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clergy, economy, religion, religious freedom No comments
Recently, during a long taxi ride from Los Angeles airport I had a memorable conversation with the driver, a Muslim from Afghanistan. After the usual mundane topics, we started discussing what makes for a good clergyman, then discussed confession, repentance, forgiveness and freedom.
It was wonderful to hear him talk about staying close to God, and of his need for prayer in his pursuit of freedom of heart (his often-failing struggle to become free from habits of sin, even small ones) through the help of God. This was particularly striking because a week before this, I had dinner with a public figure with whom I discussed the impact of marriage on the nation and especially on the economy. I think the taxi-man knew more about the nature of personal freedom to do the good desired (the lack of which stifles and even kills many marriages) than did this great defender of economic freedom, who confines freedom to the level of politics.
The taximan said the clergy should not be hypocrites, complaining that some (his own religion included) destroy their effectiveness and do more harm than good. He wished they would step aside for someone authentic and said young adults making life choices about God and religion need good folk to imitate. Good clergy are essential, he said, if the millennial generation are ever to be prayerful. They are not inclined to put up with hypocrites.
This led to the nature of personal reform and the benefit of confessing one’s sins. He understood Catholic confession and, marveling at the “seal of confession”, got right to the heart of it when he said that “a change of heart” (repentance) is the sine qua non of a good confession. Thus, he identified a universal that applies to this sacrament: the intention not to sin again.
This whole taxi experience reminded me of a passage in a ‘walking the Bible narrative’ where the young Jewish author spoke of an exchange with a Muslim woman in a bazaar in Egypt. He asked her what was the most important lesson life had taught her. Her instantaneous response was “the power of prayer.”
Speaking of prayer: Our Managing Editor (who, among many things has also been the builder of Marripedia and the MARRI website) is starting on the road of life-long prayer and penance: she is entering Mount Carmel, an order of contemplative nuns. MARRI is guaranteed prayers! Pray that she be a holy nun. May her prayers help us on the outside.
[We will resume Faith and Family Facts in the second week of the New Year.]
religion, religious freedom, social science, society No comments
I bet there is not a single person in the United States who advocates for a Church established by the State. We have never had a federal established Church though we had a few state-level established churches in the early days of the Republic. Thanks be to God we no longer have them. Thus, on the issue of separation of Church and State we have total national agreement and it is a resounding: No, Never.
However, on the integration of government and religion the answer has to be a resounding ‘yes’.
Because we are a democratic Republic we have government by the people, and because all people live out their lives somewhere along the spectrum of religious beliefs at the individual, family and community levels it is impossible to discuss how we govern ourselves and shape our ‘polis’ without discussing and accommodating ourselves to each other’s type, level and practice of religious beliefs. The radical opponents of religious belief and practice are afraid of such free discussion because, though they all claim to believe in science, they are afraid of a scientific debate on the benefits of religious practice to the formation of a good citizenry. At bottom they are afraid to debate and thus do all in their power to make sure the science does not get into the discussion. They close it by insisting on the shibboleth of “Separation of Church and State”, a shibboleth because there are no proponents for that cause.
Because religious practice is so beneficial to society it ought to be much more a part of our political discussions. For instance in the Congressional discussion that led to the big, intrusive and expensive initiative called “No Child Left Behind”, on which billions were spent, there was no discussion of the impact of religious attendance on education performance, even though it may be the single biggest variable to effect educational outcomes, and is accessible to all who want it, and is (for the state) an option that costs them nothing.
As readers of this column know, all federal surveys that measure the frequency of religious practice constantly point out that those who worship weekly are, on average, the best citizens in the nation on every measure of concern in public policy, on every measure that makes for a good ‘polis’. The same surveys also point out that those who worship little to none, on average, are the worst citizens in the United States on all the measures of greatest concern to good government. This is what science says. Thus, religious practice ought to be a key component of public policy discussions. Not only do we have too little discussion of the benefits of religious practice in political debate, we have virtually none.
It is time to begin to change this, and not leave the field to the opponents of religious practice.
Many who give up on faith in God say instead they believe in science. But they are unfaithful to their faith. Science points out that the practice of religion is, on average, massively beneficial for those who practice it. The academy, by and large, is the most anti-scientific community on this issue. How massively ironic this is. And how indicative of the level of the crisis in education that all are beginning to realize with the academy’s handling of freedom on university campuses.
It is time for citizens to simultaneously affirm the separation of Church and State with a resounding no, while affirming an integration of government and religion with a resounding yes. For the good of the nation, for the future of our polis, it is time to go on offense. And George Washington in both his Inaugural and his Farewell speeches makes the same point.
Community Freedom
community, religious freedom No comments
In happy families members belong to each other and know and enjoy the belonging. But family life gets even better when the family belongs in a community of its own choosing, a community it likes and one where it feels it belongs. In the United States, and across the globe, the task facing governments increasingly is to find solutions that permit co-existence of communities of different religious and moral norms. Most people derive a critical component of their personal identity from their membership in their community of choice (Israeli Jew, Palestinian Christian, Hispanic Catholic in the United States, gay activist in Ireland, an Evangelical in Texas, an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania, a Muslim mother in Dearborn Michigan, a Hassidic Jewish father in New York, and so on ad infinitum).
The struggle for individual freedoms is often really a struggle for freedom of community life. The United States, which is the most successful experiment in political freedom in the history of mankind, now must solve for itself (and demonstrate to the world at large) how to solve the problem of freedom of very different communities within modern complex market-integrated societies.
The U.S. has a rather checkered history in the struggle for freedom of community. It never got it perfect, but it keeps on trying to adjudicate between the ideals of freedom and the totalitarian temptation, a temptation given into many times in its history. Its first indulgence was in the constitutional protection of slavery, which denied freedom of marriage, family, community and religious practice to African-Americans brought to this country by force. Native American communities suffered even worse treatment at times. Coming to America does not make political saints out of immigrants, even Founding Father immigrants.
Another great totalitarian temptation, the impetus to deny freedom of religious community, did not triumph as much, but has remained a permanent presence. Despite the monumental achievement of the First Amendment, Catholics and Jews suffered a lot. In the first part of the 1800’s the Know Nothings as well as the dominant Protestant ethos of the time imposed a different religious education on Catholic families. This lasted through the mid 1900’s when prayer was banished from public schools (not the preferred ending). This corruption in education of the American ideal of religious freedom metastasized early into the Blaine Amendments as new states were added to the Union, amendments that, to this day, distort family and community freedoms in many state constitutions. American Catholics, however, were prepared to pay the price of their freedom of community: they built their own school systems so that families could raise their children in the norms and ethos of their own faith communities. That struggle and that cost continues to this day.
Despite giving into the totalitarian temptation repeatedly through its history, the cornerstone American belief in freedom has triumphed repeatedly in other areas, even in matters of community. An iconic example is the successful constitutional battle of the Amish to live their faith-community lives as they see fit. This example may well be the template for the future of America.
The Amish community has clear behavioral boundaries that everyone can easily recognize. Though it makes high demands on its members the rewards are evident in its thriving viability. It does respect freedom, including freedom of family, religion and community of its own members. Young Amish adults have to choose to opt in or out of the community after a time of reflection and even experimentation outside. It does not impose its beliefs on neighbors. By and large an American attitude of “live and let live” operates on both sides of these community boundaries. Amish are very different but they are good citizens, happy to respect the existence of very different moral/religious communities around them because their own community borders and boundaries are respected.
Attaining this type of respect of the boundaries of moral communities is the great global problem of our day. People differ on what they believe is right or is wrong, particularly in matters that interface with family, sex and religious beliefs. With increased migrations from diverse religious and ethnic cultures this problem is intensifying not only in the US, but also across the globe. In the United States it also takes on a rather unique configuration: the boundaries between traditional religious-value communities and newer, more morally relativist communities are in dispute, with sexual-morality-signals being the strongest markers of boundaries between these different communities.
These sexual-signal-markers indicate revered cultural, yet personally intimate practices on marriage, birth, abortion, contraception, divorce, adoption and education of children. All people become quite agitated if their community way of life is threatened at its boundaries. It is one of the deepest sources of intense energy (of love or anger, even rage) in human nature. It is this dimension of freedom — freedom of community — that our generation of Americans is now called to solve if our nation’s historical experiment in freedom is to continue to unfold positively. Furthermore, the whole world needs to see how we solve this problem.
Without freedom of community one does not have individual freedom. We all need our freedom to marry, to have family, and to live in communities of our choice in our legitimate ways of conducting family, church, school, marketplace and government at the micro levels of local community. The Founding Fathers fought for this. Our generation has to fight for it again and insist on a government that protects (rather than violates) our liberty to do good for our families in the legitimate ways of our own communities.
The United States started as a federation of states, to continue it must become also a federation of cultural communities that undergirds the founding structure of the Union.
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The End of Humanitarian Intervention? A Debate at the Oxford Union With Historian David Gibbs and Michael Chertoff
tags: Iraq, foreign policy, military history, Rwanda, debate, humanitarian intervention
by David N. Gibbs
David N. Gibbs is Professor of History, University of Arizona, and has published widely on the international relations of the Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the former Yugoslavia. He is now writing his third book, on the rise of US conservatism during the 1970s.
The issue of humanitarian intervention has proven a vexing one of the political left during the post-Cold War era. In light mass violence in Rwanda, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Darfur, Libya, and Syria, many leftists abandoned their traditional opposition to militarism and argued for robust military intervention by the United States and its allies to alleviate these crises. Critics argued in response that interventionism would end up worsening the very crises it was supposed to resolve. These issues were recently debated at the Oxford Union Society at Oxford University on March 4, 2019. The participants were Michael Chertoff -- former Secretary of Homeland Security during the presidency of George W. Bush and coauthor of the USA Patriot Act – who presented a qualified defense of humanitarian intervention; and myself, who argued against the practice.
In past years, when I debated this issue, I was struck by the sense of almost religious zeal that characterized advocacy for interventionism. “We have to do something!” was the standard refrain. Those who offered criticisms – including myself -- were cast as amoral heretics. However, the repeated failures of interventionism that I note below have taken their toll and have served to moderate the tone. During the Oxford debate, I noted a remarkable absence of emotionalism. I came away from the event sensing that, while some still defend humanitarian intervention, their arguments lack the crusading tone that was so noteworthy in the past. I sense that public support for interventionism is beginning to ebb.
What follows is a verbatim transcript of the full statements by myself and Mr. Chertoff, as well as our responses to questions posed by the moderator and a member of the audience. For reasons of brevity, I have omitted most of the audience questions, as well as the responses. Interested readers can find the full debate at the Oxford Union’s Youtube site.
Daniel Wilkinson, Oxford Union President
So, gentlemen, the motion is: “This house believes humanitarian intervention is a contradiction in terms.” And Professor Gibbs, your ten-minute opening argument can begin when you’re ready.
Professor David Gibbs
Thank You. Well, I think that when one looks at humanitarian intervention, one has to look at the record of what has actually happened and in particular the last three major interventions since 2000: The Iraqi intervention of 2003, the Afghanistan intervention of 2001, and the Libya intervention of 2011. And what all three of these have in common, is that all three were justified at least in part on humanitarian grounds. I mean, the first two partly, the third almost exclusively were justified on humanitarian grounds. And all three produced humanitarian disasters. This is really quite clear, I think to anybody who has been reading the newspaper that these interventions have not gone well at all. And when evaluating the larger issue of humanitarian intervention, one really has to first look at those basic facts, which are not pleasant. Let me add that it’s very surprising to me in a lot of ways that the whole concept humanitarian intervention wasn't just fully discredited by those experiences, but it is not.
We still have calls for other interventions, including in Syria, most notably. Also, there are frequent calls for regime change, essentially intervention, in North Korea. I really don't know what is going to happen in the future with North Korea. But if the United States does undertake regime change in North Korea, I will hazard two predictions: One, it almost certainly will be justified at least in part as a humanitarian intervention designed to liberate the people of North Korea from a very unwholesome dictator; and two, it'll produce probably the biggest humanitarian disaster since 1945. One of the questions is: Why are we not learning from our mistakes?
The scale of the failures in these three previous interventions is in a lot of ways quite impressive. With regard to Iraq, it's perhaps the best documented failure, I would say. We have the 2006 Lancet study. Epidemiologically looking at excess deaths in Iraq, which at that time were estimated at 560,000 excess deaths.(1) This was published in 2006. So, presumably it's much higher by now. There have been other estimates, mostly on par with that one. And this is something that is problematic. Certainly, things were terrible under Saddam Hussein, that’s indisputable, as they were under the Taliban, as they were under Muammar Gaddafi, as they currently are under Kim Jong Un in North Korea. And so, we went in and removed from power those three figures one by one (or I should say with the Taliban, it was a larger regime, with Mullah Omar leading a larger regime), and things promptly got worse. It didn't seem to have occurred to policymakers that things could actually get worse, but they did.
Another effect that's worth noting is what I would say is a kind of destabilization of regions. This is particularly striking in the case of Libya, which destabilized much of North Africa, triggering a secondary civil war in Mali in 2013, which was directly attributable to the destabilization of Libya. This required a secondary intervention, by France this time, to combat basically the instability arising in that country, again justified at least in part on humanitarian grounds.
Certainly, one of the things one can say in terms the effects of humanitarian intervention, is that if you have a vested interest in intervention and that is something you are seeking, it's an excellent idea because it's the gift that just keeps on giving. It keeps on destabilizing regions, producing new humanitarian crises, thus justifying new interventions. That's certainly what happened in the case of Libya and then Mali. Now if you're interested in humanitarian effect, however the situation does not look so good. It does not look very positive at all.
The very striking thing here is the lack of loss of credibility. I'm very struck by the fact that the people who helped to argue for these three interventions -- and by that I don't just mean policymakers, but also academics and intellectuals like myself. I myself didn't argue for them, but many of my colleagues did. And it's rather remarkable to me that there's no expression of regret or acknowledgement they did anything wrong in arguing for these interventions. Nor is there effort to learn from our mistakes and to try and avoid interventions in the future. There's something very dysfunctional about the character of discussion on this topic, when we fail to learn from past mistakes.
A second problem with the issue of humanitarian intervention is what some have called the “dirty hands” problem. We are relying on countries and agencies of those countries which do not have very good records of humanitarian activity. Let us look at the United States and its history of interventionism. If one looks at that, the history of US interventionism, we find the United States as an intervening power was a major cause of humanitarian crises in the past. If one looks for example at the overthrow of Mossadegh in Iran in 1953, the overthrow of Allende in Chile in 1973. And I think the most striking example, a less known one, is Indonesia in 1965, where the CIA helped engineer a coup and then helped orchestrate a massacre of people that led to about 500,000 deaths. It's one of the really great massacres post-1945, yes indeed, on the scale of what happened in Rwanda, at least approximately. And that was something caused by intervention. And one could also go into the issue of the Vietnam War and look for example at the Pentagon Papers, the secret Pentagon study of the Vietnam War, and one does not get a sense of the United States as either a gentle power or a particularly humanitarian one. And the effects certainly were not humanitarian in any of these cases.
There's a larger issue perhaps of human rights violations by the agencies of state that are involved in intervention in the United States. We now know from declassified documents that both the uniformed military and the CIA were responsible in the 50s and early 60s in conducting radiation experiments on unsuspecting individuals; doing things like going around and having doctors working for the military injecting people with radioactive isotopes and then tracking their bodies over time to see what effects it had and what kinds of illnesses it caused them -- without telling them of course. The CIA had very disturbing mind-control experiments, testing new interrogation techniques on unsuspecting individuals, with very damaging effects. One of the scientists involved in the radiation studies commented in private, again this is from a declassified document, that some of what he was doing had what he called the “Buchenwald” effect, and we could see what he meant. And the obvious question again is: Why on earth would we want to trust agencies that do things like this to do something humanitarian now? This is a course long ago. But the fact that we now use the term “humanitarian intervention” does not make it a magical phrase and does not magically erase this past history, which is relevant and has to be taken into account. I do not want to focus excessively on my own country after all. Other states have done other disturbing things. One could look at the history of Britain and France, let us say, with the colonial and postcolonial interventions. One does not get a picture of humanitarian activity; quite the contrary I would say, either in intent or in effect.
Now I think one of the issues that finally has to be noted is the cost of humanitarian intervention. This is something that is rarely taken into account, but perhaps should be taken into account, especially since the record of results is so bad in terms of humanitarian effect. Well, military action generally speaking is extremely expensive. Amassing division-sized forces, deploying them overseas for extended periods of time cannot be done except at extreme expense. In the case of the Iraq War, what we have is what has been termed “the three trillion-dollar war.” Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia and Linda Bilmes estimated in 2008 the long-term cost of the Iraq War at $3 trillion.(2) Those figures of course are obsolete, because that's over ten years ago, but $3 trillion is quite a lot when you think about it. In fact, it's greater than the combined gross domestic product of Great Britain at the present time. And one wonders what kind of wonderful humanitarian projects we could have done with $3 trillion, rather than wasting it in a war that did nothing but killed several hundred thousand people and destabilized a region.
And these wars are not over of course in either Libya, nor Iraq, nor Afghanistan. Afghanistan is nearing the end of its second decade of war and the second decade of US intervention. This may very well run into being the longest war in US history, if it not already is. It depends how you define longest war, but it's certainly getting up there. And one can think of all sorts of things that could have been done with some of this money, for example, vaccination of children, who are under-vaccinated. (Two minutes is that right? One minute.) One could think of people who don't have enough medicines including in my own country the United States, where many people go without proper medicines. As economists know, you have opportunity costs. If you spend money on one thing, you may not have it available for another. And I think what we've been doing is overspending on intervention again with no significant humanitarian results or very few that I can discern. I guess I'm very impressed by the medical analogy here and the medical emphasis, so that's of course why I titled my book “First Do No Harm.” And the reason is that in medicine you don't just go and operate on the patient because the patient is suffering. You have to do a proper analysis of whether or not the operation will be positive or negative. An operation can of course hurt people, and in medicine sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. And perhaps here, the first thing we should do with the humanitarian crises is not make them worse, which is what we've done. Thank you.
Thank you, Professor. Michael, your ten-minute argument can begin when you’re ready.
Michael Chertoff
The proposition here is whether humanitarian intervention is a contradiction in terms, and I think the answer to that is no. Sometimes it’s ill-advised, sometimes, it's well advised. Sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it does work. It rarely works perfectly, but nothing in life does. So, let me first begin by talking about the three examples the professor gave: Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. I'm going to tell you Afghanistan was not a humanitarian intervention. Afghanistan was the result of an attack launched on the United States that killed 3,000 people, and it was quite openly and deliberately an effort to remove the person who launched the attack from the ability to do it again. If you think it wasn't worth it, I will tell you from personal experience: When we went into Afghanistan, we found laboratories al Qaeda was using to experiment with chemical and biological agents on animals, so they could deploy those against people in the West. Had we not gone into Afghanistan, we might be inhaling those now as we speak. This is not humanitarian in the sense of altruistic. This is kind of basic, core security that every country owes its citizens.
Iraq is also I think in my view not principally a humanitarian intervention. We can debate in a different debate what happened with the intelligence, and whether it was totally wrong or only partially wrong, regarding the possibility of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But at least that was the major assumption going in. It may have been erroneous, and there are all kinds of arguments that the way in which it was executed was poorly done. But again, it was not humanitarian. Libya was a humanitarian intervention. And the problem with Libya is I think the second part of what I want to say, which is not all humanitarian interventions are good. And in order to make a decision to intervene, you have to take into account some very important elements of what you're facing. What is your strategy and your objective, do you have clarity about that? What is your awareness of what the conditions in the place you're intervening in actually are? What are your capabilities and your willingness to be committed to see things through to the end? And then, to what degree do you have support from the international community? Libya is an example of a case where, while the impulse may have been humanitarian, these things were not carefully thought-out. And if I can say so, Michael Hayden and I made this point in an oped shortly after this process began.(3) That the easy part was going to be removing Gaddafi. The hard part was going to be what happens after Gaddafi is removed. And so here I agree with the professor. Had someone looked at the four factors I mentioned, they would have said: “Well you know, we don't really know, we haven’t really though through what happens without Gaddafi?” What happens to all the extremists in prison? What happens to all the mercenaries that he's paid for, who now aren't getting paid anymore? And that led to some of the negative results. I also think there was a failure to understand that when you remove a dictator, you have an unstable situation. And as Colin Powell used to say, if you broke it you bought it. If you're going to remove a dictator, you've got to then be prepared to invest in stabilizing. If you're not prepared to make that investment, you have no business removing him.
By way of example on the other side, if you look at for example the interventions in Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. Sierra Leone was 2000. There was the United Front that was advancing on the capital. The British came in, they repelled them. They drove them back. And because of that, Sierra Leone was able to stabilize, and they ultimately wound up having elections. Or Ivory Coast, you had an incumbent who refused to accept that he had lost an election. He began to use violence against his people. There was an intervention. He was ultimately arrested, and now Ivory Coast has a democracy. So again, there are ways to do humanitarian intervention that can be successful, but not if you don't pay attention to the four characteristics I talked about.
Now, let me give you an example from something that we are literally facing today, and that is what is going on in Syria. And let's ask the question whether a couple of years ago, before the Russians got deeply involved, before the Iranians got deeply involved, whether an intervention would have made a difference in saving literally tens of thousands of people from being killed, innocent civilians with bombs and chemical weapons, as well as a huge mass migration crisis. And I think the answer is: Had we done in Syria what we did in northern Iraq in 1991, established a no-fly zone and a no-go zone for Assad and his people, and if we had done it early, we might have averted what we now see unfolding and continuing to unfold in the region. So, now I'm going to now look at it from the other lens: What happens when you don't intervene, as I suggest that we might have done in Syria? Well not only do you have a humanitarian crisis, you have a security crisis. Because as the consequence of not really enforcing any of the rules I've talked about and notwithstanding the fact that President Obama said there was a red line about chemical weapons and then the line disappeared when the chemical weapons were used. Because of the fact that we didn't enforce these humanitarian measures, we had not only many deaths, but we literally had an upheaval that has now reached into the heart of Europe. The reason the EU is now having a crisis about migration is because, and perhaps with some intent, the Russians as well as the Syrians deliberately acted to drive civilians out of the country and force them to go elsewhere. Many of them are now in Jordan and putting a strain on Jordan, but many of them are trying to get into Europe. And I have little doubt that Putin understood or quickly recognized, even if it was not his original intent, that once you create a migration crisis, you are creating a disorder and dissension within your principal adversary, which is Europe. And that has a destabilizing effect, the consequences of which we continue to see today.
And so, one of the things I want to say to be honest, is when we talk about humanitarian intervention, there is often an altruistic dimension to it, but frankly there is also a self-interested dimension. Places of disorder are places where terrorists operate, and you've seen Isis until quite recently had territory in parts of Syria and parts of Iraq that were not properly governed. It creates migration crises and similar crises, which then have an impact on the stability and the good order of the rest of the world. And it also creates grievances and desires for payback that often result in cycles of violence that continue over and over again, and you see that in Rwanda.
So, my bottom line is this: Not all humanitarian interventions are warranted, not all humanitarian interventions are properly thought out and properly executed. But by the same token, not all of them are wrong or improperly executed. And again, I go back to 1991 and the no-fly zone and no-go zone in Kurdistan as an example of one that worked. The key is this: Be clear why you're going in; don't underestimate the cost of what you're undertaking; have the capabilities and the commitment to see that you can handle those costs and achieve the result that you set out for yourself. Make sure you are aware of the conditions on the ground, so you make a rational assessment. And finally get international support, don't go it alone. I think in those circumstances, humanitarian intervention can not only be successful, but it can save a lot of lives and make our world more secure. Thank you.
Question (Wilkinson)
Thank you, Michael. Thank you both for those introductory remarks. I’ll ask one question, and then we’ll move over to questions from the audience. My question is this: You both cited a number of historical examples. But would you say it is a fair assessment that practically the problem is that there can never be a sufficient long-term plan, sufficient well intentions, sufficient benevolent motivations, or a sufficient harm-analysis to counter the fact that individual organizations and international organizations are fallible. And they will always make mistakes. And the fallibility of those groups means that humanitarian intervention has to be a contradiction in terms. So, Michael, if you’d like to respond.
Answer (Chertoff)
My answer is this: Inaction is action. Some people think if you don't do something that's somehow abstaining. But if you don't do something, something is going to happen. So, if for example Franklin Roosevelt had decided not to help the British in 1940 with Lend Lease, because “I don't know if I'm making a mistake or not,” that would have resulted in a different outcome with respect to World War II. I don't think we'd be saying “well but that was inaction, so it didn't matter.” I think inaction is a form of action. And every time you're presented with a choice, you have to balance the consequences as far as you can project them, from both doing something and abstaining from doing something.
Answer (Gibbs)
Well, I think that of course inaction is a form of action, but the onus should always be on person advocating intervention. Because let's be very clear on this: Intervention is an act of war. Humanitarian intervention is a mere euphemism. When we advocate humanitarian intervention, we are advocating war. The movement for intervention is a movement for war. And it seems to me those who advocate against war really have no burden on them of proof. The burden of proof should be on those who advocate for the use of violence, and really the standards should be very high for the use of violence. And I think we can see it's been used quite frivolously in the past to an extraordinary degree.
And a basic problem you have in small interventions -- for example the 1991 no-fly zone over Iraq -- is these things take place in the real world, not in a pretend world. And in that real world, the United States considers itself a great power, and there'll always be the question of American credibility. And if the U.S. undertakes half measures, such as a no-fly zone, there will always be pressures on the United States from various factions in the foreign policy establishment to take a more maximalist effort and solve the problem once and for all. Hence the need for another war with Iraq in 2003, producing an utter catastrophe. I get very queasy when I hear people discussing “let us just do a limited intervention, it'll just stop at that,” because it usually doesn't stop at that. There's the quagmire effect. You step into the quagmire, and you get deeper and deeper into the quagmire. And there will always be those who advocate deeper and deeper intervention.
I guess one more point: I did want to respond to the claim which is a frequent one that the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were not really humanitarian interventions. It is true that this was to some extent, both interventions were at least partly traditional national interest, realpolitik, and the like. But if you look back at the record, clearly both were justified in part as humanitarian interventions, both by the Bush administration as well as many academics. I have here before me an edited volume published by the University of California Press, and I believe it's 2005, called A Matter of Principle: Humanitarian Arguments for War in Iraq.”(4) Just do a Google search on “humanitarian arguments for war in Iraq,” and this was very much part of the picture. I think it's a bit of a rewriting of history to say that humanitarian intervention was not a significant factor in the arguments for war in Iraq or Afghanistan. They were very much part of both those wars. And I would say the results very much discredit the idea of humanitarian intervention.
Question (Audience)
Thanks, so you've both talked about some historical examples and I'd like to hear both of your perspectives about the ongoing situation in Venezuela. And the Trump administration and the plans and the reports have come out that they might have plans to use military force there and how you would evaluate that in light of both of the perspectives that you've shared.
So, I think what's happening in Venezuela is first of all I mean there's obviously a political dictatorship. And as I've said I don't think political regime issues are a reason to intervene militarily. There is also a humanitarian element here. People are starving. But I don't know we’re at the level of humanitarian crisis that we've seen in other cases. So, my short answer would be: I don't think we've met the threshold for having a real discussion about humanitarian intervention in a military sense.
That's not to say there aren't non-military ways to intervene, just to be clear so we round the picture out. There are a lot of tools in the toolbox when you deal with intervention. There are sanctions, economic sanctions. There is even potential use of cyber tools as a way of having some impact on what's going on. There is the possibility in some instances of legal action, for example International Criminal Court or something. So, all of these ought to be considered part of the toolbox. If I was looking at Venezuela, assuming it did, which I emphasize it has not, reach the level of humanitarian intervention, you would then have to balance issues like: Is there an endgame we see or a strategy we see to be successful? Do we have the capabilities to achieve it? Do we have international support? I think all of those would probably militate against it. That's not to say it couldn't change, but the dimensions of this I don't think have reached the point where military action is reasonable or likely.
Well, the most important thing you need to know about Venezuela is that it's an undiversified oil exporting economy, and there's been a drop in oil price since 2014. I'll certainly grant that a lot of what is going on now is the fault of Maduro and authoritarian actions he's been taking, as well as mismanagement, corruption, and so on. Most of what has been going on by any reasonable reading, by any informed reading, is due to low oil prices.
It points to I think a larger issue, which is the way humanitarian crises are often triggered by economic crises. Discussions of Rwanda almost never discuss the fact that the genocide – and I think it really was a genocide in the case of Rwanda -- the genocide by the Hutu against the Tutsi took place in the context of a major economic crisis resulting from the collapse of coffee prices. Again, a very undiversified economy that was reliant almost exclusively on coffee. Coffee prices collapse, you get a political crisis. Yugoslavia had a major economic crisis just before the country broke up and descended into hell. We know about the descent into hell, most people don't know about the economic crisis.
For some reason people find economics boring, and because it's boring and military intervention seems more exciting, we think that the solution is to send in the 82nd Airborne Division. Whereas perhaps it would have been simpler and a lot cheaper and easier and better from a humanitarian standpoint to address the economic crisis; the very heavy emphasis placed on austerity in the international economic system and the very damaging political effects austerity has in many countries. Historical context is necessary here: For all the constant, repetitious references to the Third Reich and to World War II, which we hear again and again and again and again, people often forget that one of the things that brought us Adolph Hitler was the Great Depression. Any reasonable reading of Weimar Germany's history would be that without the Depression, you almost certainly would not have gotten the rise of Nazism. So, I think a greater addressing of the economic issues in the case of Venezuela -- Even if the United States were to overthrow Maduro by whatever means and replace them with someone else, that someone else would still have to deal with the issue of low oil prices and the damaging effects on the economy, which would remain unaddressed by humanitarian intervention, whether we call it that or something else.
I guess another point about the United States and Venezuela is that the United Nations sent a representative down there and condemned the US sanctions as greatly intensifying the humanitarian crisis. So, the intervention the United States has been doing -- economic at this point mostly, rather than military -- is making things worse, and that clearly has to stop. If we're interested in helping the people of Venezuela, surely the United States would not want to make it worse.
(1) Gilbert Burnham, et al, “Mortality after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq: A Cross Sectional Analysis Cluster Sample Survey,” Lancet 368, no. 9545, 2006. Note that the Lancet’s best estimate of excess deaths due to the invasion is actually higher than the one I cited above. The correct figure is 654,965, rather than the 560,000 that I presented.
(2) Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz, The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict. New York: Norton, 2008.
(3) Michael Chertoff and Michael V. Hayden, “What Happens after Gaddafi is Removed?” Washington Post, April 21, 2011.
(4) Thomas Cushman, ed., A Matter of Principle: Humanitarian Arguments for War in Iraq. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005.
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Rorrie Gregorio
Family Office Leader
Email Rorrie
Rorrie Gregorio leads the Firm's Family Office Practice and is a partner in the New York City office. She is also a member of the Firm's Family Wealth Services group. She has more than 25 years of extensive experience working directly with high net worth individuals and their families throughout the United States.
Ms. Gregorio counsels families with substantial wealth on various issues related to tax planning, estate planning, and wealth management. She manages their day-to-day fiscal needs including bill paying, insurance reviews, income tax preparation, budgeting, specialized financing facilitation, portfolio reconciliation, household payroll services, entity administration, cash and securities transfers, and other financial matters.
Prior to joining the Firm in 2004, she spent eight years as vice president and group leader in the tax department of a leading, global financial services company and three years with a regional practice. Ms. Gregorio began her accounting career in the high net worth group of a former "Big 8" firm, where she gained hands-on experience managing complicated tax, financial and estate planning projects.
Ms. Gregorio is very involved in the New York City business community. As founder and president of a networking group serving high net worth individuals, she spearheads educational seminars for women on topics related to wealth-building and lifestyle changes. She is a member of the Marcum Diversity & Inclusion Committee and co-chairs the annual Marcum Women's Forum in New York. In addition, she has lectured on the importance of teaching the next generation on responsibility of wealth.
Wealth Dimensions, Founder and President
Calvary Hospital, Advisors Council Member
AICPA Family Office Group, Member
NYC Chapter of Enterprising & Professional Women, Member
Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Board Member
Honored in the inaugural edition of "Notable Women in Accounting & Consulting" by Crain's New York
One of the 50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth - Private Asset Management, 2015
High Net Worth Individuals & Families
Bachelor of Science, Accounting
Three Marcum LLP Partners Honored in Inaugural Notable Women in Accounting & Consulting by Crain’s New York Business
Three tax partners in the New York City office of Marcum LLP were honored in the inaugural edition of Notable Women in Accounting and Consulting ....
Crain’s New York Business featured three Marcum partners in its inaugural “Notable Women in Accounting & Consulting”: Janis Cowhey, Rorrie Gregorio, and Elizabeth Mullen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton Keynotes 2018 Marcum Women’s Forum in New York
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was the featured speaker at the 2018 Marcum Women's Forum held today in New York City. The annual ....
Long Island Business News reported that Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the 2018 Marcum Women’s Forum in New York City.
Former First Lady, Secretary of State and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the Marcum Women's Forum in New ....
Hillary Rodham Clinton to Keynote 2018 Marcum Women’s Forum in New York
Marcum LLP today announced that Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker at the Marcum Women's Forum in New York ....
Announcing Sponsors for the 2017 Marcum Women’s Forum featuring Chelsea Clinton
Nine top companies have signed on to date to sponsor the 2017 Marcum Women’s Forum in New York City, featuring Chelsea Clinton, Lisa Garcia, and ....
CNBC spoke with Rorrie Gregorio, partner-in-charge of the Marcum Family Office practice, for an article about the financial challenges faced by "suddenly single" women recently divorced or widowed.
Becoming suddenly single can set your world in a tailspin, and a lack of financial planning is setting women in particular even further back.
Accounting Today announced the Marcum Women's Forum in New York City on October 27, featuring Chelsea Clinton.
Top 100 Firm Marcum announced this week that they will hold their second annual Marcum Women's Forum in New York City on October 27th. Chelsea ....
Long Island Business News reported on the upcoming Marcum Women's Forum in New York City, featuring Chelsea Clinton.
Marcum tapped a Clinton to speak at its upcoming Womens Forum. Chelsea Clinton will headline the second annual event, set for Oct. 27 in Manhattan.
Second Annual Marcum Women’s Forum in New York City Announces Speakers for 2017 Program
Marcum LLP announced today that Chelsea Clinton will be the featured speaker at the 2017 Marcum Women’s Forum in New York City on October 27.
Accounting Today featured the first annual Marcum Women’s Forum, which will take place September 26 in New York City.
Marcum, the national accounting and advisory services firm, announced this week their first annual Marcum Women's Forum, entitled "Safe And Sound: Smart Choices for Savvy ....
First Annual Marcum Women's Forum to Focus on Personal Security and Health for Executive Women; Erin Brockovich to Keynote
Marcum LLP, a top national accounting and advisory services firm, announces the first annual Marcum Women's Forum, entitled Safe And Sound: Smart Choices for Savvy Women, ....
Rorrie Gregorio, National Partner-in-Charge, Marcum Family Office Group Named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth by Private Asset Management Magazine
Rorrie Gregorio, National Partner-in-Charge of the Marcum Family Office Group at Marcum LLP, has been named one of the 50 Most Influential Women in ....
Marcum's Rorrie Gregorio Named One of the Most Influential Women in Private Wealth
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The concept Florida represents the subject, aboutness, idea or notion of resources found in University of Oklahoma Libraries.
The Resource Florida
100+ Items that share the Concept Florida
A Nation Divided, produced by Wendy Krantz
A third judicial district in Florida., (electronic resource)
Abolishing the Santa Rosa Island National Monument, Fla., (electronic resource)
Account between the general government and the State of Florida. Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, with accompanying papers, the report of the Third Auditor of the Treasury upon the mutual demands of the State of Florida and the United States., (electronic resource)
Acquiring land for training station for the Maritime Commission at St. Petersburg, Fla., (electronic resource)
Acquisition of land, St. Petersburg, Fla., for shore training station, United States Maritime Service., (electronic resource)
Act passed by the legislative council of Florida, entitled An Act to raise a revenue in the Territory of Florida., (electronic resource)
Activities of the Securities and Exchange Commission and Post Office Department in Florida. Volume 1, (electronic resource)
Actual settlements in Florida, under the Armed Occupation Law. Letter from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, transmitting a document exhibiting the names of individuals who have made actual settlements in Florida, &c., under the law to provide for the settlement and armed occupation thereof., (electronic resource)
Adding certain lands to Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Fla., (electronic resource)
Addition of lands to Everglades National Park, Fla., (electronic resource)
Additional Florida Judicial District Act, (electronic resource)
Additional Judge for Southern District of Florida., (electronic resource)
Additional district judge for the southern district of Florida., (electronic resource)
Additional estimate for fortifications for the year 1833., (electronic resource)
Additional explanatory estimates for the suppression of Indian hostilities in Florida in 1837., (electronic resource)
Additional judge in Florida., (electronic resource)
Additional judge, southern district of Florida., (electronic resource)
Additional testimony in the case of Niblack vs. Walls, of Florida., (electronic resource)
Additional volunteers. (To accompany H. Res. no. 119.)., (electronic resource)
Adjusting disputes and claims of settlers against the United States arising from incomplete or faulty surveys in Lake County, Fla., (electronic resource)
Adjusting disputes and claims of settlers arising from incomplete or faulty surveys in Lake County, Fla., (electronic resource)
Adjustment of disputes arising from faulty surveys in Florida., (electronic resource)
Adjustment of disputes arising from faulty surveys in the State of Florida., (electronic resource)
Adjustment of faulty surveys in Florida., (electronic resource)
Admission of Florida. Resolutions of the Legislature of Florida, relative to her admission as a state into the Union., (electronic resource)
Advertisement inviting proposals for carrying mails of U.S. in State of Florida, (microform)
African studies quarterly
Agricultural possibilities of the Florida Everglades., (electronic resource)
Aids to navigation., (electronic resource)
Alabama, Florida and Georgia Railroad., (electronic resource)
Alafia River, Fla., (electronic resource)
Albert H. White and Others., (electronic resource)
Alter term of the sessions of the Legislature of Florida. (To accompany bill H.R. no. 638.), (electronic resource)
Alto Lee Adams, Sr., United States Courthouse, (electronic resource)
Amelia Island Lighthouse Reservation, Fla., (electronic resource)
Amending act re term of court, Orlando, Fla., (electronic resource)
Amending the Act fixing the boundary of Everglades National Park, Fla., and authorizing the acquisition of land therein, in order to authorize an additional amount for the acquisition of certain lands for such park., (electronic resource)
Amending the Act of March 11, 1948 (62 Stat. 78), relating to the establishment of the De Soto National Memorial, in the State of Florida., (electronic resource)
Amending the act entitled "An act for the relief of the City of Fort Myers, Fla., and Lee County, Fla., " approved July 22, 1958., (electronic resource)
Amending the act to provide for the conveyance to Pinellas County, of certain public lands herein described, for the purpose of correcting a land description therein., (electronic resource)
Amendment to the Everglades Park Act., (electronic resource)
Amendments to articles of impeachment against Halsted L. Ritter, United States district judge for the southern district of Florida adopted by the House of Representatives., (electronic resource)
Amount of revenue from imposts and tonnage in Florida, 1821 to 1827., (electronic resource)
An article reprinted from the Cornell Law Quarterly, Vol. XIII, No. 3, April, 1928, entitled the "Strange case of Florida v. Mellon"., (electronic resource)
Anastasia Island Lighthouse Reservation, Fla., (electronic resource)
Anclote River, Fla. Letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, with a letter from the Chief of Engineers, reports on examination and survey of Anclote River, Fla., (electronic resource)
Andrew Jackson: Conqueror of Florida
Anna Maria and Longboat Keys, Fla., beach erosion study. Letter from the Secretary of the Army transmitting a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated October 9, 1947, submitting a report, together with accompanying papers and illustrations, on a cooperative beach erosion study of Anna Maria and Longboat Keys, Fla., made under the provisions of section 2 of the River and Harbor Act approved on July 3, 1930, as amended and supplemented., (electronic resource)
Annual Reports of the Department of the Interior for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1905, (electronic resource)
Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, (electronic resource)
Annual reports of the Surveyors General, (electronic resource)
Answer of Halsted L. Ritter, United States district judge for the southern district of Florida to the articles of impeachment, as amended, exhibited against him by the House of Representatives of the United States., (electronic resource)
Apalachicola Bay, Fla., (electronic resource)
Apalachicola Bay, Fla., channel across St. George Island., (electronic resource)
Apalachicola National Forest Land Conveyance Act, (electronic resource)
Appeals and writs of error Courts United States, in Florida., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for a grant of land to aid in the construction of the Florida Peninsula and Jacksonville Railroad., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for a grant of land to aid in the construction of the Florida, Alabama, and Georgia Railroad., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for a grant of land to the East Florida Railroad Company., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for graduating the price of the public lands in that territory., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for permission to locate other land in lieu of sixteenth sections, not worth one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida for rebuilding the sea-wall in front of St. Augustine, and for the repair of Fort St. Mark's., (electronic resource)
Application of Florida to be allowed to sell the lands reserved for a seminary and schools., (electronic resource)
Application of an officer of the Army to be indemnified for liabilities incurred in obedience to orders in the command of Amelia Island in the war of 1812-'15., (electronic resource)
Application of the "Coffee Land Association" for a grant of twenty-four thousand acres in Florida, at the minimum price., (electronic resource)
Application of the citizens of East Florida for the protection of the Government against the hostility of the Indians in that Ttrritory., (electronic resource)
Application to annex West Florida to the Mississippi Territory., (electronic resource)
Apportionment of State Legislatures, (electronic resource)
Appropriations for Florida War. Letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting a report of the Quartermaster General, relative to balances of appropriations for the Florida War, and asking their reappropriation for the payment of outstanding claims growing out of that war, &c., (electronic resource)
Army SPC Daniel Agami Post Office Building, (electronic resource)
Arpent lot No. 44, Pensacola, Fla., (electronic resource)
Arredondo Grant., (electronic resource)
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Layered Pages Reviews
Spitfire by Jack DuArte
Spitfire is a thrilling third installment in Jack DuArte’s World War II Series. The setting is Great Britain in 1940, we meet Flight Lieutenant Anthony Nelson as he flies valiantly in the Royal Air Force. The RAF are in the heat of battle with the Luftwaffe bomber and fighter pilots and are giving ole Jerry a run for their money. In the middle of it all Nelson’s younger brother Fletcher joins the 54 Squadron, Anthony becomes fearful of nepotism. As events unfold they both find out that they are in love, which is great, but they are in love with the same women. As the book nears a close the reader will be flying through the pages of this final installment in the Spitfire series.
Spitfire is a book about real historic events and the phenomenal men who fought to protect their country in a time of war. Though some parts of the novel were slow to read, it is obvious that Jack DuArte researched this book thoroughly. The masterful writing abut training and different episodes of flying the Spitfires during missions supplied the reader with a real glimpse into what life was like for pilots during World War II. The life at Hornchurch was penned brilliantly by DuArte. The love triangle between Anthony, Fletcher, and Prudence offered break in some of the more tactical aerial flying scenes. I would have liked the romance to be more developed and incorporated more into the story. Overall I thought that the novel was a good ending to the series.
I am giving this book three stars.
Rachel Massaro
Layered Pages Review Team Member
Echoes from Home by Jim Carey
Echoes from Home, the first novel from Jim Carey, chronicles the life of a confederate soldier. I was expecting a very different novel from the one I read, but enjoyed the story all the same. The book reads like a memoir, mainly from the perspective of Joshua. The writing is well done and, in truth, at one point I felt the need check if this book was based on the letters of a real life civil war solider. The plot begins just before the war breaks out and much of the story takes place in the trenches (so to speak). Carey does a lovely job of weaving in Joshua’s relationships with his family, sweetheart, best friend, and even the family’s slaves. The story of Joshua Miller’s life is at times both heartbreaking and inspiring. War stories are not the genre of book that I would typically seek out, however I liked this book and found I gained a new perspective on the Civil War while reading. I would recommend this to people interested in war stories, the Civil War specifically, and historic romance.
Charlotte: Pride and Prejudice Continues by Karen Aminadra
Charlotte nor Mr. Collins was never a favorite character of mine in Pride and Prejudice and so I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book to read. But I was pleasantly surprised!
Karen Aminadra brings you a story of Charlotte Lucas who needed to secure her future and marries Mr. Collins. Who is cousin to the Bennett’s and a minister who is extremely annoying with his fawning over his patroness, Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Due to his behavior and Catherine’s interference, he and Charlotte begin to have problems with their marriage.
Meanwhile, Charlotte forms close friendships with the people in the village and sees the misery of people around her due to Lady Catherine. Charlotte must make an important decision regarding if she will stay or return to live with her parents.
In the end I found that I actually liked Mr. Collins and his behavior to be understandable in many ways. One of them being, he had a difficult childhood.
Charlotte was getting herself in a sticky situation that left me thinking, “What in the world is she doing?!” But in the end she puts things to right and I began to like and cheer for her.
This continuation of Jane Austen’s story was enjoyable, entertaining and I found humorous in parts of the story. Aminadra’s voice and language of her characters was right on for this period and gives you a Jane Austen feel. I believe Austen would be proud of Aminadra’s characterization of Lady Catherine the most.
If you are a Jane Austen fan, I highly recommend this story!
Layered Pages review Team Leader
New & Upcoming Book Releases 2012
October-December 2012
The Queen's Secret by Vitoria Lamb is released this week on the 27th, paperback edition on Amazon UK
Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Queens-Secret-Victoria-Lamb/dp/0552165271/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
Coachman by Sue Millard-October 1st
Sons and Daughters by Karen V.Wasylowski-October 1st
Hidden Gifts by Elena Welch-Aitken -October 1st
A Dangerous Inheritance by Alison Weir-October 2nd
How To Tame A Willful Wife by Christy English-November 6th
The Gilded Lily: A Novel by Deborah Swift-November 27th
The Emperor's Conspiracy by Michelle Diener-November 27th
The Widow's Redeemer by Philippa Jane Keyworth-December 1st
The Lady of Secrets: A Novel by Susan Carroll-Decmeber 11th
The Plum Tree by Ellen Marie Wiseman-December 25th
The Forgotten Queen by D.L Bogdan-January 29th
The Chalice by Nancy Bilyeau-March 5th (in North America, the sequel to the Crown)
Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Sandra Bryd- April 9th
I will be posting more 2013 releases in December. If you would like your upcoming book featured on Layered Pages, please email me at layeredpages@yahoo.com
Layered Pages
Interview with Author Helen Hart
I would like to introduce Author Helen Hart, winner of the BRAG Medallion for her book, "The Black Banner."
Helen, I'm delighted to be interviewing you. Thank you! I would like to begin by asking you questions about your reading interests. What are you currently reading?
Thank you for having me on Layered Pages, Stephanie. It’s a genuine pleasure to be here. Reading is a real passion for me and I can so easily lose myself in a book. I have a fairly ‘magpie’ approach to the books I choose - if I like the look of it, I’ll read it! I return regularly to historical fiction (Bernard Cornwell does this so well) and historical romance (I’m a big fan of Sergeanne Golon’s ‘Angelique’ series which was so popular in the 60s and 70s). Interestingly, until recently I would have said I don’t read a lot of fantasy novels but I’ve been completely swept away by the world created by George RR Martin and his ‘Song of Ice and Fire’ series (which TV viewers will know from HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’).
What do you plan on reading next?
I’m working my way through George RR Martin, but am also trying to read other books too. I plan to read ‘The Athenian Murders’ by Jose Carlos Somoza, and also to finish another book I began on holiday called ‘The Untied Kingdom’ by Kate Johnson. It’s an alternative history novel which explores what might have happened if the UK’s history had followed a different path over the last few centuries (and there’s a bit of romance for the lead character Eve Carpenter too!).
What's your favorite literary genre?
I tend to enjoy historical novels, but also thrillers, some crime, and some romance. I enjoy Young Adult books too, as they seem so much more exciting than a lot of novels intended for adults… and of course as a YA author myself, it’s important to keep up with trends.
When and where do you like to read?
I read anywhere I can - on the bus, on the train, in bed, in the bath. I’ve even been known to read while cleaning my teeth when I was very captivated by a book!
Do you have any bad book habits? Do you tend not to finish books? Skim? Scribble in margins? Fall asleep while reading?
I always finish a book. I feel that if the author had the stamina to complete their book then I should at least have the courtesy to try and finish it. I’ve only ever broken that rule once, and that was with a really bad book. I’d rather not say what it was. My only bad habit is falling asleep while reading. I always try not to, but after a long working day (I also work as a publisher and writing mentor when I’m not writing) it’s so hard to stay awake, however good a book is!
In which format do you prefer to read in? Paperback or e-book?
I actually like both, although if you’d asked me this question a year ago I might have given a different answer. I was quite resistant to reading on a e-reader, but as I work in the publishing industry I thought it was important to try them out and be aware of how technology impacts us as readers. I now read books on Kindle and iPad (and sometimes on my phone), but also read print books just as much. I think e-books are great for trying out new writers but I’ll often buy a print copy if it’s something I really enjoyed, because I want that sense of permanence. I also want to be able to share books, show them to friends, and lend them. It’s harder to do that with e-books.
Please tell us a little about your book, "The Black Banner."
‘The Black Banner’ is historical fiction for young teens. It’s set in the early 18th century and features penniless Becky Baxter who disguises herself as a boy and escapes to sea. Her adventures begin when the ship she’s on is captured by pirates, and Becky (along with some of her new friends) has to join the pirates if she wants to live. It’s a swashbuckling tale that was exciting to write, and now it’s getting a lot of 4 and 5 star reviews on Amazon which is wonderful. Becky learns a lot by living with the pirates – that some people can be trusted, but others can’t; that to survive in a rough world you have to be resourceful and live by your wits; that family, support, respect, and love can come from the most unexpected people.
How long did it take you to write your story?
I actually wrote ‘The Black Banner’ in 7 weeks. It was a tough deadline, and self-imposed by accident. I hadn’t written all of the book but sent the opening pages and synopsis to literary agents thinking it would take months or even years to get anyone interested. The first agent rang 4 days later and said she wanted to see the rest. I was terrified of losing her interest so didn’t like to admit there wasn’t much more… and instead just wrote day and night to get it done. Later, when I told her, she laughed and said she wouldn’t have minded waiting because the book was so good. The lesson I learned there was twofold: first, always be honest with your agent (she’s mother, best friend, advocate and cheerleader all rolled into one), and second, don’t send off your work until you have most if not all of it completed, polished, and ready for publication!
I lived in the Caribbean as a child and wanted to set a book there, but in the Caribbean of the past (because I’ve always loved historical fiction). Pirates and highwaymen have always fascinated me – they’re the ‘bad guys’ in reality, but in fiction they’re a good way to explore adventure, morality, and living outside of society with its rules.
Were there any scenes that were a challenge to write?
Quite a few scenes in ‘The Black Banner’ were challenging. In the past, people lived differently to the way we live now – life was rougher and customs more barbaric. There was no health & safety, or human rights. In order to be true to historical reality, some scenes needed to be violent or shocking… for instance, before the ship is taken by pirates, the captain has one of the ship’s boys whipped to death, and later in the book Becky kills for the first time. Those scenes were hard to write, but are an important part of the historical accuracy of the story.
What is your next book project?
I’m currently taking a break from writing to develop my publishing business, SilverWood Books (www.silverwoodbooks.com) where I use all my own experience to help other writers improve their manuscripts and then either submit to literary agents, or to self-publish (but self-publish to a high standard so that the resulting book is well-edited and beautifully produced). It’s great fun, and I’m really enjoying playing ‘midwife’ by supporting other writers and helping them develop their skills and knowledge.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
Write what you know, and write what you love. Readers can always tell if you’re faking it, so write the kind of thing that gets your fingers tingling as the words flow onto the page. That way, your enthusiasm will shine through and you’ll captivate your readers.
What is your favorite quote?
What a great final question! I haven’t been asked that before, but I do have an answer:
"Read, read, read. Read everything - trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out the window." (William Faulkner)
Helen Hart has been a published author since 1999. She has written a number of novels under pseudonyms for Scholastic, Virgin Books and HarperCollins, and one of her books, ‘Sisters of the Sword: The Warrior’s Path’ (with Helen writing as Maya Snow) was shortlisted for a major UK book prize. Helen also runs a publishing consultancy, SilverWood Books, regularly reviews indie and self-published books for the Historical Novel Society, is an Associate Editor for the interactive reader/author site LoveAHappyEnding.com, and for the past two years has been publishing tutor at the prestigious Marlborough College Summer School.
General links...
Helen’s author website: http://helenhart.co.uk/
Helen’s publishing website: http://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/
Social networking...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/silverwoodbooks
Facebook Black Banner Book: http://on.fb.me/Apq4IB
Twitter @SilverWoodBooks: https://twitter.com/#!/SilverWoodBooks
‘The Black Banner’ links…
Amazon (UK) paperback (buy): http://amzn.to/p84Ahd
Amazon (UK) Kindle (buy): http://amzn.to/pptP82
Amazon (US) paperback (buy): http://amzn.to/qTOIEV
Amazon (US) Kindle (buy): http://amzn.to/oFhCQT
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Helen Hart who is the author of, The Black Banner, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as The Black Banner merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.
www.bragmedallion.com
BRAG Medallion is owned and operated by indieBRAG LLC, a privaltaly held organization that has brought together a large group of readers, throughout the United States, Canada, and the European Union. IndieBRAG’s mission is to recongnize quality on the part of authors who self-publish both in print and digital books.
For contact information please visit indieBRAG at bragmedallion.com. You can also find indieBRAG on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/#!/Indiebrag , Twitter @IndieBRAG, & Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/9273166-indiebrag
We also have a new and up-coming project that is under way. More information coming soon. Your single source for quality self-publishing books.
Wednesday Reviews
Wicked Sense by Fabio Bueno
On the Goodreads scale: 4 out of 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, which was surprising to me. I am usually not a fan of anything that falls within the paranormal genre. This book was definitely a paranormal book that I can enjoy. It is a cute story about two kids, Skye and Drake. Skye is a witch, sent to Seattle to track down the “Singularity”, a super witch. Drake falls for her, and together they try to save Skye’s coven from untold harm. I really appreciated the fact that the book wasn’t 100% supernatural stuff, and what was there was written very well. It was easy for someone like me to really enjoy this book. I liked the story, which I thought was very cute, but not the typical annoying sweetness of most YA books. It took me no time at all to get into this book, and it was a quick read. What helped me to be able to enjoy this book was its setting. It is set in Seattle, not some mystical world. The characters act like everyday people with the exception of a few having magical powers. It wasn’t so far out there that I couldn’t get into it. I also enjoyed that it was written from both Drake and Skye’s perspectives. This is a great YA book – easy to read, and easy to enjoy.
By Laurin Hawkins
Folville’s Law by David Pilling
Folville’s Law is a book set in 13th Century England and describes the advancement of Eustace Folville, an outlaw who grabs power due to the dismal law and order situation in the country. He and his rivalry with John Swale, a knight working for the Despensers are the focus of the series. With a background story of the return of Queen Isabella with Roger Mortimer to England and King Edward’s downfall, this is a fast paced story that manages to hold the reader’s interest constantly.
The book constantly presents the story from different viewpoints with each chapter. But this does not confuse the reader and adds to the charm of the book. The characters are well etched out and have a strong background and give an impression of going somewhere. The author has a way of writing that manages to keep the reader reading.
There are however some weak points in this book. Even though the characters are well developed, I did not empathise with any of them or even develop any strong feelings for them. This might result in some readers not able to sustain interest beyond a certain point in the story.
The book seems well researched and gives a good feel of the times it is based in. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in the period, or this genre.
My rating 3.5 / 5
Interview with Melanie Rose Huff
I would like to introduce Melanie Rose Huff, the winner of the BRAG Medallion for her book, Ashford.
Thank you Melanie for the pleasure of this interview. I would like to ask you questions about your interests in reading. What was the last truly great book you have read? I would have to say The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery. Beautifully written and meaningful.
What were your favorite books as a child? Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, The Jolly Postman, The Phantom Tollbooth... I also loved fairy tales and pretty much anything with Arthur Rackham illustrations.
What is on your night stand? Lamp, Kleenex box, clock, lip balm, several books, tonic water, a sweatshirt, and, of course, a notebook and pen. It's kind of a mess.
What do you plan to read next? I just ordered my copy of Victoria Dunn's Alice Hearts Welsh Zombies. Zombie books are generally pretty low on my reading list, but I've been following Victoria's blog, Handmade by Mother, for over a year now, and I'm a huge fan of her writing style and snarky sense of humor.
What's your favorite literary genre and why? I like a little bit of everything, but historical fiction probably wins. Most of all I like writing that reads like music, in any genre. It can be Mozart or The Beatles (I prefer it if it's not Justin Bieber) but it should have a rhythm, a melody.
Melanie, please tell us about your book, "Ashford." Well, it was kind of a happy accident. I was between writing projects, and I wrote the opening scene...then I liked the characters so much that I had to see where the story went.
Did you do any research for your story? If so, were there any challenges? I did a lot of research. I had a stack of books on WWII, and timelines all over the place, but I really wanted it to be a story about ordinary people, the people at home trying to carry on with their normal lives through the chaos, and my best help with that came from the BBC. They've compiled an amazing online collection of firsthand accounts of the war years. You can type in pretty much anything you want to know and there will be a long list of stories, written by the people who experienced it. It's amazing. There's so much color and personality to them, and reading them is such a perfect way to find those little details...smells and sounds and emotions. For a writer, or really any sort of storyteller, it's like opening a treasure box. I used them again for my new novella, Violet Shadows, which just came out.
Was there any scenes you found difficult to write? Many. I always procrastinate over writing intense scenes, like the scene with the young man in the wheelchair, or the Christmas scene in the hospital. It's not even that I find them difficult to write, per se, but that they take me over. They're very fulfilling scenes to write, but they're also very scary and exhausting. You're channelling the actions and emotions of everyone in the scene: anger and fear and love and hate and God knows what else. When you're done you're bound be exhausted. That's how you feel sometimes: triumphant and bone-weary.
Is there a character in your story you feel most connected to? Definitely Anna. I think it would be very difficult to take three years writing a novel in first person and not feel connected to your protagonist. I also feel very connected to Violet, which is part of what led me to continue her story in Violet Shadows. Neither of them is me, but there are parts of me in both of them. I think as writers we all pull from our own experiences, and then inject those experiences into the context of another life. I never lived through war, but I survived cancer ten years ago. It's all there: fear, threat to life, the finding of strength and serenity inside yourself. It doesn't matter where you got the emotions. They're yours, and you can use them to express the feelings of others whose lives are outside your experience.
What advice would you give to an aspiring author? Don't be afraid of rejection or criticism. Use it, but also trust yourself, because only you can write your book.
How did you discover indieBRAG? A fellow author in an Indie Author group I'm part of mentioned that his book had been chosen for the B.R.A.G. Medallion. It sounded interesting, so I looked it up.
What is your favorite quote? “There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.” -Martha Graham
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelanieRoseAuthor
Blog: www.roseandwren.blogspot.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com/Melanie-Rose/
Melanie Rose has been writing since childhood. She currently resides in Chewelah, Washington, with her husband, singer/songwriter Aaron Gabriel, their dog Leo, and a hedgehog named Ferdinand. She loves to dance and travel. Her debut novel, Ashford, was awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion in 2012. Her most recent book, a novella titled Violet Shadows, was released in July of 2012.
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Melanie Rose Huff who is the author of Ashford, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as Ashford merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.
Interview with Author Karen Aminadra
I have the pleasure of introducing Author Karen Aminadra. The winner of the BRAG Medallion at www.bragmedallion.com
Karen, what book had the greatest impact on you that you have read? What book made you want to write?
I don’t think that any one single book made me want to write. I’ve always been a storyteller and loved to write as a child. As a child, I loved a couple of books in particular; When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and The Amazing Mr Blunden by Antonia Barber. Both of them are historical and they blew me away, I’ve read them over and over again, and still love them today.
Of the books you've written, which is your favorite?
Well, Charlotte is my first book that was published, so it’s my baby, but Relative Deceit was the first book I actually started writing about 10 years ago. So, my answer is that both Charlotte and Relative Deceit are my favourite.
What book is on your night stand?
Now I am reading El Rey by Ginger Myrick. I don’t have a lot of time to read, at the moment unfortunately. I have too much on my plate! I need to change that.
That’s a good question! I haven’t got a clue. After answering some of the above questions, I’d like to read some of those books again actually.
Of course I would want to meet the obvious ones; Shakespeare, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Dickens etc. I’d love to meet Thomas Hardy, I absolutely love his book The Mayor of Casterbridge and would like to talk to him about that. If you haven’t read it, it starts amazingly; a man gets drunk and auctions his wife off! Another writer I love and would like to have a chat with is Roald Dahl, he had the most amazing imagination, and I wish I could write like him!
Please tell your audience a little about Charlotte?
Charlotte Lucas was the best friend of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. She was a plain but smart girl, and she knew her marriage prospects weren’t good. When Elizabeth’s silly cousin, Mr Collins, came along, he asked Elizabeth to marry him. That was a repulsive thought to Elizabeth; she declined, he left the house and stayed with the Lucases. Well, Mr Collins, being daft, thought himself in love with Charlotte and proposed to her. Charlotte, knowing herself to be almost a spinster, and worried that she wouldn’t get another offer, accepted him. My book Charlotte continues as Pride and Prejudice ends. Life would not have been as rosy as she tried to convince Elizabeth that it was. She was isolated from friends and family, and had to live with Mr Collins, after all! Then to make matters worse her neighbour, Lady Catherine de Bourgh sticks her nose in where it’s not wanted.
Of the scenes you have written for your story. Which is your favorite?
I loved the scene of the card party. It seemed to write itself. Mr and Mrs Abbot took control of that from me completely. But, I loved thinking of Mr Collins reading a romance novel – that made me laugh.
Who is your favorite character in your story? Your least favorite?
Of course, Charlotte is my favourite. However, I do love Louisa too. As for my least favourite, that’s easy – the Grande Dame of Rosings, Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
What is your favorite event and time in History?
I love the Victorian Era. Despite all the war and the poverty, there was a lot happening at that time. If I had a time machine, that’d be one era I’d visit. (As a rich woman, of course.) I’d also like to find out the truth about the Vikings. There’s so much evidence that they weren’t marauders, I’d like to see that for myself.
I have also traced my family tree, so I’d like to go back in time and sneak a peek at my ancestors. One of them was Sir John Vassall, Alderman of London and the owner of the Mayflower. I’d like to find out about him too, and the true story behind that history.
Just do it. Go for it. Keep focused, and don’t get distracted. Surround yourself with people you can trust, editors, proof readers, cover artists etc. That’s important, as there are a lot of charlatans out there. If in doubt, there are a lot of author groups that will offer advice. It’s hard work, but worth it in the end.
I’ve always loved Shakespeare’s line from A Comedy of Errors; “Many a man hath more hair than wit.” That’s so true
Author Bio & Links
Karen Aminadra (pronounced Amin-ah-dra) is an author and teacher who lives in Northamptonshire, England with her husband. She was born in London and grew up in Hertfordshire ‘the land of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice’. She has travelled, lived and worked all over the world including Ecuador, Russia and Spain. She still has the 'wanderlust' and loves to travel.
At the age of 11, Karen won a writing competition at school with a horror story which had a twist in the tale and ended comically. This produced much needed encouragement from her teachers, spurred her on, and she has been writing stories ever since.
She not only writes Jane Austen Continuation Novels, but other types of Fiction Novels with a good helping of historical romance, crime and mystery. She loves to read, loves history, Georgian architecture and learning about other cultures.
To find out more please visit www.karenaminadra.com
Follow me on twitter @kaminadra and Facebook
And learn more about me and my work on my blog.
We are delighted that Stephanie has chosen to interview Karen Aminadra who is the author of Charlotte, one of our medallion honorees at www.bragmedallion.com. To be awarded a B.R.A.G. MedallionTM, a book must receive unanimous approval by a group of our readers. It is a daunting hurdle and it serves to reaffirm that a book such as Charloote merits the investment of a reader’s time and money.
I haven’t read many books that take place during the Italian Renaissance and I was delighted to receive this book from Donna Russo Morin for review. I believe this period of time the arts were at its strongest and most sought after. Great artist come from this period. Donna does a brilliant job showing this. This story takes place in Florence. Battista an “art collector,” is really an agent for King François of France. Battista is collecting sought after pieces of art for François that leads him to Aurelia.
Aurelia is a lady of privilege who longs for freedom and adventure. She gets her chance when she helps Battista escape the palace she lives in after he tries to steal a piece of art. Together they embark on a journey for the relic he must find for the King of France. Throughout the story they travel to other cities in search for clues while visiting an artist, Michelangelo, a friend of Battista along the way.
This story is enchanting. There is a particular scene that reached out to me. It was a scene where Battista and Michelangelo were toasting and they raise their goblets and Michelangelo says, “True painting never will make anyone shed a tear. Good Painting is religious and devout in itself. Among the wise nothing more elevates the soul or raises it to adoration than the difficulty of attaining the perfection-with sculpture-which approaches God and unites itself to Him.” So eloquently put.
Donna has such a way of words and writing about her characters. You feel like your right there beside them. You experience the same adoration as they do for art. I admire their passion and their sense of adventure. Her descriptions of the arts and the palaces are breath-taking. So much that you can imagine them as described
I especially enjoyed the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. For example, “In that book which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words,” Here beginneth a new life.” –La Vita Nuava.
I stumbled on a few words I was unfamiliar with and had to stop to look up a few pronunciations and definitions. I almost rated the story three and a half stars. However, since the story-line and plot was solid, and I love the characters, I rated it four stars!
Jo Ann Butler's debut historical fiction novel, Rebel Puritan, is inspired by her 8th great-grandmother, Herodias Long. Butler blends historical fact and fiction in Rebel Puritan so seamlessly the reader never feels the novel is semi-biographical.
Herod Long is 12 years old when tragedy strikes her family. Her family, farmers in Burlescome, England, are near destitution when her father and oldest brother perish from the bubonic plague. Herod, her mother and brother, Will, are left with a holding they cannot work by themselves.
This dilemma is resolved by Herod's mother, who invites her oldest daughter and her family to work the farm. Unfortunately for Herod, her mother's plans do not include her. Herod and her mother have an acrimonious relationship. Herod is a bit of a dreamer and her mother has no fondness for dreamers.
Herod, another mouth to feed and an unreliable worker, is sent to London to serve her mother's sister. Herod knows what happens to girls who are bonded out or sent away - few return home.
Herod arrives in London to discover Alice Clark, her mother's sister, is a cold woman. Herod is considered little more than a slave 6 days a week, working from dawn til sunset for a woman who complains incessantly and threatens to turn her out penniless for the next infraction. Servitude to this miserly and cruel aunt is Herod's future for the next five years.
Puritanism, the tentacles of which were newly arrived in Burlescome, is firmly entrenched in London. Herod attends church all day Sunday with her aunt and uncle and chafes under the extremism.
It is important to understand Puritanism as it effects much of Herod's life. Puritans were a group of Protestants who were unhappy with the Church of England. They believed in following the laws set out in the Bible without deviation. They also believed in the doctrine of predestination - God has chosen at birth the Elect who will enter heaven and those who are not of the Elect are damned for eternity. No one knows whether they are the chosen, therefore, Puritans worked hard for the glory of God.
It was a harsh lifestyle. The premise of Puritanism was to strip away all material and traditional aspects of the Church of England and practice extreme piety. Puritans were under constant scrutiny by fellow congregation members. Deviation from piety was dealt with swiftly by disapproval and discipline. Hell, fire and brimstone was the primary sermon.
Persecution in England prompted a massive immigration to New England, where communities were formed. These communities adhered to principles of Puritanism strictly. Those found in contravention were subject to banishment, corporal punishment and even, in some cases, death by hanging.
Now back to Herod. Her aunt and uncle operated a tailor's shop. One day when she was minding the counter, a young man came in. Herodios was enthralled and contrived to establish a relationship. This is the man she would marry in great haste (without divulging her true age of 13) so she could escape and immigrate to New England.
Life in New England and with her husband isn't the deliverance she craves. Scraping a living off the land is harsh and her husband, John Hicks, brutal. Puritanism reigns. Herod becomes friends with dissenters within the community, liaisons with repercussions.
Rebel Puritan is a novel of a young girl who struggles to find dignity and freedom within her world; a world in which women have few rights and are subject to male domination. Her efforts bring both success and tragedy. But her determination never fails.
Herod and her world come to life through Butler with her imaginative and gritty details. For example, I felt I lived through Herod in a dugout home on a treed lot in a small community in New England where every action was scrutinized.
Butler is skilled at evoking the realisms, hardships, hard-won victories and inevitable decisions a woman faced in 17th Century England and America. The numerous characters who populate Rebel Puritan have flesh and bones.
I recommend Jo Ann Butler's Rebel Puritan without reservation. I eagerly await receipt the continuation of Herod Long's life in Reputed Wife, to be released later this fall.
My rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Most Excellent)
Darlene Elizabeth Williams
http://darleneelizabethwilliamsauthor.com/hfreviews/rebel-puritan-by-jo-ann-butler-historical-fiction-novel-review/
My first impression of the books was that the farm looked charming, but boring. I'm glad I was wrong! Lost Nation, Iowa is everything you would expect from a small farm town in Iowa. It’s a town where everyone knows your name and your business. However, that doesn’t stop the dynamic Francesca from dancing to the beat of her own drum. Lucinda Sue Crosby has created a memorable set of characters with depth and style for this summer love story. Francesca’s granddaughter relives the best summer of their lives with colorful flare as the duo embark on adventures completely unbecoming a lady of the 1940’s. At the same time, the book also gently probes the cultural taboos of the time while the young Sarah begins coming of age.
The story is well developed and engaging. As a summer beach read this is wonderful and I was moved to tears by the close of the book. I found the descriptions to be full and vivid. The mystery within the story adds a nice touch. It was well constructed and not completely predictable. The cover art however, was a huge disappointment. I think that this was a missed opportunity. After all the wonderful events that unfold within the pages, a more engaging cover would have been good. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a lite beach read, as well as those with an interest in the 1940’s.
Brandy Strake
Interview with Author Roy Pickering
Review: The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd
Interview with Author Sharon Sala
We Have A Winner!!!
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Written by Neil Kurtzman | 23rd June 2019
Donizetti’s Lucia Di Lammermoor is the poster girl for operatic lunacy. She’s been going mad for close to two centuries with no letup in sight. She should be an honorary member of the American Psychiatric Association; she’d fit right in. She’s probably got her own ICD 10 code. But opera has many other examples of madness, if you allow that the art form is capable of anything else. Accordingly, here are 10 mad scenes not by Donizetti – who unsurprisingly died mad himself.
Some of the excerpts below are YouTube videos. Since they are as inconstant as virtue, I’ve placed a link to an alternative site which will allow the viewer to see the video even if its Youtube incarnation vanishes.
First, Donizetti’s contemporary competitor, Vincenzo Bellini. Described by Heinrich Heine as a sigh in pumps, Bellini was the unchallenged master of the long melody. Elvira, the heroine of the Sicilian composer’s last opera I Puritani goes bonkers in the second act. The cause is the typical one in opera – inconstant love. Or at least that’s what she thinks. Everything gets sorted out by the opera’s end and Elvira’s sanity is regained. Qui la Voce … Vien Diletto is sung to great effect by the Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu.
You don’t have to be a soprano to go crazy in opera, even a bass can do it. Sam Ramey was an extraordinary artist capable of the most florid singing as well as mastering the intensely dramatic roles written for a bass. Semiramide was Rossini’s last Italian opera. It was written just before he relocated to Paris. The opera requires a bass with the agility of a coloratura soprano. Since such a singer is also as rare as virtue the opera typically does not succeed unless you have a Sam Ramey available. Fortunately he was in his prime in 1990 when the Met brought back the opera. This year’s appearance of the opera at the Met was less successful than its 90s stagings. Assur is the bad guy in the work. He goes bonkers shortly before the opera ends. But he recovers just in time to be arrested by the opera’s hero, Arsace played by a mezzo soprano, who arrests him after he (Arsace) has killed his mother. Don’t ask, it’s an opera.
Samuel Ramey Deh ti ferma…Que numi furenti
Verdi’s Macbeth has two mad scenes. The Sleepwalking Scene is by far the better known. But earlier in the opera Macbeth has a bout of temporary insanity unlike the permanent state that later afflicts his wife and presages her death. It happens at the party just after Banquo (Banco in the opera) has been murdered by Macbeth’s hitmen. The latter sees Banquo’s ghost which appropriately drives him mental, especially as no one else sees the ghost. This version features Mara Zampieri and Renato Bruson as opera’s most dysfunctional couple. The late Giuseppe Sinopoli wields a powerful baton. The scene shows Verdi’s unparalleled ability to meld drama and melody. Macbeth Act 2 scene 3
Verdi’s second Shakespeare based opera, Otello, appeared four decades after the first version of Macbeth. His skill had gotten even better as the years passed. The end of the third act depicts Otello’s descent into total madness pushed by Iago’s insinuations about Desdemona’s supposed infidelity. By the time the curtain falls Otello is insensate on the ground. This excerpt is from Jonas Kaufmann’s first go at Italian opera’s most daunting dramatic tenor role. He’s joined by Maria Agresta and Marco Vratogna. Antonio Pappano leads the Royal Opera House Orchestra and Chorus in this 2017 performance. Pappano’s baton is flaccid rather than powerful and one of Verdi’s most potent ensembles drags a bit. Otello Act 3 finale
Another Shakespeare based opera is Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet. The Met brought it back in 2010 after 115 years of neglect as a star turn for Simon Keenlyside. He was great in the title role, but the opera was just a tired vehicle. Of course, as in Shakespeare’s play Ophelia goes mad – Ophélie in the opera. No one was better at going crazy than Maria Callas, even if if the music was weak as it is here. Callas Mad Scene from Hamlet
Another bass who loses his reason is Boris Godunov. This a different type of madness from Rossini’ unstable bass. Searing intensity rather than ornamentation is at its core. In Act 2 Boris hallucinates (Hallucination or ‘Clock’ Scene) thinking that the spectre of the dead Dmitriy is reaching out to him. Addressing the apparition, he denies his responsibility for the child’s murder: “Begone, begone child! I am not thy murderer… the will of the people!” He collapses, praying that God will have mercy on his guilty soul. Boris Christoff was the best exponent in the second half of the last century of Mussorgsky’s guilty Tsar. Boris Godunov Mad Scene
Now for some 20th century lunatics. One could easily argue that all of Strauss’ Elektra is one gigantic mad scene. The final scene of this one act opera is from a film by Götz Friedrich conducted by Karl Böhm. Elektra is Lyonie Rysanek and Chrysothemis is Catarina Ligendza.
The Death of Elektra
Alban Berg’s Wozzeck is returning to the Met next season. This opera is another one full of lunatics. The title character is driven mad by all the other crazies that inhabit Berg’s opera. Completely out of his mind he wades into a pond and drowns just before the opera ends. Berg was the only composer to use the 12 tone method successfully, at least in my opinion. The reason for his success is that he didn’t always stick to the atonal system and even more importantly he was very gifted. In this video Toni Blankenheim is the maddened soldier. The late baritone was noted for his work in Berg’s two operas.
Wozzeck’s Death
Peter grimes is by far the most performed, and the best, of Benjamin Britten’s operas. The Canadian tenor Jon Vickers was renowned for his interpretation of Britten’s demented, and more, fisherman. I saw him as Grimes twice. He was riveting in the role. Naturally, Britten said he didn’t care for Vicker’s impersonation. A case where the composer clearly doesn’t know what’s best for his work. Grimes goes mad near the opera’s conclusion.
Peter Grimes – Jon Vickers
Finally, there’s a mad scene in John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles. It received its world premiere at the Met in 1991. It’s been done several times since. The Glimmerglass festival is doing it this Summer. The first performance is July 13. The mad scene is given to Queen Marie Antoinette who can’t get over her execution. It’s an opera about ghosts which is why she sings caput intactus. Teresa Stratas is the queen. She played this role in the Met prima.
They are always with me – Stratas
Well, I could go on a lot longer, but it would be madness to do so.
Lucia Di Lammermoor in HD – Again
Ah Non Credea Mirarti – Bellini and Thalberg
Opera For Maniacs
La Sonnambula in HD
La Fanciulla Del West from the Met 1992
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Home > Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on May 29, 2019
At the invitation of President Putin of the Russian Federation, President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Russia and attend the 23rd St Petersburg International Economic Forum from June 5 to 7.
You are welcome to attend the press briefing here in the Blue Hall at 9am tomorrow, Thursday, May 30, where Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Hanhui will brief the media and take questions on President Xi's upcoming state visit to Russia and his attendance at the 23rd St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Q: Today Cuban Foreign Minister Rodríguez Parrilla and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed a political consultation plan for the period 2020 to 2022. Could you please share more details on this plan?
A: Yes, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla this morning. Afterwards, they jointly met the press and briefed them on the talks. As you said, they signed a political consultation plan for 2020-2022 between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs. China and Cuba maintain a very close cooperative relationship with mechanisms in various areas, including between the foreign ministries.
You may have noticed our press release on this morning's talks. The two sides held deep and thorough exchanges on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. Cuba is the first country in the western hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Over the past six decades, we have grown our friendly relationship following basic norms of international relations and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. We have always rendered each other mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 60th anniversary of the victory of Cuba's revolution. Next year we will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As State Councilor Wang Yi said this morning, China-Cuba relations are at a new starting point.
During Cuban leader President Miguel Diaz Canel's visit to China last year, President Xi Jinping reached important consensus with him on deepening bilateral relations in the new era. The two sides agreed to enhance strategic communication and strengthen practical cooperation in various sectors.
Following that, the two sides now have agreed to step up cooperation in such key areas as new energy, tourism and biopharmaceutical, and to further expand mutually-beneficial cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The two sides also exchanged views on the current international and regional situation. They agreed to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. There was also an exchange of ideas on the Venezuela situation, an issue of mutual concern on which the two sides share much common ground.
Q: Huawei stated recently that without its authorization, FedEx, a US delivery service company, diverted two Huawei packages sent from Japan and addressed to China to the United States, and attempted to divert two more packages sent from Viet Nam and addressed to other Huawei offices in Asia to the United States. This incident has drawn much attention and become a hot topic on social media. Many believe what FedEx claims as an error is actually a "calculated error", possibly at the beckoning of the US government. I wonder if you have any comment? Are you concerned the US side may steal Huawei's technology information through FedEx?
A: We note the media reports and comments on social media. Normally we do not comment on business interactions. However, given what has happened, we believe it's only natural for Huawei and the public to demand a reasonable explanation from FedEx.
I don't know if such misroutings happen a lot with FedEx. If that is the case, I must say a big company like FedEx should have provided better services. If not, it is all the more necessary for FedEx to explain clearly why Huawei packages, one after another, have encountered this problem.
Q: Incumbent President Mutharika of Malawi won the presidential election with 38.57 percent of the vote. I wonder if you have any comment on that? Will the Chinese leader congratulate President Mutharika?
A: We are pleased to see the successful conclusion of Malawi's presidential election and congratulates President Mutharika on his reelection. Under his leadership, we believe Malawi will make greater progress in its national development.
President Mutharika, who attended the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year, highly values Malawi's relationship with China and expressed on many occasions readiness to deepen across-the-board cooperation with China. China attaches high importance to bilateral ties with Malawi. We will work with the Malawian side to deepen friendly communication and cooperation in various fields and deliver more benefits to our peoples.
Q: Yesterday an official of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said that the Chinese people will not be happy if someone contains China using the products made from rare earths exported from China. This statement was also quoted by Xinhua News Agency. Does it mean that China has new considerations on using rare earths as a countermeasure against the US?
A: Since the NDRC is part of the Chinese government, remarks made by NDRC officials certainly are a voice of authority.
Q: We saw that Kong Xuanyou is the new ambassador to Japan. I'm wondering if you could tell us if China has a new envoy on North Korea-related issues?
A: China has all along been playing a constructive role on the Peninsula issue, and we will continue to do so.
As for the new Chinese envoy for Korean Peninsula affairs, we will release relevant information in due course.
Q: You just said that Cuban and Chinese foreign ministers discussed the situation in Venezuela. I wonder if they have reached any kind of agreement to a common reaction for what's happening in Venezuela or what kind of measures or support for the current Venezuelan leadership? I wonder if you could share more details on this?
A: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi had an in-depth exchange of ideas with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla on the Venezuela issue and reached important consensus. I would like to share more details with you.
They agree that the Venezuela issue can only be solved through peaceful, independent consultation and dialogue between the government and the opposition. That serves the interests of all Venezuelans and defends non-interference in domestic affairs, a basic norm of international relations. China and Cuba will strengthen communication with countries in the region and the international community to continue to play a constructive role in the settlement of this issue.
Q: The US Treasury Department has said again that countries including China are suspected as possible currency manipulators. I wonder if you have a comment on that?
A: We note the US report. Its conclusion against labeling China a currency manipulator is consistent with common sense and the shared view of the international community. We hope the US will respect facts and market laws and not politicize exchange rates. We have repeatedly advised it to abide by multilateral rules and not conduct unilateral assessments of other countries' exchange rates. It is not for the US to say whether a country is manipulating its currency or not. Relevant multilateral institutions' exchange rate assessments are better authorities.
China will resolutely deepen market reform of the exchange rate regime, continue to improve the managed, floating regime based on market supply and demand and with reference to a basket of currencies, and keep the RMB exchange rate basically stable at an adaptive and equilibrium level.
Q: Tomorrow is the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Do you have information about who is going to represent China tomorrow?
A: The Chinese leader has sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Modi on his reelection as the Indian Prime Minister. We have also expressed congratulations in our previous press conference.
As for your question regarding the Chinese envoy for Prime Minister Modi's inauguration ceremony, the same question was asked recently by other Indian journalists. We will release information in due course.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on May 28, 2019 (2019-05-28)
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Young leaders encouraged to have their say
State Member for Forest Hill, Neil Angus MP is encouraging young people aged 16 to 25 to make their voices heard as part of the annual YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament.
“Youth Parliament is a program designed to give young Victorians a chance to be heard at the highest levels of State Government, on a wide range of issues relevant to young people’s lives,” Neil Angus said.
“I hope that young people within the Forest Hill electorate put their hand up to take part in the program so they can make a valuable input that represents the experience of living in our local community,” Mr Angus said.
As part of the program, twenty teams of six participants receive training in public speaking and leadership at residential camps, as they research issues that they are passionate about. From this research, they develop a Bill, which is debated in the Victorian Parliament over three days in July.
Youth Parliament has a long and successful history in Victoria, having helped shape more than 25 pieces of Victorian legislation including laws on mandatory bike helmets, roadside drug testing and gun reforms.
Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Cindy McLeish MP said Youth Parliament presented a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn leadership skills.
“Young Victorians are not just the leaders of tomorrow – they are the leaders of today. Youth Parliament helps to teach our young leaders the skills needed to raise the voices of young people in the community,” Ms McLeish said.
Applications are now open and close on Thursday 7 March 2019. For more information on how to apply, visit http://www.vicyouth.ymca.org.au/programs/youth-parliament.html
Media contact: Neil Angus MP 03 9877 5628 or neil.angus@parliament.vic.gov.au
Liberal Nationals to fund new Tasers for Forest Hill police
Andrews Labor Government confirms cuts to school asbestos removal program
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Reflections on Archaeology
An important new report has been published by the British Academy on the current state of archaeology in Britain. The report emphasises the need for a single authoritative voice for the discipline and recommends that, as a matter of urgency, the major stakeholder organisations come together to find a solution to the problem that in its considered view threatens the future health of the discipline.
The Reflections on Archaeology project was launched in 2016 to celebrate the significant strengths in UK archaeology and honestly reflect on the challenges it needs to tackle if it is to continue to thrive. Three roundtables entitled “What archaeology is, what it does and how it tackles global challenges and global questions”, “The educational landscape of archaeology across the life course”, and “Speaking for the discipline” were held over 2016 bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders.
The report to reflect the outcomes of the roundtables has been put together by a group of academic authors from across the UK, led by Professor Graeme Barker FBA of the University of Cambridge. Prof Barker said, “As we witnessed with the astonishing discovery of the remains of Richard III in Leicester, British archaeology has huge gravitas on the global stage.
“According to the latest QS world university rankings, the four top-ranked archaeology departments in the world are in Britain, and there is enormous public interest in new discoveries.
“However, as this report makes clear, we face significant challenges to protect our fragile archaeological resource for future research, education and public enjoyment. In taking an honest approach to the current state of UK archaeology, we hope that the British Academy’s report will go some way to addressing these challenges and highlighting how crucial it is that we do not see archaeology become a thing of the past.”
At the launch event at the British Academy on 29 March, the CBA’s Director, Dr Mike Heyworth MBE, welcomed the new report and agreed that there was much to celebrate, “Archaeologists working in Britain are world leaders in academic research and teaching, in professional practice, and in public engagement, and there is huge public enthusiasm for the work of archaeologists across the UK.
“However, we face a range of challenges including the recent loss of A-Level Archaeology, Brexit related threats to research funding, the ongoing impact of public sector cutbacks on local government historic environment services, planning reforms reducing the protection of our archaeological heritage in England, and continuing poor standards of pay and conditions for many highly-skilled colleagues which makes it harder to attract new entrants to the profession.
“The CBA is keen to participate in discussions with anyone who can add value to our work. We would agree that now, more than ever, is the time to put aside organisational divides and historical traditions to stand back and consider what is best for archaeology in Britain. We look forward to working with the British Academy and other key stakeholders to enhance existing collaborations and face up to the challenges that confront us.”
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December 15, 2015 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today. For other up-to-the-minute news, check out ITI’s Twitter account: @ITINewsBreaks.
Gale Debuts 19th-Century Crime and Punishment Collection
Gale launched Crime, Punishment, and Popular Culture, 1790-1920, its new primary-source archive of more than 2 million pages of material on 19th-century history, literature, law, and criminal justice. It consists of sources such as trial transcripts, police and forensic reports, criminal case files, detective agency records, detective novels, and newspaper accounts.
Researchers can use it to explore the rise in crime during the Industrial Revolution, the development of metropolitan police departments, and the public’s fascination with sensationalized true crime stories. Content comes from institutions such as the U.S. National Archives, the American Antiquarian Society, and the British Library.
7/2/2015 Gale Integrates Academic Content With Google for Education
9/3/2015 Gale Announces Academic Library Survey Results
9/22/2015 Gale Shares TEAMS Award Winners
11/12/2015 Gale Integrates Google Apps for Education Into More Products
12/1/2015 Gale Provides Online Access to Early Arabic Texts
1/12/2016 Gale Plans Launch of Gender and Sexuality Archives
1/14/2016 Gale Offers Libraries Interactive Science Products for Students
3/17/2016 Gale Partners With Egyptian Government for Collections Access
3/22/2016 Gale Overhauls Digital Archive Program
4/7/2016 Rosen Publishing Takes Over Gale Imprints
5/10/2016 Gale Rolls Out New Science Resource
5/17/2016 Gale Debuts U.S. Fiction Primary Sources Archive
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Review - Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide
by Barent Walsh
Guilford Press, 2012
Review by Beth Cholette, Ph.D.
Apr 23rd 2013 (Volume 17, Issue 17)
Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide (Second Edition) is author Barent Walsh's follow-up to his comprehensive guide first released in 2006. In his Preface to the new edition, Walsh notes that this version includes eight new chapters (2, 8, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, and 24, four of which are written by new contributing authors), covering topics ranging from formal assessment to multiple self-harm behaviors. Walsh also talks about how this latest volume is structured around a stepped care model, meaning matching the specific treatment intervention to the individual client ("stepping up" or increasing the treatment as necessary). Finally, the author mentions that all chapters from the prior edition have been updated. These enhancements make for a second edition that is nearly one hundred pages longer than the first.
As with the first edition, Walsh has divided this volume into three parts, but these sections now have greater specificity, especially Part II, which focuses on treatment. Part I, Definition and Contexts, includes information on distinguishing self-injury from suicide and a brief new chapter on how self-injury is more directly related to suicide. This first part also presents biographical information as well as a biopsychological model for self-injury.
The majority of the new edition centers around the middle section, Assessments and Treatment: A Stepped-Care Model. Part II is further sub-divided into Treatment Steps 1 through 4. As noted above, these include the less intensive interventions, from simple assessment and management of self-injury, to more significant care--for example, residential treatment for adolescents and managing multiple self-harm behaviors. More moderate interventions include replacement skills and cognitive treatment, and new chapters cover family therapy, pharmacological options, and complications related to PTSD and/or body image issues.
The final section (Part III) addresses Specialized Topics. These include a guide for caregivers, information on the effect of social contagion and managing self-injury in school settings, and new entries on the "choking game," foreign body ingestion, and self-injury in correctional settings. Finally, Walsh has included an extremely helpful Appendices segment. I have been a fan of the "Breathing Manual," a compilation of various different breathing techniques, since it first appeared in the original volume; I have created a handout based on these strategies that I use frequently with my college student clients (not just those who self-injure). Unique to this edition is the inclusion of clinical scales to assess self-injury (as mentioned in the new assessment chapter by author Jennifer Muehlenkamp), including the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM) and the Alexian Brothers Urge to Self-Inure Scale (ABUSI).
Other books on self-injury are available, but none is so comprehensive in approaching treatment in a way that is extremely useful to mental health practitioners. In Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide (Second Edition), author Barent Walsh has enhanced an already-excellent manual to make it even more useful in clinical decision-making--a must-have reference.
© 2013 Beth Cholette
Beth Cholette, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who provides psychotherapy to college students.
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B&W Darkroom Rental
ABOUT MIP
Photo and art events worth checking out
Published by Miami Institute Of Photography on 7 November, 2017 7 November, 2017
November 9-12
In 1997 the city of Paris offered a unique event dedicated to photography. From then on, Paris Photo has been considered the world’s largest international art fair dedicated to the photographic medium. On November 9-12, 2017, people interested can attend the historic Grand Palais to enjoy the 21st edition of Paris Photo, dedicated this time to Karl Lagerfeld.
Held annually, Paris Photo is the ideal place for collectors, professionals, artists, and enthusiasts who want to get acquainted with the diversity of the artworks that mirror the worldwide trends through exhibitions, awards, book signing sessions, special events, and talks and discussions with artists, curators, critics, and historians.
This year, Paris Photo proposes to visit the fair through the eyes of Karl Lagerfeld, by selecting his personal favorites, “An original way for the public to contemplate the artworks exhibited by the gallerists and curators, while discovering the aesthetic universe of Karl Lagerfeld”, as stated in the press release of the event.
Karl Lagerfeld, fashion designer, publisher and book dealer, began working as a photographer in 1987. Lagerfeld has since received the Cultural Prize from the German Photographic Society and the ICP Trustee Award from the International Centre of Photography.
www.parisphoto.com
#parisphotofair @ParisPhotoFair
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram
Miami Street Photography Festival 2017 (MSPF)
December 7-10, 2017 at HISTORYMIAMI Museum
https://www.miamistreetphotographyfestival.org/miami-photo-series
MSPF is an international photography festival showcasing the best of contemporary street and documentary photography. Organized along with the HistoryMiami Museum, the goal of the Festival is to establish a global platform for learning through exhibitions, workshops, lectures and other events.
“There is no set-up involved, no manipulation of the scene and very little or no post-processing of the image. This realism has provided an accurate and insightful record of street culture throughout the world. With images portraying everything from the ugly, gritty side of life to more humorous situations, they are moments that unless captured, might otherwise go unnoticed”, details its Web page about the event, that reaches its sixth year.
The programming, that includes workshops, exhibits and portfolio reviews, will take place at the HistoryMiami Museum.
Workshops have limited capacity, the interested please review the requirements in order to register. Costa Manos, Harvey Stein, Maggie Steber and Veneet Vohra, are some of the instructors that will be sharing their visions on street photography.
For details follow
https://www.facebook.com/MiamiStreetPhotographyFestival/
December 7 – 10, 2017
In year 2000 Art Basel opened in the city of Miami, building bridges for contemporary arts between Europe and America. That first edition featured 160 galleries from 23 countries and attracted 30,000 visitors, also launching Art Basel Conversations, panel discussions with leading members of the art world that provide access to first-hand information on diverse aspects of collecting and exhibiting art.
“This year, over 200 of the world’s leading international Modern and contemporary art galleries display artworks by over 4,000 artists, including paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, film, video, and digital art. Visitors can find works ranging from edited pieces by young artists to museum-caliber masterpieces”.
For more information on Art Basel Miami visit www.artbasel.com
Hemera Collective: Photo50 Curator 2018
Photography focus day: Jan 19
Photo50 is London Art Fair’s annual exhibition of contemporary photography, providing a critical forum for examining some of the most distinctive elements of current photographic practice.
This year London Art Fair announces the Hemera Collective as the guest curator of the exhibition, the first collective to curate London Art Fair’s annual exhibition of photography.
“Hemera Collective is a curatorial and collaboration led group specialising in photography and lens-based media, producing exhibitions and participatory programmes that draw from multiple disciplines with the aim to encourage new perspectives and facilitate debate”.
From collaboratively produced research projects to artists that draw on the circulation of images, knowledge, and capital; Photo50 2018 examines vital directions in contemporary photographic practice. This year exhibit is entitled Resolution is not the Point.
For more information on the fair visit http://www.londonartfair.co.uk/
FIELD TRIP EVERGLADES
FIELD TRIP EVERGLADES Saturday May 11 / 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm Conservation photographer Matt Stock has been in the field over 70 times over the last two years exploring the remote regions of the Read more…
Exhibit Miquel Salom Wet Plates.
Exhibit Miquel Salom Wet Plates: The Miami Institute of Photography proudly presents Miquel Salom’s “Saving a Life” Exhibition.Photographic artist Miquel Salom is the first Spanish artist to bring art to Miami using the ‘Wet Plate Read more…
The 5 Photographers we are entirely in love with!
Dorothea Lange The 5 Photographers we are entirely in love with! In this time full of love and friendship, we share with you some of the photographers that make us vibrate from the heart. What’s Read more…
119 NE 54 TH ST, Miami, FL, 33137
info@mipworkshops.com
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Oyotunji
Yoruba Kingdom in South Carolina, USA
Watch: NigerianWiki-YouTube Video
Pass through the gates and enter the Kingdom of Oyotunji, Nigeria. Capital of the Yoruba people of the Western Hemisphere, Oyotunji welcomes visitors with a sign that reads, "You are now leaving the United States and entering this Kingdom." Once you have entered, you are, for all purposes, in Nigeria. Oyotunji is a mysterious little village nestled snugly in Beaufort County, S.C. Such modem cities as Charleston, S.C., to the north and Savannah, Ga., to the south are forgotten in this 10-acre paradise of the Yoruba people. His Royal Highness Oba Oseijeman, crowned in 1981 in Ife, Nigeria, reigns over all Yorubas in the Western Hemisphere from this post in South Carolina.
Make no mistake: This is a Yoruba kingdom, and its residents practice a lifestyle that dates back more than 5,000 years. "If you understand the Greeks and their religion, then you'll understand the Yoruba," says my guide, Baba Obafemi, priest of Osun and Ogungun. "Our ancient people studied the planets, and our gods are named after those heavenly bodies."
A slight but powerful man, Obafemi speaks in a soft, lyrical voice. "Many scoff," he says. "Even many African Americans have turned their backs on us and their roots, but we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year. We've had to struggle to build our village, but we have followers from across the U.S. and Canada, and we'll continue to grow."
He adds, with a twinkling eye, "Our women have never needed the women's rights movement. They have always been in charge."
According to Obafemi, not only do women dictate the homes they and their new husbands will have, but husbands also are required to have enough money to finance their wives in the businesses they desire. For those and other reasons, young women are allowed to marry in their early teenage years, and they are allowed to marry men 10 to 15 years their seniors. "They need older men who are established in business and who can take care of them," says Her Royal Grace Iya Orite.
Yoruba first took hold here in the 1960s. Oseijeman was part of that movement, being one of the senior members of the political group formed to start the Republic of New Africa, an idea born in Harlem to promote a new Africa in the United States by having the American people give them five states. "We were searching for something to fill in that great rupture in our heritage caused by slavery, and many of us found it with the Yorubas," Oseijeman explains.
Early on, Oseijeman saw that the movement was doomed to failure. "There was too much idle talk about getting a huge piece of the United States, and not enough on our work ethics," he says. He knew that the only way to return to his African roots was to find land, buy it and build a Yoruba village. He and his followers founded their village in swampy, overgrown and infested acreage in South Carolina's southeastern low country because of one man--Martin Delany.
It was Delany who, just after the Civil War, encouraged newly freed blacks to solidify their freedom through the acquisition and efficient management of land. Gen. William T. Sherman had issued Special Field Order No. 15, setting aside a portion of the low country rice coast south of Charleston for the exclusive settlement of blacks. Delany, then an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau in South Carolina, promoted the idea that freedom was meaningless without a solid economic base. Today, many black landowners in the immediate region of the Yoruba village trace their ownership back to that period. "So you see, we're right in the middle of that history," says Obafemi.
In spite of rumors (a particularly vicious one is that any white man caught on the property after dark never leaves the village), the Yorubas are a hard-working, pleasant and studious people who welcome everyone to spend a day, a weekend or a year with them.
"We actively seek people to visit with us," says Iya Orite. "It's the only way we can let people know about our wonderful culture and lifestyle." Bierne Keefer is a freelance travel writer in Clearwater, Fla.
Retrieved from "http://nigerianwiki.com/index.php?title=Oyotunji&oldid=3982"
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because “Keep in Mind” is one of the songs on this new album
LOCASH COWBOYS – ALBUM REVIEW at www.MusicChartsMagazine.com
The first thing I need to say about LoCash Cowboys self-titled, debut album is ‘it’s about time’. The duo, made up of Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, have been around for a while, putting two singles, “Here Comes Summer” and “Keep in Mind,” in the Top 40 back in 2010. They released more singles in 2011, 2012 and 2013, but none of them got as much air time as I think they should have. As a result, not many people heard the songs or requested the songs to be played on the radio, and none of these songs did very well on national music charts.
This singer/songwriter team has had a Number 1 single, but it wasn’t something they recorded. Keith Urban took “You Gonna Fly,” written by Preston and Chris, to the top of the charts, in 2012. Tim McGraw had a Top 10 hit, “Truck Yeah,” also written by this duo.
Several songs LoCash Cowboys previously released as singles are also part of this new album, including my favorite, “Keep in Mind.” I will never understand why this song peaked at No. 34 on Billboard’s country chart. Well written, and certainly well performed, the song should have been a Number 1 hit for the duo. It seems not enough radio stations picked the song up at the time of its release.
Other songs on the new album are “Chase a Little Love,” “You Make it Look Good,” “I Hope,” “Hey, Hey, Hey,” “Best Seat,” “Little Miss Crazy Hot,” “Bounce,” Love Drunk,” “Fine,” “Independent Trucker,” and “C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.” Nine of the 12 songs were written or co-written by Chris and Preston. George Jones is a featured guest vocalist on the song “Independent Trucker.”
This debut album comes just six months after the signing with their new label, Average Joes Entertainment. Fans will find a little of everything in the music on this new CD. A lot of the songs are about family and fun, some are flirty songs, and of course there are some of the high-energy songs you will hear at their stage shows.
Not surprising they included “C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.” and “Hey, Hey, Hey” on this new project. These are two of the songs the duo has been performing for a long time. Fans probably can’t think ‘LoCash’ without thinking ‘C.O.U.N.T.R.Y.’
I wasn’t a fan when I first heard LoCash Cowboys. Their music was loud, and seemed to be more for the young country/rock fan than it was for the older, more traditional country music listener. However, they won me over with “Keep in Mind,” and they are certainly keeping my attention with songs like “Chase a Little Love,” and “I Hope.” Whatever you may be in the mood to listen to, they seem to have a song that will work for you. I’ve seen them in concert several times, and if they are ever back in this area I will definitely see them again. It didn’t take long for me. I went from ‘I don’t like them,” to “They’re ok,” to “I’m one of their biggest fans” in no time at all!
When I listen to a CD for the first time, I pick a favorite. I didn’t think I would have to do that this time, because “Keep in Mind” is one of the songs on this new album, and because that will always be my favorite LoCash Cowboys song. But I did pick a ‘second favorite.’ That honor is going to “I Hope.”
Preston tells his fans that what country music really boils down to is the power of the song. His hope is that the group will be able to reach out to both the older and younger crowd. One of the hopes for the duo was that this album contain songs that best define LoCash. I think they accomplished that.
You can get all your LoCash Cowboy news by visiting their website at www.locashcowboys.com, and follow them on Twitter @locashcowboys. Keep up with everything country music by visiting our website at www.countryschatter.com, and follow us on Twitter @countryschatter.
Music Charts Magazine Album and Artist Reviews © Permission must be asked to reproduce this article.
Tagged and because that will always be my favorite LoCash Cowboys song. But I did pick a ‘second favorite.’ That honor is going to “I Hope.”, because “Keep in Mind” is one of the songs on this new album, I pick a favorite. I didn’t think I would have to do that this time, LOCASH COWBOYS Album Review at MusicChartsMagazine.com, Music Charts Magazine Album & Artist Reviews, Music Charts Magazine USA, USA Music Charts Magazine, When I listen to a CD for the first time
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opensource.xml
The ORDS Open-Sourcing Project
The ORDS Open-Sourcing Project was a Jisc-funded project to modularize the Oxford Database-as-a-Service (DaaS) software that underpins the ORDS and release it under an open-source licence.
It was always the intention to make the ORDS an open-source resource that could be deployed by organizations beyond the University of Oxford. Developing new software is, however, a complicated and time-consuming process, and it was agreed that the service should be piloted within Oxford to gauge demand and bring it to maturity.
Once this goal had largely been achieved, the next step was to adapt the software to enable public access to the source code and encourage the growth of a development community around it. We received expressions of interest from several UK and European universities regarding the possibility of deploying their own instances of the ORDS, as well as from Barclays and NASA.
The Open-Sourcing Project had the following objectives:
To open-source the Database-as-a-Service code that underpins Oxford's 'Online Research Database Service' (ORDS) by making the code available from an appropriate open-source code repository under an open-source licence
To render the code deployable by other UK HE institutions by:
Ensuring that alternative (non-Oxford University) branding can be applied
Adapting the code to enable alternative authentication mechanisms
Creating easily-deployable bundles
To begin the process of building an open-source community around the software
To ensure that an appropriate open-source governance model is in place to aid further development beyond the project itself
To understand how to promote the ORDS to the UK HE sector (in collaboration with JISC)
The ORDS Open-Sourcing project ended in spring 2016.
The ORDS code is now available on Github. It is divided into a number of repositories:
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-test - the documentation hub
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-ui
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-database-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-statistics-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-audit-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-user-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-project-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-database-structure-api
https://github.com/ox-it/ords-security-common
Builds and test results can be tracked at https://travis-ci.org/ox-it/
Binaries are available for download from http://jcenter.bintray.com/uk/ac/ox/it/ords/
Commercial support is available from Cetis LLP, who did the open-sourcing work.
Development of the ORDS system at Oxford has now ceased. For further information, please contact either Scott Wilson at Cetis LLP or the IT Services Research Support team.
Background, projects, and funding
ORDS Service Level Description
Accessibility| © University of Oxford
OUCS documents are available in alternative formats through advance request from the Help Centre.
Author James A J Wilson, 2015-10-06.
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The Village Club
18 oz American Bistro
Resto!
Sennara
Desert Lotus
Cubes Lounge
Properties » The Village – Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. » The Neighborhood » Points of Interests
Abu Dhabi Corniche
Abu Dhabi Corniche is considered one of the city’s most picturesque sights. With its landscape walks, play areas, and milieu of modern buildings overlooking the beach, the Corniche is considered a favorite spot for expatriates. The Abu Dhabi government has recently opened a public beach at the Corniche. Visitors will enjoy designated swimming areas, refreshment and snack outlets, sun umbrellas, toilets, beautiful gardens and a volleyball pitch. To ensure visitors’ safety, floating fences extend 40 m into the sea and trained life guards are positioned in surveillance towers to monitor swimmers.
This luxurious, seven- star hotel is located to the east of the Breakwater on a 1.3 km stretch of sandy beach. Emirates Palace is one of the touristic attractions in the capital. It is located 9 km away from the One to One hotel.
Al Hosn Palace
Also known as the ‘White Fort’, Al Hosn Palace is the oldest building in Abu Dhabi city. It was built in 1793 and became the residence of the ruling sheikh. The Culture and Heritage authority is in the process of restoring the old fort and building a museum on its grounds.
Cultural Foundation
Located next to Al Hosn Palace, the Cultural Foundation of Abu Dhabi encompasses the National Library, the National Archives and the Institute of Culture and Art. The Cultural Foundation organizes and hosts many events, including concerts, film festivals and art exhibitions. Local and international artists often display their work at the exhibition center, and crafts and language workshops are available throughout the year. The Cultural Foundation is located 5 km away from the One to One hotel.
As the name suggests, the Heritage Village displays traditional Bedouin lifestyle. It is located 11 km away from the One to One hotel.
Women’s Craft Centre
Situated off the airport road, the Women’s Craft Centre displays a variety of handcrafts, including weaving, embroidery, sewing and basketry. Visitors who are interested in buying genuine traditional handcrafts will find plenty to choose from here. The Centre is located 12 km away from the One to One hotel.
Sheikh Zayed Mosque is the third largest mosque in the world. It was named after the father and founder of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The mosque exemplifies majestic Arabic style architecture with its exquisite floral marble design. The mosque can accommodate 30,000 worshipers and has four minarets. The floor is covered with the finest Persian carpets and the mosque’s seven chandeliers are covered with copper and gold. Although only Muslims are allowed to enter mosques, Sheikh Zayed Mosque has become a main tourist attraction for people of all religions. It is located 20 km away from the One to One hotel.
It has become a common practice in Abu Dhabi to develop natural islands into residential communities, complete with stunning beachfront houses and leisure and touristic activities.
Al Saadiyat Island: Located to the north east of Abu Dhabi, Al Saadiyat Island has become popular with tourists for its mangroves reserves, esteemed museums and thriving arts district. This world-class cultural destination will house a Guggenheim Museum for contemporary art, a Louvre Universal Museum, a performing arts center, a maritime Museum and the Sheikh Zayed National Museum.
Yas Island: Another famous attraction, Yas Island offers racetracks, signature hotels and the Ferrari theme park.
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New Regulations to Be Followed by a Weed Delivery Service
August 31, 2018 by Brendan Scott
California is one of the states that has regulated cannabis for both medical and recreational uses. This means that a weed delivery service is also allowed to operate in the state. However, emergency regulations had to be put in place for this and those restricted the areas in which these delivery services were allowed to operate. As a result, there were many clients that had a medical or recreational need for marijuana but that would not be able to access them. Essentially, while the state allowed both medical and recreational use of the substance, different localities were able to determine for themselves whether or not they would agree with that. This is now in the process of changing.
Proposed Changes to a Weed Delivery Service
Emergency regulations were put in place but permanent regulations are now being proposed. The public still has some time to respond to these proposals, but it looks as if they will be accepted. Various hearings have been and continue to be held across the state so that everybody can have a voice in the matter.
In the past, the regulations stipulated that it wasn’t possible for cities to forbid a legal marijuana delivery service from passing through their towns. Some municipalities interpreted this as that they were forced to make a stop. Others interpreted this as they were allowed to drive through, but were not allowed to stop. This law clearly required more clarification and the proposal is now that all legal delivery drivers are allowed to both drive through and stop in any jurisdiction in the state.
This is a huge win for those who are in the cannabis delivery business. Before these proposals, local areas had a lot of control over what could and could not enter their localities. This caused significant economic damage to legal operators, while also stopping patients with a medical need for cannabis from accessing the products that could help them. As a result, it should now be possible for people who have a medical need for cannabis to access it, regardless of where they live. However, already, this is raising some questions in terms of age and whether those under the age of 18 may be able to access marijuana so long as they have a prescription.
Overall, however, California legislators believe that the proposed changes will make it much easier for everybody within the industry to become compliant to the rules, which in turn will have a positive economic impact on the industry itself. Additionally, it will ensure those who currently operate in the black market to change and start to contribute legally to the production and sale of cannabis. The state does accept that there remains a lot of work to be done. However, overall, it should lead to a significant crackdown on illegal operations, which is of benefit to all involved.
California continues to be a model state for others not just in this country but also abroad.
Filed Under: Money Tagged With: marijuana, money, weed, weed delivery
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Out of the Void
We are excited to announce the arrival of, Evil Unleashed, our new full length studio album which was released Monday May 20, 2019 by Screaming…
It's a new year and it's a brand new album with 8 new tracks! Out of the Void gets set to release their 2nd studio…
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MASTERING 101
OUT OF THE VOID just kicking back and having a few laughs as the professionals do what they do...a fun day for sure. " order_by="sortorder"…
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RobertPattinsonFilms.com – Robert Pattinson Movie Network
Queen of the Desert
The Childhood of a Leader
Water for Elephants film renamed ‘Circus’?
Jag February 19, 2010 Water for Elephants
The imdb page for Water for Elephants has been changed to reflect what is rumored to be the new title for the film… ‘Circus’. There has been no official confirmation of the title change from either the Studio or the Production company at this point. The imdb page is still listing Water for Elephants as the films working title.
What are your thoughts on the potential name change? Personally, I think it would be a fail of epic proportions if this is true.
WaterforElephantsfilm.com is working to get official confirmation on the name change and will keep you posted.
Circus don't mess with a classic Rumors this won't make fans happy Water for Elephants
Written by Jag
Pingback: uberVU - social comments()
tinkrbe1l3
i think it would be awful. the original title has touching significance in the book/script. not to mention the literal relationship with elephants in the story. before i read the story, the title didnt do much for me but i was curious. after the story, the title warms my wee heart with memories.
so FAIL if they call it something uninspiring as CIRCUS but it’s not like the title would keep me away 😉 i am looking fwd to this movie BIG TIME
Please Please do not change “Water for Elephants” to “Circus”!!
That would be a shame.
scaperbabe
Please DO NOT change the title to “Circus” which is meaningless to anyone who has read the book. WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is a great title and hopefully if the film script is any good will ring true for those who see the film. (Well here’s hoping any way!)
The title for the film is Water for Elephants. NOT Circus. That was a rumor.
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At Flashbak: Mattel's Mad Scientist Toys (1987)
This week at Flashbak, I remembered an unusual toy line from the 1980s: Mattel’s “Mad Scientist” items.
Here’s a snippet and the url: (http://flashbak.com/too-gross-remembering-mattels-mad-scientist-toys-of-the-1980s-361689/ )
“In 1987, Mattel introduced the world to a great, though messy toy line that encouraged children to take up science, or at least mad science.
First in the line was my favorite of the line: The Mad Scientist Dissect-an-Alien Kit. Here, burgeoning men and women of (mad) science would "yank out alien organs dripping in glowing ALIEN BLOOD!"
The Mad Scientist Dissect-An-Alien Kit box also notes that inside the alien body there are "12 body organs" and "only one way they'll fit together."
So "it's the slimiest puzzle on Earth."
The bug-eyed scientist featured on the box also opines "Yeech! What an oozy operation! Can you make all the organs fit inside the alien?"
The Mad Scientist Dissect-an-Alien Kit includes: "alien, 12 alien organs, Glow-in-the-dark Alien Blood compound, plastic scalpel, Operating Mat, Alien body bag, and a Journal of Mad Experiments with Instructions."
The interesting thing about the Operating Mat is that the colorful background names all twelve of the alien's unusual organs.
There’s the "veinausea," "heartipus," "liverot," "spleenius," "mad bladder," "stumuckus," "blooblob," "fleshonius," "branium," "gutball" and "lungross."
The toy also comes replete with a short comic-book describing the scientist's discovery of the alien creature…”
Please continue reading at Flashbak.
at July 31, 2016 No comments:
Labels: At Flashbak
Arnold Shwarzenegger Day: Maggie (2015)
At this point, a full decade or so since the sub-genre re-ignited in a significant way, we have seen virtually every kind of zombie movie possible. And on TV, The Walking Dead affords us our weekly dose of zombie apocalypse action too.
On one hand, it might be tempting to gaze at all these zombie productions and yell “overkill,” or some such thing.
I see it differently, however.
The surfeit of zombie films -- in conjunction with the rise of indie/DIY horror -- has permitted the genre to expand in new and unexpected directions.
If there weren’t approximately a hundred variations of the zombie film being made each and every year, would we have the creative space for perfect little cinematic grace notes like The Battery (2014), or this film, Maggie (2015)?
I suspect not.
By now, the parameters of the zombie plague are so well-known -- don’t get bitten, shoot the zombies in the head, etc. -- that some movies have chosen to innovate not by going big and epic, but by doing the opposite; by exploring the world of the walking dead on a small and intimate basis.
Directed by Henry Hobson, Maggie chooses this route.
The film has received mixed reviews thus far, and I believe the negative reviews have more to do with audience expectations than any particular quality of the film itself.
Some people think of zombies and they want another World War Z (2013) or some such effort: a gory war story told on a humongous scale.
Maggie is pretty clearly not that thing.
On the contrary, it’s a sweet, unassuming film about a young girl who is going to die from the zombie plague, Maggie (Abigail Breslin), and her heart-broken, soul-broken father, Wade (Arnold Schwarzenegger).
In true Hamlet-like fashion, Wade is paralyzed about what to do for Maggie. He can’t bear to kill her, or rob her of a minute of her life.
But nor can he allow her to continue suffering, or become a danger to others…including his wife and other children.
Tear off Maggie’s genre elements and what you get here is the simple story of a child with a fatal disease, a child with no possible future. Her father wants her to experience that future, but knows it is not to be.
But if he can give her one more day, or a day and a half of that future…isn’t that a victory?
Maggie is nothing more and nothing less than the above-description suggests. It’s a gray, grim character piece that happens to be highlighted by some surprisingly-effective acting from action star, Schwarzenegger. He doesn’t do his standard action man shtick here: a wink and a gag, coupled with his unmatchable charisma and screen presence.
Instead, we see the character’s crushed heart, and total incapacity to resolve Maggie’s dilemma.
As is often the case, it behooves you, going in to a film like Maggie to know what sort of film you’re watching. This isn’t a decapitation-a-minute gore fest. This isn’t an action film at all. Maggie is a sensitive and at times heart-wrenching drama about a family that could be yours…or mine.
On those grounds, Maggie is beautiful effort, an elegiac father-daughter love story.
“You shouldn’t have brought me back.”
In modern America, a necro-ambulist plague infects much of the populace. Urban areas are hardest hit, but some rural areas remain largely unscathed. The U.S. government has established a protocol for dealing with those infected; those who have been bitten by the walking dead. The suffering are allowed to go home with their loved ones for a time, and then -- when “the turn” goes into full effect -- are shipped off to quarantine camps, where they will die.
Weeks after she ran away, young Maggie Vogel (Breslin) is found by her farmer father, Wade (Schwarzenegger) in a hospital ward for the infected. She’s been bitten on the arm, and it’s only a matter of time before she will die.
A kindly doctor informs Wade that first Maggie will lose her appetite, and then she’ll get it back…but for human flesh. A sign of the “turn” is an increased ability to smell…meat. Worse, Maggie’s disease is progressing more rapidly than normal. She has very little time left…
Wade takes Maggie home to the family farm, where her step-mother, Caroline (Joely Richardson) is understandably anxious about her presence. The Vogels’ two younger children are sent away with relatives during the duration of Maggie’s care.
Over time, Wade is forced to confront his responsibility vis-à-vis his daughter. A neighbor has kept her daughter and husband -- both infected -- at home too, but they escape and present a danger to the Vogels. Wade is forced to kill them outright, rather than let them attack. He is warned by a local sheriff not to allow the same thing in his house; not to keep Maggie at home so long that she is a danger to others.
Meanwhile, Maggie confronts the idea that she has no future. She goes out for an evening with friends, including a boy who is bound for quarantine, and dreads the possibility. Soon Caroline leaves the house, and Maggie watches as Wade agonizes over his choices.
Then, Maggie’s “turn” begins. Her eyes go black, and she begins to sense those around her not as people, but as food.
The time for action is coming, but Wade can’t bring himself to do what he must…
“Think about what you did today. And what you may have to do tomorrow.”
There are very few fireworks in Maggie. The film is not about zombies overrunning our infrastructure, or laying siege to our cities and communities. Instead, the film adopts a very simple premise. Early on, a physician tells Wade what to expect, and then we follow Maggie through the stages of the plague. Remembering the doctor’s words, we understand where Maggie “is” on the plague continuum. There is no happy ending and, indeed, no expectation of one.
One of the best scenes in the film sees that physician talking frankly with Wade about his options. This in-mourning dad can take his daughter immediately to quarantine, a kind of hell-on-Earth death-camp. He can give her a government-made death cocktail to kill her, but she will suffer immensely because the cocktail is painful.
Or Wade can end it quickly, with a bullet to the head, ending Maggie’s suffering once and for all.
Not one of those options is a good one, pretty plainly. And Wade spends the majority of the film waiting, attempting to decide on his course of actions. He waits and he waits, and Maggie grows worse.
He waits because he can’t bear for her to die.
He waits because he can’t before her to live in her condition.
As the father, I sympathized completely with Wade’s inaction. He knows he is going to lose his beloved child, but he doesn’t want to take one minute of life from that child. He wants to wait till the last possible moment, till the moment when her humanity is eclipsed, and he knows she must die.
But, moment after moment, encounter after encounter, he finds that there is some of “Maggie” still left in that “turning” zombie. Every time he sees that human quality, he -- again -- can’t act. As viewers, we begin to doubt, frankly, that he is capable of doing what everyone tells him he must do.
I don’t know, honestly, that I could do any better, in the same situation.
My wife tells me she would choose option three for our son -- get it over with quickly and painlessly -- and then turn the gun on herself rather than live with the heart-break. Her reasoning is that it is wrong to let someone we love suffer. I hear and understand that rationale, and perhaps I’m a coward, or simply weak. But I don’t think I could pull the trigger on my son until I knew, 100% that there was no other option; that my child was really and truly lost.
And even then, I don’t know if I could do it.
Maggie is the kind of film that makes you consider such questions. What would you do if your child contracted a plague, and was a danger to others?
On a more mundane level, what would you do if your child contracted, simply, a terminal illness?
How would you talk to that child about the elephant in the room: the idea that he or she simply has run out of future? The parent-child bond is one about learning and preparing, conveying knowledge to the young. Suddenly, that contract is broken, because the child will never grow up, never carry the responsibility to be an adult, and go through life. What’s left to talk about? To connect over?
We see in one scene, as Wade focuses on the past, and the way he and Maggie’s mother met. Shared history is the only thing left when the future is gone.
Other characters in the film, including Caroline, periodically warn Wade that Maggie isn’t herself anymore. And even Maggie coaches her Dad on what he must do.
“You have to do it,” she tells him.
Yet still, Wade can’t bring himself to act. Perhaps there is a part of him that would rather die with Maggie than live without her. Again -- and as I think my wife was trying to express in her own way -- I sympathize with that instinct.
Overall, I appreciate how sensitively and intelligently (but not cloyingly…) the movie explores its themes. In particular, it seemed to recognize a key fact about human nature.
You are always certain how strong you are...until it is your loved ones who are in pain. And then certainty flies out the window. Maggie captures that notion splendidly.
Maggie presents a haunting scenario to think about, and Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers a remarkable performance here. He prowls the film with a hang-dog expression, and an air of defeat. I remember being none-too-impressed with his performance as a grieving husband and Dad in End of Days (1999). I didn’t feel he had the depth, there, to nail that fallen character. But here, he absolutely nails the essence of his character, Wade. He carries an invisible weight on his shoulders, and there’s a sweet gentleness to his interactions with Maggie. Wade is never disgusted, horrified or scared by her. But he is a wreck, facing what for him is the end of his universe, the death of his child. I have never seen Schwarzenegger give such an internal performance before, and his work here is accomplished and award-worthy.
Maggie’s denouement, finds an intriguing answer for Wade’s existential dilemma. I don’t want to give it away, but it stems from Maggie’s strength, and --as it should -- from her love for her father. Maggie’s final act in this life is one that takes her father’s experience fully into account, and goes from there.
What finally emerges then, is a portrait of a loving family facing a horrible situation. The love that Wade and Maggie share for one another is the thing that makes the pain so difficult to contend with, but in the final analysis it is also the quality that gives both individuals the strength to go on and do what they must.
In terms of its imagery, Maggie exists in a kind of de-saturated world of gray, where all joy and hope has been chemically extracted from the visuals. In a world without a future, how can the sky, the landscape, or the people be anything but gray? The film’s visuals are quite lovely at times, though for some stretches it looks like the Vogel’s live on Matthew McConaughey’s farm from Interstellar (2014)
Maggie is a sad -- nay grim -- film. Yet it is one I wholeheartedly recommend. You’ve seen zombies of all types before – fast and slow, brain-eating or not -- but Maggie’s gift to us is worth noting. The film takes the world of the zombie apocalypse and makes it feel personal and close in a way that few genre films have managed.
Labels: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger Day
Arnold Schwarzenegger Day: Terminator 2: Rise of the Machines (2003)
Although Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) from director Jonathan Mostow is not widely considered as successful a film as either of its Cameron-helmed Terminator predecessors, its reputation has improved somewhat in the last few years, perhaps owing to the lousy quality of the follow-up, Terminator Salvation (2009), or perhaps because its own virtues have become more evident with the passage of time.
And the movie does possesses virtues.
Mostow -- a talent who directed one of my favorite action/horror films of the 1990s, Breakdown (1997) -- stages several delirious action scenes in T3, particularly one incredible demolition-derby involving a truck and several police cars.
But more importantly, perhaps, Terminator 3 plays cannily against our ingrained belief as experienced movie viewers that big-budget Hollywood movie franchises tend towards -- if not entropy -- then status quo.
In other words, we go into this third movie with the (cynical?) belief that no meaningful change will occur in the chronology.
Terminators will come. Terminators will fall. Humanity will survive. Judgment Day will be prevented.
Of course, such an assumption proves absolutely wrong here, but in a sense, viewers are “tricked” into believing it, along with lead characters John Connor (Nick Stahl) and Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), right up until the very last minutes of the film.
Thus, the movie’s ending comes up as a genuine surprise, even though, in a sense, it should be perfectly predictable. Accordingly, T3 boasts the courage of its convictions, and functions not as merely as another “terminators stalking in the past” story, but as a turning point for the entire franchise. I have always felt that this approach grants the film a level of artistic integrity that you don’t always find in a second sequel, and which deserves some praise.
And what an ending the movie depicts! Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines ends in a blaze of glory as Judgment Day arrives and nothing can be done to stop it. The twilight of human dominance over the Earth is, paradoxically, beautiful, and lyrically visualized. You get a lump in your throat watching it, and can’t quite believe your eyes.
Uniquely, this denouement also offers the movie series a new thematic approach to understanding “fate,” which has proven one of the key elements of the franchise. If previous entries lived by the motto “no fate what you make,” Terminator 3 makes one consider the not entirely pleasant idea that some destinies are simply meant to be and cannot be changed. You may be able to delay or forestall those destinies, but what was meant to be…will be.
Also on the positive side of the ledger, Kristanna Loken is highly-effective as the T-X, an upgraded Terminator model who can over-power and co-opt other machines, transforming them into allies. This Terminatrix can also sample DNA through “taste” and even inflate her cleavage so as to distract leering male police officers.
Never in the film does one feel that Loken is outmatched by Schwarzenegger’s intimidating physical presence, or that he is destined to emerge triumphant from their physical confrontations. Contrarily, Loken -- like the lithe, youthful Patrick before her -- proves that physical size isn’t a necessity when crafting a sense of menace.
If T3 disappoints in any specific regard, it involves the second act, which doesn’t live up to the promise of the first or the surprises of the third.
Although it is nice to see Dr. Silberman (Earl Boen) again, the interlude at a cemetery -- with police and a shoot-out -- feels like a bit of a time-waster given everything else happening in the story, including the activation of Skynet, the discovery of Kate Brewster’s importance in the scheme of things, and the countdown to Judgment Day.
Also, the absence of Sarah Connor in this story doesn’t quite feel right, though it is clear that Brewster -- who reminds John of his mother -- is being groomed as the next tough female role model in the series.
So Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is not another Cameron-level entry. Yet for what it is, a solid action film with a brilliant ending, it is pretty damned good. T3’s final moments are haunting, beautiful, and surprising, and carry the film over the finish line with a degree of shock and awe. The apocalypse at the end of the film juices the climax, and the franchise itself, and should have provided a grand opening for the most courageous, most inventive Terminator yet made.
Of course, that didn’t happen…
“The life you knew -- all the stuff you take for granted – it’s not going to last.”
It has been years since John Connor, his Terminator protecto, and Sarah Connor prevented the 1997 onset of Judgment Day.
Since then, Sarah has died of cancer, and John (Nick Stahl) has lived off the grid as a nomad. He lurks in the shadows, and fears that the future is, as yet, “unwritten.”
And then, one day in 2003, the war against the machines unexpectedly resumes.
Skynet sends back in time a T-X or Terminatrix (Lokken) to kill Connor’s top lieutenants, including his future-wife, Kate Brewster (Danes).
Fortunately, a T-850 Terminator (Schwarzenegger) has also traveled back in time to stop her. But his mission this time is not to obey Connor’s orders, but Kate’s.
A confused Kate plays catch-up, even as Connor tellers her about the birth of Skynet and the future war with Terminators. Unfortunately, the T-850 has more bad news. The military – and Kate’s father – will activate Skynet today, in response to a virus scuttling the Internet and online communications. Judgment Day comes at 6:00 pm.
Connor, Kate and the T-850 attempt to stop Judgment Day, seeking to destroy the Skynet mainframe. But it won’t be easy…
“I feel the weight of the world bearing down on me.”
In every end, there is the seed of a new beginning.
And in the end of human life that comes with Judgment Day, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines courageously closes the book on storytelling in the pre-apocalypse world, making room for a new beginning.
Pre-apocalypse storytelling has dominated the three films in the franchise and formed the very basis of the storytelling. A cyborg from the future toils in our present to end all our futures.
Yet Rise of the Machines ends in a way that precludes further stories in this paradigm, and in the process veritably demands that the Terminator films not stagnate, but move forward, both chronologically and creatively. It deserves some credit for this twist in the formula, even if the follow-up film, Salvation, squandered the opportunity it provided.
Terminator 3 reaches its dramatic apex in its final moments. Connor and Brewster learn that there is no Skynet mainframe to blow-up, and therefore no way to avert nuclear Armageddon. They must then stand-by as the ICBMs launch, and a new world order is forged out of fire.
This shocking conclusion is visualized in gorgeous terms. We see wide-open, mid-western American skies, farm silos…and then the contrails of ICBMs as they launch, and criss-cross the blue sky. Then we move higher, into orbit, as the contrails blossom into terrifying nuclear mushrooms. It is weird and counter-intuitive to suggest that our destruction could be beautiful, but Terminator 3’s final moments are shocking and weirdly elegiac.
In the last moment before the end, we pause to see how beautiful, how fragile, our world really is. Before all is lost, we see why the world, in John Connor’s words, is such a “gift,” every single day.
But also in this ending, in this turning point, one must note something else: the fulfillment of destiny. Since before John Connor was born, he was destined to be the great leader who frees the human race from the yoke of the oppressive machines, from Skynet.
Together, he Sarah, and the T-800 believe they have averted that destiny, but the John Connor we meet at T-3’s beginning is not exactly thriving. He lives off the grid with “no phone, no address,” having “erased” all connections to society and other people.
It’s not that John wants the world to end, he doesn’t. But when it does happen, in the film’s denouement, he -- like the mushroom clouds -- can at long last blossom; can become what he was meant to be all along. A hero.
No one wants war, no one wants destruction, but there is a difference between trying to escape destiny and facing it with courage, and that seems to be the line the film walks vis-à-vis John. He is finally put into a position where he cannot deny what is coming, and must accept it. “There was never any stopping it,” he recognizes, at long last.
And as I wrote before, John’s journey is on a parallel track with the Terminator franchise. It can no longer keep telling the same stories of traveling back in time and fighting the war with the machines in the past (our present).
Like John, the franchise accepts its destiny in this film, and that is, finally, to tell the rest of John’s story, to show him as the great leader we have heard so much about in the first three films. The franchise must move into the future, post-apocalyptic world now.
One may notice that Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is book-ended by nuclear mushroom clouds, one at the beginning of the film (in John’s imagination) and one at the end, in real life.
Between these two flowers of destruction, John learns to accept his destiny, and no longer tries to change it, or wriggle his way out of it. Again, this is a significant change for the saga, a repudiation of the long-standing franchise aesthetic that fate is elastic and our actions can change it. I’m not saying that I feel one philosophy is better than the other, only that Terminator 3 provides us a shift in thinking that, again, pushes the franchise forward. It suggests that the saga will not be one in which we can keep setting up back or destroying Judgment Day. The inevitable shall happen, and here it does.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines also has some other notable ideas and themes that render it worth a second or third watch. Linda Hamilton’s Sarah Connor is one of the greatest of all female action-heroes in film history (second only, perhaps to Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley). Although Connor is not present in the film, Rise of the Machines at the very least seems mindful of its legacy and responsibility to depict female characters in that kind of light. Though Sarah is (sadly) absent, T3 introduces viewers to the other woman behind this great man, John’s wife, Kate. And it also creates a female menace in the T-X that can rival Arnold in terms of raw power and screen presence. So those viewers who complain about a Sarah-less entry have a point in one sense, but are missing, in another sense, the film’s achievements in a similar regard. Female characters are not given short shrift here.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines moves at a fast, violent clip, and Arnold Schwarzenegger instantly conveys his remarkable magnetism and humor in the role that, more than any other, made him a global star. Arnold may not be a great actor, but he is a great screen presence, and he invites viewers into the world with his trademark humor and self-awareness. By playing an (emotionally-dumb) machine, Schwarzenneger is able to unexpectedly plum scenes for laughs, pathos, and even humanity. You will want to stand-up and cheer, for instance, when the T-850 overcomes the Terminatrix’s programming and re-asserts his prime directive, to save John.
Basically, Schwarzenegger can do no wrong in this familiar role, and he brings his best game to the film. When you couple the presence of Schwarzenegger with the third film’s new, well-expressed philosophy about fate, and the unforgettable ending, there are more than enough ingredients to declare the film an artistic success.
It would have been wonderful if those to whom Mostow passed the Terminator baton for the fourth film, had demonstrated the same level of ingenuity and creative integrity as he did in Rise of the Machines.
To misquote John Connor in T3, the first three Terminator films are a “gift” we should enjoy everyday, especially considering what comes after them.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Day: True Lies (1994)
An elaborate and expensively-mounted remake of the French farce, La Totale! (1991), James Cameron's blockbuster True Lies reveals once more the director's absolute panache in staging and directing spectacular action sequences.
Here, a climactic sequence involving a Harrier jet, a secret agent, a teenage girl, and a Middle-Eastern terrorist is so perfectly played, so vertiginous, that you may find yourself crawling out of your skin for the duration of its running time. I've seen the scene at least three times but watching it last week, I again felt myself growing anxious in my seat...subconsciously wishing to seek safer ground.
Much of this beautifully-shot action film is similarly rousing, particularly the motorcycle vs. horse chase sequence that ends atop a Marriott Hotel roof, and a "war" scene set on the long, narrow bridges connecting Florida Keys. Cameron knows how to expertly layer on unconventional elements in traditional shoot-outs or pursuits -- such as horses, bathroom urinals, elevators, etc. -- and makes the scenes play as both intense and funny.
Visually then, True Lies is unimpeachable. In fact, the imagery remains astounding some seventeen years later, an example of true cinematic "shock and awe." More than anything, the film makes one wish that James Cameron would helm a James Bond film one of these days. This is doubly so, actually, because True Lies knowingly opens with an homage to Goldfinger (1962). There, in the pre-title sequence, Sean Connery rose from the water in a wetsuit. When he took it off, 007 was wearing a pristine dinner jacket. Schwarzenegger pulls the same stunt here after a dive through icy water, and it's a nice way of paying tribute to an action-hero legend and predecessor.
Yet beyond the astounding visual effects and breathtaking action, True Lies is a weird, quirky film with some very dramatic ups and downs.
For instance, the 1994 film spends an inordinate amount of time on humorous scenes that actually play as mean-spirited, and the screenplay doesn't really delve into the film's main characters in very meaningful or deep fashion.
Also some sequences -- while visually powerful -- have no contextual follow-up. A nuclear bomb is detonated in the Florida Keys, and it hardly seems to move the nation -- or the main characters -- at all. The horrifying moment almost seems to play as a (misplaced) romantic background during a passionate kiss.
These concerns established, True Lies does feel very contemporary in the sense that it accurately forecasts the twenty-first century ascent of Middle-Eastern terrorism against the United States. And it certainly predicts a powerful, unaccountable bureaucracy in the U.S. Government as the response to such terrorist attacks. Here, that organization is "Omega Sector," the "last line of defense." Leading Omega Sector is none other than Charlton Heston as "Spencer Trilby," and once more, his right-wing reputation carries a brand of symbolic power and weight.
Indeed, True Lies works primarily as a kind of time capsule of 1994's cultural concerns, echoing the conservative tide that swept Newt Gingrich into power as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Therefore, the next time a newspaper columnist or reviewer informs you how unduly liberal and seemingly slanted left filmmaker James Cameron is (see: Avatar), just bring up True Lies as counter-evidence.
Seriously, it's funny how so many right-wingers wanted to beat-up and tar Cameron over Avatar even though he had already directed a huge, successful film that looks like it came straight from GOP talking points both in terms of foreign policy approach and culture warrior concerns.
"I Married Rambo..."
"Nuclear terrorists take on the nuclear family and live just long enough to rue the day in "True Lies," wrote Rita Kempley in The Washington Post. Her rhetorical flourish is an excellent way of introducing the film's storyline.
Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a secret agent working for Omega Sector, but he leads a double life. His bored but beautiful wife, Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) believes Harry is a mild-mannered computer salesman, when in fact Harry is responsible for having saved the world on more than one occasion...with some much-needed help from his acerbic partner, Gib (Tom Arnold).
Because of his secret life, Harry has little time to spend at home with his family, and even forgets his daughter Dana's (Eliza Dushku’s) exact age. But Harry’s absence from home carries a heavy price. When Helen becomes entangled with a con man named Simon (Bill Paxton) pretending to be a secret agent, her boredom and feelings of emptiness are revealed to Harry.
Seeking to provide his wife a little taste of the adventure she seeks, Harry arranges to send Helen on a manufactured "mission." Unfortunately, a nuclear terrorist named Aziz (Art Malik) and known as the "Sand Spider" abducts Helen and Harry and transports them to the Florida Keys, where the terrorist plots to detonate a nuclear weapon. He wants Harry to confirm for the world, and on videotape, that he boasts the capacity to use the weapons of mass destruction.
Now aware of her husband’s real vocation, Helen teams up with Harry to stop the terrorists before they can detonate several other nukes in the United States.
Unfortunately, Aziz escapes and captures Dana.
Now -- atop a skyscraper in downtime Miami -- the terrorist threatens to destroy the metropolis unless his demands for American withdrawal from the Middle East are met.
After rescuing Helen, Harry races to Miami flying a Harrier jet...
"You aren't her parents anymore. Her parents are Axl Rose and Madonna. You can't compete with that kind of bombardment."
In terms of context, True Lies largely reflects the political and national zeitgeist of 1994. First and foremost, this was the year of the reactionary white, male voter.
So what was the white man angry about back then?
Many things, actually. There was widespread displeasure with the Democratic-led Congress, particularly over corruption and waste, as evidenced by the Dan Rostenkowski House of Representatives post office scandal.
Similarly, First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton attempted to reform America's health care system with a plan for increased government involvement. She met with fierce resistance, and the plan failed.
More generally-speaking, many on America's right had grown increasingly angry about an increasingly toxic popular culture, and about what they viewed as "political correctness" and the "PC police" in the national discourse.
Much of this anger and hostility was ginned up by a relatively new name in talk radio and on the national landscape -- Rush Limbaugh -- but it was also in evidence as early as 1992, when Pat Buchanan spoke at the Republic Convention about a newly engaged "culture war" (one to replace the ended Cold War.) The year 1994 culminated with the historic overturning of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and the dawn of Speaker Newt Gingrich and his "Contract with America."
The reactionary white voter was heard. After the staggering loss of both Houses of Congress, President Clinton modulated his approach to governing. He announced his relevancy, declared the end of Big Government, and then proved once more the adage that only Nixon could go to China by reforming Welfare.
In some very obvious and very subtle ways, True Lies mirrors the conservative mind-set of the mid-1990s.
In broad terms, the film is about a family man, Harry, re-asserting his dominant role as head of the nuclear family.
To re-establish this role, he must eliminate sleazy competitors for his wife's affection such as Simon, re-capture the affection of his estranged daughter following her indoctrination by pop cultural influences (named above as "Madonna and Axl Rose...") and finally, outwit a "nuclear" competitor who has kidnapped his child. It's not an easy assignment, but Harry proves up to it...especially with the full weight and might of U.S. secret ops behind him.
In clever fashion, Cameron approaches "nuclear family life" in True Lies as a concern as grave and serious as nuclear terrorism. When the smooth, suave Harry returns home from a mission at Lake Chapeau, Switzerland, for instance, Cameron opens the scene with a high-angle view of Tasker and Gib huddled in the car.
The camera peers down through the open sun roof of Gib's ride, and the film grammar interpretation of this shot selection suggests Harry's doom and entrapment. He looks small, and in jeopardy as he prepares to return home, to "normal life." We get both a high angle shot and a box or frame (the sun roof window) surrounding the character. It's a double-doozy, so-to-speak.
Later in the film, the Tasker family house is shot from a menacing low angle during a heavy thunderstorm, no less It looks like an imposing haunted house in a horror movie. The choice of shot informs the audience that there's trouble brewing here, both in terms of the wife and the daughter. It's trouble that Harry will need to correct. And boy will he correct it!
Finally, I don't know if I've ever seen a better metaphor for the delicate dance between career and family than the nail-biting finale of this film, which finds Harry flying a Harrier over downtown Miami. His daughter clings precariously to the nose cone of the plane, crying for help. Meanwhile, on the tail fin of the plane, Aziz is on the attack, armed with a machine gun.
With absolute precision Harry must "balance" both situations, or risk total disaster. If he tips one way, his family is destroyed. If he tips the other way, Aziz gets the jump on him. This scene is beautifully vetted both for what it represents (the delicate dance of maintaining home life and career), and in the physical, cliffhanging details. It's also a great, pulse-pounding finale to the film.
By re-engaging with both Helen and Dana, Harry does rescue his family both metaphorically and literally, and that's the movies thematic through-line, a comparison between domestic dangers and foreign ones.
The family that fights terrorists together, stays together, or something like that.
Where this approach becomes a little dicey, I would submit, is in some of the specifics of Harry's methodology. He approaches his family problems with the same take-no-prisoners attitude as he confronts foreign terrorists. On one hand, this approach can be funny. On the other hand, Harry's actions are wildly inappropriate and actually illegal, and Harry is never called on the carpet or made to account for his behavior. Instead, he's rewarded for bending the rules to suit his personal cause.
For instance, without a second thought, Harry engages national security apparatus to trail, apprehend, hold and interrogate Helen and Simon. Forecasting Bush Administration policies, he uses wiretaps -- without warrants -- to do so.
Then -- also forecasting some of the darker imagery of the 2000s, namely in association with Abu Ghraib -- Harry dangerously bullies Simon, his competitor for Helen's affections, throwing him under a black, eyeless hood and threatening to drop him from a precipice overlooking a dam.
But hey, what's a little abuse of power between friends and family?
Actually, this line of "humor" regarding Harry's manipulation of U.S. government funds and resources doesn't get under my skin nearly so much as some of the other material that's associated with it. And that's because -- essentially -- it works with the film's central joke: family life vs. secret agent life. A bit of exaggeration is certainly acceptable here in the name of humor. And again, the idea is to throw political incorrectness to the wind. Nothing wrong with that.
What instead feels a little disturbing about True Lies is the mean-spirited or at least questionable nature of several key moments and sequences.
For example, Gib (Arnold) continually refers to women characters in the film as bitches. Feeling magnanimous, I would give the movie the use of that term three or four times. But the word "bitch" just keeps coming up, and one starts to realize after the umpteenth repetition that it's not just for humor...it's some kind of creepy pathology.
And then Gib actually says "Women: can't live with 'em' can't kill 'em." Funny? Well, is it funny to say "Men, can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em?" I report, you decide.
It's a little bit like watching a comedian who is funny at first, but then keeps repeating the same borderline offensive material until it's not so funny anymore. You realize you're watching someone with a problem -- nay an obsession -- and not someone who is very funny.
On one hand, the frequent use of the word "bitch" may be Tom Arnold's method of attaining some kind of important personal catharsis or closure after his marriage to Roseanne Barr. I certainly wouldn't deny him his right to express those feelings of hostility. But on the other hand, in a movie in which a family man must thoroughly wrestle and wrangle the women in his life (namely his wife and daughter), the last image you want presented is one of rampant misogyny.
In other words, I don't think the near-constant refrain of "bitch" is an example of misogyny on the part of Cameron or other filmmakers, but I do think that -- when coupled with the incredibly traditional plot line of a man wrangling his women -- it adds to the sneaking suspicion that this movie does not like women very much. Which is unfortunate, given Cameron's excellent history with strong female characters.
Perhaps the most memorable scene in True Lies involves Helen's strip-tease in a hotel room. Jamie Lee Curtis looks absolutely phenomenal here, and the scene is certainly amusing on some level. At the very least, Ms. Curtis proves she is quite adept with physical comedy. But the scene is also extremely controversial, and many critics have made note of the unsavory quality beneath it.
Again, when coupled with the sort of male-fantasy aspects of the film and the all-too-casual utterances of the word "bitch," the scene also takes on another shade of, well...ickiness.
It's truly cruel to put Helen into the position of fearing she will have to act as a prostitute for a john, even if Harry's motive is pure; so that she "feels" she has done something adventurous with her life.
Yes, the moment is perhaps funny for us, because we -- like Harry -- realize that Helen is in no danger. But she is left to worry about exploitation, rape and even death. At the very least, Harry's behavior is un-chivalrous. It's as though he's paying her back for making him worry she was having an affair (which she wasn't...). I'm sure someone will say I lack a sense of humor for quibbling with this scene, but that's not it. Maybe I just possess a surfeit of empathy.
How would Harry feel, if he were made to perform sexually like this -- not knowing how far it would go -- for another man, for instance? Then it wouldn't be quite so funny, would it?
Again, there's this kind of cloying adolescent male fantasy aspect to True Lies. Harry never discusses with Helen, in any more than cursory terms, his lifetime of lies. He never has to really deal meaningfully with the fact that he kidnapped, interrogated and manipulated her. Because there is a crisis -- and because he's a hero -- he gets off pretty much scot free. In fact, Helen likes the new Harry so much, she even ends up joining him as a secret agent. Well, if you can't beat 'em...
One might be tempted to argue that Harry couldn't tell Helen the truth because of national security. But just look at how easily Harry manipulates the tools of national security when he wishes to; when he believes he has been wronged. Again, study this objectively. When Helen is unhappy, she seeks adventure, but doesn't betray her principles. She doesn't cheat on Harry. When Harry is unhappy, he brings down the full force of the American government to bludgeon his wife! Seem even-handed and principled to you?
Another mean-streak is evident in the treatment of the essentially comedic Simon character played by Bill Paxton. He's a cad and a jerk and an exploiter of women, and deserves a comeuppance. But again, to be pushed to the edge of a precipice overlooking a huge fall? To be made to wet his pants...twice?
First of all, the idea of a frightened man peeing himself simply isn't so funny that it requires an encore in the film's conclusion, and secondly the set-up for the second gag is so ham-handed you want to wince.
Simon just happens to be on location during a mission involving Helen and Harry, giving Helen the opportunity to make him piss his tuxedo?
It's dumb, contrived, and again, more pathetic than funny. Simon has suffered amply already, and it's just sadistic and pandering to bring him back to repeat the lame pants-wetting gag. Again, I have to laugh when people complain about the Billy Zane character being two-dimensional in Titanic. They object to that character, but not Simon in True Lies? Really?
True Lies has also been accused of being anti-Arab, but I don't believe that's a fair attack on the film. One of Harry's associates, Faisil (Grant Hevlov) is also of Middle Eastern ethnicity, and he proves a valuable hero in the film. On the contrary -- and I don't mean to rile anybody with this statement -- True Lies actually very clearly gets at some of the motivation behind Islamic radicalism against America. And that motivation is, simply, blowback over American policies regarding the Gulf States. That was Bin Laden's reason for declaring war on America in 1998, and the self-same reason is spoken -- in detail -- by Aziz in this film. True Lies is cannily accurate on this front, as much as we would prefer it were not.
In terms of the career of Cameron, we get many familiar ingredients in True Lies. Helen is the fish-out-of-water character who is forced to take on a new role (that of covert agent). She is also, in the tradition of Ripley or Sarah Connor, a character who -- after some trepidation -- proves herself up to the challenge of defeating a grave threat. Though the scene with Helen dropping an uzi and it falling down the stairs -- all while blasting terrorists -- is cringe-worthy and patronizing, her confrontation with Juno (Tia Carrere) is pretty impressive. Like every James Cameron film except Titanic, True Lies also features a nuclear weapon in some capacity.
at July 30, 2016 2 comments:
Arnold Schwarzenegger Day: Last Action Hero (1993)
Last Action Hero -- directed by John McTiernan and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger -- was supposed to be the “big ticket” movie of the summer of 1993, but fate had other plans.
That title eventually went to Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993) instead, and today Last Action Hero is widely remembered as a misfire; a bomb. The film grossed little more than fifty million dollars at the American box office, and earned many negative reviews. I saw the film in the theater in 1993 (long-time Arnie fan, here…) and felt it was disappointing, if not downright awful.
But the purpose of this blog is (at least sometimes…) to re-examine those works of art that have been dismissed, overlooked, or forgotten.
So I wondered: is Last Action Hero worth a second look in 2015? Has it aged well?
Or, conversely, have I changed as a viewer since 1993, and come to better see what the film was attempting to achieve?
First, let’s focus on the negative aspects of the film and get that out of the way.
More than twenty years later, one can detect the reasons why Last Action Hero so often fails. At two-hours and eleven minutes in duration, it is simply too long for a film featuring, essentially, a lark as a premise: a real life boy ending up the sidekick of a movie world action hero.
There’s just too much baggage -- to much detritus -- weighing down those light bones.
This movie should be -- like Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988) -- no more than 105 minutes in running time.
Any longer than that, and one is bound to start asking questions about the inconsistencies in the premise, and the universe the film creates.
Any longer than that, and the jokes start to repeat, and the performances begin to flat-line from the repetition. Watching the film becomes a tiresome process by the third act because Last Action Hero doesn’t always seem to know where it is headed.
Secondly, the pace and tone of these two hours and eleven minutes might best be described as leaden. There are plenty of action sequences, certainly, but the plot moves at a snail’s place, and never settles on a consistent tone.
To wit: sometimes the film is a weird and wacky catch-all or satire; an Airplane (1980) type film. But then there are also those moments when viewers are supposed to feel invested in the details of the story, and in following the plot logically from point A to point B. The two approaches collide and the result is an unsatisfying mishmash. If we are constantly being told that events don’t matter, or that this is all “just a movie,” it becomes ever-more difficult to invest in the plot details.
These facts established, Last Action Hero possesses many good ideas, and even a compelling thematic through-line that I hope to enumerate. That through-line ties into the jokes about Shakespeare’s Hamlet and a movie version of the play starring Schwarzenegger (perhaps the best scene in the film…). It also ties into the characters of Danny Madigan (Austin O’Brien) and Jack Slater. All three heroes contend with the same “to be or not to be” existential dilemma.
In short, Last Action Hero is actually about Danny learning what it means to really live life, and to be the hero of his own lie. First, he learns that lesson in a world with the training wheels on (the movie world) and then he learns it in the real world, where Jack Slater -- his role model and surrogate father -- must learn it beside him.
And what does Danny learn in the real world? That unlike the movie world, real world virtues include not expert gunplay, but compassion, loyalty, and love.
It is rewarding and admirable that Last Action Hero tells this story, but after twenty years, it is obvious that the film doesn’t tell it with anything approaching consistency or coherence.
So what audiences end up with is a sweet, likable film that, despite those qualities, is also often dull and tiresome.
It makes me sad too. I want to like this movie more than I do.
“Here, in this world, the bad guys can win.”
Young Danny Madigan (O’Brien) avoids his real life problems (including an apartment in a bad neighborhood and the death of his father) by cutting school and hanging out at the movies with a kindly old projectionist, Nick (Robert Prosky).
His favorite movies are those involving a larger-than-life action hero named Jack Slater (Schwarzenegger) and his exploits as an L.A. cop.
With Slater IV due in theaters, Nick invites Danny to an advance screening of the sequel late one night. He also gives Danny a golden ticket given to him years earlier by Harry Houdini.
As Danny discovers, that ticket possesses magic powers, and can open a bridge between the movie universe and the real universe. Danny is swept across this bridge, and meets his hero, Jack Slater, in a movie-version of Los Angeles.
In the movie world, Jack is tangling with an evil hitman named Benedict (Charles Dance) and his mob boss, Tony Vivaldi (Anthony Quinn). Danny helps Slater defeat the bad guys, and also reckon with the fact that he is actually living inside a movie.
Later Benedict gets ahold of the magic ticket stub, and moves into the real world. There, the villain realizes that bad guys can win, and with the help of the villain of Slater III, The Ripper (Tom Noonan), decides to set off on a reign of terror at the world premiere of Slater IV, where star Arnold Schwarzenegger is schedule to appear…
Now Danny and Jack must stop Benedict and the Ripper, and Jack must come face-to-face with his celebrity alter-ego.
“You can’t die until the grosses go down.”
There’s an amusing moment of allusion in Last Action Hero involving Charles Dance’s character, Benedict. This assassin has stolen the magical golden ticket, and discovered that it opens the doorway to another dimension; to the real world.
As Benedict’s hand lightly brushes the portal to that universe, a TV on in the background plays the opening narration and theme to Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone (1959-1964). This detail is an intriguing point of connection between productions. Like those visiting The Twilight Zone, Benedict can now travel to another dimension.
Yet, by the same token, The Twilight Zone signifies something else significant: economy of storytelling.
Each episode of the series (except for those airing in the fourth season) are just a half-hour in length. They vet their wild tales, offer a few surprises, and then finish with astonishing rapidity and grace…often before too many questions can be asked.
Last Action Hero alludes to The Twilight Zone in this scene, but takes a faulty creative approach by comparison. The film is too long, too big, and too byzantine, and it lingers on details of a whimsical story that, simply don’t stand up to scrutiny.
For instance, if Jack (and all movie heroes) are bullet-proof in the movie world, essentially, then from what source should the movie’s tension arise? If bad guys literally can’t win in the movie world (as Benedict verbally indicates) then why and how are we supposed to feel anxiety when Jack or Danny is imperiled by them?
This criticism is not meant to indicate that the movie doesn’t have fun with this idea of the movie universe, at least at points. “You know, tar actually sticks to some people,” Danny tells Slater after he falls into tar pits, unscathed. His status as indestructible is appropriately funny, but it also eliminates some aspects of immediacy from the story.
Somewhere in Last Action Hero, a really good movie is buried, and it attempts to surface several times.
For instance, the movie uses Hamlet as a kind of base-line for action heroes and action hero behavior. A high school teacher describes Denmark’s prince as the first such action hero, actually. Yet Hamlet is paralyzed and defined by his inability to act, to do something; to defeat his enemies.
Humorously, the McTiernan film proposes an alternative to this hesitating, melancholy prince: a cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Chomping a cigar and blowing enemies away with automatic weapons, this Hamlet has no problems acting with terminal force, or intensity. There is nothing diffident about him at all.
The “Trailer” for the Schwarzenegger Hamlet is uproariously funny, and strikes the exact right note of absurdity. But more to the point, it is used, thematically, to let us know that Danny is -- like Hamlet -- unable to act forcefully, which is the very reason he looks up to substitute father-figure Jack Slater.
When a burglar breaks into Danny’s apartment, he gives Danny every opportunity to take his weapon, a knife, and fight him. But Danny -- like Hamlet -- does nothing. He can’t will himself to act. And while watching Hamlet on TV in school, Danny becomes invested in the action (or lack of action). He urges Olivier’s Hamlet to “stop talking” and “do something.” Clearly, this is something personal for Danny. Although he aspires to be a Jack Slater, we learn that he sees himself as a Hamlet. He is paralyzed over his father’s death (a death he shares in common with the prince from Denmark), and does not yet know how to act, or how to survive in this dangerous “real” world.
Danny then travels into the movie world, where Slater -- an action hero -- acts without thinking, without hesitation, and without deadly consequence. Slater can’t lose, and apparently can’t feel fear, so he always wins the day. But the universe itself is stacked in his favor. Danny takes baby steps towards growth and survival in this universe, attempting a game of chicken against a speeding car, and learning to operate a dangerous crane. In other words, he begins “acting” the role of hero. He emulates Jack, but does so in a safe environment; one where the good guys always win and he is no physical danger.
Then, in the movie’s final act, Danny and Slater pursue Benedict to the real world, a place with absolutely real danger, and where the bad guys can win. In this world, Slater is the child, playing by a set of rules he doesn’t understand, and therefore Danny learns the necessity of pro-active behaviors or action. He must save his friend, who is badly wounded after a confrontation with Benedict. When Slater is shot, Danny realizes that the qualities he always had inside -- compassion, loyalty, and love -- are the very things that impel him to act decisively; to be a hero. He overcomes his Hamlet dilemma and becomes the hero of his own life.
All of this material fits together in Last Action Hero, and Slater even comments at one point that “the world is what you make of it, Danny.” This is simply another way of expressing the idea that we can re-shape the world in a way to our liking if only we act, and act intelligently. That’s the film’s dedicated leitmotif, and Last Action Hero is sweet because it is about a boy who thinks he needs a father figure but then -- through his interactions with that “idol” -- realizes that he can be the person he wants to be, and needs to be, all under his own steam.
Without being disrespectful, I would assert merely that Last Action Hero could tell this story -- and make this point -- more efficiently, and with greater discipline. The celebrity cameos are fun, the knocks-against movies are funny, and the explorations of tropes (like the wrong-headed, screaming police superior) are on target, but in some sense they are all but noise that ultimately takes away from the through-line I mentioned above.
I’m a huge admirer of McTiernan’s work in film, and his serious, grounded, approach to action but he doesn’t boast a very good “light” or “whimsical” touch on this project. This feels like a film tailor made for Steven Spielberg or Robert Zemeckis, and I feel that McTiernan expends too much time and energy on the bells and whistles -- the fights, the chases, and the pyrotechnics -- when what he really needs to focus on, front and center, is the shifting relationship between Danny and Slater, and the way the Hamlet story illuminates Danny’s story.
Tar doesn’t stick to Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he was back in 1994 in the triumphant True Lies, but one can see why he was drawn to this script and this project. Somewhere, deep down, Last Action Hero is all about the way young children build-up “heroes” of the silver screen, but fail to take into account the fact that they thrive in a world unlike our own; one of different rules.
Schwarzenegger is terrific as Slater, a man who starts to realize that all his success may not be due to his own skills, but the nature of reality itself. There’s a great scene here in which Slater questions his life, and he reasons that it has gotten so weird lately. Danny sympathizes and tells him it’s a matter of the rules. “These are the sequels. They gotta get hard…”
The fickle Gods of film, right?
They give, and they take away. Even Slater’s boy was taken away from him so that he could have a “tragic past” to overcome.
Watching Last Action Hero again twenty-one years later, I knew what to expect, and so didn’t feel the same disappointment that I did in 1993.
But, oppositely, I feel that this film has so much of value to say, but is lazy and disjointed in the expression of its valid and intriguing messages. Last Action Hero demanded a light touch -- a director who would fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee -- but instead the film is played with the seriousness of a project like Predator (1987), Die Hard (1988) or Hunt for Red October (1988).
The result? “No sequel” for action hero Slater.
And honestly, that makes me a bit sad. The character is great, and deserved a better vehicle for his movie debut. At the very least, Last Action Hero’s heart is in the right spot.
It’s just too bad the rest of the movie is all over the place.
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Welcome to Research Carolina Online.
info@researchcarolina.com
Studies and Goals
Years of Clinical Experience
Nurses, Laboratory Technicians, Respiratory Therapist, and Certified Medical Assistants.
M.D., M.S.
Dr. Stern founded Advanced Respiratory and Sleep Medicine in January of 2010. He completed undergraduate studies in computer science at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He completed medical school at The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and graduated with honors in research. He completed a residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at MetroHealth Medical Center which is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He finished a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center and finally a fellowship in sleep medicine at MetroHealth Medical Center. During his sleep fellowship he spent part of his time at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital training specifically in pediatric sleep medicine. After fellowship he completed a masters degree in clinical research. He achieved 6 different board certifications from 3 different accrediting boards: A certification in general pediatrics from American Board of Pediatrics; certifications in general medicine, pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and sleep medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine; and certification in sleep medicine from the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He currently sees patients in our Hickory and Huntersville offices and at Novant Huntersville Hospital.
Asha Stern
M.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Stern founded Advanced Respiratory and Sleep Medicine in January 2010. She completed undergraduate studies at The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. She attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Society. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine at MetroHealth Medical center which is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University. She completed a residency in Preventive Medicine and Public Health from The University of South Carolina School of Medicine. She completed her Masters of Public Health from The University of South Carolina. She did a post doctoral fellowship at The Mary Ann Swetland Center for Environmental Health at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Stern completed board certification from The American Board of Preventive Medicine. She serves as a primary investigator and sub-investigator in our clinical research trials in Huntersville and Hickory.
Nicole Buice
R.N., B.S.N., C.C.R.C.
Nicole is a registered nurse, receiving her BSN from University of South Carolina. During nursing school she started out her research career working nights for phase I overnight studies
Leigh Ann Hayes
R.N., C.R.C.
Leigh Ann is a Registered nurse, receiving her degree from Gardner-Webb University in 2013, she started out her nursing career in the Emergency department in Winston Salem, NC at Forsyth Medical Center, also worked at Caromont Medical Center in Gastonia, NC in the level II trauma center. Leigh Ann is a primary coordinator in Research Carolina of Hickory, she dedicated seven years to research specializing in COPD, Asthma, Hypertension, Diabetes, and Gout. Leigh Ann is also an active member of the American Nurses Association.
CNA, CRC
Katie has been with Research Carolina since October 2014. While obtaining her CNA certification in High School she did clinical rotations in Labor and Delivery, Emergency Care, Family and Internal Medicine, Hospice, and Palliative Care. Katie has worked in pharmaceutical sales and as a pharmacy technician. Katie has also worked as a CNA for patients with Chronic Neurodegenerative diseases and Neurological diseases. Katie has worked with Dr. Stern since March 2014 in his private practice assisting with everyday patient needs. Katie is one of our primary coordinators at Research Carolina, her research experience includes trials for Influenza, Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Asthma and COPD. Katie is actively in nursing school and anticipates graduation in the spring of 2018. When she is not studying, Katie enjoys spending time with family and friends and interacting with her Australian Shepherd, Opie. As the youngest member of the Research Carolina team, Katie's caring nature and love for patients will make your research visit a blessed one.
Heather Micun
RMA, CRC
Heather attended ECPI University where she graduated in 2010 majoring in Medical Assisting. She is a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), and an active member of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Heather worked her first two years as a CMA at an Urgent Care. She was an assistant for all four providers inside of the company. After leaving the Urgent Care, Heather worked for Gaston Family Health Services for the next four years prior to her starting here at Research Carolina in May of 2016. Heather thoroughly enjoys working one-on-one with her patients as a Clinical Research Coordinator, and has a passion for helping others.
Danielle Bodziony
CTRS, CRC
Danielle Bodziony is a native of Cornelius, NC. She completed her undergraduate degree at East Carolina University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreational Therapy and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Therapist. Danielle joined Research Carolina in April of 2016 as a Regulatory Coordinator and has since taken on a role of a Clinical Research Coordinator. Her clinical research experience includes COPD, Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Narcolepsy. When not in the office Danielle enjoys cheering on the Panthers, the East Carolina Pirates and spending time on Lake Norman with friends and family.
Julia Hollar
AAS, CRC
Julia attended Caldwell Community College and graduated with an Associate degree in Applied Science. Julia worked as a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at Gaston Memorial Hospital, CMC Lincoln and Davis Regional Medical Center. There she performed diagnostic ultrasounds on out patients, in patients and emergency room patients. She also assisted in surgery cases involving endarterectomies, biopsies, paracentesis, and thoracentesis. Julia started working with Hickory Research in March of 2016 as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Julia is dedicated to helping others, taking care of patients and making sure each visit at Hickory Research is an excellent experience.
Gloria Church
Gloria Church is a certified Phlebotomist , receiving her certification form Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute , she started working at Valdese Hospital and would also go to the local Senior Care Homes to assist in daily blood draws, she has also worked for BSN Medical, which is a global leader in worldwide healthcare provider that specialize in Compression Therapy, Wound Care, and Orthopedics products her goal at BSN was Product Services which she would help monitor and evaluate customers’ needs and expectation. Currently at Research Carolina, she is maintaining exceptional patient care levels with comfort and scheduling. She greets our patients first and has a great loving personality and will greet you with a smile.
Isabella Zorilla
CNA,CMA,CRC
Isabella graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with honors where she received her Nursing BSN. She has been working in the pulmonary and sleep medicine therapeutic areas for over 6 years. In January 2015, Isabella started her profession as a Clinical Research Coordinator. Isabella is currently the primary coordinator for most COPD studies at the Huntersville location. She has great bilingual communication skills and enjoys working with the members of the healthcare team. She also enjoys helping others and making a change in people’s lives. In her free time, Isabella loves to travel and spend time with her family.
Copyright © 2016, Research Carolina. All Rights Reserved.
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Illinois Senate moves to regulate the controversial practice known as “fracking”
The Illinois State Senate has moved to regulate the controversial practice known as hydraulic fracturing, or more commonly, “fracking.” Oil and natural gas companies use the fracking process to extract natural gas by injecting water and chemicals into the ground. Environmentalists have a number of concerns about the process—the most important being that it can result in contaminated drinking water.
“I believe we’ve managed to find an almost perfect compromise on fracking regulation,” said State Senator Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), who co-sponsored the legislation. “Environmentalists believe it’s strong enough to protect our groundwater, but the industry doesn’t find it so onerous that it will prevent them from creating jobs in Illinois.”
The fracking plan requires well-owners to keep the Illinois Department of Natural Resources well informed of how much liquid they use, which chemicals they use, and how they will store recovered wastewater. It also requires companies to perform integrity tests to ensure that their equipment won’t break or leak. In return, the law provides the companies with careful safeguards to protect their trade secrets.
“Illinois has rich deposits of coal and natural gas,” Koehler added. “Although I believe it’s very important to keep developing environmentally-friendly green technology, we’re going to continue to need traditional fuels for the foreseeable future. I’d rather see those jobs here in Illinois.”
Though no fracking wells have opened yet in Illinois, several companies have purchased or leased land in Southern Illinois and begun exploring the possibility.
“This is great timing, too,” Koehler added. “Hopefully, we’ll have these regulations in place long before the first well opens.”
The legislation, SB 3280, now goes to the Illinois House for further consideration.
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The Journal of East Tennessee History
Established in 1929 as the East Tennessee Historical Society Publications, the name was changed in 1990 to the present The Journal of East Tennessee History. The journal seeks to promote an interest in and appreciation of not only the history of East Tennessee but also that of the state of Tennessee, the Southern Appalachians, and the South in general. The publication features essays, edited documents, news and updates, and scholarly book reviews. Articles appearing in The Journal of East Tennessee History are indexed in America History and Life.
Aaron Purcell, Ph.D., appointed in 2009, is the editor of The Journal of East Tennessee History. Dr. Purcell was previously with the University of Tennessee Special Collections and now heads the Special Collections and Archives at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. A list of the Editorial Staff and Advisory Board of The Journal of East Tennessee History is available for viewing.
If you are interested in submitting an article to the journal, please follow the required directions. Take a look at the listing of The Journal of East Tennessee past winners and their articles, starting with the first winner in 1929.
Tennessee Ancestors
Tennessee Ancestors is the biannual genealogy magazine of the East Tennessee Historical Society with a focus on East Tennessee records and families. The magazine features a variety of family histories, Bible and records transcriptions, and other helpful research materials. Regular columns include book reviews and a listing of new books added to the McClung Historical Collection. Among the record groups currently being serialized are the post membership rolls of the Descriptive Records, Department of Tennessee Grand Army of the Republic” for East Tennessee counties, Tennessee Legislative Petitions, and War of 1812 Musters and Payrolls.
Tennessee Ancestors is a membership benefit of the East Tennessee Historical Society. Current and back issues are also available for purchase. Enjoy this recent copy of Tennessee Ancestors.
PDF files of select articles from these publications are available on the Teach Tennessee History website. Once on the website, select a historical era from the menu to see the articles available. Enjoy!
Colonization and Independance
New Government
Early Westward Expansion and the New Republic
The Growth of the Republic
Industrial America and Westward Expansion
WWI, 1920s, 1930s, WWII
Modern U.S
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UNESCO Associated Schools
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National Register of Good Safeguarding Practices
Memory of the World
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Knowledge societies
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Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission
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UNESCO is the only organisation in the United Nations system with a mandate in the field of culture. It advocates the strengthening of international cultural cooperation for sustainable development.
UNESCO advocates the strengthening of international cultural cooperation for sustainable development. The promotion of cultural diversity strengthens the future viability of societies worldwide, because sustainable social development requires the ability to change, especially to change the way people live. Culture is therefore a strategic instrument for sustainable development policy. For peace and security, the recognition of culture is indispensable.
UNESCO is the only organisation in the United Nations with a mandate in the cultural field. On 20 October 2005, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The Convention which took effect on 18 March 2007 provides a legally binding basis for the right of independent cultural policy.
Adopted in 2015, the United Nations Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development recognises for the first time at global level the key role of cultural diversity and creativity in meeting the challenges of sustainable development. This recognition is consistent with the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
Fair Trade for Culture
CC-BY-SA 2.0, Andym5855, flickr
The concept of fair trade has become an integral part of the food and textile industries, established to combat poverty and inequality. Yet, inequalities also exist in the cultural sector and creative industries, particularly between countries of the Global South and the Global North. The German Commission for UNESCO has therefore launched the "Fair Trade for Culture" initiative.
Additional article
CC-BY-NC-ND 2.0, Duc Truong
The German Commission for UNESCO is the interface between the state, science and civil society for the UNESCO cultural programme in Germany.
CC-BY 2.0, Neil H
In Germany, the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions is a basis of the cultural policy of the federal, state and local governments. They are structured in the German system of cultural promotion and encourage the participation of civil society actors at all levels.
Cooperation with National Commissions
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Cobo Vault Set for International Expansion, Offers Built-in PoS Mining Rewards and Military-Grade Security
With the number of cryptocurrency wallets currently available for crypto investors, it’s getting harder for start-ups to stand out from the rest of the competition. But Beijing-based Cobo might have what it takes to set itself apart from the crowd with its proof-of-stake (PoS) mining rewards. Coupled with its recent successful funding round, the wallet is now setting its sights on expanding internationally.
Cobo Raises $13M in Series A Funding Round
Cobo is finally set for the planned international expansion of its crypto wallet called Cobo Vault. The cryptocurrency wallet start-up based in Beijing successfully raised $13 million via its recent Series A round of funding, according to TechCrunch.
The funding round was led by Digital Horizon Capital, a California-based venture capital fund focused on early-stage tech firms, and Wu Capital, a family investment firm based in Beijing. The fresh funds will be used for Cobo’s international expansion in the United States and Southeast Asian destinations such as Indonesia and Vietnam.
Built-in PoS Mining Rewards
While the crypto wallet start-up will be facing countless competitors in the international arena, Cobo will be taking advantage of a feature that other wallets lack — its built-in proof-of-stake mining rewards. According to Forbes, the feature could offer the Beijing-based firm an advantage over its peers, being a front-runner in that area.
The Cobo Vault offers users the option to pool PoS assets with other wallet users to increase their chances of mining and validating new blocks. So far, consumer response suggests that the feature is a hit among users. Since its entry into the market this year, the digital wallet now boasts of more than 500,000 users. Of course, the wallet is flexible enough that it can be used to store both proof-of-work and proof-of-stakes coins.
Another feature that the Coba Vault is banking on for its success is its security and durability. The wallet is said to have met the MIL-STD-810G US military standard for equipment, which means that it is ultratough and even has an IP68 waterproof rating. It has a bank-grade encryption chip to ensure security, coupled with specially designed firmware for added security.
Cobo Vault Set for International Expansion, Offers Built-in PoS Mining Rewards and Military-Grade Security was originally found on [blokt] – Blockchain, Bitcoin & copy trading cryptocurrency.
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Elizabeth Warren Calls for a New Trillion-Dollar Corporate Tax
BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is proposing a new tax on corporate profits above $100 million.
The presidential candidate says her “Real Corporate Profits Tax” would prevent corporate giants like Amazon from exploiting tax laws to avoid paying federal taxes. “Because of relentless lobbying, our corporate income tax rules are filled with so many loopholes and exemptions and deductions that even companies that tell shareholders they have made more than a billion dollars in profits can end up paying no corporate income taxes,” she wrote in a post on Medium Thursday.
Her plan, the latest in a string of policy proposals, would apply an additional 7% surtax to global profits companies report to their investors rather than those they file with the IRS. It would affect the 1,200 or so most profitable companies in the country and raise more than $1 trillion in revenue over 10 years, Warren says, citing estimates from economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman of the University of California, Berkeley. “It will make our biggest and most profitable corporations pay more and ensure that none of them can ever make billions and pay zero taxes again,” she wrote.
The senator argues that companies seek to minimize the profits they report to the IRS, but they want to maximize the profits they report to shareholders in order to boost their stock prices (and the executive compensation that’s tied to those prices). “Companies will be hesitant to under-report their profits to investors — which means they won’t be able to game the tax system as much as they can now,” she said.
Warren cites the examples of Amazon and Occidental Petroleum, which reported profits of more than $10 billion and $4.1 billion, respectively, in 2018 but paid no federal corporate income taxes. Under her proposal, Amazon would have paid $698 million and Occidental would have paid $380 million, she said.
An Amazon spokesperson provided a statement in response: “Amazon pays all the taxes we are required to pay in the U.S. and every country where we operate, including paying $2.6 billion in corporate tax and reporting $3.4 billion in tax expense over the last three years.”
Why it matters: Warren’s plan is “essentially undoing the $1 trillion in business tax cuts that Trump signed into law, but with the impact concentrated on a smallish number of very profitable companies,” Vox’s Matthew Yglesias says. Federal corporate tax receipts fell by $92 billion in fiscal 2018, a 31% drop, after the GOP tax law cut the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%.
Warren’s proposal has no chance of being enacted before the 2020 elections. But, as with Warren’s proposed wealth tax, it allows her to contrast her agenda with the tax cuts passed by Republicans in 2017 — and it will add to the perception that she’s leading the Democratic field in setting an economic policy agenda for 2020.
This article has been updated to add a response from Amazon.
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Yuval Rosenberg
As editor in chief, Yuval Rosenberg oversees all aspects of The Fiscal Times' website and email newsletter. His writing has appeared in publications including BusinessWeek, CNBC.com, CNNMoney.com, Fast Company, Fortune, Newsweek, Money and Time.
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How the Xerox Research Centre of Canada is Helping Toronto become an Innovation Hub
As a bit of an innovation-junkie, it’s hard for me to admit that the word innovation has become overused. I was in my vet’s office buying cat food last week, and it was being advertised as being “innovated to provide superior health benefits to cats.” Maybe that’s true, but it did get me thinking about just how often we hear the word innovation used as a buzz word when what we really mean is “what do we need to do to remain competitive or provide a good product?”
I’m a firm believer that innovation IS the key to the future, and one of the most important aspects of the health of an organization, a city or a country. To me that kind of innovation isn’t about changing the colour and marketing it as new and exciting, but more about the kind of innovation that truly changes the game for the future.
So of course I was excited to see that Toronto was listed as one of the top 10 cities for innovation by Innovation Leader Magazine. But what really peaked my interest was one of the key reasons for selecting Toronto as the only Canadian city to make the list, was our very own Xerox Research Centre of Canada.
The Xerox Research Centre of Canada (XRCC) is Canada’s leading materials research centre and home to a world-class team of scientists and engineers with broad expertise in materials chemistry, formulation design, prototyping, testing, and chemical process engineering. Their work focusses on delivering real-world solutions for businesses in areas such as security and authentication, electronic and sustainable materials, chemical processes, coatings, and novel technologies for the printing, electronics and manufacturing industries. The Centre has also been nurturing an on-site innovation hub, providing access to its labs and scale-up engineering pilot plant to start-ups and incubators. The growing hub features the well-known start-up accelerator RIC Centre as well as the green chemistry innovators GreenCentre Canada.
Every day the team at the XRCC focus on driving business growth through the commercialization of breakthrough materials, technologies, and services. They are continually pushing the envelope to invent and develop new materials platforms, exploring new ways to incorporate materials into functional prototypes, and pushing the limits of materials and ‘device’ performance.
“Innovation is our obsession,” says Dr. Paul Smith, Vice President of the Xerox Research Centre of Canada. “It’s not just about looking for new ways to do things, or new ways to apply materials science to business, it’s also about bringing ideas from concepts to commercialization and creating future technologies out of ideas that are just dreams today.”
Read more about how Toronto is becoming a centre for innovation in the report.
Find out how the Xerox Research Centre of Canada is helping Toronto become an innovation hub.
Source:: xerox news
By Admin|2017-06-21T15:00:12+00:00June 21st, 2017|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Home Announcements Postage Stamps Other Stamps TPO's Philatelic Articles Philatelic Almanac Stamp Stories Colonial History Surplus Stamps Contact Favourite Links Terms & Conditions
This site is dedicated entirely to the philately of the colony of Victoria, Australia, and is provided, free of charge, to assist collectors who specialize in this area.
The postage stamp issues of Victoria are numerous and complex. Victoria rejected the conventional wisdom accepted in most of the colonies of the British Empire to have postage stamps printed in England and shipped ready to use to the colony – instead, the colonists in Victoria decided to print their own stamps, using the manufacturing capabilities available to them at the time. This independence led to many variations in quality, plate production techniques, printing methods, paper supplies and other parameters that all contributed to the rich philatelic smorgasbord found in the stamps that emanated from the colony.
The early stamp issues from Victoria, known to collectors as the Half Lengths, Queen-on-Throne, Woodblocks, Emblems, Beaded Ovals and Laureates continue to fascinate students to this day, and continue to reveal new insights.
The range of stamp issues and printing techniques, and their consequent complexity, drives many collectors away to easier collection subjects – but, for many, like myself, the complexity is a magnet that draws them to a lifelong quest to understand these stamps, and the history they reveal.
The full scope of the philatelic interests represented within Victoria is too great to accommodate within this site, so specific goals have been adopted which reflect the presumed interests of most collectors and the specific interests which are of particular appeal to me. These include the early lithography printing techniques, the Travelling Post Offices (T.P.O.’s) of Victoria, the evolution of the perforation machines used, and other areas of research and observation, many of which are noted in the menu options and various philatelic articles that are offered herein.
More than anything else, the goal here is to generate interest and debate on the issues involved. Despite best efforts and the comparison of multitudes of examples in some cases, there is still uncertainty in the cataloguing of certain stamps shown in the scans. I’m hopeful that others can cast some additional light on these and challenge the status quo, in the interests of creating a reliable reference guide for collectors in this field.
Where I have an interest in specific areas of research, such as the TPO’s, I would encourage others to contact me and share information, with the goal of working toward a collaborative understanding of the issues involved.
Finally, if you can provide scans for stamps that are missing in my lists, or can improve on the image shown, I’d be delighted to hear from you.
happy collecting, Les Molnar
Home | Postage Stamps | Other Stamps | TPO's | Philatelic Articles | New Discoveries | Links | Terms | Contact
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Pierce the Veil is an American rock band from San Diego, California. Formed in 2006, the band was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbandment of the group Before Today (formerly Early Times ), which was formed out of the San Diego punk rock scene. Other members of the band include Jaime Preciado (bass) and Tony Perry (lead guitar). Pierce the Veil has released three studio albums and has toured worldwide since the release of their debut album, A Flair for the Dramatic in 2007. The band released their second full-length studio album, titled Selfish Machines in 2010. Their third album, Collide with the Sky, was released in 2012, and is their first album under the Fearless Records label. Featuring the hit first single "King for a Day", the album debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200. Their fourth and latest album, Misadventures, was released on May 13, 2016.
Pierce The Veil Quotes From King For A Day
Simple Black Frame
Cassia Cinnamon Tree
The Wizard Of Oz 2017 Dorothy
Lil Wayne Before He Was Famous
Life Goal Images
Ancient Chinese Chain Pump
Forest Background Clipart
Minecraft Spider Png
The Half Blood Prince Movie Hermione
Pierce The Veil,
Pierce The Veil Logo,
Pierce The Veil Merch,
Pierce The Corporate Veil,
Pierce The Veil Tour Dates,
Pierce The Veil Lyrics,
Pierce The Veil Quotes,
Pierce The Veil Caraphernelia Lyrics,
Pierce The Veil King For A Day Lyrics,
Pierce The Veil Collide With The Sky.
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Twist Magazine Interview with Stefanie
TWIST: Can you tell me what we can expect to see on some upcoming episodes of A.N.T Farm?
Stefanie: Well, we just started season two and we’re only on our second episode, but there’s a lot coming up. It’s really great. There’s lots more comedy, lots more costumes and really funny things. It’s kind of cool how you see that all of the characters are growing, too.
TWIST: What about Lexi? What can we expect to see from her?
Stefanie: You get to see a lot more rivalry with Lexi, and you get to see Lexi be funny and be herself. She’s a really fun character to play. I’m really excited for the second season. So far, I love all the episodes. We’re having a lot of fun reading the scripts and getting back to filming.
TWIST: What’s your favorite part about playing Lexi?
Stefanie: I love just the character of Lexi because she’s so different from me. It’s so much fun to play her. I know that Lexi, she’s not always the nicest girl, and she’s the queen bee. She loves to get what she wants. We are very different, and I think that’s why it’s so fun to play her. Once you get the heels on and get her outfit on, you become a different person when you’re playing the part. She’s so exciting to play. I love how every week when I see a new script, I get to see what she’s up to and what she’s doing now.
TWIST: Lexi, like you said, can be pretty mean sometimes. Have you ever had to deal with girls like Lexi before?
Stefanie: I think teen bullying is something a lot of people deal with. I know that I have dealt with girls like Lexi, and I think that every school, even if she’s not mean, has the girl who wants everything and wants to be perfect. Honestly, you have to kill them with kindness to get through it. Luckily, I’ve been blessed with lots of good friends, and they helped me through it. I just think that Lexi, as sassy as she can be, it’s at least a little humorous watching her and seeing the kind of stuff that she does.
TWIST: What’s been going with your music lately?
Stefanie: Music! Lots of fun stuff is going on with music. I’ve been recording and I have some unreleased stuff so far. We’ll be releasing them later on this year. I’ve been writing a lot. I love music and writing it and being in the creative process. I’m getting much more involved with it now, and I’m really excited about it. [My song] “Girl I Used to Know” is on iTunes and the music video is on YouTube. It’s getting a lot of views and it’s getting lots of good feedback, so I definitely want to do a lot more music!
Read the entire interview on TWIST!
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Stefanie Scott arrives MTV Movie Awards 2015
Stefanie Scott Teen Vogue Feature for Insidious 3
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sergio da silva
Crystal Harrison was able to ask Skottie of the Creeps a few questions while he was riding around Europe on a train. check it out.
Crystal Harrison:So your latest album is a split vinyl with No Marks. What’s your relationship with No Marks and how do you think your sounds compliment (or contrast) each other?
Skottie:That split is actually the product of Dave from All In Vinyl Records asking us to be a part of an ongoing split 7" series that they do, where a U.K. band is teamed with a non-U.K. band. We were really pleased to be paired with the No Marks, who are a great melodic punk band, and are happy with how the whole thing came out.
Eulogies came out 2 years ago and the last full length album was 7 years before that. Given all of the other projects you guys are involved in, is it just simpler to put out EPs at this point? Are you anticipating the release of another full length album in the future?
I think we thought so for a while after 'Lakeside' came out. I'd kinda run out of things I wanted to spend a whole LP's worth of songs writing about and, like you say, we all have various creative outlets that compete for our time and energy. 'Eulogies' came together so easily and so naturally though that we have definitely recommitted to the full length at this point. We have a dozen or so songs written and have already started pre-production on what will be our next LP, due out who knows when, knowing us.
Lakeside Cabin to Eulogies saw a shift in lyrics about a murderous psychopath towards someone battling internally with depression and suicide. Even though there’s only two songs, can you describe a lyrical shift on your latest release? Do you have any inklings of where the theme of the next full album would go?
The opportunity to do the split 7" was totally unexpected, and we didn't have any songs 'in the can', so we actually ended up recording one song ('Full Shook') that will eventually be on the next record and re-recording a pretty old song of ours that has never strayed too far from our set list. So, in terms of lyrics, I guess maybe 'Full Shook' is a decent indication of where we're headed. I'm exploring similar themes as I did on 'Eulogies', with maybe even a little more emphasis on the personal.
What's the hardest thing about being in a band with the same people for 17 years?
If anything about it was very hard, I'm certain we wouldn't still be doing it.
What’s your favourite thing about playing shows in Montreal?
The people, the venues, the beer, a bunch of the local bands and the city itself, to name a few! Montreal was probably our first out of town show and is definitely the city we've played most outside of Ottawa over the years and, while I don't think we've ever had an unenjoyable time, I'm positive that a few of our favourite and most memorable shows have been there.
What song would you have play whenever you entered a room?
The Imperial March.
If you could eliminate one band from ever existing, who would it be?
I don't know that I care enough to want to remove them from the annals of history altogether, but I fucking hate AC/DC.
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Assistant provost receives Hymore Award
By Staff : Thursday, May 16th, 2019
Dr. Julie Fischer-Kinney, assistant provost for student success and retention in the Office of the Provost, is the 2019 recipient of the Diane Hymore Exemplar of Excellence Award.
She received the honor named for the longtime executive secretary May 6 at the Outstanding Staff Awards in the Thomas and Elizabeth Brady Engineering Innovation Center.
Dr. Julie Fischer-Kinney received the Diane Hymore Exemplar of Excellence Award from Wendy Davis, associate vice president and chief human resources officer, left, and University President Sharon L. Gaber.
The award is presented annually to an individual whose work defines the core values of the University in Hymore’s spirit of support, encouragement and service.
“In the two decades Dr. Fischer-Kinney has dedicated to the University, her decisions have always been shaped with the student in mind,” a nominator wrote. “She constantly seeks student feedback on various issues in order to ensure the best outcome for the student. This allows her to stay grounded and make sure decisions are best for the current generation of students.”
Fischer-Kinney has worked at the University 21 years, starting as an academic program coordinator in the Chemical Engineering Department. She also has served as director of student services in the College of Nursing; director of New Student Orientation Programs; associate dean and interim dean of YouCollege; and director of success coaching.
“Dr. Fischer-Kinney is an outstanding supervisor, mentor and student advocate,” a nominator wrote. “She tirelessly champions efforts that impact student success and retention. Additionally, she has transformed the success coaching initiative from a raw idea into a powerful movement that is truly impacting student lives.”
Another noted that in addition to her many responsibilities, Fischer-Kinney always takes the time to serve as a success coach for students each semester.
“Many students struggle to find their ambition, but Dr. Fischer-Kinney helps instill motivation to allow the student to discover their full academic potential,” a nominator wrote. “Regardless of how busy her schedule may be, Dr. Fischer-Kinney always makes time to be there for the student. They value her as an advocate who will help them reflect on their college and life goals, and connect them to the resources and tools. Dr. JFK, as students call her, always carves out time to focus on the individual at hand.
“Success coaching and retention work can be challenging. Every day coaches hear a variety of student concerns or chase after students with assorted academic, financial and personal issues bubbling up. Dr. JFK is committed to an open, candid and warm environment where we can embrace a team approach, lean on each other as needed, and grow from each other.”
Fischer-Kinney received a bachelor’s degree in business administration majoring in marketing, and master of education and doctoral degrees in higher education from the University.
Posted in Alumni, Business and Innovation, News, UToday, — Judith Herb College of Education
Professor pens new book offering tips to new business managers
By Chase M. Foland : Tuesday, May 7th, 2019
Dr. Dale Dwyer, professor of business management, has published a new book, “Managing in a 21st Century Organization.”
The 11 chapters dive into the most important roles that managers play: architect, visionary, leader, change agent, decision-maker, motivator, evaluator and coach.
“This book teaches the most important lessons that all leaders and managers will need to help run their businesses and organizations,” Dwyer said.
Written for the novice manager or first-line supervisor who has assumed new responsibilities, the book helps identify and solve problems, make decisions, encourage employees to do their best work, and implement changes that face resistance from those affected by them.
“I don’t find traditional management textbooks very helpful for actually being a manager or leader,” Dwyer said. “In other words, students usually have to spend upwards of $100 on books that cover theories of management or the history of management, but never get the practical point of how to become an effective manager.”
He added, “I wrote this book because I think it will be helpful right away and continue to be helpful as leaders and managers progress upward in their respective organizations and disciplines.”
Dwyer focuses on five different lessons that all managers need to know to be successful:
• Why improving your ability to understand and manage emotions and needs is key to gaining trust from co-workers, bosses and direct reports.
• How developing both leadership competence and charisma is often a challenge for managers.
• Which of three different approaches for understanding and managing your organization you should employ and when to use them.
• Why recognizing your own biases can improve decision making.
• The crucial differences between employee training and employee development, as well as when to use them most effectively.
Dwyer joined the UToledo faculty in 1989 and is a former chair of the Department of Management in the College of Business and Innovation. He received one of the University’s Outstanding Teacher Awards, as well as the first UToledo Student Impact Award.
His other books include “Got a Minute? The 9 Lessons Every HR Professional Must Learn” (2010), as well as “Got A Solution? HR Approaches to 5 Common and Persistent Business Problems” (2014), both with co-author Dr. Sheri A. Caldwell, HR director in the Grain Group at The Andersons. Dwyer also wrote “Needy People: Working Successfully with Control Freaks and Approval-holics” (2017).
“Managing in a 21st Century Organization” can be purchased on the Kendall Hunt Publishing Co. website and on amazon.com.
Posted in Business and Innovation, News, UToday
Projection aid system takes top prize in business plan competition
By Staff : Friday, May 3rd, 2019
Four students who formed C-See Tech took the $10,000 prize in the ninth annual UToledo College of Business and Innovation’s Business Innovation Competition.
Kizito Kosi Akunna, Shayla Glynn, Alex Gibson and Deric Anthony — all fifth-year seniors majoring in bioengineering — developed the C-arm projection aid system. The attachment for new and existing C-arm X-ray devices aims to greatly reduce the amount of pre- and postoperative medical imaging by projecting the X-ray image onto the patient’s skin.
Bioengineering students, from left, Kizito Kosi Akunna, Shayla Glynn, Alex Gibson and Deric Anthony won $10,000 for their company, C-See Tech, in the UToledo College of Business and Innovation’s Business Innovation Competition.
“This device will cut down the number of X-rays needed during a surgical procedure,” Gibson said. “Essentially, this would aid a surgeon during a procedure, which would originally require multiple X-rays, to make appropriate markings on the skin before the first incision.”
The team developed a proprietary algorithm that filters the digital output noise of the C-arm image in order to project a clear, accurate image of the patient’s skeletal system onto his or her skin by using a downward facing vertical laser projector.
“It means a lot to all of us, especially to see an idea originally only meant for a college course become so successful,” Gibson said. “Not only is it a great honor to win the competition, but this means that our invention may someday be a reality.”
The team expressed gratitude to Dr. Halim Ayan, associate professor of bioengineering, as well as the Department of Engineering: “Without their support, we would not have gotten this far,” Gibson said.
“Obtaining a patent is our next step, as well as testing to hone in exactly what we want the final product to be. This is where our prize money will likely be going,” Gibson said.
The winners of the competition were announced April 19 in the Savage & Associates Complex for Business Learning and Engagement in the College of Business and Innovation.
Out of the 19 entries, six semifinalists were selected for an oral presentation in front of the judges.
“We congratulate all entrants for the exceptionally high-quality proposals they submitted. These technologically innovative ideas exhibit creative and analytical thinking within the University campus,” Dr. Sonny Ariss, professor and chair of management, said.
“We believe the wisely comprehended business ideas that won this year’s competition form a concrete foundation on which these entrepreneurs can build successful businesses. Our goal is to help increase the number and scale up businesses in Ohio,” Ariss said.
Finishing in second place and winning $5,000 was Forefront Prosthetics by Devin Toelke, Taryn Carmody, Emily Merris, Luke Schimmoeller and Derek Sutter. Forefront Prosthetics is focusing on creating an affordable, high-quality upper-limb prosthetic.
CLLK placed third and won $2,000. Founded in 2018 by Lauren Bakaitis, Clare Byrne, Katie Gilson and Leah Walchanowicz, CLLK offers an innovative solution to cast discomfort by providing mobile cold therapy, which will reduce swelling, skin inflammation and soreness.
“The College of Business and Innovation stands ready to offer guidance to help these teams emerge beyond the University into the community,” Ariss said. “We want to see these ideas and business plans successfully implemented, generating jobs, and enhancing the economic growth of the region.”
The Business Innovation Competition was open to all UToledo faculty, staff and students. The first-place $10,000 prize is sponsored by Owens Illinois Inc.; the second-place $5,000 prize is sponsored by C. William and Paula Fall Business Plan Award Fund; and the third-place $2,000 prize is sponsored by PNC Bank.
Students win big at regional computer information systems competition
By Chase M. Foland : Friday, May 3rd, 2019
A team of UToledo students in the College of Business and Innovation nearly completed a sweep at the Computer Information Systems Project and Case Competition last month at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Rebecca Church, Jillian Jennings, John Lee, Ryan Kile and Josh Teachey — all information systems majors — took first place in the case and overall categories, and came in second in the project category.
“Students spent the past 14 weeks preparing for the event at Ball State,” said Teresa Keefe, Distinguished University Lecturer in Information, Operations and Technology Management. “They worked on a real-world IT project for our own University Libraries to deliver an IT solution around records management.”
UToledo students majoring in information systems, from left, Rebecca Church, John Lee, Jillian Jennings, Josh Teachey and Ryan Kile, posed for a photo with their awards at the Computer Information Systems Project and Case Competition.
The team presented its project to judges April 13. In addition, the team was asked to analyze a business case and present its findings and recommendations to a panel of industry judges.
“The event challenges the students in so many ways. First, they do real work for a real problem,” Keefe said. “Next, they deliver a polished presentation in a high-stake setting — and are asked to defend elements of the design and/or implementation.”
This is the best a UToledo team has done in the eight years of this competition. Keefe and Dr. Steve Wallace, assistant professor in the Department of Information, Operations and Technology Management, are proud of the students’ performance.
“The level of success achieved by this team only comes with an incredible amount of dedication, determination and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Keefe said.
Posted in Business and Innovation, Events, News, UToday
Internships lead to full-time jobs for graduating business students
By Christine Billau : Wednesday, May 1st, 2019
The stress of finding a full-time job in their desired field is over for Octavio Vazquez-Ederra and Emily Antypas.
The University of Toledo seniors will walk across the commencement stage and into business careers.
The secret to their success? Internships.
Antypas
“I did three internships with The Andersons in Maumee and that led to a job offer in its ethanol accounting group,” said Antypas, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing. “I am excited to start working full time after commencement.”
While taking classes, Antypas, who is from Lambertville, Mich., was active in the accounting fraternity Beta Alpha Psi and worked in the UToledo College of Business and Innovation’s Office of Student Services.
“The UToledo College of Business and Innovation fueled my success in many ways,” Antypas said. “I took advantage of job fairs, resumé critiques, interview practice and advisors who helped me stay on track.”
“My four years here were so memorable and successful because of friends, professors and meaningful classes,” she said. “I loved every moment.”
Vazquez-Ederra is moving to Dallas next month for a full-time job in the sales development program at Owens Corning, which makes insulation, roofing shingles and composite building materials. The opportunity stems from his internship that already turned into a part-time job at the company’s world headquarters in Toledo.
Vazquez-Ederra
“With Owens Corning, I have been pioneering Spanish trainings in order to target the Hispanic contractor network where nine out of 10 roof installers south of the Mason-Dixon line speak Spanish,” said Vazquez-Ederra, who is graduating with a degree in international business and professional sales. “I wrote my honors thesis on the consultative selling method as it applies to Hispanic populations in order to create a tailored approach to our changing market demographics.”
Vazquez-Ederra, who was born in Argentina and moved to the United States at the age of 4 with his family, competed in national sales competitions both at UToledo and in Atlanta. He credits the people at UToledo for making a difference in his life.
“No question was out of line for professors, advisors and staff,” Vazquez-Ederra said. “They were flexible and guided me on the right path.”
“I have already found an apartment down in Texas,” Vazquez-Ederra said. “I’m excited to start this next chapter, but will always be grateful to the faculty and staff of The University of Toledo, who feel like family.”
Both Vazquez-Ederra and Antypas also are students in the Jesup Scott Honors College.
Last year, 90 percent of graduating seniors had jobs lined up upon graduation in the College of Business and Innovation. Eighty-five percent of all undergraduate business students complete internships.
“Success breeds success,” Dr. Anne Balazs, dean of the UToledo College of Business and Innovation, said. “We are proud of the determination and focus of our students as they learn hands-on in the field that interests them while working toward a degree. Business internships provide exposure to accomplished leaders, build confidence and — as we’ve seen over and over again — lead to full-time positions.”
Posted in Business and Innovation, Events, Features, UToday
Entertainment icon Katie Holmes to deliver commencement address May 4
By Kim Goodin : Monday, April 29th, 2019
Katie Holmes, a native Toledoan who rose to fame as an actor, producer and director, will return to her hometown to deliver the keynote address during The University of Toledo’s undergraduate commencement ceremony Saturday, May 4.
A Notre Dame Academy alumna and international icon of screen, stage and film, Holmes will address 2,078 candidates for degrees — 2,023 bachelor’s and 55 associate’s candidates. The event will take place at 10 a.m. in the Glass Bowl.
The University’s graduate commencement ceremony is scheduled the same day at 3 p.m. in the Glass Bowl, and will commemorate 915 candidates for doctoral, education specialist and master’s degrees, as well as graduate certificates. Analese Alvarez, an educator and musician who has recorded with the Grammy Award-winning rock group Fleetwood Mac, will be the keynote speaker. She is a candidate for a doctoral degree.
Both ceremonies are open to the public and can be viewed live on the University Views website.
President Sharon L. Gaber will present Holmes with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree before the keynote address.
“The University of Toledo is pleased to welcome Katie Holmes as our commencement speaker to inspire our newest alumni as they celebrate receiving their degrees,” Gaber said. “As a Toledo native with close, personal connections to the University, we are eager for her to share her experiences and accomplishments in the entertainment industry and as an entrepreneur and philanthropist.”
Holmes is an internationally recognized film and television actor, producer and director, as well as a Broadway actor and an entrepreneur.
An exceptional student at Notre Dame Academy, Holmes was accepted to Columbia University, but deferred to embark on an entertainment career. She made her feature film debut in “The Ice Storm” in 1997, then established herself as a rising young actor the next year in the television show “Dawson’s Creek.” For six years, she played Joey Potter, a character still recognized in pop culture.
Holmes has appeared in supporting or starring roles in more than 30 films and television programs, including acclaimed performances as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in “The Kennedys” and “The Kennedys: After Camelot,” Hannah Green in “Wonder Boys,” Rachel Dawson in “Batman Begins,” April Burns in “Pieces of April,” Rita Carmichael in “All We Had,” and Paige Finney in “Ray Donovan.”
Her credits as a director and producer include “All We Had,” “Touched With Fire,” “The Romantics” and “The Kennedys: Decline and Fall.”
Holmes made her Broadway debut in a revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” in 2008 and played the role of Lorna in “Dead Accounts” in 2012.
As an entrepreneur, Holmes managed and designed a well-received fashion line, Holmes & Yang, with Jeanne Yang, from 2009 to 2014.
Her philanthropic efforts include the Dizzy Feet Foundation, an organization Holmes co-founded in 2009 that increases access to dance education in the United States. She also supports the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes; Love Our Children USA, a national nonprofit organization that fights violence and neglect against U.S. children; Raising Malawi, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to helping vulnerable children in extreme poverty through health, education and community support; and the Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation.
Graduate ceremony speaker Alvarez has been an educator for nearly two decades and is a candidate for an education doctorate in educational administration and supervision.
The Santa Barbara, Calif., native has enjoyed an outstanding career teaching high school music, highlighted by leading her previous school’s music department to become a Grammy Signature Schools recipient in 2015. She has continued teaching music while pursuing her doctorate at UToledo by serving as a graduate assistant for the Rocket Marching Band and athletic bands since 2015.
Alvarez”s long career as a musician includes recording with Fleetwood Mac on “The Dance” and appearances on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and Nickelodeon’s “The Big Help.” She also was a member of the Los Angeles Laker Band, a subset of the University of Southern California’s Trojan Marching Band. She has performed with numerous professional ensembles, including The Desert Winds and the Gold Coast Wind Ensemble.
A volunteer club advisor for Gay Straight Alliances, Alvarez co-chaired the Southern Nevada chapter of the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network and served the Gay and Lesbian Center of Las Vegas. During the past year, she has been executive director at Equality Toledo, where she has worked to support the local community.
Alvarez earned a bachelor of music degree from the University of Southern California and a master of music degree from Northern Arizona University, both in music education.
UToledo’s spring commencement ceremonies will recognize graduates from the colleges of Arts and Letters; Business and Innovation; Judith Herb College of Education; Engineering; Graduate Studies; Health and Human Services; Natural Sciences and Mathematics; Nursing; Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences; and University College.
UToledo’s College of Law will host its commencement ceremony Sunday, May 5, at 1 p.m. in the Thompson Student Union Auditorium. Angelita Cruz Bridges, a 2000 graduate of the College of Law who serves as an assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, will give the commencement address.
The next week — Friday, May 10, at 4 p.m. — the College of Medicine and Life Sciences will hold its commencement ceremony in Savage Arena. Dr. Scott Parazynski, a physician and inventor whose career included serving 17 years as an astronaut, during which time he flew five space shuttle missions and conducted seven spacewalks, will be theutoledo.edu/commencementrmation, visit the commencement website.
Posted in Alumni, Arts and Letters, Business and Innovation, Engineering, Events, Graduate Studies, Health and Human Services, Honors, Law, Medicine and Life Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, News, Nursing, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University College, UToday, — Judith Herb College of Education
Faculty recognized for tenure, promotion
By Meghan Cunningham : Monday, April 29th, 2019
The University of Toledo Board of Trustees approved during its April meeting tenure for 12 faculty members and promotion of another 31 associate professors and professors.
“We continue to have high-caliber faculty advancing through our tenure and promotion process, and this year’s cohort of faculty members all have very impressive achievements,” said Dr. Karen Bjorkman, interim provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.
The provost also noted the goal in the strategic plan to increase the percentage of professors among the total number of full-time faculty. There were 22 who became fully promoted to professor with the board’s recent action.
Faculty members who received tenure and promotion to associate professor are:
College of Business and Innovation
• Dr. Xinghao Yan, Information, Operations and Technology Management
• Dr. Marcelo Alvarado-Vargas, Management
• Dr. Carmen Cioc, Engineering Technology
• Dr. Luis Mata, Engineering Technology
College of Health and Human Services
• Dr. Kimberly McBride, School of Population Health
• Dr. Shipra Singh, School of Population Health
• Dr. Heather Sloane, School of Social Justice
College of Medicine and Life Sciences
• Dr. Nezam Altorok, Medicine
College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
• Dr. Trieu Le, Mathematics and Statistics
College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Dr. Isaac Schiefer, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
• Dr. F. Scott Hall, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
• Dr. Amit Tiwari, Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Faculty members promoted to professor are:
College of Arts and Letters
• Dr. Melissa Gregory, English Language and Literature
• Dr. Bhuiyan Alam, Geography and Planning
• Dr. Charles Beatty, History
• Dr. Lee Heritage, Music
• Dr. Ovamir Anjum, Philosophy and Religious Studies
• Dr. Patricia Case, Sociology and Anthropology
• Dr. Willie McKether, Sociology and Anthropology
• Dr. Iryna Pentina, Marketing
• Dr. Yakov Lapitsky, Chemical Engineering
• Dr. Hong Wang, Engineering Technology
• Dr. Matthew Franchetti, Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
• Dr. Wendy Cochrane, School of Intervention and Wellness
• Dr. Jiunn-Jye Sheu, School of Population Health
• Dr. Kasey Tucker-Gail, School of Social Justice
• Bryan Lammon
• Dr. Cletus Iwuagwu, Medicine
• Dr. Ruby Nucklos, Medicine
• Dr. Tanvir Singh, Psychiatry
• Dr. John Gray, Biological Sciences
• Dr. Dragan Isailovic, Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Dr. Alessandro Arsie, Mathematics and Statistics
• Dr. Zahoor Shah, Medicinal and Biological Chemistry
Faculty members promoted to associate professor are:
• Dr. Sarah Gerken, Anesthesiology
• Dr. Anu Garg, Medicine
• Dr. Dani Zoorob, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Dr. Jiayong Liu, Orthopaedic Surgery
• Dr. Waseem Ostwani, Pediatrics
• Dr. Eileen Quinn, Pediatrics
• Dr. Richard Baron, Psychiatry
• Dr. Kimberly Hunter, Psychiatry
• Dr. Jason Schroeder, Surgery
Posted in Advancement, Arts and Letters, Business and Innovation, Engineering, Health and Human Services, Law, Medicine and Life Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, News, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, UToday
Alumnus, business students to receive 2019 Pacemaker Awards
By Staff : Tuesday, April 9th, 2019
The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation and the Business Engagement and Leadership Council will hold its 56th annual Pacemaker Awards Friday, April 12, at the Inverness Club.
Ramon E. Gonzalez III will receive the 2019 Business Pacemaker Award at the ceremony, which will start at 7 p.m.
He received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University in 1961. Gonzalez split his career between serving as a foreign service officer at the U.S. State Department, as assistant vice president at Merrill Lynch, and as chief financial officer of Lone Star Seed Co. in San Antonio. He is now retired.
Gonzalez served in the military and is a retired captain of the United States Army Reserve. He also is a past member of the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a member emeritus and past secretary of the Explorers Club, Washington Group.
The University alumnus is a strong supporter of the College of Business and Innovation’s Edward H. Schmidt School of Professional Sales. Gonzalez and his family regularly visit the University every fall.
“The Pacemaker Award is the College of Business and Innovation’s highest honor, recognizing individuals for outstanding achievement in business, as well as contributions to the community and the University,” said. Dr. Anne L. Balazs, dean of the College of Business and Innovation. “We also are proud to recognize our business students at this prestigious annual event.”
Student Pacemaker Awards are presented to College of Business and Innovation graduate and undergraduate students for their outstanding academic achievement, University and community service, and leadership.
The 2019 Student Pacemaker Award recipients are:
• Master of Business Administration — Himabindu Katrapati;
• Master of Science in Accountancy — Constance Baumgartner;
• Accounting — Rachael Noe and Hannah Smith;
• Applied Organizational Management — Gregory Matuszynski II;
• Finance — Landon Bleau and Spencer Shoemaker;
• Information Operations Technology Management — Cassidy Hamill and Scott Pribe;
• Management — Laurie Britt and Quinne Meyer;
• Marketing and International Business — Olivia Wright and Jovan Sanson; and
• Dean’s Award — Abigail Brannan.
Posted in Alumni, Business and Innovation, Events, News, UToday
Rocket club to compete in National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships this week
By Bailey Sparks : Tuesday, March 26th, 2019
The Rocket Disc Golf club will travel to Appling, Ga., to compete in the National Collegiate Disc Golf Championships Wednesday, March 27.
Club members will leave Tuesday, March 26, to arrive in time for the event, which will take place at the International Disc Golf Center. UToledo is one of 34 universities from across the country that will hit the course.
Rocket Disc Golf qualified for nationals with a second-place finish at the Great Lakes Collegiate Open earlier this month at Deerfield Nature Park in Mount Pleasant, Mich.
“Thankfully, Chris Wojciechowski, Rocket Disc Golf No. 1 player, shot the hot round of the day to secure a berth for us,” said Aaron Chelchowski, president and founder of the club. “Our team is getting ready, and we are excited to show the rest of the schools that are going to nationals that we are to be taken seriously.”
The team consists of Chelchowski, a senior majoring in sales and marketing; Wojciechowski, a Ph.D. student in measurement; Ryan Rau, a senior majoring in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in education and leadership; and Alex Phillips, a senior majoring in professional sales.
“It has been a whirlwind starting this club in time to compete this year,” Rau said. “An absolute round of applause to Aaron Chelchowski for all the hard work and hours of time he has put into this. He has truly been the thrusters that have propelled this rocket of a club.”
After qualifying for nationals, the club had to figure out how to make the trip happen. Rau and Chelchowski went into fundraising overdrive and received more than $1,000 in less than one week via GoFundMe. Donations came in from UToledo alumi, family, and disc golfers from collegiate programs around the country.
“This club raised more than $2,000 in funding through shirt sales and disc sales through a partnership with Discraft Discs, the world leader in disc sports, before ever getting to the first budget allocation meeting,” Wojciechowski said. “The club has staying power and will be a part of the fabric of the University for years to come.”
Students who want to get involved with the Rocket Disc Golf club can email Chelchowski at aaron.chelchowski@rockets.utoledo.edu or rocketdiscgolf@utoledo.edu.
Posted in Business and Innovation, Events, News, UToday, — Judith Herb College of Education
Distinguished University Professor Lecture March 27
By Chase M. Foland : Monday, March 25th, 2019
Dr. Paul Hong in The University of Toledo College of Business and Innovation will give a Distinguished University Professor Lecture Wednesday, March 27.
The Distinguished University Professor of Information, Operations and Technology Management will discuss “Rising Asia and American Hegemony: Practices of Innovator Firms From Four Leading Nations” at 4 p.m. in the Thompson Student Union Ingman Room.
Hong will focus on the rise of Asia in terms of leveraging its economic, political and demographic strengths, while also talking about how he expects American leadership to continue based on its innovative resilience and diversity.
“The global market environment has always experienced turbulence through shifting of economic power among nations and geographic regions,” Hong said. “Today, the level of global economic turbulence is increasing exponentially as companies and their home countries seek to advantageously position themselves to become dominant actors on the world economic stage.”
Hong was named a Distinguished University Professor in 2018. He is an internationally recognized researcher in network capabilities, global supply chain management, international comparative studies, and building growth engine industries for national competitiveness. His expertise is in the implementation of supply chain management practices to build firms for domestic advantage and global competitiveness.
Selected as a Fulbright Scholar in 2017, Hong has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and three books. He received one of the University’s Outstanding Researcher Awards in 2015.
He earned a Ph.D. in manufacturing management and engineering from The University of Toledo. He also holds master of business administration and master of arts degrees in economics from Bowling Green University.
A reception will follow the free lecture.
Posted in Business and Innovation, Events, UToday
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Dr. Don Fanning
Home > Staff > Dr. Don Fanning
Dr. Don Fanning, B.A., MABS, M.DIV, D.MIN
Director, Department of Global Studies
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary
30 years experience in Latin America serving as jungle pilot evangelist and church planter in Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay and US.
Served as Academic Dean of Word of Life Argentina Bible Institute.
Founder of Libros Aguila Publicaciones (a Christian School textbook publications in Spanish) and Branches Publications in the US.
Planted seven churches in four countries before joining the faculty at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary as the Director and Chairman of Global Studies Department.
Courses taught at Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary:
Introduction to Missions
Cross Cultural Church Planting and Evangelism
Cross Cultural Communication
Perspectives on Missions
Trends and Issues in Missions
Jungle Survival Camp
Church-Based Leadership Training
Inductive Bible Study Methods
Biblical Theology I and II
Evangelism and Christian Life
History and Survey of Missions
Theology of Missions
Church and Missions for mobilizing churches for global ministries
Books written by Don Fanning
Trends and Issues in Modern Missions
What in the World is God Doing? – An Introduction to Missions
Mission Accomplished? – A History and Survey of Missions
Theologies that have Molded Missions: A Review of Issues in Theology
*Walking His Way: A Daily Devotional Bible Study on the Commands in the NT with an additional Workbook for classes
*Ten Steps of Discipleship, along with a 90-Day Devotional Challenge workbook
*Inductive Bible Study Methods
*Romans: A Study Guide for Small Group Leaders
*Revelation: A Study Guide for Small Group Leaders
*Spiritual Gifts: A Survey and Definition of the Spiritual Gifts
Aconsejamiento bíblico
Cómo dirigir un grupo pequeño
* These books are also available in Spanish.
All of these books are available for downloading or viewing on this web site, as well as links for purchasing a hard copy of any of the books.
Personal: Don and Jan have been married since 1965. They have four children, all married, and nine grandchildren. Don’s main hobbies are golf (6 handicap) and flying. In 2006 Don teamed with Steve and Jesse (son) Saint and the Waodoni Indians (formerly “Aucas”) to help them start an aviation industry of building airplanes in the jungles of Ecuador. Together they built a 200 mph, 4-place, RV-10 Experimental Aircraft that he flew for four years.
Career: After thirty years as a missionary in South America, Don was asked to come to Lynchburg to develop a number of training programs in Spanish for Dr. Jerry Falwell and then to develop the Department of Inter Cultural Studies at Liberty University.
His ministry began as an Associate Pastor in Garland, Texas, under Dr. Gary Coleman, Lavon Drive Baptist Church. Three years later the Fannings began their service in the jungles of Colombia where Don was a jungle pilot and evangelist for seven years evangelizing small river towns and Spanish-speaking tribes, Mirañas and Yucuna. When the government forced their departure from the tribal areas, Don founded a church in Bogotá and helped start the Bogotá Baptist Bible Institute.
After a three years leave-of-absence in the US for Seminary training (M. Div) at Capital Bible Seminary and the founding of Fellowship Baptist Church in Burke, Virginia, Don was asked to become the Academic Dean of the Word of Life Bible Institute in Argentina, where he served for seven years.
In 1991, Don and Jan returned to Argentina to plant a church in Buenos Aires, and to start a publishing ministry for Christian School textbooks in order to help a budding Christian School movement in Latin America. The church he founded in Buenos Aires has continued under national leadership since 1994.
Due to excessive taxes (i.e., 52% social security tax for every employee), in 1994 Don moved the publishing ministry, Libros Aguila, to Asunción, Paraguay. In 1996 Don joined two Paraguayan leaders in a small church, New Life Baptist Church. In the next four years it grew from 60 to 450 (currently 1300!), becoming the fastest growing Baptist church in Latin America (we think).
In the summer of 2000, with the church ministry flourishing and publishing in over 600 schools in 14 countries and both totally under national leadership, the Fannings saw it was time to “pass the baton” on to national leadership. Upon returning to the states, Dr. Jerry Falwell asked the Fannings to join him in Lynchburg. In the fall of 2001 Don became the Director of the Inter Cultural Studies Department as well as the Director of the Center for Global Ministries at Liberty University. Don also co-teaches the Logos Bible Class at Thomas Road Baptist Church along with Dr. Jim Borland.
In 2011 Don started Branches Publications to produce textbooks and discipleship materials to be available online in multiple languages.
In 2012 Don was asked to become the Director of the Global Studies Department in the Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary as well as continue to teach in the University.
In addition to teaching at Liberty, future projects include developing a coaching ministry for leaders, production of tools for Bible teaching and missions, creating a bilingual Christian School textbook series, and developing an international leadership training and a Global Focus local church ministry. Don takes students on short-term trips and teaches and preaches in conferences in the US and throughout Latin America.
In 2013 Don taught some Introduction to Missions courses at Mobile Ed, a new online division of Logos Bible Software for training thousands who cannot attend a formal education. Logos has also included Don’s books in the Logos Bible Software Library in English and Spanish.
Training: Don’s academic degrees include a BA (Bible, Teacher’s Certificate) from Bob Jones Univ., MA (Biblical Studies) from Pensacola Christian College, M. Div (NT Theology) from Capital Bible Seminary, D.Min. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Additional Ph.D. studies taken at Capella University in On-line Course Development.
Membership: Evangelical Missiological Society, Association of Professors of Missiology, and the American Society of Missiology.
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Tran Enterprises, LLC v. DHL Exp. (USA), Inc. 5064376
Posted on December 17, 2010 Author Categories Volume 13, Edition 12, cases
Fifth Circuit.
TRAN ENTERPRISES, LLC d/b/a Nutrition Depot, Plaintiff-Appellant,
DHL EXPRESS (USA), INC., Defendant-Appellee.
No. 10-20115.
Dec. 13, 2010.
Before KING, GARWOOD and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.
Plaintiff-appellant Tran Enterprises LLC, doing business as Nutrition Depot, entered into contracts with defendant-appellee DHL Express (USA), Inc. for numerous shipments of merchandise to its customers. This appeal concerns twenty-one shipments delivered between April 3, 2006, and January 31, 2007, for which DHL failed to remit collect-on-delivery (COD) payments totaling $21,991.72 to Nutrition Depot. Nutrition Depot alleged Texas common-law claims for breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and conversion, as well as a claim under the Texas Theft Liability Act, TEX. CIV. PRAC. & REM.CODE § 134.001, et seq. Nutrition Depot also asserted that the Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. § 14706, applied and prohibited the limited liability provisions of the contract. DHL removed the case to the district court below. Both parties moved for summary judgment, and the district court granted DHL’s motion. Nutrition Depot appeals.
While the district court ultimately found, by a status hearing, that there were twenty-four contested shipments, the district court’s summary judgment order that is challenged on appeal dealt only with twenty-one shipments. Of these twenty-one shipments, the evidence shows that DHL collected COD checks for only ten. Of the remaining eleven shipments, one check was not collected because DHL failed to deliver the goods altogether, and the remaining ten checks simply were not collected by DHL’s employees upon delivery of the merchandise. All of the shipments were by ground transport save one, to Honalulu, Hawaii; that air shipment is among the ten for which DHL did collect a COD check. Nutrition Depot paid a seven dollar fee per shipment for COD service for twenty of the checks.
All twenty-one disputed shipments were governed by a contract of carriage, which included the Waybill, DHL Express Terms and Conditions of Carriage, DHL Express Terms and Conditions of Service, DHL Express COD Service Conditions, and DHL Express Ground Tariff. These Terms and Conditions state that DHL’s liability is limited to one hundred dollars per shipment, unless the shipper requests and pays an additional fee for “Shipment Value Protection.” Nutrition Depot did not request, pay for or obtain Shipment Value Protection for any of the twenty-one disputed shipments. In recognition of its failure to collect some of the checks and Nutrition Depot’s non-receipt of the collected checks, DHL issued twenty-one settlement checks to Nutrition Depot each in the amount of one hundred dollars.
The district court found that the Carmack Amendment applied to the shipments at issue and that all of Nutrition Depot’s state-law claims were preempted thereunder. The district court further found that the one hundred dollar limit on liability found in DHL’s Terms and Conditions was valid and enforceable under the Carmack Amendment. As a result, the district court granted summary judgment to DHL that its liability was limited to one hundred dollars per shipment, as provided in the contract of carriage, and that Nutrition Depot was not entitled to collect attorney’s fees. The district court then held a status conference to determine exactly how many checks were at issue, ultimately finding that there were twenty-four contested checks and entering a final judgment requiring DHL to pay $2,400 to satisfy its liability to Nutrition Depot. Nutrition Depot now appeals, challenging the district court’s grant of summary judgment to DHL.
This court reviews a district court’s award of summary judgment de novo. Morris v. Covan World Wide Moving, 144 F.3d 377, 380 (5th Cir.1998). Summary judgment is appropriate if no genuine issues of material fact exist and the movant demonstrates it is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. FED.R.CIV.P. 56(a); Baranowski v. Hart, 486 F.3d 112, 119 (5th Cir.2007).
This case centers around the applicability and effect of the Carmack Amendment, 49 U.S.C. § 14706. The only issue that has been properly asserted by Nutrition Depot on appeal is whether the Carmack Amendment preempts Nutrition Depot’s state law claims.
Nutrition Depot argues that its state law claims are not preempted by the Carmack Amendment because they are predicated on harm independent of any conduct related to the shipping itself. The Supreme Court has held that the Carmack Amendment is “comprehensive enough to embrace responsibility for all losses resulting from any failure to discharge a carrier’s duty as to any part of the agreed transportation ….” Georgia, Florida & Alabama Rwy. v. Blish Milling Co., 241 U.S. 190, 36 S.Ct. 541, 544, 60 L.Ed. 948 (1916). The Fifth Circuit has also construed the preemptive scope of the Carmack Amendment to be sweeping, holding that “Congress intended for the Carmack Amendment to provide the exclusive cause of action for loss or damages to goods arising from the interstate transportation of those goods by a common carrier.” Hoskins v. Bekins Van Lines, 343 F.3d 769, 778 (5th Cir.2003) (emphasis in original) (finding that doctrine of complete preemption applied). Indeed, the Fifth Circuit has rejected nearly all state-law claims regarding loss of or damage to goods in interstate ground shipping as preempted by the Amendment. See, e.g. Moffit v. Bekins Van Lines Co., 6 F.3d 305, 306-07 (5th Cir.1993) (finding that Carmack Amendment preempted plaintiff’s claims for the tort of outrage, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract, breach of implied warranty, breach of express warranty, violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, slander, misrepresentation, fraud, negligence, gross negligence, and violation of common carrier duties under state law).
Nutrition Depot asserts that this case is distinguishable from existing Carmack Amendment jurisprudence because it does not involve loss or damage to goods shipped, but instead involves the carrier’s alleged failure to remit COD payments for goods that were properly delivered. However, the Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit have found preemption not only in cases where there was actual damage to the goods shipped, but also when there has been “any failure to discharge a carrier’s duty with respect to any part of the transportation to the agreed destination.” New York, Philadelphia & Norfolk R.R. Co. v. Peninsula Produce Exch. of Maryland, 240 U.S. 34, 36 S.Ct. 230, 232, 60 L.Ed. 511 (1916). See also Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. v. Ill. Central Gulf R.R. Co., 721 F.2d 483, 486 (5th Cir.1983); Moffit, 6 F.3d at 306-07. ( Carmack Amendment preempted claims dealing with failure to ship goods on time); Duerrmeyer v. Alamo Moving and Storage One, Cor., 49 F.Supp.2d 934, 936 (W.D.Tex.1999) ( Carmack Amendment preempted state law conversion claim arising out of carrier’s placement of household items in storage due to dispute over transport costs). Here, it is undisputed that the contract of carriage between Nutrition Depot and DHL respecting COD items required DHL to pick up Nutrition Depot’s customers’ checks for the goods when DHL delivered them to the customers and to return such checks to Nutrition Depot. One court, relying on the breadth of the Supreme Court’s broad preemption language, has specifically extended the Carmack Amendment to a case where, as here, a carrier allegedly failed to remit COD payments for properly delivered goods. See Circle Redmont, Inc. v. Mercer Transportation Co., 795 So.2d 239, 242 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.2001) (“although the express language of the Carmack Amendment only makes reference to the actual loss, damage, or injury to property during shipping, and thus Mercer’s failure to collect C.O.D. charges does not fall within the literal terms of the amendment, the United States Supreme Court has interpreted the scope of the Carmack Amendment’s preemption so broadly that such claims necessarily come within its scope.”). In keeping with the foregoing Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit precedent, this court, like the Circle Redmont court, finds that loss of COD checks constitutes a failure to discharge the carrier’s duties under the transportation contract, and as such falls within the reach of Carmack Amendment preemption.
Nutrition Depot further asserts that its conversion and theft claims are beyond the Carmack Amendment’s broad preemptive reach because these claims are for “separate harms,” unrelated to the contract of carriage. Nutrition Depot relies particularly on the First Circuit case of Rini v. United Van Lines, Inc., 104 F.3d 502, 505-06 (1st Cir.1997), which held that “[l]iability arising from separate harms-apart from the loss or damage of goods-is not preempted.” That court listed as examples of separate harms assault by an employee of the carrier on the shipper, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, explaining that these harms would be independent from the loss or damage to goods. Id. See also Gordon v. United Van Lines, Inc., 130 F.3d 282, 289 (7th Cir.1997) (also finding intentional infliction of emotional distress to be a “separate harm” that was not preempted). Nutrition Depot asserts that DHL’s alleged conversion of the COD checks constitutes such a “separate harm,” and cites several cases that have discussed a “conversion exception” in the context of applicability of limited liability provisions. See, e.g. Glickfeld v. Howard Van Lines, Inc., 213 F.2d 723, 727-28 (9th Cir.1954); Kemper Ins. Cos. v. Federal Express Corp., 252 F.3d 509, 512 (1st Cir.2001) (citing Deiro v. American Airlines, Inc., 816 F.2d 1360, 1366 (9th Cir.1987)). We acknowledge that in some circumstances, where a carrier has intentionally converted for its own purposes the property of the shipper, traditional true conversion claims should be allowed to proceed and limitations on liability should be considered inapplicable. See, e.g., Glickfeld, 213 F.2d at 727 (requiring proof that the carrier has appropriated the property for its own use or gain, rather than the simple fact that the property has gone missing); Nippon Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Holmes Transp. Inc., 616 F.Supp. 610 (S.D.N.Y.1985) (same). See also Mayflower Transit, Inc. v. Weil, Gotshal & Manges L.L.P., 2000 WL 34479959 (N.D.Tex.2000) (finding conversion claim to be outside preemptive scope of Carmack Amendment because stolen jewelry was not part of goods to be shipped). However, to justify such a conversion claim exception to the preemptive scope of the Carmack Amendment, the party asserting such an exception would, we hold, bear the burden of proof at trial. With respect to an issue on which the nonmovant would bear the burden of proof at trial, if the movant for summary judgment correctly points to the absence of evidence supporting the nonmovant with respect to such an issue, the nonmovant, in order to avoid an adverse summary judgment on that issue, must produce sufficient summary judgment evidence to sustain a finding in its favor on the issue. Anderson v. Liberty Lobby Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 2511, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 2552-53, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Johnson v. Deep East Texas Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force, 379 F.3d 293, 337 (5th Cir.2004); Burge v. St. Tammany Parish, 336 F.3d 363, 374 (5th Cir.2003).
In the instant case, Nutrition Depot failed to present any summary judgment evidence that true conversion has occurred, instead merely offering the fact that it did not receive the checks. DHL provided evidence that some COD checks were never collected at all, and that all the COD payments it did collect from Nutrition Depot’s customers were logged in its system and likely sent to Nutrition Depot shortly after collection. Nutrition Depot produces no evidence in response indicating that DHL instead converted those checks for its own gain, citing instead only to its own filings at earlier stages of the case. Nutrition Depot made no effort at discovery from its customers, or otherwise, to determine if any of the COD checks had been cashed, and, if so, when or by whom or the like.
Nutrition Depot’s remaining claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty arise directly from the performance of the contract of carriage since the contracted for COD shipments include the delivery of the shipment, the pick-up of the COD check, and the return of the COD check to the shipper. Accordingly, these claims are preempted by the Carmack Amendment. See Air Prods., 721 F.2d at 485-86. Therefore, we affirm the district court’s finding that all of Nutrition Depot’s state law claims are preempted by the Carmack Amendment.
The other arguments urged by Nutrition Depot are raised in this court for the first time in its reply brief in this court (and, to some extent, only at oral argument). These contentions, which relate to the validity of the limited liability provisions under the Carmack Amendment, and applicability of the Carmack Amendment to the one shipment that traveled by air to Honolulu, are not properly before the court. See, e.g. United States v. Bonilla-Mungia, 422 F.3d 316, 319 (5th Cir.2005) (“[W]e will not entertain issues first raised by an appellant in his reply brief.”). We will nevertheless briefly touch on each of these issues to show, first, that they have been waived by Nutrition Depot, and second, that even had the arguments been properly raised here, they would be unavailing.
First, while Nutrition Depot did argue before the district court that the limited liability provisions of the contract are invalid under the Carmack Amendment, Nutrition Depot did not raise this argument on appeal save in its reply brief. Even assuming, arguendo, that this argument was properly raised on appeal, the district court was correct in holding that the shipping contract’s limitation of liability to one hundred dollars per shipment is indeed valid under the Carmack Amendment. The Carmack Amendment provides a general rule that motor carriers transporting property are liable to shippers “for the actual loss or injury to the property,” 49 U.S.C. § 14706(a)(1), but allows for an exception under which a shipper may “establish rates for the transportation of property … under which the liability of the carrier for such property is limited to a value established by written or electronic declaration of the shipper or by written agreement between the carrier and shipper if that value would be reasonable under the circumstances surrounding the transportation.” 49 U.S.C. § 14706(c)(1)(A). This court has adopted a four-pronged test for determining whether a contract’s limited liability provision is valid under the statute. Under this test, a carrier may limit its liability if it: “(1) maintains a tariff within the prescribed guidelines of the Interstate Commerce Commission (now the Surface Transportation Board); (2) obtains the shipper’s agreement as to her choice of liability; (3) gives the shipper a reasonable opportunity to choose between two or more levels of liability; and (4) issues a receipt or bill of lading prior to moving the shipment.” Hoskins, 343 F.3d at 778 (citing Rohner Gehrig Co. v. Tri-State Motor Transit, 950 F.2d 1079, 1081 (5th Cir.1992) (en banc)).
We agree with the district court that the limited liability provision at issue in this litigation meets these four requirements, for the reasons given by the district court. Namely, DHL maintains a ground tariff that is clearly posted on its internet site; Nutrition Depot agreed to the liability limit following reasonable opportunity to choose between levels of liability; and Nutrition Depot received the waybill denoting the terms before the shipment took place. The crux of Nutrition Depot’s untimely argument concerns the third prong, that it was not given a meaningful opportunity to choose between levels of protection. But in creating their online waybills, Nutrition Depot selected ground shipping, declined the available Shipment Value Protection, and agreed to the Terms and Conditions of Carriage, Terms and Conditions of Service, COD Service Conditions, and the Ground Tariff, all of which stated that DHL’s liability was limited to one hundred dollars per shipment unless Shipment Value Protection was selected. While Nutrition Depot contends that the labeling of their waybills as “airbills” undermines the applicability of the limited liability terms to their shipments, the Terms and Conditions of Service clearly state that “[a] ‘waybill’ shall include any … air waybill … and shall incorporate these Terms and Conditions” so it is clear that the Terms and Conditions did, in fact, apply. Thus, even assuming arguendo that this limited liability issue was not waived, we would affirm the district court’s conclusion that the limited liability provisions in the contract of carriage between DHL and Nutrition Depot are valid.
[10][11] Nutrition Depot also attempts to argue that the Carmack Amendment does not apply to the one air shipment to Honolulu. However, Nutrition Depot had argued at all stages of this litigation that the Carmack Amendment applied to all of the contested shipments, until mentioning in its reply brief before this court that it would not apply to the air shipment. Because appellants failed to raise this issue until their reply brief on appeal, it has been waived. Bonilla-Mungia, 422 F.3d at 319. Furthermore, no injustice is done by declining to fully address this issue because consideration of this shipment under the Airline Deregulation Act and federal common law applicable to air shipments would not result in a different outcome due to the near-identity of the preemptive effect and limited liability requirements for air and ground shipments. See Sam L. Majors Jewelers v. ABX, Inc., 117 F.3d 922 (5th Cir.1997).
Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is
Neither party contests on appeal the district court’s rulings or judgment with respect to the three other shipments not expressly addressed in the district court’s summary judgment order. Nor does either party attach any significance to the failure to pay the COD seven dollar fee on one of the ground shipments, or seek to have that shipment treated differently from any other.
For shipments traveling by air, the Airline Deregulation Act preempts state law causes of action aside from routine breach of contract claims. See American Airlines, Inc. v. Wolens, 513 U.S. 219, 115 S.Ct. 817, 824-26, 130 L.Ed.2d 715 (1995). The breach of contract claim in this case is not “routine,” because the appellant seeks to avoid a limited liability term in the contract, rather than simply seeking to enforce the contract. See Read-Rite Corp. v. Burlington Air Express, Ltd., 186 F.3d 1190, 1197 (1999); Treiber & Straub, Inc. v. United Parcel Service, Inc., 474 F.3d 379, 386-87 (7th Cir.2007). The Airline Deregulation Act’s savings clause does, however, preserve the pre-existing federal common law remedies against air carriers for lost shipments. See Sam L. Majors Jewelers, 117 F.3d at 928; accord Deiro v. American Airlines, Inc., 816 F.2d 1360 (9th Cir.1987). Under this common law, limited liability is enforceable if there is reasonable notice to the shipper of the limited liability and fair opportunity to purchase higher liability. See Read-Rite Corp., 186 F.3d at 1198. This test is highly similar to the requirements for limited liability enforceability under the Carmack Amendment, and indeed has been interpreted by some courts as being identical. See, e.g. Kemper Ins. Cos. v. Federal Express Corp., 252 F.3d 509, 514 (1st Cir.2001) (“[W]ith respect to the fair opportunity to declare a higher rate, the constraints on limitation clauses are the same for motor carriers covered by the Carmack Amendment as they are for air carriers covered by the released value doctrine.”). Thus, for the reasons already discussed earlier in this opinion for the four-pronged Carmack Amendment limited liability test, and for the reasons given by the district court, the limited liability provision in the contract of carriage here is enforceable with respect to air shipments, as well as with respect to the ground shipments.
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The Lefty Awards
Engaged Spectator has organized a Lefty Blog Awards. April Reign provided the art. As you can see there is lots of great competition and, yes, The Galloping Beaver is nominated.
I like this one. It's simple and clean. You can nominate here. Nominations close 14 July, so get your favourite left-leaning blogs in there.
Posted by Dave at 17:10 Recommend this Post 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: awards, lefty awards
Too many memes. Too many people tagging me. First it was The Eternal Gaijin (who's getting added to the blogroll soon) and then skdadl over at POGGE (who is already on the blogroll).
I'll do this one, but jeez, by the time I get around to tagging anybody, they've already been tapped. That and these things make me a mite uncomfortable. However, I will do this one... but it's the last one... evah!
8 Random Facts/Habits: First the rules
1. All right, here are the rules.
2. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts.
3. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
4. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
5. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
1. I love dogs, but don't own one. Therefore I occasionally look after the neighbour's Golden Retreiver;
2. I have been shot twice but have three "wound stripes". On both occasions I yelled, Jesus FUCKING Christ! In that I am a solid non-believer, I was neither blaming him nor asking for his assistance. I should have yelled MEDIC!
3. I am allergic to cats but think they are a superior form of pet. They can say "Asshole" with a simple look.
4. I can tell you the identity of any of a large number of Killer Whales by the sound they are making.
5. I command ships for a living. Anything from floating gin-palaces to tugs. I try to avoid periods in command when the National Review or the Western Standard is likely to be holding a cruise/seminar.
6. I get up early, go for coffee downtown, then come home and start my day. Whatever happens after that is unscheduled.
7. I dislike John Wayne movies. Regardless of the theme/topic/story, it's always a John Wayne movie. The Longest Day might have been a good movie until John Wayne appeared in it.
8. I find the women of my generation sexier than those of a younger generation. They are intelligent, sophisticated, adventurous and do not overuse the word awesome.
And now to the tags
Beep Beep! It's me!
Engaged Spectator
Harper-Valley
Hope & Onions
Red Jenny
The Wingnuterer (both of them)
Woman at Mile 0
If you have already been tagged for this meme please ignore this notice. It's been a pleasure doing business with you and we look forward to being able to serve you in the future.
And the Canadian Embassy reacts
You can have an effect. From comments to this post Celeste reports: (Emphasis mine)
They have taken the link down, this is their reply to my email:
Dear Ms (snip)
Thank you for your email regarding a post made this week in the blog
"Right Wing Girl" and the our article about the Canadian Angels website
from a 2006 edition of the Connect2Canada newsletter.
Our mention of Canadian Angels was made over a year ago. We have now
removed that reference to the Canadian Angels site from the
Connect2Canada website and newsletter and will not make future references
to it.
Thank you again for your message. We very much value the feedback of
Connect2Canada members.
Bernard Etzinger
Connect2Canada team
Canadian Embassy, Washington, DC
And I can verify that, in fact, the link has been removed. For that I will commend the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. for quickly taking appropriate action once they were made aware of the problem.
The credit for bringing this matter to the attention of the Canadian Embassy goes to our readers for taking direct action and to the bloggers who made certain the word got out: Scott, Paladiea, JJ, Scout, Dr. Dawg and CC. If there are others who have not shown up on my link-track yet, please let me know in comments.
And I'll quote Canadian Cynic:
And if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the growing whine of "censorship" from the Canadian dumbfuck-o-sphere. Just wait for it -- you know it's coming.
Yup. Count on it. I've already read one apologist for GOTR's hate-filled rant. It's an excuse - not a reason. I don't care what motivates Wendy Sullivan. She singled out a societal group and spewed unsubstantiated, unrestrained hatred on them from her own public forum. Any attempt to paint her as a victim is simply buying into her viral behaviour.
However, here's the rub.
I don't care what Sullivan writes. She can say anything she wants. Any rational, thinking being would recognize her for what she is. And her fans will remain incurable in any case. Being a bigot and a racist is easy. It doesn't take any thought. In that regard, we have just as much freedom to point it out to others.
I don't care who sponsors her or who choses to advertise on her site. But she doesn't get to spout her venom publicly in one place and then promote herself in another on my taxpayer's dollar. Not without an attempt to prevent it.
Birthday wishes for the idiot
Don't get too excited. This is what the Republican National Committee is spreading via email. Apparently there is some significance to Bush making it to age 61.
It was accompanied by this:
In a few short days, President Bush will celebrate his 61st Birthday. Don't miss out on this opportunity to wish the President a Happy Birthday by signing the RNC's eCard today.
To make this an extra special birthday on July 6, Mrs. Bush will be presenting our President with this birthday wish from supporters like you.
Extra speshul! And then it was followed by this:
And if you can, I hope you will consider celebrating President Bush's birthday with a gift our entire Party can share. Your secure online donation of $61 (or whatever you can afford) will help keep the RNC's preparations for electing more Republicans in the 2007-2008 election cycle on track.
Hmmm. Then this.
P.S. This is your last chance to join the First Lady in making this an extra special birthday celebration for our President - please take a moment to sign the Birthday eCard today.
What to say, what to say?
Dear Junior,
Think about this. The world would have been so much better a place if, sometime 62 years ago, your father had used a condom.
h/t West End Bound
Labels: bush
That was fast!
Transport Canada is trying to deflect the effects of this.
Two boys named Alistair Butt, one from Saskatchewan and one from Ontario, were stopped while trying to board flights last week because their name matches a name that appears on a no-fly list.
The Ontario boy, a 15-year-old from the Ottawa-area town of Orléans, was trying to check in to an Air Canada flight from Montreal to St. John's when he was told he couldn't board.
The Saskatoon boy, who's 10, was also told he couldn't get on an Air Canada flight, although it is not clear what airport he was stopped at.
Both boys were eventually allowed to board, once they were cleared by security after long delays, but their families fear they will face the same problem every time they try to fly.
"Canada is telling him he's guilty until proven innocent every time he flies," the Ontario boy's mother, Heather Butt, told CBC News.
Heather said an airline official at the airport could not say what no-fly list her son's name is on, and how to get it off.
"We said, 'What do we do?' and then, much to our amazement, she said we could possibly change our child's name," Heather said.
But nobody will tell anybody which list these names are actually on.
Transport Canada won't confirm if the boys are on a United States no-fly list, an airline no-fly list or Canada's new no-fly list, which went into effect on June 18.
Canada's list, believed to contain fewer than 1,000 names, is operated by Transport Canada. All domestic airline passengers' names are checked against a list of people deemed to be threats.
The list is not be available to the public, which means those on it will only find out when they try to travel.
Transport Canada advises families to appeal
Allan Kagedan, a Transport Canada spokesman, advised the Butt families to appeal to the organizations operating all three lists.
"You can approach all three, I suppose, and they can guide you in terms of doing what's needed to try to avoid problems in the future," he said.
He would not confirm which list contains the Alistair Butt name.
Because if it's one way to defend a fucked-up process it's by keeping everything about it secret.
Air Canada said it's working hard to prevent delays to passengers and stressed that both boys were eventually allowed on their flights.
"We regret any inconvenience, but security must remain of paramount concern," the airline said in a statement.
What security? This gives the facade of security while providing nothing.
Question to Air Canada, Transport Canada and the Minister of Public Safety: Do you clowns truly believe that someone intent on bringing down an aircraft, who is known enough to authorities to appear on a secret list, is likely to check in using their true identity?
Update: As Darren points out, if by changing his name Alistair Butt gets his name taken off the no-fly list, that is all any potential terrorist has to do.
As I said above, there is no security here. Not only would this not withstand a Charter challenge, it could conceivably provide cover for someone actually intent on bringing down an aircraft.
Labels: no-fly list
Does the Canadian Embassy check anything out?
I don't pay a great deal of attention to the blog ramblings of the deranged-right. The first indication that the worldview expressed is likely to be limited by seriously blocked synaptic clefts is a homepage banner which, although on a Canadian blog, is based solely on an American flag. (I like the American flag - on American sites.)
Wendy Sullivan goes overboard:
As opposed to the other 364 days When the Natives do absolutely nothing except smoke, drink and fuck their daughters. This Friday will mark the Native Day of Action(tm) here in Canada. It's their chance to whine and complain that us white guys who pay 45% in income tax to support their smoking, drinking and daughter-fucking are ripping them off.
If I have to explain to you that this is racist hate mongering, then perhaps you're here by accident.
Sullivan is taken to these kinds of hate-filled little rants. We know that. For the most part, we ignore her.
Fast forward to Washington D.C. and the Canadian Embassy Connect2Canada site where Sullivan is getting props from the embassy staff.
A Little TLC for Troops Fighting the Taliban
Yeah, interesting initiative, but the organizer is a hate-spewing racist. Canadian values? Makes you wonder if the Canadian Embassy in Washington really knows who they're dealing with.
I think I'll let them know. Here.
Gee, I wish I was a man - then I could be smart
Me thinks Hyundai needs a few women on their advertising team.
Memo to Hyundai: You offend me...I don't buy from you. And I let everyone know.
Posted by Cheryl at 10:23 Recommend this Post 0 comments Links to this post
Let's hold Harper to his own standard
O'Connor Death Watch - 291645Z Jun 07
When it comes to selecting a new Minister of National Defence, (since the current one is presently on a Death Watch), we have to remember that Steve Harper, man of action, said this on 31 May 2007:
“When the leader of the Opposition is able to stand in uniform and serve his country, then I will care about his opinion of the performance of the minister of National Defence.”
Which sort of, you know, provides the type of experience and qualifications Steve expects from his Minister of National Defence.
From comments on this post:
People are talking a lot about who will replace O'Connor. But what about Harper saying that unless you've served in the military you are incompetent to comment, advise or critique the military? That statement certainly limits the pool Harper has to work with. Prentice, Day, Strahl, Bernier, and the rest are out based on Harper's qualifications.
In fact, that eliminates Harper himself, but that's pretty much beside the point.
Given Harper's standard the only people who would actually meet that requirements are:
John Cummins - Served 3 years in the Lorne Scots of the Reserve Militia;
Peter Goldring - Served 3 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force;
Laurie Hawn - Served 30 years in the RCAF and CF as a pilot;
Pierre Lemieux - Served 20 years in the Canadian Forces;
Myron Thompson - Served 2 years in the US Army.*
O'Connor, of course, is excluded from the list since he presently holds the position and is hanging on by his fingernails.
Of the others, only Laurie Hawn and Pierre Lemieux have any extensive experience. The others were "short-termers" and did not advance into senior non-commissioned or commissioned ranks. *Myron Thompson really doesn't qualify at all since his service was with the US Army, as a US citizen and was presumably as a result of being drafted.
This all depends on Harper actually living by his own words. And we all know that Harper good at words; not so good at sticking by them.
Labels: gordon o'connor, harper, MND
I'm Spartacus!
Melissa and company took a serious hit with a D.O.S. attack. Shakesville is down for a little while.
Ivory Bill Woodpecker and Blue Gal pulled the pin out.
You can find all the Shakers at their old place here.
Labels: spartacus
Give Big Media a one way ticket to the garbage disposal
I'm sure there are a large number of others pointing this out, but for the time being, Red Jenny and Canadian Cynic have the direct links to deal with this problem.
In the past month six different Big Media groups have merged to create three. The Canadian media landscape is now a virtual oligopoly and everything you read, hear and see in the media originates with a handful of large corporations.
Media convergence, where Big Media owns the TV stations, the radio stations, the newspapers and the online sites under the same corporate banner stifles the flow of information and reduces the diversity of voices.
Big Media is about maximizing profit; not about reporting the truth and not about offering diversity. Further, the corporate head offices have already demonstrated that they are unable to remain neutral with respect to the editorial policy of their media enterprizes, regardless of promises to the contrary, and they inject the political will of the corporation, not the local editorial board, on the full range of their media organs.
It needs to be stopped. Now.
Media diversity is the cornerstone of democracy. But media ownership is more highly concentrated in Canada than almost anywhere else in the industrialized world. Almost all private Canadian television stations are owned by national media conglomerates and, because of increasing cross-ownership, most of the daily newspapers we read are owned by the same corporations that own television and radio stations.
This means a handful of Big Media Conglomerates control what Canadians can most readily see, hear and read. It means less local and regional content, more direct control over content by owners and less analysis of the events that shape our lives. It also means less media choice for Canadians and fewer jobs for Canadian media workers.
We must also be wary of the impacts mergers have on the diversity and neutrality of new on-line media. We need to reverse this trend before big media gets even bigger!
Send a pre-formatted message to the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission by going here. It will only take a minute and with enough input, it will make a difference.
Go. You've spent enough time here. Go now.
Labels: big media, crtc, take action
The O'Connor death watch has begun
Via Jeff, this report from the Globe and Mail details Gordon O'Connor's defiant response to questions as to whether he is resigning his post as Minister of National Defence.
A defiant Gordon O'Connor said yesterday he has no intention of quitting as Defence Minister, and warned his critics not to assume he is about to turfed from the portfolio in a widely expected cabinet shuffle.
"I can assure you of one thing: I'm not retiring and I'm not resigning," Mr. O'Connor told reporters at a military conference in Kingston. "And if you want to run a pool, go ahead. You're going to lose."
I'll take July 20th.
The minister told the conference he expects to deliver the government's long-awaited policy paper, which will include elements of the government's current policy in support of the Afghanistan mission, by the end of the summer.
"Long awaited". As in, way overdue. What's the rush, Gordo? You've only been promising it since the summer of 2006.
The G&M, undeterred by O'Connor's statement, went on to speculate on the possible choices to fill the MND role when O'Connor is turfed this summer. Oh... how do we know that? Well this is pretty telling:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper refused to respond last week when he was asked about a potential realignment of the cabinet and whether it would involve Mr. O'Connor. But neither did Mr. Harper jump to express continued confidence in his Defence Minister, who has been criticized for his handling of several files, including the treatment of detainees and the payment of funeral costs for soldiers killed in the line of duty.
And why don't we pour a little gasoline on that fire.
Mr. O'Connor came to the defence of the Afghan mission in his speech yesterday to the conference on "stability operations," insisting the Afghan army was making such great strides that he could foresee the day when it could take over much of the combat mission now being handled by Canada's 2,500 troops based in Kandahar.
Yet at the same time, Mr. O'Connor was blunt in his assessment of the long-term prospects for Afghanistan, using the kind of unsubtle language that has got him into political hot water before. "Afghanistan has always been a land of instability," he said in response to a conference questioner, adding later, that "I think the area is always going to be unstable."
He said the security situation along the border with Pakistan remains difficult to police, in part because there are millions of ethnic Pashtuns in both countries. "There is a steady stream of insurgents coming across the border," he said.
Later, he tried to temper those comments when asked about them by reporters. "What I'm saying is that Afghanistan is in an unstable region and there will always be challenges to Afghanistan. Our job and NATO's job is to try and create a state that is stable enough to handle its own affairs so it can govern efficiently."
That's not the same mission we were all told about. We were told that the mission was to transform Afghanistan, and now O'Connor is telling us that isn't possible. We've been saying that all along.
Gordon. Pack your kit. Steve is going to fire you.
Two senior cabinet members, Industry Minister Maxime Bernier and Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day, have been touted as the most likely successors to Mr. O'Connor at Defence.
And why Maxime "deregulate everything" Bernier?
Mr. Bernier's name has been cited by Conservatives who believe a Quebec minister would make the best spokesman for the mission when the Quebec-based Royal 22nd Regiment deploys to Kandahar.
Wow. What a reason! OK, so why does Stockwell Day get consideration?
Mr. Day, meanwhile, is seen by many Tories as a surprise success because he has avoided major public pitfalls in a portfolio plagued with tricky issues and bad news, including a spate of RCMP controversies.
That's because Day is off in la-la-land pursuing his superstitious beliefs, making things up about people and failing to provide accurate answers on anything and everything. He has only avoided the public pitfalls because he runs and hides when things get tough and the news media has been giving him a free ride. If his feet had been held to the fire when he screwed up, or if others within his portfolio screwed up, he'd be in the same boat as O'Connor right now.
It doesn't really matter. They're all a bunch of boobs. O'Connor is a liability in his present seat, so it doesn't really matter who they put in the seat.
In any case, watch the calendar and watch O'Connor. And watch the defence policy paper take even longer.
Labels: gordon o'connor, maxime bernier, stockwell day
Five Ring Circus Spin
Organizers of the 2010 Five Ring Circus claim to have spurred the creation of 1,109 new units of social housing in Vancouver.
"But a Tyee review of the 1,109 units cited in the Olympic partners report finds shelter beds being counted as housing units, pre-existing units being claimed as new housing, and a double-counting of the 250 units of athlete housing at False Creek -- which will not necessarily become low-income housing after the Games."
The Tyee has also found that all but one of the remaining projects were approved and funded years before the Olympic bid was awarded in July of 2003.
You're really surprised by this news, I can tell.
Say, how much has VANOC set aside to give themselves raises again? Oh, yeah - $44 million.
David Eby from Pivot Legal Society points out that $44mil, along with the $64mil the city is expected to reap on the SE False Creek Project and the $250mil provincial housing budget, would be enough to build 3,200 units of new supportive housing.
The 3,200 figure represents VANOC's own assessment of the number of new housing units required in order to ensure the Olympics would not contribute to rising homelessness.
The Olympics has been an insidious covert form of "urban renewal" for decades now. The Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions estimates that Olympic events in seven cities in the last 20 years has resulted in the displacement of over two million people.
Not entirely oblivious to the sullying of its reputation by corporate greed, the IOC has implemented an ethical review sytem to evaluate the housing situation in cities two years following the games.
Having fucked up the opportunity to get the homeless off the streets by 2010 by providing them with shelter, VANOC and Sullivan and Campbell will presumably now need to resort to 'street cleansing', the further criminalization of the very people whose homelessness they have contributed to in the first place.
Bonus bitching: Pretty Shaved Ape's Olympics rant.
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Labels: Olympics
It isn't the heat, its the stupidity
Norbiz riffs on the results of this survey.
"6. Do you think Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq was directly involved in planning, financing, or carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001? 50% say "stop fucking asking that already," the other half is divided into "yes, I am dumber than fucking horseshit" (41%) and "[blank stare]" (9%). The number of shit-dumb Americans has increased by 5 percentage points over the last three years."
I'm guessing the 22% who thought the Amazon was located in Africa or the 3% who thought it was in North America, make up the bulk of the 26% of the people who still back Bush.
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Labels: dumbassery, world getting worse
The Oosterdam weekend
They all got together to reinforce their warped view of the world. The guts of the Republican party on the National Review cruise. They chose as their venue the opulence of a modern cruise ship. No longer a conveyance which brought throngs of immigrants to their young country, today such vessels are an "almost all inclusive resort".
In the lounges and on the decks of MS Oosterdam they could cheer on their war, backslap their achievements and let the testosterone flow undeterred by any form of rational argument from any quarter outside their privileged clique.
Johann Hari of the Independent documented his observations in The New Republic. (Registration required). Beyond the clash of egos which would be inevitable at such a gathering, he illustrates the prejudice and bigotry of the modern conservative ruling class. But more than that, he provides the proof of what they really believe to be the truth.
They know. And by knowing and not honestly addressing that which they know to be fact, they are liars.
There is something strange about this discussion, and it takes me a few moments to realize exactly what it is. All the tropes conservatives usually deny in public--that Iraq is another Vietnam, that Bush is fighting a class war on behalf of the rich--are embraced on this shining ship in the middle of the ocean. Yes, they concede, we are fighting another Vietnam; and this time we won't let the weak-kneed liberals lose it. "It's customary to say we lost the Vietnam war, but who's 'we'?" Dinesh D'Souza asks angrily. "The left won by demanding America's humiliation." On this ship, there are no Viet Cong, no three million dead. There is only liberal treachery. Yes, D'Souza says, in a swift shift to domestic politics, "of course" Republican politics is "about class. Republicans are the party of winners, Democrats are the party of losers."
The panel nods, but it doesn't want to stray from Iraq. Robert Bork, Ronald Reagan's one-time nominee to the Supreme Court, mumbles from beneath low-hanging jowls: "The coverage of this war is unbelievable. Even Fox News is unbelievable. You'd think we're the only ones dying. Enemy casualties aren't covered. We're doing an excellent job killing them."
Then, with a judder, the panel runs momentarily aground. Rich Lowry, the preppy, handsome 38-year-old editor of National Review, announces, "The American public isn't concluding we're losing in Iraq for any irrational reason. They're looking at the cold, hard facts." The Vista Lounge is, as one, perplexed. Lowry continues, "I wish it was true that, because we're a superpower, we can't lose. But it's not."
Was it a good ride? Not the cruise; the last seven years.
As they bask in the delights of formal dining rooms, a multitude of bars and rich furnishings, their countrymen fight and die in a hellhole. A country is shattered beyond recognition. Countless thousands of people have died or have been displaced or simply rot in despair because of this luxury absorbing crowd.
They are not at war. They are playing at it. Suffering is the lot of others, be they Iraqis they care nothing for, or their own countrymen, separated by class and privilege. This is their war only in the sense that the American flag pin they wear on their formal dining attire is similar to the patch worn on the shoulder of some tour-extended, hapless grunt who only wants to get out of the whole mess alive.
It's clear now. These are the spawn of the Reagan Cold Warriors. Iraq is nothing more to them than a "redo". This is the make-up exam for the failure in Vietnam.
No matter what excuse they produce for invading and laying waste to Iraq, the real reason is now out there for all to see. The war in Iraq is being fought to even the score.
And, as in Vietnam, the privileged-class does none of the fighting. That falls to the "wasted" class. Nothing but movable pieces on a folding game board. The real war is the one they are waging on their own citizens as they exact a price for their sense of humiliation over Vietnam.
They are walking disasters; a waste of good air. May they choke on the failure they are about to perpetrate on themselves.
MORE, MORE!! Sadly, No!, Steynwatch and James Wolcott all have different cuts on the oceanic gathering of the worst of the right-wingers.
Labels: iraq, National Review cruise, vietnam
"We didn't do it, nobody saw us, and when we apologized for it, we didn't really mean it"
Some days I think I either need to get a new job, have my conscience sugically removed or simply have my jaw wired shut.
Get facts straight on comfort women
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has adopted a resolution demanding an apology from Japan over the so-called comfort women. But the resolution was produced based on an erroneous perception of the facts.
The Japanese government should try to unravel the U.S. side's misinterpretation of history in order to remove a source of future trouble, while in the meantime working to block passage of the resolution by the full House of Representatives.
The resolution calls for the government to accept historical responsibility and apologize for "its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery." It describes "the comfort women system" as "one of the largest cases of human trafficking in the 20th century."
The resolution was made without verifying the facts and smacks of cheap rhetoric. It makes us doubt the intelligence of U.S. lawmakers.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed "sympathy from the bottom of my heart" and said he "felt sorry" during his meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush and congressional leaders during his visit to Washington in April. The prime minister also said that the 20th century was a century of human rights violations and Japan was not totally blameless.
Abe's remarks did not postpone adoption of the resolution by the lower house committee.
The resolution is merely one of many adopted at the U.S. Congress. It does not have any legal binding force. Thus, some observers say Japan does not have to take it seriously.
Govt must dispute false charges
But this is the wrong conclusion to draw. If Japan refrains from making counterarguments, this erroneous historical view will become accepted as established fact.
Before World War II, there were many women who were put to work as comfort women against their will by parents and brokers. But this does not mean the Japanese military coerced the women.
In past studies, no evidence has been found showing "coercive recruitment of comfort women by military personnel or government officials." The government explicitly presented this observation in March in response to a question by an opposition lawmaker.
On what is the resolution based? Reportedly the 1993 statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono played a significant part.
The statement said that Japanese military and officials were "directly or indirectly involved in...the transfer of comfort women." Such wording apparently led to the misapprehension that there was coercive recruitment.
Kono apology politically driven
The 1993 statement was motivated by a political desire to deflect pressure from South Korea on the comfort women issue. And it has helped broaden the misunderstanding.
Apparently out of diplomatic consideration, Abe has said he stands by the Kono statement. But as long as the prime minister takes this position, the misunderstanding of coercive recruitment will never disappear. If the statement is found to be erroneous, it should be rewritten without hesitation.
In March, Foreign Minister Taro Aso referred to the lobbying in support of the resolution as an "operation to estrange Japan and the United States." Anti-Japan forces in the United States linked with Chinese and South Koreans have exercised their influence behind the scenes on behalf of the resolution.
If the matter is left unaddressed, further demands for apologies will be repeated. The government must methodically elucidate the historical truths involved in the issue.
(from The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28)
If anyone is looking for me, I'll be in the shower for a few days
Labels: DMTW, japan, rivers in Eygpt
William Hutt, 1920-2007
I had the privilege of working with William Hutt when he came to The Vancouver Playhouse to play Thomas More in "A Man For All Seasons" during the 1984-85 theatre season. Twenty-two years ago.
Today has been befuddled in years and remembrance.
The memory of the scenes we played together has dimmed with time but one memory has remained most vivid.
During the interval one evening, the cast sitting around in the Green Room, I related a story that caused that remarkable face to suddenly burst into a full throated roar of laughter that only an actor's larynx can produce.
I love that memory.
We have lost a great artist today, one of the finest Shakespearean actors of the 20th century and perhaps the greatest stage actor this country has ever produced.
It is said he wants his tombstone to say, simply, "Soldier and Actor."
"He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again."
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Second-rate pundits. And Mark Steyn too.
Chet nails the American pundit-class right between the eyebrows:
One of the biggest problems that the United States has today is that it has very few public intellectuals, as most other countries do. And most of the Americans who are standing in the position that public intellectuals hold in other countries -- namely, the pundit class -- are astonishingly second-rate. At their best, they're people like George Will and David Broder, who express themselves moderately but have never had a real idea in their entire lives. At their worst, they're abusive freakshows like Coulter and Christopher Hitchens.
Then Jill points out the hypocrisy of one of the most vitriolic of that group, Ann Coulter, and the law Coulter recently ignored:
(a) Whoever, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against property or against the person of another in violation of the laws of the United States, and under circumstances strongly corroborative of that intent, solicits, commands, induces, or otherwise endeavors to persuade such other person to engage in such conduct, shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half of the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the crime solicited, or both; or if the crime solicited is punishable by life imprisonment or death, shall be imprisoned for not more than twenty years. 18 U.S.C. § 373(a).
You might feel Chet and Jill have identified Teh Stupid pretty well. Then along comes Mark Steyn who adds a dimension to the world of right-wing punditry that will leave you slack-jawed. In reference to the current Immigration Reform Bill before Congress: (Which has the right-wingers pissing themselves)
There's something creepy about a political class so determined to impose a vast transformative bill cooked up backstage in metaphorically smoke-filled rooms on a nation that doesn't want it. It's an affront to republican government and quasi-European in its disdain for the citizenry.
Jesusfuckingchrist. Creepy? Ya think?!!
Where to begin, where to begin?! This is a veritable quicksand of irony and hypocrisy.
Let's not even mention the lies, deception, subterfuge and threats used to justify an invasion of Iraq. No, no. Let's go closer to the bone, Steyn.
Can you say Surge?
Can you say Abstinence Only?
Can you say Warrantless Domestic Electronic Eavesdropping?
Can you say Unprecedented Christian Fundamentalist Influence in Government?
Can you say Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo and Torture?
Can you say... DICK CHENEY?
Yeah, the "citizenry" of the United States wasn't shown any disdain there, were they?
And speaking of citizens. A Canadian citizen and protege of Conrad Black, film-critic turned political-pundit, with a multi-inflected British accent, living in New Hampshire, claiming an affront by a US government which he has no part in choosing?
Welcome to the real world, Steyn. Welcome to what you helped create. Chew on the "affront" to... your sensibilities, if you actually have any.
Oh yeah, glad to see you promoted yourself in that little piece.
Same with the immigration bill. I think I say somewhere in my book ...
Second-rate indeed.
Labels: pundits, steyn, wingnuts
Dianetics bites Top Gun
I have nothing personal against Tom Cruise. Except that he portrayed the worst of what I have personally witnessed in US Navy fighter pilots. Most simply aren't that self-absorbed.
Anyway, reader Cat sent me this:
Germany has barred the makers of a movie about a plot to kill Adolf Hitler from filming at German military site because its star Tom Cruise is a Scientologist, the defence ministry has said.
Cruise, one of the film's producers, is a well known member of the Church of Scientology, which the German government does not recognise as a church and says is against the country's constitution. Berlin says it masquerades as a religion to make money, a charge Scientologist leaders reject.
Gee. That's too bad.
Not that it matters all that much because I know four-fifths of diddly-squat about Scientology. Apparently the only way I would find out more is if I actually picked up the rags at supermarket checkout.
Germany, it would seem on the face of it, might appear to be behaving in a somewhat intolerant manner, however, my personal inclination, given the history of that country's experience with fraud on a scale we still have difficulty imagining, gives them some latitude in dealing with such matters.
Maybe they're onto something.
The German government considers the Scientology organization a commercial enterprise with a history of taking advantage of vulnerable individuals and an extreme dislike of any criticism. The government is also concerned that the organization's totalitarian structure and methods may pose a risk to Germany's democratic society. Several kinds of evidence have influenced this view of Scientology, including the organization's activities in the United States.
There are three notable American court cases involving Scientology that illustrate why Germany's concerns about this organization are justified. In the early 1980s, American courts convicted 11 top Scientologists for plotting to plant spies in federal agencies, break into government offices and bug at least one IRS meeting. In 1994, in a case involving Lawrence Wollersheim, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a California court's finding of substantial evidence that Scientology practices took place in a coercive environment and rejected Scientology's claims that the practices were protected under religious freedom guaranties. In September 1997, the Illinois Supreme Court found there was evidence enough to allege that Scientology had driven the Cult Awareness Network into bankruptcy by filing 21 lawsuits in a 17-month period. The court stated that "such a sustained onslaught of litigation can hardly be deemed 'ordinary', if [the Network] can prove that the actions were brought without probable cause and with malice."
Hmmm... I'm leaning towards the Germans on this one.
Given the fact that Cruise has openly criticized Germany for the past ten years on their position, and the fact that the German government's stance on Scientology appears to be unmovable, one would be compelled to question the mindset of Cruise in even attempting to gain the cooperation of the German government in making a film using German government facilities.
Political?
Who knows? But Germany is not alone.
Germany, as well as Belgium, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Israel and Mexico, remain unconvinced that Scientology is a religion.
Actually, those countries view L. Ron Hubbards' brainchild as more akin to organized crime than a religion.
So, what looked like a funny story involving a narcissistic celebrity getting a pie in the face is actually a whole lot more. There are actually political issues here. It looks like Germany just got on Top Gun's "six".
Perhaps if we hooked Cruise up to a Mark Super VII Quantum E-meter we could determine what he is really up to.
I know what you're thinking. I'm not going there. Not for now anyway.
Labels: cruise, cults, scientology
NORTHCOM's domestic special operations
Back in February last year I asked what Canadian defence minister Gordon O'Connor had actually agreed to with respect to the expansion of NORAD to include a maritime component. The problem was the establishment by the US of NORTHCOM and the folding in of NORAD into that exclusive US command.
While I have no difficulty with bi-national defence treaties, the question of operational control of Canadian assets has not been publicly answered. Perhaps that's less of a problem than some may expect. NORAD has always had the ability to quickly split into "national" entities, as occurred during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where Nixon put NORAD on alert to signal the Soviet Union that interference in the Arab-Israeli conflict would not be tolerated. Canada, wishing not to take a side, was absolved of a posture in kind with the United States and the US took over NORAD's warning and attack assessment role. For a very brief time, Canada's role in NORAD was subordinated to that of an observer.
After Sept. 11th, 2001, the US reorganized their theater command structure, particularly around homeland defence. NORTHCOM became the homeland defense command encompassing a wider array of resources than NORAD. NORAD continued but the line between the two has become murky. The commanders and staff of NORTHCOM and NORAD are the same people, in the same physical location, except that NORAD includes a Canadian Lt. General as deputy commander. From the US point of view NORAD, although tacitly a separate entity, belongs to NORTHCOM. NORTHCOM however, with no Canadian participation beyond observation and liaison, has an area of responsibility (AOR), air, land and maritime, which according to their own website is:
USNORTHCOM’s AOR includes air, land and sea approaches and encompasses the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the surrounding water out to approximately 500 nautical miles. It also includes the Gulf of Mexico and the Straits of Florida. The defense of Hawaii and our territories and possessions in the Pacific is the responsibility of U.S. Pacific Command. The defense of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands is the responsibility of U.S. Southern Command. The commander of USNORTHCOM is responsible for theater security cooperation with Canada and Mexico.
The theater security cooperation occurs by way of both Canada's inclusion in NORAD and Bi-National Planning Group. Canada's deputy commander of NORAD is the head of the BNP and is responsible to both Canadian and US governments, has the deputy commander of NORTHCOM as a co-authority and both report to the commander of NORTHCOM/NORAD in their respective roles as deputy or vice commander of NORAD.
Everyone is wearing so many hats that one is bound to put the wrong one on leaving the party, but the point is, NORTHCOM has included in its area of responsibility, Canadian sovereign territory, without Canadian co-command.
If you're bored, have a little stretch because the best part is coming.
The U.S. Northern Command, the military command responsible for "homeland defense," has asked the Pentagon if it can establish its own special operations command for domestic missions. The request, reported in the Washington Examiner, would establish a permanent sub-command for responses to incidents of domestic terrorism as well as other occasions where special operators may be necessary on American soil.
The establishment of a domestic special operations mission, and the preparation of contingency plans to employ commandos in the United States, would upend decades of tradition. Military actions within the United States are the responsibility of state militias (the National Guard), and federal law enforcement is a function of the FBI.
Employing special operations for domestic missions sounds very ominous, and NORTHCOM's request earlier this year should receive the closest possible Pentagon and congressional scrutiny. There's only one problem: NORTHCOM is already doing what it has requested permission to do.
Domestic special operations missions?
Now to the average Canadian, the concept of the regular armed forces being used domestically isn't that much of leap of imagination. Under Canadian law the armed forces can be used for domestic law enforcement in aid to the civil powers, essentially as a posse comitatus. In the United States, use of the national armed forces in such a role is prohibited by the Posse Comitatus Act.
So here's the rub.
When NORTHCOM was established after 9/11 to be the military counterpart to the Department of Homeland Security, within its headquarters staff it established a Compartmented Planning and Operations Cell (CPOC) responsible for planning and directing a set of "compartmented" and "sensitive" operations on U.S., Canadian and Mexican soil. In other words, these are the very special operations that NORTHCOM is now formally asking the Pentagon to beef up into a public and acknowledged sub-command.
NORTHCOM's compartmented and sensitive operations fall under the Joint Chiefs of Staff "Focal Point" program, a separate communications and planning network used to hide special operations undertaken by the Joint Special Operations Command, headquartered in North Carolina, and by CIA and other domestic compartmented activities.
Since 2003, the CPOC has had a small core of permanent members drawn from the operations, intelligence and planning directorates. In an emergency, the staff can be expanded. According to NORTHCOM documents, CPOC is involved in planning for a number of domestic missions, including:
-- Non-conventional assisted recovery -- Integrated survey programs -- Information operations/"special technical operations" -- "Special activities"
Special activities, as William Arkin says, is a euphemism for covert operations and intelligence gathering. In the United States that job belongs to the FBI. In Canada it belongs to the RCMP and CSIS.
Non-conventional assisted recovery is the use of indigenous populations or surrogate forces, led by special forces to rescue hostages. Again, in the US that is an FBI function. In Canada it belongs to the RCMP.
All of this involves domestic intelligence gathering, covert operations and analysis. It includes operations in the United States which, unless specifically authorized by the Congress, would be illegal and, given NORTHCOM's area of responsibility, would include the same activities in Canada without necessarily notifying Canadian authorities.
Pehaps Gordon O'Connor can come out of his hole and explain what precisely is going on.
Labels: norad, northcom
Oh Ann... that's so passe. Go back to attacking widows.
Ann Coulter wishes:
A) That there could be another terrorist attack on the US;
B) That Americans would be killed in such an attack;
C) For a pony.
It's a good thing this piece of work never got around to giving birth. Any children would have to be removed for their own protection.
Labels: ann coulter, the angry right
Bingo!!! That isn't what he said.
Once upon a time we had reporters. When the news media went south, the real reporters turned to blogs.
Labels: the news media falling through their own assholes and strangling themselves.
Baird demonstrates a willingness to listen. Then plugs his ears.
Well, this isn't surprizing.
Environment Minister John Baird says the Conservative government won't dismiss a newly passed law requiring Canada to respect its emissions-cutting commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
But he says he's not putting forward a new environment plan either. Baird says the time for studying and developing new plans is over, and that the government is already moving on a "realistic" plan to tackle climate change.
Studying and developing?!
He says the government will follow through with the "technical letter" of the bill, but won't waste another six months studying the issue and commissioning more reports.
Six months? Is he trying to tell us the Conservative plan took six months? What happened? Did the package they opened at cabinet come without a green crayon?
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said his government's climate plan will curb greenhouse gases by 20 per cent by 2020, although three studies have debunked the plan since Baird released it in April.
But if Steve says it's so, then it must be so... right?
That's what I thought
Labels: baird, environment, kyoto
Waterloo . . . .
'Ya gotta love ABBA . . . .
(Cross-Posted at Moving to Vancouver)
Labels: abba, blair, bush, cheney, condoleeza rice, executive branch, fox, Rove, rumsfeld, white house, wolfowitz
So THAT's why they want to close Guantanamo
Alright, we've heard a shopping list of reasons why we're fighting in Afghanistan. (I use "we're" cautiously and in a sense that the nation has been committed to that action. The actual fighting is falling to a relative handful of people.)
We've heard how we're there to make the lives of the people better, even though we lob artillery rounds into their villages. We're there to improve the lives of the women, even though the suicide rate and acts of self-immolation among Afghan women has increased in the past two years. We're there to secure a democracy, even though the government of Hamid Karzai about as corrupt as any failed state anywhere on the planet.
We've heard that the war in Afghanistan and the war in Iraq are not linked, to which every thinking individual simply utters, "Bullshit." We've heard that we are not aiding and abetting the actions of the Bush administration because the Afghanistan mission is NATO led and UN sanctioned, to which anyone with a feel for the deployment of troops would respond with laughter.
We've also heard that the US wants to close down Guantanamo Camp Delta and, because of the way the Bush administration has handled... anything, we take a "believe it when we see it" posture.
Here's one of the reasons why.
The United States is helping build a prison in Afghanistan to take some prisoners now at Guantanamo Bay, but the White House said Friday that it's not meant as an alternative to the detainee facility in Cuba.
I wouldn't recommend eating that. Most of what comes out of the White House spin machine, as we are all aware, is utter horse shit.
The Bush administration has said it wants to close Guantanamo Bay and move terror suspects to prisons elsewhere. Senior officials have told The Associated Press a consensus is building among the president's top advisers on how to do it.
In other words, they have no plan or, if they have a plan they're not telling.
The administration is looking to resolve the issue swiftly, White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino told reporters Friday, although she said there's no deadline set.
Because deadlines are a terrible thing to waste. They create pressure... you know, to get things done.
At the White House, Perino said Mr. Bush has directed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to work with her counterparts around the world to try to repatriate detainees to their home countries, make sure they are held safely and treated humanely and that they are not allowed to perpetrate acts of terrorism.
So... send them to Afghanistan. Where torture and maltreatment are virtually unheard of.
A proposal gaining traction among Mr. Bush's top national security advisers would have some of the most dangerous suspects at Guantanamo transferred to one or more Defense Department facilities, including the maximum-security military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., officials say.
That makes sense. Then there's the rest of it: charges, trials, legal counsel. You know, the stuff one would expect out of a country which makes loud noises about the rule of law being deficient when referring to other countries.
The move is opposed by Cheney's office and the Justice Department, which argue that transferring prisoners to U.S. soil would give them undeserved rights and pose a threat to the United States.
Why does that not surprise me? And that disclosure alone is reason enough to state that everything the White House press secretary said is an outright lie.
So, despite the multitude of other reasons we are fighting in Afghanistan, one that we can now add to the list is to secure a place of permanent detention for the Bush administration's unwanted enemy combatants and to avoid having to actually go through something so messy as due process.
Labels: Afghanistan, guantanamo
As they crawl further into the bunker
And so, the Executive Order issued by George Bush requiring that all government entities that are a part of the Executive Branch to submit to oversight on the handling of classified information has produced yet another crease in the wrinkled fabric of Bush administration wrong-doing.
First we have Vice President Dick Cheney deciding that he is not actually a part of the Executive Branch and not subject to the order.
Now, Bush himself has decided that his office is not subject to his own direction.
The White House said Friday that, like Vice President Dick Cheney's office, President Bush's office is not allowing an independent federal watchdog to oversee its handling of classified national security information. An executive order that Bush issued in March 2003 — amending an existing order — requires all government agencies that are part of the executive branch to submit to oversight. Although it doesn't specifically say so, Bush's order was not meant to apply to the vice president's office or the president's office, a White House spokesman said. [...] "Our democratic principles require that the American people be informed of the activities of their government," the executive order said. But from the start, Bush considered his office and Cheney's exempt from the reporting requirements, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said in an interview Friday.
Let's get something clear. When an order is issued to include an entire organization or functional body, it includes all elements of that organization, unless specifically exempted. If Bush's Executive Order 13292 was written with the intention that the offices of the President and Vice President would be exempted from such oversight, it would have been a simple matter to add, perhaps right at the end, words to the effect, "The office of President and the office of Vice President are exempted from the provisions of this order."
Bush, and of course Cheney, are making it up as they go along.
J. William Leonard of the National Archives asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to have the Justice Department, Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) solve the impasse that had developed with Cheney. This last Friday, Justice Department spokesman Erik Ablin said, "This matter is currently under review in the department.”
Steven Aftergood, a researcher who tracks government secrecy for the Federation of American Scientists discovered the truth. It appears Gonzales has been ignoring the issue.
Why didn't Gonzales act on Leonard's request? His aides assured reporters that Leonard's letter has been "under review" for the past five months—by Justice's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). But on June 4, an OLC lawyer denied a Freedom of Information Act request about the Cheney dispute asserting that OLC had "no documents" on the matter, according to a copy of the letter obtained by NEWSWEEK. Steve Aftergood, the Federation of American Scientists researcher who filed the request, said he found the denial letter "puzzling and inexplicable"—especially since Leonard had copied OLC chief Steve Bradbury on his original letter to Gonzales. The FOIA response has piqued the interest of congressional investigators, who note Bradbury is the same official in charge of vetting all document requests from Congress about the U.S. attorneys flap.
So now Gonzales enters the picture as being party to an attempt to prevent oversight.
While all that was happening Bush's White House spokes-people were trying to erect a smokescreen which MSNBC's Keith Olbermann took on. Olbermann dispatched the original assertion that an exemption existed for Cheney because of the language on page 18 of the EO. No such exemption exists, and when Olbermann pointed this out, the White House sent him to two other references in the EO, both of which made no mention of the Vice President's office at all.
In short, it would appear that, aside from trying minimize the magnitude of the constitutional violation, Bush and, in particular, Cheney, are desperately attempting to hide something extremely damaging to their administration.
Like a dog with a bone House Government Reform Committee chair Rep. Henry Waxman has no intention of letting any of this go unchallenged and has stated his intentions to investigate Cheney and Gonzales.
Waxman told NEWSWEEK he now plans to investigate the handling of the issue by Justice as well as Cheney's refusal to comply with the executive order, which he called part of a "pattern" of stonewalling by the veep.
That has been met with this kind of response from both Cheney and Bush spokes-people.
Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride said, "We're confident we are conducting the office properly under the law." She also pointed to comments by White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino, who said that Bush, not the National Archives, was the "sole enforcer" of the executive order relating to classified information.
Umm... No. Part 5 of Bush's Executive Order 13292 delegates enforcement, including the issuing of reports leading to sanctions, to the Archivist and the Director of the Information Security Oversight Office. Bush is not the "sole enforcer". He handed that job off to somebody else.
These guys are trying to hide something.
Why do I always get the sense that PNAC's great American Century and the working and machinations of the Bush administration are based on this?
Labels: bush, cheney, executive branch, who the fuck are they trying to kid
Self-Defeating Prophecy
Today Hamid Karzai, president of Afghanistan and the man the West approved for the job, came out told NATO and the US they are killing too many of the Afghan civilians they are claiming to protect. Aside from the obvious motives of self-preservation (when the opposition is able to lob rockets over your speeches, your job is not secure), Karzai made a very good point:
"You don't fight a terrorist by firing a field gun 37 kilometres (24 miles) away into a target. That's definitely, surely bound to cause civilian casualties."
There are two factors at play here.
First is force protection on the part of NATO and US troops. If the enemy is hiding in a “compound” or house (why don't they just say 'house'?), the options are (1) assaulting the house with infantry, or (2) dropping artillery or aerial bombs on it, or (3) breaking contact or skipping the fight entirely.
Third option, isn’t really valid (every time at least) when the mission is to defeat the Taleban. You eventually have to engage them.
The second option generally causes a great deal of harm to the enemy (and anyone else caught in the wrong place) and destroys the house, with little impact on the friendly forces. Even if the civilians survive, their homes and livelihood maybe destroyed – a possible death sentence in itself in an impoverished country.
The first option, as any soldier who has run a FIBUA exercise can attest, risks casualties on the NATO side. Villages and houses can be extensively booby trapped and prepared by the defending force: every street, alley, building and room needs to be checked, cleared, and held. Add civilians – that you are trying to protect/save/gain support of - to the mix, and your options for using firepower theoretically diminish greatly, but so to do your options for a casuality sensitive military and public.
No junior leader would understandably risk their soldier’s lives when another option is available. No commander would deny their troops use of an available asset that would protect them. And no politician, especially facing a wavering public opinion in the face of increasing military casualties, would refuse to provide the troops with the tools to minimise their casualties. Further to this, if you have a limited number of people at your disposal, there is a limited amount you can do with them – there are indications that this really is a problem for NATO. So, “force-multiplier” options like air-strikes become very appealing:
Even as the foreign troops have successfully defeated groups of Taliban in battle, the number of battlefields is growing as the conflict intensifies and spreads. Some observers say the foreign soldiers have resorted to air power when they lacked sufficient troops on the ground.
I have no doubt that by and large, NATO tries to avoid civilian deaths; however, they cannot be helped. As long military firepower is used in areas where civilians live, civilians will die. This is a given, and in a mission like Afghanistan, it is self-defeating. Corrupt statements like this do not help:
“We are concerned about reports that some civilians may have lost their lives during this attack,” NATO spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Smith said in a statement. “However, it must be noted that it was the insurgents who initiated this attack, and in choosing to conduct such attacks in this location and at this time, the risk to civilians was probably deliberate.”
Mr. Smith misleads us because he skips the thing the matters. The only thing that matters is how the Afghan population sees NATO’s actions. He can blame the Taleban for being where they are all he likes, but it is us that have the option of engaging or not. It was a NATO soldier who called in the fire-mission, it was NATO that authorised that level of force. It was our civilian leaders that decided the Taleban had to be militarily defeated in order to ‘win’ in Afghanistan. The Afghan civilians are objectively neutral. NATO, as much as the Taleban, is a belligerent force and dead innocents are objectively the fault of both parties who elect to fight it out where they live; however, when the occupier’s munitions kills the locals, the locals will pick a side. When NATO finds itself at war with civilians that voluntarily harbour and/or support the enemy, it has lost - is this underway now, I wonder?
Simply, if success in Afghanistan is fundamentally contingent on gaining support from the majority Afghans, NATO defeats itself every time it kills civilians. If it cannot avoid killing civilians, regardless the excuse (and an excuse is exactly what LCol. Smith gave us – odd because excuse making is not something the military usually tolerates), it cannot win. As long as the Taleban sits in villages and NATO attacks those villages, civilians will die. Self-defeating.
Which brings me to my brief second factor.
The Northern Alliance/US spawned current Karzai government and the Western military are fighting the Taleban. The Taleban are largely Afghan. As long as there is support amongst the Afghan population for the Taleban, the country is at war with, and divided against itself. A peaceful and successful Afghanistan is not possible as long as this situation remains. Fighting the Taleban is self-defeating. Training an Afghan army to fight Afghans does not build unity and is self-defeating. Development is a function of peace, and attempting to implement a coherent development plan whilst encouraging a [civil] war is paradoxical. The three block war strategy is dysfunctional.
So where does this leave us? In order to stop killing Afghan civilians, one of the major belligerents in the conflict needs to stop fighting. When one of the belligerents is Afghan, and one is a foreign invader from the other side of the planet, guess which one needs to stop? After that, a peace must be pursued between all remaining sides (is this possible? I have another post in mind for that question). Until that point, the bloodshed will continue – and the people we are claiming to help, will bear the highest cost.
Labels: Afghanistan, civilian casualties, development, NATO
Stephen Harper's Inspiration and Mentor
Harper's government came to their positions about climate change and anthropogenic global warming by attaching themselves to and adopting the positions held by the Bush administration.
I don't think there's any serious argument left to made that the case is otherwise.
This month's issue of Rolling Stone lays out the story of how the Bush administration came to those positions.
Guess who's at the centre of it all.
Vice Regent Dick Cheney, that's who.
He of The Fraser Institute awards and Alberta's affections.
He who shares with Stephen Harper the distinction of being a recipient of an award named for a former President of the US who once said, "I have unwittingly ruined my country." ("Repeal the Federal Reserve Banks" by Casimir Frank Gierut, p.31)
Could we be any more fucked?
Camping with Steve
According to Decima Research, more people would like to go camping and fishing in the wilderness with Steve Harper than with Stephane Dion.
Why? It's not like Harper is any kind of renown outdoorsman. In fact, he's better known for being pretty much tied to the urban comforts of life, the perks of power, his electronic gadgets and apparently, food. He is, after all, a conservative politician and, if they like anything else but power, it's the comforts offered by privilege.
The first problem to overcome is getting there. It doesn't matter what form of transport you have organized or how lightweight your camping gear may be, Steve will insist on heavy lift transport. Don't bother going shopping for a new truck at the best price. Steve will appoint a minister of camping who used to be a truck salesman. Rather than shop around, he will organize one of these. Don't bother looking for a used vehicle. Rent one? Perish the thought. Only new will work. You will pay for it. You will drive. If you get lost, it's your fault. Even though Steve has a map, you are expected to find the way.
Once in the wilderness there will be several tasks you and Steve will have to carry out. There will be a tent to erect. You will do that; Steve will tell you exactly how it is to be done. He will do this without consulting instructions. If you have instructions on how to put up your new tent, you shall not use them. Throw them away. They are excess weight. You should not have brought them. Steve will direct the job from the exact direction the tent is to face to the appropriate angle for the tent pegs.
You will need a source of heat for cooking and warmth. Your fuel efficient, lightweight and clean stove is unacceptable. You should not have brought that along. You will find a more traditional way to produce heat. A wood fire will be required. When you discover that there is no dry deadfall wood available to burn, Steve will explain to you that this is the result of thirteen years worth of previous campers using wood instead of efficient, lightweight, clean stoves. No. You may not use your stove. Instead, you will cut down some trees, cut and split wood, dry it, and use that for a real fire. You have two hours until supper.
When other nearby campers, all using efficient, lightweight, clean stoves, complain about the smoke your fire is creating, pay attention to Steve, not the other campers. He has a plan to make all that green wood stop smoking. You needn't trouble yourself as to what the plan is.
Steve, of course, has a chef back in the city. He is accustomed to fine dining. No, the stew you brought along is not acceptable. He has brought the ingredients for something a little more gourmet. Go lightly on the prawns. You're cooking.
As night falls you have noticed a large motorhome nearby. The occupants come over and announce that there are several bears known to pillage campsites. Although they have never actually come into this particular camping area, Steve offers to deal with the problem. He explains to you, in confidence, that this will bring both of you, but particularly him, great prestige with the owners of the motorhome and, in any case, they seem occupied with a bunch of pesky cougars in the opposite direction. Your objections are not acceptable. That is not supporting Steve's plan. Steve explains to you that you have an obligation to all other campers in the area. Your criticism of Steve's plan makes him angry. He points out that your lack of previous experience at bear hunting precludes you criticizing his plan.
In the morning it's time to go fishing. Steve is ready to go and is waiting for you to get a boat into the water. You explain that, quite obviously, there is no boat. Steve chastises you for not taking advantage of the savings you would have realized due to the reduction in Goods and Services Tax. You should have financed a boat. You explain that you would have bought a boat but the cost of the truck used all your available cash. Steve shrugs it off and suggest fishing from the shore. You tell him that while you'll eventually catch fish, it will probably take longer than it would from a boat. Steve offers a solution: You will tell yourself there is a boat. You will continue fishing from the shore, as you have always done, but you'll feel better about it because you think you own a boat.
As the day wears on, it is time to leave. You will break camp and stow the gear. When you remind Steve about the arrangement to share costs he makes an offer. You can stick with the previous arrangement or you can accept another arrangement which will give you more money now, but less on future fishing trips. You're not happy with the sudden change. Steve just shrugs.
After dropping Steve off at his house, you're uncertain about the future. Should you give up camping, or give up Steve?
Labels: camping with a tenderfoot
Water truckin'
You may remember Michael Byers as the UBC Global Politics and International Law Professor who asked prior to the last election why extraordinary rendition wasn't an election issue, and who also red-flagged our Afghan detainee transfer deal in the national press over a whole freakin year ago.
Byers has a book out - "Intent for a Nation : What is Canada for? " - and The Tyee has an excerpt :
"In 2004, the Canadian actor Paul Gross starred in a made-for-TV drama entitled H2O. Gross plays Tom McLaughlin, the charismatic son of a murdered Canadian prime minister, who takes over Canada at the behest of a group of international financiers eager to sell our fresh water to an increasingly thirsty United States."
Did you see this movie? I hadn't so I looked it up at IMDb.
Some of the user comments about the unlikelihood of the plot's basic premise were kind of sad.
At the time this movie aired, the GATT agricultural provisions regarding water were two decades old, and NAFTA, including the dreaded Annex Tariff Item 22.01: water: all natural water other than sea water, whether or not clarified or purified, had already passed its tenth birthday.
Five years before this movie was even a twinkle in CBC's eye, the NDP were standing on the floor of the HoC demanding a clarification on water sovereignty under NAFTA - and it was denied.
While conceding that Canada's legal control over her water is at the very least muddy, Byer warns against setting any bulk water trading precedents:
"A single act of trading water on a bulk basis would arguably transform the resource into a tradable good that was legally indistinguishable from softwood lumber, potash or oil, rendering subsequent attempts to prevent or limit further exports illegal. For this reason, it is imperative that Canada takes water off the free trade table, quickly and decisively -- now, before it's too late."
Well another attempt was made two weeks ago, this time in the form of a motion supported by all opposition parties asking the Cons to request a clarification from Mexico and the US on their position on Canada's water, and it was again denied.
Byers' excerpt concludes:
"On water, as on so many other issues, our conciliatory, don't-rock-the-boat approach to Canada-U.S. relations has failed. Unless we stand up for our own interests, Canadian fresh water could soon be irrigating crops, watering golf courses and filling backyard swimming pools in the south western United States.
It's time to dissuade Americans of the notion that we're going to rescue them from the consequences of their short-sighted, profligate ways by allowing them to mess with our environment, too. It's time to make it absolutely clear that bulk water exports are not covered by NAFTA. "
In the meantime, someone please let me know how that H2O movie turned out.
Tyee link from Jennifer at Runesmith's Canadian Content in comments at Creekside.
Labels: Michael Byers, Water
Give Big Media a one way ticket to the garbage dis...
"We didn't do it, nobody saw us, and when we apolo...
Oh Ann... that's so passe. Go back to attacking wi...
Baird demonstrates a willingness to listen. Then p...
Mikey's Secrets . . . .
The King can do no wrong. UPDATED
Dubya: Still more popular than genital warts! (bar...
On things that boggle the mind
Accident? Try again BGen Grant.
Remember the Rapture? The pastor spells it out.
Conservapedia makes a splash in LA
Drumroll for the blogroll
Taliban makes a direct threat to Canada, US and Eu...
More religious nuts. This time they're Muslim.
Iraq is number two. Among failed states.
Recognition!!
Blogroll addition
Screw decorum - I'm pissed off (repost)
The not-so friendly skies
A bit drafty?
Cry PARDON! And wear your cowardice well
Wanna Get Even More Angry?
Wiping the pie from my face
Harper needs to come to Bush's aid.
We didn't think he was THAT nuts!
Dear Chatelaine
Environment Committee scuttled
US Dept. of Justice. Religious rights trump civil ...
Afghanistan is worse than a year ago - Red Cross.
KY Jelly and Canada Post
HaloScan comments screwed up
Jeebus would be proud
When putting lipstick on a pig, get the shade righ...
12 June a quarter century ago
Dissension in the Ranks ? ? ? ?
Business Without Borders
Can Canada Survive Harper's Governing Style?
Seal the borders, NOW!
Another Bible theme park, but wait. There's more.
The wisdom of Snoopy
"We" aren't the problem
Sometimes a righting moment
The Three Stooges and Prisoner Abuse.
McCain's new man among the wankers
A man called Stephen Harper
What's wrong with us?
2006 Koufax Awards
Steve becomes Bush's bitch
Steverino and Pootie Poot
Chewing their own arms off
Supporting the Troops
Oi! America!
Harper on the International Stage
Slip of the Tongue or Trial Balloon?
George W Bush's America. Land of the surveilled; H...
The Conservative answer to the Democratic Deficit
Whazzup?
SPP, not just for cows anymore
Scooter, we hardly knew ye
Harper out of his depth
Dissension in the ranks...
Racing to Religion . . . .
And, who will take this idiot?
Burning the village to save the village
When folk music and political protest clash
Conservatives to invent a bus with no wheels
Steve Gilliard, 1966 - 2007
Birth control denied to Montana woman... by a Cana...
Getting the pejorative right
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Steve Tibbetts’ Life Of
If you’re looking for a deeply contemplative album of meditative music, look no further than Steve Tibbetts’ Life Of. As with much of the Minnesota-based guitarist’s body of work, his latest release draws on world, ambient, jazz and experimental musics, to create a recording that rewards the patient and close listener.
Tibbetts has been recording for ECM since 1981, and yet Life Of is only his ninth record with the label. In recent years he has stuck to a schedule of one album every eight years, and this one follows 2010’s similarly acoustic Natural Causes. Tibbetts plays guitar and piano, ranging from standard sounds to a palette of sounds drawn from his decades of travel in Southeast Asia from Nepal to Bali, drawing inspiration from instruments as wide-ranging as gamelan to sarangi to Balinese gongs. He’s also accompanied by his longtime collaborator Marc Anderson on percussion, and joined on this date by Michelle Kinney on cello and drones.
OK, you say guitar, Asian music, and drones, and I’m all in.
The central instrument is Tibbetts’ 12-string guitar, a Martin D-12-20.
“That Martin guitar is now almost a half-century old, with the frets almost worn flat – and I keep the strings old and kind of dead, something I got from Leo Kottke,” Tibbetts says in the one-sheet accompanying the release. “So, the instrument has a mellow, aged sound, with its own peculiar internal resonance – like it has a small concert hall inside it. I try to bring out that quality by stringing the guitar in double courses, the four lower strings paired in unisons rather than octaves. You really have to physically engage with the strings of this guitar, while also being careful that your touch doesn’t de-tune the strings. But setting it up that way makes it so I can play with the resonant qualities of the wood, drawing out overtones and getting the single string lines to ‘sing’ – which is what I loved about the sound of Sultan Khan, the way he could fill the room like a voice.”
Khan, the Indian sarangi virtuoso and vocalist who died in 2011, was one of Tibbetts’ main inspirations. The guitarist’s frequent bent notes and other techniques owe much to Khan’s influence.
But at its root, this music is a deeply Midwestern sound of wide-open space. Take for instance the second track “Life Of Emily,” its airy sound evoking heatwaves rising off the prairie that reminds me of the mood pieces on Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti-western soundtracks. But paired with non-sequiturs of sounds like bells and gongs and drones plus earthy, rattling percussion, and the odd bent guitar string that echoes Khan’s sarangi, and you can’t pin this music down.
The 13 tracks on Life Of are mostly short, the longest under six minutes except for the languid and hopeful closer “Begin Again.” They’re fancifully named for friends, relatives and even a stranger or two observed in a coffeehouse. On “Life Of Someone” as much as on any of these pieces, the sounds move within one bar from standard Western-style fingerpicking to some kind of smeary sound that’s some cross between a blues player’s wailing slide and the bent notes of a Hindustani instrument of some kind. I don’t even have the vocabulary of guitar-playing to describe what Tibbetts is doing here, or to make a guess at the techniques he’s using to get some of the sounds he gets. All I know is it’s mesmerizing and energizing at the same time.
“Life Of Mir” has some of the album’s longest melodic passages, but even they dissolve into dreamscapes, gentle swirls of guitar and piano notes rising and dissipating like fog off a body of water on a summer morning. Probably the most abstract and impressionistic is “Life Of Alice,” full of colorful swashes of guitar and piano chords, Balian gongs and flamenco-like fingerpicking, and more. Somehow it never becomes amorphous like a bland New Age record or too busy, either.
The music was recorded in St. Paul and mixed by Tibbetts in the concert hall of Macalaster College, near where he lives. He plays the music back in the hall and records the result.
“I set up two pairs of mics: one pair in the center of the hall, one pair in the back,” he says. “It allows the hall’s ambience to settle around the piano and percussion, and the room’s natural acoustics help the guitar settle into the piano. It’s a more labor-intensive process, and the effect is perhaps subtle to most ears. But it feels more organic to me, adding some reality to the sound. I suppose it’s like a bay leaf in a soup – it has an intangible effect that adds to the experience.”
Music to which that kind of attention has been paid in the making deserves some attention in the listening. Life Of as much as any, repays that attention in spades. This is music to ease into and lose yourself in. Learn more at Steve Tibbetts’ website.
(ECM, 2018)
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Obituary: Dr. Ian Player 1927-2014
February 2015, Volume 13-1
Ian Player died in November 2014, aged 87. The older brother of professional golfer Gary Player became involved in conservation in the 1950s as a game ranger on the Hluhluwe uMfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, Africa’s oldest official nature reserve. When it was established in 1897, there were only about 50 southern white rhinos left in the world, all of them on this reserve. By the time Player began working there in 1952, the population had recovered somewhat to under 500; by 1960 Umfolozi’s population of white rhinos had grown to 600. Player realized that it was dangerous to keep them restricted to one small park, so he convinced his reluctant superiors into allowing to move some of the animals to other protected parts of their former habitat. The resulting Operation Rhino became one of the most successful wildlife translocation programs ever. The southern white rhino became the first animal to be removed from the IUCN endangered species list and has been reestablished from Zululand over much of its former range in South Africa with a population estimated at over 20,000 today. Player eventually retired from the Natal Parks Board in 1974 as chief conservator in Zululand to devote more time to the wilderness movement.
Ian Player learned his belief in the spiritual value of wild places and the principles of inhlonipho (respect) and ubuntu (compassion) from his fellow ranger Magqubu Ntombela, a charismatic Zulu of royal blood with whom he started working in 1958. “I was steeped in the racial prejudice of my country and Magqubu transformed me,” Player recalled. In 1963 Player and Ntombela founded a Wilderness Leadership School with the aim of taking young people with leadership potential into the wilderness to encourage them to “question their place in the great scheme of things”. The success of the project eventually led Player to establish an International Wilderness Leadership Foundation in 1974, followed three years later by the World Wilderness Congress, the world’s longest-running public environmental forum.
With his practical approach to conservation, Player influenced numerous crucial developments in the conservation field and was honored with honorary doctorates and awards from around the world. More recently, he came out of retirement to campaign for a relaxation of the ban on the trade in rhino horn following the present surge in rhino poaching. Player believed that government-controlled trading in horns from animals that died naturally could force prices down, undermine the illegal trade and provide a source of revenue for conservation. South Africa’s natural heritage is richer for his contribution and we thank his family for sharing him with us.
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Previous (Billfish)
Next (Billy Graham)
Billie Holiday photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1949
Billie Holiday (April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959), also called Lady Day, was an American singer who, with Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald, is considered one of the greatest vocalists in jazz music. Though without technical training or an outstanding vocal range, Holiday expressed a depth of private feeling and a distinctive phrasing that would influence later generations of jazz vocalists.
Discovered by the legendary Columbia Records producer John Hammond, Holiday spent much of the 1930s working with some of the most noted jazz musicians of the the era, including the Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, and most importantly, the saxophonist Lester Young. Young and Holiday would collaborate in what many consider some of jazz music's greatest recordings. Holiday recorded two of her best-known songs during this time: her own composition “God Bless the Child” (1939) and “Strange Fruit” (1939), a somber and racially charged composition about the lynching of blacks in the South. Her collaboration with white band leaders Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw was also groundbreaking recognition of black artistry in an era of strict racial segregation.
Holiday's emotion-laden singing, influenced by the blues singer Bessie Smith and jazz singer and trumpeter Louis Armstrong, drew self-evidently from a life of emotional deprivation. Abandoned at birth by her father, she passed her youth in a succession of homes where she was abused, neglected, and possibly raped. Falling into prostitution while barely a teenager, she later became dependent on drugs and alcohol and was arrested several times on narcotics-related charges. She also gravitated toward glamorous, irresponsible, and abusive men, and themes of heartbreak and false love seared into her often-melancholy songs.
By the late 1940s, Holiday’s heroin addiction and alcoholism began to diminish her voice. Despite drug-related arrests that limited her professional career, she made a series of critically acclaimed late recordings. Holiday died in near poverty at 44, placed under arrest for heroin possession while on her deathbed.
2 The Commodore years and "Strange Fruit"
3 Later life and work
While it is convenient to ascribe Holiday's art to her tortured life and reckless living, her singing transcends and to a degree universalizes hardship, testifying not to an artistic imperative for loose living but to the resilience of the human spirit. Holiday's art, while grounded in personal suffering, expresses empathy for the suffering without justifying self-inflicted harm through a life of irresponsible choices.
Born Eleanora Fagan in 1915, in Philadelphia, Billie Holiday had a difficult childhood which greatly affected her life and career. Much of her childhood is clouded by conjecture and legend, some of it propagated by her autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues (1956), which is known to contain many fallacies and inaccuracies.
Holiday grew up in the Fells Point section of Baltimore, Maryland. According to her autobiography, her house was the first on their street to have electricity. Her mother, Sadie Fagan, was allegedly only thirteen at the time of her birth (although this has been disputed); her father Clarence Holiday, a jazz guitarist who would play for the band leader Fletcher Henderson, was reportedly just fifteen. There is some controversy regarding Holiday's paternity, but Clarence Holiday accepted paternity, yet was hardly a responsible father.
Raised primarily by her mother and a succession of relatives, the young girl changed her name to Billie, reportedly because she liked a movie star Billie Dove. Holiday dropped out of school in the fifth grade and cleaned floors and did other jobs in a nearby brothel, listening to the records of early jazz and blues artists. Particularly she was attracted to two of the most popular artists of the twenties, Bessie Smith and Louis Armstrong, both of whom had a great influence on her.
When she was ten, Holiday was sexually assaulted and sent to a reform school for children. Scarred by these experiences, Holiday moved to Harlem in New York City to join her mother in 1928. According to her accounts, she was recruited by a brothel, worked as a prostitute, and even imprisoned for a short time. It was in Harlem that she started singing for tips in various night clubs in the early 1930s. According to legend, penniless and facing eviction, she sang "Body and Soul" in a local nightclub, reducing the audience to tears. She later worked at various clubs for tips, including Pod's and Jerry's, a well known Harlem jazz club. She was just twenty when the influential producer and talent scout John Hammond heard her fill in for a better-known performer and was astonished at the slow and emotionally suggestive quality she brought to jazz and pop standards.
Hammond managed to get Holiday recording sessions with Benny Goodman, booking her for live performances in various New York clubs. In 1935, her career got a big push when she recorded four sides that became hits, including "What a Little Moonlight Can Do" and "Miss Brown To You." This landed her a recording contract of her own, and from 1935 to 1942, she laid down masters that would ultimately become an important segment of early American jazz. Sometimes referred to as her "Columbia period" (after her recording label), these recordings represent a large portion of her total body of recording work.
During this period, the American music industry was still highly segregated, and many of the songs Holiday were given to record were intended for the black jukebox audience. She was often not considered for the "best" songs of the day, which were often reserved for white singers. However, Holiday's style and fresh sound soon caught the attention of musicians across the nation, and her popularity began to climb. Peggy Lee, who began recording with Benny Goodman in the early 1940s, is often said to have emulated Holiday's light, sensual style.
In 1936, she was working with Lester Young, who gave her the now-famous nickname of "Lady Day." Holiday joined Count Basie in 1937 and Artie Shaw in 1938. She was one of the first black women to work with a white orchestra, an impressive accomplishment during that period.
The Commodore years and "Strange Fruit"
Holiday was working for Columbia in the late 1930s, when she was introduced to a song entitled "Strange Fruit," which began as a poem about the lynching of a black man written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx. Meeropol used the pseudonym "Lewis Allen" for the work. The poem was set to music and performed at teachers union meetings, where it was eventually heard by the manager of Cafe Society, an integrated nightclub in Greenwich Village, who introduced it to Holiday. Holiday performed the song at Cafe Society in 1939, a move that by her own admission left her fearful of retaliation. Holiday later said that the imagery in "Strange Fruit" reminded her of her father's death, and that this played a role in her determination to perform it.
She approached Columbia about recording the song, but was refused due to the song's subject matter. She arranged to record it with an alternate label, Commodore, Milt Gabler's alternative jazz label in 1939. She would record two major sessions at Commodore, one in 1939 and one in 1944. Although there were far fewer songs recorded with Commodore, some of her biggest hits were under this label, including "Fine and Mellow," "I Cover the Waterfront," and "Embraceable You." "Strange Fruit" was highly regarded and admired by intellectuals, and is in a large part responsible for her widespread popularity. "Strange Fruit's" popularity also prompted Holiday to record the type of songs that would become her signature, namely slow, moving, love ballads.
It is widely conjectured that this is the period where Holiday first began what would become a long, and ultimately fatal, history of substance abuse. Holiday stated that she began using hard drugs in the early 1940s.
Her personal life was as turbulent as the songs she sang. She married trombonist Jimmy Monroe (a small-time drug dealer) on August 25, 1941. While still married to Monroe, she took up with trumpeter Joe Guy as his common law wife. She finally divorced Monroe in 1947, and also split with Guy. In 1947, she was jailed on drug charges and served eight months at the Alderson Federal Correctional Institution for Women in West Virginia. Her New York City Cabaret Card was subsequently revoked, which kept her from working in clubs there for the remaining 12 years of her life.
Later life and work
By the 1950s, Holiday's drug abuse, drinking, unfortunate taste in abusive men, and deteriorating health set her life on a slow and steady decline. While instantly recognizable, Holiday's voice coarsened and did not project the bouncy, girlish vibrancy of first recordings in the mid-1930s. A certain bittersweet dignity added depth to her delivery. Many called her voice lovingly sweet, weathered and experienced, sad and sophisticated. As she aged, the effects of her drug abuse were evident. Her last major recording, Lady in Satin, was released in 1958, and revealed a woman with an extremely limited range, but wonderful phrasing and emotion. The recording featured a backing from a 40-piece orchestra conducted and arranged by Ray Ellis, who said of the album in 1997:
I would say that the most emotional moment was her listening to the playback of "I'm a Fool to Want You." There were tears in her eyes… After we finished the album I went into the control room and listened to all the takes. I must admit I was unhappy with her performance, but I was just listening musically instead of emotionally. It wasn't until I heard the final mix a few weeks later that I realized how great her performance really was.
Billie Holiday photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1949.
On March 28, 1952, Holiday married Louis McKay, a Mafia "enforcer." McKay, like most of the men in her life, was abusive, but did try to get her off drugs. They were separated at the time of her death. Holiday was also rather openly bisexual and was rumored to have had several affairs with notable stage and film actresses, including Tallulah Bankhead, as well as with film director Orson Welles.
Her late recordings on Verve Records are as well remembered as her Commodore and Decca work. From 1952 to 1959, Holiday released a little more than 100 new recordings for this label, which would constitute about a third of her recorded work. Her voice reflects a rugged timber on these tracks, reflecting a vulnerability in the once grand and bold diva. Her performance of "Fine and Mellow" on CBS's The Sound of Jazz program is memorable for her interplay with her long-time friend Lester Young; both were less than two years from death.
Holiday toured Europe in 1954 and again from late 1958 to early 1959. While in London in February 1959, Holiday made a memorable televised appearance on the BBC's Chelsea at Nine, singing, among other songs, "Strange Fruit." Holiday made her final studio recordings (with Ray Ellis and his Orchestra, who had also recorded her Lady in Satin album the previous year) for the MGM label in March 1959 (included in her complete Verve recordings collection.) These final studio recordings were released posthumously on a self-titled album, later re-titled and re-released as Last Recordings. She made her final public appearance at a benefit concert at the Phoenix Theater in Greenwich Village, New York City on May 25, 1959. According to the masters of ceremony at that performance, Leonard Feather (a renowned jazz critic) and Steve Allen, she was only able to make it through two songs, one of which was Bessie Smith's classic blues "Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do."
On May 31, 1959, she was taken to Metropolitan Hospital in New York, suffering from liver and heart problems. On July 12, she was placed under house arrest at the hospital for possession, despite evidence suggesting the drugs may have been planted on her. Holiday remained under police guard at the hospital until she died from cirrhosis of the liver on July 17, 1959, at the age of 44. In the final years of her life she had been progressively swindled out of her earnings, and she died with only $0.70 in the bank and $750 on her person.
Billie Holiday is interred in Saint Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx, New York.
Some fifty years after her death, Billie Holiday is among the most recognizable singers of the jazz era. Jazz and pop vocalists of the time usually sang melodramatic ballads and novelty songs associated with the Tin Pan Alley tradition and rarely explored emotional depths. Holiday's primary influences, the jazz trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong and blues singer Bessie Smith were powerful exceptions whose lives mirrored Holiday's, and whose vocal delivery left no doubt they had lived through what they were singing. In her autobiography Holiday admitted, "I always wanted Bessie's big sound and Pops' feeling." Holiday's personal and emotional delivery revolutionized the jazz vocal tradition by personalizing even the most banal material with a authentic and inimitable emotion.
Holiday's unconventional aesthetic sensibility led her to refine beat and the melody, often reinventing the standard melody with harmonies borrowed from her favorite horn players, Armstrong and Lester Young.[1] Holiday's best performances remain among the most sensitive and original vocal performances ever recorded.
The artistic stature of Holiday muic only grew after her death. She influenced such singers as Janis Joplin and Nina Simone, and in 1972, Diana Ross played her in a movie version of Holiday's autobiography, Lady Sings the Blues. The film was a commercial success and earned an Academy Award for Best Actress nomination for Ross. In 1987, U2 released "Angel of Harlem" as a tribute to Billie.
Holiday struggled against racism her entire career and achieved fame despite a turbulent, often self-destructive life. She is also often cited as an example for her early efforts to stand up and speak out against discrimination and racism. She is now considered one of the most important vocal stylists of the twentieth century.
↑ John Bush, All Music Guide, Billie Holiday. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
Blackburn, Julie. With Billie. ISBN 0375406107.
Clarke, Donald. Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon. ISBN 0306811367.
All links retrieved December 16, 2016.
The Unofficial Billie Holiday Website.
Brief biography at American Masters (PBS).
Discography of Billie Holiday.
Billie Holiday's Gravesite.
Billie Holiday history
History of "Billie Holiday"
Retrieved from http://web.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Billie_Holiday&oldid=1001992
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How to find the Houses of Parliament
Groups and travel trade
The Houses of Parliament are located in Westminster in the centre of London and are well served by all forms of public transport, most of which is wheelchair accessible.
Map of Westminster
The following map shows the Westminster area and the Houses of Parliament:
Download map of Westminster and the Houses of Parliament ( PDF 541 KB)
Most visitors to the Houses of Parliament will come to the Palace of Westminster (postcode SW1A 0AA, entrance marked 8 on the map) or Portcullis House (postcode SW1A 2LW, entrance marked 4 on the map).
Visitors wishing to purchase tickets for tours should go to the Ticket Office located at the front of Portcullis House (post code SW1A 2LW, marked 5 on the map).
Rail and Underground
Visitors travelling on the London Underground can use the District, Circle or Jubilee lines to get to Westminster station, which is fully wheelchair accessible. Victoria, Charing Cross and Waterloo mainline stations are about 20 minutes away by foot and have connecting buses.
Buses stop near Parliament Square in Victoria Street (opposite the Houses of Parliament) and further up towards Trafalgar Square, in Whitehall. All buses in London are now wheelchair accessible.
If you're travelling by foot, you can access Parliament by Westminster and Waterloo bridges. Both are wheelchair accessible, as are the Golden Jubilee pedestrian bridges (the old Hungerford Bridge), which connect the South Bank with Victoria Embankment.
Members of the public cannot bring bicycles into the parliamentary estate. Public bicycle racks are a short distance away outside 7 Millbank. There are Cycle hire docking stations situated in Smith Square, which is a 5 minute walk away from Parliament, and on Abingdon Green, opposite Victoria Tower Gardens.
Coach and Car
There is no designated area to drop off or pick up from the Houses of Parliament. Drivers can stop briefly just before the entrance to Victoria Tower Gardens, towards Millbank. Please be aware that, for security reasons, the police will quickly move vehicles on.
Travelling by car will often be subject to the congestion charge and meter parking is limited. Disabled parking spaces are located nearby in Great Peter Street, Smith Square, and by Methodist Central Hall on Matthew Parker Street.
There is an underground car park opposite the Houses of Parliament operated by Q-Parks which has 183 spaces. It benefits from a secure vehicle and pedestrian entrance with CCTV, customer toilets and is manned during the week. A space can be reserved in advance using the Q-Park online pre-booking facility.
Houses of Parliament Shop
The Houses of Parliament Shop has a wide selection of beautiful and exclusive products inspired by different aspects of Parliament.
Start shopping online
Travelling in London
Here is a selection of other websites that offer information about travelling in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
Transport for London - bus and tube information.
Congestion charging - driving through central London? Check if you need to pay the congestion charge.
Street Map - online maps of the UK, with detailed street maps of London.
Here.com - full minor road and street level coverage for the whole of Great Britain. Enter a UK address to access maps. Zoom and roam features.
Bing.com - get directions and view online maps of the UK, down to street level.
Mappy.com - maps, directions, and driving expenses for journeys in the UK.
Parliament is not responsible for the content of external websites.
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Dominican President Suspected of Dismissing Generals Opposed to Disarmament Plot
Although the crime rate today in the Dominican Republic is lower than the newspapers would have you believe, the people's elected Congress has opted to use a manufactured fear of "muggers on motorcycles" to pass a law which will see the population disarmed in the face of a government some accuse of fraudulent elections.
The large-circulation daily El Nacional reported that the Dominican Senate approved a law giving the Dominican Minister of Police greater powers, including that of regulating the country's civilian armaments.
According to El Nacional, the new law has as its stated objective the gradual disarmament of the Dominican population, planning to give a full monopoly to the military and the police, institutions which have been little reformed since the fall of dictator Rafael Trujillo, and which could easily return to their natural state of repression against the population.
According to the large-circulation daily El Caribe, the Dominican Republic was until this past week's approval of the disarmament law a country that for the most part respected its population's right to armed self-defense, especially given the country's long history of suffering oppression at the hands of tyrants, foreign and domestic. That time is over, however, with El Caribe writing that individuals caught with unregistered guns -- persons who were once forced to pay fines, or present themselves in court periodically -- will now face prison time.
New Arab strongman of the Caribbean. Listin
With the passage of the latest disarmament law, individuals caught with unregistered guns could face upwards of 5 years in prison; this in a legal system which up until just recently only meted out maximum sentences of 20 years, even for murder.
Jose Ramon Fadul, the Minister of Police now empowered with the task of disarming the Dominican population, told the digital portal Noticias Sin that he has 207,000 weapons in his sight, with every single legal gun-owner now a target of the state.
Dominican legal gun owners are currently living in fear, afraid that only criminals will be armed, since a significant number of violent crimes on the island are committed by persons affiliated with the police or the military, institutions where individuals earn an "onion salary" that amounts to a meager couple of hundred dollars a month.
The current president of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, altered the Constitution after promising not to run for re-election, and now he can rest assured that he will once again be able to re-write the people's laws to suit his own desires without the fear of tyrannicide at the hands of the population.
Since the manufactured crime wave used to justify this disarmament of the population stems from a fear of armed muggers, many of whom are soldiers or police officers, reigning in the authorities themselves will lower the crime rate, but it will be attributed to the disarmament law.
Generals opposed to this measure have been forced to retire, with the disarmament law taking them out at the same time, in order to send a message to the lower ranks. The removal of the generals will also centralize power on the Dominican president's loyal minister of police, Mr. Fadul.
Some critics argue that it was the very president's plan to pay his armed forces a meager salary, sparking this wave of armed robberies in order to justify the disarmament of the population, thus guaranteeing that the Dominican Liberation Party will see another two decades of absolute rule over Latin America's fastest-growing economy; and it may just very well be the case.
By Abreu Report on Monday, August 01, 2016
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A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable..
A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable.
Betty Jo Hurst Barron
Betty Jo Hurst Barron passed away suddenly, at her home in Sweetwater.
Betty was born on April 4, 1934, in Selmer, to Allie and Lavara (Doll) Hurst. She grew up in Selmer, and graduated from Selmer High School in 1952.
Betty married her high school sweetheart, Jerry Max Barron, of Selmer, in 1954. She attended the University of Tennessee at Martin, and graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, with a Bachelor of Science in education. Betty taught English and history at Selmer High School for much of her career, where she was a long-time cheerleader sponsor.
Betty and her sister, Anita, were partners in The Honey Tree, a woman’s dress shop in Selmer, in the early 1970s. In 1981, Betty and Jerry moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked with the United States Health and Human Services Department, in the Early Childhood Development Office. They returned to the farm on Sulphur Springs Road in 1990.
After Jerry’s death, Betty moved to Sweetwater, to live on the farm with daughter Jennifer’s family.
Betty enjoyed watching her children show cattle and horses, and working in her yard and flower gardens. After her move to Sweetwater, she worked part-time at East Tennessee Livestock Center, and attended all her grandchildren’s ballgames and cattle shows. She was a volunteer at Sweetwater High School, and a devoted UT Vol fan.
Betty was a lifetime member of the First Christian Church in Selmer, where she taught Sunday School for many years.
She was 85 years old.
Preceded in death by: her beloved son, Jerry Ross Barron; husband, Jerry Max Barron; parents, Allie and Lavara (Doll) Hurst; nephew, Matt Barnes.
Betty is survived by: her daughter, Jennifer, and husband, Mark, and grandchildren, Virginia Leigh Houston and Ross Wesley Houston;
Sisters, Linda Barnes (Rod) and Anita Moore (Joe Vance, deceased);
Nieces, Dolly Jane Barnes and Lisa Weatherford;
Great-niece, Leah Thompkins;
Great-nephew, Jay Weatherford;
Great-great-niece, Lauren Franks;
Great-great-nephew, Jett Franks.
A celebration of life service was held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, 2019, at at the First Christian Church in Selmer. The burial was held at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2019, at Oak Hill cemetery in Selmer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Matt Barnes Agricultural Scholarship, The University of Tennessee at Martin, Office of Development, 329 Administration Building, Martin, Tennessee 38238.
Selmer High School
Jerry Max Barron
Jay Weatherford
Proposal submitted to acquire Hiwassee College
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Cryptocoach - Alles über Kryptowährungen und Blockchain
Diskussionen über Neuigkeiten » Diskussionen Allgemein über die Kryptowelt »
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in Diskussionen Allgemein über die Kryptowelt 29.08.2018 08:18
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— Saints defensive tackle David Onyemata is no longer an intriguing international prospect with unknown potential.
The native Nigerian [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/dak-prescott-jersey]Dak Prescott Cowboys Jersey[/url] , who learned American-style football as a college student in Canada, is entering his third NFL season as an established starter upon whom the Saints are increasingly comfortable relying to plug up rushing lanes or make quarterbacks uncomfortable when they drop back to pass.
“We certainly look at him that way,” Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said after practice on Monday evening. “He’s established himself as a starting caliber defensive lineman in our league and he’s certainly going to be a big part of what we’re trying to get accomplished this year.”
Onyemata, 25, always looked the part at 6-foot-4, 325 pounds. That’s a big reason the Saints decided it would be worthwhile to use a fourth-round draft choice on him in 2016.
But Onyemata never envisioned an NFL playing career when he went to college in western Canada. He was there to study, and took up football because he was looking for an interesting way to diversify his college experience outside the classroom. He’d played soccer growing up, and was ready to try something new that perhaps suited his body type.
Ultimately, his academics-first approach to college — he earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science — might have aided his adjustment to the NFL.
“For a guy that had played as little football as he had, there was some terminology things that he had to learn … but I wouldn’t say that was any slower than it was for maybe any other rookie that we’ve had,” Allen recalled. “So I think that’s one of the things that’s allowed him to be maybe as productive for us as he has, is that he is smart and learns really well. He’s not a repeat-mistake offender.”
Onyemata played in all 16 regular season games in 2017, starting the last six. He had 40 tackles, two sacks and one batted pass.
This past offseason [url=http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/ty-montgomery-jersey]Ty Montgomery Packers Jersey[/url] , Onyemata took some time to return home in March to see family and friends in Africa, but also spent a lot of time in Baton Rouge, working with long-time defensive line coach Pete Jenkins on more nuanced aspect of his position, such as his initial movements at the snap and how to use his hands to improve leverage.
“Just having the mindset to get better and work on things you’re not good at — that has been the goal,” Onyemata said, adding that he now has a strong command of New Orleans’ defensive scheme and the terminology used to call it. “You know what they’re asking you to do and you know what they’re expecting you to do, so you just go out there and do your job.”
Saints center Max Unger was in his second season in New Orleans in 2016 and has witnessed Onyemata’s evolution as a football player up close.
“The accent’s still there,” Unger said, but quickly added, “He’s becoming, I think, the player that a lot of people thought that he was going to be and it’s impressive to see his development, especially coming down from Canada and not having a lot of football under his belt.
“It’s tough to go against, honestly [url=http://authenticlosangeleschargers.com/cheap-kyzir-white-jersey]Cheap Kyzir White Jersey[/url] ,” Unger continued. “I mean, look at him. He’s a big, fast, physical guy that just needs to play as much football as he can. Again, it’s a big jump to come into this league and I think that he has progressed pretty rapidly.”
Unger said Onyemata’s growth is evident in his awareness of what offenses are trying to do and how to defend it.
“You can be fast, you can be physical, but not knowing where the ball is, as a D-lineman, I guess is half the battle,” Unger said, adding the Onyemata is also better at disguising his own intentions before the snap. “All of those things, he’s showing pretty rapid improvement in.”
When you come to the provincial capital of Manitoba for the playoffs to face the Winnipeg Jets, you know two things for sure: it’s going to be white, and it’s going to be loud. The fans inside MTS Centre wear white to playoff games — a tradition started three decades ago during the team’s first incarnation in Winnipeg. And they’re noisy. Really [url=http://www.authenticsmiamidolphins.com/cheap-josh-sitton-jersey]Josh Sitton Color Rush Jersey[/url] , really noisy
Bruce Boudreau will bring the Minnesota Wild to Winnipeg on Wednesday for Game 1 one of their first-round playoff series. Since the NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011, Boudreau is in fact the only opposing coach to experience that atmosphere first-hand.
In 2015, Boudreau coached the Anaheim Ducks to a four-game sweep of the Jets in round one, including a pair of wins in Winnipeg. So, he’s not expecting to be intimidated by conditions inside the arena.
“They have a rabid fan base, but every team in the NHL has a rabid fan base at this stage of the game,” Boudreau said Tuesday, before the Wild boarded a northbound plane. “Noise isn’t going to bother you.”
If the Wild are going to get bothered, it will be on the rink, as they face a Jets team that has shown few weak spots in finishing second in the Central Division and earning home ice for the series.
“You have less room for error because they’re always coming at you. You can’t have a 10-minute break so to speak and play normal. You always have to be on your toes playing the right way because one line’s as good as the next line,” Boudreau said of the Jets. “It’s not a question that they’re overly deep, it’s just you’ve got to play the same way to defend player A as player X on their team.”
What the Jets lack in playoff experience, with one of the youngest and perhaps hungriest rosters in the NHL, they make up for in enthusiasm [url=http://www.authenticssanfrancisco49ers.com/cheap-dante-pettis-jersey]Dante Pettis Jersey Elite[/url] , as the roster and the city are excited — perhaps overly so — for the start of the playoffs. This franchise, which started as the Atlanta Thrashers in 1999, has never won a playoff game, and the opportunity to do that for the first time is the talk of the town.
“Game day is going to be really exciting for us, but the hockey doesn’t change,” said Jets coach Paul Maurice, who coached the Carolina Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2002. “It’s going to get faster and all the details are pushed harder by both teams, but the game that we want to play is what we’ve been working on for 82.”
The Wild lineup might look different, at least on the blue line, then in recent games when the puck drops Wednesday. Defenseman Jared Spurgeon has been out since last month with a groin injury but has been practicing and is hopeful to return. It would be a big boost for Minnesota, which is reeling from the loss of defenseman Ryan Suter to a season-ending leg injury.
“He’s getting better,” Boudreau said of Spurgeon’s status. “Still a game-time decision (Wednesday).”
« Today I read an article called President
on the well-being and safe »
Wir begrüßen unser neuestes Mitglied: hardboostxl
Das Forum hat 2841 Themen und 3036 Beiträge.
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HomeAuto PortalsAustin, Fiat and Willys are the most popular classic car models on OLX.
Austin, Fiat and Willys are the most popular classic car models on OLX.
10th May 2017 Jas Auto Portals, India, Vintage Car 0
Listing of classic cars as collector’s items have doubled in the last one year, more than 60 classic cars are listed on OLX every month.
OLX, India’s largest online marketplace for pre-owned automobiles, over the years has also emerged as a popular destination for collectors for Classic and Vintage cars.Until a decade ago, collecting vintage and classic cars was a hobby for car enthusiasts. But over the last few years, organised vintage car clubs and rallies have been instrumental in driving mainstream popularity for cars with heritage value.
OLX, India’s largest online marketplace for used goods is also the number one destination for buying and selling of used automobiles in the country with 72% market share of the used car market in India. Vintage and classic cars are one of the most valued listings on the platform, in the last one month over 60 classic cars dating from the pre- independence era were listed on OLX. Typically, a classic car is defined as one built after World War II, that is, between 1945 to the late 1960s and early 1970s. Most of the classic cars listed on OLX are 50-60 years old.
Latest data from OLX reveals that classic cars listed on OLX are extremely sought after by collectors; a single car listing attracts anywhere between 3,000 to 4,000 views. Given the high interest among vintage car collectors, pricing ranges from anywhere between INR 4 lakhs and 25 lakhs. In the last one year listings of classic cars on OLX has doubled, every month on an average 60 such cars are listed on the platform.
As of March 2017 the most expensive vintage car listed on OLX is a Morris Minor model from Rajkot priced at Rs 25 lakhs, while the oldest vintage car listed on OLX is a 1936 model Ruby Austin.
Most Popular Classic Car Brands On OLX:
The most popular classic car models on OLX are from Austin, Fiat, Willys Jeep, Morris Minor and dinky car models from Maruti. The popularity of car models is basis the views they receive from users.
Most Popular Classic Car Models Listed On OLX:
● 1946 Royal Vintage Austin 10
● 1960 model of Mark 1 Ambassador
● 1973 Original Short Wheelbase Willys Military Jeep
● 1963 edition Fiat1100
● 1985 Maruti Dinky
Top Cities Listing Classic Cars:
Classic cars from over 100 cities in India find their way on OLX every month. Some of the most popular cities are Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Bhopal, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Jaipur. Not surprisingly, some of the rarest models listed on OLX are from smaller towns, given that most of these cars are heritage property belonging remote locations, such as Jhalamand in Jodhpur, Baker Hill in Kottayam, Bhilai, Dhebar in Rajkot, Mundappalam in Kondotty, Sambalpur, Isri, and Itanagar among others
About OLX:
OLX is India’s number one consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketplace. It is India’s largest marketplace for pre-owned cars and motorbikes, mobile phones, household items, and jobs and real-estate. OLX offers fast, and hyper-local way for Indians to sell, buy, and rent pre-owned goods and services. As pioneers of ‘We-Commerce’ in India, OLX brings sellers and buyers together for win-win exchanges.
OLX was founded in 2006, and is backed by Naspers, which is a global Internet and entertainment group and amongst the largest technology investors in the world. OLX is present in 40+ countries across the globe, and is the market leader in most of these countries. In India it already has 80% market share of the C2C online trade. OLX is the number #1 buying + selling mobile App in India according to Google Play store, and is currently trending at 3.4 billion page-views a month (Jan 2017). OLX India has won prestigious industry awards and accolades and was recently recognized by the prestigious ‘Superbrands’ in 2016.
1946 Royal Vintage Austin 10
1960 model of Mark 1 Ambassador
1963 edition Fiat1100
1973 Original Short Wheelbase Willys Military Jeep
1985 Maruti Dinky
Auto Portals
OLX Commands 75% Share of India’s Online Used Two-Wheelers Market
6th March 2017 Jas 0
OLX has three times higher top-of-mind awareness than the nearest competitor in the pre-owned two-wheelers category according to a Frost & Sullivan and OLX Survey Every minute 6 two-wheelers are put up for sale on […]
72% of the monthly used car sales in India happen on OLX
23rd September 2016 Jas 0
Latest data from OLX reveals that it rules the used car market by a huge margin 370,000 used cars listed on OLX every month 200,000 used cars, worth over $1 Bn of GMV, sold on […]
21st February 2019 Jas 0
Expands footprint to 10 cities in 6 months New Delhi, February 21st, 2018: Naspers-owned OLX Cash My Car, today announced the opening of its 50th store in Bandra, Mumbai – a milestone for the brand’s strategic expansion […]
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Fabula Saltica
The “Città di Rovigo” Ballet Association was established in 1986 thanks to the efforts of Claudio Ronda, Giuseppina Russo and Leila Troletti, dancers with a solid technical founding and from different artistic experiences. From its outset, the Association flanked the production and distribution of ballet performances creating its own dance company called “ Estballetto ” made up of young dancers. In November 1990, the “Teatro Sociale” in Rovigo decided to produce a new performance by the Estballetto Company which was included in the Theatre's Traditional Opera Season. The Company chose to perform “La Mascherata”, entrusting art direction to Gheorghe Iancu, with music by Boccherini, inspired by a libretto for music by Carlo Goldoni. The success of the performance (in which Iancu took the leading role) was applauded by audiences and critics alike in some of the most important Italian theatres and strengthened the tie between the Association and the Teatro Sociale. The Company changed its name to “Fabula Saltica” and assigned Gheorghe Iancu as art director from 1990 to 1996. In 1996 the “Città di Rovigo” Dance Association was officially recognised by the Presidency of the Department for Entertainment.
Alfarano, Vito
Carrain, Giovanna
Cecchi, Alessia
Chionna, Melania
Ferraro, Ezio
Iacuzzi, Federica
Maran, Maria Paola
Rigamonti, Marco
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Houston Rockets 2018-19 NBA Season Preview
The Houston Rockets proved a year ago that they were as formidable a challenger in the West as we’ve seen in a while. Although the roster has evolved, the question remains, did they get better? Basketball Insiders takes a look at the Rockets in this 2018-19 NBA Season Preview.
Last year, it was about proving the skeptics wrong for Houston. This year, it’s about proving that they can keep it up.
A few months ago, the Houston Rockets were a half-decent three-point shooting performance from one of the biggest upsets in NBA history and their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1995. Getting the number one seed while almost toppling one of the most talented teams ever assembled would usually make their season a wild success. For the Rockets,. though, that wasn’t enough.
That brings us to this season. Bringing up what the Rockets lost this summer is pretty much beating a dead horse at this point, so let’s summarize it like this: While Houston kept its star power, it lost players who brought intangibles to the table. Who they replaced said players with has brought much doubt as to whether Houston can repeat last season’s performance, much less win a championship.
No matter what setback(s) they may have faced this off-season, the Rockets’ goal remains unchanged. They want their next title. Though the roster has gone through a little shakeup, the Rockets should still be one of the league’s best teams.
But is it enough to get them over that colossal hump that is the Golden State Warriors? Well, let’s take a look at what their team looks like.
FIVE GUYS THINK…
The Houston Rockets were the biggest threat to the Golden State Warriors at the beginning of the offseason. However, I’m not sure that’s the case anymore. Last season, with a stable of versatile defenders, the Rockets were able to implement a very aggressive, switch-everything scheme against the Warriors in the playoffs. The Rockets’ defense gave the Warriors problems in the Western Conference Finals, but Houston couldn’t overcome the loss of Chris Paul to a hamstring injury. This summer, the Rockets lost Trevor Ariza to the Suns and Luc Mbah a Moute to the Clippers and added several new players, like Carmelo Anthony. I think the Rockets have the talent to push the Warriors in a seven-game series, but they won’t be able to use the same defensive schemes that made life miserable for Golden State. The Rockets had an okay offseason all things considered, but I don’t think they closed the gap on the Warriors in a meaningful way.
1st Place – Southwest Division
– Jesse Blancarte
It’s hard to shake the feeling that last season might have been the Rockets’ best shot at beating the current iteration of the Warriors. The losses of guys like Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute really hurt their wing depth, an area that was already somewhat thin – and also vital to any hopes of making it past the behemoths in Golden State and out of the Western Conference. Carmelo Anthony looks like a big name to help replace them, but is he really effective at this point? The Rockets will always be among the league’s elite with James Harden, Chris Paul and Clint Capela on the roster, but Paul isn’t getting any younger and Mike D’Antoni’s rotations were already dangerously short. It feels bad to be so negative about a group that’s unquestionably one of the league’s best, but the goal has always been a title for this team in Houston, and they look further away from it than this time last year.
– Ben Dowsett
The big news of the summer for the Rockets was the acquisition of Carmelo Anthony. They needed to fill the void left by the departure of Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, so it’s on the 10-time All-Star and James Ennis to replace them. The upside of this is Houston’s main core is still intact. Chris Paul, James Harden and Clint Capela know each other’s tendencies and how to play off one another so well. Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker are perfect for the secondary roles that they are assigned. Guys like Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss are solid additions to bolster this squad’s depth as well. Mike D’Antoni will have to experiment with rotations, but the talent is most definitely still there. We’ll see how it stacks up with the other giants in the Western Conference.
– Spencer Davies
For a moment there, Houston was in the driver’s seat to the NBA championship, but only so briefly. After all that transpired this summer, there are severe doubts surrounding the Rockets’ ability to repeat last season’s success. Their perimeter defense on paper took a hit, and Chris Paul isn’t getting any younger. Still, as long as James Harden is running things and Paul is his running mate, the Rockets will be one of the league’s best teams. Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute hurts, but Carmelo Anthony and Brandon Knight can add some firepower that could make up for what the Rockets lost. If they don’t, then Houston will need to make some more moves. Because whether they like it or not, the clock is ticking.
– Matt John
It is easy to look at the Rockets through a negative prism… they lost Trevor Ariza, they added Carmelo Anthony, Jeff Bzdelik is retiring. There are plenty of negatives, but when you look at the end of the day roster coming to camp, the Rockets may have traded off a little defense in exchange for a whole lot more firepower. The Rockets were tremendous last season and there is no reason to believe they won’t be tremendous again this season – the question is, will they be tremendous in the post-season? That’s a huge unknown. The Rockets are a better basketball team; it’s unclear if they’ll be good enough to derail the Warriors, but they sure are equipped to try.
– Steve Kyler
Top Offensive Player: James Harden
It speaks volumes about you when you’re teammates with one of the best point guards of all time – who’s still reasonably in his prime – and you’re the obvious pick. James Harden has been in the MVP conversation in three of the last four years. This past season, he finally made it all the way to the top, getting named the league’s Most Valuable Player without much question.
His numbers continue to be outright ridiculous: 30.4 points, 8.8 assists, and 5.4 rebounds a game are legendary-type numbers. What makes Harden so incredible to watch is his lack of predictability. He’s an expert at getting the right shot, finding the right pass, or overall making the right decision. His style isn’t necessarily the most fun to watch – Harden is a flopper and knows how to draw fouls that slow down the game – but he knows how to orchestrate an elite offense by himself. Until Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry separate, which may or may not happen, James Harden is the league’s top offensive weapon at the top of his prime.
Top Defensive Player: Clint Capela
Houston made Capela a very rich man this summer, and for very good reason. The Swiss center has gradually become one of the league’s top rim protectors in the couple of years. Last year alone, Capela saw a gradual increase in both rebounds (10.8) and blocks (1.9). In fact, Capela’s 137 total blocks ranked second in the league behind only Anthony Davis.
What should excite Houston is that Capela is still only 24 years old who is playing in a system that suits his strengths, so his ceiling could potentially be even higher. Future star may be a stretch, but Houston could still even more improvement from Capela in the coming years. Best-case scenario: Capela winds up becoming what Houston hoped Dwight Howard was going to be.
Top Clutch Player: Chris Paul
Paul doesn’t exactly have the best resume when it comes to playing in the clutch, but he’s proven that he can step it up when his back is up against the wall. Whether it’s for the better or worse of the team, Chris Paul has never been afraid of the moment. This was best evidenced by him pretty much single-handedly beating the Warriors in an intense Game 5 during the Western Conference finals.
His statistics in the clutch are pretty solid as well. Paul only played in 21 games last season that were deemed clutch, primarily because he missed a good chunk of the season with injury and when he played, Houston’s games were rarely close. In those games, Paul has a plus-minus of +3.5, averaging three points a game and shooting 59 percent from the field, including 50 percent from three. Harden has an even shakier history in the clutch, so Houston should feel fortunate to have CP3 in crunch time.
Top Playmaker: James Harden/Chris Paul
This is is definitely one topic where everyone can agree these two are dead even. Paul and Harden are two of the league’s very best distributors, which played a huge role in Houston arguably having the best offense in the league last season.
Houston, believe it or not, ranked among the lowest in overall team assists, averaging 21.5, a game which tied for 26th overall in the league. Harden and Paul together account for 16.7 of the team’s assists, good for about 78 percent. That makes it all the more impressive that they had the league’s highest offensive rating at 114.7 points per 100 possessions. Their efforts offensively proved to be for Houston’s benefit as well. The Rockets’ offense was +8.1 when Paul was on the floor and +6.6 with Harden on the floor. As long as one of these two are on the floor at all times, Houston’s offense will be in good hands.
The Unheralded Player: Eric Gordon
Eric Gordon is evidence of the abundance of riches the Rockets have. He is perfectly capable of being the second guard on a championship team. Yet, he’s the Rockets’ third guard. Because he plays for a team whose two best players play the position as him, Gordon falls a bit under the radar, but his impact on the floor is undeniable.
Gordon gives Houston a potent offensive option off the bench who fits quite well in Mike D’Antoni’s offense and complements Harden and Paul quite well. This is evidenced by his scoring output, as his 18 points per game average last season was the best he’s had in years. Better yet, his contributions get results for Houston. Gordon’s net rating placed him first on the team among players who played at least 1,000 minutes, as the Rockets were +10.3 overall when Gordon was on the floor.
The real triumph to all of this is seeing Eric Gordon salvage his career so swiftly after all he’s been through. Hopefully, it just gets better from here on out for him.
Best New Addition: Carmelo Anthony
Even at this point in his career, who would have thought that when you call Carmelo Anthony your best new addition this summer, you have to follow that up with, “By default”?
Though not the sexy name he once was, Carmelo Anthony is still capable of putting up 15-20 points a game. Since he has experience playing with both James Harden and Chris Paul on Team USA, ‘Melo may prove to be a better fit than the skeptics give him credit for. Even if he continues to play below expectations, it’s not like Houston invested much in him. If the guy stinks, the Rockets won’t play him. If he thrives, they found another dimension to their team. It doesn’t matter what happened last season in OKC. Adding Carmelo Anthony for $2.4 million provides minimal risk.
Adding him to the Rockets isn’t really low-risk/high-reward, but rather a low-risk/high-enough-reward for the Rockets.
1. Mike D’Antoni
Even though he’s won Coach of the Year with two separate teams, D’Antoni’s best coaching of his career may have come last season. On top of having the league’s best offensive rating – surprising absolutely no one – he finally disproved the fallacy that he can’t coach defense. Houston had the league’s sixth-best defensive rating, which can be attributed to their improved personnel on the defensive end. However, having better defenders can only work so well if they are utilized properly, which was the case under D’Antoni. Offensively, the Rockets should still be top of the line, but for Houston to stay in the discussion with Golden State, D’Antoni needs to build off his success defensively despite what he lost.
2. Daryl Morey
The Rockets’ general manager never ceases to amaze. He somehow was able to find a taker for Ryan Anderson’s mammoth contract, acquired a potentially better player in Brandon Knight, and even received intriguing young talent in Marquese Chriss, whose career outlook is still up in the air. That’s masterful work for a guy who didn’t really have much to work with this summer. When people count him out, Daryl Morey always manages to have something up his sleeve. That’s why nobody should sleep on Houston. The Rockets may take a step back, but never underestimate what Morey can do.
3. Brandon Knight (or Brandon Knight’s contract)
It really is a shame to see how much has gone wrong for Knight. Because of injuries and playing on a rebuilding team, Knight hasn’t done anything relevant in the NBA since 2015. It’s important to remember that he is only 26 years old, so the potential he has on this team could be much higher than people think. If Knight returns to form, he’s going to be a fantastic addition to Houston’s high-octane offense. If he doesn’t, then he’s going to be a valuable trade asset if Houston decides to search for another wing this season.
4. PJ Tucker
So much has been made about the 3&D wings the Rockets lost. What about the one premier 3&D wing they still have? Tucker proved to be a smart investment by Houston last season, as he gave the team more needed three-point shooting and tough-as-nails defense. Tucker also gives the team a fair amount of good leadership and is a pretty good rebounder for a man of his size. Now that he’s the only proven 3&D wing they have – James Ennis could prove this notion wrong – expect Tucker to have an even bigger role.
The Rockets have two of the league’s best all-around guards playing under one of the league’s most brilliant offensive minds. Those three components alone make them one of the NBA’s best teams. Harden and Paul proved to be one of the league’s best backcourts, and should that lead to a title, they could be among one of the best of all-time, if they weren’t already. Also, despite all the skepticism that came from adding him, Carmelo Anthony still is another proven offensive option that could add some more pizzazz to the league’s best offense. Adding him to a team that has Clint Capela, Eric Gordon, and PJ Tucker should make Houston a great all-around team no matter what.
Last season may have proven that Mike D’Antoni can coach defense after all, but only if he as the personnel to do it. Houston’s defense should be fine overall, but losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute hurts their perimeter defense and more importantly, their versatility. Those two aspects weren’t the main ingredient, but they played a huge role in Houston’s improvement last season. Carmelo Anthony is expected to take Ariza’s spot in the starting lineup, but he’s hardly ever been a plus defender. In a league where teams take advantage of defensive mismatches now more than ever, Carmelo is bound to get picked on. Again, the Rockets’ defense should be fine, but if it’s not elite this time, then their season may wind up in disappointment again.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Is this the team Houston goes with when the playoffs come around?
As long as they have their whole team healthy in time for the playoffs, Houston should still be an elite team. However, the reason why they almost toppled the Warriors was because, along with their starpower, they had players that gave Golden State matchup problems. With Trevor Ariza and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute gone, that advantage isn’t nearly as strong as it once was. Adding Carmelo Anthony’s scoring and/or James Ennis’ defense could potentially soften the blow, but if it’s not enough, then the Rockets could be in trouble. Houston has to remember that Chris Paul is on the wrong side of the 30, so they have no time to waste.
There is a chance that Houston does just fine even with the hits they took, but the odds aren’t in their favor. If Houston does take a step back, then they better look for the best wing they can get on the trade market.
Related Topics:2018 NBA Season PreviewsHouston RocketsMain Page
Golden State Warriors 2018-19 NBA Season Preview
Toronto Raptors 2018-19 NBA Season Preview
Report: Tyson Chandler, Rockets Agree to Deal
Drew Maresca continues Basketball Insiders’ “Grading The Offseason” series by taking a look at the New York Knicks.
Drew Maresca
The NBA offseason is dramatically different than it was as recently as a decade ago. In the past, the offseason began following the conclusion of the NBA Finals. And save for a few exciting happenings (e.g., the NBA Draft), the sports world moved on to other items of interest.
But presently, the first half of the summer is still very much the NBA’s. Until mid-July, that is. With the NBA finally ready to enter a lull in activity, we can safely begin assessing teams’ offseason moves. And with that, Basketball Insiders continues its “Grading the Offseason” series.
Spencer Davies kicked things off by assessing the Cleveland Cavaliers and David Yapkowitz graded the moves made by the Chicago Bulls. Next up is possibly the most polarizing team in the league – the New York Knicks.
The Knicks entered 2018-19seaason with low expectations. However, there was hope for the future with 7’3” unicorn-esque center (Kristaps Porzingis), their three rookies (Kevin Knox, Mitchell Robinson and Allonzo Trier) and a boatload of projected cap space on the books.
Fast forward to the Summer of 2019 and the Knicks are in a surprising spot relative to last year. Their assumed core of the future was dealt a blow when it became clear that Porzingis wanted out of New York, resulting in a trade to Dallas. And while they failed to land a major free agent – despite freeing up the cap space for two max free agents – there is actually reason for optimism for the Knicks.
Despite finishing the 2018-19 season with the worst record in the NBA, the new lottery structure led to the Knicks landing the third overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Fortunately, the third pick in the draft was a no-brainer regardless of who was making the selection. RJ Barrett – guard/forward from Duke – is a talented scorer and playmaker who will instantly become the best Knick at drawing fouls and creating off the dribble. Barrett can struggle with his efficiency and other aspects of his game, but he will show flashes of greatness throughout the upcoming season.
But that’s not all the Knicks did on draft night. As I discussed last week, the Knicks traded up in the second round to select Ignas Brazdeikis, a forward from Michigan. Brazdeikis entered NBA Summer League with a lot of questions around him, most notably his lack of foot speed and athleticism, and he answered them in a big way.
Brazdeikis proved he can contribute to an NBA team immediately. His shot-making, shooting ability, strength and motor all shined through in many of the team’s Summer League games. The Knicks may have hit another home run in the second-round, which makes them two-for-two in as many years (Mitchell Robinson was selected by the Knicks with the 36thoverall pick in 2018).
Speaking of Robinson, he flashed his potential throughout Summer League, too. He demonstrated good progress, posting 13.8 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in 25 minutes per game — and winning first-team All-Summer League honors. Robinson has a lot to prove this season, as expectations have changed dramatically for the 21-year-old, but at least the Knicks have their center of the future.
Free agency didn’t go quite as well for the Knicks. Many experts felt that the team had a good chance at signing Kevin Durant and a second major free agent. But the Knicks struck out on superstar free agent signings.
And what’s more, the Knicks signed a number of players shortly after the start of free agency, which prevented them from absorbing unwanted salary in exchange for future picks (e.g., the Los Angeles Clippers received a future first-round pick for taking back Maurice Harkless from the Portland Trail Blazers). The narrative quickly became that the Knicks failed at free agency.
But perception and reality are not always one and the same. Ultimately, the Knicks were able to attach a second-year team option and/or signed free agents to one-year deals for six of their seven free agent acquisitions (with the seventh free agent being Randle, for whom the Knicks own a third-year option).
This means that very little – if any salary – is guaranteed beyond 2019-20, making all of the aforementioned players attractive additions to contenders come the trade deadline – many were likely attractive as of June 30, but most contenders didn’t have the requisite cap space to sign players like Portis, Payton or Morris after making major investments in superstars.
All of the Knicks free agent additions can contribute at a relatively high level – save for Bullock, whose health is still in question following a recent back surgery — for both the Knicks as well as a contending team down the line. And the Knicks can liquidate most of their roster and free up significant cap space to chase the likes of Anthony Davis and others in 2020 if so desired – and they may even get themselves additional assets in the process. So the Knicks’ 2019 free agency period could be viewed very differently at this time next year (or 2021), depending on if they are able to convince a star player or two to join their young core.
PLAYERS IN: RJ Barrett, Ignas Brazdeikis, Julius Randle, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, Reggie Bullock, Elfrid Payton, Wayne Ellington and Marcus Morris
PLAYERS OUT: Kadeem Allen, Mario Hejonza, Noah Vonleh, Luke Kornet, Emmanuel Mudiay, DeAndre Jordan, Lance Thomas, Henry Ellenson and Billy Garrett
The Knicks’ offseason is probably over considering they added nine players and will return six – with one exception being potentially working on a reunion with the recently-waived Lance Thomas.
The Knicks signed seven quality free agents who can all hypothetically be traded for assets or waived following the 2019-20 season. They also added two NBA-quality rookies, both of whom should carve out a role on the team. The team’s challenge will be picking a direction. Scott Perry recently scoffed at the notion that Knicks will tank in 2019-20. Thus, they may hang onto most of their signees for the entire season in hopes of getting their young nucleus playoff experience.
While playoff experience is great for any young player, it will be challenging for David Fizdale and the rest of the coaching staff to carve out a rotation that features all of the team’s young players. The Knicks will have to create lineups very deliberately, pairing youth with veterans so they don’t experience too much falloff when shifting from one lineup to another.
Another unresolved item remains: Frank Ntilikina. Rumors circulated in the lead up the 2019 NBA Draft that the Knicks were going to trade their former lottery pick, but Ntilikina remains with the team. Ntilikina’s time in New York might be nearing an end unless he shows significant improvement early this season. It is worth mentioning that Ntilikina showed up earlier in the offseason on social media sporting a smoother and more natural-looking shooting form.
One final improvement the Knicks will look to build on is their leadership. Credibility trickles down from the very top of an organization. While James Dolan has made questionable decisions over the years, the rest of the Knicks’ management is operating more thoughtfully than it has in years.
The team’s leadership and coaching staff remained entirely intact for the first time in what feels like decades – the Knicks have had five coaches (six tenures) and three Presidents (four tenures) in the past eight seasons. And while players win games, they are attracted to situations that appear stable and supportive. The Knicks and Scott Perry, Steve Mills, and David Fizdale began laying the foundation for this type of situation. They now need to demonstrate progress on the court to take the next step and possibly start to build themselves up as a free agent destination (outside of simply being the Knicks). Lastly, they need Dolan and the team to remain out of the news for negative reasons as much as possible, such as being in the news for a lawsuit against the City of Inglewood around contractual issues pertaining a new Clippers arena.
This wasn’t the offseason that Knicks fans were hoping for, but it wasn’t the disaster some portray it as either. The Knicks have the means to take a positive step forward this season and set the stage for bigger things in the future.
Offseason Grade: B-
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Nathan V. Stone
in Obituaries
Wednesday, December 13. 2017
Nathan V. Stone, age 87, of Baxley passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Stone was born March 7, 1930 in Appling County to the late Milledge Lambert Stone and the late Mary Branch Stone. He was a member of Altamaha Baptist Church, where he was a charter member and served as a Deacon. Mr. Stone was a veteran in the United States Army, having served in the Korean Conflict and retired from security from Southern Nuclear Company. He was an only child but had many brothers and sisters in the Lord. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Mr. Stone was affectionately known as Papa to many who dearly loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Yawn Stone and a grandson, Shawn Stone. Survivors include his daughters and sons in law, Cathy and Trenton Irvin of Vidalia, Carol and Calvin Clements of Hazlehurst and Nell Mullis of Baxley; sons and daughters in law, Kenny and Sherry Stone of Hazlehurst and Ricky and Lisa Stone of Baxley; eight grandchildren, Jason (Jennifer) Irvin, Katie (Jeff) Rountree, Justin (Amanda) Stone, Christy (Don) Patterson, Chad (Lauralee) Clements, Stephen (Rhonda) Mullis, Amy (Andrew) Livingston, Josh (Samantha) Stone and fourteen great grandchildren also survive. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Altamaha Baptist Church with the Rev. Ryan Lamb and the Rev. Charles Hutcheson officiating. Interment followed in the Church Cemetery. Active Pallbearers were Jason Irvin, Chad Clements, Stephen Mullis, Josh Stone, Don Patterson, Wayne Miles, Andrew Livingston and Ricky Livingston. Honorary Pallbearers were employees and residents of Lakeview Retirement Center and all family and friends in attendance. Musical selections were rendered by Floyd Hunter and Samantha Carter. Remembrances may be made to Altamaha Baptist Church Building Fund, (c/o David Fennell 211 Lily Moody Road Baxley, Georgia 31513). Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Swain Funeral Home.
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Jun 4, 2013 | Br. Tony Jukes SSS
St Edward’s Chair was made between 1297 and 1300 upon the instruction of King Edward I. It incorporated the Stone of Scone as its seat, a block of sandstone upon which Scottish kings had formerly been inaugurated, and which was surrendered to King Edward in 1296. The King presented the Chair to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, where it was used by the Mass priests, but it was also quickly adopted for the anointing and crowning of monarchs, the first coronation in which it was used possibly being that of King Edward II in 1308. The Chair has certainly played a prominent role in all coronations since Henry IV’s in 1399. It is known across the world and is one of the oldest pieces of English furniture still in use.
Made of oak, the Chair was once highly ornate, being covered with decoratively punched gilding, and having inset panels of coloured glass and faux-enamels. It also bore coats of arms on shields of timber and glass. In the back of the Chair was the imposing figure of a seated king, probably Edward the Confessor, with his feet resting on a lion. The Chair was modified in the sixteenth century, when a timber seat was fitted over the Stone, and a plinth made which incorporated four carved lions. The present lion-plinth was fitted in 1727 for the Coronation of King George II. Over the centuries, the Chair has suffered much damage: most of the gilding has been lost, as have all the glass and enamel inserts, and visitors have even carved graffiti in the timber.
Prior to the twentieth century, it was usual for the Chair to be swathed in rich textiles for coronations, thereby concealing the damage. A conservation programme was carried out in 2010−12, and a new setting has been created for displaying the Chair.
From the Service booklet
A SERVICE TO CELEBRATE
THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE CORONATION
OF HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
See also;-
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/highlights/the-coronation-chair
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Guest Post: Light in the Dark Night by Bree Cariad
Bree Cariad is visiting today to talk about Light in the Dark Night, and share an excerpt. Welcome, Bree!
If I could be Brecker’s son, that would be the best thing in the world.
When a plot bunny strikes, an author must listen. 13 months ago, the voices of Reverend Jonathon Neiland and Court Brecker, as well as teenager Aiden began to course through my mind. Their personalities were compelling, their plight heart-wrenching. I couldn’t not write their story.
Besides the love story that flows throughout, this is also a story about the teenagers that live at Jonathon’s LGBT shelter. Aiden, a trans boy that Brecker finds in an alleyway, finds himself there, amongst people who get him. After all, we all want a place where we fit in, don’t we?
Light in the Dark Night is the 1st novel in the Love Conquers All series. I classify the LCA series as Love Stories instead of romances as they don’t necessarily follow romance tropes.
(In this snippet, Brecker has just brought Aiden to the shelter. Jonathon is doing his best to get to know the scared kid.)
“So how did you meet?” he asked politely.
Aiden winced and inched a little closer to Brecker. Jonathon could understand the movement. Brecker had that all-around aura of being the kind of guy you could rely on. When Brecker didn’t speak, Aiden looked at him and then shyly met Jonathon’s gaze. “A couple guys were giving me trouble and Brecker saved me.”
“He’s a good one for coming to the rescue,” Jonathon agreed with warmth. “Are you okay? Any cuts or scrapes that need attending to?” Aiden blanched a little and put a hand up to cover the right side of the T-shirt collar he wore. Ah. Most likely yes, but unwilling to be a problem yet. He could deal with that. “Did Brecker tell you what we do here?”
“He said you run a youth shelter.” Aiden’s voice was so quiet, it was almost non-existent. “You….” He glanced at Brecker and then back at Jonathon. “You don’t fix people, do you?” The earnest gaze along with the trembling lips made Jonathon want to cry. The kid had been threatened with one of those places. He wished he could put them out of commission entirely.
“No,” he said, keeping his voice modulated even though he wanted to vehemently deny that he would ever do anything so heinous. “My boyfriend in college was sent to one. He died there. I’ve made this house a haven for those of us who have nowhere to go. A place where we can always be who we are.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “Brecker said you were gay but I didn’t believe it. You’re really gay?”
With a soft chuckle, Jonathon nodded. “I am. There are thirty-six teenagers who live here currently, all of them under the great LGBT rainbow.” Aiden’s eyes glistened and the hope in their depths was a look he was used to. “Thomas, our Nurse Practitioner, is queer. Rolf, our cook, is bisexual. And the counselor we have who comes in to talk with each of our residents is trans.” Before he could say anything else, tears poured out of Aiden’s eyes. Jonathon leaned in and reached across the coffee table. He’d been through this with each resident in the home and knew what it felt like to suddenly find acceptance. It was a hope that was almost impossible to believe. “And there’s a place for you if you want it.”
Aiden grasped hold of his hands. “I-I’m a boy,” he whispered through trembling lips. “I’m a boy.” That nailed it. Jonathon knew the kind of teasing and bullying the boy would have received for most of his life because of the difference between physical and emotional gender. He wondered how often Aiden had been able to admit that out loud. Probably not much and when he did, the reaction was most likely negative.
Jonathon squeezed his hands. “Of course you are. I’m assuming someone told you that you weren’t?” Aiden nodded frantically. “Sorry, Aiden. There are a lot of people out there who don’t understand. But we do. Would you like to see the place before you make a decision?”
Heat Rating: Low
Age range: 16+
Reverend Jonathon Neiland gets his wish a decade in the making and finally the Paul D. Regelo Center for LGBT Youth is up and running. He knows things will never be easy, but then he never expects them to be. All he asks is that the Lord be on his side while he takes care of his kids.
Court Brecker has been through his own brand of hell and strives every day to be the best he can be, but he never expects to find a runaway on the streets, nor to take him to Jonathon's center. Never one to get in too deep with anyone or anything, to his surprise he finds himself enjoying his time both with Aiden and Jonathon. They develop a deep friendship and for the first time in his life, he has someone to rely on who also relies on him.
While Brecker tries to understand the new feelings he’s battling, Jonathon runs into more and more stress, especially when Aiden is removed from the shelter forcefully. He’s never doubted that the Lord has a plan for them and when they are attacked from without and everything seems dark, He opens the door to show them the light.
A Thia Thing
Bree is a best-selling inspirational & sweet romance author. Xe identifies as non-normative, multi-gender and believes in love in all forms and that happily ever afters come in many ways. Whether in a romance or a non-romance, in xys stories, love conquers all.
While xe enjoys the xe, xys, xem, xemself pronouns, xe isn't sussed about it. Call Bree she, he, or xe. As xys gender identity is fluid, odds are you'll get it right some of the time ;)
Find Bree Online:
Website / Blog / Newsletter / Facebook / Author Group / Twitter / Pinterest / Tumblr
Bree link
Thanks, Antonia, for having me on your blog today and introducing your readers to Brecker, Jonathon, and Aiden.
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The Right Stuff...
Over the last few years the Mouse has had a good stretch at the box office. Between the Pirate movies, the Pixar films and several other smaller surprises the Disney brand, along with its Touchstone division to a lesser degree has enjoyed being at the top or near the top in terms of success and growth.
One wonders if this streak will continue or could the film division be just lucky? As in everything else, decisions are made at the top and head down hill. Success or failure comes from those that make the decisions affecting the whole of the company... that's why they make the big bucks of course. So in seeing how the near and far end future of the Mouse is concerned we'll have to take a look at the top. The main people running the Walt Disney Studios. That would start first and foremost with the Chairman of the company, Dick Cook.
Cook became the top exec at Walt Disney Studios in 2002, after Eisner named him to succeed Peter Schneider the former head of the studios. Here's an example(one of the few) of Eisner actually making a good decision, btw. Of note, Cook is the only high level executive to have worked for Disney since Eisner took over in 1984.
He's one of the most likable Suits in Hollywood today... this is a great asset in a town built on relationships. Johnny Depp, Nicholas Cage and many others regard Cook as a friendly bridge between management and talent. He's someone that can get an actor to look at something who normally wouldn't. And besides all this, he's something that you don't normally see in Hollywood. A truly nice guy.
Now right beneath him we have an enigma that is forming...
Oren Aviv, Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group President who succeeded Nina Jacobson in the "Big Cut" that happened in July of 2006. He's been moving to increase the Disney Brand of films, which is quite the opposite of what Eisner did back in the mid 80's(which Eisner was right to do back then, btw). The Touchstone Brand will still be active, but the focus will be on more family movies and to associate the Disney label with better quality movies. This might puzzle some, because many Disney Geeks will recall one of Aviv's famous(or infamous) statements about the kind of films he's looking to make:
"I want to make movies like The Pacifier"
I know, I know... just like you, that statement makes the hair on the back of my head raise up. That movie was nothing more than a glorified rip-off of "Kindergarden Cop" and an average one at that. But to be fair to Mr. Aviv, I think it may have been taken out of context. I have a feeling I know what he was trying to say, even though it probably didn't come across so well. The movies he's wanting to get into production are supposed to reach a certain audience and creating films that have a generational crossover appeal(especially internationally), are what he wants to market. Now many of the Disney faithful will find that this could include those dreaded "tween" movies that we don't care for. You know, the "Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour", "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" and other things that have keep many a Disney fan from even venturing into clicking the remote to the Disney Channel for fear of running into "Raven" or "The Suite Life". While I agree that it ain't my cup of tea, I can understand why the Mouse wants to get this group of teens. Aviv understands this too. I tend to try and brush off this as the modern day equivalent of "The Absent Minded Professor", "That Darn Cat" or "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes". While movies like the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series or the "Narnia" series are representative of something along the line of "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" or "Treasure Island". I'm sure back in the 50's many an adult audience would have rather seen Marilyn Monroe in "Some Like It Hot" or another film that these films for their bobby-sox teenager. Things change and sometimes they don't...
Aviv understands the Disney style of movies it seems from some of the projects that have been greenlit over the past year or so. We have "Bedtime Stories", "Beverly Hills Chihuahua"(think "That Darn Cat"... hopefully), "The Chronicles of Narnia" Prince Caspian", and others set for the calendar year. Coming up next year are "When In Rome", "Fraggle Rock" and "Old Dogs", "A Christmas Carol" and a couple others. Not everything will fit my taste, but that's not his job. It's to fit the audience, both here in America and the world. And if he doesn't do that, well he won't be there long. We're about to find out as movies that are part of his philosophy begin taking up the majority of the Mouse's pipeline starting this summer. If his projects flop over the next year and a half then we'll know his taste is not the audiences and he'll be typing up one of those farewell letters that Suits tend to issue when they want to spend more time with their family.
Now across from the Walt Disney Studios lot in temporary headquarters of Walt Disney Animation Studios known as "The Hat Building" sits that figure that blurs the line between Suit and Creative. John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios... essentially the head of almost anything animated at the Mouse. Now, he's an interesting hybrid, because as well as heading both of these animated units you, he'll be involved in live-action for the Pixar unit over the next few years with the co-production with Warner of "1906" and then Pixar's own "Princess of Mars" films. Should the animation unit in Burbank be blessed by his box office abilities at the Lamp and then the live action works succeed they you'll see more and more of his power seep over to Walt Disney Pictures. Aviv will have a powerful shadow looming over his desk. But come this fall we'll finally get to see the freshman work of Lasseter's tenure at Disney when "Bolt" comes to theaters this November. The reign of the "Mousetro" really starts kicking up dust next year when "The Princess and the Frog" debuts though... many inside the walls of TeamDisney are said to be very excited about that film and "Rapunzel" the following year. There are a couple of projects that could get the greenlit to move into story later this year as one already has moved into this position to follow Glen Keane's co-directorial debut. Lasseter's the monkey in the wrench, fly in the ointment that has the unknown quantity.
We'll find soon as to how things are going. By the end of this year the new leadership at Disney will have weathered it's first test of fire. If they survive past next year is something no one in Hollywood can know... because the life expectancy of a Suit in Tinsel Town is usually very short. Half a decade is an eternity for most. Dick Cook has already survived that... Oren Aviv is a question about to be answered... and John Lasseter, well he doesn't have to worry about problems for a while since he has the backing of that guy in Cupertino. He's got at least four or five years before he has to worry and that is only if just about everything he touches turns to "FLOP!". That ain't likely to happen.
This is a Disney Fairy Tale we're talking about, after all...
Posted by Honor Hunter at 7:38 AM
Labels: Bob Iger, Branding, Dick Cook, Film, Global Marketplace, Hollywood, John Lasseter, Oren Aviv, Walt Disney Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International
scissorhands said...
Wonderful post!!!!Great!!
I understand the point of view of Aviv. He wants to make movies that (according ot him) people across the world want to see (and less they cost, better it is). This kind of movie can generate money at the boxoffice... But only NOW. I don't think that in the future people will remember (and will buy) movies like the pacifier. And we know that Disney Home Entertainment will release (and make money) forever from evergreen classics like Snow White and the Little Mermaid.
So, Could exist a trade-off?
If you look at future Disney movies you will see very few thrillers, sci-fictions, romances, kolossals, crimes. NO HORROR, or psycological thrillers (Shyamalan where art thou? O yep, I remember... The Lady in the Water affair...By the way, I think that his next movie (for Fox) "The Happening" will rock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).
I want that the Disney catalogue will be various!!!
NOT ONLY FAMILY MOVIES!!!!!!!!!
Expecially now that we have ONLY 12 movies a year!!!!
In the past the situation was very different. Disney released, how much?, 25-30 movies per year!!!
In this case I accept family movies. But they must be joint with other kind of movies.
Awesome post, Honor. That's why I like coming here. Your perceptions are right on the money. Thanks alot.
This Orin Aviv guy seems to be going in the wrong direction IMO. I want Disney to avoid making movies like The Pacifier. I know there is the occasional need for the family comedy, but let's face it, they mostly suck. I want to see Disney divides it's efforts between animated masterpieces (Bambi, Lion King), family action-adventure movies like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Pirates of the Carribean (I know Disney didn't make the first two I listed), and some live action movies along the line of Enchanted and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?.
"I want to see Disney divides it's efforts between animated masterpieces (Bambi, Lion King), family action-adventure movies like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Pirates of the Carribean (I know Disney didn't make the first two I listed), and some live action movies along the line of Enchanted and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?."
Expensive, expensive and expensive!
Fraggle Rock?!?!?!?! Wha-wha-wha!??! Do tell!
Blue Sky Disney Archive
Disney Films That Aren't (Part Two)...
Gone In Thirty Seconds...
Originals Return To Reimagined Remake...
Blue Sky Alert-America (Anaheim): Becoming Paradis...
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Seeing Stars...
Go South Of The Border Tomorrow...
109 Seconds Of Pure Pleasure...
Echoing Rumors...
Tales With Issues...
Prince In The Park...
Far East Outposts...
The World's Fourth Kingdom At Ten...
Changing The Mouse's Nature...
Disney Gets Back To Nature...
Blue Sky Alert-America (Anaheim): The Wheels Of Ch...
Disney"By The"Sea...
Two Versus One...
Fear Disney...
Stanton Loves Wall-E...
The Wisdom Of Indy...
To Everything A Season...
Long Time Running...
The Man Who Bought The World...
The Good Life...
In Memorium: The Last Of The Nine...
More Mouse Droppings...
Agent Of Change...
Unbound By Unbraided...
Blustery Oscar...
New Prince, New Poster...
See, You Must...
First Disney Magic, Now Pixar Magic...
It's All About Family Films, Dude...
Homage?
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Notes...
Fire Sale...
Class Of 2012...
Someday Their Prince Will Come...
More Lamp Illumination...
A Note From The Past, A Glimpse Of The Future...
The New Slate...
Cars, The 2012 Model...
Prepare To Be Assimilated...
Moses Was 84, You D@*# Dirty Apes...
More Surrogates...
Mouse Buys Disney Guide...
In Memorium: Frank Wells...
The Elephant Graveyard...
Eisner Mounts Hostile Takeover Of Walt Disney Comp...
Colonel Kurtz
Decadent Dave
Honor Hunter
Shrunken Ned
THX-1138
Tron Unit
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The opinions represented here are of the authors entirely, and do not represent the views or policies of anyone else, or other companies.
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Promo Tour: Just Like This by Rebecca Gallo
Title: Just Like This
Series: Just Like This Series #1
Author: Rebecca Gallo
Release Date: June 28, 2018 Cover Design: Amy Queau/Q Design
“Wow! This story pulls at your heart strings! What an amazing read!” ~Goodreads Review (Sarah)
“This book had me from the start. I stayed up way past my bed time to sneak in a few more chapters, I just could not put it down!” ~ Goodreads Review (Zoe)
When I saw him I knew - I had been waiting for something just like this.
And then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
After giving up a lucrative career in Seattle, I was content with my life in Gig Harbor, taking care of my father during his battle with cancer. Until I met Garrett and he showed me what my life was missing.
Passion. Desire. Love.
Two weeks was nothing but to us it was everything. We scrambled to make the most of our short time together but bitter jealousy, painful truths and devastating grief forced Garrett and I to prove to one another that love can grow almost instantly.
The memories we created were supposed to last, were supposed to carry us through our darkest moments. But what if Garrett doesn’t return? What if I never feel something just like this again?
“I have something kind of awkward to ask,” Garrett said quietly once we left the bar and were in the car headed back to my house. I was itching to ask him about his text messages, to have him say the words he had typed aloud, but I couldn’t help but wonder how much influence the liquid courage provided by alcohol had on his bold declaration. When he finally said them to me, he needed to be stone-cold sober.
“Okay,” I replied.
“Can I stay in your guest house until I deploy? Palmer kind of kicked me out.”
Under my breath, I muttered, “Asshole.” Palmer seriously needed to grow up and get a clue. There was never going to come a day when I was going to change my mind. He needed to accept that and move on. Otherwise, we couldn’t be friends.
“Yes, of course,” I told him. “I kind of have a favor of my own to ask.”
“Whatever it is, the answer is yes.”
I winced. “You should probably wait until you know what it is first.”
“Fine. What can I help you with?”
“I’d like you to meet my father,” I said timidly.
The car became uncomfortably silent, and I didn’t have to look at Garrett to know he wasn’t expecting me to ask that.
“He asked about you today,” I elaborated. “He wanted to know if you’re handy around the house.”
Garrett chuckled softly. “I know enough to get by. Why did he ask?”
I explained to him how Valerie embarrassed me when we went to visit my dad. “I didn’t really want to tell him,” I admitted. “But I think he wants to know that I’ll be taken care of after he’s gone.”
Garrett reached across the console and plucked one of my hands from the steering wheel. He brought it up to his lips and kissed it gently. “Then yes, of course, I’ll meet him.”
When we arrived at my house, I unlocked the guest house for Garrett and left him to get settled before walking across the driveway to the main house. I told him to meet me out back when he was ready. While I waited, I prepared dinner for us. Soon, Garrett’s shadowed figure appeared outside, and I watched him through the windows, enthralled by his handsomeness and the way his body moved as he lit a fire in the backyard.
It was so easy to deny that what I felt for him was love because he scared me. In a matter of days, he would be halfway around the world, risking his life on a daily basis. My hands trembled as I chopped vegetables; my mind raced as I thought about the worst possibility. If he died, no one would tell me. I’d be completely alone in my grief. My thoughts distracted me, and when I felt the blade of the knife slice across my hand, I yelped in pain and surprise.
“Shit!” I hurried over to the sink and ran my bleeding hand under the water. Garrett noticed my panic and rushed inside.
“What happened?” he asked, his voice thick with concern. He was quick, grabbing my hand and wrapping it in a paper towel.
“I wasn’t paying attention,” I explained. “I was thinking about…” I let my voice trail off for a moment before I said, “I just wasn’t paying attention.”
Gently, Garrett unfolded the paper towel that covered my hand and ran it back under the water. He dabbed it gently with a clean towel before inspecting it carefully. “I don’t think it’s deep enough for stitches. Do you have a first-aid kit?”
I nodded. “In the bathroom.” I showed him the way as he walked with my hand still cradled in his. He directed me to sit down on the toilet seat and, when he found the kit, started carefully cleaning and bandaging my cut.
“What were you thinking about?” Garrett asked softly.
“You,” I confessed. “I’m scared.”
“I know. You told me.”
I shook my head. “No. What if you die, Garrett?” My question was unexpected, and he looked up at me, his eyes large and dark. “I love you, and who’s going to tell me if you die? Who’s going to know that I love you? That you’re mine just as much as I’m yours? That scares me, Garrett, so much. I’m already losing one man I love. I can’t lose another.”
My voice was on the verge of hysterical, and my words came out too quickly, almost incoherent, but Garrett knew; he understood. The next words that bubbled up were immediately swallowed by Garrett’s crushing kiss. His large hands slid under my jaw, cupping it as he devoured every fear that threatened to surface. My uninjured hand twisted in the front of his shirt, and I pulled him closer, returning his kiss with my own ferocity.
“You might just be the death of me,” Garrett said breathlessly, breaking our kiss.
I grinned in reply, but it quickly faded when I noticed Garrett’s grim expression.
“I’m scared too, Cami. But you can walk away. I won’t ask you to make this kind of commitment.”
I slipped my uninjured hand into his and squeezed. “I’m not leaving. I’ve wanted something just like this for a long time, and now that I have it, I won’t just give it up.”
Rebecca Gallo was first indoctrinated into the romance genre by her babysitter who watched hours upon hours of daytime soap operas. She harbored many inappropriate crushes on fictional characters such as John Black from “Days of Our Lives,” Orry Main from the mini-series “North & South,” and Edward Fairfax Rochester from Jane Eyre. She is still in love with Davy Jones from The Monkees.
Rebecca currently lives in the Southwest with her husband, tiny four-year-old terror, and a tuxedo cat with a limp. When she isn’t swooning over book boyfriends or dreaming up romances, she can be found educating the youth of America. Or eating tacos.
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Why Choose Eye Associates
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Dr. Ioannis Glavas, M.D. is an internationally known, board certified physician trained both as an eye plastic surgeon – oculoplastics, orbital surgery – and as a cosmetic surgeon. Dr. Glavas specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions involving the eyelids, the orbit, and the lacrimal system in both adults and pediatric patients. He also performs cosmetic surgery of the eyelids and the face, and is an expert in minimally invasive procedures including BOTOX, cosmetic facial fillers and laser skin resurfacing.
Ioannis Glavas, M.D. completed his surgery internship at Baystate Medical Center, Tufts University School of Medicine and performed his residency at NYU Medical School, Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York. Dr. Glavas is fellowship-trained in Oculo-facial plastics under Stephen Bosniak, MD, FACS at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and New England Eye Center, Tufts Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Glavas takes a multidisciplinary approach to cosmetic enhancements with expertise in several surgical and non-surgical techniques, providing more options for his patients. His techniques result in a natural appearance with quicker recovery times. Recognized as an expert in his field, Dr. Glavas is also the author of numerous articles and reviews in major scientific journals and book chapters on cosmetic facial rejuvenation. He is a Research Fellow at Harvard Institute of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and New England Eye Center, Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Glavas is the founder and Director of the Glavas Centre, and serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at NYU School of Medicine and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in New York. He is also on staff at the Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary in Boston.
Recognized for his excellence in the field of cosmetic surgery, Dr. Glavas was awarded the Best Physician on BOTOX Cosmetic and Facial Fillers by Allergan and the Best Poster of Orbital, Lacrimal Plastic Surgery at the 2005 annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. He is a member of the European Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. Dr. Glavas participates regularly in marathons to support the NYU Run for Blindness Team. In September 2014 he received the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award for his outstanding and valuable contributions to the Academy programs and services.
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V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc.
221 John L Dietsch Blvd
Contact: Peter A Roque
Website: www.blackinton.com
V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. is the only company located at 221 John L Dietsch Blvd, Attleboro Falls, MA 02763
V.H. Blackinton & Co. is located in Attleboro Falls, Massachusetts. This organization primarily operates in the Emblems, Badges, and Insignia: From Purchased Materials business / industry within the Apparel, Finished Products from Fabrics & Similar Materials sector. This organization has been operating for approximately 167 years. V.H. Blackinton & Co. is estimated to generate $24.4 million in annual revenues, and employs approximately 200 people at this single location. This organization is engaged in manufacturing activities at this facility.
Sector: Apparel, Finished Products from Fabrics & Similar Materials
Category: Fabricated Textile Products, nec
Industry: Emblems, Badges, and Insignia: From Purchased Materials
Trophies, Metal, except Silver
SIC Code: 2399, 3499
How big is V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. is estimated to generate $24.4 million in annual revenues, employs approximately 200 people at this location. They occupy this facility which is approximately 52,000 square feet.
Where is V.H. Blackinton & Co. located?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. is located at 221 John L Dietsch Blvd, Attleboro Falls, MA 02763. This location is in Bristol County and the Providence-Warwick, RI-MA Metropolitan Area.
What is the internet address for V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
The website (URL) for V.H. Blackinton & Co. is www.blackinton.com.
Is V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. engaged in manufacturing or production?
V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. is engaged in the manufacture of products and/or product components at this facility.
What are the annual sales for V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. generates approximately $24.4 million in annual sales.
What is the phone number for V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
The phone number for V.H. Blackinton & Co. is (508) 699-4436
How long has V.H. Blackinton & Co. been in business?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. has been in business for approximately 167 years.
How many people work at V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. has approximately 200 employees at this location.
Where is V.H. Blackinton & Co. incorporated?
V.H. Blackinton & Co. is incorporated in the state of Massachusetts.
Is Peter A Roque the only contact you have for V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc.?
On Buzzfile's Professional (subscription) Service we have 23 contacts for V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc., including 15 contacts with email addresses.
Is there a key contact at V.H. Blackinton & Co.?
Peter A Roque is the President at V.H. Blackinton & Co.. You can contact Peter at (508) 699-4436.
Business Contacts at V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc.:
22 total Contacts, 15 with email
Average Household Income $ 109,361
Number of Households 681
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Editor Page
CACI Analyst Archive
Forums and Events
Displaying items by tag: Baku
Why the Sharp Downturn in Russian-Azerbaijani Relations?
By Alman Mir Ismail
July 14, 2017, the CACI Analyst
Azerbaijani-Russian relations have been on the rise in recent year thanks to strong political dialogues between the two Presidents and the growth of mutually beneficial trade relations. Yet recent events in Moscow have damaged this trend. Azerbaijan considers the closure of its diaspora organization in Russia as an insult to bilateral friendship. At the same time, the escalation of Armenian attacks on Azerbaijani villages is seen as being blessed by the Kremlin. These developments could hurt Russia’s strategic position in Azerbaijan and push official Baku to seek security arrangements elsewhere.
Published in Analytical Articles
Baku cracks down on alternative media after concluding European games
By Mina Muradova (08/07/2015 issue of the CACI Analyst)
After 17 days of competition, the first European Games have ended in Baku. Yet the crackdown on dissenting voices continues in Azerbaijan. The country will be remembered not only for its capable hosting of a major sporting event, but also for its silencing of critical voices in connection with the event.
Azerbaijan’s government hailed the games as a triumph and is now considering bidding for the Olympics. “The first European Games will go down in sporting history,” the Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Rahimov said in a statement on July 3. “I’m very proud of what has been achieved in Baku and the positive feedback we have been getting … It has been a success for Azerbaijan and will be a launch pad for future sporting events we will host. The coverage ... and the positive messages we have sent have really highlighted Azerbaijan on the world and European map.”
Next year, Azerbaijan will host the 42nd Chess Olympiad and a Formula One race through the streets of Baku. It will also stage the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017 and soccer matches in the Euro 2020 competition.
According to Rahimov, “There is a new culture growing, this is very important, of supporting the development of sport … Every ticket sold is an important contribution to sustain and maintain our sporting arenas and develop our athletes in different sports.” Azerbaijan, enjoying loud support at every venue, has surprised many and was second in the medal table with 18 golds. Nearly 6,000 athletes from 50 countries competed in 20 sporting events at the Games that ended on June 28.
However, Azerbaijan was widely criticized before and during the games for politically motivated arrests and for banning the Guardian, along with a number of media outlets and human rights activists, from entering the country to cover the games.
Two days after the closing ceremony in the Baku Olympic Stadium, seating 68,000, the prominent human rights activist and director of Meydan TV Emin Milli posted that “It is remarkable that the government has started repressions against Meydan TV the day after the European Games’ closing ceremony. Several journalists from Meydan TV have been banned from leaving Azerbaijan, stopped at the border and were not allowed to come for a short trip to Tbilisi, Georgia. … from past cases, we may conclude that there is now a criminal case opened and an investigation going on against Meydan TV.”
On June 26, Milli reported that he had received a threat from Minister Rahimov, in connection with his critical reporting on the European Games. Meydan TV is a Berlin-based online television station that provides alternative news coverage of Azerbaijan. During the European Games, Meydan TV’s materials were widely used by international media, including critical cartoons, stories on an Azerbaijani bus driver who crashed into three Austrian swimmers and an interview by a national television station of a fake British tourist – both of which were highly embarrassing to the ruling regime.
International human rights watchdog organizations expressed their concerns over “an increase in the government harassment of independent journalists” in Azerbaijan in the wake of the European Games. “We fear that this growing harassment is a forerunner of a new crackdown targeting Meydan TV’s staff,” said Johann Bihr, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk.
Azerbaijan is ranked 162nd out of 180 countries in the 2015 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. There are currently about 100 political detainees, at least 20 of whom are identified as “prisoners of conscience” by Amnesty International.
Sport for Rights calls on the Azerbaijani authorities to put an end to their ongoing attempts to silence critical reporting, and to take immediate steps to improve fundamental freedoms in the country, including by releasing all the journalists and human rights defenders currently behind bars for political reasons.
The campaign further calls on the European Olympic Committees to speak out, publicly condemning the threat against Milli, as well as the broader human rights crackdown taking place in the country. Finally, Sport for Rights calls on German authorities to provide Milli with immediate and full protection.
Published in Field Reports
Joint Center Publications
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell and S. Frederick Starr, Modernization and Regional Cooperation in Central Asia: A New Spring, November 2018.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, ed., Uzbekistan’s New Face, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
Article Svante E. Cornell, “Turkish-Saudi Rivalry: Behind the Khashoggi Affair,” The American Interest, November 6, 2018.
Article Mamuka Tsereteli, “Landmark Caspian Deal Could Pave Way for Long-Stalled Energy Projects,” World Politics Review, September 2018.
Article Halil Karaveli, “The Myth of Erdoğan’s Power,” Foreign Affairs, August 2018.
Book Halil Karaveli, Why Turkey is Authoritarian, London: Pluto Press, 2018.
Article Svante E. Cornell, “Erbakan, Kısakürek and the Mainstreaming of Extremism in Turkey,” Current Trends in Islamist Ideology, June 2018.
Article S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, “Uzbekistan: A New Model for Reform in the Muslim World,” Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, May 12, 2018.
Silk Road Paper Svante E. Cornell, Religion and the Secular State in Kazakhstan, April 2018.
Book S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell, The Long Game on the Silk Road: US and EU Strategy for Central Asia and the Caucasus, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield, 2018.
Article Svante E. Cornell, “Central Asia: Where Did Islamic Radicalization Go?,” Religion, Conflict and Stability in the Former Soviet Union, eds Katya Migacheva and Bryan Frederick, Arlington, VA: RAND Corporation, 2018.
The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst is a biweekly publication of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, a Joint Transatlantic Research and Policy Center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council, Washington DC., and the Institute for Security and Development Policy, Stockholm. For 15 years, the Analyst has brought cutting edge analysis of the region geared toward a practitioner audience.
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BritWeek celebrates UK and US relations while featuring British innovation.
12th Annual BritWeek Is Coming To Beverly Hills
BEVERLY HILLS—BritWeek will be hosting events this coming week in Beverly Hills Wednesday, April 24, Sunday, April 28, and Friday, May 10. Each event will feature British innovation and creativity.
April 24 will be the world premiere screening of the documentary called “The Cavern Club: The Beat Goes On” which will be hosted by John Lennon’s sister Julia Baird. The documentary tells the story of Liverpool’s music scene and how it has earned a place on the world’s stage. A live performance by the Cavern Club Beatles will follow the documentary screening. This will be shown at the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts at 7:30 p.m. and the Cavern Club Beatles will go on at 8:45 p.m.
April 28 will be a Car Rally featuring luxurious British-made cars including rare Rolls Royce models like the Wraith, the Cullinan, the Dawn, and the Phantom. The Car Rally will start at the intersection of North Crescent Drive and North Santa Monica Boulevard at 10 a.m. The rally will be followed by a special screening of “The Italian Job” at 2 p.m. The screening of the film will be at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.
May 10 will be the Innovation and Creativity Awards hosted at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows 101 Wilshire Boulevard. The red carpet and cocktail reception will be between 6 and 7 p.m. The dinner and awards ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. Prior recipients of the Innovation and Creativity Award include Arianna Huffington who is the founder of the Huffington Post, Andy Puddicombe who was the co-founder of the meditation app Headspace, and Richard Curtis who the founder of Red Nose Day.
BritWeek is a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Nigel Lythgoe OBE and the former Consul General Peirce back in 2007. BritWeek’s mission is to create a greater awareness of the many ways the United States and Britain work closely together to promote and build business relations, to advance the arts, and to promote philanthropy in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Every spring, BritWeek host a series of events that promotes British innovation, creativity, and excellence in California across several categories including fashion, art, music, retail, sports, philanthropy, business, film and television, and more. BritWeek has received patrons from around the world including international celebrities, business leaders, and political leaders.
Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay who is known for his show “Hell’s Kitchen” received a BritWeek Innovation Award in 2018. Ramsay told BritWeek that, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to build my business and raise a family in the UK, and also call the US our home, so I am really honored to be included in BritWeek celebrating the innovative and dynamic relationship between our two countries.”
For more details visit: www.britweek.org
Beverly Hills business
BritWeek
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Back to Civilization:
The Hurt Locker Supermarket Scene
By David Glick
The supermarket scene is a vital part in of The Hurt Locker (Kathryn Bigelow, 2008), for it conveys the lifelessness that the main character, James, feels. This scene provides a contrast to the rest of the film by showing the conflict between James' domestic life in America and his life as a soldier in Iraq. This scene highlights one of Bigelow's main points James, showing that he has become an alien in his own country who only feels alive when he is risking his life to dismantle bombs.
The first level of contrast between the two worlds – the world of the soldier in Iraq and the world of the American civilian – is hidden within the mise-en-scene of the setting. In Iraq, James is surrounded by poverty, where nothing is taken for granted. Then, when the film cuts to him in a supermarket, he finds himself in a place stocked with an excessive abundance of food. Through this contrast, Bigelow portrays the two worlds as completely different entities.
Another method Bigelow uses to contrast these two worlds is her use of color. When James is serving in Iraq, his world is defined by the gritty color of sand: The landscape, buildings, and camouflage uniforms of the American soldiers all conform to this limited palette. Conversely, the American supermarket is an immaculate white, which differs harshey to the dirty colors of Iraq. Bigelow uses this color distinction purposefully, intending for her audience to associate the sand color of Iraq with dirtiness, while the white of the American grocery store is associated with cleanliness.
Also, another contrasting element is Bigelow's use of lighting. The previous scene, in which James and Sanborn are riding a Humvee, uses a darker lighting scheme in comparison to the supermarket scene. This controlled use of lighting allows Bigelow to guide the viewers eye to the most important parts of the shot: the characters' faces, their guns and the Humvee's interior, and the children clamoring outside. Conversely, nearly everything is lit in the grocery store, allowing and encouraging the eye to wander erratically, giving a sense of unease and restlessness that conveys the feeling of homelessness that James is experiencing.
Bigelow's use of shallow and deep focus is yet another way that she contrasts Iraq against America. In addition to controlled lighting, she also uses shallow focus to keep the audience's attention on the character's eyes in the Humvee scene. However, she relies mostly on deep focus for the supermarket scene, once again giving the viewer's eye an even greater freedom of movement. The aimlessness given by deep focus allows the audience to empathize with James' puzzlement, and reinforces his loneliness. This emphasizes the irony of James' situation, that while he is overly confident when dismantling highly complicated bombs, he is at a loss when performing the simple tasks of a civilian.
Another element that provides contrast between the two countries is the overall visual differences between the two shots. The ending shot of the Humvee scene – in which Iraqi children throw rocks at the passing vehicle – is visually unambiguous, uses a limited amount of light, a reliance on sandy hues, and offers a snapshot of Iraq's poorness. Conversely, the opening shot for the grocery story scene is visually ambiguous, due to the reflections on the glass doors; it is also is very well-lit, uses primarily white tones, and shows the immense wealth of America in comparison to the poverty of Iraq. All of these elements clash against each other to give us an insight into James' thoughts: that while there was conflict, hatred, and bloodshed in Iraq, he at least had a purpose and an achievable goal. Conversely, even though America, he is in a safe, plentiful land country, he has suffered a loss of identity.
The jarring cut from Iraq to America also emphasizes the surreal nature of leaving the war and returning to home. This editing technique causes the viewer to feel confused, for one moment Sandborn is asking James why he loves dismantling bombs, and in the next James is back home, attempting to settle back into the normal life of an American civilian. This confusion is purposeful, emphasizing the incredible difference between the two countries by skipping over James' transitional period between Iraq and America.
The aforementioned techniques – along with the mise-en-scéne of the scene – show additional complexities in Bigelow's style. As the scene opens, the camera is mobile and James' movements are shaky and unnatural. Yet he seems to find rest when he sees his wife and child, for the both he and the camera become still. Bigelow also uses tight focus as he converses with his wife, conveying the intimacy that James is attempting to return to. Yet this intimacy is short lived as it becomes obvious that his happiness to see them is slightly forced, as if he is trying to deceive himself into being excited to see them.
James' ineptitude becomes apparent through his confusion to complete the simple task of finding a box of cereal. Due to the extreme low-angle shot and wide-angle lens, he becomes small and inconsequential, swallowed by the monstrous isles filled to the brim with food. This is a stark contrast to his adventures in Iraq, where he was incredibly important. It is through this scene that we begin to realize that, if he is so inadequate in completing such a simple, domestic task, than he doesn't find himself fit to be a husband or a father.
As a whole, the supermarket scene sets up the tension between James' domestic life and his life as a soldier. The contrast between these two worlds makes it painfully apparent that he is unable to reenter life as a normal citizen. As the story continues and we see the way he acts around his family, it becomes even more obvious that he is not at home in America. Even though he has fulfilled the American dream by owning a decent house, marrying a beautiful wife, and raising a child, his life has become empty. When the movie ends, we realize that he only feels at home when he is dismantling bombs, for war is his drug and he is addicted to danger.
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Florida Georgia Line Call AMA Nominations “Very Crazy”
Florida Georgia Line better get used to crazy. When I caught up with Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard a few weeks ago, they told me how it felt to have four nominations at this year’s American Music Awards.
“Very surreal. Very crazy,” Kelley said of the awards show airing Sunday night (Nov. 24) on ABC. “We walked the carpet last year and just hung out and met some people. So to go back this year with four nominations, it kinda makes me want to pass out a little.”
The four nominations include new artist of the year and single of the year for their “Cruise” remix with Nelly, along with nods in the country category for favorite band, duo or group and favorite album for Here’s to the Good Times. And even though they haven’t won any AMAs yet, Kelley is already quick to credit the fans.
“It really is the power of the fans,” he said. “They’re just diehards, man. They embraced the remix. Fans are spreading the music and making other fans. It’s a special time in our career and in music, in general. Music is always continuing to evolve.”
Kelley and Hubbard are aware that not everyone has embraced what they’re doing, but it sounds like they don’t pay much attention to their naysayers.
“People can criticize what they want, but the music is selling. A lot,” Kelley said. “That means people are doing something right.”
I asked Hubbard if he would commemorate an AMA win with a new tattoo. He said he already has nine or 10 — including the messages “Play Hard, Work Hard” and “By the Grace of the Lord, I Have Been Saved” — covering so much of his body. But he assured me, “There’s a lot of space left.”
Tags: CMT OffstageFlorida Georgia Line
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Follow Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams Quick Links News Pictures Video Film Music Footage Press Comments Quotes RSS
Robbie Williams Quick Links
News Pictures Video Film Music Footage Press Comments Quotes RSS
Robbie Williams (born Robert Peter Williams, 13.2.1974) Robbie Williams is a British pop singer and songwriter. He rose to fame as a member of the boy band Take That and has experienced continued success with his solo career.
Childhood: Robbie Williams was raised in Stoke-on-Trent, by his mother Janet and his father Peter Williams. He also has a sister, Sally.
Robbie attended Mill Hill Primary School, followed by St. Margaret Ward's Roman Catholic School in Tunstall.
Music Career: Along with Mark Owen, Gary Barlow, Jason Orange and Howard Donald, Robbie Williams formed Take That in 1990. The band became hugely successful, with their debut album spawning four number one singles in the UK.
Robbie Williams quit the group in 1995. His increasing drug use had led to a near-overdose before performance at the MTV Europe Awards show. After leaving the band, Robbie Williams was frequently photographed out partying with members of Oasis, especially Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher. He even attended Glastonbury Festival with them that year.
Robbie William's first solo release was a cover of 'Freedom' by George Michael. It reached number two in the UK singles chart.
Williams was then introduced to Guy Chambers, with whom he would have a long-standing songwriting partnership. The debut single, Life Thru A Lens, was released in September 1997. The fourth single from the album, 'Angels' became his best-selling single in the UK and has been certified double platinum.
Robbie Williams' second solo album, I've Been Expecting You, was released the following year and was hugely successful. The first track, 'Millenium', was inspired by the work of John Barry (specifically his James Bond music). 'No Regrets' was a collaboration between Williams, Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys and Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy. The fourth single from the album was another cover: 'She's The One' originally featured on the World Party album Egyptology.
The Ego Has Landed was Williams's first album for Capitol Records and was released in July 1999 and saw his international profile increase considerably, especially in the USA and Canada.
The debut single taken from 2000's Sing When You're Winning was 'Rock DJ'. The song was reportedly inspired by the late Ian Dury. Its follow-up single, 'Kids' was a collaboration with Kylie Minogue.
Williams' next album was recorded during a two-week break from touring and was heavily inspired by his love of singers such as Frank Sinatra. The album was entitled Swing When You're Winning and the first track, 'Have You Met Miss Jones?' which was included on the soundtrack for the film adaptation of Bridget Jones' Diary.
Swing When You're Winning included a number of duets, with artists including Jane Horrocks, Jonathan Wilkes, Nicole Kidman and Rupert Everett.
Robbie Williams signed an £80 million recording contract with EMI in 2002. The contract was well-publicised, as it was one of the highest-value contracts ever signed in the music industry at that time. Williams began writing without the help of Guy Chambers and 'One Fine Day' and 'Nan's Song' were two of the tracks that first wrote on his own. His fifth solo album, Escapology, was released across the globe in 2002.
The track 'Something Beautiful' was originally intended for Tom Jones, but the track was reworked and included on Escapology. Shortly after its release, Williams played three live concerts at Knebworth House, which attracted a total of 375,000 fans.
In 2004, Robbie Williams started working with Stephen Duffy (also known as Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy). Some of his collaborations with Duffy were included on his 2004 Greatest Hits album. One of the tracks, 'Radio' went straight to number one upon its release in the UK.
Robbie Williams and Stephen Duffy continued to work together for Williams' next album, Intensive Care. The track 'Ghosts' was inspired by 'Louise' by the Human League.
In November 2005, a documentary about Take That was screen ed on ITV1. Robbie Williams decided not to attend the preview screening in Notting Hill West London. The rest of the band was reunited for the event.
Williams' next album was entitled Rudebox. The album ventured into dance and electronic territory, far more than his previous album and featured collaborations with William Orbit, Pet Shop Boys, Mark Ronson and Joey Negro. The album received mixed reviews.
The single 'Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus', a duet with Lily Allen, was released in Latin America in 2007.
2009 saw the release of a new album from Robbie Williams. Entitled Reality Killed The Video Star, the album features production work from Trevor Horn and the first track, 'Bodies', was debuted on Chris Moyles' BBC Radio 1 show.
Robbie Williams also stated in 2009 that he felt ready to re-join Take That.
Personal Life: Robbie Williams has had a number of friendships with high-profile celebrities and has stated that it was Elton John who first booked him into a clinic to deal with his drug addiction. He has been romantically linked with Rachel Hunter and is now married to Ayda Field
Biography by Contactmusic.com
Robbie Williams Wins In House Planning Dispute With Jimmy Page
By Ed Biggs in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 19 December 2018
Robbie Williams Jimmy Page
The former Take That singer and Led Zeppelin guitarist have been butting heads over Williams' plans for an underground pool since 2013.
Robbie Williams has prevailed in a five-year legal battle with his neighbour Jimmy Page over plans for an underground gym and swimming pool in the basement of his west London home.
The legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist has objected to 44 year old Williams’ plans ever since they were lodged with the local council back in 2013, arguing that construction work on the pool would lead to potentially “catastrophic” consequences for his own property.
However, the former Take That singer’s plans have eventually been granted conditional approval, with Kensington and Chelsea Council planning committee chairman councillor Quentin Marshall stating that the two should sit down and talk about the issues that construction will raise.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams Wins In House Planning Dispute With Jimmy Page
Nile Rodgers To Stand In For Robbie Williams On 'The X Factor'
By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 01 November 2018
Nile Rodgers Robbie Williams The X Factor
Williams is due to perform gigs in South America for the next three weekends.
Chic legend Nile Rodgers is set to stand in for Robbie Williams as a judge on this weekend’s edition of ‘The X Factor’ while he is absent on a South American tour.
The 66 year old funk and R&B icon will act as a temporary replacement for former Take That star Williams, who is missing three of ‘The X Factor’s live episodes for gigs in Chile, Mexico and Argentina, which were pre-arranged as part of his current Heavy Entertainment tour before he even signed up to the show.
As a result, for the first time in its 11-year history, ‘The X Factor’ will pre-record the live show this Saturday (November 3rd), according to the Mirror, with Rodgers set to be on hand in the studio that day to help mentor Williams’ groups.
Continue reading: Nile Rodgers To Stand In For Robbie Williams On 'The X Factor'
Ayda Field Worried She'd Never Be A Mother Again
By Charlotte Court in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 12 October 2018
Robbie Williams Ayda Field
The new X Factor judge recently welcomed her third child via a surrogate
Ayda Field has had a busy few months and has given her fans a number of surprises namely when her and pop star husband Robbie Williams were unveiled as the newest X Factor judges and when they revealed a newest addition to their family of four - a little girl called Coco who was born via a surrogate.
Ayda Field and Robbie Williams have expanded to a family of five
Now the new mum and new TV star judge, 39, has revealed she never thought she'd get to be a mother for a third time.
Continue reading: Ayda Field Worried She'd Never Be A Mother Again
Robbie Williams And Wife Ayda Field Welcome Third Baby Via Surrogate
By Ed Biggs in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 07 September 2018
The surprise announcement came via Ayda's Instagram on Friday morning.
Pop icon Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field have delighted their fans with a surprise, announcing the birth of their third child, a daughter born via a surrogate.
Upcoming ‘X Factor’ judge Field shared an image via Instagram of her family’s hands, including those of their brand new baby, on Friday morning (September 7th).
In a lengthy caption, the couple – who are already parents to five year old daughter Theodora Rose and three year old son Charlton – revealed their “long and difficult path” to welcome their third baby via an “incredible” surrogate.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams And Wife Ayda Field Welcome Third Baby Via Surrogate
7 Stars That Swapped A Football Career For Music
By Holly Mosley in Music / Festivals on 09 August 2018
Robbie Williams Olly Murs Julio Iglesias Rod Stewart Louis Tomlinson Johnny Marr Mark Owen
From Robbie Williams to Olly Murs, these musicians are still football mad.
As football fans all around the world buzz about Transfer Deadline Day, watching the flurry of activity online as clubs make the most of their last chance to transfer players, it got us thinking about how many big musicians transferred their careers from the pitch to the stage.
Robbie Williams and Olly Murs at Soccer Aid 2018
Here are 7 artists who pursued music despite having a promising football future:
Continue reading: 7 Stars That Swapped A Football Career For Music
Robbie Williams Opens Up About Struggles With Potential Asperger's Syndrome
By Charlotte Court in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 29 June 2018
The star revealed it's hard work being inside his head sometimes
Former Take That star and rumoured new X Factor judge Robbie Williams has opened up about his health and revealed he thinks he may have Asperger's Syndrome or registers on the autistic spectrum. The Let Me Entertain You singer - who performed the hit in Russia to open the current World Cup - has, in the past, revealed his struggles with depression, anxiety and addiction.
Robbie Williams has opened up about his health struggles
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 2, the dad-of-two said he feels something "is missing" inside him and put it down to the possibility of the two conditions. He also revealed he felt it was quite "hard work" being in his head at times.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams Opens Up About Struggles With Potential Asperger's Syndrome
Robbie Williams And Wife Ayda Field To Appear On X Factor?
By Charlotte Court in Movies / TV / Theatre on 19 June 2018
The former Take That singer could be set to take a seat on the ever-changing judge panel
The line-up for the X Factor judging panel is often just as dramatic as the show itself with departures, new arrivals, fashion faux-pas and glamourous good looks in abundance. Now, as 2018 bumps along into the sixth month, speculation has heightened about who will sit in those four coveted spots.
Could husband and wife duo, Robbie and Ayda, be set to join this year's X Factor?
With judging stalwart Louis Walsh now officially out of the picture and glamour pussycat doll, Nicole Scherzinger not signed up for another series, talk has turned to their replacementa and it seems the bad boy of Take That - Mr Robbie Williams himself - is being lined up for a spot on the show.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams And Wife Ayda Field To Appear On X Factor?
Robbie Williams Flips Off Camera During World Cup Opening Ceremony
By Ed Biggs in Movies / TV / Theatre on 15 June 2018
Williams - a surprising choice to perform at the 2018 World Cup opening ceremony - was seen to raise his middle finger at a camera while performing.
Robbie Williams helped to ensure that the 2018 World Cup in Russia opened with a bang after he was seen to raise his middle finger at the camera during his performance at the opening ceremony.
The 44 year old English singer was chosen by FIFA to take part in the grand opening of the 2018 World Cup before the tournament’s first match in Moscow on Thursday night (June 14th) – surprisingly, given that Williams was censured by the Russian government just a few years ago for stereotyping the country in his track ‘Party Like A Russian’.
He performed a medley of some of his biggest hits, including ‘Angels’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’, during the show, but during a rendition of ‘Rock DJ’ he seemed to spot a TV camera and then gestured to it with his middle finger up at it while smiling for a fleeting moment.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams Flips Off Camera During World Cup Opening Ceremony
Robbie Williams To Perform In Russia For The World Cup
By Holly Williams in Music / Festivals on 11 June 2018
Let's just hope he doesn't sing 'Party Like A Russian'...
Robbie Williams has just been announced to perform at the forthcoming World Cup opening ceremony, taking place at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium. While fans are delighted, many are condemning the decision for him to perform in the country given that he managed to offend natives two years ago with his song 'Party Like A Russian'.
Robbie Williams at Soccer Aid reception
The 44-year-old is thrilled to be getting the chance to perform half an hour ahead of the Russia vs. Saudi Arabia match on Thursday (June 14th 2018), alongside Russian soprano Aida Garifullina, expressing that it's always been something he's wanted to do beind a keen football lover himself.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams To Perform In Russia For The World Cup
Robbie Williams And The Holland Park Peacock Vandals
By Holly Mosley in Lifestyle / Showbiz on 30 April 2018
The singer's motor is being targeted by a colourful flock.
It sounds like a cool band name but it's actually a true story. Most people would be thrilled to come across peacocks wandering in their yard, but for Robbie Williams and his neighbor Jimmy Page, they've become serious pests. It makes a change from the pair complaining about each other as they try and solve the problems caused by this flashy birds.
Robbie Williams performing live
According to The Sun, a group of peacocks keep wandering away from Holland Park onto their street and attacking their expensive cars. Most of the residents have luxury motors, and Robbie's BMW has received thousands of pounds worth of damage from the peacocks, who keep viciously pecking the vehicles.
Continue reading: Robbie Williams And The Holland Park Peacock Vandals
Robbie Williams arrives at Maida Vale Studios for a performance on BBC Radio 2 - London, United Kingdom - Thursday 8th December 2016
Robbie Williams and Ayda Field seen with their dogs outside ITV Studios - London, United Kingdom - Monday 14th November 2016
Robbie Williams seen outside BBC Radio 2 at BBC Western House, London, United Kingdom - Friday 30th September 2016
Robbie Williams performs on stage during the Apple Music 10 Festival held at the Roundhouse, London, United Kingdom - Sunday 25th September 2016
Robbie Williams - Robbie Williams at Bonhams Auction House where he led the auction of a set of hand written lyrics for his song 'Kids' during 'The Robbie Williams Charity Sale: "Doing it for the Kids"' which is being held at Bonhams Knightsbridge - London, United Kingdom - Wednesday 15th July 2015
/robbiewilliams
@robbiewilliams
robbiewilliams
www.robbiewilliams.com/
Robbie Williams Tweets
Tue Jul 16 11:05:37 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
The show continues backstage in Vegas. Watch the full Vloggie now - https://t.co/se2CMSqvgs https://t.co/h6qVJ3WRf8
Mon Jul 15 09:37:39 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
I felt all the love last night. Thank you @BSTHydePark ❤️ x https://t.co/igMhuQIJ3J
Sat Jul 13 18:29:16 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Currently showing off my FIFA19 skills with my teammates in the @TwitchPrime Crown Cup: live now on… https://t.co/kn8gsabeqz
Can’t wait to show off my FIFA19 skills at @TwitchPrime Crown Cup. Teaming up with Arsenal legends @ThierryHenry… https://t.co/YkP99GlEVw
Thu Jul 11 16:38:15 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
A double espresso makes the show really, really special. Watch the full vloggie now - https://t.co/x5UQCpYfdr https://t.co/UUfGCcJApz
Wed Jul 10 11:27:48 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
💕 https://t.co/QMe1JFAo4s
Thank you Vegas. Latest episode of Vloggie Williams on YouTube now x https://t.co/x5UQCpYfdr https://t.co/Vi9u2J9Rxv
The full line up for @BSTHydePark is here. Can’t wait to see you on 14th July x https://t.co/yrpHlQzeLR
Me and the band warming up for the Vegas shows with 'Land Of A Thousand Dances' and 'Mr Bojangles' as well as takin… https://t.co/iVM9EAg51Z
Sat Jun 29 11:02:48 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
The musical of ‘The Boy in the Dress’ with songs by me is coming to @TheRSC this autumn. Shout out to… https://t.co/nBERfshFBd
Thu Jun 27 09:23:02 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Vocal warmup; Vegas. Let’s go! https://t.co/ytqR1jFiWD
Wed Jun 26 15:03:36 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Sun’s out, guns out. Love getting in the pool for some extra activity but also to unwind in the summer weather. Wha… https://t.co/tUUOZLalYt
Mon Jun 24 15:39:44 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Vloggie Williams episode #84 is now live. Watch the full video on Robbie's official YouTube channel. https://t.co/HKC4wEa7DD
Who’s coming to Vegas? https://t.co/7Nbv6zUxe5
Sun Jun 23 20:18:37 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Thank you Vegas x https://t.co/EQE9pT0x1a
Fri Jun 21 08:49:53 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
Backstage ❤️ https://t.co/i83vgrlba2 https://t.co/aZqkv5kYV9
Great to be back in Vegas #liveinlasvegas https://t.co/Lbb2ZNi60g
Only one month to go until @BSTHydePark - I feel so powerful and I am more than fit to rock the stage. @ww_uk… https://t.co/6NxVDPU1iM
Tue Jun 18 17:00:26 +0000 2019 Robbie Williams
What a game and result for children on Sunday. Congrats to @socceraid World XI - we will be back. If you didn’t… https://t.co/uV8OWL2Kfb
The José Mourinho dressing room team talk. Watch the full video - https://t.co/Q30rB1SZ1V https://t.co/cC5HEcs18o
Robbie Williams is running out of songwriting ideas
Robbie Williams Surprised A Fan By Duetting With Her Nine Year Old Daughter
Robbie Williams: Music industry is in 'rapid decline'
Robbie Williams wants U2 collaboration
Robbie Williams Takes Aim At New Zealand Critic
Robbie Williams Battling Injuries On Tour
Robbie Williams Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Heading To Trial
Robbie Williams Caught Out As He Flirts With Teen Down Under
Robbie Williams Accidentally Flirts With 15 Year Old Fan At Australian Gig
Adam Lambert flattered by Robbie Williams' admiration
Robbie Williams: My penis is quite small
Robbie Williams Plotting Tv Acting Career
Robbie Williams wants Kylie Minogue duet
Robbie Williams planning acting career
Robbie Williams Movies
De-Lovely Movie Review
"This is one of those avant-garde things, is it?" says a droll, dubious and dying...
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January 20, 2016, - 4:16 am
When Your College Prof is an ISIS Terrorist: EXCLUSIVE Details & Eyewitness Account
By Debbie Schlussel
I had some college professors who were sympathetic to Islamic terrorists, but not any who were actual Islamic terrorists (as far as I know). Now, students at a Midwestern university have learned that their professor is an ISIS terrorist, and that the FBI let him continue teaching them for a year and a half.
Yet another reason why college could be hazardous to your health and why you should be suspicious of profs who shout “Death to Israel!”: Julio Pino a/k/a Assad Jibril Pino, ISIS terrorist.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security are investigating Julio Pino, a Kent State associate history professor, for alleged involvement with the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. A joint terrorism task force has been investigating Pino for the last year and a half, said an FBI special agent who did not wish to be named for safety reasons. “There is no direct threat to the university,” the agent said.
Riiight. Your professor is working for a mass-murdering organization that beheads and burns people alive and vows to destroy America, but he’s absolutely “no direct threat” to his workplace and students. Did someone tell that to Syed Farook’s co-workers in San Bernardino?
The agent said they interviewed several faculty members and more than 20 of Pino’s students Tuesday about his alleged involvement. He is also being investigated for allegedly recruiting students to join ISIS.
Kent State is fully cooperating with the FBI,” said University Spokesman Eric Mansfield. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we will have no further comment.” Mansfield said he could not comment on whether or not Pino would continue to teach at the university.
Yes, let’s keep this guy at the university so he can recruit more ISIS terrorists and maybe kill some infidels. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Don’t violate his civil rights!
“The FBI has assured Kent State that there is no threat to campus,” Mansfield said.
Again, total BS if this guy’s still on the campus.
Pino is teaching two classes this semester: History of Cuba and Central America and a senior seminar in history.
Let me guess: he is totally mancrushing on the Castro Bros. He’s Cuban and a former Fulbright Scholar. So, he’s not stupid. Just evil.
By the way, here are a few fun facts about Pino you won’t read anywhere else: he converted to Islam in June 2000 and, in the Islamic community, goes by the name Assad Jibril Pino. He called a Cuban dish made of pork, “Islamophobic.” Yes, apparently, inanimate objects can now be “Islamophobic,” according to Pino. alhamdulilah [praise allah].
Our friend, Fred Taub of Boycott Watch was an eyewitness to some of the ISIS prof’s behavior. Fred said that Pino repeatedly disrupted a pro-Israel event on the Kent State Campus featuring the Ishmael Khaldi, former Deputy Consul General at the Israel Consulate in San Francisco, who is an Arab Muslim.
Says Fred:
This guy has also disturbed pro-Israel events and speakers at Kent State, making loud BDS (Boycott, Divest from, and Sanction Israel movement) and “Apartheid” comments against Israel. I was at Kent State at the event at which Ishmael Khaldi was speaking, and he [Pino] loudly interrupted.
Pino also shouted, “Death to Israel!” at the event. His behavior was so outrageous that even Kent State’s liberal then-president Lester Lefton put out a statement denouncing his behavior as “deplorable . . ., reprehensible, and an embarrassment.” What if he’d chosen to strap a bomb on and press the button? Then everyone in that room would have been dead. We’re lucky he didn’t do that.
Read more about that event.
Moreover, he has a history of praising the Islamic terrorism for which he now recruits:
In April 2002, Pino wrote a guest column in the campus newspaper in which he praised Ayat al-Akhras, a teenage Palestinian suicide bomber who had murdered Rachel Levy, 17, and security guard Haim Smadar, 55, at a supermarket in Jerusalem’s Kiryat Hayovel neighborhood the previous month. The column was titled “Singing out Prayer for a Youth Martyr,” and in it, Pino wrote that Akhras “died a martyr’s death… in occupied Jerusalem, Palestine.”
Pino says he is inspired by Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the man who directed the takeover of the U.S Embassy in Tehran and the holding of many Americans hostage for 444 days.
In a letter to pro-Israel university professors, Pino threatened them with violence, calling them “collaborators,” and promising them “jihad until victory.”
Dear academic friends of Israel:
I hold you directly responsible for the murder of over 1,400 Palestinian children, women and elderly civilians over the past month. This is not symbolic or even legally justified homicide on your part but actual, cold-blooded, calculated killing, for which you are culpable. . . . You have chosen to openly work for and brag about academic collaboration with a regime that is the spiritual heir to Nazism. I could call you another Martin Heidegger, but that would be an insult—to Heidegger. . . .
Lest you think this is a personal attack I swear it applies equally to all who engage in collaboration with fascism, and we both know the fate of collaborators. In the same manner, only with more zeal, than you have sworn to the Jewish State I pledge to you, and every friend and stooge of Zionism,
Hasta la victoria siempre!
Jihad until victory!
Dr. Julio Pino
That’s an open death threat. And it was penned and sent in August 2014. And yet the FBI says this guy isn’t a threat? Are you kidding? If he were a Christian or Jew and sent this to Muslims, I guarantee you he’d be behind bars right now, regardless of the recruitment of students to terrorism. But, as we know, there is a tip-toeing double standard for how we treat these guys who are down with the jihad.
By the way, for the record, Pino isn’t the first Islamic terrorist college professor. As I noted many times over the years on this site, Islamic terrorist Sami Al-Arian was the worldwide founder and chief of Islamic Jihad and a professor of computer science at the University of South Florida (USF) at the same time that he ran the group’s operations and terrorist attacks in Israel, including a bus-bombing that murdered American college student, Alisa Flatow. Al-Arian also used his university perch to raise funds for Islamic Jihad and its terrorist operations, as well as approve the group’s planned merger with HAMAS.
And even though USF removed him from teaching and banned him from setting foot on campus–because the university deemed him a danger and security threat to students, he was welcomed by the University of Michigan to speak at its Divestment (from Israel) Conference. (As an attorney hired by some concerned students, we tried to prevent him from appearing.) Al-Arian was later convicted of terrorism and was finally deported.
But that was back in the days. Let’s see if anything really serious happens to this guy, Pino. Don’t hold your breath.
It’s simply asinine that the FBI and the university would let this guy continue teaching and ISIS-recruiting for 1.5 years. I understand the need to furtively build a case against him.
But, as I noted above, what if, one day, he decided to put on a bomb vest and blow up his students?
Exit Question: since we know that Kent State has a long history of left-wing students who hate America and resort to violence to express that hatred, how many students do you think Pino successfully recruited for ISIS without FBI knowledge or before the FBI chose to publicize this investigation?
Tags: Assad Jibril Pino, ISIS, ISIS prof, ISIS professor, ISIS professor Julio Pino, Israel, Jews, Julio Pino, Julio Pino ISIS, Kent State, Kent State ISIS, Kent State ISIS professor, Kent State University
When this guy flies off of the handle and starts killing peop0le, you can be sure that there will be another Gun Control pitch before the bodies cool off.
Worry on January 20, 2016 at 10:10 am
Credit coursework well worth a large part of anyone’s student loan. On the other hand, the professorship may well be funded by a petroleum-rich country (as long as petroleum contributes to wealth.)
marble on January 20, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Let me get this straight. This nut job has involvement with the most virulent terrorist group to date(you know the JV team) has shouted death to Israel at rallies for Israel at the college campus(aka very large gun free zone) where he works and loves the commie Castro brothers. What could possibly go wrong. Well nothing according to the morons at the Forever But Idiotic. Just you wait folks we will here about good old Julio in the news soon. Hopefully with a sharpshooters outcome if you know what I mean.
Ken B on January 20, 2016 at 12:47 pm
I am currently a junior at kent state and will be protesting this mans tenure on Friday. Screaming “death to Israel” is not having an academic debate, and us as taxpayers are forced to pay this guys salary….Completely absurd, and somewhat terrifying.
Seth on January 20, 2016 at 3:35 pm
why is his face so tight and squinchy? it’s from the heinous evil of islam and skin-shrinking insanity of leftism…
kirche on January 20, 2016 at 4:16 pm
I have 3 questions to ask:
Do you think he and / or his outfit would…
1. Make a great HALLOWEEN COSTUME?
2. He could replace the JOLLY GREEN GIANT?
3. He has woven his garb from “MAUI WOWIE”?
I’m considering giving him an airplane ticket, FREE, to ISRAEL
if he will promise to say, “DEATH TO ISRAEL!” to Netanyahu and the Mossad as well as give a lecture to the ISRAELI MILITARY.
I CAN’T PROMISE HIM A RETURN TICKET THOUGH !!!
PS: What kind of FOOLS attend his class and listen to his dreck (hope I spelled it correctly).
Dennis on January 20, 2016 at 5:06 pm
Who should we have investigating the FBI?
Infidel on January 20, 2016 at 6:36 pm
Another massacre at Kent State… When your prof is a terrorist.
Lisa on January 20, 2016 at 6:49 pm
Proof positive of how worthless the credential ” University Professor ” is all by itself.
In and of itself , it means nothing since so many demonstrable jerks, one track minds and criminals have held that title.
In undergrad, graduate and even the professional schools, it frequently occurs that at least one of the kids in the gallery knows more about the subject matter being taught than the guy in front lecturing.
I’d question the level and extent of education of anyone who hasn’t seen that at least once.
JayPee on January 20, 2016 at 8:34 pm
It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood, welcome to my neighborhood… BTW, can you say ‘workplace violence’?!?
YCHtT on January 20, 2016 at 10:32 pm
As the price of oil crashes, so will the fate of many career anti-Semites on college campuses. They have been riding the Saudi-financed gravy wagon for a long time.
As the Saudis struggle to keep their home population content, the luxury of bribing American universities with billions of dollars is diminished. This may not be a short term phenomenon either.
Al Jazeera was never going to be popular among Americans, but as long as oil prices were high, it could be subsidized. It is no coincidence that Al Jazeera USA recently announced that they are closing shop.
Once the propaganda machine is throttled back, there’s no telling how many of these instances will come to light.
There is NO Santa Claus (aka TINSC)
There is NO Santa Claus on January 21, 2016 at 7:30 am
Good Afternoon “TINSC”,
Here’s some advice that I hope the “OVER-EDUCATED – – – – – UNDER-SKILLED – – – – – DEBT-LADEN – – – – – SOFT-HANDS & MUSCLES” Guys & Gals will heed if, as you have written, “They have been riding the Saudi-financed gravy wagon for a long time.”
THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF TRAINED WELDERS! (search the topic)
So, if students wish to listen to this Professor and become his proteges, well, as Forest Gump said, “STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES”.
So, all you slackers out there – TANSTAAFL RULES THE WORLD.
Spot-on, TINSC…
Dennis:
I’m well aware of the shortage of certified welders. I bring the subject up all the time.
I’m not sure what this has to do with the petro-dollar financed propaganda, but I’ll accept your compliment with gratitude.
I often tell able-bodied college graduates (those having trouble finding a job) that welding and skilled trades offer competitive compensation AND an opportunity to exploit their degree. You see, when they get older and they can’t keep up with the young adults anymore, their college degree puts them first in line for project management and supervision. Thus, even a seemingly worthless college degree remains an asset because it is combined with certifications in skilled trades.
No young, able-bodied college graduate has ever taken me up on the suggestion.
Stupid is as stupid does. Colleges and universities have long since served their original charters. They provide little but propaganda and useless majors for less than average students.
JeffT on January 21, 2016 at 7:48 pm
There must be something weird about Ohio colleges…
http://www.kentwired.com/latest_updates/article_c925b394-922c-11e5-a1aa-dfe7e99f0807.html
Ann Thracts on January 22, 2016 at 12:06 am
Last night,I looked up Professor Pinto’s name on Discover The Networks. They have similar information to what was presented here. Anyway you look at him,this guy is a real creep. This guy doesn’t deserve to be a professor. What he deserves is to be on a street corner somewhere passing out leaflets. That’s where he belongs.
Ghostwriter on January 23, 2016 at 1:50 am
You can find Dr Piño’s cv on-line, referencing his soul-searching conversion. He mentions having received death threats for his political views.
http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?29364-A-Cuban-Professor-s-Journey-to-Allah
malca on January 23, 2016 at 7:36 pm
These university instructors are justifiably confident they’ll suffer little or no sanction for their terrorist sympathies of Israel hatred. Just consider the recent case of Salita, whose offer of a position at Illinois was rescinded after university officials discovered a series of statements virulently hostile toward Israel. They initially stuck by the decision not to hire him (he then took up a position in Beirut), but after he sued they settled for a ridiculously high figure. So for Salita there was no downside.
Raymond in DC on January 24, 2016 at 1:12 pm
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Home Health Care & Medical Looking On The Bright Side of Resources
Looking On The Bright Side of Resources
Merits of Supporting Medical Research.
It is because of medical research that people are leading better lives and living for longer periods. If you want to play a role in improving the health of people across the world, you will do as much as you can in making sure scientists have what they need to carry on their research. There are a lot of people who have medical research to thank for their lives. This is why some of the diseases which threaten human life have been stopped because the researchers find better ways to treat them. Medical research also helps in disease prevention as well as finding a way to diagnose these conditions early for treatment to bear better results. Knowing that you helped save a life will give you a sense of fulfillment. Medical research is great for the economy as well. Remember that this is money that will be ejected into the economy which circulates and does better things. At the end of the research, there will be some valuable invention or even innovative technology which when sold will help in boosting the economy. With innovation, people can do their work efficiently which has a positive effect on productivity hence economy.
There are people who are looking for medical research opportunities all the time which means they will end up at the regions which rank highly on this particular subject and with new talent, they will be better investment opportunities. With more investors and the best medical researchers working together, the goal will be achieved quickly. The research findings are shared with patients across the world which means the success of a few scientists can be responsible for changing the lives of people in all corners of the world. Therefore, you should not be afraid of contributing to medical research just because it is not in your region.
A lot of these centers are working in partnership with universities as well as hospitals. Besides offering their services in the operation of these facilities, some of the resources they get for the research goes towards making the universities and hospitals better. They also make sure the people who want to get into research are assisted in rising to their optimal level. When there are enough finances for universities and hospitals, they can continue with the research and innovations which help towards a disease-free world. Clinical trials will go on which provides the latest treatments for dealing with the diseases. These researchers are also playing a role in making sure science does not become extinct which would not be good for the future because there has to be a baseline for the new researchers to use in making advancements.
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Four Vikings Named CSCAA Scholar All-Americans
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Four members of the Cleveland State University men's and women's swimming & diving teams were recently named Scholar All-Americans by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).
Junior Matthew Martin and seniors Curtis Roden and Jared Stergar of the men's team and senior Molly McNamara of the women's team all earned Honorable Mention awards from the CSCAA.
McNamara earned postseason honors from the CSCAA for the third consecutive season while Martin and Stergar were recognized with this honor for the second straight year.
Cleveland State's four honorees were tied for the most by a school in the Horizon League, the second straight season that the Vikings tied for the lead in this category.
Martin, who has a 3.71 cumulative grade point average, won the Horizon League 100 butterfly title this past season in 47.41 seconds. He was also among the top five in the 200 butterfly and swam on CSU's 400 medley relay squad at the league meet.
Roden, who notched a 4.00 GPA this past semester, placed among the top eight in both diving disciplines at the Horizon League Championships. He also surpassed NCAA Zones standards on three different occasions during the season.
Stergar, who posted a 4.00 GPA this past semester, won the Horizon League title in the 100 breaststroke while surpassing an NCAA time standard. Stergar also had the fastest time in the league this season in the 200 breaststroke and finished third at the league meet in the 200 IM.
McNamara, who recently graduated with a 3.96 cumulative GPA, became the first Viking woman to win the Horizon League Swimming & Diving Athlete of the Year award more than once. She also was previously named the Female Scholar-Athlete of the 2018-19 Winter Season by the Horizon League and took home Academic All-District At-Large First Team honors.
To earn an Honorable Mention award, a student-athlete must have achieved at least a 3.50 grade point average and post a 'B' time standard in an individual event (or, for divers, compete at their respective NCAA Zone Championship).
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JazzNet: Special Series - Sons of Miles
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ROY HAYNES : No Beats to Waste
by Mike Zwerin
"Stan Getz liked my beat, he loved to play with Roy Haynes," says Roy Haynes, who likes the sound of his Third Person.
Positive subjective judgments sound more objective from that perspective. In his case, the sound itself implies stature. Lester Young told him: "You should be called the Royal of Haynes." Roy Haynes is the only drummer to have played with (not all at the same time) Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane.
Others also tend to refer to him with both names, running them together, syncopated - Royhaynes, accent on the "Ro." It sounds like him. Dorothy Donegan says he's getting to look more like Count Basie drummer Jo Jones every day. Which means to say royal, clean, crispy.
His discreet, flexible tatoo controls the time and space and the dynamic of whatever formation he's part of. He's compact, energy-packed, confident. He chooses his shots. He's a warrior, the battle plan is his: "Remember Town Hall a few years ago? You were there. I put Michel Petrucciani in the pocket. I'm known for putting cats in the pocket. That's what I do." (The "pocket" is the place where the pool-ball of tempo should be shot.)
It started in 1944 at the age of 18 with Frankie Newton and Sabby Lewis in his hometown Boston. His style eventually became so pervasively subversive that, without being known as a leader, or even a "star," he is behind certain key elements common to an eclectic list of people including Art Pepper, Sarah Vaughan, Chick Corea, Thelonius Monk, Eric Dolphy and Gary Burton (Larry Coryell, Steve Swallow and Roy Haynes were the rhythm section for Burton's mid-'60s groundbreaking jazz-rock fusion efforts). >From 1961 to 1965, He was Elvin Jones's principal substitute with the John Coltrane Quartet.
Trane described his time as "spreading, permeating." Leaving Charlie Parker to form his own band, Max Roach advised his boss: "Hire Roy Haynes."
The British critic Brian Priestly wrote: "Roy manages to be intelligently insistent and provocative in accompaniment without overpowering the soloist." Jazz Hot magazine put him on its cover when he arrived in Paris in 1954 with Sarah Vaughan. (Roy Haynes was impressed with a culture interested in the drummer not the star.) "Roy Haynes should be immortalized," said Sonny Rollins. "I can dig his statue somewhere, like the one of Sydney Bechet in Antibes."
Although universally acknowledged as a prime mover by soloists, leaders, critics and other drummers, the general public has never truly appreciated his stature. When I asked him why he thought that was, he looked at me with astonishment: "You think I'm not appreciated? Man, you must be getting out of touch, living here in Paris.
"I was giving a lecture for a workshop in Massachusetts and when they announced 'Roy Haynes,' the kids shouted - kids are so hip these days - they shouted 'Yeah yeah yeah' and cheered and applauded. They just went crazy. I got a standing ovation for just standing there. I hadn't even played yet. It just happened. Boom!"
After hearing him in Chicago one night, a reporter from Down Beat magazine said he didn't know he could play like that. Haynes did not consider this a compliment: "You know, I'd been doing it for a long time. And he wanted to know where I'd learned it. Man, a lot of drummers copped my important stuff. I was there first."
He had the distinct impression that the reporter was surprised he could do an Elvin Jones impersonation so well. But Roy Haynes knew for a fact that Elvin had been listening to him play that way back in the '50s, before anybody else was doing whatever you call it - "spreading the rhythm," "suggesting the beat," "elastic," "melodic," "permeating."
This is the way the most advanced drummers like Jeff (Tain) Watts (with the Marsalis brothers) and Jack DeJohnette play now. Any credit witheld from him is not the drummers' fault, they all admit their debt to Roy Haynes. But it's been going on so long and it just got to him this time. He couldn't resist telling the reporter: "I think you should talk to Elvin about that."
"I'm an uncrowned king," he says, head held high. "I don't have to win any polls to know that." He does not win many. "I'm cool, I know. I've been to the mountaintop."
Along the way, he began to dress like royalty - custom-made suits, Italian shoes, sharp hats. Esquire magazine put him on their best-dressed list. Along with Miles Davis, one of only two African Americans, and only two jazzmen. The New York Times referred to him as "the dapper drummer." he started to suspect that he was better known for his clothes than his drumming. It got to be a "mixed blessing, still is. If I have a hole in my sock, some girl will say: 'Hey, I thought you were supposed to be well dressed.'
"I have a 10-speed bike, quite a few grand-children, two Doberman pinschers. I have an original 1974 Malcolm Bricklin car. You know, he was De Lorean's buddy. I win prizes with it. I live in Freeport on the south shore of Long Island, not far from where Guy Lombardo used to live. I don't work a lot. I don't have to. I've made myself comfortable. It's good for the mind to play music, but now people are asking me to back up singers and do all-star tours with a whole bunch of horn players. That stuff is not good for the mind. I need time to think and dream. I'm a dreamer.
"Some agent called and asked me to lead a sort of Art Blakey ghost band, he even suggested I get some of the guys from the Jazz Messengers. His point is it would make a lot of money, and he does have a point. But why should I do that. It doesn't mean anything. This cat has got to be joking. Man, I played with Bird, with Trane, I played with Billie Holiday. Art Blakey used to admire me.
My career is catching up with me. I call my own shots. I only play on Roy Haynes dates. I'm the leader. I do what I want to do when I want to do it. When I play, it has to mean something. Let it float like a balloon. I'm talking about jazz. Other people did it, but Roy Haynes did it and did it and did it.
"I don't like to pin compliments on myself, but..." Yes he does: "...But I'm one of the last innovators from the '40s who's still out there saying something new. I couldn't really be myself with Trane or Getz because my job was to accompany them. They came first, that was my role. And it was cool. They didn't need a drummer juggling between his right and left feet and hands getting in their way. But my kids are grown up, my mortgage is paid and now I don't have to worry about making anybody sound good but myself.
"I have a good band now. Young guys, they play the way I like. Anybody else wants me to play with them, it has to be somebody I respect, somebody who wants to take risks like I do. Guys like Pat Metheny" on "Question And Answer," with Dave Holland, bass, Geffen Records. Dig it. This is my religion. It's what I believe in. I don't waste beats. Roy Haynes has no beats to waste."
Photo: Roy Haynes.
Credit: Christian Rose
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Frederick L. Palmer, Sr., 81
West Boylston: Frederick L. Palmer, Sr, 81, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at the UMass University Campus. He leaves his wife of 27 years, Carol (Murray) Palmer; son Frederick Palmer, Jr. of Brookfield; daughter Donna Jenks and her husband Denny of Westminster; he was predeceased by his daughter Deborah Palmer. He also leaves three grandchildren- Sarah and Jesse Boucher, and Michelle Palmer; a great-granddaughter Siera Boucher; step-sons Brian Goyette of Auburn and Michael Goyette of North Brookfield; and two step-grandchildren- Marc and Robert Goyette.
Frederick was born in Worcester, son of Laurie and Alice (Shepard) Palmer. He graduated from Commerce High School and worked at the Telegram and Gazette as a compositor for 44 years. He also worked as a part time patrolman for 18 years for the West Boylston Police Department. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Worcester, past president of the Greendale Men's Club, and was a past Master Mason of the Boylston Masonic Lodge in West Boylston. Frederick proudly served his country in the United States Air National Guard for 20 years as a Master Sergeant.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 from 5-7pm at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester. A Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at 10am in the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, Floor 6, Brookline, MA 02445. For directions or to leave an online condolence message, please click on link.
Directions to Funeral Home
Content is coming soon...
Nordgren Memorial Chapel
300 Lincoln Street
http://www.nordgrenmemorialchapel.com
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Thursday - July 18, 2019
Power of Forgiveness Celebrated in Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale”, Opening March 9th at the Roxy Regional Theatre
March 5, 2012 |
Clarksville, TN – The Roxy Regional Theatre marks its 27th year of annually presenting the works of William Shakespeare with a story of envy, revenge, love and, ultimately, redemption. “The Winter’s Tale”, one of the Bard’s late romances, opens Friday, March 9th, at 8:00pm for a pay-what-you-can preview.
In this tale edited by Brandon Meeks, the jealous King Leontes of Sicilia nearly topples his own kingdom when he falsely accuses his queen of adultery with his childhood friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. In his foolishness and rage, he loses his wife, his son, and his baby daughter. The cycle of life and the power of true love come alive upon the Roxy stage, as a family is reunited, both physically and spiritually, through the power of forgiveness.
Directed by John McDonald and starring Colin Ryan as Leontes, Evy Gildrie-Voyles as Queen Hermione and Brandon Meeks as Polixenes, “The Winter’s Tale” also features Josh Bernaski as Antigonus, Ryan Bowie as Camillo, Hannah Church as Emilia, Jay Doolittle as the Shepherd, Ted Jones as Autolycus, Travis Kendrick as the Clown, Ashley Laverty as Paulina, Gregory Pember (by permission of Actor’s Equity) as Florizel, and Kendall Anne Thompson as Perdita.
This production is made possible in part through the generous support of the City of Clarksville.
“The Winter’s Tale” runs March 9th through March 17th, playing Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm, with a 2:00pm matinee on Saturday, March 17th. Tickets are $15.00 (adults) and $10.00 (ages 13 and under) and may be purchased online at www.roxyregionaltheatre.org, by phone at 931.645.7699, or at the theatre during regular box office hours (9:00am to 2:00pm, Monday through Friday).
The performance on Friday, March 9th, is our regular pay-what-you-can preview; all tickets not pre-sold at the regular ticket price will go on sale at 7:30pm for whatever price you wish to pay.
Filed Under Arts and Leisure
Topics: Ashley Laverty, Brandon Meeks, City of Clarksville, Clarksville TN, Colin Ryan, Evy Gildrie-Voyles, Featured, Gregory Pember, Hannah Church, Jay Doolittle, Josh Bernaski, Kendall Anne Thompson, Pay what you can night, Roxy Regional Theatre, Ryan Bowie, Ted Jones, The Winter's Tale, Travis Kendrick, William Shakespeare
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Huntley Community School District 158NewsPress ReleasesHuntley 158 One of 10 Illinois Districts Piloting Competency-Based Education
Huntley 158 One of 10 Illinois Districts Piloting Competency-Based Education
Huntley 158
Huntley 158 is one of 10 Illinois school districts selected to participate in the first cohort of Illinois’ Competency-Based High School Graduation Requirements Pilot Program. The program is targeted to spur innovation among school districts to develop competency-based learning systems.
Each school district chosen to participate in the pilot will create a competency-based learning and credit system of the district’s design. In competency-based learning, educators assess and advance students based on demonstrated mastery of specific skills, abilities, and knowledge, rather than on time in the classroom.
Competency-based learning allows for a potentially more relevant and personalized learning experience for students, in addition to deeper integration of technology and better utilization of teacher talent.
“The 10 school districts participating in the first cohort of the Competency-Based High School Graduation Requirements Pilot are opening new doors for students and educators,” said State Superintendent of Education Tony Smith, Ph.D. “These districts are modeling the future I want to see in Illinois – innovative, led by educators, supportive of the whole child and of every student reaching their full potential, and with schools at the center of healthy communities.”
In a news release from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Smith said “the way we prepare students for college and career must evolve if we want to fuel a thriving economy and healthy communities,” citing relatively low statewide levels of college readiness and a high percentage of community college students requiring remedial courses.
“Huntley High School’s pilot will attempt to break down the walls of the traditional classroom and allow students to progress at a personalized pace. Teachers will guide their progress and offer seminar-like instruction, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of learning standards across subject areas rather than completing courses,” the District’s summary said.
The State launched the pilot program to spur innovation in the way high schools prepare students for meaningful careers and to support Illinois’ goal of increasing the proportion of adults in Illinois with high-quality degrees and credentials to 60 percent by the year 2025. The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act, passed unanimously by both legislative chambers and signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner, established the pilot program in 2016.
In addition to Huntley 158, school districts participating in the first cohort of the pilot include:
Peoria Public Schools District 150
Rantoul Township High School District 193
Williamsfield Community Unit School District 210
Kankakee School District 111
Proviso Township High School District 209
East St. Louis School District 189
Ridgewood High School District 234
Round Lake Community Unit School District 116
Six schools in Chicago Public Schools District 299
Benito Juarez Community Academy High School
Lindblom Math & Science Academy
Brooks College Prep
Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
Consuella B York Alternative High School
South Side Occupational High School
All of the participating districts have created local Planning and Implementation Committees and plans to engage their communities and stakeholders in the development and implementation of their competency-based learning systems.
ISBE will foster an open learning community and provide an online library of research, technical assistance, and models to support the first cohort of the pilot and encourage more districts to apply for future cohorts.
No state funding has been appropriated in the current fiscal year for this pilot program. ISBE has requested $1 million in Fiscal Year 2018 to help support the development of the pilot program. The application for the next cohort will open later in 2017.
Learn more about the pilot and the participating districts’ plans at www.isbe.net/competency.
Academics • Alumni • Featured • HHS • News • Press Releases • Parents • Students
Huntley 158 Today: Serving Gifted Students and Families Board Briefs: Committee of the Whole April 6, 2017
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Divine wins The SME Export Track 100 'emerging brand' award
The founders and directors of Britain’s 100 fastest-growing SME exporters were recognised on the 9 May at the 3rd annual Sunday Times Lloyds SME Export Track 100 awards ceremony, held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London.
The SME Export Track 100 league table ranks the UK’s small and medium-sized (SME) companies with the fastest-growing international sales.
The companies increased their international sales over their latest two years by between 28% and 280% a year to a total of £677m. Staff numbers rose by 3,000 over the same period to more than 8,000.
Dr Liam Fox, Conservative spokesperson on International Trade, welcomed guests and described SME Export Track 100 companies as trailblazers that would be at the forefront of efforts to create a truly international Britain.
The SME Export Track 100 emerging brand award, sponsored by The Sunday Times, was presented by Iain Dey, business editor, to Jamie Hartzell, who is the chairman of Divine Chocolate.
Jamie said 'Its really great that a business that is not only trying to deliver financial profits, but is also trying to deliver on a social mission to create a more just and fair trading system can compete against other businesses and win a prize like this.'
Divine Chocolate bars are popular in Northern Europe, the US and Canada, and looking to future growth in Asia and the Middle East while continuing to put farmers at the heart of everything the company does.
by Gemma Hood
Hello, i'm Gemma the PR and Social Media Manager at Divine. I love everything to do with food and cooking, especially baking! My favourite Divine bar is the fruity Dark Chocolate with Raspberry.
Our newsletters are choc-full of great deals, tempting competitions and recipes.
Easter Almond Stuffed Chocolate Dates
Divine wins two Great Taste Awards
Divine’s MD Sophi receives the Good Deals Pioneer Award 2013
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“The impact of storytelling and the responsibility of storytellers”: 5 Questions with Alexandria Bombach, director of “On Her Shoulders”
In the superbly crafted and intimate chronicle of the day-to-date toil of activism, filmmaker Alexandria Bombach (winner of this year’s Sundance Best Directing Prize) follows Nadia Murad as she travels from radio and TV interviews to United Nations meetings, to raise awareness for the plight of her people, a small ethnic minority in Northern Iraq. While On Her Shoulders focuses on Murad’s tireless efforts to grab the public’s attention, Bombach’s empathetic camera conveys a different and more complex tale: about Murad’s personal sacrifice, and the challenges of bearing the burden of an entire community. “Essential viewing” (Variety), “compelling” (Hollywood Reporter) and “fascinating” (RogerEbert.com), On Her Shoulders offers a “profound testament to Murad’s suffering, courage and unfathomable tenacity” (Indiewire). Alexandria Bombach talks to DOC10 about character-driven activism, present-tense filmmaking, and how we tell stories of trauma.
Nadia’s story is obviously very powerful, but what about her story made you think there was a film? And at what point did you realize the film wasn’t just about her life story, but a kind of psychological portrait of the unfolding moments that you captured on film.
Alexandria Bombach: Nadia is a compelling, brilliant and strong-willed person, and after reading her book, "The Last Girl," I think this has always been true. I think that her personality and the complexities of her situation as an activist is what made me so interested in making this into a feature film. The production company, RYOT, originally brought me on to make a short film, but after even a few days of spending time with Nadia, I knew her story and the nuance of the experience she was having as a survivor turned reluctant activist should have more time to breathe in a film. As far as focusing on her life story, I think as a filmmaker my curiosities and interests are always pointing me to explore the emotion of someone’s current experience as it relates to the past vs. telling an audience what has happened in the past.
Furthermore, how did you balance the film’s emphasis between character portrait and issue-film?
There are certain points that need to come across to have context for understanding Nadia’s situation and the situation of her people, but my inclination as a filmmaker is to tell the story of the individuals. I hope that, in turn, this causes people to act because they care about the people – I really don’t think there is any other way to break through apathy.
One of my favorite things about the movie is the intimacy of it, but I heard that were times where Nadia didn't want you filming her. So were you different from the many interviewers/journalists/news crews that have spoken to Nadia? And if so, how so?
There was never a time when Nadia asked me not to film; she just became less interested and at times distant from me during a few of our shoots. I think this was because she really didn’t see the point in participating and, at times, I struggled to see the point as well. The situation for the Yazidis is so desperate, and I questioned everything while making this film – advocacy, diplomacy, politics, but especially the impact of storytelling and the responsibility of storytellers. I was different from other media people that followed Nadia because I was always around, but I don’t want to pretend that I am above my criticisms of media in the film – I think we need to have a better conversation about how we tell stories of trauma.
Along those same lines, I think the film’s stand out moments are in very small interstitial scenes, which show Nadia explicitly NOT engaged in her activism, but just being in the West, like that amazing moment when they’re watching the Canadian military marching band. Did you always see these scenes as integral to the film?
Yes. Although, I didn’t know what was important to include in the film until I shot it and had months in the edit to think about it. I didn’t come into the story with any themes or ideas of what I wanted to capture. I think it’s important to let it all unfold.
Another moving element for me is Nadia’s relationship with Murad Ismael. At one point in the film, I think viewers might suppose that they’re edging towards a closer relationship. Is this just me, or was it your intention to play with that notion, and if not, what do you think that relationship offers the film? And what is happening with them now?
Murad and Nadia were close because of the great responsibility they both felt towards the Yazidi people. Murad is now married and living in Iraq, continuing to work with the organization Yazda. Nadia lives in Germany and has started her own initiative — currently working on the Sinjar Action Fund that aims to rebuild and secure the Yazidi areas in Iraqi Kurdistan.
MORE ABOUT THE FILM
Paula Froehle March 22, 2018
“Where the imaginary and the real come together”: 5 Questions for Jonathan and Elan Bogarin, directors of “306 Hollywood”
“I want you to think about how we tell stories”: 5 Questions with Robert Greene, director of “Bisbee ‘17”
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WORLDS OUR STAGE!
THE Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation (QBSF) will add another feather to its cap in November when it hosts the World Snooker Championship for the first time in its history.
The QBSF had staked its claim to the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) to host the tournament’s 42nd edition. The global governing body is to make a formal announcement soon.
Though the official dates are yet to be confirmed, the championship is likely to be held from November 20 to 30.
India’s Pankaj Advani defeated China’s Zhua Xintong 8-6 in the final at Hurghada, Egypt, last year.
The World Championship started in 1963 and since 1984 it has been held every year. The IBSF-sanctioned event was conducted in a round-robin format for the first five years. From 1968 onwards, it was modified to a round-robin-cum-knockout one. The final is usually a best-of-15-frame affair.
“We’ve hosted the Asian Championship in the past. Hosting the Snooker Worlds is a matter of pride and prestige for us. We’ve proved our credentials by hosting the World 9-Ball Pool Championship since 2010. We’ve all facilities needed to host the prestigious event,” said QBSF President Mohammed Mubarak Al Ramzani.
The inaugural World 9-Ball Pool Championship in 2010 was held at QBSF’s main facility at Al Muntazah. From 2011 onwards, the QBSF has been making use of the indoor halls of Al Arabi and Al Sadd Sports Clubs to host the tournament in order to accommodate more spectators.
“This is the premier snooker tournament in the world and we’ll be geared up for it. Hosting it will help the sport grow further in Qatar,” added Al Ramzani.
IBSF assembly is scheduled in Doha
Stage is set for World 9-Ball Pool
Al Khayareen to be new IBSF president
King of green baize!
QBSF relishing Worlds challenge
Qatar’s Saif strives to regain Tour card
Bitter pill to swallow
Saif to lead hosts Qatar’s challenge
Spotlight now turns to Snooker Worlds
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Home › Resources › PTSD vs. PTSI: More Than A Name
PTSD vs. PTSI: More Than A Name
With suicide rates in the U.S. armed forces at record highs, debate is raging about whether changing the name post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) would help reduce stigma. The Dart Center asked three leading clinicians and researchers to weigh in.
Friedman, Newman and Ochberg are pioneering trauma experts.
With suicide rates in the U.S. armed forces at record high rates, debate is raging about whether stigma is deterring combat veterans – and other trauma survivors – from getting the help they need. Clinicians, veterans and advocates are taking sides over whether changing the name post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) would help. As the American Psychiatric Association enters its final months of deliberation over a new edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, this debate has exposed underlying issues that go beyond a clinical label. The Dart Center asked three leading clinicians and researchers to weigh in.
An Injury, Not A Disorder
By Frank Ochberg, Ph.D.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder has been an accepted diagnosis since 1980. It's time for clinicians to adopt a new name - Post-Traumatic Stress Injury - that is more accurate, hopeful and honorable.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD – has been an accepted diagnosis since 1980. And that's a good thing. So why is it now making controversial headlines? Why are some clinicians like myself – along with a wide range of veterans’ advocates, women’s groups and others – arguing for changing the name of the diagnosis, PTSD, to PTSI – for Post-traumatic Stress Injury?
PTSD is PTSD
By Matthew Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Changing the name of PTSD won't eliminate stigma or make sufferers more likely to seek treatment.
I don’t believe the American Psychiatric Association (APA) should change the name Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to Post-Traumatic Stress Injury (PTSI) because I don’t believe that such a change will make a significant difference with regard to stigma or make sufferers more likely to seek treatment. I further believe that Canada’s military has come up with the right solution: classification of post-traumatic stress as an Operational Stress Injury (OSI). This policy effectively addresses any stigma-related problems without changing the PTSD diagnostic label. In other words, we can have it both ways: keep the PTSD diagnostic term and have it regarded as an injury.
Where All Sides Align
By Elana Newman, Ph.D.
While the debate is focused on the power of naming a disorder, it really represents a far more important set of nuanced issues and assumptions about the nature of psychological responses after surviving catastrophe, brutal deaths, war, sexual assault and other horrific life events. It also represents differing views on how best to achieve needed cultural changes.
For reporters covering this debate as it unfolds over the coming months – whether about veterans, public health, science or policy – it is crucial to understand that there are many points of agreement among these contending experts. Most fundamentally, both sides are deeply committed to remedy any long-standing problems that survivors face after confronting a traumatic event. While the debate about the APA diagnosis rages on, it’s important that the media and the public do not lose sight of just how much agreement there is among mental health professionals when it comes to trauma and PTSD.
Tragedies & JournalistsReporting WarNews Media & TraumaCovering Children & TraumaChild Clinicians & the MediaCovering ColumbineEthical Reporting on People Affected by TraumaPeer Support for JournalistsTrauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political TerrorAchilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of CharacterJournalists under Fire: The Psychological Hazards of Covering WarPTSD and Veterans: A Conversation with Dr. Frank OchbergMapping Trauma and Its Wake: Autobiographic Essays by Pioneer Trauma ScholarsPost-Traumatic Therapy And Victims Of Violence (Psychosocial Stress Series)Witness to an Extreme Century: A MemoirOdysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of HomecomingTrauma Journalism: On Deadline in Harm's WayAfter the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their FamiliesResilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest ChallengesTrauma Therapy in Context: The Science and Craft of Evidence-based PracticeHome from the War: Learning From Vietnam VeteransThe Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of GenocideTrauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of ViolenceCovering Violence: A Guide to Ethical Reporting About Victims & TraumaSharing the Front Line and the Back HillsThe Roots of Evil: The Origins of Genocide and Other Group ViolenceParallel Justice for Victims of CrimeWithout Honor: Defeat in Vietnam and CambodiaLost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland TroublesA Country Called Amreeka: U.S. History Retold through Arab-American LivesPatriot Acts: Narratives of Post-9/11 Injustice Unsettled/Desasosiego: Children in a World of Gangs/Los niños en un mundo de las pandillasLegal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's FutureWar PhotographerShake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in RwandaBlood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to DarfurThe Troubles We've SeenGhosts by Daylight: Love, War, and RedemptionEchoes of Violence: Letters from a War Reporter (Human Rights and Crimes against Humanity)It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and WarIrritable Hearts: A PTSD Love StoryAnnihilating Difference: The Anthropology of Genocide Torture Team: Rumsfeld's Memo and the Betrayal of American ValuesShoahViolence in War and Peace: An AnthologyCarnage and the MediaNostalgia for the LightWar StoriesThe Secret Life of War: Journeys Through Modern ConflictOn TelevisionNickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in AmericaMindfulness: An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic WorldFull Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and IllnessSleep: A Very Short IntroductionKing Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial AfricaThe Universal JournalistFighting for the Rain ForestLegends of People Myths of State: Violence, Intolerance, and Political Culture in Sri LankaFamily Secrets: Shame and Privacy in Modern BritainOn the Natural History of Destruction The Sewing Circles of Herat: A Personal Voyage Through AfghanistanHouse of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-Torn ZimbabweButcher & Bolt: Two Hundred Years of Foreign Failure in Afghanistan Jerusalem 1913: The Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict They Fought for Each Other: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in IraqThe War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's VeteransMadame Dread: A Tale of Love, Vodou, and Civil Strife in HaitiColumbineJuvenileAlways Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A.Still Here: Stories After KatrinaBreaking News Breaking DownOne of the Guys: Women as Aggressors and TorturersMonstering: Inside America's Policy of Secret Interrogations and Torture in the Terror War Gogo Mama : A Journey Into the Lives of Twelve African WomenShaking the Foundations: 200 Years of Investigative Journalism in America Trauma Therapy in Context: The Science and Craft of Evidence-based PracticeLiving a Year of Kaddish: A MemoirThe Search for God at HarvardBeing Jewish: The Spiritual and Cultural Practice of Judaism TodayWriting on GravestonesLives of Crime: The Melbourne Gangland MurdersSmart Health ChoicesTragedias & Periodistas9/11: Mental Health in the Wake of Terrorist AttacksFeet to the Fire: The Media After 9/11Thank You For Your ServiceChronicling Trauma: Journalists and Writers on Violence and LossDaring to Feel: Violence, the News Media, and Their EmotionsThe Things They Cannot Say: Stories Soldiers Won't Tell You About What They've Seen, Done or Failed to Do in WarIn the Hot Zone: One Man, One Year, Twenty WarsSwimming with Warlords: A Dozen-Year Journey Across the Afghan WarThe Price They Paid: Enduring Wounds Of WarWhat Have We Done: The Moral Injury of Our Longest WarsCollective Conviction: The Story of Disaster ActionHigh Tea in Mosul
Tragedies & Journalists
A 40-page guide to help journalists, photojournalists and editors report on violence while protecting both victims and themselves.
Reporting War
Recommendations for meeting the emotional challenges of covering war, from a group of seasoned veterans.
News Media & Trauma
This documentary, available online and on DVD, features a wide range of Australian journalists their recounting experiences covering traumatic stories.
Request Copies
Covering Children & Trauma
When children are victims of violence, journalists have a responsibility to report the truth with compassion and sensitivity.
Child Clinicians & the Media
Whether clinicians like it or not, children and families affected by trauma are routinely covered by the media. When that happens, clinicians often face difficult choices.
Covering Columbine
This documentary, available online and on DVD, examines the impact of the news coverage of the Columbine High School shootings.
Ethical Reporting on People Affected by Trauma
In conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Dart Centre Asia Pacific created a teaching video on the treatment of news sources. The project was developed to supplement teaching materials for journalism educators.
Peer Support for Journalists
A video by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Dart Centre Australasia on how peer support programs help journalists deal with trauma.
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Integrating clinical and social perspective without sacrificing either the complexity of individual experience or the breadth of political context, "Trauma and Recovery" brings a new level of understanding to the psychological consequences of the full range of traumatic life events.
Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character
Jonathan Shay is a Boston based psychiatrist caring for Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed with severe, chronic post-traumatic stress disorder. In this unique and revolutionary book, Dr. Shay examines the psychological devastation of war by comparing the soldiers of Homer’s Iliad with many of his patients, Vietnam veterans struggling with PTSD . Although the Iliad was written twenty-seven centuries ago, so much can be learned about combat trauma, especially when it is threaded through the compelling voices and experiences of Vietnam vets.
Journalists under Fire: The Psychological Hazards of Covering War
War journalists, like all who have prolonged exposure to violence, come home emotionally maimed and often broken. And yet, a news culture in denial has pretended that war journalists are immune from trauma. This fit into the macho culture of war journalism. It also assuaged the consciences of those running news organizations, who often crumple up and discard, years later, those they send to war. Dr. Feinstein has provided us with research that is a chilling reminder that war journalists are human, as well as a searing indictment of major news conglomerates who have refused to acknowledge or address the suffering of their own.
PTSD and Veterans: A Conversation with Dr. Frank Ochberg
How do we help veterans who are returning from war with PTSD? Dr. Frank Ochberg, a leading authority on PTSD, shares his experiences, seasoned insights and suggestions in this intimate conversation with reporter Mike Walters. He shares his insights regarding common symptoms to look out for and the importance of building trust and other aspects of the patient-therapist relationship. He then explains techniques he has developed that help his clients work through the trauma and adapt to civilian life.
Mapping Trauma and Its Wake: Autobiographic Essays by Pioneer Trauma Scholars
Mapping Trauma and Its Wake is a compilation of autobiographic essays by seventeen of the field's pioneers, each of whom has been recognized for his or her contributions by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Each author discusses how he or she first got interested in the field, what each feels are his or her greatest achievements, and where the discipline might - and should - go from here. This impressive collection of essays by internationally-renowned specialists is destined to become a classic of traumatology literature. It is a text that will provide future mental health professionals with a window into the early years of this rapidly expanding field.
Post-Traumatic Therapy And Victims Of Violence (Psychosocial Stress Series)
Frank M. Ochberg, MD is adjunct professor of psychiatry, criminal justice and journalism at Michigan State University. He served in the cabinet of Governor William Milliken as Mental Health Director. His book, Post Traumatic Therapy and Victims of Violence, is widely acclaimed as one of the leading resources in the field.
Witness to an Extreme Century: A Memoir
In this long-awaited memoir, Lifton charts the adventurous and surprising course of his fascinating life journey, one that took him from what he refers to as, "a Jewish Huck Finn childhood in Brooklyn, to deep and meaningful friendships with many of the most influential intellectuals, writers, and artists of our time—from Erik Erikson, David Riesman, and Margaret Mead, to Howard Zinn and Kurt Vonnegut, Stanley Kunitz, Kenzaburo Oe, and Norman Mailer. This work is more than a memoir, it is also a remarkable study of Hiroshima survivors. Lifton explored the human consequences of nuclear weapons, and then went on to uncover dangerous forms of attraction to their power in the spiritual disease he calls nuclearism. Lifton writing illuminates the reversal of healing and killing in ordinary physicians who had been socialized to Nazi evil. Written with the warmth of spirit—along with the humor and sense of absurdity—that have made Lifton a beloved friend and teacher to so many, Witness to an Extreme Century is a moving and deeply thought-provoking story of one man’s extraordinary commitment to looking into the abyss of evil in order to help others move past it.
Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming
In this original psychological literary work, Dr. Jonathan Shay continues what he started in his book, Achilles in Vietnam. Uses the Odyssey, the story of a soldier's homecoming, Shay sheds light on the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road to recovery, the return to civilian life. The combination of psychological insight and literary brilliance feels seamless. Shay makes an impassioned plea to renovate American military institutions and in doing so deepens the readers understanding of the veteran's experience.
Trauma Journalism: On Deadline in Harm's Way
Trauma Journalism personalizes this movement with in-depth profiles of reporters, researchers and trauma experts engaged in an international effort to transform how the media work under the most difficult of conditions.Through biographical sketches concerning several significant traumatic events (Oklahoma City bombing, Columbine school tragedy, 9/11, Iraq War, the South Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina), students and working reporters will gain insights into the critical components of contemporary journalism practices.
After the War Zone: A Practical Guide for Returning Troops and Their Families
Two experts from the VA National Center for PTSD come together in this work to provide an essential resource for service members, their spouses, families, and communities. They shed light on what troops really experience during deployment and once they return home. Pinpointing the most common after-effects of war and offering strategies for troop reintegration to daily life, Friedman and Slone cover the myths and realities of homecoming; reconnecting with spouse and family; anger and adrenaline; guilt and moral dilemmas; and PTSD and other mental-health concerns. With a wealth of community and government resources, tips, and suggestions, After the War Zone is a practical guide to helping troops and their families prevent war zone stresses from having a lasting negative impact.
Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life's Greatest Challenges
Experiencing trauma at some point in life is almost inevitable, overcoming it is not. This inspiring book identifies ten key ways to weather and bounce back from stress and trauma. Steven M. Southwick incorporates the latest scientific research and interviews with trauma survivors. This book provides a practical guide to building emotional, mental and physical resilience after trauma.
Trauma Therapy in Context: The Science and Craft of Evidence-based Practice
This book examines several current clinical approaches to trauma-focused treatment. Rather than describe theoretical approaches in isolation, the editors have integrated these interventions into a broader clinical context. Chapter authors emphasize basic therapeutic skills such as empathic listening, instilling resilience, and creating meaning, in the service of empirically-supported, highly efficacious trauma interventions. Throughout, they focus on the real-life challenges that arise in typical therapy sessions to deepen our understanding and application of evidence based interventions. While this book is intended for all clinical mental health professionals who work with trauma survivors it is also a phenomenal resource for those who seek to broaden their understanding of the way various approaches to understanding treatment of trauma.
Home from the War: Learning From Vietnam Veterans
The award-winning author and noted psychiatrist Robert Jay Lifton offers a powerful critique of American militarism during the Vietnam War. Home from the War is recognized as the ultimate text for those working with Vietnam veterans, the book's insights have had enormous influence among psychologists and psychiatrists all over the world.
The Nazi Doctors: Medical Killing and the Psychology of Genocide
The Boston Globe called this book, "A powerful reminder not only of what happened, but of the monumental evil done by the particular human beings who were trained to heal and cure." Based on arresting historical scholarship and personal interviews with Nazi and prisoner doctors, the book traces the inexorable logic leading from early Nazi sterilization and euthanasia of its own citizens to mass extermination of "racial undesirables."This extraordinary work combines research and analyzation to describe a seemingly contradictory phenomenon of doctors becoming agents of mass murder. With chilling literary power, Lifton describes the Nazi transmutation of values that allowed medical killing to be seen as a therapeutic healing of the body politic.
Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence
When Trauma and Recovery was first published in 1992, it was hailed as a groundbreaking work. In the intervening years, Herman’s volume has changed the way we think about and treat traumatic events and trauma victims. In a new afterword, Herman chronicles the incredible response the book has elicited and explains how the issues surrounding the topic have shifted within the clinical community and the culture at large.
Covering Violence: A Guide to Ethical Reporting About Victims & Trauma
More essential now than ever, Covering Violence connects journalistic practices to the rapidly expanding body of literature on trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and secondary traumatic stress, and pays close attention to current medical and political debates concerning victims' rights.
Sharing the Front Line and the Back Hills
Sharing the Front Line and the Back Hills is a story that points to a crisis facing international institutions and the media who seek to alleviate and report human suffering throughout the world. The goals of the editor are to tell the story of thousands of individuals dedicated to helping others; and to integrate issues of protection and care into all levels of planning, implementing and evaluating international intervention and action. The book identifies approaches that have proven useful and explores and suggests future directions.
The Roots of Evil: The Origins of Genocide and Other Group Violence
Ervin Staub explores the psychological, cultural, and societal roots of group aggression. He sketches a conceptual framework for the many influences on one group's desire to harm another: cultural and social patterns predisposing to violence, historical circumstances resulting in persistent life problems, and needs and modes of adaptation arising from the interaction of these influences.
Parallel Justice for Victims of Crime
Drawing on more than 30 years of criminal justice experience, author Susan Herman explains why justice for all requires more than holding offenders accountable it means addressing victims three basic needs: to be safe, to recover from the trauma of the crime, and regain control of their lives.
Without Honor: Defeat in Vietnam and Cambodia
Arnold Isaacs, who spent the final years of the war in Vietnam as a correspondent for the Baltimore Sun, describes his firsthand observations of the collapse of Cambodia and South Vietnam―from the 1973 Paris peace agreement to the American evacuation of Saigon and its aftermath―with heartbreaking detail, from the devastated battlefields and villages to the boats filled with terrified refugees.
Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles
This is the story of the Northern Ireland troubles told as never before. It is not concerned with the political bickering, but with the lives of those who have suffered and the deaths which have resulted from more than three decades of conflict
A Country Called Amreeka: U.S. History Retold through Arab-American Lives
The history of Arab settlement in the United States stretches back nearly as far as the history of America itself. For the first time, Alia Malek brings this history to life. In each of eleven spellbinding chapters, she inhabits the voice and life of one Arab American, at one time-stopping historical moment.
Patriot Acts: Narratives of Post-9/11 Injustice
This book seeks to tell the life stories of the innocent men and women who have been needlessly swept up in the “war on terror.” As we approach the ten-year anniversary of 9/11, this collection of narratives gives voice to the people who have had their human rights violated here in the U.S. by post-9/11 policies and actions.
Unsettled/Desasosiego: Children in a World of Gangs/Los niños en un mundo de las pandillas
With profound empathy for a reality that is too easily defined and dismissed as repugnant, Unsettled/Desasosiego takes us on a visual journey into the lives of children deeply affected by civil war and gang violence.
Legal Lynching: The Death Penalty and America's Future
Legal Lynching offers a succinct, accessible introduction to the debate over the death penalty's history and future, exposing a chilling frequency of legal error, systemic racial and economic discrimination, and pervasive government misconduct.
War Photographer is a documentary by Christian Frei about the photographer James Nachtwey. As well as telling the story of an iconic man in the field of war photography, the film addresses the broader scope of ideas common to all those involved in war journalism, as well as the issues that they cover.
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
For the first time in the United States comes the tragic and profoundly important story of the legendary Canadian general who "watched as the devil took control of paradise on earth and fed on the blood of the people we were supposed to protect.
Blood and Soil: A World History of Genocide and Extermination from Sparta to Darfur
In Blood and Soil, Kiernan examines outbreaks of mass violence from the classical era to the present, focusing on worldwide colonial exterminations and twentieth-century case studies including the Armenian genocide, the Nazi Holocaust, Stalin’s mass murders, and the Cambodian and Rwandan genocides.
The Troubles We've Seen
Ophuls examines attitudes toward war in the Western media, and in the societies they inform. The 243-minute documentary interlaces stark realities of combat with mordantly hilarious references to Hollywood fantasy-versions of war, and includes over 50 interviews with some of the world’s leading journalists, commentators, historians, newscasters and many others.
Ghosts by Daylight: Love, War, and Redemption
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It's What I Do: A Photographer's Life of Love and War
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Violence in War and Peace: An Anthology
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Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
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Sleep: A Very Short Introduction
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King Leopold's Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa
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The Universal Journalist
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Legends of People Myths of State: Violence, Intolerance, and Political Culture in Sri Lanka
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On the Natural History of Destruction
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House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-Torn Zimbabwe
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Butcher & Bolt: Two Hundred Years of Foreign Failure in Afghanistan
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Jerusalem 1913: The Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
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They Fought for Each Other: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Hardest Hit Unit in Iraq
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The War Comes Home: Washington's Battle against America's Veterans
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Madame Dread: A Tale of Love, Vodou, and Civil Strife in Haiti
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Feet to the Fire: The Media After 9/11
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Swimming with Warlords: A Dozen-Year Journey Across the Afghan War
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The Price They Paid: Enduring Wounds Of War
The Price They Paid is the stunning and dramatic true story of a legendary helicopter commander in Vietnam and the flight crews that followed him into the most intensive helicopter warfare ever—and how that brutal experience has changed their lives in the forty years since the war ended.
What Have We Done: The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars
Most Americans are now familiar with PTSD and its prevalence among troops. In this groundbreaking book, David Wood examines the far more pervasive yet less understood experience of those we send to war: moral injury, the violation of our fundamental values of right and wrong that so often occurs in the impossible moral dilemmas of modern conflict.
Collective Conviction: The Story of Disaster Action
Collective Conviction tells the story of Disaster Action, a small charity founded in 1991 by survivors and bereaved people from the disasters of the late 1980s, including Zeebrugge, King's Cross, Clapham, Lockerbie, Hillsborough and the Marchioness. The aims were to create a health and safety culture in which disasters were less likely to occur and to support others affected by similar events.
High Tea in Mosul
When Lynne O’Donnell met Pauline and Margaret in Iraq she could never have guessed the wealth of stories she’d discover. Over tea the two women tell Lynne of their lives in the country: each having married Iraqi men had then relocated from England more than thirty years before.
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SPORTS AT THE GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
The mission of the German International School Sports Department is to provide a dedicated program where the principles of determination, cooperation, respect and fairness are instilled in each student. In addition, the Sports Department provides an atmosphere to support all teachers and coaches in their efforts to build and maintain an active learning environment.
The German International School Sports Department is enthusiastically dedicated to maintaining a positive teaching and playing environment for its coaches, teachers and students.
The school’s philosophical views with regard to sports are as follows:
1. The primary objective is to facilitate meaningful sports participation for all students at specific grade levels.
2. The sports experience should be fun for all participants.
3. The school is committed to the staff-coach relationship. The school does hire part time coaches when other staff cannot coach due to the academic schedule.
4. Winning is not the most important aspect of team affiliation but rather a byproduct of continuous work on the part of each individual team.
Sport Offerings
All students may volunteer to engage in after-school sports teams and in school AGs. Students must sign up for available Sport AGs. Once a student signs up for an activity, they must continue to attend the activity as if it were a regular class. Students may also voluntarily participate on a German International School athletic team. Varsity teams are generally composed of students from grades 9-12 and Middle School teams are generally composed of students from grades 5-8. Selection of a team by a student is made after a student decides whether their academic schedule coincides with team practices and games. Students may be excused from classes to participate in a game but teachers must be informed prior to the event and give the student permission to attend.
Practice and Games Times
Practices are generally held for all Varsity Teams between 3:15 and 4:45 pm on Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays. Games for Varsity Teams usually start at 3:30pm-4:00 pm, but due to other factors like transportation, school schedules and the number of games to be played, this time may be adjusted. Games are rarely held on weekends and during vacations, but this is possible, particularly with tournaments. Practices and games for Middle School teams are scheduled on Wednesdays.
Generally, there are no scheduled practices or games during times when the school is not in session. However, due to the schedule of the other schools we play, it may become necessary to participate in a game during vacation time.
Sports Team Seasons
All Athletic teams at the German School compete in their respective seasons. Practices correspond to these seasons.
Fall Season: August - October
Middle School Soccer
Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer
Varsity Girls Volleyball
Winter Season: November - February
Club Sports Variety in November
Middle School Boys and Girls Basketball
Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball
Swim Team practice and competition
Spring Season: March - May
Club Sports Variety in Late February & Early March
Middle School Coed Tennis
Middle School Coed Track
Varsity Coed Track
Varsity Coed Tennis
Club Sports Variety in May
Attendance and Eligibility
In order to be eligible to partake in a school event, the student must attend classes during the school day. A student who is not able to attend to regular academic responsibilities should not, under normal circumstances, be involved in extra-curricular activities, particularly if this absence is due to illness. Exceptions can be made for unavoidable situations for scheduled appointments or for other situations where it is clear the student has made a good faith effort to meet all of his or her academic responsibilities. It is the responsibility of the student to discuss absenteeism with their respective coach. The coach and the Athletic Director will decide if the absence from class was warranted and if the student will be allowed to play in a game.
The GISW is presently competing against other schools in various small school leagues and non-league situations. Due to the academic class schedule with regular classes going into the late afternoon hours, it is not always possible to make all scheduled games. In comparison, at American Schools that we play against, academic classes end earlier in the day.
League affiliation poses transportation problems due to the late bus schedule. Therefore, the GISW generally maintains an independent position with area schools and creates a schedule that both the opponent and the GISWl find workable. Schools are added to the schedule or dropped depending on the activity, school schedule, distance to be traveled or changes in the other school's program. Some of the schools that are regularly asked to play the German international School include:
Avalon School, Burke School, Bulli, Capitol City, Commonwealth, French School, Georgetown Day School, GW Community, Heights, Hebrew Academy, Holton Arms, Holy Child, Jewish Day School, Lab School, Madeira, Maret, McLean School, Norwood, Oak Crest, Potomac, Siena, St. Albans, Stone Ridge, Washington International, Yeshiva
Transportation to Away Games
Transportation to an away site is an organizational task between the Transportation Manager and the Athletic Director. This is a very flexible situation due to daily fluctuations in bus availability. The use of bus runs with drop offs at the away destination is the usual procedure. However, sometimes the opponent is not on or near a bus run and an extra bus or student driving is used. This is used only when school transportation is not readily available. Permission to drive to a game is necessary before a student may drive alone or with other team members. This practice is used for Varsity level teams not Middle School. If transportation is needed during a Middle School game, parents are asked to drive. If the event is on a Saturday or later in the evening, a student may drive to the location or carpool with other players and or parents. Our goal is to minimize the number of students driving to athletic commitments and to centralize travel on GISW buses driven by a bus driver. A parental driving form can be found at the end of this handbook.
Each student should have appropriate attire for all practices. This would include but is not limited to t-shirts, shorts, sweat suits, competitive swim wear, goggles, flip flops and athletic shoes and socks. The use of the regular school sports uniform is an alternative. The uniform can be purchased in the Sports Office. The uniform used during a game is official attire that meets the standards for schools competing in the Washington Area. The uniform can be bought by the player prior to the first game. The price of the uniform used by a player depends on the sport, the team level and player requests. If the student does not wish to purchase the uniform, they must return it in good condition at the end of the season.
Weather conditions often result in adjustments to practices and games scheduled. In these situations, consideration of player and spectator safety, transportation safety, field conditions and long term facility care are taken into consideration. Decisions on game postponement, cancellations and termination after a game has started can be made by the Athletic Director, coaches and/or officials depending on the situation.
Practices and games may be cancelled or terminated due to heavy downpours.
If the school opens late or closes early, games and practices are cancelled. If school is not in session, games and or practices will not be held.
Practices can be halted, cancelled or postponed due to high temperatures and humidity.
Lightning:
No outside practice or game will take place when there is thunder and or lightening present. A game can be suspended or cancelled by the officials on the field and or the coaches participating in the event. The game may not resume unless the official in charge and the two coaches agree it is safe to continue.
Athletic Director: 301.767.3831
Sports Department Hotline: 301.767.3856
The GISW Sports Hotline contains current and pertinent information regarding game schedules, game times, arrival and departure schedule. The hotline is generally updated weekly unless something occurs when the need for immediate information is necessary. If there is a question about a game that is not addressed on the hotline, please feel free to call the Main Office at 301.767.3800 or the Sports Office at 301.767.3831.
ADDENDUM TO THE HANDBOOK – October 2014:
RULES FOR STUDENTS WHEN USING THE SWIMMING POOL AT THE GERMAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL WASHINGTON D.C.
1. Every student needs to have a proper bathing suit, towel, and flip flops. It is recommended all students wear goggles. Bathing caps may be used at any time.
2. Students may not chew gum or wear jewelry while swimming. Contact lense should be removed and properly secured in a water-tight container.
3. Students must shower before entering the pool.
4. Students need to take a soap-and-water shower after leaving the pool water to minimize the effect chlorine can have on the skin and hair. (Sensitive skin can develop a rash when the skin dries and contacts clothing.) All soap containers should be plastic not glass.
5. Students not participating in a swimming lesson should remain seated on the side of the pool wearing flip flops, not street shoes. Students may do homework but may not use electronic devices .
6. There will be no eating or drinking in the pool area.
7. Students should not enter the water umtil the teacher is present or the Lifeguard gives her/his consent.
8. If there are any questions or concerns, please direct them to sports@giswashington.org.
1. For their safety and well-being, all students in the 5th- 10th grade must wear a school sports uniform to every class. Students in the 11th and 12th grade may wear a school uniform or other proper clothing. Students may borrow a uniform from the Sports Department if their uniform is being washed.
2. The uniform consists of blue shorts and a white GISW shirt. It does not include Athletic Team uniforms, Appreciation Day shirts or Sports Day shirts. The uniform may be purchased in the Sports Office for $30. Optional sweat pants are available for $25 and jackets for $40.
3. In addition to the uniform, the student must have proper shoes, socks, and cold weather gear. Shoes need to have laces that can be properly secured.
4. Students must wear a proper bathing suit. Swim wear must be fitted for all swim activities, including but not limited to diving and timings.
5. Students must have a towel, goggles and flip flops.
6. Students may not wear jewelry to sports or swimming class. This includes earrings, necklaces, watches and rings. If the student must wear a piece of jewelry, taping over the item will be possible.
7. If a student is not dressed for class points to the social part of the grade will be deducted. If the student missed 25% of the classes during the semester, a grade may not be possible.
1. Students must attend class to receive a grade. This includes participating while in the class and arriving on time to the class. “Skipping” class will not be tolerated.
2. Students must provide the teacher with a note from a parent to be excused from class. If a student is going to be out for an extended period of time, a doctor’s note is required. When a doctor’s note is used, please have the doctor state, in writing, any restrictions, time period and nature of the injury. Please keep this in mind in order to minimize additional expense for multiple visits to the doctor to get such documentation.
3. Written assignments will be part of sports class. Assignments may include but are not limited to take-home tests, quizzes, projects, and/or logs. These assignments are a part of the sports grade and will help the student better understand the activity. If a student does not turn in the assignment the next class or on the suggested date, the grade “6” will result on this assignment. If a student wishes to still turn in an assignment late, it will be presented to the class in oral form but 5 points will be deducted for the lateness.
4. Use of equipment outside of class will be possible, but a student must sign-out the items and return them by the next school day.
5. Use of the beach volleyball area will be restricted to Fall and Spring seasons so as to reduce injury that may be caused from fallen debris on the sand from inclement weather during the winter months.
6. Activity selection for class depends on the grade level, number of teachers, equipment available and the facility availability. Swimming will be part of the schedule and rotated throughout the year for grades 7-12 and once a week for 5th and 6th grade. All classes must have swimming as part of the sports grade.
7. Use of the sports area is not allowed unless a teacher is supervising. This includes breaks, before school and after school. The facility is shared with the Lower School minimizing the possibilities for general usage during free hours and substitution periods.
1. Team sports are possible during Fall, Winter and Spring seasons. Please see the respective coaches for more information about practices and games.
2. For individual schedules, please review the Web page and look under ATHLETICS > Teams & Game Schedules.
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#1,865. Romper Stomper (1992)
Directed By: Geoffrey Wright
Starring: Russell Crowe, Daniel Pollock, Jacqueline McKenzie
Tag line: "You've never seen anything like it"
Trivia: Daniel Pollock, who plays Davey, committed suicide before the film's release
Years before he played the hero in movies like The Insider, Gladiator, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Russell Crowe was Hando, a neo-Nazi skinhead in the 1992 Australian crime / drama Romper Stomper. And believe me, his character in this film is as far from heroic as you can possibly get!
Hando and his gang of thugs, which includes his best friend Davey (Daniel Pollock), patrol the streets of Melbourne, harassing (and sometimes attacking) the city’s ever-growing Vietnamese population. One day, while he and his cronies are hanging out at the local bar, Hando meets Gabrielle (Jacqueline McKenzie), a drug addict looking for a place to stay. It isn’t long before the two are an item, much to the chagrin of Davey, who is himself falling in love with Gabrielle. To make matters worse, the Vietnamese have decided that enough is enough, and have formed a small army to stand against Hando and his gang. Following a violent rumble, the skinheads are forced to find a new place to live, and, once there, dedicate most of their free time to planning their revenge.
Romper Stomper begins with a brutal scene in which three Vietnamese teens, who were simply riding their skateboards through a subway tunnel, are savagely beaten by Hando and the others. It’s the first of many sequences that take us deep inside the skinhead subculture; at one point, Hando, whose bedroom is decorated with swastikas and Nazi paraphernalia, tries to impress Gabrielle by reading her passages from Mein Kampf. This, along with its unique soundtrack (many tunes feature lyrics that attack minorities and promote white supremacy) and spirited fight sequences (including one big-ass rumble), gives the film’s entire first half an energy all its own.
Moments after Hando and his skinheads are driven out of the warehouse they called home, Romper Stomper settles down a bit, allowing us to learn a few things about its main characters (including why Gabrielle has such a strained relationship with her father) while also permitting the various romantic subplots to play themselves out. It’s in these scenes that the movie’s young performers prove their worth, especially Crowe, who shines as the violently bigoted Hando, a character you love to hate.
An energetic and sometimes shocking exposé of racism at its worst, Romper Stomper also works as a drama, and while it certainly isn’t an easy film to watch, I’m betting you’ll be glad did.
#1,842. How to Hook Up Your Home Theater (2007)
#1,843. Paperman (2012)
#1,844. The Tracker (2002)
#1,845. Starstruck (1982)
#1,846. Age of Consent (1969)
#1,847. Newsfront (1978)
#1,848. The Dish (2000)
#1,849. The Survivor (1981)
#1,850. We of the Never Never (1982)
#1,851. Australia: Land Beyond Time (2002)
#1,852. Wild Australia: The Edge (1996)
#1,853. Lost After Dark (2014)
#1,854. The Canal (2014)
#1,855. Containment (2015)
#1,856. Skyscraper Symphony (1929)
#1,857. Breathe (2011)
#1,858. The Horseman (2008)
#1,859. Long Weekend (1978)
#1,860. The Getting of Wisdom (1978)
#1,861. Fantasm (1976)
#1,862. Mission to Mir (1997)
#1,863. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
#1,864. Bad Boy Bubby (1993)
#1,866. Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)
#1,867. Breaker Morant (1980)
#1,868. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the ...
#1,869. Don's Party (1976)
#1,870. The Devil's Playground (1976)
#1,871. My Brilliant Career (1979)
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Attorneys Also Reporting Transvaginal Mesh Adverse Events to FDA
January 5, 2017 | News
Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) January 5, 2017 – Over 23,641 physicians reported the adverse effects of the transvaginal mesh (TVM) device, used for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or pelvic organ prolapse (POP).
In addition, 25,000 attorneys and over 1,000 hospitals sent negative reports of TVMs to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Furthermore, there was a high number of medical device distributor reports to the FDA, as well.
According to the FDA, there were 126,349 adverse events reported relating to TVM kit failures and 49 recalls for the various medical device manufacturers involved which included Boston Scientific, Bard, Medventure Technology and Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson alone had 42,890 complaints.
Former FDA Program Manager, Madris Tomes, now the founder of Device Events, firmly believes all TVM kits are dangerous. Additionally, although many of the adverse event reports deal with ongoing symptoms, a question arises whether TVMs could cause deaths.
Due to the nature of the reporting system, death may be reported as malfunctions and injuries. Based on current information in the FDA reporting system it is allegedly not clear how many deaths may be related to TVM kits. However, according to Medscape, an FDA review of records for all urogynecologic mesh products spanning the years 2005 to 2010, there were 3,979 reports of malfunctions, injuries and deaths.
“It was not until 2011 that the FDA announced that the serious complications with the TVM kits everyone was reading about in the news were not rare — a reversal of its original stance on the product issued in 2008,” said Austin TVM attorney, Bobby Lee. After the FDA released its revised position on TVM kits, it was revealed they had been sent over 4,000 complaints involving TVM malfunctions, injuries and/or deaths over a five-year period.
More recent figures relating to TVM lawsuits show there are almost 60,000 mesh lawsuits pending with thousands filed daily in the United States. There are even more such lawsuits being filed globally. The scope of the damage done by TVM kits is devastating, leaving thousands of women in pain for the rest of their lives, living with a foreign object in their bodies that they may not be able to have removed.
“If you have had a TVM implant and are having serious medical issues, our office is able to advise you of your legal rights in this regard. We can also discuss filing a lawsuit if you wish to proceed with one against the maker of your implant,” added Lee.
To learn more, visit http://www.lgrlawfirm.com
Lee, Gober & Reyna
11940 Jollyville Road #220-S
Are smartphone makers doing enough to prevent fatal accidents?
With the technology growth in the development of personal devices, an interesting question arises. Are smartphone makers doing enough to prevent fatal accidents? Just recently a lawsuit was launched against Apple after a fatal collision in which one of the drivers was texting while driving. The lawsuit questions Apple’s liability in such accidents. It will be up to the court to decide whether or not cellphone makers are doing enough to prevent drivers from being distracted by notifications, calls, texts and whether they are liable in whole or in part for the accident. Legal pundits suggest Apple would likely not […]
Man involved in a head-on crash seeks to be hidden by store clerks
The head-on crash in this story happened in an intersection in eastern Montgomery County. The wreck involved a 56-year-old man and a teenager. The teen managed to make it out of the crash unscathed, but the man left the scene. He ran to a gas station across the street, where he begged the store clerks to hide him. It was revealed later that the man had a blood alcohol content of .184, twice the legal limit. As it subsequently turned out, this particular felony crash was the man’s ninth DWI conviction. He received a life sentence to prevent him from […]
Lawsuit alleges trucker drove recklessly
According to the statement of claim in this lawsuit, a Longview couple were left badly injured when a trucker, employed by a bottled water supply company, crashed into their vehicle. The suit alleges the company negligently entrusted a delivery truck to a reckless employee. It is further alleged the trucker was texting while driving, did not apply his brakes in a timely manner, was tailgating and did not maintain proper control of his truck. The accident happened in 2014 when the truck collided with the couples’ vehicle causing them to sustain severe physical and mental pain, loss of consortium and […]
Texas marks depressing milestone as anniversary of the last fatality free day arrives
Disturbingly, the last fatality free day Texas saw was November 7, 2000. Since then, 50,578 have died in collisions, which is higher than the death toll during the 9/11 attacks. TxDOT points out that something must be done to stop the carnage. In order to focus a spotlight on the high number of deaths on the highways, TxDOT invited the public to share stories of loved ones lost in vehicle accidents during the month of November. They asked for videos and pictures to be shared with the hashtag #EndTheStreakTX. Despite the fact that this campaign has been running since 2000, […]
New App promotes “Don’t text and drive and save money in the process”
A new app provides a unique approach to the problem of texting and driving. In College Station, Texas the new app, that encourages its users to drive safely while saving money, is making headway. App creators say a driver is 23 times more likely to get into a wreck when they are driving while distracted. The new app does not stop a driver from texting. Instead, driver opens the app prior to driving. En route, if the driver gets a text, and wants to respond to it, a screen with a family photo opens up with a caption that reads: […]
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Ellie Reeves MP
Cuts to Metropolitan Police - Prime Minister's Questions
In this weeks PMQ's I challenged the Prime Minister over Government cuts to the Metropolitan Police (Met) and the recent rise of violent crime in London.
Violent crime has recently surged across the capital. Statistics from the Met show that between July 2016 – July 2017 knife crime increased by 34% and gun crime by 37% compared to the previous year.
This has occurred whilst the Government has made significant cuts to the Met. Since 2010 the Met’s budget has been reduced by £600 million and even after a rise in the council tax precept, a further £325 million worth of savings have to be found by 2021.
These cuts have already led to the loss of 30 per cent of police staff, 65 per cent of police community support officers, 120 police buildings and most of the capital’s police station front counters.
The Home Secretary has stated there is no evidence to suggest a lack of resources is influencing violent crime. However, recent leaked Home Office documents claim the cuts have “likely contributed” to the rise in violent crime.
This all comes amidst the news at the beginning of the month that six people had been stabbed in four separate attacks across the capitol within a 90-minute window. The total number of suspected murders in London this year is 60.
Addressing this, I warned that cuts so far have reduced the Met’s operational capability and that further cuts will only make tackling violent crime more difficult. Sentiments which have further been expressed by Cressida Dick the Met commissioner.
I pay tribute to all those within the Met who work so hard to keep our streets safe. But cuts so far have made it harder for the Met to operate effectively and as such we have seen a surge in violent crime. Further cuts will only make an already difficult operating environment that much harder.
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ABC caves to industry pressure
The ABC has capitulated to the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA).
The ABC's Catalyst program 'Wi-Fried?' which aired on 16 February 2016, presented information about the health risks of wireless radiation from mobile phones and WiFi devices.The excellent program was presented by award-winning journalist, Dr Maryanne Demasi.
Shortly afterwards, the program and its presenter came under fire from sources maintaining that wireless radiation does not pose a risk to health - even though peer-reviewed science suggests it does.
Among them was AMTA, which submitted a complaint about the program to the ABC. The ABC responded with the extreme action of removing the 'Wi-Fried?' segment from its website and suspending Dr Demasi.
Among its reasons were that the program presented 'unorthodox' views of science. How the ABC determines what science is 'orthodox' and what is not was not made clear. However, this finding sends a clear message to journalists: present only mainstream science and ignore budding or controversial issues.
This action is a nail in the coffin of independent journalism.
You can read more about this - and post comments supporting the program - here.
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Jupiter Hammon of Long Island, New York, publishes a book of poetry. This is believed to be the first volume written and published by an African-American
New Jersey prohibits the enlistment of slaves in the militia without their master's permission.
King George III ascends the English throne.
Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter'S Vorläufige nachricht von einigen das geschlecht der pflantzen betreffende versuche and beobachtungen describes his research in heredity in plants.
Giovanni Arduino proposes a naming system for geologic strata, in order of oldest to youngest: Primary: lacking fossils; Secondary: tilted with fossils; Tertiary: horizontal with fossils; Quaternary: sands and gravels overlying Tertiary strata. Although he does not relate these systems to scripture, many people will interpret them in terms of biblical events.
Photometria by German physicist Johann Lambert is an investigation of light reflections from planets, introducing the term ALBEDO (whiteness) for the differing reflectivities of planetary bodies.
In experiments with primitive apparatus, Daniel Bernoulli decides that the electrical force obeys an inverse square law similar to that of gravity.
The Swiss physicist Johann Heinrich Lambert supports Wright and Kants hierarchical universe and nebular hypothesis, and also hypothesizes that the stars near the Sun are part of a group which travel together through the Milky Way, and that there are many such groupings or star systems throughout the galaxy.
Jean-Baptiste Robinet's five-volume De la nature claims that organic species form a linear scale of progress, without gaps.
Between 1761 and 1766, Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter (Germany) demonstrates that hybrid offspring receive traits from both parents (pollen and ovule transmit genetic information), and are intermediate in most traits. First scientific hybrid produced (tobacco). Demonstrates the identity of reciprocal crosses. Notes hybrid vigor, segregation of offspring (parental and non-parental types) from a hybrid.
Joseph Black discovers latent heat by finding that ice, when melting, absorbs heat without changing in temperature. Later he measures the latent heat of steam — that is, the heat required to keep water boiling without raising its temperature.
English poet, playwright, and novelist Oliver Goldsmith's Letters from a Citizen of the World is published, a collection of satirical essays on Britain from the point of view of a fictitious Chinese visitor.
French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau writes a philosophical treatise on government and the populace, The Social Contract.
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, age 6, tours Europe as a musical prodigy.
Virginia restricts voting rights to white men.
Catherine the Great becomes Empress of all the Russias after death of her husband.
Charles Bonnet's Considerations sur les corps organisées gives his theory of "preformation" — the idea that each creature is already preformed in miniature in the egg, and that the egg contains all future generations in even smaller scale, ad infinitum.
George III purchases the Paper Museum of Cassiano Dal Pozzo, a 17th- century patron of arts and sciences. Preserved by the Albani family, this "museum" contains more than 7,000 science illustrations, including highly accurate depictions from the Lincean Academy that will prove invaluable to later science historians.
On May 16, English critic and writer Samuel Johnson meets the young Scotsman James Boswell, who will become his biographer.
Painting by Joseph-Marie Vien: The Cupid Seller depicts a business transaction — the offer for sale of several wriggling cupids. The customers seem unimpressed.
Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon begin surveying Mason-Dixon Line between Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Chief Pontiac leads a Native American rebellion against British settlers in and around Detroit.
The French Indian War ends with the Treaty of Paris surrendering Canada to England.
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, age eight, writes his first symphony.
German archaeologist and critic Johann Winckelmann publishes his History of Ancient Art Among the Greeks, the first book to include the phrase "history of art" in the title.
Painting by John Singleton Copley: The Boy with a Squirrel, a portrait highly praised when exhibited in London. The subject is Copley's half-brother, Henry Pelham, seated at a table and playing with a pet squirrel. This picture, which made the young Boston painter a Fellow of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, by vote of September 3, 1766, had been painted the preceding year
Britain enacts Quartering Act, requiring colonists to provide temporary housing to British soldiers.
Stamp Act passed; this is the first direct British tax on colonists.
Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani suggests preserving food by sealing it in containers that do not permit air to penetrate.
Leonhard Euler gives a general treatment of the motion of rigid bodies, including the precession and nutation of earth, in Theoria motus corporum solidorum seu rigidorum (Theory of the motion of solid and rigid bodies).
Britain repeals the Stamp Act.
Albrecht von Haller is the first to show that nerves stimulate muscles to contract and that all nerves lead to the spinal cord and the brain.
Horace-Bénédict de Saussure invents the electrometer, a device for measuring the electric potential by means of the attraction or repulsion of charged bodies.
Bifocal spectacles are invented by Benjamin Franklin.
First fire escape patented, consisting of a wicker basket on a pulley and chain.
Mozart's opera "Apollo et Hyacinthus," premieres in Salzburg.
Painting by Claude Joseph Vernet: A Storm on a Mediterranean Coast. Perhaps no painter of landscapes or sea-pieces has ever made the human figure so completely a part of the scene depicted or so important a factor in his design. In this respect he was heavily influenced by Giovanni Paolo Panini, whom he probably met and worked with in Rome. Vernet's work draws on natural themes, but in a way that is neither sentimental or emotive. The overall effect of his style is wholly decorative.
Painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard: The Swing (French: L'Escarpolette), also known as The Happy Accidents of the Swing (French: Les Hasards heureux de l'escarpolette, the original title), is an 18th-century oil painting in the Wallace Collection in London. It is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the rococo era, and is Fragonard's best known work. From a contemporary perspective, it would be hard to imagine a more frilly piece of trivia.
Britain passes Townshend Revenue Act levying taxes on America.
The Virginia House of Burgess boycotts the British slave trade in protest of the Townsend Acts. Georgia and the Carolinas follow suit.
Benjamin Franklin writes a thank-you letter to a wealthy Irish trader for a box of proboscidian "tusks and grinders." Franklin believes the remains belong to elephants but makes astute observations about how their climate must have differed from the present.
Painting by Alexander Roslin: The Lady with the Veil is one of the Nationalmuseums best loved paintings. The woman in the portrait is partially hidden by a black silk veil. Beneath the veil she is dressed for a special occasion in white lace and pink silk. During the 18th century, theatre was an important part of the life of the upper classes. Dressing up, disguising oneself and playing dramatic roles was a common pastime. The Lady with the Veil shows how one could dress up à la bolonaise in the style of Bologna.
Britain's Capt. James Cook begins exploring the Pacific, putting ashore in such places as New Zealand and Australia.
Lazzaro Spallanzani's Prodromo d'un ouvrage sur les reproductions animales (Foreword to a work on animal reproduction) tells of his demonstration that spontaneous generation of animals does not take place in tightly closed bottles that have been boiled for more than 30 minutes.
Caspar Friedrich Wolff's De formatione intestinarum establishes principles of the formation of organs in embryos.
James Cook sets sail on the Endeavour bound for the South Pacific. Accompanying Cook is naturalist Joseph Banks, who will collect tens of thousands of plant and animal specimens and initiate the exchange of flora and fauna between Europe, the Americas and the South Seas.
Father Junipero Serra founds Mission San Diego, first mission in California.
Charles Bonnet's Philosophical palingenesis, or ideas on the past and future states of living beings contains his view that the females of every species contain the germs of all future generations.
John Robison measures the repulsion between two charged bodies and shows that this force is inversely proportional to the distance between the two bodies.
James Watt patents the modern steam engine, which finds wide use in manufacturing. It is an early milestone of the Industrial Revolution.
ESP: HOME » Timelines » All Other Categories vs History of Technology (1760-1769)
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Home » 1934 World Cup , 1950 World Cup , 1966 World Cup , 2002 world cup , 2010 world cup , 2014 World Cup , Brazil , France , Italy , Spain , Uruguay , World Cup » Top 5 Worst World Cup Title Defenses
So we all witnessed Spain crash out of this year's World Cup after having played just two matches. And with one more game to go against Australia they are sitting last in their group with zero out of the six points that were available to them at first. The Spanish team surely showed football fans around the world a title defense that will go into the record books as one of the worst in World Cup history, so with that in mind we give you the worst 5 World Cup defenses before this year's tournament.
#5 - Uruguay 1934
This one is one of the worst for the simple fact that Uruguay voluntarily decided not to participate in the 1934 tournament in Italy after winning the inaugural one on home soil in 1930. The reason for Uruguay's decision not to travel to Italy was simply made on the back of the fact that when they hosted the World Cup in 1930 some European countries decided not to travel to Uruguay because of logistics, money and distance factors.
#4 - Italy 1950
Understandably the Italian squad looked like a totally different team in 1950 from the one that won the World Cup title in France in 1938. Because of World War II, the World Cup competition took a 12 year break resuming again in 1950 in Brazil. Nonetheless, Italy were the defending champions but did not look as such. After India's withdrawal from the tournament and coincidentally from Italy's group, Italy had to come in first place out of three teams in order to at least qualify for the next round. All looked good for the Azzurri as they took a 1-0 lead in their first match against the Swedes in just the 7th minute, but Sweden would go on to shock the Italians with three of their own goals and beating the Italians 3-2. After Sweden's 2-2 draw against Paraguay, Italy's remaining match against that same South American opponent did not matter, as it was mathematically clear that the defending champions would not qualify to the next round even if they win. Italy would win their last match against Paraguay by a score of 2-0, and would officially finish the tournament with 2 points from 2 matches and just a point behind Sweden who won the group and qualified to the next round.
#3 - Brazil 1966
After winning their second World Cup title four years earlier in Chile, Brazil traveled to England for the 1966 edition of the tournament as one of the heavy favorites to win the title yet again. The defending champions started well with a 2-0 victory over Bulgaria at Goodison Park, but unfortunately for them that would be their last points in this tournament. In their second match in the group the Brazilians were handily beaten by the Hungarians in a very entertaining fixture; the final score was 3-1. In their third match, which would prove to be their last in the tournament, Brazil faced Portugal. Eventual tournament top scorer and Portugal legend Eusebio scored twice and helped Portugal eliminate the defending champions with a 3-1 final result. Brazil finished the tournament with 2 of a possible 6 points, in 3rd place in their group behind Portugal and Hungary.
Italy are almost always considered a good squad to make a deep run in the World Cup, and they did just that in 2006 in Germany when they won the whole thing despite not being the major favorites like Brazil or the German hosts. Four years later however, their title defense ended in misery. Drawn into possibly the easiest group of the tournament with Paraguay, New Zealand and first time participants Slovakia, the defending champions looked well on their way to the second round before the competition even began. In their first match the Italians drew Paraguay 1-1, and although the result was not one they expected, the Paraguayans were considered as the "other" favorites to join Italy in the next round. In their second match the disappointment started to set in as the Italians were held to another draw, this time by the "All Blacks" with an identical scoreline to that of their previous match, a 1-1 final. After two matches for each team in the group Paraguay were the leaders with 4 points, while Italy and New Zealand were tied for second with 2 points each and Slovakia sitting in last place with just one point. No matter the result in the match between Paraguay and New Zealand, a win over last placed Slovakia would guarantee the Italians qualification into the round of 16, but the future looked sour right from the get-go for the defending champs. Slovakia got on the board in just the 25th minute and kept the lead through the first half. The Italians were pushing all they had in the second half, but then again in the 73rd minute Robert Vittek who scored the first goal for Slovakia found the net yet again and the Italians' hopes of retaining the title looked all but done. Italy would go on to bring the score closer at 2-1 but the Slovaks had an answer for that as well with their third goal of the match a few minutes later. The Italian second goal in added-time meant nothing as they crashed out of the 2010 World Cup finishing third in their supposedly easy group.
#1 - France 2002
1998 marked the high of all highs in French football as Les Bleus won their first ever World Cup title, and on home soil. In 2000 the French reiterated their world football domination by winning the European championship hosted in Netherlands/Belgium. But the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan would hurt the French so much, they are still trying to recuperate from the aftermath till this very day. In the very first match the Frenchmen were playing against first time participants Senegal in a match that will forever be remembered as one of the biggest World Cup upsets in history. The Senegalese shocked the defending champions with a 1-0 win from a goal by Papa Bouba Diop in the very first match of the tournament, and the embarrassment for the French did not end there. In their second match France were again unable to find the net and their match against Uruguay ended in a 0-0 draw. There was still a slight chance for the French to qualify for the round of 16 but they would have to defeat Denmark by a more than 2 goals. France was not up to the task however, and were humbled by the Scandinavian squad with a final score of 2-0. France crashed out of their title defending campaign in last place of their first round group, only 1 of 9 available points and not a single goal scored in their three matches, to record the most humiliating title defense in World Cup history.
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Home / Entrepreneurship/ ‘#WeAre2030: Youth Dialogue and Incubation Program’ begins
‘#WeAre2030: Youth Dialogue and Incubation Program’ begins
Comments / {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} Views / Wednesday, 8 November 2017 00:00
Two-day dialogue on youth leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship
‘#WeAre2030: Youth Dialogue and Incubation Program,’ a youth dialogue bringing together 350+ young people from across the country, began yesterday at the BMICH.
This two-day dialogue, hosted by UNDP together with the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, the Ministry of National Policies and Economic Affairs, the National Youth Services Council (NYSC), the Information and Communications Technology Agency (ICTA) and Unilever brings together young people to create a youth dialogue on entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership in Sri Lanka so together we can achieve the future we want to live in by 2030.
Addressing the youth at the opening session, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Niroshan Perera stated: “It is by accelerating youth development, that we can mainstream young people in development. Hence we can fulfil our vision of creating a youth centric development plan for the country.”
The Asia Pacific region is home to 60% of the world’s youth and in Sri Lanka, 23.2% of the population is young people. Through social innovation and entrepreneurship, young people can take control of their futures and have an impact in their communities. Hence this Dialogue comes under the Youth CoLab Program, introduced by UNDP Asia Pacific, to promote the role of youth entrepreneurship as a driver for social change across 15 countries, including Sri Lanka.
Speaking at the opening session on UNDP’s work on youth and innovation, UNDP Sri Lanka Country Director Jorn Sorensen stated: “As UNDP, we remain committed to the youth empowerment agenda and having young people at the heart of our development work. Over the years we have remained as a key partner working to empower our younger generation. We are working both through UNDP-led initiatives and through inter-agency collaboration within the wider UN system to engage young women and men as transformative actors for change.”
Finding one’s purpose, building one’s career is critical, especially as youth stepping into the world. Speaking about the private sector’s role in partnering youth in development, Unilever Head of Sustainable Business and Communication Saumya Perera stated: “Young people must be considered as partners in all our initiatives, which is why it is great for Unilever to be a part of #WeAre2030 to work together with as many young people alongside other partners.”
Parallel to this, together with the Ministry of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure, the National Youth Services Council and the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) Sri Lanka, the nine winning teams from the recently conducted social innovation hackathons ‘Hackadev’ in Badulla, Matara and Jaffna are currently in Colombo for the Incubation Program where over the two days, their solutions will be guided with the support of mentors and seed funding.
Through the ‘#WeAre2030: Youth Dialogue and Incubation Program,’ it is the vision of all partners to initiate a youth dialogue on entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership in Sri Lanka, so together we can achieve sustainable human development by 2030.
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For Landon and David: LA Galaxy wins MLS Cup 2012
Photo credit: USA Today
It is only fitting, perhaps, that David Beckham's last game for the LA Galaxy would be at the tournament final and with an emphatic win. It's the stuff that dreams are made of. Beckham came to light the way for MLS, struggled in the first 2 years, was distant in the following 2, and brought it home in the final 2 with two titles for the Galaxians. But that's what it took to bring it home for him.
Landon Donovan did better. He won his 5th MLS Cup, added to his record as high-scoring player in the playoffs, and temporarily made us forget that he may be on his way out. It could have been different had he missed the go-ahead penalty in the second half, as he had missed a one-on-one with Tally Hall in the first half that would have given the Galaxy the lead. But Donovan was calm and collected and slotted home the penalty kick and gave LA its 4th title, tying it with DC United for most wins. He will go on an extended break now, perhaps not to return to the game.
This year's Houston was not like last year's. Brad Davis would start, Boniek Garcia was on the pitch alongside Ricardo Clark, and Will Bruin was a natural goalscorer. But Calen Carr made the difference in this game for the Dynamo both in offense and defense. He scored Houston's goal at the end of the first half and held Omar Gonzalez in check for the entirety of his time on the pitch. Sadly, he got injured, and the floodgates promptly opened for the Galaxy.
The real hero for the LA Galaxy, and game MVP, was undoubtedly Omar Gonzalez. He nearly single-handedly repelled every ball that came close to the Galaxy goal box, made up for some of Meyer's errors, and scored a wonderful tying goal that made the Galaxy's win possible. Gonzalez's tactical awareness and nose for goal is reminiscent of a young Carlos Bocanegra. Klinsmann may need to consider him as a candidate to man defense alongside Geoff Cameron. Indeed, Gonzalez could well have been playing in Europe by now had it not been for a terrible knee injury back in January.
As Robbie Keane scored the penalty in injury time, we saw curtains close on an American spectacle. This game had all it needed to have and more than we could have wanted. High-scoring, high tension, star power, drama on and off the pitch, love of the game, and saying goodbye. For Landon and David, that's what this truly means. And the two LA Galaxy aces leave with what they wanted: a Hollywood ending.
Labels: BECKHAM, BECKHAM EXPERIMENT, CALEN CARR, DONOVAN RETIRING, HOUSTON DYNAMO, LA GALAXY, LANDON DONOVAN, MLS, MLS CHAMPIONS, MLS CUP 2012, OMAR GONZALEZ, ROBBIE KEANE
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Beyond The Sentence
Wired: An FBI Story
Glenn Painter
Author of "Beyond The Sentence" and "WIRED - An FBI Story"
Born in Mobile, Alabama in 1962, Glenn Painter moved to central Florida in 1967. He attended and graduated from school there. He remained in the central Florida area until temporarily moving to Atlanta in 2005.
Glenn moved back to the central Florida area and wrote the book "Beyond the Sentence".
After "Beyond The Sentence" was published, Glenn began writing "WIRED - An FBI Story" which is due to be released in early Spring 2017. He has also announced a sequel, "WIRED II - An FBI Story - Three Strikes You're Out"..... to be available in late 2017. The final sequel to this series will be "WIRED III - An FBI Story - The Torture Chamber" which should be available in early Spring 2018.
“Writing is very challenging and you must love the trials & tribulations that come with it,” says Painter. He acknowledges that patience, perseverance and determination are required essentials to see a book through to being published. “The journey is just as important as the destination.”
Glenn lives in the central Florida area and is very close to his family. He has also founded a company called "Prisoner Civil Rights Services" where a lot of his stories come from. In addition to reading various author's work, he enjoys boating and traveling.
Next Century Publishing
8121 Bee Cave Rd. #150
E-mail: glenn@gapainter.com
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© 2015 Glenn Painter | Website by Tight Line Productions
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The Pension Mounts
William Talbot Hammond was the great-great-great-grandfather of Evans Goodling, Jr., and served for 12 days in the War of 1812 as a substitute for his brother Mordecai. When Goodling went to the National Archives to find William's pension record, he found instead evidence of his failed attempts to swindle the federal government—in one case by adopting his brother's name.
The file recounted the attempts — at various times and under various names — of William Hammond to obtain a pension.
“It shows how he became tangled up in all the stories that he had made up in various communications with the pension office in order to justify his claim,” Goodling said.
One thing the file showed was the dry wit of the pension examiner assigned to the case.
Noting that there was evidence that both Mordecai Hammond and his widow Zilla were dead, the examiner wrote that the primary item to be determined was whether Mordecai “has revived expressly for the purpose of obtaining a pension.” [Link]
[tagged: genealogy, family tree, ancestry]
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Media >
Written by Niklaus R. Schweizer
The German presence in the Hawaiian islands is a long and venerable one. Aboard Captain Cook's ships there were already three Germans and a Swiss when 0'ahu and later Kaua'i appeared on the horizon on January 17, 1778, and the first Europeans to land officially in the most isolated archipelago in the world stepped ashore at Waimea, Kaua'i, two days later. The Germans were sailors; the Swiss was no other than the famous painter and draftsman John Webber, spelled Johann Waber in his native Beme, who with his excellent illustrations and paintings introduced Hawai'i pictorially to Europe and America.
In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the intellectuals in Germany looked at the far-flung Pacific islands with great curiosity and profound interest There, under a tropical sun, they hoped to find a kind of earthly paradise, a latter-day Garden of Eden blessed with abundance, a benign climate and friendly inhabitants. The poets Goethe, Schiller and Chamisso, the philosopher Immanuel Kant, and other luminaries all discussed the Pacific intensively and wrote about this wondrous world. Cham'@, who had visited Hawai'i aboard the Russian brig Rurik towards the end of the reign of Kamehameha the Great described vividly the meaning of aloha, or "arocha" as he heard it found moving words for the "huffahurra" and wrote the first grammar of the Hawaiian language, in German of course, published in Leipzig in 1837.
Thus sprang up a kind of South Sea romanticism which in many forms has persisted in German-speaking Europe to this day. "Hawal'i" in particular has proved to be a magic word, manifested in the ever increasing numbers of German, Austrian and Swiss tourists flocking to the islands.
The Germans did not arrive only as explorers; they also came to settle in Hawai'i. In the 1850's there were a number of flourishing German firms in the area bordered by Merchant and Bethel Streets in the of Honolulu. The leading enterprise was H. Hackfeld & Co., named after its founder Heinrich Hackfeld, originally a sea captain on the Hamburg to Canton run, who parlayed his original wares valued at $8,394.50 in 1849 into the largest firm in all Hawai'i. Under the name of Amfac, Inc., Hackfeld's creation is still the biggest of the "Big Five". Its subsidiary, Liberty House, was once called "B. F. Ehlers", after Hackfeld's nephew.
In government the Germans played a role as well. Hermann Widemann was minister of the interior under King Kalakaua and minister of finances under Queen Lili'uokalani; Paul Neumann held the position of atterney general; Henry Bertelmann was a major attached to the personal staff of the queen; and other Germans held equally exalted positions. Germans also represented a number of European nations diplomatically, in the capacity of consuls.
The German influence in nineteenth century Hawai'i was so strong that Kalakaua often appeared in the uniform of a German cavalry general, and his palace guards wore essentially Prussian tunics tailored by Paul Lemke, who had arrived in Hawai'i from Soldin near Berlin in 1877. The national anthem, "Hawai'i Ponoi", now the state song, was derived from the Prussian anthem "Hefl Dir im Siegerkranz", rearranged by Heinrich Berger of Potsdam, bandleader of the famous Royal Hawaiian Band. The bands were composed by King Kalakaua.
The Germans were also noteworthy because they were the only sugar planters to bring in laborers from their own nation. Particularly on Kaua'i some 1400 Germans eventually toiled in the fields, the first contingent having arrived on the ship Ceder on June 18, 1881.
In Lihu'e there was an excellent school for their children where both German and English were used in class. The Germans also organized their own church, of the Lutheran denomination, in Lihu'e and in Honolulu.
World War I proved catastrophic for the Germans in Hawai'i who with the entry of the United States into the war, had become enemy aliens overnight Many left for the mainland, others stayed but often anglicized their names. Today, however, their valuable contributions are again remembered and their descendants and other Germans, Austrians and Swiss who arrived in recent years play once more an important role in the Land of Aloha.
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Below please find a list of organizations focusing on the Environment and Energy in the Dominican Republic.
Asociación Club Nuevo Ambiente, Inc.
Asoclubnuam, founded on August 9, 1987, as a simple sports club, has been adapting itself to the needs of the sector. It has acquired legal status and defined its scope of action and line of work, n . . .ow not being just for sports, but also for education, health, culture, environment and sports. Currently, it works in all of these areas, but with an emphasis on adolescents, sexual and reproductive health, and teen pregnancy, utilizing youth networks with pair and theater strategies in order to expose the adolescents and youth to the problems of violence based on gender, gender inequality, and the prevention of teen pregnancy.
ASOCIACIÓN DE JÓVENES EMPRESARIOS, INC.
La Asociación de Jóvenes Empresarios (ANJE) was created in 1978, and has as its mission to serve as a conduit for the ideas of its members for visionary and concrete solutions to the problems that . . .affect the economic, social and institutional development of the country.
ASOCIACIÓN PARA EL DESARROLLO DE LA MICROEMPRESA
ADEMI is a private non-profit institution, that is neither political nor religious, which was created by Presidential Decree No. 745 of February 11, 1983, by virtue of Law 520 of July 26, 1920, relat . . .ing to organizations with a social interest.
It was founded by Mr. Camilo Lluberes H., together with the national private sector, as a response to the need to address the prevailing problems of unemployment and underemployment in the country.
It started its operations in 1983 in the marginalized neighborhoods of the city of Santo Domingo, with the principal objective to create and strengthen employment through financial and managerial assistance to micro and small enterprises that operate in this urban area. Afterwards, on the initiative of groups and provincial organizations from different regions of the country, it began to extend its program throughout the entire national territory.
In 1988, the Monetary Board approved a license to carry out banking operations as Banco de Desarrollo at the same time that it opened its doors as Banco Ademi. At this moment, ADEMI because the social arm of Banco Ademi.
Banco Múltiple de las Américas
Bancamérica started its operations as a multiple bank in the Dominican Republic in May of 2010. Since then, Bancamérica has been consolidating itself in the Dominican financial market as a bank or . . .iented towards providing tailored financial solutions to its clients. Through its personalized services, it offers innovative financial products which solve the needs of its Personal, PYME and Corporate Bank clients, through its offices at the national level and its internet banking platform.
In January of 2015, Bancamérica began its Bancamérica Goes Green Program. This program is focused on protecting the environment by minimizing the negative effects its operations may generate, and creating awareness in its employees and clients about the importance of protecting the environment. This program began due to the interest of Bancamérica in being an entity that operates in a sustainable manner, taking into account the impact that it has on society and the environment. Bancamérica constantly is looking to enrich the communities surrounding it, adding value to society and being a reference for green community projects.
Cámara Americana de Comercio de la República Dominicana
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic) (AMCHAMDR) (La Cámara Americana de Comercio de la República Dominicana) is a non-profit organization comprised of 2,100 companies . . ., both Dominican and American, that seeks to empower its members to maximize the development of their potential based on three pillars – economic, professional and social – through the facilitation of access to information, opportunities, a best practices culture, respect for the rule of law and corporate social responsibility.
AMCHAMDR is the only institution of its kind with a true presence at the national level through 9 offices throughout the country: Santiago, Moca, San Francisco, La Vega, Puerto Plata, San Pedro, La Romana, Higüey y Baní.
The activities organized by AMCHAMDR are specifically designed to keep its members informed of the most important business world trends, both nationally and internationally. Through its offering of services it strives to, in addition, offer them concrete solutions and opportunities for business and professional growth that succeed in having a positive impact on the economic development of their companies and, as a consequence, of the country.
Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal
Founded in 1987, the Centro para el Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestal (CEDAF), formerly known as the Fundación para el Desarrollo Agropecuario (FDA), is a private nonprofit organization that promot . . .es Dominican sustainable development in the agricultural and forestry sector, through training, information, institutional innovation, policy analysis and sector strategies. The Center strives for institutional excellence and high credibility in order to stimulate a competitive agricultural industry that aims to reduce poverty and protect the environment.
Compañía de Electricidad San Pedro de Macorís, S.A.
The Compañía de Electricidad de San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM) arose out of the bid emitted by the Compañía Dominicana de Electricidad (CDE) in 1997. In December of 2006, CESPM was acquired in it . . .s entirety by a consortium led by the Basic Energy Group, which began to manage the approximately 60 employees which comprised the company, as well as each of the three 100 MW combined cycle units of Siemens, for a total of 300 MW, which turned it into one of the mayor energy centers of the country. CESPM is the owner of a power purchase agreement for 20 years, which constitutes the first and only sovereign contract ratified by the Dominican National Congress.
In CESPM, Corporate Social Responsibility is a pillar of the corporate culture, and impacts everything done on the inside and outside of the company. Its Corporate Social Responsibility policy is reflected in its organizational values, its corporate ethics with which it carries out its business. and the strict compliance with the law which governs its operations.
Consorcio Energético Punta Cana–Macao, S. A
The Consorcio Energético Punta Cana–Macao, S. A. (CEPM) is an electric energy generation, distribution and commercialization company which currently has 198.95 MW of installed capacity with which . . .it supplies energy through its 12.8 kms. of high, medium and low tension networks to more than 60% of the national hotel offerings divided in approximately 40,000 hotel rooms and more than 21,000 residential, commercial and industrial clients, acting as a fundamental proponent of tourism development in the region.
In the region in which it operates, CEPM implements Corporate Social Responsibility programs in the areas of Environmental Education and Orientation, Community Development and Company-Community relations.
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Greg Bolan
About Greg Bolan
Gregory Bolan: A Look at a Number 1 Stock Picker
While Gregory Bolan can currently be found at Avondale Partners, LLC, a boutique investment banking and asset management firm in Nashville, Tennessee. He serves as a Senior Research Analyst covering Healthcare IT and Pharmaceutical Services at this time, but his entire decade-plus-long career has been focused primarily on the healthcare and targeted middle market sectors.
Over the years, Gregory Bolan has been working to improve his skills as researcher in the financial field. It is that experience that makes the difference and informs every investment decision he makes. His experience is very strong. Before Avondale, Greg was with with Sterne Agee as their Managing Director of Healthcare Equity Research. Working in that firm’s Nashville office, he focused primarily on pharmaceutical companies and he received a lot of recognition as a result, having been recognized by Starmine as a “Number 1 Stock Picker” for Life Science Tools & Services in 2014 and as the “Best Up & Comer” as part of Institutional Investor’s All-American Research Team Survey in 2010. Greg also helped to build an extremely skilled and knowledgeable team of healthcare analysts to examine such sub-sectors as Specialty Pharma, Managed Care and Medical Devices & Diagnostics.
During Greg Bolan’s career, he has also spent a lot of time as a Director of Healthcare Equity Research for the Nashville office of Wells Fargo Securities and he was a Senior Associate of Healthcare Equity Research with Jefferies & Company in Nashville. In addition, he served as an healthcare associate at FNY GMG Capital in New York City. During his time at all of these firms, his primary focus was on the buy side of the healthcare industry.
AuthorAdmin
PostedDecember 15, 2016 — 10:29 am
CategoriesPosts
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"She loved the dildo more than me" says jealous boyfriend arrested for smashing...
Discussion in 'News in Nigeria' started by djayz1, Oct 17, 2016.
"She loved the dildo more than me" says jealous boyfriend arrested for smashing ex-girlfriend's sex toy
A jealous man appeared before a court for or breaking his ex-girlfriend’s sex toy in a fit of rage.
Rich Moore, 33, a builder from south east London got the hump with the toy after his seven year relationship with the woman ended. In a fit of anger while collecting his belongings from her house, he smashed up the vibrator along with a £200 pair of her sunglasses.
"I was fed up. I’ve gone to get my stuff and I came across the glasses and smashed them," he told The Sun. "Then I found the dildo and I just ripped it up. It was one of those bullet ones. She loved the dildo more than me, that’s why I got the hump with it. I bought it, it cost me £30."
Moore’s ex, Sarah Mills, who he has a two-year-old daughter with, reported him to the police and he was charged with criminal damage. He admitted to the charges at Croydon Magistrates’ court.
"It’s all so petty and a waste of taxpayers’ money. It’s ridiculous if you think about it. I told the police I had broken the dildo and offered to pay for it to save us all going to court but they weren’t having it," Moore said. "I wanted to go to court with a T-shirt saying 'Save The Dildos' but I decided it was probably best not to."
Moore was released on conditional bail until October 19th.
Source: Evening Standard
djayz1, Oct 17, 2016
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Using astrology to chart the ebb and flow of the historical process
Astrology’s Future
Astrology of Eris
Sumerian Astrology
Synods
The Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn in America’s Chart
Jupiter Pluto Synods
Jupiter Uranus – Extreme Times – Extreme Travels
Saturn Pluto Conjunction—An Approximate 33 Year Cycle
Neptune Pluto Astrology: Meaning of the Pluto Neptune Synod
Uranus Pluto Synodic Cycle
Uranus/Neptune, a 170 Year Cycle
Saturn/Neptune, a 36 Year Cycle
Saturn Uranus
Abraham Lincoln, a Saturn/Neptune Leader
The Emperor Julian & Alternate Realities
Final Observations on the Neptune Pluto Synod
USA 1776 Chart
usa astrology chart
America’s Sun Jupiter Venus
On Pluto
When Pluto Opposed Venus in the US Chart
Pluto Opposite the US Sun
Pluto and Astrology
Laws of Astrology
Political Astrology
The Problem of the Use of Asteroids in Astrology
Rectification in Astrology
Different Systems of Astrology
Eclipses and their Influence on History
Expanding Astrology: Reuniting Astrology and Astronomy
Periods of Planets
Karmic Memory, Karmic Astrology,
The Mundane Astrologer’s Historical Sense
Astrological Progressions & Transits
Saturn & the Moon
Outer Planets in Astrology
Jupiter Cycles
Astrological Cycles and the Phases of Saturn
Saturn, the TimeKeeper
American Saturn Returns
Uranus Change, Uranus Genius, Uranus in Astrology
Astrological Neptune and its influence in natal astrology
Astrology of War
Andrew Jackson, a Jupiter Archetype
Dwight Eisenhower horoscope: A Saturnian Leader
Saddam Hussein Horoscope
Ulysses S. Grant astrology: U.S. Grant and Plutonian War
Wellington, the North Scale & Jupiter
What are Historical Horoscopes?
Ancient Babylonian Astrology
Ancient Astrology Texts
Astrology in Egypt
Book About Astrology of George Washington
George Washington Horoscope
American Revolution Astrology
USA Astrology
How Mundane Aspects Work: How the Sun Moon and Planets Work
The Synods: looking at planetary synodic cycles
SYNODIC ASTROLOGY
Planetary synodic cycles, for good or for ill, exert a powerful force on history, introducing change and sometimes upheaval. They can bring about new political structures or reform old ones, as happened in the UK Parliament from 1819 to 1834, under a Uranus Neptune synodic cycle.
In a new planetary synodic cycle new types of cultural expression in art, literature, and music can take place. When two or more planets move together through the sky, they form an astronomical configuration called a synod (from the Greek, synodos, which means “a traveling together”). The more slowly this synod moves, the more powerful its influence on human affairs.
Synodic conjunctions, like the aforementioned Uranus Neptune conjunction, exert a dominant influence, seen and unseen, on a world-historical level and upon one’s personal life. The Uranus Neptune synod of 1989/90 brought about the collapse of the Soviet Union and restructured most of the governments of Eastern Europe. The synods involving Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and Eris move the slowest in their orbits around the Sun, and they exert the most powerful influence. Synodic cycles involving Saturn and Jupiter exert a more easily perceivable influence lasting roughly twenty years.
It is always important to note in historical astrology where the conjunction becomes exact, the impact of the synodic cycle will be greatest at that point; the effect will be the most dynamic.I call it the dynamic impact point.
Planetary Synodic Cycles: The Triple Conjunction in Astrology
One of the most powerful known planetary synodic cycles so far in history (there may be planets beyond Eris to alter this) occurred in the sixth century B.C., and it was exact (within 1°) at 8° through 11° Taurus, approximately between 577 and 574 B.C. (Eris during this period was traveling between 20° and 23° Gemini). This was when the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, made a conjunction in astrological and astronomical Taurus. Since this triple conjunction occurs only every 120,000 years, it was the most powerful we know of so far that has occurred in human history.
What Astrological Influence Did Triple Conjunction Exert?
The Triple Conjunction introduced something new into the human condition. The history of this era, especially in the few centuries that followed it, describes a birth of something fresh, original and never done in the human experience. Greek science, the foundation of modern science, was born in this era. The rule of law emerged in Athens, later in Rome, and is still the basis of our freedoms today. A new level of human freedom emerged. This was the foundation of what we call today, “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. Spiritual belief began to center on a one God, but in different forms. The religion of Buddhism and the philosophy of Taoism swept through Asia; Israel and Judaism, during the Babylonian Captivity, literally went through a death and rebirth. This era was dominated by the prophet Daniel, a seer far greater than Nostradamus, whose gaze looked thousands of years into the future. The outcome: The Psalms and Proverbs and Isaiah and Job and the five books of Moses, plus the books of the prophets descended from oral tradition were written down and would become what we today call the Old Testament. Later these teachings would seep into the Roman Empire, long before the arrival of Christ, and they began to form the basis of our Judeo-Christian heritage. If we review the historical events that took place in that century and in the following ones, we must conclude even today, some 2500 years later, that we are still reacting to the impact of that synod. During this era Buddha (563-483 B.C.) brought a new spiritual reality into India. Then it spread through much of Asia; Confucius (28 September, 551-479 B.C.) and Lao Tzu (born 606 B.C.?) revolutionized religion and philosophy in China; and it was at this time that Pythagoras (570-497 B.C.) grew famous as a teacher of many disciplines, and helped to bring about the flowering of Hellenic civilization.
Pericles of Athens
Historically, this configuration activated the development of high classical Greece. It heralded the beginning of our modern world. Some of the greatest philosophers and thinkers, poets and playwrights, artists and sculptors, warriors, statesmen and lawgivers in all human history appeared in this century and the two that followed. Their names are still well known: Solon (lawgiver, 638 BC – 558 BC); Aeschylus (the playwright, 525 – 456 B.C.); Thales (mathematics and physics and astrology, 625 – 546 BC); Pindar (poetry, 522–443 BC); Zeno of Elea (philosophy and astrology, 490–c.430 BC); Anaximander (natural science, 610 – c. 546 BC); Aesop (fables, 620-564 BC); Heraclitus (philosophy and lawgiving, 535 – c. 475 BC); Parmenides (philosophy, born 540 BC). These names are just a sampling; many others exist. This was the time when the Oracle of Delphi, known for its profound wisdom, became prominent in the Mediterranean world, and when there at Delphi the great temple of Apollo was constructed in the Sixth Century BC. The century that followed the triple conjunction was known as the Age of Pericles (his dates were 495 – 429 B.C.). Many of the ideas that lie at the foundation of our modern civilization—laws and customs and traditions—were formulated at that time by philosophers like Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. During the triple conjunction, Rome was a small city-state ruled by a king, Servius Tullius (reigned 578-535 BC). He was not a bad king, but was succeeded by Tarquinius the Proud (535 – 496 BC), the seventh and last king of ancient Rome. Tarquinius was a selfish ruler, injurious to his people, and was overthrown in a conspiracy led by Brutus. Brutus and those who were with him enacted a whole new dynamic, a new politics, a new system of laws in which the ruling class made the choice to share its power and its privileges with the common men, called the plebeians. OUt of the idea of sharing power grew the concept of separation of powers.This separation of powers between the ruling class, the nobility, and the common people, the plebeians, established a dynamic creative tension, which led first to the founding of the Roman Republic (509 B.C.) and then, some five hundred years later, to the Imperium (27 BC). The combined influence of those two institutions lasted for nearly two millennia. The Roman Empire imparted many good practices to human civilization, including the concept of the rule of law, namely, that “no man is above the law”. When this principle is a part of the legal system, everyone is more disciplined, and all people are given the opportunity to express more creativity and freedom. It is around the time of the Triple Conjunction that the rule of law began to be practiced in Greece and Italy.
In ancient Israel, the Babylonian Captivity lasted from 587–538 B.C. The First Temple had been burned to the ground, its stones overturned, and the city of Jerusalem sacked and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar II (634 – 562 BC). The Jews were forced to pick up what they could take with them and move to Babylon, which was one of the great city-state empires of that era. Yet Babylon would soon fall as a power in the Fertile Crescent, as all the old empires were dying. The triple conjunction was occurring in Taurus, and all the old traditional customs, civilizations, empires were broken and scattered. The Triple Conjunction for Israel was a time of retrenchment, when everything but bare essence was stripped away; this was when an enlightened priesthood began to assume the reins of political power, and continued to hold it for centuries. It is when many of the greatest books of the Old Testament were written down from oral tradition, and scholars say it was when the Dutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55) was written. In 536 B.C., Cyrus II, the Persian emperor, who reigned from 553 to 529 B.C (as described by Herodotus), went to war against Babylon, destroyed its empire, and later in respect for administrative services rendered, freed the Jews, allowing them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple. Israel was one of the few civilizations that made the transition from pre-synodic times, keeping its customs and traditions intact, possibly because it was ruled as a theocracy, possibly because much of the wisdom and truth found in its religious teachings and applied to its customs and laws was immune to the decay time and creative destruction of synodic cycles.
The 6th Century B.C.
The 6th century B.C. was a time of endings and beginnings. The endings had to do with the Taurus part of the synod. Taurus stands for the traditional, the stable, the long-lasting. That the triple conjunction occurred in this sign meant that the long duration of these traditional ancient civilizations and powers would now conclude. For example, the ancient and powerful empire of Assyria fell toward the beginning of the triple conjunction (605 BC). Sumer was by now a distant memory; in fact, when Abraham emigrated (2000 B.C.) from Ur or Mari, the Sumerians were already being replaced by the younger Semitic races. Many of the Sumerian laws were codified by Hammurabi around 1750 B.C. Sumer’s arts and writing and mathematics and astrology had been passed on to the Babylonians and the Assyrians and others. Babylon fell to the Persians in 539 B.C., as did Egypt in 525 B.C. Both civilizations were corrupt and decaying, living in the shadow of their former power and glory, low hanging fruit for the first organized military power to make the attempt. Power was moving from the Fertile Crescent to the West. Persia itself was an empire built on ancient practices and customs. Cyrus II, The Great, represented much of the best of deep antiquity–but it was the best of the past.
Herodotus, the First Historian
The expansion of the Persian Empire, carried out by emperors after the death of Cyrus, was stopped by the Greeks in the Persian Wars (490-449 B.C.). This was one of the main stories in Herodotus’ Histories: the war between the ancient centralized empires and the new human spirit being born in Greece. The Persian Empire was later completely destroyed by the armies of Alexander the Great (333 B.C.). New art and science was all allowed to grow in relative freedom for centuries. The individual human spirit continued to learn and expand. Although I am not going to discuss it in detail, one can trace the same growth of the human spirit in China (which had entered the Iron Age at about this time). Confucius revolutionized political and philosophical thought in China. Up to the end of the last century, the bureaucracy that supported the Chinese emperor was still in place. It was essentially the same one designed by Confucius during the time of the triple conjunction. In Japan, the emperors trace their lineage back to the era of the triple conjunction. In Mesoamerica (Central America and Mexico) a people known as the Olmecs built pyramids and other massive structures and cities, many of which since have disappeared, some of which are still standing. This civilization developed sometime before 1000 B.C., consolidated its power by 800 B.C., built some of its greatest structures around the time of the triple conjunction including the Pyramid of the Sun. Many Olmec writings date from this era, and if they are ever deciphered, remarkable poetry and philosophy might be discovered. Israel, Greece, and Rome–in this era each embody the dawn of a new civilization, the birth of a younger people, more warlike, perhaps shorter-lived, but filled with overflowing vitality and the urge to push on into new realms of knowledge, new depths of spirit. In fact, most of their mythic tales concern freedom, independence, autonomy and the personal development of the soul. The story of King David (1040–970 BC) historically took place around 1010 to 970 BC B.C., but was written down during the century of the triple conjunction. It is an Aries myth dealing with issues of freedom, personal unfolding, the interaction with a father figure, King Saul, 1079 -1007 B.C., who grew up under a Pl/NE conjunction of late Aries and early Taurus. These stories also describe the alignment of personal will with God’s will, and the personal relationship of God with man. Pluto/Neptune
Raphael’s Plato and Aristotle
moved in the years 1074 through 1072 BC from 28° Aries to 2° Taurus. Alexander the Great (21 July 356, Pella, Macedon, to 323 B.C.), whose birth followed this synod by a little more than two centuries, was an exemplar of the new individuality, personal freedom and creative drive that flooded the mind of humankind in this era. As warrior, he was often the first soldier to climb the city wall. As high priest, he was the first to offer the sacrifice in the morning. He composed songs and poetry. As a student of Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), whom his father, King Philip, had hired as tutor, he disputed philosophy with the finest minds in Greece. He was an Aries exemplar, an individual who developed all his gifts and talents. In the Age of Aries, when the Vernal Equinox point was traveling through the constellation of Aries (from 1943 B.C. to 213 A.D.), the individual unfolding of the creative power of the human spirit found its way into human civilization. This new level of achievement in the expression of the mind was reflected in the poetry of Homer, the Psalms of David, the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes of Solomon, the Hellenic Flowering and the high civilization achieved by the Roman Empire. This unfolding placed its seal on all human endeavors: It was the beginning of our modem era.
Deeper Synodic Functions
I hope you are beginning to understand that the synodos discharges an awesome power, that it has a substantial, transformative effect on the human race. Its energies can function in several ways. Those who are not born with the synod, but who are functioning at the height of their creative powers, when the two (or more) planets move into the alignment of a longitudinal conjunction, often use this energy to make tremendous contributions. Albert Einstein perhaps saw deeper into the physics of reality than any person since Isaac Newton. He had his profoundest visions about relativity when he was in his late teens and early twenties, when Pluto and Neptune were conjunct in the 1890′s and early part of the century. One could say the same of Carl Jung (26 July 1875 – 6 June 1961), Maurice Ravel (March 7, 1875 – December 28, 1937), Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926), Thomas Mann (6 June 1875 – 12 August 1955), Hermann Hesse (July 2, 1877 – August 9, 1962), and inventors like Orville Wright (August 19, 1871 – January 30, 1948). They all did some of their best work under the influence of this conjunction. Others are born with the conjunction, and bring its power into manifestation, when in later years, they reach a maturity of creative expression. An example of this type of manifestation would be—moving backwards in history, Mary Baker Eddy (July 16, 1821 – December 3, 1910), the founder of Christian Science, who was born with the Uranus/Neptune conjunction. Another would be Walt Whitman, the poet, also born with this synod (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892). Of course, there was Adolph Hitler, born April 20th 1889, who had the Pluto/Neptune conjunction in Gemini on his 8th House Cusp. Among other attributes, the 8th House rules war and occult matters. U.S. Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885) was born with the Uranus/Neptune synod ( NE5° Capricorn | UR 7° Capricorn). It gave him the unique ability to read the minds of his opposing generals, including Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807 – October 12, 1870). Campaign study had helped him develop the most valuable of all his aptitudes, that of seeing into the mentality of his opponents. We have his own accounts of how he began to trust this capacity he found in himself. More than that, he began to guess how they would react to his initiatives, and even how they would arrive at independent decisions…. Lee, whom he respected and who respected him was more puzzling to read. General Longstreet, one of Lee’s subordinates, had warned Lee that Grant was ‘a man we cannot afford to underrate’. But, eventually, Grant entered his mind and anticipated one move of his after another. Appomattox was to prove as much a mental as a material victory! Each person born with this synod uses its energy in a unique and different manner.
Beethoven during Uranus/Neptune Synod in Capricorn in 1824
When the conjunction of Uranus/Neptune was exact, between 1821 and 1825, Ludwig van Beethoven (born 16 December 1770, see chart) wrote and premiered his Ninth Symphony in Vienna (7 May 1824). This symphony about brotherhood and joy is, I feel, one of the greatest pieces of music ever composed. It demonstrates a combination of the Uranian and the Neptunian influences. (also, its 4th movement, the chorale, is one of the most difficult and least well performed).
The three ways to judge synodic influence are: First, one can examine the person or nation born under its influence (e.g., the modem state of Israel was founded under a Saturn/Pluto conjunction). These individuals or nations will manifest their creative gifts in a unique and different manner, often introducing something new into human experience. Second, those individuals who are at the height of their creative powers will use this energy to enhance their inventiveness and originality, and often a synod will take them to heights they would have never reached otherwise, as I think it did with Beethoven and Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) and Jung. Third, a synod transmutes nations, empires, cultures, civilizations, as the triple conjunction destroyed the power of Babylon and Egypt and Persia and a little earlier that of Assyria. Within this framework I will continue the discussion of particular synods.
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Arctic Sea Ice Loss Linked To Greenland Melting, Study Shows
By Staff Reporter Mar 28, 2016 10:45 AM EDT
Computer models and field measurement conducted by researchers from Rutgers University revealed that vanishing Arctic sea ice, extreme weather systems over Greenland and widespread surface ice melting on the massive island are all tied to global sea level rise.
Melting Arctic sea ice is largely driven by frequent "blocking-high" pressure systems during Greenland summers. Such weather systems spin clockwise, stay largely in place and can block cold, dry Canadian air from reaching the massive island. Consequently, the highs tend to enhance the flow of warm, moist air over Greenland, contributing to increased extreme heat events and surface ice melting.
The problem is that these weather events fuel sea level rise, according to study co-author Jennifer Francis, a research professor in Rutgers University's Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences. The Greenland ice sheet holds an enormous volume of frozen water that, if melted, would increase the global sea level by 20 to 23 feet. This, in turn, creates a "monstrous" issue for coastal communities around the world.
"I think this study does a good job of pinning down the fact that the [Arctic sea] ice is disappearing for a whole bunch of reasons - and that is causing the surface of Greenland's melt area to increase," Francis explained.
What's more is that the increased melting on the Greenland ice sheet in recent years may also be linked to cooler-than-normal ocean temperatures south of the island, which inevitably lead to a slowdown of the circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Increased surface melting and modest snow accumulation has been a problem since the 1970s, however, since 2009 the problem has been greatly exacerbated. In fact, last July the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that the Greenland melt area covered more than half of its ice sheet for the first time since July 2012.
Sea level rise is already "becoming very conspicuous and it's going to be bad. It's happening faster and faster as my Rutgers colleagues have been measuring," Francis added. "This change is accelerating."
Blocking-high pressure systems over Greenland usually form when a lot of warm air is in the Arctic. This Arctic warmth then weakens the jet stream, which typically flows west to east, allowing it to meander more to the north and south, Francis explained.
The jet stream can take "such a big northward swing that it actually kind of breaks off and forms a closed circulation," she said, adding that this makes blocking highs persistent and hard to forecast. So far this year, the Arctic has seen unusually warm temperatures and reports indicate sea ice cover is at a record low.
"Whenever there's a big melt year in Greenland, on the surface anyway, it's usually because there's either a blocking high or a large northward swing in the jet stream and both of those things tend to be long-lived features in the circulation," Francis concluded.
Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Climate.
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Awesome: 22.22%
Worth A Look: 0%
Just Average: 0%
Pretty Crappy: 11.11%
Sucks: 66.67%
by Peter Sobczynski
"Plenty Of Gators But A Total Crock."
At the time that I am writing this, the Chicago area has been focused for the last few days on the Humboldt Park area where an alligator approximately five feet in length has turned up in a local lagoon. Although the creature, dubbed Chance the Snapper has largely been in hiding and there have only been a few glimpses to prove to that it is actually there, crowds have been flocking to the lagoon to stand out in the heat staring at nothing for hours on end in the hopes of getting a look at it. They may not actually get to see the thing for themselves but my guess is that they are almost certainly having more fun than anyone going out this weekend to plunk down money to go see the lousy alligator attack movie “Crawl.” At least at the lagoon, there is the slight possibility that something interesting or exciting might occur, which is not the case with this bargain basement (literally) rip-off that too often looks and feels like a SyFy Channel thriller with a slightly higher budget but even less point or purpose.
Kaya Scodelario stars as Haley, a competitive college swimmer who finds herself being held back by personal performance issues. One day, after practice at her Florida college, she discovers that the state is in the path of a Category 5 hurricane and that no one has heard from her estranged father (Barry Pepper) in a while. She braves the storm to make it out to her dad’s house and finally finds him in the dirty but surprisingly expansive basement crawlspace. Just about the time she finds him, she discovers that they are not alone when a large alligator, swept in by the floodwaters, rears its ugly head. Haley manages to get them behind a series of pipes where the gator cannot get at them. Unfortunately for them, the storm outside only gets worse and as the water level in the basement rises, Haley is forced to venture beyond the pipes in the hopes of figuring out a way of saving them. By this time, however, there are now a number of gators lurking about, each one larger and hungrier than the last, that are ready to chomp her and her dad into bloody bits—that is, if the floodwaters and the hurricane don’t get them first.
Obviously, any film involving underwater creatures looking to snack on anyone who happens into their midst has to exist in the considerable shadow of Steven Spielberg’s classic “Jaws” (1975). One of the few attempts to actually succeed was “Alligator,” a 1980 schlock favorite that managed to transcend its knockoff origins thanks to a screenplay by John Sayles (who also co-wrote the equally effective “Piranha”) that employed clever and cheeky humor and engaging characters (played by such beloved B-movie stalwarts as Robert Forster and Henry Silva) that more than compensated for the tacky special effects and the relative lack of originality. By comparison, “Crawl” does have a potentially intriguing premise—take the standard aquatic horror template and set it within the confines of a place that would seem to be the ideal locale for a haunted house thriller—but it has no idea of what to do with it. Although the film clocks in at a pretty brief 87 minutes (including an end credits sequence scored, perhaps inevitably, to “See You Later, Alligator”), the screenplay by Michael and Shawn Rasmussen is an outrageously padded work that takes forever to get to its central conflict, repeatedly gets bogged down into father-daughter talks about swim meet strategies when you would think that they would have more important things to focus on and then just ends with startling abruptness. And while Haley does find herself nibbled on from time to time (though she manages to shrug off these wounds with no problem), she obviously has to survive at least until the final reel and with her dad and her dog being the only other non-gator individuals in the house, the film has to truck in people who show up for a few seconds and serve no other purpose than to bump up the body count.
“Crawl” was directed by Alexandre Aja, whose previous credits include “High Tension,” a French slasher movie that remains one of the worst films that I have ever seen in my life, a repellent remake of the Wes Craven gross-out “The Hills Have Eyes” and, oddly enough, the 2009 remake of the aforementioned “Piranha.” That last title is perhaps the only film of his that I can even vaguely tolerate, possibly because it simply wasn’t as bad as I had feared it would be and because it demonstrated a slight sense of fun amidst the over-the-top carnage that was reminiscent of what made the original one of the best “Jaws” copycats of them all. With “Crawl,” he jumps into the drink once again but demonstrates none of what made that earlier effort sort of work. Although it is slickly made on a technical level, the whole thing just becomes rather rote and monotonous after a while and the few moments that comes closest to matching the dictionary definition of “inspiration”—including one in which Haley outwits a gator while trapped in the shower of a rapidly flooding bathroom—have been featured so often in the ads that they lose whatever effectiveness that they might have once had. As for those who are going in the hopes of seeing Aja top the gory extremes of his previous efforts, they will be extremely disappoint because while there is enough bloodletting to earn its “R” rating, none of the attacks are especially memorable in this regard.
Although I have nothing but contempt for Aja as a filmmakers, I must confess that I was actually looking forward to seeing “Crawl”—I am always down for a movie in which unwary swimmers are chomped to bits on some basic fundamental level and the conceit suggested that it might give the format a nifty spin in the way that the genuinely impressive “The Shallows” did a couple years ago. Of course, to try to take a film like this seriously on any level is perhaps foolish—it is essentially the modern equivalent of the kind of low-budget trash that might have turned up on the bottom half of a drive-in double feature—but even on that greatly reduced level, it still comes up short. This film, as it turns out, is not so much “The Shallows” as it is incredibly shallow and on the list of great gator-based horror movies, it ranks slightly behind “Happy Gilmore” in terms of sheer terror. “Crawl” may be teeming with alligators but when all is said and done, the whole thing is essentially a crock.
link directly to this review at http://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=33097&reviewer=389
7/13/19 Bob Dog Awesome b-movie lead by Kaya Scodelario - - it's croctastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/13/19 Louise I was surprised by how fabulously entertaining this movie was.
7/12/19 Action movie fan Don’t even crawl to this Jawas and alligator (1980) were so much better
12-Jul-2019 (R)
Shawn Rasmussen
Ross Anderson
Anson Boon
George Somner
Ami Metcalf
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As cashless stores grow, so does the backlash
in: App,Latest Trend,Money Talk,Science & Technology News
Hembert Figueroa just wanted a taco.
So he was surprised to learn the dollar bills in his pocket were no good at Dos Toros Taqueria in Manhattan, one of a small but growing number of establishments across the U.S. where customers can only pay by card or smartphone.
Cash-free stores are generating a backlash among some activists and liberal-leaning policymakers who say the practice discriminates against people like Figueroa, who either lack bank accounts or rely on cash for many transactions.
Figueroa, an ironworker, had to stand to the side, holding his taco, until a sympathetic cashier helped him find another customer willing to pay for his meal with a card in exchange for cash.
“I had money and I couldn’t pay,” he said.
The issue got some high-profile attention this week when retail giant Amazon bowed to pressure from activists and agreed to accept cash at more than 30 cashless stores, including its Amazon Go convenience stores, which have no cashiers, and its book shops. Amazon declined to say when the change would happen.
There is no federal law that requires stores to accept cash, so lawmakers are working on the issue at the state and city level.
Earlier this year, Philadelphia became the first city to ban cashless stores, despite efforts by Amazon to dissuade it. New Jersey passed a statewide ban soon after, and a similar ban is working its way through the New York City Council. Before this year there was only one jurisdiction that required businesses to accept cash: Massachusetts, which passed a law nearly 40 years ago.
“The potential societal cost of a cashless economy I think outweighs the potential benefits for businesses,” said Ritchie Torres, a New York City councilman for the South Bronx who introduced the bill.
Policymakers argue that while cashless enterprises aren’t widespread now, the practice could expand to more services, including some that cater to lower-income people.
Walmart-owned Sam’s Club opened its first cashier-less store in Dallas last year, using technology that allows customers to scan and pay for items with their smartphones. Kroger has installed similar technology in about 400 stores nationwide.
Stadiums in Tampa Bay, Florida, and Atlanta have started to go cashless, or nearly cashless, and the Barclays Center, where the Brooklyn Nets play, is now effectively cashless as well.
Advocates for cashless bans worry technology is moving too fast for the 6.5% of American households — 8.4 million — who do not have a bank account, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Figueroa is among the much larger group considered “underbanked,” meaning they have a primary bank account but regularly rely on alternative financial services like check cashers. More than 24 million U.S. households are underbanked, according to the FDIC.
The issue disproportionately affects African-American and Hispanic communities. About 17% of African-American and 14% of Hispanic households have no bank accounts, compared to just 3% of white households, according to the FDIC.
Figueroa, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, only opened a credit union account two years ago. It took another year to build up enough funds to use his debit card regularly.
He still occasionally relies on a check casher if he needs money quickly, and much of his income comes in cash from his weekend job as a busboy. He has no credit card and no apps on his phone and has only shopped online three times.
Business owners who go cashless say they are following the lead of the majority of customers who are abandoning cash payments. Retailers are under pressure to cater to customers with heightened expectations for fast and seamless service, driven by companies like Amazon, Uber and Grubhub.
Leo Kremer, co-owner of Dos Toros, said the volume of cash transactions at his stores fell from about 50% a decade ago to 15% last year. That made the cost and logistics of handling cash especially onerous. Before going cashless, Dos Toros locations were robbed twice.
Still, Kremer said the company would adjust if legally required to accept cash.
“There are no bad guys on this issue. Everyone is trying to do the right thing and make sure there are no unintended consequences,” he said.
Critics say banning cash-free stores is an over-reaction.
There are no overall estimates on how many U.S. stores have gone cashless, but it remains a rarity. In New York City, the trend appears to be gaining traction mostly with “fast casual” dining establishments like Dos Toros. Far more common are stores that require a minimum purchase for non-cash payments.
“To call this a trend is a bit of an exaggeration,” said J. Craig Shearman, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation in Washington. “It’s not something the average customer would expect to see at every store at the mall any time soon.”
In testimony to a New York City Council committee, Kremer argued that businesses that “consistently serve the unbanked and underbanked population aren’t going to go cashless. It wouldn’t make sense for them.”
But financial experts who work with low-income people caution against making assumptions about the shopping preferences or buying power of those who rely on cash.
“I’m uncomfortable with the idea that certain people don’t shop here so it’s fine to exclude them,” said Justine Zinkin, CEO of Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, a financial counseling nonprofit affiliated with the credit union where Figueroa banks.
Via AP News
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John Fries Award Open for Entries
Emerging and early-career artists from around Australia and New Zealand are encouraged to submit five images of recent work to be consider for the $10,000 John Fries Award.
The Call for Entries for the John Fries Award 2016 opened at 8am AEDT on 11 January and will close at 12 noon AEDT on 22 February 2016.
Artists are required to submit a portfolio of five works created over the past three years which demonstrate a current commitment to developing a professional artistic practice.
Artworks may be created in any medium, including but not limited to: sculpture, performance, new media, photography, painting, drawing, installation, ceramic, object based, hybrid practices, sound based and conceptual works.
There is no entry fee for Copyright Agency | Viscopy members. Membership of Copyright Agency | Viscopy is free. Find out what it means to be a Copyright Agency | Viscopy member, or to sign up go to www.viscopy.net.au/register/
Entrants who are not members of Copyright Agency | Viscopy must pay a GST inclusive and non-refundable entry fee of $35 AUD. This fee is payable by electronic funds transfer or credit card. The details of payment is in the online application form.
For terms and conditions and to enter online, go to www.johnfriesaward.com/enter
Curator and Exhibition Partner
Sydney curator, artist, writer and lecturer Oliver Watts will continue as the John Fries Award’s Guest Curator for 2016. He will work together with the judges to select the finalists, whose work will come together in an exhibition at UNSW Gallery at UNSW Art & Design, the Award’s presenting partners for the third year running.
The John Fries Award continues to grow year-on-year, with 2015 attracting a record number of entries.
The John Fries Award is an annual non-acquisitive award of $10,000 recognising emerging and early career visual artists. Since its start in 2010, it has become an established platform for some of the most engaging and experimental works from emerging artists across Australia and New Zealand.
The prize was established by the Fries family in memory of former Viscopy director and honorary treasurer, John Fries, who made a remarkable contribution to the life and success of the organisation.
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LedgerOnline / September 12, 2018 / No Comment
Rahm Emanuel will leave a city — and Jewish community — divided about his legacy as mayor
(JTA) — As Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepares to exit City Hall after eight years in office, his Jewish supporters tout his commitment to helping people and his record of economic development in the city.
His Jewish detractors, meanwhile, call out his closing of dozens of Chicago public schools and scandal in the city’s police department following the killing of an African-American teen by a white cop.
But they agree on one thing: The fact that he was the city’s first Jewish mayor was a non-issue either way. He hasn’t faced significant anti-Semitism, nor do his Jewish backers say they support him because of his religion.
“We’re living in an era where a city that has many different ethnic groups and minorities, and people feel very passionately about their group, can elect a white Jewish mayor,” said Rabbi Asher Lopatin, who led Emanuel’s Orthodox synagogue, Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation, for his first two years as mayor. “Deep down, we can put our differences behind us.”
Not that Emanuel has ever tried to downplay his Judaism. He was raised in an involved Jewish family, with an Israeli father, and has remained active in Jewish circles as an adult.
When he announced Tuesday that he wouldn’t seek a third term, Emanuel paid homage to his Jewish background.
“I want to thank my grandfather, who at the age of 13, took an enormous chance a century ago by immigrating here from Eastern Europe, fleeing the pogroms, to meet a third cousin he did not know in a city whose name he could not pronounce,” Emanuel’s announcement said. “In four congressional runs on the North and Northwest Sides — and in two races for Mayor — you cast aside old history and voted for a Jewish kid with the middle name Israel.”
In deciding to leave after two terms, Emanuel surprised a city with a history of strongman mayors. Emanuel, who stepped down as White House chief of staff for President Barack Obama to run in 2011, won re-election in 2015, though he was forced into a runoff. And he’s had a contentious tenure.
Emanuel expanded the city’s pre-kindergarten and lengthened its school day, but also led the largest bout of school closings in Chicago history and confronted a teachers’ strike. He renovated the city’s riverwalk, began an expansion of the airport and oversaw a spike in construction downtown, but gun violence has continued to plague the South Side.
And his announcement came in the shadow of a murder trial of a policeman who shot Laquan McDonald, an African-American teen, in 2014. The fallout from the shooting prompted a federal investigation of the Chicago PD, which found a pattern of discrimination.
“With respect to the beautification of the city, the day-to-day workings of the city, the mayor has done an outstanding job,” said Rabbi Capers Funnye of the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation on the South Side. Nevertheless, Funnye said he would grade Emanuel’s performance as a B- or C+.
“The issue that overrides everything in the African-American community is the lack of trust between the African-American community, by and large, in Chicago and the police department,” said Funnye, who is African-American, adding that “I don’t know that anyone else could necessarily do a better job.”
Emanuel, 58, was born in Chicago to Jewish parents, including a father who served in the Irgun, a paramilitary Zionist militia in prestate Israel. His first, middle and last names are all Hebrew. He attended Jewish day school as a child and, in 1991, volunteered for a few weeks as a civilian on an Israeli army base. His brother Ezekiel is a prominent physician and bioethicist. Another brother, Ari, is a top Hollywood agent.
After serving in the Clinton White House in the 1990s, Emanuel was elected to Congress from Chicago’s North Side in 2002. He earned a reputation for pugnacity, and eventually rose to become chair of the House Democratic Caucus. In 2009, he departed Congress to serve as Obama’s first chief of staff.
While living in Chicago, Emanuel would attend services at Anshe Sholom and was an outspoken supporter of Israel. Steve Nasatir, president of the Jewish United Fund, Chicago’s Jewish federation, praised Emanuel as having done a good job in a difficult position.
“There’s no question that there was a sense of community pride in having a Jewish mayor elected in Chicago, coming from a family that was connected to the Jewish community,” Nasatir said.
But Nasatir said the federation’s relationship with this mayor wasn’t much different from its relationships with Emanuel’s predecessors — whether the powerful Richard Daley, who served for more than two decades, or Harold Washington, the city’s first African-American mayor.
“Our relationship with the mayors over the last 40, 50 years, from my perspective has been always outstanding,” he said. “Our relationship with this mayor was very, very good and if there’s a difference, it’s just because you happen to talk to someone who’s a Jew.”
His Jewish allies said Emanuel’s religion would express itself in the priorities he advanced, like trying to make the city more prosperous and improve its education system.
“He’s a very good man, he’s a committed, passionate man,” Lopatin said. “I know how deeply committed he is to doing good in society and making a difference.”
But that feeling is far from universal among Chicago Jews. Liberal activists say he didn’t help the schools, he gutted them. And they say his focus on economic development didn’t extend to the African-American communities of the South Side.
“Rahm was the furthest thing we’ve ever had from a Jewish leader, from a Jewish mayor, in the city,” said Tamar Manasseh, a Jewish activist who runs Mothers Against Senseless Killing, an organization combating gun violence on the South Side. “Rahm espoused no Jewish values whatsoever. He had a connection to a Jewish mother, but not to a Jewish God.”
Judy Levey, executive director of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, a Chicago social justice group, said she was excited initially to have a Jew in City Hall. But she said the mayor has not met the group’s expectations when it comes to helping the city’s immigrants, reforming its police department and boosting its poor neighborhoods.
“We looked forward to working with Mayor Emanuel on issues that reflect our Jewish values, such as immigration and police accountability,” Levey wrote to JTA in an email. “While Mayor Emanuel worked successfully to bring white collar jobs and investment to the city, he was much less successful at addressing the deep economic disparities and disinvestment that continue to plague Chicago’s neighborhoods.”
Whatever his legacy in Chicago, a few people told JTA that they were surprised by Emanuel’s decision to forgo a third term. But Rabbi Jack Moline, who has been described as Emanuel’s rabbi, says Emanuel saw himself serving only two terms when he started, and that he wouldn’t be surprised if Emanuel returns to politics after a short break.
“He has a lot of talent and he has the kind of energy that is necessary to make a difference in the values that he and I share,” said Moline, now the president of the Interfaith Alliance, a liberal religious advocacy group. “I expect that there is another place for him to express that, although I have given up predicting what Rahm Emanuel is going to do.”
CAP: Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, with wife Amy, announces that he will not seek a third term at a City Hall news conference, Sept. 4, 2018. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Playwright Neil Simon dies at 91
The Cookie Wars
Lawsuit filed in Newton, Mass., over antisemitic school materials
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Stay informed and Get involved
The Leonidas Foundation
L.E.O. Program
THE LEONIDAS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENT OF FIRST ANNUAL “LEADER OF THE YEAR” AWARD: COACH GREG TOAL
Wyckoff, NJ - Coach Greg Toal had an incredible impact on the life of Leonidas “Leo” Vagias. Coach Toal served as a friend, mentor, and role model to Leo, helping to shape him as a young man while instilling in him a burning desire to attain success and maintain a high level of dedication to his craft.
From 1999-2016, Greg Toal was at the helm of the Don Bosco Preparatory High School football program. As Head Varsity Football Coach, he led the Ironmen to nine New Jersey state championships and two national titles. Coach Toal is a member of the prestigious ‘300-win’ club with a career record of 305-55-2 over 33 years at Hasbrouck Heights, River Dell, Hackensack, and Don Bosco Prep. In total, he won 16 state championships - an average of one title every two years. Coach Toal has coached hundreds of players who have gone on to play at the NCAA level and a number who have attained success in the NFL.
Coach Toal’s success has not just come from the sidelines at Granatell Stadium. On and off the field, Coach Toal has spent his life enriching the mind, body and spirit of countless young men. He epitomizes the values and focuses of the Leonidas Foundation, consistently partaking of philanthropic efforts in the local community and providing opportunities to those less fortunate. The tens of thousands of hours Coach Toal has spent in his lifetime teaching and building young men on and off the field should be commemorated, with tribute paid to his legacy and expansive list of accomplishments.
In honor of his contributions to the lives of so many and profound impact on Leo’s life, the Board of Directors and Executive Board of The Leonidas Foundation are proud to announce that Coach Greg Toal will receive the first annual “Leader of the Year” award at “Kickoff Event” on March 30th. We cannot think of a more deserving individual to whom we can present this great honor.
If you would like to join us as we celebrate the life of Leo Vagias and the birth of The Leonidas Foundation please visit the link below.
Thank you, Coach!
#LeoUniteUs
http://www.leouniteus.org/
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Wyckoff, NJ 07481
The Leonidas Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
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Community Gay, gifted and Black, the LGBTQ community honors its own at second annual Truth Awards
Crenshaw welcomes back Taste of Soul; The family festival is here and ready to prove once again that it is the #1 festival in Los Angeles
Published on Thursday, 16 October 2014 13:43
Written by Brian W. Carter
By Brian W. Carter
LAWT Contributing Writer
There is no doubt that Taste of Soul will be bigger and better than ever. This year especially shows promise with the addition of our new celebrity chair Queen Latifah, an exciting list of artists and performers, tasty food vendors and multiple events for everyone.
Latifah made an impromptu appearance two years ago with her mother to show her support of the event that celebrates Black culture. Over the years, the multi-talented talk show host of The Queen Latifah Show has consistently showed her love and commitment to culture and diversity. Now, she will be doing it as its first celebrity chair of TOS.
Danny Bakewell Sr. had a vision of a family-oriented event for the community that celebrated the community. Along with Brenda Marsh-Mitchell and countless others, that vision became TOS. As it celebrates 9 years, TOS has become one of, if not, the largest event showcasing food, live entertainment and fun in South Los Angeles and the greater Los Angeles area.
Every year, during TOS, Crenshaw Blvd is transformed into a bustling crowd of happy, fun-loving folks enjoying music, food and each other. Extending itself three additional blocks, from Rodeo Blvd to Stocker, TOS continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Vendors from all over Southern California come to TOS to get exposure and share their passion because it is the place to be.
The event has steadily been gaining on Facebook and Twitter, which helps in serving as a powerful economic engine among African American small businesses and providing citizens with much valued transportation tips from Metro.
Metro is definitely the transportation of choice for TOS Nation as the light-rail station is within a block of Rodeo Road, where the festival begins. The Metro line can transport TOS family and friends to the Crenshaw district from all over L.A. County. The lines run from the San Fernando Valley to the Orange Line to the Red Line, to the Expo Line, or from Long Beach traveling to the downtown Los Angeles Blue Line, which connects to the Green Line at Willowbrook Station and to the Expo Line at Pico Station. From Pasadena or East Los Angeles, ride on the Gold Line to Union Station and transfer to Red/Purple Line to 7th St/Metro Center and then hop on the Expo Line.
TOS Nation will be able to walk along Crenshaw Boulevard sampling delicious food from multiple vendors such as Fun Time Kettle, Fresh & Meaty Burgers, Goodies Galore, Maddox Entertainment, Uniquely Sweet L.A., Chasecakes 2, Those Cupcakes, United Teachers L.A. and many more. Metro will also have a booth to provide information about the Crenshaw/LAX light-rail line project. Community Relations Rail Safety staff will be available to talk about how to be safe around trains and tracks.
The entertainment will definitely be worth coming to TOS for with a mix of old and nu school artists. The 94.7 Wave Stage, located at Crenshaw Blvd and Stocker St. featuring artists Howard Hewett, On Tour, Pete Escovedo, Dominique Toney and more. The KJLH Stage will be located at Rodeo Blvd and Crenshaw featuring artists Tyrese, Ann Nesby, Syleena Johnson, Tank and more. This will definitely be a TOS loaded with great artists and feature up-and-coming artist from StarQuest as well.
TOS’ premier talent competition, StarQuest is back with a new slew of up-and-coming talent. The adult and children’s competition took place on October 3 and 4. StarQuest provides a tangible platform and opportunity for local rising stars to realize their dreams. This year will offer another chance for 20 finalists to be seen and heard at the TOS, where they will perform in front of the TOS Nation of over 350,000 people.
The life, memory and dedication of Brenda Marsh-Mitchell was honored recently at the corner of Coliseum and Crenshaw—now Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Square. TOS won’t be the same but will continue in the spirit for which it was created—unity. Marsh-Mitchell understood the importance of TOS and what it meant to and for the Black community. Her passionate voice and spirit will forever live on in the festival.
Get ready for October because the 9th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival is here. Make sure that you’re here Saturday, October 18. Come out and taste the soul of the community.
For more information, please visit www.tasteofsoulla.org.
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Associatecampbell@interworksmadison.com
John Campbell is a former career soldier who has spent over thirty years in the military and took part in several wars and operations throughout which he gained his expertise in personal protection and safe working procedures in hostile areas. He has gained this in urban, jungle and desert environments involving terrorists, insurgents, UN peace keeping and conventional conflicts. Following his military service, he joined UNHCR and was employed as a head of field office during the Serb-Croat War, a security advisor in Africa, Somalia, Kenya and Rwanda (and others) before moving to Kosovo where he supported all UN agencies and the NGO community from1998-2000. He was then redeployed to become the UNHCR security advisor based in Jakarta covering the Asia-Pacific region with primary focus in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Indonesia. John has also been a regional training officer based in Tokyo addressing the needs of the UN and NGO community.
His forte is training humanitarian staff to operate safely in dangerous areas. He specialises in mines risk education, hostage survival, counter-terrorism and liaison with the military and insurgents. He is now in semi-retirement alternating between the United Kingdom and Malaysia in the capacity of an on-call security trainer/advisor to NGOs. He has a master’s degree in strategic studies (terrorism and insurgencies).
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MainAll NewsHaredi Community Haredi lone soldiers are not alone
Haredi lone soldiers are not alone
In an event hosted by Defense Minister Liberman, one lone solder explained why he enlisted and continues to serve his country and G-d.
Arutz Sheva Staff, 19/10/16 10:13
Liberman meets with lone soldiers
Netzah Yehuda
Haredi soldier Nisim Blum from the IDF haredi Netzah Yehuda Brigade participated in a traditional celebratory dinner yesterday for lone soldiers and volunteers from abroad, at the sukkah of Minister of Defense Avigdor Liberman. Blum, a volunteer from the US, told his personal story. Liberman was moved by his story and even assured Blum that his American accent wasn't so bad.
“First of all, where is Nisim Blum?” Liberman asked, and then he turned to the crowd saying: “You have a minister today who still makes grammatical mistakes and speaks with a heavy Russian accent. As I told you before, in Israel, the sky is the limit. It doesn’t matter if you are an immigrant or if you were born here, if you are determined and want to achieve your goals- everything is possible.”
During his speech Blum talked about what led him to join the army and the difficulties he encountered. “I always wanted to move to Israel," he said, "but I always worried that I wouldn't know the language and I would have a hard time acclimating to the culture. I figured that joining the IDF would be a great way to integrate into Israeli society and a way to learn the Israeli way of life while also affirming my own values. The reason I joined the haredi brigade is so that I can serve the country and still be religious and serve G-d. For those reasons I decided to leave home, even though it was hard on my family, and give myself to the country. To be a combatant means overcoming challenges and it doesn’t matter how difficult they are because we are protecting something greater than ourselves. Because faith is above all other things.”
Netzah Yehuda released a statement saying, “There are tens of Haredi soldiers, just like Blum, that have volunteered for the army and left their families behind. And there are so many Haredi Israeli lone soldiers who are no longer in contact with their families because they enlisted.” The organization praised those Haredi families that do grant support to Haredi lone soldiers and then added that, “we will continue to offer support to these soldiers so that they do not feel alone during their service.”
Hebrew Video:
Tags:lone soldier, Haredi community, Avigdor Liberman, Netzach Yehuda
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In Asia, the normal diet includes rice and noodles as the main energy source, making their elimination difficult. Therefore, the MCT-oil form of the diet, which allows more carbohydrate, has proved useful. In India, religious beliefs commonly affect the diet: some patients are vegetarians, will not eat root vegetables or avoid beef. The Indian ketogenic diet is started without a fast due to cultural opposition towards fasting in children. The low-fat, high-carbohydrate nature of the normal Indian and Asian diet means that their ketogenic diets typically have a lower ketogenic ratio (1:1) than in America and Europe. However, they appear to be just as effective.[54]
Low carb recipes are essential for a keto diet! A few years ago, we started making keto recipes and after realizing just how delicious they are and how they make us feel, we never looked back! These low carb recipes will make you feel better, live better and eat better. Each recipe is absolutely delicious – we know because we only share the ones we absolutely love. You can also try our low carb breakfasts, low carb lunches, low carb dinners, low carb desserts and more!
After initiation, the child regularly visits the hospital outpatient clinic where they are seen by the dietitian and neurologist, and various tests and examinations are performed. These are held every three months for the first year and then every six months thereafter. Infants under one year old are seen more frequently, with the initial visit held after just two to four weeks.[9] A period of minor adjustments is necessary to ensure consistent ketosis is maintained and to better adapt the meal plans to the patient. This fine-tuning is typically done over the telephone with the hospital dietitian[19] and includes changing the number of calories, altering the ketogenic ratio, or adding some MCT or coconut oils to a classic diet.[18] Urinary ketone levels are checked daily to detect whether ketosis has been achieved and to confirm that the patient is following the diet, though the level of ketones does not correlate with an anticonvulsant effect.[19] This is performed using ketone test strips containing nitroprusside, which change colour from buff-pink to maroon in the presence of acetoacetate (one of the three ketone bodies).[45]
Keto is not hard to follow at all. See, this is why I took my diet and nutrition into my own hands. I have PCOS and the ketogenic diet has worked wonders for me. I’m finally pregnant at the age of 32 and after 11 years of marriage because the ketogenic diet made me lose over 100 lbs and brought my insulin resistance under control. I feel better than I’ve ever felt. Sometimes doctors don’t seem to know as much as they should, or as much as they assume they do, and that’s pretty disturbing. Just like they’re still using the old school and very inaccurate BMI charts that are just pure bs. I’ll just take care of myself outside of certain situations involving illness or injury. I’m doing great on my own.
The modified Atkins diet reduces seizure frequency by more than 50% in 43% of patients who try it and by more than 90% in 27% of patients.[18] Few adverse effects have been reported, though cholesterol is increased and the diet has not been studied long term.[48] Although based on a smaller data set (126 adults and children from 11 studies over five centres), these results from 2009 compare favourably with the traditional ketogenic diet.[18]
Early studies reported high success rates; in one study in 1925, 60% of patients became seizure-free, and another 35% of patients had a 50% reduction in seizure frequency. These studies generally examined a cohort of patients recently treated by the physician (a retrospective study) and selected patients who had successfully maintained the dietary restrictions. However, these studies are difficult to compare to modern trials. One reason is that these older trials suffered from selection bias, as they excluded patients who were unable to start or maintain the diet and thereby selected from patients who would generate better results. In an attempt to control for this bias, modern study design prefers a prospective cohort (the patients in the study are chosen before therapy begins) in which the results are presented for all patients regardless of whether they started or completed the treatment (known as intent-to-treat analysis).[19]
It is possible to combine the results of several small studies to produce evidence that is stronger than that available from each study alone—a statistical method known as meta-analysis. One of four such analyses, conducted in 2006, looked at 19 studies on a total of 1,084 patients.[23] It concluded that a third achieved an excellent reduction in seizure frequency and half the patients achieved a good reduction.[18]
Even after irradiation (the industry standard sterilization process that also destroys any antioxidants and health benefits), spices and herbs can spoil in your home, and often harbor aggressive mold toxins. To spice up your dishes the Bulletproof way, use high-quality, fresh or recently opened herbs and spices. Spices with especially high mold toxin risk include black pepper, powdered garlic, nutmeg, and paprika. Apple cider vinegar is the only vinegar permitted in the Bulletproof diet, as other vinegars and yeasts introduce toxins, and promote yeast growth in your gut.
Although many hypotheses have been put forward to explain how the ketogenic diet works, it remains a mystery. Disproven hypotheses include systemic acidosis (high levels of acid in the blood), electrolyte changes and hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose).[19] Although many biochemical changes are known to occur in the brain of a patient on the ketogenic diet, it is not known which of these has an anticonvulsant effect. The lack of understanding in this area is similar to the situation with many anticonvulsant drugs.[56]
There are three instances where there’s research to back up a ketogenic diet, including to help control type 2 diabetes, as part of epilepsy treatment, or for weight loss, says Mattinson. “In terms of diabetes, there is some promising research showing that the ketogenic diet may improve glycemic control. It may cause a reduction in A1C — a key test for diabetes that measures a person’s average blood sugar control over two to three months — something that may help you reduce medication use,” she says.
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The Hawthornes Visit St. Petersburg. The Salvador Dali Museum.
Welcome to the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg.
This permanent collection celebrates the life and work of Salvador Dali and features works from his entire career. It is home to art spanning Dali's lifetime - his artistic legacy- from his student pieces through works of anti-art, surrealism, nuclear mysticism, to his later career creations.
This museum, founded with works collected by Reynolds and Eleanor Morse, houses the largest collection of Dali outside of Europe. In 1942, the Morses visited the Cleveland Museum of Art
which was featuring a traveling Dali retrospective from New York's Museum of Modern Art.
Intrigued by the artist, the Reynolds bought their first Dali Painting in 1943 - Daddy Longlegs of the Evening, Hope! It was the first of many acquisitions, culminating 40 years later as the preeminent
collection of Dali's work in America. The Morses befriended Salvador and his wife, Gala, during their hiatus in the US during the 40s and began assembling the largest private Dali art collection in the world. Dali's works were first displayed in the Morses' home. During the 70s, the Morses decided to donate their entire collection. After a Wall Street Journal article entitled, "U.S. Art World Dillydallies Over Dali," the St. Petersburg community rallied to bring the collection to their area. In January of 1980, St. Petersburg attorney, James W. Martin, read the article and organized a dynamic group of community leaders who flew to the Morses' home in Ohio and presented them with a plan to find a suitable location for their collection. The Morses visited St. Petersburg and accepted an idea to remodel a marine warehouse on Bayboro Harbor, a location that reminded them of Dali's childhood home on the Mediterranean. On March 10, 1982, the Dali Museum opened to the public in St. Petersburg. It houses 96 of Dali's oil paintings, 125 of his watercolors and drawings, 2500 of his prints and photographs, 250 of his objets d'art, and a library of 5000 books about him and/or his works.
The Dali Museum overlooks Tampa Bay. It is a striking building - a concrete trapezoid wrapped in undulating waves of glass and steel. The curving dome, a geodesic glass bubble - "Glass Enigma" - stands 75 feet at its tallest and is composed of 1062 glass triangles, no two identical, with each having a bar-code to identify it.
Standing over 75 feet tall, the structure can withstand a Cat 5 hurricane and open its doors to the public the next day. The art work is enclosed within concrete a foot thick in all directions.
Now, this is neat.
This is Dali's wife, Gala, Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea
which at twenty meters transforms into a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
Dali was an avid reader of Scientific American, and the inspiration for this painting came from that magazine in a 1973 article entitled "The Recognition of Faces" by Leon D. Harmon. Harmon was best known for his studies in photomosaics (creating large prints from collections of small symbols or images) and his pixelated block portrait of Lincoln taken from the five dollar bill.
Above is Harmon's block image rendering of Lincoln.
Stand way back to view it
and you'll see Lincoln.
Notice this image is incorporated into a block
in Dali's portrait at bottom left.
Harmon had taken an image of Abraham Lincoln from a $5 bill and produced “block averaging” renderings of it. Block averaging means that the image is broken down into blocks of a grid and each block is filled in with the average gray-scale value for that block; essentially a single tone per pixel.Harmon (et al) found that the minimum number of blocks needed for facial recognition was 16 x 16 blocks (256 total).
Dali believed the pixelation could be less and set out to create a 121 pixel painting rather than the 256 pixel painting Harmon said was the minimum possible. The painting by Dali is essentially two pictures in one, with Lincoln’s component being made of “low spatial frequencies” while Gala’s component is made of “high spatial frequencies”. This basically means that its easiest to see Lincoln’s face when looking at the painting when you’re standing far away from it (around 20 meters), and its easiest to see the portion with Gala when up close to the painting. The colors Dali used in the high spatial frequency portion of Gala, the sunset, and the ocean–when far away–match the skin tone of Lincoln and make the viewer’s brain “fill in” the rest of the painting to match the well known portrait of Lincoln.
This is but another architectural feet in the Dali building - a soaring spiral staircase of solid concrete that is a nod to Dali's fascination with the double helix structure of DNA.
You can't see it,
but it was raining inside the car.
The Golden Rectangle
The proportions of a golden rectangle, as Euclid described, accord to the golden ratio, that is, 1:phi.
The shorter side is to the longer side as the longer side is to the sum of the shorter plus the longer sides.
Dali was fascinated that the golden ratio pervades our world, from the structure of shells to the proportions of the human face, to the creations of our imagination in architecture and art.
Solved algebraically: Phi = (1 + √5)
Simplified further, it renders the irrational number you see in the border, a number sequence that is non-repeating and endless.
A golden rectangle contains a perfect square and another golden rectangle. This relation is infinitely scalable and recursive.
An iconic "melting watch" bench
sits in the Avant Garden.
Posted by Rosie Hawthorne at 10:15 AM
Labels: Salvador Dali Museum, st. petersburg
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Arches National Park. Utah. Part 2.
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2019-2020 Performers
Duo Baldo
The musical comedy team, Duo Baldo, is comprised of renowned violinist Brad Repp and pianist/actor Aldo Gentileschi. Their critically acclaimed performances combine virtuosic performances, theatrical humor, and pop culture.
Duo Baldo made their debut with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in 2004.
In February 2006, Duo Baldo won first prize at the National Short Theater
Competition in Florence. After winning first prize at the 2009 Musicomicontest, they performed at the opening of the 2010 Salzburg Festival. Other engagements include the Chamber Music Society of Trieste, as well as appearances in Shanghai, Tokyo, Brescia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, Livorno, Lucca, Lugano (Switzerland), Mexico City, Paunat (France) and Prato. In September 2011, Duo Baldo performed a gala concert on Giacomo Puccini’s recently-restored Steinway piano with soprano Maria Luigia Borsi at the Teatro Giglio in Lucca.
Violinist Brad Repp has appeared as violin soloist with José Carreras.
He performs on a 1736 Testore violin. Aldo Gentileschi performs on whatever piano he can find.
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Why China Can Make our Air Cleaner
Posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2015 by Gabrieljon
Low carbon emissions and Chinese Industry. These are two terms that do not fit well together. When we think of China, we envision smoke stacks billowing grey filth endlessly into the atmosphere, and filthy coal fields that stretch as far as the eye can see. Unfortunately, this is not far from the truth. China alone burns 40% of the world’s coal, and releases 28% of the world’s carbon annually. It is suffering from an “airpocalypse” or even a “smogpocalypse,” if you ask the media. Children are often forced to wear thick masks just to make their short journey to school, and it prematurely kills, according to the World Bank, anywhere from 350,000 to 500,000 people each year. The Chinese Academy for Environmental Planning has stated that the nationwide lung cancer rate has risen by 465 per cent in the last 3 decades. Even when cigarette consumption has been reduced. Hmm. Can it get much worse?
No, not really. All in all, China has some of, if not the worst air in the world. However this “air” is not only affecting China. Numerous studies have shown that over 30 percent of San Francisco’s smog comes from China! Chinese smog has also been known to float over Japanese and Korean cities like a dark cloud from hell and plunge them into smog filled darkness.
We all know about the depletion of the ozone and the exponential increase of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. This Chinese smog is not helping to say the least, and it is not showing any signs of slowing down, with a new filthy coal power plant being produced every two weeks. However, despite these unsettling statistics, if there is one nation that can make the future of our atmosphere a little brighter and a whole lot cleaner, it has to be China.
“China?” you ask. “But I thought they had the worst pollution!”
That is true, but China has very recently grown into the most pivotal and important nation in the world. It has been literally buying up countries with its booming economy, and it contains over one seventh of the world’s population. But, most importantly, China has the capacity and money to make radical changes very, very quickly. The recent global trend has been: if China does it, then the rest of the world should probably follow suite or risk getting left behind. This is especially true for the USA, who is China’s largest trade partner. This combination of China working with the USA makes for a very dynamic duo that can really change the world, for the presence of these two nations can literally be found everywhere on the face of the earth.
These two cold war enemies have benefited from a recent warming of relations regarding climate change deals. The USA has been known, like China, to shy away from committing to emission regulation deals, or boycott them all together. This has not been the case recently, for last year in November Obama and Chinese party chairman Xi Jinping shook on a landmark new deal regarding the carbon footprint of the two partner nations. China pledged to reach its maximum carbon output by 2030, while both nations pledged to utilize more green sources of energy!
China even agreed to raise its dependency on green sources from 9.8 percent to 20 percent over the course of one year. “For the world’s biggest emitters to be coming together and announcing concrete numbers, serious numbers, sends a signal to the world,” said David B. Sandalow, who was Mr. Obama’s assistant secretary of energy for policy and international affairs. This is welcoming news indeed. For in 1997, the United Nations Kyoto protocol, which aimed to drastically reduce emissions on the premises that global warming exists, and man- made CO2 emissions have caused it, failed to produce viable results. This ambitious and revolutionary protocol failed due to a standoff between the USA and China, who never fully ratified the deal, in turn rendering the treaty useless.
These new agreements mark a change in global policy on climate change deals. The republican party in the USA has always been able to argue their way out of making climate change deals by simply stating that if China is not on board, then reductions made by the USA will be too small to make a difference. No longer is this the case.
This deal has positive outcomes not only in China and the USA. However, with China and USA stepping up their fight, developing nations like India, which releases 7% of the worlds carbon, other large emitters like the EU may step up their efforts to curb their emissions as well. The major sticking point for these nations in taking action against their footprint, is that the largest polluters have not taken the first step to reduce their own emissions. Once again, they too are left without an excuse not to take action against their emissions, for a first step has been taken.
This agreement comes at the perfect time to act as a strong foundation for the talks at the 2015 UN Paris climate summit, where all nations can be included. The international climate change community is counting on China to make more bold moves to sway the policies of other nations to take radical action as well. If China follows its present course, we may see many more deals that have the capacity to curb global emissions in the near future. The future of our atmosphere now rests in the hands of China. Only in the future will we know if China is sincere, or simply full of hot air.
August 1, 2015 Gabrieljon
Articles #china
About Gabrieljon
Jon Gabriel hails from Seattle USA, but is currently living in Shenzhen China. Jon loves the Lord Of The Rings more than anything else and has dreams of being the curator of Hobbiton in New Zealand. Jon loves to argue with people about politics in different accents, and believes that it is in good health to be mind blown at least 3 times per day. As you are reading this Jon is most likely in his secret basement lab trying, but failing, to invent something awesome.
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Death is No Excuse
The federal government is an equal-opportunity tax assessor. Even the dead can’t escape taxes.
The final accounting required of the deceased is not limited to an estate tax filing, but a federal income tax return must also be filed for the year in which the taxpayer passes. Please consult a professional with tax expertise if you find yourself in this situation.¹
Filing for the Deceased
Of course, the deceased can’t file his or her own return, so that responsibility usually falls to the estate’s executor or administrator. Here are the highlights of how a tax return is filed in the name of a deceased individual.
The form used is the same as the one that would have been used if the taxpayer were still alive, but "deceased" is written after the taxpayer's name.
The filing deadline is April 15 of the year following the taxpayer's death.
Some income that might appear to belong on the decedent's final return may in fact be taxable to the estate or to the beneficiary who receives it. Otherwise known as “income in respect of a decedent,” this is income that the decedent was entitled to receive at the time of death, but is not reported on the final income tax return.
Deductible expenses paid before death can be utilized on the final return. The cost of a final illness can be deducted on the deceased’s return even if the bills were paid after the date of death.
If the taxpayer was married, the widow or widower may file a joint return. The executor usually files a joint return, but the surviving spouse can file it if no executor or administrator has been appointed.
When an executor or administrator is involved, he or she must sign the return for the decedent. For a joint return, the spouse must also sign.
If a refund is due, you should also complete and file a copy of Form 1310, Statement of Person Claiming Refund Due a Deceased Taxpayer.²
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Gyrocopter lands on US Capitol's west lawn
April 19, 2015, 0:40:06 CEST | Wikinews
Douglas Mark Hughes, a mailman for the United States Postal Service, landed his gyrocopter on the west lawn of the US Capitol on Wednesday. He told his friends he was going to do this.
File photo of a gyrocopter.
The mailman was flying his aircraft into restricted airspace when he landed on the lawn. He was immediately arrested. His stated intention was to deliver letters to all members of Congress concerning campaign finance statutes. As a protective measure, the Capitol complex went on lockdown for a time.
Hughes told the Tampa Bay Times of his intentions to fly the light-weight aircraft. The paper said they alerted the Secret Service and the United States Capitol Police, but FOX News reported some disagreement about this from Capitol Police. Hughes had no contact with air traffic controllers during the incident.
The mailman said his intention was non-violent, but he wanted to spread the word about his cause. The Secret Service questioned him some months before the incident.
Hughes was charged under United States Code Title 49, concerning transportation. He was released from jail under conditions including that he must not visit the US Capitol. He is currently under house arrest.
Besides this low-flying aircraft incident, a government employee crashed a drone onto the White House property a few months ago. Also, the Secret Service conducted drone exercises to combat against possibly rogue light-weight aircraft last month.
The airspace above the Washington D.C. region is protected below 18,000 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level) with the roughly fifteen-nautical-mile-radius Flight Restricted Zone which surrounds the VHF omnidirectional range located at Washington National Airport, which handles regularly scheduled commercial flights. Pilots are not allowed to fly in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area, which includes the Flight Restricted Zone, unless they have FAA authorization and are able to maintain effective communication with air traffic control with a two-way radio. Pilots must obtain a transponder code when flying under visual flight rules in this area. Law enforcement and air ambulance operations are exempted from the FAA authorization requirement if they can maintain communications with air traffic control.
The FAA was investigating this incident, along with law enforcement agencies. Police found no explosives in the aircraft.
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