a doctor must visit each prison three times a week, this provision was not respected. The law authorizes forced labor in prison, but human rights organizations did not report that it occurred.
Approximately 1,000 prison inmates escaped during the February rebel attack on N'Djamena. Some of the prisoners returned voluntarily to reduce the punishment they would have faced if apprehended; none of the others had been apprehended by year's end.
Juvenile males were not always separated from adult male prisoners, and children were sometimes held with their inmate mothers. Pretrial detainees were held with convicted prisoners.
The government permitted the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to visit civilian prisons on a regular basis, and the ICRC conducted such visits during the year. The ICRC also visited illegal detention facilities under the control of the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, and the Presidency. The government denied repeated requests by the ICRC for access to the Koro Toro detention facility. The government provided ATPDH with a permanent authorization notice to visit civilian prisons at any time, without need to provide advance notice. Other NGOs, including human rights groups, were required to obtain authorization from a court or from the director of prisons; such authorizations depended largely on the personal inclinations of those with authority to grant permission. NGOs were not allowed access to military prisons.
During the year a prison development committee whose members included government, UN, and NGO members was formed to address prison conditions.
The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary arrest and detention; however, security forces often violated these provisions.
The ANT, gendarmerie, national police, nomadic guard (GNNT), DGSSIE, and ANS are responsible for internal security.
The ANT, gendarmerie, and GNNT report to the Ministry of Defense; the National Police report to the Ministry of Public Security and Immigration; the DGSSIE and ANS report to the president. Officers from President Deby's ethnic group and closely allied ethnic groups dominated the ANS. The DGSSIE's ethnic composition was mixed, but its officers were primarily Zaghawas. Security force impunity and corruption were widespread.
The police force was centrally controlled, but exercising oversight, particularly outside N'Djamena, was difficult. Police generally enjoyed impunity. The police force was unable to improve internal security problems, including widespread banditry and arms proliferation. The government continued to allow months to pass before it paid police salaries.
As of November 7, the UN Mission in CAR and Chad (MINURCAT) had trained 428 police on the protection of refugees and displaced persons as part of an effort to facilitate the deployment of the police Integrated Security Division (DIS) to reduce insecurity in the eastern part of the country. An additional 120 started training before the year's end. Approximately 100 DIS members were deployed to the east as of November.
On July 9, the minister of defense directed that all gendarme brigade commanders take a one-month training course on civil affairs, which included the topics of working peacefully with local populations and the proper role of gendarmes in law enforcement. A total of 924 gendarmes received this training.
Reports of widespread defection of government troops to rebel groups continued.
Although the constitution and law require a judicial official to sign arrest warrants, the government often did not respect this requirement, and secret detentions occurred. Detainees were not promptly informed of charges, and judicial determinations were not made promptly. The law requires access to bail and counsel, but neither was regularly provided. Incommunicado detention was a problem, and there were reports that persons held incommunicado were tortured. The constitution and law state that legal counsel should be provided for indigent defendants and that defendants should be allowed prompt access to family members and counsel; however, in practice this usually did not occur.
On January 9, judiciary police arrested and detained Deuzombe Daniel Passalet from the local NGO Human Rights without Borders. He was released 72 hours later.
Security forces arbitrarily arrested and reportedly tortured persons, particularly those suspected of collaborating with rebels (see section 1.g.).
Security forces arbitrarily arrested a journalist and a political party leader, as well as arbitrarily detained other civil society representatives.
There were reports that the government arrested numerous military defectors and members of their families, although specific information was unavailable.
Lengthy pretrial detention remained a problem. Persons accused of crimes could be imprisoned for several years before being charged or tried, particularly those who were arrested in the provinces for felonies and transferred to prison in N'Djamena.
There were no reported developments in the numerous 2007 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention.
The constitution and law provide for an independent judiciary; however, the judiciary was ineffective, underfunded, overburdened, vulnerable to intimidation and violence, and subject to executive interference. In practice government officials and other influential persons often enjoyed impunity. Members of the military continued to enjoy a particularly high degree of impunity. The Judiciary Police did not usually enforce domestic court orders against military members or those of the Zaghawa ethnic group, to which the president belongs.
In March two colonels of the Zaghawa ethnicity forced landowner Moussa Pepe to turn over the title to his property at gunpoint. The court ruled in favor of the landowner in October; however, by year's end the decision had not been enforced.
Members of the judiciary received death threats or faced demotion or removal from their positions for not acquiescing to pressure from officials.
At the national level, a supreme court, constitutional court, and court of appeals exist; some of their members were appointed by the government rather than elected by citizens as required by law, which weakened judicial independence. The constitutionally mandated High Court of Justice can try high ranking government officials whose cases are submitted by the National Assembly. Crimes committed by military members are to be tried by a military court; however, no such courts have been established.
A special criminal court was established to try abuses committed under former president Hissein Habre.
In 2006 the government began a process to establish appeal courts in all principal cities outside N'Djamena. As of July magistrates were named to all these appeals courts. At the provincial level, there are appeals courts in N'Djamena, Moundou, Sarh, and Abeche.
The constitution and law mandate that the Superior Council of Magistrates recommend judicial nominations and sanction judges who commit improprieties; however, continuing problems between the government and magistrates prevented any sanctions from being considered or carried out.
A five-judge judicial oversight commission has the power to conduct investigations of judicial decisions and address suspected miscarriages of justice. However, in contrast to the superior council, commission members are appointed by the president, which increased executive control over the judiciary and diminished the authority of the superior council. Parties to judicial cases can appeal to the commission.
Applicable law was sometimes confusing, as courts tended to blend the formal French-derived legal code with traditional practices, and customary law often superseded Napoleonic law in practice. Residents of rural areas often lacked access to formal judicial institutions, and legal reference texts were not available outside the capital. In most civil cases, the population relied on traditional courts presided over by village chiefs, canton chiefs, or sultans. However, decisions can be appealed to a formal court.
The law provides for a presumption of innocence; however, in practice many judges assumed a suspect's guilt, particularly in crimes involving rape or theft. Trials are public and use juries, except in politically sensitive cases. Defendants have the right to be present in court. They also have the right to consult an attorney in a timely manner; however, in practice detained persons were not always given access to counsel. The law states that indigents should be provided promptly with legal counsel, but this seldom occurred in practice. Human rights groups sought to improve this situation and sometimes provided free counsel themselves. Defendants, their lawyers, and judges are permitted by law to question witnesses. Defendants and their attorneys have access to government-held evidence relevant to their cases, except in politically sensitive cases. Defendants have the right to appeal decisions.
The Muslim concept of dia, which involves a payment to the family of a crime victim, is based on the decision of local leaders and was practiced widely in northern Muslim areas. Non-Muslim groups, which supported implementation of a civil code, continued to challenge the use of the dia system, arguing that it was incompatible with the constitution. Such groups further accused the government of supporting dia practices by permitting the existence of local tribunals.
During its August 12-15 session, the criminal court sentenced 11 current rebel leaders and former president Hissene Habre to death in absentia. Among those sentenced to death were rebel leaders Mahamat Nouri, Tom Erdimi, Timan Erdimi, Ahmat Hassaballah Soubiane, and Abdoul-Wahid Aboud. Life sentences were pronounced for 31 other rebels. The court also ordered the confiscation of the property of the condemned.
The government held political detainees during the year, and human rights organizations were denied access to such persons.
The judiciary reportedly was not always independent or impartial in civil matters, although specific information was not available. There are administrative and judicial remedies available such as mediation for alleged wrongs.
The constitution and law prohibit such actions, but the government conducted illegal searches and wiretaps and monitored private mail and e-mail. Security forces also regularly stopped citizens and extorted money or confiscated belongings.
On February 10, security forces broke into a home in Abena and robbed three of its occupants.
During the state of emergency from February 14 to March 15, city authorities in N'Djamena destroyed at least 1,000 homes located in several different neighborhoods; many were destroyed without due process. The government stated that the homes were illegally built on government-owned land. In November a delegation of magistrates and attorneys asked the mayor to establish a commission regarding these cases and asserted that they should be handled through civil courts. The mayor stated that the matter was not under court jurisdiction and required a political solution.
During the February rebel attack on N'Djamena, the government ordered the temporary shutdown of cellular telephone networks. The Ministry of Interior banned the use of satellite telephones by private individuals in 2006. Military and police officials conducted searches for and confiscated satellite telephones from private individuals.
There were reports of the recruitment of minors into the military (see section 1.g.).
There were occasions when police officers arrested family members of suspects.
g. Use of Excessive Force and Other Abuses in Internal Conflicts
Fighting between the government and rebel groups continued and resulted in civilian deaths and the widespread destruction of homes and property during the year. While rebel attacks and government counterattacks occurred mainly along the eastern border with Sudan, rebels also attacked N'Djamena on February 2-3. From June 12 to 17, rebels attacked locations in the east and took temporary control of Goz Beida, Am Dam, and Biltine.
A UN panel of experts found that the government supported the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), a Sudanese rebel group. The report noted open circulation of JEM vehicles and personnel in the east, most of JEM's support and resupply activities occurring in Chad, and joint ANT and JEM operations and resupply.
The February 2-3 rebel attack on N'Djamena and the government counterattack resulted in civilian deaths and the displacement of approximately 30,000 persons to Cameroon, and additional persons to Nigeria. Although most returned to the country by year's end, an estimated 14,000 remained in Cameroon.
The government declared a state of emergency from February 14 to March 15 that limited civil liberties including freedom of speech, movement, assembly, and the press. A curfew remained in place for N'Djamena and the six principal departments in the center and east of Chad from February 7 to March 15. On April 2, a government decree established a Commission of Inquiry to examine disappeared persons and other abuses that occurred from January 28 to February 8--the period before, during, and after the attack. The commission released a report on August 5 that stated that 977 persons including civilians, ANT, and rebels were killed, 1,758 injured, 34 raped, and 380 detained in N'Djamena and the provinces; however, there were no indications by year's end that the government took judicial action against those responsible. The government issued a reply to the commission's report and established an interministerial committee to look into the commission's findings.
The October 2007 peace agreement, known as the Sirte accord, remained largely unimplemented; however, more than 1,500 former members of the Chad National Concord rebel group were reportedly integrated into the military in December 2007. On August 18, an annex to the Sirte accord was signed, and at least 22 members of the Forces of Change Gathering rebel group were subsequently integrated into the army. There was no further implementation of the 2006 government and United Front for Change peace accord during the year.
Violent interethnic conflict, banditry, and cross-border raids by Darfur-based militias continued, as did interethnic attacks on villages in the eastern part of the country. Vast areas along the border with Sudan were not protected by the government. Militias stole cattle and burned houses in unprotected villages, resulting in numerous deaths and the displacement of persons.
In 2007 the UN Security Council authorized the deployment of EUFOR and a UN police training mission, known as MINURCAT, to protect civilians and promote human rights and the rule of law in eastern Chad and northeastern CAR. At year's end EUFOR had reached its operational capacity. As of October 31, 282 of the authorized MINURCAT 350 uniformed officers had been deployed along with civilian personnel.
Government, militia, and rebel attacks and counterattacks resulted in numerous civilian deaths and injuries.
The commission of inquiry found that during the February rebel attack on N'Djamena, the government's aerial bombardment of rebel positions in civilian areas killed and injured civilians and caused large-scale civilian displacement.
On February 2, in Arded Djoumal, 25-year-old student Ibrahim Moussa Korbol was reportedly shot and killed during the attack on N'Djamena.
On February 2 and 3, gunfire and bombs from government helicopters killed numerous civilians including in the N'Djamena neighborhoods of Abena, Blabline, Chaguoua, and Diguel.
Security forces continued to kill persons suspected of collaborating with rebel forces.
On February 3, in the Mardjanedaffack neighborhood of N'Djamena, security forces reportedly killed two persons of the Ouddai ethnic group, accusing them of complicity with rebels.
On February 23, in the N'Djamena neighborhood of Farcha, soldiers reportedly arrested and beat Adam Hassan and Bineye Mahamat, who were suspected of collaborating with rebels. They were found dead the following day.
On February 6, near Farcha, soldiers reportedly killed three unidentified persons appearing to be of the Gorane ethnicity.
There were no developments in the alleged 2007 security force killing of Ahmat Sougou, who was suspected of collaborating with armed rebels.
Interethnic attacks on communities continued during the year, particularly in the east and the south.
For example, on January 2, in Benoye, clashes between nomadic herders and sedentary populations resulted in one death.
On February 5, in Batha, clashes between Nawala Arabs and Awada Arabs resulted in the deaths of 23 people.
On July 2, in Biltine, fighting between nomadic herders and sedentary populations resulted in the deaths of three persons. The Ministry of the Interior sent officials to mediate the conflict, and the government compensated the families for the deaths. There were no reports that authorities took judicial action against those responsible for the deaths.
There were no reported developments regarding the 2006 or 2007 ethnic clashes.
On February 3, security forces arrested opposition leaders Lol Mahamat Choua, Ngarlejy Yorongar, and Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh, according to the commission of inquiry. Government forces released Lol Mahamat Choua on February 27 and placed him under house arrest. Yorongar claimed that he also had been detained by the government and that he had been released on February 21; however, the commission of inquiry found contradictory testimony regarding the government's role in his detention. The whereabouts of Saleh remained unknown at year's end.
The government captured at least 135 rebels, including children, during the February attack on N'Djamena; as of June none had been brought to trial. The whereabouts of these persons were unknown at year's end.
On July 24, an American missionary who was abducted in October 2007 by rebels in the Tibesti region was released.
Recruitment of refugees and displaced persons into armed groups continued.
There were no reported developments regarding Sudanese militiamen who abducted approximately 4,700 refugees from refugee camps in the east in 2006.
Physical Abuse, Punishment, and Torture
Security forces tortured, beat, arrested, detained, and abused numerous persons suspected of rebel activity or collaboration with rebels. The government also arrested military defectors, some of whom had joined rebel groups.
On February 8, security forces reportedly arrested and beat a shopkeeper from Mardjanedaffack who was suspected of rebel activity.
On February 25, four teenagers were reportedly arrested and beaten by persons in military uniforms in Bololo. The security forces alleged that the teenagers collaborated with the rebels.
There were developments in the November 2007 arrest of four army officers, the sultan and governor of Dar Tama, and one additional individual. On May 3, the sultan was released; the whereabouts of the others were unknown at year's end.
Retribution against the families and villages of military defectors to rebel groups reportedly included the burning of homes, arrest and torture of family members, and destruction of crops and other property.
Unexploded ordnance and landmines laid by government, rebel, and foreign forces resulted in civilian deaths. For example, on August 4, ordnance reportedly left from the February 2-3 rebel attack on N'Djamena exploded, killing four persons and injuring 30 in a market.
Government and rebel forces raped civilians, according to the commission of inquiry.
On February 10, in the N’Djamena neighborhood of Abena, a group of security force members assaulted and raped a pregnant woman, causing her to miscarry.
Rapes also occurred during attacks on villages and also on and near IDP camps.
Child Soldiers
The law prohibits the use of child soldiers; however, child soldiers were used by the ANT, Chadian rebel groups, village self-defense forces, and armed groups from Sudan operating in the border region.
According the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) there were thousands of children in the ANT.
Children were recruited from refugee camps along the eastern border by armed groups from both Chad and Sudan, including JEM.
In May 2007 UNICEF negotiated an agreement with the government to end recruitment of persons younger than age 18 into the army; however, in contrast to 2007 there were no reports of the ANT demobilizing children through the program.
Other Conflict Related Abuses
Armed groups and bandits attacked humanitarian workers. Insecurity hindered the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide services including food distribution to refugees and IDPs. Humanitarian organizations temporarily suspended or limited activities due to insecurity. During the year humanitarian vehicles were hijacked, numerous convoys were attacked and looted, and humanitarian offices were robbed. According to one estimate, there were 111 assaults on aid workers, resulting in seven deaths between July 2007 and June 2008.
On May 1, armed men attacked a humanitarian convoy in Farchana and killed Pascal Marlinge, country director for the NGO Save the Children. No suspects had been identified by year's end.
In June rebels looted the offices of aid agencies during the temporary rebel occupation of Goz Beida.
On September 17, armed bandits in military uniforms stole equipment from and injured two staff members of the NGO International Relief and Development in Goz Beida.
Violence increased the number of IDPs in the country from 180,000 in 2007 to 185,000 as of August and caused thousands to flee to neighboring countries. The IDPs were largely the former residents of villages in the eastern prefectures of Salamat and Ouaddai. Some IDPs were forcibly displaced two or three times.
Although the overall number of IDPs increased, there was a significant reduction in the number of persons newly displaced from their homes during the year in comparison to the two previous years. Attacks by janjaweed-like mounted raiders from Sudan, Chadian rebels, and Chadian ethnic militias, both Arab and non-Arab, occurred. These attacks occurred mostly in the area south of the Abeche-Adre road in the Dar Assongha and Dar Sila departments, in the prefectures of Salamat and Ouaddai.
The February 2-3 rebel attack on N'Djamena and the government counterattack resulted in the displacement of approximately 30,000 persons to Cameroon and additional displacement of persons to Nigeria. Although most returned to the country by year's end, an estimated 14,000 remained in Cameroon.
The government publicly acknowledged that its resources were directed toward fighting rebel groups and armed militias and that it could not protect or provide for the growing number of IDPs and refugees in the country. The government allowed IDP access to humanitarian organizations and permitted them to accept assistance provided by these groups. Although UN and humanitarian organizations operated in the country during the year, lack of security reduced their ability to provide services to IDPs and refugees. During the February rebel attack on N'Djamena, the UN evacuated employees from the country.
According to the UN, Chadians continued regularly to move to and from Sudan. The movements reflected seasonal migration and were in response to insecurity. The UN estimated that there were 45,000 Chadian refugees in West Darfur and noted that estimates on North and South Darfur were difficult to obtain.
The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press; however, the government did not respect these rights in practice and placed additional restrictions on the press and speech during the year, including through a state of emergency decree and revisions to the press law. Journalists and publishers practiced self censorship and many fled the country for fear of arrest after the February rebel attack on N'Djamena.
The February 14 to March 15 state of emergency included strict press censorship provisions. On February 20, the president amended the press law by decree, placing new restrictions on speech and the press. Punishments for articles whose purpose is to cause tribal, racial, or religious hatred regarding ethnicity, religion, or regions can include imprisonment for three to five years under the law. The new law provides for increased penalties, including imprisonment, for defamation of the courts, armed forces, security forces, and public administration. Offending the president is punishable by one to five years' imprisonment and/or fines, as is publicly offending foreign, high-level government officials. Conspiring with the enemy is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment and/or fines. The law included additional requirements for launching a newspaper. Human rights organizations and newspapers criticized the new restrictions. On March 28, several newspapers jointly published a newspaper calling for a repeal of the law.
Individuals who publicly criticized the government often faced reprisal. There were reports that the government attempted to control criticism by monitoring meetings of the political opposition and that the government attempted to intimidate its critics.
For example, on January 17, police arrested Liberal party leader Keletete Dono after a radio interview in which he criticized the government's policy regarding the internal conflict. He was provisionally released on January 25.
The government owned the newspaper Info Tchad and influenced another, Le Progres. Government-controlled media were subject to censorship but sometimes criticized the government. Beginning in February, independent newspapers Notre Temps, N'Djamena Hebdo, L’Observateur, and Le Miroir temporarily suspended publication in protest of censorship; the newspapers later resumed publication.
Radio remained the most important medium of mass communication. Government-owned Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne had several branches. There were numerous private radio stations that broadcast throughout the country, many of them owned by religious organizations, including two stations affiliated with the Catholic NGO BELACD that opened during the year.
The licensing fee set by the government's High Council for Communications (HCC) for a commercial radio station remained prohibitively high at approximately five million CFA francs (approximately $11,000) per year, 10 times the fee for radio stations owned by nonprofit NGOs. The HCC monitored and censored the content of radio station programming.
The government owned and operated the only domestic television station but did not interfere with channels originating outside the country.
The government arrested, harassed, and intimidated journalists; many journalists fled the country in fear of arrest after the February rebel attack on N'Djamena.
For example, there were reports that between February 2 and 8, uniformed men went to the homes of Laldjim Narcisse and Michael Didama of the independent newspaper Le Temps and Eloi Miandadji of the new weekly satirical newspaper Le Moustick and tried to arrest them; however, they had fled the country. The Judiciary Police had closed both newspapers in late January. Le Temps resumed publication in March.
On February 7, Zara Yacoub, coordinator of the privately owned Dja FM radio, was attacked by persons in military uniform. Two technicians were also injured in the attack. The government did not investigate the case.
In February the government suspended the work permit for French journalist Sonia Rolley, and subsequently terminated it, alleging that her reporting favored the rebels. Rolley was a correspondent for several French media outlets.
The government directly censored the media by restricting media content through laws and other mechanisms as well as closing some media outlets. Under the state of emergency the government required that all news items be submitted to the HCC for approval before publication.
On January 16, security forces closed FM Liberte and arrested its manager, Djekourninga Kaotar Lazare, for allegedly disseminating false information. Lazare was arrested after the broadcast of a petition from the Chadian Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Consumer opposing the charging of administrative fees for identity documents by the government. Lazare was released on January 18, and the charges against him were dropped. Daouda Elhadji of the Chadian Association for the Defense of the Rights of the Consumer was also detained and later released. On May 27, FM Liberte was allowed to resume broadcasting.
The government permitted the newspaper Notre Temps to resume publication during the year; however, the newspaper did not do so.
Some journalists in rural provinces reported that government officials warned them not to engage in any contentious political reporting. In addition, some domestic journalists claimed that the government restricted their ability to cover some events or visit certain locations and limited their access to high-ranking officials, restrictions the government did not impose on foreign journalists.
There were no government restrictions on access to the Internet; however, the government reportedly monitored e-mail. Although increasingly available to the public at Internet cafes, the growth of Internet access was almost entirely through the government telecommunications company.
The constitution and law provide for freedom of assembly; however, the government did not respect this right in practice. The law requires the government to be notified of demonstrations five days in advance.
On April 23, in Moundou, gendarmes shot and killed several students who were demonstrating peacefully. Although the progovernmental daily newspaper Le Progres reported that four students were killed, the human rights organization Tchad Non-Violence quoted a hospital source as stating 12 students were killed and 50 injured. Authorities did not investigate or take other action by year's end.
No action was taken against security force members responsible for injuries that resulted from the violent dispersal of demonstrators in 2006 or 2007.
The constitution and law provide for freedom of association; in contrast with 2007, there were no reports that the government banned the formation of a union.
An ordinance requires prior authorization from the Ministry of Interior before an association, including a labor union, may be formed; however, there were no reports that the ordinance was enforced. The ordinance also allows for the immediate administrative dissolution of an association and permits authorities to monitor association funds.
Although the law provides for religious freedom, at times the government limited this right. The law also provides for a secular state; however, some policies favored Islam in practice. For example, a committee composed of members of the High Council for Islamic Affairs and the Directorate of Religious Affairs in the Ministry of Interior organized the Hajj and the Umra.
The July 2007 ban on all forms of street-corner evangelization and preaching remained in effect.
On June 29, security forces used excessive force in response to a confrontation in Kouno during which supporters of Sheikh Ahmet Ismael Bichara reportedly attacked security forces. Approximately 72 persons were killed during the confrontation, including an estimated 68 supporters of Bichara and four gendarmes. Bichara had earlier called for a "holy war" against the government and declined to negotiate with religious leaders from the High Council for Islamic Affairs. Security forces detained Bichara, and he remained detained without charge at year's end.
On February 20, in Bol, Abakar Brahim was arrested by ANS personnel. Brahim was accused of mobilizing Muslims to pray for the release of Lol Mahamat Choua.
The government continued to ban Al Mountada al Islami, the World Association for Muslim Youth, the Mecca Al-Moukarrama Charitable Foundation, and Al Haramain Charitable Foundation for promoting violence to further religious goals.
The Islamic religious group Faid al-Djaria remained banned on the grounds that its religious customs, including singing and dancing together by men and women in religious ceremonies, were un-Islamic.
Although the different religious communities generally coexisted without problems, there were reports of tensions within the Muslim community between the High Council for Islamic Affairs and fundamentalist elements within the community. During the year there were regular meetings between key religious leaders to discuss peaceful collaboration among groups.
Rebels abducted and subsequently released a foreign missionary during the year (see section 1.g.).
There was no known Jewish community and there were no reports of anti-Semitic acts.
For a more detailed discussion, see the 2008 International Religious Freedom Report at 2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/irf/report.
d. Freedom of Movement, Internally Displaced Persons,
Protection of Refugees, and Stateless Persons
Although the law provides for freedom of movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, in practice the government imposed some limits on these rights.
The Ministry of Territorial Administration required foreigners, including humanitarian agency personnel, to obtain authorization to travel to the eastern part of the country.
Security forces, rebels, and bandits continued to maintain roadblocks, extorting money from travelers, often beating them, and in some cases killing them.
The activities of armed bandits and rebel groups along the border with CAR continued to hinder free movement in the region.
In June the traditional chief of Lere--near the border with Cameroon--was accused of organizing armed bandits to rob local herders and farmers. Authorities did not investigate or take action by year's end.
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
The number of IDPs increased from 180,000 in 2007 to 185,000 by August.
The law does not provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status in accordance with the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 protocol, but the government has established a system for providing protection to refugees. In practice the government provided protection against the expulsion or return of refugees to countries where their lives or freedom would be threatened. The government also provided temporary protection to individuals who may not qualify as refugees under the 1951 convention or the 1967 protocol.
The number of Sudanese refugees from Darfur in the country increased to approximately 250,000; most of these refugees were located in 12 camps along the eastern border with Sudan. The number of refugees from CAR increased to approximately 56,000. Most of the refugees from CAR lived in five camps in the south. There were also approximately 5,000 refugees of various nationalities living in urban areas.
The government did not provide sufficient protection for refugee camps in the east, although there were no reports that camps were attacked. Insecurity in the east, including rebel and bandit attacks, hindered the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide services to refugees. NGO workers traveling between camps were frequently victims of carjackings and armed robberies.
UNHCR and its partner organizations continued to express concern regarding the potential for militarization of refugee camps by Sudanese and Chadian rebels, particularly camps located close to the border. The recruitment of some refugees, including children, into armed groups continued (see section 1.g.). UNHCR relocated several thousand refugees who had fled from Darfur to Birak to camps located farther from the border. Women were raped in and near refugee camps, including by ANT soldiers.
Antirefugee sentiment among citizens living in refugee-affected areas was high, due to competition for local resources such as wood, water, and grazing land, and because Sudanese refugees received goods and services that were not available to the local population. There continued to be occasional reports that citizens attacked refugees and destroyed their wells.
Although the constitution and law provide citizens with the right to change their government, the government continued to limit this right in practice. The executive branch dominated the other branches of government.
In 2006 President Deby, leader of the ruling MPS, was reelected to a third term in what unofficial observers characterized as an orderly but seriously flawed election that was boycotted by the opposition. The government had dismissed appeals from the opposition, civil society, religious groups, and some members of the international community to postpone elections and organize a national dialogue. Observers noted low voter participation, underage voting, multiple voting, and other irregularities.
In August 2007 the government and the opposition coalition signed an agreement that delayed communal and legislative elections, originally scheduled for 2005, until 2009. Opposition members asserted that the government was not fully implementing the agreement. On February 11, in reaction to government abuses against opposition and civil society members after the February rebel attack on N'Djamena, opposition members from the Coalition of Political Parties for the Defense of the Constitution suspended their participation in a joint government and opposition committee to monitor the implementation of the August 2007 accord. Opposition members rejoined the committee on May 5. During the year the government and the unarmed political opposition, with the support of the European Union, continued to work to implement the accords, including agreeing to hold a new census and create a more representative electoral commission.
There were approximately 86 registered political parties in the country. Political parties were subject to outside interference. During the year opposition leaders were subject to violence and disappearance (see sections 1.b. and 1.g.). Opposition political leaders accused the government of co-opting their most popular local politicians to run as MPS members in local elections and alleged that the military intimidated party members who refused to cooperate. Parties allied with the government generally received favorable treatment. Northerners, particularly members of the Zaghawa ethnic group, including the Bideyat subclan to which the president belongs, continued to dominate the public sector and were overrepresented in key institutions of state power, including the military officer corps, elite military units, and the presidential staff.
There were 10 women in the 155-seat National Assembly. There were six women among 40 ministers in the cabinet.
Both the cabinet and the National Assembly had diverse ethnic representation.
The law does not provide criminal penalties for official corruption, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices. The World Bank's 2008 Worldwide Governance Indicators reflected that corruption was a severe problem.
The Ministry of Morality is responsible for fighting corruption and carried out anticorruption seminars for government employees.
In September the World Bank ended its financial assistance for a project to support the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline. The bank stated the government did not comply with components of project agreements requiring that a substantial portion of the oil revenue be used for poverty reduction programs.
The Ministry of Morality investigated the government-owned communication utility SOTEL due to allegations of embezzlement during the year. In October President Deby removed the director and deputy director of the utility from their positions due to mismanagement.
On December 17, President Deby removed the president and vice president of the HCC due to the disappearance of 100 million CFA francs (approximately $200,700). They had not been prosecuted by year's end.
There were no reported developments in the 2006 case of two cabinet ministers who were removed from their positions for misappropriation of government funds.
The College for the Monitoring and Control of Oil Resources published one report during the year. Identified deficiencies included corruption, the 2007 appointment of new college members who were biased toward the government, the use of a large portion of revenues for security sector spending, mismanagement of revenue allocated to regions, some unfinished social projects, and insufficient coordination with local populations and leaders. The government took no action on the college's previous reports by year's end.
The law does not provide for public access to government information, although the government provided such access to government-employed journalists. Independent media journalists stated that they were not given sufficient access to government information.
The government continued to obstruct the work of domestic human rights organizations through arrest, detention, and intimidation of their members during the year, particularly after the February attack on N'Djamena. Government officials generally were accessible to human rights advocates but were often unresponsive or hostile to their findings. Nevertheless, such groups were able to investigate and publish their findings on human rights cases.
There were two principal local human rights organizations, the ATPDH and the Chadian League for Human Rights (LTDH). These and smaller human rights organizations worked together through an umbrella organization, the Association for Human Rights.
On January 9, judiciary police arrested and detained Deuzombe Daniel Passalet of the local NGO Human Rights without Borders. He was released 72 hours later.
On February 9, in N'Djamena, Jacqueline Moudeina, the lawyer representing victims of former President Hissein Habre and president of ATPDH, received a death threat by telephone, and a military vehicle went to her house. She had taken refuge in another area of the city.
In February Jean-Bernard Padare, defense lawyer in the 2007 child abduction case involving the organization Zoe's Arc and LTDH member, received threats after he filed a suit regarding the detention of Ngarlegy Yorongar and Ibni Oumar Mahamat Saleh.
Unidentified assailants and armed bandits also attacked numerous NGO employees during the year, resulting in deaths and injuries (see section 1.g.).
The lack of security in the east reduced the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide services.
Despite pressure from the government, human rights groups were outspoken in publicizing abuses through reports, press releases, and the print media but only occasionally were they able to intervene successfully with authorities. There was a perception on the part of government officials that most local human rights groups were composed mainly of political opponents, which weakened their credibility with the government and some international organizations.
The government continued to obstruct the work of international human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International.
On April 2, a government decree established a Commission of Inquiry to examine disappeared persons and other abuses that occurred from January 28 to February 8. The commission concluded that security forces and rebels committed human rights violations and that civilians were killed, injured, raped, and detained (see section 1.g.). The newspaper Le Progres reported that on June 25, uniformed persons invaded the home of the commission president, Maitre Djaibe, and shot and injured his bodyguard while trying to locate Djaibe.
Although the constitution and law prohibit discrimination based on origin, race, gender, religion, political opinion, or social status, the government did not effectively enforce these provisions. The government favored its ethnic supporters and allies.
The law prohibits rape but does not provide for criminal penalties. Rape was a problem; no reliable quantitative data was available. While police often arrested and detained perpetrators, rape cases usually were not tried.
Although the law prohibits violence against women, domestic violence, including spousal abuse, was common. Wives traditionally were subject to the authority of their husbands, and they had limited legal recourse against abuse. Although family or traditional authorities could provide assistance in such cases, police rarely intervened.
In previous years there were reports that family members killed women for breaking social taboos, although there were no such reports during the year. In some places girls and women may not visit the site where an initiation ceremony is to take place. If a female violates this prohibition, under traditional practices the village leaders can kill her.
The law prohibits prostitution; however, it was a problem, particularly in the south.
The law does not prohibit sexual harassment, and such harassment was a problem.
Discrimination against women and exploitation of women were widespread. Although property and inheritance laws do not discriminate against women, local leaders adjudicated most inheritance cases in favor of men, according to traditional practice. The Ministry of Social Action and Women is responsible for gender-related issues. Women did not have equal opportunities for education and training, making it difficult for them to compete for formal sector jobs.
The law does not address polygyny, but husbands may opt at any time to declare a marriage polygynous. If a husband takes a second wife, the first wife has the right to request that her marriage be dissolved, but she must repay her bride price and other marriage-related expenses.
The government did not sufficiently ensure the protection of children's rights; however, it generally supported the activities of NGOs and international donors to improve children's rights and welfare. The government did not fund medical care or public education adequately beyond the primary level.
The government did not register all births immediately.
By law education is universal and free and basic education is compulsory; however, in practice parents were required to pay tuition to public schools beyond the primary level. Parents were required to pay for textbooks, except in some rural areas. Approximately half of teachers were hired and paid by parent-teacher associations, without government reimbursement. Educational opportunities for girls were limited. Most children did not complete primary education. The percentage of girls enrolled in secondary school was extremely low compared with that of boys.
Child abuse, including abuse of child herders, remained a problem. These children often worked long hours and were unable to attend school.
The law prohibits the practice of FGM; however, FGM was widespread. According to a 2004 government report by the National Institute of Statistics, Economic and Demographic Studies, 45 percent of local women had undergone excision. According to the survey, 70 percent of Muslim females and 30 percent of Christian females were subjected to FGM. The practice was prevalent, especially among ethnic groups in the east and south. All three types of FGM were practiced. The least common but most dangerous and severe form of FGM, infibulation, was confined largely to the region on the eastern border with Sudan. FGM usually was performed prior to puberty as a rite of passage.
FGM could be prosecuted as a form of assault, and charges could be brought against the parents of FGM victims, medical practitioners, or others involved in the action. However, prosecution was hindered by the lack of specific penalty provisions in the penal code. There were no reports that any such suits were brought during the year. The Ministry of Social Action and Family was responsible for coordinating activities to combat FGM.
Although the law prohibits sexual relations with a girl younger than age 14, even if she is married, the ban was rarely enforced. Families arranged marriages for girls as young as 12 or 13; the minimum legal age for engagements was 11. The law prohibits forced marriages of anyone younger than age 18 and provides for imprisonment of six months to two years and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 CFA francs ($114-1,140). There were some forced marriages, and the custom of buying and selling child brides continued to be widespread. Many young wives were forced to work long hours for their husbands in fields or homes.
The government and other armed groups continued to use child soldiers (see section 1.g). The UN reported that on June 27, nine children were demobilized from the gendarmerie in N'Djamena; five of the children were former FUC recruits who had been later recruited by the gendarmerie.
Several human rights organizations reported on the problem of the mahadjir, children who attended certain Islamic schools and were forced by their teachers to beg for food and money. There was no reliable estimate of the number of mahadjir children.
According to the newspaper Le Progres, on October 15, two boys were rescued from a Koranic teacher in Massaguet. The children appeared to have been beaten and reportedly were also chained and made to perform labor for their teacher. The teacher had not been prosecuted by year's end.
Children who were refugees or IDPs had limited access to services such as education and health care.
There were developments in the 2007 child abduction case involving the NGO Zoe's Arc. UNICEF reported that all of the children had been returned to their families. On March 31, the president of Chad pardoned the six French nationals involved in the case. The Sudanese and the Chadian nationals, who each received sentences of four years of hard labor for complicity, were reported to have escaped from prison during the February rebel attack on N'Djamena.
The law does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons; however, traffickers could be prosecuted under statutes prohibiting child abduction, sale of children, and child labor. Persons were trafficked to, from, and within the country. Cross-border trafficking was not widespread, and internal trafficking was largely restricted to children.
Children were trafficked for forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. The majority of child victims were trafficked within the country to work as involuntary domestic servants, herders, beggars, forced labor in the commerce or fishing sector, or prostitutes. Children from Cameroon and CAR were trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation to the country's oil-producing regions. Chadian children were trafficked to Cameroon, CAR, and Nigeria.
The majority of child trafficking occurred with parental consent; children were given by parents to relatives or an intermediary in exchange for promises of education, apprenticeships, cattle, or a small sum.
Children were also recruited, sometimes forcibly, into armed groups (see section 1.g.).
In June the subprefect of Goundi arrested several village chiefs suspected of involvement in the selling of children to herders.
On July 15, Le Temps newspaper reported that 108 children were being held by herders in the subprefecture of Goundi in the district of Bodo and the village of Hahimtoki.
The government authorized a local NGO, the Association for the Recovery of Children in Distress, to remove children from forced herding and provide them with rehabilitation services.
The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities. There were no laws or programs to ensure access to buildings for persons with disabilities. The government operated few education, employment, or therapy programs for such persons. The government, in conjunction with NGOs, continued to sponsor an annual day of activities to raise awareness of persons with disabilities. The Ministry of Social Action and Family is responsible for the rights of persons with disabilities.
There are approximately 200 ethnic groups in the country, many of which are concentrated regionally. They speak 128 distinct primary languages. Although most ethnic groups were affiliated with one of two regional and cultural traditions--Arabs and Muslims in the north, center, and east; and Christian or animist groups in the south--internal migrations in response to urbanization and desertification resulted in the integration of these groups in some areas.
Societal discrimination continued to be practiced routinely by members of virtually all ethnic groups and was evident in patterns of employment, especially across the North-South divide. The law prohibits government discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, although in practice ethnicity continued to influence government appointments and political alliances. Political parties and groups generally had readily identifiable regional or ethnic bases.
Interethnic violence continued, particularly in the east and south (see section 1.g.).
Clashes between herders and sedentary populations and other interethnic violence that often concerned land use continued to be a serious problem.
Societal discrimination continued to be practiced against homosexuals.
A 2007 law provides for persons with HIV/AIDS to have the same rights as those without HIV/AIDS and obligates the government to provide information, education, and access to tests and treatment for persons with HIV/AIDS; however, societal discrimination continued to be practiced against those who have HIV/AIDS.
The law allows all employees except members of the armed forces to join or form unions of their choice without excessive requirements, but the authorization of the Ministry of Interior is required. The Ministry of Interior can also authorize the immediate administrative dissolution of an association. In contrast with 2007, there were no reports that the government banned the formation of a union.
In the formal sector, more than 90 percent of employees belonged to unions; however, the great majority of workers were nonunionized, unpaid subsistence cultivators or herders. The government, which owned enterprises that dominated many sectors of the formal economy, remained the largest employer.
The law recognizes the right to strike but restricts the right of civil servants and employees of state enterprises to do so. Civil servants and employees of state enterprises must complete a mediation process and must notify the government before striking. Employees of several public entities deemed as essential must continue to provide a certain level of services. The International Trade Union Confederation asserted that the law prolonged the period before a strike can occur and that the definition of essential services was overly broad. The law permits imprisonment with forced labor as punishment for participation in illegal strikes, but no such punishment was imposed during the year.
The law allows unions to organize and bargain collectively, and the government protected these rights. Although there are no restrictions on collective bargaining, the law authorizes the government to intervene under certain circumstances.
The law prohibits forced or compulsory labor, including by children; however, there continued to be reports of forced labor practices in the formal economy and isolated instances of local authorities demanding forced labor by both children and adults in the rural sector. There were also reports that prisoners were required to work to pay back taxes they allegedly owed.
The law permits imprisonment with forced labor for participation in illegal strikes.
The labor code stipulates that the minimum age for employment is 14, although children may work as apprentices beginning at age 13. The government did not enforce the law. Child labor, including forced child labor, was a serious problem. The minimum employment age is not consistent with the compulsory education age.
An estimated 20 percent of children between the ages of six and 18 worked in exploitive labor in the urban informal sector according to a study published by Human Rights without Borders. Children throughout the country worked in agriculture and herding. They also were employed in the commercial sector, particularly in the capital, as street vendors, manual laborers, and helpers in small shops. Young girls worked as domestic servants, mainly in N'Djamena. A 2005 UNICEF-government survey of child domestics in N'Djamena noted that 62 percent were boys; 24 percent were between eight and 14 years of age; 68 percent were between 15 and 17; and 86 percent were illiterate.
A report by the NGO Justice and Peace Commission stated that from 2006 to 2008 local NGOs rescued more than 600 children whose families had sold them for use as herders in the southern part of the country, specifically in the departments of Mandoul and Moyen Chari.
Children who attended certain Islamic schools were sometimes forced by their teachers to beg for food and money.
Some children worked as domestic servants in the households of relatives for little compensation. Some young girls were forced into marriages by their families and then compelled to work in their husbands' fields or homes while they were still too young to do so safely.
Government forces and rebel groups recruited child soldiers (see section 1.g.).
The Office of Labor Inspection is responsible for enforcement of child labor laws and policies. That office had approximately 16 labor inspectors to cover the entire country. As in previous years, they reportedly had no funding to carry out field work and investigations.
The government did not have a comprehensive plan to eliminate the worst forms of child labor; however, the government continued to work with UNICEF and other NGOs to increase public awareness of child labor. In addition, the campaign to educate parents and civil society on the dangers of child labor, particularly for child herders, continued.
The labor code requires the government to set minimum wages, and the minimum wage at year's end was 28,000 CFA francs (approximately $64) per month; however, these standards were generally ignored. The minimum wage did not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family, although wage levels were raised during the year.
Nearly all private sector and state-owned firms paid at least the minimum wage, but it was largely ignored in the vast informal sector. In some areas there were long delays in the payment of those salaries. Salary arrears remained a problem, although less so than in previous years. Low wages among customs, police, and military officials contributed to almost daily extortion of the civilian population along all major roads.
The law limits most employment to 39 hours per week, with overtime paid for supplementary hours. Agricultural work was limited to 2,400 hours per year, an average of 46 hours per week. All workers were entitled to an unbroken 48-hour rest period per week; however, these rights rarely were enforced.
The labor code mandates occupational health and safety standards and gives inspectors the authority to enforce them; however, these standards were generally ignored in the private sector and in the civil service.
Workers had the right to remove themselves from dangerous working conditions; however, in practice they could not leave without jeopardizing their employment. The labor code explicitly protects all workers, including foreign and illegal workers, but the protections provided were not always respected in practice.
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