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SUV drivers pay up to £400 a year more for fuel than equivalent car owners
Published: 6:00 am May 10, 2019
Owners of SUVs are spending hundreds of pounds more than other motorists to fuel their cars every year, a new study has found.
SUVs and crossovers have seen an explosion in popularity over the last 10 years, stealing sales from traditional hatchback, saloon and estate markets.
But an investigation by Which? has revealed that drivers are paying a handsome price for keeping up with the Joneses.
Costly comparisons
According to its testing, the drivers of even the smallest crossovers, such as a Nissan Juke or Ford Ecosport, pay £130 extra in fuel every year. And for drivers of the largest SUVs, such as a BMW X5, that rises to more than £400.
Large SUVs such as the BMW X5 came out worst in the Which? investigation
The Which research compared the official economy figures across a range of classes of SUVs and similar-sized cars and used an average miles per year figure of 9,700 (8,400 for the small car/SUV classes) to calculate the difference.
Big cars, big bills
It found that owners of large SUVs were hardest hit by increased fuel costs. Those who drive models such as the Volvo XC90 and BMW X5 spend an average of £1,561 a year on fuel – £409 more than the owners of large estates such as the Ford Mondeo or BMW 5 Series Touring and £331 more than those with large people carriers such as the Seat Alhambra or Ford Galaxy.
The large cars were also £182 a year cheaper than even mid-sized SUVs.
Mid-sized models such as the best-selling Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage were found to cost an average of £1,276 to fuel per year – £199 more than equivalent estate cars such as the Mini Clubman and Mercedes CLA, and £152 more than mid-sized people carriers such as the Vauxhall Zafira.
The hugely popular Nissan Qashqai can’t match its hatchback rivals for running costs, according to Which?
The differences are less at the smaller end of the market but small SUVs such as the Dacia Duster and Volvo XC40 still proved to be £154 a year more expensive to fuel than equivalent hatchbacks such as the VW Golf.
Compact SUVs such as the Nissan Juke were also £130 more expensive than superminis such as the Ford Fiesta.
The Ford Fiesta is around the same length and width as a Nissan Juke but costs far less to run
Which? Used the official economy figures provided by the manufacturers and calculated the fuel costs based on the average price for March according to PetrolPrices.com.
Whatever you drive, you can cut your fuel costs by following our advice on driving more efficiently.
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CNBC News Releases
CNBC gives Lifetime Achievement Award to Fosun International’s Guo Guangchang
Published Wed, Sep 27 2017 10:42 PM EDT Updated Fri, Sep 29 2017 4:45 AM EDT
SINGAPORE, 28 September 2017 - CNBC, the world's leading business and financial news network, today announced Guo Guangchang (郭广昌), Chairman of Fosun International as the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at the upcoming 16th Asia Business Leaders Awards.
Fosun International is a family-focused multinational company founded in 1992 with its roots in China with expertise in health, luxury and finance.
Commenting on the award, Mr Guo said: "I am deeply honoured to receive the ABLA Lifetime Achievement Award. This award not only belongs to me but also belongs to the whole Fosun team. In the current global economic landscape, I always actively promote entrepreneurship, together with others in China. We strongly believe in doing the right things, difficult things and challenging things, it would create additional values for family customers, and this is what Fosun is meant to be."
John Casey, a member of the ABLA judging panel and CNBC's Senior Vice President of International News and Programming said: "Mr Guo is a distinguished leader whose name is synonymous with success. His achievements with Fosun International have created a legacy for future business leaders to emulate. It is only fitting that Mr Guo now joins the esteemed list of ABLA Lifetime Achievement Award recipients."
Previous Lifetime Achievement winners include Chinese technology pioneer, Mr Liu Chuanzhi, Japanese retailing giant, Mr Tadashi Yanai and Indian industrialist, Mr Ratan N Tata.
In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award that, 55 shortlisted candidates will vie for the remaining awards in the following categories:
Asia Business Leader of the Year
Asia Disruptor of the Year
Asia Talent Management Award
Corporate Social Responsibility Award
China Business Leader of the Year
The shortlisted candidates represent markets from China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
ABLA will be held on November 2nd at the Marriott Hotel City Centre, Shanghai.
The transmission times for the 16th Asia Business Leaders Awards are as follows.
CNBC Asia
Thu, 23 November 1900 SG/HK time
Sat, 25 November 1800 SG/HK time
Sun, 26 November 1900 SG/HK time
Profiles of all ABLA shortlisted nominees are available at abla.cnbc.com/nominees
More information on ABLA 2017 is available at abla.cnbc.com
Mike Cheong
Communications Manager, CNBC Asia Pacific
D: +65 6326 1123
Mike.Cheong@nbcuni.com
About ABLA
The Asia Business Leaders Awards (ABLA) was pioneered by CNBC in 2001 to salute and recognize remarkable business leaders, who through strength, innovation and foresight induce positive changes in an evolving corporate Asia. Winners of the Awards exemplify the best in leadership, visionaries behind today's outstanding businesses. They are given tribute at an annual awards ceremony and gala dinner that will be broadcast globally in Asia Pacific, Europe and the United States. Since its inception, over 70 business leaders from around the world have been awarded the ABLA. The ABLA is organized by CNBC with The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and the Development Dimensions International (DDI) as Knowledge and Research partners.
CNBC is the leading global broadcaster of live business and financial news and information, reporting directly from the world's major financial markets via three regional TV networks in Asia, EMEA and the US. CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web featuring video, real-time market analysis and dynamic financial tools. CNBC serves the world's most powerful audience of CEOs, senior executives, the financial services industry and private investors and is available in more than 409 million homes worldwide. CNBC is a division of NBCUniversal.
For more information, please visit www.cnbc.com
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Europe Economy
Banks Saved, But Europe Risks 'Losing a Generation'
Published 1:05 PM ET Mon, 11 March 2013 Updated 1:11 PM ET Mon, 11 March 2013 Reuters
LatinContent | Getty Images
Europe has spent hundreds of billions of euros rescuing its banks but may have lost an entire generation of young people in the process, the president of the European Parliament said.
Since the region's debt crisis erupted in Greece in late 2009, the European Union has created complex rescue mechanisms to prop up distressed countries and their shaky banking sectors, setting aside a total of 700 billion euros.
But little has been done to tackle the devastating social impact of the crisis, with more than 26 million people unemployed across the EU, including one in every two young people in Greece, Spain and parts of Italy and Portugal.
That crippling level of unemployment has led to protests and outbreaks of violence across southern Europe, raising the threat of full-scale social breakdown, including rising crime and anti-immigrant attacks that can further rattle unstable governments.
"We saved the banks but are running the risk of losing a generation," said Martin Schulz, a German socialist who has led the European Parliament, the EU's only directly elected institution, since January last year.
"One of the biggest threats to the European Union is that people entirely lose their confidence in the capacity of the EU to solve their problems. And if the younger generation is losing trust, then in my eyes the European Union is in real danger," he told Reuters in an interview.
Figures released last week showed 57 percent of Greeks aged 15 to 24 are out of work, and a similar scourge is tearing apart the fabric of Spain, where some university graduates in their 30s have never had a job.
European Union heads of state and government will discuss the fallout from the debt crisis at a summit on March 14-15.
There are plans for a "youth employment guarantee", which would ensure that people under 25 receive either an offer of work, further education or work-related training at least four months after leaving education or being employed.
That is part of a 6-billion-euro initiative to tackle youth unemployment in the worst-hit regions of Europe and head off the prospect of life-long joblessness. But political analysts say it is a case of too little, too late.
Schulz, 57, who finished high school but did not go to university and began his career as an apprentice bookseller, said he had recently taken part in a debate where he was challenged by a Spanish woman over the issue of young people being abandoned for the sake of rescuing wealthy banks.
"She effectively raised the question: 'You have given 700 billion euros for the banking system, how much money do you have for me?"' he said. "And what is my answer?
"If we have 700 billion euros to stabilise the banking system, we must have at least as much money to stabilize the young generation in such countries," he said.
"We are world champions in cuts, but we have less idea ... when it comes to stimulating growth."
'Threat to the Union'
Over the past 40 years, rising incomes in countries such as Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal have allowed working class families to invest ever more in education, with the expectation that their children would be better placed as a result.
The ability of young people to study and work anywhere in Europe as part of the EU's single market ideal was also supposed to deliver vastly improved opportunities for all.
But instead, as a result of the banking and debt crisis that has cast a shadow over Europe since 2008, those sunny prospects never materialised for millions of young people.
"Greece, Spain and Italy have perhaps the best educated generations they have ever had in their countries, their parents invested a lot of money in the education of their children, everything they did was right," said Schulz.
"And now they are ready to work the society says, 'No place for you'. We are creating a lost generation."
Asked how he would tackle the issue, the Socialist party leader said it was in part about cutting through bureaucracy and putting money to work directly where it was needed.
He gave the example of Greece and investment in solar energy. If traditional methods are followed, a decision is made in Brussels, money is mobilised somewhere else, an investment programme is drawn up, the money is disbursed to the central government in Athens, then goes to several ministries, and finally ends up with a local or regional authorities to invest.
"By that time, we are much older," he said.
"In my mind, direct links between the European Union and regional and local authorities is more needed than ever."
The alternative is a system that puts the social fabric of Europe under ever greater strain, resulting in the dire youth unemployment statistics now prevalent in Greece, he said.
"That is a threat for social cohesion, and if the social cohesion in such countries fails, the country explodes. This is the threat for the European Union as a whole."
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Views from the Ground: KHORA
It’s been a whirlwind two months for Khora, so the Campfire Innovation team was super excited to explore the team’s new centre last week… While travelling through Khora Community Centre’s seven floors of creative and collaborative space, it was phenomenal to see how far the project has come in such a short span of time. The centre has only been open for two months, but the floors are full of life and activity.
About Khora
Khora is a humanitarian co-operative, founded by volunteers that had previously worked in the crisis hotspots of Calais, France (with Skipchen) and Moria, Lesvos (Together for Better Days), as well as Serbia and mainland Greece.
This team has since founded and developed a base in Athens, where it combines volunteer skills and resources to create a centre of available information, comfort and community for the city’s refugees and friends.
The result is a patchwork building of classes, kitchens and workshops, populated by refugees, locals and volunteers: but don’t let the cheerful, laid-back atmosphere fool you. Our tour revealed a serious organisation, whose vision for developing a sustainable resource point is as structured and resilient as the seven floors that house it.
A Tour of Khora
Starting from the basement workshop, we saw some innovative projects in progress, including a bed for a disabled refugee in the community and a new kitchen table. The workshop has allowed Khora to keep costs down by building what is needed, and is open to the community. To book time in the workshop, you are encouraged to “drop in and chat” about arranging a good day and time.
Passing through the ground floor, the child care area was quietly running, and on the first floor the kitchen smelled amazing, as the kitchen crew prepared its daily open lunch. The open lunch, as the title suggests, is open to everyone in the community. Its hopes are that it encourages refugees and local Greek families to meet and eat together, and is prepared with locally sourced fresh ingredients.
Refugees are involved in running Khora throughout many of its activities, but it is in the food preparation and serving that you can see the extent of community pride in action. Delicious food is prepared in the morning, there are no queues to wait in to be served, and when the food is ready, the volunteers serve Khora’s visitors, restaurant style.
We sailed through to the second floor that houses the social cafe and open space. There we saw some locals preparing tea and admired the tables and benches that were all made in house from recycled materials. We heard about some of the self-defence and soap making classes that had recently been held there, as well as the interest from the community about the potential for many new workshops and classes. On the third floor, we peeked in on one of the three (three!) classrooms in session, as well as the new computer lab that is undergoing final stages.
On the fourth floor we marvelled at the cosy Women’s Space and swiftly developing dentistry room. The iconic dental chair was ready to go, and as soon as the cabinets are installed and final licensing completed, the services will be ready to roll out to the community. We chatted with Liska and Panagiotis on the fifth floor about Khora’s burst to success and rapid growth in a short time and the future plans for this warm and welcoming space.
Looking for Smart Aid Solutions
The Khora collective encapsulates collaborative grassroots working. It encourages new ideas from volunteers and visitors, and produces the sense that you are watching ideas evolve in front of you as you observe the centre’s separate spaces.
This sense of autonomy and spontaneity is supported by real, intelligent Smart Aid. Co-founder Liska Bernet stresses that we are still in the formative stages of a long-term refugee crisis, and that the resources Khora is developing reflect long-term requirements. As the global refugee crisis increasingly spills out into the streets of Europe, organisations like Khora will continue to play a significant role in shaping urban communities.
The remaining floors of the centre are in the process of being developed into legal offices, while the group continues to work with HelpRefugees, RefuComm and Holes in the Borders to deliver a reliable information point that empowers the city’s refugees. Khora’s accommodation of these more complex resolutions to essential refugee needs reveals the steely determination beneath the relaxed, safe space it has created.
We’re looking forward to following Khora on its continued development of smart aid resources for Europe’s refugees.
For more on Khora, and how you can support them, visit Khora's page.
https://www.facebook.com/KhoraAthens/
Views from the Groundcampfireadmin November 20, 2016 Europe, Grassroots, Greece, Humanitarian Aid, Refugees
Views from the Ground: Project Elea at Eleonas
Views from the Groundcampfireadmin November 14, 2016 Afghanistan, Greece, Humanitarian, Humanitarian Aid, Refugees
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DANIEL VAUGHAN: ‘Roseanne’ is Hollywood’s version of a Trump voter
Roseanne is back on the airwaves, and with it, Hollywood’s latest attempt to connect with the Donald Trump voter.
Or at least, that’s what we’re led to believe with the project, headed by Roseanne Barr and most of the original cast.
The ultimate question we’re left with is whether Roseanne is an accurate representation of a conservative — or Trump voter — or if it’s just what Hollywood producers want those voters to be in their imaginations.
I tend to lean toward the latter, but the smashing success of Roseanne suggests there’s plenty of money to be made in fake olive branches, as opposed to the outright disparagement of your average voter on the right.
John Podhoretz probably had the best take on this in a piece at the New York Post: “Hollywood is now faced with indisputable evidence that there’s a huge potential audience out there for programs that don’t actively insult 63 million Trump voters.”
Not angering half the country would seem like an essential point for television producers competing for eyeballs and advertising dollars. But late night hosts, awards shows, and even average sitcoms seem to be aiming for an ever-shrinking audience of their own making.
Roseanne, both in its initial run and so far in its new one, bucks that trend. Roseanne is set in what can be described as the core of Trump’s voters: a white working-class family, trying to stay afloat in the Midwest.
But it’s hard to say that Roseanne is an accurate depiction of conservatives, another core of Trump’s support, or even blue-collar workers in the Midwest. One scene in particular highlights the divide, as Podhoretz notes in his piece:
Another way in which the new Roseanne gets it right was revealed in the second episode that aired Tuesday night. They have to deal with the fact that their 9-year-old grandson seems to have a taste for cross-dressing. And although Dan arms him with a penknife so he can defend himself, he does so only because he fears for the boy’s safety, not because he is sickened by the kid’s behavior.
If you work your way through Roseanne’s own belief system in the show, both before and now, you encounter a person who is pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage, pro-transgenderism, and liberal on feminism. In the end, the reason she voted for Trump was that of economic goals and bringing jobs back to America.
It’s an apparent Hollywood conceit to say that everyone, Trump voters included, agrees with them on everything but the right jobs and tax plans. If the only reason people voted for Trump is that of taxes and jobs, why have Democrats pursued such a hardline in demonizing the average Trump voter as a “basket of deplorables?”
And if all we’re bickering about is money, as Ben Shapiro points out, then that ignores what’s happening in the culture wars:
Trump’s populism sprang directly from culture wars, not from economic issues: it sprang from anger at intersectional politics, coastal elitism, and disdain for traditional values. According to Roseanne, however, those concerns make you a deplorable. Which means that Roseanne is still preaching Hillary [Clinton]’s message, even if it pretends to hat-tip Trump supporters.
Shapiro is right here. Roseanne presents a palpable version of the Trump voter to Hollywood — not the audience. What makes the show acceptable to the audience is just that Hollywood isn’t hammering every single person on the right as deplorable.
Part of coping with Trump’s unexpected victory meant reevaluating “what happened” in 2016 for Democrats. For some — mostly protesters — the rage stage of grief is still alive and well. For others, like Hollywood producers pushing shows like Roseanne, it’s about rationalization.
Intellectuals on the right and left did the same thing throughout 2016 and 2017 with J.D. Vance’s book and memoir, Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis. Vance’s book recounts his personal history growing up in rural Ohio as his family fell apart around him, and he watched those like him encounter the same.
He presents his grandmother, the central figure in the book other than himself, in a Roseanne-type fashion. She’s tough, gritty, and brings the fight when people attack her. You get a sense Vance presents her in a light palpable to people on the left when it comes to social issues, much like Roseanne.
Vance’s story dovetails nicely here, because it presents the economic hardships of small midwest towns starkly, with people barely getting by and abandoned industrial towns slowly dying out. He also offers several arguments on the need to revitalize these towns and the need for economic growth.
But boiling a Trump voter down to only issues of jobs and money is cynical and fanciful. The culture wars existed well before Trump, with a growing number of people on the left and right getting dissatisfied with “politically correct” culture.
Trump got elected because of the culture wars: the election of conservative Supreme Court justices who would have the chance to overturn the case on abortion was the most compelling issue in the entire race.
We should probably applaud Hollywood for not bashing or presenting a derogatory version of Trump voters. But we shouldn’t accept this as reality either.
Hollywood wants to believe middle-America is like Roseanne — where everyone secretly agrees with the Hollywood moral code.
And the belief that everyone secretly agrees with Hollywood on social issues is more fictional than the set of Roseanne.
Daniel Vaughan
Daniel Vaughan is a columnist for the Conservative Institute and lawyer in Nashville, Tennessee. He has degrees from Middle Tennessee State University and Regent University School of Law. His work can be found on the Conservative Institute's website, or you can receive his columns and free weekly newsletter at The Beltway Outsiders. Connect with him on Twitter at @dvaughanCI.
LARRY ELDER: If Trump Jr. is ‘racist’ for questioning Kamala Harris’ ethnicity, so is Don Lemon
Poor Donald Trump Jr. He retweeted a post by a black man named Ali Alexander questioning whether Sen. Kamala Harris...
Mississippi state House candidate dies in apparent murder-suicide: Report
A man running for the Mississippi state legislature committed suicide Tuesday after fatally shooting his wife at the medical clinic...
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Amy Taub, MD
Home Speakers Taub, Amy
Dr. Amy Forman Taub founded Advanced Dermatology in 2003, one of the top fifty medical and cosmetic dermatology practices nationally recognized for excellence in dermatological care, specializing in photodynamic therapy, skin cancer detection and non-surgical anti-aging treatments.
Dr. Taub is an assistant clinical professor at Northwestern University Medical School (at which she teaches a monthly cosmetic surgery clinic for residents) where she was presented with the Contributed Services Faculty Teacher of the Year by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in 2007 and 2016. Dr. Taub is also a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the American Society for Laser Surgery and Medicine, Patient Education for the ASDS, Chicago Dermatological Society, Illinois State Dermatologic Society, the Leader’s Society of the Dermatology Foundation and the Medical Advisory Council of the Skin Cancer Foundation.
She is a pioneer in photodynamic therapy as well as a frequent lecturer and author on the national scene, with over 18 original articles in print and 10 book chapters published in medical journals. As a consultant to leading laser and drug companies, as well as a sought after speaker and thought leader, Dr Taub educates and trains physicians from all over the country to provide cosmetic and laser procedures. From 2005 to 2011, Dr. Taub performed research studies dedicated to advanced research in dermatology under her own organization, SKINQRI.
Dr. Taub founded the website skinfo.com in 2000 and opened a retail front, skinfo® Specialty Skincare Boutique offering physician dispensed and cosmeceutical-grade skincare products. In the summer of 2011, Dr. Taub started a fundraiser for The Skin Cancer Foundation, Skin for Life (skinforlife.org), to educate the public about the dangers of tanning and proper sun protection. Dr. Taub was also presented with the Liquid Facelift Specialist award for her expertise and volume in performing injectable treatments.
In 2013, Dr. Taub was inducted into the Amonette Circle of the Skin Cancer Foundation. She has been featured in many media outlets such as CBS2 Chicago, Harper’s Bazaar, Redbook, Chicago Tribune, WBBM Radio, Allure, webmd.com, foxnews.com, and more. Since 2013, Dr. Taub continues to be chosen as Top Doctor in Dermatology by Castle Connolly, a Top Dermatologist by U.S. News & World Report in 2013, and as one of the best plastic and cosmetic surgeons in 2012 by Plastic Surgery Practice Magazine. In 2017, Dr. Taub was presented with the “Exceptional Women in Medicine” award by Castle Connolly.
Speaking at These Sessions
The Art of Fillers
Effective Off- Label Approaches You Need in Your Arsenal
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Panagiotis Panos Toulis
Panagiotis (Panos) Toulis
Assistant Professor of Econometrics and Statistics, and John E. Jeuck Faculty Fellow
Panagiotis (Panos) Toulis studies causal inference in complex settings, such as networks or multi-agent economies. He is also interested in the interface of statistics and optimization, particularly in inference problems on large data sets through stochastic gradient descent.
His research has been published in the Annals of Statistics, Biometrika, Journal of Statistical Software, Statistics and Computing, and Games and Economic Behavior, as well as in major machine learning and economics conferences. For his research, Toulis has received the Arthur P. Dempster Award from Harvard University’s Department of Statistics, the LinkedIn Economic Graph Challenge award, and the 2012 Google United States/Canada PhD Fellowship in statistics.
Toulis got his PhD in statistics from Harvard University, advised by Don Rubin, David Parkes, and Edo Airoldi. He also holds MS degrees in statistics and computer science from Harvard University, and a BS in electrical and computer engineering from Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece. Outside of academia, he has prior corporate experience in software engineering at Google Inc. and at startup companies in Greece. He also enjoys science fiction, history, and politics.
Applied Regression Analysis 2018 (Fall)
Econometrics and Statistics Colloquium 2018 (Fall)
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Gilbert Davila, 36
Vice-president of multicultural and relationship marketing, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Nuestra Gente, a Spanish-language magazine mailed four times a year to 700,000 Hispanic customers of Sears, Roebuck and Co., has caught the attention of other retailers. Some have even inquired about advertising in it.
"We're like, 'Well, we don't think so,' " says Gilbert R. Davila, who oversees Nuestra Gente. "(Retailers) obviously might not know that this is a Sears-owned magazine."
Mr. Davila says that when he joined Sears in 1995, Nuestra Gente (which means "Our People") was basically a Sears catalog for Hispanics. Mr. Davila has turned it into a high-gloss magazine running articles on Latino celebrities, recipes, cosmetic tips and other features, as well as ads from non-retailers such as Oak Brook-based McDonald's Corp., which buys three pages in every issue.
Mr. Davila also has made the magazine bottom-line friendly. This fall marked the first time that revenue from outside ads paid for the publication.
Mr. Davila, who in September was promoted to vice-president of multicultural and relationship marketing, has a track record for innovations.
In 1997, he sold Sears on the idea of a "Fiesta Mobile," a promotional vehicle and traveling road show, then forged partnerships with several corporate sponsors that covered most of the costs.
"Even where budgets didn't exist, he's found a way," says David Selby, Sears' senior vice-president of retail marketing. "He is somewhere between an evangelist and a beacon for our whole multicultural thrust."
Mr. Davila, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was a salesman with Procter & Gamble Co. in Brooklyn in the late 1980s when he began to recognize the power and potential of multicultural marketing. "My eyes just opened up," he says.
"There was not a ton of expertise out there on how to target this diverse group of folks. I felt there was an opportunity for me to become an expert in the field."
EDDIE BAEB
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Home » History
CHOC Children's - Fifty Years of Caring
Since 1964, CHOC Children’s has nurtured, advanced and protected the health and well-being of children through innovative care and state-of-the-art facilities. What started as a 62-bed children’s hospital – the first in Orange County – has grown into a pediatric health care system serving multiple counties. CHOC’s rapid growth in size and community impact should be of no surprise, given its leadership and steadfast commitment to defining the future of pediatric medicine.
CHOC’s history began with visionaries Walt Disney and Walter Knott joining a small group of Orange County pediatricians and leaders – all determined to bring a children’s hospital to their growing community. Their foresight prompted a connection with a larger hospital complex for the purpose of receiving government funding.
Walter Knott
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange agreed to include CHOC in its major hospital expansion in Orange, Calif., and offered the land on which the pediatric hospital could be built. This marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship between CHOC, the Sisters of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Hospital, as well as shared medical services between the two health care facilities.
And though CHOC today provides patient departments and ancillary services in a single location, CHOC’s relationship with St. Joseph Hospital remains strong. The hospital is among CHOC’s many partnerships with organizations throughout the county and beyond, including more than 100 hospitals who refer to CHOC young patients in need of high-quality pediatric care.
Our First Patient
CHOC opened its doors Oct. 5, 1964, with 12-year-old Kendall “Ken” Spicer serving as its first official patient. Ken was one of only four patients admitted that day, but word of CHOC quickly spread. Within two months, approximately 300 children received treatment. In addition to opening specialty clinics, the hospital increased its total bed count to 104 in 1968.
A Time of Growth
CHOC’s clinical excellence and commitment to compassionate care spurred tremendous growth in the following years. Just one decade after opening, CHOC purchased an adjacent five-story building. The building was renovated and equipped with leading technology to support the addition of beds and services, including pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. Patients received cared in this facility until 1991, when CHOC opened a six-story, 192-bed hospital today known as the CHOC North Tower. Patients, families and visitors marveled at the impressive, modern facility with vibrant colors and a playful atmosphere designed to meet the unique needs of children.
CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital
Following the opening of the CHOC North Tower, as well as an expanded outpatient clinic and new research facility in Orange, CHOC leaders began to explore opportunities to meet the health care needs of children and families in south Orange County. This led to the 1993 opening of CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital, which then included 48 beds on the fifth floor of Mission Hospital. Today, while linked to Mission Hospital’s trauma center and high-level obstetric and perinatal programs, CHOC Mission operates as a separately licensed, 54-bed pediatric facility with its own medical staff and advanced pediatric services.
Under the direction of President and CEO Kim Cripe, CHOC launched an aggressive plan to expand volume and market share, poising CHOC to become a truly great children’s hospital. A key factor to the organization’s growth strategy was the launch of centers of excellence. These CHOC Institutes helped solidify the hospital’s role as a health care leader in the region, and attracted the best and brightest pediatric experts worldwide. The medical community responded by referring patients in record numbers, making CHOC one of the fastest-growing children’s hospitals in the state. CHOC quickly focused its energy and attention on a multiyear expansion plan and new strategic plan with a vision for CHOC to become a nationally recognized premier children’s hospital.
Inspired by its new vision and its commitment to sustain long-term growth, CHOC evolved from a community children’s hospital to a regional pediatric tertiary/quaternary referral center. An affiliation established in 2009 with the University of California, Irvine enhanced CHOC’s ability to provide world-class care. Through a combined residency program, the two leading institutions train high-quality pediatricians. The affiliation also ensures more children have access to leading-edge research.
Stories Then and Now
In the 1960s, children with epilepsy relied solely on medication to limit seizures. Today, we have a variety of treatment options.
In the 1960s, childhood cancer survival rates were less than 20 percent. Today, they near 80 percent.
50 years ago, it took a long time to take an x-ray and get the film developed. Now, advanced technology allows us to take images in just seconds!
Though he may have had different looks, he has always brought smiles to our patients' faces. See how our beloved mascot Choco has changed over the years.
Matia’s Story
5 year old Matia Ornelas sees her bright future in color, as a teacher who will show kids how to paint and draw.
Zeven’s Story
Zeven Addison sees his bright future through the lens of a video camera. He wants to get into the movies because of the “endless possibilities”.
Shelby’s Story
Cancer survivor Shelby Sacchette’s bright future involves a world where there’s a cure for all skin cancers.
AJ’s Story
AJ Vandermade’s bright future involves helping people whenever they need it, just like his mom who happens to be a nurse at CHOC.
The Bill Holmes Tower
While the CHOC and UC Irvine affiliation helped usher in a new era of pediatric care for the region, CHOC’s greatest transformation is linked to its newest facility: the Bill Holmes Tower. Opened in spring 2013, the seven-story facility was designed to make CHOC one of the safest, most advanced children’s hospitals in the world. It features the region’s only pediatric-dedicated emergency department, operating rooms, imaging services and clinical laboratory.
For the first time in CHOC’s history, all patient departments and ancillary services, previously shared with St. Joseph Hospital, are provided in a single location with a serene, healing and completely pediatric environment. In this unparalleled space, CHOC is blending cutting-edge technology, safety and science to improve the care and outcomes of children. Proud of its rich past, CHOC’s focus is on the future, and because of this, children’s futures are brighter than ever.
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Chris Mayo
Oil Rig Accidents
Former Louisiana Lawmaker Jimmy Long SR. Killed in 2-Vehicle Collision
By Chris Mayo Law Firm
A two-vehicle collision last Tuesday, August 9 resulted in the death of a former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for District 23, Jimmy Long, Sr. The accident occurred along University Parkway in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
According to Natchitoches Police Detective John Greely, Long was hurt after a Jeep Wrangler that was traveling west on University Parkway crashed into his car shortly before 12:00 p.m. as Long was pulling out of a private driveway. Greely said the driver of the vehicle that hit Long was a 16-year-old, but Greely said he was not certain if the teenager was charged in the accident or not. Long has served on the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System since 2001. He is succeeded by his wife, Dorothy, and a son, Jimmy Long, Jr.
The personal injury attorneys at Chris Mayo Law Firm see the tragedies caused by car accidents every day. Our thoughts and condolences are with the family of the victim as they mourn this tragic loss to the community.
Understanding Dram Shop Liability Jun 20
When innocent bystanders become injured due to an intoxicated individual’s actions, the victims should not be expected to pay for ...
Injuries Caused By Defective Seat Belts May 09
One thing that responsible drivers and passengers do as soon as they sit down in a vehicle is put on their seat belts. As one of ...
Truck Defect And Malfunction Accidents May 01
Large commercial trucks and 18-wheelers pose an inherent threat to drivers around them; the sheer size of large trucks ...
816 Camaron St
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Home People Hanson, Allen R.
Allen R. Hanson
hanson@cs.umass.edu
Computer vision, image interpretation, mobile robotics, aerial image analysis, motion, stereo, 3-D reconstruction, sensor calibration, education.
Professor Hanson's research reflects a broad interest in computer vision and visual information processing, including knowledge-based image understanding, analysis of motion sequences, autonomous vehicle navigation, and parallel architectures for computer vision. Emphasis on practical systems is supported by research on databases for visual image processing, photo-interpretation of aerial images, biomedical image analysis, automated robotic manufacturing and assembly, real-time control of intelligent vehicles, and development environments for vision research.
Computer Vision Research Laboratory
Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Cornell University (1969); M.S. Electrical Engineering, Cornell University (1966); B.A. Electrical Engineering, Clarkson College (1964). After appointments at the University of Minnesota and Hampshire College, Professor Hanson joined the Computer Science faculty at the University of Massachusetts in 1981, where he is currently Professor Emeritus.
Professor Hanson directs the Computer Vision Laboratory and founded Amerinex Artificial Intelligence Corporation and Dataviews Corporation (formerly VI Corporation), both of which are visual technology oriented companies located in the Amherst, Massachusetts area. He is a member of the IEEE, ACM, and AAAI and has served on the editorial boards of several technical journals.
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Showing the Top Rated Drama Movies
What Dreams May Come (1998)
After life there is more. The end is just the beginning.
Drama, Fantasy, Romance,
Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant,
Crash (1996)
The most controversial film you will ever see.
James Spader, Holly Hunter, Elias Koteas, Deborah Kara Unger, Rosanna Arquette,
Claire of the Moon (1992)
One woman's journey into her sexual identity.
Trisha Todd, Karen Trumbo, Faith McDevitt, Craig Damen, Leslie Hidula,
"Once and Again" (1999)
Drama, Family, Romance,
Sela Ward, Billy Campbell, Julia Whelan, Meredith Deane, Marin Hinkle,
Sid and Nancy (1986)
Gary Oldman, Chloe Webb, David Hayman, Debby Bishop, Andrew Schofield,
Moneyball (2011)
What are you really worth?
Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt,
The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love (1995)
There's a first time for everything.
Laurel Holloman, Maggie Moore, Kate Stafford, Sabrina Artel, Toby Poser,
Without Limits (1998)
Pre-The Way he Competed...The Way he Lives his Life
Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland, Monica Potter, Jeremy Sisto, Matthew Lillard,
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Camilla Belle, Daniel Day-Lewis, Catherine Keener, Ryan McDonald, Paul Dano,
The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Two friends that didn't know they were supposed to be enemies.
Animation, Adventure, Drama, Family,
Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Pearl Bailey, Jack Albertson, Sandy Duncan,
Maria di Nazaret (2012)
Alissa Jung, Paz Vega, Andreas Pietschmann, Antonia Liskova, Thomas Trabacchi,
Plan B (2009)
A romantic comedy with a twist.
Manuel Vignau, Lucas Ferraro, Mercedes Quinteros, Damián Canduci, Ana Lucia Antony,
Gang of Ghosts (2014)
Bhutiapanti
Comedy, Drama,
Sharman Joshi, Mahie Gill, Asrani, Parambrata Chatterjee, Meera Chopra,
Private Moments (2005)
Judith Shekoni, Catalina Guirado, Natasja Vermeer, Luke Goss, Sebastian Street,
Strip Search (2004)
Austin Pendleton, Tom Guiry, Fred Koheler, Zack Manzella, Daniel May Wong,
Bangkok Love Story (2007)
Love is Dangerous
Rattanaballang Tohssawat, Chaiwat Thongsaeng, Wiradit Srimalai, Chutcha Rujinanon, Suchao Pongwilai,
El secreto de sus ojos (2009)
Drama, Mystery, Thriller,
Soledad Villamil, Ricardo Darín, Carla Quevedo, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino,
"American Horror Story" Bitchcraft (2013)
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller,
Sarah Paulson, Taissa Farmiga, Frances Conroy, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe,
Check your baggage at the door.
Tyler Perry, David Mann, Tamela J. Mann, Angela Bassett, Lance Gross,
Elizabethtown (2005)
The Best Place To Find Yourself.
Orlando Bloom, Kirsten Dunst, Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin, Bruce McGill,
Abandoned and Deceived (1995)
Lori Loughlin, Brian Kerwin, Farrah Forke, Eric Lloyd, Bibi Besch,
Be there for the joy. Be there for the tears. Be there for each other.
Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris, Jena Malone, Liam Aiken,
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004)
Turn up the heat and follow the rhythm
Romance, Drama,
Diego Luna, Romola Garai, Sela Ward, John Slattery, Jonathan Jackson,
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Come to Laugh, Come to Cry, Come to Care, Come to Terms.
Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Danny DeVito, Jeff Daniels,
Dreamgirls (2006)
Fame Comes And Goes, Stars Rise And Fall, But Dreams Live Forever
Drama, Music, Musical,
Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson,
Helter Skelter (2004)
Based on the true story of the Manson murders.
Action, Crime, Drama, Horror, Thriller,
Jeremy Davies, Clea DuVall, Allison Smith, Eric Dane, Mary Lynn Rajskub,
Gojira, Ebira, Mosura: Nankai no daiketto "Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster" (1966)
This is one lobster you don't want to order!
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sci Fi,
Akira Takarada, Kumi Mizuno, Chôtarô Tôgin, Hideo Sunazuka, Tôru Watanabe,
In Gods Country (2007)
Kelly Rowan, Richard Burgi, Martha MacIsaac, Hannah Lochner, Stephen Suckling,
Hanging Up (2000)
Every family has a few hang-ups.
Meg Ryan, Diane Keaton, Lisa Kudrow, Walter Matthau, Adam Arkin,
"The Dead Zone" (2002)
You should see what he sees.
Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi,
Anthony Michael Hall, Nicole de Boer, Chris Bruno, John L. Adams, David Ogden Stiers,
Leap of Faith (1992)
Real miracles, sensibly priced.
Steve Martin, Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas,
Swiri (1999)
Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller,
Suk-kyu Han, Min-sik Choi, Yunjin Kim, Kang-ho Song, Johnny Kim,
Noahs Arc (2004)
Love to the beat of a different drum
Alistair Abell, Nate Adams, Jensen Atwood, Keith Boykin, Rodney Chester,
"The Newsroom" (2012)
More on this story as it develops.
Margaret Judson, Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Alison Pill,
Coming Out of the Ice (1982)
Biography, Drama,
John Savage, Willie Nelson, Francesca Annis, Ben Cross, Frank Windsor,
A Shine of Rainbows (2009)
Drama, Family,
Connie Nielsen, Aidan Quinn, John Bell, Jack Gleeson, Tara Alice Scully,
"The Secret Circle" (2011)
What's your power?
Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Romance,
Britt Robertson, Thomas Dekker, Phoebe Tonkin, Shelley Hennig, Jessica Parker Kennedy,
Bravo Two Zero (1999)
- From Andy McNab's International Best Seller - A True Story Of The SAS Mission In The Gulf War!
Action, Adventure, Drama, Thriller, War,
Sean Bean, Steve Nicolson, Rick Warden, Richard Graham, Ian Curtis,
A comedy about taking it one step at a time.
Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Alexis Clagett, Brynn Clagett,
Single White Female (1992)
Allie's new roommate is about to borrow a few things without asking. Her clothes. Her boyfriend. Her life.
Drama, Thriller,
Bridget Fonda, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Steven Weber, Peter Friedman, Stephen Tobolowsky,
Bacheha-Ye aseman (1997)
A Little Secret...Their Biggest Adventure!
Mohammad Amir Naji, Amir Farrokh Hashemian, Bahare Seddiqi, Nafise Jafar-Mohammadi, Fereshte Sarabandi,
John Abraham, Ayesha Takia, Paresh Rawal, Ranvir Shorey, Joy Fernandas,
Murder by Contract (1958)
It's Kill or Be Killed!
Crime, Drama, Film Noir, Thriller,
Vince Edwards, Phillip Pine, Herschel Bernardi, Caprice Toriel, Michael Granger,
The Last Mile (1932)
The Season's Dramatic Thunderbolt! From the Play that Rocked the Nation!
Crime, Drama,
Howard Phillips, Preston Foster, George E. Stone, Noel Madison, Alan Roscoe,
Mickey Rooney, Frank Overton, Michael Constantine, John Vari, Clifford David,
Belén Rueda, Fernando Cayo, Roger Príncep, Mabel Rivera, Montserrat Carulla,
Sala samobójców (2011)
Where fantasy and reality meet.
Jakub Gierszal, Roma Gasiorowska, Agata Kulesza, Krzysztof Pieczynski, Bartosz Gelner,
Lockdown (2000)
Richard T. Jones, Gabriel Casseus, De'aundre Bonds, Master P, Melissa De Sousa,
Sinful Temptations (2001)
Mia Zottoli, Susan Featherly, Burke Morgan, Timothy Stempien, Tom Fry,
Maggie Marvel (2011)
Hired Killer, Single Mom
Selene Beretta, Diana Brennan, Katherine Barron, Dan Brennan, Sabrina Brennan,
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403
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The Studio Albums 1967-74 (Limited Edition, 6 LPs)
Interpreten Traffic
Genre Pop, Rock
Inhalt 6 LPs
Edition Limited Edition
Tracks - Disc 1 (LP)
Heaven Is In Your Mind (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
Berkshire Poppies (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Steve Marriott, Ronnie Lane, Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist), Ian McLagan, Jimmy Miller & Kenney Jones
House For Everyone (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
No Face, No Name, No Number (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Dear Mr. Fantasy (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
Dealer (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Utterly Simple (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Coloured Rain (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
Hope I Never Find Me There (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Giving To You (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
You Can All Join In (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Pearly Queen (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Don't Be Sad (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Who Knows What Tomorrow May Bring (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
Feelin' Alright? (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Vagabond Virgin (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
(Roamin' Thro' The Gloamin' With) 40,000 Headmen (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Cryin' To Be Heard (Remastered 2017) Dave Mason, Dave Mason (Komponist), Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
No Time To Live (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood & Jimmy Miller
Means To An End (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist) & Jimmy Miller
Glad (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Chris Wood & Chris Blackwell
Freedom Rider (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Chris Wood & Chris Blackwell
Empty Pages (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Chris Wood & Chris Blackwell
Stranger To Himself (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist) & Chris Blackwell
John Barleycorn (Must Die) (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Traditional (Komponist) & Chris Blackwell
Every Mother's Son (Remastered 2010) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi (Komponist) & Guy Stevens
Hidden Treasure (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Jim Gordon, Ric Grech & Rebop Kwaku Baah
The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Jim Gordon, Ric Grech & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Rock 'N' Roll Stew (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Jim Gordon, Jim Gordon (Komponist), Rick Grech (Komponist), Ric Grech & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Many A Mile To Freedom (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Jim Gordon, Ric Grech & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Jim Gordon, Ric Grech & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Rainmaker (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Ric Grech, Mike Kellie & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Shoot Out At The Fantasy Factory (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, David Hood, Roger Hawkins & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Roll Right Stones (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, David Hood, Roger Hawkins & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Evening Blue (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, David Hood, Roger Hawkins & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Tragic Magic (Remastered 2017) Jimmy Johnson, Traffic, Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Chris Wood (Komponist), David Hood, Roger Hawkins, Rebop Kwaku Baah & Barry Beckett
(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, David Hood, Roger Hawkins & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Something New (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Blackwell, Rosko Gee & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Dream Gerrard (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Chris Wood, Viv Stanshall (Komponist), Chris Blackwell & Rosko Gee
Graveyard People (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Blackwell, Rosko Gee & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Walking In The Wind (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Blackwell, Rosko Gee & Rebop Kwaku Baah
Memories Of A Rock 'N' Rolla (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Blackwell & Rosko Gee
Love (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Rosko Gee & Chris Blackwell
When The Eagle Flies (Remastered 2017) Traffic, Steve Winwood, Steve Winwood (Komponist), Jim Capaldi, Jim Capaldi (Komponist), Chris Wood, Chris Blackwell, Rosko Gee & Rebop Kwaku Baah
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Molly Ringwald Net Worth 2019
Molly Ringwald is an American Singer, Dancer, Actress and an Author. It is remarkable to note that Ringwald is part of the “Brat Pack” who was ranked number 1 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Teen Stars. Let’s find out how much is Molly Ringwald’s net worth in 2019.
She was born on February 18, 1968 in Roseville, California, U.S. Her first major role was as Molly in The Facts of Life after her excellent performance in one of the stage shows. She began her acting career at a very young age performing on stages. She also started recording music albums at a very young age itself. Ringwald got married twice. She was first \ married to Valery Lameignere in 1999 but got divorced later in 2002. She then married Panio Gianopoulos in the year 2007 who is a Greek- American writer and editor.
Ringwald started her acting career and music career at a very young age, at 5. It was a stage production when she was casted as the Dormouse in ‘Alice Through the Looking Glass’. The very next year she recorded a music album “I Wanna Be Moved By You”. At the age of 10 she was selected to play Kate in one of the productions of West Coast ‘Annie’. The very next year she appeared on ‘Different Strokes’, one of the fantabulous TV Series of the year. In ‘The Facts of Life’ her role as Molly Parker gained an extraordinary and remarkable applause.
Ringwald performed as a lead vocalist in two Disney albums in 1980. This gave her a chance to perform a track in a Disney Christmas Album. She rose to fame with her excellent performance in ‘Sixteen Candles’ in the 1984. She gained more success and fame when she was cast in The Breakfast Club in the year 1985 which was a great success commercially. ’Pretty In Pink’ is another major successful work of Molly in 1986. The stable acting stand for Molly Ringwald started in 1990s when she appeared in James- Scott’s ‘Strike It Rich’.
Awards & Achievements:
Molly is the winner of the Young Artist Award for ‘Sixteen Candles’ in 1985. Best Actress award in 1988 in Paris Film Festival ‘For Keeps’ is an overwhelming and stupendous memory in her history of awards. She is the recipient of Silver Bucket of Excellence Award in 2005 by MTV Movie Awards for ‘The Breakfast Club’. Apart from these fantabulous winnings of Molly Ringwald she has received the vigorous and exceptional nominations for some of the significant awards for her glorifying performances since her childhood.
Net worth of Molly Ringwald
The estimated net worth of Ringwald is $12 Million. Undoubtedly most of her earnings were accumulated through her acting career and partly from being a singer and a writer as she holds a pretty good name of being an author for two famous books. The majority of earnings are accumulated through her exceptional and stupendous performance being an actress at a very young age and being the queen of child artist since her inception to film industry being a child.
Ringwald’s signature red hair is one of the styling which is maintained by her over the years. she is an epitome of perfection and grace with her astonishing skills which are cultivated by means of pure hard work and sincerity to her work. She mostly stayed out of the limelight until 2008. She never missed to endorse her foot in all the fields in which she can excel. Her work as an author, as a musician and as an actress was great.
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Veteran Dogs Suffering From PTSD
By Joe Wilkes
Like their human counterparts, the dogs of war also undergo rehabilitation for their scars. While having risked their own lives and bearing witness to the casualties of war, many of the returning dogs from Iraq have been diagnosed and treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dogs have been increasingly used in military conflicts. Because of their sensitive noses, they have become the best line of defense against improvised explosive devices (I.E.D.’s), as most of these roadside bombs use chemical explosives, unfound by metal detectors, the previous standard in bomb detection. Special forces dogs such as the ones that contributed to the killing of Osama Bin Laden have also become critical operational elements.
Whether the dogs have been used in specialized operations or as traditional guard dogs, they have been subjected to the same traumatic events as any soldier and bear the emotional scars upon returning home from their mission. Unlike humans, they can’t speak to what they have witnessed, and so must be treated with special care and intuition to what they have been through.
Veterinarians gauge how the dogs respond to loud noises such as gunfire or whether they react with aggression or fear to their handlers, who they may hold responsible for their introduction to a chaotic situation. The dog veterans may also hold aversions to the settings of the trauma, whether it be a vehicle or type of building. By ascertaining the cause of the trauma, the veterinarians can help desensitize the dog so the events, participants, or locations don’t cause unnecessary reaction.
Many dogs also experience human-like long-term reactions such as anxiety and panic attacks. Veterinarians have been trained to look out for these mental and emotional stresses, and dog versions of human anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax are available for prescription.
The goal with many of these military dogs is to rehabilitate them so they can continue the service for which they’ve been trained and help save the lives of countless soldiers. Many bounce back with therapy, medication, rest, or a combination. Other dogs who are too traumatized may be taken out of service so they don’t pose a danger to others or themselves. These dogs are recommended for re-homing with families who can provide the special care they need.
Tell us in the comments about a service dog that has touched your heart.
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3Dlabs teams with Intel
3Dlabs announced it is cooperating with the chipmaking giant in the design and development of 3D graphics processors designed for 64-bit computing.
November 12, 1997 12:20 PM PST
3Dlabs announced it is cooperating with chipmaking giant Intel in the design of 3D graphics processors for next-generation 64-bit computing.
3Dlabs and Intel are teaming up in hopes of ensuring that future 3D graphics chips work well with Intel's forthcoming IA-64 family of microprocessors, the first of which will be the Merced chip, due in 1999.
For optimal 3D application performance, the graphics processor must be compatible with the interconnect busses proposed for the Merced processor's architecture. A bus is the pathway for the transmission of data between the computer's main processor and its other components, in this case the graphics processor.
The Merced architecture will initially be targeted at high-end servers and workstations. The latter is a core market for 3D graphics chips companies like 3Dlabs because workstations are used in graphics-intensive applications like MCAD (mechanical computer-aided design) and multimedia content creation.
Last month, Intel and Hewlett-Packard gave a glimpse of a 64-bit technology, dubbed "EPIC," that will underlie the superfast 64-bit processors like Merced that will begin to emerge from Intel in two years' time.
Discuss: 3Dlabs teams with Intel
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Memos Shed Light on CIA Use of Sleep Deprivation
Though widely perceived as more effective and less objectionable than other interrogation methods, memos show it's harsher and more controversial than most realize. And it could be brought back.
Greg Miller
People dressed as "torture detainees" protest against torture in March on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. More than 25 of the CIA's war-on-terror prisoners were subjected to sleep deprivation during the administration of former president George W. Bush, The Los Angeles Times reported. (AFP/Tim Sloan)
WASHINGTON - As President Obama prepared last month to release secret memos on the CIA's use of severe interrogation methods, the White House fielded a flurry of last-minute appeals.
One came from former CIA Director Michael V. Hayden, who expressed disbelief that the administration was prepared to expose methods it might later decide it needed.
"Are you telling me that under all conditions of threat, you will never interfere with the sleep cycle of a detainee?" Hayden asked a top White House official, according to sources familiar with the exchange.
From the beginning, sleep deprivation had been one of the most important elements in the CIA's interrogation program, used to help break dozens of suspected terrorists, far more than the most violent approaches. And it is among the methods the agency fought hardest to keep.
The technique is now prohibited by President Obama's ban in January on harsh interrogation methods, although a task force is reviewing its use along with other interrogation methods the agency might employ in the future.
Because of its effectiveness -- as well as the perception that it was less objectionable than waterboarding, head-slamming or forced nudity -- sleep deprivation may be seen as a tempting technique to restore.
But the Justice Department memos released last month by Obama, as well as information provided by officials familiar with the program, indicate that the method, which involves forcing chained prisoners to stand, sometimes for days on end, was more controversial within the U.S. intelligence community than was widely known.
A CIA inspector general's report issued in 2004 was more critical of the agency's use of sleep deprivation than it was of any other method besides waterboarding, according to officials familiar with the document, because of how the technique was applied.
The prisoners had their feet shackled to the floor and their hands cuffed close to their chins, according to the Justice Department memos.
Detainees were clad only in diapers and not allowed to feed themselves. A prisoner who started to drift off to sleep would tilt over and be caught by his chains.
The memos said that more than 25 of the CIA's prisoners were subjected to sleep deprivation. At one point, the agency was allowed to keep prisoners awake for as long as 11 days; the limit was later reduced to just over a week.
According to the memos, medical personnel were to make sure prisoners weren't injured. But a 2007 Red Cross report on the CIA program said that detainees' wrists and ankles bore scars from their shackles.
When detainees could no longer stand, they could be laid on the prison floor with their limbs "anchored to a far point on the floor in such a manner that the arms cannot be bent or used for balance or comfort," a May 10, 2005, memo said.
"The position is sufficiently uncomfortable to detainees to deprive them of unbroken sleep, while allowing their lower limbs to recover from the effects of standing," it said.
In the Red Cross report, prisoners said they were also subjected to loud music and repetitive noise.
"I was kept sitting on a chair, shackled by hands and feet for two to three weeks," said suspected Al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, the first prisoner captured by the CIA, according to the Red Cross report. "If I started to fall asleep, a guard would come and spray water in my face."
In the Justice Department memos, sleep deprivation was described as part of a "baseline" phase of interrogation, categorized as less severe than other "corrective" or "coercive" methods.
Within the CIA, sleep deprivation was seen as a method with the unique advantage of eroding prisoners' will to resist without causing lasting harm.
"Waterboarding was obviously the most controversial," said a former senior U.S. government official who was briefed extensively on CIA interrogation operations. But "sleep deprivation is probably the most effective thing they had going."
Facing congressional efforts in 2005 and 2006 to block the use of certain techniques, CIA lawyers and Bush administration officials lobbied to keep a core set of methods, including sleep deprivation.
In 2007, after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling compelled the White House to bring the CIA program into compliance with the Geneva Convention, President Bush signed an executive order that outlined detainees' rights to the "basic necessities of life." The order listed "adequate food and water, shelter from the elements, necessary clothing" and protection from extreme heat and cold. But it made no mention of sleep as a basic necessity.
Current and former U.S. intelligence officials said sleep deprivation multiplied the coercive power of other techniques that included face-slapping and confinement in small boxes.
"It was viewed as a tool that enabled all the others," said a former CIA official directly involved in the program. The former official, like others, described internal thinking on condition of anonymity.
The Justice Department memos also cited research that suggested sleep deprivation was not harmful.
"Experience with sleep deprivation shows that 'surprisingly, little seemed to go wrong with the subjects physically,' " said the May 10, 2005, Justice Department memo -- one of many instances in which government lawyers cited scientific papers in asserting that the program was safe.
But some authors of those studies have since said that the conclusions of their research were grossly misapplied.
James Horne, director of the Sleep Research Center at Loughborough University in Britain, said he was never consulted by U.S. officials and didn't know how his work was being used until the memos were released.
"My response was shocked concern," Horne said in an e-mail interview. Just because the pain of sleep deprivation "can't be measured in terms of physical injury or appearance . . . does not mean that the mental anguish is not as bad."
Horne said that it was dangerous for the CIA to extrapolate from independent research in which subjects had gone for as long as a week without sleep, voluntarily, and were free to eat, rest, watch television or leave the research facility at any time. By contrast, CIA prisoners were subjected to major additional stresses that risk physical and mental collapse.
"To claim that 180 hours is safe in these respects is nonsense," Horne wrote in a separate online posting. Even if sleep deprivation succeeded in getting prisoners to talk, he said, "I would doubt whether the state of mind would be able to produce credible information, unaffected by delusion, fantasy or suggestibility."
© 2009 The Los Angeles Times
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What's Your Gut Telling You?
Dr. Friedman shares why so many people have unhealthy guts and what we can do to achieve optimal health.The gut is often referred to as the "second brain," because it has its own enteric nervous system that works independently of the cerebrum.
The gut helps in our decision making, hence the term “trust your gut” and “what’s your gut instinct telling you?”
People think that love begins in the heart, but actually, it’s in the gut. This is why you get butterflies in your stomach when you fall in love.
Scientists used to believe our emotions originated in the brain but new research shows it may actually come from the gut. Think about that. If you were to hear bad news that a family member was just in a severe car accident, where would you feel pain? Immediately in your gut. This is where the term “gut-wrenching news” comes from.
If you are afraid of heights and you look out of a high-rise building window, you’d feel it in your gut.
The digestive tract controls our personality, mood, and even our hormones.
So, what’s the magical Oz behind the curtain that has so much control over our body? It’s called the microbiome, a group of good microorganisms that live in our gut. When they don’t function properly, this can lead to food intolerance, obesity, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune disease, depression, thyroid disease and even cancer.
In this episode, Dr. Friedman shares why so many people have unhealthy guts and what we can do to achieve optimal health.
To stay up to date with Dr. Friedman’s latest articles, videos and interviews, go to DrDavidFriedman.com.
You can follow him on social media:
Twitter and Facebook: @DrDavidFriedman
Instagram: @DrDFriedman
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Hillary Clinton: Learn From Your Sisters
by David Rosen
Hillary Clinton will likely capture the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination and may well win the ’16 election. Like Obama’s victories, Clinton’s victory will mark an important social development; she will be the first female following the first mixed-race African-American as president. This will represent an important symbolic social development; but it remains to be seen whether it will signify meaningful social change.
More then three-dozen women have run for the highest office in the land since before they gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Most recently, Roseanne Barr (Peace and Freedom) and Jill Stein (Green) ran in 2012; in 2008, Cynthia McKinney (Green) ran. Women have also run on parties as divergent as the Communists, Socialist Workers, Workers World, People’s, New Alliance, Right to Life, Surprise and Looking Back.
Two women, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-MA) and Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), sought the candidacy of their respective establishment parties; Smith for the Republican Party in 1964 and Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, for the Democratic Party in 1972. Neither received their party’s nomination.
Two earlier women candidates – Francis Wright and Victoria Woodhull – ran for presidency 185 and 143 years ago, respectively. The policies they individual articulated were not simply radical for their times, but more radical then the programs articulated by any candidate, including Mrs. Clinton, running today. Clinton has much to learn from her political sisters.
Francis Wright, Working Men’s Party, 1830
Now all but forgotten, Frances Wright was the most scandalous woman in America during the pre-Civil War or antebellum era and the first woman to run for president.
Born in Scotland in 1795, she was a respected author and on a first-name basis with John Stuart Mill, Jeremy Bentham and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. In 1821, while in Paris, she met the Marquis de Lafayette and worked with him supporting a number of revolutionary movements. In ’22, she published A Few Days in Athens, a fictionalized work on the philosophy of Epicurus, drawing praise from Thomas Jefferson, who wrote her that it was a “treat to me of the highest order.”
Wright’s relation with Lafayette scandalized his family and society. He was openly infatuated with her, calling her fondly, “my dear Fanny” and referred to their relationship in familial terms, similar to a father-daughter relation. He was likely attracted by boldness, her refusal to adhere to the traditional male-dominated intellectual culture. She accompanied him during part of his legendary travels through America.
In the U.S., she met and regularly corresponded with Jefferson, strongly challenging him over his acceptance of slavery. She also joined Robert Owen’s utopian-socialist “cooperative village,” the New Harmony Community of Equality, in Indiana, but fiercely opposed him over slavery.
She broke with Owen over slavery and joined with his son, Robert Dale Owen, and her sister, Camilla, to found Nashoba, the Chickasaw word that means Wolf River, a radical utopian community in rural Tennessee.
With the help of Andrew Jackson, Wright purchased nearly 2,000 acres in rural western Tennessee in 1826 in order to establish the community.
Nashoba was a mixed community of women and men, married and unmarried, black and white, free and slave, adult and child. It was an historically unprecedented attempt to remake civil society, but was doomed to failure by the forces of its inherent and irreconcilable contradictions as well as by the material conditions under which it operated. From all accounts, it seemed to have been a miserable place, with only a handful of poorly constructed and furnished houses, a well for water and ill-tended gardens and a handful of domesticated animals. After Nashoba failed, Wright freed its slaves in Haiti.
Wright was a sought-after speaker, one of only a few public women in early-19th century America. She took an unequivocal stand on the equality of the sexes:
No woman can forfeit her individual rights or independent existence, and not assert over her any right or power whatsoever, beyond what she may exercise over her free and voluntary affections; nor, on the other hand, may any woman assert claims to the society or peculiar protection of any individual of the other sex, beyond what mutual inclination dictates and sanctions.
Wright was so prominent that she was invited to give Cincinnati’s 1828 July 4th keynote address, thus credited with likely being the first woman to give a major public address in America.
Together with Dale Owen, she moved to New York and, in January 1829, gave a series of six lectures at New York’s Masonic Hall drawing 2,000 people to each talk. The lectures were followed by an equally popular series at the Park Theater. Angry men repeatedly disrupted the talks, enraged by the topics she addressed, as that a woman should speak so passionately in public.
They established the Hall of Science on Broome Street and ran a printing press and opened a popular bookstore. She is credited with being the first American woman to edit a journal, initially the Harmony Gazette that, after relocating to Gotham, became The Free Enquirer. Her lectures were on controversial subjects, including women’s rights, birth control, abolition of slavery, criticism on religion and the exploitation of working people. But most controversial, she delivered them!
As a youth, Walt Whitman attended Wright’s lectures and fondly recalled her, “I never felt so glowingly toward any other woman. … She possessed herself of me body and soul.”
In 1830, she ran for president as a candidate for the Working Men’s Party, which became known as “the Fanny Wright ticket.” She opposed capital punishment, challenged religious intolerance, was a feminist before feminism and called for equal education, birth control, legal rights for married women and liberal divorce laws.
Victoria Woodhull, Equal Rights Party, 1872
Victoria Woodhull was the nation’s leading advocate for ending traditional, patriarchal relations during the post-Civil War era. Thomas Nast, a leading 19th century illustrator, dubbed her “Mrs. Satan.”
In 1868, Woodhull and her sister, Tennessee (“Tennie”) Claflin, moved to New York from Ohio and became spiritual advisors to railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt. In turn, in ’70, Vanderbilt underwrote the sisters’ venture, Woodhull, Claflin & Company, making them the first women stockbrokers on Wall Street.
Also in ’70, the sisters founded the Woodhull and Claflin’s Weekly that generated a national stir with its frank discussions of forbidden topics like women’s suffrage, prostitution, sex education and short skirts. They published the first U.S. English version of Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto.
During this period, she advocated for what she called “Free Love” which was based on female equality, that women should marrying for love and argued for fairer divorce laws. As she declared:
Sexual freedom means the abolition of prostitution both in and out of marriage, means the emancipation of woman and her coming into control of her own body, means the end of her pecuniary dependence upon man … [it] means the abrogation of forced pregnancy, of anti-natal murder of undesired children and the birth of love children only.
In public lectures, she urged women to refuse the then-dominant notion that demand female sexual desire was immoral. “What! Vulgar!” she proclaimed. “The instinct that creates immortal souls vulgar … be honest … it is not the possession of strong powers that is to be deprecated. They are that necessary part of human character.”
In 1872 Woodhull ran for president on behalf of the Equal Rights Party; the party drafted the absent Frederick Douglass for vice president. The cornerstone of Woodhull’s platform was wealth inequality:
It is not great wealth in a few individuals that proves a country is prosperous, but great general wealth evenly distributed among the people. … It is the struggling masses who are the foundation [of this country]; and if the foundation be rotten or insecure, the rest of the structure must eventually crumble.
On the night of the election, Woodhill and her sister were in a New York jail having been arrested by Anthony Comstock, the country’s leading moral crusader, for obscenity. They were busted for publishing an exposé of an out-of-wedlock affair involving the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was one of America’s leading theologians and bishop of Brooklyn’s Plymouth Congregational Church. At their trial, the sisters were acquitted when the judge noted that the original Comstock law did not cover newspapers.
The U.S. has come a very long way since the days of Francis Wright and Victoria Woodhull. The inspirational lives and candidacies of these two remarkable women suggest how radical, utopian candidates can articulate visions that anticipate the nation’s future.
Hillary Clinton, like most of the other establishment politicians, whether Democratic or Republican, comes off as a bureaucratic fixer, ever-so pragmatic and sadly careful. A lifetime of working the levers of power makes the presidency the next step in her career path. She offers no original vision, but invokes cautiously crafted statements that are intended to assure Democratic voters that she can keep the ship of state afloat.
How often can we continue to hear candidates call for a return to the good-old-days of the American Dream? Those days are over and an increasingly number of Americans knows it. Unfortunately, most of the candidates, including Clinton, refuse to acknowledge it.
The blustering Socialist turned Democrat, Bernie Sanders, knows that he has little to no chance of dethroning the super-funded Clinton machine and gain the Democratic nomination. This has freed him to promote an uncompromising critique of inequality, of the economic and social failures of a stagnating U.S. capitalism.
Mrs. Clinton may well embrace elements of Sanders’ critique in her appeal to more progressive primary votes; in this way, she will mirror the pull to the right championed by nearly all the Republican candidates. If nominated, she will likely drift to the ever-safe moderate center, like Obama and so many others before her. And if elected, one can only hope – recalling candidate Obama’s campaign slogan – that some of the progressive concerns she articulates during the campaign will become policy.
Sadly, Hillary Clinton has probably never heard of nor studied the lives and works of sister presidential candidates, Wright and Woodhull. Their legacies might well inspire her to imagine a new vision of the nation’s future. Surely, this is what’s most missing in the 2016 electoral onslaught.
More articles by:David Rosen
David Rosen is the author of Sex, Sin & Subversion: The Transformation of 1950s New York’s Forbidden into America’s New Normal (Skyhorse, 2015). He can be reached at drosennyc@verizon.net; check out www.DavidRosenWrites.com.
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Why All the Uproar Over the Green New Deal?
by Lance Olsen
Pulp mill, Longview, Washington. Photo: Jeffrey St. Clair.
Same ol’ same ol’ battle: The more things change, the more they stay the same
On August 21, 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that “…many scientists say deep emissions cuts are necessary … to prevent … dangerous consequences of global warming,” and also reported that, “Getting from here to there would require a massive economic shift.”
There’s likely been no better summary of the Green New Deal’s basic rationale.
In just a few words, the Journal succinctly stated a dangerous trend of rising emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, identified the scale of action necessary to putting a lid on the danger, and did that 10 years before the Sunrise Movement caught the attention of newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The details on either the science or economic side of the responses to the Green New Deal can be dazzling, and we’ve seen a virtual explosion of debate across topics that will be discussed in the following pages.
But, then as now, the heart of the massive economic shift deemed necessary by the evidence from science is a shift away from financing fossil fuels, with an accompanying shift to financing of renewables. Any such shift of “massive” scale was always going to rock some politically influential boats, so an offensive aimed at defeating it was revved up full bore. At bottom, it has long been and still is a competitive scramble for money.
Before the Green New Deal: The Old Battle Informs the New
In fact, an attack against renewables was kicked into gear years ago, and the current anti-Green New Deal brouhaha is just a rehash of an old campaign to defend the capital and capitalists aligned around combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas.
For example, in 2013, a half dozen years before Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez signaled her support of the Sunrise Movement’s Green New Deal, David Robert’s excellent analysis for Grist spelled out that rooftop solar panels could compete against the coal-burning utilities, and that utility execs were openly admitting the risk to their profits, even to their industry.
With solar thus seen as a threat to the fossil fuel order, an offense against solar began at once, and the attacks spread to state legislatures all across the American landscape. By July 2017, the New York Times was reporting that “Rooftop Solar Dims Under Pressure From Utility Lobbyists”. The Times described “a concerted and well-funded lobbying campaign by traditional utilities, which have been working in state capitals across the country to reverse incentives for homeowners to install solar panels.”
These attacks on solar soon extended to all renewable energy, predated the Green New Deal, were early warnings of the broader attacks we see now on the Green New Deal itself.
These same old attacks on renewables have continued for basically the same old reasons. As of February 19, 2019, the Energy and Policy Institute reported on direct attacks being led by the “coal and gas industries that fear competition from the booming renewable energy industry.”
So, in a way, nothing has changed. It’s still the same old big, energetic, even fierce campaign to defend fossil fuel capitalism from competition in the form of cleaner energy such as solar and wind. When this comes from politicians who typically pose as champions of competition, it’s a peculiar turn of events.
Since the Green New Deal: Same ol’ Battle soars to new levels
What’s new is that advocates of the Green New Deal take climate change more seriously than ever before, and this is rocking the coal, oil, gas capitalists’ boat like never before.
Concluding a lengthy discussion of what is actually some good news about the Green New Deal, The New Yorker’s staff writer John Cassidy says, “ The rollout of the Green New Deal may have been troubled, but it has started something.”
It’s certainly started fire under the long-complacent Democratic Party. The New York Times reported on March 4, 2019 that, Senate Democrats are preparing to “make combating climate change a central issue of their 2020 campaigns — a striking shift on an issue they have shied away from for the past decade.”
Capitalist v. Capitalist
Big Money is clearly at stake, as always. But now it comes with an added intrigue in the form of Big Money endangering lots of other Big Money, leaving the world of business increasingly sharply divided between fossil fuel capitalists and the rest of the capitalist world.
Big Fossil Fuel Money is fighting against necessity to keep fossil fuels in the ground, unsold, with potentially huge losses of income and profit for coal, oil, and natural gas. At the same time, other Big Money is at risk if fossil doesn’t stay sequestered where it is. The biggest risk here is in damage that storms, floods, and fires can do to tangible physical assets like dams, power lines, factories, resorts, homes — even to power plants dependent on fossil fuels.
A striking example of the potent new capitalist v. capitalist battle came on strong when the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change, a group of 415 investment firms managing combined assets worth more than twice the size of the entire Chinese economy, told governments to 1- back away from reliance on thermal coal, and 2- to give up subsidizing all fossil fuels, and 3- to get on with putting a price on carbon.
The net effect is that this vast mountain of capital is pushing in much the same general direction as the Green New Deal. Likewise, banks around the world are now backing away from financing the coal industry. Although definitely not a coordinated effort, this combined push is fundamental to the scale of action that scientists see as necessary to prevent dangerous changes forced on the atmosphere, oceans, land, living species and systems.
The jobs race: Labor’s big bungle
So, today’s attacks on the Green New Deal are grounded in the old rage against renewables — and their jobs. What we’re getting is not only a fight of capitalist v. capitalist, but a fight over jobs v. jobs.
This fight puts many Democrats between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
Democrats depend on the labor vote, but there’s a big problem here. As the Financial Times reported on March 10, 2019, “unions, which should support a plan that could put their members to work upgrading and retrofitting the nation’s housing stock and commercial buildings for the green era, are now complaining that the GND will be a job killer.”
This, Financial Times observed, “ highlights the fact that some in the US labour movement have been captured by the extractive industries. They are less focused on conversations about timing and transition to a lower carbon economy than in painting the proponents of GND as climate extremists.”
The Democrats’ dilemma is that the necessary economic shift requires a bust for fossil fuel jobs, and a corresponding boom for renewable industry jobs.
I’m always wary of booms, but a jobs boom in the realm of renewables is a boom we greatly need. As hasn’t always been true of other booms, this one has serious, important potential to leave the world a less-damaged, more comfortable, and safer place.
For sure, there’s a big and glaring need to protect fossil fuel capitalists’ rank and file employees as the necessary economic shift rolls on, but that needs emphasis on protecting people, not a specific set of jobs. Alas, when faced with the need to protect people, can’t-do politicians and can’t-do labor leaders alike line up to declare it can’t be done.
The name-calling game
The beginning of an actual shift from dirty to cleaner energy has the defenders of dirty energy scrambling. They’ve even stooped to name-calling, specifically blasting the Green New Deal as, shudder, a “socialist” scheme.
That tactic is more snark than substance, and it got a notable and important slapdown from Greg Ip, Capital Accounts columnist for The Wall Street Journal.
Ip criticized President Trump and others who’ve been hurling the socialism chant around as if it’s a weapon. As Ip sees it, “Taxing the rich, Medicare-for-all, and a Green New Deal that replaces fossil fuels with renewables are certainly liberal, probably radical, possibly unwise.
“But socialist? Hardly.” With that, Ip pulled a weapon straight out of Trump’s hands.
He goes on to argue that,“‘Socialism’ is, of course, a big tent, having at one point included Soviet communists and Scandinavian social democrats. Every country is a little bit socialist insofar as every government owns some productive assets.”
In a further reality check on the Green New Deal’s attackers, Ip adds that, ”If the federal government ends up financing significant expansion of renewable energy under a Green New Deal, it wouldn’t be unprecedented: it created the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1930s and the Interstate highway system in the 1950s because their social benefits didn’t lend themselves to private investment.”
The nationalistic right fires up its base by claiming that the Green New Deal is a direct threat to the American way because it is a government takeover — nationalization — of private industry. But Ip aptly points out that the Green New Deal is not about government takeover, a.k.a., nationalization of industry.
Alas, the irony of the capitalist media taking a weapon out of rightwing capitalists’ hands is likely to go unreported in the rightwing media, and Green New Deal advocates from the furthest reaches of the left are likely reluctant to credit anyone associated with the Wall Street Journal with getting anything right.
But there it is.
Who’s got realism?
Socialism snark aside, defenders of fossil fuel capitalism have said that Green New Deal advocates are simply “unrealistic.” Oh, really?
Again, it’s been capitalists stepping in to slap down that piece of nonsense.
Liam Denning, for example, has done stints as an investment banker, columnist for the Financial Times, and editor of one of The Wall Street Journal’s most closely-read columns — Heard on the Street.
Laying it on the line in writing for Bloomberg, Denning says, “The Green New Deal is unrealistic? Get real.” He concludes his slapdown with, “If the GND’s ambition is a testament to anything, it is that there are no easy solutions here. We have built our standard of living on forms of energy that we now know pose a threat to our very existence. That is a simple summation of a monumental challenge; one where time has eroded our margin for incremental action. No matter what you think of the specifics, or lack of them, this is a conversation that is long overdue – and necessarily begins with a shout, not a whisper.”
CO2 is actually good for you. How realistic is that?
Demonstrating the desperation of fossil fuel capitalists and their captive politicians in both parties, there’s lately even been a dusting off of an old argument of the now-defunct Greening Earth Society. The basic argument of this group was that carbon emissions, and therefore the coal, oil and gas industries are being falsely accused of harm. Actually, according to that old propaganda, because carbon taken from atmospheric CO2 is necessary to the growth of plants including trees and food crops, it’s a good thing, so hey, more of it is even better.
The claim that pushing CO2 levels to new heights was going to be a miracle for agriculture has been long-debunked, this time by scientists. For example, in 1992, Scientific American published “Plant Life in a CO2-rich World,” by Fahkri Bazaaz and Eric Fajer. One sentence from that article suggests a lot about what was known by then: “At first glance, elevated carbon dioxide levels might seem an agricultural blessing.”
Bazaaz and Fajer go on to say, “According to the best scientific evidence, we see no reason to be sanguine,” and “Such an atmosphere will not help lessen the planet’s environmental and demographic woes.”
What it will do, they reported, is reduce nutrition of plant tissue, with implications for every animal that relies on plants for nutrition. Among other things, insects will have to devour more in order to stay even.
Bazaaz and Fajer concluded that, “It is clear that high COz levels will have wide-ranging consequences for the natural world. And it is clear that the COz fertilization effect does not guarantee a lush, green future of agricultural abundance.”
In its March 25, 2000 issue, eight years after the Scientific American article exposing the, ahem, unrealistic claims about CO2, Science News followed up with an excellent update on the stage of the science, “Greenhouse Gassed: carbon dioxide spells indigestion for food chains,” by Tina Hesman. Hesman interviewed researchers who found adverse effects on everything from caterpillars to domestic sheep. Her article closes with a researcher’s quip about who might be out chasing down wild ungulates with nutrient supplements.
On August 2, 2007, seven years after Hesman’s interviews with researchers, Nature ran another followup, “The other greenhouse effect”. Although scientists had by then concluded that there’s even more to the story than reduced protein, concern about “human health and the wider ecosystem” had persisted.
GND will destroy the economy — we can’t afford it!!!
What we can’t afford is the fossil fuel capitalism forcing the world into increasingly dangerous change. Without the massive economic shift to renewables, the economy is subject to becoming a shambles. Given that it also means risk of food crops in shambles, Depression era breadlines bereft of bread is a not-entirely-extreme scenario.
Two Federal Reserve analyses have joined a growing chorus of warnings about economic hard times if we keep dumping carbon to the atmosphere.
An August, 2018 analysis by a team with the Fed’s Richmond branch,”The Impact of Higher Temperatures on Economic Growth,” cited reason to expect that economic growth, the Holy Grail of politicians, could dive by 30% as carbon emissions force the world into hotter times.That finding, however, is all hush-hush for politicians pimping promises of optimism. Some of these politicians, clearly, are just stone-cold ignorant. Others likely just don’t care, and yet others likely just sense that voters will shoot the messenger if they dare break the bad news.
Alas for politicians and lay public alike, the second Fed outlook on climate and the economy, “Climate Change and the Federal Reserve” has added weight to the bad news side of the climate-economy equation. Describing persistent failure to stop dumping carbon to the atmosphere as an “intergenerational and international market failure is so problematic that some economists doubt that a carbon tax alone would suffice. Instead, a comprehensive set of government policies may be required, including clean-energy and carbon-capture research and development incentives, energy efficiency standards, and low-carbon public investment.”
With these recommendations, the Fed begins to sound a lot like the Green New Deal.
But this second of two Fed reports doesn’t stop there. It lays out the risk that “climate-related financial risks could affect the economy through elevated credit spreads, greater precautionary saving, and, in the extreme, a financial crisis. There could also be direct effects in the form of larger and more frequent macroeconomic shocks associated with the infrastructure damage, agricultural losses, and commodity price spikes caused by the droughts, floods, and hurricanes amplified by climate change.”
Like the Green New Deal, this second Fed report is solidly based on evidence from the scientific record. As early as its first page, it reminds readers that, “ Indeed, as early as 1896, the Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius showed that carbon emissions from human activities could cause global warming through a greenhouse effect. The underlying science is straightforward: Certain gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide and methane, capture the sun’s heat that is reflected off the Earth’s surface, thus blocking that heat from escaping into space. These greenhouse gases act like a blanket around the earth holding in heat. As more fossil fuels are burned, the blanket gets thicker, and global average temperatures increase.”
Nothing is more basic to realism about climatonomics than that.
And then there’s that other big capital shift
On November 21, 1994, 15 years before The Wall Street Journal summarized the rationale for a Green New Deal, Business Week reported that, “The gap between high- and low-income families has widened steadily since about 1980, hitting a new high every year since 1985.”
This gap was another big capital shift, and it too was already in effect long before the Sunrise Movement the attention of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
It’s been a gap with some adverse consequences of its own, it’s been hiding in plain sight for the past two decades, and it’s long been too big to ignore.
In the early 1990s, the Wall Street Journal spun off a large, slick, color magazine, the since-discontinued Smart Money. Two of the Wall Street Journal’s senior writers, Alan Murray and Albert Hunt, co-authored a regular column there. In one column of that earlier era, Murray and Hunt wrote that if concentration of wealth/income inequality continued, it would one day trigger a reaction that would make the bloody French Revolution of the 1790s seem like a picnic outing.
Well, yes, and the anger behind this predicted reaction has likely played a role in both the popularity of Donald Trump and, at the same time, the popularity of the Green New Deal. As Freud phrased it decades ago, we’ve had a “common unhappiness” for a long time.
Long-simmering unhappiness over concentration of wealth is one of two major — and overlapping — factors behind the riots we’ve recently seen in France — and elsewhere. The other major force is the urban-rural divide, which is a function of governments’ policies that concentrate people and wealth in booming cities, leaving the countryside increasingly impoverished, including the shuttering of rural businesses as their customers move to the cities.
France’s Macron really blew it
For example, the carbon tax in France was the straw that broke the camel’s back in frustration over soaring inequality of wealth. The bottom line is that French President Macron blew it, and the Green New Deal doesn’t have to fear a carbon tax — unless it repeats his mistake.
First, following the example of America’s Trump, France’s Macron made the nation’s rich happy by slashing taxes for the well-off. That did not sit well across the rest of the nation. Then, having already created social tension, he imposed a carbon tax that rich could easily afford, but pinched the rest of France just hard enough to cause pain. At first, reports on the protests focused on the carbon tax, as if it was the sole cause. More recently, the media have begun to pick up on the major, overlapping factors, identifying yet another case history of socioeconomic warnings that have long been ignored.
In plain fact, if Macron had been paying attention, he could have avoided his lame mistake, because the warning had been issued — and the need of remedies identified. In his calm, careful March 27, 2017 “How to make a carbon pricing system work” Financial Times economics columnist Martin Wolf had spelled out just about everything Macron needed to know, and in time for Macron to learn it. For example, Wolf explicitly cited need to cushion a carbon price’s pinch on the poor who must drive to work.
WTF is MMT?
If anything has triggered more frothing at the mouth than the Green New Deal itself, it’s the uproar following Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ comment that Modern Monetary Theory has a place in the conversation about it.
Prominent economists pounced at once. In its March 12, 2019 issue, The Economist told readers that “Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary now at Harvard University, recently called MMT the new ‘voodoo economics’, an insult formerly reserved for the notion that tax cuts pay for themselves”
Other economists quickly countered with a whoa, don’t be too quick to condemn. Giving some perspective to the debates, The Economist observed that, “These arguments are loud, sprawling and difficult to weigh up. They also speak volumes about macroeconomics.”
It turns out, according to The Economist’s perspective, that “MMT has its roots in deep doctrinal fissures” about macroeconomics dating back to the aftermath of the Great Depression, when “economists argued, sometimes bitterly, over how to build on the ideas of John Maynard Keynes, macroeconomics’ founding intellect.”
The Economist describes a long history of macroeconomic theory gaining influence, then waning only be replaced by a next new approach, and then that rendition pushed aside by a next version, which, in turn, disappoints. The Economist concludes that, “MMT is not obviously a step forward. But if it wins political support and influences policy only to flop, that is hardly voodoo. It is macroeconomics as usual.”
Getting past the bitter old battle against renewables and now against the Green New Deal won’t be easy. Neither will the effort to right the wrongs of an economy rigged for the rich.
But something obviously has to happen, and the outlines of the shape it takes may not be clear for the next couple years. One thing is certain. The familiar old battle over fossil fuels is still with us, the push for some kind of Green New Deal isn’t going away, and the arguments are well worth having in a world at risk of growing hotter and hotter both physically and socially.
As I was polishing this article, I got the following email from the American Association for the Advancement of Science, publisher of Science:
+ Humans are causing—and have already caused—climate change.
+ We are running out of time to limit some of the worst effects.
+ Achieving these limits will require ‘rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society,’ according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
So, what do we do now?
Broadly framed, we have two choices now. Either we get the rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society that scientists and Green New Deal advocates are urging, or we get another, more costly, and decidedly unkinder kind of rapid, far-reaching, and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society if we allow fossil fuel capitalism to defeat us.
More articles by:Lance Olsen
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Wartsila Wins Repeat Order For Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems
Wartsila has announced that it has been contracted by STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, to supply exhuat gas cleaning systems for four new Container Ro/Ro (ConRo) vessels being built for Italy-based Ignazio Messina & Co.
The systems will enable the new vessels to comply with both current and pending environmental legislation relating to exhaust emissions. For ships sailing in European waters, the maximum sulfur content will be limited to 0.5% from 2020, while a tighter limit of 0.1% will apply from 2015 to ships operating in 'sulfur emission control areas' (SECAs), which include the North Sea, the Baltic Sea and the English Channel.
The Wartsila systems supplied under the terms of this order will clean both sulfur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter emissions from the main engines, auxiliary engines, and the boiler. The vessels are to be delivered by the shipyard during the second half of 2014.
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https://www.ctpost.com/business/article/Dan-Haar-State-workers-loyal-to-unions-despite-13266461.php
Dan Haar: State workers loyal to unions despite right to end dues
By Dan Haar
Published 12:00 am EDT, Sunday, September 30, 2018
Union members and labor leaders stand on the steps of the Connecticut Supreme Court this summer in response to the U.S. Supreme Court on Janus v. AFSCME Council case.
Photo: H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media
After 28 years as an account clerk for the city of New Haven, 28 years as a member in good standing at AFSCME Local 884, Dolores Robinson decided to stop paying dues.
That’s now her right, after the so-called Janus decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in June. Public employees need not pay union dues to keep their jobs under the 5-4 ruling, and in most states — including Connecticut — they don’t lose privileges such as help with employer disputes.
Robinson has been an officer of the union local over the years, even serving a term as vice president. But a free $530 a year was too much to pass up.
“I had my mind made up,” she told me.
Then she had a long conversation with Jody Barr, the new executive director of AFSCME Council 4, which represents 30,000 state and municipal employees in Connecticut. She came around.
“I said, ‘What am I doing?’ It was wrong. It was just greedy,” said Robinson, who works at the city police department. “If I did this and everyone else did this ... that’s going to bust our union.”
Robinson’s story has pretty much held up across the state and the nation in the three months since the Janus decision. Observers figured public employee unions would see defections ranging from a few percent in union-friendly states such as Connecticut to a quarter or more of all members in some places as anti-union groups prodded them to drop out.
So far, that hasn’t happened. In Connecticut at least, defections amount to a tiny trickle — just a fraction of 1 percent in most cases.
In fact, several unions are seeing significant numbers of people who were not previously members signing union cards. Before Janus, those non-members — known as agency fee payers — had to pay the full dues, typically $400 to $700 a year.
As of July 5, the state comptroller’s office no longer withholds those fees from non-members. The unions lose that money until they sign up those non-members, a scramble underway now.
Whether more union members opt out of paying dues as they realize their rights — as supporters of the Janus decision expect will happen — remains to be seen. But for now, labor leaders rejoice as rank-and-file workers such as Robinson stick by their unions in the tense early months of the post-Janus era.
“It’s showing the truth of what a union means to union members,” said Barr, whose bargaining units represent 30,000 public employees in Connecticut, split evenly between state and municipal jobs. “They value the strength and the representation that they get in being part of a union.”
Fierce battleground
AFSCME Council 4 and other state employee unions are rapidly cutting into the ranks of non-members, restoring dues payments that were cut off from a total of about 7,100 people, depending on the month. Those lost payments would have amounted to about $3.5 million a year from state employees alone if all of the former agency payers had refused to sign union cards.
Unions are seeing such success that labor leaders are claiming renewed strength, spurred by the attack the Janus decision represents.
“This was a movement from the right to weaken unions and I think it’s backfired,” Barr said.
Could it be that the Supreme Court decision, feared as a brutal blow by unionists who anticipated it for years, is actually helping unions by forcing them to organize smarter and better?
It’s too soon to reach that conclusion, said Carol Platt Liebau, president of the Yankee Institute for Public Policy, a Connecticut group that favored the Janus decision and lobbies for curtailing public employee union powers.
The Yankee Institute has reached out to public employees, letting them know they have the right to stop paying dues without losing privileges. “Sometimes it takes a while for people to become aware of their rights,” said Liebau, who wouldn’t give details about the campaign.
She says the unions aren’t letting people know they can quit. As for the low numbers of defections this summer, she said, “People have been afraid of ostracism and other things that will happen to them if they speak out.”
Liebau says she only wants workers to act in their own self interest, whatever that means to them.
Union leaders say workers’ self-interest rests with solidarity, not in individual members saving several hundred dollars a year as their unions weaken. They say they’re doing nothing more than offering the logic of sticking together.
In one example from recent weeks, a public university employee who was an agency payer pointedly refused to sign up as a member — until the union represented him in a dispute. He didn’t need to pay dues, but quickly did so.
AFSCME Council 4 has six people on the task of organizing existing workers and building new databases, Barr said. As for the Yankee Institute, he said, “They’re going to spend more money trying to tell our members to opt out than we are going to lose.”
One worker at a time
Here’s how the numbers are shaking out for AFSCME Council 4: As of the last week of September, a grand total of 46 dues-paying union members had opted out, Barr said. Of those, 18 are state employees and 28 are municipal — rounding errors of less than one-quarter of 1 percent of the overall numbers.
“I have more than that retire from the Department of Correction in a month,” Barr said.
Other unions report similarly tiny losses. At SEIU District 1199, the health care workers, president David Pickus said he’s lost 30 out of about 7,000 dues-paying members.
As for signing up former agency payers, AFSCME Council 4 had a total of 2,050 of those, many of them corrections officers, Barr said. The good news: Many of them were not opposed to joining; their union cards had simply been lost over the years as they transferred to different jobs.
Slowly, one worker at a time, AFSCME and the other unions are getting those former agency payers to sign new cards. As of last week, Barr said he had 746 in hand and another 200 in the works.
“I’m short 1,200 people right now,” he said.
He told me about a trip to the Brooklyn prison out in Windham County, where a group of officers had held out. “All 18 said ‘Go pound sand,’” he said. So he and three other AFSCME organizers trekked out there on a Friday night in July, between second and third shifts.
After 15-minute conversations — one at a time — “Sixteen of them signed cards,” Barr said.
Membership up
State payroll records no longer show the number of non-members represented by bargaining units because the state isn’t withholding money. But a look at documents for checks dated Friday shows a favorable picture for unions.
In all, there were 45,942 dues-paying members who paid $1.24 million in the two-week pay period. That was up from 44,003 union members who paid $1.16 million in a pay period in April, and state employment has been flat, perhaps down, since then.
Of course, that still leaves as many as 5,000 employees off the dues-paying rolls, whose money was coming in before Janus. That’s the group the unions are targeting for card-signings.
“The nonsense of the Yankee Institute, the Koch Brothers, the Stefanowskis, is being recognized for the lies that it is,” said Pickus, at SEIU District 1199, referring to Bob Stefanowski, the anti-union Republican nominee for governor.
For Dolores Robinson, realizing her rights under Janus wasn’t enough to sway her to quit even though the savings was more than $500 a year. Whether that holds true as her colleagues come to realize they can save big money and not lose privileges is the heart of the question.
It’s about community vs. individualism, the great battle of America. The good news is that Janus clearly won’t break the unions, which uphold the middle class at a time when the share of income going to the top 1 percent has doubled in barely more than a generation.
“By Jan. 1, we’ll have a really good idea of how much money we lost and what we’re going to lose going forward,” Barr said. “It’s not desirable, but let me tell you, the data that we’re getting out of this, the structure … is going to be helpful to us in organizing our members and making them activist.”
dhaar@hearstmediact.com
Extrication of branch victim on Bridgeport/Fairfield line delayed by wait for utility crew
Cops say man arrested in Bridgeport threatened to blow up hospital
Robert Davey: What really happened to TWA Flight 800?
5 escape Milford house fire during thunderstorm
Riddle named interim SHS principal
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Unlike the anonymous op-ed writer, Trump puts…
Unlike the anonymous op-ed writer, Trump puts his name on his success
President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Rimrock Auto Arena in Billings, Mont., Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
By Susan Shelley | |
PUBLISHED: September 8, 2018 at 5:15 pm | UPDATED: September 9, 2018 at 10:04 am
Harry Truman said, “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” Ronald Reagan had a version of that quotation on a plaque in the Oval Office.
Many presidents nurse a grudge about not getting credit for their accomplishments, sometimes with good reason. That was certainly the case this week.
The New York Times published an anonymous op-ed essay written by “a senior official in the Trump administration.” From a safe hiding place on the government payroll, the official blasted the president for “amorality” and acting “in a manner that is detrimental to the health of our republic.” The writer claimed to be one of many “Trump appointees” doing “what we can to preserve our democratic institutions” by “thwarting” the president’s “more misguided impulses until he is out of office.”
The author wrote reverently about the late Sen. John McCain, calling him a “lodestar for restoring honor to public life and our national dialogue.”
That identifies the anonymous official as one of the many “never-Trump” Republicans who have been displaced in the inner circles of power by the man who was able to do what John McCain couldn’t — win the presidential election.
The writer was wise to remain anonymous, because the op-ed is absurd. “Don’t get me wrong,” the official wrote, “There are bright spots that the near-ceaseless negative coverage of the administration fails to capture: effective deregulation, historic tax reform, a more robust military and more. But these successes have come despite — not because of — the president’s leadership style, which is impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective.”
The bitterness of the McCain crowd is intense, but this is getting ridiculous.
Leadership style? Did you see the August jobs report? The Bureau of Labor Statistics said nonfarm payrolls were up by 201,000 jobs, exceeding the expectations of economists surveyed by Reuters. Average hourly earnings, expected to be up 2.7 percent, were up 2.9 percent. The unemployment rate is 3.9 percent, the lowest in a generation.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that 3.4 million Americans quit their jobs in June, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said people who changed jobs saw an increase in their wages of almost 4 percent.
Who gets the credit? Astrologers say Uranus went retrograde in August, so that might be it.
Or it could be that “style” is a shallow measure of Oval Office leadership. “Effective deregulation” was accomplished with executive orders to eliminate unnecessary rules and delays in the critical energy, manufacturing and banking sectors. “Historic tax reform” didn’t just happen because the moon was in Scorpio. And “a more robust military” was pursued by the president who is now being criticized for failing to be one of the “adults in the room.”
In the view of Washington’s former insiders, the party that Trump crashed was doing a fine job. But for a lot of Americans, the years since the 9/11 attacks have been less than fine. They saw economic decline, endless war, and children who would never be able to afford the life that their parents had.
Now it’s different. Less than two years into the Trump administration, the economy is roaring. The threat from ISIS and al-Qaeda has receded. A previously unimaginable summit between North and South Korea was accomplished as if it was never any problem.
Eventually, Trump will get the credit. Unlike his critics, he puts his name on everything.
Susan Shelley is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group. Susan@SusanShelley.com. Twitter: @Susan_Shelley.
Susan Shelley
Litigation gone mad: a tale of two cities
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Dionne Warwick thinks plans for a Whitney Houston hologram tour are 'stupid'... but she admits she has 'no clue what that is'
By Brittany Valadez For Dailymail.com
As both a musical legend herself and a cousin of the late star, her words carry weight.
And Dionne Warwick made her opinion known as she remarked upon news that a hologram tour of Whitney Houston was in the works.
Though the New Jersey native said she wasn't aware of what a hologram actually is, she was surely against the idea.
'I don't know what it is. I think it's stupid': Dionne Warwick, 78, is against a proposed hologram tour of her late cousin, Whitney Houston. The iconic singer is seen in February in Beverly Hills
'I haven't a clue as to what that is. It's surprising to me,' she began, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight.
Chris Pratt sweetly kisses fiancee Katherine Schwarzenegger... Cheryl Burke is a beautiful bride in a crisp white dress as...
'I don't know what it is. I think it's stupid, but whatever it is that's what it is.'
Her response comes after Whitney's sister-in-law, Pat Houston, revealed plans for a hologram tour of the star, a Broadway musical, an album of unreleased music, and more, according to The New York Times.
A way of honoring her? Whitney was seen in November 2009 in Los Angeles. Dionne's response comes after Whitney's sister-in-law, Pat Houston, revealed plans for a hologram tour of the star, and more
Pat, the executor of Whitney's estate, has been pitched an array of projects since the late star's passing, but she's passed on all of them.
'Everything is about timing for me. It's been quite emotional for the past seven years,' she admitted. 'But now it's about being strategic.'
Whitney's estate inked a deal with Primary Wave Music Publishing. The music and marketing agency will obtain '50 percent of the estate’s assets, which include the singer’s royalties from music and film, merchandising, and the right to exploit her name and likeness.'
'The deal values the estate at $14 million, according to two people familiar with the arrangement.'
New ventures: Pat, the executor of Whitney's estate, has been pitched an array of projects since the late star's passing, but she's passed on all of them. But, the estate has now signed a deal with Primary Wave Music Publishing. She is seen in June of last year in New York
Whitney passed away at the age of 48 while at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
The star was found unconscious in her hotel bathtub on February 11, body under water.
CPR was performed at 3:30 p.m., but by 3:55, she was declared dead. It was later revealed that she died by drowning, and the effects of cocaine and heart disease.
Tragedy: Whitney passed away at the age of 48 while at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The star was found unconscious in her hotel bathtub on February 11, body under water. She was seen in February 2008
| PEOPLE.com
Whitney Houston’s Estate Plans a Hologram Tour and a New Album - The New York Times
Dionne Warwick thinks it's 'stupid' to have a Whitney Houston hologram tour
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Saints camping north
Saints camping north Saints camping north Check out this story on dailyworld.com: https://www.dailyworld.com/story/sports/nfl/saints/2014/07/22/saints-camping-north/13021785/
Associated Press Published 6:52 p.m. CT July 22, 2014 | Updated 9:48 a.m. CT Aug. 5, 2014
New Orleans coach Sean Payton preparing to take the Saints to West Virginia to begin training camp. (Photo: Associated Press )
NEW ORLEANS – Sean Payton constantly searches for an edge, even if it means fiddling with a training camp formula that has worked rather well for him over the past half-decade.
Payton has coached his club to the playoffs during his past four seasons on the sideline (excluding 2012, when he served his one-season bounty ban).
All of those began with training camp at Saints headquarters in suburban New Orleans.
This week, camp opens more than 800 miles northeast of the Big Easy, at the posh Greenbrier Resort in mountainous White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
It marks the first time since 2008, Payton's third season as an NFL head coach, that the Saints have held camp away from home.
From 2006 to 2008, it was at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. While Payton viewed the campus setting as good for team bonding, it was still scorching hot. And unlike Saints headquarters, Millsaps had no air-conditioned, indoor field.
This year marks the first time the Saints have not only taken camp on the road, but done so at a latitude and altitude which, Payton says, "offers a tremendous opportunity to our team in a more moderate summer climate."
There could be another reason for getting players far from the comforts of their in-season homes. All six of their losses last season — five in the regular season and one in the playoffs — came on the road. So the club's performance outside the Superdome is among the areas Payton has targeted for improvement.
"We put up our road statistics for our players and we talked about the front of the schedule," Payton said, alluding to his club's first two regular season games at Atlanta and Cleveland. "Certainly, we want to play better than on the road a season ago."
The Saints will report to the Greenbrier on Thursday for conditioning tests and hold their first practice on Friday. They'll return to New Orleans for good on Aug. 14, the day before their first home preseason game against Tennessee.
Here are some of the top issues surrounding the Saints as training camp arrives:
CORNERBACK QUESTIONS: At 36, Champ Bailey is at a stage of his illustrious career when his age raises questions about his status heading into the season. The Saints are betting the 12-time Pro Bowl cornerback will find elite form again. If not, his competition for the starting job will include former first-round pick Patrick Robinson, who missed most of last season with torn knee ligaments, and third-year pro Corey White, a 2012 fifth-rounder who has shown promise in spurts.
RYAN'S ENCORE: Last season, Rob Ryan joined the Saints as defensive coordinator and orchestrated a dramatic turnaround of a unit that ranked last in the NFL in 2012. The Saints finished 2013 ranked fourth in total defense. Nearly all of the Saints most productive defensive players from last season are back. Meanwhile, the return of injured outside linebacker Victor Butler and the addition in free agent safety Jairus Byrd have only elevated expectations.
"We have some really good football players, and that's everywhere on our defense," Ryan said. "We've just got to find spots for them and work them in and play them."
OFFENSIVE LINE: The Saints had a tough time run-blocking last season and gave up more sacks (37) than usual. One difference in this year's unit involves the return of center Jonathan Goodwin, who spent the past three seasons with San Francisco. Pro Bowl guards Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs also return, along with veteran right tackle Zach Strief. Second-year pro Terron Armstead is expected to start at left tackle after taking over at that spot late in his rookie season.
RECEIVING GROUP: While Marques Colston is expected to remain New Orleans' No. 1 receiver, Lance Moore's departure in free agency and Robert Meachem's diminished production in recent seasons mean several players have a chance to take over the second and third receiver spots. Top candidates include rookie first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks, second-year pro Kenny Stills, third-year pro Nick Toon and fourth-year pro Joseph Morgan. The Saints also hope 6-foot-6 Brandon Coleman, an undrafted rookie from Rutgers, develops into a strong player.
"It's extremely competitive with the receiver position right now with a lot of guys fighting for spots," quarterback Drew Brees said.
GRAHAM'S RETURN: A contract holdout by tight end Jimmy Graham wasn't resolved until he agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal this month. During the past three regular seasons combined, he has 270 catches for 3,507 yards and 36 touchdowns. The new contract means more pressure to produce, even as defenses refine their plans to stop him.
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Kids get pro tips at Devery Henderson football camp
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The project consists of three low-rise residential blocks with 5 floors and 510 housing units.
The project will be student-housing units with models including one room with an area of 27 m 2 and contains one bed or one housing unit with an area of 83 m 2 in which three beds are available where the administration of the project provides guarantee of rental income under an authenticated contract.
The project land area is 18000 m2
The project consists of a 1 + 1 apartment model with 1 or 3 beds.
The project is in a vital area because of its proximity to many private and government universities such as Coltur University, the University of Iden and other E-5 universities.
In addition to the health institutions, which include hospitals such as Atakwi hospital and Bakrkoy hospital and other health centers.
The company that developed the project is one of the giants of the construction companies in Turkey, which falls under the name of a group of hotels, commercial and residential complexes spread in most areas of Istanbul and what is important is the company's choice of strategic and investment areas to provide its customers with the largest return on investment in Istanbul.
The project is located on one of the most important highways in the city of Istanbul known as the E-5, which connects the two parts of Istanbul, Europe and Asia.
The area that is opposite to Ataturk Airport, which will be closed after the opening of the new airport, faces an international exhibition city or a large public park. The project will also take place next to the current exhibition city near the airport.
More importantly, the project is close to famous universities such as the University of Aden, the University of Avglar Teknina and Istanbul University of Literature.
The project is located right next to the E-5 bus metro station.
The project is located ten-minute walk from the project gate to the subway station which will pass down the project and will be ready before the end of the project, which allows us to reach the Asian side to Kartal area and areas of Taksim and MECİDİYEKÖY, in addition to the availability of government buses.
The project, which is adjacent to metro and metro lines, provides easy transportation in the shortest time to the most important points of the city.
The project provides an investment plan in an area that develops more and more every year with its transportation network, residential projects, work centers, hotels, exhibition areas and shopping points.
The most important details of Erdogan's 100-day plan
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Topics »
A contribution to sustainable transport
01/01/2019 – by Sabine Balk
© sb
Maha Metro is particularly proud of the 4.5-kilometre-long double-decker section of the track that allows the metro to run above the street.
In the Indian metropolis of Nagpur, a new metro line is being built with support from the KfW Development Bank. The project is intended to make public transport more sustainable. Sabine Balk of D+C/E+Z has visited construction sites and went for a test drive along a completed portion of the track.
The elevated trains will plough through the centre of the city of 2.4 million – a medium-sized metropolis by Indian standards. Over 70 % of the 42-kilometre-long track has already been built. The management says that work is going on at the construction sites every day around the clock. The new light-rail system will rest on meter-thick concrete pillars, atop of which, eight metres up, the new track can already be seen. A 4.5-kilometre-long double-decker flyover in the heart of the city is particularly impressive: the street runs along the ground level, and the metro will be on the second and third level.
The Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (Maha Metro for short) is developing, building and operating the enormous infrastructure project. It is an Indian public sector company which is jointly owned by the national government and the state government of Maharashtra. Ramnath Subramaniam is the Maha Metro manager in charge of planning. He spent one day taking visitors from Germany on a tour of construction sights. The visitors were KfW employees and journalists, who were invited by the bank. Subramaniam proudly told them: “The work is on schedule, there are hardly any delays, and we will certainly finish on time.” The Nagpur Metro should start operating in 2020.
The city authorities hope that the new means of public transport will bring a number of advantages. Until now, Nagpur does not have any public transport to speak of. There are a few municipal buses, but they make up less than ten per cent of local traffic. The buses are poorly maintained, unreliable and shabby. “Who would want to ride in a bus like that if you can take a brand-new metro instead?”, Subramaniam asked.
Most people ride mopeds into the city, and a smaller number drive cars. Private minibuses, taxis and rickshaws (both of the cycle and the motorised varieties) are available too, but they offer rather poor services. Individual passenger transport makes up over 70 % of traffic. The management of Maha Metro hopes the new railway will improve matters. As in many cities in India, traffic jams, poor air quality and noise are part of everyday hassle on the streets of Nagpur.
Nagpur’s stated goal is to provide climate-friendly mobility and to shift personal transport towards public transport. The core of the new transportation plan is the metro, which is being built along two corridors (north-south and east-west). There will be a total of 40 stations and two depots to maintain the trains.
In order to encourage widespread use of the metro, people must get to the stations easily. The planners are aware of the matter, Subramaniam says. The stations will be surrounded by infrastructure for non-motorised transport, like pedestrian and bike paths or bike sharing. Park & Ride spots for mopeds will also be built. Moreover, electric buses will provide feeder services. But despite all this careful planning, the Maha Metro manager knows how difficult it is to get people to change their habits: “It will take some effort to convince people to switch to the metro.”
The affected residents did not strongly oppose the construction, says Brijesh Dixit, the managing director of Maha Metro. According to him, fewer than 100 people had to be relocated, and they were generously compensated. “It was primarily shop owners who were affected, but some of them will be able to continue to operate their businesses at the new stations”, he said.
Maha Metro plans to run awareness-raising campaigns in order to win people over. The company expects to have 380,000 passengers per day by 2021, one year after the project’s planned implementation. It should have over half a million by 2041. By shifting traffic from the streets to the tracks, Nagpur expects to reduce carbon emissions by an annual 67,000 tonnes. Air quality should improve thanks to the reduction of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions. The project should create around 1,700 directly-related jobs. According to Subramaniam, moreover, about 10,000 workers are currently busy on the construction sites.
In order to make the project even more sustainable, Maha Metro is implementing other goals as well, the executive director affirms: the stations are being designed and built to be energy efficient, and a big part of the electricity used by the metro will come from solar panels. All wastewater will be recycled, rainwater will be collected and used, and a new tree will be planted at other locations for every one that has been cut down. So far, 5,000 new trees have been planted.
In the eyes of KfW, this comprehensive approach to sustainability is convincing. It is supporting the metro project with a loan worth half a billion euros. That is the largest single loan the bank has ever granted. France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has provided a further € 130 million, and the rest of the costs are being shared equally by India’s central government and the government of Maharashtra. The total cost of the project will amount to about € 1.2 billion. While visiting the site, Joachim Nagel, a KfW board member, expressed his satisfaction: “The project is very well managed and is proceeding according to plan.”
He and the rest of the German delegation happily boarded a brand-new, Chinese-built metro car for a test drive and learned about the technology along the way. The cars are still sparklingly clean, and the air conditioning lowers the temperature of the hot Indian air to around 20 degrees.
Sabine Balk is a member of D+C/E+Z’s editorial team and visited the new metro in Nagpur by invitation of KfW.
e-Paper no. 1 2019, 2019/01
Olympic Games in Rio
Major sports events brought progress to Rio, but there is a lot more to do
Inclusion of community and long-term funding are vital for effective conservation
Recent blog contributions
Blog will continue in our Opinion section
Why sovereignty must be pooled
A contribution by
Sabine Balk
is a member of the editorial team of D+C/E+Z.
Other articles by this contributor
Nigerian novelist debuts with story of devastating family tragedy
A long socialisation process is still needed to make equality between women and men a reality
How to make the digital transformation to sustainability happen
WBGU wants digital revolution to drive sustainable development
The EU needs a long-term solution to the migration issue
Other relevant contributions
Articles / Blogposts
DEG increased the financing of private investments in developing countries and emerging markets to a new record level in 2018
KfW Development Bank is planning to intensify its efforts for waste management and to create new concepts
Research project on the social impacts of a concentrated solar power station in Morocco
KfW supports South African municipalities in building of cycle paths and footpaths
China is keen on promoting sustainable development
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DividendMax»Company Coverage»Country:Austria»Exchange:Vienna Stock Exchange»Sector:Electricity»Company:Verbund AG
Verbund AG (VER)
VERBUND AG, incorporated in 1947, is an electricity company and a producer of electricity from hydropower in Europe. The Company's segments include Renewable generation, Sales, Grid and All other segments. The Company, through its subsidiaries and partners, covers all sectors of energy supply, from the production and transportation of electricity through international sales and marketing.
Renewable generation
Renewable generation segment includes hydropower and wind generation technologies. The Company's electricity from hydropower came from approximately 90 run-of-river power plants and 20 storage power plants. The Company also holds purchase rights to over 12 run-of-river power plants owned by Ennskraftwerke AG. Its power plant projects include Gries run-of-river power plant and Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn (GKI). With wind power plants in Austria, Germany and Romania, the Company has approximately 420 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity from wind power at its disposal in three countries. Its wind power plants are focused on supplying electricity to over 280,000 households.
The Sales segment combines all of the Company's trading and sales activities. Through its trading in electricity, gas, guarantees of origin, carbon dioxide (CO2) certificates and transport capacity, the Company has a presence in the over-the-counter (OTC) markets and in the exchange markets in Europe. The focus of the Company's electricity trading is on optimizing utilization of its own power plants, achieving the possible results from marketing of its own generation and from optimizing electricity purchasing, as well as securing prices in sales. The Company assists customers with marketing of their renewable energy facilities or offers them products to reduce their risk exposure arising from balancing energy. The markets of the Company's sales activities include Austria and Germany. The Company supplies the household/agriculture and commercial segment in Austria and Germany with electricity generated exclusively from hydropower. Its customers primarily include European wholesale partners, other energy trading companies, resellers and municipal utilities. Its customer portfolio also comprises grid and power plant operators and producers of renewable energy, particularly in the wind, solar power and small-scale hydropower fields. The Company, through VERBUND Trading GmbH, analyzes the trend in the fundamentals and the climate in the energy market.
The Company's product portfolio includes conventional trading in emission rights and guarantees of origin (green electricity). It provides partners with energy market capability in the form of different products and services. These include stock market access to the intraday, spot and futures markets, forecasting services, management of balancing groups, integrated portfolio management, regulatory services and entire packages for the traction current segment. In the energy services segment, the Company has developed the order management system (OMS) for Web-based communication with corporate customers. OMS allows the Company's customers to position electricity or gas products online and follow their status up until fulfilment in real time.
Austrian Power Grid AG (APG) is the Company's independent grid subsidiary. It operates the supraregional electricity transmission network in Austria. With its line connections to neighboring countries, it creates the means for connecting Austria with the European electricity market.
All other segments
All other segments includes the Energy services, Thermal generation, Services and Equity interests segments. The Company's new services for the electricity market of the future are reported under the Energy services segment. Electricity and heat generation from coal and gas are reported under the Thermal generation segment. The primarily intra-group business activities of VERBUND Services GmbH are reported under the Services segment. Interests accounted for using the equity method, which have not been allocated to any other segment are reported under the Equity interests segment. Its VERBUND Solutions GmbH develops products tailored to retail, commercial and industrial customers. The range of services extends from convenience services across decentralized plants for generating and storing energy to energy optimization. Its subsidiary, SOLAVOLTA Energie-und Umwelttechnik GmbH, is a full-service provider for own-use photovoltaic installations. The VERBUND-Eco-Home smart home solution is specialized in energy applications. SMATRICS GmbH & Co KG, the Company's electromobility subsidiary, operates Austria's nationwide charging network. The Company operates two thermal power plants at the Mellach site with maximum electrical capacity, amounting to a total of approximately 1,090 MegaWatts.
Sector Electricity
Country 🇦🇹 Austria
Shares in Issue 347m
Market Cap €16.9bn
2011 55.0¢ 100%
2012 60.0¢ 9.1%
2013 100.0¢ 66.7%
2014 29.0¢ (71.0%)
2015 35.0¢ 20.7%
2018 42.0¢ 0%
19 Apr 2012 02 May 2012 2011 Final Annually Paid 55¢
16 Apr 2014 29 Apr 2014 2013 Final Annually Paid 100¢
12 Apr 2017 25 Apr 2017 2016 Final Annually Paid 29¢
07 May 2019 20 May 2019 2018 Final Annually Paid 42¢
Verbund AG optimized dividend - 12 month history
Verbund AG share price - 12 month history
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Deacon Keith Fournier: There Is No Abortion Right!
By Deacon Keith A Fournier
7/20/2014 (4 years ago)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
There is no moral difference between killing a baby in the womb and killing a baby outside of the womb. They are both children - and the act is a violation of the Natural Moral Law. That law is written on every human heart and binding on all men and women.
Sometimes an issue is so important I feel I must return to it over and over in my writing. Such is the case with the continued growth of a certain repugnant, loaded and deadly phrase, "abortion rights". What enrages me the most is when Catholic and other Christian news sources actually use this loaded term, created out of whole cloth by the proponents of the Culture of Death, in some of our own publications! The routine use of this term has given rise to another term, anti-abortion rights. This horrid, twisted term, anti-abortion rights, is now routinely used to refer to those who recognize the true Right, the Fundamental Human Right to Life - which includes the Right to live in the first home of the whole human race, the mother's womb, and the right to be born. This term is more than an insult, it ranks right up there with every disparaging term ever used to denigrate and demean people in order to prevent their message from being heard.
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
Published in U.S.
Keywords: Abortion, abortion rights, anti abortion rights, planned parenthood, Right to Life, verbicide, Dred Scott, Pro-Life, Deacon Keith Fournier
WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Sometimes an issue is so important I feel I must return to it over and over in my writing. Such is the case with the continued growth of a certain repugnant, loaded and deadly phrase, "abortion rights".
What enrages me the most is when Catholic and other Christian news sources actually use this loaded term, created out of whole cloth by the proponents of the Culture of Death, in our own publications!
The routine use of this term has given rise to another term, anti-abortion rights.
This horrid, twisted term, anti-abortion rights, is now routinely used to refer to those who recognize the true Right, the Fundamental Human Right to Life - which includes the Right to live in the first home of the whole human race, the mother's womb, and the right to be born.
This term is more than an insult, it ranks right up there with every disparaging term ever used to denigrate and demean people in order to prevent their message from being heard.
C.S. Lewis, in his "Essay on Words" referred to such a misuse of language as verbicide -the intentional murder of a word. We have witnessed this use of words as weapons of destruction in other times in our history when darkness has momentarily squeezed the light of truth from public discourse.
The claim of a right to abort an innocent child is heinous enough when it is described as a woman´s Right to Choose. People can and do make immoral and intrinsically evil choices such as taking innocent human life.
The current state of the civil law in the United States - since the horrendous Supreme Court decisions in Roe and Doe - is that there is one group of human persons who can be killed by choice, our youngest neighbors. That choice is protected by the Police Power of the State.
Rather than being outlawed like all other intentional killings, abortion has been given a status as some sort of super right in the United States. The propaganda media routinely uses deadly loaded language to attempt to hide the evil and pretend that it is actually an example of liberation.
In the United States of America we legally sanction abortion on demand. Depending on the State, it can be done anytime up to and including the child's passage through the birth canal.
This is no different than if the U.S. Supreme Court had found some right to kill three week old babies after their birth in that penumbra pit from which the Justices pulled this profane "abortion right" from in the Roe and Doe opinions.
Imagine if the proponents of slavery called it a slavery right because the Supreme Court said it was legal. Well they did, in the Dred Scott decision! We look back on that case in horror, as we should. The Supreme Court could not make a wrong to be a right with the stroke of a judicial quill.
The use of the phrase abortion rights is also an example of the decay of language to which George Orwell referred in his 1946 essay entitled, Politics and the English Language. Evil Actions do not have rights. Only human persons have rights. There is no abortion right. The real right is the one denied in every procured abortion, the Right to be born. Every child has a Right to Be Born.
The shorthand phrase abortion rights is a linguistic tool used by reporters and journalists who have become tools of the propaganda press of a regime denying children the right to be born.
The rise of National Socialism in Germany was prepared by such verbal engineering and decay of language. The evil phraseology of death contained in the book entitled "Life Unworthy of Life", written by a lawyer/doctor duo of death, Hoche and Binding, led the way to the holocaust.
In that book, the German Doctor and lawyer coined the phrase "useless eaters" in referring to the disabled and those whom the emerging Nazi movement wanted to eliminate. They laid the verbal predicate in language for the construction of those gas ovens in which the unthinkable, the intentional killing of human persons occurred.
This act of evil was referred to as a final solution in one of the most insidious examples of verbicide and decay of language. This evil was actually protected by civil law in Nazi Germany! We look with horror on that chapter in history. And rightly so.
We witnessed another example of verbal engineering and the decay of language in a sad chapter of American history - when slavery was legal. It was even called a right and protected by the United States Supreme Court.
Human Persons whose skin pigmentation was darker than those who then held the power were treated as property and allowed to be legally owned" and used by others - all with the approval of a Supreme Court which had sacrificed the Natural Moral Law and Equal Justice.
A very similar jurisprudence is found in the horrid Supreme Court opinions in Roe v Wade, Doe v Bolton - and all of their evil progeny - as was relied upon in the Supreme Court in Dred Scott. An entire class of persons, children in the womb,are now relegated to the status of chattel, personal property, who can be disposed of by those who are more powerful.
These children, our first neighbors in the first home of the whole human race, their mothers' womb, are being killed by chemical and surgical strikes. It is an act of war on a defenseless child. This utter evil is protected by the police power of the State.
Medical science has confirmed what our conscience already knows; the child in the womb is our neighbor. We surgically operate on our first neighbors in the womb. We then put them back in their home and allow them to continue to grow so they can be healthier upon their birth.
We all know they are all members of our human family. Our 4D sonogram technology has made it possible to take baby´s first picture and send it as a birth announcement or place it on a Face Book or My Space page. We send it through our Social Networks.
We marvel at the image of those little babies at the early stages of what is a lifetime of development for every human being. We then use that same technology to direct the weapons of warfare which will dismember them in the womb and kill them.
We do not want to see those pictures. When one of these little ones dies due to a miscarriage we all empathize and say that the grieving woman lost her baby.
However, when one of those little ones dies due to surgical dismemberment, the effects of ingested chemical weapons, burning by saline or death by suction, we call that loss of the baby the exercise of a right?
We all know the truth. Every intentional killing of a defenseless innocent human person is wrong! There is a moral foundation of a truly free and just society. We have forgotten that to our national shame. We are imploding as a Nation, and as a culture, as a result of this.
I ask everyone reading this article to defend the True Right, the Fundamental Right to Life, at every age and stage. Do not be intimidated by those who seek to denigrate you with the vocabulary of the culture of death and use.
St. Mary Magdalene (Elementary)
Explore the Bible - Walls in the Bible
In addition, I BEG Catholic and other Christian news sources and commentators to NEVER, EVER, EVER Use the Term Abortion Rights. To do so is to be used as a pawn, a tool, even if an unwitting one, of the cultural engineers who deny the true Right, the Fundamental Right to Life.
There is no abortion right. One can never have a right to do what is always wrong. Taking innocent human life in the womb is always and everywhere wrong.
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Biography Filmography Guestbook Contact
Alex Various Saddle Club The King Video
Saddle Club
[May 2018] Today we are saddened to learn that Cathy has passed away. After discovering a brain tumour in 2007, Cathy battled strongly to overcome the disease. Unfortunately earlier this year she was informed that a second tumour had appeared and was inoperable.
May you be at peace now, Cathy.
[December 2017] Melbourne has lost a media trailblazer with the death of Rosemary Margan. She died aged 80 last night on the Gold Coast, where she had been living in recent years.
Rosemary was a pioneer of Australian TV, working alongside the biggest names in the business Bert Newton and Graham Kennedy to name just two in a career spanning more than four decades.
At 3AW she was much-loved by staff and listeners for her 19 years on 3AW Mornings, working alongside her brother-in-law Neil Mitchell and retiring in 2007.
3aw.com - With thanks to Paul.
[July 2007] Former Home and Away and Neighbours star Cathy Godbold is responding well to her treatment for a brain tumour. The talented actor and voice-over artist was shocked to discover in May she had the tumour.
Cathy immediately had treatment in a Melbourne hospital, with surgeons removing the growth before starting her on a course of radiotherapy.
She finished that phase of her treatment on Friday. "It was a terrible shock to find out I was ill," Godbold said. "Because I am young and healthy I have a much better chance of beating it."
Sounding bright and positive, Cathy said she was determined to get back to good health. She has been buoyed by the support of her family and close friends during her treatment. "I am fighting this," she said. I want to get healthy and get back to work as soon as possible. I feel tired as the treatment does knock you for six."
[January 2007] After a four-year break from acting, Cathy Godbold has stepped back in front of the cameras. Godbold took on a role she was born to play - that of her mother Rosemary Margan in the TV movie The King. The King, a co-production between TV1 and Channel Nine inspired by the life of Graham Kennedy, wrapped in Melbourne on Friday. Godbold appeared in the key crow call scene. Margan was presenting commercials in the studio the night Kennedy made the infamous noises.
Godbold, who appeared in Chances, Home and Away, Neighbours and Blue Heelers, said her passion for acting had been reignited. "I gave up (acting) basically," she said of her four-year hiatus. "I lost my agent. I could not get an agent and I still can't get an agent. The producers rang me direct for this role. "It was only a small role, but it has given me the taste again. "I thought 'I don't remember how to do this'. I did not know if I had the guts to stand back in front of a camera. I was having serious panic attacks."
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Iowa: Wasendorf owes $14.1 million in taxes, fines
January 4, 2013 / 6:32 PM / AP
IOWA CITY, Iowa Russ Wasendorf Sr. duped customers, regulators and his colleagues as he pulled off a 20-year, $100 million fraud at his Iowa-based brokerage. The state's tax collectors say he and his ex-wife also duped them, and that the former couple owes Iowa more than $14.1 million in unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.
The Iowa Department of Revenue filed an assessment in November against Russ and Connie Wasendorf, alleging they underreported their taxable income between 2001 and 2009 by about $75 million and dodged $6.6 million in taxes as a result, according to court records released this week.
Wasendorf is in jail awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to misusing more than $100 million in funds that customers invested with his now-bankrupt brokerage, Peregrine Financial Group. He was arrested last year after attempting suicide in his car outside the company's headquarters in Cedar Falls and left a note confessing to a scheme in which he misused customer funds to support his financial empire and created phony documents to cover his tracks.
Wasendorf pleads not guilty to fraud charges
Prosecutor: Wasendorf already admitted to fraud
Wasendorf pleads guilty to 20-year, $200 million fraud
The details of Wasendorf's tax liability were made public in a filing in federal court in Chicago by a receiver that is in the process of liquidating Wasendorf's far-flung personal and business assets to reimburse his victims. The assessment alleges that the Wasendorfs underreported their income by about $8.3 million per year.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer granted the receiver's request Friday to suspend any efforts by the department to enforce the assessment rather than litigate the issue now. The revenue department had agreed to the court order, which puts the process on hold until further notice by Pallmeyer. The order "preserves all rights the department and State of Iowa may have with respect to assessing and collecting any amounts lawfully due."
Randall Lending, an attorney for the receiver, said legal proceedings involving Wasendorf's assets had been suspended earlier in the case to prevent a rush to win judgments against Wasendorf that could give "one set of potential creditors preference over others." He said it's not clear how the department's tax bill would be treated compared to claims from others.
"That would have to be dealt with at a later date. There's a question even as to whether it's a valid claim. Just because they made a notice of assessment, doesn't mean it's valid," he said. "That would have to be looked into, adjudicated and determined."
Once the stay is lifted, the Wasendorfs would have 60 days to appeal the assessment. The couple was divorced in 2010, and Russ Wasendorf remarried another woman shortly before his attempted suicide.
Iowa Department of Revenue spokeswoman Victoria Daniels said Friday that the agency had no choice but to agree to the stay, which is routine in such cases.
"We wanted to assert our rights to collect any taxes that are due to the state of Iowa," she said.
Lending said the receiver has sold off Wasendorf's condominimum in Chicago and other properties, and continues efforts to locate and liquidate his other assets, including his partial ownership of Romanian development firms.
First published on January 4, 2013 / 6:32 PM
A federal judge unsealed new documents in the Michael Cohen case Thursday
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Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1929, Christopher Plummer (shown here in a 2007 photo) was nominated for his first Academy Award for his work in the film "The Last Station."
Credit: AP GraphicsBank
Christopher Plummer poses in the press room at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. The 82-year-old veteran won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in "Beginners."
Christopher Plummer is married to his third wife, Elaine Taylor. They reside in Connecticut although he still remains a Canadian citizen.
Christopher Plummer's first major film role was as the rather unstable Commodus in "The Fall of the Roman Empire" (1964).
Credit: Paramount Pictures
Christopher Plummer, Julie Andrews, and the Trapp Family Singers in "The Sound of Music" (1965).
Credit: 20th Century Fox
Christopher Plummer and Romy Schneider in the 1966 "Triple Cross," based on the true-life exploits of Eddie Chapman, a British double agent whom the Nazis believed was working for them.
Credit: Warner Brothers
After appearing on Broadway as the Spanish explorer Pizarro in "The Royal Hunt of the Sun," Christopher Plummer starred in the 1969 film version, but opted for the plummier role - the Incan god-chief Atahualpa, played on stage by David Carradine.
Credit: National General Pictures
Christopher Plummer and Susannah York in the clinch during the London Blitz in "Battle of Britain" (1969).
Credit: MGM
Christopher Plummer played the Duke of Wellington in the historical epic "Waterloo" (1970), which also starred Virginia McKenna, Orson Welles, and Rod Steiger as Napoleon.
Christopher Plummer played the writer Rudyard Kipling in the John Huston film adaptation of "The Man Who Would Be King" (1975).
Credit: Columbia Pictures
Christopher Plummer donned the deerstalker as the fabled detective Sherlock Holmes on the trail of Jack the Ripper in the 1979 thriller "Murder by Decree."
Credit: Avco Embassy Pictures
Christopher Plummer doesn;t realize that the rival for his love Jane Seymour's affections hasn't even been born yet - the time-traveling Christopher Reeve in the romantic fantasy "Somewhere in Time" (1980).
Credit: Universal Pictures
Christopher Plummer played the fiance of Sigourney Weaver in the thriller "Eyewitness."
Christopher Plummer is shown here in 1988, 33 years after his blockbuster hit "The Sound of Music" debuted, in which he played Captain Von Trapp.
Christopher Plummer played a Shakepeare-spewing Klingon general in "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country."
Christopher Plummer in 1992, the year his film "Malcolm X" premiered.
Christopher Plummer played legendary "60 Minutes" newsman Mike Wallace in "The Insider."
Credit: Touchstone Pictures
Christopher Plumme rplayed the vampire hunter Van Helsing in "Dracula 2000."
Credit: Dimension Films
Christopher Plummer, seen with Jennifer Connelly, played the doctor of mathematics genius John Nash in the Oscar-winning "A Beautiful Mind."
Christopher Plummer as Captain Newport in Terrence Malick's "The New World" (2005).
Credit: New Line
Christopher Plummer, Q'orianka Kilcher and Christian Bale in Terrence Malick's "The New World" (2005).
Christopher Plummer is a bank president with a secret in the crime thriller "Inside Man," co-starring Jodie Foster.
Denzel Washington and Christopher Plummer with director Spike Lee on the set of "Inside Man" (2006).
Christopher Plummer in the political thriller "Syriana" (2005).
Christopher Plummer is shown here in a scene from his film "The Last Station," with co-star Helen Mirren. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Russian author Leo Tolstoy.
Credit: Sony Pictures Classics
Christopher Plummer plays Russian author Leo Tolstoy in the film "The Last Station," for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. He co-stars with Helen Mirren in the historical drama.
From left: Director Michael Hoffman and actors Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer pose during a press conference for their movie "The Last Station" in Berlin, Germany, April 4, 2008.
Credit: AP
Christopher Plummer played an immortal mystic who makes a deal with the Devil (Tom Waits) in the Terry Gilliam fantasy "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."
Director Terry Gilliam, right, poses with cast members Christopher Plummer and Lily Cole at the premiere of "The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus," at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Nov. 2, 2009.
Christopher Plummer supplied the voice of the explorer Charles F. Muntz in the Pixar animated feature "Up."
Credit: Disney/Pixar
In "Beginners," Christopher Plummer and Ewan McGregor play a father and his son who must deal with the elderly man's coming out as a homosexual.
Plummer won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
Credit: Focus Features
Stars Christopher Plummer, Melanie Laurent and Ewan McGregor attend the New York screening of "Beginners" at Tribeca Grand Screening Room on May 24, 2011 in New York City.
Credit: Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Christopher Plummer attends a screening of "The Tempest" at Symphony Space's Peter Jay Sharp Theatre on November 6, 2011 in New York City.
Credit: Ben Gabbe/Getty Images
Christopher Plummer stars as Henrik Vanger, who hires investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) to find a killer in David Fincher's adaptation of the Stieg Larsson thriller "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" (2011).
Christopher Plummer and his wife, Elaine Taylor, attend the New York premiere of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," at the Ziegfeld Theater, December 14, 2011 in New York City.
Credit: Larry Busacca/Getty Images
Christopher Plummer accepts the Best Supporting Actor Award for "Beginners," during the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at the Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. At 82, Plummer is the oldest actor to win the award.
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Policy-Unit
Office of Health EquityCurrently selected
Office of Health Equity > Pages > Policy-Unit
OFFICE OF HEALTH EQUITY | Health Equity Policy & Planning (HEPP) UNIT
Health Equity Policy & Planning (HEPP) Unit
The Office of Health Equity's Health Equity Policy & Planning (HEPP) Unit addresses complex issues that require input and collaboration across multiple agencies and departments, most of which are outside of the health sector. Health in All Policies works with the California Strategic Growth Council and 22 other state agencies and departments to advance policy and programs that support health, equity, and sustainability. The Climate Change and Health Equity Program works to implement California climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and guidance that advance health equity.
Our vision is a healthy, equitable, and environmentally sustainable California where all people thrive and health equity principles are the foundation of government policies and practices. The Health Equity Policy & Planning Unit's mission is to provide statewide leadership in policy, systems, and environmental change by improving health, equity, and environmental sustainability in California government decision-making, practices, and policies.
To accomplish our mission, we:
Provide guidance, training, technical assistance, communication, and leadership to strengthen capacity for upstream, innovative public health practice.
Elevate the priorities of communities facing health inequities as central to California policies and practices across sectors.
Address the systems, structures, and policies that shape health outcomes, health inequities, and climate change through partnership and cross-sectoral collaboration.
Convene and facilitate multi-sectoral discussions on complex, cross-cutting issues.
Engage with stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers, including government at all levels.
Assess policies and procedures, conduct research, and elevate the role of data to promote promising practices and inform action.
We work on the living conditions, institutional inequities, and social inequities that shape health outcomes--these are sometimes called the social determinants of health. This is illustrated by the public health conceptual framework below (Figure 1). We work to increase the capacity of state and local public health practitioners and our non-health partners to work on these social determinants of health.
Figure 1: Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII) Conceptual Framework, 2006.
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Office of Health Equity Climate Change & Health Equity Program Health in All Policies
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Allie Matters
Wright State hires new volleyball coach
Jay Morrison, Staff Writer
Saying she was “ecstatic and so very, very excited” to be named the Wright State volleyball coach, Allie Matters couldn’t wait to share the news and get started.
But she knew she had to.
The former Seton Hall assistant coach took the job last Thursday but asked WSU not to announce it until Wednesday.
“My student-athletes at Seton Hall didn’t come from Christmas break until (Wednesday), and after being here for seven years it was something I valued very much, being able to tell them in person,” Matters said. “There were some tears but also a lot of laughs. They knew my goal was to become a head coach, so they were really excited for me.”
›› RELATED: Welch hits milestone as WSU women beat YSU
It’s that kind of commitment to her players, along with a decorated playing and coaching career, that made Matters the right fit to replace Susan Clements, whose contract was not renewed last fall after going 48-133 in six seasons at WSU.
“I cannot wait for Coach Matters to bring her passion for volleyball to Wright State,” associate director of athletics Joylynn Brown said. “She is a proven winner at a high level, both as a player and coach, who has extensive knowledge of our program and this region.”
The familiarity stems from Seton Hall head coach Allison (Smerz) Yaeger being a 2004 WSU graduate and 2003 Horizon League defensive player of the year.
›› MORE: Raiders to put winning streak on the line at Green Bay
“She has such good memories of Wright State and talks about that place a lot,” Matters said. “There’s a huge wall in her office that’s committed to Wright State with pictures of her and her teammates and her framed jersey, and she really got me excited about a place where family and culture is valued. And that’s something important to me.”
As part of a two-person coaching staff at Seton Hall, Matters was involved in every aspect of the program, including recruiting. And the Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Columbus areas were heavily targeted, and she’s already familiar with a couple of Raiders who were club teammates of players Matters had at Seton Hall.
A native of Buffalo, N.Y., Matters set numerous records at Seton Hall, where she is considered one of the greatest players in program history. She was the school’s freshman female athlete of the year in 2006, and the female athlete of the year as a senior in 2009, when she led the Pirates to their first Big East Championship appearance in 15 years.
Follow Jay Morrison on Twitter
Taking the Raiders to the Horizon League tournament, something that hasn’t happened since 2008, is at the top of her list of goals.
In the Big East, only four teams make the conference tournament. But in the Horizon League, it’s six.
“I told the student-athletes I talked to during my interview that we are going to live, breathe, eat and sleep that 6 spot.,” Matters said. “And we’re going to work hard until we get there. And then when get 6, we’re going to live, breathe, eat and sleep 5.
“The girls seem so eager to get started and just kind of rejuvenate and refresh,” she added. “I was happy when I walked out, one of the girls was like ‘I want to play right now.’ I was glad I inspired them in the short time I spoke to them.”
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Don't deny terminally ill Delawareans — like me — end of life options
A terminally ill patient urges the General Assembly to pass the End of Life Options Act before it's too late for people like him.
Don't deny terminally ill Delawareans — like me — end of life options A terminally ill patient urges the General Assembly to pass the End of Life Options Act before it's too late for people like him. Check out this story on delawareonline.com: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/05/03/dont-deny-terminally-ill-delawareans-like-me-end-life-options/572811002/
Tom La Follette Published 9:27 a.m. ET May 3, 2018 | Updated 10:50 a.m. ET May 3, 2018
Tom La Follette is an advocate for the passage of the End of Life Options Act.(Photo: Submitted)
I am a 55-year-young, happily married man living in New Castle County. I have had a good career and am winding down into the retirement stage. I have a full life.
I am also living with Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a terminal, opportunistic infection from HIV/AIDS, so I’m now also in the dying stage — one that will come for us all but, for me, is here a little sooner than expected.
Once a month, I undergo chemotherapy to keep the pain away, but it’s not stopping my infection or the virus or my Kaposi’s Sarcoma. I have one more form of chemotherapy to try after this one, and then I will have tried them all. I will have exhausted my treatment options that have left me physically ravaged.
RELATED: I'm dying. I hope Delaware approves the End of Life Options Act
This opportunistic infection is a death sentence that has spread rapidly over my body.
If my terminal illness becomes unbearable, I want the option to get prescription medication I can take to die peacefully in my sleep, at home, next to my husband Mark. Unfortunately, this peaceful option of medical aid in dying is not authorized, as it is in seven other states and Washington, D.C.
OPPOSING VIEW: Compelling reasons to oppose Delaware assisted suicide legislation
It’s why I have been meeting with Delaware lawmakers to urge them to pass the End of Life Options Act, authored by Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark. When I first started advocating for this legislation, my fellow terminally ill Delaware advocates, Heather Block and Ron Silverio, were alive.
It was an option both of them desperately wanted, but were unable to utilize.
It's inevitable that one day Delaware will have the option, considering 7 of 10 Americans support the measure. The question is when will this occur and how many others will die, suffering needlessly, until lawmakers act in support of the terminally ill.
Tragically, aid-in-dying will come too late for Ron and Heather, but there are countless real Delawareans with real stories of suffering like mine who simply cannot wait any longer.
For terminally ill, mentally capable residents of Delaware like me, this issue is not up for debate. It is only reasonable, given the many protections offered in this bill, coupled with 40 years of experience across multiple states, without a single case of abuse, misuse or coercion,
If not for this terrible diagnosis, my future would be so much different. But it’s not, and with the limited time I have left, I want to make a difference, enjoy every day I have left, and work to make medical aid in dying a reality for terminally ill Delawareans.
I know what the end will look like for me, and it is horrible. I strongly urge passage of HB 160, the Delaware End of Life Options Act, as it will provide great comfort to many people whose sole wish to have more options at end of life.
THE DEBATE OVER HB 160
Assisted suicide undermines human dignity
The voices of the dying changed my mind
Physician-assisted suicide is not the answer to better end-of life care
Read or Share this story: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/05/03/dont-deny-terminally-ill-delawareans-like-me-end-life-options/572811002/
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Paris Conference Seeks Libya Policies
PARIS (AP) -- Libya's rival leaders arrived in Paris on Tuesday for a meeting aimed at agreeing a political roadmap that would help restore order in the country, where lawlessness has fed Islamic militants, human trafficking and instability in the region.
Representatives of twenty countries, including Libya's neighbors, regional and European powers, the United States and international organizations were expected Tuesday at the Elysee Palace.
The U.N.-backed conference aims at securing parliamentary and presidential elections in the North African country, if possible by the end of 2018.
Macron's office said Libyan leaders have agreed in principle to a non-binding accord.
"There will be a collective commitment to this scenario for coming out of the crisis," an official at the French presidency said Monday. "The very important issue is about simplifying the Libyan institutions" because they are "extremely complex." The official spoke anonymously because he was not allowed to disclose details publicly ahead of the conference.
Libya is split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.
Participants include Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, head of Libya's UN-recognized government in Tripoli in the west, and Gen. Khalifa Hifter, the commander of Libya's national army which dominates the east.
Representatives of Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, which have backed Hifter and the rival administration in Tobruk in the east, are also attending, as well as the U.N. special envoy Ghassan Salame.
According to a 13-point draft seen by the Associated Press, Tuesday's planned accord includes a commitment to organize elections by the end of 2018, to support the unification of the national army and a call for the immediate unification of the Libyan Central Bank.
The draft warns of potential international sanctions on those that obstruct or interfere in the voting process.
Yet it doesn't address what may be Libya's biggest challenge: a wide network of militias fighting for power and control in the country.
"Of course there are Libyans who are opposed to this political process, others who are for a 'status quo' because they have an interest in it, others who are for disorder and instability. So we must not close our eyes" the official at the French presidency said. "They are a minority", he added.
France is trying to play peacemaker in a country where years of efforts by the United Nations and former colonial power Italy have failed to bring stability.
Macron brought the two rival Libyan leaders Sarraj and Hifter together at a meeting near Paris last July. They committed themselves to working toward presidential and parliamentary elections.
The International Crisis Group, an NGO committed to resolve conflicts, warned the Paris conference might unintentionally undermine the U.N.-led peace process.
The group said in a statement Monday that "French organizers should avoid imposing too rigid a framework." It called for "a broader declaration of principles on political, security and economic steps that would help stabilize and unite the divided country."
Libya plunged into chaos after the uprising that ended Moammar Gadhafi's rule in 2011. France was at the forefront of the airstrikes, carried out along with the United States and others, in a NATO operation that helped rebel fighters topple Gadhafi's regime.
The country has become a base for the Islamic State group and other extremists and a departure point for African migrants seeking to enter Europe.
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A SOJOURN IN RUSSIA
The breakfast trays had just been cleared when the captain announced that we were initiating our descent and would be landing in Helsinki within the hour. My wife and I had slept well on the flight from San Francisco and were looking forward to the days ahead. With us on the flight were Mark Perlman, a Pittsburgh-born professor of painting at Sonoma State University, descendant of Lithuanian Jews, and Alek Rapoport, a Ukranian-born artist living in exile in the US. The purpose of our trip was to attend the exhibitions of their paintings, collectively titled “California Branches—Russian Roots,” that were to take place consecutively in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Mark and Alek’s invitations to exhibit had come from separate sources. Le Chat, a small Moscow gallery had invited Mark to show, and Alek had received his from a state-sponsored exhibition centre in St Petersburg. As their gallerist, I was asked to coordinate the logistics of putting on these shows, and tasked with obtaining funding for the crating, transport and insurance of the work, document preparation and air travel. The gallery staff worked for months on the project, exchanging endless letters with the Russian organisers and sending out requests for funding. By late spring of 1993 we had secured Finnair’s generous support for the transportation of the work and had combined both projects into a single exhibition, to be held first at the Moscow Central House of Artist and, two weeks later, at Manège Central Exhibition Hall, two vast and prestigious state-sponsored exhibition centres that hosted regular exhibitions of historic and contemporary art.
This was to be Alek’s first visit to Russia since his departure sixteen years earlier. A key figure in Leningrad’s Soviet-era non-conformist artistic movements opposing the state-sponsored Social Realism School, Rapoport had been a founding member of the dissident group TEV (Fellowship of Experimental Exhibitions) and the anti-establishment art collective ALEF, activities that had brought him under KGB scrutiny, resulting in the loss of his job, house arrest and the proscription against exhibiting in the country. With life in Russia increasingly untenable, in 1977 Rapoport had taken advantage of the Soviet Union’s “invitation” to Jews to emigrate, and gone into exile, travelling through Vienna to Rome, where he presented his request for asylum at the US Embassy. That year he exhibited at the Venice Biennale in “La Nuova Arte Sovietica—Una prospettiva non-ufficiale,” a seminal exhibition of Soviet dissident artists, curated by Enrico Crispolti and Gabriella Moncada, that garnered significant attention in the international press. Granted immigrant status by the US a few months later, he moved with his family to San Francisco. I had been showing his work at the gallery since 1984 and we had become close friends.
The paintings had been shipped to Moscow in advance, so it was with the satisfaction of a job done that we disembarked our Finnair flight and entered the Helsinki airport transit lounge. Our Aeroflot connection to Moscow was soon announced and we boarded the ageing Tupolev, claiming our seats and strapping in prior to take-off. The seats, I noticed, were patched in places with duct tape and the runner carpet was worn through, though having flown on Third-world airlines in the past, I considered its disheveled aspect unimportant. My serenity was interrupted, however, once the plane took off. The window quickly fogged up, and the harsh vibration of the engines caused several screws on the bulkhead and the overhead compartments to come loose, falling at our feet. My wife looked over at me, eyebrows arched, and I gave her hand a comforting squeeze. Nothing to worry about, I assured her, just sit back and enjoy the flight.
Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport was a bustle of activity and we cleared customs and immigration without a hitch. The lavatories on the plane had been sealed with duct tape and now everyone had to use the bathroom. We were directed to a door where a queue of people stood waiting. Upon entering, one was first struck by the reek of excrement. The lavatories were covered in filth, the few unbroken tiles scrawled over with graffiti. No water emerged from the taps at the sinks nor were paper towels or toilet paper anywhere in evidence. The toilet stalls presented an even more discomfiting sight: the solitary hole in the floor showed evidence of prior users’ poor aim. Faeces lay in neat piles along its rim and the floor and walls were covered in graffiti and layers of grime. Holding our breath, we hurried through our ablutions before joining the others outside, gasping for air.
We had arranged through the organisers of the Moscow exhibition for a driver to be at our disposal every day from 8:00 to 20:00, for which we would pay him a fee of $15 per diem. At the gates of the airport stood a man holding a sign with my name on it who presented himself as Dmitry, our driver. We all shook hands and introduced ourselves before piling into his ten year-old Lada, its windscreen wipers conveniently removed as a precaution against theft, apparently a recurring problem in Russia. Driving through the streets of Moscow, Dmitry would point out landmarks to us and explain their significance in reasonably good English. I enquired if he had been a driver for long, to which he replied that he didn’t drive for a living, he was the head of the Physics Department at Moscow State University and had taken his vacation time to drive for us. The $15 we gave him each day was equivalent to a month’s pay at the University, and the opportunity was simply too good to pass up.
Dmitry and his Lada, Moscow, 1993
The organisers had also secured an apartment for us, its owners having agreed to vacate it for the duration of our visit in exchange for a reasonable rent. We pulled up to the apartment building and began to unload our luggage. On a plot of muddy earth opposite the building stood a playground, its swing sets hanging empty, each swing broken from its chain. The driver cautioned us to speak no English anywhere in the vicinity of the flat, especially in the entrance or on the stairwell. We were asked to ensure no windows were ever opened. The owners feared repercussions from their neighbours should they learn they’d let out their home to foreigners, and had made this request a condition of our rental agreement. We climbed the stairs in silence and entered a two-bedroom apartment with a small lounge and kitchenette. Dropping off our luggage, we quietly descended the dark staircase to the street, where Dmitry waited to drive us to the exhibition hall.
Apartment building in Moscow, 1993
The Moscow Central House of the Artists on Krimsky Val is an enormous brutalist cube of a building overlooking the Moscow River, opposite Gorky Park. With 27 halls and 60 galleries, its exhibition schedule keeps the staff busy year round, and our exhibition was just another of the countless shows they produce annually. But their public relations team had done an impressive job, and Alek and Mark’s exhibition had been the focus of numerous television programmes, it had appeared in the national news for several days running, and the numbers of visitors to the museum as a result had been staggering. We were met by Vladimir, the director of Le Chat Gallery — who seemed to have some connection with the museum— and the rest of the staff with a glass of sweet sparkling wine. Chanting Na Zdorovie! after the obligatory toasts, we were taken down several corridors, past other exhibitions, to two separate, adjacent halls, where each artist’s work was hung and lit. A closing reception had been scheduled a week hence, and until then, we were free to explore the city at will.
Mark Perlman and Alek Rapoport at the Central House of Artists offices, Moscow 1993
Alek was profoundly moved to discover that his work had relevance in Russian artistic circles. After sixteen years in exile, he thought he’d have slipped into obscurity, but the media, the curators and the art community received him with solemn respect, recalling his pivotal rôle in the “dissident” art exhibitions of the seventies and showing him books published by art historians on the artistic activities of the period, where his works were prominently featured. He was especially gratified to see the appearance of an old friend and colleague from the days he taught art at the Tavricheskaya Art School in Leningrad. Vsevolod Semionovich Grigoriev, affectionately known as Seva, had learnt of Alek’s show from a news bulletin on State TV and his journey by train from Chechnya, where he lived, had taken him three days, and the two embraced with tears of joy. Over the course of the afternoon we spent hours fielding questions about the state of the art world in the West, a subject which the Russians, in these early days of glasnost, were curious to learn. Amongst the many people we met was Tengiz Mirzashvili, a Georgian artist (1934-2008) who painted in a naïf style and would generously share his time over the next week to introduce us to the Moscow art scene.
Rapoport’s encounter with Seva, old colleague from St Petersburg.
Over the next few days we roamed the streets of Moscow. Tengiz took us to the Pushkin Museum and the Tretyakov Gallery, where we wandered through the halls marvelling at their extraordinary collections. The requisite ride on its famous Metro fulfilled all our expectations: it was as grandiose as any we’d ever seen, although the silence observed among its passengers was notable. People spoke in whispers, shifting to silence whenever we drew near. The only voices heard were those of a boisterous group of Italian tourists who were clearly enjoying themselves. Alek had previously warned us against making eye contact with any passerby, and I noticed that nobody looked at one another; everyone’s gaze was on the floor. Above ground, on the streets, old beggar women at intersections presented the most heartbreaking and pathetic scenes I’d ever witnessed. I enquired about the people I’d noticed going about their business carrying an empty plastic bag, and I was told that it was a common practice among Muscovites, who leave their homes each morning with such a bag in the event they should encounter something to buy at one of the ambulatory stands that occasionally appeared on the streets. In one of our walks we stopped at one of these stands and asked a lady in the queue what was on sale.
“I don’t know,” the kind babushka replied. “But whatever it is, I’m sure I can use it!”
Indeed, shopping was a challenge in Moscow that year. There existed several “dollar shops” that took only dollars and offered a wide range of imported food and drink, their principal customers being tourists and members of the diplomatic corps. Meagre Russian salaries and the ruble-dollar exchange rate made shopping at these stores impossible for the average citizen. But Moscow had the famous Gastronom, the food emporium cited in many Cold War spy novels, and we were determined to fill the larder at our flat like ordinary Muscovites. It was a vast and crowded cavernous space with a central island of cash registers and individual stands lined up along the walls, the goods on offer displayed behind them on shelves. Looking around, we noticed that only three items were on sale: fresh cheese, sausages, and eggs.
¨Well, let’s get some eggs, cheese and sausages for the flat,” I suggested, and we each split up, heading to different counters.
I was only the fourth or fifth in line at the cheese stand, so I didn’t have to wait long before the saleslady took my order. She wrote something on a slip of paper and handed it to me, indicating with a nod of her head to the cash registers. The queue at the central island was considerably longer, and it took a quarter of an hour before I could pay and return to the cheese counter, where I waited behind a dozen shoppers before my turn came up to hand over the payment receipt. She took a slab of cheese and cut it, placing it on the scale. But she was a bit short, and had to add an additional slice. This time however, she had cut too much, and had to trim a bit off to round out the kilo before she could wrap it and hand over my purchase. Through all these manoeuvres, I watched transfixed, astonished by the extraordinary patience these shoppers showed, indifferent to having to stand in three queues for a simple kilo of cheese. Outside, I met the others, who shared their own very similar experiences and, loaded with fresh supplies, we all headed home for dinner.
On a leafy street in the Arbat District stood a charming wooden cottage, a vestige of an earlier time. Tengiz had taken us to see a pair of art impresarios interested in meeting Alek and showing him the numerous books and journals in their collection that documented the difficult years of the various “dissident” art movements. The famous “Bulldozer Exhibition”* was catalogued as well as the many clandestine art exhibitions hosted for the benefit of the foreign diplomatic service who were beginning to collect Russian artists at the time. The exhibitions were usually held in private flats, and invitations would go out to the foreign community by word of mouth. Alek had participated in a number of these exhibitions and had lost track of his work over the years. In 1977, when the Soviet authorities finally issued him his exit visa, he requested permission to emigrate with his paintings, only to be told they were rubbish and it was not in the interest of the Soviet Union to have such work shown abroad.
*The Bulldozer Exhibition was an unofficial art exhibition on a vacant lot in the Belyayevo urban forest by Moscow and Leningrad avant-garde artists on September 15, 1974. The exhibition was forcefully broken-up by a large police force that included bulldozers and water cannons, hence the name. (Wikipedia)
Block where the Diplomatic exhibitions were held. Moscow 1993
This visit in the Arbat had rekindled his memory and he decided to try and locate the apartment where the ‘dipshows’ were held, as they were disparaginly termed. Stepping out of Dmitry’s Lada at the address Alek had given him, we looked down the length of the block. None of the doors to the buildings had numbers on them so we decided to try them all. The first building we entered looked familiar to Alek, and climbing up to the first floor, we knocked. Behind the young man who answered the door we could see a large painting of a boy in a striped shirt that Alek had painted in 1974. This was the apartment where those shows were held! He invited us in and apologised for his mother’s absence; he knew nothing about the art, his mother owned the collection and she was abroad. In other rooms we located several more of Alek’s paintings.
Rapoport discovers his work at the apartment where the clandestine exhibitions were held.
Rapoport wistfully recalled those shows twenty years ago, when the diplomats’ cars would line the street, their chauffeurs waiting patiently while their owners flocked to the crowded apartments, eager to buy paintings from those banned artists. Cloaked in thoughtful silence, we returned to the car, and I asked Alek if he regretted having emigrated, seeing how he and his work had grown to be so respected and admired in Russia. Rapoport’s efforts to break away from the stylistic formalism of Soviet academicism had caused him enormous difficulties with the authorities, who accused him of “formalistic distortion, ideological sabotage” and of producing “religious, fascist and Zionist art.” He had been a seminal member of the infamous “Bulldozer Exhibition” and co-founder of dissident art organisations in Leningrad. And yet, despite achieving significant critical success in the underground art community, he had left the Soviet Union seeking integration with the international art world, leaving behind hundreds of paintings whose export had been forbidden by the authorities. These works he would never see again. In San Francisco, Alek found that the Bay Area art community, with its parochial attachment to a “home-grown” culture, was slow in accepting his work, whose powerful expressionistic paintings were more in line with Titian and Giotto and the icons of Andrei Rublev than the light-filled canvases of Diebenkorn, Thiebaud or Francis. Rejected by the California art establishment, Alek remained a dissident in San Francisco as he had been in Russia.
“I have no regrets,” he replied. “I made my bed and I must lie in it.”
Over the next few days I began to notice an appreciable change in Alek’s mood. His initial enthusiasm and the euphoria he felt upon arriving in Russia had darkened, and he began to display increasing signs of paranoia. He continuously warned us of prying eyes and began to suspect Mark of insidious schemes against him, much to Mark’s consternation. Alek’s parents had both been arrested during Stalin’s purges. His father was shot and his mother spent ten years in a Siberian labour camps for “crimes against the State.” He was raised by an aunt in Kiev until the outbreak of World War II, when he was evacuated to the city of Ufa, in the Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. These years of extreme loneliness, cold, hunger, and deprivation defined his character and were the foundation of his search for the spiritual in art. Returning to Russia had been an emotional roller coaster for Alek. His wife Irina had refused to travel with him, unable to go through the heart-wrenching trauma of having to, once again, leave her friends behind. Russia represented his origins, and he was torn by conflicting feelings of love-hate for the country. Being back in the land of his birth had brought out the fears and suspicions that had characterised much of his formative years.
One day Vladimir drove us in his van to the Zagorsk Monasteries at Sergiyev Posad, on the Golden Ring. One of the of greatest of Russian monasteries, it had been in existence since the 15th century and was said to be the cradle of the Russian Orthodox Church. Vladimir parked outside while Mark, Alek, my wife and I explored the intricate network of ancient buildings, admiring the architecture, the ancient murals and the centuries-old icons, nestled snugly in their iconostases. Stern bearded monks with long, greasy hair, a wide leather belt cinched tightly round their black robes, crossed us in the passageways, the clomping of their stiff leather boots breaking the silence of the halls. At some point, having lost Mark and Alek, Nance and I entered a church where a mass was beginning. From the stained-glass windows above, pencil-like beams of light pierced the swirling incense, illuminating the babushkas who stood in a group in the centre of the circular nave, kerchiefs tied round their heads. Behind the altar was a floor-to-ceiling iconostasis, filled with icons. From its sides we heard the sounds of the most beautiful chants we had ever heard. The sweet harmonies of a choir of monks, concealed behind the iconostasis, filled the air and we stood in awe, profoundly touched by the beauty of the ceremony. After the mass, the monks emerged and the babushkas queued up to kneel down and kiss their hands.
“If this is what their masses sound like, I’ll convert tomorrow!” I murmured. My wife nodded in agreement and we left to find our friends. Mark and Alek were outside the complex, sitting with Vladimir in the van.
“You’ve missed the most extraordinary thing! We just heard a mass that was moving beyond description. Where were you?” I asked.
“This is a bad place,” replied Alek. “We had very bad feelings here and couldn’t stay.” They both explained that they had felt a deep hostility from the monks, an unconcealed antisemitism that had made them extremely uncomfortable.
“But how could they know you were Jews?” I replied, nonplussed.
“You know. If you’re a Jew, you know these things.”
I wondered if Alek’s paranoia was beginning to affect Mark as well. We rode back in silence, stopping along the way to buy a litre of milk from a farmer by the road. Back in our flat an hour later, I found the milk had curdled. The jostling of the van on the pot-holed roads had turned the fresh milk to yoghurt.
Tengiz prepares lunch.
The following day Tengiz invited us to lunch at his home. He lived on the outskirts in one of those faceless, Soviet-era blocks of flats that crowd the periphery. As we were enjoying our tea he proposed we visit a collector of his work in town whom we might find interesting. The art market in Russia at the time was virtually non-existent. Earnings were so limited that nobody had two kopeks to rub together, let alone to indulge in the luxury of collecting art. Artworks were generally traded amongst artists, or given freely to supporters who genuinely admired their art, for Russians were deeply committed to culture and had a profound and thoughtful appreciation for it. Who could this person be, we asked ourselves, was there really an incipient collector base in this country, struggling so hard to shed its Soviet past? So it was with more than idle curiosity that we gladly accepted his invitation, piling into Dmitry’s Lada for the trip downtown.
Pulling up outside a white two-storey villa of neoclassical design, we crossed the small, well-kept garden to the front door. I expected to find the usual rows of buzzers, typical in old houses that had been broken up into numerous dwellings, but on this door there was only a single bell, which Tengiz rang. A maid dressed in black with a white apron and mob-cap answered the door and showed us in to see Madame. In a room filled with objets d’art, contemporary paintings and antiques, we were greeted in perfect English by the delightful lady of the house, an elegant, elderly woman in a velvet pant-suit. The house backed on to the Pushkin Museum and the living room looked out onto a large garden. Leaning against the garden wall were several ancient wrought-iron grates that she had recently found in a ruined convent. She was delighted with her find and explained that they were to be placed over the street-level windows. The maid who brought in the tea set spilt a few drops on the table cloth and our hostess apologised for her clumsiness.
“It’s very difficult these days to find decent servants, I hope you’ll excuse me,” she explained, as she poured the tea.
My jaw dropped. Who was this woman? Is this a vestige of the Soviet era I didn’t know about? Servants in the Soviet Union? Our hostess’s comments on servants or of finding antiques in condemned ruins mirrored the talk of any upper-middle class woman of Western Europe, conversations I had grown up hearing, and I found it hard to reconcile them with my idea of what it meant to live under the Soviet system. Her daughter had been a prima ballerina at the Bolshoi Ballet, she explained. But a terrible car accident had ended her career and she now required full care and rehabilitation. She also had a son, a physician practicing in Connecticut, who she unfortunately saw only during the holidays, usually at their flat on Avenue Foch, in Paris. She also owned an apartment on Fifth Avenue in New York, but, regrettably, seldom went there. These incongruities only piqued my curiosity and I asked her to tell me more about her life. Her husband had been a physician, she said, and a close personal friend of Armand Hammer’s, a wealthy entrepreneur who had a long history with the Soviet Union. Apart from his large investments in oil production, Hammer had served as a conduit for bringing needed drugs into the country and surplus American wheat to stem the recurring famines. His work had secured for him a very influential position in relationship to Lenin and Stalin, to whom he was alleged to have warned, “If you want to keep working with me, hands off Dr. X. He is to be untouchable,” referring to Madame’s husband. Through the years of Stalin’s repressive rule she and her family had lived unhampered in Moscow, free to pursue their careers and build their fortunes. We were in the presence of a member of the Nomenklatura, the privileged class of Soviet citizens who lived like their peers, the upper classes of Western Europe. My head spun.
The day of the finissage had arrived and we were summoned that afternoon to the Central House of Artists for the closing ceremonies. Later that evening we were scheduled to take the night train to St Petersburg, and we had packed our bags in anticipation. Vladimir had organised a farewell party for us at his gallery after the event, and had assured us he would get us to the station on time. Dmitry dropped us and our luggage off at the museum and we thanked him for his service and paid him off, stowing our bags in a store-room for later retrieval. The finissage was well attended. A good crowd of visitors stood idly by, sipping sweet sparkling wine while members of the museum staff and other cultural personalities gave speeches. After the ceremony, we stood on the terrace overlooking the river and said good bye to the staff, thanking them for their efforts and receiving their best wishes for the next venue.
Finissage speeches.
Vladimir gathered up our luggage and we all piled into his van for the drive to his gallery. Le Chat Gallery was housed in a squat, two-storey cylinder, and Vladimir took our bags down a spiral staircase and stowed them in the basement. The ground floor was the main exhibition space, though considering his confident boast that his gallery was “the most important one in Moscow,” we were surprised to find a dimly lit, dust-filled room where the only artworks on view were a couple of half-wrapped paintings leaning face to the wall. Empty boxes and strewn papers lay scattered on the floor, and used clothing hung from the broken furniture positioned around a large table laden with pickled fish, sausages, bottles of vodka and sweet sparkling wine. Steadily, the place filled up with artists and well-wishers and the party was soon in full swing. Toasts and Na Zdorovies rose above the clamour of the cigarette-smoking revellers, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. But our train was scheduled to leave in an hour and I feared we’d miss it in the heat of the festivities. For some minutes, I had been trying to make eye contact with Vladimir while pointing to my watch, but he merely smiled and told me not to worry, everything was fine. With only a half hour left till departure time, my concerns had grown in earnest. The four of us were now debating whether we should call for a taxi and wondering where he’d stowed our luggage. Yet Vladimir was unperturbed. “Not to worry, my friends, everything is okay,” he insisted. Finally, with twenty minutes to spare, he told us to wait outside, where his van was parked, while he retrieved our bags.
Alek showed me a length of rope, 40 centimetres long. “Look what my friends gave me as a going-away present,” he said. I was touched. Russians are notoriously sentimental, and I interpreted the rope as a symbol of undying friendship, that no matter the distances separating friends, this piece of rope represented their close bonds, never to be broken.
“How endearing! The rope symbolises your friendship, no? What lovely people!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he replied. “This rope is to tie the train compartment doors shut to protect us from being robbed in the night!”
With tyres screeching, Vladimir made a U-turn and hurtled at top speed through the dark streets of Moscow, the four of us clinging to our seats for dear life. Double-parking the van in front of the station with seven minutes to spare, he warned,
“Whatever you do, speak not a word of English, do you understand?”
My three companions dashed into the train to find our compartment while I accompanied Vladimir to the window where pillows and blankets were issued for the journey. He presented our tickets and I was handed the bedding. The price difference between what foreigners are charged and what Russians pay were a hundred-to-one, and Vladimir had insisted on offering this final service before seeing us off. I thanked him once again and boarded the train as it was beginning to leave.
The compartment had two sets of bunks. Mark and Alek took the lower berths and Nance and I the upper ones. Alek used his rope to tie the handles together and we each climbed into our bunks and settled in. Waking early the next morning, I untied Alek’s rope and made my way to the dining car, where two or three people sat alone in silence. I took my seat at a table and ordered some tea. Tasselled and brocaded curtains covered the windows and, eager to enjoy the scenery, I pulled the string that made the curtain at my table roll up. Instantly, the waiter was back at my table with a harsh reprimand, pulling it back down. I couldn’t understand the need to keep the curtains closed. I couldn’t see how a curtain-less window could bother someone, seeing how the sun was out and the dining coach mostly empty. It was a Russian peculiarity that had puzzled me since we’d arrived. We’d eaten in restaurants in Moscow that had wide picture windows offering views to pleasant parks or avenues, but these views were predictably concealed behind heavy curtains. Were these visual barriers designed to prevent outsiders from looking in, or was their purpose to keep those within from seeing what took place outside? It was a mystery I was never able to solve.
I was mulling over this issue when Nance showed up at my table reporting an uncomfortable row between the Alek and Mark, who had woken to Alek’s fierce accusation of going through his bags and trying to steal from him. That Mark would try to steal from Alek was preposterous, and Nance had tried to calm the waters by insisting to Alek that she had got up in the night to use the lavatory and had inadvertently stepped on his bag. Surely that was what had disturbed his sleep, it was unthinkable that Mark would ever try to steal from him, his allegation was clearly a mistake. Mark was understandably outraged, but Alek stubbornly refused to consider any alternative, and the tension between them was palpable.
It was in icy silence that we pulled into St Petersburg. We had all planned to stay in the Vasileostrovsky District, at the flat of Irina Rapoport’s cousin, the physicist Ludmila Kalinina, who was staying with her sister Tatiana during our visit. But Mark wouldn’t countenance another day in Alek’s company and we split up. Mark went off to stay with friends we’d met in Moscow* who’d travelled up on the same train and Alek, Nance and I moved into the flat. It was a pleasant, well-lighted place with a large living-room occupied by a baby grand, a considerable improvement over our cramped quarters in Moscow.
*Interestingly, our fellow passengers reported having been robbed during the night, alleging that sleeping gas had been pumped under their door and their luggage gone through.
View from the apartment in St Petersburg, 1993
We would see little of Alek during our stay in St Petersburg. The season was early July, close to the solstice—when the sun barely sets at these latitudes—and the city famously celebrates its White Nights. Alerted to his presence in the city and accustomed to staying up late, old friends would call him at all hours of the day and night and he was often away, leaving us to explore the city on our own.
We had not arranged for a driver this time, but had been assured that transportation around the city was a matter of simply putting out your hand. A private vehicle would invariably stop and, for the price of a dollar, would deliver you to your destination. The system worked, and over the next few days, while we awaited the arrival of the art, we hop-scotched freely around the city, taking boat trips through the canals to the Peter and Paul Fortress, rides out to Peterhof, or simply taking in the sights. Peter the Great’s city, as is well known, is a stunning monument to Baroque architecture. Built over just a few years by Italy’s most prestigious architects, it retains a stylistic unity of extraordinary beauty. But the ravages of Russian winters and years of Soviet neglect had left their mark and grand houses lay in sad decay. Where once a single family lived was now shared by a dozen, as the rows upon rows of buzzers next to doors attested.
Notified of the arrival of the paintings, we gathered at the exhibition hall to arrange for their display and meet the director. The Manège Central Exhibition Centre is the former riding hall for the Imperial Horse Guards, a building of austere neoclassical design fronted by eight enormous doric columns. Inside the vast hall, temporary walls had been erected over a gleaming, dark green marble floor where, shifted next to the stairs, our crates stood unopened. We were ushered in to see the director, who graciously welcomed us to St Petersburg and accepted the “gift” of the videocamera I had brought for her, a condition she had stipulated for the exhibition of the works. After an amiable chat, we returned to the galleries to meet the installation crew. Half a dozen young men stood idly around the crates and introduced themselves. The crates lay untouched, and, understanding that they too, would require a “gift,” I asked Nance to run out and buy the largest bottle of vodka she could find. She promptly returned with a magnum, which we offered to the crew.
Unopened crates wait in the Manège.
“Spasiba bolshoi” they cried. “Come into our office, please!”
We were led into a dust closet, on either side of which two rows of chairs were lined up facing each other. We all sat down, our knees grazing those seated opposite, while the crew chief proceeded to open the bottle. Glasses were produced and soon we were all toasting to the exhibition’s success. After a couple of rounds we politely declined any more, but the crew had other intentions, and in twenty minutes they had polished off the bottle. Thus fortified, we all returned to the gallery. The crew stood round, commenting on the crates and praising their sturdy construction. I acknowledged that the boxes had been well built and suggested we get started on the installation by opening them.
“That is impossible,” the crew chief informed me. “They are screwed together with a type of screw we have no tools for!” Indeed, the crates had been sealed with phillips-head screws.
“Don’t you have phillips-head screw drivers?” I asked.
“Never use them here,” he replied.
“Here, take some money and go out to a hardware store and buy yourselves half a dozen screw drivers.”
“There are no hardware stores in St Petersburg.”
I couldn’t believe it. These paintings had travelled half-way round the world to end up unseen for lack of a simple screw driver. The situation had taken on distinct surrealistic tones.
During this exchange Nance had been rummaging through her bag, from which she extracted her Swiss Army knife.
“Voilà! Try this!” she cried, opening up the requisite blade.
With tool in hand, the crew began their work, and after a few hours we had all the paintings out, lined up against the wall in their order of display. Hanging the work required the use of two wooden step ladders, four metres tall, which a member of the crew would nimbly climb and perch himself astride the top. Given their glassy-eyed enthusiasm after consuming a magnum of vodka, I was apprehensive of their abilities and feared the worst. But my anxieties proved unfounded as I watched the fellow at the top of the ladder “walk” the entire contraption under his feet with great aplomb, moving the ladder from place to place like a man on stilts, without ever having to come down. Eventually, the shows were hung and we departed, arranging to meet again for the opening, several days hence.
A curator at the Hermitage Museum, Lyuba Ionovna was a friend and colleague of Alek’s wife, Irina, who had also been a curator there. She had kindly given us a personalised tour of the museum, escorting us through endless halls, where the Hermitage’s ‘greatest hits’ were found, as well as areas where visitors were not ordinarily allowed, amazing us with her photographic memory and personal anecdotal knowledgeable of every item on display.
Lyuba, Nance and Mark visit closed galleries of the Hermitage.
She had also secured for us tickets to see ‘Eugene Onegin’ at Catherine the Great’s intimately scaled theatre at the Hermitage, whose semicircular rows of seats faced each other rather than the stage, conceived to allow for the aristocratic audience of the time to appraise each others’ finery whilst the show went on. Later, as we sat drinking tea in her book-lined apartment, she asked,
“Would you like to visit an artist´s studio? There’s an interesting one nearby you might like to meet.”
Mark and I immediately agreed and Lyuba wrote down his address, informing us he’d expect us at three the following afternoon. Unwilling to arrive empty handed, we’d purchased a bottle of vodka beforehand, and that afternoon we stood with our shopping bag before a grand mansion on a canal, puzzling over the list of names on the buzzers. After several tries, the door buzzed open and we entered the foyer. Years of grime covered the walls and broken tiles lay in heaps over the dirty marble floors. An elegant curving staircase led to the floors above, and we followed it up, stepping over chipped and missing steps. Along the wall on our right, a number of windows were broken, letting in the outside air. They appeared to have been broken for years and I wondered what they did in winter to keep the cold out. On the first floor landing was a door, a column of name tags nailed beside it, where our host waited to show us down a narrow corridor to his lodgings. The five by six-metre room had been partitioned with curtains into several smaller areas and we were invited to sit on a couch while he prepared the tea.
“We have brought you this small token of our appreciation,” I said, pulling out the bottle.
He replied that he didn’t touch alcohol. Mark and I looked at each other and shrugged: apparently, Russians’ appreciation for vodka was not universal. He explained that until recently, he had shared this space with his parents, his wife and their dog, the curtained sections affording them some modicum of privacy. But in recent years they had found other accommodations and he now used this space solely as a studio. We saw little evidence of his work, however, the only painting on the wall being an ancient icon in its repoussé frame. We spent a few minutes in polite conversation, grasping at something to talk about, when he enquired,
“Would you like to look round at the rest of the floor?”
The narrow corridor outside his room led past the front door to other rooms. The first door on our right opened to a large kitchen, shared by all the residents of the floor, which must have been the original one from pre-Revolutionary times. Bright white tiles covered the walls and various windows to the street let in ample light. But the corridor was dark: lit only by a single 40-watt bulb, the filthy walls of uncertain colour made it hard to see where we were going.
“Why don’t you get together with your neighbours and paint this corridor?” I suggested. “If you gave it a coat of white paint and put in a higher-wattage bulb you’d be able to see better!”
“That is impossible,” he replied. “This house does not belong to us.”
“So who does it belong to?”
“The State!”
“But how long have you lived here?”
“Thirty years. Anyway, even if we did decide to paint it, one neighbour would want to paint it yellow, another blue, and a third white. Since we could never agree on what colour to use, it’s best to leave it as it is.”
We had arrived at the end of the corridor, where two doors faced each other at the cul-de-sac. He pointed to the door at the end and explained that the fellow who lived there had a serious drinking problem. Incapable of negotiating the lock to his apartment door in his inebriated state, he would often be found by his neighbours passed out on the landing. Next door lived a family whose two young daughters would invariably return home at night to find their neighbour sprawled out on the floor in a pool of urine.
“This had become a serious problem. The poor girls had to step over him to get into their flat, so the neighbours got together to formulate a plan and help out the poor man,” he explained.
I envisioned a community effort aimed at assisting the alcoholic neighbour with his disease, perhaps a detox clinic or a Russian version of Alcoholics Anonymous.
“So did you have him committed to a rehabilitation centre?” I enquired.
“Rehabilitation centre? No, we simply had his keyhole moved to a place he could access when he was down on all fours. Look, see what we did?”
Peering closely in the gloom, we could see the keyhole positioned neatly 30 centimetres from the floor.
The day had arrived for the opening at Manège. We entered the hall to see a large crowd assembled including members of the press and the museum staff, gathered about the paintings, waiting for the ceremonies to commence. We were togged up in our best clothes and had brought two more magnums of vodka for the crew. Catching my eye, the crew chief stepped out of the crowd and sidled up to me. I handed him the bottles with our thanks and was about to turn away, when he blurted,
“Nice camera you got the boss!”
I murmured my thanks and repeated our appreciation for their work in hanging the show. It looked very good indeed. Putting on his most innocent face, he asked, “Are you interested in seeing these paintings get back safely to America?”
I immediately understood his implicit comment and pulled out some bills.
“Here you are, with my sincere thanks. Please distribute them as you see fit.”
“They’ll be back in San Francisco better than new,” he replied with a wink, stepping back into the crowd.
The opening ceremony consisted of a series of speeches, delivered by the various officials to an attentive audience, ending with the solemn cutting of a ribbon, an act I was honoured to perform. Afterwards, observing the milling crowd, I was struck by the fact that everyone seemed to be looking closely at the work, either singly, or discussing it in groups. In the hundreds of vernissages I had seen or participated in over the years, my experience was that of visitors gathered in groups, the obligatory wine glass in hand, talking animatedly amongst themselves, their backs to the art. Gallery openings in the west seem to have a primary social function and the artwork on display is often relegated to secondary importance. In St Petersburg however, the audience stood in rapt attention before each painting, scrutinising it with great interest. Moreover, long queues had begun to gather in front of each artist with people lining up to ask serious, intelligent questions of a conceptual or technical nature, whereas in the west conversations between artists often drifted to art market issues, gallery relations, and the like. It is true that Alek had a large circle of friends, and they had all come to the opening, but the impression I received was that of an audience genuinely interested in art and hungry to unravel the mysteries it contained.
As I reflected, I recalled the numerous lunches and dinners we’d been invited to since arriving in St Petersburg. Considering how difficult it was to acquire foodstuffs, the lavish spreads presented at their tables spoke to me of great sacrifice and generosity. Enormous plates of viands and piroshkis, pickles, brined mackerel and caviar, bowls of borscht with homemade breads and sweet desserts or cakes were offered with the requisite toasts of vodka and good Georgian wine—the sweet, sparkling stuff of openings mercifully absent—prepared in kitchens no larger than a closet. To gather all this food took considerable effort, and yet they shared it easily and with good cheer.
Nance and Perlman visit an artist’s studio, St Petersburg, 1993
Often, conversations were of a literary nature. Dmitry Markovich, an engineer who lived next to Stroganovsky Park, on the Chernaya River, had invited us all to dinner. Amongst the large group of friends assembled at the table was Seva, who’d continued his trip from Chechnya to be with Alek in St Petersburg. He and Alek had both worked together in theatre design, and after dinner, Seva invited us to step out into the park and hear tell of Pushkin’s final moments. Positioning us amongst the trees, he re-enacted the event, describing with chilling detail the final duel where the cuckolded poet met his nemesis, Georges d’Anthès, a scene that would remain with us for life.
Other times, they took on a political turn and I was surprised to learn of their contempt for Mikhail Gorbachov who, as initiator of glasnost and perestroika, was greatly admired in the West. They saw in him a betrayal to the principles of the Revolution, a man bent on currying to the whims of the capitalist West, whose policies would inevitably lead Russia to a disappointing future.
“We Russians need a strong leader, like Stalin,” Dmitry asserted.
Their complaints were not merely ideological. In the few years since Gorbachov’s campaign had begun, many Russians had seen their life’s savings disappear. With the collapse of the Soviet Union the ruble lost much of its value, and with the subsequent hyperinflation, Fyodor’s savings had become worthless. At the same time, a new kind of Russian had emerged. Financial wealth was now the ultimate goal of this new class and they were viewed with derision by those in Alek’s intellectual milieu. A recent poll, in which high-school girls were asked about their professional futures, showed that the vast majority of them hoped to become prostitutes. High-priced call-girls could now be seen on the streets of the city, emerging from fancy cars in their expensive furs, and they were viewed by many schoolgirls as holding the key to financial success and liberation.
It was to be our last day in St Petersburg and we were scheduled to take a flight to Helsinki later that afternoon. But we had yet to visit the State Russian Museum with its formidable collection of Russian icons, and we hired a driver for the ride to the airport instructing him to stop by the museum on the way. Entering the lobby, Nance and I went up to the window and asked for two tickets, placing a ten dollar bill on the counter. The woman replied that she took no dollars and instructed us to get change. Having spent all our rubles, we only had enough left to pay the driver, so we sought out a change house. The stack of bills we received brought home the discrepancy between what foreigners and nationals are charged for the same service. The entire stack was the price for us to enter as foreigners, but as Russians, a single note would get us both in. I was unable to tolerate this disparity and asked Nance to go to the window and buy the tickets as a Russian.
“All you need to do is put the money on the counter, say dva billete pazhalsta, and we’re in!” I entreated.
We practiced several times, trying to get her pronunciation into a credible facsimile of Russian, but she was hopeless. Languages had never been her forte.
“You’ll have to do it,” she said, exasperated.
“But she’ll recognise me from ten minutes ago and know I’m a foreigner!”
“Take off your shirt and present yourself in your undershirt. Anyway, she never seems to look at people’s faces.”
Clad only in my undershirt, I went back to the window, placed my solitary note on the counter and uttered the magic words. Without comment, the lady slipped two tickets through the slot and we were in. Over the next hour we admired the works of Andrei Rublev and his peers in absolute silence, fearful of being discovered as fake Russians. Fully satiated, we returned to our driver, who deposited us at the gates of the airport and unloaded our bags. In my pocket, I still had that large stack of unspent bills, so I gave them to the driver and we marched into the terminal to meet Mark for the long flight home.
Alek had stayed behind. He still had people to see and would be catching a later flight. The endless interviews, gatherings and ceaseless phone calls had put a strain on him, and the emotional weight of it all would change him forever. After returning to San Francisco, Alek retreated into seclusion, concentrating on his own creative work, and I would see little of him.
An artist I had met in Moscow, Natalya Nesterova, whose work I had first seen in that lovely cottage in the Arbat, had come to San Francisco the following year at my invitation to work on a monotype project. Nance and I threw a cocktail party for her at our home, inviting —with Irina’s help— all the Bay Area Russian expatriate art community we could muster. We had visited her studio in Moscow, a well-appointed, well-lighted room, where she had shown us her work and spoken to us of her son, living in Brussels, whom she frequently visited. A member of the Union of Soviet Artists, it was clear to us she was a successful artist, one who travelled freely and exhibited regularly in Europe and New York. Though gracious, Natalya complained that she had not come to America to meet more Russians, and asked instead that we allow her to work at her own pace in isolation, without interruptions. But she enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow artists and partook in the merrymaking with good cheer. Through the animated gaiety of the evening, Alek stood quietly in the corner, lost in thought, impervious to the posturing and one-upmanship on display.
Alek died three years later. His body was found in his studio, sitting before his last completed canvas, Anastasis I, a painting based on the apocryphal fourth-century Gospel of Nicodemus. He had returned to his roots, to the “incandescent coals of the Old Russian icons,” as remarked by the critic V. Baranovsky. His son, Vladimir Rapoport, observed that Alek “did not endure emigration easily. ‘What a pathetic life, everything repeats itself’, he had once said, quoting from the letters of Albrecht Dürer, another artist who saw himself as born in the wrong place and time.”
Alek Rapoport, Moscow 1993
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Forex Market Trading and the Mind Games
First, what is Forex: The FOREX or Foreign Exchange market is the largest financial market in the world, with an volume of more than $5.2 trillion daily, dealing in currencies. Unlike other financial markets, the Forex market has no physical location, no central exchange. It operates through an electronic network of banks, corporations and individuals trading one currency for another.
Mind Games defined: Mind Games are a kind of social interaction where participants try to screw with one anothers' heads. The concept is most often used colloquially to refer to deceitful, confusing or Machiavellian situations. However some mind games are described by the psychology of transactional analysis.
When it comes to trading on the Forex market, winning is a matter of the mind rather than mind over matter. Any trader who's been in the game for any length of time will tell you that psychology has a lot to do with both your own performance on the trading floor and with the way that the market is moving. Playing a winning hand depends on knowing your own mind and understanding the way that psychology moves the market.
Studying the psychology of the market is nothing new. It doesn't take a genius to understand that any arena that rides and falls on decisions made by people is going to be heavily influenced by the minds of people. Few people take into account all the various levels of mind games that motivate the market, though. If you keep your eye on the way that psychology influences others including the mass psychology of the people that use the currency on a daily basis but neglect to know what moves you, you're going to end up hurting your own position. The best Forex coaches will tell you that before you can really become a successful trader, you have to know yourself and the triggers that influence you. Knowing those will help you overcome them or use them. Are you saying 'Huh?" about now? Believe me, I understand. I felt the same way the first time that someone tried to explain how the mind games we play with ourselves influence the trades and decisions that we make. Let me break it down into more manageable pieces for you.
Anything involving winning or losing large sums of money becomes emotionally charged. All right. You've heard that playing the market is a mathematical game. Plug in the right numbers, make the right calculations and you'll come out ahead. So why is it that so many traders end up on the losing end of the market? After all, everyone has access to the same numbers, the same data, the same info if it's math, there's only one right answer, right?
The answer lies in interpretation. The numbers don't lie, but your mind does. Your hopes and fears can make you see things that just aren't there. When you invest in a currency, you're investing more than just money you make an emotional investment. Being 'right' becomes important. Being 'wrong' doesn't just cost you money when you let yourself be ruled by your emotions it costs you pride. Why else would you let a loser ride in the hope that it will bounce back? It's that little thing inside your head that says, "I KNOW I'm right on this, dammit!"
To most people, being right is more important than making money. Here's the deal. The way to make real money in the Forex market is to cut your losses short and let your winners ride. In order to do that, you have GOT to accept that some of your trades are going to lose, cut them loose and move on to another trade. You've got to accept that picking a loser is NOT an indication of your self-worth, it's not a reflection on who you are. It's simply a loss, and the best way to deal with it is to stop losing money by moving on and really move on. Moving on means you don't keep a running total of how many losses you've had that's the way to paralyze yourself. This brings us to the next point:
Losing traders see loss as failure. Winning traders see loss as learning. Not too long ago, my twelve year old son told me that before Thomas Edison invented a working light bulb, he invented 100 light bulbs that didn't work. But he didn't give up because he knew that creating a source of light from electricity was possible. He believed in his overall theory so when one design didn't work, he simply knew that he'd eliminated one possibility. Keep eliminating possibilities long enough, and you'll eventually find the possibility that works.
Winning traders see loss in the same way. They haven't failed they've learned something new about the way that they and the market work. Winning traders can look at the big picture while playing in the small arena.
Suppose I told you that last year, I made 75 trades that lost money, and 25 that made money. In the eyes of most people, that would make me a pretty poor trader. I'm wrong 75% of the time. But what if I told you that my average loss was $1000, but my average profit on a winning trade was $10,000? That means that I lost $75,000 on trades but I made $250,000, making my overall profit $175,000. It's a pretty clear numbers game but how do you keep on trading when you're losing in trade after trade? Simple just remember that one trade does not make or break a trader. Focus on the trade at hand, follow the triggers that you've set up but define yourself by what really matters the overall record.
Bottom line: You can't keep emotions out of the picture, but you can learn not to let them control your decisions. Keep it all in perspective and realize that there are a lot of big boys playing this game and playing it to win...
by David Mclauchlan
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Africa should be worried about the expanding tropics
Friday 9 December 2016 - 6:36am
File: The tropics are characterised by warm to hot temperatures throughout the year.
In school, we learnt that the tropical zone is defined as the hot region of our planet – between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. But the more important climatic boundary between tropical and temperate climates is bounded by the slightly larger region covering about 30 degrees latitude either side of the Equator.
The tropics are characterised by warm to hot temperatures throughout the year. Importantly, latitudinal changes in temperature are small compared with regions outside the tropics. Rainfall is largely abundant but it becomes increasingly seasonal with distance from the equator.
The tropical zone is expanding poleward at a rate unprecedented in perhaps hundreds of thousands of years. This has been referred to as Earth’s bulging waistline.
Relative to the 1979 baseline, the tropics have expanded poleward 56km to 111km per decade in each hemisphere. If this rate continues then we may witness an expansion of 850km by 2100. This is roughly equivalent to the distance from Rome to London.
Expansion of the tropics has massive implications for societies, economies and the natural world as Earth’s climatic zones shift poleward. Both human and natural systems will be forced to adapt to new climatic conditions. In particular, there will be unprecedented heat for hundreds of millions of people in the tropics as global warming accelerates.
Africa has the largest tropical footprint among the continents and is, therefore, severely threatened by expanding tropics. Over 80 percent of the continent lies within the band 30 degrees either side of the equator. African nations will be particularly vulnerable due to their lower socioeconomic development.
The poleward edges of the expanding tropics contain a large region dominated by high pressure atmospheric systems throughout the year. This dry subtropical zone is associated with the world’s warm deserts and is also shifting poleward as the tropics grow.
There is growing concern about the poleward shift of this dry subtropical zone into highly populated regions that have generally enjoyed a more temperate climate. Threatened regions include southern California, the Mediterranean Basin countries and southern parts of Africa and Australia.
A compelling study found that the dry subtropics may expand by as much as 30 percent by 2100. This will have dire consequences for water security, food production and biodiversity in many adjacent temperate regions.
The Mediterranean climates of the world are experiencing drying and warming as the edge of dry subtropical zone - located near 30N and 30S shifts poleward. Steve Turton
The effects of latitudinal shifts in climate zones will be most obvious in populated temperate regions outside the tropics, such as southern Europe and southwestern parts of the US.
Impact on climate and species
The Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change’s rainfall projections for Africa this century are consistent with an expanding tropics. Projections include declining rainfall in the north and south – but particularly for the southwest of the continent. Regions nearer the equator and the Horn of Africa may expect more rainfall.
Africa’s temperature projections for this century are alarming, especially for the high “business as usual” emission scenario. The entire continent will warm up with marked temperature increases projected for the interior. Hundreds of millions of people will be subjected to unprecedented average temperatures and more prolonged heat waves.
For mega-cities located in the zone of maximum heat like Lagos in Nigeria and Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there are simply no existing climate analogues of what their climate may be like by mid century.
Humans will not be the only ones being effected. Many plant and animal species are moving poleward in an attempt to stay within their preferred environmental conditions. A classic example is butterflies.
However, many species – especially in the tropics – may not be able to keep pace with the changing climatic conditions and could experience population declines or extinction.
Species surviving on high mountain tops like gorillas for example – where there is limited higher cooler space available – are particularly vulnerable to global warming. They also face an uncertain future.
Running out of land
As the tropics move poleward, the dry subtropical zone will begin to squeeze adjacent, wetter temperate zones in both northern and southern Africa. These are highly important population and agricultural areas and also contain two globally significant “biodiversity hotspots” – the African part of the Mediterranean Basin and the Cape Floristic Region at the south-western extremity of South Africa.
For both these regions there are simply no suitable land areas for ecosystems and their species to move poleward to keep pace with projected warming and drying trends. The Mediterranean Sea to the north and Southern Ocean to the south, provide formidable boundaries for the future movement of many land species. In the case of the Cape Floristic Region, the next land stop is frigid Antarctica.
We desperately need to work out ways to drastically reduce our global greenhouse gas emissions. If we are to slow, or preferably reverse, the expansion of the tropics and overheating of low latitude regions, we need to act or there will be serious consequences for all.
Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia
Platinum 848.94 2
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Mr Edward Joseph White
Home Titanic Victims Mr Edward Joseph White
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Edward Joseph White was born in Ryde, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, England on 15 December 1884. He was the son of Richard White (1857-?), a coachman, and Bessie Roach (1858-1948), both natives of the Isle of Wight who had married in 1878.
Edward, better known as Joseph, was one of ten children, nine of whom survived past infancy. His known siblings were: Ellen Margaret (b. 1879), Milia Elizabeth (b. 1880), George (b. 1881), Constance Edith (b. 1883), Arthur Charles (b. 1886), Harry Pearce (b. 1888), Frederick (b. 1890) and Ernest Evelyn (b. 1892).
Joseph and his family first appear together on the 1901 census when living at 42 Albert Street, Ryde. Joseph, aged 16, was described as a stationer's errand boy. It is uncertain when Joseph commenced his seafaring career, but by the time of the 1911 census he was described as a ship's steward whilst a visitor at 146 High Street, Southampton, seemingly an aunt's address, with his fiancée Emily Attrill (b. 1891 in Ryde, Isle of Wight).
Joseph and Emily were married in early 1912 on the Isle of Wight. They later settled at 41 Thackeray Road, Southampton and are listed there on the 1912 Southampton Street Directory.
When Joseph signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, he gave his address as 41 Thackeray Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a glory-hole steward he received monthly wages of £3 15s
White died in the sinking. His body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett (#272) and was buried at Fairview cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia on 8 May 1912.
© Bob Knuckle, Canada
NO. 272. - MALE. - ESTIMATED AGE, 32. - HAIR, FAIR.
CLOTHING - Blue suit; white jacket.
EFFECTS - One pipe; 6 shillings. G. H. STEWARD.
NAME - J. WHITE (on jacket).
41 Thackeray Rd., Southampton.
Following the loss of her husband it appears Joseph's widow was remarried, but what became of her is uncertain.
Titanic Crew Summary
Name: Mr Edward Joseph White
Titanic Victim
Born: Monday 15th December 1884 in Ryde, Isle of Wight, England
Age: 27 years 4 months (Male)
Nationality: English
Marital Status: Married to Emily Attrill
Last Residence: at 41 Thackeray Road Southampton, Hampshire, England
Occupation: Glory hole steward (3rd class)
Last Ship: Olympic
Victualling Crew
First Embarked: Southampton on Thursday 4th April 1912
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912).
Body recovered by: Mackay-Bennett (No. 272)
Buried: Fairview Lawn Cemetery Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on Wednesday 8th May 1912.
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Gavin Bell, UK
Agreement and Account of Crew (PRO London, BT100/259)
White Star Line (1912.) Record of Bodies and Effects (Passengers and Crew S.S. "Titanic") Recovered by Cable Steamer "MacKay Bennett" Including Bodies Buried at Sea and Bodies Delivered at Morgue in Halifax, N.S. Details compiled from records of the "Mackay-Bennett". Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S., Manuscript Group 100, Vol. 229, No. 3d, Accession 1976-191
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Link and cite this biography
(2019) Edward Joseph White Encyclopedia Titanica (ref: #2185, updated 18th July 2019 23:57:19 PM)
URL : https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/edward-joseph-white.html
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Privacy Policy of Engel & Völkers AG
This Privacy Policy for the use of the website www.engelvoelkers.com (hereinafter referred to as "Website") is valid as of 25 May 2018.
Engel & Völkers AG, Hübenerstraße 2, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany, in its capacity of data controller (hereinafter also referred to as "Engel & Völkers'), informs users that personal data is processed when this Website is used, in particular the following:
• personal data (e.g. email address, first name, last name, title, address, telephone number - hereinafter referred to as "data" or "personal data") that is made available by users in case of registration on the Website (e.g. in the context of contact requests and newsletter mailings);
• personal data transmitted by the user’s internet browser each time the Website is accessed, which is stored in the form of log files, also known as server log files. This data includes: Internet Protocol (IP) address of the accessing computer; the name of the accessed page; the date and time of access; referring URL from which the user accesses the page; the amount of transferred data; status message for successful access; session ID number.
Purposes of the processing
Engel & Völkers as the data controller processes the personal data of the user of the Website for the following purposes:
• the fulfillment of user requests (legal basis is the fulfilment of the contract, as well as the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to relay contact requests within the Engel & Völkers Group to the relevant companies. The “Engel & Völkers Group" in the above sense refers to Engel & Völkers AG and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 15 et seq. German Stock Corporation Act, as well as the (master) licence partners connected with this group of companies. A current overview of these licence partners can be found here:
https://www.engelvoelkers.com/company/locations-offices-map-overview/;
• to enable the registration of users on the Website (legal basis is the fulfilment of the contract as well as the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to identify their contracting partners):
• the provision of the services available on the Website (e.g. management of the registration process and access to the account, etc. (legal basis is the fulfilment of the contract as well as the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to enable third parties to offer their services on the Website);
● the sending of an email newsletter to promote its services, as well as own and third party advertising to the extent permitted by law or consent-based (legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in direct marketing, as long as the marketing is carried out in accordance with data protection and competition law requirements);
● analysis of the Website for the determination of usage behaviour (legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to analyse usage behaviour on the Website in order to continuously improve this service or to be able to adapt to the interests of our users.);
● integration of social media plug-ins (legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to fulfil the request of users with enabled social media plug-in to share their information with the corresponding social network.);
● the identification and, if necessary, the blocking of users who have installed a so-called adblocker to block advertising (legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to provide users who do not block advertising with offers that are wholly or partly financed by advertising.);
• the technical administration of the Website and its operational functions, including the solving of technical problems, statistical analysis, testing and research (legal basis is the fulfilment of the contract, as well as the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers in a technically flawless and continuously optimized operation of the Website for the best possible customer experience);
• to prevent fraudulent or unlawful activities on the Website or in connection with the site and comply with the requirements of the law (legal basis is the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers to eliminate faults, ensure system security and detect illegal access attempts or access.)
The legal basis for the processing of personal data is Art. 6 I lit. a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), provided that the processing is based on consent, Art. 6 I lit. b GDPR, provided that the processing is based on the contractual relationship, and Art. 6 I lit. f GDPR, provided that the processing is based on the legitimate interest of Engel & Völkers.
In the context of the Website, services of companies affiliated with the Engel & Völkers Group are offered. This includes, for example, the property search, a so-called online marketplace, in which members of the global Engel & Völkers Group (also referred to as "Providers") offer real estate for brokerage purposes. The user has the possibility to directly contact the respective Providers arising from the Website without the need for a storage of the contact data by Engel & Völkers. The global Engel & Völkers Group comprises Engel & Völkers AG and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 15 et seq. German Stock Corporation Act and (master) licence partners (hereinafter also referred to as "Engel & Völkers Group"). An overview of the current licence partners can be found here: https://www.engelvoelkers.com/company/locations-offices-map-overview/. The contact information that is shared for this purpose: first name, last name, email address (as required field), as well as phone numbers, street, house number, postal code (if specified by the user). If you use these services and supply personal data about yourself or give permission for data storage, the use of your data is subject to the data protection rules of the Provider.
Nature of providing personal information and the consequences of a refusal
The provision of personal data by the user is voluntary. You are free to decide whether or not to provide personal data to Engel & Völkers, and you can subsequently revoke previously provided consent to the processing of personal data. Revoking your consent could lead to you not being able to use the Website of Engel & Völkers.
Processing modalities
The processing of the personal data of the user occurs only when needed and is carried out exclusively in electronic form, in particular by: collection, registration, organization, storage, consultation, processing, modification, selection, extraction, comparison, use, interconnection, access and communication, blocking, deletion or destruction of data. The processing operations can be carried out electronically and non-electronically.
The personal data is processed by Engel & Völkers, in particular by:
• employees and consultants who are authorised to administer the Website and provide the associated services (e.g. customer service, IT department, etc.);
• employees and consultants in the areas of marketing, finance, administration and accounting and other relevant departments of Engel & Völkers;
• third-party companies (e.g. IT service providers, hosting providers, etc.) to which Engel & Völkers has outsourced services with processing activities in the framework of order processing.
• Providers offering real estate in the framework of the real estate search to which the user sends a contact request.
Communication of data
As data controller, we can supply information about your personal data. However, this information is only shared for the following purposes:
• for the fulfilment of legal obligations and obligations arising from regulations and directives of national or European legislation;
• for legal defence purposes in a court of law in the case of a legal dispute.
If you are using the services of member companies of the Engel & Völkers Group on the Website and establish contact with them, Engel & Völkers will share the personal data you have provided in this case with the respective company from the Engel & Völkers Group you wish to contact once your consent has been obtained or on the basis of legitimate interest.
Since Engel & Völkers cannot verify the use of your data by the respective company from the Engel & Völkers Group, you should inform yourself about their handling of your data before using their services.
Engel & Völkers will not share your personal data in any other way.
Data transfer to non-EEA countries
Engel & Völkers does not transfer personal data to non-EEA countries without your consent.
The servers used by Engel & Völkers are located within the European Union.
If your inquiry relates to member companies of the Engel & Völkers Group outside of the European Union, we will pass on your data after your consent has been obtained.
Storage and deletion of data
Engel & Völkers stores personal data for the time necessary to achieve the purposes for which the data is collected and processed, including any retention period required under the applicable legislation (e.g. retention of accounting documentation) and, in any case, for a maximum of 24 months from the collection of the personal data.
In order to improve the surfing experience on the Website, Engel & Völkers uses so-called cookies. Cookies are small text files, generally made up of letters and numbers, that are saved by the users’ web browser on their PC and contain pseudo-anonymized data. Cookies permit a website to recognize the users’ computer, to trace their browsing through several pages of a website and to identify those users who return to a website. There are cookies for technical, analytical and profiling purposes.
Here is a summary of the direct and indirect cookies used by Engel & Völkers.
The Website uses the following technical cookies:
To store the language selection _icl_visitor_lang_js, _icl_current_language, evlocale; To store the selection of units of measure engelundvoelkersconfig;To store the last search queries LAST_SEARCH;To store the ID of the watchlist watchlist_id; To save the test assignment as part of AB tests user_ab;To store allocation to distributed systems in load balancers BIGipServergroup-rz-webfe-prod.
Engel & Völkers informs users that they can deactivate or remove cookies in their web browser following the instructions given at the following links:
• Internet Explorer (https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies).
• Mozilla Firefox (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/delete-cookies-remove-info-websites-stored).
• Safari (https://support.apple.com/kb/PH19214?viewlocale=en_US&locale=de_DE).
The Website also uses analytical cookies set by third-party providers, for example by Google (see also provisions regarding the use of analysis programs and tracking tools) and Adroll (https://www.adroll.com/de-DE/about/privacy) as well as Haufe (https://de.onlinehelp.umantis.com/index.php/Cookies).
These are as follows:
Engel & Völkers uses the web analytics service Google Analytics by Google Inc. ("Google") in order to analyse the use of the web pages. The information generated by the cookies about the use of the web pages is generally sent to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Engel & Völkers uses Google Analytics solely with the extension “ga (‘set’, ‘anonymizeIp’, true)”, ensuring that IP addresses are only processed as a shortened version, in order to exclude any direct reference to individuals. Google may share data with third parties, provided that this is required by law or third parties process data on behalf of Google. Google will not associate the IP address of the user with any other Google data. Users can prevent the recording and storing of data by Google Analytics at any time by installing a browser plugin released by Google which can be downloaded at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.
b) Universal Analytics
Engel & Völkers uses the Universal Analytics functions provided by Google. With these functions, Engel & Völkers can record and analyse socio-demographic data about users with the help of a Google ID (if available) and cookies generated by Google from advertising content (DoubleClick). If a Google ID is available, the data controller will also record this data across all devices (e.g. if users use a smartphone and a PC), in order to analyse visitor streams across all devices. Users can prevent the recording and saving of data by Google at any time by installing a browser plugin released by Google which can be downloaded under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.
c) Google remarketing and retargeting
Engel & Völkers uses the Google Analytics advertising functions, which allow users who have already visited the Website and have shown an interest in particular offers to be re-addressed by targeted advertising on the pages of Google partner networks. Advertising is displayed through the use of cookies, which are used to analyse the user behaviour during a visit to the Website and can then be utilized for targeted product recommendations and advertising based on users’ areas of interest. Users can prevent Google remarketing and deactivate the use of cookies by Google for these purposes by accessing the deactivation page for DoubleClick. Alternatively, users can deactivate the use of cookies by third parties by accessing the deactivation page of the Network Advertising Initiative. Google also offers users the option of managing their own cookies for advertising parameters: https://www.google.de/intl/en/policies/technologies/ads/.
d) Facebook remarketing and retargeting
Engel & Völkers uses remarketing technology for advertising on Facebook. With this technology, users who have already visited the Website and have shown interest in an offer will be re-addressed by targeted advertising on Facebook in the form of displayed advertisements. The advertising is implemented through the use of cookies by the service provider AdRoll (AdRoll EMEA, Level 6; 1, Burlington Plaza Burlington Road; Dublin 4, Ireland). Users can prevent the targeted advertising via the Facebook remarketing technology by deactivating the use of cookies by third parties on the deactivation page of the Facebook Advertising Initiative under the following link: http://optout.networkadvertising.org/.
This Website uses social media plug-ins from the main social networks (e.g. Facebook and Twitter). When you visit the website the browsing data can be transmitted directly to the respective social networks, even without direct user interaction. Users acknowledge and agree that the operation of social network plug-ins is managed directly by the company providing the respective plug-in. When users use the plug-ins available through the Website (e.g. log in with their access credentials to a social network, or link their accounts, click on the Facebook “Like” or “Share” button), the users’ browser establishes a direct connection with the server of that social network, which sends the contents of the plug-in directly to the users’ browser.
Engel & Völkers may therefore receive data relating to users in accordance with the social network’s terms of use and privacy policy and may add data to users’ personal data already collected through its own services. If the user opts to share information with social networks, the user will also automatically share this data with Engel & Völkers. To prevent social networks from collecting personal user information, please check the relevant terms and conditions on the social network website.
In particular, the website uses:
This Website uses Facebook social plug-ins operated by Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA (“Facebook”). If users access the website of Engel & Völkers via Facebook or vice versa, the user’s browser will establish a direct link to Facebook servers. If the user is logged in to Facebook, Facebook can associate the user’s visit with the user’s Facebook account. If the user interacts with the plug-ins, e.g. by clicking the “Like” button or posting a comment, the respective information is transmitted directly from the user’s browser to Facebook and stored there. The purpose and scope of the processing of data by Facebook, as well as the respective user rights and settings options for the protection of privacy, can be found in the Facebook Privacy Policy (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/).
b) Google “+1”
This Website uses the “+1″ interface of the social network Google Plus, which is operated by Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States (“Google”). If the user presses the “+1″ button, the user’s browser will establish a direct connection to Google servers. The content of the “+1″ interface is transmitted directly from Google to the user’s browser and integrated into the website from here. The purpose and scope of the processing of data by Google, as well as the respective user rights and settings options for the protection of privacy, can be found in the “+1″ Privacy Policy (https://developers.google.com/+/web/buttons-policy).
c) Twitter
This Website uses the functions of the short messaging service Twitter, which is provided by Twitter Inc., 795 Folsom Street, Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA. By using the Twitter functions, the websites visited by the user will be linked to the user’s Twitter account and made known to other users. During this process, data is also transmitted to Twitter. Engel & Völkers does not have any knowledge about the type, content and scope of the data transferred. The users themselves can alter their data protection settings on Twitter in their account settings. For further information, please refer to Twitter’s privacy policy. In order to prevent the providers of the respective social media plug-ins from collecting information about users, users can sign out of the social media network once they start visiting the Website and delete any cookies that might exist from their browser.
You are entitled to information about the processing of your personal data (e.g. the origin of this data, the processing purpose, the data processing modalities). Under certain circumstances, you are also entitled to object to future data processing, restrict the processing of your data or demand data deletion. Finally, you can at any time opt out of receiving unsolicited advertising material and commercial communications or being contacted for market research purposes.
To summarize, you have a right to
- access information
- rectification
- deletion (or “to be forgotten”)
- restrict processing
- data portability
- object against the processing of your personal data
- lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority
Please note that your right to deletion is subject to legal restrictions. For example, we are not permitted to delete data that is subject to statutory retention periods. Data we need for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims is also excluded from your right to deletion.
In order to exercise the above rights and request information, users can contact us at the email address: info@engelvoelkers.com or at the postal address: Engel & Völkers AG, Hübenerstraße 2, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany. In the same way, users can at any time revoke their consent to the processing of their data or request rectification or deletion of their data.
Data controller: Engel & Völkers AG, with headquarters in Hübenerstraße 2, D-20457 Hamburg, Germany. Should you have any questions regarding our external processors, we will be happy to provide you with an up-to-date list on request.
If you have any questions concerning this Privacy Policy and data protection, please contact the external data protection officer of Engel & Völkers:
Dr. Stefanie Wegener
Mittelweg 1020148 Hamburg, Germany
Swegener@wegener-ra.de
If you have a complaint about the way we process your data, you have the possibility to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority. For this purpose, please contact:
Der Hamburgische Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Prof. Dr. Johannes Caspar
Klosterwall 6 (Block C), 20095 Hamburg
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Señor Señora
¿Qué datos en concreto se almacenan y quién tiene acceso a ellos? Descúbralo aquí.
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Is the Unborn Part of the Mother's ...
Is the Unborn Part of the Mother's Body?
By Randy Alcorn March 29, 2010
It’s nearly impossible to have a discussion about abortion without someone quickly bringing up the idea that a woman has rights over her own body. Whether stated or not, the assumption is clear—the baby she’s carrying is a part of her body.
Philosopher Mortimer Adler claimed that the unborn is “a part of the mother’s body, in the same sense that an individual’s arm or leg is a part of a living organism. An individual’s decision to have an arm or leg amputated falls within the sphere of privacy—the freedom to do as one pleases in all matters that do not injure others or the public welfare.”[1]
Years ago I read an Oregonian editorial claiming that the fetus is just a part of the pregnant woman’s body. The article compared “it” to her tonsils or appendix. In light of the counseling I’ve done with post-abortive women and men, and the many organizations dedicated to post-abortion counseling and support groups, my first thought was, “Then why’s there no such thing as post-tonsilectomy counseling and why are there no post-appendectomy support groups?”
What’s most amazing about this pervasive proabortion argument is that it is demonstrably contradicted by the scientific facts. Mortimer Adler is as wrong as he can be, as every geneticist knows.
A body part, such as the arm or leg, is defined by the common genetic code it shares with the rest of its body. Every cell of the mother’s tonsils, appendix, heart, and lungs shares the same genetic code. The unborn child also has a genetic code, but it is distinctly different from his mother’s. Every cell of his body is uniquely his, each different than every cell of his mother’s body. Often his blood-type is also different, and half the time even his gender is different.
Half of the child’s forty-six chromosomes come from his biological father, half from his mother. He is genetically just as much like his father as he is his mother—but would we argue on that basis that the father has the right to decide whether he lives or dies? Except in the rare cases of identical twins, the combination of those chromosomes is unique, distinct even from that of a brother or sister coming from the same parents.
Just as no two people have identical fingerprints, no two people have identical genetic fingerprints. If one body is inside another, but each has its own unique genetic code, then there is not one person, but two separate people. John Jefferson Davis states:
It is a well-established fact that a genetically distinct human being is brought into existence at conception. Once fertilization takes place, the zygote is its own entity, genetically distinct from both mother and father. The newly conceived individual possesses all the necessary information for a self-directed development and will proceed to grow in the usual human fashion, given time and nourishment. It is simply untrue that the unborn child is merely “part of the mother’s body.” In addition to being genetically distinct from the time of conception, the unborn possesses separate circulatory, nervous, and endocrine systems. [2]
A Chinese zygote implanted in a Swedish woman will always be Chinese, not Swedish, because his identity is based on his genetic code, not that of the body in which he resides. In fact, if the woman’s body is the only one involved in a pregnancy, then she must have two noses, four legs, two sets of fingerprints, two brains, two circulatory systems, and two skeletal systems. Half the time she must also have testicles and a penis.
The previous statement may sound shocking. But in those fifty percent of pregnancies when the child is male, clearly his sexual organs are not part of his mother’s body, but his own. It is a clear scientific fact that the mother is one distinctive and self-contained person, and the child is another.
The child may die and the mother live, or the mother may die and the child live, proving they are two separate individuals. The child-guest is a temporary resident of the mother-host. He will leave on his own as long as he is not prematurely evicted. There are many cases where a mother has been fatally injured, after which a doctor has delivered her child safely. The mother’s body dies, the baby lives. Unmistakably, the baby was not merely a part of his mother’s body, or he would have died with her. Children have been born several months after their mother has been declared “brain dead.”[3] Obviously they must be two distinct individuals prior to the child’s birth, or one could not die while the other goes on living.
The unborn child takes an active role in his own development, controlling the course of the pregnancy and the time of birth. New Zealand professor A. W. Liley is known as the “father of fetology.” Among his many pioneer achievements was the first intrauterine blood transfusion. Dr. Liley has stated:
Physiologically, we must accept that the conceptus is, in a very large measure, in charge of the pregnancy.... Biologically, at no stage can we subscribe to the view that the fetus is a mere appendage of the mother.... It is the embryo who stops his mother’s periods and makes her womb habitable by developing a placenta and a protective capsule of fluid for himself. He regulates his own amniotic fluid volume and although women speak of their waters breaking or their membranes rupturing, these structures belong to the fetus. And finally, it is the fetus, not the mother, who decides when labor should be initiated.[4]
Dr. Peter Nathanielsz of Cornell University concurs. He says that the unborn’s brain sends a message to his own pituitary gland which in turn stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete a hormone which stimulates the mother’s uterus to contract.[5] A woman goes into labor not because her body is ready to surrender the unborn child, but because the unborn child is ready to leave her body.
Being inside something is not the same as being part of something. One’s body does not belong to another’s body merely because of proximity. A car is not part of a garage because it is parked there. A loaf of bread is not part of the oven in which it is baked. Louise Brown, the first test-tube baby, was conceived when sperm and egg joined in a petri dish. She was no more a part of her mother’s body when placed there than she had been part of the petri dish where her life began. A child is not part of the body in which she is carried. As a person inside a house is not part of the house, so a person inside another’s body is not part of that person’s body.
Human beings should not be discriminated against because of their place of residence. A person is a person whether she lives in a mansion or an apartment or on the street. She is a person whether she’s trapped in a cave, lying dependently in a care center, or residing within her mother. We all believe a premature baby lying in a hospital incubator deserves to live. Would the same baby deserve to live any less simply because she was still in her mother?
Consider this true-to-life scenario. Two women become pregnant on the same day. Six months later Woman A has a premature baby, small but healthy. Woman B is still pregnant. One week later both women decide they don’t want their babies anymore. Why should Woman B be allowed to kill her baby and Woman A not be allowed to kill hers?[6] Since there is no difference in the nature or development of the two babies, why would Woman B’s action be exercising a legitimate right to choose, while Woman A’s action would be a heinous crime subjecting her to prosecution for first degree murder? It is irrational to recognize the one child as a baby and pretend the other one isn’t.
I know a former prochoice nurse who was converted to a prolife position after seeing premature babies being frantically saved by a medical team in one room, while down the hall, babies the same age were being aborted.
The U.S. Congress voted unanimously to delay capital punishment of a pregnant woman until after her delivery. Every congressman—including those of the prochoice persuasion—knew in his heart that this unborn baby was a separate person not guilty of his mother’s crime. No stay of execution was requested for the sake of the mother’s tonsils, heart, or kidneys. It was done only for the sake of her child. Why? Because of what we all know if we’ll only admit it-every child, no matter how young and how small and no matter where he is located, is an individual human being with a life and rights of his own.
This article is adapted from ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments (Multnomah Publishers, updated and revised 2000) by Randy Alcorn.
[1] Mortimer J. Adler, Haves Without Have-Nots: Essays for the 21st Century on Democracy and Socialism (New York: Macmillan, 1991), 210.
[2] John G. Davis, Abortion and the Christian (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co., 1984), 23.
[3] “Brain Dead Woman Gives Birth,” The Oregonian, 31 July 1987.
[4] From a November 1970 speech titled “The Termination of Pregnancy or the Extermination of the Fetus.” Cited by Jean Garton, Who Broke the Baby? (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 1979), 41–42.
[5] Dr. Peter Nathanielsz, cited by Sharon Begley, “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Newsweek, Special Summer Edition 1991, 14.
[6] Mark Crutcher, “Abortion Questions They’d Rather Duck,” Focus on the Family Citizen, 20 May 1991, 4.
If an Unborn Baby Is Better off in God’s Presence, then Why Do Christians Consider Abortion a Crime Against the Unborn?
article March 26, 2010
This is an argument I’ve heard a number of times throughout the years: “Babies will go to heaven anyway, so abortion isn’t so bad—in fact, it’s actually in the child’s ultimate best interests.”
Since Abortion Ends the Life of a Real, although Unborn, Person, and that Person Goes to Heaven, in What Form Do They Exist in Heaven?
Your question about what the resurrection body of an infant might look like, is one that the Bible is not quite specific on. Much caution should be exercised as we try to discern an answer that is compatible with God’s revealed truth. I believe we can come to a position that is satisfying and does not contradict Scripture.
Biblical Perspectives on Unborn Children
article March 2, 2010
The Bible teaches human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27; James 3:9). Not just Adam and Eve, but each individual since has been personally created by God (Malachi 2:10). Personhood is never measured by age, stage of development, or mental, physical, or social skills (Exodus 4:11).
50 Ways to Help Unborn Babies and Their Mothers
Suggestions on how to help unborn children and their mother, from Randy's book ProLife Answers to ProChoice Arguments.
A Mother's Memorial to Her Aborted Child
article September 16, 2001
I am not a brave person. More often than not, when God has a difficult assignment for me, I pull a Moses: “I can’t, Lord!...why me???” Recently He gave me a chance to stretch a little.
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Jane Aloyse (Murphy) Hooper
June 3, 1929 ~ July 1, 2019 (age 90)
Of Framingham, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2019, with her family by her side. She is the daughter of the late Dr. James and Loretta Murphy of West Roxbury. Sister to the late Loretta (Murphy) Regan and Wife of the late Robert F. Hooper. Grandmother to the late Evan R Martin of Framingham. She is survived by her children; Robert F. Hooper Jr. (Bo) and his wife Candi of Tucson, AZ, Richard J. Hooper and his wife Stephanie of Marlborough, Janet (Hooper) Martin and her husband Bill of Framingham, and Paul A. Hooper and his wife MaryEllen of Framingham. Her Grandchildren Travis Hooper and his wife Jennifer of Lake Oswego OR, Jarrod Hooper and his wife Genevieve of Chicago, IL, Kimberly Gladman and her husband Josh of Framingham, James Hooper of Somerville, and Jennifer Hooper of Framingham. Her Great Grandchildren Ryan, Olivia, John and Benjamin Hooper. Jane is a graduate of Regis College with a degree in Home Economics. Jane had a passion for bringing family and friends together. She hosted countless parties, especially at her cherished family vacation home in Humarock, MA. She was always the perfect hostess! After her children were grown she was a manager and buyer for Lady Lauries Women’s clothing and Wallachs Men’s clothing in Natick. Jane is a past President of the VFW Auxiliary in Wayland. She was a current resident and President of the Resident Council at Oak Knoll Nursing Center. She was an advocate for the residents, especially those who could not speak for themselves. She admired and appreciated the loving and compassionate care she received from the Oak Knoll staff during her four year stay. Jane will be remembered for her warm and welcoming smile, her generosity and endless sense of humor.
Visitation in the Chapel of the John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street NATICK COMMON Friday July 5th from 10-11am. Followed by Funeral Service at 11am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Interment Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to the DAV – Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.
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Home >>Search Speakers >> Joseph Stiglitz
University Professor at Columbia University, Recipient of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics, and Former World Bank Chief Economist
Joseph Stiglitz (2014) - Why Capitalism is Failing
Regarded as one of the best economic minds of his generation, Joseph E. Stiglitz is the winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in economics. His work has helped explain the circumstances in which markets do not work well and how selective government intervention can improve their performance. He was a member of the Council of Economic Advisors from 1993-95, during the Clinton administration, and served as CEA chairman from 1995-97. He then became chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank from 1997-2000.
Stiglitz helped create a new branch of economics, "The Economics of Information," which explores the consequences of information asymmetries and pioneers such pivotal concepts as adverse selection and moral hazard that have now become standard tools not only for theorists, but also for policy analysts. He has made major contributions to macroeconomics and monetary theory, to development economics and trade theory, to public and corporate finance, to the theories of industrial organization and rural organization, and to the theories of welfare economics and income and wealth distribution. In the 1980s, he helped revive interest in the economics of R&D.
His latest book, The Price of Inequality, addresses the causes of inequality, the reasons it's growing so rapidly, and its economic impacts. In a controversial conclusion, Stiglitz states that redistributing wealth from the bottom up would produce far greater overall gains in our economies without adversely impacting the financial elites.
Stiglitz was born in Gary, Indiana, in 1943. A graduate of Amherst College, he received his PhD from MIT in 1967, became a full professor at Yale in 1970, and in 1979 was awarded the John Bates Clark Award, given biennially by the American Economic Association to the economist under 40 who has made the most significant contribution to the field. He has taught at Princeton, Stanford, and MIT, and was the Drummond Professor and a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. He is now Professor of Economics and Finance at Columbia University in New York.
Recognized around the world as a leading economic educator, he has written textbooks that have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He founded one of the leading economics journals, The Journal of Economic Perspectives, and the best-selling author of Globalization and Its Discontents, The Roaring Nineties, Making Globalization Work, and Freefall. A talented and effective public speaker, Joseph Stiglitz is a man who knows the ins and outs of our country's economic system and has the tools to explain how slight shifts in policy can have major ramifications.
To book Joseph Stiglitz call Executive Speakers Bureau at 800-754-9404.
The Fall: A Chronicle of the Financial Crisis
The current financial crisis didn’t start with the housing bubble – it started with policies enacted by previous Presidents, starting with Ronald Reagan all the way through to President George W. Bush. Stiglitz explores how free market financial policy and government regulation, or lack thereof, led to the 2007 financial crisis. This fast-paced presentation includes an overview of the current state of the economy and also what businesses and financial institutions can expect during economic recovery.
I Dissent: Unconventional Economic Wisdom
Joseph Stiglitz’ commentary on current United State economic policy and global financial news is controversial, provocative, and informative. It is also refreshingly direct. He provides audiences with solid context that can be used to add further dimensions to their work while gaining greater insight into the latest headlines.
Making Globalization Work
Based on his book by the same name, Joseph Stiglitz explores why globalization is failing so many people and what must be done create stable economies. This presentation specifically demonstrates the intersection between these key components: trade relationships, the gap between rich and poor, China/America, global warming and pollution, developing & emerging economies, and international governance/regulatory bodies.
Rishi Manchanda
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Indu Subaiya
Co-Founder & President
Kevin Freiberg
Worldwide Best-selling Author
Dr. Marty Makary
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Stuart Altman
Expert on Healthcare Economics and Policy
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ESPCI Alumni
Paris Sciences & Lettres
ESPCI Paris is a major institution of higher education (a French "Grande École d’ingénieurs"), an internationally renowned research center, and a fertile ground of innovation for industry. Founded by the City of Paris in 1882, for over a century the School has attracted leading scientific innovators like Nobel Prize laureates Pierre and Marie Curie, Paul Langevin, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, and Georges Charpak, who continue to contribute to the institution’s international reputation. The School’s culture of excellence remains as vibrant as ever. Fully 60% of graduates go (...)
The ESPCI Ingénieur degree
Organization of studies
Ingénieur ESPCI The overall four-year program leading to the ESPCI degree (ingénieur ESPCI) combines multidisciplinary scientific education with a strong research orientation, and an openness to industry and international experience. Learn more Masters ESPCI Paris is responsible for 11 Research Masters degree programs in collaboration with other institutions of higher education in the Paris region. Learn more Doctoral studies The 9 pioneering research units at ESPCI Paris host over one hundred PhD students enrolled in doctoral programs at Schools and Universities in the Paris region. (...)
ESPCI Paris is home to 11 research laboratories (all of them being endorsed and jointly sponsored by CNRS) operating at the frontiers of scientific knowledge and experimental know-how, extending from fundamental research to innovation, and covering areas ranging from polymers to telecommunications, from nanobiophysics to organic synthesis, from environmental science to biomedical imaging, from neurobiology to microfluidics, from soft matter to quantum physics, and from colloids to prototyping for industry. ESPCI researchers publish more than one article per day in leading peer-reviewed (...)
Entrepreneurship and business start-ups
ESPCI: generating innovation and jobs ESPCI is also known for its capacity to encourage major innovations. Did you know that as well as radium, polonium, actinium and lutecium, many other objects from our everyday lives were fi rst discovered or created at ESPCI, like the neon tube, the black box, the quartz watch, sonar, wireless technology, self-healing rubber or even ultrafast ultrasound imagery? An entrepreneurial culture More and more graduates create their own companies after graduation or after their PhD. This capacity to innovation is highly valued today. ESPCI courses (...)
How to come to ESPCI Paris
An international experience
The International Relations of ESPCI Paris aim to support the School’s policy and propose key strategies in response to the specificities of the school. In line with its identity, ESPCI Paris attaches great importance to collaborating with international institutions that capitalize on interdisciplinary research, innovation, basic and applied sciences. This central thread stimulates both didactic and scientific partnerships. The objective of the international relations is to enable ESPCI Paris to develop the mobility of researchers, teachers and students. The international (...)
The City of Paris : an alliance with ESPCI Paris
ESPCI Paris is at the center of a large network of partnering agreements. These are three-way institutional partnerships - notably with the City of Paris, and ParisTech -, as well as academic, scientific and industrial partnerships enriched by the School’s energy, expertise and creativity. The commitment to transdisciplinarity extends beyond the School’s Paris campus. Today’s complex scientific and technological issues often demand a broader view and collaboration, with the deployment of complementary, hybrid approaches and the sharing of best practices in order to pool resources and (...)
How memories are formed and encoded in the brain network?
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A few months ago, a new neuroscientist professor was appointed at ESPCI Paris to strengthen the Brain Plasticity Unit: Gisella Vetere. After a PhD in Italy and a postdoc in Toronto where she worked on memory consolidation in mice, she decided to join the school.
“Students here at ESPCI are very competitive and I am eager to teach them how the brain works and how new techniques, combining engineering, optics and physics knowledge are changing the way neuroscientists today learn about the brain”. In her new team C4 (Cerebral Codes and Circuits Connectivity) she will use cutting-edge techniques such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, graph theory analysis of whole-brain networks and in vivo imaging using miniaturized microscope to discover how the mouse brain encode, process and store external information.
In a previous paper she found that the neural substrate of fear memory is based on distributed network interactions and that regions of the brain highly connected with the rest of the brain are needed to remember (Vetere et al, 2017, Neuron).
The C4 team is interested in understanding how memories are recalled later in time. The recall of a memory is supported by the coordinated activity of a distributed network of brain regions. GV found that some of the “nodes” of the network play a more important role in the recall of the memory if they are strongly connected with the rest of the network.
In these days, her last work from the Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto has been published in the prestigious journal Nature Neuroscience. Here, Gisella and her colleagues replaced external stimuli (i.e. an odor, a fear or reward experience) with the optogenetic stimulation of its corresponding pattern of neuronal activity, inducing the formation of a memory of an event never experienced before. This was the first demonstration that, simply knowing the patterns of activity generated by distinct external representations, we can reverse engineer a memory by artificially creating these patterns of activity in the absence of a sensory experience.
She implanted an artificial odor memory that was neurally and behaviourally comparable to a real one: both real and implanted memories were overlapping brain circuits.
To implant an artificial memory in the brain in absence of external experiences, GV and colleagues used the olfactory system (in the picture are showed the olfactory bulbs of a mouse) where specific glomeruli (in green in the picture) are know to respond to specific odors. The use of optogenetics allowed the researchers to artificially activate them without the presentation of the real odor.
Associated publications:
Vetere et al., Chemogenetic Interrogation of a Brain-wide Fear Memory Network in Mice, Neuron, 2017
Vetere et al., Memory formation in the absence of experience, Nature Neuroscience, 2019.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-019-0389-0
Contact: gisella.vetere@espci.fr
ParisEdge 2019: register now!
International workshop on Functional Ultrasound Imaging of the Brain
Healing neurological disorders with ultrasound
Probing quicksand with ultrasound
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Lentiviral tools manufacturing
Therapeutics approaches
Effective and transparent Corporate Governance fosters the confidence of our stakeholders in the management and supervision of the company. Our commitment to good corporate governance promotes interests of our shareholders, strengthens the Supervisory Board, management accountability and trust of our client in Flash Therapeutics. Our business practices foster our strong innovative and collaborative culture, which is committed to ethical behaviour and strong values as of collective spirit, excellence and responsibility
Supervisory Board Members
Pascale Bouillé Ph.D - CEO of Flash Therapeutics
Initially involved in fundamental research in retrovirology, Pascale Bouillé has worked in a number of government and biotechnology research laboratories before creating Vectalys in 2005. From her early days as a PhD student for the Gustave Roussy Institute (Professor Claude Paoletti) and postdoctoral researcher for the Pasteur Institute (Professor Luc Montagnier), she built up over 15 years' experience in R&D projects in the fields of drug discovery and virology. Pascale Bouillé then participated in various programs, first, by conducting gene therapy trials for the Genethon laboratories with Dr Olivier Danos, then followed by the successful transition of viral vector tools from a technology-based to a commercially oriented product with Vectalys. Pascale was also the CEO of FlashCell. At the head of all the Flash Therapeutics’ team as the CEO of the Company, she provides a strong scientific background and a high level of expertise to scientists, project leaders and all the clients of Flash Therapeutics worldwide.
Luc Aguilar - Scientific Senior Advisor
Luc AGUILAR gathers 20 years of experience in the biotech, pharmaceutical and the cosmetic Industry. He joined L’Oreal seven years ago to build the biotechnology Department in Advance Research. He is now leading Advanced Research activities from Scientific Knowledge to Clinical Performance for skin and hair categories. From 2005 to 2011, he was at Pierre Fabre’s Group, a mid-size pharmaceutical company, as Vice-President Scientific Affairs. During this period, he set up and led an innovation structure dedicated to clinical proof of concept studies. Prior to that, he managed operations in Biotech and start-up companies in genomics for corporate clients from 1995 to 2001. He earned a MS in Biotechnology from I.N.S.A.Toulouse, France and a PhD experience at Pierre et Marie Curie University.
Jean-Pierre Arnaud - President of Giralda Holding
Jean Pierre Arnaud received his D.V.M. from the National Veterinary School of Maison-Alfort, France, then got a certificate in Nutrition for food-production animals (CSAAD) and a specialization in poultry production from the National School of Agronomics of Paris-Grignon, he also got a certificate in Statistics from University of Paris VI. He co-founded Avogadro in May 1998 after having worked ten years at Rhone Merieux/Merial starting as clinician and finally as Manager of the Drug Safety Department. Prior he was, for seven years, veterinary technical advisor in animal food at a French company after practicing for five years mainly as a bovine and sheep medicine veterinarian. He was the General Manager of Amatsigroup resulting of the merger of Avogadro and Amatsi in 2013 and of Avogadro LS, a company specialized in in-life studies until 2018. He continues to provide his expertise and advices to his clientele. Jean-Pierre Arnaud is a shareholder of Flash Therapeutics.
Thierry Bardon - Investment director at Fa dièse
Veterinary surgeon, Thierry Bardon worked in medicine R&D, health (Rhône Poulenc Santé), Animal healthcare (CEVA Santé Animale). He is involved in numerous startups and acquired financial skills when he joined Fa Dièse in 2007 to provide young entrepreneurs all his experience in the healthcare industry.
Claudia Daugan - Investment director at Galia Gestion
Graduate of ESC Reims (RMS) and holder of DESCF, Claudia DAUGAN began her career in 1997 at KPMG Audit in Paris where she carries out statutory auditing and consulting assignments for a banking clientele. In 2000, she joined Calyon's Equity Capital Market team, which is responsible for structuring and executing the issuance of securities of major groups (listed equities and convertible bonds). From 2004 to 2009, after joining the Bordeaux region, she continued her career at Crédit Lyonnais as Deputy of Corporate Finance. She accompanies SME managers and buyers of companies in their "equity financing". Since 2009, Claudia DAUGAN has strengthened the team of investors of GALIA Gestion as Senior Business Manager and then Director of Investments. She currently follows a portfolio of a dozen companies in diversified business sectors (ICT, Services, Medical).
Franck Lescure - Partner at Elaia Partners
Franck Lescure joined Elaia Partners in 2018 as Partner in charge of Life Sciences investments. In 1990, he started his carrer as a scientist in Genset, one of the first French biotech startups. In 1997, he joined the Healthcare subsidiary of the Air Liquide group, as manager of developments related to medical oxygen and of indoor air control services. In 2002, Franck started his investor career at Crédit Lyonnais Private Equity. In 2004, he joined Auriga Partners as Partner in Life Sciences. Before joining Elaia in 2018, he was the Head of Life Sciences investment at Auriga Partners, in charge of the AURIGA IV Bioseeds Fund and directly in charge of investments in Amoeba (Euronext: AMEBA), Cytoo, EnobraQ, Erytech Pharma (Euronext: ERYP), Fab’entech, Flash Therapeutics, Pherecydes, Median Technologies (Alternext: ALMDT), Nosopharm et Pylote.
Paul Steuperaert - Business Angel
A Strategic Advisory Board with accomplished senior experts
A Board of accomplished senior experts in pharmaceutical R&D, Health & Life Sciences, Gene Therapy and Branding to give strategic, innovative & accurate advices for the development of the company, especially for business development, licensing strategy, global brand strategy, regulatory affairs and therapeutic & (pre) clinical developments. Members of this Flash Therapeutics Strategic Advisory Board have a strong background in pharmacology and gene therapy, including product development, and clinical trials approval.
Nicolas Ferry Ph.D - Regulatory affairs
Graduated from Paris University where he received a Ph D in 1985 and a M.D. in 1990, Nicolas served as a scientist at the French National Institute for Health Science (INSERM) for more than 25 years. He focused his interest in liver research (creation of its own INSERM lab in Nantes in 2009) and contributed to clinical trials of cell based therapy for liver diseases. Following a role of gene therapy expert for the French regulatory authority, he joined the agency as head of the department of vaccines, blood derived products and advanced therapies. Nicolas is now senior advisor at the cell therapy department of Saint Louis Hospital in Paris and works as a private consultant in the field of ATMPs. Nicolas Ferry co-authored more than 100 scientific publications.
Jean-Marc Herbert Ph.D - Therapeutic & clinical developments
Jean-Marc Herbert received an Engineer Degree in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Clermont-Ferrand, France. He has more than 30 years of industrial experience in pharmaceutical R&D. During 10 years, he worked as International Director of the Cardiovascular/thrombosis Research Department for Sanofi R&D. He was Senior VP, in charge of Discovery at Sanofi-Aventis Research, the interim Head of the Anti-infectious Unit and Head of the Early-to-Candidate (E2C) department at Sanofi. He played key roles in the discovery of more than 20 compounds including Plavix® and Arixtra®, and actively contributed to the discovery and development of more than 70 other. He has authored more than 400 papers and is listed as an inventor in more than 50 patents in various fields, including thrombosis, vascular biology, inflammation, cardiology and cancer. Since January 2016, J-M Herbert is the President of Arkely-Consulting, a translational research consulting firm focused on helping biomedical science-based organizations to solve complex challenges associated with modern drug discovery and development. Since January 2017, he acts as a Venture partner for Go Capital, one of the biggest investment funds in France.
Jean-Christophe Huertas - Global Brand Strategy & Marketing Communication
Jean-Christophe Huertas has more than 25 years of experience in Brand & Communications within worldwide companies in global and complex organizations. After 8 years (1991-1999) in media relations at Airbus, Alcatel and Rhône Poulenc (Rhodia), he was given global corporate & public affairs communications responsibilities: Rhodia Senior VP Communications & Executive Committee member (1999-2005) ; Executive VP Communications & Public Affairs of Nestlé France & Executive Committee member; Managing Director, Brand & Communications & Executive Committee member of Newedge (50/50 JV between Société Générale and Crédit Agricole), a leading Company in the world of multi-asset brokerage (2008-2012). Then, he joined in 2013 the international FTI Consulting Strategic Communications practice, as Vice-President leading the corporate communications and media Department. Since 2014, he is the CEO of H2D Advisory, a consulting & advisory firm specialized in Strategy & Communications. JC Huertas obtained a degree in law and is a graduate of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques. He as a post-graduate diploma (DESS) in Defense & International Relations of the University Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas.
Alain Sainsot - Industrial Development
Alain Sainsot holds a university degree in Pharmacy and a MBA. He has over 30 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Development and Manufacturing. He was until February 2018 the President of AMATSIGROUP, a CDMO specialized in the subcontracting of formulation and analytical development, manufacturing, distribution of clinical lots and the quality control (small & large molecules). In 2006, he has founded DBI, a CMO specialized in outsourcing of highly potent injectable sterile drugs (anticancer drugs, vaccines, biotechnology products) for pilot batches, pre-clinical or clinical. During his career, Alain Sainsot hold executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry: Director of Industrial operations and logistics of the PIERRE FABRE Group, member of the Executive Committee ; industrial Director and Qualified Person of PIERRE FABRE MEDICAMENT and plant manager of AQUITAINE PHARM INTERNATIONAL (facility dedicated to sterile manufacturing, mainly involved into CMO Business) ; plant manager in agrofood industry area. Alain is also Board member of the Innovation and Development Agency (ADI) from the Regional Council of Aquitaine. Alain Sainsot is a shareholder of Flash Therapeutics.
Based on the funder Pascale Bouillé’s fundamental skills in HIV virology and vectorology, the company’s scientific expertise has continuously increased within the 12 years of development of Vectalys. This core competence was gradually expanded thanks to Vectalys current multidisciplinary team and its skills in genetics, cellular biology and production processes. They are today dedicated to the development and the success of Flash Therapeutics
Brigitte Mignotte-Darmon - Finance, CAO & HR
With more than 20 years' experience in the development of HR policies for international groups, Brigitte joined Vectalys in 2008. She has gained extensive knowledge from working in different R&D environments including a large American technology company and a leading CRO. Brigitte manages the administrative organization at Flash Therapeutics directing and overseeing policy related to staff and ancillary services. She ensures the development and progress of the company’s organization and has set up a genuine HR policy to support company growth and to prepare Flash Therapeutics for the developments of tomorrow.
Jean-Pierre Saintouil - Licensing & Business Development
With a training in Biochemistry and Business, Jean-Pierre Saintouil has a 35 years experience in the field of Health and Life Sciences. He has been successively responsible for International Sales and Director Marketing at Sanofi and Beckman, Director of Business Unit for Bio-Rad, Director of Technology transfer and Licensing at Pasteur Institute, Director of the Cancer-Bio-Santé Cluster and Director of the health Business Unit of Toulouse-Tech-Transfer.
Yohann Moal - Marketing
Yohann obtained his master's degree in biotechnology and bioproduction (ENSTBB). He then moved to the UK, working as a process development scientist at Oxford BioMedica Ltd, where he acquired hands-on experience in the development of a phase III clinical trial process for lentiviral vectors. Yohann joined Vectalys in 2009 as process development project manager. Always attentive to customers' needs, Yohann quickly became in charge of customer technical support in 2011 and his functions included helping customers with the development of their vector application projects. In parallel, he has acquired strong skills in marketing and webmarketing following a dual training in marketing and sales techniques from Toulouse Business School. Yohann is now Marketing Manager with extensive experience in digital marketing.
Sandy Darrigan - Intellectual Property
After an initial qualification in cell biology and biotechnologies, Sandy specialized in intellectual property with a master’s degree of Intellectual Property and New technologies (Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse-France) and a master’s degree Patents and Trademarks of the Center for International Intellectual Property Studies (CEIPI, Strasbourg-France). After a first experience in a biotech company, Sandy joined Vectalys in 2012 to developp its patents portfolio. With these double skills, she is now in charge of Flash Therapeutics intellectual property strategy, including patents and in/out licences management. Her functions include the management of contractual aspects with Flash Therapeutics’ customers and partners.
Vincent Drigues - Finance
Vincent graduated from EDHEC Business School in 2014. He first gained experience in corporate finance while working as Financial Auditor at Ernst&Young and Financial Analyst at Alstom Transport. He then participated in the creation and growth of 6 tech startups as a freelancing operations and finance consultant. Combining his passions for tech environments, startups and corporate finance, he joined Flash Therapeutics as Finance Manager in 2018.
Lucille Lamouroux Ph.D - Gene Engineering
Lucille joined Vectalys in 2011. She began her career as a PhD student and scientific engineer in 2002 doing academic research in the field of life sciences. Since then she has successfully led the introduction of new technologies in biochemistry, genomics and molecular biology, including high-throughput experiments and the development of heterologous expression systems. Her in-depth knowledge of the processes involved in the development of expression systems significantly helps to understand our customers’ needs. Lucille helps customers to identify and implement relevant tools that will bring value to their research.
Régis Gayon - Cell Engineering
After an MSc degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Montpellier, France, Régis began his career in an academic laboratory (INSERM, Paris) where he initiated a transcriptomics project to help understand Type I diabetes. Régis then spent 5 years as an R&D associate scientist at Endocube (Toulouse, France) where he was involved in a cellular genomics project, acquiring expertise in the purification and culture of primary cells in the field of vascular biology. Régis joined Vectalys in 2005 as head of the Cell Models team. Since September 2012, he is also in charge production development, purification and concentration of viral vectors, bringing his expertise in cellular biology to ensure performance and reliability of viral vectors produced at Vectalys. As head of the Vectors and Cell Models Teams, and strong of his experience of over 12 years in cellular and molecular biology, he oversees the viral vector production process and its enhancements, as well as manages the generation of new cellular models, from design to delivery, for use in the fields of bioproduction, gene target validation and drug discovery.
Christine Duthoit Ph.D - In Vivo Engineering
Christine obtained her PhD in 2000 and then worked for eight years in the United States and France, where she successfully led various projects examining immune responses in different animal models for autoimmune diseases. She gained experience in in vivo experimentation, animal care, biochemistry and cell biology after spending several years in academic research before becoming the head of the Animal Models department at Vectalys in 2008. Her knowledge is now a key element for the development and testing of new animal models for Vectalys’ customers.
Stéphane Carrasco - Industrial Development
After earning a master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Toulouse (INSA, France), Stéphane acquired bioprocess development expertise mainly in the Pharmaceutical Industry. He began his career in virological & bacteriological process development for animal vaccines at Merial Ltd., involved in various projects such as virus-inactivated, DNA plasmid or recombinant protein process development and alternative vaccine inactivation. Then, he joined Virbac laboratories for improvement of animal viral vaccine production processes and exploring innovative bioprocess & bioanalytical solutions, and moved to Merck Biodevelopment where he was involved in Quality By Design (QbD) studies for a phase II product. He joined Flash Therapeutics in a position of Industrial Development Manager so as to lead viral vectors process development & scaling-up team, with the objective of implementing the GMP lentiviral vector platform at Meary platform and on Flash Therapeutics own GMP facility at Toulouse, as well as to explore innovative bioproduction solutions for further manufacturing scaling-up.
Carole Fernandez - Quality
After earning a master’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from the National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA, France), Carole specialized in the Quality field. In 2002, she earned a second master’s degree from the Institute of Food Industry (ISAA-P, France). For 10 years, she worked on several Quality Systems certifications: ISO 9001, ISO 22 000 – HACCP, GMP, ECOCERT and ECOCERT Greenlife (COSMEBIO) in probiotics, food supplements and herbal drugs industries. Carole joined Vectalys in 2012. Today, she supervises the Quality department (Quality Assurance and Quality Control). Part of her mission is to ensure the implementation of Good Laboratory Practices and Good Manufacturing practices in the production process. She is also in charge of supporting Flash Therapeutics in its international development and managing our Assurance Quality system for continuous improvement.
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Q&A: Trends In Temperature Measurement
Standards bodies respond to newly identified failure modes
World Water Works — March 29, 2012
Mitch Johnson
Mitch Johnson is the president of JMS Southeast, a manufacturer of custom temperature sensors and thermowells based in Statesville, N.C. Mr. Johnson is a member of the ISA and serves on the ASTM E20 Committee, the ASME 19.3TW, 19.3 and 40.9 Committees. Recently, he co-authored “Practical Thermocouple Thermometry” (2nd Ed.), due out April 2012, and was named a “Control Engineering Leader Under 40.” He can be reached at mjohnson@jms-se.com.
Q: From your perspective, what are the key technology trends of the past 10-20 years in the area of temperature measurement for fluid handling applications? How has temperature measurement evolved to better meet the application needs of end-users?
A: In the world of thermocouples, the key trend has been better and more accurate sensors because of automation, more consistent production control, and widespread adoption of quality systems such as ISO 9001:2008.
This trend is mirrored in the world of RTDs (Resistance Temperature Detectors). In particular, more rugged elements for high-vibration applications have substantially improved accuracy as compared to the thin film elements made 10 to 20 years ago. Importantly, in 2009 the IEC 60751 standard established distinct accuracies and temperature ranges for thin film and wire-wound elements clarifying for both the supplier and consumer of these products the tolerances that they can expect these products to meet.
In the world of thermowells, in 2010 the ASME design standard (PTC 19.3) experienced significant and fundamental change for the first time in 34 years in response to field reports of failures and research identifying previously unidentified modes of thermowell failure. Since the ASME standard is the only standard that provides a “pass/fail” result for a thermowell design given stated process conditions, it has been incorporated into numerous standard and end-user requirements.
Thermowell design is an area of acute concern to engineers designing fluid handling applications. The consequences of an installed thermowell failure range from minor irritant to catastrophic. For the first time the ASME calculation can be applied to all common shank styles (tapered, straight and stepped). For tapered designs, which fell within the scope of the old standard, in many cases the new standard is roughly twice as conservative.
The new version (ASME PTC 19.3TW-2010) significantly improves the mechanical integrity of thermowells and allows designers to predict and avoid many sources of extreme vibration capable of causing the premature demise of installed sensors, especially RTDs.
Q: In your interactions with end-users, what are some of the common temperature-related application issues you regularly encounter when it comes to fluid handling applications? Are there any common areas of concern end-users are currently experiencing when it comes to temperature measurement in general?
A: Engineers designing a temperature measurement installation involving a thermowell are on the horns of a dilemma. On one hand, the thermowell should be designed so that its installed sensor responds quickly and accurately reflects the process temperature. The factors that tend to improve these characteristics are the same that make for a good basketball player — long, thin and fast. A long insertion length reduces conduction error. A thin shank and fast-moving process improve the accuracy and response time of the installed sensor.
On the other hand, the thermowell should be designed so that it is mechanically strong and rigid enough to avoid thermowell failure and extreme vibration. The factors that tend to support these characteristics are the opposite of the ones that support accuracy and responsiveness — short, fat and slow. The shorter and fatter the thermowell, the less prone it will be to vibration or failure. The slower the process fluid, the less stress experienced by the well. And, of course, if a thermowell fails due to vibration or stress it doesn’t do a very good job of measuring temperature.
The ASME standard is designed to resolve this universal dilemma. By application of the 19.3TW calculation, a design engineer can identify how long and thin he can make a thermowell and still satisfy the mechanical requirements of the process. The new standard offers significant improvement in this regard. There are already published accounts of failed thermowells whose failure was predicted by the 19.3TW standard when the old 19.3 standard predicted success.
Step-shank thermowell assemblies provide a faster response to temperature change and are now within the scope of ASME 19.3TW.
Image courtesy of JMS Southeast (jms-se.com)
Q: What are some of the core technologies/capabilities end-users should be considering today when specifying a temperature measurement device?
A: We receive inquiries from end-users and contracted engineers confronted with a requirement to apply the 19.3 ASME standard on a daily basis. The standard has grown in both length (from 4 pages to 40 pages) and complexity. Certain designs fall within the standard while others are outside its scope. Hand calculation is not the answer. End-users should have a resource to apply the 19.3TW standard. In an effort to provide a solution along this line, we have developed free software called SwiftyCalc that aims to provide end-users a tool for quickly and easily applying the standard.
On the sensing side, non-contact forms of temperature measurement have significantly improved. Consideration of IR (infrared) should now be included when surface temperature measurement is required.
Q: What are the key application variables end-users should be mindful of when specifying temperature measurement instruments?
A: On the mechanical integrity side end-users should be aware of potential causes of failure: installation, corrosion, erosion, vibration, stress, and pressure.
On the sensing side, end-users should be aware of the advantages possessed by the type of sensor they are utilizing. In high-vibration applications and cryogenic applications, thermocouples often offer an advantage over RTDs. In lower temperature applications (ex: < 900 F), standard RTDs offer a greater accuracy and do not require special extension wire.
Q: Are there any mistakes that you see end-users making on a regular basis regarding temperature measurement in general and/or temperature measurement technology selection?
A: End-users should communicate the actual requirements of their application to manufacturers rather than state a universal “maximum range,” which may not be as well suited to their application. The type K thermocouple suitable for use from -200 F to 2300 F will likely cost more and not last as long as the thermocouple that is designed to suit your actual application. This is particularly important as the cost of downtime spent typically outweighs by orders of magnitude the cost of the sensor itself.
Q: In terms of new capability and/or technologies, what can end-users look forward to in the area of temperature measurement for fluid handling systems going forward?
A: Better thermocouples, RTDs and thermowells. Better materials used in construction. More care in design on the front end, better availability and use of process condition information yielding improved run times, sensor life and accuracy.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Proper specification of a thermocouple, RTD or thermowell is best assisted by a fundamental understanding of how the instruments work. Temperature measurement applications are as varied in form as snowflakes and fingerprints. Memorizing and relying on “that’s the way we’ve always done it” only gets you so far. If you understand how these products work (and don’t work), you are better suited to solve new problems, improve on old solutions, and prove yourself an invaluable asset to any organization engaged in measurement of its process temperatures.
www.jms-se.com
Tags: ASMEJMS SoutheastTemperatureTemperature MeasurementThermocoupleThermowell
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Former employee tells Falkirk curry house: ‘Give me £2000 to stop bad things from happening’
A disgruntled ex-employee who had fallen on hard times made a drunken call to his former bosses threatening to damage property if he was not given £2000.
After being let go by another employer, jobless Mohammed Ali (48) rang up the Sanam restaurant and said he wanted the cash to stop “something bad from happening”. Ali had turned to alcohol when he lost his job as a result of his ongoing “quarrel” with the Sanam.
Ali appeared at Falkirk Sheriff Court last Thursday, having pled guilty to behaving in a threatening manner, making a phone call to the Sanam, Callendar Road, Falkirk, on December 17, 2017, and threatening to damage property if he did not get the cash he demanded.
Ashley Smith, procurator fiscal depute, said: “The witness worked as a waiter at the Callendar Road premises. He answered a telephone call from the accused, who said ‘don’t say my name’ and then said ‘you know who I am’.
“He thereafter demanded £2000 to ‘stop something bad from happening’.”
The court heard there had been a dispute between Ali and the owners of the Sanam, where Ali had previously worked for around a year.
Ali’s defence solicitor said: “There was a history of bickering and this was a quarrel between two parties. They felt Mr Ali had taken business away from them when he left to work for a local competitor.”
He added Ali’s new bosses felt there was too much going on between Ali and his previous employers at the Sanam and they let him go.
“He was left unemployed with no income and he turned to drink.”
It was stated Ali was now staying with his brother at 52 Millhouse Drive, Glasgow and was due to start a new job working in a shop.
Sheriff John Mundy said: “This was a remarkably stupid thing to do. You haven’t done anything like this before according to your record, but you cannot go around doing this sort of thing.”
Ali was fined £300 and ordered to pay it off at a rate of £15 per week.
Avonbridge sex offender jailed for 18 months
Falkirk hostel slasher jailed
Falkirk Property: Five bedroom detached home for sale in Falkirk
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2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Tickets Now Available for Purchase
BOISE, Idaho — Tickets for the 2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl are now available for purchase to the general public at www.ticketmaster.com. The 20th edition of the northernmost college bowl game, featuring the Mountain West Conference (MW) against the Mid-American Conference (MAC), will kick off at 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET) on Thursday, Dec. 22 at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University, and will be aired by ESPN.
In celebration of the 20th annual bowl game, ticket will start at $20 for reserved seating in the South End Zone. Tickets for reserved seating in the upper curves are on sale for $30, while main stadium seating is priced at $50 and Stadium Club seats are priced at $90. A limited number of suites, club seats and loge boxes are available by contacting the Boise State Athletic Ticket Office at (208) 426-4737. Tickets for those areas start at $100.
ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 13 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); Camping World Kickoff (Orlando, Fla.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Baton Rouge, La.); Montgomery Kickoff Classic (Montgomery, Ala.); Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); St. Petersburg Bowl (Florida); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)
AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s Classic presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona (Uncasville, Conn.); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); PK80 (Portland, Ore.); State Farm Armed Forces Classic (Honolulu); State Farm Champions Classic (New York City); Tire Pros Invitational (Orlando, Fla.) and Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.)
ESPN Media Contact: Rachel Margolis Siegal at 860-766-2798 or rachel.m.siegal@espn.com
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Partners with St. Luke’s to Establish Inaugural FitOne Family Field Day
2016 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl ticket luncheon kicks off 20th bowl celebration
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Service / Spare Parts
28 Vereker St, Humpty Doo
info@farmworld.com.au
Info - 70th Anniversary of the Tractor that Changed the World of Agriculture
70th Anniversary of the Tractor that Changed the World of Agriculture
Posted in News •
On 6 July 1946, the first Ferguson TE20, affectionately known as the ‘Little Grey Fergie’, rolled off the assembly line at its former Banner Lane manufacturing plant in Coventry in the UK. The tractor was the brainchild of engineer and inventor, Harry Ferguson, one of the founders of the present-day Massey Ferguson.
Key to the global success of the tractor was its unique three-point linkage implement attachment system controlled by the tractor’s hydraulics. Designated the ‘Ferguson System,’ this effectively turned the tractor and implement into a single working unit, replacing the previous cumbersome trailed method of implement operation.
Acclaimed as one of the most important engineering developments of the 20th century, the Ferguson System produced major advances in the efficiency of food production. In doing so, it achieved Harry Ferguson's lifelong ambition of helping farmers affordably mechanise all aspects of crop production to better and more economically feed the world. Rated at only 20 horsepower, the TE20 (Tractor England) was incredibly light and small, yet it easily outperformed much bigger units, and at much lower running costs. It provided the breakthrough on which agricultural mechanisation techniques came to be based throughout the world. Over half a million of these diminutive tractors were built at the Banner Lane plant between 6 July 1946 and 13 July 1956. A large number of them are still at work on farms and they are prized collectors’ items.
“We are immensely proud of this legacy of pioneering farm machinery technology,” says Richard Markwell, Massey Ferguson Vice President and Managing Director Europe/Africa/Middle East. “Massey Ferguson continues to develop Harry Ferguson’s vision with our clear aim to produce straightforward, dependable farm equipment which farmers can rely on to care for their vital crops and livestock. Today, MF has one of the strongest-ever machinery line-ups with numerous international awards to its name and growing market share.”
Massey Ferguson is a global farm machinery brand producing a wide range of tractors, harvesting equipment and agricultural implements. Its famous red-liveried equipment is distributed in 140 countries
The Ferguson TE20’s 70th anniversary inspired the current ‘Tractors – From Factory to Field’ exhibition at Coventry Transport Museum and the public display of the Daniel Massey Bronze Sculpture at the City’s Herbert Museum and Art Gallery. A key event will be ‘70 Tractors for 70 Years’ staged by Culture Coventry, a spectacular parade of Massey Ferguson and Ferguson tractors through the city to Millennium Place outside the Transport Museum on 30 July. Tractors for the parade are being brought together by the Friends of Ferguson Heritage Club and will include a wide range of vintage and veteran models as well as some of the very latest Massey Ferguson tractors under production.
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Heathrow celebrates the Topping Out ceremony at Terminal 2
Category: General / 29 February 2012
Yesterday in London, a Topping Out Ceremony was held to celebrate the placement of the roof structure on Heathrow’s new Terminal 2, which marks the completion of the major structural works led by Ferrovial Agroman, as part of the construction of the new Terminal 2 building at Heathrow Airport.
The ceremony was attended by the British Transport Minister, Justine Greening, and the top executives of Ferrovial: Rafael del Pino, Ferrovial Chairman, Íñigo Meirás, CEO of Ferrovial, Nicolás Villén, CEO of Ferrovial Airports, Alejandro de la Joya, CEO of Ferrovial Agroman and Colin Mathews, CEO of BAA. Thus, the key people responsible for the project, from both BAA and Ferrovial Agroman UK, were present at the ceremony.
When it opens its doors in 2014, the new Terminal 2 will handle 20 million passengers each year. Heathrow aims to significantly improve the passenger experience at the airport with this new terminal. When designing the building, experts studied the movements of people, aircraft, materials and equipment, in order to achieve greater fluidity in without compromising security.
Terminal 2 brings an end to Heathrow's transformation process, which began with the opening of Terminal 5 in 2008, and which will benefit from investment of 4.8bn pounds.
Justine Greening, the UK Minister of Transport, said "Each year Heathrow gives tens of millions of people their first impression of the United Kingdom. It is therefore vital that this be a positive one. This building project also benefits British industry linked to steel, electronics and engineering, ensuring a cutting edge facility".
To minimise the impact on passengers, the construction of Terminal 2 is being carried out in two stages: in the first stage, the main terminal is built where the old Terminal 2 and Queens building once stood. A satellite terminal will also be built, called Terminal 2B, which will have additional spaces for aircraft and boarding gates. The first stage of the project is set to open to passengers in 2014.
The second stage will extend the main Terminal 2 building to the north, on the site of the current Terminal 1. This stage, which includes the construction of a second satellite building T2C, will increase Terminal 2's capacity from 20 million to 30 million passengers each year.
According to the CEO of BAA, Colin Matthews: "The completion of the structural works on Terminal 2 brings us considerably closer to a future Heathrow with some of the best passenger facilities in Europe. The opening of T2 will place Heathrow in a strong position amongst the European "hubs", and bring it up to the level of leading airports, such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Incheon in Seoul".
Terminal 2 is the largest privately financed construction project in the United Kingdom. The investment in Heathrow has been entirely funded by BAA. An estimated 35,000 people will work on the project over the construction phase. At its peak, 5,000 will be working at the same time.
The first of the new green generation of terminals in Europe
The new Terminal 2, which is the first in a new generation of green terminals in Europe, is subject to building sustainability certification (BREEAM), the most widespread method used in the sector, which assesses environmental aspects of the design, construction and operation of the building. The roof design, in undulating waves with north facing skylights, captures maximum natural light to reduce artificial lighting. Furthermore, 100% of the demolition materials from the old T2 and adjacent building have been recycled and put towards sustainable building plans.
The carbon emissions of the new Terminal 2 will also be considerably lower than those of the building it replaces. The large north facing roof windows will let in natural light, reducing dependency on artificial light without generating more heat than is desirable inside the building. Solar panels on the roof will further reduce dependency on conventional energy sources. Furthermore, the new energy centre, fed partly by woodchips from renewable sources, will provide heating and cooling for the building.
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Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission; Notice of Public Meeting
A Notice by the National Park Service on 02/28/2008
Friday, April 18, 2008.
E8-3789
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E8-3789 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E8-3789
Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio. Canal National Historical Park.
Notice of meeting.
Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission will be held at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, April 18, 2008, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.
Kevin Brandt, Superintendent, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740, telephone: (301) 714-2201.
The Commission was established by Public Law 91-664 to meet and consult with the Secretary of the Interior on general policies and specific matters related to the administration and development of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park.
The members of the Commission are as follows:
Mrs. Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld, Chairperson
Mr. Charles J. Weir
Mr. Barry A. Passett
Mr. James G. McCleaf II
Mr. John A. Ziegler
Mrs. Mary E. Woodward
Mrs. Donna Printz
Mrs. Ferial S. Bishop
Ms. Nancy C. Long
Mrs. Jo Reynolds
Dr. James H. Gilford
Brother James Kirkpatrick
Dr. George E. Lewis, Jr.
Mr. Charles D. McElrath
Ms. Patricia Schooley
Mr. Jack Reeder
Ms. Merrily Pierce
Topics that will be presented during the meeting include:
1. Update on park operations.
2. Update on major construction/development projects.
3. Update on partnership projects.
The meeting will be open to the public. Any member of the public may file with the Commission a written statement concerning the matters to be discussed. Persons wishing further information concerning this meeting, or who wish to submit written statements, may contact Kevin Brandt, Superintendent, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection six weeks after the meeting at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Headquarters, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740.
Dated: January 24, 2008.
Kevin D. Brandt,
Superintendent, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, National Historical Park.
BILLING CODE 4310-6V-P
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Fusion Global Business Solutions is pleased to announce the growth of its operations team with the recent appointment of Andrew Wickens to the role of Head of Managed Service Operations.
Andrew joins Fusion with 20 years’ experience in IT and Telecommunications. His 10 years of management experience includes positions at Virgin Media, Logicalis UK and Nuance. While at Logicalis, Andrew successfully transitioned several large-scale Managed Services into the MSC and oversaw the migration of all Managed Services to the organisation’s Centre of Excellence in South Africa. He then moved to Nuance where he worked as a Service Operations Manager.
Andrew commented “I had worked for David Lightfoot [Fusion GBS Global Services Director] at Logicalis UK and the opportunity to do so again for a company that is expanding rapidly was too good to refuse.” Andrew’s goal for the year ahead is to build upon the good work of his predecessor in the role, Ciaran McCann, while ensuring that operational support for Managed Services can scale with the expected growth of the business unit.
David Lightfoot commented, “Andrew’s enthusiasm, drive and attention to detail were why he was recruited and what will benefit the company overall. He has managed several services teams to a high level, which is what we need with our plans for growth over the next few years.”
By Fusion News Team
Boring Boring ITSM – time for a rebrand?
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Game of Thrones : the incredible business of the derivatives
Haberkip action Figures, games, cups, clothes, beer and even... Easter eggs in reference to those of the dragons of the Khaleesi... The diversity of products derived fro
action Figures, games, cups, clothes, beer and even... Easter eggs in reference to those of the dragons of the Khaleesi... The diversity of products derived fro
action Figures, games, cups, clothes, beer and even... Easter eggs in reference to those of the dragons of the Khaleesi... The diversity of products derived from the mythology Game of Thrones (GOT) is simply outstanding for a series.
" READ ALSO - Game of Thrones , the kingdom of hubris
About sixty categories of products, the brand GOT are listed, among which one may mention products that are as unusual as cutting boards, methods to learn the language of the series Dothraki, or even a dock-door in the likeness of the character Hodor. If income-specific derivatives are difficult to calculate, the New York Times was estimated in 2017 to $ 1 billion of total annual turnover of the series for HBO. And while the eighth and final season of the series of all the records has been started in the night of Sunday to Monday, which is broadcast on OCS City, the goose that lays the golden eggs is not ready to stop, far from it.
● The products of the most popular
As every year, the site price comparison Idealo has prepared a study on the popularity of the derivatives of the series, from its own database. To treat of the evolution of the phenomenon, Idealo compared the data for the period June 2016 - June 2017 and those from June 2017.
Classification as a percentage of revenue derived from the most popular on the site Idealo.fr Idealo
the First observation is that the classification of derivatives the most popular remains the same: no one's surprise, the DVD sets and Blu-Ray remain at the top of the podium, with 39% of related searches. The DVD set offering the complete seasons 1 to 6 is the most requested. However, the DVD has significantly decreased: it was of 55% by June 2017.
Come in second place in the games, that gathered 3% between the two periods: their share has risen from 31.5% to 34.5%. The unbeatable of the games remains the Risk Game of Thrones , followed by the Monopoly and Cluedo.
In the third position, but with a share of more important, come the figures derived from the characters of Game of Thrones , whose research increased from 8% to 25%. The success of the figurines, in particular, just the brand Funko Pop!: the three figurines are popular from this brand, the main feature of which is their head disproportionate to the body. In the order, the figurines of the characters favorites are the ones of Daenerys riding are dragon Drogon, Robb Stark, and finally the king of the night accompanied by the dragon Viserion.
to a lesser extent, video games and collectible cards, complete the ranking, even if their share tends to decrease: it fell from 4.7% to 1.4%. Between June 2016 and June 2017, the main video game derivative was Game of Thrones : A Telltate Games Series.
" SEE ALSO - "Game of Thrones": the series of superlatives
"Game of Thrones" : the series of superlatives - Look on Figaro Live
● The business the most unusual
If the DVD, board games and figurines are derivatives the most popular, other ideas of shops unusual have emerged over time to exploit the fad Game of Thrones .
- the best-known example is that of the bakery in london named "You know nothing John Dough" in reference to one of the citations, the most famous of the series. This bakery is unique in that it was opened by an actor of the series, Ben Hawkey, who plays the role of a Hot Walk, a young orphan whose dream is to become an apprentice chef. His dream in the series has become very real in July 2017. The bakery sells items such as bread in the shape of a wolf Game of Thrones , at $ 1 a piece. At the opening of the bakery, the orders have so exploded that the chain of home delivery Deliveroo had to stop temporarily the traffic.
" READ ALSO - Game of thrones : a saga of literary sold 85 million copies
- After the bakery, or hotel. This time, it is in Finland that he must go, to Kittilä in Lapland, more precisely. It is a hotel made of ice ephemeral, designed by the group Lapland Hotels and inspired by the coldest region of the series. To spend a night there, you would have to pay 167 euros and sleep under a temperature of -5°C. visitors can also enjoy a bar or even get married in a chapel designed for the occasion! The project was in need of the best ice sculptors to make the best effect. Open during the winter of 2018, the project has been renewed this year, strong of its success.
- The bars ephemeral Game of Thrones also tend to multiply around the world. In July 2017, the first experiment of this type was opened in Washington: a fully licensed bar decorated according to the codes of the series. Consumers could, for instance, a drink of the mead in the iconic tree, sacred of Winterfell, almost a false dragon spitting fire. Customers could also take a picture of themselves on a throne of iron. Result: about two hours in line to enter the bar, between 900 and 1500 people each day, according to the owner of the bar.
- The tourist sites where the scenes from the series were filmed have also seen their profits leap, particularly in Northern Ireland, where there are the main sets of Game of Thrones . Since the beginning of the series, the region has experienced a 300% increase in the number of tourists, and 30 million pounds per year. In Dubrovnik, for example, where the façades and the walls were inspired by the capital of the kingdom of the seven crowns, the influx of fans is so important that the inhabitants have manifested their discontent, and introduced quota of visitors.
● upcoming projects
- It is in Northern Ireland and in Ireland that the project " Game of Thrones Legacy Experiences " is expected to be launched this year. In the program, the decorations of the castle of Winterfell, the city of Port-Réal or even the fort of Châteaunoir where the Night Guard can be visited on the way to amusement parks. At each visit, costumes, accessories, weapons, will be presented to plunge into the atmosphere of the series.
- in the face of such enthusiasm, HBO has decided to re-launch new projects derived from the series. The filming of a prequel (a antépisode) is scheduled for the summer with Naomi Watts, and is expected to be released in 2020 or 2021, and is expected to be thousands of years before the events of Game of Thrones . The four scripts would be in the drawers with new characters and new storylines. The myth Game of Thrones has not finished creating profits.
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Following Phoebe
Do We Need Someone in Charge of the Christian Blogosphere?
There has been much discussion over the last few weeks around authority over teaching in the 'Christian Blogosphere'. How do we minimise the influence of bloggers who have unhealthy things to say? Who gets to decide who is a blogger to endorse, and who isn't? There are many questions this brings up.
The interesting thing is that this issue was initially brought up as a gender issue by Tish Harrison Warren on Christianity Today. That women bloggers especially should have some kind of authority structure to be accountable to. This is her primary concern (referring to Jen Hatmaker);
Where do bloggers and speakers like Hatmaker derive their authority to speak and teach? And who holds them accountable for their teaching? What kinds of theological training and ecclesial credentialing are necessary for Christian teachers and leaders? What interpretive body and tradition do these bloggers speak out of? Who decides what is true Christian orthodoxy? And how do we as listeners decide whom to trust as a Christian leader and teacher?
Now there are stacks of blogs you can read in response to the original article. I have spent a bit of time reading them and thinking it over as well as asking my co-workers what they think, and I think I have something to add.
Regarding Christian Women
One of the major concerns of the original article was that women haven't been ministered to well in the church and so many women turn to Christian bloggers for wisdom about the Bible.
"In the vacuum created by a lack of women’s voices in the church, Christian female bloggers became national leaders who largely operate outside of any denominational or institutional structure."
Warren sees this as a problem because there are not the accountability structure for bloggers that there are for people who teach and lead in churches and so this can lead to people teaching anything through blogging that says it is orthodox Christian doctrine, but in reality is not. This also seems to be informed by her position as an Anglican priest and the structures of accountability that she has as part of her role.
As I understand it, part of Warren's call is that creating institutional structures of accountability is a way to 'recognize the authority held by female teachers and writers and then hold them accountable for the claims they make under the name of Jesus and in the name of the church'. That's what makes this a gendered issue, that women who teach and write aren't taken seriously as people who Christians look to for spiritual teaching and advice and that they should be held to account.
It's a valid concern. Women are increasingly turning to resources outside the church for wisdom and discipleship. I recently listened to a Christ and Pop Culture podcast episode from last year which discussed this very issue. And I do agree with Warren that this is partly because women's voices are not heard in the church as much as they could be. I also think it could have to do with women's ministries being made a separate thing from church life, as well as the rise of the internet. There does seem to be an 'outsourcing' of women's discipleship to the realm of the internet and so I understand the concern about authority.
It wouldn't be great if the bloggers who are most listened to are the ones with the loudest voices or the biggest platforms if they didn't have sound doctrine. I have seen the damage that reading blogs with dodgy teaching can have on young Christians. I've seen them being led astray by blogs which claim to have a Biblical approach but are really just teaching what they have picked up from an unhealthy church culture or something like that.
But does that mean that we need to create authority structures which can keep women who write books and blogs accountable? I'm not sure.
On one level, I agree with Warren. Women's teaching and writing should be recognised as having authority for their audience, and they should be held accountable. Hannah Anderson said in her response to Warren's piece that;
In many ways, the Christian blogosphere mirrors network marketing. Established churches — regardless of the question of women’s ordination — often struggle to identify, cultivate, and incorporate women’s gifts. When a man senses a call to ministry, he has a clear institutional path to follow, including mentorship from other men. When a woman expresses similar gifts, the path is not always as clear, and even if she is able to walk it, she’ll face systemic challenges, paralleling those in the larger marketplace.
The result is that women, more often than men, take an entrepreneurial approach to ministry. They gather communities around themselves via social media, bypassing established institutions altogether. Eventually these women may enter back into the establishment through books and speaking, but they do so on their own terms so that even as women are working outside institutions, they are remaking them in the process. ...Despite their influence, many of these women are still seen as hobbyists. Just as network marketing struggles to gain credibility in the traditional marketplace, the church often struggles to see women’s entrepreneurial ministry as “real” ministry. While a male pastor with similar clout is seen as an authority in his church, women are dubbed “influencers.”
These are real issues for women in the church. There is much more that could be done in pursuing women into ministry and discipling them to use their gifts. But I'm not convinced that women's teaching and writing is altogether not recognised as important or having authority...
Perhaps it is more of a thing in Australia than the U.S. (and that shift is yet to come??), but I think there is weight given to the words of women, although I cannot speak for all church cultures. I see this even in a relatively conservative denomination like the Presbyterian Church of Australia (of which my church is a part). Even if it's only recognising women's authority to teach other women and children (as I know it to be in some churches), it is recognition of ministering and teaching the Word nonetheless. As we know there are so many different ways to express complementarian and egalitarian convictions, so there is going to be variation between churches. I know that this is not everyone's experience. But with such a broad spectrum of acknowledgement of women's teaching gifts, how can we say that we need to create institutions in order to do this?
Any Christian who writes on the internet ought to be part of a local church, and if they are not that should give cause for concern. The reason for this is that there should be accountability for anyone who publishes on the internet, and if you're living in a community of believers then there will, God willing, we real world consequences if you write something that is unhelpful, or even heretical. I certainly hope that my church family would rebuke me if I ever wrote something on here which caused them concern!
Now of course there are people who aren't kept accountable, who operate as sole traders. And there are others who misinterpret the Bible and their interpretations contradict other parts of God's word. That's why the Word tells us;
'Do not treat prophesies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil' - 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
We are to test the things people say about God's word. What is claimed to be prophecy (words from God), we should test and cling to what is good but reject what is not. It's an exhortation for discernment and wisdom.
Part of being a person in the world is learning to distinguish between true and false, right and wrong (even if you're a relativist you have to figure out what you think is right and wrong for you!). And this is what we need to be sure we are teaching Christians in the real world. So that in the virtual world they can sort the good teaching from the bad, just as they hopefully do in the real world, by testing it with the scriptures.
This is why I am not sold on the idea of having external authority structures for bloggers, men or women, to submit to. We already have them, or should have them, our local church. They ought to be encouraging deep thought and godliness, and rebuking carelessness and wrong teaching. All Christians are saved into the family of God, and we submit ourselves to the authority of the local church leaders, each of whom should have accountability structures themselves.
Regarding The Reformation
Some of the responses to to Warren's article link this issue to the Reformation and the Reformation value of the priesthood of all believers, that all Christians should be concerned about reading the Bible for themselves and that theology wasn't just for the religious elite.
I think this is an important part of the discussion around this. It's particularly timely given that this year is the 500th anniversary of the start of the Reformation!
Firstly, as pointed out by Rachel Miller, to say that all people who write or speak must be authorised by some kind of church structure goes against the Reformation value that theology and thinking theologically was not just for the priesthood and scholars. She suggests, and I agree, that the best way to protect against the false teaching that is out there is not to create new authority structures, but to uphold the ultimate authority of scripture. And as I mentioned above, encouraging our brothers and sister in reading the Word and discerning what is from God's Word and what isn't is a key part of that. The other thing she suggests is to submit to the authority of the local church. Which again is similar to what I have already outlined why I think extra institutions for this accountability is unnecessary.
The other thing I have come across in this conversation is some really interesting stuff that Australian pastor and blogger, Nathan Campbell has to say about the way the Reformation worked in getting information to the general public which is intriguingly relevant in this conversation about blogging.
In the Reformation Luther's pamphlets were printed quickly and passed on even faster. His ideas changed the way that people thought about the Bible and the Church and they went viral. Much the same as people pass on ideas, or videos of cats as the case may be, on social media these days. And so Campbell brings this challenge;
"For those of us who stand in the Reformed tradition but are more inclined to be ‘reformational’ (always reforming) than historically reformed, there are some opportunities here to ask ourselves some pretty confronting questions about whether our media practices actually do line up with our professed theology; a priesthood of all believers; both men and women."
The exciting thing about the reformation is that it wasn't just Luther who published materials which were popularly read and aided the everyday believer in their understanding of God's word. There were many people who published such works, and some of them were women.
Although much of Reformation history taught to Christians is about men such as Luther, Tyndale, Zwingli, Calvin and Bullinger, for good reason, there were women who were using their education and station to further the spread of God's word, and Reformation ideas. There were many of them, even if we only get a chapter in most books, or one lecture in a theological degree.
Last year around Reformation Day I wrote about Katharina Zell who published letters and hymns encouraging God's people and addressing theological concerns in some cases. There are other women like Argula von Grumbach, Anna Rhegius, Olimpia Fulvia Morata and Marie Dentière who I'd like to write about too, hopefully I'll get around to doing more research on those women soon!
And this is important. Especially in this current discussion of whether women should have some kind of accountability structure when they blog about the Bible and the Christian life. Because women writing about Christianity and the Bible is not new. Even in the 1500's and 1600's women were included in the priesthood of all believers, and they were writing and being read. And they were being spoken of highly by men like Luther who praised their work for the gospel.
These women had churches they belonged to, and pastors they were under the authority of, as all Christians should. But they spoke with independent thought and insight about God's word. This is what bloggers do today isn't it? The beauty of the Reformation value of the priesthood of all believers is that anyone can read the Bible, and the Spirit will give them understanding.
I'm not saying that the internet doesn't present us with challenges in the way information is spread and what is reliable. It does. There is a whole lot more rubbish out there to distract people from the truth, and that's something we need to try to figure out how to deal with. But I want to suggest that creating new institutional structures is not the way to go about it. Let's continue to teach, rebuke, correct and train in righteousness with God's Word and teach discernment of the truth. Let's make sure that we are discipling our women in our local contexts so that they aren't deferring their learning to the internet. This, I think, is the way we combat the issue at hand.
Laura Haines
Laura is a Christian, a wife, a daughter. She has a BBehavSci and GradDipCouns. She works as an International Student Worker at St Helen's Bishopsgate, London.
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The 3 Best Dividend Stocks In Freight
You'll cover a wide swath of the freight industry by investing in these three great dividend plays.
Asit Sharma
(TMFfinosus)
Follow @@asitmap
The freight industry, which encompasses land, sea, and air shipping, as well as logistics, can be tricky for investors to master. Its various sectors experience cyclical success, and they don't always move in tandem.
For example, an oversupply of vessels alongside falling transport prices -- as measured by the Baltic Dry Index -- have hammered ocean-freight companies over the last three years. In the meantime, trucking, rail, and air-freight companies have seen stock-price improvements that have roughly tracked the broader-market's gains.
Dividend-hungry investors can mitigate a bit of risk and gain broad exposure to the freight industry by beginning with these three best-in-breed, core-holding stocks: FedEx Corporation (NYSE:FDX), Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP), and Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. (NASDAQ:ODFL).
FedEx Corporation: A deceptively modest dividend
FedEx hasn't let its ubiquity and enormous reach keep it from growing. The global shipper actively seeks to increase volumes, and constantly prowls for accretive acquisitions. Its 2016 purchase of European competitor TNT Express, for $4.9 billion, boosted annual revenue by $7.4 billion, or about 15%.
Parallel to its revenue strategy, FedEx has operated in investment mode over the last few years to maintain its competitive advantages. The organization increased capital expenditures by 6.2% in fiscal 2017, and in the current 2018 fiscal year, management plans to ratchet up "CapEx" by more than 15%, to $5.9 billion. Modernization of the company's air fleet and expansion of ground capacity are the current focus of investment dollars.
FedEx has increased its dividend each year since 2010. The current quarterly payout of $0.50 produces an annualized yield of 0.92%. Now, a yield of just under 1% may not seem the most electric of returns. But since the company's April 1st, 2016 dividend check of $0.25, it's doubled the size of the quarterly payout in just over a year. Because FedEx's stock has soared 33% since that payout, the yield has remained compressed, masking the benefit investors are receiving.
With a payout ratio of just 20.4%, the FedEx dividend has quite a bit of room to expand. And in buying this company, an investor can participate in the air, ground, and logistics sectors of the freight industry through a relatively safe and dominant player.
Union Pacific: Diversified growth in the rail industry
A true freight giant like FedEx, Union Pacific's vast 32,100 miles of track cover the western two-thirds of the U.S. But the organization is deeper into global commerce than most people realize. A decent portion of the railroad's freighted products end up as exports, as many of its lines terminate at points within an extensive port network:
Image source: Union Pacific Corporation.
Union Pacific's business is spread among six major economic categories: Agricultural products, automotive, chemicals, coal, industrial products, and intermodal transport. The company's revenue is beautifully diversified: None of the six categories makes up more than 20% of total revenue.
Over the last three years, Union Pacific's revenue has weakened, as both volume and average revenue per carload have declined, particularly in coal and industrial products. Last year's $19.9 billion in overall revenue represents a drop of 17% from 2014's $23.9 million top line. Yet, through productivity improvements and a tight control over capacity, Union Pacific has maintained its operating margin of 36.5% over the same period.
Squeezing equivalent operating income over declining revenue dollars has kept investor confidence high -- since the beginning of 2014 to date, UNP has posted an annualized total return of roughly 12%.
Union Pacific's dividend-increase streak also extends back to 2010. Investors enjoy an annualized yield of 2.2% on the quarterly payout of $0.605. While the rail-company's payout ratio of 44% isn't as low as FedEx's, it's still a quite reasonable reading, which also indicates room for future dividend bumps. On balance, an investment in UNP should provide steady price appreciation and favor those who reinvest their quarterly dividend checks.
Union Pacific Corp (UNP) Q2 2019 Earnings Call Transcript
Productivity Jumps at Union Pacific
Old Dominion Freight Line
Thomasville, North Carolina-based Old Dominion Freight Line has prospered by focusing on a single portion of the trucking industry: LTL, or less-than-truckload services. As opposed to a truckload shipment, in which a single customer's goods are delivered from point A to point B, a typical LTL shipment contains numerous items from a variety of customers that are headed to multiple destinations. LTL shippers operate network service centers to move goods between trucks en route to their final destinations.
By methodically expanding its network service centers, Old Dominion has grown from the seventh-largest to the fourth-largest LTL shipper in the U.S. over the last seven years. And it hasn't sacrificed profitability for growth: During the same time period, net annual profit margins have increased from just over 3% to 10%.
While the ODFL ticker is somewhat volatile, the stock has outperformed the market -- and most other transportation companies -- as of late, gaining a cool 226% over the last five years.
Old Dominion doesn't boast of a long dividend streak. In fact, it issued the first dividend in its history only in March of this year. The new $0.10 quarterly dividend equates to an annualized yield of just 0.41%. But this represents an enticing opportunity for dividend investors.
Old Dominion generates ample cash: Last year, it converted roughly 20% of each revenue dollar into operating cash flow. In addition, the company has very little debt on its books. At the end of the first quarter of 2017, the company held just $95 million in long-term debt against $2.2 billion in net property and equipment.
Given the organization's profitability, cash generation, low leverage, and a dividend payout ratio that measures less than 3%, Old Dominion's inaugural dividend is ripe for steady increases. For example, just to bring the dividend in line with the 1% yield of the S&P Transportation Select Industry Index (a relevant benchmark index), the company would have to increase the current quarterly payout nearly 2.5 times -- a potential boon for dividend investors. So buy less than a truckload, but do add in Old Dominion to complement investments in dividend stalwarts FedEx and Union Pacific.
NYSE:UNP
NASDAQ:ODFL
NYSE:FDX
3 Key Themes to Track When Union Pacific Reports Earnings
FedEx Missed This Dividend Expectation. Should You Worry?
The 3 Best Dividend Stocks In Freight @themotleyfool #stocks $UNP $ODFL $FDX Next Article
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Are Refiners Wrong in Favoring the Ban on Crude Oil Exports?
By arguing in favor of a ban on crude oil exports, refiners are giving away the very advantage they are trying to defend.
Varun Chandan, Arora
(ChandanArora)
Apr 3, 2014 at 10:57AM
Independent refiners such as Valero Energy (NYSE:VLO), Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:MPC), and Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:ANDV) have benefited immensely from rising oil production in the U.S. The supply glut due to rising U.S. oil production has kept the price of benchmark crude in the U.S. below the global benchmark, boosting the margins of independent refiners. It is not surprising then that the likes of Valero have opposed lifting the ban on crude oil exports. But are refiners right in favoring a ban on crude oil exports?
Refiners benefit from U.S. oil boom
In a report last year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said that the U.S. will surpass Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's top oil producer by 2015. Oil production in the U.S. has been rising due to the shale boom: In 2013, total U.S. crude oil production averaged 7.5 million barrels per day, up 15% from 2012, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Refineries have benefited immensely from booming oil production in the U.S. Not surprisingly, shares of Valero, Marathon and Tesoro have been among the best performers in the oil and gas sector in the last five years. Valero has gained over 200%, Tesoro has gained nearly 250%, while Marathon Petroleum has gained over 130%. In the same period, the S&P 500 has gained over 48%.
Independent refiners in the U.S. benefit from the spread between prices of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude. WTI has been trading at a discount to Brent crude, which is the global benchmark. The spread exists as the oil boom in the U.S. has created a supply glut, pushing down prices of WTI. U.S. refiners get a cheaper feedstock as a result. However, the finished refined products, which they have been exporting more and more over the years, are linked to Brent crude. Thus refiners have been enjoying healthy profit margins. In the fourth quarter of 2013, Valero reported adjusted earnings of $1.78 per share, while Marathon reported adjusted earnings of $2.10 per share. Both companies managed to beat consensus forecasts easily.
Crude oil export ban
Although the U.S. is seeing an oil boom, there is a ban on crude oil exports. The ban has been in place for nearly forty years. It was imposed after the Arab oil embargo caused an oil price shock in 1970s. The U.S. banned exports of crude to protect itself from any future price shocks. But four decades on, the scenario has changed completely.
New technology has allowed producers in the U.S. to tap into unconventional sources for oil. As a result, the U.S. is now becoming energy self-sufficient. The U.S. still imports vast quantities of oil. But, imports have been falling. The U.S. has to import some of the oil as many of the refineries in the country are configured to handle heavier and more sour crude, and not the light sweet crude the U.S. produces. In fact, this is the reason for the oil glut. It could be argued that new refineries can be built to handle light sweet crude. But building such infrastructure takes time. It would therefore be logical for the U.S. to start exporting crude oil.
The case for exporting crude oil, like natural gas, has been getting stronger. Earlier this week, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said that a small change could get some U.S. crude exports flowing. The Senator said that the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) can allow the exports of condensate, which is unprocessed light oil. According to Murkowski, the BIS can allow the exports of condensate without an act of Congress. The Senator has also released a white paper that urges lawmakers to lift the ban on crude oil exports.
Independent oil producers as well as oil majors such as ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) have also pressed the case for crude oil exports. The opposition to crude oil exports has mainly come from refiners. This is not surprising as allowing crude oil exports would push WTI prices toward the global benchmark, hurting refiners' margins.
Are the refiners wrong?
Refiners are right in trying to defend their margins and the competitive advantage they have enjoyed thanks to the oil boom in the U.S. They have argued that allowing crude exports would increase WTI prices, which would in turn lead to an increase in domestic gasoline prices. That certainly could be the case. However, lower WTI prices would discourage producers from increasing their output. It would also discourage new investment, which would be needed for increasing output. Lower production in the U.S. would mean refiners would have to import more crude oil at prices linked to the global benchmark, thus giving away the very advantage they are enjoying at the moment.
XOM
NYSE:XOM
VLO
Valero Energy
NYSE:VLO
Marathon Petroleum
NYSE:MPC
ANDV
Andeavor
NYSE:ANDV
Are Refiners Wrong in Favoring the Ban on Crude Oil Exports? @themotleyfool #stocks $XOM $VLO $MPC $ANDV Next Article
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Here's how initial public offerings work.
All companies have to start somewhere, and often, it involves having the founders invest a chunk of their own money in the hopes of eventually growing the business. But as small, private companies start to gain traction, many come to find that they need outside financing to continue growing, and therefore decide to go public. And that's where IPOs come in.
An IPO, or initial public offering, is the process by which a privately held company begins selling stock to outside investors, thus becoming a public company. From that point on, the company can raise the capital it needs by selling shares, but it must also comply with a strict set of reporting guidelines, as established by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
How IPOs work
Most companies get their initial funding by emptying their bank accounts, taking out small business loans, turning to private investors or venture capitalists, or a combination thereof. But there often comes a point where more money is needed for a business to experience the growth it desires.
Enter the IPO. An IPO is the process by which a company first offers shares of its stock to new investors, thereby going public. And it's a lengthy process at that.
What initially happens is that the company in question hires an investment bank (or several banks) to come in and underwrite the IPO. That bank will then put up a sum of money to fund the IPO and agree to buy the shares being offered before they're actually listed on a public exchange. What's in it for the bank? Ideally, profits in the form of paying less per share than what they end up selling for publicly.
To proceed with an IPO, a registration statement must be filed with the SEC. That statement contains key information about the issuing company, including financial and ownership details. Once the SEC approves the IPO, a date for it is set. The underwriter will then put forth a prospectus, which is a document outlining the issuing company's finances. The underwriter will also work with the issuing company to set an initial stock price for when shares are made available to new investors.
Why go public?
The primarily benefit of going public is gaining access to a world of capital. That money can then be used for things such as expansion, research and development, marketing, and whatever else a company needs to grow and keep making money. But there's a flipside, and it's that once a company goes public, it's required to adhere to SEC reporting guidelines, which can be rather strict. Specifically, once public, a company will need to put out regular disclosure statements and share other such financial information with the world. Furthermore, that company will also need to start answering to its shareholders, which means that management loses some control in exchange for that additional funding. Still, it's often a reasonable trade-off to make.
Are IPOs good investments?
Though IPOs can be good for the companies behind them, they're not always great for investors -- especially the inexperienced kind. Though investing in IPOs can be profitable, it's generally a much riskier prospect than investing in established companies with a strong history of solid performance. Though there are certainly exceptions, IPO stocks tend to underperform for several years after being issued compared to the general market. That's because the companies behind them are usually more focused on growing the business than delivering profits to investors. Those inclined to invest in IPOs should therefore take the time to vet the issuing companies carefully before moving forward.
This article is part of The Motley Fool's Knowledge Center, which was created based on the collected wisdom of a fantastic community of investors. We'd love to hear your questions, thoughts, and opinions on the Knowledge Center in general or this page in particular. Your input will help us help the world invest, better! Email us at knowledgecenter@fool.com. Thanks -- and Fool on!
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Movie Review – Vantage Point
October 22, 2008 June 25, 2014 Rodney Twelftree
– Summary –
Director : Pete Travis
Principal Cast : Dennis Quaid, William Hurt, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Sigourney Weaver, Edgar Ramirez, Ayelet Zurer, Eduardo Noriega, Richard T Jones, Bruce McGill, Said Taghmaoui, Zoe Saldana, Holt McCallany, Leonardo Nam.
Approx Running Time : 90 Minutes
Synopsis: The attempted assassination of the American President is told and re-told from several different perspectives.
What we think : Engaging political thriller has more twists and turns than an Agathie Christie convention. While some may approach it as being too convoluted for its own good, it still has enough street smarts to remain entertaining even as the narrative starts to ebb away in tension.
I admit, I initially watched this film whilst on a plane between Singapore and London, on a 12 hour flight to a holiday the wife and I’d waited years for. I had heard mixed reports about Vantage Point, the main criticism being that the film essentially replayed the same point in time over and over again, which became slightly monotonous.
What were those critics on about? This film is great! The cliché of different points of view of the same event has been done before, but not with this kind of freneticism and ferocity.
During a meeting of world leaders in Spain, standing on a platform about to give a speech, the President of the United States is assassinated. Or is he? The film attempts to show the different points of view of a disparate group of people; television types, innocent bystanders, the secret service, potential perpetrators, you know the sort. A rock solid Dennis Quaid plays a secret service agent back on the job for the first time after taking a bullet for the President in a previous assignment. He’s the leader of the cast, and a more dependable actor there isn’t, in this film. Forrest Whitaker, fresh from his Oscar glory in The Last King Of Scotland, plays the unwitting bystander who happens to be filming the whole thing with his handycam. Matthew Fox, star of TV’s Lost, plays Quaid’s fellow secret service agent, who backs him up when things go wrong.
Of course, with the confusion, death and carnage that accompany the assassination (in the form of two bombs exploding soon afterwards) this also covered on live TV. Sitting on the OB truck outside the incident are Sigourney Weaver and her coworkers, who are suitable shocked as events play out before them.
Throw in a few seedy, “we’re bad guys” wandering into and out of the story, and you have a perfectly cooked thriller feast, where not everything is as it seems. Most people find this kind of film annoying, as often, the filmmakers will try to be too clever in their presentation of “same timeline” narrative in the way they only allow certain moments to be seen, before revealing some clever “twist” that would have been impossible to guess anyway. Here, director Pete Travis weaves a thrilling story that delivers some great little plot twists (that are genuinely shocking) and one of the years great car chases. The script bristles with political subtext, and plays on the growing anti-American sentiment popularly shown overseas. William Hurt, as the President, is perhaps the most relaxed of all our participants, and his screen persona is perfect for the role he plays.
What I really liked about Vantage Point was it’s reluctance to rely on viewer stupidity to tell it’s story: it’s a piece of film-making that’s both mainstream and intelligent, something we don’t normally get these days as a combination. The film is thick with plot, although very little character development beyond the cliched, as most of our characters are simply not given enough screen time (with the exception of Quaid, perhaps) to round out their roles. Motivations are obscure, hidden agenda’s are pretty blurry, but the whole thing adds up to on check of an exciting thrill ride that will have you going back to re-watch what you’ve seen, in order to see what you missed.
Some critics have derided the film for trying to be cleverer than the script will allow: I would say that the film is exactly clever enough to keep the most discerning viewer engaged, which is all any film can really hope to do.
What Is Your Vantage Point?
Vantage Point Almost Lost Me…
We’re Not in Kansas Anymore
Review: Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Review: Edge of Tomorrow
Top 10 Good Guys playing the Bad Guy
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012)
Legion (2010)
102 Minutes That Changed America (2008)
© 2008 – 2014, Rodney Twelftree. All rights reserved.
Movie Review – Eye, The
Movie Review – Golden Compass, The
Movie Review Movie Review – Golden Compass, The
Movie Review Movie Review – Eye, The
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A big step forward in linking the genome to disease risk
by Arlene Weintraub |
Oct 16, 2017 9:38am
Discovering links between genetic variants and gene expression levels on different chromosomes could unlock the mysteries behind several diseases.
The human genome was first mapped about 15 years ago, but scientists have yet to gain a complete understanding of how genes maintain health—and how they govern the emergence of certain diseases. Now, a team of researchers led by Princeton University has taken a big step towards reaching that goal, publishing data related to 44 different human tissue types that they believe will help unlock the relationships between genetics and hard-to-treat diseases.
The team took 7,000 tissue samples from 449 deceased donors and used them to map transexpression quantitative trait loci, or “trans-eQTLs,” which are links between genetic variants and gene expression levels on different chromosomes. It’s those trans-eQTLs that are particularly difficult to map, but that may ultimately provide the most useful clues for linking genes with complex traits, many scientists believe. Their results were published in the journal Nature.
RELATED: Enlisting genes and the immune system to fight Alzheimer’s
The Princeton team is part of the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Consortium, a group of researchers from 80 academic institutions who are funded by the National Institutes of Health and are pursuing projects designed to elucidate gene expression and regulation. Their goals are to better understand how interactions between genes, and between genes and the environment, contribute to diseases ranging from cancer to autism.
The Princeton research is ongoing, but this latest study did yield key revelations about genes and thyroid cancer, according to a release. The scientists discovered that a particular genetic mutation that’s known to raise the risk of the disease is located next to a protein called FOXE1, which is a “transcription factor”—a protein that regulates the activity of genes in the thyroid.
"Many thyroid diseases will be impacted by changing the expression levels of the thyroid-specific transcription factor, so we want to investigate FOXE1 more carefully in future work," said study co-author Barbara Engelhardt, assistant professor of computer science at Princeton, in the release.
RELATED: Gene therapy reverses symptoms, slows progression of MS in mice
That work will build on a wider effort in the scientific community to determine how genes affect the development and progression of cancer. In August, scientists at the University of Michigan published gene-sequencing data from 500 cancer patients that uncovered links between certain mutations and the likelihood of solid tumors to spread. Earlier this year, a team of scientists at the University of Maryland described how they used a statistical-analysis method they developed to identify mutations that drive 20 different cancer types.
The GTEx Consortium aims to collect more tissue samples so scientists can gain a deeper understanding of trans-eQTLs and how they affect the evolution of many complex diseases.
genomics thyroid cancer genetic analysis Princeton University National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Arlene Weintraub
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It Happened Here
Spike Lee’s galvanizing BlacKkKlansman taps the conventions of genre to grasp the country’s legacy of hatred—and resistance
By Teo Bugbee in the July-August 2018 Issue
From the July-August 2018 Issue
Worldly Wise By Violet Lucca
It Happened Here By Teo Bugbee
White Noise By Ina Diane Archer
In a case where the events of history improve upon the fantasies of fiction, BlacKkKlansman, the latest Spike Lee joint, is based on the 2014 memoir written by Ron Stallworth, a black undercover police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in 1979. True to the director’s lifelong interest in depicting black history, he hews close to the truth of the author’s accounts. Stallworth did become a card-carrying member of the Klan; he did wire a white police officer and send him to rendezvous with the Klan’s Colorado Springs chapter; and he did have an ongoing phone correspondence with David Duke, leading to an uncomfortable dilemma when he was assigned to be Duke’s bodyguard during the white supremacist politician’s trip to the local chapter.
However, Lee does not get lost in the details of Stallworth’s life story, and BlacKkKlansman is no straight biopic. Instead, it follows the beats of a traditional cop movie, where a man of the law is torn between allegiances in his efforts to solve a case. In this regard, the film represents the latest chapter in the underrated career of Spike Lee, genre filmmaker.
Many of Lee’s movies, like She’s Gotta Have It, Do the Right Thing, Crooklyn, and 25th Hour, have used the landscape, the neighborhoods, and the culture of New York City to provide structure for his style and storytelling. Much as his idol, playwright August Wilson, did in his famous Pittsburgh Cycle, Lee is well known for telling stories that use the hometown conflicts between neighbors to examine political ideas that expand beyond the lives of his characters. But just as frequently, he has explored existing genres, using the rigid formal structures of musicals, heist films, epic melodramas, vampire romances, and Aristophanian comedies to illuminate the social issues that drive his more narratively fluid city films. In movies like School Daze, Malcolm X, Bamboozled, and now BlacKkKlansman, Lee manages to crack the codes of genre storytelling, confronting audiences by placing the black experience at the center of familiar narratives.
School Daze (1988) was Lee’s first experiment in setting his style within the confines of an established genre. He chose the musical to provide the format for his story about warring ideologies on black campuses. In a genre where ecstatic emotion drives characters to burst into song, the feelings that drive the musicality of School Daze are the anger, pride, and plain dumb horniness that consume these students, who are on the verge of leaving the bubble of their historically black colleges. Rather than the Sharks and Jets, Lee’s fictional Mission College has Gamma Phi Gamma and men who choose not to participate in Greek life, like the film’s hero, Dap Dunlap (Laurence Fishburne). Where hyper-masculine conflict exploded in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at a barn-raising, and in West Side Story at a community dance at the local gym, the site for male display of aggression in School Daze becomes a step show. The black hair salon emerges as another war zone, erupting into song as “Jiggaboos” and “Wannabes” hurl accusations and insults from across the divide between straight and nappy hair, light and dark complexions.
With School Daze, Lee affirmed that there is something chemically, magically, mechanically, spiritually correct in the cinematic presumption that a person overcome with emotion should only be able to express that feeling through song. But the elation that comes from watching a beautifully choreographed musical scene is consistently and productively undercut by the surprising unfamiliarity of seeing a genre typically reserved for the most romantic images of white Hollywood repurposed to fit the social and political concerns of young black people. Beginning with School Daze and leading up to BlacKkKlansman, Lee’s best genre films use pastiche to directly respond to the disorientation of looking into film history and finding a void of black faces and black artistry. Like a fist that has been punched through a wall, the images in Lee’s genre films bust out from a history of cinematic suppression.
Lee returned to genre experimentation four years later to portray the life of Malcolm X. Rather than adhere to a realistic or contemporaneous approach to biography, one that would seek to re-create already famous images of the black separatist leader, Lee immersed himself in the epic Hollywood storytelling of filmmakers like David Lean, crafting a style for the film that would place Malcolm in the rarified realm of myth and melodrama. Color, light, and mise en scène would become subjective reflections of Malcolm’s dreams, visions, and self-image. As a child Malcolm is alone and diminished, crowded in the background of the frame as his white teachers demean his ambitions. His conversion to Islam brings the promise of milky-light salvation, a promise fulfilled only by the stark purity of the desert in Mecca. As an activist, Malcolm speaks with the Honorable Elijah Muhammad’s eyes blazing in a poster over his shoulder. The maximalism of Lee’s staging reflects the magnitude of Malcolm’s importance as a leader for black freedom. Aided by Denzel Washington’s spectacular performance, Lee makes the argument for Malcolm’s place among cinema’s great melodramatic heroes.
Where School Daze followed the freed unit form, which prioritized the integration of songs into the storytelling, and Malcolm X raised one man’s life to epic proportions, Bamboozled (2000) riffs on the backstage musical. Here, black television producer Pierre Delacroix (Damon Wayans) launches a minstrel show in an attempt to create a program so offensive that the network will have to fire him from the job he hates. But when the show becomes a hit, Delacroix defends his new cash cow as a satire, much to the horror of his black colleagues, who watch as the show enlivens racists and invigorates hateful stereotypes. True to the dishy back-and-forth between production and performance that defines the backstage genre, Lee cuts between appalling network meetings and the even more appalling broadcasts. His stagings of Delacroix’s minstrel show are nightmarish, with black faces distorted by makeup and sickening smiles, their costumes oversized and clownish, their set designs for outrageous slave productions sickening. The images Lee makes on Delacroix’s behalf are surreal, but when the film’s final sequence fills the screen with a montage of clips showing how black people have been portrayed in Hollywood throughout history, the images that were once disquieting become weighted down by their historic banality. As familiar stars like Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire smear paint onto themselves for blackface performances and Al Jolson sings for his mammy, Lee extends the eviscerating critique of his most trenchant film to include the very genre it occupies.
The results of Spike Lee’s more recent experiments with genre have been uneven. The heist film Inside Man (2006) was the director’s last big hit at the box office, offering him the chance to make a respectably budgeted thriller starring his frequent collaborator Denzel Washington, but he was working as a director-for-hire with minimal contributions to the script. In 2014, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus paid respectful homage to Bill Gunn’s dreamy vampire film Ganja & Hess, reexamining its ideas about addiction and the black bourgeoisie in the present day, but failing to evoke the warm eroticism and the spectacular performances of the original film. Meanwhile, Lee’s repurposing of Lysistrata in Chi-Raq (2015) results in a screen comedy rich in images, ideas, and especially language, but the movie feels like it exists in an entirely different universe than the circumstances that face the real Chicago, where it’s set.
BlacKkKlansman betrays no such awkwardness. The genre at play is the cop film, and the story follows many of the conventions that audiences familiar with modern examples like Point Break or L.A. Confidential might expect. There are good cops like Ron (John David Washington, Denzel’s son) and Flip (Adam Driver), who are anti-racist in their personal and professional lives, and there are bad cops, represented by the white police officer (Fred Weller) who taunts Ron and assaults the members of the black student union. Like the good cops of Hollywood potboilers past, Ron is continually faced with corrupt influences within the department, but the corruption in BlacKkKlansman doesn’t come from mysterious collusion with drug dealers or organized crime. Instead Ron’s investigation faces challenges from the white men in positions of power who refuse to examine their own biases, and from the (historically accurate) infiltration of white supremacists into American intelligence agencies.
In a divergence from the original memoir, Lee adheres to the conventions of the genre and introduces a love interest, a young woman named Patrice (Laura Harrier) who is responsible for bringing the Black Panther activist Kwame Ture (Corey Hawkins) to speak in Colorado Springs. Patrice acts as a mechanism to trigger Ron’s doubts, as her vision of black politics prioritizes granting power to all the people, challenging Ron’s ambitions to change the police from within the force. Patrice also becomes an important part of the action, as Lee introduces a plot to murder Patrice and other black activists, providing Ron’s investigation and the movie around him with a threat that propels the narrative forward.
The relationship between Ron and Flip also builds on the traditions of cop movies, introducing a buddy dynamic that opens the door to warm collegial comedy. When they first meet, Ron and Flip are an odd couple, foils that reveal each other’s character. Where Ron is brash, Flip is reserved. Ron sees the investigation of the Klan as a project of passion, where Flip approaches the case as a professional, rather than personal, undertaking. But Lee complicates this relationship by tying the characters together as representatives of oppressed minorities facing down those who want to see their destruction. Though Stallworth’s memoir never identifies the religion of the white cop who met with KKK members in Ron’s name, in Spike Lee’s version of the story, Flip is a non-practicing Jewish police officer. Flip’s ambivalent relationship to his own identity as a Jewish-American provides the film with one of its strongest storylines, one that raises the physical as well as emotional stakes, as Flip must conceal not only Ron’s true identity from the men he meets at the Klan meetings, but his own as well. When Ron enlists Flip in the investigation, he is putting his life in danger, and as a result of his proximity to Ron, Flip’s relationship to his own history and his own role as a police officer begins to change.
From scene to scene, lee meticulously manipulates the real history of Ron Stallworth, the police in America, and the Klan. The result is that BlacKkKlansman is a deeply entertaining and conventionally appealing movie that loses none of Lee’s signature political punch. It is as appropriate for malls and multiplexes as it was for the Cannes Film Festival, where it received the Grand Prix from Cate Blanchett’s jury. Were BlacKkKlansman only to include the 1979 story, it would still be a major achievement for Lee. But in the film’s coda, the director adds a grace note that reframes everything that came before it, giving one last insight into why it matters that this story about the Klan, the police, and racism in America should be told through a contemporary lens.
After Ron Stallworth has proven his mettle, after the day has been saved, and after his accomplishments have been undermined by his white bosses, he and Patrice are debating the merits of their relationship when they are startled by a knock on the door. Both pull out their guns, united from across an ideological divide against likely danger. But when they open the door, they are greeted with a long empty hallway. The walls close in around the camera, leading the audience closer and closer to the sight visible through the hallway window. It is a burning cross with Klansmen gathered, and Lee cuts in to observe their rapture, their eyes filled with flames.
From this image of euphoric hate, Lee mirrors the end of Bamboozled by throwing the audience into an assembled montage, this time with decidedly more modern footage. Where Bamboozled ended a disorienting dive into a satirical version of the present with a sobering view of the past, BlacKkKlansman reverses the journey, trading a coherent film about the past for a dizzying view of the present. Images from the 2017 Klan rally in Charlottesville, tiki torches, and skinheads overwhelm the screen; full-throated chants from real white supremacists on behalf of white power resound throughout the theater.
Much of the footage that flashes in these final moments of BlacKkKlansman was featured in a Vice documentary that received millions of views after the Klan rally in August. Notably, in their handling of this material, Vice also adhered to familiar patterns of generic convention. They chose a young journalist to be a fish out of water, sending her to speak to white supremacists who saw the rally as their opportunity to seize power. It was an explanatory exposé, designed to elucidate a tragic and chaotic moment in the recent history of race relations in America. But elucidation requires that a situation be made logical, and what is logical can easily become palatable or even convincing.
What was sinuously legible in the Vice documentary becomes chopped and screwed in Lee’s handling. The tight scripting and the light humor of the film that precede this montage only make the shock of disorientation more abrupt. But as the violence continues, the lessons from Ron Stallworth’s story provide a frame for the senseless horror of watching arms and bodies thrown into the air as a car rams into a crowd, taking the life of the nonviolent protestor Heather Heyer.
Slurs against Jewish people ring out alongside the anti-black chants, recalling the racism Ron and Flip have faced. And of course, David Duke speaks calmly amidst the pandemonium, just as mild-mannered but decidedly less farcical than when he was played in the film by Topher Grace. By placing formal storytelling right up against this cascade of decontextualized images, Lee suggests a perspective that is new in his long career. In BlacKkKlansman, genre provides an impersonal framework that allows Lee to remove himself from the heat of reality, preserving the possibility for coolheaded analysis even as the temperature of real world conflict is rising.
Purchase the July/August 2018 issue or subscribe now.
Teo Bugbee is a queer film and culture writer based in New York.
Categories: Features
Deep Focus: Black Panther
By Michael Sragow
Pop goes the zeitgeist: Ryan Coogler’s star-studded adaptation of the long-running Marvel series is pure delight
Deep Cuts: Sounding Out Blaxploitation
Kiss kiss, bang bang: the street symphonics of Melvin Van Peebles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, and Edwin Starr
Interview: Ishmael Reed
By Violet Lucca
Symbol of the unconquered: the Mumbo Jumbo author discusses Personal Problems, his newly restored video collaboration with Bill Gunn (and many others)
On Joie Lee in Do the Right Thing (and More)
By Cassie da Costa
Continuing our spotlight on black performers, a look at the enduring presence of a very special collaborator with Spike Lee
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ROBERT FITZGERALD APPOINTED NSW AGEING AND DISABILITY COMMISSIONER
Robert Fitzgerald AM has been appointed NSW’s first Ageing and Disability Commissioner, tasked with protecting adults with disability and older people. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Mr Fitzgerald brings enormous knowledge and experience to the role. “We will not tolerate the abuse, neglect and exploitation of our most vulnerable citizens which is why we have introduced a new Ageing and Disability Commissioner,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Robert Fitzgerald will lead the Commission and ensure adults with disability and seniors across NSW are protected.” Mr Fitzgerald served on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse from 2013 to 2017. He has also spent time as Productivity Commissioner and Community and Disability Services Commissioner. Mr Fitzgerald said he is proud to have be given the opportunity to lead the Commission to protect adults with disability and older people in community settings. “I have spent my career helping to protect vulnerable people,” Mr Fitzgerald said. “I look forward to ensuring the Commission responds effectively where there has been harm and helping to create an environment where people feel safe in their community.” Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the Commission will be strong and independent. “Mr Fitzgerald’s deep experience and powerful intellect make him exceptionally qualified for this challenging task,” Mr Ward said. “I look forward to working with Mr Fitzgerald to support and protect vulnerable people and secure the best possible outcomes for older people and adults with disability.” Minister for Seniors John Sidoti said the Commissioner will play an important role. “The Commissioner will have the power to initiate investigations but also the capacity to help the community spot cases of abuse, neglect and exploitation through education and awareness programs,” Mr Sidoti said. The Ageing and Disability Commissioner is another example of the NSW Government’s commitment to reform that changes the lives of vulnerable people in across the State.
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Children Burundi Project #19100
Give street children in Burundi a future
by Street Action
Our aim is to develop a new generation of leaders for Burundi through spiritual, cultural & socio-economic revival. We believe that children are the future and hope for Burundi. Our vision is to see every child & young person given the opportunities & chances they need to live a normal life. We conduct a wide range of programmes including leadership training, assistance to street children, health programs, skills training, and campaigning to raise awareness about the issues young people face.
Many children in Burundi ended up on the streets when their parents and family members were killed during the war, and they had no where else to go. New Generation has been working with street children since 1999, helping them get off the streets, back into education and enabling them to have a stable and positive future.
We currently provide food, accommodation, the equipment for school and a safe environment for 34 children. But we rely on donations from people like you to keep this work going.
By helping these children today, you are helping to secure a better future, not just for them, but for Burundi. This is a post-genocide country with a whole generation suffering from the scars of that war. By working with the most vulnerable in society, we hope they will grow up to be the next generation of young leaders who will have a positive impact in this country, in their communities and in their places of work.
http://www.streetaction.org
Find out more through our UK partner Street Action
Visit New Generation's website
Street Action
Location: London - United Kingdom
Website: http://www.streetaction.org
Twitter: @streetaction
Dieudonne Nahimana
London, London United Kingdom
feeds a street child for a month
pays for a child's food and school for 1 month
will buy a bunk bed and mattresses for two children
will fund a loan to an ex-street child to set up a business
Street Action has earned this recognition on GlobalGiving:
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The US’ Unauthorised Air Strikes in Syria: Against or Favouring Wahhabism and the Islamic State?
By Peter Custers
Global Research, September 30, 2014
Region: Middle East & North Africa
Theme: Law and Justice, US NATO War Agenda
In-depth Report: IRAQ REPORT, SYRIA
Since the night of September 22/23, US fighter planes have been carrying out strikes with missiles and drones against targets in and around Raqqah, the city in the Northern part of Syria where are located the headquarters of ISIS’ self-proclaimed ‘Islamic state’. Four of the US’s Middle Eastern allies are known to be taking part in these aerial strikes. They signify not just an extension in the warfare the US had previously launched against ISIS positions in Northern Iraq, but herald a decisive break with President Obama’s past efforts to wind down and bring to an end the US’s involvement in Middle Eastern wars. Once again, as when the US had started its aggression for the overthrow of the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussain (2003), – the current air strikes are clearly illegitimate.
They have neither been authorized by the Syrian government, nor by the UN’s Security Council. Although the start of the bombardments inside Syria was preceded by efforts to craft a broad international coalition – at meetings held in Great Britain (NATO), in France and in Saudi Arabia – some of the US’s European allies have expressly stated that the bombardments of Syrian targets lack a legal basis. Meanwhile, leading spokespersons of the US’s Military Industrial Complex, such as army chief Dempsey and Defense Secretary Hagel, have speculated on an another imperial ground war, aimed at dislodging ISIS from Syria and Iraq.
To bring out the fact that the US’s war on ISIS is controversial from the beginning, it is useful to look at the nature of Middle Eastern governments that have committed support to the US. Towards recruiting participants for its war plans, gaining logistical support and financial backing, the US in the first part of September held a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where 10 countries took part. In an editorial published in the US’s most respectable daily on the very day the air strikes over Syria started, the coalition resulting from this Saudi meeting was described as ‘the unlikeliest of coalitions!’ This in view of the huge funding and other backing ISIS has been receiving from countries that joined the same Saudi meeting.
Yet only a few months back one had a hard time tracing reliable data in Western media or at internet on the history of ISIS’ funding. Some researchers of US think tanks such as the Brookings Institution were quoted as stating that ISIS has been mobilizing support from Gulf states for years. Only recently has the world’s mainstream press woken up to the fact that Wahhabi clerics and other backers have been voicing pro-ISIS propaganda on t.v. channels in Qatar, and that the Saudi and Kuwaiti government have not hindered, but allowed ISIS-sympathizers to publicly canvass for donors. Worse – Turkey, Syria’s neighbor, has been facilitating oil exports from areas ISIS controls. Indeed, one wonders for how long Western intelligence agents active in the Middle East have been asleep.
US officials, pressed by these media reports, now argue that Gulf state governments should curb any funding of ISIS from their territories. But is the matter merely one of a lax attitude by Gulf states towards Sunni extremism? How come this issue is being addressed only now, whereas the rise of ISIS and other new ‘al-Qaida’-type forces started way back in the middle of the previous decade, when US forces were battling against Sunni extremist groups in the context of their Iraq occupation? The point is of course that cooperation with Wahhabism, Sunni fundamentalism´s leading current, has been built into the very strategy which the hegemonic Western powers -, first Great Britain, then the US – have been pursuing for long.
The UK did so from well before the founding of Saudi Arabia’s Wahhabi kingdom (1932). Further, Western allies such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states may finally been seen to distance themselves from ISIS, – but the reality is that the ideology and practices of these countries’ rulers and their Wahhabi clergy closely resemble those of ISIS’s top leadership! Just as in ISIS’ ‘Caliphate’, people who don’t conform to the country’s strict laws are regularly beheaded in Saudi Arabia. Just as in areas ‘liberated’ by ISIS in Iraq, numerous Sufi shrines have been demolished here in the past. Saudi rulers have pledged to the US that they will help train fighters against ISIS, and have proposed that Saudi clerics inculcate these combatants with proper Islamic views. Yet is there any sharp line of demarcation between Saudi Wahhabism and ISIS’s extremism?
Clearly, after over a decade of unsuccessful efforts to combat international ‘terrorism’, US foreign policy is enmeshed in a web of self-inflicted internal contradictions. But then there may be other, hard reasons explaining the US decision to forge an alliance with cousins of ISIS’s Sunni extremism. Here Qatar is probably the most telling example right now. Though Qatar’s rulers profess their own variety of Wahhabism and have been enthusiastic supporters of Sunni fundamentalist forces operating throughout the Middle East for years, – the tiny Gulf state’s air base Al Udeid hosts the regional headquarters of CENTCOM, the command centre of US military personnel and hardware in the Middle East. Given the controversy over Qatar’s role in helping ISIS get funding from people who have amassed oil wealth, – its rulers have now been told to keep a low profile and tone down their international role. Yet no incriminating revelations by US think tanks or press reports prevent the US from maintaining the closest possible arms’ trade-ties with the government of Qatar. In the middle of July last, US officials announced that negotiations had been concluded towards the sale of Patriot missiles, Apache helicopters, and other weapons, valued at 11 Billion US Dollars! And this deal was stated to be the ‘very biggest’ arms’ trade-deal of the US in 2014.
Some six years back, Obama was elected the US’s President by the American people on an anti-war ticket. Yet being put under huge pressure from the side of the US’s transatlanticized Military Industrial Complex, he has launched air strikes that are causing massive devastations and further disruption of life in both Syria and Iraq. Just a year ago, in September of 2013, Obama felt compelled to call off air strikes planned against Syria’s government of Assad. The evidence over the use of chemical weapons was shaky, and Russia mediated a sensible compromise.
This time round, the relentless, nightly aerial bombardments are ostensible directed against Assad’s jihadi opponents, meaning the barrel of Obama’s gun is now pointing in reverse direction. Surely, the current air strikes were preceded by a publicity offensive that was well orchestrated, and a significant part of the public in the West believes the strikes are justified. Yet as the above story on the new war alliance the US has crafted with Arab states indicates, – by no stretch of imagination can it be argued that the current war systematically aims at weakening the international influence of intolerant forms of Islam. Already, critics argue that the air war only threatens to prolong, nay vastly increase the suffering of people all over the Middle East. As did the wars initiated in 2001 and 2003, respectively against the Taliban in Afghanistan and against Saddam’s Iraq. The UN should immediately take the US to task, demand it halt its unjust war waged with intolerant Wahhabi regimes, and take its own responsibility.
Dr. Peter Custers is internationally reknowned as Bangladesh and South Asia specialist. He is a theoretician on the production/exports of arms and the world economy, and the author of ‘Questioning Globalized Militarism’ (Merlin Press/Tulika, 2007)
www.petercusters.nl
petercusters.wordpress.com/
Copyright © Peter Custers, Global Research, 2014
Articles by: Peter Custers
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Life saving equipment at Stratford station
Greater Anglia has installed life saving heart resuscitators on platforms at Stratford rail station in partnership with the London Ambulance Service.
The train operator received seven Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) after conducting a joint survey with the London Ambulance Service to identify requirements with the increased numbers of passengers passing through the station during the Olympic Games and since the opening of the new adjacent shopping mall, Westfield.
The Medtronic AEDs are small, safe and lightweight and deliver a shock to treat someone in cardiac arrest. They can also monitor the heart’s activity and give instructions to the users. There is compelling evidence that defibrillation at the earliest possible point after a person collapses can significantly increase their chances of survival.
All members of Greater Anglia staff at Stratford as well as the British Transport Police hub team based at the station have been trained in the use of the defibrillators by the London Ambulance Service.
Coronary heart disease is the single largest cause of death in England and statistics show that around12,000 people each year suffer cardiac arrest in a public place.
Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, James Henry, said, “Stratford is a very busy station and we wanted to ensure that we were well prepared to provide assistance in the event of a first aid emergency. The defibrillators and training from the London Ambulance Service mean that my team can give potentially life saving first aid to our customers.”
The seven defibrillators are situated strategically around the station to enable easy access and there is one each in the following locations: Stratford Control Room/Information point, Platform 9 and 10 lift room, Platform 1 and 2 /12 (at the top of the stairs), Platform 3 and 5 Information point, Platform 10A and 11 customer information point, Western concourse and Eastern concourse (with the final three being managed by London Underground).
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More control in the greenhouse with e-Gro
Data driven growing
Knowing what’s going on in the greenhouse is very important for a grower and with all the data in a dashboard you feel at ease, knowing that you’ve got everything under control. It’s better to make a well-founded decision about, for instance, the correct temperature for a specific tomato variety. The more well-founded decisions you can make, the more trust you gain in the process.
Wilbert van Bussel
We all agree: the greenhouse horticulture sector is developing at a very fast pace. Innovations in the production process help produce plants of higher quality. Many of these cultivation innovations are based on data. Data-driven cultivation is a smart way for growers to have more control over their plants. This is also true for Wilbert van Bussel, managing director at Wim Peters cultivators in Someren, the Netherlands. Wilbert is a professional and one of the first to have tested e-Gro. We walked with him through the greenhouses in Someren and asked him how he applies data in cultivation.
As a grower, what are your greatest challenges in 2019?
Wilbert holds his coffee mug and begins his argument: “In the past our company used to produce two species of tomato plants. In 2016 we started growing six different varieties. This breeds new complexities. With so many types of tomatoes next to each other you are more liable to make mistakes. How do you gain more control over the situation? We looked for a system that was capable of gathering all the available data and noticed that we could control everything in the greenhouse more efficiently,” says Wilbert.
And how does it work?
“All the information from the greenhouse, such as production data, information from sensors in the greenhouse, the variation of the different sorts of tomatoes, are collected by e-Gro. As a grower you strive for maximal production. You need to make as few mistakes as possible, for instance you don’t want to lose any growth of your plants or you want to make sure you don’t water your plants excessively. With the data we are now able to gather we can gain insights into which actions we have to take to make a difference in the greenhouse.”
What do you gain from data management?
“Trust!” Wilbert says spontaneously. “Knowing what’s going on in the greenhouse is very important for a grower and with all the data in a dashboard you feel at ease, knowing that you’ve got everything under control. It’s better to make a well-founded decision about, for instance, the correct temperature for a specific tomato variety. The more well-founded decisions you can make, the more trust you gain in the process.”
Is there anything left for the grower to do in the cultivation process?
Wilbert stops walking and picks up a tomato: “As a grower, only I have specific knowledge about the plants. I look at a plant and can determine whether it’s growing well or whether it still needs something. Based on that I can make adjustments. Technologies such as e-Gro help me to make these decisions. But I still walk around in the greenhouse.”
How do you see the future?
“The grower’s tasks have become more diverse. A grower doesn’t only cultivate his plants; he is also an energy manager and, nowadays, also a data analyst. This is an exciting development and is also demanding for the grower. But through more insights into the available data, the results in the greenhouse will eventually get better,” Wilbert smiles with satisfaction. “And this is also the future of horticulture. Data is becoming indispensible. More yield of higher quality tomatoes using fewer resources. More efficient and therefore more sustainable.”
Find out more about e-Gro
e-Gro
e-gro The more you know, the better you grow
e-Gro supports you with the right insights for a more precise growing process. At Grodan, we call this data-driven Precision Growing. e-Gro offers real-time insights and smart recommendations based on the root zone, climate, crop and harvest data. Delivering comprehensive and detailed status of your greenhouse 24/7.
By Paulina Florax
From green fingers to data-driven cultivation
In the world of marketing terms such as data mining, AI or machine learning have gained a solid foothold. But their increasing use in horticulture is quite new. Not so strange, since the sector demands new business models in order to realize the transformation from green fingers to data management in the greenhouse. The nice thing is that it’s possible. Let us explain why.
e-Gro newsletter sign up
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Precision growing to the next level
When I return from a trip abroad flying over the Netherlands, I see the beautiful glass greenhouses often hundreds of meters long, below me. Our Dutch pride. Hypermodern production centers where growers, day in and day out, grow passionately beautiful, high-quality crops. Obviously, this is not an easy job. The industry is plagued by a chronic shortage of manpower. Production must be faster and cheaper. This also makes it difficult for growers to commit to volumes, prices and delivery dates.
Grodan launches software platform e-Gro
Today Grodan, part of the ROCKWOOL Group, launches the open software platform e-Gro. This digital innovation gives greenhouse growers smarter insights into the greenhouse.
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Data Breach Just One Challenge Awaiting Target's Next CEO
By Matthew Rocco Published May 05, 2014 RetailFOXBusiness
In its search for a new chief executive, Target (NYSE:TGT) is expected to look near and far for someone to take charge of its response to last year’s wide-scale data breach.
The surprise announcement of Gregg Steinhafel’s departure on Monday came five months after a massive hack during the holiday season. Steinhafel, a 35-year veteran of the company, resigned as chairman, president and CEO on Monday. Chief financial officer John Mulligan will serve as CEO on an interim basis.
The cyber-attack, which compromised 40 million credit cards and 70 million accounts containing personal information, still hangs over Target. The company’s stock is down about 5.5% since the company revealed details of the hack on Dec. 19.
But the breach is just one of the challenges awaiting Target’s next CEO.
The company has gotten off to a lackluster start in Canada, where Target opened its first stores last year. While Target was a familiar brand to Canadians who would travel across the border to shop at the third-largest U.S. retailer, many shoppers have balked at higher prices back home.
Target has also fallen behind in the e-commerce battle with rivals like Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), the world’s top retailer.
The retailer has “faced its share of difficulties, from the worst recession in our lifetime, to a high profile proxy context, and most recently, a slow start in Canada and the 2013 data breach,” Steinhafel wrote in a letter to Target’s board.
Last week, the company named Bob DeRodes to the new position of chief information officer to lead Target’s technology operations. Target plans to incorporate MasterCard (NYSE:MA) chip-and-PIN technology, hoping to bolster the security of its own REDcard program.
The data breach helped drag earnings 46% lower in the fourth quarter. Sales came in stronger than expected during the holiday season but “softened meaningfully” following Target’s disclosure of a breach, Steinhafel said in the earnings report.
At the same time, his abrupt exit caught Wall Street off-guard. Target shares dropped 3.5% to $59.87 on the news.
“When the breach occurred, it was all hands on deck to find a solution. I wouldn’t have expected [Steinhafel’s resignation] any earlier, but I was surprised it happened today,” said Paul Trussell, a retail analyst at Deutsche Bank. “This is quite the surprise. I would have expected more of a transitional phase.”
Target spokeswoman Dustee Jenkins declined to provide specifics regarding Steinhafel’s resignation but said the decision “did happen recently.”
Who’s Next in Line?
Analysts anticipate that an outsider will take the helm at Target. Trussell said the company lacks a deep bench to choose from. David Strasser, an analyst at Janney Montgomery Scott, also believes the company will look elsewhere for a new CEO.
Trussell cautioned that finding an external candidate within the retail industry may prove to be difficult, given non-compete clauses that prevent executives from quickly jumping to a rival company.
He said Gerald Storch, Target’s former vice chairman, is a possible candidate. Storch helped create Target.com before becoming CEO of Toys “R” Us. He now runs an advisory firm, Storch Advisors. In January, Storch was named chairman of grocery chain Supervalu (NYSE:SVU).
“Storch is maybe a best of both worlds for Target,” Trussell said.
Jenkins said Target is conducting a comprehensive CEO search and will look inside and outside the Minneapolis-based company. Target will also consider candidates from outside the retail industry.
The company retained executive search firm Korn Ferry to help Target find a new top executive.
“With Target, it would definitely have to be someone outside the company. And it doesn’t have to be someone in retail,” Strasser said. “It could be anybody, even somebody who’s happy with their current job. This is a pretty interesting opportunity.”
Strasser noted the success Best Buy has experienced since Hubert Joly, former CEO of hotel operator Carlson, took over as CEO.
Home Depot’s (NYSE:HD) Frank Blake, who was named to the top post in 2007, came to the home-improvement retailer in 2002 with experience as a government official and General Electric (NYSE:GE) executive.
During Steinhafel’s tenure as the head of Target, the stock was up 14.9% compared to a 35.3% gain for the broader S&P 500. A fresh face at Target could help assuage concerns over the retailer, which has only had two CEOs since 1994, and the continued cyber-attack fallout.
Trussell said Target’s next CEO needs to address missteps online, where Walmart has superior fulfillment options and a faster website, and reset the bar on its earnings outlook, which runs through 2017.
“I don’t believe they’re on track to hit their long-term guidance,” he added.
Steinhafel’s departure also reignited worries over the near-term. The retailer is due to report first-quarter results later this month, and Target appeared to be turning a corner after a bumpy end to 2013.
With the change at CEO, the market is showing concerns that Target could actually be falling back, Trussell said.
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Ray Szmanda, TV pitchman for Menards stores, dies at 91
Published May 07, 2018 MarketsAssociated Press
The enthusiastic television pitchman who told viewers they could "save big money" at Wisconsin-based home improvement chain Menards has died. Ray Szmanda was 91.
Szmanda's son, Charles Szmanda, says his father died Sunday in home hospice care in Antigo, Wisconsin, of congestive heart failure.
Ray Szmanda was featured in advertising for Eau Claire-based Menard Inc. starting in 1976 until his retirement in 1998. He was known as "The Menards Guy."
A Milwaukee native and World War II Navy veteran, Szmanda founded a broadcasting school in Wausau. He also narrated a recording of the Bible.
Menards said Szmanda's "friendly, enthusiastic and fun loving personality have made a lasting impression" on the family-owned company and its customers.
Menards has stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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Cyclist Rogers cleared to race after doping case reviewed
foxsports Apr 23, 2014 at 8:28a ET
Former world time trial champion Michael Rogers can race again after cycling’s governing body accepted that meat he ate in China likely caused his positive doping test.
Rogers, an Olympic bronze medalist, helped persuade the International Cycling Union that he was not intending to cheat.
"Upon careful analysis of Mr. Rogers’s explanations and the accompanying technical reports the UCI found that there was a significant probability that the presence of clenbuterol may have resulted from the consumption of contaminated meat from China," the governing body said in a statement.
Rogers raced last October in China, where clenbuterol is widely administered to livestock to build muscle and reduce fat. The 34-year-old Australian tested positive days later at the Japan Cup.
The UCI said it disqualified Rogers from the Japanese race but consulted the World Anti-Doping Agency before deciding "he should not be sanctioned any further."
"Over the past four months, my family and I have endured a very difficult time," Rogers said in a statement. "The UCI’s decision means I can return to racing immediately, and I am looking forward to getting back to work, competing in the sport I love."
Rogers had been provisionally suspended last December from racing for Team Tinkoff-Saxo.
"I wish to show my gratitude to the board of Tinkoff-Saxo for the professional manner with which this ambiguous ordeal has been handled," he said.
Rogers won three straight world titles from 2003-05. In 2012, he was upgraded to bronze in the 2004 Athens Olympics time trial after winner Tyler Hamilton was disqualified for doping.
Rogers’ teammate, Alberto Contador, was stripped of the 2010 Tour de France title and served a two-year ban after testing positive for clenbuterol in the final week of the race.
Contador claimed he ate a contaminated steak bought in Spain where the substance is banned but could not prove his case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Still, the court panel decided he ingested clenbuterol in a supplement and had not intended to dope.
China and Mexico have been identified for several years as a risk for athletes to eat meat because of clenbuterol use in farming.
In 2011, FIFA found that players from 19 of the 24 teams at the Under-17 World Cup played in Mexico tested positive for the substance.
"It is not a problem of doping, but a problem of public health," FIFA medial officer Jiri Dvorak said then.
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Home/News/Risk & Compliance/Driver issues/XPO stung by New York Times story on warehouse work conditions
Driver issuesLess than TruckloadNewsTrucking
XPO stung by New York Times story on warehouse work conditions
Photo: XPO
Every quarter, Brad Jacobs, XPO Logistics, Inc.’s chairman and CEO, rings up a cluster of journalists to discuss the company’s financial results and to field as many queries from each as time allows.
If the New York Times had been on Jacobs’ list of outlets, by now it has probably been deleted.
The Times took Greenwich, Conn.-based XPO to the woodshed in its Sunday edition, writing that pregnant workers at its Memphis warehouse are often subjected to excessively demanding work conditions, that supervisors pay no attention to doctors’ written requests to be shifted to less strenuous work, and that the practice of being on their feet and carrying heavy shipments has led to miscarriages at the facility.
XPO executives were stunned by the story’s damning narrative. There have been no reports of such incidents at the warehouse in the four years since XPO took control of it, according to company officials requesting anonymity. XPO said its executives found no record of such incidents at the time they performed due diligence on the warehouse’s then-owner, New Breed Logistics, a contract logistics provider acquired by XPO in September 2014.
An XPO spokesperson issued the following statement on the Times story:
“A recent story is critical of one of our facilities in Memphis and makes untrue allegations about working conditions. A thorough review of these allegations found that they are unsubstantiated and filled with inaccuracies. The truth is that we prioritize safety and respect in our diverse workplace above all else, and we have absolutely no tolerance for any type of discriminatory behavior. We deeply care about all of our employees, and work with our pregnant employees and their supervisors to adjust work assignments and schedules.
“XPO has many different ways to report claims of workplace misconduct without fear of retaliation, including an anonymous hotline, that are available to all employees. The claims in the recent story were never reported. These false allegations run counter to our values and do not reflect the way in which our Memphis facility operates. The misleading allegations directed at our Memphis facility are fueled by the Teamsters and are part of its ongoing, but unsuccessful, attempts at organizing XPO.”
According to the story, the incidents began during New Breed’s ownership and continued after XPO took control of the facility, which is operated exclusively for telecom giant Verizon. Workers who thought working conditions would improve under XPO were soon confronted by supervisors who demanded they pack 120 boxes an hour instead of 60, and who would penalize employees for spending too much time in the bathroom or on breaks, according to the story.
The Memphis warehouse has been a lightning rod of controversy since the summer of 2017, when, according to the Times story, workers began complaining about temperatures routinely exceeding 100 degrees and the heat and humidity making it sometimes hard to breathe. On Oct. 17, Linda Neal, a 58-year-old worker, collapsed on the floor and died of a heart attack. Neal was suffering from health issues, and her son told the Times that her supervisors had denied her permission to leave early when she felt poorly.
The Teamsters union, which earlier this year launched a campaign to organize employees at warehouses and distribution centers in the U.S. and abroad seized on the episode as a sign of the company’s uncaring attitude towards its warehouse workers. XPO, which has dramatically increased its warehouse footprint as part of an aggressive expansion strategy that has made it a $15 billion a year revenue company in seven years, is the prime target for the union’s organizing efforts. A source close to XPO said Teamster General President James P. Hoffa has directed a great deal of union attention to expose work conditions at the Memphis warehouse.
The union has been locked in a long-running battle to organize XPO worker at its less-than-truckload unit and has crossed swords with the company for alleged job misclassifications of port drivers on the West Coast. Teamster officials did not respond to requests for comment on the Times story.
Warehouse working conditions have taken on a higher profile as e-commerce growth puts greater focus on fulfillment speed and efficiency, and workers are pressured as never before to increase throughput. Allegations of employee mistreatment have also made headlines; an author who went undercover as an employee at an Amazon.com. Inc. warehouse in Britain for a book on low worker wages reported that some line workers would urinate in bottles for fear that bathroom breaks would force them to miss their volume targets. Amazon has denied the allegations.
Brian Devine, who runs ProLogistix, a company that places hourly workers in warehouses and distribution centers, said he had never heard of a case where conditions were so adverse that they would trigger miscarriages. “Most companies make the `reasonable accommodations’ (for workers) required by employment laws,” he said. “But moreover they do it because it’s the right thing to do.”
Low wage levels have long been an obstacle to recruit warehouse workers, though wages have been rising briskly in the past 2 to 2 1/2 years as the economy improves and big box facilities demand more workers. According to Devine, the average hourly pay rate stand at $13.48 an hour, a significant improvement over the past 30 months. Still, even wages at $14.20 per hour only gets employees back to where they were in 2002 when inflation rates are taken into account, according to ProLogistix data.
Devine said he’s unsure where worker wage rates will flatten out, saying the market is in “uncharted territory.” Moves by Amazon to boost its minimum wage to $15 an hour could push warehouse wages even higher, he added.
Teamsters XPO Logistics
Mark Solomon
Formerly the Executive Editor at DC Velocity, Mark Solomon joined FreightWaves as Managing Editor of Freight Markets. Solomon began his journalistic career in 1982 at Traffic World magazine, ran his own public relations firm (Media Based Solutions) from 1994 to 2008, and has been at DC Velocity since then. Over the course of his career, Solomon has covered nearly the whole gamut of the transportation and logistics industry, including trucking, railroads, maritime, 3PLs, and regulatory issues. Solomon witnessed and narrated the rise of Amazon and XPO Logistics and the shift of the U.S. Postal Service from a mail-focused service to parcel, as well as the exponential, e-commerce-driven growth of warehouse square footage and omnichannel fulfillment.
OneNurse says:
Wagrs should go up as well as BETTER labor standards!
The Hell with the investors!!
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/XPO/
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Watch Online Buy Now Watchlist Favorite
You Can't Do That on Television is a Canadian television program that first aired locally in 1979 before airing internationally in 1981. It featured pre-teen and teenaged actors in a sketch comedy format. Each episode had a theme. The show was notable for launching the careers of many performers, including Alanis Morissette, and writer Bill Prady, who would write and produce shows like The Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls and Dharma and Greg. The show was produced by and aired on Ottawa's CTV station CJOH-TV. After production ended in 1990, the show continued in reruns on Nickelodeon through 1994, when it was replaced with the similar All That. The show is synonymous with Nick, and was at that time extremely popular, with the highest ratings overall on the channel. The show is also well known for introducing the network's iconic slime. The program is the subject of the 2004 feature-length documentary, You Can't Do That on Film, directed by David Dillehunt.
Roger Price
Vik Sahay
Ruth Buzzi
Seasons: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Alanis Moriss...
Adam Greydon...
Klea Scott
Write a review for You Can't Do That on Television
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Mobile App Helps Undocumented Students Find Money for College
Posted By Monica Harvin on January 29, 2016 at 3:48 pm
Latina tech entrepreneur and DACA student, Sarahi Espinoza Salamanca, is developing a mobile app to ensure undocumented students are not misinformed like she was about the opportunities that are out there if they want to go to college.
“Everybody wanted to know why I wasn’t going to go college. It was just too overwhelming to…just to hear the word ‘college’ because I knew I couldn’t go,” Sarahi tells GoodCall. At least, that’s what she believed after graduating from North Hollywood High School in Los Angeles as an undocumented student less than a decade ago. Sarahi was an outstanding student in high school, with a big list of extracurricular activities both on and off campus, and really good grades.
As a kid, she fully believed that if she did well in school and partook in extracurricular activities, then that’s all she’d need to go to college. That’s what she’d always been told at least. However, when graduation time approached, her teachers, counselors, and everyone around her began to tell her that she wouldn’t be eligible for merit-based scholarships to reward her academic achievements or have access to need-based financial aid as a low-income student. The reason: Sarahi was undocumented.
After graduation, Sarahi sought to escape the questions coming from her peers and everyone else, “Why aren’t you going to college?” She moved to northern California, but there, the same questions followed her, why wasn’t she going to college?
Misinformed about the opportunities for undocumented students
Sarahi tells GoodCall that, after she moved, a lady at her church asked her why she wasn’t going to college and Sarahi explained she was undocumented and unable to pay for college as an international student. The lady’s response, though, was different from everyone else’s she heard up to then.
“She told me, you’re mistaken, you could go to college, there’s a counselor at a community college here in Cupertino. He can help you. He helps undocumented students go to college all the time,” recounts Sarahi. She went to speak to him and worked that summer to save up money to enroll in the fall.
“That was the first time, I was like whoa, how come you knew about this and my teachers didn’t know this?” Living in a state like California where, actually, there were a lot more opportunities for undocumented students, in comparison to other states, Sarahi realized the sheer lack of information for undocumented students, coupled with misinformation coming from schools, family, and communities.
From that moment on, the whole experience of being misinformed about the opportunities that actually were available to her ignited in her a desire to make sure accurate information was available to everyone who needed it. She decided she wanted to make sure students who are undocumented know that there are, in fact, opportunities out there for them, and especially for those who are top students and involved in their communities and schools, like Sarahi was.
Becoming an undocumented Latina in tech
In 2013, Sarahi was one of 20 DREAMers in the nation chosen to participate in the DREAMers Hackathon. She recalls that that was the first time she was surrounded by so many inspiring people. “I learned what coding was and was inspired to create change, positive change with technology, in my community. And I knew it was possible from the results of that hackathon.”
Sarahi started a blog where she posted scholarship opportunities for low-income and undocumented students. “It’s difficult for low-income students, I know, but it’s even more difficult being low-income and undocumented because the resources [for college] are limited,” she tells GoodCall. Because of her blogging work, in 2014, she was recognized by the White House as a Champion of Change. Later, after receiving DACA, she went to work with the Girl Scouts of America as a community organizer for the Environmental Science and Technology Program.
In 2014, she took part in the Voto Latino Innovators Challenge. She wanted to take the work she was doing with her blog and go mobile. For the challenge, she designed an app that would help undocumented students find and track scholarship opportunities available to them. Her idea won her first place, and she received $100,000 to build the Dreamers Roadmap app. She’s since been recognized as one of Forbes 30 under 30 for her work with Dreamers Roadmap.
“It’s still kind of shocking to me. It’s kind of unheard of [because] when I started this, I was undocumented. I was an undocumented Latina in tech,” shares Sarahi.
Asked about the obstacles she’s come up against, Sarahi says, “The first obstacle is being undocumented in this industry of tech, then being a Latina, and a woman in this industry – a lot of people think that it’s a joke, that you’re never going to make it, that it’s never going to happen.”
“It’s not very common to see Latinas in tech and not just that but in entrepreneurs. I’m very fortunate that I pursued my passion… It puts me in a place… where I’m an entrepreneur, I’m a Latina and I’m in tech. And, I’m serving my community, which is the most satisfying part for me…lifting the burden from students that are going to be in the same situation as I was when I graduated from high school,” she tells GoodCall.
How the Dreamers Roadmap mobile app works
Dreamers Roadmap is expected to launch in March of this year. Sarahi explains that there will be three ways to use the app. The first is to create an account with an email address. This way, students receive emails about upcoming and new scholarships. They also get push notifications to their phones and reminders of scholarship deadlines.
There’s also an explore feature for people who don’t want to create an account. “I was kind of pushed to share my story nationally, and then became comfortable sharing. But, the first time was really scary, so I identify with people being afraid of exposing information,” she says. The explore feature allows users to search the entire scholarship database without sharing any personal information. It also filters down the scholarships, based on questions like what state they live in, if they have DACA, and education level, to find the scholarships that best match. Sarahi explains that an explore search can be either for the person searching or for someone else, say, for instance, a school counselor helping an undocumented student.
The third feature of the app will allow users to crowdsource information on scholarships for undocumented students, essentially passing into the hands of students all across the country information on scholarship opportunities previously shared only by word-of-mouth. Sarahi explains that each scholarship tip they receive is verified before it’s submitted to the database, currently housing about 500 scholarships.
Owing, in large part, to the work of formerly undocumented students, like Sarahi, there are now more opportunities for undocumented students to go to college. Though, these opportunities are not evenly spread across the nation, with some states still requiring undocumented students to pay out-of-state tuition. What’s more, even for students protected under DACA, in most states, financial aid remains out of reach. Add these realities to misinformation about whether or not undocumented students can get help to go to college, and it makes access to information like that provided by Dreamers Roadmap all the more important for students, schools, families, and communities.
Monica Harvin
Monica is a GoodCall contributing editor, covering personal finance and education. She's also GoodCall's diversity expert, with a master's degree in Latin American studies from UCLA and bachelor's degree in history from the University of Florida.
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S. 1586 (114th)
S. 1586 (114th): Great Lakes Water Protection Act
Compare this bill to another bill:
(Select Bill) H.R. 5734 (109th) Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IH) H.R. 2907 (110th) Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IH) H.R. 54 (111th) Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IH) S. 147 (112th) Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IS) S. 571 (113th) Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IS) H.R. 2809 Great Lakes Water Protection Act (IH) S. 2132 An Act Making Appropriations to Stop Regulatory Excess and for Other Purposes, 2016 (PCS) S. 1645 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 (PCS)
Government Publishing Office
The text of the bill below is as of Jun 16, 2015 (Introduced).
Close Comparison
114th CONGRESS
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. Kirk introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works
A BILL
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit sewage dumping into the Great Lakes, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Water Protection Act .
Prohibition on sewage dumping into the Great Lakes
Section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this subsection:
The term bypass means an intentional diversion of waste streams to bypass any portion of a treatment facility that results in a discharge into the Great Lakes.
The term discharge means a direct or indirect discharge of untreated sewage or partially treated sewage from a treatment works into the Great Lakes or a tributary of the Great Lakes.
The term discharge includes a bypass and a combined sewer overflow.
The term Great Lakes has the meaning given the term in section 118(a)(3).
Partially treated sewage
The term partially treated sewage means any sewage, sewage and storm water, or sewage and wastewater, from domestic or industrial sources that—
is not treated to national secondary treatment standards for wastewater; or
is treated to a level less than the level required by the applicable national pollutant discharge elimination system permit.
Treatment facility
The term treatment facility includes all wastewater treatment units used by a publicly owned treatment works to meet secondary treatment standards or higher, as required to attain water quality standards, under any operating conditions.
Treatment works
The term treatment works has the meaning given the term in section 212.
A publicly owned treatment works is prohibited from performing a bypass unless—
the bypass is unavoidable to prevent loss of life, personal injury, or severe property damage;
there is not a feasible alternative to the bypass, such as the use of auxiliary treatment facilities, retention of untreated wastes, or maintenance during normal periods of equipment downtime; and
the treatment works provides notice of the bypass in accordance with this subsection; or
the bypass does not cause effluent limitations to be exceeded, and the bypass is for essential maintenance to ensure efficient operation of the treatment facility.
The requirement of paragraph (2)(A)(ii) is not satisfied if—
adequate back-up equipment should have been installed in the exercise of reasonable engineering judgment to prevent the bypass; and
the bypass occurred during normal periods of equipment downtime or preventive maintenance.
Immediate notice requirements
The Administrator shall work with States having publicly owned treatment works subject to the requirements of this subsection to create immediate notice requirements in the event of discharge that provide for the method, contents, and requirements for public availability of the notice.
At a minimum, the contents of the notice shall include—
the exact dates and times of the discharge;
the volume of the discharge; and
a description of any public access areas impacted.
Minimum requirements shall be consistent for all States.
The Administrator and States described in subparagraph (A) shall include—
follow-up notice requirements that provide a more full description of each event, the cause, and plans to prevent reoccurrence; and
annual publication requirements that list each treatment works from which the Administrator or the State receive a follow-up notice.
The notice and publication requirements described in this paragraph shall be implemented not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this subsection.
Sewage blending
Bypasses prohibited by this section include bypasses resulting in discharges from a publicly owned treatment works that consist of effluent routed around treatment units and thereafter blended together with effluent from treatment units prior to discharge.
As soon as practicable, the Administrator shall establish procedures to ensure that permits issued under this section (or under a State permit program approved under this section) to a publicly owned treatment works include requirements to implement this subsection.
Increase in maximum civil penalty for violations occurring after January 1, 2035
Notwithstanding section 309, in the case of a violation of this subsection occurring on or after January 1, 2035, or any violation of a permit limitation or condition implementing this subsection occurring after that date, the maximum civil penalty that shall be assessed for the violation shall be $100,000 per day for each day the violation occurs.
This subsection shall apply to a bypass occurring after the last day of the 1-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection.
Great Lakes Cleanup Fund
Title V of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) is amended—
by redesignating section 519 (33 U.S.C. 1251 note) as section 520; and
by inserting after section 518 (33 U.S.C. 1377) the following:
Establishment of great lakes cleanup fund
The term Fund means the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund established by subsection (b).
Great lakes; great lakes states
The terms Great Lakes and Great Lakes States have the meanings given the terms in section 118(a)(3).
Establishment of fund
There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund (referred to in this section as the Fund ).
Transfers to fund
Effective January 1, 2035, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Fund amounts equivalent to the penalties collected for violations of section 402(s).
Administration of fund
The Administrator shall administer the Fund.
The Administrator shall—
make the amounts in the Fund available to the Great Lakes States for use in carrying out programs and activities for improving wastewater discharges into the Great Lakes, including habitat protection and wetland restoration; and
allocate those amounts among the Great Lakes States based on the proportion that—
the amount attributable to a Great Lakes State for penalties collected for violations of section 402(s); bears to
the total amount of those penalties attributable to all Great Lakes States.
In selecting programs and activities to be funded using amounts made available under this section, a Great Lakes State shall give priority consideration to programs and activities that address violations of section 402(s) resulting in the collection of penalties.
Conforming amendments to State revolving fund program
Section 607 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1387) is amended—
by striking There is and inserting (a) In General.—There is ; and
by adding at the end the following:
Treatment of Great Lakes Cleanup Fund
For purposes of this title, amounts made available from the Great Lakes Cleanup Fund under section 519 shall be treated as funds authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title and as funds made available under this title, except that the funds shall be made available to the Great Lakes States in accordance with section 519.
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Island Councils
Founding Few
Protected Lands
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Transferred or Assisted Lands
Tools for Land Protection
Talk Story on the Land
Join our Monthly Giving Club
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Hawaiian Islands Land Trust Advisory Board
Dale Bonar, Solid Ground Consulting
Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian Airlines
James Greenwell, Palani Ranch Company, Inc.
Alice F. Guild, Community Member
Bob Hobdy, Environmental Consultant
Donna Howard, Pacific Philanthropy Partners
Patrick V. Kirch, University of California Berkeley
Kepa Maly, Pulama Lanai
Mary McGrath, Philpotts Interiors
Peter Merriman, Merriman's Hawaii Restaurants
Helen Nielsen, Starr Properties LLC
Dr. Puakea Nogelmeier, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Gunars Valkirs, Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, Inc.
Gaylord Wilcox, Waioli Corporation
Kitty Yannone, Communications Pacific
Mark B. Dunkerley
Mr. Dunkerley, 51, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of both Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. and its parent company, Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. Mr. Dunkerley joined Hawaiian Airlines as President and Chief Operating Officer in December of 2002 and is also a member of the Board of Directors for both Hawaiian Holdings and Hawaiian Airlines.
During his tenure at the company, Hawaiian Airlines has become the U.S. industry’s leading airline for operational performance, has delivered the highest levels of customer service and has been one of the most financially successful U.S. carriers. Since 2010, Hawaiian has diversified its business by aggressively expanding in the Asia Pacific region. New services between Honolulu and Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo and Sendai Japan; Seoul, South Korea; Brisbane, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; and Beijing, China complement the carrier’s robust inter island and North America network. .
James Greenwell
Jimmy's career has been devoted to both the real estate and beef industries. Born and raised in Hawai‘i, he graduated from Cornell University in 1967 with a degree in Ag Economics. Following military service and ten years with A&B Properties on Maui, in 1980 he joined his family’s Big Island enterprises, Lanihau Properties LLC and Palani Ranch Company. He became President of each in the early 1990’s retiring in 2012 but remaining active on both boards and others.
He has held various community and industry positions including service on the Boards of Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy and Seabury Hall. He also long has been active in and served as President of the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, the Hawaii Cattle Producers Cooperative, and is a Past Chair of the Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference.
Robert Hobdy
Exposure to a distinguished botanist at the age of 15 (1957) where he developed a personal interest in plants. Undergraduate courses in botany in college. Worked with and managed forest resources throughout his career with special focus on native and Endangered species and their ecosystems, watershed management, timber species, invasive weeds and plant pests and disease management. He collaborated with his sister resource management agencies and organizations, universities, museums and visiting scientists. Made extensive collections of plants for the Bishop Museum and other institutions documenting native plants and weeds and their distribution.
Discovered twelve new species of native plants, two of which he described in scientific publications and five of which were named after Bob by other botanists. Serving on the Maui County Arborist Advisory Committee for over 30 years. Serving on the Board of Directors of the Maui Nui Botanical Gardens. Served on a Federal Weed Risk Assessment advisory committee. Serving on the Maui Invasive Species Committee since 1991. Opened an environmental consulting business in 2004, specializing in flora and fauna surveys, wetland surveys and site evaluations.
Donna Howard
Now a consultant, Donna has had a long and rewarding career as a fundraising executive, working primarily in higher education, in California and Hawai‘i, Hawaii Loa and Mills College as well as UC Irvine, University of Hawai‘i and UC Berkeley.
An "Army brat,” Donna grew up around the world with the 4 years at Penn State, the longest she 'lived' any where at one time. She has a passion for learning (spent time at Oxford and Harvard) and for people and has volunteered in Armenia and Thailand.
Hawai‘i? She moved here three times. There is no place in Hawai‘i that you can't see beauty....turn around, look up or look out. The natural beauty is all around us. That's what brought Donna to HILT.
Patrick v. kirch
Patrick V. Kirch, who was born and raised in Hawai‘i, discovered his passion for Polynesian archaeology and anthropology through an early association with the Bishop Museum, while a student at Punahou School. After receiving his PhD from Yale (1975), Kirch returned to work on the staff of the Bishop Museum until 1984. After a stint as Director of the Burke Museum in Seattle, in 1989 Kirch joined the faculty of the University of California, Berkeley, where he is currently Chancellor's Professor Emeritus.
Kirch has conducted archaeological research throughout Hawai'i and the Pacific, with expeditions to Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and French Polynesia. He is the author of 25 books or monographs, and more than 250 scholarly articles describing the results of his discoveries. His award-winning book A Shark Going Inland Is My Chief: The Island Civilization of Ancient Hawai‘i recounts the long history of Hawai‘i from initial Polynesian settlement up to the conquests of Kamehameha I.
KEPA MALY
Kepa Maly was raised on the islands of O‘ahu and Lana‘i. While growing up on Lana‘i, kupuna immersed Kepa in Hawaiian cultural practices, language and values. Kepa’s career has focused in the field of cultural and natural resources, ethnography and the recording of Hawaiian history from Ni‘ihau through Hawai‘i and beyond.
Since February 2013, Kepa has been responsible for overseeing activities related to archaeological-cultural surveys, preservation planning of cultural resources, and encouraging the perpetuation and preservation of Lana‘i’s traditions and historical heritage, as a member of the executive team of Pulama Lana‘i. He works to ensure the history and culture of Lana‘i are passed down by sharing the history of Lana‘i with residents, visitors, and staff members.
Prior to joining Pulama Lana‘i, Kepa was the Director of the Lāna‘i Culture and Heritage Center (www.lanaichc.org), and he continues to lead that organization through the present day. In 1994 Kepa his wife, Kamakaonaona Pomroy-Maly, started Kumu Pono associates, a Hawaiian ethnographic research firm, and together they have conducted hundreds of oral history interview, authored many cultural studies, and developed interpretive educational programs across the state. Kepa has also served on many cultural heritage and natural resource management boards across the state (in community, county, state, and federal programs); he has also worked for the National Park Service, University of Hawai‘i, served as the curator/exhibit designer for the Kaua‘i Museum, and is the Executive Director of the Hoakalei Cultural Foundation (www.hoakaleifoundation.org). He has also received several awards and sat on various boards over the years.
MARY MCGRATH
Mary’s professional experience and on-going study of Pacific regional cultures has provided the basis for her cultural consulting with projects such as Disney’s new resort at Ko Olina. Noteworthy past projects include the Hawaii Convention Center, American Cruise Lines and Norwegian Cruise Line’s ships. She is the author of the preeminent island interior design book, “Hawaii: A Sense of Place” which won the Kapalapala Award as Book of the Year in 2005 and is now approaching its 4th printing.
In 2006, the American Society of Interior Designers acknowledged Mary with a national recognition of the lifetime achievement award. In January of 2010 Architectural Digest named Mary in the prestigious list of AD 100 among the top one hundred designers and architects in the world. She was also recently celebrated by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce with the O‘o award for her preservation efforts.
PETER MErriman
Peter Merriman has been as a culinary pioneer in Hawaii for over 25 years. Known as the original “locavore”, Peter is a vocal champion of Hawaii’s farmers, ranchers and fishermen. His restaurants showcase island grown and harvested foods through simple preparations that reflect the myriad flavors of Hawaii’s multiculturalism. Dubbed the “Pied Piper of Hawaii Regional Cuisine” by The Los Angeles Times, he is a continuing inspiration to Hawaii’s thriving culinary scene.
All of Peter Merriman’s restaurants share a common mission statement: “Do the Right Thing!” Every member of the staff is taught to respect the `aina (land) that feeds and the people who produce the food, to be proud in their work, and to take responsibility for making sure every customer has a memorable dining experience.
Gunars Valkirs
Gunars Valkirs is a scientist who co-founded a successful medical diagnostics company in San Diego. After selling the company in 2007, Gunars and his wife JoRene moved to Maui in 2008. There, they established the Makana Aloha Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting Maui non-profits. It has been a privilege for the Valkirs family to connect with so many people that serve the local community with great passion and noble intentions. Gunars recently came out of retirement to start a Maui Ku'ia Estate Chocolate, a Lahaina cacao farm, aiming make the best chocolate in the world, and donate 100% of the net-profits from this new business venture to Maui charities and non-profit community organizations.
Kitty Yannone
Kitty Lagareta has spent her adult life fulfilling her passion for community service and business on a daily basis. While still in her 20s she became a founding board member of Hawai‘i’s Ronald McDonald House and then its first executive director. During that time she also became a certified fund development professional. In 1986, she joined Communications Pacific and began counseling clients on fund development, marketing, issues management, and community building. In 1998, she bought Communications Pacific and serves as its chief executive officer. Kitty was Pacific Business News’ first “Businesswoman of the Year” and inducted into the Junior Achievement of Hawaii “Business Hall of Fame.”
She has been recognized for her community service work many times over the years, including being honored by the Hawai‘i Chapter of the March of Dimes with its Franklin Delano Roosevelt National Award for Distinguished Community Service and by the American Red Cross Hawaii Chapter with its Chairman’s Cup. Kitty served on the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii, her alma mater, for five years, including two years as vice chair and two years as chair. When she is not working or volunteering, Kitty spends time with her four grandsons.
Info@Hilt.org
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The Hawaiian Islands Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) land conservancy organization.
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Restaurateur Sirio Maccioni's success story
Restaurateur Sirio Maccioni shares his secrets of running legendary restaurants.
india Updated: Dec 10, 2011 01:16 IST
His is a story that could inspire a thousand Bollywood potboilers — a poor village lad spends his childhood in deprivation, finds a job in a ship (Home Lines SS Atlantic) as a waiter, and crosses the Atlantic serving people.
The boy achieves unbelievable success, and couple of decades later finds himself Crossing The Pond again, this time as a first class passenger aboard the Italian Line’s SS Giulio Cesare!
The legendary restaurateur Sirio Maccioni, the founder one of the world’s most famous French restaurant Le Cirque, recently visited his restaurant’s maiden Indian venture, Le Cirque at the Leela Palace Hotel.
The humble and unprentious Macconi says, what drew him to the food business was desperation and not inspiration.
"I grew up as a poor child in Italy. As much I love food, I am a hard worker and this combination works very well for the restaurant business," he says, looking dapper in a Stefano Ricci suit.
Apart from his celebrated restaurants, it’s perhaps also the octogenarian’s sense of humour that helped him befriend celebrities including singer-actor late Frank Sinatra, former first lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan, and former model Ivana Trump.
Ask him to share the most memorable incident of life and he tells you a story as interesting as his life.
“Once when I was working in Paris, I was standing beside a tray that had twenty-two quails. Suddenly one of the quails fell off the tray on the floor and my instinct prompted me to pick it up and quickly eat it. And then I returned to the kitchen and told the chef that he had made only 21 quails!”
So, who’s been the toughest guest to handle at his celebrated French restaurant that has been entertaining New York City’s high society?
“I have to say that my most difficult guest is my youngest son Mauro who always had the chef prepare a hamburger for him.”
Maccioni also fondly remembers the late American painter-filmmaker Andy Warhol, who was a regular at his restaurant.
“Warhol was my most intriguing guest. He would always draw on napkins,” he recalls.
Maccioni says the recipe of turning a restaurant into a success is quite simple.
“A restaurant’s success is the combination of hard work, a talented group of working individuals, some good luck, humility and good service. The customer is the king, so always treat him like a king.”
Maccioni tried Indian cuisine on his visit and says he is absolutely in love with it. Among his other plans in India included a visit to Taj Mahal, Mumbai and Udaipur. “I have also got a suit tailored in India,” says Maccioni, who loves to cook Italian food at home.
“I love cooking and my favourite dish is Rabbits Cacciatore,” he shares.
First Published: Dec 09, 2011 18:31 IST
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Emerging Diseases
All Infectious Disease
Pediatric ID
Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
In the Journals Plus
Confronting the misnomer of ‘chronic’ Lyme disease
Infectious Disease News, August 2017
Studies suggest that around 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year in the United States, according to the CDC, with 14 states in the Northeast and upper Midwest accounting for 96% of reported cases. As the most commonly reported tickborne illness in the country, Lyme disease has grown in incidence and expanded beyond its historically endemic range in the last 2 decades.
The CDC estimates that 70% to 80% of patients with Lyme disease develop the telltale erythema migrans rash, but some patients may exhibit only symptoms of fever, fatigue or muscle/joint pain, which leaves physicians to piece together the diagnosis after confirming whether the patient was in a Lyme-endemic area. If symptoms are vague, physicians may order a blood test. If a diagnosis of Lyme disease is confirmed, patients should be prescribed a 2- to 4-week course of antibiotics, according to current Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines.
Photo by: Tufts Medical Center
H. Cody Meissner, MD, chief of the division of pediatric infectious disease at Tufts Medical Center, said the evidence is clear that there are no benefits from a prolonged course of antibiotics for patients with Lyme disease.
Although Lyme disease is an infection that clears following antibiotic treatment, 10% to 20% of patients experience fatigue, musculoskeletal pain and insomnia that may continue for more than 6 months after the infection has resolved. Officially known as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS), the loose confederation of nonspecific symptoms associated with this condition has provided a rallying point for patients with similarly vague symptoms seeking a concrete diagnosis.
Many patients whose symptoms overlap heavily with those of PTLDS, including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, have adopted the term “chronic” Lyme disease for their condition, although no research has definitively proven that infectious organisms persist in patients. Communities of patients and patient advocates claim that their symptoms are the result of a persistent Lyme disease infection that has gone undiagnosed, even though many of these patients show no objective evidence of a previous infection.
Compounded by misinformation shared through internet forums, “chronic” Lyme disease has become a new fixture in the debate largely between patients and providers regarding medically unexplained symptoms. To explore this phenomenon and how it fits into the health care landscape, Infectious Disease News spoke with several infectious disease and Lyme disease specialists about the pervasive misnomer of “chronic” Lyme disease, the furor of the Lyme community, and how physicians can better prepare themselves for treating patients with medically unexplained symptoms.
The rise of ‘chronic’ Lyme
First diagnosed in Connecticut in 1975, Lyme disease remained an etiologic mystery until the discovery of the spirochete, a corkscrew-shaped bacterium named Borrelia burgdorferi, which is primarily transmitted through the bite of the blacklegged tick, or deer tick (Ixodes scapularis).
“Lyme disease is most common from Virginia up through northern New England, with a secondary focus inMinnesota and Wisconsin — however, the range is clearly expanding,” Paul M. Lantos, MD, MS, assistant professor of internal medicine and pediatrics at Duke University, told Infectious Disease News. “Every year, the geographical range seems to be increasing, with cases in the Midwest extending into the Dakotas and southward into Illinois. With new reports showing Lyme disease in Michigan, it appears to be filling in the gaps between the Midwest and the East. It has also expanded west through New York and Pennsylvania, north into southern Canada, and south through Virginia.”
According to the CDC, children are at particular risk for tick exposure and subsequent infection because they tend to spend more time outdoors.
“Children between the ages of 5 and 10 years have the highest incidence of Lyme disease of any age group — nearly twice as high as the incidence among adults,” Eugene D. Shapiro, MD, professor of pediatrics and epidemiology at the Yale School of Medicine and an Infectious Disease News Editorial Board member, said in an interview. “As a result, especially within the deer tick range, Lyme disease is a very common infection among children.”
However, it is the prevalence of this infection among children — coupled with the range of vague flu-like symptoms such as fever, malaise and muscle and joint pains — that have given rise to the popular belief that a persistent “hidden” Lyme disease infection is responsible for an overwhelming number of conditions with similar chronic, nonspecific symptoms.
Although the IDSA maintains that an antibiotic course of 21 days is sufficient to eradicate Lyme infection, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS) — an advocacy group consisting of physicians, patients and laboratory personnel — contends that a longer course of therapy is required, and that “chronic” Lyme conditions are the result of an infection that persisted following initial antibiotic treatment.
In its alternative diagnostic guidelines for “chronic” Lyme disease, ILADS included many of the staple symptoms of PTLDS, such as musculoskeletal pain, disrupted sleep and lack of typical mental functions; however, the group also included several nebulous symptoms not customarily associated with B. burgdorferi infection, such as night sweats, sore throat, myalgia, diarrhea, jaw pain, tinnitus and vertigo.
Although the IDSA and the NIH have been careful to differentiate diagnosis and treatment for patients with well-documented Lyme disease from those who have no record of prior Lyme infection, patients and advocacy groups — most commonly for neurologic and rheumatologic diseases — have continued to point to Lyme disease as a culprit for a range of unexplained symptoms.
“The media coverage of ‘chronic’ Lyme disease is almost sensationalism, and has resulted in many people expanding upon what we recognize as Lyme disease to include symptoms that are likely not a result of the disease or even the infectious process,” H. Cody Meissner, MD, chief of the division of pediatric infectious disease at Tufts Medical Center, said in an interview.
Paul M. Lantos
“In cases of PTLDS, oftentimes there is nothing abnormal on the physical exam or laboratory values that can be used to guide us in the diagnosis; therefore, we don’t know if this subjective syndrome is any more common after Lyme disease than [after] other infectious diseases or if it occurs among people who don’t have Lyme disease,” Meissner noted. “While we recognize that these symptoms can be functionally disabling, how often do these symptoms occur in someone who does not have Lyme disease?”
Dangers of alternative therapies
When patients suffering from debilitating yet vague symptoms are unable to obtain a concrete diagnosis from their physician due to the lack of objective evidence, they may go looking for information on their own. For patients looking for answers, information on the internet can be persuasive.
“There used to be an entity called chronic mononucleosis that we used to get five times a week. I haven’t heard anybody complain about chronic mono in 15 years because those same people now have ‘chronic’ [Lyme disease], because that’s what’s on the internet,” Shapiro said.
The burgeoning online “chronic” Lyme disease community not only consists of patients who are symptomatic and Lyme disease activists, but also groups of physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating these patients, even if those treatments have minimal scientific backing.
“‘Lyme-literate doctors’ are what the ‘chronic’ Lyme disease advocacy community calls doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ‘chronic’ Lyme disease,’” Lantos said. “The doctors referred to as ‘Lyme-literate’ MDs often offer treatments that have not been substantiated by high-quality research. These include prolonged or unorthodox antibiotic courses, including antibiotics that are not typically used to treat Lyme disease.”
Although many “chronic” Lyme activists insist that Lyme disease is a chronic infection requiring extended duration of antibiotics, clinical trials have never borne this out. In a recent double blind, placebo-controlled trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Berende and colleagues demonstrated that long-term antibiotic treatment with ceftriaxone and doxycycline did not improve health outcomes among patients with persistent symptoms of Lyme disease.
“The evidence is fairly clear at this stage that there are no benefits from a prolonged course of antibiotics beyond what is generally recommended by IDSA guidelines,” Meissner said.
Such treatments are not only unsubstantiated, they can carry serious — even life-threatening — risks, according to a recent CDC report that outlined cases of septic shock, osteomyelitis, Clostridium difficile colitis and paraspinal abscess resulting from treatments for “chronic” Lyme disease, including extended courses of antibiotics.
“Whatever the explanation, PTLDS is not responsive to additional antibiotics, which, unfortunately, has led to some very unorthodox therapies that physicians are trying to discourage,” Meissner said.
Among the more inexplicable therapies for Lyme disease was “malariotherapy,” according to Sunil Sood, MD, professor of pediatrics at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine and a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Cohen Children’s Medical Center.
“This involved injecting malaria parasites into their blood to induce a fever that could reach up to 106°F, purportedly to ‘burn off’ the Borrelia bacteria in their brain,” Sood said. “After this practice came to the attention of the CDC about 25 years ago, physicians have been encouraged to report cases of self-induced malaria.”
In a 2015 study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, Lantos and colleagues identified more than 30 alternative therapies marketed for the treatment of “chronic” Lyme disease, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, ultraviolet light therapy, herbal remedies, modified diet and vaginal or anal infusions of ozone. Although these types of treatments may be supported by personal anecdotes and the recommendation of “Lyme-literate” doctors, “there is no evidence that these are in any way beneficial,” Shapiro said.
“What drives patients to seek alternative explanations is the sense that the conventional medical community cannot offer them anything or that no one will listen to them,” Lantos said. “This sense of futility is one of the things that drives patients away from infectious disease physicians, and conventional medicine in general, and probably lies behind the growth of the anti-vaccine movement and other alternative viewpoints.”
Medical misinformation is further reinforced by the vast network of support groups for “chronic” Lyme found nationwide — regardless of whether Lyme disease is endemic to the area.
According to the Lyme Disease Network, every state except Nebraska hosts at least one support group. California, an area not typically affected by this disease, features 29 support groups available to those with “chronic” Lyme disease — the highest concentration of Lyme support groups demonstrated in any state.
“Part of the ‘chronic’ Lyme problem is that physicians ignore the epidemiology of Lyme disease,” Sood said. “All one needs to do is look at the CDC map to observe the prevalence of Lyme disease — unless a patient has traveled to or had significant exposure in an endemic area, Lyme disease will not occur.”
That endemic range, however, could be changing. In 2016, Rebecca Eisen, PhD, from the CDC’s Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, and colleagues published a study in the Journal of Medical Entomology that found that the blacklegged tick has experienced a population explosion within the past 20 years, doubling its established range. After compiling state and county tick surveillance data, researchers found that the blacklegged tick and its close relative, the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus), could now be found in approximately 49% of counties across 43 U.S. states.
However, Eisen said in a press release that although their surveillance map showed a wide distribution of ticks, “the risk of people getting Lyme disease is not equal across areas of the country.”
Sunil Sood
Primary care providers are on the front line of Lyme disease, whether confirming a diagnosis and administering treatment, or providing additional counsel or referrals for parents of children whose chronic symptoms do not match the standard criteria for Lyme disease.
“For primary care providers in endemic areas, staying current with the literature is essential because the bulk of Lyme disease referrals — either for unambiguous Lyme disease or chronic symptoms attributed to Lyme disease — are showing up in the [physician’s] office before they make their way to the infectious disease specialist,” Lantos said.
For clinicians within newly established blacklegged tick ranges, educational offerings through the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Red Book, as well as an abundance of nationwide seminars, are available to familiarize themselves with potential disease vectors in their area as well as how to efficiently diagnose the early symptoms of Lyme disease.
“Chronic” Lyme and its assortment of ill-defined symptoms is not a new phenomenon but rather the most recent catchall term for symptoms with no clear cause. According to Lantos, over time, patients have attributed their symptoms to Lyme disease, mononucleosis and chronic candidiasis.
“What these patients want is a diagnosis. However, what often happens is that the subspecialist will say they do not have Lyme disease, but what the patient hears is that they are making it up or it is all in their head,” Shapiro said. “A better approach for physicians is to be empathetic: Say that you are going over everything and that you think it is highly unlikely that what the patient has is Lyme disease. Be up front that you don’t know the cause of the symptoms, but it is unlikely to be something dangerous; highlight that what is important is to figure out how best to manage the symptoms — whatever the cause — and get the patient back to normal life.”
‘Consider all possibilities’
In a study published in Mental Health in Family Medicine, Edwards and colleagues found that symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, headache, swelling, back pain, shortness of breath, insomnia, abdominal pain and numbness accounted for 40% of all primary care visits. However, physicians identified a biological cause for these symptoms in only 26% of patients.
Atypical persistent symptoms of Lyme disease may include mood disorders such as depression, although a recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that the prevalence of depressive symptoms was similar among infected and noninfected patients at a tertiary care center, suggesting that physicians should not rely on mood disorders to diagnose Lyme disease, researchers said.
Many patients become labeled with Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS), which can have a variety of different causes.
“I believe that many of the patients who claim to have ‘chronic’ Lyme disease do have the symptoms of which they are complaining, but the cause is not Lyme disease,” Shapiro said. “Our understanding of MUS is clearly imperfect, and unfortunately, it is likely due to a combination of factors, such as genetic predispositions and/or psychological components. The problem is that most infectious disease specialists, and doctors in general, are not well-trained in managing symptoms without a diagnosis.”
In a 2014 BMC Family Practice survey of patients who identified themselves as having “chronic” Lyme disease, Ali and colleagues observed that patients were frequently unsatisfied with care in conventional settings. Patients reported that although conventional physicians were often dismissive of their diagnosis and responded to their inquiries with patronizing or condescending attitudes, consultations with “Lyme-literate” MDs or complementary and alternative medicine practitioners were reported to be optimistic and supportive.
“I don’t blame people for getting caught up in the myth that there are two universes out there: one of doctors who don’t ‘believe’ in ‘chronic’ Lyme disease, and the other of doctors who are ‘chronic’ Lyme advocates and will actually help them,” Sood said. “Certainly, the physicians who diagnose ‘chronic’ Lyme disease exhibit a whole lot of empathy for their patients. The problem is that their alternative therapies are not based on scientific fact and can cause long-term harm.”
Furthermore, alternative physicians or “Lyme-literate” doctors who rush to label patients with “chronic” Lyme disease based on symptoms without performing a more thorough patient analysis may ultimately miss the root of the patient’s problem.
“If a physician has a patient with well-documented, properly treated Lyme disease — with the acute illness resolved — and then the patient presents with vague symptoms, it is incumbent on the physician to consider all possibilities that might be causing these symptoms, such as depression or thyroid disease,” Meissner said. “The physician should ... order appropriate tests to rule out other possible causes for these symptoms.”
Although there remains considerable controversy between the medical community and advocacy groups over the prevalence and diagnostic criteria of Lyme disease, physicians continue to treat patients who claim to have a “chronic” Lyme diagnosis. According to Lantos and Shapiro, the focus should not be on the name associated with these symptoms but rather on the patient and their needs.
“When we are referred patients for Lyme disease, I don’t think we are doing our job if we make ourselves only adjudicators of a Lyme disease diagnosis,” Lantos said. “Some patients come to our office primarily concerned that they have Lyme disease; as with any other new consultation, however, our job should be to take a step back, perform the best clinical evaluation and determine the best medical explanation. In some cases, Lyme disease is the best explanation and in other cases it is not.”– by Katherine Bortz and Gerard Gallagher
Ali A, et al. BMC Family Practice. 2014; doi:10.1186/1471-2296-15-79.
Berende A., et al. N Engl J Med. 2016; doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1505425.
Burgdorfer W, et al. Science. 1982. doi:10.1126/science.7043737.
CDC. Lyme disease. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme. Accessed April 24.
CDC. Lyme Disease. Signs and symptoms of untreated Lyme disease.https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms/index.html. Accessed May 15, 2017.
CDC. Ticks and Lyme disease. https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/toolkit/factsheets/10_508_lymedisease_parent.pdf. Accessed July 19, 2017.
Edwards TM, et al. Ment Health Fam Med. 2010;7:209–221.
Eisen RJ, et al. J Med Entomol. 2016;doi:10.1093/jme/tjv237.
Lantos PM. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2015;doi:10.1016/j.idc.2015.02.006.
Lantos PM, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2015;doi:10.1093/cid/civ186.
Marzec NS, et al. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2017;doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6623a3.
Hatcher S. BMJ. 2008;doi:10.1136/bmj.39554.592014.
Nelson CA, et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2015;doi:10.3201/eid2109.150417.
Zomer TP, et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;doi:10.1093/cid/cix605.
Paul M. Lantos, MD, can be reached at paul.lantos@duke.edu.
Eugene Shapiro, MD, can be reached at eugene.shapiro@yale.edu.
H. Cody Meissner, MD, can be reached at cmeissner@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
Sunil Sood, MD, can be reached at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, 500 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY 11549.
Disclosures: Lantos, Meissner, Shapiro and Sood report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Briggs' bizarre ordeal news to teammates
Reed Schreck
When the Chicago Bears showed up for practice Monday, nothing seemed unusual. Linebacker Lance Briggs was among those present and ready to go to work.
Gradually, that fact surprised and relieved them. Few facts were released while the team was at Halas Hall, but the Pro Bowl linebacker had been involved in a one-car accident early that morning.
His new black Lamborghini, reportedly valued at $350,000, was left damaged and deserted off the Edens Expressway about 3:15 a.m. The car reportedly struck a light pole near the Devon Avenue exit. A state police officer interviewed on a Chicago radio station said the car was rendered undrivable.
Briggs was charged with a misdemeanor for leaving the scene of an accident. He also was ticketed for improper lane usage and for failing to report the incident within 30 minutes.
Briggs posted bond of $100. His court date will be Oct. 4.
Briggs was unavailable to talk to the media Monday. He talked to authorities before and after practice, according to head coach Lovie Smith, who let Briggs leave the afternoon session early to deal with the details.
“His spirits were good based on him being in a one-car accident,” Smith said. “Those were my first thoughts — is he safe? That’s what we talked about first.”
Smith was terse with several media questions. Yes, of course he would prefer his players “be in a little bit earlier than that,” adding that not everyone out at that time gets in trouble. He shot down a question as to whether alcohol may have been involved.
“How do we get to that part? We have a one-car accident, and now alcohol is involved? I think that’s stretching things a bit to go that far.”
Smith said, as far as he knows, Briggs will not be disciplined by the Bears because no team rules were broken.
Most teammates weren’t aware something happened until they arrived for work.
Upon learning the news, defensive end Alex Brown said, “We can replace the car; we can’t replace Lance. We’re glad he’s OK. I’m just thankful he didn’t hurt anybody or himself. We’re happy to have him here.”
Briggs was seen taking his usual reps at starting linebacker along with Brian Urlacher and Hunter Hillenmeyer in the afternoon.
Briggs’ contract situation served as an offseason distraction before he signed a one-year franchise player deal for $7.206 million. He had threatened to sit out and never play for Chicago.
Now, he’s in the news again for off-the-field exploits.
“Are we looking for distractions?” Brown said to media. “No. We’re fine. He’s here. He’s healthy, thank goodness.”
Smith said issues like this could be distractions “if you let them become distractions.”
“As far as we’re concerned, we haven’t had a lot,” he said. “Things went on during the offseason. We had training camp, and the players were here. Things like this come up time to time. There are accidents that happen.”
Cornerback Nathan Vasher didn’t think it would be a distraction.
“Nobody really knows what happened,” he said. “We’ll just try to have another good day of practice and try and get another win this week (Thursday at home against Cleveland). I’m just glad he’s fine.”
Vasher said he was unaware of any details.
“Fortunately, he was able to walk away,” he said. “I’m just glad he came to practice today and looks like he’ll be ready to go.”
Briggs apparently bought his car recently, as some players noted seeing it at a Family Night practice at Soldier Field a few weeks ago. Vasher purchased his Lamborghini a couple of months ago.
“Any car, if you don’t handle it correctly, can get away from you,” Vasher said. “You have to be very careful whenever you’re out there on the road.
“You’ve got to use everything at your own discretion. You try to make a decision. We’ve been in this place before. You try not to put yourself where you can (get in trouble) when you’re out.”
Safety Danieal Manning became aware something happened during the morning walk-through.
“I was a little shocked,” he said. “I didn’t hear anything about it. I don’t really have much to say about it. He seems fine. I never really suspected anything.”
Defensive end Adewale Ogunleye had the best source — “I heard about it through him, so I wasn’t concerned.”
“I didn’t notice if he was late for a meeting. I was focused on myself. I saw him, heard the story and basically, he said how he’s doing.”
A distraction?
“No,” he said. “He’s OK. If you guys want the story, I’m not the guy for this story.”
Reed Schreck is the NFL writer for the Rockford Register Star. Reach him at 815-987-1381 or rschreck@rrstar.com.
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Nearly 200 out of work after sale of Crown mines
Debra Landis
Aug 31, 2007 at 12:01 AM Aug 31, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Nearly 200 employees of the Crown II mine in Macoupin County have been laid off following the sale of the Freeman United Coal Mining Co., headquartered in Springfield.
The new owners say they plan to close Crown II, which is near Girard about 20 miles south of Springfield.
A new entity, the Springfield Coal Co., bought Crown II, along with the Crown III mine near Farmersville, from General Dynamics in a sale expected to be completed today (Friday). Freeman was a subsidiary of General Dynamics.
Terms of the sale, including the purchase price, are confidential, said Rob Dolittle, a General Dynamics spokesman.
Springfield Coal officials told United Mine Workers of America representatives Thursday that the coal market doesn’t warrant keeping the Crown II mine open, so it will be closed today (Friday), according to Greg Mahan, president of the Crown II Local 1969 of the UMWA.
The layoffs include 175 miners and 17 other employees, he said.
Fewer than 25 miners will continue to be employed at Crown II for a limited time, moving equipment to nearby Crown III and doing other work, Mahan said. It’s also possible, he said, that some Crown II miners could be called to work at Crown III.
“About 60 percent of the miners at Crown II are 50 years or older, and about 20 percent are between 35 and 45. The rest are between 19 and 24,” said Mahan, who worked at Crown II for more than 30 years.
Crown III employs about 200 miners.
Springfield Coal Co. was apparently formed by a group of upper-level managers at Freeman. The company lists the same address and phone number as Freeman. A spokesman for Springfield Coal, Tom Austin, could not be reached for comment late Thursday.
As part of the transition of ownership, operations at both Crown II and Crown III were immediately suspended.
“Springfield Coal Co. will begin operations at the Crown III mine on Sept. 4. The Crown II mine will remain idle due to market conditions. Springfield Coal Co. will be headquartered in Springfield,” a company press release said.
Saying it wanted to leave the coal mining business and focus on other operations, General Dynamics, a major defense contractor, put Crown II and Crown III on the market in December 2006. The two mines each produce about 2 million tons of coal annually, according to the Freeman Web site.
Mahan said members of Local 1969 will meet at 10 a.m. today (Friday) at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Virden to discuss the Crown II closure.
Debra Landis can be reached at (217) 483-4352.
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Manchester United Trialist Excels in Under-21 Victory Over Liverpool
Jeffrey Schlupp is on trial at United from Leicester City
By Adrian Back
February 26, 2013 13:04 GMT
Jeffrey Schlupp is currently on trial at Manchester United from Leicester City. [Twitter]
Leicester City forward Jeffrey Schlupp did everything in his power to prove that he is good enough to play for Manchester United as he excelled in the 1-0 win over Liverpool in the Under-21 Premier League.
The 20-year-old was initially sent on a one-week trial to United in January but that has now been extended so that manager Sir Alex Ferguson and his coaching staff can assess whether he is good enough to move to club on a permanent basis.
Schlupp was handed the lone striker role against a very strong Liverpool side that featured the likes of Andre Wisdom, Raheem Sterling and Jonjo Shelvey, all of which have made numerous appearances in the first team this season.
The young forward troubled the Liverpool defence all night long and was unfortunate not to get his name on the scoresheet as Liverpool goalkeeper Daniel Ward denied him on numerous occasions at Langtree Park.
Schlupp, who is already a senior international for Ghana, nearly handed Manchester United the lead inside the first 10 minutes after good work from Jesse Lingard but his effort was well saved by Ward.
Liverpool defender Stephen Sama was sent-off in the second half for a second bookable offence and Schlupp continued to cause problems as his long distance effort hit the side netting, before another effort was turned round the post.
The striker was desperate to get his name on the scoresheet but was unable to convert his chances and it was left to Italian defender Michele Fornasier to claim an injury time winner that secured a second win for Manchester United in the elite group.
Schlupp will hope that he has done enough to impress the Manchester United coaches as he attempts to earn a move to the table topping Premier League side.
It would be a fantastic rise for the youngster as it was only two seasons ago that he was playing in League One on-loan for Brentford when he managed to score six goals in nine appearances.
Related topics : Twitter Manchester United FC
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ICT and freedom in the Middle East: The best and worst
Posted by Andrew Braun
on March 31 2015
Stereotypes are everywhere—but stereotypes of the Middle East tend not to include phrases such as “my, what free and open political systems they have!” or “I would invest in the flourishing ICT industry there.” And, as with most stereotypes, ideas about Middle Eastern politics and technology apply better in some places than others.
To get an idea of how countries with varying levels of political and economic freedom are faring in the ICT sector, I used data from the Economic Intelligence Unit, Freedom House, and The Heritage Foundation, each of which compile a yearly ranking of freedom indicators in the world’s countries. Using an average of all their scores, I found that Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey are currently the most free countries in the Middle East, with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria taking the lowest spots—and their ICT situations don’t always follow exactly the patterns you might expect. Iran and Saudi Arabia actually have nicely-developed infrastructure, despite their lack of freedoms—though Israel and Lebanon have a distinct advantage in the actual development of industry.
The most free ICT in the Middle East
#1: Israel
It will not come as a huge surprise to anyone that Israel heads up the list of free countries in the Middle East—and, coincidentally, it also leads the region in economic success stories. Its secular government and good political/economic relations with the West give it a sizeable advantage in the ICT field, with almost no restrictions on access to information, a high level of private domestic business activity, and plenty of foreign investment. In some ways, comparing it to the rest of the Middle East is like comparing figs and, well, some other kind of Middle Eastern fruit that is laughably different. Israel is an obvious outlier on most measures, but that is precisely what makes it noteworthy.
Israel is also home to what many call “Silicon Wadi” (Arabic for valley)—the second-most-important tech cluster in the world (after, you guessed it, Silicon Valley). In fact, it might almost be more accurate to say that Silicon Wadi is home to Israel—it actually covers much of the country, with varying levels of concentration.
In the 1960s and 70s, Israel, due to its volatile political situation, spent a great deal on military R&D, which ended up jumpstarting a successful technology industry. Later, it took off in the world software market, and now houses R&D departments from companies like Facebook, Google, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, and more. High levels of emphasis on education, a Western-friendly market, and good old chutzpah have gotten Israel a long way, and despite regional instability, nothing seems likely to derail it.
#2: Lebanon
Despite its difficulties with Hezbollah and a long history of political tension, Lebanon is rated as the second most democratic country in the Middle East by the Economic Intelligence Unit (which translates to 98th worldwide, tied with Turkey). It is also the only country in the top three freest that is a member of the Arab League.
Though it is classified as only “Partly Free” by Freedom House’s measures of internet and press freedom, it is 36th overall in the world for internet freedom (third in the Middle East), despite a marked decline since 2013/14 due to some political internet censorship that broke their longstanding tradition of non-interference. Nonetheless, internet penetration in 2014 was 70.5%, jumping from only 20% in 2008—a sign that their efforts to improve infrastructure have paid off.
With the penetration rate significantly above the region’s average and general speeds of around three megabits per second (low for the Western world, but good for the Middle East), Lebanon’s infrastructure is good enough to support a growing domestic and international ICT industry. And is looking at some massive improvements in the future, including upgrades that could increase internet speeds by a factor of six or more.
The government has a good record of maintaining a free market economy. And, like Israel, it has proven to be a friendly business environment for foreign companies (though bureaucratic corruption and red tape are still unfortunately prevalent), and is home to many of the same ones—such as Microsoft and Cisco. Though its “partly free” media rating may raise some red flags, online censorship, while legal in Lebanon, is practiced quite rarely (recent events being an exception). It remains one of the freest countries in the Middle East—as well as one of the most technologically developed. If it continues its development trend, the future remains bright for Lebanon.
#3: Turkey
Unfortunately, though it still makes the top three, Turkey has been losing its freedoms at a rate that could soon make its placement on this list obsolete. In the past year over 11,000 websites have been blocked (though Twitter and YouTube were unblocked in mid-2014) and limits on content range from the political (such as censoring news sites reporting on the Kurdish conflict in the south of the country) to the moral (such as the general ban on LGBT sites).
One recent case even included the arrest and imprisonment of a blogger accused of “publicly insulting the religious values of the population”. Despite its secular government and recent economic boom (which may actually be more of a bubble), Turkey is looking less and less like a place where ICT can thrive.
Nonetheless, levels of government spending on ICT have been quite high for some time, and to some extent it is working: since 2001 the market for ICT has grown substantially, with 45.1% of Turkey’s population connected to the internet in 2013. The potential of domestic ICT industries, however, is up for debate.
Hardware is where Turkey stands out in terms of production, but much of that consists of assembling imported parts. ICT firms may develop with the rest of the economy, especially as it has been emerging as a regional communications hub and outsourcing location, but as it stands right now, Turkey’s centrally planned R&D system (known as TUBITAK) is doing the lion’s share of the work, and dwindling political freedoms could discourage the investment Turkey knows it needs to reach its self-stated goal of developing the sector.
The least free ICT in the Middle East
#3 Iran
While Turkey is on the decline, Iran, one of the Middle East’s most oppressive countries, may be facing a brighter future. Its infrastructure is highly developed [PDF], despite myriad sanctions, and it’s getting better all the time—in fact, its ICT budget has doubled [PDF], going from 7.5% of the national budget to 15% in the past two years.
This is in part due to their president, Hassan Rouhani, whose more liberal policies may act as a good counterweight to the dominant religious/political officials. In an interview with NBC in 2013, Rouhani declared that: “In today's world, having access to information and the right of dialogue, that is sharing ideas, is the inalienable of all people including Iranians”. Though some have criticized him for not following through on other promises, he has been consistent in his actions towards internet freedom.
Nonetheless, roughly 50% of the world’s top 500 websites remain banned in Iran (including YouTube, which no doubt has contributed to what I can only assume is a thriving black market for cat videos), and the government still controls users’ access and monitors their activity more heavily than almost any other country in the world.
A Sharia-driven morality-based legal system and a conservative, closed-off political atmosphere mean that ICT in Iran will likely remain underutilized for some time—especially if it completes its country-exclusive national network.
Regardless of what happens though, you can be sure that the government will need to drive it; “private” industry in Iran is still overwhelmingly tied to the religious/political complex, making a truly vibrant ICT sector unlikely in the near future. The long-term outlook, though, if Rouhani succeeds, is better than it has been for some time.
#2 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s brand, online and offline, is that it is the center of Islam. Accordingly, while it has built one of the Middle East’s best technology infrastructures, and has ongoing initiatives to improve it, it is also on Reporters Without Borders’ list of “Enemies of the Internet” due to a strict application of Sharia law and repression of political discussion.
In accordance with Sharia’s prohibitions against things like pornography, it mostly uses a blocking approach rather than active monitoring. Nonetheless, monitoring exists, so you’re better off keeping your mouth shut if you have an alternative political opinion and don’t include “being flogged” or “being in jail” on your list of hobbies.
Like Iran, much of Saudi Arabia’s technological progress [PDF] is centrally planned, but with more vital privatization and free trade measures, it has been even more successful in building decent infrastructure. 60% of the population is online: 8.5 million total, which is the largest internet population in the Middle East. The average speed is around 10.5 megabits per second, which is not shabby when weighed against the worldwide average of about 3.9 Mbps and makes it one of the best connections in the region.
Telecoms are being privatized, and, as the largest ICT market in the Middle East, it has a lot of growth potential. Domestic industry, though, remains underdeveloped, and Saudi Arabia’s extremely oppressive social and political stance towards the internet is unlikely to help improve that. Nonetheless, at the same time, the country is used to dealing with the West and has managed to make itself a relatively welcoming target for investment despite its lack of freedoms; it may pull ahead even without political reforms.
#1 Syria
Syria has been in a bit of trouble for some time now, with civil wars and the Islamic State putting consistent pressure on Bashar Al-Assad’s regime. Rather than serving to distract the state from information technology regulations, though, the political situation has increased the already widespread blocking and monitoring. Though the government is technically secular, Sharia law is still a source of legislation, and the government has certainly taken advantage of it to crush dissidents.
While roughly 26.2% of their population is online, the infrastructure is well below the regional average and censorship policies are through the roof. Like Saudi Arabia, access to political discussion is aggressively blocked and monitored, along with any number of other moral and often subjective pieces of content.
Syria has repeatedly been named one of the most dangerous countries for journalists (yes, I’ll be crossing it off my list of vacation destinations) as it is not only quite turbulent, but it monitors political activity online and often hunts down those responsible. In addition, the telecoms themselves are the most heavily regulated in the region, making innovation and access to markets extremely difficult.
The 10+ country-wide internet blackouts over the past few years may point to a decaying ICT infrastructure, though it is more likely that they were government-initiated (possibly by the US government, if new information from Edward Snowden is true). The question of a domestic ICT industry in Syria will have to wait until one group or another actually takes control of the economy. It certainly has potential, but the sheer instability of the area, as well as the massive legal obstacles, will likely make actual development difficult for some time to come.
IT Industry, IT Infrastructure, TechFreedom, Government Restrictions
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Andrew Braun has an eclectic taste in music, a crippling addiction to change, and a time-consuming learning habit. He has held jobs as a writer, a web designer, a farmhand, a handyman, and a teacher, and plans to travel the world, teach, write, and work towards a master’s degree in political science.
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Chief Commissioner David Rutherford says the Commission is delighted to have Ms Tesoriero on board and is looking forward to her making her mark within the disability rights area, as well as broader Commission work.
“We are really excited to have Paula join our team. With her wealth of experience, enthusiasm and passion for delivering better outcomes for disabled New Zealanders, I am positive that she will be an integral part of our work going forward,” Mr Rutherford says.
Paula joins the Commission from her previous role as the General Manager of Systems and Partnerships for Stats NZ. She has an array of experience in the New Zealand public sector and has served on the Boards of Sports Wellington, the Halberg Disability Sports Foundation, Paralympics New Zealand and the New Zealand Artificial Limb Board. She is also a member of the New Zealand Sports Disputes tribunal and a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
“An important part of the role as Disability Rights Commissioner is to shine a light on issues and realities faced by some of New Zealand’s most marginalised communities. Making people aware of their stories, situations and issues, sharing them and driving forward positive change,” Mr Rutherford says.
“Former Disability Rights Commissioner Paul Gibson did this incredibly well in his time at the Commission, most recently on the State Care Abuse issue. I’m sure Paula will continue that great work and make her own mark on this important portfolio.”
Ms Tesoriero is looking forward to engaging with the disabled community as well as being a champion for their rights. “I’m really looking forward to helping to make a difference in the lives of New Zealanders. We have achieved a lot but when it comes to protecting and strengthening human rights we can always do more.”
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Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts
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Notts roads set for £20m upgrade- but residents will be hit with council tax increase
County Hall.
Nottinghamshire’s neglected roads are set for a £20m upgrade- but council tax could increase by 2.99 per cent as a result.
An extra £20m will be added to Nottinghamshire County Council’s highways capital programme from 2018/19 to 2021/22, bringing Nottinghamshire County Council’s capital roads investment up to £142m over the period - its highest level in more than a decade.
The extra money for roads is part of the 2018/19 budget proposals announced today (Monday, January 29).
But the budget also includes a proposed 2.99 per cent increase in council tax and 2 per cent adult social care precept.
The Council say the increase will be less than £1 per week for the majority of households in the county and will “ensure vital social care and other important services are retained”.
The highways investment will be focused on roads assessed as being likely to deteriorate in the next few years on a “right repair at the right time” basis, with a view to saving money that would have been required for repairs in the longer term.
Roads in residential areas, some of which have been neglected for many years, will be targetted.
This could include schemes to improve the road surface and new safety features where they are required such as pedestrian crossings and interactive speed signs on routes used every day by people to get to and from home.
Announcing the new highways funding today, Councillor Richard Jackson, chairman of Finance and Major Contracts Management Committee, said: “We’ve listened to local people’s priorities and I’m proud to announce that we’re investing an additional £20m in the county’s highways network over the next four years.
“Many of the roads we will be targeting will have not seen any meaningful work to them in years. Residential roads – the roads we all use every day to get to and from home – will be specifically targeted. We’re bringing the improvements to a road near you.
“We will aim to ensure the schemes provide the best possible value for money by making the right repair at the right time to avoid larger repair bills in years to come, reduce compensation claims and help our economy by cutting congestion.
“Making our roads safer will also be a key aim - there is a long wish list of safety schemes that communities have asked for in the past which may now be possible.
“With 2,600 miles of roads in our network, we know this money won’t solve every problem. But it is a good start and sets us in the right direction when it comes to getting the quality, safer road network for Nottinghamshire we all want.”
Councillor Jackson has expressed his regret at “recommending a council tax increase for the first time as a county councillor” but said a £109m cut in Government funding since 2013/14 and growing pressures on social care services for the elderly and vulnerable children means the authority “simply has no other option”.
Coun Jackson added: “I was proud to be part of the last Conservative administration at Nottinghamshire County Council, which froze council tax every year from 2009 to 2013.
“We put in place huge, transformational programmes to eradicate waste and engrain a value-for-money culture which has saved £255m in running costs since 2010.
“There is always more we can do – and will continue to do – so that we are more efficient and provide better value for taxpayers. But we’re being squeezed more than ever before by the spiralling costs of providing social care for older people and children and significant, on-going reductions in what the Government gives us to provide services to local people. This has left us facing a predicted budget shortfall of £55m by 2021/21, despite what we have already saved.
“Regretfully this means we must ask local people to pay more to keep these services going. We don’t want to increase council tax, the public doesn’t want us to increase council tax, but we simply have no choice if we’re going to continue to protect social care services and, in turn, prevent further strain on the NHS.”
It is being recommended that the Finance and Major Contracts Management Committee increases Council Tax by 2.99 per cent from April, after the Government increased the cap on what Councils could charge from 2 per cent to 3 per cent in recognition of the “severe financial strain” on Councils.
A 2 per cent adult social care precept to go towards safeguarding social care services for the elderly and disabled is also being proposed.
Combined, the adult social care precept and council tax increase will raise £16.4m for local public services. However, this still falls short of the £21.8m reduction in Government funding the County Council faces next year.
The Finance and Major Contracts Committee meets on Tuesday, February 6 to consider the report.
The final budget will be set at Full Council on 28 February.
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11/15/2013 05:18 pm ET Updated Dec 06, 2017
Michael Sanders Fatally Shot His Teen Daughter, Burned Body Of Wife, Before Killing Himself: Cops
FOX 10 News | myfoxphoenix.com
An Arizona father is accused of killing three members of his family before turning a gun on himself.
Michael Sanders, 53, allegedly killed his 14-year-old daughter, his wife, and his wife's brother on Tuesday, My Fox Phoenix reports.
The three family members had gone to their house to pack up belongings due to a divorce that Sanders and his wife, Carol, were going through, police said. In the months prior to the incident, he had allegedly been acting erratically and getting increasingly angry with his wife and daughter.
A protection order filed by Carol Sanders (pictured below), 51, details the alleged prior abuse of her then-husband. HuffPost Crime obtained records of the multiple incidents.
"[He] gave me an ultimatum that I have 30 days to get money from my mother to pay off the house or he'll burn it down with me inside, that I won't see Xmas," she told the Desert Ridge Justice Court in October.
On Tuesday, threats that he had allegedly made against his family came to fruition.
As Carol Sanders' brother, 49-year-old Tom Fitzpatrick, sat in a pickup truck waiting to load clothes and other belongings from the home to move his sister and niece out of the abusive household, Michael Sanders arrived.
Sanders allegedly shot and killed Fitzpatrick before walking into the home, according to the Associated Press.
He found Carol and their 14-year-old daughter, Audrey (pictured below), in the garage. Sanders closed the garage door behind him, police said. Moments later, gunshots rang out.
Neighbors called police after hearing a gunshot. Police said that dispatchers on the phone could hear shots being fired in the background as they took the calls.
"He owns multiple guns and has a very short fuse," Carol Sanders had said in her protection order.
When police arrived on the scene, they found Audrey Sanders' body in the garage.
Carol Sanders was found in the backyard, her body set on fire. Police said her corpse was still ablaze when they got to the home. Because she was so badly charred, it is currently unclear if she was shot to death, or burned to death.
Michael Sanders was found a short time later in an alley, dead from what police say was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
"It took me by surprise, what actually happened, because [Michael Sanders] was very protective of his daughter," said neighbor Richard Reed. "He would walk her to the bus stop every morning, he would pick her up from the bus stop and walk her home."
In her protection order, Carol Sanders detailed an August incident where her husband got upset.
"He started yelling about how things weren't going to get any better, that we didn't respect him. He was particularly angry at our daughter and at one point he said he wanted to throw her out the window....He is very intimidating and unpredictable when he's angry. My daughter and I are extremely scared of him. He doesn't have a definite job right now, has no friends and has estranged himself from his other family."
But the worst incident, also in August, had Carol and her daughter fearing for their lives. What should have been a pleasant day at a lake turned to horror after an altercation between Sanders and his daughter turned into an almost deadly ordeal. The altercation stemmed from an argument about a friend of hers who had recently passed away.
Sanders allegedly told his daughter that she should "get over his death" when the two began arguing. What happened next left mother and daughter terror-stricken, according to Carol Sanders.
Michael allegedly drove the family to a remote desert area and took out his gun before making the two sit on the ground.
"He said things like, 'It all ends now' and 'I'm done.' He talked about having nothing to lose. He kept remarking what a nice day it was -- we strongly believed he was saying 'nice day to die.' We believed he planned to kill us all."
"It is absolutely a chilling scene," Phoenix Police Sgt. Trent Crump said of the deaths. "The anger it would take or the hurt it would take to kill your own daughter is unimaginable."
While multiple news reports refer to Michael Sanders' daughter as Audrey, a protection order obtained by HuffPost Crime refers to the victim as "Audra."
Sebastian Murdock
RAjena Linson
RAjena Linson left her Detroit, Michigan home on the evening of Oct. 4, 2014, after getting into an argument with her mother. She has not been seen since that time. <br><br>Click here to submit information to the <a href="http://www.blackandmissinginc.com/cdad/Tip.cfm?misID=1955" target="_blank">Tip Line</a>.
http://wwwblackandmissinginccom
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Ukraine-Russia Tensions Spark Human Rights Debate
GENEVA - A U.N. report on extensive human rights violations in the Russian-backed separatist regions of eastern Ukraine and in the Russian-annexed Crimean peninsula has triggered a fiery debate at the U.N. human rights council.
The conflict between Russian-backed rebels and the Ukrainian government in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk is entering its sixth year. U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore says 5 million people are directly affected by ongoing hostilities along the contact line, the area that separates the two warring forces.
"Shelling, use of small arms and light weapons, mines, explosive remnants of war - these continue to kill and injure civilian women and men, girls and boys," she said.
Thirteen people have been killed and 78 injured this year, Gilmore said, adding that people in the rebel-controlled areas also suffer from extreme poverty because they do not receive their pensions from the government in Kyiv. She criticized the self-proclaimed authorities in eastern Ukraine for denying human rights monitors access to the detainees, many of whom she said have been subjected to torture.
She also accused the Russian Federation of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in March 2014.
"Those who criticize the occupation or advocate broadly for human rights are intimidated, even imprisoned," she said. "Crimean Tatars have been subjected to arrests [and] convictions for affiliation with Muslim groups declared as 'extremist organizations' under Russian law."
Reaction from Ukraine
Following Gilmore's statement, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Yuri Klymenko, lashed out at Russia's occupation of Crimea. He accused the Kremlin of violating international humanitarian law in support of the separatists in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine.
"The temporary occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as in Crimea, Russia stubbornly imposes its citizenships on the local population, thus violating the norms of international humanitarian law and the sovereignty of Ukraine," Klymenko said. "Russia has not come to Donbas to protect anyone. Russia, as an aggressor state, has come to kill."
Ukraine's criticisms did not sit well with the Russian representative at the council. Second secretary at the Russian mission to the U.N. in Geneva, Kristina Sukacheva, sneered at Ukraine's efforts to blame Russia for violations in the Donbas and Crimea. She called the accusations unsubstantiated and farcical.
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Justin Timberlake's bodyguard arrested after allegedly assaulting paparazzi
The 'Friends with Benefits' actor was joining his co-star Mila Kunis – who he his rumoured to be dating - at London's exclusive Nobu restaurant on Tuesday night when a smartly-dressed man, believed to be his security assistant, was seen punching a photographer to the floor.
When police were called to the scene they were unable to locate the individual in question, but a man was later arrested at the Dorchester Hotel, where Justin is staying during his time in London.
A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said: "Police were called to Berkeley Square at approximately 9.45 last night. A man alleged he was assaulted.
"He suffered minor injuries. He did not require hospital treatment. Officers later arrested a 45-year-old man at a central London hotel on suspicion of common assault. He is being held at a central London police station. Enquiries are on-going."
Despite Justin and Mila being linked to one another romantically, the 30-year-old star recently admitted the pair's raunchy sex scenes in 'Friends with Benefits' were "awkward".
He said: "You sure didn't have to worry about being sexy. It's more awkward to shoot a naked scene where you're not going for laughs, those are more awkward to shoot. When your goal is to try to garner laughter, you just go for it.
"I think it's pretty obvious that I'm shameless, I'll put my body on the line for comedy, that's what I do. My butt is hilarious."
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Judge Theodor Meron (USA)
President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals from 1 March 2012 to 18 January 2019.
Born on 28 April 1930 in Kalisz, Poland.
Judge Theodor Meron was first appointed as President of the Mechanism by the United Nations Secretary-General effective 1 March 2012. He was appointed by the Secretary-General to a second term as President effective 1 March 2016 and, most recently, was appointed to a third term as President effective 1 July 2018 and through 18 January 2019. Between 17 November 2013 and 16 November 2015, Judge Meron served his fourth term as President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) while performing his functions as President of the Mechanism. He had previously served as President of the ICTY between 2003 and 2005 as well as between 2011 and 2013.
Following his election as a Judge of the ICTY by the U.N. General Assembly in March 2001, Judge Meron, a citizen of the United States, served on the Appeals Chambers of both the ICTY and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) until the closure of both Tribunals. A leading scholar of international humanitarian law, human rights, and international criminal law, Judge Meron wrote some of the books and articles that helped build the legal foundations for international criminal tribunals, and he has contributed to the development of international law, and especially international humanitarian and criminal law, in a variety of fora. A Shakespeare enthusiast, he has also written articles and books on the laws of war and chivalry in Shakespeare’s historical plays.
Judge Meron received his legal education at the Universities of Jerusalem, Harvard (where he received his doctorate), and Cambridge. He immigrated to the United States in 1978. Prior to his immigration to the United States, he was legal adviser of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which role he authored a secret memorandum in 1967 (since made public) in which he concluded that creating new settlements in the Occupied Territories would be a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. He also served as the Israeli Ambassador to Canada and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva.
In 1978, he became a Professor of International Law and, in 1994, he was appointed the Charles L. Denison Chair at New York University School of Law. Between 1991 and 1995 he was also Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, and he has been a Visiting Professor of Law at Harvard University and at the University of California (Berkeley). In 2006, he was named Charles L. Denison Professor Emeritus and Judicial Fellow at New York University School of Law.
In 1990, Judge Meron served as a Public Member of the U.S. Delegation to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) Conference on Human Dimensions in Copenhagen. In 1998, he served as a member of the U.S. Delegation to the Rome Conference on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court (ICC), where he was involved in the drafting of the provisions on crimes, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. He has also served on the Preparatory Commission for the Establishment of the ICC, with particular responsibilities for the definition of the crime of aggression. He has acted as counsel for the United States before the International Court of Justice, and in 2000-2001 served as Counselor on International Law in the U.S. Department of State.
Judge Meron has also served on several committees of experts of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), including those on Internal Strife, on the Environment and Armed Conflicts, and on Direct Participation in Hostilities under International Humanitarian Law. In addition, he was a member of the steering committee of ICRC experts on Customary Rules of International Humanitarian Law. He has also served on the advisory committees or boards of several human rights organizations, including Americas Watch and the International League for Human Rights, and was a member of the “Panel of Eminent Persons within the Swiss Initiative to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” which concerned a future agenda for human rights.
Judge Meron was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of International Law (1993-1998) and is now an honorary editor. He is a member of the Institute of International Law, the Board of Editors of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law, the Council on Foreign Relations, the French Society of International Law, the American Branch of the International Law Association, and the Bar of the State of New York. He is also a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Judge Meron is a patron and a past Honorary President of the American Society of International Law.
Judge Meron has been a Carnegie Lecturer at The Hague Academy of International Law, Fellow of the Rockefeller Foundation, Max Planck Institute Fellow (Heidelberg), Sir Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lecturer at the University of Cambridge, and Visiting Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. Judge Meron delivered the 2003 General Course of Public International Law at The Hague Academy of International Law. He was also the Marek Nowicki Lecturer for 2008 lectures in Budapest and Warsaw under the auspices of the Open Society Institute, and delivered the 2014 Oxford Annual Lecture on Global Justice. He has lectured at many universities and at the International Institute of Human Rights (Strasbourg). In addition, Judge Meron helped establish the ICRC/Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies seminars for University Professors on International Humanitarian Law. He is a frequent lecturer at ICRC seminars, and he founded and continues to lead the annual ICRC seminars for U.N. diplomats on international humanitarian law at New York University, a tradition spanning three decades.
Since 2014, Judge Meron has been a visiting professor of international criminal law at the University of Oxford. He donates his Oxford salary to the University, which has enabled the establishment of an internship fund for Oxford students at the Mechanism. He is an academic associate at the Bonavero Human Rights Institute in Oxford and a visiting fellow of Mansfield College, Oxford.
Judge Meron was awarded the 2005 Rule of Law Award by the International Bar Association and the 2006 Manley O. Hudson Medal of the American Society of International Law. He was made Officer of the Legion of Honor by the President of France in 2007, and in 2013, Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit. He received the Charles Homer Haskins Prize of the American Council of Learned Societies for 2008. In 2009 he was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2011 he received a doctorate honoris causa from the University of Warsaw. In 2017 he was made Officer of the Order of Merit of Poland.
A frequent contributor to the American Journal of International Law and other legal journals, Judge Meron is the author of more than 100 articles in legal publications. His books are: Investment Insurance in International Law (Oceana-Sijthoff 1976); The United Nations Secretariat (Lexington Books 1977); Human Rights in International Law (Oxford University Press 1984); Human Rights Law-Making in the United Nations (Oxford University Press 1986) (awarded the certificate of merit of the American Society of International Law); Human Rights in Internal Strife: Their International Protection (Sir Hersch Lauterpacht Memorial Lectures, Grotius Publications 1987); Human Rights and Humanitarian Norms as Customary Law (Oxford University Press 1989); Henry’s Wars and Shakespeare’s Laws (Oxford University Press 1993); Bloody Constraint: War and Chivalry in Shakespeare (Oxford University Press 1998); War Crimes Law Comes of Age: Essays (Oxford University Press 1998); International Law In the Age of Human Rights (Martinus Nijhoff 2004); The Humanization of International Law (Martinus Nijhoff 2006); and The Making of International Criminal Justice: The View from the Bench: Selected Speeches (Oxford University Press 2011). He is also among the editors of Humanizing the Laws of War: Selected Writings of Richard Baxter (Oxford University Press 2013).
The subject of wide-ranging interviews on CNN’s Amanpour and the BBC’s HardTalk, Judge Meron has made appearances on a variety of major international media outlets over the years and, in 2013, delivered a live-streamed lecture entitled “International Justice on Trial” at the TEDxHagueAcademy.
Former Prosecutor
Hassan B. Jallow (The Gambia)
Prosecutor of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals from 1 March 2012 to 29 February 2016. Born in 1951 in The Gambia.
Justice Hassan Bubacar Jallow, a Gambian lawyer and jurist, was appointed the Prosecutor of the Mechanism by the UN Security Council on 1 March 2012 for a term of four years. Prosecutor Jallow also continued as the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UN-ICTR) until 31 December 2015, a position he had held since 2003.
Born in 1951, Prosecutor Jallow began his legal career in 1976 as a State Attorney in The Gambia until his appointment as the Solicitor-General of The Gambia in 1982. He also served as a legal expert for the Organization of African Unity, and participated in drafting and concluding the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, which was adopted in 1981. From 1984 to 1994, he served as The Gambia's Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He subsequently worked as a Judge of the Supreme Court of The Gambia from 1998 - 2002.
In 1998 Prosecutor Jallow was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to carry out a judicial evaluation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. He has also served the Commonwealth in various respects including chairing the Governmental Working Group of Experts in Human Rights and as member of the Commonwealth Arbitral Tribunal. Prior to becoming the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, he was a Judge of the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone on the appointment of the UN Secretary-General in 2002.
Prosecutor Jallow studied law at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (1973), the Nigerian Law School (1976) and the University College, London (1978). He is bilingual in English and French and author of a series of publications, notably on issues relating international criminal law, public international law, human rights law as well as on international peace and justice.
Prosecutor Jallow is the recipient of the honor of Commander of the National Order of the Republic of The Gambia.
Former Registrar
John Hocking (Australia)
Currently, Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia since 2009. Served concurrently as Registrar of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals from 10 January 2012 to 31 December 2016.
Mr. John Hocking was appointed Assistant Secretary-General, Registrar of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) by the United Nations Secretary-General for two terms, first on 15 May 2009 and again on 15 May 2013. The Secretary-General also appointed him as the first Registrar of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals from 10 January 2012, entrusting him with the startup of the new institution. Until the end of 2016, Mr. Hocking concurrently served as the Registrar of the ICTY and the Mechanism.
Mr. Hocking is a long-standing staff member of the ICTY having joined the institution in 1997. He held the position of Deputy Registrar from December 2004 until January 2009 when he became Acting Registrar. Prior to these appointments, he served as the Senior Legal Officer for the Appeals Chambers of both the ICTY and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He initially worked as the legal officer on the ICTY’s first multi-accused proceedings, the Čelebići trial.
Mr. Hocking has over 25 years experience as a lawyer working in both the domestic and international arena. His prior responsibilities include five years as legal and policy adviser to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris; legal and policy adviser to the Australian Government's national multicultural television and radio broadcaster, the Special Broadcasting Service; legal and policy adviser to human rights barristers and the British Film Institute in London; legal associate to Justice Michael Kirby, former President of the Court of Appeal and Judge of the High Court of Australia; and, legal and policy adviser to the Australian Film Commission.
Mr. Hocking has been admitted as a barrister at Lincoln’s Inn, London, and a barrister/solicitor with the Supreme Courts of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. He holds a Master of Law with merit from the University of London (London School of Economics and Political Science), a Bachelor of Law from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Science (Physiology and Biochemistry) from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
He has written a number of publications, particularly on issues relating to international humanitarian and criminal law. He speaks English and French.
He was born on 6 August 1957 in Melbourne, Australia.
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'Mary Tyler Moore Show' actress Georgia Engel dies at 70
Engel also had recurring roles on "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Hot in Cleveland." (Source: CBS Television / MGN Online)
By LYNN ELBER AP Television Writer |
Posted: Mon 8:55 PM, Apr 15, 2019 |
Updated: Mon 9:35 PM, Apr 15, 2019
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Georgia Engel, who played the charmingly innocent, small-voiced Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and amassed a string of other TV and stage credits, has died. She was 70.
Engel died Friday in Princeton, New Jersey, said her friend and executor, John Quilty. The cause of death was unknown because she was a Christian Scientist and didn't see doctors, Quilty said Monday.
Engel was best known for her role as Georgette on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," whose character was improbably destined to marry pompous anchorman Ted Baxter, played by Ted Knight.
Engel also had recurring roles on "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Hot in Cleveland." She was a five-time Emmy nominee, receiving two nods for the late Moore's show and three for "Everybody Loves Raymond."
Engel's prolific career included guest appearances on a variety of shows, including "The Love Boat," ''Fantasy Island," ''Coach" and "Two and a Half Men." Her "Hot in Cleveland" role reunited her with Betty White, her co-star in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show."
She appeared on Broadway in plays and musicals including "Hello, Dolly!", "The Boys from Syracuse" and, most recently, "The Drowsey Chaperone" in 2006-07.
Engel’s final credited television appearance came last year in the Netflix series “One Day at a Time.”
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Video: Second case of invasive species confirmed in Missouri River
Great Plains health board will officially assume ownership for part of Sioux San Hospital
kotatv.com/a?a=508624491
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Indians are the most to choose Australia and Canada to study abroad
The period of 2016 has been outstanding as the number of international students got increased. Students were leaving their home country to study abroad. Among the 5 million students, over 3,00,000 students were from India. After China, India is the second largest source for providing international students.
Based on the data obtained from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, the total number of Indian Students has got increased from 66,713 in 2000 to 3,01,406 in 2016. This reports a massive increase of 22% in its average annual growth rate in just 16 years period.
During the year 2010 and 2013, the number of Indian students got declined to 2,10,649 and 1,90,358 respectively due to the Global Financial Recession. And, again during 2016, the number has been growing.
The Year 2000 and its Statistics to Study Abroad:
During the year 2000, education from the United States was a treasure for candidates who were aiming to study abroad. When considering the statistics, the student’s interest level reflected 59% for the United States; Australia with 7%; the UK with 6% and less than 1% for Canada. The high importance for the United States was majorly due to its master’s degree in STEM programs, as these could offer ways to work through Optional Practical Tracking (OPT) and H-1B Visa.
The interest for the United States has got dropped to 45%, and the UK remained stable with 6%. While Australia and Canada reached 15% and 7% respectively. The demand for overseas education was much reflected in Australia and Canada. Indians preferred education in Australia and Canada at the cost of the US and the UK.
What are the reasons for the candidates to choose Australia and Canada to study abroad?
Influence of immigration policies:
The biggest reason for the Indian students to shift for Canada and Australia was due to their pro-immigration policies. Most of the students in India prefer quality education at an affordable price; Canada and Australia were the best in providing such amenities to study abroad.
Some of the other reasons are:
Canada’s Post Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) was one of the reasons for the increase. It was introduced in 2006 and allowed students to gain work experience. This experience helped them to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency status.
Australia’s Point System encouraged the students for obtaining Australian Permanent Residency.
Abolishment of Post-study work rights in the UK resulted in the declining number of Indian students.
New Segments of Growth Aspirations:
There is a massive interest observed for international education among Indian students. From the report of Study portals, nearly 17.7 million and 5.7 million global users in 2018 searched for terms master’s and bachelor’s education to study overseas. These searches had an increase of 37% and 77 % respectively from Indian users.
The unwelcoming visas and immigration policies were few problems faced by the Indian students of two segments while choosing the study destination. The two segments of students are Price-Sensitive, Value-Maximiser and Prestige-Conscious, Experience-Seeker.
On the whole, the increase in the Indian students depended on the abilities to afford. And, it is stated that Indian students should access the international education for experiencing a changing life.
Are you planning to study abroad? Then, consult our top student visa consultants for abroad immigration. For a quick query, call @ 040-40307077
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Topic: Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive
Author Topic: Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive (Read 8121 times)
Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive
[UPDATE 12 Sept 2018] Copyright Directive has been passed. The exact version still to be clarified (some clauses/amendments rejected, others accepted).
[UPDATE 5th July 2018] EU Parliament rejected the Copyright Reform bill in its current form, putting it up for review in September. This means the legislation will likely be amended to make it less contentious, especially in regards to Article 11 and 13.
Parliament’s plenary voted by 318 votes to 278, with 31 abstentions to reject the negotiating mandate, proposed by the Legal Affairs Committee on 20 June. As a result, Parliament’s position will now be up for debate, amendment, and a vote during the next plenary session, in September.
TL:DR. In short the European Directive on Copyright reform essentially places the legal rights of corporations above those of sovereign Nations, the individual and those afforded through due process. In other words, the Directive grants Rights Holders supranational authority to make claims of infringement and have service providers and EU Member States act on their behalf to ensure those claims are properly prosecuted instead petition member States through their legal systems - supranational legislation in service of corporations rather than corporations subject to National legislation.
Generally speaking the use of "shall" in the following is indicative of an order or mandate (an enforceable requirement), not a request, optional obligation or other type of voluntary action.
Certain uses of protected content by online services
Use of protected content by information society service providers storing and giving access to large amounts of works and other subject-matter uploaded by their users
1.Information society service providers that store and provide to the public access to large amounts of works or other subject-matter uploaded by their users shall, in cooperation with rightholders, take measures to ensure the functioning of agreements concluded with rightholders for the use of their works or other subject-matter or to prevent the availability on their services of works or other subject-matter identified by rightholders through the cooperation with the service providers. Those measures, such as the use of effective content recognition technologies, shall be appropriate and proportionate. The service providers shall provide rightholders with adequate information on the functioning and the deployment of the measures, as well as, when relevant, adequate reporting on the recognition and use of the works and other subject-matter.
2.Member States shall ensure that the service providers referred to in paragraph 1 put in place complaints and redress mechanisms that are available to users in case of disputes over the application of the measures referred to in paragraph 1.
3.Member States shall facilitate, where appropriate, the cooperation between the information society service providers and rightholders through stakeholder dialogues to define best practices, such as appropriate and proportionate content recognition technologies, taking into account, among others, the nature of the services, the availability of the technologies and their effectiveness in light of technological developments.
[source for the above | alt]
Comment;
Para. 1. In a nutshell paragraph "1" obligates content providers, that's any party or entity providing access to their own, or the content of others, enable monitoring mechanisms that filter content for suspected Infringements or Rights Holders material based on their criteria and to their satisfaction, "adequate and proportionate". The legislation does not provide remedy from inadequate or disproportionate monitoring except as outlined in Para 2 (see below). In other words Para 1. defines a playing field where rights holders are able to force service providers into actively monitoring their networks for infringements based on what may be ever-changing rules, and in ways that may subject Users to increased privacy violation risks as a consequence - the Directive effectively creates an ecosystem in which Rights Holders fish or trawl for infringements, requiring services provide 'actionable data', rather than Rights Holders prosecuting specific instances of infringement, which raise additional due-process concerns.
Para. 2. Service providers and EU member States are liable for consequences arising from monitoring, policing and prosecuting claims not Rights Holders. Remedy i.e., refuting or disputing a claim is the responsibility of service providers and member States. In other words, Rights Holders are in a position to make claims but not be held to account for false, incorrect or otherwise improper prosecution.
Para. 3. Grants Rights Holders the ability to coerce other businesses/services into compliance - essentially Rights Holders are able, through legislatively authority, to engage in anti-competitive behaviours, dictating compliance from other companies and corporations, in pursuit of their rights - their rights supersede those of others.
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- "Net Neutrality" has been hoodwinked, yet again!
- Two tier Internet - Net Neutrality has been hoodwinked
- Draft Investigatory Powers Bill (as passed "Investigatory Powers Act 2016")
[1] the original, and much longer draft version (8 sub-paragraphs rather then 3) of the above can be found here "Proposal for a DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on copyright in the Digital Single Market - Mandate for negotiations with the European Parliament".
ratty redemption
Re: Article 13 of the EU Copyright Directive
damn, that sounds even more draconian than i'd previously heard. what do you think are the chances of them getting this through?
Don't know to be honest. It's likely it will pass simply because the EU bureaucracy needs to regain ground its loosing/recoup its authority and power after #Brexit and increasing rise of "alt-right" politics favouring national sovereignty - it's not possible to have a supranational Governmental body claiming authority over Nation States unless those States agree to it, the rise of nominal nationalism (whatever its flavour) threatens that.
interesting, so this is a lot more than a copyright protection law.
Article 13 as amended and passed - content marked below in bold and underlined indicate amendments to the original text (full text/source);
Use of protected content by online content sharing service providers
-1a. Without prejudice of Art. 3 (1) and (2) of the Directive 2001/29/EC online content sharing service providers perform an act of communication to the public and shall conclude fair and appropriate licensing agreements with rightholders, unless the rightholder does not wish to grant a license or licenses are not available. Licensing agreements concluded by the online content sharing service providers with rights holders shall cover the liability for works uploaded by the users of their services in line with terms and conditions set out in the licensing agreement, provided that these users do not act for commercial purposes or are not the rightholder or his representative.
1. Online content sharing service providers referred to in paragraph -1a shall, in cooperation with rightholders, take appropriate and proportionate measures to ensure the functioning of licensing agreements where concluded with rightholders for the use of their works or other subject-matter on those services.
In the absence of licensing agreements with rightsholders online content sharing service providers shall take, in cooperation with rightholders, appropriate and proportionate measures leading to the non-availability of copyright or related-right infringing works or other subject-matter on those services, while non-infringing works and other subject matter shall remain available.
1a. Member States shall ensure that the online content sharing service providers referred to in the previous sub-paragraphs shall apply the above mentioned measures based on the relevant information provided by rightholders. The online content sharing service providers shall be transparent towards rightholders and shall inform rightholders of the measures employed, their implementation, as well as when relevant, shall periodically report on the use of the works and other subject-matter.
1.b Members States shall ensure that the implementation of such measures shall be proportionate and strike a balance between the fundamental rights of users and rightholders and shall in accordance with Article 15 of Directive 2000/31/EC, where applicable not impose a general obligation on online content sharing service providers to monitor the information which they transmit or store.
2. To prevent misuses or limitations in the exercise of exceptions and limitations to copyright law, Member States shall ensure that the service providers referred to in paragraph 1 put in place effective and expeditious complaints and redress mechanisms that are available to users in case of disputes over the application of the measures referred to in paragraph 1. Any complaint filed under such mechanisms shall be processed without undue delay. The rightholders should reasonably justify their decisions to avoid arbitrary dismissal of complaints.
Moreover, in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC, Directive 2002/58/EC and the General Data Protection Regulation, the measures referred to in paragraph 1 should not require the identification of individual users and the processing of their personal data.
Member States shall also ensure that, in the context of the application of the measures referred to above, users have access to a court or other relevant judicial authority to assert the use of an exception or limitation to copyright rules.
3. Member States shall facilitate, where appropriate, the cooperation between the online content sharing service providers information society service providers, users and rightholders through stakeholder dialogues to define best practices for the implementation of the measures referred to in paragraph 1 in a manner that is proportionate and efficient, taking into account, among others, the nature of the services, the availability of technologies and their effectiveness in light of technological developments.
Comments (face value) on the amends as presented as final;
-1a. new paragraph suggests that service providers and individuals are to be liable for copyright/licencing ONLY TO THE EXTENT AS DEFINED BY RIGHTS HOLDERS where alleged infringements occur on a service (think YouTube). This is a conditional exemption of sorts – users could be liable if they break an agreement defined by rights holders with a given platform (think YouTube's ContentID system). With that said, Article 13 should not be enforced with “prejudice” towards current copyright legislation. This would make memes and viral content safe in-of-themselves under fair-use principles except to the extent that they are not commercially exploitative (as defined by rights holder/platform agreement) – making a T-Shirt of Pepe can be seen as misappropriation because it’s an act of commercial exploitation of an original image covered by ‘fair-use’ principles – the two acts are separate, creating the image (fair use), exploiting it (not(?) fair use).
1. changes here appear to limit jurisdiction to services where agreements are made – are there services where agreements might not be made? Open-source systems? Rights holders determine whether "measures" of enforcement are "appropriate and proportionate" making services subject to rights holders saying whether service providers are taking enough action to enforce agreements (this obligate service providers place technology to monitor content and take appropriate action to remove infringing material as determined by rights holders).
1. Para 2: new paragraph that the above 'enforcement' "shall" apply regardless as to their being an agreement or not. If no agreement is available service providers are obliged to seek rights holders agreement, potentially making service providers liable for not doing so.
1a. new paragraph reinforcing the above requirements that service providers be the ones to contact rights holders to inform them of enforcement policies rather than the other way around as is currently the case. Again service providers are beholden to rights holders. Paragraph also introduces potential privacy concerns by requiring services provide “relevant information” to rights holders (who determine this).
1b. new paragraph obligates Government copyright enforcement oversight, ensuring its balanced between users, services and rights holders[1].
2. changes here attempt to reinforce dispute systems without defining the terms other than in deference to rights holders – given the amount of content that’s posted or uploaded daily to Twitter, YouTube, Facebook et al, what would be considered “expeditious” treatment of disputes? Do defendants (persons against whom claims are made) see the contents of decisions or argument made justifying a rights holders decision?.
2. Para 2: new paragraph that the above is subject to Directive 95/46/EC, Directive 2002/58/EC, General Data Protection Regulation[2] that protect the privacy of individuals and the data gathered.
2. Para 3: new paragraph appears to limit the individuals rights to counter claims in the Courts to established exceptions and limitations only – this seems to imply defendants are not to be allowed(?) access to the Courts to challenge claims generally, unless/where they might rule on fair-use for example (an establish principle/exemption).
3. changes obligate Government oversight of "dialogue" to establish enforcement criteria.
[1] subject to Article 15, Directive 2000/31/EC - EU Member States are under no obligation to/that force third-parties monitor their networks for any reason (essentially the EU equivalent of "Safe Harbor" principles);
"No general obligation to monitor
1. Member States shall not impose a general obligation on providers, when providing the services covered by Articles 12, 13 and 14, to monitor the information which they transmit or store, nor a general obligation actively to seek facts or circumstances indicating illegal activity.
2. Member States may establish obligations for information society service providers promptly to inform the competent public authorities of alleged illegal activities undertaken or information provided by recipients of their service or obligations to communicate to the competent authorities, at their request, information enabling the identification of recipients of their service with whom they have storage agreements."
[2] legislation referenced primarily establishes protections for the individuals privacy, and general obligations regarding data that might be collected and used therein;
- Directive 95/46/EC - "Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data".
- Directive 2002/58/EC – "Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (Directive on privacy and electronic communications)".
- General Data Protection Regulation - "Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (Text with EEA relevance)".
Can't really say the amendments and changes have made the situation any clearer or better, on one hand the Directive text explicitly state it cannot be used as a means to essentially over-ride more established legislation on copyright, whilst on the other simultaneously using language and terminology that suggests it can. Or that the State is responsible for policing and enforcement instead of rights holders (Civil vs. Criminal), as is the case with current copyright legislation.
The only circumstance under which the State would be lobbied in such a fashion, or placed in such a position, is if the It wanted to monitor for infringement. Which then raises the specter of State-sponsored direct censorship or censure, removal or penalising parties to a claim or content It deems inappropriate loosely based on a copyright misappropriation rationale (State using 'copyright' as a flimsy excuse to pro-actively police, censor and punish).
understood. when do you think we might see these bills being put into action?
Directives are just pits of paper so to speak, so apply immediately (unless otherwise required). Implementing filtering and monitoring systems are another question entirely!
yeah, it was the latter i was wondering about. do you think that would be similar tech to yt's content id matching?
In principle YouTube's ContentID system is likely what we'll start seeing more broadly across the big platforms but the details will depend on what service providers offer to the public/Users, how its accessed, and what rights holders require of service for complacence.
What we may actually find is that the costs associated with doing this kind of filtering being so prohibitive for many, small services and start-ups in particular, they will likely just block European IPs from accessing their services than deal with the issue, especially if they're located outside the EU - even inside the EU it's going to cost a lot in R&D to develop and keep up with the ever-changing demands from rights holders who have their own platforms and networks over which content can be distributed.
EU Parliament rejected the Copyright Reform bill in its current form, putting it up for review in September. This means the legislation will likely be amended to make it less contentious, especially in regards to Article 11 and 13.
The amendment vote is tomorrow (Wednesday). Latest version of the legislation here (original proposed version).
To be clear, the vote isn't so much about establishing a protection of copy Rights, but granting the authority to oversee European wide enforcement to EU legislators, the legislation is a move by the EU to solidify the European Union using copyright issues as a 'issue' cover towards this aim.
The proposal is based on Article 114 TFEU. This Article confers on the EU the power to adopt measures which have as their object the establishment and functioning of the internal market. Since exceptions and limitations to copyright and related rights are harmonised at EU level, the margin of manoeuver of Member States in creating or adapting them is limited. In addition, intervention at national level would not be sufficient in view of the cross-border nature of the identified issues. EU intervention is therefore needed to achieve full legal certainty as regards cross-border uses in the fields of research, education and cultural heritage.
What this does in a general sense is establish final authority over Copyright in the EU and its legal systems rather than the Courts and jurisdictions of member States; essentially the European Parliament/Union claims a superior jurisdiction over member states (member States and their Citizens are/would be subservient to the European Parliament [in matters of Copyright]) - an infringement claim argued between two countries, say the UK and France, would be determined in Brussels rather than the primary jurisdiction of the claimants (as is the case now).
In other words, the legislative proposals don't necessarily define mechanisms of arbitration rather they establish and authoritative jurisdiction - it's possible to cede non-legislative, non-formalised, authority to third parties through good-faith agreement between all concerned, what arbitration is in es essence. Ceding such legal authority is troubling.
In a nut shell it doesn't matter what the fineries of the Bill are because the issue actually being discussed is not about Copyright per se, rather the European Parliament claiming jurisdiction over copyright Europe-wide in a way that it supersedes individual State Sovereignty.
Tags: eu directive Copyright infringement DMCA
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Others Looked On But She Ran Up 9 Floors To Save Strangers Before Firefighters Could
One of the easiest things is to be part of the crowd and feel sorry for a tragedy that in unfolding in front of your eyes. Throw in some sorry faces, clicking of tongue, making mobile videos, and cursing incompetency of administration, we have the perfect recipe for 'mere spectators'. But to be a savior needs more than just presence of mind. It requires courage to put others above their own safety that comes to only a few. Thankfully, for a Mumbai building that caught fire, air-hostess Radhika Ahire was watching with an intent to tear through the crowd and save the day.
On November 7, 2018, 25-year-old Radhika noticed smoke coming out of an apartment on the ninth floor of Gokul Panchwati building in the suburb of Andheri. Starkly recalling that day she says she was attending a puja her home when she heard a lot of screaming and commotion from nearby. "We saw that from the apartment complex opposite mine, a fire was billowing from the ninth floor,” she says.
She knew that with little help she can save the people trapped inside. Wasting no time, she and her brother, along with a neighbor, got nine fire extinguishers from their building and an axe and rushed towards Gokul Panchwati. High on determination they climbed nine floors as fast as they could and axed the door open.
With a lightning speed they emptied the fire extinguishers to douse the fire but it didn't seem to be enough. The fire had spread quite a bit and they had to use water to get the situation under control. Thankfully, there was no one in the house. Later, it was found out that the fire was caused because of a firecracker that stuck to a curtain.
“Fortunately, the apartment was empty at that time. But until I broke open the main door and another one leading to the bedroom, I had assumed that people might be trapped inside. I had to cover my face with a piece of cloth as the fumes were irritating my eyes and nose.”
It was her training as a air hostess that her how to handle fire on planes and maintain calm and think clearly in such a high tension condition. She says it was the first time when got hands-on experience in handling a fire. Did a pretty good job, right?
Let's all make promise to be good samaritans and help others in every way that we can. Had Radhika waited for firefighters, like other on-lookers on the road, a tragedy would have struck the entire building. We salute her act of bravery and quick wit.
#goodsamaritan #Mumbai #Fire #airhostess
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Tom Brady sets Super Bowl record for passing yards in a game in Patriots' loss to Eagles
With a fourth down completion for 13 yards in the fourth quarter to receiver Danny Amendola, Brady reached 478 passing yards, eclipsing his own record set last year in Super Bowl LI.
Published: 5:50 AM CST February 5, 2018
Updated: 5:50 AM CST February 5, 2018
The New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles exploded for well more than half a mile of offense. And that may not even be the most impressive record set in Super Bowl LII.
That distinction goes to Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who took down his own mark for single-game passing yards in a Super Bowl.
With a fourth down completion for 13 yards in the fourth quarter to receiver Danny Amendola, Brady reached 478 passing yards, eclipsing his own record set last year in Super Bowl LI (466) against the Atlanta Falcons.
Brady finished with 505 passing yards.
There have been three individual Super Bowl performances of 400 or more passing yards. Brady has two of them.
In fact, by the end of the third quarter, Brady had already thrown for 404, which was 10 yards shy of former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner’s record, which was set in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans.
That wasn’t the only record set on Sunday.
The Eagles and Patriots combined for most net offensive yards in Super Bowl history.
With 2:21 still left to play in the game, both teams had totaled 1,104 net offensive yards, ending the game at 1,151 total offensive yards.
The previous record was 929 yards, set by the Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII — a 42-10 Washington victory.
Follow USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
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Two moderate earthquakes rattle central Greece
One quake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale, the other 4.7
quake 88. (photo credit: )
Two moderate earthquakes shook the same region of central Greece early Tuesday, although neither caused serious damage or injuries, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. One quake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale, rattled the area south of the town of Agrinion, about 215 kilometers (134 miles) west-northwest of Athens, at about 6:17 a.m. (0317GMT). Four hours earlier, at 2:27 a.m. (2327GMT), a quake of 4.7 magnitude hit the same region, with an epicenter 190 kilometers (118 miles) west-northwest of Athens. No serious damage was immediately reported after either quake. Greece lies in one of the world's most active earthquake zones. Last month the western island of Cephallonia was shaken by a moderately strong quake that caused landslides but no injuries.
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Four La Jollans to be honored at ‘Women of Dedication’ Salvation Army lunch
Vicki Baron (left) and Diane Annala Chalmers
(Courtesy )
Tickets still available for elegant Salvation Army’s “Women of Dedication” luncheon at (619) 446-0273
The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary will honor 15 women for their longstanding record of community service — including four La Jollans — during its 50th annual Women of Dedication luncheon, “50 and Fabulous,” Tuesday, April 7 at Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel.
The La Jolla honorees are: Vicki Baron, Diane Annala Chalmers, Micki Olin and Doreen Schonbrun.
Baron recently served as board chair of Barrio Logan College Institute, an afterschool program providing underserved students with access to higher education, and is an advisory board member with University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, where she established an annual scholarship.
Tickets still available for elegant Salvation Army luncheon at (619) 446-0273
Micki Olin (left) and Doreen Schonbrun
The outgoing president of ARCS Foundation, Inc., Chalmers has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit and arts foundations, including San Diego Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation and Urban Corps of San Diego.
Olin’s community service has benefitted schools, including Bird Rock Elementary, La Jolla High, The Gillispie School and Bishop’s School. She served five years on Las Patronas’ board of directors, chairing the 2004 Jewel Ball.
Schonbrun serves on the executive board of the San Diego Center for Children, which is committed to the treatment of young people suffering from severe emotional or psychological challenges. She was appointed by the mayor to the San Diego Commission for Arts & Culture, and is co-program director for the Sanford Burnham Fishman Fund “Group of 12 and Friends” lecture series.
“Every year for the past 50 years the Salvation Army has honored 15 women who spend their lives publically dedicated to causes and issues and purpose,” said Salvation Army Social Services Coordinator, Major Jessyca Carr, during a recent visit to the organization’s Door of Hope campus for women and families in Kearney Mesa. “We are recognizing amazing women in the community and each year those 15 women have the opportunity to nominate other women that they know are really, really dedicated. That’s how we make really great friends — the Army is not just honoring them, but also inviting them to participate in what we do.”
La Jolla community volunteer and 2013 Women of Dedication honoree Sherry Ahern said that’s exactly how she got involved with Salvation Army.
Jessyca Carr, social services coordinator for Salvation Army of San Diego, and La Jollan Sherry Ahern, fundraising chair for Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary’s April 7 ‘Women of Dedication’ luncheon. Carr referred to Ahern as “our cheerleader,” who encourages others to donate and volunteer with the Salvation Army.
(Pat Sherman)
After finishing her service on the La Jolla Community Center board, Ahern was recognized as a Woman of Dedication for her efforts to raise funds for La Jolla schools by starting the La Jolla Open Aire Market, for helping establish the La Jolla Pediatric Diabetes Research Center and other charitable activities.
“The Salvation Army came along at just the right time for me,” said Ahern, who held a luncheon at Door of Hope recently to show women how the money raised by the Women’s Auxiliary benefits those in need.
Although Ahern said she didn’t know a lot about the Salvation Army before being honored, she answered the organization’s call to service and is now fundraising chair for the Women of Dedication lunch.
“More than 80 percent of every dollar comes back to the Salvation Army, (while) so many of the other nonprofits are paying a lot of money in salaries,” Ahern said of her reason for getting involved. “I’ve made this a choice. This is near and dear to me. It’s going to be in my life forever.”
The Salvation Army is in the midst of a fundraising campaign to add an interim housing facility to its Door of Hope campus that will serve homeless families.
“It’s short-term housing to help people get their lives restarted and get them back into permanent housing as quickly as possible,” said Carr, who lived on the streets as a teen and rebuilt her life through assistance from the Salvation Army.
She said Door of Hope’s transitional housing offers support for women with severe substance abuse and mental health issues, and the victims of domestic violence.
“Door of Hope has 27 percent funding from the federal government,” she said. “The majority of our income is through the generosity of our friends and family and strangers — the people who recognize the Salvation Army as a name to be trusted.”
IF YOU GO: Women of Dedication Lunch, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd. Tickets: $100 at (619) 446-0273 or sandiego.salvationarmy.org
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KCA accepts Lodha reforms, Mathew resigns
The Lodha committee says the cumulative duration of an office-bearer’s post in a cricket association should not exceed nine years
With the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) passing a resolution that it would follow the Lodha reforms fully at its recent central council meeting, former KCA president T.C. Mathew has resigned as the secretary of the Idukki District Cricket Association.
The Lodha committee had said that the cumulative duration of an office-bearer’s post in a cricket association should not exceed nine years and hence Mathew had to resign from the district association’s post. However, he will continue as the vice-president of the national body BCCI.
“Since we are hosting the T20 international in November (versus New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram on November 7), we had asked for some funds from the BCCI. The CoA (the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators to run cricket) then sent us a letter and a resolution, which said that we would follow the Lodha reforms in toto, and asked us to sign and send it,” said Jayesh George, the KCA secretary, on Sunday evening, explaining the sequence of events behind the move.
“And our elections are also due, they were supposed to be held in June but got delayed. Now, they are likely to be held in October. Mathew cannot contest because he would be going past the cumulative nine-year period rule, so he resigned.”
(Courtesy: Sportstar)
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More cash for county council reserves now - but £144m "funding gap" still predicted by 2021
Council leader County Coun Geoff Driver
Fiona Finch
The reserves of cash strapped Lancashire County Council are getting a nearly £21m boost - thanks to underspending by the council in 2017/18.
The council’s cabinet voted yesterday to transfer £20.896m to its transitional reserve.
County Coun Azhar Ali
But before this was agreed a war of words broke out between Tory council leader County Coun Geoff Driver and the leader of the Labour opposition group County Coun Azhar Ali over the ongoing financial plight of the council.
Earlier this week Coun Ali had warned that the council - which is predicting a £144m funding gap by 2021 - is “heading towards a complete meltdown in service provision” and claimed it was on the same track as Northamptonshire County Council which is now being run by Government appointed commissioners after going broke.
Yesterday Coun Ali told cabinet the council used “inappropriate” terminology claiming “savings” when “in actual fact they are cuts.”
Referring to the predicted £144m shortfall in 2020/21 he said: “That’s a serious financial situation for this council to be in and you have to seriously address this.”
In turn Coun Driver accused Coun Ali of “scare-mongering”telling him: “You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Coun Driver stressed the Conservative group had managed to deliver a balanced budget in the current 2018/19 financial year. He stressed this was despite warnings by Labour when it was previously in control that there would be no money left.
Noting that more money had been put into the library service and children’s services under Conservative control he said “And we still spent £21m less (in 2017/18)...Actually it’s a good news story.”
Acknowledging the predicted deficit of £144m he said this was progress because the Tory group, which took control in 2017, had “inherited” a predicted deficit of £200m from Labour and still had much work to do.
Afterthe meeting Angie Ridgwell, the council's Interim Chief Executive and Director of Resources, said: “All public services are facing continuing pressures on their services because we have reducing funds and increasing demand.”
Asked about future funding of local government services she noted: " The Government is looking at a number of things at the moment. They are looking at the funding for the NHS and adult social care and we're expecting a Government paper on that in the summer. They are also doing the fair funding review which looks at how they fund local government and a lot of these things will have been thrown into stark reality for the Government with the Northamptonshire position and the recent National Audit Office report discussed at the Public Accounts Committee."
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Mapping the Effects of the ACA’s Health Insurance Coverage Expansions
The Foundation originally released this interactive tool in February 2012. More recent analysis of the Affordable Care Act’s potential impact on each state’s uninsured population can be accessed through this interactive tool and these individual state reports.
The Affordable Care Act includes several provisions that allow many individuals across the U.S. to be eligible for Medicaid or for federal tax credits to subsidize the cost of insurance. The analysis below and zip code tool estimate the share of the population in geographic areas across the U.S. who had family income up to four times the poverty level in 2010 and were either uninsured or buying coverage on their own.
see how many could benefit in your area
See What Share of the Population Might be Helped in a Specific Zip Code
who benefits from the affordable care act coverage expansions?
Percentage of the Nonelderly Population With Income Up to Four Times the Poverty level Who Were Uninsured or Purchasing Individual Coverage, 2010
Starting in 2014, most people who are uninsured or buying individual insurance with incomes up to four times the poverty level ($92,200 for a family of four and $44,680 for a single person in 2012) will be eligible for expanded coverage through Medicaid or tax credits to subsidize the cost of private insurance.
who benefits from the affordable care act's coverage expansions?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) includes two primary mechanisms for helping people afford health coverage. Starting in 2014, people with family incomes up to 138% of the poverty level ($31,809 for a family of four and $15,415 for a single person in 2012) will generally be eligible for the Medicaid program. And, people buying coverage on their own in new state-based health insurance exchanges will be eligible for federal tax credits to subsidize the cost of insurance. Tax credits will be calculated on a sliding scale basis for people with family income up to four times the poverty level ($92,200 for a family of four and $44,680 for a single person in 2012). (A calculator from the Kaiser Family Foundation illustrates the assistance people would be eligible for at different income levels and ages.)
The share of the population who will benefit from new Medicaid eligibility and the new health insurance tax credit will vary substantially throughout the country. We've illustrated that variation by estimating the share of the population in over 2,000 geographic areas across the U.S. who had family income up to four times the poverty level in 2010 and were either uninsured or buying coverage on their own.
On average, an estimated 17% of the non-elderly population nationwide would benefit from the Medicaid expansion and tax credits. In parts of Florida, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and California, 36-40% of population could benefit. In areas of Massachusetts, Hawaii, New York, and Connecticut – states that generally have high levels of employer-provided health insurance or have already implemented reforms to make insurance more accessible and affordable – 2-4% of the non-elderly could benefit from the coverage expansions in the ACA.
These estimates are best viewed as a way of comparing what share of the population will benefit from the ACA across geographic areas, rather than as precise projections of the effects of the law. For example, some people who are currently uninsured with family incomes up to four times the poverty level may already be eligible for Medicaid but haven't enrolled and others may be ineligible due to their immigration status. Or, some may have access to employer coverage, which means that they would not be eligible for a tax credit if that employer coverage is affordable. Also, some people who are already insured with employer coverage may have incomes low enough to qualify for Medicaid, or the coverage they receive through the employer may be unaffordable, making them eligible to apply for subsidized coverage through exchanges.
In addition to the provisions that help people pay for coverage, there are other elements of the ACA that could benefit people regardless of income, such as: guaranteed access to insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions; a limit on out-of-pocket costs in all insurance plans; preventive benefits with no patient cost-sharing; and allowing parents to cover children on their insurance plans up to age 26. On the other hand, there will be some people who perceive themselves as worse off under reform, such as those who choose not to purchase coverage and must pay a penalty under the individual responsibility provision.
This analysis was prepared by Gary Claxton, Anthony Damico, Larry Levitt, and Rachel Licata of the Kaiser Family Foundation.
The statistics shown are based on analysis of data from the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) obtained from IPUMS-USA. The American Community Survey is an annual nationwide survey of about 3 million people conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides demographic, social, economic, and housing information at the national, state, and community levels.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) generally provides financial assistance, either through Medicaid eligibility or tax credits for private health insurance, to people with incomes up to 400% of the poverty level and who do not have access to public health coverage or affordable coverage through an employer-sponsored health plan. The percentages shown represent the share of people under age 65 who are in families with incomes up to 400% of federal poverty who at the time they were surveyed either (1) were not covered by public or private health insurance or (2) were covered by health insurance that they purchased directly and were not covered by any other type of public or private health insurance. Coverage by the Indian Health Service was not considered as public or private health insurance. People in institutions or who are active duty military were excluded from the analysis. Unauthorized immigrants will be ineligible for expanded Medicaid coverage and for subsidized coverage in exchanges, but the ACS does not identify the legal status of non-citizens. To account for this, we assumed that 46% of non-citizens who would otherwise be eligible for assistance would be ineligible due to their immigration status. This assumption was derived from Department of Homeland Security estimates that there were 10.8 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2010 and 12.6 million legal permanent residents who were not citizens.
The percentages are shown by Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMA), which are statistical geographic areas defined for the tabulation and dissemination of certain census data. PUMAs are built on counties and census tracks within states and each one contains about 100,000 people. Standard errors range from 1-4% within PUMAs.
For this analysis, family income is based on the census definition of primary families, which are people within a household related to the head of the household. This differs from some other analyses produced by Kaiser and others that aggregate income by health insurance unit, which generally includes members of a nuclear family who are able to purchase health insurance as a family. Generally, using the census definition of family rather than health insurance units will result in a slightly lower estimate of the number of people who would benefit from the financial subsidies under the health reform because it produces a lower percentage of the population with incomes below or including 400% of poverty.
Small Area Variations and the ACA’s Coverage Expansions
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Tell Me a Story...
Who would have thought that an inexpensive wireless speaker could have such a profound impact on how I take in information, but a small, portable Tribit has turned me into a voracious listener of podcasts. In a blink, wireless speakers have blossomed into a multi-billion dollar market, full of brands that were off the radar—if they existed at all—a couple of years ago. Online retailers dream of audio e-tailing riches ("Alexa! Order me this, that and some more, too!"), but right now the killer app is listening to music and, increasingly, to podcasts.
No one really knows exactly how many podcasts there are, only that there are an awful lot, with more uploaded every single second. Following in the digital footsteps of blogs and videos, they are taking over the internet at kudzu speed.
While videos can be published on multiple platforms (mostly YouTube and Vimeo) and blogs can be shared as links and embeds across dozens of sites and aggregators, podcast distribution is in a class of its own.
For example, Rachel Maddow's riveting series Bag Man, a deliciously detailed dissection of former Vice President Spiro Agnew's fall from political grace, is available via iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, TuneIn, Art19, Spotify and the MSNBC website. Collectively the seven-part podcast has been downloaded more than ten million times. If Bag Man had been packaged as a book that had sold a mere ten thousand copies in a week, it would have zoomed to the top of the New York Times bestseller list.
Reading is great, but tell me a story...
There are also networks such as Vox offering suites of podcasts that in turn are uploaded to multiple platforms. From a listener's perspective, everything is everywhere.
And everything can be a podcast. Radio shows are now routinely repackaged as podcasts, while long forgotten archives are mined for audio treasure (see Bughouse Square with Eve Eweing | Studs Terkel). Newspapers, magazines, television shows and movies spawn podcasts, too, as do businesses, museums, conferences, trade shows, high schools and political campaigns. Even videos can do double duty as podcasts if the visuals aren't essential. Since anyone with a smartphone can record audio, upload it to the web and call it a podcast, it seems like everyone does.
Which makes finding the good stuff really, really hard. The content pie is expanding at an exponential rate, so even if the vast number of mediocre and outright terrible podcasts were cut, that would still leave far more good stuff than could possibly be listened to in a lifetime, even multi-tasking.
But you have to start somewhere, so here are a few off-the-beaten-track podcasts I've recently come across:
The Aquarius Project is a charmer. Produced by the Adler Planetarium, it tells the tale of an intrepid group of high school students determined to find and retrieve meteorites 200 feet beneath the surface of Lake Michigan. In 2017 a meteor streaked across the Midwestern skies and broke into pieces over the water in a display of cosmic rock-skipping at its finest. So far there are three episodes, but the story isn't over...
The Art of Manufacturing: Interview with Preeti Battacharyya, founder of Hydroswarm. With over 50 podcasts in the series,The Art of Manufacturing hosted by "Z" Holly for the Make It In LA website is geek binge-listening heaven. Preeti Battacharyya, a young engineer/entrepreneur from India, talks about her company, which grew out of her research on autonomous marine drones at MIT. Applications range from exploration to espionage. Personally, I'd love to see a swarm of little egg-shaped yellow aqua-drones help the Aquarius team hunt for space rocks.
Farming Today (BBC Radio); I came across this one on Pocket Casts, a mobile podcast platform. I have no idea whether it is a better platform than others (there are so many), but it provides easy access to the BBC's vast collection of deliciously eccentric programming. I am a born-and-raised city slicker, but have covered a lot of Ag stories over the years, so Farming Today quickly won my heart. From Brexit to hedgehogs, it provides insight into the practicalities of farming and the food economy that never seem to make it into the news here. The Christmas show included farmers reciting seasonal poems. Yes, please, more of that.
Now Then...
New years happen all the time. Count 365.25 days from the thinnest slice of time you can imagine and it's a new year. Put another way, it is "always 5 o'clock somewhere" on our spherical blue dot of a planet that spins at a cheeky tilt, kept company by a silvery moon, circling a sun at the just-right distance for life as we like it.
Yet only at midnight on December 31 do we all collectively marvel that we are flying through space and time on a planet so big that the party in Tokyo is long over by the time the ball drops in Times Square. New York is always chasing the future.
I came across a copy of Steve Johnson's How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World last summer at Powell's, a gem of a bookstore near the University of Chicago known for its vast collection of used, remaindered and antiquarian treasures. Powell's is a dangerous, wondrous place with books so tightly packed together on long skinny shelves that stretch from floor to high ceiling that they seem to serve a structural purpose. It is a store built of books—and most are bargains. I browse under a cash-only rule or I'd never be able to carry out all the gems that beckon.
The book sat in a stack by my favorite reading chair for months until, in a nice parallel to its premise, the time was right. Johnson's long arc, connect-the-dots storytelling provides reason to the rhyme of innovation, though tempered with a measure of caution. "Eurekas" are not inevitable but more (or less likely), depending. They do not happen in a vacuum, either. The lone genius is a myth.
Also, intentions and implications are two very different things. Who would have predicted that the popularization of the printing press would lead to the near extinction of sperm whales? Commercial whaling came of age in the pursuit of oil in found in massive chambers above the orcas' brains. The oil made a superior candle which made reading at night easier. These "spermaceti" candles were so prized that George Washington is said to have paid the equivalent of $15,000 for a year's supply. Imagine how many LEDs that would buy—and power—today.
Inevitably the "now" of Johnson's book, published in 2014, is no longer the cutting edge. The chapter on sound, for example, which begins with the acoustical qualities of prehistoric caves and ends with radar and ultrasound imaging, misses the rise of Alexa and Suri, bluetooth speakers, Spotify, podcasts and the unnerving fakery of Lyrebird software. In a blink, now is then.
The future is informed by the past, but unpredictable. For every daisy on the innovation daisy chain, likely there are many other would-be daisies that didn't quite make it. The more knowledge, open and freely available, and the more connection, the better the odds for daisies. Ignorance isn't bliss. It's the Dark Ages.
The challenge for each of us, more urgent than ever with so many tipping points poised to tip, is to know as much as we can, to tap into Johnson's "network of ideas" to mix, match and leverage for better.
So what are you waiting for? It's a new year!
Steven Johnson (author website)
What’s next for virtual assistants like Alexa? Maybe buying stuff for you automatically (recode/decode podcast)
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Emotional Trauma Your Loved One May Face with a Permanent Disability and How to Help Him/Her Cope
Truck crashes in Peachtree City can be traumatic, especially when the truck accident causes severe injuries that result in permanent disability. This can cause psychological problems for the victim that impact the family as well. Understanding the types of emotional trauma victims might experience and how to help them cope could significantly impact recovery.
Types of Emotional Trauma Faced with a Permanent Disability
The event itself can be a source of emotional trauma. It’s not uncommon for victims of a serious crash to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The victim may relive the collision over and over again in his/her mind, recalling the moment of impact with the truck, the sound of breaking glass, crushing metal and other disturbing aspects.
Depression and anxiety can become an issue for someone permanently disabled by an accident. The idea of one’s life being so drastically altered can be difficult to accept for a lot of victims.
For some, a traumatic brain injury can lead to emotional problems because of physical damage to the brain. It may impact the victim’s ability to control his or her emotions, which can impact mood, behavior, and even personality.
Helping a Loved One Cope with Emotional Trauma
It’s hard to know what to do when a loved one is suffering emotionally. Family often tries to make everything better, but it’s important to realize that it is going to take time, so patience is important. Allow your loved one to move at his/her own pace in the process.
Be available, physically and emotionally – whether it’s assisting with daily tasks or providing a listening ear. However, don’t force help when it’s not wanted or insist on talking shortly after the accident when the person isn’t ready.
Don’t take things personally. Even if your loved one becomes angry or distant, recognize that it has everything to do with the trauma and not you.
A permanent disability impacts an individual physically and psychologically. Victims in Peachtree City and/or their families should take steps to preserve rights to recover compensation for damages. See our free eBook, The Ultimate Guide to Accident Cases in Georgia – The Truth About Your Injury Case
Have you, or a family member, been injured in a truck accident? Contact the law office of Jason R. Schultz where they are small enough to care about you and your family and experienced enough to win. Contact Jason at (404) 474-0804.
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